Robot-Assisted Sacropexy with the Novel HUGO Robot-Assisted Surgery System: Initial Experience and Surgical Setup at a Tertiary Referral Robotic Center

• Published in: Journal of endourology Vol. 37; no. 1; p. 35
• Main Authors: Mottaran, Angelo, Bravi, Carlo Andrea, Sarchi, Luca, Paciotti, Marco, Nocera, Luigi, Piro, Adele, Piazza, Pietro, De Backer, Pieter, Farinha, Rui, De Groote, Ruben, De Naeyer, Geert, Mottrie, Alexandre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Laparoscopy - methods; Referral and Consultation; Robotic Surgical Procedures - methods; Robotics; Tertiary Care Centers; RSC; apical; robot-assisted sacral colpopexy; pelvic organ prolapse; robotic sacropexy; RALSC
• ISSN: 1557-900X
• DOI: 10.1089/end.2022.0495

Robotic sacropexy (RSC) emerged in the last years as a valid alternative to the laparoscopic technique. However, the robotic approach is still limited by platform availability and concerns about cost-effectiveness. Recently, new robotic platforms joined the market, lowering the costs and offering the possibility to expand the robotic approach. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the technical feasibility and safety of the procedure with this new platform along with the description of our surgical setting. We reported data on the first five consecutive patients who underwent RSC at Onze Lieve Vrouw Hospital (Aalst, Belgium), performed with the novel HUGO™ Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System. The platform consists of four fully independent carts, an open console, and a system tower equipped for both laparoscopic and robotic surgery. We collected patients' characteristics, intraoperative data, intraoperative complications, and clashes of instruments. All procedures were completed according to the same surgical setting and technique. No need for conversion to open/laparoscopic surgery and/or for additional port placement was required. No intraoperative complications, instrument clashes, or system failure that compromised the surgery's completion were recorded. Median interquartile range docking, operative, and console time were 8 (6-9), 130 (115-165), and 80 (80-115) minutes, respectively. This series represents the first worldwide report of a robot-assisted sacropexy executed with the novel HUGO RAS System. Awaiting future investigation, this preliminary experience provides relevant data in terms of operative room settings and perioperative outcomes that might be helpful for future adopters of this platform.