A comparison between vapor tunnel and virtual basket for the treatment of proximal ureteral stones using holmium:YAG laser (Cyber Ho): which is the best tool to reduce retropulsion?

PURPOSE: To compare vapor tunnel (VT) and virtual basket (VB) tools to reduce retropulsion in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones. METHODS: Patients with a single proximal ureteral stone were randomly assigned to holmium laser lithotripsy with the use of VT (Group A) or VB (Group B) tool. The 150W holmium:YAG cyber Ho generator was used. We compared operative time, dusting time, need for flexible ureteroscopy due to stone push-up and occurrence of ureteral lesions. The stone-free rate (SFR) and the occurrence of postoperative ureteral strictures were assessed. RESULTS: 186 patients were treated, of which 92 with the VT (49.5%, Group A) and 94 with the VB (50.5%, Group B). Mean stone size was 0.92 vs. 0.91 cm in Groups A vs. B (p = 0.32). Mean total operative time and dusting time were comparable between groups. 7 (7.6%) vs. 6 (6.4%) patients in Groups A vs. B required a flexible ureteroscope because of stone push-up (p = 0.12). Ureteral mucosa lesions were observed in 15 (16.3%) vs. 18 (19.1%) cases in the VT vs. VB group (p = 0.09). 1-Month SFR was comparable (97.8% vs. 95.7%, p = 0.41). We observed one case (1.1%) of postoperative ureteral stricture in the VT group vs. two cases (2.1%) in the VB group (p = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: VT and VB are equally safe and effective tools in reducing retropulsion of ureteral stones. Operative time, dusting time and SFR were comparable. They also equally avoided stone push-up and prevented ureteral lesions, which may later occur in ureteral strictures.

Indocyanine green-marked fluorescence-guided off-clamp versus intraoperative ultrasound-guided on-clamp robotic partial nephrectomy: Outcomes on surgical procedure.

Objectives: To compare surgical and functional outcomes between off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with indocyanine-green tumour marking through preliminary superselective embolization and on-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with intraoperative ultrasound identification of the renal mass. Material and methods: One hundred and forty patients with a single renal mass underwent indocyanine-green fluorescence-guided off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with preoperative superselective embolization (Group A, 70 patients) versus intraoperative ultrasound-guided on-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy without embolization (Group B, 70 patients). We assessed operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, length of stay, renal function, need for ancillary procedures and blood transfusions. Results: Mean tumour size was 24 versus 25 mm in Group A versus Group B (p = 0.19). Mean operative time was 86.5 versus 121.8 min (p = 0.02), mean blood loss was 72.8 versus 214.2 mL (p = 0.02), and mean haemoglobin drop on postoperative day 1 was 1.1 versus 2.6 g/dL (p = 0.04) in Group A versus Group B. One-month creatinine, hospital stay and enucleated tumour volume were comparable. Ten postoperative complications occurred in Group A (13.3%) and 11 in Group B (15.3%). Following superselective embolization, no patients required blood transfusions versus two patients in Group B. Postoperative selective renal embolization was needed in one case per group. Conclusions: Preoperative superselective embolization of a renal mass with indocyanine-green before off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy significantly reduces operative time and intraoperative blood loss compared to on-clamp intraoperative ultrasound-guided robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. A longer follow-up is needed to establish the effect on renal function.

Open versus Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy for the Treatment of pT4a Bladder Cancer: Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes.

We compared the perioperative outcomes of open (ORC) vs. robot-assisted (RARC) radical cystectomy in the treatment of pT4a MIBC. In total, 212 patients underwent ORC (102 patients, Group A) vs. RARC (110 patients, Group B) for pT4a bladder cancer. Patients were prospectively followed and retrospectively reviewed. We assessed operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of stay, transfusion rate, and oncological outcomes. Preoperative features were comparable. The mean operative time was 232.8 vs. 189.2 min (p = 0.04), and mean EBL was 832.8 vs. 523.7 mL in Group A vs. B (p = 0.04). An intraoperative transfusion was performed in 32 (31.4%) vs. 11 (10.0%) cases during ORC vs. RARC (p = 0.03). The intraoperative complications rate was comparable. The mean length of stay was shorter after RARC (12.6 vs. 7.2 days, p = 0.02). Postoperative transfusions were performed in 36 (35.3%) vs. 13 (11.8%) cases (p = 0.03), and postoperative complications occurred in 37 (36.3%) vs. 29 (26.4%) patients in Groups A vs. B (p = 0.05). The positive surgical margin (PSM) rate was lower after RARC. No differences were recorded according to the oncological outcomes. ORC and RARC are feasible treatments for the management of pT4a bladder tumors. Minimally invasive surgery provides shorter operative time, bleeding, transfusion rate, postoperative complications, length of stay, and PSM rate.

Pathological report and prognostic meaning of Bosniak IV cysts: results from a contemporary cohort.

Introduction: Surgery is the recommended treatment for Bosniak IV renal cysts. We performed a retrospective analysis of Bosniak IV lesions surgically removed to increase evidence on their prognostic meaning. Material and methods: Patients with a Bosniak IV cyst were considered. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected a solid component with contrast enhancement. In no case a percutaneous biopsy was performed. A radical (9, 21.4%) or partial (33, 78.6%) nephrectomy was performed with laparoscopic (14, 33.3%) or robot-assisted (28, 66.7%) approach. Analysis of the final pathology was performed, and recurrence rate was assessed. Results: 42 patients were included. Median lesion size was 54.7 mm (IQR 20.0-81.2). A solid tumour was detected in 40 patients (95.2%), whereas in 2 cases (4.8%) a benign cyst without neoplastic component was diagnosed. Final pathology revealed a low-grade clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in 16 cases (38.0%), a multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential in 6 cases (14.3%), a low-grade papillary RCC (pRCC) type I in 4 cases (9.5%), a clear cell papillary RCC (ccpRCC) in 10 cases (23.8%) and an oncocytoma in 2 cases (4.8%). A high-grade ccRCC was detected in 2 cases (4.8%), whereas no patients had a pRCC type II. In all cases surgical margins were negative. Median follow-up was 24 months and no recurrence occurred. Conclusions: Our results increase evidence on the favourable pathology and good prognosis of Bosniak IV renal cysts, supporting the role of surgery as a definitive treatment and suggesting the need for a low-intensity follow-up.

Treatment of ureteral stones with LithoEVO device and Vapor Tunnel tool.

BACKGROUND: Vapor Tunnel (VT) technology is the result of a pulse modulation during holmium laser emission which reduces stone retropulsion. We present the outcomes of this tool in the treatment of ureteral stones. METHODS: Two hundred ten patients with a ureteral stone were randomly assigned to holmium laser lithotripsy with (group A) or without (group B) the VT technology. The 35 W LithoEVO laser generator (Quanta System, Samarate, Varese, Italy) was used. We compared operative time, dusting time, delivered energy, retreatment rate due to stone push-up, ureteral lesions, and stone-free rate (SFR) and postoperative strictures at 1 month. We also compared outcomes according to stone position. RESULTS: VT technology was associated with significantly lower mean operative time (25.7 vs. 37.2 min), dusting time (9.7 vs. 15.3 min), delivered energy (7.7 vs. 19.9 KJ). In group B 9 patients (8.5%) were retreated due to stone push-up (P=0.01) for a proximal or middle stone, 6 (5.7%) postoperative strictures occurred (P=0.03) and a higher ureteral lesion rate was observed (7.6% vs 35.2%, P=0.04). 1-month SFR was comparable (93.4% vs. 88.6%, P=0.11). Postoperative complication rate was higher in group B (P=0.05). Without VT technology, ureteral lesions and strictures rates were significantly higher independently from stone position. CONCLUSIONS: The VT technology is associated with significantly lower operative and dusting time independently from stone position, due to a reduced retropulsion, which makes treatment quicker and easier. It also avoids stone push-up especially for proximal and middle stones and reduces ureteral lesions, postoperative complications, and ureteral strictures.

Thulium: YAG vs continuous-wave thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate: do potential advantages of thulium fiber lasers translate into relevant clinical differences?

PURPOSE: To compare endoscopic enucleation of the prostate using a thulium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser and a super-pulsed thulium fiber laser set in continuous-wave (CW) mode, and to evaluate whether theoretical advantages of thulium fiber lasers, related to their shorter wavelength, translate into relevant clinical differences. METHODS: In total, 110 patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomized to undergo either thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) or CW thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (CW-ThuFLEP). Intraoperative and postoperative variables and complications were compared. Micturition improvement was assessed at 3-month follow-up using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), post-void residual urine (PVR) and maximum flow rate (Qmax). Erectile function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). RESULTS: No significant differences between the ThuLEP and CW-ThuFLEP groups were found in terms of operative time (70.69 vs 72.41 min), enucleation time (50.23 vs 53.33 min), enucleated tissue weight (40.2 vs 41.9 g), enucleation efficiency (0.80 vs 0.79 g/min), catheterization time (2.45 vs 2.57 days), hospital stay (2.82 vs 2.95 days) and hemoglobin drop (1.05 vs 1.27 g/dl). At 3-month follow-up, no significant differences were found in IPSS (5.09 vs 5.81), Qmax (26.51 vs 27.13 ml/s), PVR (25.22 vs 23.81 ml) and IIEF-5 (14.01 vs 14.54). CONCLUSION: ThuLEP and CW-ThuFLEP were equivalent in relieving patients from LUTS and improving micturition. Theoretical advantages of the TFL, such as shallower penetration depth and improved vaporization capacity, did not translate into relevant perioperative outcomes or clinical differences.

A comparison among RIRS and MiniPerc for renal stones between 10 and 20 mm using thulium fiber laser (Fiber Dust): a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective randomized comparison among Retrograde IntraRenal Surgery (RIRS) and MiniPerc (MP) for stones between 10 and 20 mm to evaluate outcomes with the same laser device: Fiber Dust. METHODS: Patients with a single renal stone between 10 and 20 mm were randomized to RIRS (Group A) versus MP (Group B). Exclusion criteria were age < 18 or > 75, presence of acute infection, coagulation impairments, cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidities. In both groups, the Fiber Dust laser was used. A CT scan after 3 months was performed. A negative CT scan or asymptomatic patients with stone fragments < 3 mm and a negative urinary culture were the criteria to assess the stone-free status. A statistical analysis was carried out to assess success, complication and retreatment rates and need for auxiliary treatments. RESULTS: Between January 2021 and January 2022, 186 patients were enrolled (90 in Group A and 96 in Group B). Mean stone size was 15.8 mm and 14.9 mm in Group A and B, respectively (p = 0.23). The overall stone-free rate (SFR) was 73.3% for Group A and 84.4% for Group B. A higher SFR was reached for upper calyceal stones in Group A (90.4%) lower calyceal stones in Group B (91.6%). Retreatment rate (p = 0.31) and auxiliary procedure rate (p = 0.18) were comparable. Complication rate was 5.5% and 5.2% for Groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: RIRS and MP are both effective to obtain a postoperative SFR with Fiber Dust. According to the stone position one treatment is superior to the other one.

Non-timely clinically applicable ADC ratio in prostate mpMRI: a comparison with fusion biopsy results.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ADC ratio and to evaluate its efficacy in reducing the number of false positives in prostatic mpMRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent an mpMRI and a targeted fusion biopsy in our institution from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively selected. Two experienced readers (R1 and R2) independently evaluated the images, blindly to biopsy results. The radiologists assessed the ADC ratios by tracing a circular 10 mm2 ROI on the biopsied lesion and on the apparently benign contralateral parenchyma. Prostate cancers were divided into non-clinically significant (nsPC, Gleason score = 6) and clinically significant (sPC, Gleason score ≥ 7). ROC analyses were performed. RESULTS: 167 patients and188 lesions were included. Concordance was 0.62 according to Cohen's K. ADC ratio showed an AUC for PCAs of 0.78 in R1 and 0.8 in R2. The AUC for sPC was 0.85 in R1 and 0.84 in R2. The 100% sensitivity cut-off for sPCs was 0.65 (specificity 25.6%) in R1 and 0.66 (specificity 27.4%) in R2. Forty-three benign or not clinically significant lesions were above the 0.65 threshold in R1; 46 were above the 0.66 cut-off in R2. This would have allowed to avoid an equal number of unnecessary biopsies at the cost of 2 nsPCs in R1 and one nsPC in R2. CONCLUSION: In our sample, the ADC ratio was a useful and accurate tool that could potentially reduce the number of false positives in mpMRI.

Risk of recurrence after nephrectomy: Comparison of predictive ability of validated risk models.

OBJECTIVE: To assess accuracy of University of California Los Angeles Integrated Staging System (UISS), Stage, Size, Grade and Necrosis (SSIGN) score, Leibovich score and GRade, Age, Nodes and Tumor (GRANT) score, the ASSURE (Adjuvant Sunitinib or Sorafenib vs. placebo in resected Unfavorable REnal cell carcinoma) score models and seventh American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/TNM staging system in predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) in surgically-treated non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test tested RFS according to risk groups among the UISS, SSIGN, Leibovich and GRANT models and the AJCC/TNM system. The Heagerty's C-index for survival tested for discrimination of each model at different time points after nephrectomy. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-eight M0 ccRCC patients were included. RFS significantly differed among each risk category for all models (P < 0.001). SSIGN showed the highest c-index over time (from 0.89 at 6-month to 0.82 at 60-month), followed by Leibovich (from 0.89-0.82), AJCC/TNM stage (from 0.82-0.77), ASSURE (from 0.81 to 0.76), GRANT (from 0.83-0.73) and UISS (from 0.76-0.72). For all models, peak discriminatory ability was reached before 12 months. The most prominent decline occurred within 24 months and reaches the lowest discriminatory ability at 60 months. CONCLUSIONS: Predictive models, with preference for SSIGN and Leibovich scores, are reliable to predict recurrence after nephrectomy and should be recommended to tailor postoperative surveillance protocols.

Oncological outcomes of active surveillance and percutaneous cryoablation of small renal masses are similar at intermediate term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance (AS) and minimally invasive ablative therapies such as percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) are emerging as alternative treatment modalities in the management of small renal masses (SRMs). METHODS: Fifty-nine patients underwent PCA since 2011 and 75 underwent AS since 2010 at two different institutions. Only patients with follow-up ≥6 months were included. All patients were followed with a standardized protocol. Treatment failure was defined by dimensional progression for AS and renal recurrence for PCA, in addition to stage and/or metastatic progression for both groups. RESULTS: Treatment failure was observed in 14 cases (18.7%) during AS (mainly due to dimensional progression) and 12 patients (16%) underwent delayed intervention with a mean follow-up of 36.83 months. Seven patients (11.9%) in the PCA group experienced treatment failure with a mean follow-up of 33.39 months and three of them underwent re-ablation successfully. Cancer-specific-survival at 2 and 5 years was 100% and 95,8% in AS-group vs. 98.2% and 98.2% in PCA-group (P=0.831). One patient in both groups died from metastatic disease. Overall-survival at 2 and 5 years was 91.7% and 82.4% in the AS group vs. 96.5% and 96.5% in the PCA group (P=0.113). Failure-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 90.9% and 70.1% in the AS group vs. 93.1% and 70.9% in the PCA group (P=0.645). CONCLUSIONS: AS and PCA provide similar survival outcomes and are safe and valid treatment options for elderly and comorbid patients with SRMs.

Assessment of predictors of renal cell carcinoma progression after nephrectomy at short- and medium-term follow-up and implication on surveillance protocols.

BACKGROUND: Prediction of risk of RCC progression after surgery is important for follow-up planning. We identified predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in a large single institutional cohort and investigated patterns and sites of progression according to stage and grade. METHODS: Node-negative non-metastatic clear-cell RCC (ccRCC) patients treated with radical or partial nephrectomy from 2000 to 2020 were included. Sites of progression were defined as thoracic, abdominal and others (bone/brain). Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression (MCR) models tested for PFS and CSS. RESULTS: Of 384 clear cell RCC N0M0 patients, 301 (78.4%) vs. 83 (21.6%) were pT1-2 vs. pT3-4, respectively; 253 (65.9%) vs. 130 (33.9%) were G1-G2 vs. G3-G4. Thoracic progressions occurred in 2.7% pT1-T2 vs. 21.7% pT3-T4 and 2.8% G1-G2 vs. 14.6% G3-G4 tumors. Abdominal progressions occurred in 4.0% pT1-T2 vs. 13.3% pT3-T4 and 4.3% G1-G2 vs. 9.2% G3-G4. Other progressions occurred in 0.3% pT1-T2 vs. 9.6% pT3-T4 and 0.8% G1-G2 vs. 5.4% G3-G4 (5.4%). Five-year PFS and CSS were 81.7 and 90.6%, respectively. At MCR models, pT3-4 (HR 9.1, P<0.001), G3-G4 (HR 2.7, P=0.003) and PSMs (HR 6.1, P<0.001) independently predicted PFS. Similarly, pT3-4 (HR 10.1, P<0.001), G3-G4 (HR 4.1, P=0.02), and PSMs (HR 5.2, P=0.04) independently predicted CSS. CONCLUSIONS: In ccRCC N0M0 patients, G3-G4, pT3-4, PSMs were independent predictors of progression after surgery. Lower stage and grade ccRCCs progress predominantly in the abdominal sites and may be followed with less frequent extra-abdominal imaging compared to more advanced/aggressive tumors.

Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Feasibility and Safety. Results of a Multicentric Study.

INTRODUCTION: In Western countries about 25% of prostate cancer (PCa) are high-risk tumors at presentation and its treatment is still a matter of debate among urologists. When a surgical approach is preferred the use of a mininvasive tecnique is still difficult due to the lack of data supporting it in literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate feasibility and safety of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for high-risk PCa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 1114 patients with high-risk PCa submitted to LRP between 1998 and 2014. High-risk patients were defined according to D'Amico classification. We collected functional and oncological long-term outcomes and evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses the role of predictive factors for survival and biochemical recurrence (BR). RESULTS: Mean age at treatment was 62 ± 8 years; mean follow-up was 74 ± 50 months. We obtained an overall survival (OS) of 96.6% at a mean follow-up of 74 months (1076 patients) and a disease-free survival of 66.2% (737 patients). Age (p = 0.0006), pT (p < 0.0001), pN (p = 0.0018), and surgical margins (p = 0.0076) resulted as independent predictors for BR in multivariate analysis. pN (p = 0.0025) and Gs (p = 0.0003) are independent predictors for OS and cancer-specific survival in a univariate analysis; just the Gs results significant in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: According to our encouraging data about oncological and functional outcomes we believe that radical prostatectomy represents an effective treatment for patients with high-risk PCa and that laparoscopy is a safe approach offering a mini-invasive alternative to open surgery.