Indocyanine green-marked fluorescence-guided off-clamp versus intraoperative ultrasound-guided on-clamp robotic partial nephrectomy: Outcomes on surgical procedure.

Objectives: To compare surgical and functional outcomes between off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with indocyanine-green tumour marking through preliminary superselective embolization and on-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with intraoperative ultrasound identification of the renal mass. Material and methods: One hundred and forty patients with a single renal mass underwent indocyanine-green fluorescence-guided off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with preoperative superselective embolization (Group A, 70 patients) versus intraoperative ultrasound-guided on-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy without embolization (Group B, 70 patients). We assessed operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, length of stay, renal function, need for ancillary procedures and blood transfusions. Results: Mean tumour size was 24 versus 25 mm in Group A versus Group B (p = 0.19). Mean operative time was 86.5 versus 121.8 min (p = 0.02), mean blood loss was 72.8 versus 214.2 mL (p = 0.02), and mean haemoglobin drop on postoperative day 1 was 1.1 versus 2.6 g/dL (p = 0.04) in Group A versus Group B. One-month creatinine, hospital stay and enucleated tumour volume were comparable. Ten postoperative complications occurred in Group A (13.3%) and 11 in Group B (15.3%). Following superselective embolization, no patients required blood transfusions versus two patients in Group B. Postoperative selective renal embolization was needed in one case per group. Conclusions: Preoperative superselective embolization of a renal mass with indocyanine-green before off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy significantly reduces operative time and intraoperative blood loss compared to on-clamp intraoperative ultrasound-guided robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. A longer follow-up is needed to establish the effect on renal function.

Open versus Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy for the Treatment of pT4a Bladder Cancer: Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes.

We compared the perioperative outcomes of open (ORC) vs. robot-assisted (RARC) radical cystectomy in the treatment of pT4a MIBC. In total, 212 patients underwent ORC (102 patients, Group A) vs. RARC (110 patients, Group B) for pT4a bladder cancer. Patients were prospectively followed and retrospectively reviewed. We assessed operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of stay, transfusion rate, and oncological outcomes. Preoperative features were comparable. The mean operative time was 232.8 vs. 189.2 min (p = 0.04), and mean EBL was 832.8 vs. 523.7 mL in Group A vs. B (p = 0.04). An intraoperative transfusion was performed in 32 (31.4%) vs. 11 (10.0%) cases during ORC vs. RARC (p = 0.03). The intraoperative complications rate was comparable. The mean length of stay was shorter after RARC (12.6 vs. 7.2 days, p = 0.02). Postoperative transfusions were performed in 36 (35.3%) vs. 13 (11.8%) cases (p = 0.03), and postoperative complications occurred in 37 (36.3%) vs. 29 (26.4%) patients in Groups A vs. B (p = 0.05). The positive surgical margin (PSM) rate was lower after RARC. No differences were recorded according to the oncological outcomes. ORC and RARC are feasible treatments for the management of pT4a bladder tumors. Minimally invasive surgery provides shorter operative time, bleeding, transfusion rate, postoperative complications, length of stay, and PSM rate.

Pathological report and prognostic meaning of Bosniak IV cysts: results from a contemporary cohort.

Introduction: Surgery is the recommended treatment for Bosniak IV renal cysts. We performed a retrospective analysis of Bosniak IV lesions surgically removed to increase evidence on their prognostic meaning. Material and methods: Patients with a Bosniak IV cyst were considered. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected a solid component with contrast enhancement. In no case a percutaneous biopsy was performed. A radical (9, 21.4%) or partial (33, 78.6%) nephrectomy was performed with laparoscopic (14, 33.3%) or robot-assisted (28, 66.7%) approach. Analysis of the final pathology was performed, and recurrence rate was assessed. Results: 42 patients were included. Median lesion size was 54.7 mm (IQR 20.0-81.2). A solid tumour was detected in 40 patients (95.2%), whereas in 2 cases (4.8%) a benign cyst without neoplastic component was diagnosed. Final pathology revealed a low-grade clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in 16 cases (38.0%), a multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential in 6 cases (14.3%), a low-grade papillary RCC (pRCC) type I in 4 cases (9.5%), a clear cell papillary RCC (ccpRCC) in 10 cases (23.8%) and an oncocytoma in 2 cases (4.8%). A high-grade ccRCC was detected in 2 cases (4.8%), whereas no patients had a pRCC type II. In all cases surgical margins were negative. Median follow-up was 24 months and no recurrence occurred. Conclusions: Our results increase evidence on the favourable pathology and good prognosis of Bosniak IV renal cysts, supporting the role of surgery as a definitive treatment and suggesting the need for a low-intensity follow-up.

A Giant Paratesticular Liposarcoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord (LSC) is a very rare disease. In literature, are reported less than 350 cases. Genitourinary sarcomas account for <5% of all soft-tissue sarcomas and <2% of malignant urologic tumours. An inguinal mass is the clinical presentation, which can mimic a hernia or hydrocele. Since it is such a rare disease, there are insufficient data on chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and in any case, the data come from low-level scientific evidence. Here, we report the case of a patient who came to the observation for a giant inguinal mass, in which a definitive diagnosis was obtained with the histological examination.

Treatment of ureteral stones with LithoEVO device and Vapor Tunnel tool.

BACKGROUND: Vapor Tunnel (VT) technology is the result of a pulse modulation during holmium laser emission which reduces stone retropulsion. We present the outcomes of this tool in the treatment of ureteral stones. METHODS: Two hundred ten patients with a ureteral stone were randomly assigned to holmium laser lithotripsy with (group A) or without (group B) the VT technology. The 35 W LithoEVO laser generator (Quanta System, Samarate, Varese, Italy) was used. We compared operative time, dusting time, delivered energy, retreatment rate due to stone push-up, ureteral lesions, and stone-free rate (SFR) and postoperative strictures at 1 month. We also compared outcomes according to stone position. RESULTS: VT technology was associated with significantly lower mean operative time (25.7 vs. 37.2 min), dusting time (9.7 vs. 15.3 min), delivered energy (7.7 vs. 19.9 KJ). In group B 9 patients (8.5%) were retreated due to stone push-up (P=0.01) for a proximal or middle stone, 6 (5.7%) postoperative strictures occurred (P=0.03) and a higher ureteral lesion rate was observed (7.6% vs 35.2%, P=0.04). 1-month SFR was comparable (93.4% vs. 88.6%, P=0.11). Postoperative complication rate was higher in group B (P=0.05). Without VT technology, ureteral lesions and strictures rates were significantly higher independently from stone position. CONCLUSIONS: The VT technology is associated with significantly lower operative and dusting time independently from stone position, due to a reduced retropulsion, which makes treatment quicker and easier. It also avoids stone push-up especially for proximal and middle stones and reduces ureteral lesions, postoperative complications, and ureteral strictures.

Thulium: YAG vs continuous-wave thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate: do potential advantages of thulium fiber lasers translate into relevant clinical differences?

PURPOSE: To compare endoscopic enucleation of the prostate using a thulium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser and a super-pulsed thulium fiber laser set in continuous-wave (CW) mode, and to evaluate whether theoretical advantages of thulium fiber lasers, related to their shorter wavelength, translate into relevant clinical differences. METHODS: In total, 110 patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomized to undergo either thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) or CW thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (CW-ThuFLEP). Intraoperative and postoperative variables and complications were compared. Micturition improvement was assessed at 3-month follow-up using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), post-void residual urine (PVR) and maximum flow rate (Qmax). Erectile function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). RESULTS: No significant differences between the ThuLEP and CW-ThuFLEP groups were found in terms of operative time (70.69 vs 72.41 min), enucleation time (50.23 vs 53.33 min), enucleated tissue weight (40.2 vs 41.9 g), enucleation efficiency (0.80 vs 0.79 g/min), catheterization time (2.45 vs 2.57 days), hospital stay (2.82 vs 2.95 days) and hemoglobin drop (1.05 vs 1.27 g/dl). At 3-month follow-up, no significant differences were found in IPSS (5.09 vs 5.81), Qmax (26.51 vs 27.13 ml/s), PVR (25.22 vs 23.81 ml) and IIEF-5 (14.01 vs 14.54). CONCLUSION: ThuLEP and CW-ThuFLEP were equivalent in relieving patients from LUTS and improving micturition. Theoretical advantages of the TFL, such as shallower penetration depth and improved vaporization capacity, did not translate into relevant perioperative outcomes or clinical differences.

External validation of the computerized analysis of TRUS of the prostate with the ANNA/C-TRUS system: a potential role of artificial intelligence for improving prostate cancer detection.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer (PCa) imaging has been revolutionized by the introduction of multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI). Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has always been considered a low-performance modality. To overcome this, a computerized artificial neural network analysis (ANNA/C-TRUS) of the TRUS based on an artificial intelligence (AI) analysis has been proposed. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the ANNA/C-TRUS system and its ability to improve conventional TRUS in PCa diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 64 patients with PCa and scheduled for radical prostatectomy who underwent TRUS followed by ANNA/C-TRUS analysis before the procedure. The results of ANNA/C-TRUS analysis with whole mount sections from final pathology. RESULTS: On a per-sectors analysis, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy were 62%, 81%, 80%, 64% and 78% respectively. The values for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer were 69%, 77%, 88%, 50% and 75%. The diagnostic values for high grade tumours were 70%, 74%, 91%, 41% and 74%, respectively. Cancer volume (≤ 0.5 or greater) did not influence the diagnostic performance of the ANNA/C-TRUS system. CONCLUSIONS: ANNA/C-TRUS represents a promising diagnostic tool and application of AI for PCa diagnosis. It improves the ability of conventional TRUS to diagnose prostate cancer, preserving its simplicity and availability. Since it is an AI system, it does not hold the inter-observer variability nor a learning curve. Multicenter biopsy-based studies with the inclusion of an adequate number of patients are needed to confirm these results.

Impact of long-term indwelling JJ stent on renal volume and renal function.

BACKGROUND: Data is lacking about long-term impact of JJ stents (JJst) on renal parenchyma. The aim of the study was to assess the evolution of renal parenchyma in patients with JJst indwelling for more than two years, and to find predictive factors for the development of renal atrophy. METHODS: Consecutive patients with JJst indwelled for more than 24 months, with a history of cancer, were retrospectively included. Replacements of JJst were scheduled every six months, or earlier in case of premature obstruction. Patient characteristics at the time of insertion of JJst, history of indwelling JJst and most recent data (serum creatinine, cancer status, definite JJst removal, renal volume (RV) with3D software) were recorded. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 4 years, 73 patients were included. The indication of JJst insertion was mostly external compression (65.8%). CT scans were available to assess RV evolution in 66 patients (90.4%). Median shrinkage of RV was higher when JJ stenting was unilateral versus bilateral: -40% (-63; -15) versus -16% (-36; -3), P<0.001. The duration of indwelling JJst was the only statistically significative predictive factor of renal shrinkage in multivariate analysis (OR [CI 95%]: 1.35 [1.10-1.66] P=0.004). Median relative change from baseline in eGFR was -22% (-45%; -5%.). No statistically significant predictive factors of eGFR evolution were found in univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral JJst for more than 2 years was associated with a significant shrinkage of renal parenchyma, especially since the duration of the indwelling stent was long.

A comparison among RIRS and MiniPerc for renal stones between 10 and 20 mm using thulium fiber laser (Fiber Dust): a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective randomized comparison among Retrograde IntraRenal Surgery (RIRS) and MiniPerc (MP) for stones between 10 and 20 mm to evaluate outcomes with the same laser device: Fiber Dust. METHODS: Patients with a single renal stone between 10 and 20 mm were randomized to RIRS (Group A) versus MP (Group B). Exclusion criteria were age < 18 or > 75, presence of acute infection, coagulation impairments, cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidities. In both groups, the Fiber Dust laser was used. A CT scan after 3 months was performed. A negative CT scan or asymptomatic patients with stone fragments < 3 mm and a negative urinary culture were the criteria to assess the stone-free status. A statistical analysis was carried out to assess success, complication and retreatment rates and need for auxiliary treatments. RESULTS: Between January 2021 and January 2022, 186 patients were enrolled (90 in Group A and 96 in Group B). Mean stone size was 15.8 mm and 14.9 mm in Group A and B, respectively (p = 0.23). The overall stone-free rate (SFR) was 73.3% for Group A and 84.4% for Group B. A higher SFR was reached for upper calyceal stones in Group A (90.4%) lower calyceal stones in Group B (91.6%). Retreatment rate (p = 0.31) and auxiliary procedure rate (p = 0.18) were comparable. Complication rate was 5.5% and 5.2% for Groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: RIRS and MP are both effective to obtain a postoperative SFR with Fiber Dust. According to the stone position one treatment is superior to the other one.

Change in Postoperative Storage Symptoms and De Novo Urge Incontinence After Thulium:YAG Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Results from a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To assess the change of storage symptoms (SS) and their impact on quality of life in men undergoing thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: BPH patients requiring surgery were prospectively evaluated (April 2019-October 2020). Inclusion criteria: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥8, maximum urinary flow rate ≤15 mL/s, and urinary retention. Exclusion criteria: previous urethral/prostatic surgery, pelvic irradiation, bladder/prostate cancer, neurogenic bladder, concomitant transurethral surgery, and active urinary tract infection. IPSS, International Continence Society-Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB) and International Continence Society-Overactive Bladder Quality of Life (ICIQ-OABq) scores were gathered before surgery and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: In total, 117 men were included. Mean age was 68.0 ± 7.7 years. Mean prostate volume was 86.6 ± 34 cc. Mean IPSS subscore was 8.7 ± 3.1 and 11.7 ± 4.7 for storage and voiding symptoms, respectively. Mean ICIQ-OAB was 29.1 ± 16.8. Mean ICIQ-OABq was 80.3 ± 30.6. Voiding IPSS decreased 72.8% at 1 month, whereas the reduction of storage IPSS was 38.0%. ICIQ-OAB decreased 49.6% at 1 month. ICIQ-OABq showed a 30.0% reduction. One year after surgery, the reduction of voiding IPSS was 94.8%, ICIQ-OAB 85.5%, storage IPSS 76.7%, and ICIQ-OABq 60.5%. Urge incontinence was present in 26.5% of men at 1 month, 15.4% at 3 months, and 4.3% at 6 months. Four (3.4%) patients complained of urge incontinence 12 months after surgery. Conclusion: Both storage and voiding lower urinary tract symptoms significantly decreased after ThuLEP, but storage symptoms showed less reduction with a significant impact on patients' quality of life, particularly during the first 3 months.

Comparison Between Micro-Ultrasound and Multiparametric MRI Regarding the Correct Identification of Prostate Cancer Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has become the standard imaging technique for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, mpMRI pathways are depending on experience, expertise, and information transfer from radiology to urology. Micro-ultrasound (Micro-US) is a new system, using high frequency (up to 29 MHz) and high resolution (down to 75 µm) ultrasound images. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Micro-US in the detection of the prostate cancer index lesion and compared its performance to mpMRI using pathological whole mount sections as the reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 32 patients with diagnosis of prostate cancer and scheduled for radical prostatectomy and who underwent Micro-US before surgery. Still images and cineloops of Micro-US were recorded. Sixteen patients had also mpMRI images with acceptable quality and complete sequences available. For validation purposes each prostate was partitioned into 12 sectors for a total of 192 sectors evaluated. Micro-US and mpMRI images were both scored according to a validated system (PRI-MUS and Pi-RADS) where a score ≥3 was suspicious for both scores. Preoperative and postoperative results regarding the identification of the index lesion, the biggest lesion visible, were then compared and sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: Median age was 67 years, median PSA was 6.2ng/ml, and median cancer volume of the index lesion was 3.1cc. The sensitivity of Micro-US in the index lesion detection was 76.5%, specificity 76.6%, negative predictive value 85.6%, positive predictive value 64.1% and 76.6% of accuracy. The sensitivity of mpMRI was 65.1%, specificity 93.4%, negative predictive value 83.2%, positive predictive value 84.3%, and 81.8% of accuracy (all p> .05). CONCLUSION: Micro-US showed good reliability in identifying prostate cancer index lesions. Its performance is comparable to that of mpMRI.

The Tomato Model.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous renal access (PCA) is one of the most difficult intervention in endourology. Hands-on training is a useful tool for a good understanding of the puncturing technique, reducing the learning curve, and lowering risks of complications during first procedures. The ideal surgical simulator should efficiently improve trainees' skills, be easily accessible, low-cost, and realistic. We aim to present novel fluoroscopy-guided PCA simulator named TOMATO model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The model can be easily built in few minutes using low-cost items: yoga mat, cotton wool, forceps, needle-driver, scalpel, 0 silk suture, chiba needle, small pebble (1 cm ca) and a few kidney-shaped tomatoes. The yoga mat is fold in half, sutured with silk, placed on the operating table, and thanks to the friction created between the mat and sheet underneath there is no need for other fixating methods. Once placed inside the yoga mat, the tomato is held still in the position by the cotton wool, which is placed around the vegetable. The tomato imitates the real renal structure. Therefore is ideal for this use, and there is no need for liquid-contrast enhancement. The goal is achieved when the operator manages to move the pebble with chiba needle during pulsed fluoroscopy. The model was tested 3 times by 3 endourologists and by 10 residents in training with no experience as first operators. A 7-items questionnaire (1-10 rating scale) was administered to the participants in order to evaluate the utility of the model. Trainees' kidney access time (KAT) and radiation time (RT) were assessed at the first use and after 1 hour of training (circa 15 attempts to reach the target per resident). RESULTS: The model allowed residents' significant reduction of the KAT and RT. KAT passed from 114 (144.25-89) to 72.5 (97.25-49.5) seconds (P = .04) while RAT passed from 82 (89.75-56) to 51.5 (60.25-35.75) seconds (P < .001). The residents particularly appreciated the high-fidelity reproduction of the anatomy that the model offers, and its' usefulness for learning the puncturing technique, giving it 8.5 and 10 points, while the same items were rated 7.7, and 9.3 by the experts, respectively. Trainees felt that their skills could be improved by using this model. The main issue was finding the materials mimicking the real-life tissues and their different characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: TOMATO model might be a helpful and creative way to start learning the steps of kidney puncturing using low-cost materials and we believe its' strength is being easily reproducible in all urology units.

Feasibility of local anaesthesia for varicocele correction in one-day-surgery setting. A single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we compared postoperative outcomes of patients submitted to varicocele correction under general or local anesthesia at a single center. METHODS: All patients underwent varicocele surgical treatment with the Colpi-modified Marmar subinguinal technique. They were managed with either general (Group A) or local with ileo-inguinal and ileo-hypogastric nerves block (Group B) anesthesia. The two groups were compared in terms of timing of discharge and post-operative pain as assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS) at both rest and movement (NRSm). § Results: Overall, 63 patients were included with a mean (SD) age of 25 years ± 5 yrs. The NRS mean score was significantly lower for Group B during the first 4 days after surgery at both rest and movement (all p < 0.05). Patients receiving local anesthesia showed a faster time to first urination (210 vs. 240 min; p = 0.02), although the time to discharge was comparable between the two groups (250 vs. 250 min). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that local anetshesia for varicocele surgical treatment is feasible and provide better pain control and faster recovery after surgery.

Sexual-Sparing Robot Assisted Radical Cystectomy in Female: A Step-By-Step Guide.

OBJECTIVE: To show different approaches for sexual-sparing robot assisted radical cystectomy in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radical cystectomy (RC) is a mainstay treatment for localized muscle invasive bladder cancer and high-risk non muscle invasive bladder cancer not responding to adequate endovesical therapy.1 In women traditionally RC is performed with hystero-adnexectomy and resection of the anterior vaginal wall, but this technique often brings sexual disorders. With time, vaginal sparing techniques have been developed to improve functional outcomes in women motivated to preserve their sexual function.2-4 The indications for vaginal-sparing RC are absence of tumor in bladder neck or urethra and no sign of infiltration of anterior vaginal wall and parametria at preoperative staging. RESULTS: Procedure steps as follows. Step 1: Bilateral adnexectomy and ureteral isolation until their distal portion. Step 2: Vesico-vaginal dissection. Step 3: Bilateral pelvic and common iliac node dissection. Step 4: Ureteral clamping and section. Step5: Posterolateral bladder pedicle dissection. Step 6: Anterior dissection of the bladder towards the urethra. In women, this should be achieved without injuring the Santorini plexus and innervation of the clitoris. Step 7: Bladder neck identification and urethral dissection. Cystectomy is completed. Step 8: En bloc hystero-adnexectomy with anterior vaginal wall preservation; the vaginal pedicles are spared too. Step 9: Specimen extraction from the vagina and vaginal suture.It is also possible to perform a fully sexual-sparing robotic RC by following the vesico-vaginal plan without dissecting the vaginal dome and leaving internal genitalia intact. This technique is typically carried out in case of young women with no pathological uterine and ovarian findings.Vesico-vaginal plan can also be developed after opening the vaginal dome. This approach gives the possibility to subsequently dissect the cervix, to identify and spare the vaginal pedicles and to perform an "en bloc" radical cystectomy, with preservation of the anterior vaginal wall.In case of neobladder, diversion is carried out intracorporeally following the principles of the Saint Augustin neobladder.5 CONCLUSIONS: Robot assisted anterior pelvectomy with anterior vaginal wall preservation is a feasible and mini-invasive technique. For a satisfying functional result, it is crucial to preserve the vaginal neurovascular pedicles. This sexual-sparing approach must be carried out after a correct patient selection: women motivated to preserve their sexual function and ideally in the neobladder setting, when a posterior support for the urinary diversion is needed. Absence of tumor in bladder neck and urethra at magnetic resonance imaging could help patient selection.

Age above 70 years and Charlson Comorbidity Index higher than 3 are associated with reduced survival probabilities after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Data from a contemporary series of 334 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the joint effect of age and comorbidities on clinical outcomes of radical cystectomy (RC). METHODS: 334 consecutive patients undergoing open RC for bladder cancer (BC) during the years 2005-2015 were analyzed. Pre-, peri- and post-operative parameters, including age at RC (ARC) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), were evaluated. Overall and cancer-specific survivals (OS, CSS) were assessed by univariate and multivariate modelling. Furthermore, a three-knot restricted cubic spline (RCS) was fitted to survival data to detect dependency between death-rate ratio (HR) and ARC. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 3.8 years (IQR = 1.3-7.5) while median OS was 5.9 years (95%CL = 3.8-9.1). Globally, 180 patients died in our cohort (53.8%), 112 of which (62.2%) from BC and 68 patients (37.8%) for unrelated causes. After adjusting for preoperative, pathological and perioperative parameters, patients with CCI > 3 showed significantly higher death rates (HR = 1.61; p = 0.022). The highest death rate was recorded in ARC = 71-76 years (HR = 2.25; p = 0.034). After fitting an RCS to both OS and CSS rates, two overlapping nonlinear trends, with common highest risk values included in ARC = 70-75 years, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Age over 70 years and CCI > 3 were significant factors limiting the survival of RC and should both be considered when comparing current RC outcomes.

Port-site metastasis and atypical recurrences after robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC): an updated comprehensive and systematic review of current evidences.

The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the current evidence regarding atypical metastases in patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). A review of the current literature was conducted through the Medline and NCBI PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Google Scholar databases in October 2019. From the literature search using the cited keys and after a careful evaluation of the full texts, we included 31 articles in the study. Fourteen studies (45.2%) reported at least an atypical recurrence during the follow-up period with a rate between 4 and 40% of all the recurrences. Overall, 105 (1.63%) of the 6720 patients who have been evaluated in the included studies developed an atypical recurrence. Sixty-three (60%) of these atypical metastases were peritoneal carcinomatosis, 16 (15.2%) extrapelvic lymph nodes metastases, 11 (10.5%) port-site metastases, 10 (9.5%) retroperitoneal nodal metastases, while 5 (3.8%) patients developed more than one type of atypical recurrence. In literature, there is a low but not negligible incidence of atypical recurrences after RARC. However, publication bias and retrospective design of most studies could influence the evidences. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to clarify the real risk of patients undergoing RARC to develop atypical metastases.

State of the Art of Thulium Laser Enucleation and Vapoenucleation of the Prostate: A Systematic Review.

Tm:YAG laser operates at a wavelength of 1940-2013 nm in a continuous wave mode, which enables smooth incision and rapid vaporization of prostatic tissue, with a shallow penetration of only 0.2 mm. These characteristics make Tm:YAG a versatile laser, allowing the surgeon to perform resection, vaporization, and vapoenucleation. This systematic review aims to summarize the current evidence of safety and efficacy, long-term durability, impact on sexual function following Tm:YAG laser enucleation and vapoenucleation of the prostate and to compare the outcomes of these procedures vs other surgical treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Feasibility of en bloc thulium laser enucleation of the prostate in a large case series. Are results enhanced by experience?

OBJECTIVE: To provide the first large single-operator case series of patients who undergo "en bloc" thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) and to demonstrate an improvement in enucleation efficacy with experience. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated a cohort of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent "en bloc" ThuLEP between May 2015 and November 2017. Association between dependent variables (delivered energy and operating time) and independent variables (adenoma volume and experience) were estimated with regression analysis. The experience was calculated as the time interval between the date of the first operation of the series and the date of the operation being considered. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were registered for the study. Median operative time was 56.5 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 40-85 min). Median enucleation time was 17.4 min (IQR: 15-21.5 min). Median enucleation index (enucleation time per adenoma gram) was 0.3 min/g (0.2-0.3 min/g). The overall operative time is not influenced by experience, but we registered a significant trend towards a reduction in the total amount of energy delivered energy normalized per adenoma gram (p = 0.0148). CONCLUSION: We believe that further attention is needed for these new "en bloc" prostatic enucleation techniques, which can facilitate some surgical steps, leading to a widespread use of laser technology for BPH surgical treatment.

En Bloc Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improve Enucleation Time and Efficiency for Endoscopic Enucleation of Prostatic Adenoma.

OBJECTIVE: To present a reproducible step-by-step approach to en bloc thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgical treatment. Laser adenoma enucleation is nowadays a recognized surgical treatment for benign prostatic enlargement. Some variants to the classical 3-lobes laser technique have been proposed, in order to overcome the main concerns regarding the original procedure.1-4 After a vast experience with the 3-lobes ThuLEP, we developed our own en bloc enucleation technique. METHODS: The capsular plane is identified only once, at the level of the prostatic apex, at 5 o'clock; this plane is followed ascending towards the bladder neck, separating the left lobe from the prostatic capsule from 5 to 11 o'clock. The right and median lobes are then enucleated following the same plane clockwise and the 2 planes are joined anteriorly at 11 o'clock. Finally, enucleation is completed by incising the remaining mucosal flap from 10 to 2 o'clock. We have already proved the clear advantages provided by this technique compared to the "3-lobes" enucleation.5 RESULTS: Our single-center experience with this technique includes 140 procedures performed up to June 2018. Mean prostatic adenoma volume was 66.7 mL (range 20-220 ± 32.85 standard deviation [SD]). Mean total surgical time was 60.93 minutes (25-133 ± 23.6 SD); mean enucleation time was 18.3 minutes (8.2-36.53 ± 5.62 SD), mean enucleation time normalized per adenoma gram was 0.32 min/g (0.12-0.8 ± 0.15 SD) and mean energy needed for the enucleation normalized per adenoma gram was 1852.13 J/g (689-6129 ± 862.4 SD). Only 1 case of reintervention for clot evacuation (Clavien grade IIIb) was necessary. CONCLUSION: En bloc ThuLEP provides an anatomical approach for endoscopic enucleation of prostatic adenoma. We believe that this sequence optimizes efficiency and efficacy in a reproducible way.