Abstract：Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RARPN). Methods: A retrospective study on 21 RARPNs, from 2014 June to 2014 Dec, was performed in our hospital. The median age of these patients was 57.2 years old (47-71 years old), and the body mass index (BMI) was 22.6 kg/m2 (20.3-28.1 kg/m2). The left renal tumors were seen in 9 cases, and right in 12 cases. The median maximum tumor diameter was 3.7 cm (2.5-4.4 cm). The complications, estimated blood loss, warm ischemia time, operative time and positive margins were assessed. Results: All 21 cases were subjected to RARPNs successfully, and no cases were converted to open surgery. The operative time was 65 min (50-80 min), and estimated blood loss was 90 mL (70-150 mL). There was no blood transfusion. Median warm ischemia time was 16 min (10-23 min). Postoperative drainage time was 3 days (2-4 days). Pathologically postoperation, all cases were diagnosed as having clear cell carcinoma, including 18 cases of Furhman grade Ⅱ, and 3 cases of grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ. No positive margins were seem. No serious intraoperative, and postoperative complications occurred. During a short-term follow-up period (1 to 10 months), there were no death and disease progression. Conclusions: The RARPNis safe and feasible, and provides an alternative minimally invasive method for resection of renal cell carcinoma.
