Background: In February 2021 Medtronic ^® (Minneapolis, MN) launched the HUGO™ Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System in the global market. The aim of the current study is to describe the first case series and the optimal setup of robot-assisted pyeloplasty procedure, performed with HUGO RAS system in a tertiary referral robotic center. Methods: Data from consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted pyeloplasty at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis Hospital (Aalst, Belgium) were recorded. Baseline characteristics, and perioperative and surgical outcomes were collected. Results: Overall, 10 robot-assisted pyeloplasties were performed (October 2022–September 2023). Based on our expertise, the following minor setting changes have been made, relative to the official setup guide: the endoscope port and, subsequently, the left and right-hand ports were positioned more laterally. Additionally, the reserve/4th port was placed more laterally and cranially, and adjusted the arm cart's tilt angle, reducing it from −30° to −15°. The median docking time was 8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.2–9.8) minutes, and the median active console time was 89.5 (80.0–95.8) minutes. No conversion to open/laparoscopic surgery or perioperative complications was encountered. A single technical problem was recorded in 1 (10%) procedure. Specifically, one arm was blocked, and the procedure was accomplished with three arms without compromising the procedure success. Conclusions: This study represents the first worldwide series of robot-assisted pyeloplasty performed with the HUGO RAS system and shows promising results. The procedure might be safely performed with this robotic platform achieving optimal perioperative outcomes.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in men. From the introduction of PSA testing, an increasing number of men undergoes prostate biopsy (PBX). While the physical side effects of PBx have been well investigated, its psychological impact has been under-evaluated. Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate the presence of psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in patients waiting for histopathological results after prostate biopsy (PBx). Methods: From February to April 2019, 51 consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsies at our institution were included. Age, PSA, DRE, familiarity for prostate cancer, number of previous biopsies, type of anesthesia, number of cores were recorded. All patients filled the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a psychometric Likert-scale questionnaire, before receiving the histopathological results of their PBx. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress among patients awaiting histopathologic results is 41% (21/51 patients), with anxiety being the main component of their distress. On multivariate analysis, PSA, family history, and repeat biopsy were significantly associated with anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Patients undergoing PBx experience a burden of psychological distress waiting for histopathologic results, especially anxiety. Appropriate counseling should be offered to patients at high risk of developing psychological distress after PBx. Future goals would include technological improvements to shorten the time between biopsy and definitive results.

Introduction: There are only a few clinical data on nononcologic procedures performed with the new Hugo™ robot-assisted surgery (RAS) system. Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) is a minimally invasive treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it demonstrated equal early functional and better perioperative outcomes as compared with open simple prostatectomy. In this article, we reported the first large series of RASP performed with Hugo RAS system. Methods: This Supplementary Video S1 is a step-by-step description of two different techniques for RASP. We analyzed the data of 20 consecutive patients who underwent RASP at OLV Hospital (Belgium) between February 2022 and March 2023. Patients baseline characteristics, perioperative and pathologic, and 1-month postoperative outcomes were reported, using the median (interquartile range [IQR]) and frequencies, as appropriate. Results: Median age (IQR) and preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) were 72 (67–76) years, and 7.7 (5.0–13.4) ng/mL, respectively. A total of 11 patients experienced an episode of preoperative acute urinary retention, and 8 men had an indwelling bladder catheter at the time of the surgery. No intraoperative complication occurred, and there was no need for conversion to open surgery. Median operative and console time were 165 (121–180) and 125 (101–148) minutes. On the first postoperative day the urethral catheter was removed in 80% of the patients. Median length of stay was 3 (3–4) days. Three patients had minor postoperative complications. On final pathology report, median prostate volume was 120 (101–154) g. On postoperative uroflowmetry, median Qmax and postvoid residual were 16 (13–26) mL/s and 15 (0–34) mL, respectively. Conclusions: This series represents the first report of surgical outcomes of RASP executed with Hugo RAS system. Awaiting study with longer follow-up, our study suggests that Hugo RAS has multiple applications, and it can ensure optimal outcomes in nononcologic procedures.

Introduction: Available guidelines recommend performing nephron-sparing surgery in selected renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Many studies provided robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) functional and oncological outcomes, with most of these including a wide timespan and a number of surgeons with different experiences, which might lead to the heterogeneity of the results. In this study, we aim to provide a contemporary report of RAPN patient outcomes performed at two referral centers by experienced surgeons. Materials and Methods: Overall, 333 RAPN patients treated at two European referral centers between 2019 and 2021 were identified. Continuous and categorical variables were reported using medians and proportions. Multi-variable logistic regression (MLR) models were fitted to test predictors of off-clamp technique use and trifecta achievement. Results: The median age was 65 (IQR: 57–73) years. The clinical stage distribution was as follows: 224 (67%) cT1a vs. 89 (26%) cT1b vs. 20 cT2 (7%). The median warm ischemia time was 14 (10–18) minutes, with trifecta being achieved in 74% (n = 240) of patients. In MLR models predicting off-clamp surgery, an increasing R.E.N.A.L. score was independently associated with a lower chance of attempting such a technique (OR: 0.69, p-value < 0.001). In models predicting trifecta achievement, both a higher R.E.N.A.L. score (OR: 0.78, p-value = 0.007) and the presence of multiple lesions (OR: 0.29, p-value = 0.007) were independently associated with lower chances of reaching the outcome. Significant upstaging of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage was recorded in 9.4% of patients after one year of follow-up. Conclusions: We reported the contemporary outcomes of patients treated with RAPN by highly experienced surgeons from two referral centers. This report represents a valid benchmark that could be used for individual patient counseling in the decision-making process.

Background/Objectives: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has demonstrated improved perioperative outcomes and recovery in bladder cancer (BCa) patients. This study compares patient and tumor characteristics, operative time (OT), length of stay (LOS), and complication rates between a historical (2003–2016) and a contemporary cohort (2017–2024) treated at a high-volume robotic center. Methods: Data from 274 BCa patients who underwent RARC at AZORG Hospital, Aalst, Belgium, were analyzed. Perioperative outcomes were compared between cohorts. Multivariable Poisson regression models identified predictors of longer OT and LOS, while multivariable logistic regression models (MLRMs) assessed predictors of higher complication rates. Results: Overall, 274 BCa patients who underwent RARC were identified (38% historical cohort vs. 62% contemporary cohort). The contemporary cohort had a significantly shorter median OT (345 vs. 360 min; p = 0.048) and LOS (8 vs. 12 days; p < 0.001) compared to the historical cohort. Postoperative complications were lower in the contemporary group, with more cases experiencing no complications (60% vs. 41%) and fewer grade 3–4 complications (10% vs. 27%; p < 0.001). In multivariable Poisson regression, the contemporary cohort was an independent predictor of shorter OT (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]: 0.94, 95% [Confidence Interval] CI: 0.93–0.96; p = 0.04) and shorter LOS (IRR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.60–0.69; p < 0.001). In MLRMs predicting complications, the contemporary cohort was associated with lower risk (Odds Ratio: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23–0.76; p = 0.005). Conclusions: RARC outcomes improved significantly over time, with reduced OT, LOS, and complication rates in the contemporary cohort, highlighting advancements in surgical techniques, perioperative care, and patient safety. These findings reinforce the role of RARC in optimizing BCa treatment.