Robot-Assisted Versus Open and Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy with Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy forRenal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: To compare perioperative, pathological, functional, and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy (RARN-TT) versus open (ORN-TT) and laparoscopic (LRN-TT) approaches. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies of adults with renal cell carcinoma and Mayo/Neves level I–IV inferior vena cava tumor thrombus undergoing RARN-TT versus ORN-TT and/or LRN-TT. Risk ratios and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation. Results: Eight retrospective studies including 1781 patients were included: 221 underwent robotic surgery, 1411 open surgery, and 149 laparoscopic surgery. Compared with ORN-TT, RARN-TT was associated with lower estimated blood loss (mean difference −900.5 mL, 95% confidence interval −1234.0 to −566.9; p = 0.001), lower transfusion probability (risk ratio 0.395, 95% confidence interval 0.159–0.979; p = 0.046), and shorter hospital stay (mean difference −3.79 days, 95% confidence interval −4.83 to −2.76; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in operative time, intensive care unit stay, postoperative complications, perioperative mortality, pathological outcomes, or overall survival. Evidence for cancer-specific and progression-free survival was limited. Comparisons with LRN-TT were exploratory. Conclusions: RARN-TT may reduce blood loss, transfusion requirements, and hospital stay compared with ORN-TT, without evidence of worse perioperative, pathological, or survival outcomes. However, all studies were retrospective and affected by selection bias and heterogeneity. RARN-TT may be considered for selected patients at experienced centers, particularly for lower-level thrombi. Prospective multicenter studies stratified by thrombus level are needed.