Cost-analysis of robot-assisted radical cystectomy in Europe: A cross-country comparison.

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) is surging worldwide. Aim of the study was to perform a multicentric cost-analysis of RARC by comparing the gross cost of the intervention across hospitals in four different European countries. METHODS: Patients who underwent RARC + ICUD were recruited from eleven European centers in four European countries (Belgium, France, Netherlands, and UK) between 2015 and 2020. Costs were divided into six parts: cost for hospital stay, cost for ICU stay, cost for surgical theater occupation, cost for transfusion, cost for robotic instruments, and cost for stapling instruments. These costs were individually assessed for each patient. RESULTS: A total of 490 patients were included. Median operative time was 300(270-360) minutes and median hospital length-of-stay was 11(8-15) days. The average total cost of RARC was 14.794€ (95%CI 14.300-15.200€). A significant difference was found for the total cost, as well as the various subcosts abovementioned, between the four included countries. Different sets and types of robotic instruments were used by each center, leading to a difference in cost of robotic instrumentation. Nearly 84% of costs of RARC were due to hospital stay (42%), ICU stay (3%) and operative time (39%), while 16% of costs were due to robotic (8%) and stapling (8%) instruments. CONCLUSION: Costs and subcosts of RARC + ICUD vary significantly across European countries and are mainly dependent of hospital length-of-stay and operative time rather than robotic instrumentation. Decreasing length-of-stay and reducing operative time could help to decrease the cost of RARC and make it more widely accessible.

Enhancing Recovery After Major Bladder Cancer Surgery: Comprehensive Review and Assessment of Application of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Guidelines.

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and urinary diversion is the standard treatment for patients diagnosed with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal perioperative care pathway comprising recommendations on different items with variable evidence that are aimed at improving outcomes. This review provides an overview of the application of specific elements of the ERAS guidelines. Forty-eight series were identified through our literature search. The studies reported a median of 16 out of the 22 ERAS steps (72.7%). The elements were applied in 79.3% of cases (interquartile range 61.1-85%) if mentioned in the studies, decreasing to 73.5% in the postoperative period. PATIENT SUMMARY: Guidelines on enhanced recovery after surgery recommend steps to follow and cover all areas of the patient's journey through the surgical process. We looked at the application of the elements for patients with bladder cancer. We found inconsistent reporting and use.

Validated Prospective Assessment of Quality of Life After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: Beyond Continence and Erections.

Continence and erectile function represent major concerns after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), although the analysis of only these results may underestimate the impact of surgery on quality of life (QoL). The aim of the study is to prospectively analyze QoL after RALP according to the validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire prostate cancer-specific module (EORTC-QLQ-PR25) and C30 and explore risk factors for the deterioration of QoL after surgery. A total of 584 patients undergoing RALP were prospectively enrolled. QoL was assessed with the validated EORTC-QLQ-PR25 and C30. Differences across QoL items were assessed via Wilcoxon rank-sum test and associations between risk factors and QoL scores were tested via univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. All items of the PR25 questionnaire showed a significant deterioration at 1 month after RALP and began to normalize 3 months after surgery. At 24 months follow-up, urinary, bowel, and sexual activity scores were not significantly different from preoperative scores, while incontinence aid, treatment-related symptoms, and sexual functioning remained significantly worse. Preoperative sexual activity was more important in determining 3-month sexual outcomes than preoperative 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) or nerve-sparing approach. An overall return to preoperative QoL was registered at 3 months after RALP in global and physical QoL, and most important, global, physical, social, and role-functioning QoL scores were improved at 12 and 24 months compared to preoperative scores. In this prospective study, detailed data on QoL are reported via the EORTC-PR25 and C30 questionnaires. While urinary, bowel, and sexual activity scores return to baseline values 24 months after surgery, incontinence aid, treatment-related symptoms, and sexual functioning may remain significantly deteriorated. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.

Risk factor assessment in high-risk, bacillus Calmette-Guérin-treated, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors associated with recurrence, progression and survival in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and validate the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment (CUETO) scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all BCG-treated NMIBC patients from 1998 to 2012. Multiple variables were tested as risk factors for recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival (PFS). Variables included age, sex, grade, stage, tumor size, number of tumors, carcinoma in situ (CIS), recurrence status, BCG strain used, smoking status, use of re-staging transurethral resection and use of single immediate postoperative instillation. We also tested the accuracy of EORTC and CUETO scores in predicting recurrence and progression. RESULTS: Overall, 123 patients were analyzed. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 49 months. The 5-year overall survival, cancer-specific survival, recurrence-free survival and PFS were 75.0%, 89.3%, 59.4% and 79.2%, respectively. On univariate analysis, multiple tumors (≥3), concomitant CIS and smoking influenced recurrence. Regarding progression, multiple tumors, concomitant CIS and Connaught strain (vs Tice) negatively influenced PFS on univariate and multivariate analyses were independent prognostic factors. CUETO scores were accurate, with a slight overestimation, while EORTC score was not predictive of recurrence or progression. CONCLUSION: In this study, CIS and tumor multiplicity were unfavorable predictors of recurrence and progression in patients with NMIBC receiving BCG. CUETO model was superior to EORTC risk tables in predicting recurrence and progression in our BCG-treated patient population. Nonetheless, both scores overestimated recurrence and progression rates. Prospective trials are needed to validate our findings.