Dr. Huang on the Widespread Adoption of Robotic Surgery for Bladder Surgery

William C. Huang, MD, associate professor, department of Urology, co-director, Robotics Program, Chief Urology Service, Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Health, discusses misconceptions regarding robotic-assisted bladder surgery.

The removal of the bladder whether done through a robotic incision or an open incision is not the main source of morbidity or complications from this type of surgery; it’s the reconstruction that’s done afterwards.

The majority of robotic cystectomies are done with an eventual conversion to an open urinary construction. The great barrier to a widespread adoption of the robotic removal of the bladder is consistent procedures. Until a clear benefit in the robotic reconstruction is established, patients won’t go from an open reconstruction to a robotic urinary reconstruction.