A Prospective, Randomized Trial Comparing Robotic and Open Radical Cystectomy

Removal of the bladder (cystectomy) is a standard approach to treating bladder cancer. It carries a risk of complications and a significant recovery period. In addition to the bladder, the lymph nodes around the bladder are usually removed. For men, the prostate is also usually removed. For women, the uterus is often removed.

This surgery can be performed using a traditional open surgical approach, where the surgeon conducts the operation through a single large incision in the abdomen. It can also be done using robotic technology, a type of minimally invasive surgery performed through several smaller abdominal incisions.

During robotic surgery, a lighted telescopic camera is placed through one of the incisions. Special surgical instruments are then inserted through other incisions, and the instruments are connected to a robot. The surgeon controls the instruments from a console in the operating room.

The purpose of this study is to determine if using robotic surgical technology during bladder cancer surgery helps to reduce complications during and after surgery. Patients will be randomly assigned to have either the traditional open approach or the robotic surgical approach.