Laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical cystoprostatectomy: for whom and how?

Background. Laparoscopic radical cystectomy is an established reliable minimally invasive method for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, in the elderly and patients with serious comorbidities, laparoscopic radical cystectomy is still associated with high risk of complications. There are only a few reports on the use of extraperitoneal access for laparoscopic radical cystectomy in the literature. At the same time, extensive experience has been accumulated in laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy and retroperitoneoscopic operations on the kidney showing significant advantages of extraperitoneal access. Aim. To present initial results of laparoscopic radical cystectomy through extraperitoneal access in medically ill patients.Materials and methods. Between 2017 and 2021, extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical cystectomy was performed at the Volgograd Regional Uronephrology Center in four male patients with tumors affecting the bladder, stages T2–T4. All patients had serious comorbidities. In 3 patients, grade G2–G3 muscle-invasive bladder cancer was histologically verified prior to cystectomy. Two of them had invasion in the posterior urethra. One patient was diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 8 (5 + 3)) with invasion into the bladder wall, ureterohydronephrosis and stage IV chronic kidney disease. None of the patients received neoadjuvant therapy: in 2 cases surgeries were emergency due to recurrent hemorrhages, and 3 patients had significantly decreased kidney function.Results. All operations were performed completely laparoscopically through extraperitoneal access. In 1 case, urine diversion was performed transperitoneally into a colon conduit. Simultaneous retroperitoneoscopic ureterocutaneostomy was performed in two patients: on one side (in a patient with a single functioning kidney) and on both sides, respectively. In a patient with stage V chronic kidney disease and permanent dialysis, bilateral simultaneous retroperitoneal nephrectomies were performed.In 2 patients, salvage cystectomy was done for recurrent bleeding that couldn’t be managed by conservative methods. The maximum intraoperative blood loss did not exceed 500 mL. Bowel function in all patients was recovered within 24–36 hours after the intervention.Conclusion. Laparoscopic  extraperitoneal radical cystectomy is a reproducible minimally invasive surgical procedure for bladder cancer treatment that has advantages in terms of postoperative recovery in patients with severe comorbidities. The use of extraperitoneal access may be a rational alternative for salvage cystectomy in male patients. More observations are needed to determine the place of the method in the surgical treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer.