Robotic surgery in public hospitals of Latin-America: a castle of sand?

INTRODUCTION: There is no information about the evolution of robotic programs in public hospitals of Latin-America. OBJECTIVE: To describe the current status and functioning of robotic programs in Latin-American public hospitals since their beginning to date. METHODS: We conducted a survey among leading urologists working at public hospitals of Latin-America who had acquired the Da Vinci laparoscopic-assisted robotic system. Questions included: date the program started, its utilization by other services, number and kind of surgeries, surgery paying system, surgery related deaths, occurrence and reasons of robotic program interruptions and its use for training purposes. Medians and 25-75 centiles (IQR) were estimated. RESULTS: Since 2009, there are ten public hospitals of four Latin-American countries that acquired the Da Vinci robotic system. The median number of months robotic programs has been functioning without considering transitory interruption: 43 (IQR 35, 55). Median number of urologic and total surgeries performed: 140 (IQR 94, 168) and 336 (IQR 292, 621), respectively. The corresponding median number of urologic and total surgeries performed per month: 3 (IQR 2, 5) and 8 (IQR 5, 11). Median number of total surgeries performed per year per institution was 94 (IQR 68,123). The median proportion of urologic cases was 40% (IQR 31, 48), ranging from 24 to 66%. Five of ten institutions had their urology programs transitory or definitively closed due to the high burden costs. CONCLUSION: Adoption and development of robotic surgery in some public hospitals of Latin-America have been hindered by high costs.

American Confederation of Urology (CAU) experience in minimally invasive partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To describe the perioperative and oncology outcomes in a series of laparoscopic or robotic partial nephrectomies (PN) for renal tumors treated in diverse institutions of Hispanic America from the beginning of their minimally invasive (MI) PN experience through December 2014. METHODS: Seventeen institutions participated in the CAU generated a MI PN database. We estimated proportions, medians, 95 % confidence intervals, Kaplan-Meier curves, multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses. Clavien-Dindo classification was used. RESULTS: We evaluated 1501 laparoscopic (98 %) or robotic (2 %) PNs. Median age: 58 years. Median surgical time, warm ischemia and intraoperative bleeding were 150, 20 min and 200 cc. 81 % of the lesions were malignant, with clear cell histology being 65 % of the total. Median maximum tumor diameter is 2.7 cm, positive margin is 8.2 %, and median hospitalization is 3 days. One or more postoperative complication was recorded in 19.8 % of the patients: Clavien 1: 5.6 %; Clavien 2: 8.4 %; Clavien 3A: 1.5 %; Clavien 3B: 3.2 %; Clavien 4A: 1 %; Clavien 4B: 0.1 %; Clavien 5: 0 %. Bleeding was the main cause of a reoperation (5.5 %), conversion to radical nephrectomy (3 %) or open partial nephrectomy (6 %). Transfusion rate is 10 %. In multivariate analysis, RENAL nephrometry score was the only variable associated with complications (OR 1.1; 95 % CI 1.02-1.2; p = 0.02). Nineteen patients presented disease progression or died of disease in a median follow-up of 1.37 years. The 5-year progression or kidney cancer mortality-free rate was 94 % (95 % CI 90, 97). Positive margins (HR 4.98; 95 % CI 1.3-19; p = 0.02) and females (HR 5.6; 95 % CI 1.7-19; p = 0.005) were associated with disease progression or kidney cancer mortality after adjusting for maximum tumor diameter. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic PN in these centers of Hispanic America seem to have acceptable perioperative complications and short-term oncologic outcomes.

[Controversies in the prostate surgical anatomy. A literature review]. / Controversias en la anatomía quirúrgica prostática. Revisión de la literarura.

INTRODUCTION: Radical prostatectomy technique has improved in the last years based on accumulated surgical experience and new anatomical findings. We think it is time to update anatomical concepts to standardized the criteria formentioning structures related with radical prostatectomy MATERIAL AND METHOD: With the followings key words: "cavernosal nerves, prostatectomy, anatomy, neurovascular bundle" we search in Medline/PubMed database selecting papers fulfilling the search criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The prostate does not have a true capsule but rather an incomplete fibromuscular band as an intrinsic part of the gland. Periprostatic fascia seems to be a different structure from this fibromuscular band. Histologically Denonvilliers's fascia is formed by two thin layers that cannot be separated during surgery. The longitudinal smooth muscle fibres located beneath the posterior bladder neck corresponds to the posterior longitudinal fascia of the detrusor muscle. Cavernosal nerves are located between the two layers of the endopelvic fascia, the inner layer could be named periprostatic fascia and the outer, levator ani fascia. Cavernosal nerves merged from the pelvic plexus running within a neurovascular bundle around the prostate that could be found as a singular bundle or spread all around the anterolateral surface of this gland. There are overlapping terms to designate the pelvic fascia, therefore it could be useful for Urologists to standardized them.

[Prognostic factors for survival in patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy]. / Factores pronósticos en la supervivencia de los pacientes con carcinoma transicional de vejiga tratados con cistectomía radical.

PURPOSE: To recognize clinical and pathological variables that influence in bladder cancer specific mortality in patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 333 patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. Variables included during pre-cystectomy, peri-cystectomy and post-cystectomy period were analyzed. Four groups were defined based on pathological state: a) Organ-confine bladder cancer without lymph node metastasis (pT0-2, pN0); b) Extravesical desease without lymph node metastasis (pT3-4, pN0); c) Bladder cancer with lymph node metastasis (pT0-4, pN+); d) No data of lymph node affection (pT0-4, pNx). Univariate analysis and two models of multivariate analysis were performed including the risk group as a variable in one the latest. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 52.6 +/- 51 (2-221) months with a median of 31 months. Pathological state pT0 was observed in 7.2% of the patients, 12% were pT1, 26.7% pT2, 34.5% pT3 and 10.5% pT4. Lymph node metastasis was detected in 20.7% of the patients. Lymph node metastasis increased according to pathological state rises. Five and 10 years specific survival was 57% and 54% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Local pathological state, lymph node status and risk groups were independent predictive factors for bladder cancer specific survival. Risk group association is a reliable method to predict bladder cancer specific survival and to identify the suitable patient group to get benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Controversias en la anatomía quirúrgica prostática. Revisión de la literarura / Controversies in the Prostate Surgical Anatomy. A literature review

Introducción: La técnica para la prostatectomía radical ha evolucionado dinámicamente durante los últimos años en base a una mayor experiencia quirúrgica acumulada y descubrimientos anatómicos. Nos parece oportuno revisar y actualizar algunos conceptos anatómicos básicos que nos permita conseguir una uniformidad de criterios y términos al referirnos a esta técnica quirúrgica. Material y Método: Hemos realizado una búsqueda bibliográfica en Medline/PubMed. Palabras clave: cavernosal nerves,prostatectomy, anatomy, neurovascular bundle. Realizamos una lectura detallada de los resúmenes de los artículos obtenidos, seleccionando aquellos que se ajustaban a los diferentes temas fijados para la revisión. Conclusiones: La glándula prostática no posee una cápsula verdadera sino que esta representada por una banda fibromuscular incompleta que es intrínseca a la glándula. La fascia periprostática parece ser una estructura distinta de esta banda fibromuscular. La Fascia de Denonvilliers en una fascia histológicamente compuesta por dos láminas pero quirúrgicamente indistinguibles. Las fibras ubicadas longitudinalmente por debajo del labio posterior del cuello vesical parecen corresponder a la fascia longitudinal posterior que pertenece al músculo detrusor. Los nervios cavernosos se sitúan entre dos hojas de la fascia endopélvica que podríamos denominar fascia periprostática (más interna) y fascia del elevador (más externa). Los nervios cavernosos son referencias del plexo pélvico y se ubican dentro de un fascículo neurovascular con distribución variable alrededor de la próstata según cada individuo (fascículo único o dispersos por la superficie antero lateral de la próstata). Consideramos conveniente que la comunidad de Urólogos unifique los términos para denominar las fascias pélvicas y evitar superposición de términos (AU)

Introduction: Radical prostatectomy technique has improved in the last years based on accumulated surgical experience and new anatomical findings. We think it is time to update anatomical concepts to standardized the criteria for mentioning structures related with radical prostatectomy. Material and Method: With the followings key words: “cavernosal nerves, prostatectomy, anatomy, neurovascular bundle” we search in Medline/PubMed database selecting papers fulfilling the search criteria. Conclusions: The prostate does not have a true capsule but rather an incomplete fibromuscular band as an intrinsic part of the gland. Periprostatic fascia seems to be a different structure from this fibromuscular band. Histologically Denonvilliers´s fascia is formed by two thin layers that cannot be separated during surgery. The longitudinal smooth muscle fibres located beneath the posterior bladder neck corresponds to the posterior longitudinal fascia of the detrusor muscle. Cavernosal nerves are located between the two layers of the endopelvic fascia, the inner layer could be named periprostatic fascia and the outer, levator ani fascia. Cavernosal nerves merged from the pelvic plexus running within a neurovascular bundle around the prostate that could be found as a singular bundle or spread all around the anterolateral surface of this gland. There are overlapping terms to designate the pelvic fascia, therefore it could be useful for Urologists to standardized them (AU)

Factores pronósticos en la supervivencia de los pacientes con carcinoma transicional de vejiga tratados con cistectomía radical / Prognostic factors for survival in patients with transitional baldder cancer treated with radical cystectomy

Objetivo: conocer las variables clínicas y patológicas que influyen en la mortalidad cáncer-específica de los pacientes con carcinoma transicional de vejiga tratados mediante cistectomía radical (CR).Material y Método: análisis retrospectivo de 333 pacientes con cáncer transicional de vejiga tratados mediante CR. Se analizaron variables agrupadas en el período pre-cistectomía, peri-cistectomía y de seguimiento. Se definieron 4 grupos de riesgo en función del estadio patológico: a) Enfermedad localizada vesical sin afectación ganglionar (pT0-2, pN0); b) Enfermedad extravesical sin afectación ganglionar (pT3-4, pN0); c) Enfermedad con afectación ganglionar (pT0-4, pN+); d) Sin datos sobre la afectación ganglionar (pT0-4, pNx). Realizamos un análisis univariante y dos modelos de multivariante con y sin los grupos de riesgo descritos. Resultados: La media de seguimiento de la serie fue de 52,6 ± 51 (2-221) meses con una mediana de 31 meses. Un 7,2%de los pacientes presentó estadio pT0, 12% pT1, 26,7% pT2, 34,5% pT3 y un 19,5% pT4. El 20,7% de los pacientes tenían metástasis ganglionares (pN+). La supervivencia cáncer específica a los 5 años fue del 57% y del 54% a los 10 años. Conclusiones: El estadio patológico, la afectación ganglionar y los grupos de riesgo se comportaron como factores predictivos independientes para la supervivencia cáncer-específica. La asociación por grupos de riesgo permite predecir de una forma más fiable el riesgo de fallecer por cáncer de vejiga e identificar a los pacientes en los que la cistectomía resulta un tratamiento insuficiente y que se podrían beneficiar de un tratamiento adyuvante (AU)

Purpose: to recognize clinical and pathological variables that influence in bladder cancer specific mortality in patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. Matherial and Method: retrospective analysis of 333 patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. Variables included during pre-cystectomy, peri-cystectomy and post-cystectomy period were analyzed. Four groups were defined based on pathological state: a) Organ-confine bladder cancer without lymph node metastasis(pT0-2, pN0); b) Extravesical desease without lymph node metastasis (pT3-4, pN0); c) Bladder cancer with lymph nodemetastasis (pT0-4, pN+); d) No data of lymph node affection (pT0-4, pNx). Univariate analysis and two models of multivariate analysis were performed including the risk group as a variable in one the latest. Results: Mean follow up was 52.6 ± 51 (2-221) months with a median of 31 months. Pathological state pT0 was observed in 7.2% of the patients, 12% were pT1, 26.7% pT2, 34.5% pT3 and 10.5% pT4. Lymph node metastasis was detected in20.7% of the patients. Lymph node metastasis increased according to pathological state rises. Five and 10 years specific survival was 57% and 54% respectively. Conclusions: Local pathological state, lymph node status and risk groups were independent predictive factors for bladder cancer specific survival. Risk group association is a reliable method to predict bladder cancer specific survival and to identify the suitable patient group to get benefit from adjuvant therapy (AU)