Evaluation of erectile function after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in a single center.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate erectile function among men who had undergone laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and received postoperative medical therapy for erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study in men who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between September 2003 and November 2005 at our center and who received penile rehabilitation after surgery. All patients had antegrade interfascial dissection. They received 10 mg tadalafil on the fifth postoperative day and continued to receive it every other day, regardless of erectile function. Intracavernous injection of alprostadil was initiated at 3 or 6 months depending on response to treatment with tadalafil. Follow up evaluations were done at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Oncologic and functional outcomes and compliance were assessed. Patients filled in International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaires. RESULTS: Of 1078 men who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy during this time, 586 patients met inclusion criteria, complied with the study medication, and had complete data for 24 months. The patients had a median preoperative baseline IIEF-5 score of 22. A total of 150 patients (26%) underwent unilateral nerve-sparing surgery, while 436 patients (74%) had bilateral nerve-sparing surgery. At 24 months, 35% of patients who underwent unilateral nerve-sparing surgery and 68% of patients who underwent bilateral nerve-sparing surgery reported having sufficient erectile function for intercourse without using intracavernous injection of alprostadil. At 24 months after surgery, the median IIEF-5 score was 13 (1-25) for the whole cohort, 5 (1-25) for patients who had undergone unilateral nerve-sparing surgery, and 15 (1-25) for patients who had undergone bilateral nerve-sparing surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that adequate patient selection and postoperative medical intervention allows the preservation or recovery of erectile function after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Inaccurate selection of patients and postoperative assessment might explain inferior erectile function results following this surgery.

The need for voiding diaries in the evaluation of men with nocturia.

In a study to assess the need for voiding diaries in the evaluation of men with nocturia, 337 consecutive male patients were asked to estimate their number of voiding episodes per night. Patients were placed into seven separate groups based on the number of estimated number of voiding episodes. These patients used a voiding diary to track their voiding habits for 1 week. The mean number of voiding episodes recorded in the diaries were then compared with the subjects' original estimations. The estimated number of voiding episodes correlated with the mean number of diary-recorded voiding episodes 48% of the time. Correlation was highest for patients reporting few episodes per evening and lowest for those reporting five or six episodes per night. The study findings suggest that voiding diaries are essential in helping to determine the actual number of voiding episodes per night and that the need for a voiding diary becomes more important as the perceived amount of nocturia increases.

Sickle cell episode manifesting as superficial thrombophlebitis of the penis.

In 1955, the first reported case of Mondor's disease (superficial thrombophlebitis) of the penis was published. Since then, there have been scattered reports of penile Mondor's disease in the literature. Most studies suggest sexual trauma or neoplasm as the most frequent etiologic factor. The authors report a case of a sickle cell episode presenting with superficial thrombophlebitis of the penis. The patient was treated with an antiinflammatory agent and reassured that this is a self-limiting process. Resolution of symptoms occurred within 6 weeks.

Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of a urethral diverticulum treated with multidisciplinary robotic anterior pelvic exenteration.

Primary urethral carcinoma is extremely rare and is marked by a variety of clinical symptoms. Primary carcinoma of a urethral diverticulum is still rarer and clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra is particularly uncommon (Swartz et al., 2006). Such infrequency has led to inadequate management guidance in the literature for a disease that is often late in presentation and carries substantial morbidity and mortality. This treatable but grave disease deserves definitive curative treatment. We present the first published instance in which it was treated with robotic anterior exenteration. In our case, a 47-year-old female was referred to the urology service for investigation of recurring urinary tract infections. During the workup, the patient was found to have an advanced clear cell urethral adenocarcinoma originating in a urethral diverticulum. We discuss the natural history of this condition, its consequences, and the first instance of its treatment using robotic anterior pelvic exenteration.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a single-institutions learning curve.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at a high-volume conventional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) center, to determine whether a learning curve still exists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 293 consecutive men underwent RALP between May 2000 and November 2006. We prospectively collected and reviewed patient data including the preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score, operative duration, and blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and pathologic Gleason score and margin status. RESULTS: Mean operative duration for the entire group was 158 +/- 50 minutes, blood loss was 533 +/- 416 mL, hospital duration was 5 days, and mean age was 61 years. Operative time showed a statistically significant decline at 2 different breakpoints: after the first 12 cases, and after 189 cases, dividing the patients into 3 groups. Operative times were 242 +/- 64, 165 +/- 43, and 134 +/- 45 minutes, respectively, for each group. We also evaluated margin status in the 3 groups. The positive margin rate in each group was 7/12 (58%), 41/180 (23%), and 10/89 (9%), which was statistically significant. Foley catheter duration was also statistically significant among groups. Age, preoperative Gleason score, and PSA were statistically significant between the second and third groups. There was no statistical significance demonstrated in blood loss, postoperative Gleason score, and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Urologists who are proficient in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy will still have a learning curve when first performing an RALP. Experienced laparoscopic surgeons demonstrated continued improvement in operative and pathologic parameters with regard to operative duration and positive margin rate as their experience grew.

A multi-institutional comparison of radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical perineal prostatectomy, and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy for treatment of localized prostate cancer.

To evaluate the pathological stage and margin status of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). We performed a retrospective analysis of 196 patients who underwent RRP, RPP, and RALP as part of our multi-institution program. Fifty-seven patients underwent RRP, 41 RPP, and 98 RALP. Patient age, preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA), preoperative Gleason score, preoperative clinical stage, pathological stage, postoperative Gleason score, and margin status were reviewed. The three groups had similar preoperative characteristics, except for PSA (8.4, 6.5, and 6.2 ng/ml) for the retropubic, robotic, and perineal approaches. Margins were positive in 12, 24, and 36% of the specimens from RALP, RRP, and RPP, respectively (P = 0.004). The positive margin rates in patients with pT2 tumors were 4, 14, and 19% in the RALP, RRP, and the RPP groups, respectively (P = 0.03). Controlling for age and pre-operative PSA and Gleason score, the rate of positive margins was statistically lower in the RALP versus both the RRP (P = 0.046) and the RPP groups (P = 0.02). In the patients with pT3 tumors, positive margins were observed in 36% of patients undergoing the RALP and 53 and 90% of those patients undergoing the RRP and RPP, respectively (P = 0.015). Controlling for the same factors, the rate of positive margins was statistically lower in the RALP versus the RPP (P = 0.01) but not compared with the RRP patients (P = 0.32). The percentage of positive margins was lower in RALP than in RPP for both pT2 and pT3 tumors. RRP had a higher percentage of positive margins than RALP in the pT2 tumors but not in the pT3 tumors.

Serum creatinine predicts success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate serum hemoglobin, baseline serum creatinine, serum creatinine at the diagnosis of obstructive hydronephrosis, and the increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline to predict for success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, we identified 57 patients at our institution with obstructive hydronephrosis secondary to pelvic malignancies in which retrograde ureteral stent placement was attempted from January 2002 to May 2005. The patient charts were reviewed for the baseline serum creatinine, preoperative serum creatinine and hemoglobin, and serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis. This population was divided into group 1 (n = 31, 54%), in which retrograde stent placement was successful, and group 2 (n = 26, 46%), in which stent placement failed and subsequent percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement was required. The Student t test was used to determine whether a significant difference existed between the two groups for each laboratory parameter. RESULTS: The serum hemoglobin and baseline creatinine were not significantly different between the two groups and could not be used to predict for the success or failure of stent placement (P = 0.10 and P = 0.59, respectively). However, the average serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis was significantly different between group 1 (2.4 +/- 1.4 ng/dL) and group 2 (5.3 +/- 6.3; P = 0.014), as was an increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have shown that the serum creatinine level at the presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis can be used to predict for success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies.

Single port access adrenalectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the first single port access (SPA) adrenalectomy to minimize patient discomfort through a less invasive procedure. METHODS/RESULTS: We performed the first SPA in a 63-year-old, otherwise healthy Caucasian female who had a 4.5-cm left adrenal mass that was incidentally discovered on computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Through a 2-cm single longitudinal supraumbilical incision extended down to the abdominal fascia, three 5-mm ports were placed through separate facial entry points, to make a triangular port arrangement. The adrenal vein was identified and ligated using hemoclips. The remainder of the dissection was done using hemocoagulation. The adrenal gland was extracted via an EndoCatch bag device by removing one 5-mm port and upsizing to a 12-mm port. CONCLUSION: We report on the first SPA adrenalectomy. Although this technology is still in its infancy, the use of a single port for surgery provides a means to provide a potentially better patient outcome with a less invasive procedure.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with urinary diversion: what is the optimal technique?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laparoscopic prostatectomy has become a standardized procedure; consequently, many urologic surgeons have mastered it. Using the knowledge gained from this procedure, some laparoscopic urologic surgeons have also been successfully performing laparoscopic radical cystectomy. We review the current literature to determine the optimal technique for laparoscopic radical cystectomy. RECENT FINDINGS: Three techniques for the extirpative aspect of laparoscopic radical cystectomy have been described: robot-assisted, hand-assisted and pure laparoscopic surgery. Creation of the urinary bladder has been performed via both intracorporeal and extracorporeal techniques with more recent studies favoring the extracorporeal creation of the urinary diversion. SUMMARY: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy has become a standard procedure at many laparoscopic centers worldwide. The procedure is feasible with reproducible results. It appears to offer the patient all the advantages of other minimally invasive surgeries with respect to postoperative recovery.

A direct comparison of robotic assisted versus pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: We compared a single institution experience with radical prostatectomy using a pure laparoscopic technique vs a robotically assisted technique with regard to preoperative, intraoperative or postoperative parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2003 to May 2005 we reviewed 133 consecutive patients who underwent extraperitoneal robot assisted radical prostatectomy and compared them to 133 match-paired patients treated with a pure extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The patients were matched for age, body mass index, previous abdominopelvic surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, prostate specific antigen, pathological stage and Gleason score. Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data, including complications and oncological results, were analyzed between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The 2 groups were statistically similar with respect to age, body mass index, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score and clinical stage. No statistical differences were observed regarding operative time, estimated blood loss, hospital stay or bladder catheterization between the 2 groups. The transfusion rate was 3% and 9.8% for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, respectively (p = 0.03). Conversion from robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was necessary in 4 cases. None of the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy cases required conversion to an open technique. The percentage of major complications was 6.0% vs 6.8%, respectively (p = 0.80). The overall positive margin rate was 15.8% vs 19.5% for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, respectively (p = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy is equivalent to the robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in the hands of skilled laparoscopic urological surgeons at our institution with respect to operative time, operative blood loss, hospital stay, length of bladder catheterization and positive margin rate.

Surgical outcomes for men undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy after transurethral resection of the prostate.

PURPOSE: We reviewed outcomes for men with a history of transurethral prostate resection who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 26, 1998 and December 2006, 3,061 men underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at our institution. A retrospective review showed that 119 had a history of transurethral prostate resection. These men were compared to randomized matched controls with regard to operative and postoperative outcomes. The matching criteria used to randomly select patients were clinical stage, preoperative prostate specific antigen and biopsy Gleason score. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD age in the groups with and without transurethral prostate resection was 66.2 +/- 5.6 and 60.7 +/- 7.0 years, respectively (p <0.01). Mean estimated blood loss, transfusion rate, pathological prostate volume and reoperation rate were statistically similar between the groups. Mean length of stay for the groups with and without transurethral prostate resection was 6.5 +/- 3.0 and 5.29 +/- 2.3 days, respectively (p <0.01). Mean operative time for the groups with and without transurethral prostate resection was 179 +/- 44 and 171 +/- 38 minutes, respectively (p = 0.02). Positive margins were seen in 21.8% and 12.6% of the patients with and without transurethral prostate resection, respectively (p = 0.02). A total of 64 complications were seen in patients with a history of transurethral prostate resection compared to 34 in those without such a history (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We report that patients with a history of transurethral prostate resection who undergo laparoscopic radical prostatectomy have worse outcomes with respect to operative time, length of stay, positive margin rate and overall complication rate. This subset of patients should be made aware of these potential risks before undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Use of intraurethral alprostadil in patients not responding to sildenafil citrate.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether intraurethral alprostadil would be an effective alternative for men with erectile dysfunction who did not respond adequately to sildenafil citrate but desired minimally invasive treatment. METHODS: A total of 44 male patients aged 41 to 74 years with erectile dysfunction refractory to treatment with sildenafil citrate were enrolled in this study. Of the 44 patients, 10 had undergone prior radical retropubic prostatectomy. The patients were evaluated for subjective improvement in an office setting and completed the Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire as an objective assessment of improved erectile ability. Success was defined as subjective improvement in erectile function, as well as an improved Sexual Health Inventory for Men score. RESULTS: Of the 44 men, 13 (29.5%) responded successfully to intraurethral alprostadil, with a follow-up ranging from 2 to 15 months. The remaining 31 men had no response (n = 28, 90%), refused escalating doses (n = 2, 7%), or were lost to follow-up (n = 1, 3%). In the subgroup of 10 men with prior radical retropubic prostatectomy, 5 (50%) reported success with intraurethral alprostadil (500 microg in 2 patients and 1000 microg in 3 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Although sildenafil citrate remains the most common initial therapy in men with erectile dysfunction, intraurethral alprostadil may be a reasonable treatment option for sildenafil nonresponders. This may be especially true in men having undergone prior radical retropubic prostatectomy.