Robotic simple prostatectomy vs HOLEP, a 'multi single-center' experiences comparison

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare peri-operative and mid-term outcomes of patients who underwent robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) vs holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP). RASP and HOLEP are the treatments of choice for men with symptomatic benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and a prostate ≥80 g, achieving comparable short and mid-term efficacy. No randomized controlled studies have proved the superiority of one technique over the other. Material and methods: The prospectively maintained databases of the participating institutions were queried for patients with a prostate volume (PV) ≥80 g, who underwent surgery for BPO between 2011 and 2021. The study population was divided into two subgroups based on surgical approach. Demographics, baseline characteristics, and 12 months outcomes were compared between groups: χ2 and Student t-tests were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. The Trifecta composite outcome (post-operative Q-max >15 ml/sec, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) <8 and absence of complications) was used to define surgical quality and the two groups were compared accordingly. Logistic regression analyses investigated predictors of Trifecta achievement. Results: We included 97 patients with comparable pre-operative features (all p >0.30): 43 underwent RASP, 54 HOLEP. Median PV was 102 g (IQR 89-120) and Q-max was 7.2 ml/s (IQR 5.4-9.0). The Trifecta rate was 43% overall, higher in the RASP subgroup (56% vs 33%; p = 0.02). The endoscopic approach was its only independent predictor (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.28-0.88; p = 0.016). Conclusions: At univariable regression analysis, surgical approach was the only independent predictor of Trifecta achievement, which was significantly higher in the RASP group compared to HOLEP

Perioperative and mid-term oncologic outcomes of robotic assisted radical cystectomy with totally intracorporeal neobladder: Results of a propensity score matched comparison with open cohort from a single-centre series

Aim: In this study, we compared perioperative and oncologic outcomes of patients treated with either open or robot-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal neobladder at a tertiary care center. Methods: The institutional prospective bladder cancer database was queried for “cystectomy with curative intent” and “neobladder”. All patients underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal neobladder or open radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder for high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer or muscle invasive bladder cancer with a follow-up length ≥2 years were included. A 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was used. Kaplan-Meier method was performed to compare oncologic outcomes of selected cohorts. Survival rates were computed at 1,2,3 and 4 years after surgery and the log rank test was applied to assess statistical significance between the matched groups. Results: Overall, 363 patients (299 open and 64 robotic) were included. Open radical cystectomy patients were more frequently male (p = 0.08), with higher pT stages (p = 0.003), lower incidence of urothelial histologies (p = 0.05) and lesser adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (<0.001). After applying the propensity score matching, 64 robot-assisted radical cystectomy patients were matched with 46 open radical cystectomy cases (all p ≥ 0.22). Open cohort showed a higher rate of perioperative overall complications (91.3% vs 42.2%, p 0.001). At Kaplan-Meier analysis robotic and open cohorts displayed comparable disease-free survival (log-rank p = 0.746), cancer-specific survival (p = 0.753) and overall-survival rates (p = 0.909). Conclusions: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal neobladder provides comparable oncologic outcomes of open radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder at intermediate term survival analysis

Perioperative and 1-year patient-reported outcomes of Freyer versus Millin versus Madigan robot-assisted simple prostatectomy

Abstract Purpose: Robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) is an established surgical procedure for the management of obstructive symptoms caused by large adenomas. Traditionally, this is performed according to the trans-vescical (Freyer) or trans-capsular (Millin) technique. We recently described a novel urethra-sparing (Madigan) robotic technique which showed promising preliminary results. In this study, we compared the above techniques for perioperative and 1-year patient-reported outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from patients who underwent RASP across the three techniques, performed by two experienced surgeons in our center. We assessed patient self-reported pre-operative and post-operative functional outcomes with validated questionnaires: IPSS, IIEF short form, ICIQ short form, MSHQ Short Form. Continuous and categorical variables were compared between groups using the Mood's median test and the Chi-square tests, respectively. Results: Millin, Madigan and Freyer procedures were performed in 23 (51%), 14 (31%) and 8 (18%) cases, respectively. No significant differences were observed for baseline ASA score, BMI, prostate volume, IPSS, IIEF, ICIQ and MSHQ scores (all p ≥ 0.2), as well as post-operative obstructive symptoms relief (IPSS: p = 0.25), continence (ICIQ: p = 0.54), complication rates (p = 0.32) and hospital stay (p = 0.23). Operative time was longer for Madigan procedures (p = 0.05). The 1-year MSHQ and IIEF scores were significantly higher in the Madigan cohort (p = 0.008 and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: RASP proved to be a safe surgical approach, providing an effective and durable relief of obstructive symptoms at mid-term follow-up regardless of the technique used. The Madigan technique provided significant benefits in terms of self-assessed quality of sexual function

Allium stent for treatment of ureteral stenosis

Aim. The aim of our study is to value the efficacy of self-expanding Allium ureteral stent in the treatment of ureteral stenosis. Methods. From 2010 to 2013, we treated 12 patients, aged from 23 to 64 years. Six patients were affected by congenital UPJ obstruction, four patients by iatrogenic unilateral ureteral stenosis and two patients by bilateral ureteral stenosis. All the patients showed hydronephrosis before the stenotic lesion and pain. In all the patients, we use a 30 Fr, 10 cm length self-expanding Allium ureteral stent. The medium follow-up is 10 months after Allium stent removal. Results. All the patients were immediately free of pain after the procedure. We didn't experience intra, peri and postoperative complications. In all the patients, a complete correction of the stenotic lesion was obtained. No recurrence of stenosis occurred during follow-up. Conclusion. Self-expanding allium ureteral stent represents an effective treatment of ureteral stenosis in patients not suitable for surgery

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal neobladder: impact of learning curve and long-term assessment of functional outcomes

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data about functional outcomes of Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal orhotopic neobladder (ICON), and the impact of learning curve (LC) on those outcomes remains to be addressed. We aimed to report long-term functional outcomes of our single center series of RARC with ICON, assessing the role of LC in their achievement.METHODS: Patients treated with Robot assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder in our center between January 2012 an August 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Preoperative, clinical, perioperative, pathologic and functional data were reported. The first cases were divided in tertiles, for assessing the impact of learning curve on the outcomes evaluated. Long-term functional outcomes of the whole cohort were evaluated.RESULTS: Overall, 167 patients were included. Concerning tertiles analysis, operative time (p&lt;0.001), incidence of low (p=0.002) and high grade (p=0.001) complications and hospital stay (p=0.04) decreased significantly over time. Day-time continence recovery probability was significantly lower in the initial case series (1-yr rate 68.4%, 87% and 89.8 for I, II and III tertile, respectively; p=0.04;). Accordingly, Trifecta achievement was significantly higher in II and III tertiles (p=0.01). At a median follow- up of 34 months, the incidence of significant renal function deterioration of the whole cohort was 16.7%. Overall, 12, 24 and 60-mo day-time continence rates were 74.8 %, 82.7 % and 82.7 %.CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated at the beginning of the learning curve show worse perioperative and functional results. Once standardized the procedure, complications rates, hospital stay and daytime continence recovery experienced a significant improvement. At a long-term analysis of functional outcomes of our patients, renal function preservation and continence recovery results are encouraging

Exploring the Applications of Indocyanine Green in Robot-Assisted Urological Surgery: A Comprehensive Review of Fluorescence-Guided Techniques

This comprehensive review aims to explore the applications of indocyanine green (ICG) in robot-assisted urological surgery through a detailed examination of fluorescence-guided techniques. An extensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus, using keywords such as “indocyanine green,” “ICG”, “NIRF”, “Near Infrared Fluorescence”, “robot-assisted”, and “urology”. Additional suitable articles were collected by manually cross-referencing the bibliography of previously selected papers. The integration of the Firefly® technology in the Da Vinci® robotic system has opened new avenues for the advancement and exploration of different urological procedures. ICG is a fluorophore widely used in near-infrared fluorescence-guided techniques. The synergistic combination of intraoperative support, safety profiles and widespread availability comprises an additional asset that empowers ICG-guided robotic surgery. This overview of the current state of the art illustrates the potential advantages and broad applications of combining ICG-fluorescence guidance with robotic-assisted urological surgery

Sex-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy with Intracorporeal Padua Ileal Neobladder in Female: Surgical Technique, Perioperative, Oncologic and Functional Outcomes

Our aim was to illustrate our technique of sex-sparing (SS)-robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in female patients receiving an intracorporeal neobladder (iN). From January 2013 to June 2018, 11 female patients underwent SS-RARC-iN at a single tertiary referral center. Inclusion criteria were a cT &lt;= 2 N0 M0 bladder tumor at baseline imaging (CT or MRI) and an absence of tumors in the bladder neck, trigone and urethra at TURB. Baseline, perioperative, and outcomes at one year were reported. The median operative time was 255 min and the median hospital stay was seven days. Low-grade Clavien complications occurred in four patients (36.3%), while high-grade complications were not observed in any. Seven patients (63.7%) had an organ-confined disease at the pathologic specimen; nodal involvement and positive surgical margins were not detected in any of the cases. At a median follow-up of 28 months (IQR 14-51), no patients developed new onset of chronic kidney disease stage 3b. After one year, daytime and nighttime continence rates were 90.9% and 86.4% respectively. Quality of life as well as physical and emotional functioning improved significantly over time (all p &lt;= 0.04), while urinary symptoms and sexual function worsened at three months with a significant recovery taking place at one year (all p &lt;= 0.04). Overall, 8 out of 11 patients (72.7%) were sexually active at the 12-month evaluation. In select female patients, SS-RARC-iN is an oncologically sound procedure associated with favorable perioperative and functional outcomes

“Ride the Green Light”: Indocyanine Green–marked Off-clamp Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Totally Endophytic Renal Masses

Background: Complexity of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) mostly depends on tumor size and location. Totally endophytic renal masses represent a surgical challenge in terms of both intraoperative identification and anatomical dissection. Objective: To detail a novel technique for marking preoperatively endophytic renal tumors with transarterial superselective intrarenal mass delivery of indocyanine green (ICG)-lipiodol mixture, in order to enhance surgical margins control during purely off-clamp (OC) RAPN with the use of near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Design, setting, and participants: Between June and July 2017, 10 consecutive patients with totally endophytic renal masses underwent preoperative ICG tumor marking immediately followed by RAPN. Surgical procedure: Preoperative superselective transarterial delivery of a lipiodol-ICG mixture (1:2 volume ratio) into tertiary-order arterial branches feeding the renal mass prior to transperitoneal OC-RAPN. Measurements: Clinical data were prospectively collected in our institutional RAPN dataset. Perioperative, pathological, and functional outcomes of RAPN were assessed. Results and limitations: Median tumor size was 3 cm (interquartile range 2.3–3.8). The median PADUA score was 10 (9–11). Angiographic procedure was successful in all patients. Median operative time was 75 min (65–85); median estimated blood loss was 250 ml (200–350). No conversion to on-clamp PN or radical nephrectomy was needed. All patients had uneventful perioperative course; median hospital stay was 3 d (2–3). At discharge, median hemoglobin (Hgb) and percent estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) drop were 3.3 g/dl (2.1–3.3) and 11% (10–20%), respectively. Surgical margins were negative in all cases. One-year median ipsilateral renal volume and 1-yr eGFR percent decreases were 11.7% (6–20.9%) and 12.2% (5.3–13.7%), respectively. Conclusions: We described a novel technique to simplify challenging RAPN based on ICG superselective transarterial tumor marking. Key benefits include quick intraoperative identification of the mass with improved visualization and real-time control of resection margins. Patient summary: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for totally endophytic renal masses is a technically demanding surgical procedure, sometimes requiring radical nephrectomy. This novel technique significantly simplified surgical complexity in our Institution. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to confirm whether this technique provides relevant intraoperative and functional advantages. According to our preliminary experience, off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy after preoperative superselective indocyanine green tumor marking appeared to be a safe and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of totally endophytic renal tumors, achieving full trifecta outcomes and excellent functional results. Further prospective studies are awaited