Minimally Invasive and Open Donor Nephrectomy: Lessons Learned From a French Multicenter Experience.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated different techniques of donor nephrectomy. METHODS: Outcomes of 4 surgical approaches (open surgery [OS], standard laparoscopy [SL], hand-assisted laparoscopy [HAL], and robot-assisted la`paroscopy [RAL]) were compared. RESULTS: A total of 264 nephrectomies were performed: 65 in the OS group, 65 in the SL group, 65 in the HAL group, and 69 in RAL group. Operative time was longer for the RAL group (P < .001) with a mean time of 202 minutes (RAL), 182 minutes (OS), 173 minutes (SL), and 157 minutes (HAL). Complications (P = .002) and consumption of morphine derivates (P = .31) were lower for the RAL group (P = .0002). The visual analog scale pain scores (P = .002), hospital stay (P = .023), and time to return to full activities (P = .79) were higher for OS. CONCLUSIONS: The 4 different nephrectomy surgical approaches had similar favorable results. The robot-assisted technique presented as an alternative option, with low incidence of complications, less pain, and results comparable to the other techniques.

Learning robotic pyeloplasty without simulators: an assessment of the learning curve in the early robotic era.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze our experience and learning curve for robotic pyeloplasty during this robotic procedure. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients underwent 100 consecutive procedures. Cases were divided into 4 groups of 25 consecutive procedures to analyze the learning curve. RESULTS: The median anastomosis times were 50.0, 36.8, 34.2 and 29.0 minutes (p=0.137) in the sequential groups, respectively. The median operative times were 144.6, 119.2, 114.5 and 94.6 minutes, with a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p=0.015), 1 and 3 (p=0.002), 1 and 4 (p<0.001) and 2 and 4 (p=0.022). The mean hospital stay was 7.08, 4.76, 4.88 and 4.20 days, with a difference between groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001), 1 and 3 (p<0.001) and 1 and 4 (p<0.001). Clinical and radiological improvements were observed in 98.9% of patients. One patient presented with recurrent obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a high success rate with low complication rates. A significant decrease in hospital stay and surgical time was evident after 25 cases.

Robotic laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the feasibility and outcomes of complex ureteropelvic junction obstruction cases submitted to robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty. METHODS: The records of 131 consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty were reviewed. Of this initial population of cases, 17 were considered complex, consisting of either atypical anatomy (horseshoe kidneys in 3 patients) or previous ureteropelvic junction obstruction management (14 patients). The patients were divided into 2 groups: primary pyeloplasty (group 1) and complex cases (group 2). RESULTS: The mean operative time was 117.3 ± 33.5 minutes in group 1 and 153.5 ± 31.1 minutes in group 2 (P = .002). The median hospital stay was 5.19 ± 1.66 days in group 1 and 5.90 ± 2.33 days in group 2 (P = .326). The surgical findings included 53 crossing vessels in group 1 and 5 in group 2. One patient in group 1 required conversion to open surgery because of technical difficulties. One patient in group 2, with a history of hemorrhagic rectocolitis, presented with peritonitis postoperatively due to a small colonic injury. A secondary procedure was performed after the patient had an uneventful recovery. At 3 months, significant improvement (clinical and radiologic) was present in 93% of cases in group 1 and 88.2% in group 2. At 1 year, all patients in group 2 showed satisfactory results. At a late follow-up visit, 1 patient in group 1 presented with a recurrent obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic pyeloplasty appear to be feasible and effective, showing a consistent success rate even in complex situations. Particular care should be observed during the colon dissection in patients with previous colonic pathology.

Pitfalls in urinary stone identification using CT attenuation values: are we getting the same information on different scanner models?

INTRODUCTION: Evaluate the capability of different Computed Tomography scanners to determine urinary stone compositions based on CT attenuation values and to evaluate potential differences between each model. METHODS: 241 human urinary stones were obtained and their biochemical composition determined. Four different CT scanners (Siemens, Philips, GEMS and Toshiba) were evaluated. Mean CT-attenuation values and the standard deviation were recorded separately and compared with a t-paired test. RESULTS: For all tested CT scanners, when the classification of the various types of stones was arranged according to the mean CT-attenuation values and to the confidence interval, large overlappings between stone types were highlighted. The t-paired test showed that most stone types could not be identified. Some types of stones presented mean CT attenuation values significantly different from one CT scanner to another. At 80kV, the mean CT attenuation values obtained with the Toshiba Aquilion were significantly different from those obtained with the Siemens Sensation. On the other hand, mean values obtained with the Philips Brilliance were all significantly equal to those obtained with the Siemens Sensation and with the Toshiba Aquilion. At 120kV mean CT attenuation values of uric acid, cystine and struvite stones obtained with the Philips model are significantly different from those obtained with the Siemens and the Toshiba but equal to those obtained with the GE 64. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, there is a great variability when different brands and models of scanners are compared directly. Furthermore, the CT scan analysis and HU evaluation appears to gather insufficient information in order to characterize and identify the composition of renal stones.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: the learning curve of a low volume surgeon.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the learning curve for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in a low volume program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single surgeon operated on 165 patients. Patients were consecutively divided in 3 groups of 55 patients (groups A, B, and C). An enhancement of estimated blood loss, surgery length, and presence of a positive surgical margin were all considered as a function of surgeon's experience. RESULTS: Operative time was 267 minutes for group A, 230 minutes for group B, and 159 minutes for group C, and the operative time decreased over time, but a significant difference was present only between groups A and C (P < 0.001). Mean estimated blood loss was 328 mL, 254 mL, and 206 mL (P = 0.24). A conversion to open surgery was necessary in 4 patients in group A. Positive surgical margin rates were 29.1%, 21.8%, and 5.5% (P = 0.02). Eight patients in group A, 4 patients in group B, and one in group C had biochemical recurrence. CONCLUSION: Significantly less intraoperative complications were evident after the first 51 cases. All other parameters (blood loss, operative time, and positive surgical margins) significantly decreased and stabilized after 110 cases. Those outcomes were somehow similar to previous published series by high-volume centers.

Surgical debridement of mineral pitch and nonviable penile tissue using water-jet power: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of debriding genital wounds embedded with mineral pitch (MP) from asphalt, using a water jet-powered surgical tool, the Versajet Hydrosurgery System (VHS, Smith and Nephew, Key Largo, FL) before reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the VHS for penile debridement in two patients. The first was 42-year-old Hispanic man involved in a truck-bike accident, who was dragged approximately 60 m after the collision. He presented with 25% body-surface abrasion impregnated with MP. The scrotal soft tissue had been lost and both testicles were exposed and ruptured, with no viable tissue. Moreover, the distal two-thirds of the penile urethra and the ventral glans were completely damaged and his penis entirely degloved. Several procedures were required for surgical debridement and reconstruction, including the skin grafting to 25% of his body surface. All surgical debridement was done with the VHS. A modified Thiersch-Duplay urethroplasty was used over a 16 F Foley catheter to reconstruct the missing urethra. The second patient was a 32-year-old man with no previous medical history, who presented with Fournier's gangrene after a penile abrasion following unprotected sexual intercourse. He required several surgical debridements. The VHS was applied to an 8 x 10 cm area, followed by a free-radial graft to the inferior epigastric. RESULTS: The clinical follow-up was 9 and 6 months, respectively; both patients had satisfactory granulation tissue and proper wound healing. Neither of the patients had infection after surgical debridement with the VHS, even when used in the case of Fournier's gangrene. CONCLUSION: The VHS appears to be effective for genital soft-tissue surgical debridement even when the tissue is impregnated with MP or infected, without causing any spread of infection. Larger series and a longer follow-up are needed to validate the effectiveness of the VHS in managing complex genital wounds.

Laparoscopic management of intraperitoneal bladder rupture secondary to blunt abdominal trauma using intracorporeal single layer suturing technique.

BACKGROUND: Since Parra reported the first case of laparoscopic repair of bladder rupture caused by nonlaparoscopic injury to the bladder in 1994, several case reports have demonstrated the feasibility of this reconstructive surgical technique. We report the series of six patients that underwent laparoscopic repair of intraperitoneal bladder rupture (LRIB) because of blunt trauma using a single layer suturing technique. To our knowledge, this is the first series of LRIB reported secondary to blunt abdominal trauma. METHODS: From January of 2002 through June of 2006, a total of 139 patients were identified in our trauma registry with bladder ruptures secondary to abdominal blunt trauma. Among them 111 (79.8%) patients had associated pelvic injury. Seventy-one patients underwent surgical exploration and open bladder repair. Six cases were managed with laparoscopic technique. Patients were positioned in supine position and a three port-technique (5 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm) was performed using the intracorporeal single layer suturing with a 3.0 Vycril (UR-6 needle). A close system Jackson-Pratt drain was placed in the retropubic space to monitor possible urine extravasation. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 47.3 years old (18-74 years). There were three female and three male patients. The average operation time was 43 minutes (31-75 minutes), mean length of bladder tear was 6.37 cm (5.3-7.7 cm), mean estimated blood loss was 16.6 cc (10-35 cc) and mean follow-up was 25.5 months (20-28 months). Two patients underwent combined orthopedic procedures. Computerized Tomography (CT) cystogram was performed between 5 days and 7 days after surgery with no signs of leakage in all patients. CONCLUSION: LRIB perforation because of blunt abdominal trauma using single layer intracorporeal suturing technique is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery in well selected patients with no other intrabdominal injuries or intracranial pressure issues, offering faster recovery and better cosmetic results.

Asymptomatic rectal and bladder endometriosis: a case for robotic-assisted surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy for the treatment of rectal and bladder endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 23 year-old female with history of infertility and pelvic pain was found to have a 4 cm bladder mass and rectal nodule on pelvic ultrasonography. Patient denied any other genitourinary symptoms. Cystoscopy and bladder mass biopsy revealed endometriosis. After failure to suppressive hormonal medical therapy a partial cystectomy and resection of a rectal lesion was performed with robotic assistance (da Vinci). The procedure included excision of an ovarian cyst and several peritoneal endometrioid implants. RESULTS: Robotic-assisted (da Vinci) partial cystectomy with concomitant excision of endometrial nodules from the rectum and ovarian cyst was performed in 185 min. The rectal lesion was excised and primary closure of the rectum was performed. Patient had an uneventful postoperative course and hospital stay. Oral intake was started on postoperative day 1 and follow-up imaging revealed no bladder extravasation or fistula formation. The patient became pregnant 2 years later with "in vitro" fertilization procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy with excision of rectal nodules for endometriosis can be safely performed.

Robotically assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a transatlantic comparison of techniques and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To report a comparison of two techniques of robotically assisted laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty (RALDP), and their associated outcomes, for treating pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO), evaluating the potential differences in the initial 50 cases of two centres in North America and Europe. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2001 and August 2005, 100 patients had transperitoneal RALDP for PUJO in one centre in the USA (group 1) and one in France (group 2). Group 1 consisted of 50 patients (30 males and 20 females, mean age 31 years, range 16-62) and group 2 of 50 patients (17 males and 32 females, one bilateral PUJO; mean age 39 years, range 17-81). The right side was affected in 30 (60%) patients in group 1 and 32 (64%) in group 2. Differences in preoperative evaluation, surgical technique and follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: In group 1 all procedures were completed laparoscopically. One conversion was necessary in group 2 due to technical difficulties. The mean operative duration was 122 min (group 1) and 127 min (group 2); the estimated blood loss was negligible (<100 mL) in both groups. Surgical findings included 15 patients with crossing vessels in group 1 and 28 in group 2. There were no peri-operative complications in either group. The mean hospital stay was 1.1 days in group 1 and 5.8 days in group 2, reflecting differences in practice patterns. All patients were asymptomatic at stent removal and in subsequent clinical evaluations in both groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of results form both series provide information suggesting that the robotically assisted approach is a viable treatment option. The results reflect some differences in techniques, follow-up and practice patterns, but the outcomes were equally effective on both continents. Further follow-up will allow us to determine the long-term efficacy.