Robotic IVC thrombectomy, a kidney surgery to remove cancer from the vena cava vein, is in no way inferior to standard open IVC thrombectomy, a new study has revealed. This suggests that robotic IVC thrombectomy was a very safe and effective alternative approach. The study was conducted by researchers from the Mays Cancer Center and Department of Urology at UT Health San Antonio in the US. The study is published in the Journal of Urology.
The effects of kidney cancer are not limited to the kidneys and in advanced stages can invade the body’s largest vein, the inferior vena cava (IVC). The IVC carries blood from the kidneys back to the heart. And there is a high chance of cancer entering the liver and heart through the IVC.
Recent findings Study Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 28 studies enrolling 1,375 patients at different medical centers. Of these, 439 underwent robotic IVC thrombectomy and 936 underwent open surgery.
“The success rate of open surgery is excellent, and most cases are done this way. But now, with the robotic approach, we can achieve the same results with smaller incisions. So, we need to study the results of using this new approach,” said Dharam, senior author of the study. Kaushik said.
Patients who underwent robotic surgery had fewer complications than patients who underwent open surgery. Only 18 percent of robotic patients required transfusions, compared with 64 percent of open patients.
Only 5 percent of robotic IVC thrombectomy patients experienced complications such as bleeding, compared with 36.7 percent of open thrombectomy patients.
This study is the largest meta-analysis of outcomes of robotic versus open IVC thrombectomy. The researchers said the findings are encouraging for the future of robotic surgery. Kaushik said, “Optimal candidacy for robotic surgery should be based on the surgeon’s robotic skills, tumor extent and burden, and the patient’s comorbid conditions.
However, he added, the open surgical approach is the “gold standard” for achieving excellent surgical control.
This study was conducted in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; and University of Washington, Seattle.
