Effect of Complete Transurethral Resection on Oncologic Outcomes After Radiation Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the oncologic outcomes of patients with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing complete versus incomplete transurethral tumor resection (TURBT) before radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with nonmetastatic MIBC who underwent curative-intent radiation therapy between 2002 and 2018 at 10 Canadian institutions were retrospectively evaluated. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was performed using baseline characteristics. Differences in survival outcomes by complete and incomplete TURBT were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 757 patients included, 66% (498) had documentation of a complete and 34% (259) an incomplete TURBT. Before adjustment, 121 (47%) and 45 (9%) patients who underwent incomplete and complete TURBT, respectively, were diagnosed with cT3-4 tumor (P <.001). After weight-adjustment, all baseline cohort characteristics were balanced (absolute standardized differences < 0.1). The adjusted median follow-up was 27 months. Adjusted survival analyses showed no significant difference in 5-year overall survival (48% vs 52%, 1.03 [0.82-1.29]; P = .8), cancer-specific survival (64% vs 61%, 0.93 [0.70-1.25]; P = .7), metastasis-free survival (43% vs 46%, 0.97 [0.79-1.19]; P = .8), and disease-free survival (32% vs 35%, 0.95 [0.79-1.15]; P = .7) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Complete TURBT may be associated with clinical organ-confined disease. Extent of TURBT was not independently associated with oncologic outcomes in patients with MIBC treated with radiation therapy.

The Impact of Histologic Subtypes on Clinical Outcomes After Radiation-Based Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

PURPOSE: Outcomes of radiation-based therapy (RT) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) with histologic subtypes of urothelial cancer (HS-UC) are lacking. Our objective was to compare survival outcomes of pure urothelial carcinoma (PUC) to HS-UC after RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study of 864 patients with MIBC who underwent curative-intent RT to the bladder for MIBC (clinical T2-T4aN0-2M0) between 2001 and 2018 was conducted. Regression models were used to test the association between HS-UC and complete response (CR) and survival outcomes after RT. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients (14%) had HS-UC. Seventy-five (61%) had HS-UC with squamous and/or glandular differentiation. A CR was confirmed in 69% of patients with PUC and 63% with HS-UC. There were 207 (28%) and 31 (25%) patients who died of metastatic bladder cancer in the PUC and HS-UC groups, respectively. There were 361 (49%) and 58 (48%) patients who died of any cause in the PUC and HS-UC groups, respectively. Survival outcomes were not statistically different between the groups. The HS-UC status was not associated with survival outcomes in multivariable Cox regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, HS-UC responded to RT with no significant difference in CR and survival outcomes compared to PUC. The presence of HS-UC in MIBC does not seem to confer resistance to RT, and patients should not be withheld from bladder preservation therapy options. Due to low numbers, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn for particular histologic subtypes.

Benefit of Neoadjuvant Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy for Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation-based Therapy in a Real-world Setting: An Inverse Probability Treatment Weighted Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) improves survival for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treated with radical cystectomy. Studies on the potential benefit of NAC before radiation-based therapy (RT) are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of NAC on patients with MIBC treated with curative-intent RT in a real-world setting. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort consisted of 785 patients with MIBC (cT2-4aN0-2M0) who underwent RT at academic centers across Canada. Patients were classified into two treatment groups based on the administration of NAC before RT (NAC vs no NAC). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) with absolute standardized differences (ASDs) was used to balance covariates across treatment groups. The impact of NAC on complete response, overall, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after RT in the weighted cohort was analyzed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After applying the exclusion criteria, 586 patients were included; 102 (17%) received NAC before RT. Patients in the NAC subgroup were younger (mean age 65 vs 77 yr; ASD 1.20); more likely to have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 (87% vs 78%; ASD 0.28), lymphovascular invasion (32% vs 20%; ASD 0.27), higher cT stage (cT3-4 in 29% vs 20%; ASD 0.21), and higher cN stage (cN1-2 in 32% vs 4%; ASD 0.81); and more commonly treated with concurrent chemotherapy (79% vs 67%; ASD 0.28). After IPTW, NAC versus no NAC cohorts were well balanced (ASD <0.20) for all included covariates. NAC was significantly associated with improved CSS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14-0.56; p < 0.001) and overall survival (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.38-0.84; p = 0.005). This study was limited by potential occult imbalances across treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: If tolerated, NAC might be associated with improved survival and should be considered for eligible patients with MIBC planning to undergo bladder preservation with RT. Prospective trials are warranted. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy might be associated with improved survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who elect for curative-intent radiation-based therapy.

A systematic review of postoperative outcomes of kidney stone surgery and meta-analysis of outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in individuals with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcomes of surgical treatment for nephrolithiasis in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: We systematically reviewed the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science databases for studies examining outcomes of kidney stone procedures in individuals with SCI. Our primary outcomes were stone-free rate (SFR) and complications as categorized by Clavien-Dindo classification. A meta-analysis of comparative studies was performed to assess differences in SFR and complication rate between individuals with and without SCI following PCNL. RESULTS: A total of 27 retrospective and observational articles were included. Interventions for kidney stones included PCNL, shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), and ureteroscopy. Pooled SFR in individuals with SCI was 54%, for SWL, 74% for PCNL, and 36% for ureteroscopy. Meta-analyses found that there was higher rate of grades I (OR 9.54; 95% CI, 3.06 to 29.79), II (OR 3.38; 95% CI, 1.85 to 6.18), and III-V (OR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.35 to 4.19) complications in individuals with SCI compared to non-SCI individuals following PCNL. The rate of infectious complications was also higher in individuals with SCI (OR 6.15; 95% CI, 1.86 to 20.39). However, there was no difference in SFR (OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.15 to 2.64) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with SCI are at higher risk of minor, major, and infectious complications following PCNL compared to non-SCI individuals. There was no significant difference between groups in SFR following PCNL, suggesting that PCNL is an effective surgery for kidney stones in individuals with SCI.

Radiation-based Therapy for Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Contemporary Outcomes Across Tertiary Centers.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) is an alternative to radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). OBJECTIVE: To analyze predictors of complete response (CR) and survival after RT for MIBC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a multicenter retrospective study of 864 patients with nonmetastatic MIBC who underwent curative-intent RT from 2002 to 2018. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Regression models were used to explore prognostic factors associated with CR, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The median patient age was 77 yr and median follow-up was 34 mo. Disease stage was cT2 in 675 patients (78%) and cN0 in 766 (89%). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was given to 147 patients (17%) and concurrent chemotherapy to 542 (63%). A CR was experienced by 592 patients (78%). cT3-4 stage (odds ratio [OR] 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.63; p < 0.001) and hydronephrosis (OR 0.50, 95% CI 034-0.74; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with lower CR. The 5-yr survival rates were 63% for CSS and 49% for OS. Higher cT stage (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.46-2.56; p < 0.001), carcinoma in situ (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.25-3.53; p = 0.005), hydronephrosis (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.79-3.10; p < 0.001), NAC use (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.95; p = 0.025), and whole-pelvis RT (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86; p = 0.002) were independently associated with CSS; advanced age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05; p = 0.001), worse performance status (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.34-2.22; p < 0.001), hydronephrosis (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17-1.91; p = 0.001), NAC use (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97; p = 0.033), whole-pelvis RT (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.51-0.80; p < 0.001), and being surgically unfit (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.80; p = 0.004) were associated with OS. The study is limited by the heterogeneity of different treatment protocols. CONCLUSIONS: RT for MIBC yields a CR in most patients who elect for curative-intent bladder preservation. The benefit of NAC and whole-pelvis RT require prospective trial validation. PATIENT SUMMARY: We investigated outcomes for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radiation therapy as an alternative to surgical removal of the bladder. The benefit of chemotherapy before radiotherapy and whole-pelvis radiation (bladder plus the pelvis lymph nodes) needs further study.

The impact of tranexamic acid on perioperative outcomes in urological surgeries A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent widely used in surgery to decrease bleeding and reduce the need for blood product transfusion. The role of TXA in urology is not well-summarized. We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting outcomes of TXA use in urological surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Two reviewers performed title and abstract screening, full-text review, and data collection. Primary outcomes included estimated blood loss (EBL), decrease in hemoglobin, decrease in hematocrit, and blood transfusion rates. Secondary outcomes included TXA administration characteristics, length of stay, operative time, and postoperative thromboembolic events. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies consisting of 3261 patients were included in the final analysis. These included 11 studies on percutaneous nephrolithotomy, 10 on transurethral resection of prostate, three on prostatectomy, and one on cystectomy. EBL, transfusion rate, hemoglobin drop, operative time, and length of stay were significantly improved with TXA administration. In addition, the use of TXA was not associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE ). The route, dosage, and timing of TXA administration varied considerably between included studies. CONCLUSIONS: TXA use may improve blood loss, transfusion rates, and perioperative parameters in urological procedures. In addition, there is no increased risk of VTE associated with TXA use in urological surgery; however, there is still a need to determine the most effective TXA administration route and dose. This review provides evidence-based data for decision-making in urological surgery.

First Canadian experience with same-day discharge after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of implementing a sameday discharge (SD ) protocol for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and pelvic lymph node dissection. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study including all consecutive eligible patients undergoing RARP in 2021 following initiation of SDD RARP protocol in April. Baseline characteristics were compared using t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and odds ratios (OR ) calculated using multiple logistic regression to assess for predictors of SD success. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients underwent RARP in 2021 following initiation of the SDD protocol. Fifty-seven patients were initiated on the SD pathway and 60 patients underwent surgery as an inpatient (IP-RARP). Of those on the SD pathway (SD-RARP), 33 (58%) were successfully discharged the same day of surgery, while 24 (42%) failed SD . Baseline demographics were well-balanced between cohorts. Case order, increased patient age, and distance travelled to the hospital were factors associated with selection of patients for the IP-RARP protocol. In total, 12 SD and 12 IP patients presented to the emergency department (p=1.0), and none within 24 hours of discharge. There were no hospital admissions in the SD cohort, with four readmissions in the IP cohort (p=0.1). Multiple logistic regression revealed that case order (first case) was the only predictive factor for SD success (OR 4.08, 95% confidence interval 1.59-11.62, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an SD pathway following RARP is feasible, with no increase in rates of complications, unscheduled visits, or readmissions.

Visceral adipose tissue loss and 24-hour urinary profile changes post-bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between obesity and nephrolithiasis is a well-documented phenomenon. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been proposed to be an accurate indicator of metabolic derangement. We present a study that investigates the relationship between computed tomography (CT) delineated VAT measurements and 24-hour urine (24 HU) profiles in the context of profound weight loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 86 patients with a history of nephrolithiasis who underwent bariatric surgery were reviewed. All patients had pre and postoperative 24 HU analysis and CT kidney and urinary bladder performed. CT-based fat delineation program, AnalyzePro, was used to measure VAT at levels L4-L5 (VAT 1) and L1-L2 (VAT2). Univariate and multivariate analysis was utilized to examine associations between VAT measurements and comorbidities, 24 HU values, and postoperative urinary changes. RESULTS: Preoperative VAT2 was correlated with preoperative serum creatinine and all 24 HU (R2: 0.23-0.43, p = < 0.001-0.030). Only VAT1 and VAT2 had relationships with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (R2: 0.25-0.30, p = 0.004-0.015). The percent change in VAT1 and VAT2 was a significant predictor of change in 24 HU uric acid (respectively, R2: 0.14, beta: -0.03, p = 0.002 and R2: 0.13, beta: -0.03, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This study found VAT to have strong correlations with urinary outcomes in obese patients, especially in the excretion of uric acid. These findings support a potential use of CT delineated measurements of fat as a surrogate measure for urinary metabolites, and may be used as a marker for patient counseling in stone prevention.

Extraperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aim to evaluate the differences in peri-operative characteristics, surgical complications, and oncological and functional control between the extraperitoneal RARP (EP-RARP) and transperitoneal RARP (TP-RARP). A comprehensive database search was performed up to March 2021 for eligible studies comparing outcomes between EP-RARP versus TP-RARP. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO. A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was performed to control for heterogeneity and risk of bias. A total of 16 studies were included with 3897 patients, including 2201 (56.5%) EP-RARPs and 1696 (43.5%) TP-RARPs. When compared to TP-RARP, EP-RARP offers faster operative time (MD - 14.4 min; 95% CI - 26.3, - 2.3), decreased length of post-operative stay (MD - 0.9 days, 95% CI - 1.3, - 0.4), and decreased rates of post-operative ileus (RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1, 0.7) and inguinal hernia formation (RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1, 0.5). There were no significant differences in total complications, estimated blood loss, positive surgical margins, or continence at 6 months. In this review, EP-RARP delivered similar oncological and functional outcomes, while also offering faster operative time, decreased length of post-operative stay, and decreased rates of post-operative ileus and inguinal hernia formation when compared to TP-RARP. These findings provide evidence-based data for surgical approach optimization and prompts future research to examine whether these findings hold true with recent advances in single-port RARP and outpatient RARP.

Bariatric Surgery in Patients with a History of Nephrolithiasis: 24-h Urine Profiles and Radiographic Changes After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the differences in 24-h urine profiles, radiographic imaging, and stone events post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy in patients with a history of nephrolithiasis. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 102 patients with a history of nephrolithiasis who then underwent bariatric surgery at our tertiary academic center. Computed tomography imaging and 24-h urine profile values were performed pre-operatively and at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 42 had sleeve gastrectomy. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group had significant increases in oxalate and decreases in citrate (p = 0.009 and 0.003, respectively), while the sleeve gastrectomy group had decreases in oxalate and stable citrate (p = 0.013 and 0.906, respectively). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was the only significant predictor of post-operative hyperoxaluria (OR 7.1 [95% CI 2.3-21.3], p = 0.001). Radiographically, 38.3% of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group and 26.2% of the sleeve gastrectomy group had an increase in stone burden, and post-operative stone procedure rate was 10.0% and 7.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: At 1-year post-bariatric surgery, patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had exacerbated lithogenic urinary profiles, while those in sleeve gastrectomy patients improved. Although not statistically significant, stone burden increase and stone procedure rate were higher post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and will likely worsen at a longer follow-up due to the group's lithogenic 24-h urine profiles. These findings support pre-bariatric counseling and urinary monitoring in patients with a history of kidney stones who undergo RYGB, with a multi-disciplinary approach between urologists and general surgeons.

Heterotopic Ossification following Total Elbow Arthroplasty in a Patient with Parkinson's Disease: Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction. Heterotopic ossification (HO) usually develops following surgery or trauma. Risk factors for HO following elbow fractures include delay to surgery (>7 days), floating fractures, and elbow subluxation. Systemic risk factors for HO include male sex; concurrent cranial, neurological, or abdominal injury; high-energy trauma; previous development of HO; and contralateral fracture. To date, no studies have reported on Parkinson's disease (PD) as a risk factor for the development of HO. Case Presentation. A 68-year-old female with PD (treated with levodopa-carbidopa) sustained a right closed (OTA type A3) distal humerus fracture and was treated with a total elbow arthroplasty. Postoperatively, development of significant near-ankylosing HO was observed and contributed to significant restriction of elbow motion with activities of daily living. After HO maturation, the osseous growth was excised, and the area irradiated. The patient regained excellent elbow motion with no recurrence of HO. Discussion. A literature review revealed six cases of HO development in PD patients following arthroplasty. Patients with PD have higher serum concentrations of interleukins (IL) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α. These factors stimulate BMP-2 production which may promote osteogenesis. Levodopa-carbidopa may also influence HO through stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1. Conclusion. Parkinsonism may promote heterotopic bone growth through the release of osteoinductive factors. HO development may also be mediated by levodopa-carbidopa therapy. Future research should highlight the link between HO and PD and identify if prophylaxis is warranted in PD patients undergoing arthroplasty.