Consensus views on perioperative management of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy

Abstract

Radical cystectomy is associated with significant morbidity and prolonged length of stay irrespective of surgical approach (Novara et al., Eur Urol 67:376-401, 2015; Gandaglia et al., Can Urol Assoc J 8:E681-E687, 2014). Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) aim to improve surgical outcomes by reducing variation in perioperative best practices. A recent meta-analysis evaluating the impact of ERPs on patients undergoing radical cystectomy concluded that they reduce the length of stay in hospital, time-to-bowel function, and rate of complications after cystectomy (Tyson and Chang, Eur Urol 70:995-1003, 2016). Whilst ERPs are now recognized to be an important part of surgical management for radical cystectomy, there is comparatively little evidence for ERPs after Robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).