Robot-assisted radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection: a multi-institutional study from Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To report short-term retrospective perioperative and pathologic outcomes of the first robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) series in Korea.


METHODS
Between April 2007 and August 2009, 104 nonconsecutive patients, including 22 women, underwent RARC across seven institutions. We evaluated the outcomes in these cases, including operative variables, hospital recovery, pathologic outcomes, and complication rate.


RESULTS
The mean age of all patients was 63.6 years (range 39-82 years), and the mean body mass index was 23.6 kg/m(2) (range 16.0-31.8 kg/m(2)). Among the 104 patients, 60 had an ileal conduit and 44 had an orthotopic neobladder. The mean total operative time was 554 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 526 mL. The time to flatus and bowel movement was about 3 days, and the time until hospital discharge was about 18 days. The mean number of lymph nodes removed were 18, and 10 patients had node metastatic disease on final pathologic evaluation. Postoperative complications occurred in 28 (26.9%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our initial experience with RARC appears to be favorable with acceptable operative, pathologic, and short-term clinical outcomes. The current series suggests that RARC is becoming more prevalent, not only in Western countries, but also in Asian countries, just as robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has also gained widespread acceptance. Data from long-term, large, prospective, multicenter, ideally randomized comparative studies with open radical cystectomy are needed to confirm the outcome of the novel operation reported here.
Kang
Sung Gu
SG
Department of Urology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Seok Ho
SH
Lee
Young Goo
YG
Rha
Koon Ho
KH
Jeong
Byong Chang
BC
Ko
Young Hwi
YH
Lee
Hyun Moo
HM
Seo
Seong Il
SI
Kwon
Tae Gyun
TG
Park
Seung Chol
SC
Jung
Se Il
SI
Sung
Gyung Tak
GT
Kim
Hyeon Hoe
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016896:Treatment Outcome