Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff

The following is a summary of “Robotic-assisted Posterior Urethroplasty: Outcomes From 105 Men in a Single-center Experience,” published in the November 2023 issue of Urology by Zhang, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to assess surgical outcomes in a large cohort of men undergoing robotic-assisted posterior urethroplasty (RPU), a procedure described in small series as a viable option.

A retrospective review was conducted on all 105 men who underwent RPU at a single institution from October 2014 to August 2022. Postoperative outcomes, including complications, surgical success (defined as no need for reintervention), and incontinence requiring artificial urinary sphincter placement, were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and chi-square testing were utilized to assess whether outcomes were associated with specific posterior urethral disease etiologies.

The mean follow-up time was 18.7 months. More than half of the patients (57.1%) had received prior pelvic radiation. The most common reconstructive techniques included excision and primary anastomosis (30.0%), resitting of the bladder neck (24.8%), Y-V plastic (20.0%), and buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (13.3%). About 41 patients (39.0%) required a combined abdominoperineal approach. Seven patients (6.7%) experienced ≥CD grade 3 complications within 30 days postoperatively. Thirty patients (28.6%) developed incontinence requiring subsequent artificial urinary sphincter placement—additionally, 24.8% of patients required at least one subsequent surgical reintervention.

In the largest RPU cohort, surgical success rates were comparable, and continence rates were improved compared to open surgery. The findings aligned with existing robotic series and contributed to the growing body of evidence supporting the advantages of RPU.

Reference: goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(23)00669-6/fulltext