Preoperative risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) after urological surgery in the elderly.

The aim of this observational study was to investigate the occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients undergoing urological surgery and to identify those factors associated with delirium. Ninety consecutive patients (81 males and 9 females; average age of 74.3 ± 0.40 years), undergoing urological surgery in University-Hospital Urological Clinic were selected. Personal, medical, cognitive and functional data, biochemical parameters, preoperative medications, conduct of surgery and anesthesia and details of hemodynamic control were collected as predictors of delirium. After surgery, the subjects were divided on the basis of delirium onset within a week observation period. Delirium was diagnosed by the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium started the first post-operative day (2F; 6 M) and lasted 3.0 ± 0.8 days. Subjects with POD were significantly older, had a previous history of delirium, were more impaired in the instrumental activities of daily living and had poorer clock drawing test (CDT) score. Interestingly, a significantly greater number of hypotensive events were recorded during anesthesia. Age, cognitive and functional status, previous history of delirium and hypotensive episodes intrasurgery are the best predictor of POD in this setting. Our findings have implications in preventing delirium in elderly by an early and targeted evaluation.

Interindividual variability in the absorption of ciprofloxacin and hydrocortisone from continent ileal reservoir for urine.

OBJECTIVE: The neobladder created with a detubularized segment of ileum as standard treatment for the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder may permit absorption of drugs. As a consequence, on the one hand the elimination of drugs excreted in the urine may be delayed and a change of dosage may be required, and on the other hand the intravesical administration of a drug may produce blood levels capable of inducing unwanted systemic effects. The purpose of the present study was to explore the possibility of drug absorption from a continent ileal reservoir for urine. METHODS: The possibility of drug re-absorption from a continent ileal reservoir for urine was studied in 12 patients with well functioning reservoirs after a time interval of 3 months from surgery and also, in 7 of them, 6 months later. Saline solutions of ciprofloxacin or hydrocortisone were instilled and maintained in the reservoir for 2 h, and drug concentrations in plasma were measured 1 and 2 h after instillation. RESULTS: Both ciprofloxacin and to a lower extent hydrocortisone were adsorbed from the reservoir, but with large interindividual variability. A comparison of the plasma concentrations produced by the two drugs 3 and 9 months after creation of the new bladder revealed that after 9 months the absorption was decreased in 3 patients, substantially unchanged in 2, and increased in 2. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that both ciprofloxacin, chosen for its use as possible radiosensitizing agent in bladder cancer patients, and hydrocortisone, chosen as an example of lypofilic endogenous compound, can be absorbed through the intestinal mucosa of a continent ileal reservoir, but to a different extent and with high interindividual variability.

Bilateral testicular tumors: management and outcome in 21 patients.

BACKGROUND: The authors examined the clinical course of patients with bilateral testicular tumors to determine whether the outcome after treatment was different from patients with unilateral tumors. METHODS: Using a computerized data base of 2088 patients with testicular carcinoma at Indiana University, 21 patients (1%) were identified with bilateral testicular carcinoma. A retrospective review of hospital and clinic charts was performed. Sixteen patients with metachronous and 5 patients with synchronous testicular tumors were identified. RESULTS: Treatment was based on clinical stage and was similar to therapy given for unilateral disease. The mean age at presentation of the first testicular tumor was 28.4 years (range, 16-47 years). Approximately 50% of the second primary tumors presented > 5 years after the contralateral tumor. At a mean follow-up of 49.9 months (range, 1-276 months), 18 patients were without evidence of disease, 2 were alive with disease, and 1 patient had died of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of patients with bilateral germ cell tumors is based on the pathology and clinical stage and should not be different from the traditional management of unilateral testicular carcinoma. Patients with unilateral testicular carcinoma should be informed of the necessity of long term follow-up because contralateral testicular carcinoma may occur as long as 25 years later.

Integration of surgery and systemic therapy: results and principles of integration.

Eight hundred seventy patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell cancer underwent postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) for resection of residual disease. Several risk factors for relapse and survival were identified as highly significant (P = .00001), namely, presence of residual cancer in the specimen before salvage chemotherapy programs, tumor marker elevation, need for "re-do" PC-RPLND, or unresectability. Although more than half of the entire group (52.5%) had one or more of these risk factors, 67.5% are long-term survivors following PC-RPLND. The remaining 47.5% were referred after primary chemotherapy, without risk factors. Only 9.8% relapsed and 95.5% survived.

Combined post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and resection of chest tumor under the same anesthetic is appropriate based on morbidity and tumor pathology.

PURPOSE: We determine if post-chemotherapy resection of residual retroperitoneal and chest tumor under the same anesthetic is reasonable based on tumor pathology and morbidity, and if the finding of necrosis in the abdomen allows observation of chest tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 143 post-chemotherapy patients who underwent resection of residual retroperitoneal and chest disease under the same anesthetic. RESULTS: Retroperitoneal pathology was generally predictive of chest pathology. Concordance existed in 77.5% of patients with necrosis, 70% with teratoma and 69% with cancer of the abdomen. However, the correlation was much stronger (86%) in predicting necrosis/fibrosis if cases were categorized as uncomplicated by Indiana University criteria. Although the morbidity of the combined approach is higher than that of standard post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, it was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and resection of chest disease under the same anesthetic is acceptable. Retroperitoneal pathology generally predicts chest pathology but this correlation is much stronger if the case is uncomplicated based on our criteria. In an uncomplicated case the discovery of necrosis of the abdomen allows observation of chest tumor.

Predictive factors for outcome in invasive bladder cancer treated with alternating chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSE: In order to select patients properly for a bladder preservation program, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the predictive role of pretreatment- and treatment-related factors in a group of patients with invasive bladder cancer treated with alternating chemoradiotherapy at a single institution. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1986 to 1994, 72 patients with invasive bladder cancer, stages T1 poorly differentiated or T2-4M0 refusing surgery or not eligible for surgery, were treated with alternating chemoradiotherapy. Each patient had a pretreatment cystoscopy with an attempted complete transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURB). The treatment schedule consisted of chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, or methotrexate) alternated with radiotherapy. Over the years, the treatment schedule was modified with respect to the total number of chemotherapy cycles, the type of chemotherapy drugs, the dose per fraction and total dose of radiation therapy, and the presence of a planned treatment gap at midtreatment. Treatments were aligned in order of their received average relative dose intensities of both chemotherapy (ARDICT) and radiotherapy (RDIRT). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (76%) developed infiltrative bladder recurrences for an estimated 5-year pelvic control rate of 68% +/- 6%; 5-year actuarial survival with intact bladder is 40% +/- 6%. Obstructive uropathy at diagnosis, residual disease after TURB, and ARDICT value equal or below the median were independent predictive factors for pelvic failure, with hazard ratios of 2.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-7.04), 8.13 (95% CI, 2.74-24.1), and 3.36 (95% CI, 1.29-8.74), respectively. A more detailed model including interactions among these factors showed that the negative prognostic effect of obstructive uropathy at diagnosis was not modified by ARDICT or TURB resection; on the contrary, the risk of local failure for patients with incomplete TURB was markedly affected by different levels of ARDICT. Also, a trend toward a better local outcome was observed for patients with RDIRT above the median. Hydronephrosis and incomplete TURB were also independent predictors of distant metastases and overall survival, but no effect was found for ARDICT on these endpoints. DISCUSSION: As a result of this analysis we believe that (1) patients with obstructive uropathy should not be offered a bladder-sparing approach, (2) gross total TURB of the primary tumor should be maximized, (3) prompt surgery should be considered for patients with incomplete TURB who are not compliant with the combined-modality treatment, and (4) the intrinsic value of dose intensity of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be confirmed in a prospective, controlled study.