Bricker versus Wallace ureteroileal anastomosis: A multi-institutional propensity score-matched analysis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of our study is to evaluate the difference in stricture rate between matched groups of Bricker and Wallace techniques for ureteroileal anastomosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing urinary diversion (UD) with Bricker and Wallace ureteroileal anastomosis at two university hospitals. Two groups of Bricker and Wallace patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio based on the age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), preoperative hydronephrosis, prior radiation therapy or abdominal surgery, pathologic T and N stages and 30-days-Clavien grade complications≥III. A multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of ureteroenteric stricture (UES) in all patients. RESULTS: Overall, 740 patients met the inclusion criteria and 209 patients in each group were propensity matched. At a similar median follow-up of 25 months, UES was detected in 25 (12%) and 30 (14.4%) patients in Bricker and Wallace groups, respectively (p = 0.56). However, only one patient in the Bricker group developed a bilateral stricture compared to 15 patients in the Wallace group, resulting in a significantly higher number of affected renal units in the Wallace group: 45 (10.7%) versus only 26 (6.2%) in the Bricker group (p = 0.00). On multivariable extended Cox analysis, prior radiotherapy, presence of T4 pelvic malignancy and nodal positive disease were independent predictor of UES formation. CONCLUSION: The technique of ureteroileal anastomosis itself does not increase the rate of stricture; however, conversion of two renal units into one is associated with a higher incidence of bilateral upper tract involvement.

Risk factors for ureteroenteric stricture after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion: A systematic review.

Introduction: Ureteroenteric stricture (UES) is the leading cause of renal function deterioration after radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion (UD). The aim of the present review is to summarize studies that discussed the risk factors associated with UES development. Identifying the responsible factors is of importance to help surgeons to modify their treatment or follow-up strategies to reduce this serious complication. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature using the PubMed database was conducted. The target of the search was only studies that primarily aimed to identify risk factors of UES after RC and UD. References of searched papers were also checked for potential inclusion. Results: The search originally yielded a total of 1357 articles, of which only 15 met our inclusion criteria, comprising 13, 481 patients. All the studies were observational, and retrospective published between 2013 and 2022. The natural history of UES and the reported risk factors varied widely across the studies. In 13 studies, a significant association between some risk factors and UES development was demonstrated. High body mass index (BMI) was the most frequently reported stricture risk factor, followed by perioperative urinary tract infection (UTI), robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), occurrence of post-operative Clavian grade ≥ 3 complications and urinary leakage. Otherwise, many other risk factors were reported only once. Conclusion: The literature is still lacking well-designed prospective studies investigating predisposing factors of UES. The available data suggest that the high BMI, RARC and complicated postoperative course are the main risk factors for stricture formation.

Intraoperative Molecular Positron Emission Tomography Imaging for Intraoperative Assessment of Radical Prostatectomy Specimens.

In this prospective two-center feasibility study, we evaluate the diagnostic value of intraoperative ex vivo specimenPET/CT imaging of radical prostatectomy (RP) and lymphadenectomy specimens. Ten patients with high-risk prostate cancer underwent clinical prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) preoperatively on the day of surgery. Six patients received 68Ga-PSMA-11 and four 18F-PSMA-1007. Radioactivity of the resected specimen was measured again using a novel specimenPET/CT device (AURA10; XEOS Medical, Gent, Belgium) developed for intraoperative margin assessment. All index lesions of staging multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging could be visualized. Overall, specimenPET/CT correlated well with conventional PET/CT regarding detection of suspicious tracer foci (Pearson coefficient 0.935). In addition, specimenPET/CT demonstrated all lymph node metastases detected on conventional PET/CT (n = 3), as well as three previously undetected lymph node metastases. Importantly, all positive or close (<1 mm) surgical margins could be visualized in agreement with histopathology. In conclusion, specimenPET/CT enables detection of PSMA-avid lesions and warrants further investigation to tailor RP, based on a good correlation with final pathology. Future trials will prospectively compare ex vivo specimenPET/CT with a frozen section analysis for the detection of positive surgical margins and assessment of biochemical recurrence-free survival. Patient summary: In this report, we examined prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy specimens for suspicious positron emission tomography (PET) signals after preoperative tracer injection. It was found that in all cases, a good signal could be visualized, with a promising correlation of surface assessment compared with histopathology. We conclude that specimenPET imaging is feasible and may help improve oncological outcomes in the future.

Cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM) for evaluating learning curve (LC) of robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN).

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN) is becoming a standard treatment for localized renal tumors worldwide. Data on the learning curve (LC) of RALPN are still insufficient. In the present study, we have attempted to gain further insight in this area by evaluating the LC using cumulative summation analysis (CUSUM). A series of 127 robotic partial nephrectomies were performed by two surgeons at our center between January 2018 and December 2020. CUSUM analysis was used to evaluate LC for operative time (OT). The different phases of surgical experience were compared in terms of perioperative parameters and pathologic outcomes. In addition, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to confirm the results of the CUSUM analysis by adjusting the phases of surgical experience for the other confounding factors that may affect OT. The median age of patients was 62 years, mean BMI was 28, and mean tumor size was 32 mm. Tumor complexity was classified as low, intermediate, and high risk according to the PADUA score in 44%, 38%, and 18%, respectively. The mean OT was 205 min, and trifecta was achieved in 72.4%. According to the CUSUM diagram, the LC of OT was divided into three phases: initial learning phase (18 cases), plateau phase (20 cases), and mastery phase (subsequent cases). The mean OT was 242, 208, and 190 min in the first, second, and third phases, respectively (P < 0.001). Surgeon experience phases were significantly associated with OT in multivariate analysis considering other preoperative and operative parameters. Surgical outcome was comparable between the three phases in terms of complications and achievement of trifecta; hospital stay was shorter in the mastery phase than in the first 2 phases (4 days vs 5 days, P = 0.02). The LC for RALPN is divided into 3 performance phases with CUSUM. Mastery of surgical technique was achieved after performing 38 cases. The initial learning phase of RALPN has no negative impact on surgical and oncologic outcomes .

Impact of Surgical Experience Before Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy on Surgical Outcomes: A Multicenter Analysis of 2500 Patients.

Background: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is a challenging procedure that is influenced by a multitude of factors. Objective: To assess the impact of prior surgical experience on perioperative outcomes in RAPN. Design setting and participants: In this retrospective multicenter study, results for 2548 RAPNs performed by 25 surgeons at eight robotic referral centers were analyzed. Perioperative data for all consecutive RAPNs from the start of each individual surgeon's experience were collected, as well as the number of prior open or laparoscopic kidney surgeries, pelvic surgeries (open, laparoscopic, robotic), and other robotic interventions. Intervention: Transperitoneal or retroperitoneal RAPN. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The impact of prior surgical experience on operative time, warm ischemia time (WIT), major complications, and margin, ischemia, complication (MIC) score (negative surgical margins, WIT ≤20 min, no major complications) was assessed via univariate and multivariable regression analyses accounting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists score, PADUA score, and RAPN experience. Results and limitations: BMI, PADUA score, and surgical experience in RAPN had a strong impact on perioperative outcomes. A plateau effect for the learning curve was not observed. Prior laparoscopic kidney surgery significantly reduced the operative time (p < 0.001) and WIT (p < 0.001) and improved the MIC rate (p = 0.022). A greater number of prior robotic pelvic interventions decreased WIT (p = 0.011) and the rate of major complications (p < 0.001) and increased the MIC rate (p = 0.011), while prior experience in open kidney surgery did not. One limitation is the short-term follow-up. Conclusions: Mastering of RAPN is an ongoing learning process. However, prior experience in laparoscopic kidney and robot-assisted pelvic surgery seems to improve perioperative outcomes for surgeons when starting with RAPN, while experience in open surgery might not be crucial. Patient summary: In this multicenter analysis, we found that a high degree of experience in keyhole kidney surgery and robot-assisted pelvic surgery helps surgeons in achieving good initial outcomes when starting robot-assisted kidney surgery.