Management of patients who opt for radical prostatectomy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: an international accelerated consensus statement.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in definitive treatment of patients with prostate cancer. Beyond the immediate delay a backlog for future patients is expected. The objective of this work is to develop guidance on criteria for prioritisation of surgery and reconfiguring management pathways for patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer who opt for surgical treatment. A second aim was to identify the infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to achieve a low likelihood of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hazard if radical prostatectomy (RP) was to be carried out during the outbreak and whilst the disease is endemic. METHODS: We conducted an accelerated consensus process and systematic review of the evidence on COVID-19 and reviewed international guidance on prostate cancer. These were presented to an international prostate cancer expert panel (n = 34) through an online meeting. The consensus process underwent three rounds of survey in total. Additions to the second- and third-round surveys were formulated based on the answers and comments from the previous rounds. The Consensus opinion was defined as ≥80% agreement and this was used to reconfigure the prostate cancer pathways. RESULTS: Evidence on the delayed management of patients with prostate cancer is scarce. There was 100% agreement that prostate cancer pathways should be reconfigured and measures developed to prevent nosocomial COVID-19 for patients treated surgically. Consensus was reached on prioritisation criteria of patients for surgery and management pathways for those who have delayed treatment. IPC measures to achieve a low likelihood of nosocomial COVID-19 were coined as 'COVID-19 cold' sites. CONCLUSION: Reconfiguring management pathways for patients with prostate cancer is recommended if significant delay (>3-6 months) in surgical management is unavoidable. The mapped pathways provide guidance for such patients. The IPC processes proposed provide a framework for providing RP within an environment with low COVID-19 risk during the outbreak or when the disease remains endemic. The broader concepts could be adapted to other indications beyond prostate cancer surgery.

Extraperitoneal single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: initial experience and description of technique.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our technique of extraperitoneal single-port (SP) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and present our clinical experience with the first 10 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 10 consecutive patients diagnosed with localised prostate cancer underwent extraperitoneal SP-RARP using the da Vinci SP® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Exclusion criteria included previous surgery through an infra-umbilical midline incision, prostate size >100 g, or preoperative evidence of extraprostatic disease. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon with previous experience of >3000 cases in robotic surgery. Demographics and perioperative information were collected including: operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), complications, length of stay, and days with Foley catheter. The extraperitoneal SP-RARP is performed as follows. Firstly, a 3-cm incision ~2 cm below the umbilicus is made. Dissection of the extraperitoneal space is achieved using a kidney shaped Spacemaker™ balloon (Covidien, Dublin, Ireland), placed through the infra-umbilical incision caudally reaching the retropubic space. Thereafter, the balloon is deployed; the space is created and verified under direct vision with a laparoscopic endoscope. A GelPOINT® mini advanced access platform (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) is inserted and a dedicated 25-mm multichannel port is placed with a 12-mm accessory laparoscopic port through the gel-seal cap into the same incision. The da Vinci SP surgical platform robot is docked with the patient in a supine position. RARP is performed replicating the technique previously described for multi-arm platforms or transperitoneal SP-RARP. No drain and no additional assistant ports were utilised. RESULTS: The patient's ages ranged between 48 and 70 years, and the mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 9 ng/mL. No conversions or intraoperative complications were recorded. The median (interquartile range) operative time was 197.5 (185.5-229.7) min. EBL ranged between 50 and 400 mL, six patients were discharged on the same day as the surgery and the median time with a Foley catheter after surgery was 8 days. CONCLUSIONS: Extraperitoneal SP-RARP is a feasible and safe surgical option to treat localised prostate cancer. In our early experience, promising results and possible advantages were found such as: a small single incision, no additional ports, no Trendelenburg positioning, minimal postoperative pain and use of opioids, and same day discharge. Further investigations need to be done to validate these advantages.

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

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

Cavernosal nerve preservation during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is a graded rather than an all-or-none phenomenon: objective demonstration by assessment of residual nerve tissue on surgical specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the existence of different degrees of nerve sparing (NS) (graded NS) by comparing the surgeon's intent of NS with the residual nerve tissue on prostatectomy specimens. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 133 consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in January and February of 2011. The surgeon graded the amount of NS intraoperatively independently for either side as follows: 1, no NS; 2, <50% NS; 3, 50% NS; 4, 75% NS; and 5, ≥ 95% NS. A pathologist who was unaware of the surgeon's score measured the area of residual nerve tissue on the posterolateral surface of the prostate. RESULTS: A greater NS score correlated significantly with a decreasing area of residual nerve tissue on the prostatectomy specimens (P < .001). Overall, the area of residual nerve tissue on the prostatectomy specimens was significantly different among the NS groups (P < .001). On specific intergroup analysis, significant differences were found in the area of residual nerve tissue on the prostatectomy specimens between the greater NS groups: NS score 3 versus 4, median 13 mm(2) (interquartile range [IQR] 7-23) versus 3 mm(2) (IQR 0-8; P = .01); NS score 4 versus 5, median 3 mm(2) (IQR 0-8) versus 0.5 mm(2) (IQR 0-2; P = .001). CONCLUSION: Subjective NS classification using the surgeon's intraoperative perception correlated significantly with the area of residual nerve tissue on the prostatectomy specimens determined by the pathologist. It is possible to intentionally tailor the amount of NS performed at surgery. This finding demonstrates that NS is a graded rather than an all-or-none phenomenon that can even go beyond the traditional concept of complete, partial, or no NS.

The role of the prostatic vasculature as a landmark for nerve sparing during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Macroscopic landmarks are lacking to identify the cavernosal nerves (CNs) during radical prostatectomy. The prostatic and capsular arteries run along the lateral border of the prostate and could help identify the location of the CNs during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). OBJECTIVE: Describe the visual cues that have helped us achieve consistent nerve sparing (NS) during RARP, placing special emphasis on the usefulness of the prostatic vasculature (PV). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective video analysis of 133 consecutive patients who underwent RARP in a single institution between January and February 2011. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: NS was performed using a retrograde, antegrade, or combined approach. MEASUREMENTS: A landmark artery (LA) was identified running on the lateral border of the prostate corresponding to either a prostatic or capsular artery. NS was classified as either medial or lateral to the LA. The area of residual nerve tissue on surgical specimens was measured to compare the amount of NS between the groups. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: We could identify an LA in 73.3% (195 of 266) of the operated sides. The area of residual nerve tissue was significantly different whether the NS was performed medial (between the LA and the prostate) or lateral to the LA (between the LA and pelvic side wall): median (interquartile range) of 0 (0-3) mm2 versus14 (9-25) mm2; p<0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The PV is an identifiable landmark during NS. Fine tailoring on the medial border of an LA can consistently result in a complete or almost complete NS, whereas performing the NS on its lateral border results in several degrees of incomplete NS.

Robotic-assisted Heller myotomy versus laparoscopic Heller myotomy for the treatment of esophageal achalasia: a case-control study.

Minimally invasive surgery has become the gold standard for the treatment of achalasia. The incorporation of robotic technology can improve many limitations of laparoscopic surgery, through, for example, the availability of three-dimensional vision, increasing the degrees of movement, avoiding the fulcrum effect and optimizing ergonomics. The aim of this study was to compare robotic-assisted laparoscopic Heller myotomy (RAHM) with laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) in terms of efficacy and safety. Thirty-one patients with diagnosis of achalasia confirmed by esophagogram and manometry were included. Dysphagia and weight loss were the main complaints in both groups. 18 patients were treated with LHM and 13 patients with RAHM. There was no difference in mean operative time (76 ± 13 vs. 79 ± 20 min; P = 0.73). Intraoperative complications were less frequent in the robotic-assisted procedures (5.5% vs. 0%); however, this was a non-significant difference. 94.5-100% of patients had relief of their symptoms. We conclude that RAHM is a safe and effective procedure. The operative time is no longer than in LHM, but it is necessary to evaluate the technique in randomized clinical trials to determine its advantages in terms of intraoperative complications.

Critical review of 'pentafecta' outcomes after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in high-volume centres.

• Historically, the ideal outcome of radical prostatectomy (RP) has been measured by achievement of the so-called 'trifecta', or the concurrent attainment of continence and potency with no evidence of biochemical recurrence. However, in the PSA era, younger and healthier men are more frequently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Such patients have higher expectations from the advanced minimally invasive surgical technologies. Mere trifecta is no longer an ideal outcome measure to meet the demands of such patients. • Keeping the limitations of trifecta in mind, we have earlier proposed a new method of outcomes analysis, called the 'pentafecta', which adds early complications and positive surgical margins (PSMs) to trifecta. • We performed a Medline search for articles reporting the complications, PSM rates, continence, potency and biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted RP. Related articles were selected and individual outcomes were reviewed.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: case report and proposed training model.

We present a case of a 32-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of gallstone disease and choledocholithiasis. Prior to in vivo surgery, we practiced the critical steps of the procedure using a proposed inert training model. We performed a robot-assisted laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, obtaining one stone. The operating time was 140 min (console time: 120 min) with no complications during the procedure. The patient was discharged 2 days after the operation. Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery of the common bile duct is a safe and effective procedure and seems to have some benefits over conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Cirugía robótica en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la acalasia: primera experiencia en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas / Robotic surgery in the treatment of achalasia: first experience at the Hospital Universitario of Caracas

Reportar la experiencia inicial en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la acalasia asistido por robot en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Paciente masculino de 62 años de edad quien consultó por presentar disfagia de 6 meses de evolución, la endoscopia digestiva superior no mostró hallazgos patológicos, se realizó manometria donde se observó alteración del periltastismo y falta de relajación del esfínter esofágico inferior confirmándose el diagnóstico de acalasia. Se decide realizar tratamiento quirúrgico dentro del marco del programa de Cirugía Robótica del Hospital Universitario de Caracas. El paciente es llevado a mesa operatoria, donde se realizó miotomia de Heller y funduplicatura tipo Dor por vía laparoscópica asistida por robot, en un tiempo operatorio de165 minutos, sin complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento. El paciente es egresado satisfactoriamente a las 24 horas. El tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo de la acalasia asistido por robot, es un procedimiento seguro y factible, que parece aportar ciertas ventajas sobre la cirugía laparoscópica convencional.

To report the initial experience in robot assisted laparoscopic treatment of achalasia in the University Hospital of Caracas. Sixty two years old male patients who presented a 6 months history of dysphagia. The superior endoscopic study was normal and the esophageal manometry showed alteration in peristaltism with absent inferior esophageal sphincter relaxation, confirming the diagnosis of achalasia. The patient is referred to the robotic surgery program of the Hospital Universitario of Caracas. A robot assisted laparoscopic treatment of achalasia was performed. The operative time was 165 minutes, with no procedure associated complication reported. The patient was dischange 24 hours after intervention. The robot assited minimally invasive surgical treatment of the achalasia is a safe and effective procedure which apparently show some advantanges over traditional laparoscopy.

Resección laparoscópica mano asistida: de tumor del estroma gastrointestinal de Yeyuno / Laparoscopic hand resection assisted: gastrointestinal stromal tumor of ileum

Los tumores del intestino delgado son relativamente raros con una incidencia de 5 por ciento. Entre estos se encuentran los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal que son un grupo de neoplasias de origen mesenquimal y constituyen el 0,1 por ciento al 3 por ciento de los tumores del tracto digestivo. La presentación clínica es inespecífica, generalmente los pacientes consultan por hemorragia digestiva superior, dolor o tumor palpable. La determinación de marcadores es fundamental para la confirmación patológica y se sustenta con los estudios inmunohistoquímicos basados en la expresión de CD117 (receptor c-kit), CD34, desmina y proteína S100, para diferenciarlos de otros tumores mesenquimales, neurales y neuroendocrinos. El comportamiento clínico de este tipo de tumores es difícil de predecir. La resección quirúrgica con márgenes libres de lesión es el tratamiento de elección para las lesiones localizadas.

Tumors of the small bowel are relative rare with an incidence of 5 %. These kinds lesions we find in the stroma gastrointestinal tumors, there are a group of neoplasm mesenquimal original. They are constitutive 0,1 % to 3 % of the digestive tract tumors. The clinical presentation is no specific generally the patients consult for superior digestive bleeding, pain or palpable mass. The market determination is important to the pathological confirmation and are sustention with immunohistochemestry studies based in the expression of CD117 (c-kit receptor), CD34, desmine and S100 protein, to be differential of another tumors how mesenchyme, neural, and neuroendocrines. The biological clinical courses of these kinds of tumors are difficult to predict. The surgical resection with free lesion margins is the treatment of choice for the localized lesions.

Melanoma maligno metastásico a intestino delgado una causa poco común de abdomen agudo / Malignant melanoma of small intestine less common cause of acute abdomen

El melanoma maligno representa una de las patologías neoplásicas que con mayor frecuencia, ocasiona metástasis al tracto gastrointestinal. El intestino delgado, es la ubicación más común de estas metástasis; seguidas de lesiones localizadas en colon y estómago. Se debe mantener un alto índice de sospecha en aquellos pacientes con antecedentes de melanoma que consulten con síntomas inespecíficos referidos a la esfera gastrointestinal. La resección quirúrgica del segmento comprometido es la opción terapéutica paliativa de mayor efectividad y se justifica en pacientes sintomáticos con el único objetivo de corregir los síntomas agudos y prolongar la vida. Dada la escasa prevalencia del melanoma metastásico gastrointestinal como causa de abdomen agudo quirúrgico y la poca frecuencia con que éste se manifiesta sincrónicamente al momento del diagnóstico, se describe el siguiente ilustrativo caso clínico y se revisa la literatura médica disponible a este referente.

Instrumentación laparoscópica de la vía biliar bajo control fluroscópico: análisis luego de dos años de experiencia / Laparoscopic bile duct exploration under fluoroscopic guidance: analysis after two years of experience

Describir la experiencia en instrumentación laparoscópica de la vía biliar bajo control fluroscópico en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, longitudinal, donde se incluyeron a nueve pacientes que acudieron a la emergencia del Hospital Universitario de Caracas a cargo del servicio de Cirugía III entre febrero de 2005 y febrero de 2007, con indicación de exploración de la vía biliar. La edad promedio fue de 45 años (29-78 años). El porcentaje de éxito del procedimiento fue de 66,7%, la vía de abordaje de elección fue la transcística, siendo efectiva en un 44,5% de los casos; el resto se realizó por coledocotomía. El tiempo promedio para la exploración transcística fue 102 minutos y 210 minutos para la transcoledociana. Se convirtieron tres casos por presencia de cálculo enclavado en la ampolla y cálculo en la unión cístico-coledociana. La única complicación asociada al procedimiento fue un caso de diarrea postoperatoria. El tiempo de hospitalización promedio fue de dos días para la exploración transcística y cuatro días para la exploración transcoledociana. No se presentó ningún caso de litiasis residual. La exploración laparoscópica de la vía biliar guiada por fluroscopia es un procedimiento factible y seguro con bajas tasas de morbimortalidad y aporta los conocidos beneficios de la cirugía minimamente invasiva.

Vesícula biliar doble: reporte de un caso / Double gallbladder: a case report

Se presenta caso clínico de vesícula biliar doble en paciente femenina de 68 años quien consulta por presentar clínica de colecistitis aguda; el procedimiento quirúrgico se inicia por vía laparoscópica y ante la imposibilidad de identificación de estructuras anatómicas es convertido a cirugía convencional abierta donde se evidencia vesícula biliar doble, cada una de las cuales desembocaba en un conducto cístico separado, ambas con signos de inflamación aguda; una de ellas con múltiples cálculos; la otra, acalculosa, con un pólipo mayor de 1 cm en su interior. El estudio anatomopatológico reportó colecistitis crónica, colecistitis aguda severa y pólipo necrótico, respectivamente. La vesícula biliar doble es una variante anatómica poco frecuente la cual puede ser diagnosticada preoperatoriamente por imaginología y cuyo abordaje laparoscópico resulta exitoso.

We present a case of double gallbladder in a 68 year old female patient with diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. The procedure was converted to conventional open surgery due to difficult identification of biliary tract structures. In the laparotomy we found a double gallbladder with independent cystic duct. In one of gallbladder there was a cholelythiasis and a one centimetre in diameter polyp in the second one. The pathology study concluded acute cholecystitis and necrotic polyp. The double gallbladder is a very unusual anatomic variant. The preoperative diagnosis is based on imagenology and the laparoscopic approach is safe and effective in some cases.

Efecto de la goma arábiga como aditivo a las sales de rehidratación oral en la recuperación de ratas sometidas a una diarrea secretora-osmótica / Effectineness of arabic gum as an additive to oral rehydration in the recovery of rats subjected to secretory-osmotic diarrhea

La diarrea aguda es una de las primeras causas de morbi-mortalidad en la población infantil a nivel mundial. Su principal complicación es la deshidratación, la cual es tratada con sales de rehidratación oral (SRO). Actualmente se han desarrollado investigaciones en búsqueda de aumentar la eficacia de dicha terapia adicionando ciertas sustancias. Evaluar el efecto de la Goma Arábiga (GA) como adictivo a las SRO en ratas sometidas a diarrea secretora-osmótica. Metodología estudio experimental en 28 animales de experimentación (ratas), se dividieron en cuatro grupos: control, agua, SRO, SRO+GA; se les indujo diarrea osmótica secretora, posteriormente fueron sometidas a un tratamiento de acuerdo al grupo al cual pertenecían. El grupo con SRO+GA ganó 30,13 ± 0,56 g de peso (7,95 por ciento), ingirió 101 ± 32,48 ml de líquido, incrementó los niveles séricos de sodio y potasio en 7,47 por ciento y 90,84 por ciento, respectivamente; mientras que el grupo con SRO ganó 4,38 ± 3,23 g (1,32 por ciento), ingirió 69,5 ± 21,72 ml, los niveles séricos de sodio y potasio se incrementaron en 12,58 por ciento y 56,55 por ciento, respectivamente. Se encontró diferencias significativas para el grupo de SRO+GA en cuanto al incremento de peso, ingesta de líquidos y niveles séricos de potasio; mientras que para el grupo con SRO, fue el incremento de los valores séricos de sodio. La Goma Arábiga tiene un efecto proabsortivo como aditivo de las Sales de Rehidratación Oral y se recomienda la realización de otros estudios para así tratar de incrementar la eficacia de las SRO

Exploración laparoscópica de la vía biliar: primera experiencia en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas / Laparoscopic exploration of the biliary tract: first experience at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la experiencia inicial en la exploración laparoscópica de la vía biliar en pacientes con coledocolitiasis. Se evalúan cuatro casos de pacientes con coledocolitiasis a quienes se les realizó exploración de vía biliar por laparoscopia. Servicio de Cirugía III. Hospital Universitario de Caracas. El ultrasonido y las pruebas de funcionalismo hepático hicieron sospechar la presencia de cálculos en la vía biliar. En todos los casos se realizó colangiografía intraoperatoria, la cual constató la presencia de coledocolitiasis. Posteriormente se realizó exploración de la vía biliar por laparoscopia, por vía transcística con cesta de Dormia bajo control fluoroscópico, siendo esta vía efectiva en el 50 por ciento de los casos, el resto de los casos requirió realización de coledocotomía y uno de ellos se convirtió por la presencia de cálculo enclavado en la ampolla y dificultades técnicas. El tiempo operatorio promedio para la exploración transcística y transcoledociana fue de 105 y 210 minutos respectivamente. La única complicación asociada al procedimiento correspondió a un caso de diarrea postoperatoria. La evolución postoperatoria fue satisfactoria en todos los casos. La exploración laparoscópica de la vía biliar parece ser un procedimiento seguro y efectivo para el tratamiento de la coledocolitiasis, sin embargo, es importante tomar en cuenta la experiencia del equipo quirúrgico y la disponibilidad del instrumental para realizar el procedimiento. Es necesario proseguir con el estudio para continuar con el desarrollo de la técnica y establecer conclusiones definitivas.