Minimally Invasive Lymphocele Drainage Using the Da Vinci Single-Port Platform: Step-By-Step Technique of a Prostate Cancer Referral Center

Abstract

Background: Some reports in the literature describe lymphocele formation in as much as half of patients after pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), with 1%–2% requiring intervention. Several treatment modalities for symptomatic lymphoceles are available, including percutaneous drainage, sclerosing agents, and surgical marsupialization, typically performed by laparoscopy or with a multiport robotic platform. The advantage of surgical approach is permanent excision of the lymphocele capsule and fewer days with pelvic drains compared to percutaneous drainage. This study aims to describe and illustrate, for the first time, the step-by-step surgical management of symptomatic lymphoceles using a less invasive robotic platform, the da Vinci ® Single Port (SP). Materials and Methods: We describe the outcomes of three patients who underwent lymphocelectomy and marsupialization with the da Vinci SP for symptomatic lymphoceles after RARP and PLND with the da Vinci Xi. Results: Operative time for cases 1, 2, and 3 was 84, 80, and 79 minutes. The blood loss for each surgery was 25 mL. Patient 2 was discharged in 3 days, whereas patients 1 and 3 were discharged in 4 days. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. All patients had their drain removed in under 24 hours after surgery. The mean follow-up period was 7.7 months (3.5–15.8). No patients were readmitted or had lymphocele recurrence. Conclusion: Da Vinci SP lymphocelectomy is safe and feasible with satisfactory outcomes. The SP enables definitive treatment of the lymphocele sac, reducing the number of days with abdominal drains, and allows further decrease in surgical invasiveness with fewer incisions and better cosmesis.