Play it safe: renal function after bilateral flexible ureteroscopy for kidney stones.

PURPOSE: We searched for perioperative renal function deterioration risk factors in patients that underwent bilateral flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) for kidney stones. METHODS: From August 2016 to February 2020, symptomatic patients > 18 years old with bilateral kidney stones up to 20 mm in each side were prospectively studied. Serum creatinine samples were collected on admission to surgery, immediate postoperative (IPO), on POD 3, 10, and 30. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EPI) without a race coefficient. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent bilateral fURS. Comparing to preoperative eGFR, median IPO and POD3 eGFR (p < 0.001) were significantly lower, and POD10 (p = 0.092) and POD30 (p = 0.648) were similar to preoperative eGFR. During follow-up, 22/30 (73.3%), 14/30 (46.7%), and 7/30 (23.3%) of the patients presented a decrease > 10% eGFR, > 20% eGFR, and > 30% eGFR, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that lower preoperative eGFR is a risk factor for eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.019 [1.021-1.263; 1.136]; ASA > 1 is a risk factor for decrease of eGFR > 10%, p = 0.028 [1.25-51.13; 8.00]; longer operative time is a risk factor for decrease of eGFR > 20%, p = 0.042 [1.00-1.05; 1.028]; and operative time ≥ 120 min is a risk factor for decrease of eGFR > 30%, p = 0.026 [0.016-0.773; 0.113]. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function suffers a reversible decrease after bilateral fURS. Our study suggests that adequate selection of patients and maintaining operative time < 120 min are relevant factors in preventing acute renal function deterioration following bilateral fURS.

Predicting individual outcomes after radical cystectomy in urothelial variants with Cancer of the Bladder Risk Assessment (COBRA) score.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Cancer of the Bladder Risk Assessment (COBRA) score in patients with urothelial variants. METHODS: Epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and anatomopathological data were collected from patients with urothelial carcinoma who underwent radical cystectomy at the Institute of Cancer of São Paulo between May 2008 and December 2022. Patients with the presence of at least 10% of any urothelial variants in the radical cystectomy specimens' anatomopathological exam were included in the study. The COBRA score and derivatives were applied and correlated with oncological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 680 patients [482 men (70.9%) and 198 women (29.1%)]; 66 years (IQR 59-73) underwent radical cystectomy for bladder tumor, and of these patients, a total of 167 patients presented any type of urothelial variant. The median follow-up time was 28.77 months (IQR 12-85). The three most prevalent UV were squamous differentiation (50.8%), glandular differentiation (31.3%), and micropapillary differentiation (11.3%). The subtypes with the worst prognosis were sarcomatoid with a median survival of 8 months (HR 1.161; 95% CI 0.555-2.432) and plasmacytoid with 14 months (HR 1.466; 95% CI 0.528-4.070). The COBRA score for patients with micropapillary variants demonstrated good predictive accuracy for OS (log-rank P = 0.009; 95% IC 6.78-29.21) and CSS (log-rank P = 0.002; 95% IC 13.06-26.93). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the COBRA score proved an effective risk stratification tool for urothelial histological variants, especially for the micropapillary urothelial variant. It may be helpful in the prognosis evaluation of UV patients after radical cystectomy.

Robotic-assisted approaches to urachal carcinoma: A comprehensive systematic review of the safety and efficacy outcomes.

Introduction: Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice in patients with urachal carcinoma. Due to complications and to reduce hospital stay from open surgery, minimally invasive approaches are desirable. Nowadays, robotic-assisted surgery has become increasingly popular, and robot-assisted cystectomy can be performed in patients with urachal carcinoma with low complication rates. Methods: We performed a systematic review to search for studies that evaluated patients who underwent robotic-assisted surgery for urachal carcinoma. The outcomes of interest were the type of cystectomy performed, whether there was umbilicus resection, total operative time, console time, intraoperative complications, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, time of hospitalisation, positive surgical margins and the presence of documented tumour recurrence. Results: In this study, we evaluated three cohorts comprising a total of 21 patients. The median follow-up period ranged from 8 to 40 months. Medium age was between 51 and 54 years, with a majority (63.1%) being male. One patient (5.2%) underwent a radical cystectomy, and 19 patients (94.7%) underwent to partial cystectomy. Umbilical resections were performed in all cases, and pelvic lymphadenectomy in 14 cases (73.6%). Recurrence occurred in three patients at a median of 17 months postoperation, two cases in the trocar insertion site. Additionally, there was one death, which was attributed to postoperative cardiovascular complications. Conclusion: Robotic-assisted partial cystectomy has a low incidence of adverse outcomes in patients with urachal carcinoma. Controlled studies, ideally randomised, are warranted to establish the comparative efficacy and safety of the robotic-assisted cystectomy approach relative to open surgery.

Scoring system for prediction of overall survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma T3aN0M0.

Objective: We aim to create a new score to predict postoperative overall survival in patients with nonmetastatic T3aN0 renal cell carcinoma. Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of adult patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma between December 2007 and January 2022 in a single tertiary oncological institution. Clinical characteristics, clinical-pathological staging and histopathological characteristics were analysed. Survival analyses were determined using the Kaplan-Meier curve. A nomogram was established using Cox proportional hazard regression to identify the prognostic factors affecting the overall survival. The area under the curve, calibration curves and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate prognostic efficacy. Results: We analyzed 362 patients classified as pT3aN0M0 stage with a median follow-up of 40 months. According to Cox univariate and multivariate analyses, weight loss greater than 5% in 6 months before surgery, stage V chronic kidney disease after radical nephrectomy, sarcomatoid pattern, and coagulative tumor necrosis were identified as predictors of overall survival. We developed a score and performed internal and external validation. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve value and calibration curve analysis showed good prediction ability of the score. The nomogram can effectively predict and stratify overall survival after radical nephrectomy in patients with pT3aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Patients with pT3aN0MO renal cell carcinoma exhibited different characteristics, and those with unfavourable characteristics deserve greater attention during follow-up. This nomogram provides an accurate prediction of overall survival after radical nephrectomy.

Should You Fix Testicular Prosthesis? A Satisfaction Survey From a Monocentric Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether testicular prosthesis should be fixed. METHODS: Retrospective monocentric study including 169 patients who had implantation of testicular prosthesis between January 2013 and December 2022. Patients answered a telephone questionnaire regarding prosthesis characteristics and satisfaction. RESULTS: Prosthesis was sutured for 59 patients (34.9%) out of 169. 146 patients answered the questionnaire. Satisfaction was excellent regarding size, weight, consistency, and shape. A position too high was a major complain in both groups. Pain and discomfort were significantly higher in the fixed group (30.8% vs 9.78%, P < .001). Few patients reported discomfort with the anchor prosthesis (22.9%). CONCLUSION: Overall satisfaction of the prosthesis is high but discomfort and high positioning are the two items remaining to improve. Our study suggests that fixing prosthesis is a cause of discomfort and won't allow a better positioning.

The use of statins is related to a lower PSA level after endoscopic enucleation of the prostate with holmium laser (HoLEP) for the treatment of BPH.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors that may be associated with a 2-month high baseline level of Total Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) after endoscopic enucleation of the prostate with Holmium Laser (HoLEP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a prospectively collected database of adult males undergoing HoLEP at a single tertiary institution from September 2015 to February 2021. Pre-operative epidemiological, clinical characteristics and post-operative factors were analyzed and a multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors independently related to PSA decline. RESULTS: A total of 175 men aged 49-92 years with a prostate size ranging from 25 to 450 cc underwent HoLEP, and after excluding data from patients due to loss of follow-up or incomplete data, 126 patients were included in the final analysis. The patients were divided into group A (n = 84), which included patients with postoperative PSA nadir lower than 1 ng/ml, and group B(n = 42), with postoperative PSA levels greater than 1 ng/ml. In the univariate analysis there was a correlation between the variation of the PSA value and the percentage of resected tissue (p = 0.028), for each 1 g of resected prostate there was a reduction of 0.104 ng/mL, furthermore there was a difference between the means of age of group A (71.56 years) and group B (68.17 years) (p = 0.042). In the multivariate analysis, the use of statins and lower postoperative PSA levels (p = 0.024; HR = 3.71) were correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PSA after HoLEP is correlated with patient's age, the presence of incidental prostate cancer, and the use of statins.

Transvaginal ultrasonography for trigonitis diagnosis in women.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic trigonitis (CT) is usually diagnosed through cystoscopy which is invasive and expensive. Thus, an accurate non-invasive diagnostic method is necessary. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of transvaginal bladder ultrasound (TBU) for CT diagnosis. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2021, 114 women (17-76 years old) with recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) and history of antibiotic resistance were evaluated with TBU by a single ultrasonographer. As a control group, TBU was performed in 25 age-matched women with no previous history of UTI, urological or gynecological conditions. All patients with RUTI had undergone a cystoscopy with biopsy for diagnostic confirmation at the time of trigone cauterization. RESULTS: Thickening of trigone mucosa (>3 mm) was detected in all patients with RUTI and represented the most relevant criteria for trigonitis diagnosis on TBU. Other TBU findings in CT are: irregular and interrupted mucosa lining (96.4%), free debris in the urine (85.9%), increased blood flow at doppler (81.5%), mucosa shedding and tissue flaps. Biopsy showed CT with erosive pattern (58%) or non-keratinizing metaplasia (42%). Diagnostic agreement index between TBU and cystoscopy was 100%. In the control group, normal trigone mucosa is ultrasonographically regular, continuous, with thickness ≤3 mm and there is no debris in the urine. CONCLUSIONS: TBU proved to be an efficient, inexpensive and minimally invasive method to diagnose CT. To our knowledge, this is the first article that reports the use of transvaginal ultrasound as an alternative method for diagnosing trigonitis.

Videolaparoscopic prostatectomy in porcine model for training residents

ABSTRACT Introduction: Surgical training models prepare the resident for a more ethical surgical practice as well as providing a less steep learning curve. In urology, there are well-known models of pyeloplasty simulation, urethro-vesical anastomosis and nephrectomy, which have helped in the training of urology residents (1-3). Learning laparoscopic prostatectomy is a difficult surgery and requires advanced surgical skill from the surgeon (4), requires operate without a direct view of the surgical field in a two-dimensional space and with longer instruments (5). Laparoscopic prostatectomy step by step makes the surgeon's learning curve less difficult, lead to less intraoperative complications, such as blood loss, while also enabling shorter operative time and less positive surgical margins (6). The objective of surgical models is to simulate surgical procedures in a reliable way thus preparing the surgeon for his daily practice, surgical simulations in animal models have been described to compensate for inadequate clinical exposure (7). The canine model of prostate cancer has many similarities with humans. Despite trying to develop a model that is as credible as possible, there are ethical issues in several countries, such as Brazil, that do not allow the use of live dogs for scientific experimentation and there is a difficulty in not standardizing the animals used (8, 9). The swine surgical training model is widely known, accepted and used as a valuable tool in the teaching of new surgeons (10). The porcine video laparoscopic prostatectomy model allows the urologist in training to exercise the skills required in a real surgical situation, practicing them in a single session (10). We will present an experimental model in pigs for training urology residents in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with current techniques (11-13). The limitations found are that the prostate has no limits as well defined as in humans, the urethra is long and coiled, the fat surrounding the pelvic organs is scarce and there is no postoperative follow-up for evaluating functionality after the procedure, as well as the effectiveness of the surgery with surgical margins. However, it is similar in surgical model presented, it is reproducible and can provide a realistic simulation environment to the beginner surgeon. Material and Methods: In this paper, according to the institutional protocol approved by the institutional ethics and research committee FMUSP n° 964/2017 and protocol was in accordance with current international regulations for the use of animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guide. Ten male pigs weighing 20 to 22kg were used. The animals were anesthetized with a combination of Telazol (5mg/kg), Xylazine (1.5mg/kg), Cetamine (22mg/kg) and Atropine (0.04mg/kg) for orotracheal intubation followed by Isoflurane (2%). Animals were euthanized at the end of the procedure with a lethal dose of KCl (2mEq/kg). The trocar insertion points were marked using the epigastric vessels and umbilical region as reference points. Initially, urethral catheterization was performed using a hydrophilic Nitinol guidewire, followed by a perineal incision to dissect the tortuous urethra of the porcine model. A malleable urethral catheter 8Fr was inserted into their bladder. The animal was placed in the Trendelenburg position inserted and 12mm trocars were inserted in its umbilical region, utilizing 10mm in the surgeon's dominant hand, 5mm in his non-dominant hand of the surgeon, and 5mm in the first assistant's trocar. The surgeon replicates the steps performed in a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in humans, including the bladder catheterization, dissection of the anterior bladder plane, the vesicular and prostatic dissection, the suture of the dorsal venous plexus, a prostatectomy, an urethral vesical anast omosis, as well as the waterproof test, even including the performing of surgical steps using current concepts of anterior urethral suspension as the reconstruction of the posterior plane of the rhabdosphincter. Results: All steps of surgery could be reproduced in all ten porcine cases. No significant bleeding was observed and the surgical time was gradually reduced fifty percent from case one to last cases. Conclusions: The porcine model allowed the surgeon to replicate all the steps usually performed in a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The junior surgeons are better prepared to such difficult surgery. However, further studies will be necessary to prove the impact of the animal model presented in urological clinical practice.

Management of functioning pediatric adrenal tumors.

AIM: The aim of this study is to present our experience in the management of hormonally active adrenal tumors in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We did a retrospective chart review of all children with hormonally active adrenal tumors evaluated at the endocrinology clinic and operated at our institution between 1983 and 2019. RESULTS: There were 75 patients included in the study, 58 with adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) and 17 with pheochromocytomas (PCCs). Within the group of patients with ACTs, there were 41 females and 17 males. The mean age was 58.3 (SD: 87.9; range: 9-211) months. The clinical manifestation of the tumor's hormonal activity was virilization in 37 cases, Cushing syndrome in 5, and mixed in 16. A positive family history was present in 11 patients (18.9%). The mean tumor size was 48.2 (SD: 22.4; range: 7-120) mm. The pathological diagnosis was adenoma in 42 cases, carcinoma in 15 cases, and macronodular hyperplasia in 1. Median follow-up was 192 (range: 50-290) months. Tumor recurrence occurred in 6 patients (10.3%), and there were three disease-related deaths (5%). Within the group of patients with PCCs, there were 11 males and 6 females. The mean age was 146.7 (SD: 71.2; range: 60-216) months. A positive family history was present in 7 patients (41.2%). The mean tumor size was 36.6 (SD: 16.7; range: 7-120) mm. The pheochromocytoma was classified as benign in 15 cases and as malignant in 2. During a median follow-up of 180 (range: 127-300) months, recurrence was observed in 6 cases (35.3%) and disease-related death in 1 case (5.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Proper diagnosis and management at our referral center were associated with a high cure rate, even in cases of malignant tumors. Familial surveillance is highly recommended. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of a random pattern dorsal skin flap in rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the viability of random pattern dorsal skin flaps in rats after injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC). METHODS: Thirty five adult male Wistar EPM rats (weight 250-300 g) were distributed, at random, in two groups. I- Control (flap elevation with injection of saline solution) with fifteen animals and II- Experimental (flap elevation with injection of ADSC ) with fifteen animal. The ADSC were isolated from others five adult male rats. A dorsal skin flap measuring 10x4 cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and its bed in both groups and the injection (cells or saline solution) were perfomed immediately after the surgery. The percentage of flap necrosis was measured on the seventh postoperative day. RESULTS: The ADSC were able to replicate in our culture conditions. We also induced their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation to verify their mesenchymal stem cells potentiality in vitro. The results were statistically significant showing that the ADSC decreased the area of necrosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The cells demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro. The administration of adipose-derived stem cells was effective to increase the viability of the random random pattern dorsal skin flaps in rats.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of random skin flap in rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of random skin flap in rats. METHODS: Thirty five adult male Wistar rats (weight 250-300 g) were used. ADSC were isolated from adult male rats (n=5). ADSC were separated, cultured and then analyzed. A dorsal skin flap measuring 10 x 4 cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and its bed. After the surgical procedure, the animals were randomized into two groups (n=15 each group), group control and group ADSC. In all groups the procedures were performed immediately after the surgery. The percentage of flap necrosis was measured on the seventh postoperative day. RESULTS: The ADSC were able to replicate in our culture conditions. We also induced their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, verifying their mesenchymal stem cells potentiality in vitro. The results were statistically significant showing that the ADSC decreased the area of necrosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The cells demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro. The administration of adipose-derived stem cells was effective to increase the viability of the random skin flaps in rats.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of a random pattern dorsal skin flap in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the viability of random pattern dorsal skin flaps in rats after injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC). METHODS: Thirty five adult male Wistar EPM rats (weight 250-300 g) were distributed, at random, in two groups. I- Control (flap elevation with injection of saline solution) with fifteen animals and II- Experimental (flap elevation with injection of ADSC ) with fifteen animal. The ADSC were isolated from others five adult male rats. A dorsal skin flap measuring 10x4 cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and its bed in both groups and the injection (cells or saline solution) were perfomed immediately after the surgery. The percentage of flap necrosis was measured on the seventh postoperative day. RESULTS: The ADSC were able to replicate in our culture conditions. We also induced their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation to verify their mesenchymal stem cells potentiality in vitro. The results were statistically significant showing that the ADSC decreased the area of necrosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The cells demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro. The administration of adipose-derived stem cells was effective to increase the viability of the random random pattern dorsal skin flaps in rats. .

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of random skin flap in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) in the viability of random skin flap in rats. METHODS: Thirty five adult male Wistar rats (weight 250-300 g) were used. ADSC were isolated from adult male rats (n=5). ADSC were separated, cultured and then analyzed. A dorsal skin flap measuring 10x4 cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and its bed. After the surgical procedure, the animals were randomized into two groups (n=15 each group), group control and group ADSC. In all groups the procedures were performed immediately after the surgery. The percentage of flap necrosis was measured on the seventh postoperative day. RESULTS: The ADSC were able to replicate in our culture conditions. We also induced their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, verifying their mesenchymal stem cells potentiality in vitro. The results were statistically significant showing that the ADSC decreased the area of necrosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The cells demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro. The administration of adipose-derived stem cells was effective to increase the viability of the random skin flaps in rats. .

Avaliação de empatia em residentes de especialidades clínicas e cirúrgicas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo / assessment of empathy in medical residents of clinic and surgical specialties at the Federal University of São Paulo

No campo da saúde, a empatia é definida como um atributo com dimensões emocionais e cognitivas que possibilita uma compreensão das experiências interiores e da perspectiva do paciente como um indivíduo singular, somada à capacidade de comunicar esse entendimento ao paciente. A função da empatia médica seria identificar e compreender os sentimentos do doente, promovendo aumento na confiança, na lealdade e no respeito entre médico e paciente. Este estudo teve como meta avaliar a empatia de residentes entre o terceiro e o quinto ano da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, buscando verificar as possíveis diferenças entre a empatia dos clínicos e cirurgiões e sua relação com o perfil profissional.

In the field of health, empathy is defined as an attribute with cognitive and emotional dimensions that enables an understanding of inner experience and a perspective of the patient as a unique individual, plus the ability to communicate this understanding to the patient. The role of empathy is to identify and understand the patient's feelings, thus promoting an increase in trust, loyalty and respect between doctor and patient. Therefore, the following study was aimed at evaluating the empathy 3rd to 5th year medical residents from the Federal University of São Paulo to verify any possible differences between the empathy of physicians and surgeons and their relationship with the professional profile.