Early and late complications of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: a standardized analysis by urinary diversion type.

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive surgical treatment for bladder cancer has gained popularity but standardized data on complications are lacking. Urinary diversion type contributes to complications and to our knowledge diversion types after minimally invasive cystectomy have not yet been compared. We evaluated perioperative complications stratified by urinary diversion type in patients treated with robot-assisted radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the records of 209 consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy at our institution from 2003 to 2012 with respect to perioperative complications, including severity, time period (early and late) and diversion type. All complications were reviewed by academic urologists. Urinary diversion was also done. As outcome measurements and statistical analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of various complications. RESULTS: The American Society of Anesthesiologists(®) (ASA) score was 3 or greater in 80% of patients and continent diversion was performed in 68%. Median followup was 35 months. Within 90 days 77.5% of patients experienced any complication and 32% experienced a major complication. The 90-day mortality rate was 5.3%. Most complications were gastrointestinal, infectious and hematological. On multivariate analysis patients with ileal conduit diversion had a decreased likelihood of complications compared to patients with Indiana pouch and orthotopic bladder substitute diversion despite the selection of a more comorbid population for conduit diversion. Continent diversion was associated with a higher likelihood of urinary tract infection. Our results are comparable to those of previously reported open and minimally invasive cystectomy series. CONCLUSIONS: Open or minimally invasive cystectomy is a complex, morbid procedure. Urinary diversion is a significant contributor to complications, as is patient comorbidity. Although patients with an ileal conduit had more comorbidities, they experienced fewer complications than those with an orthotopic bladder substitute or Indiana pouch diversion.

Female sexual dysfunction in urological patients: findings from a major metropolitan area in the USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in a practice focused mainly on female urology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A modified version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess the prevalence of FSD in 587 patients who completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of FSD was 63%; age, menopausal status and usage of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were statistically significant risk factors for FSD. CONCLUSIONS: FSD is highly prevalent in this population of patients and screening female urological patients for FSD should be considered.

Inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) is a negative-feedback regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and an important mediator of cardiac myocyte apoptosis in response to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation.

Although stimulation of the beta-adrenergic receptor increases levels of cAMP and activation of the cAMP response element (CRE) in cardiac myocytes, the role of the signaling mechanism regulated by cAMP in hypertrophy and apoptosis is not well understood. In this study we show that protein expression of inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), an endogenous inhibitor of CRE-mediated transcription, is induced by stimulation of isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenergic agonist with a peak at approximately 12 hours and persisting for more than 24 hours in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. ICER is also upregulated by phenylephrine but not by endothelin-1. Continuous infusion of ISO also increased ICER in the rat heart in vivo. Overexpression of ICER significantly attenuated ISO- and phenylephrine-induced cardiac hypertrophy but did not inhibit endothelin-1-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Overexpression of ICER also stimulated cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Antisense inhibition of ICER significantly enhanced beta-adrenergic hypertrophy, whereas it significantly inhibited beta-adrenergic cardiac myocyte apoptosis, suggesting that endogenous ICER works as an important regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis. Inhibition of CRE-mediated transcription by dominant-negative CRE binding protein inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, whereas it stimulated cardiac myocyte apoptosis, thereby mimicking the effect of ICER. Both ISO and ICER reduced expression of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic molecule, whereas antisense ICER prevented ISO-induced downregulation of Bcl-2. These results suggest that ICER is upregulated by cardiac hypertrophic stimuli increasing CRE-mediated transcription in cardiac myocytes and acts as a negative regulator of hypertrophy and a positive mediator of apoptosis, in part through both inhibition of CRE-mediated transcription and downregulation of Bcl-2.

Standardized analysis of frequency and severity of complications after robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive and standardized reporting of adverse events after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and urinary diversion for bladder cancer is necessary to evaluate the magnitude of morbidity for this complex operation. OBJECTIVE: To accurately identify and assess postoperative morbidity after RARC using a standardized reporting system. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 241 consecutive patients underwent RARC, extended pelvic lymph node dissection, and urinary diversion between 2003 and 2011. In all, 196 patients consented to a prospective database, and they are the subject of this report. Continent diversions were performed in 68% of cases. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All complications within 90 d of surgery were defined and categorized by a five-grade and 10-domain modification of the Clavien system. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of complications. Grade 1-2 complications were categorized as minor, and grade 3-5 complications were categorized as major. All blood transfusions were recorded as grade ≥2. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Eighty percent of patients (156 of 196 patients) experienced a complication of any grade ≤90 d after surgery. A total of 475 adverse events (113 major) were recorded, with 365 adverse events (77%) occurring ≤30 d after surgery. Sixty-eight patients (35%) experienced a major complication within the first 90 d. Other than blood transfusions given (86 patients [43.9%]), infectious, gastrointestinal, and procedural complications were the most common, at 16.2%, 14.1%, and 10.3%, respectively. Age, comorbidity, preoperative hematocrit, estimated blood loss, and length of surgery were predictive of a complication of any grade, while comorbidity, preoperative hematocrit, and orthotopic diversion were predictive of major complications. The 90-d mortality rate was 4.1%. The main limitation is lack of a control group. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of postoperative morbidity following RARC demonstrates a considerable complication rate, though the rate is comparable to contemporary open series that followed similar reporting guidelines. This finding reinforces the need for complete and standardized reporting when evaluating surgical techniques and comparing published series.

Transition from open to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: 7 years experience at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Background and objective Open radical prostatectomy (ORP) is the standard approach for the surgical management of localized prostate cancer. The steep learning curve for laparoscopic prostatectomy poses a challenge for surgeons with minimal laparoscopic experience. As robotic-assisted surgery becomes more prevalent in the urologic community, there appears to be an increasing interest in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) among urologists throughout the United States. We report on the impact of robotics on practice patterns in the treatment of localized prostate cancer at a single institution. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of radical prostatectomies performed between January 2000 and December 2006 at Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack, N.J.). Over this time period, our medical center acquired four da Vinci™ Surgical Systems. The trends for open and robotic-assisted prostatectomies were analyzed. Results Over a 7-year period (2000-2006), a total of 1252 radical prostatectomies were performed by 17 urologists: 469 (37%) ORPs and 783 (63%) RARPs. The total number of prostatectomies increased annually during this time period. The robotic-assisted procedure was predominantly performed by three (18%) urologists from 2001-2003, seven (41%) in 2004, nine (53%) in 2005, and 11 (65%) in 2006. As more urologists became trained in robotic-assisted surgery, the trend gradually shifted towards robotic-assisted prostatectomy. In 2001, only 9.6% of all radical prostatectomies at our institution were performed with robotic assistance; in 2006, this had risen to 92.8%. Conclusion The acquisition of the da Vinci™ Surgical System has allowed robotic-assisted surgery to be an available alternative to open surgery at a single institution. The implementation of robotic technology has led to the gradual adoption of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy by many of the urologists that surgically treat prostate cancer. As a result, the percentage of open prostatectomies has steadily decreased over time, while trends in robotic-assisted prostatectomies have increased. The impact of robotics also appears to have had an influential effect on the total number of prostatectomies performed annually.