Periprostatic innervation: New issues based on segmental analysis of 10 human cadaver pelvic blocs.

BACKGROUND: The exact paths of periprostatic nerves have been under debate over the last decades. In the present study, the topographic distribution of nerves around the prostate and their relative distances from the prostatic capsule were analyzed in male cadaver visceral blocs. METHODS: The pelvic organs from ten fresh male cadavers were removed and serial sectioned en bloc for histological investigation. The macroslices was divided into four sectors. Each sector was centrally covered with a raster dividing each sector in three subsectors numbered clockwise. The prostatic capsule was identified, and distances of 2.5 and 5 mm from the prostate were demarked with lines. We quantified the number of nerve fibers present in each subsector of each slide and recorded their position relative to the prostatic capsule. RESULTS: In general, the topographic analysis revealed that the majority of nerves were identified in sectors 4 through 9, corresponding to the posterolateral and posterior surfaces of the prostate gland. At the prostate base, the majority of nerves were found at the posterolateral and posterior surfaces of the gland. Within the mid-region of the prostate, the same topographic distribution pattern was observed, but the nerve fibers were closer to the prostatic capsule. At the apical region, the percentage of nerve fibers identified in the anterior region was higher, despite their major concetration in the posterior surface. The nerves identified at the apex were mainly located up to 2.5 mm from the prostate. This proximity to the prostate was specifically observed in the anterolateral and anterior sectors. In the craniocaudal sense, the percentage of nerves identified between 2.5 and 5 mm from the prostatic capsule remained constant. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of nerve fibers were present in the anterior and anterolateral positions, especially at the apex. The anterior nerves were closer to the prostate. This proximity suggests that the anterior nerves may participate in local physiology and that the cavernous nerves are probably formed by the posterior nerve fibers. It is likely that the safe distance of 2.5 mm from all surfaces of the prostate may be related to cavernous fiber preservation.

Pheochromocytoma: a long-term follow-up of 24 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

PURPOSE: Pheochromocytomas are tumors derived from chromaffin cells that often secrete catecholamines and cause hypertension. The clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma depends on the presence of excessive production of catecholamines. Conventional imaging modalities that have been used in the preoperative evaluation include CT, MRI, and 131I-MIBG scintigraphy. Surgical resection is the definitive treatment for patients with pheochromocytoma. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up of 24 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1995 to September 2006, 24 patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal pheochromocytoma. Twenty (83.3%) patients had arterial hypertension. The inclusion criteria of patients in this retrospective study were laparoscopic approach, unilateral or bilateral adrenal tumor, pathological diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and a minimum follow-up of 18 months. RESULTS: Intra-operative complications occurred in 4 (16.7%) patients. Two (8.3%) patients had postoperative complications. Two patients (8.3%) had blood transfusion. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 days (range 1 to 11). Eighteen (90%) of the twenty patients who had symptomatic hypertension, returned to normal blood pressure immediately after surgery, during the hospital stay. In one patient, the high blood pressure levels remained unchanged. Another patient persisted with mild hypertension, well controlled by a single antihypertensive drug. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed that laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma is a safe and effective procedure, providing the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. In our study, the initial positive results obtained in the treatment of 24 patients were confirmed after a mean follow-up of 74 months.

Laparoscopic adrenal surgery in a Brazilian center.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal gland was first reported in 1992. Since then, many publications about this issue have come from Europe, Japan, and North America. We reviewed our 7-year experience with laparoscopic adrenal surgery. This is the first large series presented from Latin America. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was carried out in 61 female and 33 male patients between January 1994 and February 2001. Their ages ranged from 1 to 72 (42.8 +/- 16.4 years) years. Ten patients (10.6%) were 20 years or younger, 10 (10.6%) had unilateral tumors >4 cm, 22 (23.4%) had a Body Mass Index >/= 30, and 10 (10.6%) had had previous open upper abdominal surgery. The size of the lesion ranged from 1 to 9 cm (2.9 +/- 4 cm). Ninety-seven operations were performed, of which 91 were unilateral and 6 were bilateral, adding up to 103 adrenalectomies. Among the 97 procedures, the lateral transperitoneal approach was employed in 94 cases, whereas a lateral retroperitoneal approach enabled 3 adrenalectomies. RESULTS: Unilateral procedures lasted 117 +/- 43.7 minutes (range 45-250 minutes); bilateral procedures lasted 186 +/- 91.6 minutes (range 100-345 minutes). Five operations (5.1%) were converted to open surgery. Twenty patients (21.3%) suffered complications, 8 (8.5%) being intraoperative and 12 (12.8%) postoperative. Six cases (6.4%) were considered major complications. No deaths occurred. The blood transfusion rate was 4.2%. The hospital stay averaged 6.1 +/- 15.3 days (range 1-140 days). The follow-up period was 17 +/- 12.6 months (range 1-60 months). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is feasible and has excellent results in properly selected patients.

Comparison of clamping modalities in a rabbit model of normothermic renal ischemia.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of renal function recovery with different renal vessel clamping modalities during a prolonged warm ischemia (WI) condition in an experimental two-kidney rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly clustered into four groups and underwent laparotomy with different types of renal pedicle clamping. Group 1 (n=4) was sham-operated. Group 2 (n=8) underwent 80 minutes of WI with artery only clamping. Group 3 (n=8) underwent arteriovenous clamping for 80 minutes, and group 4 (n=8) received an arteriovenous clamping for 80 minutes with 10-second declamping periods every 20 minutes. Serum levels of creatinine (SCr) were recorded preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 7. Renal function was evaluated by (99m)technetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine scintigraphy. Afterward, the animals were euthanized, and the kidneys were harvested and evaluated microscopically. RESULTS: Renal function completely recuperated on POD 7 in the groups that underwent artery only and ateriovenous intermittent clamping, and both of these methods were superior to ateriovenous clamping (P<0.001). SCr showed a similar variation in all the clamping groups and did not demonstrate statistical differences among the groups. Histopathologic changes were similar among the ischemic groups. CONCLUSION: The less deleterious clamping modalities in this experimental model were the artery only and intermittent en bloc clamping methods.

Prognostic factors for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 after conformal radiation therapy on patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Identify prognostic factors associated to late urinary toxicity in patients with prostate cancer submitted to radical conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1997 to January 2002, 285 patients with localized prostate cancer were consecutively treated with 3DCRT and retrospectively analyzed. Thirty seven (13%) patients were submitted to transurethral prostate resection previously to 3DCRT. The median dose delivered to the prostate was 7920 cGy (7020-8460). Patient and treatment characteristics were analyzed and correlated to late urinary toxicity grade 2-3, especially whether certain radiation doses applied to certain bladder volumes, when visualized through computerized tomography (CT) planning, correlated with the observed actuarial incidences of late urinary complications, using bladder volume as a continuous variable. RESULTS: On a median follow-up of 53.6 months (3.6-95.3), the 5-year actuarial free from late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 survival was 91.1%. Seven and fifteen patients presented late urinary toxicity grades 2 and 3, respectively. Prior transurethral resection of prostate and radiation dose over 70 Gy on 30% of initial bladder volume were independent prognostic factors for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that restricting radiation doses to 70 Gy or less on 30% of bladder volume, visualized through CT planning, may reduce late urinary complications. It furthermore suggests that patients with prior transurethral resection of prostate may indicate a group of patients with a greater risk for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 after 3DCRT.

Laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children.

PURPOSE: The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal gland was first reported in 1992. Since then, more than 400 studies have been published, comprising hundreds of adults. There are few reports of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the pediatric population. We reviewed our experience with laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 8 girls and 5 boys 15 years or younger (mean age 6.3) between December 1994 and August 2001. The clinical diagnosis before surgery was virilizing tumor in 5 cases, nonfunctioning solid adrenal tumor in 3, Cushing's syndrome in 2, pheochromocytoma in 2 and Cushing's pituitary disease in 1. Unilateral adrenal lesions were 15 to 80 mm. at the longest axis (mean 41.4) on computerized tomography. RESULTS: Two of the 13 procedures (15.4%) were converted to open surgery. No deaths occurred. No patients presented with postoperative complications. Average operative time in unilateral nonconverted procedures was 107 minutes (range 25 to 195). Blood transfusion was required in 1 case (7.7%). Average hospital stay was 5.5 days (range 1 to 17). Average postoperative followup was 16 months (range 1 to 60). The final clinicopathological diagnosis was virilization in 4 cases, Cushing's syndrome in 2, pheochromocytoma in 2, neuroblastoma in 2, Cushing's pituitary disease in 1, teratoma in 1 and primary carcinoma in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is feasible and shows positive results in select pediatric patients.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor.

OBJECTIVE: To present the initial experience of videolaparoscopic nephrectomy in live renal donor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from April 2000 to August 2003, 50 left nephrectomies in live donor were performed by videolaparoscopy for transplantation. Twenty-eight patients were male (56%) and 22 female (44%). Mean age was 37.2 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 kg/m2. RESULTS: Mean surgical time was 179.5 minutes, and warm ischemia time of the graft was 3.79 minutes. The mean estimated bleeding was 141 mL. There was no need of blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery. In 42 cases (84%), the vascular portion of the graft was considered good by the recipient's surgical team and in all cases, the ureter was considered of proper size, though in one of them (2%) its vascularization was considered improper. The transplanted kidneys produced urine still in the surgical room in 46 of the 50 transplantations considered. In only 2 cases opioid was required for analgesia. In average, 3.1 doses of dipyrone were used for each patient during hospital stay, and hospital discharge occurred, in average, after 3.2 days post-operatively. Two patients required re-operations and one of them evolved to death. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor for renal transplantation is an alternative to conventional open surgery. In relation to the graft, no alteration, either anatomic or functional, was detected. Though there is already a large documentation in the international literature regarding this procedure, in our setting a prospective randomized study with the usual surgical study is still necessary in order to prove the advantages and disadvantages of the method.

Pheochromocytoma: a long-term follow-up of 24 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Purpose: Pheochromocytomas are tumors derived from chromaffin cells that often secrete catecholamines and cause hypertension. The clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma depends on the presence of excessive production of catecholamines. Conventional imaging modalities that have been used in the preoperative evaluation include CT, MRI, and 131I-MIBG scintigraphy. Surgical resection is the definitive treatment for patients with pheochromocytoma. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up of 24 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. Materials and Methods: From January 1995 to September 2006, 24 patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal pheochromocytoma. Twenty (83.3 percent) patients had arterial hypertension. The inclusion criteria of patients in this retrospective study were laparoscopic approach, unilateral or bilateral adrenal tumor, pathological diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and a minimum follow-up of 18 months. Results: Intra-operative complications occurred in 4 (16.7 percent) patients. Two (8.3 percent) patients had postoperative complications. Two patients (8.3 percent) had blood transfusion. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 days (range 1 to 11). Eighteen (90 percent) of the twenty patients who had symptomatic hypertension, returned to normal blood pressure immediately after surgery, during the hospital stay. In one patient, the high blood pressure levels remained unchanged. Another patient persisted with mild hypertension, well controlled by a single antihypertensive drug. Conclusions: Our results confirmed that laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma is a safe and effective procedure, providing the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. In our study, the initial positive results obtained in the treatment of 24 patients were confirmed after a mean follow-up of 74 months.

Prognostic factors for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 after conformal radiation therapy on patients with prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE: Identify prognostic factors associated to late urinary toxicity in patients with prostate cancer submitted to radical conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1997 to January 2002, 285 patients with localized prostate cancer were consecutively treated with 3DCRT and retrospectively analyzed. Thirty seven (13 percent) patients were submitted to transurethral prostate resection previously to 3DCRT. The median dose delivered to the prostate was 7920 cGy (7020-8460). Patient and treatment characteristics were analyzed and correlated to late urinary toxicity grade 2-3, especially whether certain radiation doses applied to certain bladder volumes, when visualized through computerized tomography (CT) planning, correlated with the observed actuarial incidences of late urinary complications, using bladder volume as a continuous variable RESULTS: On a median follow-up of 53.6 months (3.6-95.3), the 5-year actuarial free from late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 survival was 91.1 percent. Seven and fifteen patients presented late urinary toxicity grades 2 and 3, respectively. Prior transurethral resection of prostate and radiation dose over 70 Gy on 30 percent of initial bladder volume were independent prognostic factors for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that restricting radiation doses to 70 Gy or less on 30 percent of bladder volume, visualized through CT planning, may reduce late urinary complications. It furthermore suggests that patients with prior transurethral resection of prostate may indicate a group of patients with a greater risk for late urinary toxicity grade 2-3 after 3DCRT.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor

OBJECTIVE: To present the initial experience of videolaparoscopic nephrectomy in live renal donor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from April 2000 to August 2003, 50 left nephrectomies in live donor were performed by videolaparoscopy for transplantation. Twenty-eight patients were male (56 percent) and 22 female (44 percent). Mean age was 37.2 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 kg/m². RESULTS: Mean surgical time was 179.5 minutes, and warm ischemia time of the graft was 3.79 minutes. The mean estimated bleeding was 141 mL. There was no need of blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery. In 42 cases (84 percent), the vascular portion of the graft was considered good by the recipient's surgical team and in all cases, the ureter was considered of proper size, though in one of them (2 percent) its vascularization was considered improper. The transplanted kidneys produced urine still in the surgical room in 46 of the 50 transplantations considered. In only 2 cases opioid was required for analgesia. In average, 3.1 doses of dipyrone were used for each patient during hospital stay, and hospital discharge occurred, in average, after 3.2 days post-operatively. Two patients required re-operations and one of them evolved to death. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor for renal transplantation is an alternative to conventional open surgery. In relation to the graft, no alteration, either anatomic or functional, was detected. Though there is already a large documentation in the international literature regarding this procedure, in our setting a prospective randomized study with the usual surgical study is still necessary in order to prove the advantages and disadvantages of the method.