Open radical cystectomy in England: the current standard of care - an analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) cystectomy audit and Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the current standard for open radical cystectomy (ORC) in England, as data entry by surgeons performing RC to the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) database was mandated in 2013 and combining this with Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data has allowed comprehensive outcome analysis for the first time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were included in this analysis if they were uploaded to the BAUS data registry and reported to have been performed in the 2 years between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015 in England (from mandate onwards) and had been documented as being performed in an open fashion (not laparoscopic, robot assisted or the technique field left blank). The HES data were accessed via the HES website. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures version 4 (OPCS-4) Code M34 was searched during the same 2-year time frame (not including M34.4 for simple cystectomy or with additional minimal access codes Y75.1-9 documenting a laparoscopic or robotic approach was used) to assess data capture. RESULTS: A total of 2 537 ORCs were recorded in the BAUS registry and 3 043 in the HES data. This indicates a capture rate of 83.4% of all cases. The median operative time was 5 h, harvesting a median of 11-20 lymph nodes, with a median blood loss of 500-1 000 mL, and a transfusion rate of 21.8%. The median length of stay was 11 days, with a 30-day mortality rate of 1.58%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest, contemporary cohort of ORCs in England, encompassing >80% of all performed operations. We now know the current standard for ORC in England. This provides the basis for individual surgeons and units to compare their outcomes and a standard with which future techniques and modifications can be compared.

The impact of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) in a large contemporary cohort of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal urinary diversion (RARC-ICUD).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether pre-operative comorbidity status measured by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) or cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is associated with postoperative complications and length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy and intracorporeal urinary diversion (RARC-ICUD). Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of 428 consecutive patients who underwent RARC-ICUD at a tertiary referral centre between 2011 and 2019. CCI was correlated with peri-operative outcomes including postoperative LOS, Clavien-Dindo (CD) complications and survival. A planned subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between pre-operative CPET, and the same outcomes utilising the threshold of anaerobic threshold (AT) ≥ 11/ <11 ml/kg/min were analysed. Results: Of the total cohort, 350 patients undergoing RARC-ICUD with complete data were included in the final analysis. A CCI score ≥5 was associated with a higher rate of CD III-V complications at 30-day incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 3.033, (p = 0.02) and at 90-day IRR 2.495, (p = 0.04) postsurgery. LOS was not associated with CCI; the strongest association with LOS was a CD complication of any grading. CCI did not predict readmission or mortality rates after surgery. Subanalyses of patients who underwent pre-operative CPET found that CPET <11 ml/kg/min did not predict for LOS, CD complications or death within 1 year of surgery. Conclusions: CCI score is a simple, reliable and cost-effective way of identifying patients at increased risk of complication after RARC-ICUD. Surgeons performing radical cystectomy should consider utilising CCI to augment pre-operative patient counselling prior to RARC-ICUD.

Comparison of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Targeted Biopsy With Systematic Biopsy Alone for the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The current diagnostic pathway for patients with suspected prostate cancer (PCa) includes prostate biopsy. A large proportion of individuals who undergo biopsy have either no PCa or low-risk disease that does not require treatment. Unnecessary biopsies may potentially be avoided with prebiopsy imaging. Objective: To compare the performance of systematic transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy vs prebiopsy biparametric or multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by targeted biopsy with or without systematic biopsy. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, clinical trial registries, and reference lists of recent reviews were searched through December 2018 for randomized clinical trials using the terms "prostate cancer" and "MRI." Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials comparing diagnostic pathways including prebiopsy MRI vs systematic transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy in biopsy-naive men with a clinical suspicion of PCa. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane tool. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. All review stages were conducted by 2 reviewers. Main Outcomes and Measures: Detection rate of clinically significant and insignificant PCa, number of biopsy procedures, number of biopsy cores taken, and complications. Results: Seven high-quality trials (2582 patients) were included. Compared with systematic transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy alone, MRI with or without targeted biopsy was associated with a 57% (95% CI, 2%-141%) improvement in the detection of clinically significant PCa, a 33% (95% CI, 23%-45%) potential reduction in the number of biopsy procedures, and a 77% (95% CI, 60%-93%) reduction in the number of cores taken per procedure. One trial showed reduced pain and bleeding adverse effects. Systematic sampling of the prostate in addition to the acquisition of targeted cores did not significantly improve the detection of clinically significant PCa compared with systematic biopsy alone. Conclusions and Relevance: In this meta-analysis, prebiopsy MRI combined with targeted biopsy vs systematic transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy alone was associated with improved detection of clinically significant PCa, despite substantial heterogeneity among trials. Prebiopsy MRI was associated with a reduced number of individual biopsy cores taken per procedure and with reduced adverse effects, and it potentially prevented unnecessary biopsies in some individuals. This evidence supports implementation of prebiopsy MRI into diagnostic pathways for suspected PCa.

Concurrent upper and lower urinary tract robotic surgery: A case series.

The da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical Inc.) continues to develop as a platform in urological surgery. Synchronous upper and lower urinary tract tumours requiring extirpative surgery are not uncommon. We report the first case robotic series of combined complex upper and lower urinary tract surgery. Six high-risk anaesthetic patients with a median age of 71 years and apparent synchronous upper and lower urinary tract pathologies underwent concurrent robotic surgery. Five underwent robotic nephroureterectomy and robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC); 1 had combined robotic nephroureterectomy and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP). The mean length of stay was 10 days, with an average blood loss of 416.7 mL. The median console time for nephroureterectomy, RALP and RARC was 90, 90 and 210 minutes, respectively. Four patients had intra-corporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion. There were no Clavien grade 3, 4, or 5 complications. In all patients, 30- and 90-day mortality was nil. Margins were clear in the entire cohort. We concluded that combined upper and lower urinary tract robotic surgery is safe and technically feasible with acceptable complications and oncological outcomes.

A prospective study analysing the effect of pain on probe insertion, and the biopsy strategy, on the patients' perception of pain during TRUS-guided biopsy of the prostate.

OBJECTIVES: PSA testing has led to an increasing number of TRUS-guided biopsies being performed. These are well tolerated in the majority, but a minority of men find the procedure unacceptably painful. We have studied a cohort of men undergoing TRUS guided prostate biopsy to ascertain whether the biopsy strategy, or pain on probe insertion, can assist in predicting those who men most likely to suffer severe pain during prostate biopsy. METHODS: 162 men (screened and symptomatic) between 47 and 86 years of age (mean age 61.7 yrs) who attended for TRUS and biopsy were studied. The number of cores taken were governed by TRUS volume, less than and equal to or=40cc =12 cores. Each completed a 10-point visual analogue pain score (VAS) immediately after procedure. All men were asked to describe their pain, on insertion of the TRUS probe, followed by the first and the last biopsy. All biopsies were taken with an 18G spring-loaded Tru-cut disposable needle. Severe pain (score of 8-10) was deemed unacceptable. RESULTS: 22% (36/162) of the men biopsied experienced unacceptable pain in one or more of the three categories. There was a higher incidence of severe pain in those undergoing 12 cores compared to 7-11, or a standard sextant strategy (p=0.05, Chi-squared for linear trend). Severe pain was experienced by 6% (9/162) of men during probe insertion. Of this group 78% (7/9) also went on to find biopsies unacceptably painful, compared to 19% (29/152) of those who did not experience severe pain for probe insertion (p<0.0001, exact test for two independent proportions). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 5 men experience unacceptable pain at some time during TRUS biopsy of the prostate. A high proportion of men (78%) in whom insertion of the TRUS probe was unacceptably painful, found subsequent biopsies equally painful. With trend towards saturation biopsies the need for predicting group of men who will need local/general anaesthesia is ever-increasing.

Incidental acute prostatic inflammation is associated with a lower percentage of free prostate-specific antigen than other benign conditions of the prostate: a prospective screening study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of percentage free/total prostate-specific antigen (f/tPSA) as a screening tool for prostate cancer, and to assess the impact of prostatic inflammation on f/tPSA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Men aged 50-65 years were invited for prostate cancer screening. Biopsies were taken from men with a tPSA of > or = 4 ng/mL, together with those with a tPSA of 1.1-3.99 ng/mL and a f/tPSA of < or = 20%. Histological evidence of prostate cancer, acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, and benign prostatic tissue were noted in biopsy cores, together with the associated f/tPSA values. RESULTS: The cancer detection rate was 4.3% (33/773). Evidence of inflammation was found in about half (87/175) of those biopsied. Men with acute inflammation (27/175, 15%) had significantly lower serum f/tPSA values (mean 13.4%) than those with chronic inflammation (mean 16.6%, P = 0.002) and benign prostatic tissue (mean 15.7%, P = 0.034), but were similar to men with prostate cancer (mean 15.3%, P = 0.315). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospectively screened cohort of men, there was a high incidence of asymptomatic inflammation on prostatic histology; f/tPSA values were significantly lower in men with acute inflammation. This might explain the variability of f/tPSA in improving specificity when used as a screening tool for prostate cancer, and might also reduce its effectiveness in differentiating tumours with more aggressive potential.

Prostate cancer detection in men with a 'normal' total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level using percentage free PSA: a prospective screening study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of percentage free/total prostate-specific antigen (f/tPSA) levels for detecting prostate cancer in a prospectively screened population of men with a 'normal' total PSA level. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Men aged 50-65 years were contacted via their general practitioner and invited for prostate cancer screening. All had their total and f/tPSA levels measured; those meeting the biopsy criteria (PSA 1.1-3.99 ng/mL and f/tPSA < or = 20%) were offered a biopsy. The cancer detection rate was then evaluated and compared with other methods of detection. In all, 773 men were screened, of whom 115 met the criteria and agreed to undergo a prostate biopsy. RESULTS: Cancer was detected in 13 of the 115 men (11.3%) of whom most would have been missed by lowering the age-adjusted threshold for total PSA to 2.5 ng/mL. There was no significant difference in total and f/tPSA values in men with and without prostate cancer. Those cancers that could be evaluated were found to be clinically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study prostate cancer was detected solely on the basis of a low f/tPSA value. Most men with cancer would have been missed by simply lowering the age-adjusted threshold for total PSA. Using the f/tPSA level may allow the detection of clinically significant cancer in men at a time when they are most likely to benefit from treatment.