[Our initial experience with robot-assisted partial nephrectomy].

Abstract

The aim of our study was to summarize our initial experience with robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) surgeries. Our data were obtained retrospectively by analyzing the data from the first RAPN surgeries performed at University of Pécs Clinical Centre. Between October 2022 and April 2024, we performed 53 robot-assisted partial nephrectomies. Due to our specific circumstances, including the lack of funding from the National Health Insurance Fund (OEP), we performed only 16 surgeries in the first eight months and 37 in the subsequent nine months. According to the PADUA score, 55% of the surgeries were categorized as simple, 36% as moderate, and 9% as highly complex. The average console time was 134 minutes, showing a decreasing trend with increased practice. The average warm ischemia time was 12 minutes. There were no conversions to open surgery, but one radical nephrectomy was performed due to peritoneal tumor infiltration. Our patients were discharged on the third postoperative day. The introduction of RAPN in our clinic, as the first provincial centre, was successful. The transition from laparoscopic partial nephrectomy quickly yielded good results despite performing only a few surgeries in the first eight months due to the lack of OEP funding. Nevertheless, our results clearly show that performing 20-30 robot-assisted surgeries per year per surgeon, as described in the literature, is minimally necessary.