Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Cervicovaginal Myomectomy

Study Objective

To illustrate a robotic-assisted laparoscopic resection for cervicovaginal myomectomy.

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Utilizing a Robotic Surgical System

Objectives:

To describe the use of a robotic surgical system for total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Methods:

We report a series of laparoscopic hysterectomies performed using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Participants were women eligible for hysterectomy by standard laparoscopy. Operative times and complications are reported.

Results:

We completed 10 total laparoscopic hysterectomies between November 2001 and December 2002 with the use of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Operative results were similar to those of standard laparoscopic hysterectomy. Operative time varied from 2 hours 28 minutes to 4 hours 37 minutes. Blood loss varied from 25 mL to 350 mL. Uterine weights varied from 49 g to 227 g. A cystotomy occurred in a patient with a history of a prior cystotomy unrelated to the robotic system.

Conclusion:

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is a complex surgical procedure requiring advanced laparoscopic skills. Tasks like lysis of adhesions, suturing, and knot tying were enhanced with the robotic surgical system, thus providing unique advantages over existing standard laparoscopy. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy can be performed using robotic surgical systems.     

Toward totally endoscopic coronary artery surgery

Background: Here we explore a method of using robotics to reduce morbidity and mortality in conventional coronary surgery. Methods: Using a robotic surgical system two surgeons completed five steps: (1) 80 synthetic suture exercises; (2) 76 left internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending (LIMA-to-LAD) on porcine hearts; (3) cadaveric port placement for assessing optimal access; (4) endoscopic stabilization in the live porcine model; and, finally (5) eight clinical LIMA-to-LADs performed robotically. Results: After 70 hours training, mean dry lab times fell from 7.0 and 5.8 min to 5.7 and 5.1 min in the two surgeonstab series. Wet lab times fell from 40.1 and 28.5 min to 28.8 and 19.2 min. In the clinical series of eight patients there were no mortalities; all had uncomplicated postoperative recovery and all were angina free at 6-week follow-up. Conclusion: The learning curve for robotic training is short, and reproducible results can be achieved clinically, after appropriate training, resulting in real patient benefit.     

Manual robot assisted endoscopic suturing: Time-action analysis in an experimental model

Background Robotic surgery systems were introduced to overcome the disadvantages of endoscopic surgery. The goal of this study was to assess whether robot assistance could support endoscopic surgeons in performing a complex endoscopic task.Methods Five experienced endoscopic surgeons performed end-to-end anastomosis on post-mortem porcine small intestine. The procedure was performed both with standard endoscopic techniques and with robotic assistance (da Vinci system, Intuitive Surgical, Sunny vale, CA). It was performed in three different working directions with a horizontal, vertical, and diagonal position of the bowel. Anastomosis time, number of stitches, knots, time per stitch, suture ruptures, and the number of stitch errors were recorded. Also, an action analysis was performed.Results Anastomosis time, number of stitches, and the number of knots did not differ significantly between the two groups. The time needed per stitch was significantly shorter with robot assistance (81.4 sec/stitch vs 95.9 sec/stitch, p = 0.005). More suture ruptures occurred in the robot group (0 (0–2) vs 0 (0–0), p = 0.003). In the standard group more stitch errors were found (2 (0–5) vs 0 (0–3), p = 0.017). These results were comparable for three different working directions. The action analysis, however, showed significant benefits of robotic assistance. The benefits were greatest in a vertical bowel position.Conclusion Robot assistance might offer added value to experienced endoscopic surgeons in the performance of a small-bowel anastomosis in an experimental setup, even though total anastomosis time could not be demonstrated to be shorter and some suture tears occurred due to the lack of force feedback.     

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon in Taiwan: experience with the initial 30 cases

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is an established trend in surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the USA; however, RALP is still in its infancy in Taiwan. We have tracked various indicators of proficiency as a single Taiwanese surgeon became familiar with the procedure through experience with 30 initial RALP surgeries using the da Vinci system between December 2005 and April 2007. Here, we report the changes in these proficiency indicators, and the short-term outcomes for the patients. Thirty consecutive patients were classified into group 1 (cases 1–15) and group 2 (cases 16–30). Preoperative clinical characteristics, including age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists anesthetic surgical risks class (ASA), prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA), and Gleason scores were similar between the groups. The clinical stage (T1/T2) was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p = 0.028). Group 1 needed more frequent insertion of a double-J stent (60% versus 0%) before surgery and evaluation by cystogram before removal of urethral catheter (80% versus 6.7%) than group 2; these differences were statistically significant. Blood loss and transfusion rates were lower in group 2, but complication and conversion rates were higher in group 1. These differences were not statistically significant. Positive surgical margins, continence rates, potency, and intercourse rates at 12 months were similar between the groups. Console time was 262 min in group 1 and 190 min in group 2 (p = 0.033); this appeared to be the best indicator of proficiency. Establishing proficiency as determined by functional outcomes required about 30 cases, but the positive surgical margin rates indicate that experience with more than 30 cases was needed to ascend the learning curve with respect to oncological outcomes.     

Robotic repair of scrotal bladder hernia during robotic prostatectomy

We report a case of scrotal bladder hernia in a 68-year-old man who was also diagnosed with prostate cancer. We fixed the herniated portion of the bladder using robotics after having successfully accomplished robotic prostatectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on simultaneous repair of scrotal bladder hernia and prostate cancer where both pathological findings have been treated with the assistance of robotics at a single operation.     

Robot-assisted retroperitoneal renal cryoablation

A 74-year-old man with multiple medical comorbidities and a 3.6 cm right posterior renal hilar mass, biopsy-confirmed as papillary renal cell carcinoma, underwent a robot-assisted retroperitoneal renal cryoablation. We report the feasibility of robot-assisted retroperitoneal cryoablation of a renal tumor and describe our technique.     

Robotic radical prostatectomy in Greece: the learning curve and beyond. The initial 40 cases

Radical prostatectomy is the treatment of choice for management of organ-confined prostate cancer. Minimally invasive treatments, as an alternative, have refined been recently by the introduction of da Vinci robotic technology which has the potential to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the steep learning curve associated with conventional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. We report on our experience with robotic radical prostatectomy using the first da Vinci robotic system in our country. During 8 months, 40 robotic radical prostatectomies were performed by a single surgical team at Athens Medical Centre (Marousi, Greece). Preoperative data collection included basic demographics, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), clinical stage, and Gleason score. Operative outcomes included operative time, estimated blood loss, and complications. Postoperative outcomes included hospital stay, pain, catheter time, pathology, PSA, return of continence, and potency. Average operative time was 186.25 min with an estimated mean blood loss of 135 ml. There were no intra-operative complications. Ninety per cent of the patients were discharged home on postoperative day 1 with mean haematocrit 36.7 (range 29–43). All patients reported minimal postoperative pain and resumed regular diet on the first postoperative day. Average catheter time was 6.6 days (range 5–10). Early continence was observed in 47.5% of the patients, seven days after catheter removal. Continence at 1, 3, and 6 months was 75, 82.5 and 95%, respectively. The overall positive margin rate was 17.5%. Ninety-five per cent of the patients had undetectable postoperative PSA levels (less than 0.1 ng/ml) at a median follow-up of 6 months. Our initial experience with robotic radical prostatectomy is very promising. The learning curve was approximately 10–12 cases. With a methodical approach we were able to implement the method safely and effectively in our practice, combining minimal morbidity with good oncological and functional outcomes.