Preliminary results of feasibility, safety and efficacy of robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty with the SHURUI single-port robotic surgical platform in children

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) with the novel SHURUI single-port (SR-SP) robotic surgical platform in children. Between November 2023 and April 2024, 20 pediatric patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) underwent transperitoneal RALP with the SR-SP surgical platform. Baseline characteristics, perioperative parameters and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. All surgical procedures were successfully performed without conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery. The median docking time, console time, and operative time were 3.5 min (range 3.5-6.0), 144.5 min (range 88.0-290.0), and 221.5 min (range 136.0-450.0), respectively. The median estimated blood loss was 5 ml (range 2-20) and the median length of hospital stays was 6 days (range 4-24). Through trans-umbilical incision, RALP was feasible in patients with a height of no less than 114 cm. The minimum incision length was 2 cm. No intraoperative complication was identified. Two cases were identified with the Clavien-Dindo Grade II postoperative complications and one with the Clavien-Dindo Grade III complications. The surgical success rate was 95%. The median SCAR scale score for incision scars was 2 points (range 1-3). Surgeons reported a favorable technical difficulty rating with a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) score of 30.7. RALP using the novel SR-SP robotic surgical platform is feasible, safe and effective in older children. The SR-SP surgical platform may serve as a promising alternative to the da Vinci SP surgical platform.