A. Ari Hakimi

Direct Comparison of Surgical and Functional Outcomes of Robotic-Assisted Versus Pure Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: Single-Surgeon Experience

OBJECTIVES To compare the perioperative and functional outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in a single-surgeon series. Robotic assistance aids the laparoscopically naive surgeon in performing minimally invasive prostate surgery by offering superior visualization and dexterity. METHODS The initial 75 patients with >/=12 months of functional data who had undergone RALP by a single surgeon were selected. These were compared with 75 patients who had undergone LRP from a confidential database of the same surgeon experienced in LRP toward the end of his experience with this modality (>300 cases). RESULTS The patients in both groups were similar with respect to age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, biopsy Gleason score, pathologic stage, and positive margin rate. Statistically significant differences were noted in favor of RALP vs LRP with regard to operative time (199 vs 232 minutes, P < .001), intraoperative blood loss (230 vs 311 mL, P = .004), and length of stay (1.95 vs 3.4 days, P < .0001). The 12-month continence rate was 89% after LRP and 93.3% after RALP (P = .56). The potency rate was 71.1% and 76.5% at 12 months after LRP and RALP (P = .64) for a bilateral nerve-sparing procedure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our initial experience has revealed that RALP is an equivalent, if not a superior, minimally invasive surgical option for localized prostate cancer with less blood loss and a shorter operative time and length of stay. Although the potency and continence rates were comparable, a trend was noted toward a faster return of functional outcomes in our early RALP experience.

Renal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES To present our experience with the management of renal artery pseudoaneurysms following laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). METHODS Our bi-institutional LPN database of 259 patients from July 2001 to April 2008 was queried for patients diagnosed with a postoperative renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Demographic data, perioperative course, complications, and follow-up studies in identified subjects were analyzed. Postembolization success was defined as symptomatic relief, resolution of hematuria, and a stable hematocrit and serum creatinine. RESULTS We identified 6 patients (2.3%) who were diagnosed with a renal artery pseudoaneurysm after LPN. The mean age of our cohort was 61.2 years (49-76), mean operative time was 208 minutes (140-265), and mean estimated blood loss was 408 mL (50-800). Patients presented at a mean of 12.6 days (5-23) after the initial surgery. Five patients had gross hematuria and a decreased hematocrit, with 1 patient presenting with clinical symptoms of hypovolemia. The sixth patient was incidentally diagnosed. The diagnosis of a renal artery pseudoaneurysm was confirmed in all cases by angiography. Selective angioembolization was successfully performed in all patients. At a median follow-up of 8.3 months all patients (100%) remained without any evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Although pseudoaneuryms are a rare postoperative complication of LPN, they are potentially life-threatening. Early identification and proper management can help reduce the potential morbidity associated with pseudoaneurysms. Our experience demonstrates the feasibility and supports the use of selective angioembolization as an excellent first-line option for patients who present with this form of delayed bleeding.

Assessment of complication and functional outcome reporting in the minimally invasive prostatectomy literature from 2006 to the present

Whats known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Renal Insufficiency is an Independent Risk Factor for Complications After Partial Nephrectomy

PURPOSE We identify and describe the postoperative outcomes of a single surgeon partial nephrectomy cohort. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis on preoperative patient characteristics, and their association with increased length of stay and postoperative complication rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Perioperative characteristics of 146 consecutive patients undergoing partial nephrectomy were recorded. Postoperative complications were defined as those occurring within 30 days using the Clavien postoperative complication scale. We conducted logistic regression analysis to evaluate the development of complications and linear regression analysis to determine the effect on length of stay. RESULTS In a linear regression model patients with renal insufficiency had a mean of 1.7 +/- 0.6 days longer length of stay compared to those with normal renal function (p = 0.006). Complications occurred in 48.5% in the renal insufficiency group compared with 16.8% in the other cohort (p = 0.0004). There were no mortalities. On univariable analysis 4 factors were significantly associated with the development of complications including race (p = 0.03), preoperative Modification of Diet in Renal Disease less than 60 (p <0.0001), tumor size greater than 4 cm (p = 0.03) and estimated blood loss (p = 0.04). On multivariable analysis the 2 factors of Modification of Diet in Renal Disease less than 60 (p = 0.003) and race (p = 0.03) remained significant. The odds ratio for complications comparing patients with renal insufficiency to the normal cohort, adjusting for confounding factors, was 4.58 (95% CI 1.65-12.65). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative renal insufficiency defined as Modification of Diet in Renal Disease less than 60 and non African-American race, which may be related to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease, are predictive of complications after partial nephrectomy. Decreased Modification of Diet in Renal Disease is an independent risk factor for increased length of hospital stay and increased complication rate in partial nephrectomy.

Effect of Visceral Obesity on Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy

OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between visceral obesity and perioperative parameters in patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 118 patients who underwent minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. On preoperative imaging, perinephric, visceral, and subcutaneous fat were measured. Higher estimated blood loss, complications, and warm ischemia time were used as surrogates of increased operation difficulty. We examined the association between the 3 groups of patients (ie low, medium, and high fat) with demographic and clinical characteristics. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine whether various measurements of obesity adversely affected surgical outcomes and complexity. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between perioperative parameters and either perinephric, visceral, or subcutaneous fat. There was no association between changes in renal function and different fat groups. Multivariate analysis for estimated blood loss, complication rates, and warm ischemia time adjusted for age, race, sex, nephrometry score, Charlson comorbidities score, and other fat types, failed to demonstrate any significant differences. Increasing perinephric fat content was associated with higher visceral (P <.0005), but not subcutaneous fat (P = .55). Hypertension was associated with perinephric (P = .02) and visceral (P = .04), but not subcutaneous obesity (P = .08). Neither Charlson comorbidity nor American Society of Anesthesiologists scores showed any significant association with different fat types. CONCLUSION Individual patterns of obesity, namely subcutaneous, visceral, and perinephric, do not increase surgical complexity for minimally invasive partial nephrectomy by experienced surgeons. Furthermore, this operation can be performed safely with comparable complications and outcomes in moderately obese patients without compromising renal function.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Survival of Clear Cell Kidney Cancer

PURPOSE The impact of modifiable environmental factors on kidney cancer specific outcomes is under studied. We evaluated the impact of smoking exposure on cancer specific survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS From a prospectively maintained database at a single center we collected the characteristics of 1,625 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with surgery between 1995 through 2012. We determined the associations of smoking status with advanced disease, defined as AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) stage greater than 2, and with cancer specific survival. RESULTS The prevalence rate of current, former and never smoking at diagnosis was 16%, 30% and 54%, respectively. Of the patients 62% reported a smoking history of 20 pack-years or greater. Median followup in survivors was 4.5 years (IQR 2.2-7.9). On univariable analysis a smoking history of 20 pack-years or greater was associated with a significantly increased risk of advanced disease (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-2.00). However, it did not achieve an independent association after adjusting for age and gender. Pathological stage and Fuhrman grade adversely affected cancer specific survival on multivariable competing risks analysis. Although the association between smoking and cancer specific survival did not achieve statistical significance on multivariable analysis, the direction of the central estimate (HR 1.5, 95% CI 0.89-2.52) suggested that smoking adversely impacts cancer specific survival. Current smokers faced a higher risk of death from another cause than never smokers (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.29-2.88). CONCLUSIONS Smoking exposure substantially increases the risk of death from another cause and adversely impacts cancer specific survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Treatment plans to promote smoking cessation are recommended for these patients.

Reflex fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for suspicious urinary cytology in patients with bladder cancer with negative surveillance cystoscopy

To assess the ability of reflex UroVysion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing to predict recurrence and progression in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with suspicious cytology but negative cystoscopy.

Association of mutations in chromatin modifiers with poor survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas Project.

360 Background: We have previously shown that mutations in the epigenetic modifiers PBRM1, BAP1, SETD2 and KDM5C are associated with adverse tumor characteristics and, in some cases, worse cancer specific survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We analyzed publically available data from the Cancer Genome Atlas Project (TCGA), to assess the impact of mutations in these genes on cancer-specific survival. METHODS We analayzed the genomic and clinical data from the TCGA cohort of 424 patients with primary ccRCC. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival probabilities, and log-rank test was used to test the univariate association between mutation status and overall survival. Cancer specific survival (CSS) was analyzed using the competing risk method. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression and competing risk models were also fitted to adjust for the validated Mayo Clinic SSIGN prognostic score. RESULTS Mutations in these epigenetic modifiers are frequent (PBRM1, 33.7%; SETD2, 11.6%; BAP1, 9.7%, KDM5C, 5.7%). BAP1 (p=0.002, HR 2.21 [1.34-3.62]), SETD2 (p=0.036, HR 1.68 [1.03-2.72]) and KDM5C (p=0.016, HR 2.18 [1.16-4.11]) are associated with worse CSS by competing risk. When adjusting for the prognostic SSIGN score, only mutations in KDM5C remain significant (p<0.0001 HR 4.03 [2.1-7.9]). On the contrary, PBRM1 mutations, the second most common gene mutations of ccRCC, have no impact on CSS. CONCLUSIONS BAP1, SETD2 and KDM5C mutations are associated with worse CSS, suggesting their roles in disease progression. PBRM1 mutations do not impact CSS, implicating its principal role in the tumor initiation. Future efforts should focus on therapeutic interventions and further clinical, pathologic and molecular interrogation of this novel class of tumor suppressors.

Successful Percutaneous Transperineal Drainage of a Large Prostatic Abscess

We present a case of an 83-year-old man with septic shock secondary to an extremely large prostatic abscess. Antibiotics and transperineal percutaneous drainage with a suprapubic-type Malecot catheter successfully treated the abscess. Follow-up images reveal resolution of the abscess. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and drainage permitted a full recovery.

Lymph node dissection for bladder cancer: the issue of extent and feasibility in the minimally invasive era

Lymph node dissection in bladder cancer is an integral part of radical cystectomy. It allows for accurate staging of the patient and will, therefore, serve to dictate additional treatment and add prognostic information. The issue of what is an adequate lymphadenectomy as to the extent and boundaries of the operation, specifically the cephalad extent, has been the focus of recent debate. Some have suggested that lymph node yield, in terms of number, could serve as a surrogate for the adequacy of the node dissection and, thus, the oncologic efficacy of the operation. It has also been suggested that it is a marker for the experience of the operating surgeon. What is meant by a limited, standard and extended lymph node dissection varies among different publications. Recent evidence suggests that an ‘extended’ node dissection infers oncologic efficacy. With the advent of minimally invasive and, specifically, robotic-assisted surgery, more cystectomies are approached robotically. As such, there has been recent debate as to whether a robotic-assisted procedure can emulate the open approach, satisfying the accepted boundaries and extent of dissection and ultimately leading to equivalent oncologic outcomes without increasing morbidity. In this review, we focus on the extent of lymphadenectomy in bladder cancer by reviewing the lymphatic drainage and arguments in favor of a more extended dissection. We will then address the minimally invasive techniques, focusing on robotic-assisted surgery, and review the evidence suggesting that this is a promising new technique that results in acceptable nodal yield and potentially equivalent oncologic outcomes with no added morbidity.