Comparing robotic, laparoscopic and open cystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC), and open radical cystectomy (ORC) in bladder cancer. A literature search for network meta-analysis was conducted using international databases up to February 29, 2024. Outcomes of interest included baseline characteristics, perioperative outcomes and oncological outcomes. Forty articles were finally selected for inclusion in the network meta-analysis. Both LRC and RARC were associated with longer operative time, smaller amount of estimated blood loss, lower transfusion rate, shorter time to regular diet, fewer incidences of complications, and fewer positive surgical margin compared to ORC. LRC had a shorter time to flatus than ORC, while no difference between RARC and ORC was observed. Considering lymph node yield, there were no differences among LRC, RARC and ORC. In addition, there were statistically significant lower transfusion rates (OR=-0.15, 95% CI=-0.47 to 0.17), fewer overall complication rates (OR=-0.39, 95% CI=-0.79 to 0.00), fewer minor complication rates (OR=-0.23, 95% CI=-0.48 to 0.02), fewer major complication rates (OR=-0.23, 95% CI=-0.68 to 0.21), fewer positive surgical margin rates (OR=0.22, 95% CI=-0.27 to 0.68) in RARC group compared with LRC group. LRC and RARC could be considered as a feasible and safe alternative to ORC for bladder cancer. Notably, compared with LRC, RARC may benefit from significantly lower transfusion rates, fewer complications and lower positive surgical margin rates. These data thus showed that RARC might improve the management of patients with muscle invasive or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Analysis of open and intracorporeal robotic assisted radical cystectomy shows no significant difference in recurrence patterns and oncological outcomes

A cost-effectiveness modeling study of robot-assisted (RARC) versus open radical cystectomy (ORC) for bladder cancer to inform future research

Systematic review of perioperative outcomes and complications after open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical cystectomy

Positive Surgical Margins in Soft Tissue Following Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer and Cancer Specific Survival

BackgroundWith the development of minimally invasive surgery technology, patients with bladder cancer are increasingly receiving laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) or robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) treatment. The main purpose of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of bladder cancer patients treated with LRC versus RARC.MethodsA retrospective study to identify patients with clinical stage Ta/T1/Tis to T3 bladder cancer who underwent RARC or LRC has been performed. The perioperative outcome, recurrence, and overall survival (OS) of the two surgical methods were compared.Results218 patients were identified from March 2010 to December 2019 in our department, which including 82 (38%) patients who received LRC and 136 (62%) patients who received RARC. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of lymph node collection, lymph node positive rate, resection margin positive rate, and postoperative pathological staging. Compared with the LRC group, patients in the RARC group had a median estimated blood loss (180 vs. 250 ml; P = 0.02) and reduced complications at 90 days postoperatively (30.8% vs. 46.3%; P = 0.01). Recurrence, all-cause death, and cancer-specific death occurred in 77 (35%), 55 (25%), and 39 (18%) patients, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was 54.63% and 54.65% in the RARC and LRC group (P > 0.05). The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate was 73.32% and 61.55% in RARC and LRC group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in OS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.083, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.626–1.874; P = 0.78], and CSS (HR 0.789, 95%CI 0.411–1.515; P = 0.61) between two groups.ConclusionsBoth RARC and LRC were safe and effective with a similar long-term clinical outcomes. Moreover, RARC had significantly lower median estimated blood loss and reduced postoperative complications.

PurposeEven though there isn't enough clinical evidence to demonstrate that robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is preferable to open radical cystectomy (ORC), RARC has become a widely used alternative. We performed the present study of RARC vs ORC with a focus on oncologic, pathological, perioperative, and complication-related outcomes and health-related quality of life (QOL).MethodsWe conducted a literature review up to August 2022. The search included PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane controlled trials register databases. We classified the studies according to version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). The data was assessed by Review Manager 5.4.0.Results8 RCTs comparing 1024 patients were analyzed in our study. RARC was related to lower estimated blood loss (weighted mean difference (WMD): -328.2; 95% CI -463.49—-192.92; p < 0.00001), lower blood transfusion rates (OR: 0.45; 95% CI 0.32 – 0.65; p < 0.0001) but longer operation time (WMD: 84.21; 95% CI 46.20 -121.72; p < 0.0001). And we found no significant difference in terms of positive surgical margins (P = 0.97), lymph node yield (P = 0.30) and length of stay (P = 0.99). Moreover, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of survival outcomes, pathological outcomes, postoperative complication outcomes and health-related QOL.ConclusionBased on the present evidence, we demonstrated that RARC and ORC have similar cancer control results. RARC is related to less blood loss and lower transfusion rate. We found no difference in postoperative complications and health-related QOL between robotic and open approaches. RARC procedures could be used as an alternate treatment for bladder cancer patients. Additional RCTs with long-term follow-up are needed to validate this observation.

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection is the recommended treatment in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). In randomised trials, robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) showed non-inferior short-term oncological outcomes compared with open radical cystectomy (ORC). Data on intermediate and long-term oncological outcomes of RARC are limited. To assess the intermediate-term overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with MIBC and high-risk non-MIBC (NMIBC) who underwent ORC versus RARC in clinical practice. A nationwide retrospective study in 19 Dutch hospitals including patients with MIBC and high-risk NMIBC treated by ORC (n = 1086) or RARC (n = 386) between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015. Primary and secondary outcome measures were median OS and RFS, respectively. Survival outcomes were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. A multivariable Cox regression model was developed to adjust for possible confounders and to assess prognostic factors for survival including clinical variables, clinical and pathological disease stage, neoadjuvant therapy and surgical margin status. The median follow-up was 5.1 years (95% confidence interval ([95%CI] 5.0-5.2). The median OS after ORC was 5.0 years (95%CI 4.3-5.6) versus 5.8 years after RARC (95%CI 5.1-6.5). The median RFS was 3.8 years (95%CI 3.1-4.5) after ORC versus 5.0 years after RARC (95%CI 3.9-6.0). After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratio for OS was 1.00 (95%CI 0.84-1.20) and for RFS 1.08 (95%CI 0.91-1.27) of ORC versus RARC. Patients who underwent ORC were older, had higher preoperative serum creatinine levels and more advanced clinical and pathological disease stage. ORC and RARC resulted in similar intermediate-term OS and RFS in a cohort of almost 1500 MIBC and high-risk NMIBC.

To investigate oncological outcomes in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent open radical cystectomy (ORC), laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC), or robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). A retrospective analysis was performed on 230 patients who underwent ORC (n = 150), LRC (n = 22), or RARC (n = 58) between September 2009 and June 2012. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the three surgical approaches. The influence of the type of surgical approach on recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were assessed with the log-rank test. Predictors of RFS, CSS, and OS were also analyzed with a Cox regression model. The median patient age for ORC, LRC, and RARC groups was 68.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 60.0-73.0), 65.0 (IQR: 62.8-74.0), and 61.5 (IQR: 54.8-72.0) years, respectively (p = 0.017), and the median follow-up duration was 27.9 (IQR: 14.7-47.9), 28.8 (IQR: 15.7-41.8), and 32.0 (IQR: 15.5-45.4) months, respectively (p = 0.955). There was no significant difference in RFS, CSS, and OS according to the surgical approach (p = 0.253, p = 0.431, and p = 0.527, respectively). Subgroup analysis revealed that RFS, CSS, and OS were not significantly different in both subgroups with stage ≤pT2 or ≥pT3. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that the surgical approach was not a significant predictor of RFS, CSS, and OS. Our findings indicate that the type of surgical approach is not associated with RFS, CSS, and OS in patients with bladder cancer.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder creation is a complex surgical procedure, which is gradually becoming an alternative to open surgery.To compare the perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes of open radical cystectomy (ORC) and RARC.RARC with ileocystoplasty was performed in 25 patients, including 24 men. The average age was 65.5 years. ORC was done in 30 patients (28 men; control group) with the mean age of 67.2 years. In RARC, the ureters were isolated at the level of lower thirds, the bladder was dissected from the rectum on both sides, then the bladder vessels were divided using clips, and the urethra was cut off. After pelvic lymph node dissection, 50 cm of the ileum was resected. Then two distal segments were folded in a U-shape, a 1.5 cm incision was made in the lower part, and an anastomosis with the urethra was carried out. Further, these segments were detubularized and a modified Studer reservoir was created. The ureters were implanted into the tubular part. In ORC, urine diversion was also done using Studer technique. In both groups, the operation time, the volume of blood loss, the number of complications, the duration of hospitalization, the proportion of daytime and nighttime continence were evaluated.The mean time for RARC and ORC was 380 (320-580) and 260 (220-320) min, respectively (p<0.05). In the group of RARC, the volume of blood loss was 85 (50-250) ml and no blood transfusion was performed, while in ORC, the volume of blood loss was 520 (350-1400) ml, an average of 480 (0-840) ml of blood was transfused (p<0.05). After RARC, 30- and 90- complications rate was 32.0% (n=8) and 24.0% (n=6), respectively, compared to 40.0% (n=12) and 30.0% (n=9) in ORC. One patient died due to myocardial infarction during the 90-day follow-up period after RARC (grade V complication according to Clavien). The average number of removed lymph nodes in the RARC group was 15 (10-18). One patient had lymph node metastases. There were no cases of local recurrence. In ORC, the average number of lymph nodes was 16 (11-20), metastases were detected in 2 patients. One of them was subsequently diagnosed with local recurrence. There was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes removed between two groups. After RARC, 20 (80.0%) patients had complete urinary continence, while 5 patients (20.0%) used 1-2 pads per day. Night continence was preserved in 15 cases (60.0%). After ORC, complete urinary continence was seen in 23 cases (76.7%). Five patients (20.0%) used 1-2 pads per day and two patients (6.7%) used 2-3 pads per day. Night continence after ORC was preserved in 17 cases (56.7%).RARC is a minimally invasive method of surgical treatment of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Compared with ORC, a significantly lower rate of complications and blood transfusions is documented, but RARC requires a longer operation time. Both interventions provide the equivalent oncological and functional outcomes, which are in line with published data.

Chewing Gum Has a Stimulatory Effect on Bowel Motility in Patients After Open or Robotic Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Comparative Study

To compare trends in the use of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and changes over time in peri-operative outcomes in selected North American and European centres. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 2401 patients treated with open radical cystectomy (ORC) or RARC for bladder cancer at 12 centres in North America and Europe between 2006 and 2018. We used the Kruskal-Wallis and chi-squared test to evaluate differences between continuous and categorical variables. Overall, 49.5% of patients underwent RARC and 51.5% ORC. RARC became the most commonly performed procedure in contemporary patients, with an increase from 29% in 2006-2008 to 54% in 2015-2018 (P < 0.001). In the North American centres the use of RARC was higher than that of ORC from 2006, and remained stable over time, whereas in the European centres its use increased exponentially from 2% to 50%. In both groups patients who underwent RARC had less advanced T stages (P < 0.001), lower American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (P < 0.05), lower blood loss (P = 0.001) and shorter length of hospital stay (P < 0.05). No differences were found in early complications. Early readmission and re-operation rates were worse for patients treated with RARC in the European centres; however, when contemporary patients only were considered, the statistical significance was lost. The present study shows that the use of RARC has constantly increased since its introduction, overtaking ORC in the most contemporary series. While RARC was more frequently performed than ORC since its introduction in the North American centres and its use remained substantially stable over time, its use increased exponentially in the European centres. The different trends in use of RARC/ORC and changes over time in peri-operative outcomes between the North American and European centres can be attributed to the earlier introduction and spread of RARC in the former compared with the latter.

Radical cystectomy remains the gold standard for treatment of muscle‐invasive bladder cancer. Robot‐assisted radical cystectomy has technical advantages over laparoscopic radical cystectomy and has emerged as an alternative to open radical cystectomy. Despite the advancements in robotic surgery, experience with total intracorporeal reconstruction of urinary diversion remains limited. Most surgeons have carried out the hybrid approach of robot‐assisted radical cystectomy and extracorporeal reconstruction of urinary diversion, as intracorporeal reconstruction of urinary diversion remains technically challenging. However, intracorporeal reconstruction of urinary diversion might potentially proffer additional benefits, such as decreased fluid loss, reduction in estimated blood loss and a quicker return of bowel function. The adoption of intracorporeal ileal neobladder reconstruction has hitherto been limited to high‐volume academic institutions. In the present review, we compare the totally intracorporeal robot‐assisted radical cystectomy approach with open radical cystectomy and robot‐assisted radical cystectomy + extracorporeal reconstruction of urinary diversion in muscle‐invasive bladder cancer patients.

Octogenarians undergoing cystectomy experience higher morbidity and mortality compared to younger patients. Though the non-inferiority of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC) has been established in a generalized population, the benefits of the robotic approach have not been well studied in an aged population. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for all patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer from 2010 to 2016. Of these, 2527 were performed in patients age 80 or older; 1988 and 539 underwent ORC and RARC, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, RARC was associated with significantly reduced odds for both 30- and 90-day mortality (HR 0.404, p = 0.004; HR 0.694, p = 0.031, respectively), though the association with overall mortality was not significant (HR 0.877, p = 0.061). The robotic group had a significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) compared to open surgery (10.3days ORC vs. 9.3days RARC, p = 0.028).The proportion of cases performed robotically increased over the study period from 12.2% in 2010 to 28.4% in 2016 (p = 0.009, R2 = 0.774). The study is limited by a retrospective design and a section bias, which was not completely control for in the analysis. In conclusion, RARC provides improved perioperative outcomes in aged patients compared to ORC and a trend toward greater utilization of this technique was observed.

Japanese patients who undergo radical cystectomy have a unique feature, i.e., the ratio of octogenarians is higher than in Western patients because of the aging Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes, complications, and oncologic outcomes between robot-assisted radical cystectomy and open radical cystectomy. From 2010-2015, 20 (of which 8 were octogenarians) and 40 (of which 11 were octogenarians) patients underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy and open radical cystectomy, respectively. There was no significant difference in terms of patient demographics between the two surgical cohorts, regardless of patient age. In the octogenarian patient cohort, the rates of previous abdominal surgery and the median age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index were higher. The median estimated blood loss, transfusion rate and the days to resumption of a regular diet were significantly lower in the robot-assisted radical cystectomy cohort, regardless of patient age. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy significantly decreased grade II or higher complications, but there were no significant differences in terms of decreasing grade III or higher complications, regardless of patient age. Positive surgical margin and the mean number of lymph nodes removed were similar between the two surgical cohorts, regardless of patient age. Although robot-assisted radical cystectomy has a short history in Japan, the outcomes were generally comparable to those of previous studies. In a country that is aging rapidly like Japan, robot-assisted radical cystectomy could be a valid option for the management of muscle-invasive and high-risk superficial bladder cancer.