Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41801322›Full record

ArticleJournal of robotic surgery2026

Short-term outcomes of robotic vs. laparoscopic pyeloplasty: analysis of the NSQIP database.

Maher Abdessater, Marwan Zein, Ramy Touma Sawaya

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of robotic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Maher AbdessaterDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon. ma718@aub.edu.lb.
Marwan ZeinDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
Ramy Touma SawayaDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveMinimally invasive pyeloplasty is the standard surgical treatment for adult ureteropelvic junction obstruction and can be performed using either robotic-assisted or laparoscopic techniques. However, contemporary national-level data comparing short-term outcomes between these approaches are limited. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether robotic-assisted pyeloplasty is associated with improved 30-day perioperative outcomes compared with laparoscopic pyeloplasty in adults.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2022 to 2023. Adult patients undergoing minimally invasive pyeloplasty (CPT 50544) were identified and grouped by surgical approach (robotic vs. laparoscopic). This represented a population-based sample from participating hospitals. Baseline demographics, laboratory values, and NSQIP-predicted risk estimates were compared. Primary outcomes included 30-day postoperative complications, readmission, and reoperation. Secondary outcomes were operative time and length of hospital stay. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, BMI, ASA class, and race were used to evaluate associations between surgical approach and outcomes.

resultsAmong 814 patients, 706 (86.7%) underwent robotic and 108 (13.3%) laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Overall complication rates were low (9.2%) and did not differ significantly between approaches (adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.86-2.33). Operative time was similar, while length of stay was shorter following robotic surgery (adjusted difference - 0.62 days, 95% CI - 1.02 to - 0.22). Limitations include the retrospective design, lack of long-term functional outcomes, and absence of cost and surgeon-volume data.

conclusionsRobotic-assisted and laparoscopic pyeloplasty demonstrate equivalent short-term safety and morbidity in adults, with robotic surgery associated with a modestly shorter hospital stay. These findings suggest comparable short-term perioperative safety between approaches in a national cohort, with surgical approach determined by surgeon expertise, institutional resources, and patient preference. Further studies evaluating long-term functional outcomes and cost-effectiveness are warranted.

Indexed as

Kidney PelvisLaparoscopyRobotic Surgical ProceduresUreteral ObstructionUrologic Surgical ProceduresAdultDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle AgedOperative TimePostoperative ComplicationsReoperationRetrospective StudiesLaparoscopic pyeloplastyMinimally invasive surgeryPerioperative outcomesRobotic-assisted pyeloplastyUreteropelvic junction obstruction

Identifiers

PMID41801322

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.