Clinical Implications for da Vinci SP Partial Nephrectomy in High-Complexity Tumors: Propensity Score-Matching Analysis

Purpose: To compare surgical outcomes between robot-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) surgery using the da Vinci Si or Xi system and the da Vinci SP system for partial nephrectomy. Materials and Methods: From 2008 to 2020, 66 partial nephrectomies were performed using a single-site robotic approach: 44 used the da Vinci Xi or Si system (R-LESS group) and 22 used the da Vinci SP system (SP group). After 1:1 propensity score matching, surgical outcomes were compared between groups. Results: Median patient age was 51.5 years. Median tumor size was 2.1 cm and was not significantly different between groups. Median operation time was longer in the R-LESS group (R-LESS vs SP: 180 vs 155 minutes, p = 0.034), but median warm ischemic time was comparable between groups. Estimated blood loss was higher in the R-LESS group (R-LESS vs SP: 215 vs 20 mL, p < 0.001). Median operation time was significantly shorter in the SP group in patients with moderate- to high-complexity tumors (R-LESS vs SP: 200 vs 172 minutes, p = 0.035). Rates of trifecta achievement were similar between groups (63.6% in both groups, p = 1.00). Conclusions: R-LESS and da Vinci SP methods are both feasible approaches for single-site incision robotic partial nephrectomy. The da Vinci SP platform allows "true" single-site surgery without additional ports and provides a wider working space. It was associated with better performance than R-LESS partial nephrectomy. In complex tumors, operation time was shorter with SP partial nephrectomy than with R-LESS partial nephrectomy, suggesting that the SP method is especially advantageous for managing complex renal tumors.