■ With MicroPort^®, independently developed by MicroPort^®MedBot, the team led by Professor Guo Jianming, Director of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University completed the partial nephrectomy through retroperitoneal approach successfully.

■ Toumai^® Wrist Surgical System is flexible and can be operated dexterously within the narrow space through retroperitoneal approach; its clear 3D visual field can help well identify the complex and fine operations

Shanghai, China --- With Toumai^® Laparoscopic Surgical Robot (hereinafter referred to as “Toumai^®") independently developed by MicroPort^®Medbot, a robotics-specialized subsidiary of Shanghai MicroPort^® Medical (Group) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Microport^®"), the team led by Professor Guo Jianming, Director of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University completed the partial nephrectomy through retroperitoneal approach successfully on December 15, 2020. This is first case of partial nephrectomy through retroperitoneal approach completed by Toumai^® Laparoscopic Surgical Robot, and it is also another important breakthrough in clinical application of the System in the field of difficult and complicated urinary surgeries after completing the first case of radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy in China.

The patient, a 37-year-old woman, was diagnosed to have a solid lesion in right kidney, 4.7*3.7cm during physical examination a week ago. The preoperative diagnosis showed that the patient had a tumor in the right kidney. So, she specially came to the Urology Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. After discussing with the operation team, Professor Guo Jianming decided to use Toumai^® Laparoscopic Surgical Robot to perform partial nephrectomy through retroperitoneal approach. The operation was performed by Professor Guo Jianming in person. No hilar block was conducted during the operation so as to fully protect the kidney function. The operation lasted 20 minutes, and the intraoperative bleeding was less than 10mL.

After the surgery, Prof. Guo Jianming made the evaluation that: “Toumai^® Wrist Surgical System is flexible and can be operated dexterously within the narrow space through retroperitoneal approach; its clear 3D visual field can help well identify the complex and fine operations. The whole partial nephrectomy went smoothly and successfully, proving that Toumai^® was qualified for this kind of operation."

The selection of approach for robotic laparoscopic partial nephrectomy mainly depends on the location, quantity and size of tumor and the experience of surgeon. The surgery through retroperitoneal approach can avoid the interference of abdominal organs and reduce the risk of intestinal adhesion and intestinal obstruction. The patient may suffer less injury and enjoy faster recovery, achieving the purpose of less trauma and rapid recovery, avoiding abdominal implantation metastasis, better conforming to the tumor-free principle of urology surgery. It is more advantageous to select the retroperitoneal approach for patients with tumors on the back, lateral and upper port of kidney and patients with history of abdominal surgery. As the surgery through retroperitoneal approach is close to the body surface and the operation space is extremely small, it exerts higher requirements for the flexibility of surgical instruments, the obstacle avoidance performance of mechanical arm during operation, the working space, and the operator's surgical experience and skills.

Dr. He Chao, President of MicroPort^® MedBot, said: "The successful completion of first case of partial nephrectomy through retroperitoneal approach with domestic endoscopic robot symbolizes that MicroPort^® MedBot marks another new milestone in clinical application. Recently, authoritative urological experts of China have used the technology of Toumai^® Endoscopic Robot to break through the difficulty of clinical application of domestic robots and expanded the scope of clinical application. MicroPort^® MedBot will continue to explore the unknown and create an integrated solution of robot surgery for Chinese patients and doctors."