Salvage Retzius sparing robotic assisted radical prostatectomy: the first brazilian experience

ABSTRACT Introduction: Salvage Radical Prostatectomy after radiation therapy is challenging and associated with high rates of serious complications (1, 2). The novel Retzius-Sparing RARP (RS-RARP) approach has shown excellent continence outcomes (3, 4). Purpose: To describe step-by-step our Salvage Retzius-Sparing RARP (sRS-RARP) operative technique and report feasibility, safety and the preliminary oncological and continence outcomes in the post-radiation scenario. Materials and Methods: Twelve males presenting local prostate cancer recurrence after radiotherapy that underwent sRS-RARP were included. All patients performed preoperative multiparametric MRI and PSMA-PET. Surgical technique: 7cm peritoneum opening at Douglas pouch, Recto-prostatic space development, Seminal vesicles and vas deferens isolation and section, Extra-fascial dissection through peri-prostatic fat, Neurovascular bundle control, Bladder neck total preservation and opening, Anterior dissection at Santorini plexus plane, Apex dissection with urethra preservation and section, Prostate release, Vesicouretral modified Van Velthoveen anastomosis, Rocco Stitch, Oncological and continence outcomes reported with minimum 1-year follow-up. Results: Ten patients had previously received external beam radiation (EBR) whereas two received previous brachytherapy plus EBR. At 1, 3 and 12 months after surgery, 25%, 75% and 91.6% of the men used one safety pad or less, respectively. No major complications or blood transfusions were reported. Final pathology reported pT2b 41.6%, pT2c 33.3% and pT3a 25%, positive surgical margins 25%, positive lymph nodes were not found, biochemical recurrence 16.6%. Conclusion: Salvage Retzius-Sparing Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy approach appears to be technically feasible and oncologically safe with potential to provide better continence outcomes.

Robotic parastomal hernia repair

ABSTRACT Introduction and Objective: Annually, more than one hundred thousand new stomas are created in the United States and near 30-50% of those will develop parastomal hernia (1). Occasionally parastomal hernias may result in life threatening complications such as bowel obstruction or strangulation requiring urgent surgical intervention (2). The minimally invasive surgery for these hernias are preferred, specially when the primary case was either laparoscopic or robot-assisted. Our objective is to demonstrate a step-by-step robotic approach with and without mesh placement and their outcomes in two different scenarios: elective and emergency. Materials and Methods: We present two cases, a 56-year-old male with three years prior robot-assisted radical cystectomy with ileal conduit and a 82-year-old male with five year post operation of laparoscopic radical cystectomy with bilateral ureterostomies. Both of them had parastomal hernia, the first case was an urgency due to bowel obstruction while the second case was an elective procedure. Using three portals, we choose the primary repair for the first case and placement of a biological mesh within the keyhole technique (3) for the second one. Results: In the first case we had an operative time of 110min, total blood loss of 40cc and for the second case an operative time of 140min with total blood loss of 20cc. Both patients were discharged within 24h and had a follow-up of 2 years with no recurrence. Conclusions: The capability for complex sutures and dissection of intracorporeal structures makes the robotic platform a powerful ally (4) and we believe in its superiority over conventional laparoscopy. Although further studies are required, our initial series suggests that the robotic parastomal hernia repair is feasible and reproducible, with or without mesh placement and could be demonstrated its use for either elective or emergency situations.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without clamping the renal pedicle.

INTRODUCTION: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for about 2-3% of all malignancies in adults and 90-95% of renal neoplasms. Curative treatment is eminently surgical, the first reports describing the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) date from the beginning of the 1990s since then LPN has been consolidated as a safe and reproducible procedure. In order to improve the results of the LPN in relation to the postoperative renal function, while retaining the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, some surgeons began to implement the technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without renal pedicle clamping (LPNWRPC) in selected cases. OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative, oncological and functional results of patients submitted to LPN with renal pedicle clamping (LPNRPC) and LPNWRPC in the hospitals linked to our institution. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All patients' charts were submitted to LPN from January 2000 to January 2016. Data were collected and analyzed retrospectively, patients were divided into two groups: LPNRPC (RPC group) and LPNWRPC (WRPC group). RESULTS: Data from 177 patients submitted to LPN for renal neoplasms were collected, 88 patients (49.7%) in the RPC group and 89 (50.3%) in the WRPC group. Surgical margins were positive in 2.56% of patients in the RPC group and 3.70% in the WRPC group. There was no significant difference despite the technique applied. Clavien 3 or 4 postoperative complications occurred in five cases (5.68%) in the RPC group and three cases in the WRPC group (3.7%), with no significant difference between the groups. Patients in the RPC group developed higher levels of creatinine in the postoperative period (creatinine 1.01 ± 0.16 preoperative vs. 1.12 ± 0.18 postoperatively, p = 0.031) and worsened filtration rate (EGFR) (preoperative 79.18 ± 16.28 × 74.43 ± 21.06 post-operative, p = 0.017). DISCUSSION: Our casuistry agrees with the results of previous studies with regard to major bleeding in patients submitted to LPNWRPC when compared to those submitted to LPNWRPC. However, although bleeding and surgical time were higher in the WRPC group, there was no impact on patients' postoperative evolution regarding both the need for transfusion of blood products and serious complications. In the high-complexity tumors, the mean warm ischemia time (WIT) in the RPC group was higher, this was probably responsible for a better response in the WRPC group evolving patients with lower creatinine levels and better postoperative glomerular filtration rates. CONCLUSION: LPNWRPC has been shown to be equally effective, safe, feasible, with low blood transfusion rates and postoperative complications comparable to LPNRPC, and has similar oncological results. Main impact factor in long-term renal dysfunction is WIT, which can be completely eliminated with the use of LPNWRPC.

A safe teaching protocol of LRP (Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy)

ABSTRACT Purpose The LRP has a steep learning curve to obtain proficiency during which patient safety may be compromised. We present an adapted modular training system which purpose to optimize the learning curve and perform a safe surgery. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of the LRP safe learning protocol applied during a fellowship program over eight years (2008-2015). The surgery was divided in 12 steps and 5 levels of difficulty. A maximum time interval was stipulated in 240 minutes. After an adaptation, the fellows had 120 minutes to perform all the corresponding modules to its accumulated skill. The participants gradually and safely pass through the steps and difficulty levels. Surgeries performed by fellows were analyzed as a single group and compared to a prior series performed by tutor. Results In eight years, 250 LRP were performed (25 per apprentice) during fellowship program and 150 procedures after completion. The baseline characteristics were comparable. Most cases operated were of intermediate risk. Mean operative time was longer in the fellow group when compared to the tutor (150 min). Mean estimated blood loss were similar among the groups. Functional and oncological outcomes were better in the Tutor's group. No conversion to open surgery was performed. Conclusions The LRP safe learning protocol proved to be an effective method to optimize the learning curve and perform safe surgery. However, the tutor's functional and oncological results were better, showing that this is a procedure with a steep learning curve and proficiency demands more than 25 cases.

A Safe teaching protocol of LRP (laparoscopic radical prostatectomy).

PURPOSE: The LRP has a steep learning curve to obtain proficiency during which patient safety may be compromised. We present an adapted modular training system which purpose to optimize the learning curve and perform a safe surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the LRP safe learning protocol applied during a fellowship program over eight years (2008-2015). The surgery was divided in 12 steps and 5 levels of difficulty. A maximum time interval was stipulated in 240 minutes. After an adaptation, the fellows had 120 minutes to perform all the corresponding modules to its accumulated skill. The participants gradually and safely pass through the steps and difficulty levels. Surgeries performed by fellows were analyzed as a single group and compared to a prior series performed by tutor. RESULTS: In eight years, 250 LRP were performed (25 per apprentice) during fellowship program and 150 procedures after completion. The baseline characteristics were comparable. Most cases operated were of intermediate risk. Mean operative time was longer in the fellow group when compared to the tutor (150 min). Mean estimated blood loss were similar among the groups. Functional and oncological outcomes were better in the Tutor´s group. No conversion to open surgery was performed. CONCLUSIONS: The LRP safe learning protocol proved to be an effective method to optimize the learning curve and perform safe surgery. However, the tutor's functional and oncological results were better, showing that this is a procedure with a steep learning curve and proficiency demands more than 25 cases.

Retzus-sparing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a step-by-step technique description of this first brazilian experience.

INTRODUCTION: Retzus-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP) is a newly approach that preserve the Retzus structures and provide better recovery of continence and erectile function. In Brazil, this approach has not yet been pre¬viously reported. OBJECTIVE: Our goal is to describe Step-by-Step the Retzus-sparing RARP surgical technique and report our first Brazilian experience. METHODS: We present a case of a 60-year-old white man with low risk prostate cancer. Surgical materials were four arms Da Vinci robotic platform system, six transperitoneal portals, two prolene wires and Polymer Clips. This surgical tech¬nique was step-by-step described according to Galfano et al. One additional step was added as a modification of Galfano et al. Primary technique description: The closure of the Denovellier fascia. RESULTS: We have operated one patient with this technique. The operative time was 180minutes, console time was135 min, the blood loss was 150ml, none perioperative or postoperative complications was found, hospital stay of 01 day. The anatomopathological classification revealed a pT2aN0M0 specimen with free surgical margins. The patient achieved continence immediately after bladder stent retrieval. Full erection reported after 30 days of surgery. CONCLUSION: Retzus-sparing RARP approach is feasible and reproducible. However, further comparative studies are neces¬sary to demonstrate potential benefits in continence and sexual outcomes over the standard approaches.

A novel proteasome inhibitor acting in mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress and ROS production.

In cancer-treatment, potentially therapeutic drugs trigger their effects through apoptotic mechanisms. Generally, cell response is manifested by Bcl-2 family protein regulation, the impairment of mitochondrial functions, and ROS production. Notwithstanding, several drugs operate through proteasome inhibition, which, by inducing the accumulation and aggregation of misfolded or unfolded proteins, can lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Accordingly, it was shown that Amblyomin-X, a Kunitz-type inhibitor identified in the transcriptome of the Amblyomma cajennense tick by ESTs sequence analysis of a cDNA library, obtained in recombinant protein form, induces apoptosis in murine renal adenocarcinoma (RENCA) cells by: inducing imbalance between pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, dysfunction/mitochondrial damage, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase cascade activation, and proteasome inhibition, all ER-stress inductive. Moreover, there was no manifest action on normal mouse-fibroblast cells (NHI3T3), suggesting an Amblyomin-X tumor-cell selectivity. Taken together, these evidences indicate that Amblyomin-X could be a promising candidate for cancer therapy.