Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: Expanding Utilization, Advancing Innovation

Abstract

Robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) is gaining increasing prominence for nephron-sparing surgery in the treatment of patients with localized kidney tumors. RPN offers the benefits of minimally invasive surgery with a shorter learning curve compared with its laparoscopic counterpart. While long-term data are awaited, RPN does provide short-term oncologic and functional outcomes comparable to open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Furthermore, robotic surgery has facilitated technical innovation, including the elimination of warm ischemia, provided minimally invasive alternatives to patients with complex tumors, and importantly, has fuelled increased dissemination of partial nephrectomy surgery among community urologists.