Training novice robot surgeons: Proctoring provides same results as simulator-generated guidance.

To understand the influence of proctored guidance versus simulator generated guidance (SGG) on the acquisition dexterity skills in novice surgeons learning RAS (robot assisted surgery). Prospective non-blinded 3-arm randomised controlled trial (RTC). Exclusion criteria: previous experience in RAS or robotic surgery simulation. The participants were assigned to three different intervention groups and received a different form of guidance: (1) proctored guidance, (2) simulator generated guidance, (3) no guidance, during training on virtual reality (VR) simulator. All participants were asked to complete multiple questionnaires. The training was the same in all groups with the exception of the intervention part. Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The Netherlands. A total of 70 Dutch medical students, PhD-students, and surgical residents were included in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Overall, all the participants showed a significant improvement in their dexterity skills after the training. There was no significant difference in the improvement of surgical skills between the three different intervention groups. The proctored guidance group reported a higher participant satisfaction compared to the simulator-generated guidance group, which could indicate a higher motivation to continue the training. This study showed that novice surgeons. Significantly increase their dexterity skills in RAS after a short time of practicing on simulator. The lack of difference in results between the intervention groups could indicate there is a limited impact of "human proctoring" on dexterity skills during surgical simulation training. Since there is no difference between the intervention groups the exposure alone of novice surgeons to the robotic surgery simulator could possibly be sufficient to achieve a significant improvement of dexterity skills during the initial steps of RAS learning.

Structured robot-assisted surgery training curriculum for residents in Urology and impact on future surgical activity.

To gain insight into the availability of training for robot assisted surgery (RAS) and the possibility to perform RAS during Dutch residency curriculum and to analyze the effects on surgical skills by the introduction of an advanced course in RAS for residents. A combination of a validated snap shot survey and a prospective cohort study. Structured advanced RAS training including virtual reality (VR) simulation, dry and wet lab facility at ORSI academy (Belgium). A snap-shot survey has been sent to all the residents and specialists in Urology graduated during the years 2017-2020 in Netherlands. Among residents, only last year residents (5th and 6th year) have been considered for the RAS training. Although most of the residents (88.2%) and young urologists (95%) were asked to follow a basic training or meet basic requirements before starting RAS, the requirements set by the educators were different from center to center. Some of them were required to attend only an online course on RAS, whereas others were asked to achieve threshold scores at VR simulator and participate in a standardized course at a training institute. The attendance to a structured advanced course in RAS showed a significant increase in surgical skills. Our study shows residents in urology are allowed to perform RAS during their residency though the criteria for starting RAS differ significantly amongst the teaching hospitals. To guarantee a basic level of skills and knowledge a structured, (multi-step) training and certification program for RAS should be implemented.

Linking surgical skills to postoperative outcomes: a Delphi study on the robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an assessment instrument for the evaluation of surgical videos to elucidate the association between surgical skills and postoperative outcomes after a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). DESIGN: A Delphi study consisting of two consecutive online surveys and a consensus group meeting. SETTING: Urology departments of general, teaching and university hospitals in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: All Dutch urologists with a specialization in RARP. RESULTS: Of 18 invited experts, 12 (67%) participated in the first online survey. In the second round, 9 of the 18 invited experts participated (50%). The Delphi meeting was attended by 5 of the 18 (27%) invited experts. The panel identified seven surgical steps with a possible association to postoperative outcomes. The experts also expected an association between adverse postoperative outcomes and the frequency of camera removals, the number of stitches placed, the amount of bleeding, and the extent of coagulation. These factors were incorporated into an assessment instrument. CONCLUSIONS: Experts in the field of RARP achieved consensus on 7 surgical steps and 4 aspects of the RARP procedure that may be related to adverse postoperative outcomes. The resulting assessment instrument will be tested in future research to determine its validity.

The use of a memokath prostatic stent for obstructive voiding symptoms after brachytherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Brachytherapy may be complicated by serious obstructive voiding symptoms (OVS). Only conservative treatment options are available in the first 6 months after brachytherapy. We evaluated safety, efficacy and patient tolerance of the Memokath prostatic stent (MPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A MPS was placed in 10 patients with OVS after brachytherapy. Evaluation included uroflowmetry, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume and urethrocystoscopy before and 3 months after placement of the stent. RESULTS: Both the IPSS and uroflowmetry results significantly improved after stent insertion. The mean IPSS decreased from 29/5 to 11/1 and the mean Qmax from the uroflowmetry improved from 4.7 to 11.2 ml/s. The 5 patients who were catheter dependent voided spontaneously with a mean Qmax of 15 ml/s. Two stents migrated towards the bladder, and those patients needed a second stent which was placed without complications. Removal of the stent was easy to perform. Adverse effects were minor with perineal pain and irritative voiding symptoms occurring in 5 patients mainly in the first weeks after insertion. This did not negatively influence quality of life and all patients were more satisfied with the stent than without. CONCLUSIONS: The MPS provides a safe, effective, and completely reversible treatment for patients with OVS after brachytherapy and was well tolerated.

Validation and implementation of surgical simulators: a critical review of present, past, and future.

BACKGROUND: In the past 20 years the surgical simulator market has seen substantial growth. Simulators are useful for teaching surgical skills effectively and with minimal harm and discomfort to patients. Before a simulator can be integrated into an educational program, it is recommended that its validity be determined. This study aims to provide a critical review of the literature and the main experiences and efforts relating to the validation of simulators during the last two decades. METHODS: Subjective and objective validity studies between 1980 and 2008 were identified by searches in Pubmed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. RESULTS: Although several papers have described definitions of various subjective types of validity, the literature does not offer any general guidelines concerning methods, settings, and data interpretation. Objective validation studies on endourological simulators were mainly characterized by a large variety of methods and parameters used to assess validity and in the definition and identification of expert and novice levels of performance. CONCLUSION: Validity research is hampered by a paucity of widely accepted definitions and measurement methods of validity. It would be helpful to those considering the use of simulators in training programs if there were consensus on guidelines for validating surgical simulators and the development of training programs. Before undertaking a study to validate a simulator, researchers would be well advised to conduct a training needs analysis (TNA) to evaluate the existing need for training and to determine program requirements in a training program design (TPD), methods that are also used by designers of military simulation programs. Development and validation of training models should be based on a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists (teachers), residents (learners), educationalists (teaching the teachers), and industrial designers (providers of teaching facilities). In addition to technical skills, attention should be paid to contextual, interpersonal, and task-related factors.

Virtual reality laparoscopic nephrectomy simulator is lacking in construct validity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several training models have been developed to improve surgeons' operative skills as well as patient outcomes. Before implementing these models in training programs, their usefulness and accuracy need to be assessed. In this study, we examined the ability of a laparoscopic nephrectomy (LN) virtual reality (VR) simulator to distinguish between different levels of expertise (construct validity). METHODS: Twenty-two novices (no LN experience), 32 intermediates (<10 LN procedures performed) and 10 experienced urologists (> or =10 LN procedures performed) performed the same retroperitoneal task on the LN VR simulator (Mentice, Sweden) three times, performing a practice task before and after the second time. Outcome parameters were time, blood loss, path length, and total score (combination of 62 different parameters). RESULTS: No significant differences were found between intermediate and experienced participants. Task 3 performance showed no significant difference between any of the groups. Both intermediates and experienced participants were significantly faster than novices on the first two tasks and had a better total score. Learning curves of intermediate and experienced participants were flat after task two. CONCLUSIONS: The LN-VR simulator did not distinguish between intermediate and experienced participants. The analysis of the learning curves suggests that the tasks measured dexterity in using the simulator rather than an actual improvement of operative skills. We conclude that the LN-VR simulator does not have sufficient construct validity and is therefore, in its present form, not suitable for implementation in a urologic training program.

Perceptions of surgical specialists in general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, urology and gynaecology on teaching endoscopic surgery in The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Specific training in endoscopic skills and procedures has become a necessity for profession with embedded endoscopic techniques in their surgical palette. Previous research indicates endoscopic skills training to be inadequate, both from subjective (resident interviews) and objective (skills measurement) viewpoint. Surprisingly, possible shortcomings in endoscopic resident education have never been measured from the perspective of those individuals responsible for resident training, e.g. the program directors. Therefore, a nation-wide survey was conducted to inventory current endoscopic training initiatives and its possible shortcomings among all program directors of the surgical specialties in the Netherlands. METHODS: Program directors for general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, gynaecology and urology were surveyed using a validated 25-item questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 113 program directors responded (79%). The respective response percentages were 73.6% for general surgeons, 75% for orthopaedic surgeon, 90.9% for urologists and 68.2% for gynaecologists. According to the findings, 35% of general surgeons were concerned about whether residents are properly skilled endoscopically upon completion of training. Among the respondents, 34.6% were unaware of endoscopic training initiatives. The general and orthopaedic surgeons who were aware of these initiatives estimated the number of training hours to be satisfactory, whereas the urologists and gynaecologists estimated training time to be unsatisfactory. Type and duration of endoscopic skill training appears to be heterogeneous, both within and between the specialties. Program directors all perceive virtual reality simulation to be a highly effective training method, and a multimodality training approach to be key. Respondents agree that endoscopic skills education should ideally be coordinated according to national consensus and guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: A delicate balance exists between training hours and clinical working hours during residency. Primarily, a re-allocation of available training hours, aimed at core-endoscopic basic and advanced procedures, tailored to the needs of the resident and his or her phase of training is in place. The professions need to define which basic and advanced endoscopic procedures are to be trained, by whom, and by what outcome standards. According to the majority of program directors, virtual reality (VR) training needs to be integrated in procedural endoscopic training courses.

Impact of comorbidity on treatment and prognosis of prostate cancer patients: a population-based study.

This study investigates the independent influence of serious comorbidity and age on treatment and survival of prostate cancer patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2002 in the southern part of the Netherlands. Eight percent of patients<60 years had two or more concomitant diseases versus 27% of those aged 80 years or older. The number of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy or curative radiotherapy decreased significantly with increasing age. The proportion of patients aged 60-69 years undergoing prostatectomy decreased significantly from 32% of patients without comorbidity to 17% of patients with two or more comorbid conditions and from 8% to 3%, respectively, of those aged 70-79 years. The risk of dying was significantly higher for patients with two or more comorbid conditions compared to patients without comorbidity. Serious comorbidity led to less aggressive treatment and negatively affected the prognosis of prostate cancer patients aged 60-79 years.

Transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of prostate cancer: state of the art and perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is an important tool in diagnosing prostate cancer. However, specificity and sensitivity of conventional grey-scale TRUS for the detection of prostate cancer are disappointingly low. New ultrasound modalities are designed to overcome the disappointing results and improve the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. This work is a review of the recent literature, combined with own experiences. METHODS: The papers were collected using a Medline search, combined with some papers by author selection. The terms used for the Medline search included among other things: transrectal ultrasound, prostate, prostate cancer, prostate biopsies, colour Doppler ultrasound, power Doppler ultrasound, contrast ultrasound. The authors used their own experiences for illustrations of various techniques. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Although several modalities show a significant improvement in sensitivity and specificity for the detection of prostate cancer, none of the TRUS modalities discussed can replace prostate biopsies as a definitive diagnostic. Several techniques, especially contrast ultrasound, show definitive promise. However, two valid conclusions can be made from the data presented. First: with today's technology, none of the TRUS modalities discussed can replace systemic biopsies in the early detection of prostate cancer. Second: none of the discussed TRUS modalities has found a definitive place in routine clinical practice.

Long-term survival of prostate cancer in southeastern Netherlands.

With the increase in detection at an early stage, only a few and conflicting results have been reported on the long-term outcome for prostate cancer beyond 10 years. The vast majority of prostate cancer patients diagnosed between 1955 and 1984 in southeastern Netherlands, with a population of almost one million inhabitants, did not receive any curative treatment. We calculated the prognosis for 10-year survivors of prostate cancer diagnosed in the era preceding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to determine how long these patients exhibited excess mortality. All patients under age 70 diagnosed with prostate cancer and registered in the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry between 1955 and 1984 were included in the study. Relative survival was calculated for those who survived for at least 10 years (n = 174). Initially, these patients still exhibited an almost 25% excess mortality risk, but this decreased with time and no excess mortality was found after 15 years.

Comorbidity in patients with prostate cancer and its relevance to treatment choice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of comorbidity among patients with prostate cancer in relation to tumour and patient characteristics and to assess if comorbidity was a determining factor in the treatment choice for patients with localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serious comorbidity was recorded in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry (according to a published list of such diseases) for all patients (2941) with prostate cancer newly diagnosed between 1993 and 1996 in the southern part of The Netherlands. Logistic regression was then used to assess which factors determined the treatment choice. RESULTS: The prevalence of at least one serious comorbid condition was 38% for patients aged 60-69 years, 48% when aged 70-74 years and 53% for those aged >/=75 years, the cardiovascular and chronic obstructive lung diseases being most frequent. Patients aged 60-69 years were more likely to be treated with radical prostatectomy for moderately differentiated tumour confined to the prostate, or when younger and diagnosed in a hospital with a high case-load. The presence of comorbidity had little influence of this choice. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity was common in patients with prostate cancer, but the decision of urologists in the southern Netherlands to use radical prostatectomy was determined largely by the patient's age and the urologist's experience.

Trend and variation in treatment of localized prostate cancer in the southern part of The Netherlands, 1988-1996. Regional Study Group for Urological Oncology IKZ, Eindhoven.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the large increase in the incidence of early prostate cancer has led to subsequent increased application of curative treatment and whether similar patterns of treatment were observed in the various hospitals in the area of this investigation. METHODS: Using the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, all patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1988 and 1996 in the southern part of The Netherlands were included in the study. Initial treatment was analyzed for 4,073 patients, of whom the proportion with clinically localized prostate cancer (T1-T3, M0-Mx) increased from 52% in 1988-1990 to 74% in 1994-1996. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy increased from 11 to 34% among patients under age 70. Especially in 1994-1996, a group of smaller hospitals (n = 11) with a rather low proportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy (5-52%) could be distinguished from a group of larger hospitals (n = 5) with a large proportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy (35-67%). Radiotherapy was a more frequent option in hospitals with low radical prostatectomy rates. The proportion of patients aged 70-74 years undergoing radiotherapy increased from 31 to 41%. Over 80% of the patients aged 75 years or older were treated conservatively during the whole study period. CONCLUSION: Increased detection of localized prostate cancer resulted in increased application of curative treatment for patients under 70 years of age, but a substantial variation was observed between hospitals in the application of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.

Treatment for extended-mid and distal ureteral stones: SWL or ureteroscopy? Results of a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: In a randomized study, we analyzed the treatment results of ureterorenoscopy (URS) and shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for extended-mid and distal ureteral stones. We investigated also, for reasons of cost effectiveness, the factors influencing the outcome, the complications, and the need for auxiliary procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In three regional hospitals, we selected 156 patients with extended-mid and distal ureteral stones. After randomization, 87 were treated with URS, and 69 with SWL. The treatment results were studied in relation to complications, the need for auxiliary procedures and stone factors, urinary tract infection (UTI), dilatation, and kidney function. RESULTS: After retreatment of 45% of the patients, the stone-free rate after 12 weeks in the SWL group was 51%. After a retreatment rate of 9% of the patients in the URS group, the stone-free rate was 91%. Including the number of auxiliary procedures, we calculated the Efficiency Quotient (EQ) as 0.50 for SWL and 0.38 for URS. After correction and redefinition of auxiliary procedures, the EQ was 0.66. The mean treatment time for SWL was 52 minutes and for URS 39 minutes. General anesthesia was more frequently needed in URS patients. Complications occurred more often in the URS group (22 v 3 and 24 v 13, respectively). These were mostly mild, and all could be treated with a double-J stent, antibiotics, or analgetics. A lower stone-free rate was achieved in patients with larger (> or =11 mm) stones (75% v 85% for smaller stones in the URS group and 17% v 73% in the SWL group. In the URS group, the stone-free rate of patients with extended-mid ureteral stones was lower than that of patients with distal ureteral stones. Calculating the costs for URS and SWL appeared impossible because of the differences in available equipment. CONCLUSION: The stone-free rate after URS is much higher than after SWL, and the EQ in our series was strongly dependent on definitions. The decision about how to treat a patient with an extended-mid or distal ureteral stone therefore should not be made primarily on the basis of cost effectiveness but rather on the basis of the availability of proper equipment, the experience of the urologist, and the preference of the patient.

Treatment of mid- and lower ureteric calculi: extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy vs laser ureteroscopy. A comparison of costs, morbidity and effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and costs of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) compared with ureteroscopy (URS) in the treatment of mid- and lower ureteric calculi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of patients treated primarily by ESWL and URS were analysed retrospectively. Treatment with ESWL included 63 patients (42 men and 21 women, mean age 52 years, range 23-78, 19 mid- and 44 lower ureteric calculi). All patients received 4000 shock waves at a mean energy setting of 18.1 kV. URS was used in 105 patients, with a 7.2 F miniscope or the 7.1 F flexible scope. Stones were fragmented with a pulsed-dye laser lithotripter at 504 nm and a power of up to 130 mJ (mean 53 mJ) using a 200 or 320 microns fibre. All ureteroscopies were performed with the patient under general (n = 17) or spinal (n = 87) anaesthesia in a mean treatment duration of 34 min. Stones were located in the mid-ureter in 24 patients and in the lower ureter in 80. The outcome was assessed by stone-free rates, re-treatment rates, time to become stone-free, complication and costs. RESULTS: ESWL for mid- and lower ureteric calculi resulted in a success rate of 90% and 81%, respectively, compared with 96% and 99% for URS. However, patients treated with URS were stone-free within 2 days, whereas patients in the ESWL group required up to 4 months. The best results for ESWL were achieved with stones of < 50 mm2. The costs of URS were higher than those for ESWL. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL provides a noninvasive, simple and safe option for the management of mid- and lower ureteric calculi, provided that the stones are < 50 mm2; larger stones are best treated by URS.

B-mode and colour-flow duplex ultrasonography: a useful adjunct in diagnosing scrotal diseases?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of ultrasonography (US) and colour-flow duplex ultrasonography (CFD) as routine investigations in the diagnosis of scrotal pathologies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The imaging techniques were applied to 215 consecutive patients with scrotal complaints. The diagnosis of a urologist (D1, made from the patient's history, physical examination and laboratory results) and that of the radiologist (D2, using US and CFD) were compared with the "gold standard' (D3, the operative findings and course of the disease). The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic pathways (D1, D2) were determined statistically and compared with D3. RESULTS: The final diagnoses (D3) were testicular torsion (13 patients), torsion of the appendix testis (5), epididymitis (42), inguinal hernia (7), tumour (11), trauma (9), hydrocele (46), epididymal cyst (37), orchitis (10), varicocele (46) and other diagnoses (8). Using D1, the urologist missed seven diagnoses, of which one was a patient with a testicular torsion combined with an inguinal hernia, and one a patient with a tumour. Using US and CFD (D2), the radiologist missed five diagnoses, including one patient with combined testicular torsion and inguinal hernia. CONCLUSION: For the diagnosis of scrotal disorders, the basic clinical evaluation usually provides the correct diagnosis. However, US and CFD are useful adjuncts which cause a minimal burden to the patient and that in most cases will lead to the correct diagnosis, especially with important diagnoses like testicular torsion, when US and CFD should be performed immediately. If this does not provide a clear diagnosis, the patient should be explored surgically.

The value of antibiotic prophylaxis during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the prevention of urinary tract infections in patients with urine proven sterile prior to treatment.

INTRODUCTION: There are controversies in the literature regarding the need for and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) who have a negative urine culture before treatment. In order to determine the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in ESWL treatment of patients with proven sterile urine, a randomized trial was performed. METHODS: Patients were randomized for placebo and 1 or 7 days antibiotic prophylaxis (cefuroxime or ciprofloxacin), starting 30 min before ESWL. Post-ESWL studies (immediately and 2 and 6 weeks after ESWL) included patient history, urine culture and Gram stain. RESULTS: After 2 weeks 20% of the patients and after 6 weeks 23% of the patients had bacteriuria, but there was no statistical significance between patients treated with placebo or those receiving prophylactic treatment. Only 2-3% of the patients (in the prophylaxis and placebo group) had clinical and bacteriological signs of a urinary tract infection, either 2 or 6 weeks after ESWL, possibly caused by re-infection, however, since bacteria were found in none of the urine samples collected directly after ESWL. There was no beneficial effect of antibiotic prophylaxis, in the prevention of urinary tract infections in patients with a nephrostomy catheter or dilatation at the site of treatment. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in patients with urine proven sterile prior to ESWL there is no need for antibiotic prophylaxis.

The effect of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) including digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate on the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA).

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) including digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate on serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a diagnostic centre for general practitioners serum PSA was determined in patients before, immediately after, and one week after TRUS including DRE. In a small group of patients PSA was determined at various times after DRE and TRUS. RESULTS: The PSA levels showed a statistically significant rise of 20% immediately after DRE and TRUS. After 7 days the PSA levels had returned to their initial levels. This decrease appeared to occur within the first 24 h. CONCLUSION: When applying the diagnostic triad PSA, DRE and TRUS blood samples for PSA should preferably be taken before DRE and TRUS. If blood samples are taken afterwards, it is safe to do so after seven days.