Dr. Badani on Utilizing Multiport Robotic Retroperitoneal Partial Nephrectomies in RCC

Ketan K. Badani, MD, professor of urology, Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai, director of robotic surgery, Mount Sinai West, vice chairman, Urology and Robotic Operations, director, Comprehensive Kidney Cancer Program, Mount Sinai Health System, discusses the utility of multiport robotic retroperitoneal partial nephrectomies in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). 

Data suggest that robotic surgery is a dominant modality in cancer. Specifically, approximately 70% of all partial nephrectomies are performed robotically in the United States, Badani says. Moreover, most of these surgeries are performed through the abdomen. However, in some scenarios, such as patients with posterior-sided kidney tumors or individuals who had undergone extensive abdominal surgery and have abdominal adhesions and scarring, it is optimal to surgically go in through the retroperitoneum with a retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy, Badani explains. 

 Retroperitoneal surgeries comprise about 5% to 8% of surgeries, but up to 50% of patients could be eligible for this surgical approach because they have posterior-sided kidney tumors or have had abdominal surgeries, Badani concludes.