Patient perspectives on single-port versus multi-port robotic-assisted urologic oncology procedures: a survey-based...

The da Vinci single-port (SP) system enables robotic urologic surgery through a single incision, unlike the conventional multiport (MP) approach. Although SP surgery may reduce postoperative pain and improve cosmesis, its adoption remains limited by a steep learning curve, high costs, and limited long-term oncologic data. This study evaluated patient perspectives on SP versus MP robotic-assisted urologic surgery, focusing on the relative importance of surgical and cosmetic outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 51 adults scheduled for robotic-assisted genitourinary oncologic procedures in a single surgeon's practice between 2024 and 2025. Participants completed a Likert-scale questionnaire assessing cosmetic outcomes, cancer control, postoperative pain, complication risk, cost, and marketing influence, and ranked five surgical factors by importance. Statistical analyses included Friedman rank testing, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Of 58 eligible patients approached, 51 completed the survey. Cancer control was ranked as the most important factor (mean rank 1.47 ± 0.81, p < 0.001), followed by complication risk and postoperative pain. Cost and cosmetic appearance were ranked least important. Cosmetic prioritization did not differ significantly across age, sex, or diagnosis groups. Male patients placed greater importance on cancer control than female patients (p = 0.002). Among men, those without prostate cancer placed greater importance on postoperative pain than those with prostate cancer (p = 0.006). Patients undergoing robotic genitourinary oncologic surgery prioritize cancer control, complication risk, and postoperative pain over cost and cosmetic outcomes when choosing between SP and MP robotic platforms.