Acceptance, Prevalence and Indications for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy - Results of a Survey Among Urologists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Background: Robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL) is being widely accepted in the field of urology as a replacement for conventional laparoscopy (CL). Nevertheless, the process of its integration in clinical routines has been rather spontaneous. Objective: To determine the prevalence of robotic systems (RS) in urological clinics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the acceptance of RAL among urologists as a replacement for CL and its current use for 25 different urological indications. Materials and Methods: To elucidate the practice patterns of RAL, a survey at hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland was conducted. All surgically active urology departments in Germany (303), Austria (37) and Switzerland (84) received a questionnaire with questions related to the one-year period prior to the survey. Results: The response rate was 63%. Among the participants, 43% were universities, 45% were tertiary care centres, and 8% were secondary care hospitals. A total of 60 RS (Germany 35, Austria 8, Switzerland 17) were available, and the majority (68%) were operated under public ownership. The perception of RAL and the anticipated superiority of RAL significantly differed between robotic and non-robotic surgeons. For only two urologic indications were more than 50% of the procedures performed using RAL: pyeloplasty (58%) and transperitoneal radical prostatectomy (75%). On average, 35% of robotic surgeons and only 14% of non-robotic surgeons anticipated RAL superiority in some of the 25 indications. Conclusions: This survey provides a detailed insight into RAL implementation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. RAL is currently limited to a few urological indications with a small number of high-volume robotic centres. These results might suggest that a saturation of clinics using RS has been achieved but that the existing robotic capacities are being utilized ineffectively. The possible reasons for this finding are discussed, and certain strategies to solve these problems are offered

Clinically relevant genetic characterization of prostate tumors: How close are we to the goal?

Substantial efforts are being made in research on the molecular genetic characterization of prostate cancer. The number of fundamental research programs in prostate cancer molecular biology and genetics is overwhelming. However, a significant gap appears to exist between the huge number of studies on the genetic characterization of prostate cancer, which often have limited translation into clinical practice or simply were not conceived to be so translated, and clinical practice. From a clinical point of view, this balance should be urgently shifted towards rapid translation into urological practice. However, prostate cancer is characterized by prominent genetic heterogeneity, which could be a very difficult barrier to overcome. In this review, we discuss the possible clinical applications of scientific data from fundamental studies of prostate cancer genetics, the main problems with the translation of these data to clinics, and future perspectives.synapse: https://synapse.koreamed.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4111/kju.2015.56.2.90 the_journal: http://kjurology.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4111/kju.2015.56.2.90 received: 2014-11-26 accepted: 2014-12-23 published_online: 2015-01-30 copyright: © The Korean Urological Association, 2015 license: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.status: publishe

A new technique of bladder neck reconstruction during radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer

ABSTRACTPurpose:To evaluate continence after radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients, in whom a new method of the bladder neck reconstruction (BNR) using deep dorsal stitch was implemented (deep single stitch through all bladder layers directly dorsal to the bladder opening after “tennis racket” reconstruction) and to provide justification for its use by means of anatomical study in cadavers.Material and Methods:Open radical retropubic prostatectomy was performed in 84 patients: 39 patients with a new BNR method used to improve continence and control group of 45 patients with standard “tennis racket” BNR. Median follow-up was 14 months in control group and 12 months in study group. Continence recovery was accessed early postoperatively and every 3 months thereafter. Anatomical study was performed on 2 male fresh cadavers reproducing two different BNR techniques to clarify any underlying continence related mechanisms.Results:Patients with new BNR achieved full continence significantly faster (p=0.041), but the continence rates after 12 months were similar between groups. The severity of incontinence up to month 9 was significantly reduced in BNR group. The anastomotic stricture rate was not affected. Applying new BNR to the cadaver model revealed effects on early continence, namely presence of proximal passive closure mechanism in area of bladder neck.Conclusions:Continence in patients with the new BNR method using deep dorsal stitch recovered significantly faster. Moreover, a reduced grade of residual incontinence was documented. The effect was non-significant at month 12 of follow-up, meaning that only early effect was present.</sec

New ex-vivo organ model for percutaneous renal surgery

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous Renal Surgery (PRS) is a demanding procedure and success is mostly hampered by the lacking of training facilities. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate a significantly improved pre-existing porcine kidney-training model for percutaneous renal access and PRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A biologic training model using porcine kidneys coated by a full-thickness porcine skin flap was prepared. The ureter was dissected, stones were placed into the collecting system using an 18F amplatz sheath, and a catheter was placed in the ureter for further irrigation with saline or contrast medium. For initial training with an easy access, a standard guide-wire was inserted in the ureter through the renal parenchyma. The kidney was punctured with radiographic or ultrasound guidance. Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MIP) was then tested using the model under radiographic or ultrasound guidance. The model was then evaluated in MIP training courses, which are regularly held at The Hannover Medical School. RESULTS: All trainees were urologists with experience in endourologic surgery but lacked practice in PRS. In conclusion, all 36 participants attained access to the collecting system using models with readily placed guide-wires. Subsequently, PRS was successful in all cases. Percutaneous puncture under ultrasound guidance and following intrarenal surgery was successful in 30 (83.3%) cases. Therefore, all participants rated the model useful for simulating percutaneous renal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This new porcine kidney model is easy to build and is made cost effective by using readily available material. Moreover, it provides realistic and reproducible training model for PRS. The "organ" model mimics the retroperitoneum by having a full-thickness skin flap with a layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue

TISSUE-BASED GENE EXPRESSION FOR PROGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER LOCAL STAGE

The aim of our study was the evaluation of the prognostic role of 42 genes, which were shown to be relates to prostate cancer aggressiveness in previous studies. We have included 28 patients in the study, 19 with localized prostate cancer according to final pathology after radical prostatectomy (pT2a-2c) and 9 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (pT3a-b). Analysis of the gene expression (PCR) revealed 6 genes with differential expression in tumor tissues of patients from 2 aforementioned groups: GOLM1, GBX2, XPO6, SSTR1, TOP2A and CDCA5. We have created a prognostic model of the pT-stage based on the expression of these 6 genes, which proved to be accurate in 75% of the included cases

Extended hepatic metastasectomy for renal cell carcinoma—new aspects in times of targeted therapy: a single-center experience over three decades

Purpose!#!Despite the introduction of novel targeted therapies on patients with renal cell carcinoma, syn- and metachronous metastases (including hepatic lesions) are observed frequently and significantly influence patient survival. With introduction of targeted therapies as an effective alternative to surgery, therapeutical strategies in stage IV disease must be reevaluated.!##!Methods!#!This is a retrospective analysis of 40 patients undergoing hepatic resection of histologically confirmed RCC metastases at our institution between April 1993 and April 2017.!##!Results!#!The interval between nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma and hepatic metastasectomy was 44.0 months (3.3-278.5). Liver resections of different extents were performed, including multivisceral resections. The median follow-up was 37.8 months (0.5-286.5). Tumor recurrence after resection of hepatic metastases occurred in 19 patients resulting in a median disease-free survival of 16.2 months (0.7-265.1) and a median overall survival of 37.8 months (0.5-286.5). Multivariable analysis identified multivisceral resection as an independent risk factor for disease-free and overall survival (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001, respectively). A longer interval between nephrectomy and hepatic metastasectomy was identified as an independent significant protective factor for overall survival (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Patients undergoing metastasectomy after introduction of sunitinib in Europe in 2006 (n = 15) showed a significantly longer overall survival (45.2 (9.1-111.0) versus 27.5 (0.5-286.52) months in the preceding era; p = 0.038).!##!Conclusion!#!Hepatic metastasectomy, including major and extended resections, on patients with metastasized renal cell carcinoma can be performed safely and may facilitate long-term survival. Due to significant morbidity and increased mortality, multivisceral resections must be weighed against other options, such as targeted therapy