Comparison of perioperative outcomes and cost for pediatric robotic pyeloplasty using the Da Vinci Si and Xi surgical systems.

INTRODUCTION

Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) is widely used for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), however a robotic approach has been associated with higher surgery cost. A large portion of robotic surgery costs are related to modifiable direct expenses that are influenced by operating room (OR) time. The Da Vinci Xi surgical platform offers many technical improvements designed to improve efficiency and reduce OR time.

OBJECTIVE

To compare operative time and perioperative outcomes for RALP with the Da Vinci Si and Xi platforms at our institution. We hypothesized that the Xi system would be associated with reduced total operative time and similar success rates.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective chart review of all pediatric patients ≤21 years of age undergoing RALP at our institution between 2019 and 2022 and compared outcomes for surgeries performed with the Si and Xi platforms. Bilateral procedures, re-do pyeloplasty, and patients undergoing other procedures at the time of RALP were excluded. Primary outcome was operating room (OR) time. Secondary outcomes were length of inpatient stay, estimated blood loss (EBL), and post-operative improvement in hydronephrosis.

RESULTS

101 RALP surgeries were included in our final analysis. There were no differences in median age (p = 0.66), laterality (p = 0.4), sex (p = 0.78), reason for presentation (p = 0.90), preoperative hydronephrosis (p = 0.22), presence of parenchymal thinning (p = 0.23), and median split function of the affected kidney (p = 0.44) between Si and Xi cohorts. Mean operative time was 25 min shorter in the Xi cohort compared to the Si cohort (p = 0.02). Radiographic improvement in hydronephrosis and post-operative length of stay were similar in both cohorts (p = 0.37 and p = 0.13, respectively).

DISCUSSION

At our institution, RALP with the Da Vinci Xi platform was associated with a 25 min shorter operative time compared to the Si platform. This improvement in OR utilization reduces direct surgical costs and may increase the overall cost effectiveness of robotic surgery. Our study has several limitations: first, it is a single-institution retrospective series from a nonprofit, academic pediatric hospital; second, only total operative time was measured as our institution does not separately record console and docking times; third, estimated blood loss and radiographic improvement in hydronephrosis was surgeon reported; fourth, our cost analysis was limited to direct surgical costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system has a similar high success rate and is associated with shorter operative time compared to the Da Vinci Si system.