Key result
Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with IVC thrombectomy reduces estimated blood loss by ~900 mL versus open surgery.
Why the study?
To compare perioperative, pathological, functional, and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy versus open and laparoscopic approaches.
Does robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy improve perioperative, pathological, and oncological outcomes in adult patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus compared to open or laparoscopic approaches?
Meta-Analysis (n=1,781)
Yes
Does robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy improve perioperative, pathological, and oncological outcomes in adult patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus compared to open or laparoscopic approaches?
Mean Difference: -900.5 (95% CI -1234–-566.9)
p-value: p=0.001
Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy reduces blood loss, transfusion requirements, and hospital stay compared to open surgery, without compromising perioperative safety or short-term oncological outcomes.
Background/Objectives: To compare perioperative, pathological, functional, and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy (RARN-TT) versus open (ORN-TT) and laparoscopic (LRN-TT) approaches. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies of adults with renal cell carcinoma and Mayo/Neves level I–IV inferior vena cava tumor thrombus undergoing RARN-TT versus ORN-TT and/or LRN-TT. Risk ratios and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation. Results: Eight retrospective studies including 1781 patients were included: 221 underwent robotic surgery, 1411 open surgery, and 149 laparoscopic surgery. Compared with ORN-TT, RARN-TT was associated with lower estimated blood loss (mean difference −900.5 mL, 95% confidence interval −1234.0 to −566.9; p = 0.001), lower transfusion probability (risk ratio 0.395, 95% confidence interval 0.159–0.979; p = 0.046), and shorter hospital stay (mean difference −3.79 days, 95% confidence interval −4.83 to −2.76; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in operative time, intensive care unit stay, postoperative complications, perioperative mortality, pathological outcomes, or overall survival. Evidence for cancer-specific and progression-free survival was limited. Comparisons with LRN-TT were exploratory. Conclusions: RARN-TT may reduce blood loss, transfusion requirements, and hospital stay compared with ORN-TT, without evidence of worse perioperative, pathological, or survival outcomes. However, all studies were retrospective and affected by selection bias and heterogeneity. RARN-TT may be considered for selected patients at experienced centers, particularly for lower-level thrombi. Prospective multicenter studies stratified by thrombus level are needed.
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Caudana et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (n=1,781). Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy (RARN-TT) vs. Open radical nephrectomy with IVC thrombectomy (ORN-TT) was evaluated on Estimated blood loss (MD -900.5, 95% CI -1234.0 to -566.9, p=0.001). Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy significantly reduced estimated blood loss (MD -900.5 mL) compared to open surgery.
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