Feasibility of robotic partial nephrectomy in a UK Cancer Centre

SummaryObjectiveTo present our initial peri-operative and pathological outcome data of 23 patients to establish the feasibility of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) in a UK cancer centre.Patient and methodsClinical data from 23 patients who underwent RPN in a single institution between April 2008 and January 2010 were analysed. The RENAL Nephrometry Scoring System was applied to our series.ResultsMean patient age was 54.6 years with a mean tumour size of 2.53 cm. The median operative time was 198 min and warm ischaemia time (WIT) 30 min. There were two conversions and four patients required transfusion, with no other major complications. Histology confirmed renal cell carcinoma in 17 cases. All surgical margins were negative and to date there have been no local or distant recurrences. A mean RENAL score of 5.56 suggested that all the lesions had a low–moderate complexity and were therefore suitable for partial nephrectomy.ConclusionRPN achieved acceptable WITs, blood loss and complication rates and oncological outcomes. We conclude that this technique is a feasible alternative to open surgery and conventional laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. The urological community need to establish the place for each technique although surgeon preference is likely to be a significant factor.