A phase IIb randomized placebo-controlled trial testing the effect of MAG-EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplement on prostate cancer proliferation.

BACKGROUND: High prostate eicosapentaenoic fatty acid (EPA) levels were associated with a significant reduction of upgrading to grade group (GG) ≥ 2 prostate cancer in men under active surveillance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of MAG-EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplement on prostate cancer proliferation. METHODS: A phase II double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 130 men diagnosed with GG ≥ 2 prostate cancer and undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2015-2017 (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02333435). Participants were randomized to receive 3 g daily of either MAG-EPA (n = 65) or placebo (n = 65) for 7 weeks (range 4-10) prior to radical prostatectomy. The primary outcome was the cancer proliferation index quantified by automated image analysis of tumor nuclear Ki-67 expression using standardized prostatectomy tissue microarrays. Additional planned outcomes at surgery are reported including plasma levels of 27 inflammatory cytokines and fatty acid profiles in circulating red blood cells membranes and prostate tissue. RESULTS: Cancer proliferation index measured by Ki-67 expression was not statistically different between the intervention (3.10%) and placebo (2.85%) groups (p = 0.64). In the per protocol analyses, the adjusted estimated effect of MAG-EPA was greater but remained non-significant. Secondary outcome was the changes in plasma levels of 27 cytokines, of which only IL-7 was higher in MAG-EPA group compared to placebo (p = 0.026). Men randomized to MAG-EPA prior to surgery had four-fold higher EPA levels in prostate tissue compared to those on placebo. CONCLUSIONS: This MAG-EPA intervention did not affect the primary outcome of prostate cancer proliferation according to nuclear Ki-67 expression. More studies are needed to decipher the effects of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation in men with prostate cancer.

It is thought that our diet can impact our risk of cancer and affect outcomes in patients with cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids, mostly found in fatty fish, might be beneficial by protecting against prostate cancer and its adverse outcomes. We conducted a clinical trial to test the effects of an omega-3 dietary supplement (MAG-EPA) in men with prostate cancer. We randomly allocated 130 men to receive either MAG-EPA or a placebo for 7 weeks before their prostate cancer surgery. We measured a marker of how much tumor cells were proliferating (or growing in number) at the point of surgery, which might indicate how aggressive their disease was. However, the supplement did not affect tumor cell proliferation. The supplement was therefore not beneficial in this group of patients and further studies  are needed to test and confirm the effects of MAG-EPA on prostate cancer cells.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation on psychological symptoms in men with prostate cancer: Secondary analysis of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: In the general population, a higher omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake is associated with lower levels of several psychological symptoms, especially depression. However, the existing evidence in cancer is equivocal. METHODS: This phase IIB double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was aimed at comparing the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid monoacylglyceride (MAG-EPA) supplementation and high oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO; placebo) on depression levels (primary outcome) and other symptoms (anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, fatigue, insomnia, perceived cognitive impairments; secondary outcomes). Participants, recruited in a prostate cancer clinic, were randomized to MAG-EPA (3.75 g daily; n = 65) or HOSO (3.75 g daily; n = 65) for 1 year post-radical prostatectomy (RP), starting 4-10 weeks before surgery. Patients completed self-report scales at baseline (before RP) and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog). RESULTS: Analyses showed significant reductions in HADS-depression, HADS-anxiety, FCRI, ISI, FSI-number of days, and FACT-Cog-impact scores over time. A significant group-by-time interaction was obtained on FACT-Cog-Impact scores only; yet, the temporal change was significant in HOSO patients only. CONCLUSIONS: Several symptoms significantly decreased over time, mainly within the first months of the study. However, MAG-EPA did not produce greater reductions than HOSO. Omega-3 supplementation does not seem to improve psychological symptoms of men treated with RP.

Effects of Concentrated Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Quality of Life after Radical Prostatectomy: A Phase II Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial (RCT-EPA).

Prostate cancer (PCa) and associated treatments incur symptoms that may impact patients' quality of life. Studies have shown beneficial relationships between diet, especially omega-3 fatty acids, and these symptoms. Unfortunately, only few data describing the relationship between long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn3) and PCa-related symptoms in patients are available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of LCn3 supplementation on PCa-specific quality of life in 130 men treated by radical prostatectomy. Men were randomized to receive a daily dose of either 3.75 g of fish oil or a placebo starting 7 weeks before surgery and for up to one-year post-surgery. Quality of life was assessed using the validated EPIC-26 and IPSS questionnaires at randomization, at surgery, and every 3 months following surgery. Between-group differences were assessed using linear mixed models. Intention-to-treat analyses showed no significant difference between the two groups. However, at 12-month follow-up, per-protocol analyses showed a significantly greater increase in the urinary irritation function score (better urinary function) (MD = 5.5, p = 0.03) for the LCn3 group compared to placebo. These results suggest that LCn3 supplementation may improve the urinary irritation function in men with PCa treated by radical prostatectomy and support to conduct of larger-scale studies.

Perception and satisfaction of patients after telemedicine urology consultations: A matched analysis with physicians' perspective.

INTRODUCTION: During the first regional COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, we conducted a study aimed at evaluating completeness of telemedicine consultation in urology. Of 1679 consultations, 67% were considered completely managed by phone. The aim of the present study was to assess patients' experience and satisfaction with telemedicine and to compare them with urologists' perceptions about quality and completeness of the telemedicine consultation. METHODS: We contacted a randomly selected sample of patients (n=356) from our previous study to enquire about their experience. We used a home patient experience questionnaire, inspired by the Patient Experiences Questionnaire for Out-of-Hours Care (PEQOHC) and the Consumer Assessment Health Profile Survey (CAHPS). RESULTS: Of 356 patients contacted, 315 agreed to complete the questionnaire. Urological consultations were for non-oncological (104), oncological (121), cancer suspicion (41), and pediatric (49) indications. Mean patient satisfaction score after telemedicine consultation was 8.8/10 (median 9/10) and 86.3% of patients rated the quality of the consultation as either excellent (54.6%) or very good (31.7%). Consultations regarding cancer suspicion had the lowest score (8.3/10). Overall, 46.7% of all patients would have preferred an in-person visit outside of the pandemic situation. Among patients whose consultations were rated suboptimal by urologists, almost a third more (31.2%) would have preferred an in-person visit (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high reported patient satisfaction rates with telemedicine, it is noteworthy that nearly half of the patients would have preferred an in-person visit. Post-pandemic, it will be important to incorporate telemedicine as an alternative, while retaining and offering in-person visits.

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on perioperative blood loss and complications after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many dietary supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids (ω3), are suspected to affect blood coagulation and platelet function. Despite no clinical evidence, discontinuation is recommended before radical prostatectomy. However, long-chain ω3 (LCω3) appear beneficial against prostate cancer progression. Here, we aim to determine the effect of LCω3 supplements on perioperative bleeding, hemoglobin, platelets, and postoperative complications after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: This is a planned exploratory analysis of 130 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer grade group 2 or greater enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (NCT02333435) testing the effects of LCω3, on prostate cancer biological and pathological outcomes at radical prostatectomy as main outcomes. The LCω3 intervention (MAG-EPA 3 g daily) or equivalent placebo was given 4-10 weeks prior to radical prostatectomy. An intention-to-treat analysis approach was used with bi-variate statistical testing of bleeding and complications outcomes. We also estimated the difference between groups using linear regression and non-parametric quantile regression models. All models were adjusted for confounding variables selected on clinical relevance. RESULTS: We found no clinically significant effect of LCω3 versus placebo on perioperative bleeding, laboratory tests or postoperative complications. In contrast, as expected, we found a significant increase in perioperative bleeding in open retropubic radical prostatectomy compared to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (adjusted difference 115.8 mL, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ω3 supplements can be safely taken before radical prostatectomy without increasing surgical bleeding risk. These findings are relevant since ω3 may beneficially affect prostate cancer evolution.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is accurate for high-grade prostate cancer bone staging when compared to bone scintigraphy.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we compared 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and bone scintigraphy accuracies for the detection of bone metastases for primary staging in high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) patients to determine if 18F-FDG-PET/CT could be used alone as a staging modality. METHODS: Men with localized high-grade PCa (n=256, Gleason 8-10, International Society of Urological Pathology [ISUP] grades 4 or 5) were imaged with bone scintigraphy and 18F-FDG-PET/CT. We compared, on a per-patient basis, the accuracy of the two imaging modalities, taking inter-modality agreement as the standard of truth (SOT). RESULTS: 18F-FDG-PET/CT detected at least one bone metastasis in 33 patients compared to only 26 with bone scan. Of the seven false-negative bone scintigraphies, four (57.1%) were solitary metastases (monometastatic), three (42.9%) were oligometastatic (2-4 lesions), and none were plurimetastatic (>4 lesions). Compared to SOT, 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed higher sensitivity and accuracy than bone scintigraphy (100% vs. 78.8%, and 98.7% vs. 98.2%) for the detection of skeletal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG-PET/CT appears similar or better than conventional bone scans to assess for bone metastases in patients newly diagnosed with high-grade PCa. Since intraprostatic FDG uptake is also a biomarker for failure of radical prostatectomy and that FDG-PET/CT has been shown to be accurate in detecting PCa lymph node metastasis, FDG-PET/CT has the potential to be used as the sole preoperative staging modality in high-grade PCa.

A prospective, multisite study analyzing the percentage of urological cases that can be completely managed by telemedicine.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of telemedicine due to confinement measures. However, the percentage of outpatient urological cases that could be managed completely by telemedicine outside of the COVID-19 pandemic remains to be determined. We conducted a prospective, multisite study involving all urologists working in the region of Quebec City. METHODS: During the first four weeks of the regional confinement, 18 pediatric and adult urologists were asked to determine, after each telemedicine appointment, if it translated into a complete (CCM), incomplete (ICM), or suboptimal case management (SCM, adequate only in the context of the pandemic). RESULTS: A total of 1679 appointments representing all urological areas were registered. Overall, 67.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 65.3; 69.8), 27.1% (25.0; 29.3), and 4.3% (3.5; 5.4) were reported as CCM, SCM, and ICM, respectively. The CCM ratio varied according to the reason for consultation, with cancer suspicion (52.9% [42.9; 62.8]) and pediatric reasons (38.0% [30.0; 46.6]) showing the lowest CCM percentages. CCM percentages also varied significantly based on the setting where it was performed, ranging from 61.1% (private clinic) to 86.8% (endourology and general hospital). CONCLUSIONS: We show that two-thirds of all urological outpatient cases could be completely managed by telemedicine outside of the pandemic. After the pandemic, it will be important to incorporate telemedicine as an alternative for a patient's first or followup visit, especially those with geographical, pathological, and socioeconomic considerations.

Increased Prostate Cancer Glucose Metabolism Detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Localised Gleason 8-10 Prostate Cancers Identifies Very High-risk Patients for Early Recurrence and Resistance to Castration.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to stage prostate cancer (PCa) is limited. However, Gleason 8-10 PCa and more aggressive metastatic PCa have been shown to exhibit a higher glycolytic activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of intraprostatic FDG uptake to prognose Gleason 8-10 PCa patients prior to prostatectomy, based on tumour intrinsic biology. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: FDG-PET/CT and a bone scan were performed as a staging procedure prior to prostatectomy in 148 consecutive patients diagnosed with PCa with a Gleason sum of ≥8 at biopsy. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The FDG-PET/CT images were blind reviewed. Lymph node (LN) metastasis and intraprostatic FDG uptake were systematically recorded, and correlated with the patients' clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: FDG-PET/CT detected foci of intraprostatic FDG uptake in 66% of patients. An intraprostatic FDG uptake of maximum intraprostatic standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of ≥4.6 was statistically significantly associated with a higher pathological Gleason ≥8, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and pathological LN metastasis. In multivariate analysis, an intraprostatic SUVmax of ≥4.6 was associated with a two-fold increased risk of biochemical recurrence in the year following surgery. Patients with an intraprostatic SUVmax of ≥4.6 had estimated median biochemical recurrence-free survival (BFS) of 11.3mo compared with 49.5mo for those with a lower SUVmax. Finally, high intraprostatic FDG uptake was associated with shorter time to castration resistance following radical prostatectomy (RP). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intraprostatic FDG uptake is an integrator of adverse pathological prognostic factors, predicting BFS and castration resistance following RP in patients with a Gleason score ≥8 PCa at biopsy. These results support the use of preoperative FDG-PET/CT as a tool to distinguish at diagnosis very high-risk Gleason 8-10 PCa patients in whom novel neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies should be explored. PATIENT SUMMARY: This study shows that an increased use of glucose by prostate cancer cells detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography molecular imaging can identify aggressive prostate cancers.

Prognostic value of urinary prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) during active surveillance of patients with low-risk prostate cancer receiving 5α-reductase inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical performance of the urinary prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) test to predict the risk of Gleason grade re-classification amongst men receiving a 5α-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) during active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with low-risk prostate cancer were enrolled in a prospective Phase II study of AS complemented with prescription of a 5ARI. A repeat biopsy was taken within the first year and annually according to physician and patient preference. In all, 90 patients had urine collected after digital rectal examination of the prostate before the first repeat biopsy. The PCA3 test was performed in a blinded manner at a central laboratory. RESULTS: Using a PCA3-test score threshold of 35, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the risk of being diagnosed with Gleason ≥7 cancer during a median of 7 years of follow-up. Adjusted Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses also showed a significantly higher risk of upgrading to Gleason ≥7 during follow-up for those with a higher PCA3-test score. CONCLUSION: The urinary PCA3 test predicted Gleason grade re-classification amongst patients receiving a 5ARI during AS for low-risk prostate cancer.

FDG-PET/CT for pre-operative staging and prognostic stratification of patients with high-grade prostate cancer at biopsy.

BACKGROUND: The role of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well defined yet. Because high-grade PCa tends to exhibit increased glycolytic rate, FDG-PET/CT could be useful in this setting. The aim of this study was to assess the value of FDG-PET/CT for pre-operative staging and prognostic stratification of patients with high-grade PCa at biopsy. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with a Gleason sum≥8 PCa at biopsy underwent FDG-PET/CT as part of the staging workup. Thirty-nine patients underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection, 2 underwent LN dissection only, and 13 underwent non-surgical treatments. FDG-PET/CT findings from clinical reports, blinded reading and quantitative analysis were correlated with clinico-pathological characteristics at RP. RESULTS: Suspicious foci of increased FDG uptake were found in the prostate, LNs and bones in 44, 13 and 6% of patients, respectively. Higher clinical stage, post-RP Gleason sum and pattern, and percentage of cancer involvement within the prostate were significantly associated with the presence of intraprostatic FDG uptake (IPFU) (P<0.05 in all cases). Patients without IPFU who underwent RP were downgraded to Gleason≤7 in 84.6% of cases, as compared to 30.8% when IPFU was reported (P=0.003). Qualitative and quantitative IPFU were significantly positively correlated with post-RP Gleason pattern and sum, and pathological T stage. Absence and presence of IPFU were associated with a median 5-year cancer-free survival probability of 70.2 and 26.9% (P=0.0097), respectively, using the CAPRA-S prognostic tool. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, among patients with a high-grade PCa at biopsy, FDG-PET/CT could improve pre-treatment prognostic stratification by predicting primary PCa pathological grade and survival probability following RP.

Are warm ischemia and ischemia time still predictive factors of poor renal function after partial nephrectomy in the setting of elective indication?

PURPOSE: To evaluate renal function and to identify factors associated with renal dysfunction in the elective indications setting of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed operative data and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 519 patients treated by NSS in an elective indications setting between 1984 and 2006 in eight academic institutions. A GFR decrease under the thresholds of 60 or 45 ml/min at last follow-up was considered a significant renal dysfunction. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to assess multiple factors of renal function. RESULTS: Median age, tumor size, preoperative, and final GFR were 59.5 years (27-84), 2.7 cm (0.9-11), 79 (45-137), and 69 ml/min (p < 0.0001), respectively, with a median follow-up of 23 months (1-416). Hilar clamping was performed in 375 procedures (72.3 %). Significant GFR decrease was observed in 89 patients (17.1 %). Median operating time, hilar clamping duration, and blood loss were 137 min (55-350), 22 min (0-90), and 150 ml (0-4150), respectively. At univariate analysis, age (p = 0.002), preoperative GFR (p = 0.001), pedicular clamping (p = 0.01), and ischemia time (p = 0.0001) were associated with renal dysfunction. Age (p = 0.004; HR 1.2), pedicular clamping (p = 0.04; HR 1.3), and ischemia time (p = 0.0001; HR 1.8) remained independent risk factors for renal function deterioration in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Non- or time-limited clamping techniques are associated with preservation of renal function in the elective indications setting of NSS.

Cystatin C for early detection of acute kidney injury after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Mortality due to AKI has not changed significantly over the past 50 years. This is due in part to failure to detect early AKI and to initiate appropriate therapeutic measures. There is therefore a need to identify biomarkers that would improve the early detection of AKI. The objective of this study was to assess whether cystatin C levels obtained at specific timepoints during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) could be early predictors of AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients underwent laparoscopic PN for organ-confined tumors. All procedures were performed by two surgeons in a single institution. Plasma samples were collected preoperatively, and post-unclamping at 5, 20, 120 min and on the day following surgery. Plasma cystatin C was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation between levels of cystatin C and other parameters of interest were assessed in order to define cystatin C ability to predict AKI and loss of renal function following laparoscopic PN. RESULTS: The mean baseline eGFR was 93 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Warm ischemia time varied between 16 and 44 min. Post-operative day 1 (POD1) cystatin C levels compared to baseline were increased in 13 (52%) of the patients. There was a high correlation between the difference of POD 1 and baseline value, and eGFR in the immediate postoperative period (r = -0.681; P = 0.0002) and at 12-month follow-up (r = -0.460, P = 0.048). However, the variation in cystatin C levels at earlier timepoints were not associated to AKI nor renal function. CONCLUSIONS: High increase in POD 1 cystatin C levels from baseline may help identify patients with AKI and those at higher risk of chronic kidney disease, following laparoscopic PN.

The impact of solitary and multiple positive surgical margins on hard clinical end points in 1712 adjuvant treatment-naive pT2-4 N0 radical prostatectomy patients.

BACKGROUND: Positive surgical margins (PSMs) increase the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP), but their impact on hard clinical end points is a topic of ongoing discussion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of solitary PSMs (sPSMs) and multiple PSMs (mPSMs) on important clinical end points. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 1712 patients from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec with pT2-4 N0 prostate cancer (PCa) and undetectable prostate-specific antigen after RP were analyzed. INTERVENTION: RP without neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated survival functions, and Cox proportional hazards models addressed predictors of clinical end points. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Median follow-up was 74.9 mo. A total of 1121 patients (65.5%) were margin-negative, 281 patients (16.4%) had sPSMs, and 310 patients (18.1%) had mPSMs. A total of 280 patients (16.4%) experienced BCR, and 197 patients (11.5%) were treated with salvage radiotherapy (SRT). Sixty-eight patients (4.0%) received definitive androgen deprivation therapy, 19 patients (1.1%) developed metastatic disease, and 15 patients (0.9%) had castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Thirteen patients (0.8%) died from PCa, and 194 patients (11.3%) died from other causes. Ten-year Kaplan-Meier estimates for BCR-free survival were 82% for margin-negative patients, 72% for patients with sPSMs, and 59% for patients with mPSMs (p<0.0001). Time to metastatic disease, CRPC, PCa-specific mortality (PCSM), or all-cause mortality did not differ significantly among the three groups (p=0.991, p=0.988, p=0.889, and p=0.218, respectively). On multivariable analysis, sPSMs and mPSMs were associated with BCR (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.711; p=0.001 and HR: 2.075; p<0.0001), but sPSMs and mPSMs could not predict metastatic disease (p=0.705 and p=0.242), CRPC (p=0.705 and p=0.224), PCSM (p=0.972 and p=0.260), or all-cause death (p=0.102 and p=0.067). The major limitation was the retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of patients who received early SRT in 70% of cases upon BCR, sPSMs and mPSMs predicted BCR but not long-term clinical end points. Adjuvant radiotherapy for margin-positive patients might not be justified, as only a minority of patients progressed to end points other than BCR. PCSM was exceeded 15-fold by competing risk mortality.

Prospective study comparing two techniques of renal clamping in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: impact on perioperative parameters.

PURPOSE: To compare en bloc and artery-only clamping techniques on renal function and perioperative outcomes after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to December 2008, 205 patients underwent LPN by one surgeon in a single institution. The first 103 LPNs were achieved with artery-only clamping (AO), and the last 102 LPNs were realized under control of the renal hilum (artery and vein [AV] clamping). Renal function was evaluated by creatinine changes, estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and assessment of split renal function using renal mercaptoacetyl triglycine-Lasix scintigraphy. Sixty-two of 205 patients had renal scintigraphy before and after surgery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic data and renal mass characteristics. Warm ischemia time (WIT) was higher in the AO group: 30.4 ± 8.2 vs 23.3 minutes ± 10.0 (P<0.0001). The eGFR change was significantly lower in the AV group during the postoperative period: 10.2 mL/min vs 13.7 mL/min (P=0.0472). Operative blood loss, operative time, and complication rate were not statistically different between groups. Average loss of differential function of the operated kidney was 13.6 ± 9.2% for the AO group and 14.3 ± 12.3% for the AV group (P=0.8016). On multivariate analysis, clamping technique was not a predictive factor of renal function reduction. CONCLUSION: AV and AO techniques are associated with similar renal function outcomes in patients who were undergoing LPN. In our series, the AV technique was associated with a lower WIT, an important predictor of decrease in renal function.

Multivariate analysis of the factors involved in loss of renal differential function after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a role for warm ischemia time.

BACKGROUND: Partial nephrectomy (PN) is now the gold standard for the surgical treatment of small renal masses. We evaluated the effect of WIT and other factors on RDF assessed by preoperative and postoperative renal scintigraphy. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2008, 182 consecutive laparoscopic PN (LPN) were performed in an academic centre. Among those, 56 had mercaptoacetyl triglycine (MAG3) lasix renal scintigraphy preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Medians for age, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate and computed tomography scan tumour size were 62 years, 82 mL/min/1.73m(2) and 26 mm, respectively. Median WIT and preoperative RDF were 30 minutes and 50%, respectively. Median loss of RDF after surgery was 14%. Linear regression curves showed that loss in RDF rate was 0.2% per minute when WIT was <30 minutes and 0.7% per minute when WIT was ≥30 minutes. In multivariate analysis, length of WIT and endophytic tumour location were associated with a statistically significant loss of RDF (p < 0.05), but only in the group who experienced >30 minutes of WIT. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that the factors associated with loss of RDF are not the same before and after 30 minutes of WIT and that the rate of loss in RDF increases after 30 minutes. Since, the effect of WIT is small up to 30 minutes, we believe that surgery should focus on limiting the resection of normal parenchyma and to ensure negative margins and hemostasis, rather than on premature unclamping.

Determination of success by objective scintigraphic criteria after laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) is a minimally invasive technique with high success rates that match open procedures. There are a variety of success definitions. We have defined and reported our success rate by objective renal scintigraphic criteria. We also compare our scintigraphic success with clinical success defined by absence of pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 111 adult cases of laparoscopic pyeloplasties. The Anderson-Hynes technique was used in 98% of cases. nonprimary pyeloplasties represented 12 cases of our series. Renal scintigraphic success rates were defined as: strict (T(1/2) <10 min), nonobstructive (T(1/2) <20 min), and technical success (improved T(1/2)). Of our patients, 83% had renal scintigraphy before and after surgery. RESULTS: Average operative time was 128 +/- 45 minutes, blood loss was 52 +/- 168 mL, and median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. After surgery, T(1/2) was decreased by 26 minutes for a median time of 13 minutes. Strict success was achieved in 61% of cases, while nonobstructive success and technical success were achieved in 86% and 93%, respectively. No difference in success was observed between primary and nonprimary cases. Clinical success (absence of symptoms) was achieved in 95% of LPs. We also show that 75% of patients who had obstruction after LP based on scintigraphic criteria were asymptomatic, showing a poor correlation between symptoms and obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: By defining success with renal scintigraphic criteria, we still obtain a high success rate. When using strict criteria, however, the success decreases and might identify patients at risk of late recurrence.

Positive surgical margin appears to have negligible impact on survival of renal cell carcinomas treated by nephron-sparing surgery.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after partial nephrectomy (PN) is rare, and little is known about their natural history. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive factors of cancer recurrence and related death in patients having a PSM following PN. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Some 111 patients with a PSM were identified from a multicentre retrospective survey and were compared with 664 negative surgical margin (NSM) patients. A second cohort of NSM patients was created by matching NSM to PSM for indication, tumour size, and tumour grade. MEASUREMENTS: PSM and NSM patients were compared using student t tests and chi-square tests on independent samples. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to test the independent effects of clinical and pathologic variables on survival. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Mean age at diagnosis was 61+/-12.5 yr. Mean tumour size was 3.5+/-2 cm. Imperative indications accounted for 39% (43 of 111) of the cases. Some 18 patients (16%) underwent a second surgery (partial or total nephrectomy). With a mean follow-up of 37 mo, 11 patients (10%) had recurrences and 12 patients (11%) died, including 6 patients (5.4%) who died of cancer progression. Some 91% (10 of 11) of the patients who had recurrences and 83% of the patients (10 of 12) who died belonged to the group with imperative surgical indications. Rates of recurrence-free survival, of cancer-specific survival, and of overall survival were the same among NSM patients and PSM patients. The multivariable Cox model showed that the two variables that could predict recurrence were the indication (p=0.017) and tumour location (p=0.02). No other variable, including PSM status, had any effect on recurrence. None of the studied parameters had any effect on the rate of cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: PSM status occurs more frequently in cases in which surgery is imperative and is associated with an increased risk of recurrence, but PSM status does not appear to influence cancer-specific survival. Additional follow-up is needed.

Chylous ascites as a complication of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN) is a minimally invasive technique for kidney procurement and was developed with the hope of reducing the disincentives associated with live renal donation. Compared with open donor nephrectomy (ODN), this alternative has many advantages including less postoperative pain and earlier return to work. Unfortunately, these benefits are sometimes negated by postoperative complications. Among these, chylous ascites (CA) is a rare but serious problem that is usually managed conservatively. We report the case of a living donor who developed CA refractory to initial conservative management and surgical treatment. We also discuss the role of surgery in the treatment of CA following LLDN.

Dentocraniofacial morphology of 21 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate: a cephalometric study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the skeletal and dental craniofacial proportions of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients who were operated upon using the Malek technique, and compare them with a normal group to highlight the effect of surgical correction on craniofacial development during growth. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: The cleft palate was closed using the Malek technique in a single operation at 3 months for 11 patients (complete closure of lip and palate) and in a two-stage operation for 10 patients (soft palate at 3 months, lip and hard palate at 6 months). Comparisons were made with a normal control group. Angular and linear measurements of anterior and posterior dimensions of the upper and lower compartments of the face were measured in the 7th and 12th years. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No significant differences were observed between the two groups of palate technique repair, although significant differences were observed between craniofacial dimensions of normal versus cleft lip and palate patients. At a skeletal level, the maxilla and mandible were retrusive relative to the cranial base in the cleft lip and palate group. In fact, there was a backward rotation of the palatal plane with repercussions on the maxillo-mandibular complex position. Furthermore, the maxilla was shorter than in normal patients, whereas the mandible was normally shaped. The upper incisors were retroclined and they locked the lower incisors in linguoversion. There was a posterior skeletal deficit of the respiratory compartment, compensated by more marked posterior maxillary alveolar growth. Facial growth in cleft lip and palate patients followed the same pattern, but was delayed compared with normal patients.

[Postoperative chylous ascites in urology]. / L'ascite chyleuse postopératoire en urologie.

Postoperative chylous ascites is a rare complication after retroperitoneal surgery. It is a complex problem associated with nutritionnal and immunological consequences. Urologists should be able to manage this complication linked to many urological procedures. Incidence of chylous ascites seems to increase with time probably because more complex surgical interventions. Diagnosis is usually suspected based on clinical abdominal symptoms. Diagnostic paracentesis shows milky fluid with high triglyceride and lymphocyte content. Treatment is classicaly based on dietary interventions with the goal to decrease fistula's lymph flow. Somatostatin analog is a very efficient adjuvant therapy and should be used early in the course of treatment. Surgery is usually attempted in patients who have failed conservative modalities. Because chylous ascites is rare, no clear management guidelines exist. Treatment should be individualized and tailored according to severity of lymphatic leakage, its consequences and the patient health status.