Robotic versus standard laparoscopic partial/wedge nephrectomy: a comparison of intraoperative and perioperative results from a single institution.

Purpose: Laparoscopic partial/wedge nephrectomy, similar to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, is a technically challenging procedure that is performed by a limited number of expert laparoscopic surgeons. The incorporation of a robotic surgical interface has dramatically increased the use of minimally invasive pelvic surgery such that robotic laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is commonly performed even by laparoscopically naïve surgeons. This analysis compares the outcomes of our initial experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RLPN) performed by an experienced open surgeon to that of standard laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) performed by two experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Nerve-sparing techniques in open and laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a safe and effective treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer with excellent cancer control and quality of life outcomes. We present current nerve-sparing techniques used in open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted prostatectomy to maximize postoperative potency. We review the literature and describe important anatomical landmarks and technical aspects that differentiate between approaches.

Combined robot-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and radical prostatectomy.

A 57-year-old man with prostate cancer and transitional-cell carcinoma of the kidney underwent a combined robot-assisted prostatectomy and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with robot assistance. We describe the initial report of this combined operation and the novel use of the da Vinci robot for extravesical bladder-cuff excision and repair.

Initial experience with full-length metal stent to relieve malignant ureteral obstruction.

Ureteral obstruction caused by extrinsic compression by a malignancy generally can be overcome initially with a ureteral stent. However, the long-term failure rate is high, usually necessitating placement of a nephrostomy tube. Herein, we present the initial case, in this country, of intractable ureteral obstruction managed successfully with the newly developed all-metal Resonance stent (Cook Ireland Ltd.

Laparoscopic vesicovaginal fistula repair with robotic reconstruction.

Introduction: To describe, to our knowledge, the first case report of robotic-assisted laparoscopic repair of a vesicovaginal fistula. A 44-year-old woman presented with a vesicovaginal fistula after vaginal hysterectomy. She had been noted to have a bladder injury that was repaired at that time.