Extending the indication for robot‐assisted retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy to antero‐lateral renal tumors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy (RARPN) is typically employed for posterior renal tumors. This work aimed to extend the indication of RARPN to patients with selected antero-lateral renal tumor. METHODS: Patients who underwent RARPN between December 2013 and September 2015 at the authors' institution were enrolled. Two intersecting lines were drawn on an axial CT image to define the medial/lateral nature of anterior renal tumors. Patients with antero-lateral tumor and posterior tumor were compared. RESULTS: Antero-lateral tumors constituted 56.1% (32/57) of the total cases. The perioperative outcomes between the two groups were comparable. Although the operation time was longer for the antero-lateral tumor group, it did not show statistical significance. No cases had positive margins. There was one case of Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa complication in the antero-lateral tumor group. CONCLUSIONS: RARPN is a safe and effective procedure not only for posterior renal tumors but also for carefully selected antero-lateral renal tumors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.