[Complications and incidences in our first 250 robotic radical prostatectomies]. / Incidencias y complicaciones en nuestras primeras 250 prostatéctomias radicales robóticas.

OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence of and analyze the factors contributing to perioperative complications in patients undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy in our experience of 250 procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analytical, descriptive, retrospective study was conducted of 250 consecutive patients who underwent robotic radical prostatectomy during a period of three years and two months (January 06-March 09). Data recorded included age, preoperative Gleason grade and PSA, and prostate volume. All procedures were performed by three surgeons through a transperitoneal approach using a four-arm da Vinci robotic system. Microsoft Excel support was used. Surgical variables recorded included setup time, console operation time, mean bleeding, transfusion rate, hospital stay, and urethral catheterization time. Incidences and intraoperative and postoperative late and early complications in these patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Demographic data recorded included: mean age, 61.5 years (47-74); mean preoperative PSA, 8.18 ng/mL (2.6-34 ng/mL); mean Gleason grade, 6.8 (2-9); and mean prostate volume 34.9 mL (12-124). Surgical variables recorded included: console setup time, 10.8 min (6-47): console operation time, 125 min (90-315); mean bleeding, 150 mL (50-1150); and a 3.6% (9/250) transfusion rate. There was no peroperative mortality, and no conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery was required. Ninety-six percent of patients (240/250) had an adequate postoperative course, with a mean hospital stay of 4.2 days (3-35) and urinary catheter removal after 8 (5-28) days. Overall complication rate was 10.6%, with major complications occurring in only 3.2% of patients (8/250) and consisting of five surgical and three medical complications. Repeat surgery was required in 1.6% of cases (4/250) due to late peritonitis for cecal perforation, bleeding from epigastric artery, perineal percutaneous drainage of retrovesical hematoma, and pelvic urinoma after bladder catheter dislodgment. One patient required selective arterial embolization for persistent hematuria due to vesical artery fistula. Medical complications included acute renal failure due to thrombotic purpura resolved with hemodialysis in one patient and late pulmonary embolism managed with anticoagulation in two patients. Robot malfunction with no surgical implications or need for surgical conversion occurred in four patients (1.6%). Surgical maneuvers required to resolve late complications included one umbilical hernia repair, one meatotomy for meatal stenosis, one bladder neck endoscopic incision after contracture, and one endoscopic extraction of Hem-o-lok and vascular clip following erosion-migration into the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic radical prostatectomy is a safe and reproducible procedure with optimal functional and oncological results, a shorter learning curve, greater comfort and vision for surgeons, and a complication rate similar to and even better than reported for open and laparoscopic surgery series. Complications decrease with the learning curve, but surgical team experience continues to be the key factor to achieve better results.

[Radical prostatectomy: evaluation of learning curve outcomes laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic techniques with radical retropubic prostatectomy]. / Prostatectomía radical: comparación de los resultados obtenidos durante las curvas de aprendizaje de la técnica laparoscópica pura y de la técnica asistida por robot con la prostatectomía radical retropúbica.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of localized prostate cancer. New techniques are being developed with less invasive methods, including laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). The aim of the study is to compare LRP and RALP outcomes during the learning curve with RRP, especially operative time and surgical complications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective observational study of all the RRP cases attended from January 2000, allthe LRPs performed at the Urology Department of the Galdakao Usansolo Hospital and the first 60 RALPs treated by the Clinic Urology group. Baseline parameters, operative and perioperative parameters (nerve preservation, positive margins, intraoperative bleeding, duration of catheterization, hospital stay) and surgical complications were assessed, and the three techniques were compared. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 192. The mean time operation was of 210 min in the RRP group, 345 min in the LRP group and 209.5 min in the RALP group (p = 0). Intraoperative bleeding was of 1500 mL in RRP, 1275 mL in LRP and 400 mL in RALP (p = 0) (Table 1). Six months after the procedure the continence rate was 60% in the RALP group, 45.90% in the RRP group and 36.40% in the group LRP (p = 0.001) (Table 2). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy requires a longer learning curve than robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Operative time in RALP procedures was comparable to RRP cases. RALP showed benefits in terms of continence and intraoperative bleeding.

[Renal carcinoma and von Hippel-Lindau disease]. / Carcinoma renal y enfermedad de Von Hippel Lindau.

Von Hippel Lindau disease is a highly uncommon autosomic dominant condition characterised by the presence of cerebellar hemangioblastomas, retina angioma, pancreas, kidney and epididymal cysts, and renal cells carcinoma. This article describes the case report of a male patient with Von Hippel Lindau disease which presented as a jaundice secondary to biliary obstruction due to pancreatic cystic mass. After urological examination, bilateral cystic lesions and right renal solid lesion were detected requiring surgical treatment. A review is made of the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis and treatment.

[Skin metastasis as first manifestation of prostatic adenocarcinoma]. / Metástasis cutáneas como primera manifestación de un adenocarcinoma prostático.

Incidence of prostate disease has seen a sudden boost over the last few years as a result of an increase in male life expectancy. Prostate carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer mortality in Spain. Post-mortem studies reveal that this is the most prevalent neoplasia in the elderly. 30% of all males over 50 years could host malignant cells in their prostate, although only 20% of these neoplasias have clinical manifestations. Prostate carcinoma expansion occurs by local spreading, as well as lymph and blood dissemination. Local spreading to the urethra, bladder neck, trigonous and seminal vesicles is frequent. Lymph dissemination to obturating, hypogastric, iliac, presacral and paraaortic nodes is a major path for metastasis. Bone metastasis with increased acid phosphatase is the most illustrative sign of prostate adenocarcinoma expansion. Visceral metastasis occur more frequently in lungs, liver and renal glands. There is a 0.3% likelihood of skin metastasis from prostate adenocarcinoma. Considering the rareness of skin metastasis from prostate adenocarcinoma, the case reported in the present paper, first evidence of a prostate carcinoma, is even more exceptional.

[Multiple giant ureteral lithiasis]. / Litiasis ureteral gigante múltiple.

OBJECTIVES: Ureteral calculi are usually small and arise from the kidney. The term 'giant' has been applied to ureteral stones that are more than 5 cms in length and/or 50 gms or more in weight. The low incidence of this condition prompted us to report this case. METHODS/RESULTS: Herein we describe a patient with multiple giant ureteral calculi with no evidence of underlying ureteral lesion, who required nephroureterectomy due to the damage caused to the renal unit by the obstructive uropathy. The literature is briefly reviewed, with special reference to the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Giant ureteral calculi are uncommon. They may cause scanty urological symptoms and might therefore be missed. If undiagnosed, renal function may be compromised by the obstructive uropathy.

[Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion syndrome: a rare manifestation of prostatic adenocarcinoma]. / Síndrome de secreción inadecuada de hormona antidiurética: una rara manifestación de adenocarcinoma prostático.

OBJECTIVE: Prostatic cancer can produce signs and symptoms by local growth, direct invasion or distant metastases. In rare occasions, these tumors can show a clinical variance due to trophic factors, biologically active, secreted in neoplastic environment but with systemic relevance. These syndromes are called paraneoplastic syndromes. This uncommon condition is described herein. METHOD/RESULTS: We report a case of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion as the presenting feature of advanced prostatic carcinoma. The pathogenic features, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Although its frequency is low, we must consider prostatic carcinoma in patients with inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion syndrome. When the acute situation is resolved, hormonal treatment in disseminated carcinomas will return to normal the clinical and analytical parameters derived from this syndrome.

[Cryptorchidism and testicular cancer]. / Criptorquidia y cáncer testicular.

OBJECTIVE: This report underscores the higher risk of testicular cancer in cryptorchidism. METHODS/RESULTS: A patient undergoing evaluation for sterility, who was submitted to orchidopexy 15 years earlier for cryptorchidism, developed a seminoma-like tumor one year following a testicular biopsy that was compatible with testicular atrophy, but with no signs of dysplasia. The literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment is briefly reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptorchidism is the single factor that carries a higher risk of testicular cancer. This condition has been reported to have 3.5 to 5 times greater risk of progressing to malignancy compared to normal descended testes. Although orchiopexy does not prevent the risk of malignancy, it permits earlier detection. The need to follow these patients closely is underscored.

[Penile prosthetic implant in the treatment of impotence: our experience]. / Implante de prótesis de pene en el tratamiento de la impotencia: nuestra experiencia.

The aim of this study was to review the current situation of penile prostheses in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and to analyze the indications, degree of acceptability and complications in our experience. From 1987 to 1993, 35 implants were inserted in men suffering from impotence due to different etiologies. The mean age was 54 years and the mean duration of erectile dysfunction was 37 months. Diabetes, vascular disease and pelvic surgery were the most common pathologies recorded. We utilized the penoscrotal approach in 97.14% of the cases and implanted the following prostheses: 12 Hydroflex, 7 Uniflate 1000, 6 Acuform, 4 Mark II, 3 Dynaflex and 3 Alpha 1. The mean follow-up was 38 months. Infection of the prosthesis by Staph. epidermidis was observed in 5.71% of the cases. This infectious complication required removal of the prosthesis. Two patients with a Uniflate prosthesis complained of mechanical failure. Eighty percent of the patients and 74.28% of their partners were satisfied with the results. When asked if they would undergo another operation again if it were necessary, 71.42% answered "yes". Penile prostheses have withstood the test of time and continue to be an effective and valid therapeutic alternative in impotent men. Although the complication rate is low, adequate information must be provided to the patient and partner in order to enhance the results.

[Epidermoid carcinoma of the penis]. / Carcinoma epidermoide de pene.

Four cases of Penis Epidermoid Carcinoma, three treated with partial amputation and one with Co60 radiotherapy due to the patient's refusal to undergo surgery, are illustrated. After an average follow-up of 14 months (2-24), patients who underwent surgery have not relapsed. Local relapse was observed in the patient given radiotherapy within 6 months.