Incidence, Risk Factors and a Novel Prevention Technique for Inguinal Hernia after Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for postoperative inguinal hernia (IH) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to assess whether a newly developed prevention technique reduces the incidence of IH after RARP. METHODS: We included 161 consecutive patients (322 groins) who underwent RARP between September 2011 and October 2013. The prevention technique was as follows: (1) sufficient incision of peritoneum around the internal inguinal ring; (2) separation of spermatic vessels; (3) dissection of vas deferens. RESULTS: Postoperative IH occurred in 14 cases (19.4%) occurring in the observation group compared to 2 cases (2.2%) in the prevention group. Patent processus vaginalis (PPV) was the only risk factor. Time-to-event analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in IH incidence in the IH prevention group (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our data reveal a higher incidence of IH after RARP, with the existence of PPV as the only identified risk factor. Our simple IH-prevention technique, which does not involve the use of artificial materials, appears safe and effective.

Modified anterior approach to the bladder neck: simple and reproducible procedure for anterior bladder neck transection during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

To evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of a simple technique for identifying the initial cutting point of the bladder neck during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. To precisely identify the prostatovesical junction, we first pulled the anterior bladder wall in an upward direction with the second arm to identify the precise location of the prostatovesical junction where anterior bladder neck dissection is initiated. After one experienced surgeon had established this technique, three surgeons who were less experienced in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy utilized this method for 50 consecutive robot-assisted radical prostatectomy cases. The pathological results and the time required to transect the anterior bladder wall were evaluated. There were no cases of positive resection margin on the site of bladder neck. The mean resection time was not significantly different when comparing less experienced surgeons with the experienced surgeon (P = 0.29). In conclusion, this method is a simple and reproducible way to identify the bladder neck during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. This technique is also useful (for laparoscopic or open radical prostatectomy) even in difficult scenarios, such as post-transurethral resection of prostate cases.

[Organ-sparing surgery for contralateral testicular tumor following orchiectomy : a case report].

A 30-year-old man underwent a left high orchiectomy because of stage I testicular tumor in December, 2006. A palpable nodule was noticed in the contralateral testicle in March, 2008. No tumor marker was elevated. Imaging studies including ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a 13 mm tumor consisting of both a solid portion and a hemorrhagic cyst. A malignant tumor could not be ruled out completely based on examinations and his medical history. Tumor resection with partial orchiectomy was planned after informed consent. Preoperative serum concentration of free testosterone was 8.4 pg/ml, and motile sperm were found in the semen analysis. The tumor was resected while the spermatic cord was clamped transiently. The pathological diagnosis of frozen sections confirmed no malignancy, and the final pathological result was mature teratoma, no evidence of malignancy. No androgen substitution has been required. Furthermore, a few normal motile sperm were detected in the ejaculated semen after the surgery. Organ-sparing surgery for the contralateral testicular tumor following orchiectomy, can be considered to avoid infertility and hormonal substitutions.

Anteroposterior dissection HoLEP: a modification to prevent transient stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of transient stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after HoLEP has been reported to be as high as 44%. Anteroposterior dissection HoLEP was newly developed to protect the urethral sphincter and therefore lower the incidence rate of SUI. This study was conducted to determine the SUI incidence rate after anteroposterior dissection HoLEP. METHODS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent HoLEP from January to December 2008. The first 31 cases (Surgery 1) underwent HoLEP according to Gilling's method. The next 37 cases (Surgery 2) underwent anteroposterior dissection HoLEP, where adenoma was dissected antegradely. This antegrade movement of the cystoscope allows the apical gland to be removed from the sphincter without causing damage. Surgical quality indexes (hemoglobin change, operating time, resected prostate volume) between the 2 groups were compared. All patients were assessed at 2 weeks postoperatively for clinical SUI, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and peak flow rates (Q(max)). RESULTS: Patient characteristics and surgical quality indexes did not differ between the 2 groups. Clinical SUI was found in 25.2% of cases in the Surgery 1 group, but only 2.7% in the Surgery 2 group. IPSS, QoL and Q(max.) were significantly improved postoperatively in both groups. At 2 weeks, the QoL of the Surgery 2 group was significantly improved compared with that observed for Surgery 1 (1.5 ± 1.1 vs 2.4 ± 1.0, P = .02). The Q(max.) of Surgery 2 was significantly higher compared with Surgery 1 (19.8 ± 8.4 vs 13.0 ± 4.7 ml/s, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that our anteroposterior dissection HoLEP is a promising procedure to avoid postoperative SUI and also to substantially improve QoL.

Spontaneous rupture of choledochal cyst with pseudocyst formation-report on 2 cases and literature review.

Spontaneous rupture and subsequent bile peritonitis are rare complications of choledochal cysts. Of these complications, the formation of a biliary pseudocyst is an unusual form, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. In this report, we describe 2 cases showing spontaneous rupture with biliary pseudocyst formation. Inflammatory tissue surrounded those pseudocysts, one of which was adjacent to the perforation and the other formed in the transverse mesocolon apart from the biliary tract. These pseudocysts were removed by careful dissection, and single-stage cyst excision with biliary reconstruction was successfully performed in both cases.

Estrogen receptor expression in anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AAPBD) is a malformation of the bile and pancreatic ducts which is commonly associated with congenital biliary dilatation and predominantly occurs in girls. Estrogen receptor (ER) is reported to modulate cholangiocyte proliferation and play a role in tumorigenesis of estrogen-dependent malignancies. The present study investigated the presence of ER in the gallbladder of patients with AAPBD to elucidate whether ER expression is correlated with sexual specificity and biliary histology. METHODS: Specimens comprised samples of 29 gallbladders from patients with AAPBD (21 girls and 8 boys; mean age at surgery, 5.3 years). Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and sex, age, radiographic parameters, and laboratory data were collected for this study. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-ER and anti-MIB-1 antibodies, and MIB-1 score was calculated for evaluation of cell proliferation. RESULTS: ER expression was observed in both the nuclei and cytoplasm of gallbladder epithelium in 12 of 29 specimens. No difference in background characteristics were noted between ER-positive and ER-negative groups. Mucosal hyperplasia was found in 17 specimens. ER-positive cases were significantly more common in AAPBD with mucosal hyperplasia than without (P <0.03). MIB-1 score did not differ significantly between ER-positive and ER-negative groups. CONCLUSIONS: ER expression seems to be related to hyperplastic mucosa of the gallbladder in AAPBD. ER might play a role in the proliferation of gallbladder epithelium.

Neurocutaneous melanosis associated with Hirschsprung's disease in a male neonate.

Hirschsprung's disease is an inherited disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel. Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by proliferation of melanin-producing cells in the skin and leptomeninges. The authors described a newborn patient with neurocutaneous melanosis associated with Hirschsprung's disease. This male baby had congenital hydrocephalus, large and multiple pigmented skin nevi, and severe abdominal distension. He showed marked hydrocephalus at birth and underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt at the age of 5 days. Investigations for gut motility disorders revealed typical findings consistent with Hirschsprung's disease involving the rectosigmoid colon. He was surgically treated for Hirschsprung's disease after transanal endorectal pull-through at the age of 7 months. After settlement of the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, the transanal approach was of significant value for keeping the intraperitoneal catheter clean. The association of developmental disorders of melanocytes and enteric ganglia, both of which originated from the neural crest, suggested the presence of mutual pathogenetic factors in the patient.