India’s Largest Collaborative Study Validates Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy For Renal Mass Surgery

Intuitive, a leader in minimally invasive care and robotic-assisted surgery, has announced the findings of India’s largest collaborative and multi-institutional study on robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) using the da Vinci surgical system. Conducted across 14 government and private centres, the study spanned 12 years and included data from 800 cases. This milestone study highlights the efficacy and safety of RAPN in India, providing crucial insights for urological care.

Dr Sudhir Rawal, Director and Head of Genito Uro Oncology Services at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, emphasised the importance of this study: "In India, there has been a need for robust and high-quality data on robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy outcomes tailored to our population. Our results help fill this gap, offering insights into the procedure's efficacy and safety across diverse patient demographics and tumour complexities. This will give trained surgeons the confidence to choose robotic-assisted surgery for renal masses, leading to better clinical outcomes."

Swati Gupta, Marketing Director at Intuitive India, echoed this sentiment: "The results of this study are significant. The data demonstrates the potential of the da Vinci system in improving patient outcomes for RAPN in India. This collaboration with leading Indian institutions and surgeons has provided valuable insights specific to the Indian patient population. Going forward, this knowledge will be crucial in refining surgical techniques and expanding access to minimally invasive robotic surgery for more patients. We are proud to have contributed to this important research and look forward to its positive impact on patient care in India."

Key Findings from the Study:

• Perioperative Outcomes: RAPN using da Vinci demonstrated favourable perioperative outcomes, with a median operative time of 180 minutes and a median estimated blood loss of 100 ml. The mean warm ischemia time (WIT) was 22.7 minutes, with a low conversion rate to open surgery (0.4 per cent) and a manageable complication rate, where the majority of complications were minor grade.

• Functional Outcomes: RAPN using da Vinci showed promising functional outcomes, with mean serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels stabilising postoperatively. Trifecta and pentafecta outcomes were achieved in 61.4 per cent and 60 per cent of patients, respectively, highlighting the procedure's efficacy in preserving renal function.

• Comparative Analysis: The study compared favourably with international benchmarks, demonstrating comparable outcomes to previous multicentric analyses while reflecting the real-world scenario with centres of varying volumes and surgeon expertise.

"While partial nephrectomy has emerged as the preferred treatment approach for renal masses, our study supports the efficacy of using the da Vinci system in India for these procedures," Dr. Rawal stated. "By establishing a comprehensive database of clinical outcomes, we aim to pave the way for further advancements in this area tailored to our population."

The study, published in the Indian Journal of Urology (DOI: 10.4103/iju.iju_443_23), underscores the safety and efficacy of RAPN, reinforcing its value to the healthcare community.