Single Institution Experience with Robot-Assisted Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Renal Procedures

Abstract Background and Purpose: The desire to decrease morbidity from multiple port sites and progress toward a natural orifice approach has stimulated interest in laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. Limitations, however, including clashing of instruments and loss of triangulation, have prevented widespread dissemination of LESS. To overcome these problems, the advantages of the robotic platform have been applied to single-site surgery. The objective of this article is to review our experience and summarize the current literature pertaining to robot-assisted LESS renal surgery. Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight robot-assisted LESS kidney procedures were identified from our prospectively maintained LESS database. These included 11 radical nephrectomies, 5 partial nephrectomies, 3 nephroureterectomies, 7 pyeloplasties, 1 simple nephrectomy, and 1 renal cyst decortication. Perioperative and postoperative data were analyzed. Results: Of 28 cases, 4 conversions occurred. The remaining procedures wer...