Day-case robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy: feasibility and preliminary results of a prospective evaluation (UroCCR-25 AMBU-REIN study)

World journal of urology, Jun 2020

JC Bernhard , G Robert , S Ricard, C Michiels, G Capon,  A Boulenger de Hautecloque , H Bensadoun , J Gay, J Rogier, P Tauzin-Fin , M Gross-Goupil , A Benard , K Nouette, S Roullet, JM Ferrière

doi: 10.1007/s00345-020-03283-z.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32514670/

Abstract

Purpose: Robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) is a minimally-invasive technique used to treat renal tumors. A clinical pathway and prospective research protocol (AMBU-REIN) were specifically set up to establish and assess the routine use of day-case RPN.

Methods: The AMBU-REIN study was conducted in the framework of the French research network on kidney cancer UroCCR (NCT03293563). We present our initial experience of patients treated using day-case RPN and released from our hospital on the same day, focusing on patient selection, safety and patient satisfaction using the EVAN-G validated questionnaire.

Results: Between September 2016 and September 2019, 429 RPN were performed and 82 patients were consecutively selected for day-case RPN. Patients were managed using transperitoneal RPN with off-clamp tumorectomy for 66/82 cases. Mean tumor size was 2.7 ± 1.2 cm. There were no immediate severe postoperative complications; 7/82 patients were kept under observation overnight and discharged the following day. The follow-up at day 30 indicated postoperative complications, readmissions, and mortality rates of 1.2, 1.2, and 0%, respectively. Next-day patient satisfaction questionnaires indicated that patients were generally highly satisfied, with a mean ± standard deviation global score of 83.6 ± 10.3%. “Attention” was rated the highest overall (mean 94.8 ± 10.5%), while “pain management” scored the lowest (61.2 ± 20.5%).

Conclusions: This prospective case series is the first to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of day-case RPN. For selected patients and through a dedicated, nurse-led clinical pathway, it provided a high level of patient satisfaction. Expected benefits on healthcare cost savings warrant further investigation.

Keywords: Day-case surgery; Kidney cancer; Outpatient; Partial nephrectomy; Renal tumors; Robotic surgery.