Objective
To compare the safety and perioperative outcomes of robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (R‐RPLND) vs laparoscopic RPLND (L‐RPLND).
Patients and Methods
Our Institutional Review Board‐approved retrospective testicular cancer registry was queried for patients who underwent a primary unilateral R‐RPLND or L‐RPLND by a single surgeon for a stage I testicular non‐seminomatous germ cell tumour. Groups were compared for differences in baseline and outcome variables.
Results
Between July 2006 and July 2014, 16 R‐RPLND and 21 L‐RPLND cases were performed by a single surgeon. Intra‐ and perioperative outcomes including operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph node yield, complicate rate, and ejaculatory status were similar between groups (all P > 0.1).
Conclusions
As an early checkpoint, R‐RPLND appears comparable to L‐RPLND in terms of safety and perioperative outcomes. It remains unclear if R‐RPLND offers any tangible benefits over standard laparoscopy.