Could thymoglobulin increase hemorrhagic risk in the perioperative transplantation period of sensitized kidney recipients?

OBJECTIVE: It has been described that thymoglobulin could increase the risk of infections and malignancies, in comparison to basiliximab. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are also more common within the first days after transplantation among thymoglobulin patients. Our objective was to analyze bleeding complications in this subset of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bleeding complications were evaluated among 515 renal transplants carried out at our institution between 2012 and 2018. We compared patients treated with thymoglobulin (Group 1, N=91) with those treated with basiliximab (Group 2, N=424). RESULTS: We found differences in platelet decrease: 95,142.2 (55,339.6) in Group 1 and 52,364.3 (69,116.6) in Group 2 (P=0.001), number of patients with severe thrombocytopenia (<75,000/mm3) (20.8% vs. 3.7%, P=0.001), number of blood units transfused (3.25 (0.572) vs. 2.2 (0.191, P=0.028) and percentage of patients that required surgery due to bleeding (18.2% vs. 7.7%, P=0.046). In a multiple lineal regression multivariable analysis (dependent variable was number of blood units transfused), only age [OR 0.037, 95% CI (0.003-0.070)] and type of immunosuppression [OR 1.592, 95% CI (1.38-2.84)] showed statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The use of thymoglobulin in the perioperative transplantation period could increase bleeding complications. In our series, in the group of patients with thymoglobulin, severe thrombocytopenia was 6 times more frequent, and active bleeding that required surgery was also 2.5 times more frequent. One way to continue with the use of this immunosuppression agent, might be to adjust the dose instead of discontinuing it. The use of thymoglobulin should be a factor to consider in the postoperative period of these patients.

Concomitant intraductal carcinoma of the prostate and response to hormonal therapy in metastatic prostate carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Most prostate cancers are classified as acinar adenocarcinoma. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is a distinct histologic entity that is believed to represent retrograde spread of invasive acinar adenocarcinoma into prostatic ducts and acini. We have analyzed the impact of IDC-P in hormonal naïve and castration resistant metastatic prostate cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 118 metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients who were initially diagnosed with distant metastases from May 2010 to September 2018. Group 1 patients included 81 metastatic PCa patients with acinar adenocarcinoma and Group 2 included 37 metastatic PCa patients with IDC-P. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 76 years (IQR 73.4-78.7) in group 1 and 74 years (68.5-80.6) in group 2. Mean PSA at diagnosis was 619 ng/mL (IQR 85-1113) and 868 ng/mL (IQR 186-1922), respectively. Time to castration resistance was 24.7 months (IQR 16.7-32.7) in group 1 and 10.2 months (IQR 4.2-16.2) in group 2 (P = .007). Time to progression in CPRC patients was: 10.6 months (IQR 5.6-15.6) and at 6.2 months (3.2-9.2), respectively (P = .05). Overall survival was 57.9 months in group 1(CI 95% 56.4-59.5) and 38 months (CI 95% 19.9-48.06) in group 2 (P = .001). In the multivariate analysis, adenocarcinoma subtype was statistically significant P .014, CI 95% (HR 0.058, 0.006-0.56) CONCLUSIONS: IDC-P seems to be a subtype of prostate cancer that is associated with a shorter response to hormonal treatment when compared to acinar adenocarcinoma in metastatic patients. New drugs in CRPC scenario as abiraterone and enzalutamide also obtained less response in IDC-P patients. Once IDC-P is identified, clinicians could extrapolate the relative poor response to hormonal therapy. Consequently, follow-up of these patients in this scenario should be more strict.

Retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic cryotherapy for small renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive ablative technique that is considered an alternative to conventional surgery for preserving renal function in small renal tumors and in selected cases. We present our results from laparoscopic renal cryotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed 17 renal tumors diagnosed in 16 patients treated with cryotherapy. The patients' mean age was 66 years (43-80). The mean tumor size was 1.8cm (0.7-3.7cm). Cryotherapy with double-freeze cycle was performed laparoscopically in all cases (10 by transperitoneal approach and 7 by retroperitoneal approach). RESULTS: Perioperative biopsies were performed on all patients and were positive for malignancy in 10 cases (59%). The mean stay was 2.8 days. The mean operative time was 162 minutes. Only 1 case reverted to open surgery due to bleeding. One patient required a blood transfusion in the immediate postoperative period. The majority of complications were Clavien-Dindo grades I and II. Some 76.5% of the patients had no complications. After a mean follow-up of 31 months (6-102), 1 patient died from nontumor-related causes, and 12 patients (75%) still show no evidence of local recurrence or progression. One patient had tumor persistence and therefore underwent partial nephrectomy at 6 months. One patient had a metachronous recurrence in the same kidney at 36 months, and another patient had a recurrence at 23 months. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic renal cryotherapy is a safe and feasible technique and is a good alternative to surgery for selected renal tumors.

[Haemostasis control during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without parenchymal renorrhaphy: the VIVOSTAT(®) experience]. / Control de la hemostasia durante la nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica sin renorrafia parenquimatosa: la experiencia Vivostat(®).

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience using an autologous fibrin sealant prepared with the Vivostat system(®) to control haemostasis without any renal parenchymal reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed 45 laparoscopic partial nephrectomies using this haemostatic agent. The surgical steps were: colon mobilization, identification of ureter, renal vessels and renal tumor, renal artery control with Rummel tourniquet, tumor excision with harmonic scalpel, application of fibrin glue to the resection bed twice (before and after kidney reperfusion). Patients were evaluated for acute or delayed bleeding. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.9 years (33-80); mean tumor size was 2.5cm (1.5-4); mean operative time was 136.1min (90-180). Mean warm ischemia time was 19.2min (10-30). Mean blood loss was 97ml (50-300). Individual haemostatic stitches were performed before application of the sealant if acute bleeding was observed (14 cases). We did not achieve any case of postoperative bleeding from resection bed or renal failure. 1 patient required transfusion due to an abdominal wall haematoma. 65% were clear cell carcinoma, 10% were papillary carcinoma, 20% were oncocitoma. Free margin rate was 100%. Mean hospital stay was 4 days (2-6). Mean follow-up was 14 months (5-45). CONCLUSIONS: Excluding renorrhaphy during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is feasible and safe. Our initial experience with the vivostat system in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has been encouraging, but longer follow-up is needed to determine the real benefit of this surgical technique in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

[Management of adrenal mass: What urologists should know]. / Manejo de la masa suprarrenal: lo que el urólogo debe saber.

Adrenal incidentaloma's prevalence is rising because of the big volume of radiologic explorations that we daily do. No comprehensive guidelines have been published by professional societies to guide the evaluation of patients with adrenal incidentalomas. All adrenal masses should be inspected for malignancy or hypersecreting disorders. In our point of view, adrenal surgery should be performed by the urologist, because it's the medical speciality which knows the best this anatomical region. The objective of this review is to present the main points that the urologist may know in the management of adrenal masses. Together with the department of Endocrinology of our hospital, we describe the main studies to perform in front of adrenal mass diagnosis and the current therapeutical diagram utilized in our center.

[Surgical experience and results in transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy]. / Experiencia y resultados en la suprarrenalectomía laparoscópica transperitoneal.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is currently the gold standard in surgical management of adrenal pathology. OBJECTIVES: To analyze our results after 12 years of experience in this surgery and to compare with the main published series. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we describe retrospectively 100 adrenalectomies performed between 1997-2009. Analyzed variables: age, size, side, preoperative diagnosis, operative time, blood loss, reconversion, hospital stay and histopathologic report. We utilized Fisher test and chi square test to compare categoric data. We utilized t-Student test to compare means from independent groups with normal distribution. We considered statistical significance when p<0.05. RESULTS: Mean age was 53.1 years (+/-14.4). Mean size was 3,7 cm (+/-2.2). In 51% of cases it was the left side. Mean follow-up was 15 months (+/-11.9). Preoperative diagnosis was: functional mass (44%), pheocromocytome (17%), incedentaloma>4 cm (20%), metastasis (10%) and adrenal carcinoma (5%). Mean operative time was 145.1 min (+/-55.6). Mean hematocrite loss was 6.26 points (+/-3.3). Reconversion rate was 9.6%. 2 cases of prolonged postoperative ileus. 2 patients required transfusion. 1 patient death because of an descompensation of liver cirrhosis. 80% of complications were on right side. Mean hospital stay was 6 days (+/-5.6). In last 30 procedures we realized statistical differences with first group, in terms of operative time (119.1 min vs 171.2 min) and hospital stay (4.1 days vs 6.1) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a surgical feasible and safe procedure in urological groups with previous laparoscopic experience. Our results are similar with the published series and confirm the efficacy, security and reproducibility of this technique.

[Brachyterapy in localized prostate cancer]. / Braquiterapia en el cáncer de próstata localizado.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Considering the high frequency of localized prostate cancer in stages, at the moment there are minimally invasive techniques that compete with the classic surgery. One of them is the Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy with permanent implants of 1125 seeds. The objective of the present study is to expose our experience from the year 1998, when we made the first treatment, until today. The results and the morbidity of the patients over a 7 and a half years period are analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 800 patients were treated with LDR brachytherapy, with average age of 68 years and range between 48 and 83 years. In all patients the 1125 seeds were used with Rapid-Strand and peripheral load by means of intraoperative planning. RESULTS: The urinary rate of complications was of 3% of AUR, and 0.2% of urinary incontinence. The morbidity on the digestive apparatus was of a 12% intermittent bleeding, 2% of proctitis, and a 0.3% of rectal fistulas.

[Presentation of a new case of primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra and its surgical management]. / Presentación de un nuevo caso de adenocarcinoma de células claras uretral y su manejo quirúrgico.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of a primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra and its surgical management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the clinical, diagnosis, treatment and development of this kind of tumor. Review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: It is an unusual type of cancer associated with poor prognosis. Currently the construction of a continent urinary diversion using the Mitrofanoff principle has many indications as our case. Laparoscopic radical cystectomy can be done by experienced groups without adding much more technical difficulties; there are no long-term oncological outcome data but we believe in some functional advantages.

[Bipolar versus monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate: peroperative analysis of the results]. / Resección transuretral de próstata bipolar vs monopolar: análisis peroperatorio de los resultados.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the differences in the postoperative period between bipolar and monopolar resection of the prostate in the endoscopic surgery of the benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: 45 patients were prospectively randomized. Twenty-one underwent monopolar resection (Storz Ch 26, 30 degrees) and 24 underwent bipolar resection (Olympus ch 26, 30 degrees). RESULTS: Mean age in the bipolar group was 69,5 years versus 67,3 in the monopolar group; mean flow before surgery (7,7 ml/s vs 7,2 ml/s); ecographic prostate volume (39,5 cc vs 42,7 cc); resection volume 13 g vs 12,6 g and mean resection time was 39,7 vs 42,5 min. Cut capacity was considered notable-excellent in 90% of the patients in the bipolar group vs 50% in the monopolar group (p=0,01); adherence of fragments were considered abundant or very abundant in 0% vs 60% (p=0,01); coagulation capacity was excellent-notable in 25% vs 75% (p=0,03). There were no significant differences on the days of catheterization (2,92 vs 3,1), continuous irrigation (1,79 vs 2,05), hospitalization (3,63 vs 3,67), hematocrite descent (3,48 vs 3,32) and plasmatic sodium (0,52 vs 1,16), neither on episodes of acute urine retention (only one patient in the monopolar group). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, TURP with SurgMaster resector in prostate smaller than 70 g offers better peroperative qualities for the surgeon (better cut capacity, less adherence of fragments) than the monopolar resection, with similar postoperative outcomes.

[Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma urinary bladder]. / Carcinoma linfoepitelioma-like puro primario de vejiga.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of a primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the urinary bladder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the clinical, diagnosis, treatment and development of this kind of tumor. Review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: It is an unusual type of bladder cancer that requires a carefully analyse from the pathologist and a confirmation by means of immunohistochemistry techniques. The focal form is associated with poor prognosis. Radical cystectomy is the gold standard. This kind of tumor has sensibility to chemo and radiotherapy, who can be used as adjuvant therapy.

[Renal hydatidic cyst simulating hypernephroma]. / Quiste hidatídico renal simulando hipernefroma.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of hydatid cyst of the kidney with a difficult radiographic diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the clinical, diagnosis and treatment of a complex renal mass and its histological confirmation after surgery. Review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: kidney's hydatidose is an unusual placement of this pathology. It is important to take care in the differential diagnosis in the context of complexes renal masses. There are some diagnosis procedures which can help us to establish it. Surgery is the treatment of choice in the majority of the cases.

[Von Hippel-Lindau disease: atypical presentation]. / Enfermedad de von Hippel-Lindau: una presentación atípica.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an atypical presentation of von Hippel-Lindau disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present the clinical, diagnostic and treatment of the urological signs of this disease, which has overcoat a neurological management, in a young man with familiar history of it. CONCLUSIONS: The basic knowledge of the von Hippel-Lindau disease is important for the urologist because the urological signs of it, are common and they make up one of the most important causes of morbility and mortality.

[Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder]. / Pseudotumor inflamatorio vesical.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the clinical, diagnostic and treatment of a new case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder in a 22 years old man without urological history. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory pseudotumor of the bladder is a rare benign lesion of unknown etiology. The most important histopathological differential diagnosis to consider is the rabdomyosarcoma. The immunohistochemistry study is basic in the diagnostic, characterization and differentiation of both pathologies. His benign development force us to a conservative management always it is possible.