Robotic-assisted RC appears to offer some operative and perioperative benefits compared with the open approach without compromising pathological measures of early oncological efficacy, such as lymph node yield and margin status. Larger, randomized studies with long-term follow-up are required to confirm these findings and establish oncological equivalence
I have been performing robotic cystectomies for almost 2 years now and have seen similar results. The patients with less cancer in this study have been selected for robotics and teh more difficult ones were usually done open. This makes the data harder to analyze.
I have been able to do most of my bladder cancer surgeries robotically in the last year, mostly due to increasing experience and having a daVinci S robot, which allows for a wider range of movements. My operating room times are now similar between open and robotic.
I expect this operation to change from an open to robotic as more institutions gain more experience with robotic surgery.