Multicenter comparative study of open, laparoscopic, and robotic pyeloplasty in the pediatric population for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Dismembered open pyeloplasty described by Anderson and Hynes is the "gold standard" for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The aim of our study was to compare the results of open (OP) vs laparoscopic (LP) vs robotic (RALP) pyeloplasty. Material and Methods: A multicenter prospective review was conducted of pyeloplasty surgeries performed at five high-volume centers between 2014 and 2018. Demographic data, history of prenatal hydronephrosis, access type, MAG3 renogram and differential renal function, surgery time, length of hospital stay, and complication rate (Clavien-Dindo) were recorded. Access type was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests. Results: A total of 322 patients were included: 62 OP, 86 LP, and 174 RALP. The mean age was 8.13 (r: 1-16) years, with a statistically significant lower age (mean 5 years) in OP (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the distribution of the side affected. Operative time was 110.5 min for OP, 140 min for LP, and 179 min for RALP (p < 0.0001). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the RALP group than in the other groups (p < 0.0001). There were no differences in postoperative complications and reoperations between the three groups. Conclusions: Minimally invasive surgery for the management of UPJO in children is gaining more acceptance, even in patients younger than 1-year-old. Operative time continues to be significantly shorter in OP than in LP and RALP. Hospital stay was shorter in RALP compared to the other techniques. No differences were found in complication rates, type of complications, and reoperation rate.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Ibero-American Urology Residents: Perspective of American Confederation of Urology (CAU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Since World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic, urology services have developed strategies to prioritize and not to differ urgent and oncological patient's medical attention, in order to optimize resources and decrease infection probability among staff and patients. This unprecedented situation has generated a decrease in assistance and academic activities in most medical residences. The aim of this manuscript is to evaluate the impact of this health crisis on training programs through a survey addressed to urology medical residents. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional designed study, with multiple-choice non validated survey answered online by residents. Questionnaire was developed through the CAU EDUCACION platform. Results: A total of 148 responses from 18 countries coming from Latin America and Spain answering the survey. Of total, 82% answered that the activity of their urology department was significantly reduced, attending only urgent surgical pathologies, 15 % that, the urology activity has been closed completely and the staff was assigned to COVID-19 patients care, 3% continue with the regular clinic activity. Likewise, 75% stated that their surgical training has been completely affected, 93% receive urological information through tools such as Skype, ZOOM meeting, Cisco Webex, being Webinar modality the most used. Despite technological boom, 65% answered their academic training has been partially or completely affected. Most of the surveyed residents consider that period of residence should be extended to retrieve the educational targets. Conclusion: This unprecedented reality is negatively impacting the heterogeneous residency programs that American Confederation of Urology (CAU) nucleates. It is necessary to continue with technological innovation and allocate time and resources to easily generate accessible tools to favor the training of future urologists.

Exploring Urological Experience in the COVID-19 Outbreak: American Confederation of Urology (CAU) Survey

ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore the current situation faced by Latin American urology departments during the COVID-19 Outbreak in terms of knowledge, actions, prioritization of urology practices, and implementation of internal clinical management protocols for inpatients and outpatients. Material and Methods: A non-validated, structured, self-administered, electronic survey with 35 closed multiple choice questions was conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English and Deutsch versions from April 1st to April 30th, 2020. The survey was distributed through social networks and the official American Confederation of Urology (CAU) website. It was anonymous, mainly addressed to Latin American urologists and urology residents. It included 35 questions exploring different aspects: 1) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and internal management protocols for healthcare providers; 2) Priority surgeries and urological urgencies and 3) Inpatient and outpatient care. Results: Of 864 surveys received, 846 had at least 70% valid responses and were included in the statistical analyses. Surveys corresponded to South America in 62% of the cases, Central America and North America in 29.7%. 12.7% were residents. Regarding to PPE and internal management protocols, 88% confirmed the implementation of specific protocols and 45.4% have not received training to perform a safe clinical practice; only 2.3% reported being infected with COVID-19. 60.9% attended urgent surgeries. The following major uro-oncologic surgeries were reported as high priority: Radical Nephrectomy (RN) 58.4%, and Radical Cystectomy (RC) 57.3%. When we associate the capacity of hospitalization (urologic beds available) and percentage of high-priority surgery performed, we observed that centers with fewer urological beds (10-20) compared to centers with more urological beds (31-40) performed more frequently major urologic cancer surgeries: RN 54.5% vs 60.8% (p=0.0003), RC 53.1% vs 64.9% (p=0.005) respectively. Conclusions: At the time of writing (May 13th 2020) our data represents a snapshot of COVID-19 outbreak in Latin American urological practices. Our findings have practical implications and should be contextualized considering many factors related to patients and urological care: The variability of health care scenarios, institutional capacity, heterogeneity and burden of urologic disease, impact of surgical indications and decision making when prioritizing and scheduling surgeries in times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Dorsal oral mucosa graft in combination with ventral penile flap as an alternative to repair obliterative stenosis of the anterior urethra in a single surgical time

ABSTRACT Purpose: Obliterative urethral stenosis is a type of urethral lesion that compromises the whole corpus spongiosum's circumference. We present our experience in resolving complex long segment urethral obliteration in a single procedure using a combination of dorsal onlay oral mucosa graft (OMG) and ventral fasciocutaneous penile skin flap. Materials and methods: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed, which included data of men presenting long, obliterative strictures. Patients were excluded if they were lost to follow-up before one year. Failure was defined as need for further urethral instrumentation. The surgical technique used consisted on the fixation of OMG to the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum, thus creating a new urethral plate. Penile or foreskin flaps were employed to complete the ventral aspect. Postoperative follow-up was done with a voiding cystourethrography at week 3. Results: A total of 21 patients were included with a median age of 49 years. Mean follow-up was 25 months. Failure was found for 3 patients (2 of them needing dilations and only one required a new urethral reconstruction). Conclusion: Single stage combination of dorsal OMG with ventral fasciocutaneous penile flap showed good results for selected patients affected with obliterative urethral stenosis.

Safety and effectiveness evaluation of open reanastomosis for obliterative or recalcitrant anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate safety, efficacy and functional outcomes after open vesicourethral re - anastomosis using different approaches based on previous urinary continence. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of patients treated from 2002 to 2017 due to vesicourethral anastomosis stricture (VUAS) post radical prostatectomy (RP) who failed endoscopic treatment with at least 3 months of follow-up. Continent and incontinent patients post RP were assigned to abdominal (AA) or perineal approach (PA), respectively. Demographic and perioperative variables were registered. Follow-up was completed with clinical interview, uroflowmetry and cystoscopy every 4 months. Success was defined as asymptomatic patients with urethral lumen that allows a 14 French flexible cystoscope. Results: Twenty patients underwent open re-anastomosis for VUAS after RP between 2002 and 2017. Mean age was 63.7 years (standard deviation 1.4) and median follow-up was 10 months (range 3 - 112). The approach distribution was PA 10 patients (50%) and AA 10 patients (50%). The mean surgery time and median hospital time were 246.2 ± 35.8 minutes and 4 days (range 2 - 10), respectively with no differences between approaches. No significant complication rate was found. Three patients in the AA group had gait disorder with favorable evolution and no sequels. Estimated 2 years primary success rate was 80%. After primary procedures 89.9% remained stenosis - free. All PA patients remained incontinent, and 90% AA remained continent during follow-up. Conclusion: Open vesicourethral re - anastomosis treatment is a reasonable treatment option for recurrent VUAS after RP. All patients with perineal approach remained incontinent while incontinence rate in abdominal approach was rather low.

Biopsia de próstata transrrectal bajo guía ecográfica y fusión con resonancia magnética: experiencia inicial en pacientes con biopsia previa negativa / Transrectal Prostate Biopsy under Ultrasound Guidance and Magnetic Resonance Fusion: Intial Experience in Patients with Negative Previous Biopsy

Objetivos: Analizar la performance diagnóstica de la punción biopsia prostática (PBP) guiada mediante ecografía con fusión de imágenes de resonancia magnética (RM) para la detección del cáncer de próstata (CP) en pacientes con biopsia previa negativa. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron todas las PBP transrrectales dirigidas bajo ecografía con fusión de imágenes de RM en pacientes mayores de 40 años de edad con sospecha de CP y biopsia previa randomizada negativa efectuadas durante el período comprendido entre enero de 2015 y enero de 2018. Se calculó la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo y negativo de dicho procedimiento. Resultados: De un total de 40 pacientes, 25 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La PBP transrrectal guiada bajo ecografía con fusión de imágenes de RM presentó una sensibilidad del 90% en la detección de CP clínicamente significativo (CPsig), mostrando una mejoría en la detección del 20% respecto de la biopsia randomizada. Conclusiones: La PBP transrrectal guiada con ecografía y fusión de imágenes de RM mejora la performance en la detección de CPsig en pacientes con biopsia previa negativa(AU)

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic performance of transrectal prostate US (ultrasonography) guided biopsy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fusion in the detection of prostate cancer in patients with negative previous biopsy. Materials and methods: Between January 2015 to January 2018, transrectal prostate biopsies under US guided with MRI fusion were performed in patients older than 40 years with suspicion of prostate cancer and prior negative biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the procedure were analyzed. Results: Out of a total of 40 patients, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Transrectal prostate US guided biopsy with MRI fusion presented a sensitivity of 90%, showing an improvement of 20% in the clinically significant prostate cancer detection compared with randomized biopsy. Conclusions: Transrectal prostate US guided biopsy with MRI fusion showed high performance in the detection of significative prostate cancer in patients with negative previous biopsy(AU)

Nefrectomía radical laparoscópica mano-asistida: seguimiento a largo plazo / Hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: long-term outcome

Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia oncológica a largo plazo de la nefrectomía radical laparoscópica mano-asistida (NRLMA) en el tratamiento del carcinoma renal localizado. Pacientes y Métodos: Se analizaron 60 pacientes con carcinoma renal localizado tratados con nefrectomía radical durante un período de dos años. A treinta pacientes se les realizó NRLMA y se los comparó con 30 pacientes operados a cielo abierto en el mismo período. El seguimiento oncológico consistió en examen físico, laboratorio en sangre y estudios imagenológicos. Se evaluó la eficacia del tratamiento oncológico analizando la recidiva local, las metástasis en los sitios de trocares y la presencia de metástasis a distancia. Se estableció la sobrevida libre de enfermedad a los 5 años y la sobrevida global y específica. Se utilizó el método Kaplan-Meier con el test log-rank para analizar sobrevidas. Resultados: El seguimiento promedio del grupo laparoscópico fue de 70,3 meses y 72,9 meses para el grupo de cirugía abierta. Los resultados anatomopatológicos fueron similares en el tamaño, estadios y grados de Fuhrman. Del grupo laparoscópico, 27 permanecen sin evidencia de enfermedad. En 2 pacientes se diagnosticaron metástasis a distancia, sólo uno falleció a consecuencia de las mismas y el restante aún vive con enfermedad. Se registró una muerte no relacionada con cáncer renal. No se registraron metástasis en el sitios de los trocares. En el grupo de cirugía abierta, 27 pacientes se encuentran libres de enfermedad. Los tres pacientes restantes fallecieron por las metástasis a distancia. El análisis estadístico no reveló diferencias significativas en la sobrevida libre de enfermedad a los 5 años, en la sobrevida global ni en la específica entre ambas técnicas. Conclusión: Los resultados del seguimiento a largo plazo en nuestro Centro demuestran que la NRLMA es oncológicamente tan eficaz como las técnicas a cielo abierto en el tratamiento del carcinoma renal clínicamente localizado