How Might the Number of Lymph Nodes Removed during RARP Impact the Postoperative Outcomes?

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic lymphocele remains a relevant complication after pelvic tumor surgery. This study aims to investigate how the number of lymph nodes removed may influence postoperative outcomes and if it increases the probability of detecting lymph node metastasis. METHODS: The study included 500 patients who underwent RARP including lymphadenectomy performed by a single surgeon. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 308 patients with 20 or fewer lymph nodes removed (mean 15), while group 2 had 192 patients with over 20 nodes removed (mean 27). Perioperative data were analyzed, and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Overall, lymph node metastasis was detected in 17.8% of men. In detail, out of 19.6 lymph nodes removed, an average of 3.14 lymph nodes per patient showed metastasis, with a slightly higher incidence of 19.7% in group 2 compared to 16.5% in group 1, though not statistically significant (p = 0.175). The number of lymph node metastases was significantly higher in group 2 patients (3.47) versus group 1 (2.37) (p = 0.048). All complications except symptomatic lymphoceles (p = 0.004) were not significantly different between groups. Univariate linear regression analysis revealed no correlation between the number of removed lymph nodes and symptomatic lymphocele. However, it did correlate with catheter days and readmissions. CONCLUSION: A correlation may exist between the number of lymph nodes removed during RARP and an increased incidence of complications, particularly symptomatic lymphocele. A more extensive PLND may result in prolonged catheter days and increased readmissions. With the increased extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy, the probability of detecting lymphogenic metastasis rises. The diagnostic value of PLND is well established. Further randomized trials are needed to weigh its necessity and extent.

Epidemiology of and Risk Factors in Postoperative Complications from Robotically Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in Contemporary National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Data.

Introduction: For localized clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), robotically assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is the gold standard surgical treatment. Despite low overall complication rate, continued quality assurance (QA) efforts to minimize complications of RALP are important, particularly given movement toward same-day discharge. In 2019, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) began collecting RALP-specific data. In this study, we assessed pre- and perioperative factors associated with postoperative complications for RALP to further QA efforts. Materials and Methods: Surgical records of csPCa patients who underwent RALP were retrieved from the 2019 to 2021 NSQIP database, including new RALP-specific data. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated the association between risk factors and outcomes specific to RALP and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). Input variables included American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, age, operative time, and body mass index (BMI). Variables from the extended dataset with PLND information included number of nodes evaluated, perioperative antibiotics, postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, history of prior pelvic surgery, and history of prior radiotherapy (RT). Outcomes of interest were any surgical complication, infection, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, acute kidney injury, pneumonia, lymphocele, and urinary/anastomotic leak (UAL). Results: A total of 11,811 patients were included with 6.1% experiencing any complication. Prior RT, prior pelvic surgery, older age, higher BMI, lack of perioperative antibiotic therapy, longer operative time, PLND, and number of lymph nodes dissected were associated with higher risk of postoperative complications. Regarding procedure-specific complications, there were increased odds of UAL with prior RT, prior pelvic surgery, longer operative time, and higher BMI. Odds of developing lymphocele increased with prior pelvic surgery, performance of PLND, and increased number of nodes evaluated. Conclusion: In contemporary NSQIP data, RALP is associated with low complication rates; however, these rates have increased compared with historical studies. Attention to and counseling regarding risk factors for peri- and postoperative complications are important to set expectations and minimize risk of unplanned return to a health care setting after discharge.

Symptomatic Lymphocele After Robot-Assisted Pelvic Lymphadenectomy as Part of the Primary Surgical Treatment for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is part of the primary treatment for early-stage cervical cancer and high-intermediate risk or high-risk endometrial cancer. Pelvic lymphocele is a postoperative complication of PLND, and when symptomatic, lymphoceles necessitate treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of symptomatic lymphocele after robot-assisted laparoscopic PLND in cervical and endometrial cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single-center academic hospital. PATIENTS: Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with cervical cancer and 129 patients with endometrial cancer. INTERVENTIONS: Pelvic lymphadenectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors retrospectively included all patients with early-stage cervical cancer and high-intermediate risk or high-risk endometrial cancer who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery between 2008 and 2022. Medical records were reviewed for the occurrence of a symptomatic lymphocele. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for developing a symptomatic lymphocele. In total, 387 patients, 258 with cervical cancer and 129 with endometrial cancer, were included in the study. The overall incidence of symptomatic lymphoceles was 9.6% with a median follow-up of 47 months [interquartile range 23-61]. For the entire cohort, smoking was the only significant risk factor for symptomatic lymphoceles identified in univariate (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.19-5.11) and multivariate analysis (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.16-5.07). For cervical cancer, body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.17) and prior abdominal surgery (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.22-6.17) were also identified as significant independent risk factors. For endometrial cancer, age was identified as a significant independent risk factor (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.97). CONCLUSION: This single-center cohort study demonstrated an incidence of almost 10% of symptomatic lymphoceles after robot-assisted laparoscopic PLND for cervical cancer and endometrial cancer, with a higher risk observed among patients who smoke at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, risk factors differ between the 2 populations, necessitating further studies to establish risk models.

Linfocele gigante tras trasplante renal. A propósito de un caso y Revisión de la literatura / Giant lymphocele after renal transplantation. Case report and bibliographic review

OBJETIVOS: Comunicar el caso y la iconografía de un linfocele postrasplante renal y revisar la literatura sobre diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta complicación quirúrgicaMÉTODOS: Mujer de 69 años sometida a trasplante renal, que se presenta con edema en miembro inferior derecho y deterioro de función renal. Se demostró con ecografía y TAC una colección líquida, compatible con linfocele tras estudio bioquímico del líquido obtenido por punción percutánea. RESULTADOS: Se somete a la paciente a una marsupialización del linfocele por vía laparoscópica, con buenos resultados quirúrgicos.CONCLUSIONES: El linfocele es una entidad frecuente tras el trasplante renal, precisando tratamiento según las manifestaciones clínicas. Existen fundamentalmente dos alternativas terapéuticas, dependiendo del tamaño: escleroterapia y marsupialización quirúgica. Salvo casos muy seleccionados, el abordaje laparoscópico se considera actualmente, por su seguridad y eficacia, de primera elección cuando se indica tratamiento quirúrgico(AU)

OBJECTIVES: To report the case and iconography of a lymphocele after renal transplantation and to review the literature about the diagnosis and the treatment of this surgical complication.METHODS: 69 year-old woman status post renal transplantation who presents right lower extremity edema and worsening renal function. A liquid collection was demonstrated by ultrasound and computerized tomography, compatible with lymphocele after biochemical study of the liquid obtained by percutaneous puncture.RESULTS: The patient underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal drainage of the lymphocele, with good surgical outcome.CONCLUSION: Lymphocele is a common pathology after a renal transplantation which needs to be treated depending on its clinical manifestations. There mainly are two therapeutic alternatives depending on the size of the lymphocele: sclerotherapy and surgical intraperitoneal drainage. Apart from very selected cases, laparoscopic approach is currently considered, because of its security and effectiveness, the first choice when a surgical treatment is prescribed(AU)

Urgencias en ginecología oncológica / Emergencies in oncological gynaecology

En este trabajo se describen los signos de sospechade neoplasia por los que la paciente acude al Serviciode Urgencias, centrándonos en el sangrado genital,la masa pélvica y el prurito vulvar. Los pacientestambién pueden acudir por procesos resultantes decomplicaciones de la enfermedad, como en el caso dela obstrucción ureteral, la carcinomatosis, la ascitis,procesos tromboembólicos, hemorragias, estreñimiento,náuseas y vómitos, obstrucción intestinal y dolor.Por último, se describen complicaciones secundarias altratamiento como el linfocele abdominal e inguinal y laenteritis y proctitis postradioterápica(AU)

This article describes the signs for suspecting neoplasiathat lead the patient to come to the Accident andEmergency Service, concentrating on genital bleeding,pelvic mass and vulvar pruritus. Patients can also comedue to processes resulting from complications of thedisease, such as urethral obstruction, carcinomatosis,ascites, thromboembolic processes, haemorrhages,constipation, nausea and vomiting, intestinal obstructionand pain. Finally, we describe complications thatare secondary to the treatment, such as abdominal andinguinal lymphocele and post-radiotherapy enteritisand proctitis(AU)

Assessment of lymphocele incidence following 450 renal transplantations

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of lymphocele in the follow-up of patients who underwent renal transplantation, as well as potential factors responsible or associated to its development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All records from patients who were treated for lymphocele in our institution between May 1989 and December 2002 were reviewed, as well as their clinical outcome following treatment. RESULTS: Among 450 patients who underwent renal transplantation in the period, only 3 required treatment, with 2 of them treated due to the collection volume, and the other due to symptoms (pain), representing an incidence of only 0.6 percent. COMMENTS: The occurrence of perirenal fluid collections following renal transplantation is frequent. In cases where treatment is required, this can generate an excessive morbidity for the patient, which motivates the development of preventive methods, such as minimally invasive therapy, for such cases. CONCLUSION: Careful ligation of lymphatic vessels both during graft preparation and during its implantation, added to post-operative drainage can significantly contribute to reducing the incidence of lymphocele following renal transplantation.

Complicaciones quirúrgicas en trasplante renal: experiencia Hospital Militar de Santiago / Surgical complications in kidney transplant: experience at the Hospital Militar de Santiago

La incidencia de complicaciones quirúrgicas (CQX) en el trasplante renal (TXR) fluctúa entre 3,7 y 15 porciento, causando ocasionalmente un deterioro de la función renal (FXR) o incluso la pérdida del injerto. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar nuestra experiencia en las CQX, su impacto en la FXR y su relación con rechazo agudo (RA) y necrosis tubular aguda (NTA). Revisión retrospectiva de 153 trasplantes renales realizados entre mayo de 1983 y mayo de 2002 en el Hospital Militar de Santiago. Se evalúa la FXR durante la complicación y a largo plazo, y se estudia la relación entre RA o NTA (definida como la necesidad de diálisis) y la aparición de CQX. Con una mediana de 48 meses (1-217), identificamos 45 complicaciones en 33 pacientes, que incluyen 11 linfoceles (7,2 porciento), 7 hematomas perirrenales (4,6 porciento), 1 hemoperitoneo (0,6 porciento), 3 obstrucciones ureterales (1,9 porciento), 4 fístulas urinarias (2,6 porciento), 7 complicaciones vasculares (4,6 porciento) (2 trombosis arteriales, 4 estenosis arteriales y 1 trombosis venosa profunda) y 12 complicaciones de herida operatoria (7,8 porcientociones,4 hematomas, 1 dehiscencia y 1 seroma). El índice de CQX fue mayor en donante cadáver (20,1 porciento)que en donante vivo (11,1 porciento) (p=0,11). En los pacientes que sufrieron complicaciones, el promedio de tiempo en diálisis pretrasplante fue mayor que el de los que no se complicaron (25,9 m versus 18,8 m, p=0,09). El promedio de edad de los complicados fue mayor que el de los no complicados (43,2 versus 38,2 años, p= 0,09). No observamos una correlación significativa entre RA y CQX. Por otro lado, pacientes con NTA tuvieron un mayor índice de CQX (32 porciento versus 12 porciento, p= <0,05), específicamente para linfocele. La FXR se vio afectada durante la complicación en 14 de 33 pacientes (42,4 porciento), en 9 se recuperó a cortoplazo y en 5 de ellos, el riñón se perdió por esta causa. En el seguimiento de estos 33 pacientes complicados, 6 han fallecido, pero en ningún caso debido a la CQX. La edad pareciera ser un factor de riesgo de CQX. La complicación quirúrgica produce un deterioro de la función renal, que en la gran mayoría de los casos, se recupera a corto plazo. La necrosis tubular aguda influiría en una mayor incidencia de linfoceles.