Retroperitoneal approach for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: technique and early outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to present early outcomes of our series of retroperitoneal-RAPN (Robot Assisted Partial Nephrectomy). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2010 until December 2015, we performed 81 RAPN procedures (44 at left kidney and 37 at right). Average size was 3cm (1-9). Average PADUA score 7.1 (5-10). Average surgical time (overall and only robot time), ischemia time, blood loss, pathological stage, complications and hospital stay have been recorded. RESULTS: All of the cases were completed successfully without any operative complication or surgical conversion. Average surgical time was 177 minutes (75-340). Operative time was 145 minutes (80-300), overall blood loss was 142cc (60-310cc). In 30 cases the pedicle was late clamped with an average ischemia time of 4 minutes (2-7). None of the patient had positive surgical margins at definitive histology (49pT1a, 12pT1b, 3pT2a, 2pT3a). Hospital stay was 3 days (2-7). CONCLUSIONS: The retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy approach is safe and allows treatment of even quite complex tumors. It also combines the already well known advantages guaranteed by the da Vinci® robotic surgical system, with the advantages of the retroperitoneoscopic approach.

Birth of 16 healthy children after ICSI in cases of nonmosaic Klinefelter syndrome.

STUDY QUESTION: Does the health status of infants fathered by nonmosaic Klinefelter syndrome (KS) patients whose partners underwent ICSI with sperm obtained from testicular dissection reveal any genetic risk for the offspring?. SUMMARY ANSWER: KS patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE) are capable of conceiving healthy children. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Paternity has been successfully achieved in nonmosaic KS patients (47,XXY karyotype) by ICSI using either ejaculated or testicular spermatozoa. A crucial concern is the potential transmission of genetic abnormalities to the offspring. Some studies reported that 47,XXY spermatogonia are capable of completing spermatogenesis leading to the production of mature spermatozoa with increased aneuploidies. Other authors showed that where focal spermatogenesis is present in nonmosaic KS males, it originates from euploid germ cells and, therefore, produces normal mature gametes. In support of this finding, at present, the great majority of children born from nonmosaic KS patients are chromosomally normal. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: From April 2004 to June 2010, 38 azoospermic patients with nonmosaic KS were examined for the presence of testicular spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were retrieved from 15 patients and 26 ICSI cycles were done (16 with cryopreserved sperm). There were 15 pregnancies leading to the birth of 16 babies who were karyotyped at amniocentesis and after birth. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Participants were recruited from couples attending the European Hospital, Rome, and Clinica MAR&Gen, Granada, for infertility treatment. Both the European Hospital and Clinica MAR&Gen are private clinics. Testicular tissue was extracted with TESE or micro-TESE. After retrieval, fresh sperm was used for ICSI or it was cryopreserved for future use. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Spermatozoa were retrieved from 15 patients (14 TESE and 1 micro-TESE) out of 38 (39.5%). A total of 26 ICSI cycles were performed: 10 with fresh and 16 with cryopreserved-thawed sperm. Mean ages (y) of patients with positive and negative sperm retrieval were, respectively, 34.8 ± 1.72 and 35.6 ± 4.08 (NS, nonsignificant). Comparing ICSI cycles performed with fresh sperm (n = 10) to those performed with frozen-thawed sperm (n = 16): Fertilization rates per injected oocyte were 53.0% (44 of 83) and 47.8% (32 of 67), respectively (NS). The cleavage rate per injected oocyte was 90.6% (29 of 32) versus 68.2% (30 of 44); P = 0.026. Clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the fresh and the frozen-thawed sperm group: clinical pregnancy rates were 7 of 10 (70.0%) and 8 of 16 (50.0%); implanted embryos (per transferred embryo) were 8 of 23 (34.8%) and 8 of 29 (27.6%); delivery rates were 6 of 10 (60.0%) and 5 of 16 (31.3%). Sixteen babies were born, all of them are healthy with a normal karyotype, eight from the fresh sperm group and eight from the frozen-thawed sperm group. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONS: The small numbers available for study mean that only common problems can be excluded. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study provides further reassurance that KS men can father healthy children and that pre-implantation genetic diagnosis on embryos conceived with their sperm is not strongly indicated. However, until conclusive information is available, such couples should be offered extensive genetic counseling. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No external funding was obtained for the present study. None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

Open partial nephrectomy with no clamping of the pedicule: a good surgical option in treatment of renal cancer.

AIM: The aim of the present work was to describe authors' surgical experience using the partial nephrectomy technique without intraoperatory pedicle clamping for masses even up to 4 cm of size. METHODS: The study enrolled 96 patients with an average age of 59.7 years, who underwent partial nephrectomy without pedicle clamping. The average dimensions of the masses treated were 3.7x3x3.8. In preoperative and in postoperative time creatinine, hemoglobine, hematocrit and platelets were monitored. The follow-up was of 1-3-6 months. At the third month postoperatively a renal US scan was performed, together with a control CT scan and at the sixth month of follow-up the patients underwent also a control Tc99/DMSA renal scintigraphy in back, front, oblique and right posterior oblique left rear projections. RESULTS: Surgery and anesthesia time have been respectively of 1 h 51 min e 2 h 30 min. In the postoperative time the average values were: creatinine 1.46 ng/mL (±0.45), hemoglobin: 11.25 g/dL (±1.6), hematocrit: 36.4 % (±3), platelets: 205 x 103 (±45 x 103). At follow-up at 1-3-6 months the average values were: creatinine 1.16 ng/dL (±0.66), hemoglobin 14.13 g/dL (±0.13), hematocrit 42.43% (±1.03), platelets 204 x 103 U/L (±1.66 x103). After six months the renal function demonstrated intraparenchymal homogeneous distribution of the drug in all the patients, with a 7% of difference of relative uptake by the operated kidney than the healthy controlateral one. CONCLUSION: The partial nephrectomy without intraoperative pedicle clamping can be a good therapeutic option for the treatment of kidney cancer for masses even up to 4 cm of size. The follow-up should be longer to assess oncological results.

Retroperitoneal approach for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: technique and early outcomes

ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of our study is to present early outcomes of our series of retroperitoneal-RAPN (Robot Assisted Partial Nephrectomy). Materials and methods From September 2010 until December 2015, we performed 81 RAPN procedures (44 at left kidney and 37 at right). Average size was 3cm (1-9). Average PADUA score 7.1 (5-10). Average surgical time (overall and only robot time), ischemia time, blood loss, pathological stage, complications and hospital stay have been recorded. Results All of the cases were completed successfully without any operative complication or surgical conversion. Average surgical time was 177 minutes (75-340). Operative time was 145 minutes (80-300), overall blood loss was 142cc (60-310cc). In 30 cases the pedicle was late clamped with an average ischemia time of 4 minutes (2-7). None of the patient had positive surgical margins at definitive histology (49pT1a, 12pT1b, 3pT2a, 2pT3a). Hospital stay was 3 days (2-7). Conclusions The retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy approach is safe and allows treatment of even quite complex tumors. It also combines the already well known advantages guaranteed by the da Vinci® robotic surgical system, with the advantages of the retroperitoneoscopic approach.