Does intravesical BCG for bladder cancer protect from COVID-19?

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to correlate the history of intravesical BCG as well as infantile BCG immunization with the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Retrospective data collection of patients with high-risk non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) from two Canadian centers. Data collection included a history of BCG instillation, infantile immunization, and the development of COVID-19 infection. Admission and/ or mortality because of COVID-19 was reported. RESULTS: We could include data from 348 patients: including 188 and 160 patients from Ontario and British Columbia respectively. COVID-19 affected 15% of these patients. Intravesical BCG was used in 44% of these patients. Intravesical BCG and/or infantile BCG immunization did not correlate with the incidence of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Previous intravesical BCG and/ or a history of infantile BCG vaccination were not more/ less frequent in patients who had COVID-19 infection.

Endophytic to total tumour volume ratio: An added variable to patients with T1b/T2 renal tumours undergoing partial nephrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Partial nephrectomy is the standard of care to patients with small renal masses. It is still encouraged to larger tumours whenever feasible. The aim of this study is to look for the endophytic to total tumour volume ratio as an added variable to study the complexity of partial nephrectomy to patients with T1b/ T2 renal tumours. METHODS: Retrospective data collection of patients that had partial nephrectomy for T1b/T2 renal tumours by a single surgeon was done. Radiological re-assessment for the CT images to measure the endophytic to total tumour volume ratio was done. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63 years. The study included 25 males and 11 females. All cases were managed by open surgery using retroperitoneal transverse lateral lumbotomy and warm ischemia was used in all patients. The mean tumour volume was 74 cc, the mean endophytic tumour volume was 29 cc. The mean percentage of endophytic to total tumour volume was 42%. CONCLUSIONS: Partial nephrectomy is safe for most of the patients with good performance status, having large renal masses. More complex surgery can be predicted in patients with endophytic to total tumour volume greater than 42%.

Manifestation of Spontaneous Rupture of the Urinary Bladder in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder (SRUB) during pregnancy is a potentially fatal event that necessitates immediate surgery. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the symptoms, causes, associated factors, and prognosis of SRUB in pregnancy. We searched the literature from inception until December 2022 using the Cochrane Central Register, PubMed, EMBASE, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles not in English and those unrelated to the topic were excluded. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for case reports was employed for the risk of bias assessment. The search strategy yielded 312 citations; 29 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility after screening. Five case reports were included in this review. The age range of the cases was 27-39 years. Four cases were in their second trimester of pregnancy, and one was in her third. Two cases had undergone previous cesarean sections, and one had an appendectomy and salpingectomy due to an ectopic pregnancy. One case reported a history of alcohol and drug abuse. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, abdominal distension, oliguria, voiding difficulty, hematuria, fever, and vomiting. The diagnosis of SRUB was primarily made via emergency laparotomy due to the patients' critical conditions. Beyond its diagnostic role, laparotomy was also the treatment method in all cases. Tear repair, antibiotic therapy, and urinary catheterization were all integral parts of the treatment. Four cases resulted in an uneventful pregnancy and a healthy, full-term baby. In one case, a hysterectomy was performed due to a combined uterus and bladder rupture. SRUB often presents with non-specific symptoms, leading to a delayed diagnosis. A high index of suspicion is essential when a pregnant woman exhibits urinary symptoms and severe abdominal pain, especially in those with a history of previous surgery. Early detection and treatment of SRUB are critical for an uneventful recovery.

History of infantile BCG immunization did not predict lamina propria invasion and/or high-grade in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of infantile BCG vaccination history in predicting stage and grade of tumours in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients from a single center who were diagnosed with new NMIBC and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) between 2017 and 2022. We assessed BCG immunization status with various demographics and comorbidities, as well as tumour recurrence, progression, stage, and grade. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients met the inclusion criteria for our study. The mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was significantly lower in those that had been immunized with BCG (71 ± 9) than those who had not (77 ± 10) (p < 0.0001). History of BCG immunization did not correlate with sex, history of diabetes mellitus (DM), prior history of intravesical BCG treatment, and tumour recurrence, progression, stage, and grade. CONCLUSIONS: History of infantile BCG vaccination did not correlate with the depth of invasion and/or the grade in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Patients that received infantile BCG vaccination were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis of NMIBC.

Rapid metachronous bladder metastasis of type 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) frequently spreads to distant organs like the lung, lymph nodes, bone, and liver. However, there have been some reports of RCC bladder metastasis. We present a case of a 61-year-old man presented with total painless gross hematuria. The patient had a history of right radical nephrectomy for papillary (type 2) RCC, high-grade, pT3a with negative surgical margins. There was no evidence of metastases on 6-month surveillance CT. After one-year post-operation, at this current admission, the cystoscopy discovered a solid bladder mass away from the trigone in the right lateral bladder wall. The resected bladder mass was metastatic papillary RCC with PAX-8 positive but GATA-3 negative on immunostaining. A positron emission tomography scan confirmed multiple lung, liver, and osseous metastases. This case report can highlight the importance of having bladder metastasis in RCC mind, although rare, and may necessitate the surveillance measures like urine analysis at more frequent interval and CT Urography instead of regular CT to detect the RCC metastatic bladder cancer at early stage.

Same-day trial of void and discharge following standard vs. MOSESTM holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: A single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes and to assess the safety and feasibility of same-day trial of void (TOV) in patients who underwent standard holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) vs. MOSESTM HoLEP (MoLEP). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients that underwent HoLEP (100 W) or MoLEP (120 W) with same-day catheter removal three hours postoperatively at our institution from August 2018 to September 2021. Patient demographics, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Data were compared as means with standard deviation and medians with interquartile range (IQR) or numbers and percentages. Continuous and categorical variables were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test, respectively. Predictors of shorter enucleation time and failed same-day TOV were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients included, 28 underwent HoLEP while 62 had MoLEP. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the successful TOV (23 [82%] vs. 58 [93.5%], p=0.1) and readmission rate (3 [10.7%] vs. 1 [1.6%], p=0.08); however, the MoLEP group had a significantly shorter mean enucleation time (p<0.001), mean hemostasis time (p<0.001), mean morcellation time (p=0.003), and lower mean energy used (p<0.001). On the logistic regression model, MoLEP (odds ratio [OR] 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.007-0.19, p<0.001), lower preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01-1.55, p=0.03), and smaller prostate size (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.09, p<0.001) were independent predictors of shorter enucleation time. History of preoperative retention was the only significant factor associated with a failed same-day TOV (p=0.04). There was no difference in intraoperative or postoperative complication rates or postoperative functional outcomes between the two technologies. CONCLUSIONS: Same-day TOV and discharge are feasible following standard HoLEP and MoLEP, with comparable outcomes; however, the use of MOSESTM technology offered better enucleation efficiency with excellent hemostatic potential. Preoperative retention was the only predictor of failed same-day TOV.

Partial Nephrectomy for T1b/T2 Renal Mass: An Added Shift from Radical Nephrectomy.

The aim of our study was to show our short-term experience in managing large renal masses (cT1b/T2) through partial nephrectomy (PN) over the last 3 years. Retrospective data collection for all patients managed by PN for renal masses larger than 4 cm over the last 3 years. Epidemiological data were collected. Surgical data including surgical and ischemic times as well as intra and postoperative complications were collected. Pre- and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) data were collected and correlated as well as postoperative complications and recurrence. We could identify 47 patients managed by PN for radiologically confirmed >4 cm renal masses. The mean age of the patients was 55.7 ± 13.4, including 29 males and 18 females. Masses were T1b and T2 in 40 and 7 patients, respectively. The mean tumor size was 6.2 ± 1.5 cm. Using renal nephrometry score; 8, 28, and 11 had low, moderate, and high complexity, respectively. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was identified in 42 patients. Five patients out of 42 cancerous cases (12%) had pathological T3 RCC. The mean preoperative and postoperative eGFR were 89.09 ± 12.41 and 88.50 ± 10.50, respectively (P 0.2). The median follow-up was 14 months and within that short time, no patient had evidence for cancer recurrence. PN for large renal masses is safe in experienced hands and should be attempted in a higher percentage of patients, regardless of the tumor complexity. No cancer recurrence or deterioration of renal function was observed within our short-term follow-up.

Radical cystectomy for bladder urothelial carcinoma with aggressive variant histology.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report our experience in managing bladder cancer in patients with variant pathology. METHODS: Retrospective data collection for all patients managed by radical cystectomy over the last 3 years for a variant pathol-ogy was completed. We specifically included micropapillary and nested variants. RESULTS: Ten patients were identified, with eight having micropapillary carcinoma (MPC) and two having nested vari-ants. Nine patients were male. The median age was 75. The two patients with nested variant were 56 and 62 years old, respec-tively, whereas all patients with MPC were over the age of 70. Upon cystectomy of all micropapillary cases, three patients (37.5%) had positive lymph node invasion and the final patholo-gy was T2 (two patients), T3 (two patients), and T4 (four patients). Barring a grade III complication Clavien-Dindo classi-fication due to wound dehiscence that necessitated secondary surgical closure, there were no specific perioperative complica-tions. Given the urethral invasion, cystourethrectomy was per-formed on the female patient. Within a median 13-month fol-low-up, three patients developed local recurrence, including two urethral and one new lateral pelvic mass. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the muscle invasive nature of micropapillary and nested bladder cancer, aggressive surgical management should not be postponed. Moreover, due to notable prevalence of concurrent and/or recurrent urethral involvement, initial urethrectomy or early and frequent postoperative ure-throscopy should be provided. Patients with variant histology bladder cancer may benefit from early radical cystectomy when compared to bladder sparing protocols and prostate sparing cystectomy treatment options.

Successful Surgical Management of Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Invading Spleen and Pancreas.

Over the last two decades, the treatment of metastatic RCC has changed significantly, and the role of surgery is being debated. A 50-year-old man presented with pain in his left loin. An ultrasound, followed by a CT scan, revealed a 17.5 cm left renal mass invading the left suprarenal gland, spleen, and pancreatic tail. Radical nephrectomy through chevron incision under epidural block with general anesthesia was performed. The entire mass was removed en bloc. The estimated blood loss was 300 mL, and no blood transfusions were performed. The operation took approximately 2 h. Histological examination revealed clear cell renal carcinoma with extension into the spleen, pancreatic tail, and diaphragmatic fibers with negative resection margin. The patient discharged after a 3-day uneventful hospital stay. Aggressive surgical removal of a locally invasive renal cell carcinoma is feasible and should be considered in patients with good performance status and no or minimal distant metastases.

Spontaneous bladder rupture and associated factors during pregnancy:a systematic review and metanalysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous bladder rupture during pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening event requiring immediate surgery to reduce morbidity and mortality. This systematic review aims to identify associated factors of spontaneous bladder rupture during pregnancy and propose a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: To improve the reporting of this protocol, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 statement was used. The primary objective is to identify and summarise the associated factors with spontaneous bladder rupture during pregnancy. The secondary outcome was to determine the diagnostic and treatment approach. From inception to June 2022, a systematic search of the following electronic databases of peer-reviewed journal articles and online search records will be conducted: the Cochrane Central Register, PubMed, Medline (Via PubMed), Embase (Via Ovid), ProQuest, Scopus, WOS and search engine Google Scholar. All types of studies focusing on spontaneous bladder rupture during pregnancy will be included. Two authors will review the studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three authors will independently extract data using a researcher-created checklist. In the event of a disagreement, an external reviewer will be used. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale checklist will be used by two authors to assess the quality of the studies independently. Data analysis will be carried out using STATA V.16. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required, as our review will include published and publicly accessible data. Findings from this review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-review journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol for this review was submitted at PROSPERO on 20 March 2022 with ID number CRD42022319511.

Comparative analysis of MOSESTM technology versus novel thulium fiber laser (TFL) for transurethral enucleation of the prostate: A single-institutional study.

INTRODUCTION: Novel laser technologies have been developed for the minimally invasive surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of MOSESTM technology versus the thulium fiber laser (TFL) in patients with BPH undergoing transurethral enucleation of the prostate. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of eighty-two patients who underwent transurethral enucleation of the prostate using MOSESTM or TFL technologies from August 2020 to September 2021. Preoperative and intraoperative parameters, in addition to postoperative outcomes, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent transurethral enucleation of the prostate with TFL, while 62 had MOSESTM HoLEP. No statistically significant difference in preoperative characteristics was observed between the groups. Patients in the TFL group had longer median enucleation, hemostasis, and morcellation times (p < 0.001) than those in the MOSESTM cohort. The longer morcellation time of TFL is mostly related to less visibility. The postoperative outcomes IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and post void residual (PVR), were comparable between the groups at 1, 3 and 6 months. The incidence of urge urinary incontinence (p = 0.79), stress urinary incontinence (p = 0.97), and hospital readmission rates (p = 0.1) were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A satisfactory safety and efficacy profile with comparable postoperative outcomes was demonstrated for both techniques; though, MOSESTM technology was superior to TFL in terms of shorter overall operative time.

The association of bladder cancer and Cannabis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between Cannabis use and bladder cancer. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed using studies published in electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. Due to the scarcity of literature on this topic, the search was not limited to a specific design, year of publication, or human studies. The studies were screened by two reviewers in the following steps; first, the studies were discovered according to the predetermined search strategy; second, the unrelated studies and duplicates were eliminated by screening the abstracts, titles, and keywords; third, the full text of relevant and eligible papers were critically appraised and assessed for the risk of bias using the respective tool. The two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias and outcome levels using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the outcomes in observational studies. Any disagreements were settled by a third party. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 39 research articles. After removing 21 duplicates, 18 publications were eligible for title and abstract review. Thirteen studies were found to be irrelevant and subsequently excluded. Only three full-text articles were evaluated and included in the qualitative synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: The role of Cannabis in bladder cancer has been seldom studied. The small number of studies show contradictory findings; potential carcinogenic versus protective effect. The growing interest in Cannabis use after legalization necessitates further investigations with a robust design to assess the long-term effect of Cannabis on bladder cancer.

Adverse pathological outcomes of patients with de novo muscle invasive bladder cancer in Northern Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with de novo muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who underwent radical cystectomy in Northern Ontario. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with de novo T2 MIBC who underwent radical cystectomy over a 2-year-period in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Clinical and pathological characteristics of Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumors and cystectomy specimens were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients aged 67 ± 8.8 years, predominated by males (80%), 27.1% were younger than age 60. After surgery, upstaging was noted in 59.3% (T3 in 27.1% and T4 in 32.2%) while node positive was noted in 36% of patients. Prostate adenocarcinoma was incidentally discovered in 20 (34%) of patients with 50% considered significant (Gleason score ≥ 7). Downstaging was found in those who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of younger ages (less than 60), a high rate of upstaging, the presence of high-grade incidental prostate cancer, and lymph node positives in T2 de novo MIBC in Northern Ontario, warrants further investigation of potential causes and risk factors at individual, public, and population health levels in the region.

Micropapillary bladder cancer: an added indication to prophylactic urethrectomy.

There is little research on the role of urethrectomy during cystectomy in patients with micropapillary bladder cancer (MPBC). We present two cases of MPBC cystectomy and suggest that urethrectomy be performed concurrently as a preventive measure. The first case involved a woman who had a mixed solid and papillary bladder tumour. An anterior pelvic exenteration was performed as well as a total urethrectomy. The T4a micropapillary variant tumour was confirmed by pathology. The second case involved a man with T1 MPBC who was treated with a BCG induction course. A recurrent muscle-invasive MPBC was discovered during follow-up. During the radical cystoprostatectomy, the urethra was spared. T2 MPBC was discovered through pathology. He had a urethrectomy 6 months later due to urethral bleeding, and the pathology revealed micropapillary cancer of the urethra.

Effect of epidural analgesia on postoperative opioid requirements following elective laparotomies performed at Vancouver General Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery pathways aim to reduce postoperative opioid use and opioid-related complications. These pathways often include epidural analgesia (EA). This study examines postoperative opioid use after elective laparotomy with and without EA. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of elective laparotomies performed by General Surgery at a tertiary academic center during 2017 was completed. Primary outcome was postoperative opioid usage. Secondary outcomes were time to mobilization, duration of urinary catheterization and postoperative ileus. RESULTS: Among 236 patients, 213 (90%) received EA. There was no significant difference in mean total oral morphine equivalent (OME) usage between EA and non-EA groups. Mean OME use on postoperative day three was higher in the EA group (38.0 vs 22.4 mg, p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis, preoperative opioid use was associated with increased postoperative OME consumption (regression coefficient 147.5, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, epidural analgesia did not reduce postoperative opioid consumption.