Robot-assisted versus open kidney transplantation in patients who previously underwent an open kidney transplant.
After prior open transplant, robotic re-transplant had higher reintervention-free survival than open surgery
Robot-assisted versus open kidney transplantation in patients who previously underwent an open kidney transplant.
The safety of robot-assisted kidney transplantation (robot-assisted kidney transplantation) in patients with end-stage renal disease (end-stage renal disease) who underwent an open kidney transplantation (open kidney transplantation) in the past is unknown.
This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study including 78 patients with end-stage renal disease who received robot-assisted kidney transplantation or open kidney transplantation from living donor between 2015 and 2023 in 7 European academic centers.
no reinterventions after robotic re-transplant, versus some after open surgery
Among 78 patients who previously underwent open kidney transplantation, 29 (37%) patients subsequently underwent robot-assisted kidney transplantation and 49 (63%) open kidney transplantation.
Patients' baseline characteristics were comparable between groups.
The site of transplantation was the left iliac fossa in 24 (83%) and 30 (61%) patients undergoing robot-assisted kidney transplantation and open kidney transplantation, respectively (p = 0.07).
Estimated blood loss, rewarming time and intraoperative complications were similar in both groups.
In selected patients undergoing kidney re-transplantation after a previous open kidney transplantation, robot-assisted kidney transplantation appears to be technically feasible and provides perioperative outcomes comparable to the open approach.
In this challenging surgical setting, robot-assisted kidney transplantation may represent a valuable option in experienced centres.