Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy at the Time of Radical Cystectomy Rivals That of Open Surgery: Single Institution Report

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to analyze the pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and margin status using a standard technique in the first 35 patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) at our institution while establishing a robotics program, and then to compare the results to the past 35 open radical cystectomy (ORC) performed at our institution.Materials and MethodsAfter obtaining institutional review board approval, we reviewed the clinical and pathologic data from 70 consecutive patients with clinically localized bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy with PLND from April 2007 to June 2009. Thirty-five operations were performed open and 35 used the da Vinci robotic system. The PLND was performed in all patients using the same template.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the ORC and RARC group in regards to patient characteristics, tumor stage (43% ORC and 40% RARC having pT3/pT4 disease), and node status (29% N+ in each group). The median total lymph node yield was similar, with 15 (interquartile range [IQR] 11, 22) in the ORC group and 16 (IQR 11, 24) in the RARC group (P = 0.5). One patient who underwent RARC had a positive margin compared with 3 patients in the ORC group.ConclusionsThe initial 35 RARC with PLND performed at our institution compared with the last 35 ORC resulted in equivalent lymph node yield and similar rates of positive margins. RARC with PLND is feasible, safe, and effective when performed at a high-volume center by an experienced team.