Background: Our aim was to determine the learning curve for robotic adrenalectomy and factors that influence operative time and cost.
Methods: We prospectively evaluated of 100 consecutive patients who underwent robotic, unilateral, transperitoneal adrenalectomy.
Results: The mean operative time for robotic-assisted adrenalectomy was 95 minutes and conversion rate was 5%. Pathology was aldosteronoma (n = 39), pheochromocytoma (n = 24), nonfunctional adenoma (n = 19), Cushing adenoma or hyperplasia (n = 16), and cyst (n = 2). Morbidity and mortality rates were 10% and 0%, respectively. The mean operative time decreased by 1 minute every 10 cases. Operative time improved more for junior surgeons than for senior surgeons (P = .006) after the first 50 cases. By multiple regression analysis, surgeon's experience (-18.9 +/- 5.5), first assistant level (-7.8 +/- 3.2), and tumor size (3 +/- 1.4) were independent predictors of operative time (P < .001 each). The robotic procedure was 2.3 times more costly than lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (euro4102 vs euro1799).
Conclusions: Surgeon experience, resident training level, and tumor size are important variables for robotic-assisted, unilateral adrenalectomy and should be taken into account when this approach is evaluated. Controlled studies need to be performed to show potential relevant clinical benefits that could balance costs.