Comparison of early postoperative morbidity after robot-assisted and open radical cystectomy: results of a prospective observational study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate early postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing either robot-assisted (RARC) or open radical cystectomy (ORC) for bladder cancer.


METHODS
A total of 100 patients underwent RARC (between August 2009 and August 2012) and 42 underwent ORC (between October 2007 and July 2009) as treatment for bladder cancer. Data on the patients' peri-operative course were collected prospectively up to the 90th postoperative day for the RARC group and up to the 60th postoperative day for the ORC group. Postoperative complications were recorded based on the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Both groups were compared with regard to patient and tumour characteristics, surgical and peri-operative outcomes.


RESULTS
The RARC and ORC groups were well matched with regard to age, body mass index, gender distribution, type of urinary diversion and pathological tumour characteristics (all P > 0.1), but patients in the RARC group had more serious comorbidities according to the Charlson comorbidity index (P = 0.034). Although surgical duration was longer in the RARC group (P < 0.001) the estimated blood loss was lower (P < 0.001) and transfusion requirement was less (P < 0.001). Overall 59 patients (59%) in the RARC group and 39 patients (93%) in the ORC group experienced postoperative complications of any Clavien-Dindo grade <90 days and <60 days after surgery, respectively (P < 0.001; relative risk reduction 0.36). Major complications (grades 3a-5) were also less frequent after RARC (24 [24%] vs 18 patients [43%]; P = 0.029) with a relative risk reduction of 0.44. In the subgroup of patients with an ileum conduit as a urinary diversion (RARC, n = 76 vs ORC, n = 31) the overall rate of complications (43 [57%] vs 28 [90%] patients; P < 0.001) and the rate of major complications (17 [22%] vs 15 [48%] patients; P = 0.011) were lower in the RARC group with relative risk reductions of 0.37 and 0.54, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant reduction in early postoperative morbidity was associated with the robotic approach. Despite more serious comorbidities and a 30-day longer follow-up in the RARC group, patients in the RARC group experienced fewer postoperative complications than those in the ORC group. Major complications, in particular, were less frequent after RARC.
Department of Urology, Paediatric Urology and Urological Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany.
Michael
M
Musch
Maxim
M
Janowski
Antonia
A
Steves
Ulla
U
Roggenbuck
Andre
A
Boergers
Yadollah
Y
Davoudi
Heinrich
H
Loewen
Harold
H
Groeben
Darko
D
Kroepfl
D000368:Aged; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
cystectomy; minimally invasive surgical procedures; postoperative complications; robotics; urinary bladder neoplasms