General info
Orsi Academy offers an Advanced Course in Robotic Radical Cystectomy with Neobladder Reconstruction for urologists who are experienced in robotic surgery and wish to further refine their expertise in advanced bladder cancer surgery and intracorporeal urinary diversion techniques.
This 4-day immersive program consists of:
- Two days of hands-on training focusing on nerve-sparing RARC, extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND), and intracorporeal ileal conduit reconstruction on anesthetized pig and human cadaver models
- Two days of live case observation alongside Dr. Frederiek D’Hondt at AZORG, Aalst, including structured case discussions and expert guidance
Medical devices
- Intuitive da Vinci robotic platform
- Access to advanced training models and full procedural setup training (docking, port placement, instrumentation, and reconstruction strategies)
What you will learn
- Advanced robotic radical cystectomy (male and female)
- Extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND)
- Intracorporeal ileal conduit and Wallace anastomosis
- Optimized setup, docking, and reconstruction techniques
Prerequisites
- Previous experience on the robot at least 15-20 robotic cases and familiarity with open cystectomy.
- Access to a da Vinci platform
- Good level of English
Faculty
Program
Morning lecture
- Arrival at Orsi training center
- Introduction to the course, objectives in robotic assisted cystectomy with Bricker ileal conduit
Urinary diversion:
- Anatomy of the pig model
- Case selection
- Patient set up and docking
- Port placement Instruments
- Tissue extraction
Hand-on session part I – Anesthetized pig
- Adaption to the intracorporeal approach – bowel segment
- Isolation of the ileal loop (identification, dissecting mesenterium, …)
- Stapled side to side ileo-ileal anastomosis (robotic stapler use)
- Urostomy fixation
Lunch at the Orsi restaurant
Hand-on session part II – Anesthetized pig
- Adaptation to the intracorporael approach - ureter segment
- Ureter spatulation and pigtail stent insertion
- Uretero-ureteral anastomosis (Wallace technique)
- Posterior wall ileo-ureteral anastomosis
- Anterior wall ileo-ureteral anastomosis
End of day 1
Faculty dinner
Case observation cystectomy in AZORG Hospital, Aalst
Timing to be confirmed.
Morning lecture
Lecture presentation of the human cadaver model highlighting important anatomy (visual cues) and tasks for the day. The first 30 mins of this lecture will be spent discussing optimal set up of the operating console as this is a topic not well covered in basic robot training leading to many surgeons becoming habituated to unergonomic positions.
1. Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy in man and female
- Male cystectomy: NVBD and urethral preservation
- Female cystectomy: Uterine manipulation, organ preservation and vaginal closure
2. ePLND and associated neuroanatomy
- Case selection
- Instruments
- Retraction
- Bleeding Control
- Tissue extraction
3. Intracorporeal urinary diversion
- Techniques
- Case selection for continent and non-continent
- Patient set up and docking
- Hybrid port
- Instruments
- Posterior reconstruction
- Ileal conduit
Hands-on session part I – male human cadaver model
- Cystectomy
- ePLND
Hands-on session part II – male human cadaver model
- Ureteral dissection/isolation
- Ileal loop isolation
- Stapled side by side ileo-ileal anastomosis
- Transmesocolic mobilization of the left ureter to right side
- Urostomy fixation
- Spatulation of the ureters + stent insertion
- Posterior Wallace type plate
- Anterior wall ileo-ureteral anastomosis
Closing Remarks
End of day 3
Case observation cystectomy in AZORG Hospital, Aalst
Timing to be confirmed.
Resources
Robotic Radical Cystectomy Course with Neobladder Reconstruction
Got a question?
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