Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy and intra-abdominal formation of an orthotopic heal neobladder

Purpose: To describe our technique of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy and intra-abdominal formation of an orthotopic neobladder (Hautmann) for treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Methods: We describe our surgical technique in the worldwide first attempt to perform a robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy and completely intra-abdominal formation of an orthotopic neobladder. The DaVinci System(TM) (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA, USA) was utilized to perform the procedure. Results: Utilizing the DaVinci System the operation could be performed without any complications. Operating time was 8.5 hours, blood loss was 200 ml. The oncologic as well as the functional result of the reservoir were excellent. Discussion: We here demonstrated that sophisticated laparoscopic procedures like the intra-abdominal formation of an orthotopic neobladder are accomplishable with robotic assistance. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.