Open versus Minimally Invasive Nephroureterectomy: Contemporary Analysis from a Wide National Population-Based Database

It is generally perceived that minimally invasive nephroureterectomy (MINU), especially in the form of robotic-assisted laparoscopy, is gaining an increasing role in many institutions.

The aim of our study was to investigate contemporary trends in the adoption of MINU in the United States compared with open nephroureterectomy (ONU).

Patients who underwent ONU or MINU between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed using PearlDiver Mariner, an all-payer insurance claims database. International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify the type of surgical procedure, patients’ characteristics, social determinants of health (SDOH), and perioperative complications. The primary objective assessed different trends and costs in NU adoption, while secondary objectives analyzed factors influencing the postoperative complications, including SDOH. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression models.

Overall, 15,240 patients underwent ONU (n = 7675) and MINU (n = 7565). Utilization of ONU declined over the study period, whereas that of MINU increased from 29 to 72% (p = 0.01). The 60-day postoperative complication rate was 23% for ONU and 19% for MINU (p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, ONU showed a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.20–1.48). Approximately 5% and 9% of patients reported at least one SDOH at baseline for both ONU and MINU (p < 0.001).

Contemporary trend analysis of a large national dataset confirms that there has been a significant shift towards MINU, which is gradually replacing ONU. A minimally invasive approach is associated with lower risk of complications. SDOH are non-clinical factors that currently do not have an impact on the outcomes of nephroureterectomy.