Single-position robot-assisted versus laparoscopic antegrade bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer: A retrospective controlled study

ObjectivesThe main purpose of this study was to compare the surgical strategy and clinical outcomes of single-position robotic assisted laparoscopic anterograde bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer.Materials and methods21 patients were diagnosis with squamous cell carcinoma and identified from March 2010 to December 2020 in our department. Ten patients were received single-position robotic assisted laparoscopic anterograde bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy (robot-assisted group), and eleven patients underwent laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (laparoscopic group). Preoperative physical examination and related auxiliary examinations all indicated bilateral inguinal lymph node enlargement, and there was no distant metastasis patient presented during the follow-up period.ResultsThere was no intraoperative conversion to open surgery. The operation time under robot-assisted group was 104 ± 13 min which was significantly shorter than laparoscopic group (136 ± 11 min, P < 0.01). The average number of lymph nodes was 22.2 ± 4.5 of both sides in robot-assisted group, which was statistically different compared with laparoscopic group (15.4 ± 3.1, p < 0.01). Moreover, there was significant difference of hospitalization cost between two groups (CNY 67429 ± 5586 vs 28582 ± 3774, P < 0.01). No differences in operation time, blood loss, and length of stay were recorded.ConclusionsThe single-position robotic assisted laparoscopic anterograde bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy reveals with shorter operating time, and better surgical effect, Moreover, we prefer to no change the trocars layout and mechanical arm system during the operation.