Comprehensive Approach to Port Placement Templates for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Urologic Surgeries

Port placement for robot-assisted laparoscopic urologic surgery can be critical to effective completion of the minimally invasive procedure. An ideal port template would allow unhampered access to all critical structures during surgery, easy access for the bedside assistant, and minimization of arm collision with the fewest ports necessary to minimize cosmetic impact. We present a comprehensive plan for the placement of ports across different procedures for a variety of upper tract (radical/partial nephrectomy, retroperitoneal radical/partial nephrectomy, and pyeloplasty), lower tract (prostatectomy, and cystectomy), combined upper/lower tract (nephroureterectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection), and female pelvic surgeries. Optimal exploitation of these tips across the different procedures for different generations of robots will help in effective execution of robotic urologic surgery.