Noninvasive measurement of cardiac output during surgery using a new continuous-wave Doppler esophageal probe

The ability of a new continuous-wave Doppler esophageal probe to measure cardiac output noninvasively during surgery under general anesthesia was tested and compared with simultaneously measured thermodilution cardiac output. A Doppler computer, calibrated for the aortic diameter and the transcutaneously measured cardiac output from the suprasternal notch, computed the Doppler cardiac output from the descending aortic blood flow velocity signal. A total of 246 paired Doppler cardiac output and thermodilution cardiac output measurements were made in 14 patients during surgery. The average thermodilution cardiac output was 5.90 +/- 3.27 (standard deviation) liters/min (range 1.20 to 19.18); the average Doppler cardiac output was 6.21 +/- 4.0 liters/min (range 2.30 to 28.20). The difference between the cardiac output measured by the 2 techniques was 1.38 +/- 2.2 liters/min (range 0.04 to 16.8). Two to 5 cardiac output measurements were averaged and arranged into "time periods." The average standard deviations for thermodilution and Doppler cardiac outputs within each time period were 0.64 and 0.47 liters/min, respectively. There was a correlation between the 2 measurements over a range of cardiac output values (r = 0.76, Doppler cardiac output = 0.93 x thermodilution cardiac output +0.7, standard error of the estimate = 1.76). Reproducible measurements of Doppler cardiac output were obtained during intraobserver (mean difference 0.64 +/- 0.52 liter/min) and interobserver (mean difference 0.41 +/- 0.36 liter/min) studies (n = 8). Cardiac output measurement by the Doppler esophageal probe could be used for hemodynamic monitoring during surgery in selected patients with cardiopulmonary disease.     

Radical cystectomy in the treatment of invasive bladder cancer: long-term results in 1,054 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate our long-term experience with patients treated uniformly with radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection for invasive bladder cancer and to describe the association of the primary bladder tumor stage and regional lymph node status with clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing radical cystectomy with bilateral pelvic iliac lymphadenectomy, with the intent to cure, for transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder between July 1971 and December 1997, with or without adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy, were evaluated. The clinical course, pathologic characteristics, and long-term clinical outcomes were evaluated in this group of patients. RESULTS: A total of 1,054 patients (843 men [80%] and 211 women) with a median age of 66 years (range, 22 to 93 years) were uniformly treated. Median follow-up was 10.2 years (range, 0 to 28 years). There were 27 (2.5%) perioperative deaths, with a total of 292 (28%) early complications. Overall recurrence-free survival at 5 and 10 years for the entire cohort was 68% and 66%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival for patients with organ-confined, lymph node-negative tumors was 92% and 86% for P0 disease, 91% and 89% for Pis, 79% and 74% for Pa, and 83% and 78% for P1 tumors, respectively. Patients with muscle invasive (P2 and P3a), lymph node-negative tumors had 89% and 87% and 78% and 76% 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival, respectively. Patients with nonorgan-confined (P3b, P4), lymph node-negative tumors demonstrated a significantly higher probability of recurrence compared with those with organ-confined bladder cancers (P <.001). The 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival for P3b tumors was 62% and 61%, and for P4 tumors was 50% and 45%, respectively. A total of 246 patients (24%) had lymph node tumor involvement. The 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival for these patients was 35%, and 34%, respectively, which was significantly lower than for patients without lymph node involvement (P <.001). Patients could also be stratified by the number of lymph nodes involved and by the extent of the primary bladder tumor (p stage). Patients with fewer than five positive lymph nodes, and whose p stage was organ-confined had significantly improved survival rates. Bladder cancer recurred in 311 patients (30%). The median time to recurrence among those patients in whom the cancer recurred was 12 months (range, 0.04 to 11.1 years). In 234 patients (22%) there was a distant recurrence, and in 77 patients (7%) there was a local (pelvic) recurrence. CONCLUSION: These data from a large group of patients support the aggressive surgical management of invasive bladder cancer. Excellent long-term survival can be achieved with a low incidence of pelvic recurrence.     

"Zero ischemia" partial nephrectomy: novel laparoscopic and robotic technique

Background

Ischemic injury impacts renal function outcomes following partial nephrectomy. Efforts to minimize, better yet, eliminate renal ischemia are imperative.

Objective

Describe a novel technique of “zero ischemia” laparoscopic (LPN) and robotic-assisted (RAPN) partial nephrectomy.

Design, setting, and participants

Data were prospectively collected into an institutional review board–approved database. Fifteen consecutive patients underwent zero ischemia procedures: LPN (n = 12), RAPN (n = 3). Included were all candidates for LPN or RAPN, irrespective of tumor complexity, including tumors that were central (n = 9; 60%), hilar (n = 1), in solitary kidney (n = 1), in patients with chronic kidney disease grade 3 or greater (n = 3). Anesthesia-related monitoring included pulmonary artery catheter (ie, Swan–Ganz), transesophageal echocardiography, cerebral oximetry, electroencephalographic bispectral index, mixed venous oxygen measurements, and vigorous hydration/diuresis. Pharmacologically induced hypotension was carefully timed to correspond with excision of the deepest aspect of the tumor. Renal parenchymal reconstruction was completed under normotension, ensuring complete hemostasis.

Measurements

Intraoperative and early postoperative data were collected prospectively.

Results and limitations

All cases were successfully completed without hilar clamping. Ischemia time was zero in all cases. Median tumor size was 2.5 cm (range: 1–4); operative time was 3 h (range: 1.3–6); blood loss was 150 ml (range: 20–400); and hospital stay was 3 d (range: 2–19). Nadir mean arterial pressure ranged from 52–65 mm Hg (median: 60), typically for 1–5 min. No patient had intraoperative transfusion or complication, acute or delayed renal hemorrhage, or hypotension-related sequelae. Postoperative complications (n = 5) included urine retention (n = 1), septicemia from presumed prostatitis (n = 1), atrial fibrillation (n = 1), urine leak (n = 2). Pathology confirmed renal cell carcinoma in 13 patients (87%), all with negative margins. Median pre- and postoperative serum creatinine (0.9 mg/dl and 0.95 mg/dl, respectively) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (75.3 and 72.9, respectively) were comparable. Median absolute and percent change in discharge serum creatinine and eGFR were 0 and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions

A novel zero ischemia technique for RAPN and LPN for substantial renal tumors is presented. The initial experience is encouraging.