Pilot experience of simultaneous robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy for bilateral renal tumors-single center analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Bilateral renal tumors accounts for approximately 3% of renal tumors. However, surgical treatment methods for bilateral renal tumors have not yet been established. It is imperative to balance the need for curative surgery with the goal of maximal functional preservation in patients with bilateral synchronous renal tumors. Therefore, partial nephrectomy may be the optimal surgical treatment for bilateral synchronous renal tumors.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study to analyze the clinical outcome of simultaneous robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for bilateral renal tumors at our institution between 2016 and 2019. A total of eight patients were enrolled and the number of renal masses in the 16 kidneys was 18.

Results: There was no positive surgical margin after RAPN in our case series and no local recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up period. The only complication of simultaneous RAPN in the present case series was that one patient experienced acute kidney injury after operation without need for dialysis therapy.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that simultaneous RAPN for bilateral renal tumors might be feasible both for the preservation of renal function and for oncological outcome such as negative surgical margin.

Keywords: bilateral renal tumors; robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy; simultaneous.