Devendar Katkoori

Long-term survival in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy: single-center experience.

BACKGROUND Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a tumor thrombus extension into the inferior vena cava (IVC) demands aggressive surgical management. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term survival in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We performed a retrospective analysis of 87 patients undergoing surgery between 1997 and 2008. The patients were grouped according to the extent of tumor thrombus, with level I involving the IVC at the level of the renal vein, level II being infrahepatic IVC, level III being intrahepatic IVC, and level IV being suprahepatic IVC or right atrium. Relevant clinical and pathologic data were analyzed. MEASUREMENTS Disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were studied. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS The median follow-up was 22 mo, and 19, 14, 40, and 14 patients had level I, II, III, and IV IVC thrombus, respectively. Among patients with M0 disease, 22 developed metastases. The 5-yr DFS was 64% for all levels and 74%, 69.5%, 59.5%, and 58% for levels I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Of the level I group, 16% of patients died of disease compared to 57% of the level IV group. The 5-yr DSS for all levels was 46% and 71%, 48%, 40%, and 35% for levels I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Patients with level IV thrombus had a significantly lower 5-yr DSS compared to level I (p=0.03). However, when analyzed in two groups-supradiaphragmatic and infradiaphragmatic-there was no significant difference in DSS (P=0.14). On univariate analysis, metastasis at presentation, non-clear-cell histology, lymph node metastases, and higher nuclear grade were statistically significant prognostic factors influencing DSS. Only higher nuclear grade (p=0.03), metastasis at presentation (p<0.01), and non-clear-cell histology (p=0.03) were independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy offer reasonable long-term survival. The level of tumor thrombus is not an independent prognostic factor. Distant metastasis at presentation, higher nuclear grade, and non-clear-clear cell histology are significant prognostic factors influencing DSS.

Complete transurethral resection of bladder tumor: are the guidelines being followed?

OBJECTIVES To determine how often complete eradication of all visible tumors during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is accomplished in a referral setting. The American Urological Association guidelines recommend complete eradication whenever possible. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent a second TURBT within 4 weeks of being referred to us. Relevant data such as residual tumor location, number, stage, and grade were collected and analyzed. Patients with muscle invasive tumor or known incomplete resection were excluded. RESULTS Forty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 75 years. In the initial TURBT, 35 (75%) had a high grade tumor and 12 (25%) had low grade tumors. Twenty-four (52%) were Ta and 23 (48%) were T1 tumors. Of the 47 patients who satisfied the criteria, 33 (70%) had an initial incomplete resection. Of these, 10 (30%) had macroscopic residual tumor at the resection site. Twenty-three (70%) had at least 1 unresected tumor away from the previous resection site. There were 39 unresected or partially resected tumors. Thirteen (33%) tumors were located in the anterior wall, 12 (31%) in the posterior wall and trigone, 10 (26%) in the lateral wall, 3 (7.5%) in the dome, and 1 (2.5%) in the prostatic urethra. CONCLUSIONS Although TURBT is a commonly performed operation, in this selected series, the incidence of unresected and gross residual tumor after initial TURBT is high. This indicates a need to emphasize the guidelines for a complete resection and to emphasize the use of a proper technique in this commonly performed urological procedure.

Radical cystectomy for BCG failure: Has the timing improved in recent years?

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Is the incidence of uretero-intestinal anastomotic stricture increased in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with previous pelvic radiation?

Study Type – Therapy (case series)
Level of Evidence 4

Robotic-assisted Radical Cystectomy and Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder Using a Modified Pfannenstiel Incision

OBJECTIVES To report our technique of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy with a modified Pfannenstiel incision. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy has been gaining in popularity. A completely intracorporeal procedure is a technically difficult and time-consuming procedure. Most surgeons perform the diversion using a small incision, typically midline, that is also used for specimen retrieval. METHODS Radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection was performed using a da Vinci robotic platform in a standard fashion. The robot was undocked and an 8-10 cm modified Pfannenstiel incision made. A self-retaining retractor was used to expose the wound. The specimen was extracted, and an ileal neobladder was reconstructed using the incision. RESULTS We have performed this procedure in 14 patients to date. The mean age was 58 years (range 56-61). The mean estimated blood loss was 310 ± 220 mL, and the mean operating time was 6 ± 0.8 hours. No intraoperative visceral injuries were noted. None of the patients had positive surgical margins. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 12 ± 3. The mean hospital stay was 8.5 days. CONCLUSIONS Our initial experience with our technique of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy and neobladder construction using a modified Pfannenstiel incision has been favorable. The incision provides good exposure, facilitating neobladder reconstruction, can be used for specimen retrieval, and heals better with a cosmetic scar.

Outcome after radical cystectomy in patients with clinical T2 bladder cancer in whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy has failed

To analyse the outcome after radical cystectomy (RC) in patients with clinical T2 bladder cancer not responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: The likelihood of initiation and completion.

Introduction: Chemotherapy was shown to improve survival in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The initiation and completion rates for perioperative chemotherapy are variable. Our aim is to compare the likelihood of initiating and completing neoadjuvant (NAC) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients who underwent of RC for MIBC. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent RC between 1992 and 2011. NAC was advised for patients with clinical stage ≥T2, hydronephrosis, extensive lymphovascular invasion (LVI), or prostatic stromal invasion. Patients with ≥pT3 or lymph node metastases were considered for AC. Results: A total of 363 patients were considered for perioperative chemotherapy. Among the 141 patients who were offered NAC, 125 (88.6%) initiated NAC. A total of 222 were considered for AC, and 151 (68.0%) initiated AC (P < 0.001). In the NAC group, 118 (83.5%) completed planned number of cycles of chemotherapy and 7 (5.6%) did not complete the planned chemotherapy. In the AC group, 79 (35.5%) completed at least four cycles and 72 (47.3%) could not complete the planned cycles (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with MIBC are more likely to initiate and complete NAC than AC.

Comparison of urologist reimbursement for managing patients with low-risk prostate cancer by active surveillance versus total prostatectomy

Active surveillance (AS) is an alternative to total prostatectomy (TP) in managing low-risk prostate cancer (PC). Our aim is to compare urologist reimbursement for managing low-risk PC by AS or TP. The urologists reimbursement for TP includes the fee for the procedure and follow-up visits. For AS, our protocol involves digital rectal examination (DRE) and PSA testing every 3 months for first 2 years and every 6 months thereafter. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies are performed yearly. Some urologists recommend spacing the biopsies by 1–3 years. Medicare reimbursement values were used. The urologist reimbursements for a follow-up visit, prostate biopsy, open TP and robotic TP are

Tumor thrombus involving the inferior vena cava in renal malignancy: is there a difference in clinical presentation and outcome among right and left side tumors?

72,

Synchronous panniculectomy with stomal revision for obese patients with stomal stenosis and retraction

595,