Growing evidence for benefits of minimally invasive radical cystectomy

摘要

Although open radical cystectomy (ORC) is still regarded as the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, minimally invasive procedures are becoming more popular and increasingly performed. Laparoscopic surgery has inherent limitations and has been gradually supplanted by robot-assisted procedures, which have several advantages, including higher degree of freedom of movement and better ergonomics (1). Over the past decade, robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has gained attraction as an alternative to the conventional open approach, with a substantial increase in use over time, from 16.7% in 2010 to 25.3% in 2013 in the United States. However, installation and maintenance costs remain prohibitive and have drawn criticism. Thus, the question of the interest of RARC and its potential benefits for the patient is at the heart of current debates.