Robot-assisted surgery of renal cell carcinoma in comorbid and frail patients

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma is predominantly observed in elderly patients. Many of them have multiple comorbidities, which can limit the feasibility of surgical treatment. The search for an optimal approach of radical treatment for comorbid and frail patients remains a current challenge.

AIM: To evaluate the perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy in comorbid and frail patients with renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: At the Almazov National Medical Research Centre we retrospectively studied the results of 118 comorbid and frail patients who underwent robot-assisted surgeries for localized renal cell carcinoma from 2012 to 2022. Mean age of men was 65.7 ± 11.4 years, and women was 61.3 ± 13.1 years. Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Frailty was determined using a modified Frailty index (mFI-11). Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy were perfomed by single experienced robotic surgeon. Perioperative functional outcomes were assessed. Renal function was evaluated based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula before surgery and at 1.3, and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS: Among 118 patients, 71 (60.2%) underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, while 47 (39.8%) underwent radical nephrectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 15 (12.7%) of patients for robot-assisted surgeries. There were no positive surgical margins. Mortality in the early postoperative period amounted to 1.7% and was associated with the development of acute cardiovascular failure.

CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in comorbid and “fragile” patients — the safest and optimal method of treatment, accompanied by minimal perioperative complications and mortality.