Multicenter international experience of 532 nm-laser photo-vaporization with Greenlight XPS in men with large prostates (prostate volume > 100 cc).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and durability of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) using the XPS-180 system in patients with a large prostate volume (PV) > 100 cc at 4 years of follow-up in a large, multicenter experience. METHODS: 438 men with pre-operative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) PV > 100 cc were treated in eight experienced centers in Canada, USA, and in France with the Greenlight XPS laser using PVP for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. IPSS, Qmax, postvoid residual (PVR), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were measured at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Durability was evaluated using BPH retreatment rate at 12, 24, and 36 months. RESULTS: Median PV and PSA were 121 cc and 6.3 ng/dl. Indwelling catheter at the time of surgery was observed in 37% of men. Median operative, laser time, and energy applied were 90 min, 55 min, and 422 kJ, respectively. Median energy delivery was 3.4 kJ/cc of prostate per case. Outpatient surgery was feasible with median length of stay at 24 h. IPSS, Qmax and PVR were significantly improved at all endpoints including at 48 months. Moreover, surgical BPH retreatment rates were 5.4 and 9.3% at 24 and 36 months. Interestingly, characteristics of retreated men include: energy delivery 2.4 vs. 3.4 kJ/cc of prostate (p = 0.02) and PSA reduction at 12 months 26 vs. 51% (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: PVP using Greenlight XPS-180W can potentially provide durable improvements with regard to functional outcomes at 4 years. However, rising retreatment rates after 3 years is of concern. This highlights the imperative need of utilizing a standardized surgical technique (enucleation-like-defect) and an optimal energy density >3KJ/cc.

Juxta-adrenal Ancient Schwannoma: A Rare Retroperitoneal Tumor.

Retroperitoneal schwannoma is a rare tumor that is often misdiagnosed as malignancy due to a concerning appearance on cross-sectional imaging. Pathology and immunohistochemistry form the gold standard for diagnosis; as such, local excision is the treatment of choice for this disease. We present two cases of juxta-adrenal ancient schwannoma that were treated with adrenalectomy and discuss the current literature regarding this entity.

The Effect of the Diffusion of the Surgical Robot on the Hospital-level Utilization of Partial Nephrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid diffusion of the surgical robot has been controversial because of the technology's high costs and its disputed marginal benefit. Some, however, have suggested that adoption of the robot may have improved care for patients with renal malignancy by facilitating partial nephrectomy, an underutilized, technically challenging procedure believed to be less morbid than radical nephrectomy. We sought to determine whether institutional acquisition of the robot was associated with increased utilization of partial nephrectomy. METHODS: We used all payer data from 7 states to identify 21,569 nephrectomies. These patient-level records were aggregated to the hospital-level then merged with the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and publicly available data on timing of robot acquisition. We used a multivariable difference-in-difference model to assess at the hospital-level whether robot acquisition was associated with an increase in the proportion of partial nephrectomy, adjusting for hospital nephrectomy volume, year of surgery, and several additional hospital-level factors. RESULTS: In the multivariable-adjusted differences-in-differences model, hospitals acquiring a robot between 2001 and 2004 performed a greater proportion of partial nephrectomy in both 2005 (29.9% increase) and 2008 (34.9% increase). Hospitals acquiring a robot between 2005 and 2008 also demonstrated a greater proportion of partial nephrectomy in 2008 (15.5% increase). In addition, hospital nephrectomy volume and urban location were also significantly associated with increased proportion of partial nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital acquisition of the surgical robot is associated with greater proportion of partial nephrectomy, an underutilized, guideline-encouraged procedure. This is one of the few studies to suggest robot acquisition is associated with improvement in quality of patient care.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in patients with baseline chronic kidney disease: a multi-institutional propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RPN) in the setting of chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents additional challenges for the preservation of renal function. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate functional outcomes of RPN in patients with CKD relative to patients undergoing RPN without baseline CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1197 consecutive patients who underwent RPN at five academic institutions between 2007 and 2012 were identified for this descriptive study. A total of 172 patients who underwent RPN with preexisting CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 15-60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) were identified. Perioperative results of 121 patients were compared against propensity score-matched controls without CKD (eGFR ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)). INTERVENTION: RPN in patients with or without baseline CKD. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and propensity score-matched operative and functional outcomes. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After propensity score matching, patients with baseline CKD had a lower percentage eGFR decrease at first follow-up (-5.1 vs -10.9), which remained significant at a mean follow-up of 12.6 mo (-2.8 vs -9.1, p<0.05), and they had less CKD upstaging (11.8% vs 33.1%). CKD patients were less likely to be discharged in the first two postoperative days (39.7% vs 56.2%, p=0.006) and had a higher rate of surgical complications (21.5% vs 10.7%, p=0.007). The retrospective analysis was the main limitation of this study. CONCLUSIONS: RPN in patients with baseline CKD is associated with a smaller decrease in renal function compared with patients without baseline CKD, but a higher risk of surgical complications and a longer hospital stay.

Radical prostatectomy improves and prevents age dependent progression of lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms increases with age and impairs quality of life. Radical prostatectomy has been shown to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms at short-term followup but the long-term effect of radical prostatectomy on lower urinary tract symptoms is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of 1,788 men undergoing radical prostatectomy. The progression of scores from the self-administered AUASS (American Urological Association symptom score) preoperatively, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 60, 84, 96 and 120 months was analyzed using models controlling for preoperative AUASS, age, prostate specific antigen, pathological Gleason score and stage, nerve sparing, race and marital status. This model was also applied to patients stratified by baseline clinically significant (AUASS greater than 7) and insignificant (AUASS 7 or less) lower urinary tract symptoms. RESULTS: Men exhibited an immediate worsening of lower urinary tract symptoms that improved between 3 months and 2 years after radical prostatectomy. Overall the difference between mean AUASS at baseline and at 10 years was not statistically or clinically significant. Men with baseline clinically significant lower urinary tract symptoms experienced immediate improvements in lower urinary tract symptoms that lasted until 10 years after radical prostatectomy (13.5 vs 8.81, p <0.001). Men with baseline clinically insignificant lower urinary tract symptoms experienced a statistically significant but clinically insignificant increase in mean AUASS after 10 years (3.09 to 4.94, p <0.001). The percentage of men with clinically significant lower urinary tract symptoms decreased from baseline to 10 years after radical prostatectomy (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Radical prostatectomy is the only treatment for prostate cancer shown to improve and prevent the development of lower urinary tract symptoms at long-term followup. This previously unrecognized long-term benefit argues in favor of the prostate as the primary contributor to male lower urinary tract symptoms.

Long-term continence outcomes in men undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a common short-term complication of radical prostatectomy (RP). Little is known about the long-term impact of RP on continence. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the long-term progression of continence after RP. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: From October 2000 through September 2012, 1788 men undergoing open RP for clinically localized prostate cancer by a single surgeon at an urban tertiary care center prospectively signed consent to be followed before RP and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 96, and 120 mo after RP. A consecutive sampling method was used and all men were included in this study. INTERVENTION: Men underwent open RP. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Regression models controlled for preoperative University of California, Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index urinary function score (UCLA-PCI-UFS), age, prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score, stage, nerve-sparing status, race, and marital status were used to evaluate the association of time since RP with two dependent variables: UCLA-PCI-UFS and continence status. RESULTS AND LIMITATION: The mean UCLA-PCI-UFS declined between 2 yr and 8 yr (83.8 vs 81.8; p=0.007) and marginally between 8 yr and 10 yr (81.8 vs 79.6; p=0.036) after RP, whereas continence rate did not significantly change during these intervals. Men ≥ 60 yr old experienced a decline in mean UCLA-PCI-UFS between 2 yr and 8 yr (p=0.002) and a marginal decline in continence rate between 2 yr and 10 yr (p=0.047), whereas these variables did not change significantly in men <60 yr old. These outcomes are for an experienced surgeon, so caution should be exercised in generalizing these results. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2 yr and 10 yr after RP, there were slight decreases in mean UCLA-PCI-UFS and continence rates in this study. Men aged <60 yr had better long-term outcomes. These results provide realistic long-term continence expectations for men undergoing RP.

Ten-year outcomes of sexual function after radical prostatectomy: results of a prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The long-term impact of radical prostatectomy (RP) on sexual function (SF) and erectile function (EF) has important implications related to the risk-to-benefit ratio of this treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term effect of RP on male SF and EF over 10 yr of follow-up. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective, longitudinal outcomes study in 1836 men following RP at a university hospital. Men were invited to complete the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index SF survey at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24, 96, and 120 mo postoperatively and a survey at 4 and 7 yr postoperatively assessing global changes in their EF over the preceding 2 yr. INTERVENTION: All men underwent open RP. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multiple, generalized linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between time following RP and SF and EF scores controlling for age, prostate-specific antigen, Gleason scores, stage, nerve sparing, race, and marital status. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After an expected initial decline, time-dependent improvements in SF and EF were observed through 2 yr postoperatively. Overall, SF and EF were both generally stable between 2 and 10 yr following RP. The subgroups of younger men and men with better preoperative function were more likely to maintain their EF and SF through 10 yr following RP. The primary limitation is the potential bias attributable to nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of EF can extend well beyond 2 yr. There is a significant association between younger age and better preoperative function and the likelihood of experiencing improvements beyond 2 yr. Assessing the comparative effectiveness of treatment options for localized prostate cancer must examine SF beyond 2 yr to account for delayed treatment effects and the natural history of SF in the aging male population.

National trends in the utilization of partial nephrectomy before and after the establishment of AUA guidelines for the management of renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines advocating partial nephrectomy for T1 tumors guidelines on the likelihood of undergoing partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a dataset encompassing 20% of all United States inpatient hospitalizations, from 2007 through 2010. Our dependent variable was receipt of radical vs partial nephrectomy (55.50, 55.51, 55.52, and 55.54 vs 55.4) for a renal mass (International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision [ICD-9] code 189.0). The independent variable of interest was time of surgery (before or after the establishment of AUA guidelines); covariates included a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), overall comorbidity, age, race, gender, geographic region, income, and hospital characteristics. Bivariate and multivariable adjusted logistic regression was used to determine the association between receipt of partial nephrectomy and time of guideline establishment. RESULTS: We identified 26,165 patients with renal tumors who underwent surgery. Before the guidelines, 4031 patients (27%) underwent partial nephrectomy compared to 3559 (32%) after. On multivariable analysis, undergoing surgery after the establishment of guidelines (odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.32, P <.01) was an independent predictor of partial nephrectomy. Other factors associated with partial nephrectomy were urban location, surgery at a teaching hospital, large hospital bed size, Northeast location, and Black race. Female gender and CKD were not associated with partial nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Although adoption of partial nephrectomy increased after establishment of new guidelines on renal masses, partial nephrectomy remains an underutilized procedure. Future research must focus on barriers to adoption of partial nephrectomy and how to overcome them.

Positive surgical margins in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: a multi-institutional analysis of oncologic outcomes (leave no tumor behind).

PURPOSE: Expanding indications for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy raise major oncologic concerns for positive surgical margins. Previous reports showed no correlation between positive surgical margins and oncologic outcomes. We report a multi-institutional experience with the oncologic outcomes of positive surgical margins on robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathological and clinical followup data were reviewed from an institutional review board approved, prospectively maintained joint database from 5 institutions. Tumors with malignant pathology were isolated and statistically analyzed for demographics and oncologic followup. The log rank test was used to compare recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival between patients with positive and negative surgical margins. The proportional hazards method was used to assess the influence of multiple factors, including positive surgical margins, on recurrence and metastasis. RESULTS: A total of 943 robot-assisted partial nephrectomies for malignant tumors were successfully completed. Of the patients 21 (2.2%) had positive surgical margins on final pathological assessment, resulting in 2 groups, including the 21 with positive surgical margins and 922 with negative surgical margins. Positive surgical margin cases had higher recurrence and metastasis rates (p<0.001). As projected by the Kaplan-Meier method in the population as a whole at followup out to 63.6 months, 5-year recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival was 94.8% and 97.5%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival between patients with positive and negative surgical margins (log rank test<0.001), which favored negative surgical margins. Positive surgical margins showed an 18.4-fold higher HR for recurrence when adjusted for multiple tumors, tumor size, tumor growth pattern and pathological stage. CONCLUSIONS: Positive surgical margins on final pathological evaluation increase the HR of recurrence and metastasis. In addition to pathological and molecular tumor characteristics, this should be considered to plan appropriate management.

Outcomes and predictors of clinical T1 to pathological T3a tumor up-staging after robotic partial nephrectomy: a multi-institutional analysis.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the early oncological end point of recurrence-free survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma up-staged from cT1 to pT3a after partial nephrectomy. We also aimed to establish preoperative factors associated with pathological tumor up-staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective database of robotic partial nephrectomy cases performed at 5 academic centers was queried for patients who underwent surgery for a solitary cT1 renal mass. Patients with pT1-2 renal cell carcinoma were compared to those with pT3a tumors to determine the difference in recurrence-free survival. Preoperative factors associated with cT1 to pT3a up-staging were studied using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1,096 patients underwent robotic partial nephrectomy for a cT1 renal mass. At final pathological evaluation 855 tumors (78.0%) were found to be renal cell carcinoma, of which 41 (4.8%) were up-staged to pT3a. The 24-month recurrence-free survival estimates for pT1-2 and pT3a tumors were 99.2% and 91.8%, respectively (p=0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed that a high vs low R.E.N.A.L. (radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness to collecting system or sinus, anterior/posterior and location relative to polar lines) nephrometry score was associated with tumor up-staging (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.20-7.35, p=0.02). On separate multivariate analysis increasing tumor diameter (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.32-2.08, p<0.001) and hilar location (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.43-5.61, p=0.003) were also associated with up-staging. CONCLUSIONS: At short-term followup patients with renal cell carcinoma up-staged from cT1 to pT3a have reasonable oncological outcomes after partial nephrectomy. Factors associated with tumor up-staging include high tumor complexity, increasing tumor diameter and hilar location. Further studies are needed to determine the comparative efficacy of partial vs radical nephrectomy for small pT3a tumors.

Current practice patterns in the surgical management of renal cancer in the United States.

Over the last two decades, there has been a rising incidence of renal tumors, particularly, small renal masses (<4 cm) resulting in a downward size and stage migration. This has brought about a paradigm shift in the management of newly diagnosed renal masses, such that nephron-sparing surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and active surveillance are frequently considered preferable to the historical gold standard of open radical nephrectomy. Population-based cohort studies indicate, however, that the widespread adoption of these techniques has been relatively slow and incomplete leading to significant disparities in the delivery of care throughout the country. Further investigation is required to determine the barriers to diffusion of new techniques and technology as well as to ensure equal access to quality care in the United States.

Lap pak for abdominal retraction.

Retraction of the bowels during abdominal surgery is generally facilitated by the use of a combination of various retractors along with surgical towels or sponges. The use of surgical towels and sponges may lead to retained foreign bodies or adhesions. In addition, these towels and sponges often require manipulation during long surgical procedures. The ideal way to avoid these problems in abdominal surgery is to develop a technique for retraction of the abdominal contents that eliminates the requirement for these foreign bodies. This article presents the results of a small trial for Lap Pak (Seguro Surgical, Columbia, MD), a disposable radio-opaque device that is made of silicone and retracts the bowels in a cephalad orientation without the need for towels or sponges.

Comparison of open and robot-assisted pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether there were differences in the lymph node yield and incidence of nodal metastasis among patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (LAD) and open radical retropubic prostatectomy with either a standard or extended node dissection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively on all patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with pelvic LAD at our institution between January 2006 and December 2008. Patients in group 1 (n = 60) underwent robot-assisted standard LAD, those in group 2 (n = 64) had open standard LAD, and group 3 patients (n = 43) were treated with open extended LAD. Statistical comparison was then made between the three groups stratified by histologic grade and pathologic stage. RESULTS: The mean lymph node yield was 8.2 for group 1, 7.6 for group 2, and 14.8 for group 3. The overall incidence of positive nodes in each group was 3.3%, 1.6%, and 18.6%, respectively. There were no differences between the node counts (P = 0.84) and probability of finding positive nodes between the robot-assisted and open standard dissections. The extended LAD identified patients with positive nodes at a greater frequency, although those patients were more likely to have adverse pathologic features. Complications related to the lymphadenectomy were not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: The lymph node yield obtained during robot-assisted pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer is comparable to an open approach using a similar template. An open extended node dissection yields more nodes and identifies a greater number of patients with lymph node involvement.

Sporadic unilateral vestibular schwannoma in the pediatric population. Clinical article.

OBJECT: Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are rare in the pediatric population. Most often, these lesions manifest as a bilateral disease process in the setting of neurofibromatosis Type 2. Even in the absence of additional clinical diagnostic criteria, the presentation of a unilateral VS in a young patient may be a harbinger of future penetrance for this hereditary tumor syndrome. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of a cohort of 7 patients who presented with apparently sporadic, unilateral VSs. These patients had previously undergone surgery via translabyrinthine, retrosigmoid, or combined approaches. Clinical outcomes were reviewed with emphasis on facial nerve function and follow-up for signs and symptoms of a heritable disorder. RESULTS: All patients underwent microsurgical resection in a multidisciplinary effort by the senior authors. The average tumor size was 4.57 cm, with an average duration of symptoms prior to definitive diagnosis of 31.2 months. The tumor size at the time of presentation followed a trend different from reports in adults, while the duration of symptoms did not. At a follow-up average of 6.3 years (range 1-12 years), 100% of patients demonstrated good facial function (House-Brackmann Grade I or II). No patient in this cohort demonstrated symptoms, objective signs, or genetic analysis indicating the presence of neurofibromatosis Type 2. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and management of sporadic, unilateral VSs in children is complicated by clinical presentations and surgical challenges unique from their adult counterparts. Careful consideration should be given to a heritable genetic basis for sporadic unilateral VS in the pediatric population. Results of genetic testing do not preclude the necessity for long-term follow-up and systemic investigation. In patients who present with large tumors, preliminary experience leads the authors to suggest that a combined retrosigmoid-translabyrinthine approach offers the greatest opportunity for preservation of facial nerve function.

Intraventricular schwannoma in a 15-year-old adolescent: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas are benign tumors that originate from the myelin-forming Schwann cells of peripheral nerves or at the Obersteiner-Redlich zone of the vestibular division of the eighth cranial nerve. Intraventricular schwannomas are rare, particularly among children. DISCUSSION: This case report illustrates a right occipital horn schwannoma in a 15-year-old adolescent boy who was successfully treated with surgical resection and discusses the possible origins of the tumor in this unique location.