Application of Natural Language Processing in Electronic Health Record data extraction for Navigating prostate cancer care: A narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based data extraction from electronic health records (EHRs) holds significant potential to simplify clinical management and aid research. This review aims to evaluate the current landscape of NLP-based data extraction in prostate cancer (PCa) management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the keywords: "Natural Language Processing," "Prostate Cancer," "data extraction," and "EHR." with variations of each. No language or time limits were imposed. All results were collected in a standardized fashion, including country of origin, sample size, algorithm, objective of outcome, and model performance. The precision, Recall, and the F1 score of studies were collected as a metric of model performance. RESULTS: Of 14 studies included in the review, two articles focused on documenting digital rectal exams, one on identifying and quantifying pain secondary to PCa, eight on extracting staging/grading information from clinical reports, with an emphasis on TNM-classification, risk stratification, and identifying metastasis, two articles focused on patient-centered post-treatment outcomes like incontinence, erectile and bowel-dysfunction, and one on loneliness/social isolation following PCa diagnosis. All models showed moderate to high data annotation/extraction accuracy compared to the gold standard method of manual data extraction by chart review. Despite their potential, NLPs face challenges in handling ambiguous, institution-specific language and context nuances, leading to occasional inaccuracies in clinical data interpretation. CONCLUSION: NLP-based data extraction has successfully extracted various outcomes from PCa patients' EHRs. It holds the potential for automating outcome monitoring and data collection, resulting in time and labor savings.

Clinical variables associated with major adverse cardiac events following radical cystectomy.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and clinical factors of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis using the 2015-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was performed on patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer. MACE was defined as any report of cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, or thromboembolic events (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis). A multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was conducted to identify clinical predictors of postoperative MACE. Results: A total of 10 308 (84.2%) patients underwent RC with incontinent urinary diversion (iUD), and 1938 (15.8%) underwent RC with continent urinary diversion (cUD). A total of 629 (5.1%) patients recorded a MACE, and on the multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, it was shown that MACE was significantly associated with increased age (OR = 1.035, 95% CI: 1.024-1.046, p < 0.001), obesity (OR = 1.583, 95% CI: 1.266-1.978, p < 0.001), current smokers (OR = 1.386, 95% CI: 1.130-1.700, p = 0.002), congestive heart failure before surgery (OR = 1.991, 95% CI: 1.016-3.900; p = 0.045), hypertension (OR = 1.209, 95% CI: 1.016-1.453, p = 0.043), and increase the surgical time (per 10 min increase, OR = 1.010, 95% CI: 1.003-1.017, p = 0.009). We also report that increased age, obesity, and patients undergoing cUD (OR = 1.368, 95% CI: 1.040-1.798; p = 0.025) are associated with thromboembolic events. Conclusion: By considering the preoperative characteristics of patients, including age, obesity, smoking, congestive heart failure, and hypertension status, urologists may be able to decrease the incidence of MACE in patients undergoing RC. Urologists should aim for lower operative times as this was associated with a decreased risk of thromboembolic events.

Incidental prostate cancer after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: Critical analysis of independent risk factors and impact on surgical outcomes.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impact of incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) and its different grade group (GG) on the surgical outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and, furthermore, to assess the independent risk factors associated with the detection of iPCa. Patients or materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single institution for HoLEP cases that were performed between 2017 and 2022. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of prostate cancer and those without baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels within 1 year were excluded. Four hundred seventeen patients were divided into three groups: benign prostatic hyperplasia-377; clinically insignificant (GG 1)-29; and clinically significant prostate cancer (GG 2-5)-11. The preoperative parameters analysed included age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, PSA, prostate size, PSA density, and history of negative prostate biopsy. To evaluate the association between clinical and demographic variables, a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed. We also assessed intraoperative and post-operative outcomes among these three groups. Results: A total of 417 patients were analysed; 40 (9.6%) patients had iPCa, of which 29 (72.5%) and 11 (27.5%) were clinically nonsignificant and significant prostate cancer, respectively. Of all the demographic and preoperative variables analysed, hypertension was significantly associated with overall prostate cancer diagnosis (p < 0.05), and no other variable including patient age, preoperative PSA, PSA density, prostate size, or prior prostate biopsy were associated with increased risk of overall prostate cancer or clinically significant prostate cancer diagnosis. Most cases of iPCa were GG1, and 34 (85%) were managed with active surveillance. Conclusion: The rate of iPCa after HoLEP was 9.6%, with most cases being GG 1 (72.5%) and managed through active surveillance. Age, prostate size, baseline PSA, and prior negative prostate biopsies were not associated with increased risk of iPCa.

Radical prostatectomy cancer grade and percentage of Gleason pattern 4 estimated by global vs individual tumor grading correlate differently with the risk of biochemical recurrence in Grade Group 2 and 3 cancers.

OBJECTIVES: There are 2 grading approaches to radical prostatectomy (RP) in multifocal cancer: Grade Group (GG) and percentage of Gleason pattern 4 (GP4%). We investigated whether RP GG and GP4% generated by global vs individual tumor grading correlate differently with biochemical recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed 531 RP specimens with GG2 or GG3 cancer. Each tumor was scored separately with assessment of tumor volume and GP4%. Global grade and GP4% were assigned by combining Gleason pattern 3 and 4 volumes for all tumors. Correlation of GG and GP4% generated by 2 methods with biochemical recurrence was assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression and receiver operating characteristic curves, with optimism adjustment using a bootstrap analysis. RESULTS: Median age was 63 (range, 42-79) years. Median prostate-specific antigen was 6.3 (range, 0.3-62.9) ng/mL. In total, the highest-grade tumor in 371 (36.9%) men was GG2 and in 160 (30.1%) men was GG3. Global grading was downgraded from GG3 to GG2 in 37 of 121 (30.6%) specimens with multifocal disease, and 145 of 404 (35.9%) specimens had GP4% decreased by at least 10%. Ninety-eight men experienced biochemical recurrence within a median of 13 (range, 3-119) months. Men without biochemical recurrence were followed up for a median of 47 (range, 12-205) months. Grade Group, GP4%, and margin status correlated with the risk of biochemical recurrence using highest-grade tumor and global grading, but the degrees of these correlations varied and were statistically significantly different between the 2 grading approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Grade Group, GP4%, and margin status derived by global vs individual tumor grading predict postoperative biochemical recurrence statistically significantly differently. This difference has important implications if results derived from cohorts graded using different methods are compared.

Gender-based Disparity Exists in the Surgical Experience of Female and Male Urology Residents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a discrepancy exists in the number and type of cases logged between female and male urology residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ACGME case log data from 13 urology residency programs was collected from 2007 to 2020. The number and type of cases for each resident were recorded and correlated with resident gender and year of graduation. The median, 25th and 75th percentiles number of cases were calculated by gender, and then compared between female and male residents using Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: A total of 473 residents were included in the study, 100 (21%) were female. Female residents completed significantly fewer cases, 2174, compared to male residents, 2273 (P = .038). Analysis by case type revealed male residents completed significantly more general urology (526 vs 571, P = .011) and oncology cases (261 vs 280, P = .026). Additionally, female residents had a 1.3-fold increased odds of logging a case in the assistant role than male residents (95% confidence interval: 1.27-1.34, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Gender-based disparity exists within the urology training of female and male residents. Male residents logged nearly 100 more cases than female residents over 4years, with significant differences in certain case subtypes and resident roles. The ACGME works to provide an equal training environment for all residents. Addressing this finding within individual training programs is critical.

Persistent colonization of Candida auris among inpatients rescreened as part of a weekly surveillance program.

We established a surveillance program to evaluate persistence of C. auris colonization among hospitalized patients. Overall, 17 patients (34%) had ≥1 negative result followed by a positive test, and 7 (41%) of these patients had ≥2 consecutive negative tests.

Clinical-Genomic Risk Group Classification of Suspicious Lesions on Prostate Multiparametric-MRI.

The utilization of multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) in clinical decisions regarding prostate cancer patients' management has recently increased. After biopsy, clinicians can assess risk using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk stratification schema and commercially available genomic classifiers, such as Decipher. We built radiomics-based models to predict lesions/patients at low risk prior to biopsy based on an established three-tier clinical-genomic classification system. Radiomic features were extracted from regions of positive biopsies and Normally Appearing Tissues (NAT) on T2-weighted and Diffusion-weighted Imaging. Using only clinical information available prior to biopsy, five models for predicting low-risk lesions/patients were evaluated, based on: 1: Clinical variables; 2: Lesion-based radiomic features; 3: Lesion and NAT radiomics; 4: Clinical and lesion-based radiomics; and 5: Clinical, lesion and NAT radiomic features. Eighty-three mpMRI exams from 78 men were analyzed. Models 1 and 2 performed similarly (Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.835 and 0.838, respectively), but radiomics significantly improved the lesion-based performance of the model in a subset analysis of patients with a negative Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). Adding normal tissue radiomics significantly improved the performance in all cases. Similar patterns were observed on patient-level models. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that machine learning radiomics-based models can predict patients' risk using combined clinical-genomic classification.

Operational impact of decreased turnaround times for Candida auris screening tests in a tertiary academic medical center.

Objective: Assess turnaround time (TAT) and cost-benefit of on-site C. auris screening and its impact on length of stay (LOS) and costs compared to reference laboratories. Design: Before-and-after retrospective cohort study. Setting: Large-tertiary medical center. Methods: We validated an on-site polymerase chain reaction-based testing platform for C. auris and retrospectively reviewed hospitalized adults who screened negative before and after platform implementation. We constructed multivariable models to assess the association of screening negative with hospital LOS/cost in the pre and postimplementation periods. We adjusted for confounders such as demographics and indwelling device use, and compared TATs for all samples tested. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the testing platform were 100% and 98.11%, respectively, compared to send-out testing. The clinical cohort included 287 adults in the pre and 1,266 postimplementation period. The TAT was reduced by more than 2 days (3 (interquartile range (IQR): 2.0, 7.0) vs 0.42 (IQR: 0.24, 0.81), p < 0.001). Median LOS was significantly lower in the postimplementation period; however, this was no longer evident after adjustment. In relation to total cost, the time period had an effect of $6,965 (95% CI: -$481, $14,412); p = 0.067) on reducing the cost. The median adjusted total cost per patient was $7,045 (IQR: $3,805, $13,924) less in the post vs the preimplementation period. Conclusions: Our assessment did not find a statistically significant change in LOS, nevertheless, on-site testing was not cost-prohibitive for the institution. The value of on-site testing may be supported if an institutional C. auris reduction strategy emphasizes faster TATs.

The Influence of the Microbiome on Urological Malignancies: A Systematic Review.

The microbiome, once considered peripheral, is emerging as a relevant player in the intricate web of factors contributing to cancer development and progression. These often overlooked microorganisms, in the context of urological malignancies, have been investigated primarily focusing on the gut microbiome, while exploration of urogenital microorganisms remains limited. Considering this, our systematic review delves into the complex role of these understudied actors in various neoplastic conditions, including prostate, bladder, kidney, penile, and testicular cancers. Our analysis found a total of 37 studies (prostate cancer 12, bladder cancer 20, kidney cancer 4, penile/testicular cancer 1), revealing distinct associations specific to each condition and hinting at potential therapeutic avenues and future biomarker discoveries. It becomes evident that further research is imperative to unravel the complexities of this domain and provide a more comprehensive understanding.

Racial disparity in the utilization of immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To identify whether there was a disparity in the utilization of immunotherapy in the treatment of black patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients between 2010- 2015 with likely minimally/asymptomatic mCRPC. We analyzed annual trends for chemotherapy and immunotherapy use and compared utilization by demographic and clinical features. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine predictors of receiving immunotherapy vs chemotherapy. RESULTS: We identified 1301 patients with likely mCRPC. The majority were non Hispanic White (NHW - 63 %) and 23 % were non-Hispanic Black (NHB). Overall, there was increased utilization of immunotherapy in mCRPC from 2010 onwards, with the peak occurring in 2014 (4.6 %). Chemotherapy use increased significantly, peaking in 2014 to 26.1 %. However, the increased utilization of immunotherapy in the mCRPC was mainly seen in White patients: from 50 % to 74.2 % of the cohort. Conversely, there was a decrease in utilization of immunotherapy among Black mCPRC patients: from 50 % to 25.8 %. On multivariable analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between treatment types by race. CONCLUSION: FDA approval of Sipuleucel-T for mCRPC led to increased utilization of immunotherapy shortly thereafter, but this was mainly noted in white patients. Black patients comparatively did not exhibit increased utilization of this novel agent after 2010. Further studies are necessary to help understand barriers to access to new treatment in mCRPC and eliminate the burden of disease in minority populations."

Association of language concordance and restraint use in adults receiving mechanical ventilation.

PURPOSE: Clinician-patient language concordance improves patient outcomes in non-intensive care unit (ICU) settings. We sought to assess the association of ICU nurse-patient language concordance with delirium-related outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult English- or Spanish-speaking mechanically ventilated ICU patients admitted to ICUs at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics (January 2021-September 2022). Our primary exposure was nurse-patient language concordance on each shift. We used mixed-effects multivariable regression to evaluate the association of language concordance with the primary outcome of restraint use, and secondary outcomes of agitation and identification of delirium, during each shift (with patient as a random effect). RESULTS: Our cohort included 4326 shifts (3380 [78.1%] with language concordance) from 548 patients and 157 nurses. Spanish language was preferred by 269 (49.1%) of patients. English-speaking patients tended to be younger (65 [53, 75] vs 73 [61, 83], p < 0.001) and of non-Hispanic ethnicity (55.5% vs 7.1%, p < 0.001). English-speakers had restraints ordered on fewer of their included shifts (0 [0, 3] vs 1 [0, 3], p = 0.005). After adjustment, the odds of restraint use on shifts with language concordance was significantly lower (odds ratio [OR, 95% confidence interval [CI]]: 0.50 [0.39-0.63], p < 0.001). Agitation (18.6% vs 25.2%; OR [95% CI]: 0.71 [0.55-0.92], p = 0.009) and delirium identification (34.5% vs 41.3%; OR [95% CI]: 0.54 [0.34-0.88], p = 0.014) were also less common. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a twofold reduction in the odds of restraint use among mechanically ventilated patients for language concordant nurse-patient dyads. Ensuring nurse-patient language concordance may improve ICU delirium, agitation, and restraint use.

Optimum threshold of the 4Kscore for biopsy in men with negative or indeterminate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: The study aims to identify the optimal 4Kscore thresholds to determine the need for a prostate biopsy when multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mpMRI) is negative or indeterminate. Materials and methods: We analysed retrospective data from men in eight different institutions who underwent an mpMRI, 4Kscore and prostate biopsy for evaluation of prostate cancer. We selected men with a negative (PIRADS ≤2) or indeterminate (PIRADS 3) mpMRI. 4Kscore values were categorized into ranges of 1-7, 8-19, 20-32 and greater than 32. We evaluated the proportion of men with grade group 2 or higher (GG2+) cancer in groups defined by PIRADS and 4Kscore. We also evaluated the number of biopsies avoided and GG2+ cancer missed in each group reported depend on 4Kscore cutoff points. Results: Among 1111 men who had an mpMRI, 4Kscore and biopsy, 625 of them had PIRADS ≤3 on mpMRI: 374 negative (PIRADS ≤2) and 251 indeterminate (PIRADS 3). In men with a negative mpMRI, we found a 4Kscore cut-point of 33 resulted in an increased risk of GG2+ cancer on biopsy. In patients with an equivocal lesion on mpMRI, men with a 4Kscore cutoff ≥8 had a greater risk of GG2+ cancer on biopsy. Decision curve analysis supported the proposed cut-points in each mpMRI group. Conclusions: In men with negative and indeterminate mpMRI, we found the best 4Kscore threshold to determine the need for biopsy to be 33 and 8 respectively. Future prospective studies in independent populations are needed to confirm these findings.

Longitudinal Changes in the Operative Experience for Junior Urology Residents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinal trends in surgical case volume among junior urology residents. There is growing perception that urology residents are not prepared for independent practice, which may be linked to decreased exposure to major cases early in residency. METHODS: Retrospective review of deidentified case logs from urology residency graduates from 12 academic medical centers in the United States from 2010 to 2017. The primary outcome was the change in major case volume for first-year urology (URO1) residents (after surgery internship), measured using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: A total of 391,399 total cases were logged by 244 residency graduates. Residents performed a median of 509 major cases, 487 minor cases, and 503 endoscopic cases. From 2010 to 2017, the median number of major cases performed by URO1 residents decreased from 64 to 49 (annual incidence rate ratio 0.90, P < .001). This trend was limited to oncology cases, with no change in reconstructive or pediatric cases. The number of major cases decreased more for URO1 residents than for residents at other levels (P-values for interaction <.05). The median number of endoscopic cases performed by URO1 residents increased from 85 to 194 (annual incidence rate ratio 1.09, P < .001), which was also disproportionate to other levels of residency (P-values for interaction <.05). CONCLUSION: There has been a shift in case distribution among URO1 residents, with progressively less exposure to major cases and an increased focus on endoscopic surgery. Further investigation is needed to determine if this trend has implications on the surgical proficiency of residency graduates.

Incidence and predictors of deep incisional and organ/space surgical site infection following radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical risk factors associated with postoperative deep incisional or organ/space surgical site infections (SSI) following radical cystectomy (RC) in a well characterized and large contemporary cohort. METHODS: We used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify adult patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer between 2015 and 2020 (n = 13,081). We conducted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression and Cox adjusted proportional hazards regression analysis to identify clinical predictors of deep incisional or organ/space SSI in the 30-day postoperative-period following RC. RESULTS: Deep incisional or organ/space SSI risk increased with continent urinary diversion (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.38-1.88; P < 0.001), obesity (HR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.35-1.90; P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.13-1.51; P < 0.001), and being functionally dependent before surgery (HR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.44-3.03; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative deep incisional or organ/space SSIs following RC occur more frequently in patients who were obese, diabetic, functionally dependent before surgery, and those who underwent continent urinary diversion. These findings may assist urologists in preoperative counseling, medical optimization, and choice of urinary diversion approach, as well as improved patient monitoring and identification of candidates for intervention postoperatively.

Predictors of discharge to home following major surgery for urologic malignancies: Results from the national surgical quality improvement program.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patient risk factors that predict nonhome discharge after surgery for urologic malignancies as well as determine whether discharge status had an impact on readmission rates in patients undergoing surgery for urologic malignancies. METHODS: We identified patients who had undergone surgery for urologic malignancies including prostate, bladder, kidney, or upper tract urothelial cancer from 2011 to 2019 in the American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify patient characteristics that were associated with nonhome discharges and 30-day postoperative readmission. RESULTS: Nonhome discharge occurred in 2.8% of our study population. Women were less likely to be discharged to home (OR 0.60 p < 0.0001). Nonhome discharge was more common in patients who underwent cystectomy when compared to nephrectomy (OR 1.41 p < 0.0001) or prostatectomy (OR 4.16 p < 0.0001). Those with elevated BMI were less likely to experience non-home discharge (OR 0.86 p=0.0095) while patients who were identified as underweight and those with unexpected weight loss prior to surgery were more likely to have nonhome discharges (OR 1.76 p = 0.0002, OR 1.67, p < 0.0001). Comorbidities and presence of postoperative complications were also found to be significant independent predictors of nonhome discharges. Thirty-day postoperative readmission occurred in 6.9% of our study population. Of the patients who were readmitted 93.1% were initially discharged home, and 6.9% had nonhome discharges. Higher risk of readmission was seen in elderly patients and those with significant comorbidities. When controlling for predictors of readmission, on multivariate analysis, non-home discharge was associated with a decreased likelihood of readmission (OR 0.79, p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Patient factors including age, gender, weight, comorbidities, postoperative complications, and site of procedure were found to be independent predictors of non-home discharge following surgery for urologic malignancies. Patients with these risk factors should be counseled preoperatively on the likelihood of requiring a non-home discharge to help manage expectations and create a standardized transition of care pathway following surgery.

Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy Versus Open Radical Cystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Perioperative, Oncological, and Quality of Life Outcomes Using Randomized Controlled Trials.

CONTEXT: Differences in recovery, oncological, and quality of life (QoL) outcomes between open radical cystectomy (ORC) and robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for patients with bladder cancer are unclear. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to compare these outcomes within randomized trials of ORC and RARC in this context. The primary outcome was the rate of 90-d perioperative events. The secondary outcomes included operative, pathological, survival, and health-related QoL (HRQoL) measures. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Systematic literature searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and clinicaltrials.gov were performed up to May 31, 2022. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eight trials, reporting 1024 participants, were included. RARC was associated with a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS; mean difference [MD] 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.39, p = 0.02) than and similar complication rates to ORC. ORC was associated with higher thromboembolic events (odds ratio [OR] 1.84, 95% CI 1.02-3.31, p = 0.04). ORC was associated with more blood loss (MD 322 ml, 95% CI 193-450, p < 0.001) and transfusions (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.65-3.36, p < 0.001), but shorter operative time (MD 76 min, 95% CI 39-112, p < 0.001) than RARC. No differences in lymph node yield (MD 1.07, 95% CI -1.73 to 3.86, p = 0.5) or positive surgical margin rates (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.54-1.67, p = 0.9) were present. RARC was associated with better physical functioning or well-being (standardized MD 0.47, 95% CI 0.29-0.65, p < 0.001) and role functioning (MD 8.8, 95% CI 2.4-15.1, p = 0.007), but no improvement in overall HRQoL. No differences in progression-free survival or overall survival were seen. Limitations may include a lack of generalization given trial patients. CONCLUSIONS: RARC offers various perioperative benefits over ORC. It may be more suitable in patients wishing to avoid blood transfusion, those wanting a shorter LOS, or those at a high risk of thromboembolic events. PATIENT SUMMARY: This study compares robot-assisted keyhole surgery with open surgery for bladder cancer. The robot-assisted approach offered less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and fewer blood clots. No other differences were seen.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in morbidly obese patients: a VCQI database study.

To compare perioperative outcomes following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI > 40 kg/m2)) and non-obese patients. Using the Vattikuti Collective quality initiative (VCQI) database for RAPN, data for morbidly obese and non-obese patients was obtained. Propensity scores were calculated for two treatment groups (morbidly obese vs. non-obese) for the following variables i.e. age, sex, tumor size, RNS, surgical access (retroperitoneal/transperitoneal) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to ensure comparability. The primary outcome for the study was comparison of trifecta between the two groups. In this study, 158 morbidly obese patients were matched with 158 non-obese patients undergoing RAPN. Two groups matched well for age, sex, tumor size, eGFR and RNS. There was no difference between two groups for ischemia time, blood loss, blood transfusion, conversion to radical nephrectomy, length of stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications. Operative time was longer in morbidly obese patients (median 210 min vs. 120 min, p = 0.000). On pathological analysis, malignant tumors were more likely in the morbidly obese group (83.1% vs.73.4%, p = 0.018). Trifecta outcomes were comparable between the two groups (60.1% vs. 63.3%, p = 0.563). The Median duration of follow-up was 12 months (1-96 months). The morbidly obese group had significantly higher day one creatinine (1.25 ± 0.7 vs. 1.07 ± 0.37, p = 0.001) and significantly lower day one eGFR (62.1 ± 19 vs. 69.2 ± 21, p = 0.018). However, there was no difference between the two groups for the last follow-up creatinine and eGFR. RAPN in morbidly obese patients is associated with equivalent perioperative outcomes compared to non-obese patients.

Off-clamp Versus On-clamp Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Propensity-matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Partial nephrectomy is the preferred treatment option for the management of small renal masses. On-clamp partial nephrectomy is associated with a risk of ischemia and a greater loss of postoperative renal function, while the off-clamp procedure decreases the duration of renal ischemia, leading to better renal function preservation. However, the efficacy of the off- versus on-clamp partial nephrectomy for renal function preservation remains debatable. OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative and functional outcomes following off- and on-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used the prospective multinational collaborative Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative (VCQI) database for RAPN. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary objective of this study was the comparison of perioperative and functional outcomes between patients who underwent off- and on-clamp RAPN. Propensity scores were calculated for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), renal nephrometry score (RNS) and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of the 2114 patients, 210 had undergone off-clamp RAPN and others on-clamp procedure. Propensity matching was possible for 205 patients in a 1:1 ratio. After matching, the two groups were comparable for age, sex, BMI, tumor size, multifocality, tumor side, face of tumor, RNS, polar location of the tumor, surgical access, and preoperative hemoglobin, creatinine, and eGFR. There was no difference between the two groups for intraoperative (4.8% vs 5.3%, p = 0.823) and postoperative (11.2% vs 8.3%, p = 0.318) complications. Need for blood transfusion (2.9% vs 0, p = 0.030) and conversion to radical nephrectomy (10.2% vs 1%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the off-clamp group. At the last follow-up, there was no difference between the two groups for creatinine and eGFR. The mean fall in eGFR at the last follow-up compared with that at baseline was equivalent between the two groups (-16.0 vs -17.3 ml/min, p = 0.985). CONCLUSIONS: Off-clamp RAPN does not result in better renal functional preservation. Alternatively, it may be associated with increased rates of conversion to radical nephrectomy and need for blood transfusion. PATIENT SUMMARY: With this multicentric study, we noted that performing robotic partial nephrectomy without clamping the blood supply to the kidney is not associated with better preservation of renal function. However, off-clamp partial nephrectomy is associated with increased rates of conversion to radical nephrectomy and blood transfusion.