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The following is a summary of “Feasibility of a new L43K ultrasound probe attachment for intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy,” published in the February 2025 issue of Current Urology by Kobayashi et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the feasibility of a new probe attachment (PA) designed to improve the handling of the drop-in-type L43K ultrasound probe during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. 

They analyzed the outcomes of 58 patients after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with the conventional grip and 13 patients using the PA from September 2019 to February 2021. Propensity score matching (1:1) was applied. The PA’s usability was assessed based on total procedure time for intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound, proportion of ultrasound time in console time, number of probe fin grips, grip failures, ultrasound procedure time per grip, and successful gripping rate. 

The results showed that after matching, 12 patients were allocated to each group, with a significant difference in the tumor site. Usability was significantly better in the PA group: conventional vs PA: 6.8 vs 7.6, P = 0.53; 5.6% vs 6.1%, P = 0.61; 8 vs 10, P = 0.32; 3 vs 0, P = 0.014; 1.5% vs 0.7%, P = 0.021; 66% vs 100%, P = 0.002. In patients with complex renal tumors, completely endophytic tumors, and renal hilum tumors, usability improved similarly: 9.8 vs 7.8 min, P = 0.21; 9.9% vs 4.7%, P = 0.001; 7 vs 6, P = 0.025; 3 vs 0, P = 0.048; 2.9 vs 1.6 min, P = 0.89; 60% vs 100%, P = 0.003. 

Investigators found that the L43K PA improved probe usability and ultrasonography accuracy for complex renal tumors during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. 

Source: journals.lww.com/cur/fulltext/9900/feasibility_of_a_new_l43k_ultrasound_probe.188.aspx