[Evolution of open versus laparoscopic/robotic surgery: 10 years of changes in urology]. / Evolución de la cirugía abierta versus laparoscópica/robótica: 10 años de cambios en Urología.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery has been increasingly used in urology in recent years. Laparoscopy has been performed at our center since 2001. Changes over time in the indication of open versus laparoscopic/robotic surgery, hospital stay, and learning curve are reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of our database from 1997 to the end of 2007. A total of 3622 procedures were performed during this time (endoscopic procedures were excluded): 67.75% open, 26.17% laparoscopic, 2.29% perineal, and 3.78% robotic surgeries. Of these, 83.79% were performed in males and 16.20% in females. Mean patient age was 58.8 years. Data from the study period, including mean hospital stay and changes over time in operating time as a function of the learning curve, were analyzed and compared to data for the last 12 months of the study period. RESULTS: The percentages of all surgical procedures performed using a laparoscopic approach in the 1997-2006 versus the last 12 study months were as follows: nephrectomy, 31.8% versus 74.7%; living donor nephrectomy, 93% versus 100%; nephroureterectomy, 28.1% vs. 93.4%; partial nephrectomy, 31.3% vs 87%; and radical prostatectomy, 17.6% versus 73.5% including laparoscopic and robotic approaches. Shorter mean hospital stays and operating times were also seen. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the laparoscopic approach has greatly increased in the 10-year period studied. In renal surgery, few indications remain for open surgery. In prostate surgery, introduction of robotic surgery in 2005 and learning of laparoscopy by several of our urologists have dramatically changed the therapeutic approach. Gradual incorporation of laparoscopic surgery has led to a decreased hospital stay and to a shortening of the learning curve.

[Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. First 50 cases in a middle sized hospital. Evaluation of the learning curve]. / Prostatectomia radical laparoscópica extraperitoneal. Primeros 50 casos en un centro comarcal. Análisis de la curva de aprendizaje.

OBJECTIVE: Report our experience in the first 50 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in our Hospital. We describe the surgical technique and the modifications that we have applied. Time consumptions and technical difficulties are reviewed. METHODS: From January 2005 to September 2006 we indicated 52 extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomies. Two of them were done with the advice of a master and won't be included in our series. We followed the Brussels technique with some modifications. RESULTS: We completed integrally by laparoscopy the 78% of the cases (39/50). The 11 converted cases were done within the 25 first ones. Mean operating time for the pure laparoscopic cases was 280 minutes. We divide surgery in six steps with the following mean times in minutes: Trocars placement (30), seminal vessels dissection (95), Santorini (25), specimen in endobag (55), anasthomosis (55) and final (15). After case 25, the results improve. The most challenging step was seminal vessels dissection. Transfusion rate has been 7%. The mean hospitalization time has been 4 days with a 30% of patients discharged 48 hours after surgery. Positive surgical margins were observed in 12%. Two of our patients presented major complications (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is feasible in an institution like ours if it has the aim of invest a big effort, especially regarding operating time. The most demanding steps are the dissection of the vesicoprostatic plane and the anasthomosis. There is a clear progression after case 25.

[Ask-Upmark kidney: description of a case and review of the literature]. / Riñón de Ask--Upmark: descripción de un caso y revisión en la literatura.

We present a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed histopathologically as suffering from Ask-Upmark kidney, in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux and with hypertension. The first clinical manifestation was completely atypical: right loin pain, with so many agudisation treated at our emergency serve that justified a thorough study. The pathogenesis of the Ask-Upmark kidney is still unknown; some authors defend the congenital malformation hypothesis, as it was first described in 1929, but there are groups who support the Ask-Upmark kidney as a form of reflux nephropathy. After our description we present a review of the literature.

[Current status of p53 tumor suppressor gene as a possible molecular marker of cancer of the prostate]. / Estado actual del gen supresor de tumor p53 como posible marcador molecular del cáncer de próstata.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer has increased over the last few years both in localized and in more advanced stages. At present, several groups are working in the search and evaluation of alternative tumoral markers as the current ones do not cover all the Urologist's needs. In this context, a number of studies on the mutation of the tumour suppressor gen p53 in both localized and metastatic prostate cancer are being carried out. When a noxa acts on the DNA, protein p53 inhibits the cell cycle allowing the repair systems to operate and, if the damage is significant enough, cell apoptosis. The loss of this control mechanism secondary to the synthesis of anomalous proteins can result in the proliferation of neoplastic cells. A revision of the most representative papers in the literature is presented here, addressing the surrounding controversy and the resulting future possibilities.