Early outcomes of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: lessons learned from the learning-curve experience

Objective To describe the crucial factors related to the implementation of the da Vinci single-port (SP) system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), and the early outcomes after the introduction of this robot for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Patients and methods We prospectively collected data from 50 consecutive patients with prostate adenocarcinoma who underwent RARP using this robot. The median follow-up was 53 days. We performed a transperitoneal technique. The robotic (multiport) trocar was placed on the supra-umbilical midline 20 cm from the pubis and an assistant trocar placed in the right lower quadrant. We report our initial experience describing the intra- and postoperative outcomes associated with this new robot. Also, we report the early functional and oncological outcomes in the follow-up period considered. Continuous variables were described as medians and interquartile ranges, while categorical variables as frequencies and proportions. Results The median total operative time was 118 min, median console time was 80 min, and median estimated blood loss was 50 mL. There were no intraoperative complications or blood transfusions. The final pathology reported 18% Grade Group (GrGp)1, 58% GrGp2, 18% GrGp3, 2% GrGp4, and 4% GrGp5. In all, 40 patients (80%) were pT2 and 20% were >= pT3a. The overall positive surgical margin rate was 14%. In all, 39 patients (78%) achieved full continence at median of 21 days after RARP. The median pain scale (0-10) score at 8, 12 and 16 h after RARP was 2, 2, and 0, respectively. Conclusion The use of the da Vinci SP robot with an additional assistant port for RARP is technically safe and feasible, with acceptable short-term functional and oncological outcomes. However, there is a technical learning curve for this new platform due to the smaller scope of the operative field and the decreased flexibility and strength of the surgical instruments.