To compare patient demographics, preoperative symptoms, imaging data, intraoperative factors, and perioperative outcomes in patients with ADPKD undergoing open versus robotic bilateral nephrectomy.
Key Findings:
Robotic nephrectomy (RNx) had a significantly lower estimated blood loss (EBL) compared to open nephrectomy (ONx) (100 mL vs. 500 mL, p = 0.005).
Length of hospital stay was shorter for RNx patients (3 days) compared to ONx patients (8 days, p = 0.02).
Postoperative complications were significantly lower in the RNx group (11.8%) compared to the ONx group (66.7%, p = 0.003).
No visceral injuries occurred in the RNx group, while 13.3% of ONx patients experienced visceral injuries.
Interpretation:
Robotic bilateral nephrectomy appears to offer significant advantages over open surgery in terms of reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications in patients with ADPKD, suggesting a potential shift in surgical practice.
Limitations:
Small sample size with only 17 RNx and 15 ONx patients, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Retrospective design may introduce selection bias, affecting the reliability of the outcomes.
Conclusion:
Robotic bilateral nephrectomy is a safe and effective alternative to open nephrectomy in patients with ADPKD, associated with improved perioperative outcomes.
