Robot-assisted pelvic lymphadenectomy for bladder cancer--where have we reached by 2009.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current status and role of robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy. To review the need, extent, lymph node yield, oncological feasibility, and outcome of robot-assisted pelvic lymphadenectomy for invasive bladder cancer in patients undergoing a robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy.


METHODS
The National Library of Medicine and the Pub Med were extensively searched for the cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy performed in conjunction with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer using the following keywords: bladder cancer, pelvic lymphadenectomy, cystectomy, laparoscopy, robot, and robot-assisted radical cystectomy. These were reviewed and analyzed (using certain tabulated parameters) to determine the current status of robot-assisted pelvic lymphadenectomy.


RESULTS
The search yielded about 12 major published series (278 cases) of "robot-assisted radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy," with an overall acceptable mean operating time(s), complication rate, blood loss, and hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
Robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in conjunction with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy is an oncologically feasible and technically safe procedure with acceptable early operative outcomes that appear to be comparable to those achieved with open/laparoscopic surgery.
Singh
Iqbal
I
Department of Urology, Wake Forest University Medical School and Baptist Medical Center, Medical Centre Boulevard, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA. iqbalsinghp@yahoo.co.uk
D015653:Cystectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*