Initial Experiences of Laparoscopic Nephrectomy in a Tertiary Oncology Center: An Analysis of 142 Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney tumors have an important place among urological malignancies. The increased utilization of imaging methods has led to a rise in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnoses, albeit with declining mortality rates, particularly in developed countries. Radical nephrectomy remains the gold standard treatment. The aim of this study was to share a tertiary oncology hospital's initial experiences with laparoscopic nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzes data from patients who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, focusing on demographic characteristics, tumor features, and operative outcomes. Information regarding age, gender, tumor size, operative details, and pathology results was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two patients were included in the study; 69 (48.60%) were female and 73 (51.40%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 57.11 ± 12.6 years, with tumors primarily located on the left kidney (52.80%). The mean tumor size was 53.01 ± 24.01 mm. Intraoperative complications included the need for conversion to open surgery in five cases and vascular, pneumothorax, or duodenal injuries in a subset of patients. However, postoperative complications, such as sepsis or mortality, were not observed. DISCUSSION: Despite an initial learning curve associated with longer operation times, laparoscopic techniques offer benefits, including reduced blood loss, faster recovery, and improved cosmetic outcomes. Histologically, clear cell RCC was the most common tumor type encountered. This study underscores the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, advocating for its widespread adoption while emphasizing the importance of surgeon experience and patient selection in optimizing outcomes.

Does Formalin Disinfection Reduce Bacterial Colonization of Biopsy Needle? A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of formalin disinfection of the needle tip in transrectal prostate biopsy (TRB) procedure to reduce infectious complications. The primary aim is to assess the impact of formalin on bacterial contamination of biopsy needle tips and its association with post-biopsy infective events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have employed a bacterial culture-based observational cohort design in this study. Two groups, formalin disinfection and non-formalin group, both underwent systematic 12-core TRB. In the formalin group, the biopsy needle tip was immersed in 10% formalin solution after each core, while in the non-formalin group, no formalin solution immersion was used. The primary outcomes include bacterial growth on biopsy needle tips and post-biopsy infective events. RESULTS: Formalin disinfection significantly reduced bacterial growth on needle tips (P <.001). The formalin group had no post-biopsy infections or sepsis, while the non-formalin group experienced a 7.5% infective event rate after TRB. CONCLUSION: Formalin disinfection of biopsy needle tip significantly reduces bacterial growth on biopsy needle and urinary tract infectious complications developed secondary to TRB. Further multicenter randomized controlled studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate and establish formalin disinfection as a routine practice in TRB procedures.

The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index is effective in treatment decision and the determination of perioperative complications in patients with localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the active treatment option and perioperative complications using the 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) in localized prostate cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer in our clinic between January 2018 and October 2022 were evaluated. The patients were separated according to the mFI-5 scores as Group 1 (score = 0, n = 74), Group 2 (score = 1, n = 41), and Group 3 (score ≥ 2, n = 69). Factors affecting the determination of treatment selection, oncological results, and surgical complications were identified with regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in Group 1 was lower than in Group 2 and Group 3 (63.09 ± 7.25 years vs. 67.56 ± 7.98 years and 69.2 ± 6.77 years, p < 0.001, respectively). In Group 1, more patients were treated with retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), and in Group 3 with radiotherapy (RT) and active surveillance (AS) (62.2%, 53.6%, and 17.4%, p = 0.001, respectively). The rate of Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and 4 complication rates were higher in Group 3 than in Group 1 (50% vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001, respectively). Frailty was found to be an independent risk factor for overall survival (HR: 10.68, p = 0.02), the presence of Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3 complication (HR: 4.9, p = 0.02) and determination of RT/AS as the active treatment option (HR: 2.45, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In patients with frailty according to the mFI-5, the complication rate after RRP in localized prostate cancer increased. When selecting the treatment to be applied in these patients, it will be useful to also evaluate the frailty status.