Crocerossa F, Carbonara U, Cantiello F, et al. - Relative to open radical nephrectomy (ORN), robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RRN) seems to be linked with some key benefits in patients undergoing RN for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), including shorter hospitalization and fewer complications. When compared with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), similar surgical outcomes were achieved by undertaking RRN but at higher total costs.

• Across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science, researchers identified 12 studies involving 64,221 patients for inclusion in the analysis.

• Statistically significant longer operative time (WMD 37.44 min), shorter length of stay (WMD –0.84 days) and higher total costs (WMD US$ 4700) were recorded in correlation with RRN when compared with LRN.

• Shorter length of stay (WMD –3.06 days), fewer overall complications, lower estimated blood loss (WMD –702 ml), and higher total hospital costs (WMD US$ 4,520) were documented in correlation with RRN vs ORN.

• High heterogeneity was observed across all analyses.