Experienced Open vs Early Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A 10-year Prospective and Retrospective Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a prospective/retrospective comparison of longer-term oncologic and quality of life outcomes in open radical prostatectomy (ORP) or robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical progression of ORP and RALP patients who underwent surgery during 2004 was followed over an extended (10 year) period. Pre- and perioperative parameters, oncologic outcomes, recurrence, mortality, and quality of life were compared between surgical modalities. Follow-up time was calculated from the time of surgery to the latest contact. Postoperative quality of life data were obtained from Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite survey questionnaires. Recurrence rates, times to recurrence, surgical time, length of stay, hematocrit, follow-up time, and sexual and urinary bother scores were compared between surgical groups. Multivariate analyses were used to predict positive surgical margins and biochemical recurrence. RESULTS: 63 ORP and 116 RALP patients were included (mean age of 60.4 ± 6.4 and 58.6 ± 5.8 years; P = .067), with follow-up times of 10.3 and 10.1 years (P = .191). RALP patients had longer operative times (P < .001), shorter hospital stays (P < .001), and higher discharge hematocrits (P < .001). With prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, and T-stage as covariates, time to recurrence (P = .365) and positive margin rate (P = .230) were not statistically different between groups. Ninety-five percent of RALP patients were continent and 48.0% were potent vs 92.6% and 41.5% of ORP patients (P = .720; .497). Urinary and sexual bother were not significantly different between groups (P = .392; .985). CONCLUSION: Our longer-term follow-up data suggest that ORP and RALP patients have comparable oncologic and quality of life outcomes.

Cold intravascular organ perfusion for renal hypothermia during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: We report initial data on the safety and functional outcomes of renal hypothermia with arterial cold perfusion during partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2007 to June 2009, 31 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with hypothermia using renal arterial perfusion with cold, lactated Ringer's solution during renal ischemia. Doppler echography was done intraoperatively to evaluate renal perfusion. Complication data were reported prospectively. Median followup was 57 weeks (IQR 28, 83). RESULTS: The lowest recorded renal temperature during ischemia was 14C. Median tumor size was 4.0 cm (IQR 2.7, 6.2). Median estimated blood loss was 150 cc (IQR 100, 275). Median ischemia time was 35 minutes (IQR 26, 41). Doppler echography identified intrarenal arterial blood flow postoperatively in all cases. The median change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate from preoperatively to postoperative day 2 was 4 ml per minute (IQR -29, 19). Two months postoperative in 20 patients the median change was 3.5 ml per minute (IQR -6, 16.5). At last followup in 31 patients the overall change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate was -0.5 ml per minute (IQR -6, 6). Six complications developed in a total of 5 patients, of which 5 were grade 2 or less. One grade 3 postoperative hemorrhage from an arteriovenous fistula at the tumor resection site was treated with angiography and selective embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Cold intravascular perfusion during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can achieve renal hypothermia below 15C. It is not associated with an immediate risk of renal vascular injury or thrombosis, as measured by Doppler echography in this series. Early changes in postoperative estimates of renal function appear minimal.

Peyronie's disease following radical prostatectomy: incidence and predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Both prostate cancer and Peyronie's disease (PD) are prevalent in men after their fifth decade of life. The evidence to support or refute a link between radical prostatectomy (RP) and PD is limited. AIMS: To define the incidence of PD in men who had RP and determine possible predictors of PD development after RP. METHODS: A review of a prospectively built sexual medicine database, years 2002-2008, looking at subjects who had RP as a monotherapy for localized prostate cancer. We identified and characterized subjects who developed PD within 3 years after RP and compared them with subjects who did not. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of PD among men who attended a sexual medicine clinic after they had RP, predictors of PD development after RP. RESULTS: The study population included 1,011 subjects, and PD incidence in this population was 15.9%. Mean time to develop PD after RP was 13.9 +/- 0.7 months. Mean curvature magnitude was 31 + 17 degrees. On univariate analysis, younger age (mean age of 59 + 7 in men with PD vs. 60 + 7 years in men without PD, P = 0.006) and white race (vs non-white, 18% vs. 7%, P < 0.001) were predictive of PD development after RP, but post-op erectile function was not a predictor of PD development. On multivariate analysis, younger age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.3, for 5-year decrease in age) and white race (OR = 4.1, vs. non-white) remained independent significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Men presenting with sexual dysfunction after RP have higher PD incidence then the general population. Therefore, they should be routinely evaluated for PD. Younger men and men of white race are at increased risk for PD. Prospective controlled studies are needed to elucidate the incidence of PD following RP and to conclude if RP has a causative role in the pathogenesis of PD.

Radical cystectomy in octogenarians--does morbidity outweigh the potential survival benefits?

PURPOSE: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data indicate only 19.7% of patients 80 years old or older with muscle invasive bladder cancer undergo radical cystectomy vs 49.4% of those with similar stage disease age 65 to 79 years, reflecting concern for perioperative morbidity. We evaluated the morbidity and survival outcomes of octogenarians treated with radical cystectomy at a tertiary cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 1,142 patients entered prospectively into a hospital based complication database between 1995 and 2005 using a modified Clavien system. Complications were classified as minor or major based on the complexity of intervention required. Disease specific and competing risk survival curves for patients younger than 80 years vs 80 years old or older were created. RESULTS: Octogenarians had a nonsignificantly higher rate of minor (55% vs 50%) and major complications (17% vs 13%) than younger patients, respectively (global p = 0.15). After adjusting for baseline characteristics the risk of any complication was roughly flat across all ages (p = 0.9). For major complications risk appeared to increase slightly up to age 65 years and then plateau (p = 0.16). After adjusting for deaths from other causes the cumulative incidence of death from bladder cancer in octogenarians was comparable to that in younger patients (5-year cumulative incidence of death from bladder cancer 26% vs 25%). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience radical cystectomy in older patients with bladder cancer provides similar disease control and survival outcomes with risks of high grade perioperative morbidity comparable to those in younger patients, and remains an important treatment option.

Analysis of gender differences in early perioperative complications following radical cystectomy at a tertiary cancer center using a standardized reporting methodology.

OBJECTIVES: Gender differences in perioperative complications following radical cystectomy (RC) are under-studied, but suggest a tendency for higher blood loss and/or transfusion in females. Variability in reporting methodologies may affect findings; therefore, we utilized a standardized reporting methodology to evaluate for gender differences in perioperative complications at a tertiary cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) RC database between 1995 and 2005 was performed. All complications within 90 days of surgery were recorded and classified using a 5-grade modification of the Clavien system. RESULTS: Of 1,142 study patients, 280 (25%) were female. Preoperatively, females were more likely to have multiple co-morbidities (39% vs. 27%, P < 0.001), a prior abdominal surgery (64% vs. 42%, P < 0.001), and to be slightly less obese than men. Females had longer operative times (mean 413 vs. 391 minutes; P = 0.005), higher blood loss (mean 1,322 cc vs. 1,151 cc, P = 0.002), and higher transfusion rates (>4 units red blood cells: 13% vs. 8%; P = 0.025). Although females were significantly more likely than males to experience a complication within 90 days of surgery (72% vs. 62%; P = 0.003); we did not find any important differences in the rate, grade, type, or timing of complications between genders. Additionally, females were less likely than males to receive a continent diversion (25% vs. 40%, P < 0.001) or a pelvic lymph node dissection (90% vs. 96%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Females in our cohort had significantly higher blood loss, more transfusions, and a higher rate of complications. Females were also less likely to undergo a node dissection or continent diversion, for reasons not totally attributable to patient or disease characteristics, implying patient or surgeon preference played a role.