AirSeal
Ò
trocar were placed. Fireflyä Fluorescence was used to verify
adequate vascular supply of resected ureter. AR-3D video stream was
then used for the exact identification and dissection of renal hilum: the
3D virtual model was manually oriented through the AR-dedicated
workstation by the assistant engineer. The overlapped 3D images of
the renal model allowed the surgeon to identify the precise anatomy
of the renal hilum early and safely. Intuitive endowrist stapler 30
Ò
was
then used to seal and cut renal artery. Graft harvest was achieved
with Applied Inzii Retrieval System
Ò
through GelPort
Ò
System to
assure rapid graft retrieval minimizing ischemia time.
RESULTS: Overall operative time was 270min. Console time
was 178min. Time from renal artery division to graft harvest was 2min
56sec. Overall ischemia time was 140min (including harvest, back-table
and transplant). Patient was discharged 4 days after surgery. Neither
early nor late complications were reported; renal function at time of
discharge was within normal range. Graft transplantation was
successful.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of AR during RALDN may improve
the understanding of renal anatomy thus facilitating the management of
the hilum and enhancing the safety and the chances of a successful
kidney transplant.
Source of Funding: None
V02-04
ROBOT-ASSISTED MANAGEMENT OF URETERAL
COMPLICATIONS IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS: CASE
SERIES AND DESCRIPTION OF SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
Joris Vangeneugden, Charles Van Praet*, Liesbeth Desender,
Caren Randon, Steven Van Laecke, Patrick Peeters, Evi Nagler,
Jill Vanmassenhove, Karel Decaestecker, Gent, Belgium
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Ureteral complications
following renal transplant procedures are common and mainly include
urinary leaks, ureteral stenosis, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and acute
graft pyelonephritis. First approaches for the management of stricture
and VUR include, respectively, percutaneous balloon dilation with or
without laser incision and endoscopic injection of dextranomer/hyal-
uronic acid copolymer. In case of recurrence after a primary endouro-
logical approach, a stricture >1cm or complex anatomy in transplant
patients, ureteral reimplantation should be performed. A robotic
approach may reduce morbidity in a fragile transplant population. We
describe our case series and surgical video of robot-assisted ureteral
reimplantation in kidney transplant patients.
METHODS: We present 20 renal transplant patients who suf-
fered from ureteral complications: 15 with VUR and 5 with ureteral
stenosis. Given the complex anatomy and/or failed first endoscopic
treatments, ureteral reimplantation was indicated in all cases. As each
case had a unique indication and anatomy, five different surgical ap-
proaches were used, as displayed in the video: Lich-Gregoir non-
dismembered and dismembered, uretero-ureterostomy, and ipsilateral
and contralateral pyelo-ureterostomy. All surgeries were performed
using the Da Vinci XiÒ robot.
RESULTS: All surgeries were completed successfully without
intraoperative complications. Median pre- and postoperative (3 months)
GFR values were 53 ml/min (IQR 30-70) and 55 ml/min (IQR 43-66)
respectively in patients who suffered from VUR and 29 ml/min (IQR 22-
36) and 35 ml/min (IQR 29-49) in patients who suffered from stenosis.
Median hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 2-4). One patient had post-
operative laryngeal edema requiring intensive care admission (Clavien-
Dindo grade 4), one patient needed repositioning of a dislocated JJ
stent (grade 3b), one patient had erysipelas of the left arm and one
patient had febrile urinary tract infection within 90 days requiring anti-
biotics (both grade 2). No other complications occurred and all patients
were free from nephrostomy tube or double J stent at a median follow-
up of 12 months (IQR 7-19).
CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the safety, feasibility and
surgical technique of robot-assisted ureteral reimplantation options in
kidney transplant patients. This approach allows for high-quality
realignment of the urinary tract, a quick recovery with low
complication rate and preserved renal function in a fragile renal
transplant population.
Source of Funding: None
V02-05
INTRACORPOREAL AND EXTRACORPOREAL ROBOT-ASSISTED
KIDNEY AUTO-TRANSPLANTATION: EXPERIENCE OF THE ERUS
RAKT WORKING GROUP
Alberto Breda, Pietro Diana, Irene Giron-Nanne, Angelo Territo*,
Andrea Gallioli, Alberto Piana, Josep Maria Gaya, Barcelona, Spain;
Liesbeth Desender, Benjamin Van Parys, Charles Van Praet, Ghent,
Belgium; Joan Palou, Barcelona, Spain; Nicolas Doumenec, Toulouse,
France; Karel Decaestecker, Ghent, Belgium
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Kidney auto-
transplantation is a useful technique to be reserved for cases where
kidney function is compromised by a complex anatomical
configuration, such as long ureteric strictures and renal vascular
anomalies not suitable for in situ reconstruction. Robotic-assisted
kidney auto-transplantation (RAKAT) presents a novel, minimally
invasive and highly accurate approach.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing
standard (eRAKAT) and totally intracorporeal RAKAT (iRAKAT) in a
total of 3 institutions. eRAKAT consisted in a bench surgery for graft
preparation after the robotic nephrectomy and was followed by graft
transplantation. iRAKAT consisted in a nephrectomy phase followed by
intracorporeal reperfusion and transplantation.
RESULTS: Between 01/2017 and 02/2021, 29 patients under-
went RAKAT. 15 and 14 were eRAKAT and iRAKAT, respectively.
Median age was 42 (39-50.5) and 37.5 (25.8-55.4) for the eRAKAT and
iRAKAT, respectively. In the eRAKAT and iRAKAT groups, 10, 4 and 1
patients and 10, 4, and 0 patients presented with 1, 2 and 3 arteries,
respectively and 13 and 2 patients and 14 and 0 patients presented with
1 and 2 veins, respectively. Pre-op median serum creatinine and GFR
were for the eRAKAT group 0.79 mg/dL (0.71-0.86) and 90 (78.4-109.1)
and for the iRAKAT group 0.83 (0.76-1.05) and 84 (67-99), respectively.
None required conversion to open surgery. For the standard group,
median operative time was 360 min (339-397). eRAKAT median
warm ischemia, cold ischemia and rewarming ischemia times were 3
(2-4), 156 (131-194), 44 (43-49.5) min respectively. For the iRAKAT
group, median operative time was 307 min (292.5-467.7). Median
warm ischemia, cold ischemia and rewarming ischemia times were 3
(2.8-3), 27.5 (20-55.1), 46.5 (24.2-58.2) min respectively. 3 patients
developed classified as Clavien-Dindo >2 in the eRAKAT group and
1 patient for the iRAKAT, none led to graft loss. At 90 days follow-up,
serum creatinine and GFR were 0.78 (0.71-0.82) and 85.5 (81.7-
109.4), and 0.91 (0.8-1.1) and 81 (69-87.5) for the eRAKAT and
iRAKAT group respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: eRAKAT and iRAKAT represents a promising
minimally-invasive technique in selected cases with acceptable
ischemia time and operative outcomes. The eRAKAT technique leads
to the advantages of a better graft vascular management and
reconstruction. The iRAKAT technique despite the higher technical
difficulty, leads to shorter cold ischemia times. Comparative studies
are needed to characterize and define the indications for the two
approaches.
Source of Funding: None
V02-06
ROBOTIC-ASSISTED TESTICULAR AUTOTRANSPLANTATION
Brian Chao*, Nabeel Shakir, Jamie Levine, Lee Zhao, New York, NY
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Silber and Kelly first
described the successful autotransplantation of an intra-abdominal
e134 THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Ò
Vol. 206, No. 3S, Supplement, Friday, September 10, 2021
Copyright © 2021 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.