Robotic Surgery in Urology Roboterchirurgie in der Urologie

Summary: Background: Robotics in urology is a recent innovation. They offer some attractive features in laparoscopy. All six degrees of freedom are restored at the instrument's tip and a three-dimensional view is available. Remote-controlled surgery is possible using the new robotics. We investigated the applicability of remote-controlled robotics to different laparoscopic procedures in urology.Methods: In a first step, we adapted reconstructive procedures such as pyeloplasties and nephropexy, which were already being performed by laparoscopy at our institution, to robotic surgery. In a second step, we performed ileocystoplasties using the robot, which until this time had always be done by open surgery.Results: The nephropexy as well as the 11 pyeloplasties could be finished as planned with the robot. Dissection was more time consuming with the robot than with conventional laparoscopy, whereas the reconstructive part was much faster compared to conventional laparoscopy. One of the ileocystoplasties had to be converted; the second one was finished as planned.Conclusions: Robotic surgery also facilitates difficult reconstructive procedures by enhancing surgical dexterity, but development of more and different kinds of instruments is still necessary.