The concentration of console surgeons: prospective evaluation of the loss of attention in robotic-assisted procedures.

To prospectively evaluate the possible loss of attention among console surgeons performing robotic-assisted procedures using a validated psychological test. The concentration of one console surgeon was assessed before and after 25 robotic-assisted procedures (radical prostatectomies) using the validated d2 attention test (computer-assisted, Hogrefe test systems, Germany). Error frequency, work rate, and accuracy of task performance were evaluated as parameters of the fluctuation in concentration. Data were correlated with clinical parameters, including console times, positive surgical margin rates and the use of a nerve-sparing procedure. Pre- and post-operative test results revealed no differences in the number of items performed, but a significant decline in the error-corrected performance between the pre- and post-operative tests was observed with increasing console time (p = 0.046; median console time 123 min.). No differences in the pre-operative tests for consecutive procedures (mean time between procedures 93 min.) were found, whereas the number of errors (missed items) increased in the post-operative tests (p = 0.0025). The measured differences in test results showed no association with the positive surgical margin rate. A planned nerve-sparing procedure tended to result in a lower level of concentration found in pre-operative testing (p = 0.07). Concentration decrease and loss of attention during robotic-assisted procedures can be measured validly using the d2 attention test. Longer console times lead to loss of attention but consecutive procedures do not decrease the test or surgical performance. Further studies need to address whether similar effects apply to the comparable open or other robotic procedures or to different levels of surgeons experience.

Prospective, Controlled Study of Invasiveness and Post-Aggression Metabolism in Patients Undergoing Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate in a prospective, controlled, nonrandomized study the surgical stress and acute-phase systemic response in robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) compared to open radical retro-pubic prostatectomy (ORRP) by measuring humoral mediators. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients undergoing either RALP or ORRP were prospectively included to assess the extent of systemic response. Blood samples were collected before surgery (T1), at the time of prostatectomy (T2), at the time of wound closure (T3), and 12 h (T4), 24 h (T5), and 48 h (T6) after surgery, and assayed for interleukins (IL-6 and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), and hemoglobin. A 2-sided p < 0.05 was considered to indicate significance. RESULTS: Baseline levels of IL-6, IL-10, and CRP were comparable in both arms of the study. IL-6 and IL-10 increased in both groups during surgery and reached maximum levels at 12 and 24 h after surgery. The RALP and RRP groups differed significantly at T2 (p = 0.009), T3 (p = 0.046), T5 (p = 0.05) and T6 (p = 0.0007) for IL-6, and at T3 (p = 0.05) and T4 (p = 0.05) for IL-10. CRP levels differed significantly at 48 h postoperative (p = 0.0053). The maximum levels of all 3 mediators in the RALP group were significantly lower than those in the open surgery group. Patients in the RALP group experienced less pain from day 2 to 4 according to the Visual Analog Scale (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that IL-6 and IL-10 are useful objective markers for surgical stress and that tissue trauma and activation of post-aggression metabolism seem to be less in RALP compared to ORRP.

Radical prostatectomy after previous transurethral resection of the prostate: robot-assisted laparoscopic versus open radical prostatectomy in a matched-pair analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine whether previous transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) compromises the surgical outcome and pathologic findings in patient who underwent either radical robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) or open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) after TURP, because TURP is reported to complicate radical prostatectomy and there are conflicting data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2008 to July 2010, 357 patients underwent RALP. Of these, 19 (5.3%) patients had undergone previous TURP. Operative and perioperative data of patients were compared with those of matched controls selected from a database of 616 post-RRP patients. Matching criteria were age, clinical stage, the level of preoperative prostate-specific-antigen, the biopsy Gleason score, the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification score, and prostate volume assessed during transrectal ultrasonography. All RRP and RALP procedures were performed by experienced surgeons. RESULTS: Mean time to prostatectomy was 67.4 months in the RALP group and 53.1 months in the RRP group. Mean operative time was 217 ± 51.9 minutes for RALP and 174 ± 57.7 minutes for RRP (P<0.05). The overall positive surgical margin rate was 15.8% in both groups (pT(2) tumors: 10.5% for RALP and 5.3% for RRP; P=1.0). Mean estimated blood loss was 333 ± 144 mL in RALP patients and 1103 ± 636 mL in RRP patients (P<0.001). The difference between preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels was 3.22 ± 0.98 g/dL for RALP and 5.85 ± 1.95 g/dL for RRP (P=0.0002). The RALP and RRP groups also differed in terms of hospital stay (8.58 ± 1.17 vs 11.74 ± 5.22 days; P=0.0037), duration of catheterization (7.95 ± 5.69 vs 11.78 ± 6.97 days; P=0.0016), postoperative complications according to the Clavien classification system (6 vs 15 patients; P=0.0027), and transfusion rate (0% vs 10.5%; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: RALP offers advantages over open radical prostatectomy after previous surgery. Although both techniques are associated with adequate surgical outcomes, RALP appeared to be preferable in our population of patients with previous prostate surgery.

Standardized comparison of prostate morcellators using a new ex-vivo model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transurethral laser enucleation of the prostate is a common therapeutic option for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. Evacuation of the enucleated tissue from the bladder is usually performed by electric morcellators. Until now, a standardized evaluation of the different morcellator settings does not exist. Therefore, we developed an ex-vivo model to find the best settings for four different morcellators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We morcellated pieces of a prostate adenoma after an open adenomectomy. The same speed settings were used to morcellate commercially available minced meat, fine pork sausage meat, and bovine heart, all of which had been cooked for 10 minutes using a Piranha Morcellator. We also morcellated raw pig perirenal fat tissue, raw pig liver, and raw bovine heart. The pieces were morcellated at different speed settings in an open water tank filled with saline. Because raw bovine heart showed to be the most equivalent tissue, we morcellated five pieces with four different settings of four different morcellators: The Piranha, the VersaCut, and two morcellator prototypes. RESULTS: The median retrieval rate for the prostate adenoma was 14.02 (3.7-19.8) g/min. The retrieval rate for raw bovine heart was 13.75 (5.66-20) g/min. The maximum morcellation rates of the morcellators were: Piranha 20 (19.3-21.4) g/min, VersaCut 10.8 (8.2-13.1) g/min, Karl Storz prototype 9.8 (7.9-10.76) g/min, and Richard Wolf prototype 38.6 (35.3-42.9) g/min. CONCLUSION: Raw bovine heart tissue is suitable for ex-vivo testing of prostate morcellators and can replace human prostate tissue in this standardized setting. In our ex-vivo study, the morcellation rates of the different morcellators increased with optimized oscillation speed and suction power settings. This needs to be confirmed in clinical studies.

Radiation exposure during endourologic procedures using over-the-table fluoroscopy sources.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluoroscopy is used daily by endourologic surgeons worldwide without knowledge of received radiation doses. We wanted to assess the radiation exposure of endourologic surgeons by frequently performed endourologic interventions with an over-the-table x-ray system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective single-center study, 235 endourologic interventions in 188 patients from April to September 2010 were included. Sixty-seven ureteral stent placements (USP), 51 ureteral stent changes (USC), 67 percutaneous stent changes (PSC), 11 percutaneous nephrolithotomies (PCNL), and 39 ureterorenoscopies (URS) were performed by 12 surgeons. The surgeon`s radiation exposure was measured with one thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) at the forehead and one at the ring finger. TLDs were analyzed at a central institute. The radiation dose detected at the forehead was counted as representative for the lens of the eye and the thyroid. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 60.6 (± 18.8) years. Analysis of the TLD showed the following average values at the forehead for each intervention: USP and USC 0.04 mSv; PSC 0.03 mSv; PCNL 0.18 mSv; URS 0.1 mSv. Average finger values are: USP 0.13 mSv; USC 0.21 mSv; PSC 0.20 mSv; PCNL 4.36 mSv; URS 0.15 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: This report evaluates surgeons' radiation exposure by everyday endourologic interventions of different complexity. Most can be performed with an over-the-table x-ray system without exceeding statutory limits. Especially for PCNL, surgeons should consider possible protective action.