Yonsei Experience in Robotic Urologic Surgery - Application in Various Urological Procedures

PURPOSE: The da Vinci® robot system has been used to perform complex reconstructive procedures in a minimally invasive fashion. Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has recently established as one of the standard cares. Based on experience with the robotic prostatectomy, its use is naturally expanding into other urologic surgeries. We examine our practical pattern and application of da Vinci® robot system in urologic field. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Robotic urologic surgery has been performed during a period from July 2005 to August 2008 in a total of 708 cases. Surgery was performed by 7 operators. In our series, radical prostatectomy was performed in 623 cases, partial nephrectomy in 43 cases, radical cystectomy in 11 cases, nephroureterectomy in 18 cases and other surgeries in 15 cases. RESULTS: In the first year, robotic urologic surgery was performed in 43 cases. However, in the second year, it was performed in 164 cases, and it was performed in 407 cases in the third year. In the first year, only prostatectomy was performed. In the second year, partial nephrectomy (2 cases), nephroureterectomy (3 cases) and cystectomy (1 case) were performed. In the third year, other urologic surgeries than prostatectomy were performed in 64 cases. The first robotic surgery was performed with long operative time. For instance, the operative time of prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, cystectomy and nephroureterectomy was 418, 222, 340 and 320 minutes, respectively. Overall, the mean operative time of prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, cystectomy and nephrourectectomy was 179, 173, 309, and 206 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience at a single-institution, robot system can be used both safely and efficiently in many areas of urologic surgeries including prostatectomy. Once this system is familiar to surgeons, it will be used in a wide range of urologic surgery.