Preoperative 3D Planning and Intraoperative Navigation in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Complex Pheochromocytoma.

Objective: To evaluate the value of preoperative 3D planning and intraoperative navigation in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for complex pheochromocytoma.

Study design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, from July 2022 to July 2023.

Methodology: Sixty patients with complex pheochromocytoma were divided into the study group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30) according to the treatment method. The study group was treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, with preoperative 3D printing-based planning, and intraoperative 3D navigation, and the control group underwent conventional retroperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Surgical-related indicators and intraoperative and postoperative complication rates between the two groups were compared.

Results: The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and drainage tube retention time in the study group were significantly shorter than in the control group (p <0.001), and the intraoperative blood loss in the study group was significantly less than in the control group (p <0.001). The study group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of intraoperative haemodynamic instability (HI), use of vasoactive drugs, and postoperative ICU transfer rate than the control group (p <0.05). The incidence of surgical complications in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group (p = 0.04). The non-recurrence rate in the study and control groups after 1-year follow-up was 96.7% and 90%, respectively (χ2 = 2.77, p = 0.10).

Conclusion: Robot-assisted surgery, performed through renal surface, has the advantages of less bleeding, shorter surgical time, faster recovery, fewer complications related to chromaffin cell inflammation and postoperative complications, and is safe and effective in treating complex pheochromocytoma.

Key words: 3D planning and navigation, Robot-assisted surgery, Complex pheochromocytoma.