Impact of comorbidity on complications after nephrectomy: use of the Clavien Classification of Surgical Complications

Study Type – Retrospective (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Tumour characteristics, physical status and comorbidities are considered important for surgical outcome and prognosis. The present study objectively evaluates the association between comorbidity and postoperative complications after nephrectomy for RCC, by using the modified Clavien Classification of Surgical Complications to grade complications after nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To present a single‐centre experience of open nephrectomy for lesions suspected for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), evaluating the association between comorbidity and postoperative complications using a standardized classification system for postoperative complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Clinicopathological data of 198 patients undergoing open radical or partial nephrectomy for lesions suspected of RCC were retrospectively analysed.
• ? Comorbidity scored by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), body mass index, age, gender, surgical procedure and surgical history were examined as predictive factors for postoperative complications, which were scored using the modified Clavien Classification of Surgical Complications (CCSC).

RESULTS

• ? The overall complication rate was 34%: 7% grade I, 15% grade II, 5% grade III, 3% grade IV and 4% grade V. Preoperative comorbidities were present in 51% of all patients.
• ? There were significantly more major complications (CCSC >2) in patients with major comorbidities (CCI >2), at 16% vs 7% (P= 0.018).
• ? Patients with high‐stage RCC had significantly more severe complications than low‐stage RCC (P= 0.018).
• ? In multivariable analysis, comorbidity (odds ratio [OR] 7.55, P= 0.004) and tumour stage 3–4 (OR 6.23, P= 0.007) were independent predictive factors for major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Major complications occur significantly more often when major comorbidities are present.
• ? Comorbidity scores can be used in risk stratification for complications and should be considered during decision‐making and counselling of patients before nephrectomy.

     

Comparison of the rate, location and size of positive surgical margins after laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• ? To review and compare the rate, location and size of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? The study comprised 200 patients who underwent RALP and 200 patients who underwent LRP up to January 2008.
• ? We compared patient age, body mass index, preoperative prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), preoperative stage and grade, prostate size, pathological stage and grade and neurovascular bundle preservation, as well as PSM rate, size and location.
• ? Continuous and categorical data were compared using Student’s t‐test and Pearson’s chi‐squared test.
• ? Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify preoperative and intraoperative predictors of PSMs.

RESULTS

• ? Although the PSM rate was similar between the two groups (LRP: 12% vs RALP: 13.5%; P= 0.76), location and size were not. PSMs after LRP were mostly at the apex (58.3%; P= 0.038), while most PSMs after RALP were posterolateral ([PL] 48%; P= 0.046).
• ? In addition, the median margin size after RALP was significantly smaller than after LRP (RALP: 2 mm vs LRP: 3.5 mm; P= 0.041).
• ? In univariate and multivariate analyses, tumour‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage and preoperative PSA were the only independent preoperative predictors of PSMs (P= 0.044 and P= 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

• ? The PSM risk is dependent on TNM stage and preoperative PSA and not the surgical technique, when comparing LRP with RALP.

     

Anterior suspension combined with posterior reconstruction during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy improves early return of urinary continence: a prospective randomized multicentre trial

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Urinary incontinence is one of the major drawbacks of radical prostatectomy, regardless of the procedure used (i.e. open, laparoscopic or robotic‐assisted). Several technical modifications have been described to improve postoperative continence, highlighting the role of puboprostatic ligaments and posterior reconstruction of the rhabdomyosphincter. The results obtained are inconsistent when applied to robotic surgery. The present multicentre randomized study shows that anterior suspension combined with posterior reconstruction is a safe and easy‐to‐perform technique for improving early continence after robotic‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To assess the impact on urinary continence of anterior retropubic suspension with posterior reconstruction during robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In total, 72 patients who were due to undergo prostatectomy between July 2009 and July 2010 were prospectively randomized into two groups: group A underwent a standard RALP procedure and group B had anterior suspension and posterior reconstruction during RALP.
• ? The primary outcome measure was urinary continence, assessed using the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index questionnaire at 15 days, and at 1, 3 and 6 months, after surgery. Other data recorded were operation duration, blood loss, length of hospital stay, duration of bladder catheterization, complications and positive margin rate.

RESULTS

• ? The continence rates at 15 days, and at 1, 3 and 6 months, after surgery were 3.6%, 7.1%, 15.4% and 57.9%, respectively, in group A, and 5.9%, 26.5%, 45.2% and 65.4%, respectively, in group B. The continence rates differed statistically between groups at 1 and 3 months (P = 0.047 and P = 0.016, respectively).
• ? There was no significant difference between groups regarding complications (P = 0.8) or positive margin rate (P = 0.46).

CONCLUSION

• ? Anterior suspension associated with posterior reconstruction during RALP improved the early return of continence, without increasing complications.

     

EXTENDING THE INDICATIONS AND ANATOMICAL LIMITS OF PELVIC LYMPH NODE DISSECTION FOR PROSTATE CANCER: IMPROVED STAGING OR INCREASED MORBIDITY?

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• ? To assess, in a risk/benefit analysis, the additional risk for complications and benefits of extending the indications and anatomical limits of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In total, 971 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy from 2003–2007.
• ? Before 1 February 2005, patients with a nomogram probability of lymph node invasion (LNI) <2% did not undergo PLND (No PLND group), whereas those with a LNI ≥2% had a PLND limited to the external iliac nodal group (limited PLND group).
• ? After 1 February 2005, all patients underwent a standard PLND including the external iliac, hypogastric and obturator fossa nodal groups (standard PLND group).
• ? The risk parameters were PLND‐related complications and operating time. Complications were graded using a modified Clavien classification. The benefit was the detection of nodal metastases.

RESULTS

• ? In the subgroup of patients with a LNI ≥2%, standard PLND was a superior operation than the limited PLND in detecting nodal metastases (14.3% vs 4.5%, respectively; P = 0.003).
• ? The risk/benefit of standard vs limited PLND would be one additional grade 3 complication per 20 additional patients with nodal metastases. In the subgroup of patients with LNI <2%, three patients (1.0%) had positive nodes after a standard PLND.
• ? The risk/benefit of standard PLND vs no PLND would be one additional grade 3 complication per three or four additional patients with nodal metastasis. The no PLND group was associated with the lowest risk of grade 1, 2 and 3 complications compared to either the limited or standard PLND groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? In patients with LNI ≥2%, standard PLND detects more nodal metastasis. PLND is associated with higher but non‐prohibitive complications rate.
• ? The present study found no evidence that the incidence of complications would be reduced by a limited PLND.

     

Comparison of outcomes between pure laparoscopic vs robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a study of comparative effectiveness based upon validated quality of life outcomes

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Few studies exist comparing functional outcomes between RALP and LRP using validated questionnaires. This single surgeon study utilizes data from the EPIC questionnaire that was collected prospectively to compare urinary and sexual function after prostatectomy. In this comparison, return of post‐prostatectomy continence was similar between groups while RALP patients demonstrated earlier return of sexual function.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To compare perioperative, oncological and functional outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) with emphasis on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) data as few studies exist.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Patients underwent RALP or LRP by a single, fellowship trained surgeon with a standard clinical care pathway.
• ? HRQOL data using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) were collected at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months after 175 consecutive LRP and 174 RALP procedures.
• ? Urinary and sexual function outcomes were compared using two methods: (1) EPIC summary/subscale analyses described as percent return to baseline function and (2) traditional single‐question analysis.

RESULTS

• ? The two groups were statistically similar with respect to demographics, clinical stage, perioperative outcomes, stage‐specific surgical margin rates, and baseline urinary and sexual function scores.
• ? There was no statistical difference in postoperative urinary function between RALP and LRP using EPIC or single‐question analyses at 3, 6 and 12 months.
• ? EPIC questionnaire data showed a greater return to baseline sexual function over time (mixed model analysis) in RALP than in LRP patients who had a bilateral nerve sparing procedure (Sexual Summary Score, P= 0.005; Sexual Function and Bother Subscales, P= 0.007).
• ? Using EPIC, RALP patients receiving a bilateral nerve sparing procedure showed improved percent return to baseline potency at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.025) compared with LRP patients, but had similar outcomes at 12 months (73.7% vs 66.2%, P= 0.3).
• ? Single‐question analysis suggested improved potency after RALP compared with LRP, with a greater percentage of RALP patients reporting successful sexual intercourse in the past 4 weeks (87.5% vs 66.7% at 12 months, P= 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? When comparing surgical techniques, RALP and LRP groups showed statistically similar postoperative urinary function outcomes.
• ? RALP patients had an earlier return of sexual function when compared with LRP patients after a bilateral nerve sparing procedure.

     

Management of severe blunt renal trauma in adult patients: a 10-year retrospective review from an emergency hospital

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Immediate surgery for major renal trauma has led to a high rate of nephrectomy in comparison with an expectant management. We reviewed our case material on the management of severe blunt renal trauma in adults with emphasis on conservative management. Only shattered kidneys and pedicle avulsion required immediate surgery.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To review retrospectively the management of major blunt renal truma in adult patients admitted to our level I trauma centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Among 1460 blunt abdominal trauma cases collected from January 2001 to December 2010, 221 (15%) affected the kidneys.
• ? All patients, except seven who needed immediate laparotomy, underwent a computed tomography scan to stage the injuries.
• ? Renal injuries were graded according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grading System; grade 4 and 5 injuries were subclassified based on vascular or parenchymal injury.

RESULTS

• ? Only 45/221 patients (20%) suffered major blunt renal trauma (21 grade 3, 18 grade 4 and six grade 5); 43% of the patients had associated lesions and 77% had gross haematuria.
• ? Nephrectomy rates were 9% for grade 3, 22% for grade 4 and 83% for grade 5 with an exploration rate of 26% for major renal trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Conservative management of grade 3–5 blunt renal trauma in haemodynamically stable patients yields more favourable results with high renal salvage rate.
• ? Grade 5 injuries still result in a nephrectomy rate of more than 80%.
• ? The absence of data on long‐term outcomes and a potential inclusion bias due to the retrospective nature of the data represent major limitations of this review.

     

Early infectious complications with transponder placement for external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Little has been published related to transponders per se, but a number of studies relating to prostate biopsy‐related infections and the increased incidence of quinolone‐resistant Escherichia coli have been published. The study alerts the practising urologist to the risk of quinolone‐resistant E. coli in the setting of transrectally placed transponders. Furthermore, it proposes an antibiotic regimen that should reduce this risk.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To report our series of early infectious complications after placement of Calypso® transponders (Calypso Medical, Seattle, WA, USA) into the prostate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between February 2008 and October 2010, 50 consecutive patients underwent placement of Calypso® transponders into the prostate.
• ? Patients were administered ciprofloxacin 500 mg every 12 h, starting the night before the procedure and for 2 days after the procedure.
• ? Data were collected via chart review, and complications were classified according to the Clavien classification system.

RESULTS

• ? Of the 50 patients undergoing the procedure, five (10%) developed infectious complications, and three (6%) developed a grade II complication with a UTI requiring antibiotic therapy. One patient (2%) developed a grade IIIb complication with an epidural abscess and osteomyelitis of the lumbar vertebrae requiring open debridement and a lumbar fusion. One patient (2%) developed a prostatic abscess with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and subsequently died of an unrelated lower GI bleed.
• ? In 4/50 patients (8%), a culture confirmed the responsible bacteria, of which three cases were quinolone‐resistant Escherichia coli.

CONCLUSION

• ? As with prostate biopsy, the emergence of quinolone‐resistant E. coli remains a challenging infectious complication with transrectal prostate procedures. We propose an alternative strategy of double antibiotic coverage with one dose of oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg and gentamicin 80 mg i.m. before this procedure.

     

Low dose of ketoconazole in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma resistant to pharmacological castration

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Ketoconazole is an inhibitor of adrenal androgen synthesis which carries on the anti‐tumour activity by interfering with different enzymes, cytochrome P450 14‐α‐demethylase, C 17,20 lyase and C 17 α‐hydroxylase. Some studies have shown an anti‐tumour activity of ketoconazole employed at different dose levels following the failure of androgen‐suppressive therapies. Patients refractory to pharmacological castration and/or chemotherapy could have an additional benefit in terms of disease control from the use of low dose of ketoconazole. The safety profile was good.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To assess the efficacy of ketoconazole in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? From April 2008 to November 2009, 37 patients with CRPC have been treated with ketoconazole. The primary endpoint was the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) response; the secondary endpoints were progression‐free survival and safety profile.
• ? Ketoconazole was administered by oral route at a dose of 200 mg every 8 h continuous dosing until the onset of serious adverse events or disease progression.
• ? The study was based on a two‐step design with an interim efficacy analysis carried out on the first 12 patients accrued.

RESULTS

• ? Main characteristics of population were: median age 75 years (range 60–88); baseline mean PSA 28.8 ng/mL (4.3–1000); 30 patients previously challenged with at least two lines of hormone therapy; 15 patients previously treated with chemotherapy.
• ? Biochemical responses accounted for: two complete responses (5%), six partial responses (16%), 13 patients with stable disease (35%), and 14 with progressive disease (38%). Of 15 patients resistant to chemotherapy, overall disease control (complete plus partial responses plus stable disease) was recorded in seven of them.
• ? Treatment was feasible without inducing grade 3–4 adverse events. The most common grade 1–2 adverse events were asthenia (27%), vomiting (8%) and abdominal pain (8%).

CONCLUSION

• ? Treatment with low‐dose ketoconazole is feasible and well tolerated. The efficacy was satisfactory in patients previously treated with chemotherapy.

     

Nerve sparing can preserve orgasmic function in most men after robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Orgasm has a major influence on patients’ satisfaction with the overall sexual experience, and alternations in orgasm are associated with significant reductions in emotional and physical satisfaction, which in turn may lead to sexual avoidance behaviour, disharmonious relationships and relationship breakdowns. Studies have found a reduction in orgasmic function after retropublic radical prostatectomy. While open radical prostatectomy inevitably damages some pelvic neuronal circuitry, which will thus impact on orgasmic responses, there is a paucity of data investigating the effect on robotic assisted radical prostatectomy on this. To our knowledge this study represents the largest analysis of orgasmic function in the robotic prostatectomy literature, and therefore would be of value to surgeons in counseling candidates for RALP about orgasmic outcomes. In our series, young men (age ≤60 years) and those who underwent bilateral nerve sparing approaches had a better recovery of their premorbid orgasmic function when compared to older men or men with no nerve sparing.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To investigate orgasmic outcomes in patients undergoing robotic‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and the effects of age and nerve sparing on these outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between January 2005 and June 2007, 708 patients underwent RALP at our institution.
• ? We analysed postoperative potency and orgasmic outcomes in the 408 men, of the 708, who were potent, able to achieve orgasm preoperatively and available for follow‐up.

RESULTS

• ? Of men aged ≤60 years, 88.4% (198/224) were able to achieve orgasm postoperatively in comparison to 82.6% (152/184) of older men (P < 0.001).
• ? Of patients who received bilateral nerve sparing (BNS) during surgery, 273/301 (90.7%) were able to achieve orgasm postoperatively compared with 46/56 (82.1%) patients who received unilateral nerve sparing and 31/51 (60.8%) men who received non‐nerve‐sparing surgery (P < 0.001).
• ? In men ≤60 years who also underwent BNS, decreased sensation of orgasm was present in 3.2% of men, and postoperative orgasmic rates were significantly better than men ≤60 years who underwent unilateral or no nerve sparing (92.9% vs 83.3% vs 65.4%, respectively; P < 0.001).
• ? Potency rates were also significantly higher in men ≤60 years and in those who underwent BNS.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Age and nerve sparing influence recovery of orgasm and erectile function after RALP.
• ? Men ≤60 years old and those who undergo BNS are most likely to maintain normal sexual function.

     

Incidence and clinical significance of arterial injury in varicocele repair

Study Type – Therapy (case series)
Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• ? This study was performed to histologically determine the rate of arterial injury in varicocele ligation surgery and to determine the clinical significance of these arterial injuries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

• ? 41 men who underwent varicocele ligation surgery, and had segments of each ligated vessel examined histologically.
• ? The patients were followed prospectively to determine the effect of arterial injury on surgical results and clinical complications.

RESULTS

• ? Arterial ligation was identified in 6 of 41 patients (12%), and in 7 of 132 specimens (5%), which is higher than previous reports.
• ? Arterial injury was not associated with testicular atrophy and there was no apparent effect of arterial injury on surgical outcome.

CONCLUSION

• ? The rate of arterial injury during varicocele repair is higher than previously reported, but the clinical significance of these injuries appears to be limited.

     

Robotic partial nephrectomy in the setting of prior abdominal surgery

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• ? To evaluate our experience with robotic partial nephrectomy in patients with previous abdominal surgery and evaluate the effect of previous abdominal surgery on perioperative outcomes. We also describe a technique for intraperitoneal access for patients with prior abdominal surgery utilizing the 8 mm robotic camera for direct‐vision trocar placement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? From a prospective cohort of 197 consecutive patients who underwent robotic renal surgery at a single academic institution, a total of 95 patients underwent transperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN).
• ? Patients with and without previous abdominal surgery were compared. Patients with prior abdominal surgery were subcategorized into two groups: upper midline or ipsilateral upper quadrant scar or lower abdominal, contralateral, or minimally‐invasive scar.
• ? Demographic and perioperative variables were compared between the surgery and no surgery groups. Access was obtained using a Veress needle or Hassan technique.
• ? We utilized a technique of direct vision placement of the initial trocar on our 10 most recent cases, using an 8 mm robotic camera placed through the obturator of 12 mm clear‐tipped trocar.
• ? Lysis of adhesions was performed as needed to allow for placement of additional robotic ports.

RESULTS

• ? A total of 95 patients underwent transperitoneal RPN, of which 41 (43%) had a history of prior abdominal surgery and six had upper midline or ipsilateral upper quadrant scars.
• ? There were no statistically significant differences between patients with previous abdominal surgery and patients with no previous abdominal surgery in BMI (30.4 vs 29.4 kg/m²), median tumor size (2.5 cm vs 2.3), median total operative time (246 vs 250 min), median warm ischemia time (21 vs 16 min), median EBL (150 vs100 ml), clinical stage, transfusion rate, or complications.
• ? A total of six patients underwent 7 previous upper midline or ipsilateral upper quadrant surgeries, including open cholecystectomy‐2 patients (33%), open partial gastrectomy‐2 patients (33%) and exploratory laparotomy‐1 patient (17%).
• ? Complications in this group were an enterotomy during lysis of adhesions that was repaired robotically without sequelae and a mesenteric hematoma during Veress needle placement. A total of 35 patients underwent 16 other prior abdominal surgeries, including abdominal hysterectomy‐10 patients (29%), umbilical/inguinal hernia repair‐9 patients (26%) and appendectomy‐7 patients (20%). There were no access related injuries in the 10 cases in which the robotic 8 mm camera was used for initial trocar placement.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Transperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy is feasible in the setting of prior abdominal surgery. The majority of these patients can have their procedure performed safely without an increase in complications.
• ? Direct‐vision intraperitoneal placement of initial trocar may be achieved by using an 8 mm robotic camera, without the need to switch between conventional and robotic cameras.

     

The role of transrectal saturation biopsy in tumour localization: pathological correlation after retropubic radical prostatectomy and implication for focal ablative therapy

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The traditional transrectal sextant and extended biopsy schemes demonstrated low accuracy in predicting unilateral prostate cancer on radical prostatectomy specimens. We examined the accuracy of an initial saturation biopsy (24‐core) to predict unilateral prostate cancer on radical prostatectomy specimens.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To evaluate the accuracy of an initial 24‐core prostate biopsy scheme (PBx24) in predicting unilateral prostate cancer (PCa) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between 2005 and 2008, 203 consecutive patients underwent PBx24 followed by RP for PCa. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the accuracy of unilateral PCa on PBx24 to predict unilateral PCa in RP specimens.
• ? The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were also calculated. Moreover, in patients with unilateral PCa on biopsy, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested the relationship between the presence of unilateral PCa in an RP specimen and the variables: age, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), total prostate volume, clinical stage, primary Gleason grade, secondary Gleason grade and the number of positive cores.

RESULTS

• ? PCa cores were unilateral in 115 patients (56.7%) on biopsy. Of those, only 26 (22.6%) had unilateral PCa in the RP specimen (AUC, 72.9%; PPV, 22.6%; NPV, 98.8%). In patients with clinically low‐risk tumours, only 17 of 63 (27%) had a unilateral PCa on PBx24 and in the RP specimen (AUC, 59.1%; PPV, 27.0%; NPV, 100.0%).
• ? None of the examined variables was an independent predictor of the presence of unilateral PCa in the RP specimen (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Initial PBx24 is not sufficiently accurate to be dependable as a method of predicting tumour laterality in RP specimens. Therefore, the use of PBx24 to guide hemi‐ablation therapy of PCa may lead to mistreatment in a considerable proportion of patients.
• ? Moreover, none of the routinely available clinical and pathological characteristics appears to improve the ability of unilateral PCa on biopsy to predict unilateral PCa in the RP specimen.

     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the prostate: various imaging findings that indicate prostate cancer

Study Type – Diagnostic (non‐consecutive case series)
Level of Evidence 3b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) can visualize some prostate cancer lesions. Findings suggestive of cancer have been defined as rapid contrast enhancement; increased contrast enhancement. CEUS could be useful for targeted biopsy in patients with a PSA level <10 ng/mL. The CEUS findings suggestive of prostate cancer are more varied than previously reported. Low‐echogenicity areas containing abnormal blood vessels were also found to represent cancer.

OBJECTIVES

• ? To perform transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) with an ultrasonography (US) contrast agent to visualize prostate cancer.
• ? To explore the possibility of targeted biopsy by studying the findings obtained by different cancerous tissue imaging modalities and evaluating needle biopsies from prostate cancer using contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In all, 41 patients undergoing prostate biopsy and 13 patients undergoing prostatectomy received i.v. injection of the US contrast agent (Sonazoid®).
• ? We evaluated pre‐contrast and contrast‐enhanced US images, and then compared ultrasonographic images and the pathological findings.

RESULTS

• ? Cancer was significantly more frequent at the sites of targeted biopsy where CEUS findings suggested cancer (36.3%) than at sites of systematic biopsy (17.7%, odds ratio = 2.7, P = 0.0026).
• ? In cases with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level <10 ng/mL, in particular, prostate cancer was detected at a significantly higher rate by targeted biopsy than by systematic biopsy (27.3 vs 9.5%, odds ratio = 3.4, P = 0.013).
• ? Pathological examination found 26 tumours in prostatectomy specimens. The diameters of the 10 CEUS‐identified tumours were significantly greater than those of the 16 lesions missed by US (mean 18.7 vs 5.9 mm).
• ? CEUS findings suggestive of cancer varied widely: strong contrast enhancement, rapid contrast enhancement, vessels with abnormal perfusion and low contrast enhancement.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? CEUS could be useful for targeted biopsy in patients with a PSA level <10 ng/mL.
• ? The CEUS findings suggestive of prostate cancer are more varied than previously reported.
• ? Detailed examination of CEUS images and application of the data to prostate biopsy could lead to more efficient diagnosis.

     

Nicorandil‐induced penile ulcerations: a case series

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Partial nephrectomy is the standard treatment for the management of small renal masses, and laparoscopy has been widely used in this setting as it has all the principles of open procedures combined with the advantages of minimal invasiveness. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is feasible and has acceptable pathological results not only for small renal masses but also for large tumours, even if complication rate and ischemia time are still matters of debate.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To investigate the perioperative safety of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for large renal masses (>4 cm).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? After Institutional Review Board approval, data from 100 consecutive patients who had undergone transperitoneal or retroperitoneal LPN at our institution from January 2005 to June 2009 were obtained from our prospectively maintained database.
• ? The patients were divided into two groups according to radiological tumour size: group A (67 patients) with tumours ≤4 cm and group B (33 patients) with tumours >4 cm.
• ? Demographic, perioperative and pathological data were evaluated.

RESULTS

• ? The two groups were comparable in terms of demographic data. Mean tumour size was 2.4 and 5 cm (P= 0.0001) for groups A and B, respectively. Group B tumours were more complex, as reflected by significantly more with a central location (P= 0.002), and by significantly more transperitoneal LPNs, pelvicalyceal repairs and longer warm ischaemia time (WIT; 19 vs 28 min).
• ? Complications were recorded in nine group A patients (13.4%) and nine group B patients (27.2%) (P= 0.09).
• ? There was no difference between preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine levels in either group, while a significant difference was found in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate between groups (P= 0.004).
• ? The incidence of carcinoma was comparable between the two groups.
• ? The incidence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) was 3.9% in group A, whereas no PSM was recorded in group B (P= 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for large tumours is feasible and has acceptable pathological results. However, the complication rate, in particular WIT, remains questionable.
• ? Further studies are required to better clarify the role of LPN in the management of tumours of this size.

     

A prospective, randomized trial comparing the Vienna nomogram to an eight-core prostate biopsy protocol

Study Type – Diagnostic (RCT) Level of Evidence 1b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Several studies have shown that increasing the number of prostate biopsy cores will increase the detection rate of prostate cancer, but also risks overdiagnosing insignificant cancer, particularly in the elderly. Our study suggests that there is no significant advantage in using the Vienna nomogram to determine the number of prostate biopsies to be taken, compared to an eight‐core biopsy protocol.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To compare prostate cancer detection rates using the Vienna nomogram versus an 8‐core prostate biopsy protocol. To compare the complication rates of transrectal prostate biopsy in the two groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In a prospective randomized trial, men with a serum PSA ≥ 2.5 ng/ml were stratified according to serum PSA (I = PSA 2.5–10; II = PSA 10.1–30; III = PSA 30.1–50 ng/mL) and were then randomized to group A (number of cores determined according to the Vienna nomogram) or group B (8‐core prostate biopsy).
• ? Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t‐test for parametric data, Mann‐Whitney test for nonparametric data and Fisher’s exact test for contingency tables. A two‐tailed p‐value <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS

• ? In the period July 2006 to July 2009, 303 patients were randomized to group A (n = 152) or group B (n = 151). There were no significant differences in serum PSA, prostate volume, PSA density or post‐biopsy complications between the groups.
• ? The cancer detection rate was lower in group A than in group B for the whole study cohort (35.5% vs 38.4%), for those with PSA < 10 ng/ml (28.1% vs 33%) and for those with prostate volume >50 ml (22% vs 25.8%). These differences were not statistically significant (NSS).

CONCLUSION

• ? These findings suggest that there is no significant advantage in using the Vienna nomogram to determine the number of prostate biopsy cores to be taken, compared to an 8‐core biopsy protocol.

     

Blood loss during radical prostatectomy: impact on clinical, oncological and functional outcomes and complication rates

Study Type – Outcomes (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? It is generally accepted in the medical community that total and intra‐operative blood loss after RALP is significantly lower in comparison with ORRP. This has led to speculation that less bleeding results in better visualization of the operative field resulting in superior potency and continence. Blood loss (BL) during ORRP does not adversely impact clinical and functional outcomes irrespective of how BL is defined. Thus, the lower BL associated with RALP would not be expected to improve functional or oncological outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To determine the short‐ and long‐term impact of blood loss (BL) on clinical, oncological and functional outcomes as well as complication rates after an open radical retropubic prostatectomy (ORRP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between 2000 and 2008, 1567 men who underwent an ORRP participated in our prospective longitudinal outcomes study.
• ? Haematocrit (Hct) levels, transfusion rates, BL and complications were recorded prospectively.
• ? Validated, self‐administered quality‐of‐life (QoL) questionnaires were completed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months and yearly thereafter.
• ? Urinary function and erectile dysfunction were assessed using AUA Symptom Score and the UCLA Prostate Cancer Index and analysis of variance (anova )/chi‐square tests were used to compare clinical, BL, biochemical recurrence (BCR) and QoL outcomes amongst the three groups for continuous/categorical variables.

RESULTS

• ? The mean estimated BL was 742.7 (45 to 3500) mL and 5.4% and 3.8% received an autologous (AU) or allogeneic (AL) blood transfusions, respectively.
• ? The average baseline, induction, postoperative and discharge Hct was 43.8%, 48.3%, 35.7% and 34.1%, respectively.
• ? The estimated BL and the rate of change of Hct correlated moderately (r = 0.41, P < 0.0001).
• ? Tertiles of BL were based on the difference between induction and discharge Hct (Delta 1) and the average Delta 1 for Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 7.9%, 12.7% and 17.2%, respectively.
• ? Intra‐operative, early/delayed complications, length of hospital stay (LoS), SM surgical margins status, anastomotic stricture and BCR were not statistically different (P < 0.001) and the mean AUASS, UCLA Prostate Cancer urinary bother scores, urinary function scores, sexual bother/function scores at 24 months were similar amongst all tertiles (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? BL during ORRP does not adversely impact clinical and functional outcomes irrespective of how BL is defined.
• ? Thus, the lower BL associated with robotic‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in and of itself would not be expected to improve functional or oncological outcomes.

     

Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing percutaneous suprapubic tube drainage after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

• ? Initial reports of percutaneous suprapubic tube (PST) drainage following RARP demonstrated feasibility and short‐term safety, while decreasing patient discomfort and utilization of anti‐cholinergic medication.
• ? This study demonstrates the long‐term safety and efficacy of bladder drainage by PST; splinting the urethrovesical anastomosis is simply not essential if mucosal apposition is ensured.

OBJECTIVES

• ? To evaluate the long‐term safety and functional outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous suprapubic tube (PST) drainage after robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between January 2008 and October 2009, 339 patients undergoing RARP by one surgeon experienced in RA surgery (M.M.) had postoperative bladder drainage with PST and a minimum of 1‐year follow‐up for urinary function.
• ? Functional outcomes were obtained via patient‐administered questionnaire.
• ? Complications were captured by exhaustive review of multiple datasets, including our prospective prostate cancer database, claims data, as well as electronic medical and institutional morbidity and mortality records.

RESULTS

• ? Urinary function assessed by patient‐administered questionnaire was analysed at a mean (sd ) follow‐up of 11.5 (1.7) months; after RARP with PST placement, 293 patients (86.4%) had total urinary control and only nine (2.7%) required >1 pad/day.
• ? In all, 86 patients (25.4%) never wore a pad; the median time to 0–1 pad/day was 2 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 0,6); median time to total control was 6 weeks (IQR 1,22).
• ? The mean (sd ) follow‐up for complications was 23.7 (6.1) months. In all, 15 patients (4.4%) had a procedure‐specific complication, of which 13 were minor (Clavien Class I/II 3.8%); one patient had a bladder neck contracture.
• ? In all, 16 patients (4.7%) required Foley placement after RARP for gross haematuria (two patients), urinary retention (three), tube malfunction (four) or need for prolonged Foley catheterization (seven).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? PST placement after RARP is safe and efficacious on long‐term follow‐up.
• ? Splinting of the urethrovesical anastomosis is not a critical step of RP if a watertight anastomosis and excellent mucosal apposition are achieved.

     

Survival of patients with small cell carcinoma of the prostate during 1973-2003: a population-based study

Study Type – Therapy (inception cohort) Level of Evidence 2a What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is a lethal disease. Survival data is currently based on case reports and single institution case series which give limited information on its prognostic factors. In this large population‐based study, we provide more robust estimates of survival and have defined the prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To describe the survival of patients with primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate and assess prognostic factors based on a large population sample.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? A total of 241 cases of SCC of the prostate were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries from 1973 to 2003 of which 191 cases were included in our study.
• ? We used the Kaplan–Meier method for estimating survival, and Cox proportional hazard regression modelling to evaluate prognostic variables.

RESULTS

• ? The overall age‐adjusted incidence rate was 0.278 per 1 000 000 (95% confidence interval, 0.239–0.323).
• ? In all, 60.5% presented as metastatic disease compared with 39.5% who presented as local/regional disease (P= 0.012).
• ? The 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months observed survival rates were 47.9%, 27.5%, 19%, 17% and 14.3% respectively.
• ? On univariate analyses, age <60, concomitant low‐grade prostatic adenocarcinoma, absence of metastasis, prostatectomy and radiation therapy were favourable prognostic factors.
• ? In multivariate regression modelling, age, pathology and stage were strong predictors of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Using the SEER database, we present the largest study describing the epidemiology of primary SCC of the prostate.
• ? We found age, concomitant low‐grade prostatic adenocarcinoma, and stage of the disease to be the strongest predictors of survival for patients with prostatic SCC.
• ? Future studies evaluating a broader range of clinical and molecular markers are needed to refine the prognostic model of this relatively rare disease.

     

Simultaneous perineal ultrasound and vaginal pressure measurement prove the action of electrical pudendal nerve stimulation in treating female stress incontinence

Study Type – Diagnostic (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and transvaginal electrical stimulation (TES) are two commonly used forms of conservative treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). PFMT may build up the structural support of the pelvis, but many SUI patients are unable to perform PFMT effectively and its primary disadvantage is lack of long‐term patient compliance. TES is a passive treatment that produces PFM contraction and patient compliance with it is good; however, its effect is not as good as that of PFMT when performed correctly. Electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) combines the advantages of PFMT and TES and incorporates the technique of deep insertion of long needles. In this study, simultaneous perineal ultrasound and vaginal pressure measurement prove that EPNS can contract the PFM and simulate PFMT. It is shown that EPNS is an alternative therapy for female SUI patients who fail PFMT and TES and the therapy can also be used for severe SUI.

OBJECTIVES

• ? To prove that electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) can contract the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and simulate pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).
• ? To show that EPNS is an alternative therapy for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that does not respond effectively to PFMT and transvaginal electrical stimulation (TES).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Thirty‐five female patients with SUI who did not respond effectively to PFMT and TES (group I) were enrolled and 60 other female patients with SUI were allocated to group II (30 patients) and group III (30 patients).
• ? Long needles were deeply inserted into four sacral points and electrified to stimulate the pudendal nerves. Group I and group II were treated by a doctor skilled in performing EPNS and group III, by a doctor unskilled in performing EPNS.
• ? When EPNS was performed in group I, perineal ultrasonographic PFM movements, vaginal pressure (VP) and PFM electromyography were recorded simultaneously.
• ? The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to objective and subjective criteria

RESULTS

• ? When EPNS was performed correctly, the patient felt strong PFM contractions. Simultaneous recordings in group I showed: B‐mode cranio‐caudal PFM movements; M‐mode PFM movement curves (amplitude: about 1 mm, n= 31); a sawtooth curve of VP changes (2.61 ± 1.29 cmH₂O, n= 34); and PFM myoelectric waves (amplitude: 23.9 ± 25.3 µV).
• ? If during the EPNS process the electric current was stopped or its intensity was reduced to about 7–12 mA or the two lower needles were drawn back, then the above ultrasonographic PFM movements and VP changes disappeared.
• ? In group I, the incontinence severity and quality of life score was 16.5 ± 4.0 before treatment and decreased to 4.2 ± 4.0 after 27.5 ± 11.9 sessions of treatment (P < 0.01). At the end of treatment, 100% improvement occurred in 16 cases (45.7%). A 2‐year follow‐up showed that 100% improvement occurred in 14 of cases (40.0%).
• ? In group II, the incontinence severity and quality of life score was 17.1 ± 6.3 before treatment and decreased to 3.5 ± 3.7 after 10 sessions of treatment (P < 0.01) and 100% improvement occurred in 12 cases (40.0%). In group III, the incontinence severity and quality of life score was 17.6 ± 6.3 before treatment and decreased to 10.8 ± 8.2 after 10 sessions of treatment (P < 0.01) and 100% improvement occurred in one case (3.3%).
• ? The post‐treatment score was lower and the therapeutic effect was better in group II than in group III (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? EPNS can contract the PFM and simulate PFMT.
• ? EPNS is an alternative therapy for female SUI patients who fail PFMT and TES.