Surgical treatment for renal masses in the elderly: analysis of oncological, surgical and functional outcomes

ABSTRACT Purpose: Radical treatment in elderly patients with renal tumor remains debatable due to uncertainties regarding the risk of surgical complications, risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and survival benefit. The aim of the study was to assess outcomes of radical treatment for renal cancer in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled 507 consecutive patients treated with partial or radical nephrectomy due to renal mass. Patients with upfront metastatic disease (n=46) and patients lost to follow-up (n=110) were excluded from the analysis. Surgical, functional (screen for ESRD development) and survival outcomes were analyzed in patients aged >75 years in comparison to younger individuals. Results: The analyzed group included 55 elderly patients and 296 younger controls. Within the cohort a total of 148 and 203 patients underwent radical and partial nephrectomies respectively. The rate of surgical complications, including grade ≥3 Clavien- Dindo complications, did not differ between groups (3.6% vs. 4.4%, p=0.63). Median length of hospital stay was equal in both groups (7 days). During a follow-up (median 51.9 months, no difference between groups), ESRD occurred in 3.4% of controls and was not reported in elderly group (p=0.37). Younger patients demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in both overall survival and cancer-specific survival over elderly patients (OS 94.6% vs. 87% p=0.036, CSS 97.3% vs. 89.1% p=0.0008). Conclusions: Surgical treatment in elderly patients with renal tumor is as safe as in younger individuals and does not increase the risk of ESRD. However, cancer specific survival among these patients remains shorter than in younger patients.

Functional and oncologic outcomes after nephron-sparing surgery in a solitary kidney: 10 years of experience

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate functional and oncologic outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients with a solitary kidney. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with a solitary kidney undergoing nephron-sparing surgery between March 2003 and March 2013 was performed. GFR was recorded before the procedure and 3 months after surgery, thus establishing a change (cGFR). Several variables that may influence cGFR were analyzed. Complications are herein described, namely bleeding, fistula, acute renal failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Local recurrence and margin status are also described. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan Meier method (2 patients with metastasis at the time of surgery were excluded from the analysis). Results: Forty-five patients were available for analysis. Median follow-up was 27.56 months (r 3-96). Mean cGFR was-7.12mL/min (SD 2.1). Variables significantly related with lower GFR after surgery were loss of renal mass (p=0.01)) and male gender (p=0.03). Four patients (8.8%) experienced hemorrhage. Nine patients (20%) developed a urinary fistula. Only one patient with bleeding required open surgery. Two patients (4.4%) needed transient dialysis. Three patients (6.6%) developed ESRD. Four patients (8.8%) had positive surgical margins (PSMs) and four patients (88%) had local recurrence (2 of these had PSMs). Five patients (11.1%) died during follow-up. Four patients (8.8%) died because of renal cancer. Estimated 2-year overall survival, disease-free survival and cancer specific survival rates were 88.4% (CI 95% 70.5-96); 87.7% (CI 95% 68.1-96) and 92.4% (CI 95% 75-98), respectively. Conclusion: Loss of renal mass and male gender were associated with lower postoperative GFR. Our outcomes were comparable with those in the World literature.

Preoperative Underweight Patients with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Survive Less after Radical Nephroureterectomy

The prognostic impact of body mass index (BMI) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is an ongoing debate. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of BMI in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for UTUC from a multi-institutional Korean collaboration. We retrospectively reviewed data from 440 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC at four institutions in Korea. To avoid biasing the survival estimates, patients who had previous or concomitant muscle-invasive bladder tumors were excluded. BMI was categorized into approximate quartiles with the lowest quartile assigned to the reference group. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of BMI on survival. The lower quartile BMI group showed significantly increased overall mortality (OM) and cancer specific mortality (CSM) compared to the 25%-50% quartiles and upper quartile BMI groups. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed similar results. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, preoperative BMI as a continuous variable was an independent predictor for OM and CSM. In conclusion, preoperative underweight patients with UTUC in Korea survive less after RNU. Preoperative BMI may provide additional prognostic information to establish risk factors.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Radiologic Node-positive Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Absence of Distant Metastases: A Retrospective Analysis of Patients Undergoing Nephrectomy and Lymph Node Dissection

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of clinical-positive nodes at preoperative imaging (cN1) in patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with lymph node dissection (LND). We retrospectively reviewed data for a cohort of 440 consecutive patients (cN0, 76.8%; cN1, 23.2%) with cTanyNanyM0 RCC who underwent nephrectomy and LND from 1994 to 2013. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine significant predictors of MFS and CSS. The mean number of lymph nodes (LNs) examined for all patients was 8.3, and pN1 disease was identified in 31 (7.0%). LN staging by preoperative imaging had a sensitivity of 65%, a specificity of 80%, and an accuracy of 77%. During a median follow-up of 69 months, 5-yr MFS and CSS were 83.6% and 91.3% in patients with cN0 and 49.2% and 70.1% in patients with cN1, demonstrating a trend toward worse prognosis with radiologic lymphadenopathy (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, differences in MFS and CSS between the cN0pN0 and cN1pN0 groups were significant (all P < 0.001). Clinical nodal involvement is an important determinant of adverse prognosis in patients with non-metastatic RCC who undergo LND.

Robot-assisted vs. Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: utilization rates and perioperative outcomes

Objectives To examine the effect of surgical approach on perioperative morbidity and mortality after partial nephrectomy. Materials and Methods Within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, patients who underwent RAPN or LPN between October 2008 and December 2009 were identified. Propensity-based matching was performed to adjust for potential baseline differences between the two groups. The rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications, blood transfusions, prolonged length of stay, and in-hospital mortality, stratified according to RAPN vs. LPN, were compared. Results Overall, 851 (72.5%) patients underwent RAPN and 323 (27.5%) underwent LPN. For RAPN and LPN respectively, the following rates were recorded in the propensity-score matched cohort: blood transfusions, 4.5 vs. 6.8% (p = 0.223); intraoperative complications, 5.2 vs. 2.6% (p = 0.096); postoperative complications, 10.6 vs. 13.5% (p = 0.268); prolonged length of stay, 6.8 vs. 9.4% (p = 0.238); in-hospital mortality, 0.0 vs. 0.0%. Conclusions RAPN has supplanted LPN as the predominant minimally invasive surgical approach for renal masses. Perioperative outcomes after RAPN and LPN are comparable. Interpretation of these findings needs to take into account the lack of adjustment for case complexity and surgical expertise. .

Radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy in patients over 80 years old

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to discover if elderly patients exhibit comparable outcomes and survival benefits to those achieved in younger patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 35 patients over 80 years old treated by radical nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy for malignant and inflammatory conditions within the previous 4 years. A multivariate analysis regarding survival and recovery was conducted and included various preoperative parameters. The subjective opinion of patients or patient's relatives (in cases where the patient had past away) was estimated by answering the following questions: (a) are you satisfied with your decision to undergo the operation? (b) would you undergo it once more if needed? (c) would you advise it to a patient your age? RESULTS: The median age was 83.5 years. Radical nephrectomy with a flank approach was performed in 65.7 percent of cases and nephroureterectomy with a transabdominal approach in 34.3 percent of cases. The median recovery was 13 weeks. During a median follow-up of 31 months (range 12 to 53), 80 percent of patients were disease free. The remaining 20 percent passed away demonstrating a median survival of 25 months (range 13-38). Eighty-eight percent of patients were satisfied with their decision to undergo the operation, 91.4 percent would undergo it once more if needed and 91.4 percent would advise it to a patient their age. CONCLUSIONS: Radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy are safe and effective in well-selected patients over 80 years old. Elderly patients exhibit comparable preoperative outcomes and survival benefits to those achieved in younger patients. Various preoperative clinical variables that effect the survival of patients but not their recovery could be identified.

Long-term results of simple enucleation for the treatment of small renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We have analyzed our institutional experience with simple enucleation for the treatment of small renal tumors for elective indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients underwent elective nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) from May 1997 to January 2001. All patients underwent NSS by means of enucleation. The tumor bed was coagulated carefully for haemostatic and partly for oncological reasons. Median follow-up was 71 months (range: 49-91 months). RESULTS: Pathological review according to the 2002 TNM classification showed that 70 percent (21 of 30) of tumors were pT1a, 26.7 percent (8 of 30) pT1b and 3.3 percent (1 of 30) pT3a. Median tumor size was 3.7 cm. (range: 3.0 - 5.5 cm). There was no perioperative mortality (within the first 30 days). Bleeding had not been recorded during perioperative period. Urinary leakage was observed in 1 patient (3.3 percent). No case of local recurrence was observed. Five and 7-year cumulative survival was 96.6 percent and 93.3 percent, respectively. Five and 7-year cancer specific survival was 100 percent and 96.5 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Simple tumor enucleation is a safe and acceptable approach for elective NSS. It provides excellent long-term progression-free and cancer specific survival rates, and is not associated with an increased risk of local recurrence compared to partial nephrectomy.

Nefrectomía de donante vivo: experiencia de 18 años en el Hospital Militar de Santiago / Living donor nephrectomies: experience of 18 years in the Hospital Militar de Santiago

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el riesgo (mortalidad y morbilidad) de las nefrectomías de donante vivo realizadas en el Hospital Militar de Santiago (Hosmil). Revisión retrospectiva de 33 nefrectomías de donante vivo realizadas por lumbotomía, en el Servicio de Urología del Hospital Militar entre enero de 1983 y diciembre de 2001. Se revisan características de los pacientes, de la cirugía y el desarrollo de complicaciones peri operatorias. En la serie tuvimos una complicación mayor (3,0 porciento): desgarro esplénico, que requirió de esplenectomía, y 8 complicaciones menores en 7 donantes (21,2 porciento): 2 neumotórax (6,1 porciento), 2 infecciones de herida operatoria (6,1 porciento), 1 neumonía (3,0 porciento), 1 bronquitis aguda febril (3,0 porciento), 1 seroma (3,0 porciento) y 1 infección urinaria(3,0 porciento). No hubo mortalidad en los donantes. El análisis univariado identificó que los donantes de sexo masculino tenían una tendencia a presentar un mayor índice de complicaciones (p=0,051). La nefrectomía de donante vivo puede ser realizada con una baja tasa de complicaciones mayores y sin riesgo vital. Nuestra tasa de complicaciones es comparable a otras series publicadas.

Nefrectomia de doador vivo: complicacoes precoces / Living-related donor nephrectomy: early surgical complications

Os autores apresentam um estudo retrospectivo de 74 pacientes submetidos a nefrectomia para doacao em um periodo de 17 anos. O grupo constou de 42 mulheres e 32 homens, com idades variando entre 17 e 55 anos. Nenhum obito ocorreu e os indices de complicacoes estiveram em torno de 36 por cento, porem todas de importancia menor e de facil resolucao. A nefrectomia de doador vivo permanece uma fonte valida de rins para transplante e apresenta baixos indices de complicacoes graves

Estudio de 224 donantes de riñón para trasplante con evaluación de calidad de vida posdonación en un subgrupo

Estudiamos los registros clínicos de 224 donantes de riñon para traspnate intrafamiliar, quienes fueron sometidos a nefrectomía (Nx) unilateral en nuestro hospital, entre agosto 1973 y febrero 1989. La edad promedio fue 31+- (ESM) años (rango 16-59); 123 (55 por ciento) fueron hombres y la relación donante-receptor fue : hermanos 162 (72 por ciento), padres 38 (17 por ciento) e hijos 24 (11 por ciento). La Nx fue 5.7+-0.3 días (rango 3-25). Buscamos la mayor parte de estos 224 donantes mediante cartas, llamadas y mensajes enviados a través de sus respectivos receptores; 140 (62 por ciento) respondieron. A este subgrupo se le interrogó sobre problemas médicos a partir de la Nx, se les practicó examne físico completo y se les hicieron prubas de función renal en nuestro laboratorio o en sus lugares de residencia. Comparamos los resulatdos con los de pre-Nx. La duración del seguimiento fue 51.1+-2.9 meses (rango 0.3-198). Ochenta y seis de los 140 respondieron un cuestionario sobre calidad de vida y actitudes frente a la donación. Para pre y post-Nx respectivamente, el paso fue 61.1+-0.7 y 63.2+- 1 Kg (NS), la presión arterial sistólica 123+-0.8 y 126+-1.4 mmHg (NS) y la diastólica 78+-0.5 y 79+-0.9 mmHg (NS). Los resulatdos de las pruebas de laboratorio pre y post-Nx fueron : creatinina 1.05+-0.2 y 1.29+-0.2 mg/dl (P<0.00001), nitrógeno ureico 10.3+-3.5 y 15.1+-5.3 mg/dl (P<0.00001), depuración de creatinina 94.3+-24.2 y 84.6+-18.2 ml/min (P=0.00021), y proteinuria 0.08+-0.12 y 0.07+-0.13 g/día (NS). Se hallaron valores de proteinuria post-Nx mayores de 0.3 g/día en 19 de 107 en los que se determinó (18 por ciento), con un valor máximo de 0.57 g/día. Hipertensión post-Nx ocurrió en tres casos (2.1 por ciento)...