Validity and Safety of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy for the Elderly: Results of Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Aged ≥80 Years

Objective: To improve perioperative outcomes, robot-assisted radical cystectomy has gained increasing interest. This study aimed to assess the detailed perioperative complications of robot-assisted radical cystectomy in elderly aged ≥80 years and compare them with those of non-elderly.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 74 patients who underwent robotassisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between September 2018 and September 2021. Perioperative complication was classified by the Clavien–Dindo classification and organ system-based categories. We assessed the relationship between age or Charlson comorbidity index score (≥3 or <3) and the incidence of perioperative complication or rehospitalization rate within 90 days postoperatively.

Results: Of the 74 patients, perioperative complication of all grades and grade ≥IIIa occurred in 54 (73%) and 15 (20%) patients, respectively. The postoperative rehospitalization rate was 20%, and the perioperative mortality rate was 0%. Elderly (n = 20) showed no difference in the incidence of perioperative complication of all grades or grade ≥IIIa compared with non-elderly, and no organ system-based category had a higher incidence in elderly than that in non-elderly. Gastrointestinal tract-related perioperative complication incidence was higher in non-elderly and those with Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (P = .044, .039, respectively); cardi ovasc ular- relat ed perioperative complication incidence was higher in those with Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 (P = .0068).

Conclusion: The incidence perioperative complication of robot-assisted radical cystectomy in elderly was not different from those in non-elderly, suggesting that robot-assisted radical cystectomy may be an option for the treatment of bladder cancer in elderly as well as non-elderly.

Cite this article as: Tanabe K, Nakanishi Y, Umino Y, et al. Validity and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for the elderly: Results of perioperative outcomes in patients aged ≥80 years. Turk J Urol. 2022;48(5):322-330.