Trifecta and Pentafecta Rates After Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy: Comparative Study of Patients with Renal Masses <4 and ≥4 cm

Abstract

Objectives: Robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is preferred to radical nephrectomy because it guarantees superior functional outcomes in patients with small renal masses (RMs). Only a few studies so far have evaluated the feasibility of RAPN for the treatment of RM ≥4 cm. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of RAPN based on a comparison of trifecta and pentafecta rates for RMs ≥4 cm.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from an institutional database of patients undergoing RAPN from September 2013 to November 2016. Demographic and perioperative data were collected and statistically analyzed. Pentafecta is defined as achievement of trifecta (negative surgical margins, no postoperative complications, and warm ischemia time ≤25 minutes) with the addition of two other variables, namely, over 90% estimated glomerular filtration rate preservation and no chronic kidney disease stage progression 1 year after surgery.

Results: Overall, 123 patients underwent RAPN. Of those, 38 (30.9%) had RMs ≥4 cm. Trifecta was achieved in 72.9% of patients with RMs <4 cm and in 44.7% of those with ≥4 cm, whereas pentafecta was achieved by 23.5% of patients with RMs <4 cm and by 10.5% of those with RMs ≥4 cm. No significant predictive factors were found in connection with trifecta, whereas only one was found in connection with pentafecta, namely, age (odds ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval 0.85-0.98; P = .01).

Conclusions: RAPN may be considered a feasible and safe surgical approach ensuring good functional outcome even for patients with RMs ≥4 cm. Pentafecta rates after RAPN were comparable between RMs <4 and ≥4 cm in diameter.

Keywords: kidney cancer; partial nephrectomy; pentafecta; renal mass; robotic surgery; trifecta.