Development of the European Laparoscopic Intermediate Urological Skills LUSs2 Curriculum: A Delphi Consensus from the European School of Urology.

Background and objective: While programmes such as the European Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills have made strides in foundational training, a significant gap exists for intermediate and advanced laparoscopy education. Our objective is to develop and validate the European laparoscopic intermediate urological skills (LUSs2) curriculum, which will establish uniformity in the training of urological laparoscopic procedures and facilitate proficiency among practitioners. Methods: The study combines a literature review, cognitive task analysis development by a steering group, and a two-round Delphi survey involving international experts in urological laparoscopy. Consensus was defined as agreement of ≥70% among experts. The survey included statements on various laparoscopic procedures, assessed on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 9 (strongly agree). Key findings and limitations: The Delphi process achieved consensus on 85% (235/275) of statements, indicating a strong agreement on the curriculum's content. Areas covered include renal hilum dissection, major vessel injury management, enucleation and renorrhaphy, vesicourethral anastomosis, and pyeloplasty. Limitations include the nonsystematic nature of the literature review and potential biases inherent in expert-based consensus methods. Conclusions and clinical implications: The LUSs2 curriculum significantly advances the standardised training of laparoscopic urological skills. It offers a detailed, consensus-validated framework that addresses the need for uniformity in surgical education and aims to enhance surgical proficiency and patient care. Patient summary: This study presents the development of a new standardised training curriculum for urological laparoscopic surgery. We intend this curriculum to improve the quality of surgical training and ensure high-quality patient care.

Influence of Early Apical Release on Outcomes in Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate: Results From a Multicenter Series of 4392 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes after laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) stratified by whether early apical release (EAR) was performed or not. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent EEP with holmium or thulium fiber laser in 8 centers (January 2020-January 2022). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: previous prostate/urethral surgery, prostate cancer, pelvic radiotherapy, concomitant lower urinary tract surgery. One-to-one propensity score-matching was performed between patients with EAR vs no EAR, with covariates including age, prostate volume, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, preoperative indwelling catheter, IPSS, Qmax, enucleation, and laser types. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate independent predictors of 30-day postoperative complications and urinary incontinence. RESULTS: EAR was performed in 2094 of 4392 included patients. The matched cohort consisted of 787 patients per arm. Total operation time was significantly longer in the EAR group (median 75 vs 67 minutes, P = .004). Early complications were higher in the EAR group (18.6% vs 12.5%, P = .001), while postoperative incontinence rates were similar (14.1% vs 13.1%, P = .61). Multivariable regression analysis showed that 3-lobe enucleation and operation time were significant predictors of postoperative complications; preoperative indwelling catheterization, higher prostate volume, and en-bloc enucleation were associated with higher odds of postoperative incontinence. LIMITATION: retrospective nature. CONCLUSION: Performing EAR during EEP is associated with a greater incidence of early complications, which was mainly driven by higher rates of postoperative hematuria and perioperative transfusion. The risk of postoperative incontinence and its duration are not affected by EAR.

Incidence of complications and urinary incontinence following endoscopic enucleation of the prostate in men with a prostate volume of 80 ml and above: results from a multicenter, real-world experience of 2512 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate complications and urinary incontinence (UI) after endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) stratified by prostate volume (PV). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent EEP with different energy sources in 14 centers (January 2019-January 2023). INCLUSION CRITERIA: prostate volume ≥ 80 ml. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: prostate cancer, previous prostate/urethral surgery, pelvic radiotherapy. PRIMARY OUTCOME: complication rate. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: incidence of and factors affecting postoperative UI. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1: PV = 80-100 ml; Group 2 PV = 101-200 ml; Group 3 PV > 200 ml. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate independent predictors of overall incontinence. RESULTS: There were 486 patients in Group 1, 1830 in Group 2, and 196 in Group 3. The most commonly used energy was high-power Holmium laser followed by Thulium fiber laser in all groups. Enucleation, morcellation, and total surgical time were significantly longer in Group 2. There was no significant difference in overall 30-day complications and readmission rates. Incontinence incidence was similar (12.1% in Group 1 vs. 13.2% in Group 2 vs. 11.7% in Group 3, p = 0.72). The rate of stress and mixed incontinence was higher in Group 1. Multivariable regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.019 95% CI 1.003-1.035) was the only factor significantly associated with higher odds of incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: PV has no influence on complication and UI rates following EEP. Age is risk factor of postoperative UI.

Incidence of urinary incontinence following endoscopic laser enucleation of the prostate by en-bloc and non- en-bloc techniques: a multicenter, real-world experience of 5068 patients.

We aim to evaluate the incidence of incontinence following laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) comparing en-bloc (Group 1) versus 2-lobe/3-lobe techniques (Group 2). We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing EEP for benign prostatic enlargement in 12 centers between January 2020 and January 2022. Data were presented as median and interquartile range (IQR). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). There were 1711 patients in Group 1 and 3357 patients in Group 2. Patients in Group 2 were significantly younger (68 [62-73] years vs 69 [63-74] years, P = 0.002). Median (interquartile range) prostate volume (PV) was similar between the groups (70 [52-92] ml in Group 1 vs 70 [54-90] ml in Group 2, P = 0.774). There was no difference in preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, or maximum flow rate. Enucleation, morcellation, and total surgical time were significantly shorter in Group 1. Within 1 month, overall incontinence rate was 6.3% in Group 1 versus 5.3% in Group 2 ( P = 0.12), and urge incontinence was significantly higher in Group 1 (55.1% vs 37.3% in Group 2, P < 0.001). After 3 months, the overall rate of incontinence was 1.7% in Group 1 versus 2.3% in Group 2 ( P = 0.06), and SUI was significantly higher in Group 2 (55.6% vs 24.1% in Group 1, P = 0.002). At multivariable analysis, PV and IPSS were factors significantly associated with higher odds of transient SUI/MUI. PV, surgical time, and no early apical release technique were factors associated with higher odds of persistent SUI/MUI.

Comparison Between Thulium Fiber Laser and High-power Holmium Laser for Anatomic Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis from the REAP Registry.

BACKGROUND: Different lasers have been developed for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, with no definitively superior technique identified to date. OBJECTIVE: To compare surgical and functional enucleation outcomes in real-world multicentre practice using high-power holmium laser (HP-HoLEP) and thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) for different prostate sizes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study included 4216 patients who underwent HP-HoLEP or ThuFLEP at eight centers in seven countries between 2020 and 2022. Exclusion criteria were previous urethral or prostatic surgery, radiotherapy, or concomitant surgery. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: To adjust for the bias arising from different characteristics at baseline, propensity score matching (PSM) was used to identify 563 matched patients in each cohort. Outcomes included the incidence of postoperative incontinence, early complications (30-d), and delayed complications, and results for the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual volume (PVR). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After PSM, 563 patients in each arm were included. Total operative time was similar between the arms, but enucleation and morcellation times were significantly longer for ThuFLEP. The rate of postoperative acute urinary retention was higher in the ThuFLEP arm (3.6% vs 0.9%; p = 0.005), but the 30-d readmission rate was higher in the HP-HoLEP arm (22% vs 8%; p = 0.016). There was no difference in postoperative incontinence rates (HP-HoLEP:19.7%, ThuFLEP:16.0%; p = 0.120). Rates of other early and delayed complications were low and comparable between the arms. The ThuFLEP group had higher Qmax (p < 0.001) and lower PVR (p < 0.001) than the HP-HoLEP group at 1-yr follow-up. The study is limited by its retrospective nature. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study shows that early and delayed outcomes of enucleation with ThuFLEP are comparable to those with HP-HoLEP, with similar improvements in micturition parameters and IPSS. PATIENT SUMMARY: As lasers become readily available for the treatment of enlarged prostates causing urinary bother, urologists should focus on performing good anatomic removal of prostate tissue, with the choice of laser not as important for good outcomes. Patients should be counseled about long-term complications, even when the procedure is being performed by an experienced surgeon.

En Bloc Resection of Bladder Tumors (ERBT) using different lasers - Hybrid and Holmium Laser

ABSTRACT Introduction: The En-bloc Resection of Bladder Tumors (ERBT) is a method that offers more benefits compared to the traditional Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) (1, 2). Recent studies have shown that ERBT offers better pathological analysis and oncological outcomes (3-6). Thulium and holmium are the most frequently used lasers for this procedure, with the hybrid laser being a new addition that combines thulium and diode to improve hemostatic properties (5, 7-9). Objective: This report aims to discuss the use of two types of lasers, hybrid and holmium, for ERBT. Material and Methods: Two case studies were conducted. The first case featured a 68-year-old male with two tumors measuring 1.5cm and 2cm. The hybrid laser was used for the procedure. The second case involved a 70-year-old female with a 5cm tumor on the posterior bladder wall, and holmium laser was used with morcellation of the tumor. The quality of histopathological analysis was evaluated. The perioperative data and the entire procedure of the two cases were documented in a step-by-step video. Results: Both lasers demonstrated excellent results without technical difficulties. There was no bleeding, and both patients were discharged with one day of hospitalization. The detrusor muscle was present without artifacts, and the morcellation did not affect the analysis. The first case showed a pT1G3, and the second case showed a pT2 urothelial carcinoma. The hybrid laser exhibited superior hemostatic capacity compared to the holmium laser. Conclusion: ERBT can use hybrid or holmium lasers without affecting histopathological analysis, even with morcellation.

En Bloc Resection of Bladder Tumors (ERBT) using different lasers - Hybrid and Holmium Laser.

INTRODUCTION: The En-bloc Resection of Bladder Tumors (ERBT) is a method that offers more benefits compared to the traditional Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) (1, 2). Recent studies have shown that ERBT offers better pathological analysis and oncological outcomes (3-6). Thulium and holmium are the most frequently used lasers for this procedure, with the hybrid laser being a new addition that combines thulium and diode to improve hemostatic properties (5, 7-9). OBJECTIVE: This report aims to discuss the use of two types of lasers, hybrid and holmium, for ERBT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two case studies were conducted. The first case featured a 68-year-old male with two tumors measuring 1.5cm and 2cm. The hybrid laser was used for the procedure. The second case involved a 70-year-old female with a 5cm tumor on the posterior bladder wall, and holmium laser was used with morcellation of the tumor. The quality of histopathological analysis was evaluated. The perioperative data and the entire procedure of the two cases were documented in a step-by-step video. RESULTS: Both lasers demonstrated excellent results without technical difficulties. There was no bleeding, and both patients were discharged with one day of hospitalization. The detrusor muscle was present without artifacts, and the morcellation did not affect the analysis. The first case showed a pT1G3, and the second case showed a pT2 urothelial carcinoma. The hybrid laser exhibited superior hemostatic capacity compared to the holmium laser. CONCLUSION: ERBT can use hybrid or holmium lasers without affecting histopathological analysis, even with morcellation.

En Bloc enucleation with early apical release technique using MOSES (En Bloc MoLEP) vs. classic En Bloc HoLEP: a single arm study comparing intra- and postoperative outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to describe the technique and outcomes of En-Bloc MOSES laser enucleation of the prostate (En-Bloc MoLEP) with early apical release comparing it to En-Bloc HoLEP (non-MOSES). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a single-arm prospective study, using a historical control. n = 80 patients were enrolled to the En Bloc MoLEP group and compared to a retrospective group of n = 137 patients treated by En Bloc HoLEP (non-MOSES), in total n = 217 patients. RESULTS: En-Bloc MoLEP, showed to significantly improve the surgical time by 32% compared to non-MOSES HoLEP (32.16 ± 14.46 min, 47.58 ± 21.32, respectively; P = 0.003). Enucleation time, ablation rate and hemostasis time were also significantly improved (P < 0.001, for all three parameters). Enucleation time was 22.10 ± 9.27 min and 31.46 ± 14.85 min (P < 0.001), ablation rate 4.11 ± 2.41 and 2.54 ± 1.31 gr/min (P < 0.001), Hemostasis time 3.01 ± 2.50 and 8.35 ± 5.38 min (P < 0.001), for En Bloc MoLEP and En Bloc HoLEP, respectively. Q-max, PVR, PSA and IPSS showed significant improvement, however, at 12 months no significant differences were observed comparing both groups. CONCLUSIONS: En-Bloc MoLEP was significantly better than En-Bloc HoLEP in terms of surgical time, enucleation time, ablation rate and hemostasis time. However, large comparative RCT with long-term follow-up are needed.