Zhu Z, et al. - Among bladder cancer patients (n= 186) who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), researchers identified preoperative factors related to a higher risk of early mortality (within 1-year post-surgery). The participants were followed-up for a median of 20.6 months (1.2-43.7 months) after RARC. During the follow-up, deaths of 51 patients (27.4%) were documented, and deaths of 31 were reported within 1 year from surgery (1-year mortality rate: 16.7%). The factors that were identified as independent predictors for 1-year mortality after RARC were age and preoperative elevated plasma fibrinogen level. The possible utility of plasma fibrinogen levels was suggested as a biomarker to guide the treatment decision-making process.