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Study Comparing Open Radical Cystectomy With Robot-assisted Cystectomy in Patients With Bladder Cancer

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
Interventions
Procedure: Radical Cystectomy
Registration Number
NCT03977831
Lead Sponsor
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study to compare two established methods of radical cystectomy (RC) in patients with bladder cancer. The participants will be treated under conditions in alignment with up-to-date guidelines and care. We wish to investigate whether it is feasible to compare the two methods under conditions of the highest methodological quality.

Detailed Description

Radical cystectomy (RC) is a comprehensive surgery including pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion. The surgery is originally performed as an open procedure (ORC) but with advances in technology the procedure is now also offered as a robot-assisted laparoscopic procedure (RARC). It remains questionable if RARC is superior to ORC in terms of surgical outcomes.

Several studies have described outcomes following RARC of which most are comparative studies with only five studies being randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Overall, significant differences in operating room time, estimated blood loss, time to flatus and bowel movement as well as use of morphine sulfate equivalents in favor of RARC has been demonstrated with the exception of operating room time. However, no studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in risk of 30- or 90-day complication rates between ORC and RARC. The RCTs have not been blinded, and therefore may be subject to bias in terms of expectations from patients and care providers. Also, in the already conducted RCTs of ORC versus RARC the urinary diversion has been done extracorporally. Today, it is possible to conduct the whole procedure of RARC intracorporally (iRARC), potentially reducing the surgical stress further. Lastly, the previously conducted RCTs have not consequently been managed under an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) setup. Currently, a multicenter study comparing ORC with RARC is recruiting in the United Kingdom in which the patients are treated with iRARC and under an ERAS setup. The present study will compare the two methods blinded for the participants and all health care providers involved in the postoperative care from the time the patient exits the operating room (OR). Blinded studies in surgery are rare but in gastrointestinal surgery, a blinded study of open versus laparoscopic colonic resection has demonstrated to be feasible and thus we believe that such study must be feasible in an RC setting.

Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either ORC or RARC. Blinding: The study is blinded for the patient and for the group of nurses and doctors that will be responsible for the postoperative care. The postoperative care will be managed by members of the bladder cancer team other than the operating surgeon, and OR staff will not be involved in the postoperative care. The abdominal wound will be bandaged to hide the wounds from both an open and laparoscopic procedure. The blinding will be maintained until discharge from hospital.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • age> 18
  • non-metastatic disease
  • fit for both ORC and RARC
  • Patient-selected urinary diversion: ileal conduit
Exclusion Criteria
  • if not able to speak/understand Danish
  • not able to cooperate for fully informed consent
  • need for extensive concomitant surgery (i.e. nephroureterectomy)
  • prior down staging chemotherapy (prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy accepted)
  • prior radiation therapy
  • prior major extensive abdominal or pelvic surgery
  • prior peritonitis
  • conditions contraindicating extended Trendelenburg's position

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Open Radical Cystectomy (ORC)Radical CystectomyOpen radical cystectomy includes in both genders removal of the bladder and distal ureters as well as pelvic lymphadenectomy. In men the procedure includes removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles and in women removal of the uterus, ovaries, urethra and part of the vagina. Lastly, for both genders an iliac conduit urinary diversion is performed.
Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy (iRARC)Radical CystectomyRobot-assisted radical cystectomy includes in both genders removal of the bladder and distal ureters as well as pelvic lymphadenectomy. In men the procedure includes removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles and in women removal of the uterus, ovaries, urethra and part of the vagina. Lastly, for both genders an intracorporeal iliac conduit urinary diversion is performed.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Participants blinded at discharge12 months

Number of patients that was not unblinded at discharge

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Use of opioidsuntil diacharge or up to 90 days, whichever comes first

Use of opioids, mg total postoperatively

Days Alive and Out of Hospital (DAOH)90 days from surgery

Number of days alive and out of hospital within 90 days from surgery

90-day complication rate90 days after surgery

Complication rate (Clavien-Dindo)

Readmission rate90 days after surgery

Number of readmissions

Quality of Life (QoL): EORTC QLQ-BLM3090 days after surgery

Registration of differences in QoL. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (QLQ-BLM30 (scale range 0-100, a higher score indicating increase in symptom burden)) will be used.

Length of Stay (LOS)12 months

Duration (days) of primary hospitalization. From the date of admission until the date of discharge from hospital.

Quality of Life (QoL): EORTC QLQ-C3090 days after surgery

Registration of differences in QoL. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item core quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30 (scale range 0-100, a higher score indicating better quality of life))

30-day complication rate30 days after surgery

Complication rate (Clavien-Dindo)

Blood loss4 days after surgery

Both estimated as well as calculated/hidden blood loss

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Urology, Rigshospitalet

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Copenhagen, Denmark

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