Nephron-sparing surgery for renal tumours using selective renal parenchymal clamping

OBJECTIVE To describe a technical modification that facilitates nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for renal tumours, without clamping the renal pedicle or promoting renal surface hypothermia. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventeen patients with renal tumours had NSS using the selective renal-parenchymal clamping technique. In 11 patients the tumour was polar and in six it was central. The mean (range) size of the tumours was 3.6 (2-6) cm. The technique was performed using one or two large Satinsky vascular clamps. Time was not limited as there was no clamping of the renal pedicle, or renal hypothermia. RESULTS The mean (range) operative duration was 190 (120-300) min. Only one patient needed a blood transfusion. There were no complications in 13 patients after NSS. The mean (range) hospital stay was 5 (3-12) days. The pathological examination detected malignant tumours in 13 patients, and a microscopic examination showed adequate surgical margins in all. The mean (range) follow-up was 24.5 (4-60) months. No patients required haemodialysis immediately after surgery or later. CONCLUSIONS Selective renal parenchymal clamping is a simple and efficient technical manoeuvre that facilitates NSS without dissection or clamping of the renal pedicle. Time is not limited as the ischaemia is limited to the tissue surrounding the tumour. The operative duration and blood loss are acceptable and the complications similar to those with the conventional technique. The size and position of the tumour could be limiting factors to this technique.9671036103

Satisfaction analysis in men presenting with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy: Psychological and social aspects

Objective: Analyze the treatment satisfaction and impact on patients with localized prostate cancer. Methods: One-hundred and eighty patients, with mean age of 60 years, were divided into three groups: group I - 100 patients submitted to radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), group II - 40 patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT), and group III - 40 healthy men. A questionnaire was applied to the groups to assess physical and psychological changes 18 months after treatment. The investigational tool was based on two questionnaires; first: SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey), second: FACT-P (Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy). Results: In group I, 70% never used pads, 5% presented with complete urinary incontinence, and 10% reported occasional stool leakage. In group II, 85% did not use pads and 5% reported two pads a day; 15% reported stool leakage or intestinal cramps. Sexual dysfunction was similar in both groups: 75% of the surgical group and 72.5% of the radiotherapy group reported erectile dysfunction. In the control group, 40% reported erectile dysfunction; 10% reported occasional stool leakage and none had changes regarding the overall treatment-related satisfaction. Seventy-eight percent of the RRP group and 77.5% of the RT group reported being happy respecting satisfaction with the accepted or chosen treatment, and affirmed that would choose it again. Conclusions: The assessment of treatment-related satisfaction determines the treatment tolerability. This study's results did not show any significant changes in this issue between both treatment modalities (p>0.05).32441141

Extra-anatomical transobturator bypass graft for femoral artery involvement by metastatic carcinoma of the penis: report of five patients

Objectives Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis with inguinal lymph node involvement aggravates prognosis and can cause femoral artery bleeding, hemorrhagic shock and even death. The objective of this study is to describe the use of extra-anatomical transobturator bypass graft for femoral artery involvement by metastatic carcinoma of the penis. Casuistic and method Five patients with SCC and inguinal lymphatic metastasis involving the femoral vessels, who underwent extra-anatomical arterial bypass through obturator foramen between 1999 and 2007, were reviewed. The surgical technique and the postoperative outcome were described. Results After extra-anatomical transobturator bypass, all patients presented distal pulses. The mean time of surgery was 6 h. In four patients, a knitted Dacron tube was used; and in one, the contralateral devalvulated greater saphenous vein was used. Concomitantly, two patients underwent mass resection and one patient underwent node dissection 2 weeks after bypass. Two patients chose not to undergo inguinal resection, opting for palliative chemotherapy after the vascular procedure. The average follow-up period was 12 months and four patients have died-three due to pulmonary metastasis, and one due to acute myocardial infarct. No prosthetic complication was identified and no patient presented femoral bleeding. Conclusions The use of the transobturator bypass can benefit patients presenting with penile SCC and inguinal lymph nodes metastasis involving the femoral vessels, allowing resection of extensive tumor lesions, as well as avoidance of local complications.26548749

Primary invasive versus progressive invasive transitional cell bladder cancer: multicentric study of overall survival rate

Introduction and Objective: When feasible, the treatment for all-invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy. The aim of the present study was to analyze the prognostic difference, disease-specific survival rate, of muscle-invasive transitional cell cancer of the bladder (TCCB) for progressive invasive TCCB. Patients and Methods: A retrospective multicentric analysis was performed studying a total of 242 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for invasive TCCB from 1993 to 2005. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included 57 patients with progressive invasive TCCB, and group 2 included 185 patients with primary invasive TCCB. Both groups were further divided according to the pathological findings in pT2/3 (muscle and/or perivesical fat invasion), pT4 (adjacent organs/structure invasion), N+ (positive lymphatic nodes) and M+ (distant organ metastasis). Several tests were employed for statistical analysis:X-2, Mann-Whitney, Kaplan-Meier method and Wilcoxon (Breslow) method were used to compare the possible survival curve differences of groups 1 and 2. Multivariated analysis determined by proportional risk regression excluded sex, age and disease stage interferences in the final results. Results: The average time for a superficial TCCB to become muscle-invasive was 37.4 months, and the average number of transurethral resections performed in each patient was 3. The average and median global survival rates were, respectively, 96 and 88 months in group 1 and 98 and 90 months in group 2, without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0734). The 1- year survival rate was 84.32% in group 1 and 76.54% in group 2. After 3 years of follow-up the survival rate fell to 74.50% in group 1 and to 59.05% in group 2. Finally, the 5-year survival rate was 57.94% in group 1 and 52.24% in group 2. Conclusion: In the present study, patients with primary invasive and progressive invasive TCCB showed a similar 5-year disease-specific survival rate. Pathological stage (pTN, N and M) and patient demography did not interfere with the results. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.79320020

Neuregulinas 1-alfa e 1-beta na regeneração de nervos periféricos Neuregulins 1-alpha and 1-beta on the regeneration the peripheral nerves

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito das neuregulinas 1-alfa e 1-beta na regeneração de nervos ciáticos de camundongos C57BL/6J, adultos, machos, através da técnica de tubulização. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 18 animais, divididos em 3 grupos, implantando-se prótese de polietileno em falhas de 4,0 mm no nervo ciático esquerdo: grupo 1 contendo apenas colágeno purificado (Vitrogen®); grupo 2, colágeno associado a neuregulina 1-alfa; grupo 3 com colágeno e neuregulina 1-beta. O grupo controle foi formado por 6 segmentos de nervos ciáticos direitos. Após 4 semanas, os animais foram sacrificados; extraiu-se segmento do ponto médio do nervo regenerado no interior das próteses, padronizaram-se cortes histológicos e confecção das lâminas para análise histomorfométrica. Confrontaram-se os resultados estatisticamente. RESULTADOS: Os animais tratados com neuregulinas tiveram maior número de axônios mielinizados, com diferença estatisticamente significante quando comparados ao grupo colágeno. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos de neuregulinas 1-alfa e 1-beta. CONCLUSÃO: a adição de neuregulinas proporcionou aumento significativo do número de fibras mielinizadas.<br>OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of the neuregulins 1-alpha and 1-beta on the regeneration the sciatic nerves of male adult C57BL/6J mice, using the tubulization technique. METHODS: eighteen animals were used, divided into three groups. A polyethylene prosthesis was implanted in a 4.0 mm defect of the left sciatic nerve, as follows: group 1 containing only purified collagen (Vitrogen®); group 2, collagen with neuregulin 1-alpha; group 3, collagen with neuregulin 1-beta. The control group consisted of six segments of right sciatic nerves. After four weeks, the animals were sacrificed. A segment from the midpoint of the nerve regenerated inside the prostheses was extracted; histological sections were standardized, and slides were made up for histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: the results were statistically compared using the Tukey multiple comparisons test and the Student's t test. The animals treated with neuregulins had greater numbers of myelinized axons, with a statistically significant difference in relation to the collagen-only group. There was no statistical difference between the neuregulin 1-alpha and 1-beta groups. CONCLUSION: the addition of neuregulins provided a significant increase in the number of myelinized fibers