Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Ureteral Reconstruction for Malignant Pathology: Single-Center Experience with Analysis of Perioperative, Functional, and Oncologic Outcomes

Introduction: Radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision (BCE) is the standard of care all high-risk upper tract urothelial carcinomas. With continued advancements, robot-assisted segmental ureteral resection can be employed for ureteral tumors for ipsilateral renal preservation. Herein, we are presenting our experience of different techniques classified by the affected ureteral segment, along with perioperative and intermediate to long-term functional and oncologic outcomes. Methods: From January 2008 to June 2021, a total of 17 patients underwent robot-assisted renal preserving excisional procedures for ureteral tumors. We collected and analyzed baseline, perioperative and follow-up outcomes parameters from our prospectively maintained institutional database. Eleven patients underwent segmental ureterectomy (SU) with BCE and ureteroneocystostomy with psoas hitch, five patients underwent SU with ureteroureteral anastomosis with/without psoas hitch, and one patient underwent ileal patch interposition after segmental ureteral excision. Results: Although majority of the patients had inconclusive or low-grade pathology on initial ureteroscopic biopsies, 73.33% of the patients were found to have high-grade tumors on final pathology report. Median tumor size was 2.7 cm (1-5.5 cm), and the median operative duration was 193 minutes (142-400 minutes). None of the procedures required conversion to open. Overall, only one patient (5.9%) had Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complication (pelvic abscess). At median follow-up of 41 months (7-156 months), four patients (26.67%) developed urothelial recurrences out of which only one patient required nephroureterectomy. Overall survival and nephroureterectomy-free survival were 86.67% and 92.31%, respectively. Conclusions: Our study provides a comprehensive review of various surgical approaches of robot-assisted renal sparing management for ureteral tumors. These procedures are surgically safe, feasible, and effective with satisfactory oncologic outcomes at intermediate to long-term follow-up. These procedures may be safely employed in select patients with a localized ureteral tumor to salvage the ipsilateral kidney and estimated glomerular filtration rate.