Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy with cutaneous ureterostomies: a contemporary multicenter analysis

Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) offers decreased blood loss during surgery, shorter hospital length of stay, and lower risk for thromboembolic events without hindering oncological outcomes. Cutaneous ureterostomies (UCS) are a seldom utilized diversion that can be a suitable alternative for a selected group of patients with competing co-morbidities and limited life expectancy.

To describe operative and perioperative characteristics as well as oncological outcomes for patients that underwent RARC + UCS.

Patients that underwent RARC + UCS during 2013–2023 in 3 centers (EU = 2, US = 1) were identified in a prospectively maintained database. Baseline characteristics, pathological, and oncological outcomes were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and survival analysis were performed using R language version 4.3.1.

Sixty-nine patients were included. The median age was 77 years (IQR 70–80) and the median follow-up time was 11 months (IQR 4–20). Ten patients were ASA 4 (14.5%). Nine patients underwent palliative cystectomy (13%). The median operation time was 241 min (IQR 202–290), and the median hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 6–11). The 30-day complication rate was 55.1% (grade ≥ 3a was 14.4%), and the 30-day readmission rate was 17.4%. Eleven patients developed metastatic recurrence (15.9%), and 14 patients (20.2%) died during the follow-up period. Overall survival at 6, 12, and 24 months was 84%, 81%, and 73%, respectively.

RARC + UCS may offer lower complication and readmission rates without the need to perform enteric anastomosis, it can be considered in a selected group of patients with competing co-morbidities, or limited life expectancy. Larger prospective studies are necessary to validate these results.