Salvage radical prostatectomy after radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the oncological and functional results obtained after salvage radical prostatectomy (SRP) in patients with recurrence following radiotherapy (3 consecutive PSA rises after a nadir until the year 2006, then 2 ng/mL above nadir ) for prostate cancer (PC), and to analyze the impact of different pre-and postoperative variables on biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCR-free survival). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 29 cases treated with SRP, 23 cases of conventional technique and 6 cases assisted by the Da Vinci surgical system between August 2004 and March 2012 at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. There was an attempt to preserve neurovascular bundles in cT1c patients with low tumor volume, Gleason score 7 or less, and favorable surgical anatomy. The degrees of postoperative incontinence and erectile function were recorded. The overall survival, the disease-specific survival, and the BCR-free survival were assessed. The BCR-free survival was compared among groups in accordance with the pre-and post-operative variables. RESULTS. No complications,injury to nearby organs or blood transfusions were recorded. Of all the patients, 85.7% showed normal continence (no pads used). Eight patients (27.5%) preserved their potency with sildenafil. There were 6 positive margins for tumor extension, 44.8% of pT3a, and 10.3% pT3b. All patients are alive at present, and 58.6% with at least 1 year of follow-up have a PSA with recovery criteria (less than 0.02 ng/mL). The biochemical recurrence (BCR) was 41.3%, and the estimated 4-year BCR-free survival was 51.7%. Of the groups analyzed, the presence of a preoperative Gleason score ≥8 and the presence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) significantly influenced the BCR-free survival, both in the univariate as well as the multivariate analysis (p=0.02 and 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS. SRP is a challenging and achievable surgery with an acceptable complication rate, and constitutes a chance to cure patients with biochemical recurrence following prostate radiotherapy. The presence of a preoperative Gleason score ≥8, and the presence of PSMs in the specimen increase the chances of a BCR after four years post-SRP.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictor of locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma are associated with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (LARCC) after surgery. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted from May 2009 to January 2011. Altogether, 192 patients with non-disseminated disease and with preoperative quantitative determination of the CRP were evaluated. We evaluated the relation between age, gender, history of smoking, symptoms and CRP higher than 10 mg/L, with LARCC. The chi-square and Fisher's tests were used to compare categorical variables. For the multivariate analysis, we used logistic regression methods. RESULTS: The median age was 62 years (r=23-85), 72.4% were males. The median CRP was 2.40 mg/L (r=0.1-173). Of all the patients, 43.2% had a history of smoking and 81.8% were asymptomatic. As for the tumors, 77.1%were clear cell carcinoma, 14.6% chromophobe, 4.7% papillary, 2.6% oncocytomas, and 1% other varieties of renal cell carcinoma. As for the TNM classification, 45.8% corresponded to stage pT1a, 27.6% pT1b, 13% pT2, and 13.5% pT3, pT4 was not found. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of symptoms (p=0.002, OR=3.1) and the presence of CRP higher than 10 mg/L (p=0.006, OR=4) remained as the only prognostic variables of LARCC. CONCLUSIONS: Values of CRP higher than 10 mg/L increase 4 times the possibilities of finding LARCC in the pathological study of the surgical specimen. This variable should be taken into account when deciding what is the best surgical option.

Nefrolitotricia percutánea ambulatoria: nuestra experiencia en 156 casos / Ambulatory Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Our experience in 156 cases

OBJETIVOS: analizar y presentar nuestros resultados en el tratamiento de la litiasis renal mediante Nefrolitotricia Percutánea (NLP) ambulatoria en un mismo centro. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: entre agosto de 2013 y mayo de 2017 se realizó una recolección prospectiva de datos de los pacientes sometidos a NLP ambulatoria tubeless con catéter doble J o totally tubeless por litiasis renal. Se excluyeron aquellos pacientes con score de ASA >3. Se analizaron los datos preoperatorios, intra- y posoperatorios. Se clasificaron las complicaciones de acuerdo con el sistema de Clavien modificado. Se compararon los valores de hematocrito, hemoglobina, creatininemia y uremia pre- y posoperatoria a las 48 horas. RESULTADOS: en total, se operaron 156 pacientes, a los cuales se les dio el alta el mismo día de la cirugía. La suma de los diámetros máximos de las litiasis, en promedio, fue de 26,6 mm, 32 casos de litiasis coraliforme. La posición más utilizada fue la ventral, con un tiempo promedio de cirugía de 50 minutos. Se realizó NLP tubeless en 125 pacientes y totally tubeless en 29 casos. A 40 pacientes se les colocó un tapón de Surgicel en el tracto de acceso percutáneo. La tasa libre de cálculos fue del 84%, y en pacientes con litiasis coraliforme fue del 53%. No hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias y el 80% de los pacientes no presentó complicaciones. La tasa de reinternación fue del 3%. Si bien se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los valores pre- y posoperatorios de hematocrito y hemoglobina (40% y 13,3 g/dl vs. 39% y 12,8 g/dl; p=0,0001 y 0,0001, respectivamente), estas no fueron clínicamente significativas y solamente un paciente requirió de transfusión de sangre (0,6%). CONCLUSIONES: en nuestra experiencia, la NLP ambulatoria fue segura, con tasas libres de cálculos y complicaciones similares a las realizadas con internación.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and feasibility of ambulatory percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at a single institution. METHODS: Data collected prospectively of patients submit for ambulatory PCNL tubeless or totally tubeless between August 2013 and May 2017 were review. Exclusion criteria were patients with ASA score >3. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected. Complications were classified using the Clavien sistem modified for PCNL. Properative and 48hs postoperative value of hematocrit, hemoglobin, creatininemia and uremia were compare. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty five patients underwent ambulatory PCNL. All patients were discharge the same day of surgery. The median of the sum of the maximum stone diameter was 26,6mm, 32 patients had staghorn calculus. We performed the majority of the surgerys in ventral position with a median time of 50 minutes. One hundred and twenty five patients underwent tubeless PCNL and totally tubeless 29 patients. In 40 cases we used Surgicel for sealing the percutaneous tract. Overall stone-free rate was 84% and 53% in staghorn cases. There were no intraoperative complications and 80% of the patients did not have any complications. Readmission rate was 3%. There was a significant decrease in the postoperative hematocrit and hemoglobin level (40% y 13,3 g/dl vs. 39% y 12,8 g/dl; p=0,0001 y 0,0001), this was not clinically significant. Only one patient required blood transfusion (0,6%). CONCLUSION: Ambulatory PCNL is safe with a stone-free rate, readmisions and complications similar to standard PCNL.

[CT SCAN as a predictor of composition and fragility of urinary lithiasis treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in vitro]. / Tomografía computada como predictor de composición y fragilidad de la litiasis urinaria al tratamiento con litotricia extracorporea por ondas de choque in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of non contrast computed tomography (NCCT) to predict stone composition and fragility for treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). METHODS: 27 stones of about 10 mm from patients who had undergone different endourological procedures were collected. All patients had been evaluated with NCCT. To perform in vitro ESWL an experimental device was designed. Three thousand pulses were applied with 17.2 Kv intensity using an electromagnetic generator (Lithostar) to all stones. Composition of each fragment was studied with crystallographic study. Results were statistically analyzed with Student Test, Chi2 Test and multivariate study. RESULTS: In vitro ESWL had a success rate of 59.26%. Average stone HU, grouped by composition: cistine 1015 HU, Calcium monohydrate oxalate 1193 HU, uric acid 419 HU, dihydrate calcium oxalate 2122 HU, struvite 1543 HU and basic phosphate magnesium 1517 HU. A statistically significant relationship was found between values which were lower than 500 HU and uric acid composition (p=0.0006), as well as values higher than 2000 HU and composition of dihydrated calcium acid (p=0.0244). In the group of stones with less than 1000 HU (n=11) efficacy was 81.1%, whereas it was 43.75% in the others (p=0.0479). We found a statistically significant relationship between uric acid and effectiveness (p=0.021). There was not statistically significant relationship between size and treatment effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NCCT will allow predicting stone composition and fragility.