Sowing the Seeds: Metastatic Implants Along a Cryoprobe Tract; A Rare Complication of Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation.

Needle tract metastases can be a rare complication following percutaneous procedures for renal malignancies. We report a case of cryoprobe tract tumor seeding following cryoablation of a small biopsy proven renal cell carcinoma.

Surgeons' preferences and practice patterns regarding intraoperative frozen section during partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative frozen section (FS) evaluation for tumor margin during partial nephrectomy (PN) is a matter of controversy in urologic oncology. We evaluated the preferences and practice patterns of urologists regarding intraoperative FS during PN. METHODS: A 17-item questionnaire was designed to collect information on surgeons' preferences and practice patterns regarding FS during PN. The survey was sent to the members of the Society of Urologic Oncology and Endourological Society. RESULTS: A total of 197 responses were received. Overall, 69% and 58% of respondents chose to obtain FS (always or sometimes) during open PN (OPN) and laparoscopic PN (LPN), respectively. There was a strong correlation between the surgeons' preferences during OPN and LPN. Younger surgeons are less likely to obtain FS during OPN. For surgeons who did not routinely obtain FS, "confidence about complete resection" was the most common reason (79%), followed by "no change in management with positive margins" (35%). Most surgeons (75%) believed the margins to be negative, if surgical margin was free of tumor microscopically by a single cell layer. Older surgeons considered negative margins to be free of tumor microscopically by ≥5 mm. Overall, 54% and 42% of respondents would repeat FS for positive microscopic margins during OPN and LPN, respectively. Of the respondents, 95% would not recommend additional treatment for positive margins on final pathology. CONCLUSION: Despite recent literature pointing to low clinical utility of FS, most surgeons still obtain FS during PN. Older surgeons tend to obtain FS more often. Fellowship training and practice type do not appear to influence preferences and practice patterns in regard to FS.

Small renal mass biopsy--how, what and when: report from an international consensus panel.

To discuss the use of renal mass biopsy (RMB) for small renal masses (SRMs), formulate technical aspects, outline potential pitfalls and provide recommendations for the practicing clinician. The meeting was conducted as an informal consensus process and no scoring system was used to measure the levels of agreement on the different topics. A moderated general discussion was used as the basis for consensus and arising issues were resolved at this point. A consensus was established and lack of agreement to topics or specific items was noted at this point. Recommended biopsy technique: at least two cores, sampling different tumour regions with ultrasonography being the preferred method of image guidance. Pathological interpretation: 'non-diagnostic samples' should refer to insufficient material, inconclusive and normal renal parenchyma. For non-diagnostic samples, a repeat biopsy is recommended. Fine-needle aspiration may provide additional information but cannot substitute for core biopsy. Indications for RMB: biopsy is recommended in most cases except in patients with imaging or clinical characteristics indicative of pathology (syndromes, imaging characteristics) and cases whereby conservative management is not contemplated. RMB is recommended for active surveillance but not for watchful-waiting candidates. We report the results of an international consensus meeting on the use of RMB for SRMs, defining the technique, pathological interpretation and indications.

The feasibility of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for targeted biopsy using novel navigation systems to detect early stage prostate cancer: the preliminary experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The feasibility and diagnostic performance of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) has to be proven further. In this study, we evaluate the role of mp-MRI for targeted biopsy of early stage prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total 32 consecutive patients with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy-proven PCa meeting low-risk criteria and pursuing active surveillance were selected to undergo mp-MRI 3 Tesla (3T) with endorectal coil. Patients were divided then into three groups based on the method used to target the mp-MRI designated region of interest (ROI): Group 1 underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsy using an MRI-based coordinate plan (cognitive targeting). Group 2 underwent MRI-targeted TRUS-guided prostate biopsy using MyLabTMTwice, which superimposed the archived MRI images onto the real-time ultrasonography image allowing targeted biopsy of the ROI (fusion targeting). Group 3 included selected patients who had an elevation in prostate-specific antigen levels, or patients followed after radiation therapy (two patients) for suspicious unifocal MRI lesion recurrence. These patients underwent MRI-guided biopsy of the suspicious ROI using the navigation system DynaTRIM. RESULTS: The cancer detection rate in group 1 was 33.3% (3 of 10 patients), while in group 2, it was significantly higher at 46.2%. The sensitivity and specificity for group 1 was 45.5% and 33.3%, vs 61.9% and 20.8% in group 2, respectively. The positive predictive value in group 1 was 50.0% vs 53.8% in group 2 (P=0.04). In group 3, the cancer detection rate was much higher (80%) than in group 2, (P=0.005) although the majority of these patients (7 of 10) had a previously diagnosed prostate cancer on TRUS-guided 12-core biopsy. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary experience of mp-MRI suggests the detection of early stage prostate cancer with low-risk features yields potential candidates for active surveillance or focal targeted therapy. The MRI-TRUS fusion system increases diagnostic yield compared with cognitive MRI-directed TRUS-guided biopsy.

Mental workload and stress perceived by novice operators in the laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive surgical interfaces.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High levels of mental workload and stress are experienced by surgeons in the laparoscopic environment. The da Vinci(®) surgical robot was developed to provide surgeons a more user-friendly interface while maintaining the patient benefits associated with laparoscopy. This study examined whether the da Vinci robot reduces mental workload and stress in novice medical students. A detailed understanding of trainees' mental workload and mental stress experiences can aid in the development of training programs that are aimed at facilitating the acquisition of laparoscopic and robotic surgery skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen novice first-year medical students performed a standard peg-transfer task at a laparoscopic simulator and the da Vinci Surgical System. Mental workload and stress were assessed with the Multiple Resources Questionnaire (MRQ) and the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ), respectively. RESULTS: Students' mental workload profiles were identical with the two surgical systems and replicated previous MRQ results reported with the laparoscopic system showing high levels of workload. Students experienced a better stress profile with the robotic system, however, when compared wih the laparoscopic system. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that novice medical students perceive less stress when working with the robotic surgical interface than with the laparoscopic surgery interface. The MRQ and the DSSQ are valuable tools for identifying mental workload and mental stress in the laparoscopic and robotic surgery environments. This information may be useful for facilitating the acquisition of laparoscopic and robotic surgery skills.

Survival of patients with small cell carcinoma of the prostate during 1973-2003: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the survival of patients with primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate and assess prognostic factors based on a large population sample. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 241 cases of SCC of the prostate were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries from 1973 to 2003 of which 191 cases were included in our study. We used the Kaplan-Meier method for estimating survival, and Cox proportional hazard regression modelling to evaluate prognostic variables. RESULTS: The overall age-adjusted incidence rate was 0.278 per 1,000,000 (95% confidence interval, 0.239-0.323). In all, 60.5% presented as metastatic disease compared with 39.5% who presented as local/regional disease (P= 0.012). The 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months observed survival rates were 47.9%, 27.5%, 19%, 17% and 14.3% respectively. On univariate analyses, age <60, concomitant low-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma, absence of metastasis, prostatectomy and radiation therapy were favourable prognostic factors. In multivariate regression modelling, age, pathology and stage were strong predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Using the SEER database, we present the largest study describing the epidemiology of primary SCC of the prostate. We found age, concomitant low-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma, and stage of the disease to be the strongest predictors of survival for patients with prostatic SCC. Future studies evaluating a broader range of clinical and molecular markers are needed to refine the prognostic model of this relatively rare disease.

The role of haptic feedback in laparoscopic training using the LapMentor II.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery has become the standard of care for many surgical diseases. Haptic (tactile) feedback (HFB) is considered an important component of laparoscopic surgery. Virtual reality simulation (VRS) is an alternative method to teach surgical skills to surgeons in training. Newer VRS trainers such as the Simbionix Lap Mentor II provide significantly improved tactile feedback. However, VRSs are expensive and adding HFB software adds an estimated cost of $30,000 to the commercial price. The HFB provided by the Lap Mentor II has not been validated by an independent party. We used the Simbionix Lap Mentor II in this study to demonstrate the effect of adding an HFB mechanism in the VRS trainer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the University of Cincinnati Institutional Review Board. Twenty laparoscopically novice medical students were enrolled. Each student was asked to perform three different tasks on the Lap Mentor II and repeat each one five times. The chosen tasks demanded significant amount of traction and counter traction. The first task was to pull leaking tubes enough and clip them. The second task was stretching a jelly plate enough to see its attachments to the floor and cut these attachments. In the third task, the trainee had to separate the gallbladder from its bed on the liver. The students were randomized into two groups to perform the tasks with and without HFB. We used accuracy, speed, and economy of movement as scales to compare the performance between the two groups. The participants also completed a simple questionnaire that highlighted age, sex, and experiences in videogame usage. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable in age, sex, and videogame playing. No differences in the accuracy, the economy, and the speed of hand movement were noticed. In fact, adding HFB to the Lap Mentor II simulator did not contribute to any improvement in the performance of the trainees. Interestingly, we found that videogame expert players tend to have faster and more economic motion in their dominant hands. However, the performance accuracy was not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: The presence of HFB has less effect than it thought to be on the performance of the novice trainees. This may suggest that better HFB is still needed. However, there may be visual compensation for the lack of haptics. Playing videogames has a positive impact on economy, and the speed of the dominant had motion without affecting its accuracy. Further research is needed to clarify the value of haptics to the expert surgeon and compare it to the new trainees.

Molecular profiling of small renal masses: Current status and future directions.

Small renal masses (SRMs) are renal tumors less than 4 cm in diameter. These account for the largest proportion of newly diagnosed renal cell cancers (RCC). Management of SRMs can be a dilemma if the patient is unfit to undergo partial nephrectomy. Molecular profiling enables better characterization of RCC and prediction of outcomes in terms of recurrence and progression. This article reviews the existing literature on molecular profiling of localized RCC, discusses limitations of molecular profiling, and presents the likely role that molecular profiling will play in guiding the treatment of SRMs.

Perceptual distortions produce multidimensional stress profiles in novice users of an endoscopic surgery simulator.

OBJECTIVES: We determine the impact of perceptual-motor distortions on multidimensional stress dynamics in novice users of an endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery simulator during performance of a peg-transfer task. BACKGROUND: Surgeons find the endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery procedure to be more mentally stressful than open surgery. This investigation was designed to identify specific stress dimensions associated with these procedures and to determine the contributions to that stress made by loss of depth information resulting from image-guided views of the surgical field and by disruption of eye-hand mapping. Because stress reactions might depend upon familiarity with these procedures, the study focused upon novice participants. METHOD: An endoscopic box-simulator featured in surgical training was used in conjunction with the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire, a well-validated multidimensional stress state instrument. A control group (no perceptual distortions) viewed the simulated "surgical field" directly. Two other groups viewed the surgical field through TV images in which spatial rotation of the images was absent or in which the images were rotated 90 degrees from the actual line of sight. RESULTS: Performance efficiency in the simulator varied inversely with the degree of perceptual-motor distortion. Reactions reflecting increased task coping were observed in all groups. These were accompanied in the image groups by negative reactions involving decreases in hedonic tone and control and confidence and an increase in tense arousal. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptual-motor distortions are sources of complex task-induced stress profiles in novices using an endoscopic surgery simulator. APPLICATION: Procedures to reduce stress in endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery trainees may benefit from knowledge regarding specific stress dimensions involved.

Visual impairment after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Loss of vision after surgery is rare and has never been reported after a laparoscopic procedure. We describe a case of visual deficits secondary to posterior ischemic optic neuropathy after a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The potential etiologies of postoperative visual loss are reviewed, and recommendations for avoiding this complication are discussed.

Continent jejunal reservoir dialysis for end-stage renal disease: is it possible?

With limited organs available for renal transplantation in comparison with the number of patients on the waiting list, and with the drawbacks of dialysis, other forms of treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) need to be investigated. We propose that using a reconfigured segment of bowel as a reservoir in which dialysate of various compositions can be instilled to remove metabolic wastes usually handled by the kidney may augment or replace renal function in a uremic patient. We have chosen the jejunum and have documented our preliminary findings using hyperosmotic dialysate along with the unique characteristics of continent jejunal reservoir dialysis (CJRD). With further refinements, CJRD may eventually be offered as an alternative treatment for ESRD.

Laparoscopic omentectomy for salvage of peritoneal dialysis catheters.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Maintaining long-term peritoneal catheter function for peritoneal dialysis is commonly threatened by problems with catheter obstruction. Multiple methods have been used to salvage nonfunctioning catheters, including omentopexy, catheter repositioning, and omentectomy. We report on our experience with a laparoscopic method of omentectomy and catheter fixation for salvage of nonfunctioning peritoneal dialysis catheters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with nonfunctioning peritoneal dialysis catheters underwent 16 laparoscopic procedures with the intent to restore function. Clinically, all patients presented with outflow obstruction. At initial presentation, all patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and a definitive procedure. In 12 patients, catheters were enveloped by omentum, and we performed laparoscopic omentectomy and catheter fixation to the anterior pelvic wall. In one patient, we identified a broken catheter and performed a laparoscopic omentectomy at the time of catheter replacement. One 10-mm and two 5-mm trocars were utilized. Omentectomy was performed using either endo-GIA stapled resection (2 patients) or the Harmonic Scalpel (11 patients). All trocar incisions (including the 5-mm site) were closed with a suture-passing (Carter-Thomason) device to provide water-tight closure in anticipation of immediate return to peritoneal dialysis. Patients were followed postoperatively for an average of 17 months (range 4-35 months). RESULTS: All patients' catheter function was restored intraoperatively with laparoscopic omentectomy and catheter fixation. Eight catheters remained functioning following omentectomy without further intervention. Five patients (38%) experienced repeat catheter malfunction and underwent laparoscopic exploration. Of these, three catheters (60%) were restored to function with laparoscopic manipulation alone. Three catheters were found encased in extensive adhesions. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was successful in one patient and unsuccessful in one patient, who converted to hemodialysis. One patient failed laparoscopic salvage and required open laparotomy and fibrin clot removal to restore catheter function. One catheter was found to be obstructed within a pericolic hematoma. One catheter was found within residual omentum at the hepatic flexure. Both of these catheters were freed laparoscopically and continued to function at 12 and 16 months' follow-up. Complications included one episode of peritonitis, one case of postoperative ileus, and one trocar site hernia necessitating repair. The nephrologists were instructed that they could begin peritoneal dialysis on postoperative day 1. Seven patients resumed peritoneal dialysis without leak from trocar sites. The remaining patients received temporary hemodialysis through a central venous catheter and returned to peritoneal dialysis at the discretion of their nephrologists. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic omentectomy with catheter fixation is a minimally invasive means of salvaging peritoneal dialysis catheters with outflow obstruction. Complications are few, and closure of laparoscopic incisions in water-tight fashion allows rapid return to peritoneal dialysis.