Analyses of operative time according to procedure phases during robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the iPhone application "My Intuitives"

Purpose We investigated operative time according to procedure phases in robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and identify variables associated with longer operative time in each procedure phase. Methods This retrospective, single-center study included 108 patients who underwent RAPN conducted by an experienced surgeon. Operative time was divided into dissection, resection, tumor bed suture, and renorrhaphy and hemostasis phases, which were derived from the iPhone application "My Intuitives." Multivariate analyses were performed to identify possible predictors such as sex, body mass index, tumor complexity, and surgical approach for longer operative time in each phase. Results The median console time was 65 min, and median operative times in dissection, resection, tumor bed suture, and renorrhaphy and hemostasis phases were 41, 8, 9, and 8 min, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, longer console time was observed in high complexity tumors (vs. low, OR: 8.01, 95% CI: 1.94-33.0) and transperitoneal approach (vs. retroperitoneal approach, OR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.94-33.0). High complexity tumors were significantly associated with longer operative time in all procedure phases, and the male sex was associated with a longer operative time in the dissection phase than the female sex (OR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.18-11.0). Conclusion The identified significant predictive factors associated with longer operative time were the male sex and high complexity in the dissection phase, high complexity in the resection phase, in the tumor bed suture phase as well as in the renorrhaphy and hemostasis phase. These findings may help to predict the difficulty of performing RAPN in terms of operative time.