The role of bedside assistant during robot assisted radical prostatectomy: Is more experience better? Analysis on perioperative and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of the bedside assistant's experience during RARP. It is believed that the outcome of robotic surgery during Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer depends not only on the console surgeon's experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive RARPs from January 2017 to March 2018 were sourced from a prospectively maintained database. All cases were performed by the same surgeon. He was supported by three bedside assistants: one with bedside and console experience, one only with relevant bedside experience, one basically inexperienced. The patient's parameters analyzed: age, Body Mass Index (BMI), previous abdominal surgery, prostate volume (by TRUS), pre-operative PSA, bioptic grading. Surgical outcomes analyzed included skin-to-skin operative time and estimated blood loss; clinical outcomes included length of hospital stay and time to catheter removal; the oncological outcome was represented by positive surgical margin rate. RESULTS: A total of 116 RARPs were identified: 38 RARPs were performed with the console experienced bedside assistant, 38 with the experienced one, 40 with the novice one. The variables were similar between the three groups. As far as outcomes are concerned, there were no statistically significant differences between the three bedside assistants in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, days of catheterization, positive surgical margin rate.

Robot-assisted nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy using near-infrared fluorescence technology and indocyanine green: initial experience.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a fluorescent molecule that provokes detectable photon emission. The use of ICG with near-infrared (NIR) imaging system (Akorn, Lake Forest, IL) has been described during robotic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) as an adjunctive means of identifying renal artery and parenchymal perfusion. We propose the use of the ICG with NIR fluorescence during laparoscopic robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), to identify the benchmark artery improving the preservation of neurovascular bundle and to improve the visualization of the vascularization and then the hemostasis. METHODS: From April 2015 to February 2016, 62 patients underwent to RARP in our Urology Unit. In 26 consecutive patients, in the attempt to have a better visualization of neurovascular bundles, we used to inject ICG during the procedure. We evaluated the percentage of identification of neurovascular bundles using NIR fluorescence. Then, we evaluated complications related to injection of ICG and operative time differences between RARP with and without ICG injection performed by the same surgeons. RESULTS: We identified prostatic arteries and neurovascular bundles using NIR fluorescence technology in all patients (100%). There was not any increase in the operative time compared with RARP without ICG injection performed by the same surgeons. Complications related to injection of ICG did not occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, even if on a limited number of patients, the application of ICG with NIR fluorescence during RARP is helpful to identify the benchmark artery of neurovascular bundle.

Actinic cystitis: causes, treatment and experience of a single centre in the last five years.

INTRODUCTION: Actinic cystitis (AC) is the manifestation of symptoms and signs following pelvic radiotherapy. Pelvic radiotherapy produces both acute and chronic damage and such damage may have a devastating impact on the quality and on the amount of life of the patient. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the number of radical cystectomies that have become necessary in the last five years in our department for AC after radiation treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2012 to February 2017, 11 patients underwent "open" cystectomy for AC. All patients were studied with radiographic examinations and endoscopy prior to surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the type of primitive cancer, the radiation dose administered, the time between radiation treatment and cystectomy. We also studied the related symptoms that required surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of patients at the time of cystectomy was 75 years. In six patients (54.4%) radiotherapy was performed for prostate cancer, for rectal cancer in two patients (18.1%), and for endometrial cancer in three patients (27.2%). Total radiant dose was different in different patients depending on the type and localization of cancer. The median time between radiotherapy and cystectomy was 111 months (24-256 months). All patients had symptoms before surgery. Seven patients (63.3%) with gross haematuria were treated with endoscopic clot evacuation and fulguration. DISCUSSION: The first approach to patients with AC is often supportive care. Surgery remains the most invasive treatment in the management of those patients who are not responsive to conservative treatments.

[Renal biopsy in the lateral position in high risk patients: an opportunity to take advantage of]. / La biopsia renale in decubito laterale nei pazienti complessi: una possibilità da sfruttare.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy (RB) is the gold standard for diagnosis of renal diseases. The standard procedure involves biopsy in the prone position (PP) for the native kidneys. In high risk patients, transjugular and laparoscopic RB have been proposed. In patients suffering from obesity or respiratory diseases, the RB of the native kidney in the supine anterolateral position (SALP) represents an alternative to these invasive and expensive methods. We illustrate the technique of execution of RB in the lateral position (LP) on native kidneys. The procedure is safe, effective and has reduced the path travelled by the needle biopsy compared with PP and SALP.

[Biopsy findings of low-risk prostate disease: are they real? Single centre experience]. / Il riscontro bioptico di malattia prostatica "low risk" è reale? single centre experience.

Clinically insignificant prostate cancer is characterized by limited biologic malignancy and, possibly, it is suitable for non-radical treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis of 1028 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (118 of them with clinically insignificant prostate cancer), in order to assess the predictors of cancer-related outcome. Only 19% of the patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically insignificant prostate cancer had clinically insignificant cancer in the prostatectomy specimen, whereas in 19% of the cases we found a high-risk disease. The risk of overtreatment is present but currently counterbalanced by the risk of undertreatment.

Thoraco-pelvic orthosis: a portable and removable bassinet for secure patient immobilization after primary bladder exstrophy closure.

A portable and removable thoraco-pelvic orthosis for patient immobilization after neonatal primary bladder exstrophy closure is described. The device is made of a polyethylene shell, moulded at 170°C, coated inside with a 5 mm pad of plastazote and works applying a constant gentle pressure on the hips.

Surgical management of penile amputation in children.

PURPOSE: Penile amputation in children is rare. If the amputated organ cannot be salvaged, standard treatment options include sex reassignment or creation of a penoid with a musculocutaneous flap. We describe our experience with phallic reconstruction after amputation. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2007, we observed 3 patients with penile amputation. All presented a flat pubic scar and a severe urethral stricture for which urinary diversion had been performed in two. The first step of the procedure was penile augmentation. The latter included dissection and advancement of the residual erectile tissue by either division of the suspensory ligament (n = 2) or detachment of the corpora cavernosa from the pubic bones. Then, meatal advancement was attempted and combined with a staged oral mucosa urethroplasty, if necessary. Finally, skin coverage was achieved using local flaps (n = 2) or a free graft harvested from the inguinal region. In 2 patients, a pseudoglans was sculptured from the pubic scar. RESULTS: In no case the procedure could be performed in a single stage. In one patient, 2 additional cosmetic revisions were required. Good penile augmentation was achieved in all the 3 cases. All patients presented at least nocturnal erections and reported to be satisfied with the cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that an attempt to phallic reconstruction by retrieval of any residual erectile tissue might be worthwhile before embarking on a penile replacement. In a few cases, this may allow recreation of a penis with good cosmesis and function.

Scintigraphic renal function after unilateral pyeloplasty in children: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review previous reports and thus determine the functional outcome after pyeloplasty in children with unilateral hydronephrosis due to pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction, and the possible variables that could affect it. METHODS: We searched Medline/PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for articles in English published from 1966 to 2007, using both 'medical subject headings' and 'free text' protocols. Abstracts, full texts, and bibliographies of pertinent papers were reviewed to select studies of scintigraphic renal function before and after pyeloplasty. The postoperative change in scintigraphic renal function was assessed in relation to presentation (antenatal vs postnatal), timing of surgery (early vs delayed), age at surgery, and preoperative ultrasonography (US) and scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: Thirty-six studies (2.1% of the initial search) were eventually selected for review. Studies were generally of poor scientific quality and very heterogeneous in their indications for surgery and follow-up protocols. Postoperative function showed a wide variability. Symptomatic patients diagnosed postnatally seemed to have a greater chance of functional improvement after surgery than asymptomatic patients diagnosed antenatally. The chance of improvement seemed also to be greater in patients with moderately rather than severely impaired preoperative function. Otherwise, the improvement seemed unrelated to the age at surgery, the preoperative US findings, or the excretion pattern on renal scintigraphy. Of patients having delayed surgery >97.5% had preserved function afterward. CONCLUSIONS; Patients with moderately impaired preoperative function and those diagnosed postnatally because of symptoms are those with the greatest likelihood of having a functional improvement after surgery.

Late onset ureteric obstruction after endoscopic subureteric injection of calcium hydroxyapatite for primary vesicoureteric reflux.

Ureteric obstruction occurs in about 1% of cases undergoing endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). It usually develops shortly after treatment. We report on a case of obstruction occurring 1 year after subureteric injection of calcium hydroxyapatite. Obstruction was progressive and eventually required open ureteric reimplantation. Ureteric obstruction can occur also in the long-term after endoscopic treatment of VUR and even in the absence of symptoms. Although it is so rare as to make long-term follow-up of all treated cases cost ineffective, physicians should be aware of such complications, especially while testing new bulking agents.