International Journal of Cancer Therapy and Oncology www.ijcto.org Copyright © Vasdev et al. ISSN 2330-4049 Nikhil Vasdev, Ben Lamb, Tim Lane, Gregory Boustead, James M Adshead Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire Urological Robotic Centre, Department of Urology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK Received September 03, 2013; Accepted September 18, 2013; Published Online September 20, 2013 Scientific Note A radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissec- tion (PLND) is the gold standard for the management of the appropriately selected patient with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) who fail appropriate intravesical therapy. In the last decade, Robotic Radical Cys- tectomy (RRC) is being performed in a large number of in- ternational Centre’s with the published advantages of de- creased blood loss, improved post-operative convalescence and earlier initiation of adjuvant therapy1 when compared to open cystectomy (OC). Current literature indicates that a RC is equivalent to OC from the oncological perspective. An OC is associated with high rates of morbidity (19-64%) or mor- tality (6-11%), although there is a wide variation in current literature.1-11 A RRC is perhaps just one modality in a raft of measures to try reducing mortality and morbidity of a cys- tectomy. To the Robotic Urological Surgeon, a RRC comes with nu- merous specific challenges. Questions that arise at the time of commencing a RRC include the learning curve of the procedure, learning steps to enhances ones speed to perform the procedure efficiently and safely, level of lymphnode dissection, whether one should embark of performing an intracorpealileal conduit or neobladder formation and the cost of commencing a RRC service. The patient’s postopera- tive management is the most important step to ensure that the post-operative complications are kept to a minimum using a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach. In current literature high volume centers with experienced surgeons have reported patient outcomes that are acceptable from the perspective of extended pelvic lymph node dissec- tion, positive surgical margin rates and highlight that pa- tients are not being compromised from the surgical perspec- tive in undergoing a RC.2 The learning curve of a RRC is not as clearly defined in comparison to Robotic Radical Prostatectomy (RRP). Before commencing aRRC it is important to be proficient and fa- miliar with robotic pelvic surgery. Most robotic surgeons are proficient in RRP before embarking on performing inde- pendent RRC. Hayn et al.3 have indicated that an acceptable level of proficiency to perform a RRC is established after the 30th case by measuring post-operative parameters such as operative time, lymph node yield (LNY), estimated blood loss (EBL), and margin positivity. At our center we com- menced performing RC after performing 150 Robotic RRP. We would strongly recommend that a robotic urological surgeon who is keen to commence Robotic RC should be proficient in robotic RRP and in performing an extended pelvic lymph node dissection (EPLND). A well-trained Ro- botic Team consisting of the lead experience console sur- geon, experienced assistant, nursing staff and an experience anesthetist is essential for the commencement of a RRC pro- gram. The techniques that a team needs to develop to aid in improving intra-operative times including a fast docking/ undocking time, piggyback techniques for ports and , the use of different specimen retrieval bags, use of laparoscopic sta- plers and new intraoperative hemostatic agents. Whilst performing an adequate RRC involves the removal of the bladder, the importance of performing an EPLND cannot be understated. There is no defined lymph node dissection template for a RRC and some centers now perform an EPLND before performing the robotic cystectomy during a RRP.4 The anatomical landmark that we recommend to be followed is up to the level of the aortic bifurcation or the Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), lymph node of cloquet distally, genitofemoral nerve laterally and perivesical tissue laterally. Using this template the surgeon will be able to excise the external iliac, obturator, hyogastic and common Corresponding author: Nikhil Vasdev, FRCS (Urol); Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire Urological Robotic Centre, Department of Urology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK. Email: nikhilvasdev@doctors.org.uk Cite this article as: Vasdev N, Lamb B, Lane T, Boustead G, Adshead J. Robotic Cys- tectomy : Important considerations before commencing the pro- cedure independently. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2013;1(1):01017. DOI: 10.14319/ijcto.0101.7 Robotic Cystectomy : Important considerations before commencing the procedure independently http://dx.doi.org/10.14319/ijcto.0101.7 2 Vasdev et al.: Robotic Cystectomy International Journal of Cancer Therapy and Oncology www.ijcto.org Copyright © Vasdev et al. ISSN 2330-4049 iliac. Some authors5 recommend the excision of the presacrallymphnode as the excision of this lymph node group facilitates the transposition of the left ureter behind the sigmoid mesentery to aid in intracorporeal anastomosis. With an evolution in robotic systems there has been an in- crease in the number of patients undergoing intracorporeal ileal conduit and neobladder formation. The excellent tech- nical description of the procedure has led to the adoption of these techniques worldwide.5 We have recently published the results of our initial patients.6 Robotic surgeons must be proficient in the performing the cystectomy part of the RRC before embarking on either an intracorporeal ileal conduit or neobladders formation due the complications of keeping patients in the steep Trendelenburg position for prolonged periods, which include compartment syndrome, neurological complications, intraocular complications, and rhabdomyolysis.7,8 Recent evidence from high volume cen- tres performing RRC and intracorporeal neobladders diver- sion confirm that initial results are comparable to contem- porary open series with regards to complication rates, func- tional and oncological outcomes.9 We recommend that a surgeon should embark on performing an intracorporeal ileal conduit and neobladder formation only if the ablative part of RRC is less than 2.5 hours of total operative time. If the abla- tive times are longer we recommend performing a mini-laparotomy for excision of the cystectomy specimen and completing an extracorporeal ileal conduit or neobladders.6 The cost effectiveness of a RRC when compared to an open radical cystectomy (ORC) has a disadvantage of being more expensive due to the initial high purchase and mainte- nance contract cost, although when the indirect costs of complications and extended hospital stay with ORC are con- sidered, RRC may be less expensive than the traditional open procedure. In order to accurately evaluate the cost effec- tiveness of RARC versus ORC, prospective randomized trials between the two surgical techniques with long-term onco- logic efficacy are needed.10 In conclusion, a RRC with intracorporeal ileal conduit or neobladders formation is a complex robotic procedure that should only be undertaken by an experienced robotic pelvic oncological surgeon who is completely competent at per- forming a RRP + EPLND. A carefully mentored approach and a well-trained robotic team are the two key components to make the procedure a success. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writ- ing of the paper. References 1. Liss MA, Kader AK. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy: history, techniques and out- comes. World J Urol 2013 ; 31 :489-9. 2. Khan MS, Elhage O, Challacombeet al B. Long-term outcomes of robot-assisted radical cys- tectomy for bladder cancer. Eur Ur 3. Hayn MH, Hussain A, Mansour AM et al. The learning curve of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium. Eur Urol 2010; 58: 197-202. 4. Desai MM, Berger AK, BrandinaRRet al. Robot- ic and laparoscopic high extended pelvic lymph node dissection during radical cystectomy: tech- nique and outcomes. Eur Urol 2012; 61: 350-5. 5. Pruthi RS, Nix J, McRackan D, et al. Robot- ic-assisted laparoscopic intracorporeal urinary di- version. Eur Urol 2010; 57: 1013–21. 6. Bishop C, Vasdev N, Boustead G, Adshead JM. Ro- botic IntracorpealIleal conduit formation – Initial experience from a single UK centre. Advances in Urology [Article in press]. 7. Mattei A, Di Pierro GB, Rafeld V, Konrad C, Beutler J, Danuser H. Positioning injury, rhabdomyolysis, and serum creatine ki- nase-concentration course in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection. J Endourol 2013; 27: 45-5. 8. Pandey R, Garg R, Darlong V, Punj J, Chandralekha, Kumar A. Unpredicted neurologi- cal complications after robotic laparoscopic radical cystectomy and ileal conduit formation in steep trendelenburg position: two case reports. ActaAnaesthesiol Belg 2010; 61: 163-6. 9. Tyritzis SI, Hosseini A, Collins J, Nyberg T, Jonsson MN, Laurin O, Khazaeli D, Adding C, Schumacher M, Wiklund NP. 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