Complications of robot-assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

Objective : to analyze complications after laparoscopic and robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy. Materials and methods . In our study was included 246 cases. Intra- and postoperative complications were studied after nephron-sparring surgery. The laparoscopic approach was used in 68 (27.3 %) cases, the robot-assisted - in 178 (71.5 %) cases. Intraoperative complications were assessed according to the Rosenthal classification, postoperative complications - according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results . The overall incidence of intraoperative complications was 12.6 %. The most frequent intraoperative complication was bleeding that did not require blood transfusion (grade I) - 5.69 % (laparoscopic approach - in 3 (4.41 %) cases, robot-assisted approach - in 11 (6,18 %) cases). Bleeding requiring blood transfusion and injuries of internal organs, which were restored intraoperatively (grade II), were recorded in laparoscopic and robot-assisted approaches in 4.41 % and 2.25 % of cases, respectively. Complications leading to the loss of organ (nephrectomy, splenectomy) were observed in 2.94 % and 4.49 % of cases, respectively. Intraoperative deaths (grade IV) were not registered. The incidence of postoperative complications was 18.29 %. Minor complications (Clavien-Dindo ≤II) were detected in 16 (6.5 %) patients (laparoscopic approach - 7.35 %, robot-assisted approach - 6.18 %). Serious complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥III) were detected in 29 (11.79 %) cases (with laparoscopic approach - 14.71 %, robot-assisted - 10.67 %). In the group of tumors with the RENAL index 4-6, the incidence of postoperative complications was 14.7 % with the laparoscopic approach, and 7.1 % with the robot-assisted approach; in the RENAL 7-9 group - 21.9 % and 13.0 %, respectively. In the group of tumors of high complexity (RENAL 10-12), only the robot-assisted approach was used, the incidence of postoperative complications was 22.0 %. Conclusion . Partial nephrectomy for kidney tumors is an effective and safe surgical technique. The incidence of complications when using the laparoscopic approach is higher than when using the robot-assisted technique in groups of tumors of simple and medium complexity. For tumors of high complexity, robot-assisted approach is a priority. The largest number of serious complications is observed with partial nephrectomy with complex tumors.