Could trainees' finger placement at the surgeon's console affect overall outcomes of robotic surgery in radical prostatectomy? A prospective, blinded, robotic simulation pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Robotic surgery for localized prostate cancer offers a greater range of motion attributed to the EndoWrist instruments. Postoperative outcomes are linked to the quality of vesico-urethral anastomosis. Trainees frequently complain of suturing difficulty in a back-handed fashion. We aimed to analyze wrist motion using the DaVinci simulator. We hypothesized that using the thumb and index finger would allow superior surgical proficiency when compared to the middle finger. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, we recruited 42 medical students in one academic medical center. Students were randomly assigned to start with their thumb and index finger (1&2) or thumb and middle finger (1&3). Three standardized modules were used with nine metrics calculated, including: score, total time, economy of motion, efficiency score, collisions, inaccurate puncture, wound approximation, out of view, and penalty subtotal. Statistical analysis of the metrics was calculated using SPSS. RESULTS: Three metrics were found to have differences between the finger placement of 1&3 compared to 1&2. The number of collisions, wound approximation, and penalty score where 1&3 were used had a lower score in each. The number of collisions was 5.7 less in the 1&3 finger placement (p=0.046). This metric was found to have statistically significant differences between finger placement where 1&3 had a lower score compared to 1&2. The wound approximation score was 0.2 points lower when using the 1&3 placement (p=0.075). Lastly, the penalty assigned was 6.5 points lower when using 1&3 (p=0.069). CONCLUSIONS: Although finger placement did not affect the overall score of the completed simulation, instrument collisions and unnecessary wound complications may lead to adverse outcomes when using 1&2 despite offering a wider range of motion. This may be due to decreased comfort in hand position. Trainees may be able to improve the effectiveness of their vesico-urethral anastomosis during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Current advances in pain regimens for percutaneous nephrolithotomy A comprehensive review.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) causes pain and discomfort after surgery. The primary causes of immediate postoperative pain after PCNL are visceral pain from the ureters and kidneys, and body surface discomfort from incisions. Acute, untreated pain has the potential to develop into chronic pain, which remains a considerable burden for the rehabilitation of patients. The goal of this review was to describe the current options for treating pain post-PCNL. METHODS: We conducted a literature review of all published manuscripts on pain protocols for patients undergoing PCNL and related topics; 50 published manuscripts were identified and reviewed. RESULTS: PCNL morbidity must be reduced by an appropriate management of postoperative pain. Opioids, multimodal therapy, tubeless PCNL, reduced size of nephrostomy tube, and regional anesthesia are currently available for reducing postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing successful treatment strategies for postoperative pain after PCNL is key in reducing the morbidity and mortality of PCNL.

Endoscopic Removal of an Intrauterine Device in the Left Distal Ureter.

Background: Intrauterine device (IUD) migration to the ureter is rare. Symptoms can vary, but often mimic renal colic. Radiographic imaging may aid the diagnosis of a foreign body in the ureter. Reports on endoscopic managements of a migrated IUD are not well described. Case Presentation: We present a 36-year-old woman with a history of IUD insertion. Her symptoms included hematuria, dysuria, and suprapubic/abdominal pressure. After the removal of her IUD by her gynecologist, her hematuria eventually stopped, but she presented again with persistent pain. CT revealed a radiopaque foreign body in the distal left ureter protruding into the bladder. A careful resection with a resectoscope uncovered a long cylindrical shaped foreign body, suspicious of a broken piece of the IUD. Conclusion: Although not always feasible and long-term results remain to be determined, endoscopic management is a safe and effective method of identifying and removing a retained IUD in the ureter. When evaluating a woman with abdominal pain who has an indwelling IUD, a spontaneous migration of the IUD should be considered in the differential diagnosis.