Advantages of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in Obese Patients: Comparison with the Open Procedure

PURPOSE: Obesity has been suggested as a risk factor for worse perioperative outcomes, especially in radical prostatectomy, in several studies. However, the impact of obesity on perioperative outcomes has not yet been well elucidated for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). We evaluated whether obesity had an adverse effect on outcomes following RALP compared with retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2008 to May 2011, 181 patients underwent radical prostatectomy (RALP, 111; RRP, 70). These patients were subdivided into two groups according to body mass index (BMI): the nonobese group (BMI, 25 kg/m2 or less) and the obese group (BMI, greater than 25 kg/m2). Perioperative outcomes in RALP and RRP were retrospectively compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In RRP, patients in the obese group (n=20) showed greater blood loss and a higher complication rate than did those in the nonobese group (n=50). However, in RALP, no statistically significant differences in perioperative outcomes were observed between the obese (n=37) and the nonobese (n=74) groups. RALP showed less blood loss and a lower complication rate in both the obese and nonobese groups than did RRP. CONCLUSIONS: RALP is thought to be a more effective and safer procedure in obese patients compared with traditional open radical prostatectomy. In the management of obese patients with localized prostate cancer, RALP should be considered as a primary choice for treatment.

Long-Term Outcomes of Retractile Testis

PURPOSE: Retractile testis is considered to be a variant of normal testis in prepubertal boys. There is no agreed-upon management of retractile testis. The aim of this study was to provide data on the long-term outcomes of patients with retractile testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical record of 43 boys who were referred for suspected undescended or retractile testis and were finally diagnosed with retractile testis between January 2001 and December 2008. All boys were biannually examined by a pediatric urologist to evaluate the presence of retractile, descended, or undescended testis and testicular volume. RESULTS: Of 43 boys, there were 22 boys with unilateral retractile testis (51.1%) and 21 boys with bilateral retractile testis (48.9%). Their mean age was 3.0+/-2.7 years and the follow-up duration was 4.4+/-1.7 years. Of 64 retractile testes, 29 (45.3%) succeeded in descending, 26 (40.6%) remained retractile, and 9 (14.1%) became undescended testis or of a decreased size requiring orchiopexy. The mean initial diagnostic age of the patients who underwent orchiopexy was 1.3+/-0.9 years; meanwhile, the mean initial diagnostic age of those who went on to have normal testis was 4.3+/-3.3 years (p=0.009). The mean follow-up duration was 3.6+/-1.5 years in the orchiopexy group, 4.0+/-1.4 years in the descended testis group, and 5.1+/-1.8 years in group with remaining retractile testis. CONCLUSIONS: Retractile testis has a risk of requiring orchiopexy. The risk is higher in the population diagnosed at a younger age. Boys with retractile testis should be observed periodically until the testis is descended in the normal position.

Obesity Is an Adverse Factor on Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for T2 but Not T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) is more challenging with increases in body mass index (BMI). Several recent studies have shown, however, that LRN can be safely performed even in obese patients. The influence of obesity on the perioperative outcomes of LRN has not been well elucidated for large renal tumors (>7 cm), however. We estimated the impact of obesity on LRN for stage T1 and T2 renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to March 2011, 266 patients underwent LRN (T1: 195, T2: 71). These patients were subdivided into the following two groups according to BMI: the nonobese group (BMI less than 25 kg/m2) and the obese group (BMI greater than 25 kg/m2). Perioperative outcomes were retrospectively compared between these two groups in T1 and T2 RCC patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in perioperative outcomes between the obese and nonobese groups of T1 RCC patients. However, in T2 RCC patients, operative time and complication rate were significantly increased in the obese group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that LRN can be safely performed in Korean patients with T1 RCC regardless of obesity. In T2 RCC patients, however, LRN may become more difficult with increasing BMI considering a longer operation time as well as a higher complication rate. We suggest that LRN for obese patients with T2 RCC be carefully considered.