Multi-Institutional Assessment of Routine Same Day Discharge Surgery for Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: We assessed the multi-institutional safety of same day discharge for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy within a single health care system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 358 patients undergoing planned same day discharge for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at 6 French centers. Primary outcomes were same day discharge failure, and 30-day complication and readmission rates. Secondary outcomes included preoperative characteristics, perioperative parameters, Chung score and pain visual analogue scale at discharge, pathological features and followup. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 64.7 years. Mean operative time and blood loss were 147.5 minutes and 228 ml, respectively. Concomitant lymph node dissection and nerve sparing procedures were performed in 43% and 62% of cases, respectively. No patient required transfusion or conversion. The same day discharge failure, complication and readmission rates were 4.2%, 16.8% and 2.8%, respectively. The most frequent complications were low grade complications including urinary infection (6.4%) and ileus (2.8%). Blood loss, lymph node dissection and pain visual analogue scale were significantly correlated with same day discharge failure. Same day discharge failure was reported in 7.8% of patients with pelvic lymph node dissection compared with only 1.5% of patients who did not undergo lymph node dissection (p=0.003). ASA® score was the only factor significantly associated with postoperative complications (p=0.023). The only factor correlated with readmission was the pain visual analogue scale at discharge (p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This first multi-institutional evaluation confirms the safety of same day discharge robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in a single health care system and identifies for the first time factors associated with same day discharge failure and readmission. These findings may help physicians anticipate ideal same day discharge candidates and adapt postoperative followup.

High-grade renal injury: non-operative management of urinary extravasation and prediction of long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To predict the outcomes of a non-operative approach to managing urinary extravasation after blunt renal trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted between January 2004 and October 2011. First-line non-operative management was proposed for 99 patients presenting with a grade IV blunt renal injury according to the revised American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification. Among them, 72 patients presented with a urinary extravasation. Management and outcomes were recorded and compared between patients presenting and those who did not present with urinary leakage. Relative postoperative renal function was assessed 6 months after the trauma using dimercapto-succinic acid renal scintigraphy. Predictors of the need for endoscopic or surgical management and long-term renal function were evaluated on multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among patients with urinary leakage, endoscopic ureteric stent placement and open surgery were required in 37% and 15%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, fever of >38.5 °C and ureteric clot obstruction were independent predictors of the need for ureteric stent placement. The only predictor of open surgery was the percentage of devitalised parenchyma. Long-term renal function loss was correlated to the percentage of devitalised parenchyma and associated visceral lesions. Urinary extravasation did not predict surgical intervention or long-term renal function loss. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary extravasation after blunt renal trauma can be successfully managed conservatively and does not predict long-term decreased renal function or surgery requirement. A devascularised parenchyma volume of >25% predicts a higher rate of surgery and poorer renal function.

Long-term renal function assessment with dimercapto-succinic acid scintigraphy after conservative treatment of major renal trauma.

PURPOSE: The management of high grade blunt renal injury has evolved with time to become increasingly conservative with the ultimate objective of renal preservation. We evaluated relative renal function with dimercapto-succinic acid renal scintigraphy 6 months after major renal trauma (grade IV or V). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study was done between January 2004 and April 2010. All patients who presented with grade IV or V renal trauma and were treated conservatively were included in analysis. Patient and trauma characteristics, and initial management were recorded. Relative renal function was evaluated by dimercapto-succinic acid renal scintigraphy 6 months after trauma. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were included in the study. Conservative management was possible in 79 patients (90%), including 69 and 10 with grade IV and V trauma, respectively. Dimercapto-succinic acid renal scintigraphy was done at 6 months for 22 patients (28%). Mean relative renal function for grade IV and V injuries was 39% and 11%, respectively (p=0.0041). The percent of devascularized parenchyma (p=0.0033) and the vascular subtype of grade IV injuries (p=0.0194) also correlated with decreased renal function. No complication or de novo arterial hypertension was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment achieves the objective of renal function preservation for grade IV lesions. Grade V and specific subtypes of grade IV injury have a poor functional outcome. Further study must be performed to determine which patients will benefit from conservative treatment vs early nephrectomy to avoid a longer hospital stay and useless procedures.

[Use of robotics in laparoscopic urological surgery: state of the art]. / Utilisation de la robotique en chirurgie laparoscopique urologique: etat de l'art.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current place of robotics in laparoscopic urological surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the international literature was conducted to evaluate the various available endoscope robot systems and telemanipulator robots and to establish their practical limitations and their contribution to surgery. RESULTS: Robotic systems are based on various structures, which each present specific disadvantages. Two types of systems can be distinguished: endoscope robots and telemanipulator robots (complete robotic systems) with different degrees of complexity, dimensions and costs. Each system is different in terms of service rendered. Endoscope robot systems (EndoAssist, AESOP, LapMan) are reliable and eliminate the need for an assistant to hold the camera. Man-machine interfaces can be manual, by pedal or by voice recognition. They are relatively large and expensive, limiting their diffusion at the present time. Complete instrument-handling robots (master-slave manipulators) are currently represented by 2 robots (Zeus and Da Vinci) which have demonstrated their efficacy in many difficult operations. Their very high cost and their large dimensions also constitute limitations to their diffusion, making them inaccessible to the majority of centres. The urological community has largely contributed to the evaluation of robots in laparoscopic operations, as reflected by the large number of publications. CONCLUSION: Considerable technological progress has been made over recent years to make laparoscopic surgery more accessible. Current robotized tools are still imperfect systems, but, in the future, may possibly facilitate difficult laparoscopic operations, particularly in urology.

[Preclinical development of the TIMC LER (light endoscope robot)]. / Robot coelioscopique porte-endoscope miniaturisé LER (light endoscope robot) : développement pré-clinique.

INTRODUCTION: The authors participated in the development of an innovative endoscope robot in laparoscopic surgery designed by TIMC-GMCAO, providing a solution to the disadvantages of currently available systems, i.e. their cost and large dimensions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A compact robot (LER) placed on the patient's skin that can be used in the lateral and dorsal supine position was tested on cadavres and laboratory pigs in order to allow successive modifications. The current control system is based on voice recognition. The amplitude of vision is 360 degrees with an angle of 160 degrees. Twenty three procedures were performed (2 radical prostatectomies, 4 pelvic lymph node dissections, 6 nephrectomies, 2 adrenalectomies, 3 cholecystectomies, 1 small bowel resection-anastomosis, 1 cystectomy, 1 splenectomy, and 3 appendicectomies). RESULTS: Among the various control systems tested, we adopted voice recognition on the basis of its intuitive nature and the fact that it leaves one hand free. In the light of these studies, several aspects of the prototype were modified: reliability, fixation, ergonomy and dimensions. The ease of installation, which takes only 5 minutes, and the easy handling of the robot allowed 21 out of 23 laparoscopic procedures to be performed without the need for an assistant. CONCLUSION: The LER robot is an endoscope robot guided by the surgeon's voice that can eliminate the need for an assistant to hold the camera during laparoscopic surgery in the lateral and dorsal supine positions. The ease of installation and manufacture should make this an effective and inexpensive system. The gain in operating time was not evaluated during these trials on cadavres and pigs, as various prototypes were tested and several problems of reliability were successively resolved. Ongoing randomized, prospective clinical trials should soon validate this robot prior to marketing.

[Renin-secreting tumour: about a new diagnosed case during pregnancy]. / Tumeur à rénine. A propos d'un nouveau cas diagnostiqué au cours d'une grossesse.

A 29 year-old female patient developed severe arterial hypertension in the beginning of her second pregnancy. Investigations performed at 16 weeks of amenorrhea showed hypokaliemia in relation to severe hyperreninism: plasma active renin was 25 fold normal value, 94% as prorenin (prorenin representing 94% of total renin). Radiological investigations including ultrasonography and MRI disclosed an homogenous and avascular tumor in the right kidney. Its ablation confirmed renin tumor, and allowed recovery from HTA and continuation of pregnancy. This is the 75th reported case in the literature, enabling to make a new statement about diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, which are modified during pregnancy by contra-indication to X-rays and renin-angiotensin-aldosteron axis inhibitors.

[Report of a case of leiomyoma of the kidney]. / A propos d'un cas de léïomyome du rein.

The authors report a case of leiomyoma of the renal capsule. Although leiomyoma is a frequent tumour in the uterus, leiomyomas of the urinary tract are very rarely reported in the literature. This tumour has an excellent prognosis. In rare cases, the diagnosis may be suggested by CT scan, but histological examination confirms the diagnosis of benign tumour.