Robotic radical cystectomy for the management of bladder cancer: Analysis of operative and pathological outcomes of eighteen patient.

OBJECTIVE: To present the surgical and pathological results of robotic radical cystectomy (RRC) operations performed in our clinic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 18 patients, who underwent RRC and intracorporeal urinary diversion between October 2016 and September 2017 for clinically localized bladder cancer in our clinic, were included in the study. The results were evaluated under three headings. 1. operative outcomes (total operation time, perioperative blood loss, postoperative hematocrit decrease) 2. recovery period (pull-off drain day, hospitalization time) 3. oncological results (pathologic stage, surgical margin, number, and characteristics of lymph nodes removed). Complications within the postoperative 30-day period, were evaluated and the Clavien classification system was used to classify the complications.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.4 (52-80) years. Seventeen male patients and one female patient underwent robotic cystectomy. At the operative outcomes, the mean blood loss was 325 mL, and the mean hematocrit decrease was 3.15%. The mean duration of the surgery was 471 minutes (330-630), while the median operative time was 450 minutes. Complications occured in 6 patients during the early postoperative period. Six of them (75%) had minor complications (Clavien grade 1), two patients (25%) had major complications (Clavien grade 4).

CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with RRC is that, this surgical technique has acceptable operative, oncological and short-term clinical outcomes. However, prospective randomized studies are needed to assess whether there is a clear advantage compared to open surgery.