Bariatric surgery: malpractice risks and risk management guidelines

Providing appropriate medical care to bariatric surgery patients is the primary goal of every surgeon. However, with the expected growth of bariatric surgery in the future, the number of claims in this area are certain to grow. Therefore, it is important for surgeons who are engaged in the practice of bariatric surgery or who are contemplating entering the practice of bariatric surgery to consider risk management guidelines and principles very carefully. It is important to follow the available guidelines and criteria like those established by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery to help reduce the risk of liability. Despite appropriate care and treatment, unfortunately, these patients will continue to suffer complications, some of which are life-threatening. The importance of establishing and maintaining a solid physician-patient relationship by using appropriate interpersonal skills cannot be overemphasized. Indeed, a good relationship with the patient and family remains the most effective way of reducing the risk of being sued when there is an unfortunate complication, as well as increasing the chances of a successful defense in the event of suit.     

Percutaneous renal surgery and local radiotherapy in the management of renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma

Six patients with a history of bladder carcinoma and a radiographic filling defect of the pelvicaliceal system have been investigated or treated percutaneously. In two cases of doubtful diagnosis, percutaneous pyeloscopy showed that no pelvicaliceal tumour was present. In four patients with multifocal or recurrent transitional cell carcinoma and difficult clinical problems, intrarenal tumours were cauterised or resected percutaneously. Radioactive iridium wire (192Ir) was inserted into the surgical track to deliver prophylactic irradiation (4500 cGy) to prevent tumour seeding. Follow-up was from 7 to 36 months. One operated patient developed early wide-spread multifocal disease throughout the urothelium, including the operated kidney, and died of uraemia. The other three patients have shown no recurrence in the operated kidney, though two have developed recurrences in the bladder or ureter. There have been no track recurrences.     

Concomitment spread of a renal cell carcinoma beyond the kidney and a transitional cell carcinoma beyond the bladder

We report the case of a 61-year-old man, with a rare combination of two advanced urological tumors: a concomitant spread of an adenocarcinomabeyond the kidney and a urothelial carcinoma beyond the bladder. Wesimultaneously performed a primary curative prostatovesiculectomy anda nephroureterectomy on the right with ileal neobladder. To ourknowledge, a case report of concomitant spread of an adenocarcinomabeyond the kidney (pT3 pN0 M0 G3) and a urothelial carcinoma beyondthe bladder (pT3a pN0 M0 G3) with subsequent curative therapy hasthus far not been published. A combination of the two diseasesdescribed here is obviously a remarkable rarity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In situ management of renal tumors: renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma

In the last 8 years 15 patients with malignant neoplasms in functionally solitary kidneys underwent in situ excision of the tumor with preservation of renal parenchyma. Of 10 patients with renal cell carcinoma 8 underwent partial nephrectomy, 1 had a central wedge resection and 1 had enucleation of 3 tumors. After followup of 6 months to 4.7 years 6 patients are free of disease. One patient died of metastatic cancer and 1 of cardiovascular disease. Of 5 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney (including 2 with parenchymal invasion) 2 underwent partial nephrectomy and 3 underwent extensive resection of renal pelvic lesions. After followup of 6 months to 7 years 2 patients are alive, 2 died of metastatic disease and 1 died of metastatic bladder carcinoma. Only 1 of the 5 patients had locally recurrent tumor. These data demonstrate the efficacy of in situ management of renal tumors in selected patients with solitary kidneys or compromised renal function.     

Detection and management of renal cell carcinoma in the renal allograft

Purpose

Tumours of the transplanted kidney represent a rare form of post-transplantation malignancies. An important aspect of the treatment option is whether the transplanted kidney can be saved or not. Aim of our study was the analysis of our allograft tumours.

Methods

In the Budapest Centre, 3,530 kidney transplantations were performed between 1973 and 2012. Retrospective analysis of 9 patients who developed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the transplanted kidney was done.

Results

Mean age of recipients was 45.3 ± 13.4 years at the time of transplantation and 57.0 ± 11.6 years at the time of tumour detection. Mean age of their donors was 43.5 ± 11.5 years. Mean time from transplantation to tumour diagnosis was 134.6 ± 40.8 months. Seven RCC were stage pT1a, 1 was stage pT1b and 1 was pT3a. Eight patients had stage I. (pT1a-b, N0, M0) and 1 patient had stage IV. (pT3a, N1, M1) disease. Histological types were clear cell (n = 6), papillary (n = 2) and sarcomatoid (n = 1) carcinomas. The tumour growth rate of RCC was 16.7 ± 13.5 mm/year. In 4 cases, transplant nephrectomy was performed; 5 cases had percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Ablative therapy had no influence on renal graft function. Six patients (including 5 patients who were treated with RFA) are still alive and tumour-free; 3 patients died.

Conclusions

According to our observation, we can state that RCC of the kidney allograft diagnosed at an early stage can be successfully treated with RFA instead of graft removal. A longer follow-up is needed to assess the effectivity of the RFA treatment in these cases.     

Evolution to nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma

Earlier diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma has lent itself to significant developments in its management. Traditional treatment has been with radical open nephrectomy; however, minimal invasive procedures and nephron-sparing surgery have now established themselves as contemporary treatment methods for this condition.     

Modifiable risk factors to reduce renal cell carcinoma incidence: Insight from the PLCO trial

Introduction

Identify modifiable factors contributing to renal cell carcinoma in the PCLO to target disease prevention and reduce health care costs.

Gamma surgery for intracranial metastases from renal cell carcinoma

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of gamma surgery (GS) in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma that has metastasized to the brain. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 21 patients with 37 metastatic brain deposits from renal cell carcinoma who were treated with GS at the University of Virginia from 1990 to 1999. Clinical data were available in all patients. No patient died of progression of intracranial disease or deteriorated neurologically following GS. Eight patients clinically improved. Follow-up imaging studies were available for 23 tumors in 12 patients. Nine patients did not undergo follow-up imaging. One patient lived 17 months and succumbed to systemic disease: no brain imaging was performed in this case. Another patient refused further imaging and lived 7 months. Seven patients lived up to 4 months after the procedure; however, their physicians did not require these patients to undergo follow-up imaging examinations because of their general conditions-all had systemic progression of disease. Of the 23 tumors that were observed posttreatment, one remained unchanged in volume, 16 decreased in volume, and six disappeared. No tumor progressed at any time, and there were no radiation-induced changes on follow-up imaging an average of 21 months after GS (range 3-63 months). CONCLUSIONS: Gamma surgery provides an alternative to surgical resection of metastatic brain deposits from renal cell carcinoma. Neurological side effects were seen in only one case; freedom from progression of disease was achieved in all cases.     

Conservative surgery of renal cell carcinoma

From 1967 to 1985 conservative surgery (enucleation, n = 49; partial resection, n = 7) was performed for renal tumors in 57 patients (age 31-77, mean 54.8 years). Imperative indications for conservative surgery (n = 29) were chronic renal failure, benign pathology of contralateral kidney, functional or anatomical solitary kidney, and bilateral tumors. Elective conservative surgery (n = 28) was done for small, peripherally located lesions, in cases of uncertain malignancy and in one tumor detected by chance during stone surgery. Tumors removed for imperative indications were 2-11 cm (mean 5.8 cm) in size. In the elective group, tumor size ranged from 1 to 7 cm (mean 3.3 cm). Follow-up was 6-103 months (mean 35.8 months). In the group with imperative indications, there was 1 postoperative mortality; 18 of 29 patients are alive without evidence of disease, 2 with metastases, and 2 were reoperated conservatively for local recurrences; 1 was lost to follow-up, 2 died of metastases, and 3 died due to unrelated reasons. In the elective group all 28 patients are living free of cancer.     

Changing concepts in the surgery of renal cell carcinoma

Introduction Herein, current developments in open and minimally invasive renal surgery are presented. Materials and methods This also includes considerations on the appropriate indication for the two surgical procedures in small renal tumours, locally advanced disease (>pT2), complicated renal tumours as well as cytoreductive surgical situations. In small renal tumours, similar survival rates have been described for laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomy. However, even experienced high volume laparoscopic centres report a high learning curve, increased complications and initial technical problems to achieve parenchymal haemostasis and renal ischaemia during nephron-sparing surgery. Surgical management of large (>T2) or complicated tumours is feasible, but long-term oncological outcome is not yet available. Conclusion Promising new developments such as natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) might add to our surgical armamentarium for minimally invasive surgery.     

Lingual metastasis from renal cell carcinoma management and review of the literature

A case of anterior lingual swelling, which on excision biopsy was diagnosed as a secondary from renal cell carcinoma, is presented. We reviewed the indexed literature and present a review of the literature and current management of this uncommon problem.     

Effects of laparoscopic surgery on the patterns of death in elderly colorectal cancer patients: competing risk analysis compared with open surgery

Purpose

The effects of laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LAC) on the long-term outcomes of elderly patients remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the short- and long-term outcomes of LAC in elderly colorectal cancer patients and to quantify the effects of LAC on the patient death patterns.

Methods

The clinicopathological data of elderly colorectal cancer patients aged ≥80 years old who were treated between 2006 and 2014 were extracted. The relationships between the clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS) were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan–Meier analyses. The risk factors for the types of death were estimated using a competing risk analysis.

Results

A total of 107 patients were included. Fifty-two patients underwent LAC, whereas 55 underwent open surgery (OC). There were no significant differences in the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade or comorbidity rate between the groups. The postoperative complication rate was significantly lower with LAC than OC (p < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates, laparoscopic surgery was not a significant risk factor for any of the types of death.

Conclusions

LAC is an effective and safe technique for elderly patients with colorectal cancer. Furthermore, there was no significant association between the surgical procedure and the pattern of death.

     

Metastases to the penis from renal cell carcinoma

Extensive venous communication among the pelvic, lumbar, penile and left renal veins may cause metastasis to the genitalia from left renal adenocarcinoma. To prevent this, we propose that during radical nephrectomy the spermatic and lumbar veins be ligated immediately following the ligation of the renal artery and vein.     

Outcome of surgery in cystic renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To review cases of cystic renal cell carcinoma treated surgically at our institution and define their clinical and histopathologic features. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1998, 21 patients with cystic renal cell carcinoma were treated surgically. Cystic renal cell carcinoma was categorized using Hartman's classification. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination demonstrated cystic necrosis in 11 patients, multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma in 9, and unilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma in 1 patient. Tumors were incidentally found during an evaluation of unrelated disease or a general health checkup in 14 patients (67%). The mean tumor size was 5.6 cm (range 0.5 to 12) for cystic necrosis and 5.4 cm (range 2 to 9) for multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma. All 9 cases of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma were of the clear cell type and tumor grade 1. The mean follow-up period was 65 months (range 9 to 141). The 5-year disease-specific survival rates for multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma and cystic necrosis were 100% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for patients with cystic renal cell carcinoma is better than that for patients with solid tumors. In particular, the prognosis of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma is excellent. Multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma represents a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma that can be completely cured by surgery.     

The role of surgery in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma accounts about three percent of all adult neoplasms. This review provides a current status about the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma. In localised carcinomas radical nephrectomy is still the standard treatment and provides 5 Year survival rates up to 98 %. As nephron-sparing surgery in mandatory indications can achieve similar survival doubt can be expressed whether lymphadenectomy or adrenalectomy are necessary in every case. Nephron-sparing surgery is associated with a higher rate of operative complications up to 40 % and probably with a higher risk of local recurrence. However, parenchymal-sparing surgery in elective indications is possible for small tumors, if long term follow up is guaranteed. But there is no convincing advantage of nephron-sparing surgery to recommend this procedure as a general approach in patients with a normal contralateral kidney. Radical surgery in renal carcinomas invading to the vena cava still remains a challenging surgical intervention. Nevertheless, in selected patients surgery can realise long term survival in over a third of cases. Palliative nephrectomy in metastatic renal carcinomas is only justified in real palliative indications (bleeding, pain) or in clinical trials investigating cytoreductive surgery before immunotherapy. In highly selected patients with metastatic renal carcinoma a radical surgical approach including nephrectomy and complete metastasectomy can achieve long term survival.     

The role of surgery in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma accounts about three percent of all adult neoplasms. This review provides a current status about the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma. In localised carcinomas radical nephrectomy is still the standard treatment and provides 5 Year survival rates up to 98 %. As nephron-sparing surgery in mandatory indications can achieve similar survival doubt can be expressed whether lymphadenectomy or adrenalectomy are necessary in every case. Nephron-sparing surgery is associated with a higher rate of operative complications up to 40 % and probably with a higher risk of local recurrence. However, parenchymal-sparing surgery in elective indications is possible for small tumors, if long term follow up is guaranteed. But there is no convincing advantage of nephron-sparing surgery to recommend this procedure as a general approach in patients with a normal contralateral kidney. Radical surgery in renal carcinomas invading to the vena cava still remains a challenging surgical intervention. Nevertheless, in selected patients surgery can realise long term survival in over a third of cases. Palliative nephrectomy in metastatic renal carcinomas is only justified in real palliative indications (bleeding, pain) or in clinical trials investigating cytoreductive surgery before immunotherapy. In highly selected patients with metastatic renal carcinoma a radical surgical approach including nephrectomy and complete metastasectomy can achieve long term survival.