Assessing Functional Outcomes of Partial Versus Radical Nephrectomy for T1b-T2 Renal Masses: Results from a Multi-institutional Collaboration.

BACKGROUND: Deterioration of renal function is associated with increased all-cause mortality. In renal masses larger than 4 cm, whether partial versus radical nephrectomy (PN vs. RN) might affect long-term functional outcomes is unknown. This study tested the association between PN versus RN and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), recovery of at least 90% of the preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 year, upstaging of chronic kidney disease (CKD) one stage or more at 1 year, and eGFR decline of 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 or less at 1 year. METHODS: Data from 23 high-volume institutions were used. The study included only surgically treated patients with single, unilateral, localized, clinical T1b-2 renal masses. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 968 PN patients and 325 RN patients were identified. The rate of AKI was lower in the PN versus the RN patients (17% vs. 58%; p < 0.001). At 1 year after surgery, for the PN versus the RN patients, the rate for recovery of at least 90% of baseline eGFR was 51% versus 16%, the rate of CKD progression of ≥ 1 stage was 38% versus 65%, and the rate of eGFR decline of 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 or less was 10% versus 23% (all p < 0.001). Radical nephrectomy independently predicted AKI (odds ratio [OR], 7.61), 1-year ≥ 90% eGFR recovery (OR, 0.30), 1-year CKD upstaging (OR, 1.78), and 1-year eGFR decline of 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 or less (OR, 2.36) (all p ≤ 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: For cT1b-2 masses, RN portends worse immediate and 1-year functional outcomes. When technically feasible and oncologically safe, efforts should be made to spare the kidney in case of large renal masses to avoid the hazard of glomerular function loss-related mortality.

Is elective cancer surgery feasible during the lock-down period of the COVID-19 pandemic? Analysis of a single institutional experience of 404 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes of surgical procedures for cancer at an institution using a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-free surgical pathway during the peak phase of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center study, including cancer patients from all surgical departments, who underwent elective surgical procedures during the first peak phase between March 10 and June 30, 2020. The primary outcomes were the rate of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30-day pulmonary or non-pulmonary related morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease. RESULTS: Four hundred and four cancer patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were analyzed. The rate of patients who underwent open and minimally invasive procedures was 61.9% and 38.1%, respectively. Only one (0.2%) patient died during the study period due to postoperative SARS-CoV2 infection because of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The overall non-SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 19.3% and 1.7%, respectively; whereas the overall SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Under strict institutional policies and measures to establish a COVID-19-free surgical pathway, elective and emergency cancer operations can be performed with acceptable perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery of renal stones: a critical multi-aspect evaluation of the outcomes by the Turkish Academy of Urology Prospective Study Group (ACUP Study).

AIMS: To outline and evaluate the incidence, management and follow-up of the residual fragments (RFs) following retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) of renal stones by the Turkish Academy of Urology Prospective Study Group (ACUP Study). METHODS: Following the ethical committee approval, 15 centers providing data regarding the incidence, management, and follow-up of RFs after RIRS were included and all relevant information was recorded into the same electronic database program ( https://acup.uroturk.org.tr/ ) created by Turkish Urology Academy for Residual Stone Study. RESULTS: A total of 1112 cases underwent RIRS for renal calculi and RFs were observed in 276 cases (24.8%). Of all the parameters evaluated, our results demonstrated no statistically significant relation between preoperative DJ stenting and the presence of RFs (χ2 (1) = 158.418; p = 0.099). RFs were significantly higher in patients treated with UAS (82 patients, 29.3%) during the procedure compared to the cases who did not receive UAS (194 patients, 23.3%) (χ2 (1) = 3.999; p = 0.046). The mean period for a secondary intervention after RIRS was 28.39 (± 12.52) days. Regarding the procedures applied for RF removal, re-RIRS was the most commonly performed approach (56%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the reported safe and successful outcomes, the incidence of RFs is higher, after the RIRS procedure particularly in cases with relatively larger calculi. Such cases need to be followed in a close manner and although a second flexible ureteroscopy is the treatment of choice for fragment removal in the majority of these patients, shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy may also be preferred in selected cases.

The role of collecting bladder wash fluid before biopsy procedure to help the cytological diagnosis of residual tumor.

BACKGROUND: Urinary cytology has low sensitivity and specificity in urinary neoplasm. AIM: We planned to assess whether the examination of bladder washing before biopsy (WBB) plays a role in better cytologic diagnosis of bladder wash fluid collected after biopsy procedure (WAB) in papillary urothelial neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 36 patients with papillary lesion of bladder. Prior to the biopsy, the bladder is washed and fluid is collected for cytology; later transurethral resection (TUR) is performed, then bladders are washed again and the fluid is separately collected for cytology. Both fluids were centrifuged and stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa (MGG). First the WAB slides were evaluated and diagnosed. After evaluation of the WBB slides, the WAB slides were rediagnosed. Presence of cellularity, papillary structure, fusiform cells, background bleeding, and cytolysis in WBB and WAB were evaluated separately. RESULTS: We determined that 31 WBB samples were hypercellular, and 12 of them remained as hypercellular in WAB. Papillary structures were observed in 20 WBB samples; and in one WAB cytology. In 29 cases where no fusiform cells are identified in WBB, 22 showed fusiform cells in WAB. Cytolysis in WABs was noted in 15 cases whose WBBs did not show cytolysis. The decrease in cellularity, papillary structure (P < 0.001, both), cytolysis (P = 0.008), and fusiform cells (P < 0.001) were statistically significant. After seeing the WBB slides, we reevaluated the WAB slides. Out of the eight out of 36 (22.2%) samples diagnosed with degeneration previously, five (62.5%) samples were rediagnosed as benign, two (25%) as cytologic atypia which favor reactive, and one (12.5%) as malignant. CONCLUSION: Due to the better quality, initial evaluation of WBB may help more effective diagnoses of WAB slides.

Efficacy of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in advanced bladder cancer: results from the International Radical Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC).

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the surgical feasibility and outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for pathological T4 bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of a prospectively maintained International Radical Cystectomy Consortium database was conducted for 1118 patients who underwent RARC between 2003 and 2012. We dichotomised patients based on pathological stage (≤pT3 vs pT4) and evaluated demographic, operative and pathological variables in relation to morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: In all, 1000 ≤pT3 and 118 pT4 patients were evaluated. The pT4 patients were older than the ≤pT3 patients (P = 0.001). The median operating time and blood loss were 386 min and 350 mL vs 396 min and 350 mL for p T4 and ≤pT3, respectively. The complication rate was similar (54% vs 58%; P = 0.64) among ≤pT3 and pT4 patients, respectively. The overall 30- and 90-day mortality rate was 0.4% and 1.8% vs 4.2% and 8.5% for ≤pT3 vs pT4 patients (P < 0.001), respectively. The body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiology score, length of hospital stay (LOS) >10 days, and 90-day readmission were significantly associated with complications in pT4 patients. Meanwhile, BMI, LOS >10 days, grade 3-5 complications, 90-day readmission, smoking, previous abdominal surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with mortality in pT4 patients. On multivariate analysis, BMI was an independent predictor of complications in pT4 patients, but not for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: RARC for pT4 bladder cancer is surgically feasible but entails significant morbidity and mortality. BMI was independent predictor of complications in pT4 patients.