OBJECTIVETo present the technique and experience of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RARC) by da Vinci surgical system.

METHODSFrom December 2007 to September 2008, 4 patients underwent RARC and urinary diversion. The age of patients was 44 to 63 years old. The body mass index was 22.8 to 27.7. All their clinical stages were lower than T2N0M0. The technique for RARC involving ureters dissection, posterior dissection, lateral pedicle control, anterior dissection, dorsal vein complex control, neurovascular bundles sparing, lymphadenectomy, ureter-ileal anastomosis, urethra-neobladder anastomosis to either ileal conduit urinary diversion or neobladder reconstruction performed extracorporeally.

RESULTSAll the operations were accomplished successfully. The urinary diversion of 2 case was ileal conduit and others was ileal orthophoria neobladder. The operation time was 300 to 450 min. The time of radical cystectomy was 150 to 180 min. The estimated blood loss was 100 to 500 ml. The postoperative hospital stay was 9 to 35 d. The bed rest time was 4 to 9 d. There was 1 patients who had incomplete intestinal obstruction at 8th postoperative day cured by conservative therapy. The patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months, all patients survived without tumor recurrence. The patients have satisfied urinary continence and normal renal functions without hydronephrosis after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSRARC is small incision and safe, the results are definite. It is one of the direction of minimally invasive urologic surgery.