Robotic Single-site Kidney Surgery: Evaluation of Second-generation Instruments in a Cadaver Model

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the second generation of single-site instruments for robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (R-LESS) for kidney procedures in a cadaver model. METHODS Three procedures, including 1 pyeloplasty, 1 partial nephrectomy, and 1 nephrectomy, were conducted in a female cadaver model. A da Vinci Si system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) and the second generation of single-site instruments, specifically designed for R-LESS, were used. RESULTS All the procedures were completed successfully without the addition of extra ports. Time to set up the port and instruments was 40 minutes. In the pyeloplasty, time to complete the anastomosis was 39 minutes. In the partial nephrectomy, simulated ischemia time was 21 minutes. In the nephrectomy, time to complete the resection was 13 minutes. No significant gas leak was noticed during the procedures. There were no injuries to intraabdominal organs or vessels. CONCLUSION Robotic single-site renal surgery using a second generation of specifically designed instruments was feasible in a cadaver model, obviating many limitations of LESS. Lack of articulation at the tip of the instruments represents the main disadvantage of this novel instrumentation, especially in case of reconstructive procedures. UROLOGY 79: 975-979, 2012. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc.