Effectiveness of Intrarectal Povidone-iodine Cleansing Plus Formalin Disinfection of the Needle Tip in Decreasing Infectious Complications After Transrectal Prostate Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Prostate biopsy is mostly performed through the transrectal route worldwide and infectious complications may occur in up to 7% of cases. Therefore, alternative strategies to decrease infectious complications are needed. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of intrarectal povidone-iodine cleansing plus formalin disinfection of the needle tip in decreasing infectious complications after transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-center, phase III trial in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy randomized 1:1 to rectal mucosa cleansing with gauze soaked in 10% povidone-iodine solution wrapped around the gloved index finger and needle tip disinfection by immersion in a 10% formalin solution before each puncture vs control group. The primary end point was the rate of infectious complications defined as 1 or more of the following events: fever, urinary tract infection, or sepsis. RESULTS: Overall, 633 patients were randomized to the intervention group and 623 to the control group. The infectious complication rate was 3.9% in the intervention group and 6.4% in the control group (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.36-0.99; P = .049). The rates of sepsis, urinary tract infection, and fever were 0.3% vs 0.5% (P = .646), 2.3% vs 4.1% (P = .071), and 1.3% vs 1.9% (P = .443), respectively. The positive urine culture rate was 5.2% in the intervention group and 9% in the control group (RR 0.57; P = .015). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the occurrence of noninfectious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Intrarectal povidone-iodine cleansing plus formalin disinfection of the biopsy needle tip was associated with a reduction in infectious complications after transrectal prostate biopsy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not increase peri-operative morbidity following radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with a higher risk of post-operative complications following radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of patients undergoing RC for non-metastatic urothelial BCa at 13 tertiary care centres from 2007-2019. Patients who received NAC ('NAC + RC' group) were compared with those who underwent upfront RC ('RC alone' group) for intra-operative variables, incidence of post-operative complications as per the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) and rates of re-admission and re-intervention. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of CDC overall and CDC major (grade III-V) complications. We also analysed the trend of NAC utilization over the study period. RESULTS: Of the 3113 patients included, 968 (31.1%) received NAC while the remaining 2145 (68.9%) underwent upfront RC for BCa. There was no significant difference between the NAC + RC and RC alone groups with regards to 30-day CDC overall (53.2% vs 54.6%, p = 0.4) and CDC major (15.5% vs 16.5%, p = 0.6) complications. The two groups were comparable for the rate of surgical re-intervention (14.6% in each group) and re-hospitalization (19.6% in NAC + RC vs 17.9% in RC alone, p = 0.2%) at 90 days. On multivariable regression analysis, NAC use was not found to be a significant predictor of 90-day CDC overall (OR 1.02, CI 0.87-1.19, p = 0.7) and CDC major (OR 1.05, CI 0.87-1.26, p = 0.6) complications. We also observed that the rate of NAC utilization increased significantly (p < 0.001) from 11.1% in 2007 to 41.2% in 2019, reaching a maximum of 48.3% in 2018. CONCLUSION: This large multicentre analysis with a substantial rate of NAC utilization showed that NAC use does not lead to an increased risk of post-operative complications following RC for BCa. This calls for increasing NAC use to allow patients to avail of its proven oncologic benefit.

Comparing Perioperative Complications Between Laparoscopic and Robotic Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer.

Background: Minimally invasive cystectomy is being increasingly performed, however, data comparing laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and robotic radical cystectomy (RRC) are scarce. We compared 30- and 90-day Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) complications between patients undergoing LRC and RRC at our center. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 300 patients who underwent minimally invasive radical cystectomy from January 2007 to July 2019 and grouped them into LRC (112 patients) and RRC (188 patients). We compared the two groups for demographic variables, perioperative characteristics, and 30- and 90-day CDC overall, minor, and major complications. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables that predict perioperative complications. Results: The two groups were comparable for the duration of surgery (270 minutes in LRC vs 265 minutes in RRC) and rate of conversion to open surgery. The RRC cohort had a higher estimated blood loss (EBL) (675 mL vs 500 mL, p = 0.006), but the two groups had a comparable need for intraoperative transfusion. Patients undergoing RRC also had a shorter duration of hospital stay (13 days vs 14 days, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the two groups for 30- and 90-day CDC overall, minor, and major complications. The incidence of rehospitalization within 30 days (p = 0.1) and surgical reintervention (p = 0.5) was also comparable between the two groups. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, approach to cystectomy (RRC vs LRC) was not a significant predictor of 30-day CDC overall and major complications. Conclusion: LRC was associated with lesser EBL, whereas the hospital stay was shorter in patients undergoing RRC. The two approaches were comparable with each other for 30- and 90-day CDC overall, minor, and major complications. The choice between the two approaches should depend on availability and surgeon experience and preference, rather than any specific perioperative parameter.

Higher nodal yield with robot-assisted pelvic lymph node dissection for bladder cancer compared to laparoscopic dissection: implications for more accurate staging.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the lymph node (LN) yield and adequacy of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection (L-PLND) and robot-assisted PLND (R-PLND), as PLND is a fundamental component of radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa), where a positive status is the most powerful predictor of disease recurrence and survival. PATENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing RC with PLND for BCa from January 2007 to July 2019 and grouped them in to L- and R-PLND. Until 2011, patients underwent a standard PLND (S-PLND) with the cranial limit as bifurcation of common iliac artery. Since 2012, an extended PLND (E-PLND) up to aortic bifurcation has been performed. An adequate S- and E-PLND were defined as those that yielded at least 10 and 16 LNs, respectively. The groups were compared for LN yield and adequacy of PLND. RESULTS: During the study period, 305 patients underwent minimally invasive RC in our centre, of which 274 (89.8%) underwent a concomitant PLND (98 L-PLND, 176 R-PLND). R-PLND resulted in a significantly greater median LN yield compared to L-PLND, both in the S-PLND (16 vs 11, P < 0.001) and the E-PLND (19 vs 14, P < 0.001) eras. Also, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the R-PLND group had an adequate PLND compared to the L-PLND group. Surgical approach to PLND (R- vs L-PLND) was the only variable that was significantly associated with an adequate PLND on both univariable (odds ratio [OR] 1.860, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.114-3.105; P = 0.01) and multivariable (OR 2.109, 95% CI 1.222-3.641; P = 0.007) analyses. CONCLUSION: R-PLND leads to a higher LN yield and a greater probability of an adequate PLND compared to L-PLND for both standard and extended templates. Therefore, the robot-assisted approach would lead to more accurate staging following RC with PLND.

Robot-Assisted Infratrigonal Vesicovaginal Fistula Repair.

BACKGROUND: Although relatively rare, vesicovaginal fistula is the most common genitourinary fistula, causing a significant decrease in patients' quality of life. Location of fistula is major supratrigonal, with some cases located in the trigone and rarely below it. Disease treatment is surgical, and repair can be performed by several techniques, including robot-assisted. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a patient who developed an infratrigonal vesicovaginal fistula after treatment of a cervical cancer. The patient was submitted to robotic repair of the vesicovaginal fistula. CONCLUSION: The use of robot-assisted laparoscopy is expanding over all areas of urology and its applicability to repair vesicovaginal fistulas brings good results.