H. Baumert

PERIOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: THE MONTSOURIS 3-YEAR EXPERIENCE

PURPOSE We prospectively evaluated the morbidity, and minor and major complications of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed by a single surgical team. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 28, 1998 and February 28, 2001, 567 patients 42 to 77 years old (mean age plus or minus standard deviation 63.5 +/- 6) with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, including 458 (80.6%), without lymphadenectomy. Mean body mass index was 25.3 +/- 2.9 (range 17.3 to 37.5). American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 1 to 3 in 65%, 27% and 8% of cases, respectively. A total of 12 patients (2.1%) had undergone intra-abdominal surgery below the mesocolon and 40 had undergone urological surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative data were recorded as well as all complications and their severity score within the initial 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS A total of 105 complications were observed in 97 patients (17.1%), including 21 major (3.7%) and 83 minor (14.6%) complications. Of the patients 21 (3.7%) underwent reoperation for a postoperative complication, including 10 (1.76%) who required an intensive care unit stay. Seven cases (1.2%) were converted to conventional retropubic radical prostatectomy. Mean blood loss was 380 +/- 195 ml. and the overall transfusion rate was 4.9%. In 2 patients (0.3%) deep vein thrombosis was associated with another surgical complication but not with pulmonary embolism. Urological, bowel and hemorrhagic complications represented 66.6%, 16.2% and 7.6% (total 89.4%) of all complications, and 20%, 33.3% and 33.3% of all repeat interventions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed according to the defined protocol with no complications in 82.9% of patients. The morbidity of this approach compares favorably with that of retropubic surgery. Growing experience and knowledge sharing concerning the prevention and early management of these complications would make possible a further decrease in the morbidity of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for Reanl Tumor: Single Center Experience Comparing Clamping and No Clamping Techniques of the Renal Vasculature

PURPOSE We performed a nonrandomized retrospective comparison of 2 techniques for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, that is without and with clamping the renal vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between December 1997 and February 2002, 28 consecutive patients underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal tumor. In group 1 (12 patients) partial nephrectomy was performed with ultrasonic shears and bipolar cautery without clamping the renal vessels, while in group 2 (16 patients) the renal pedicle was clamped before tumor excision. In group 2 patients intracorporeal kidney cooling was achieved by a ureteral catheter connected to 4C solution. Intracorporeal freehand suturing techniques were used to close the collecting system when opened and approximate the renal parenchyma. RESULTS All procedures were successfully completed laparoscopically. Mean renal ischemia time +/- SD was 27.3 +/- 7 minutes (range 15 to 47) in group 2 patients. Mean laparoscopic operating time was 179.1 +/- 86 minutes (range 90 to 390) in group 1 compared with 121.5 +/- 37 minutes (range 60 to 210) in group 2 (p = 0.004). Mean intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (708.3 +/- 569 versus 270.3 +/- 281 ml., p = 0.014). Three patients in group 1 and 2 in group 2 required blood transfusions. Immediately postoperatively mean creatinine was 1.26 +/- 0.36 and 1.45 +/- 0.61 mg./dl. in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.075). Surgical margins were negative in all specimens. Pathological examination revealed renal cell cancer in 18 cases (stages pT1 in 17 and pT3a in 1), oncocytoma in 4, angiomyolipoma in 5 and renal adenoma in 1. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy represents a feasible option for patients with small renal masses. Clamping the renal vessels during tumor resection and suturing the kidney mimics the open technique and seems to be associated with less blood loss and shorter laparoscopic operative time.

Cystectomy with Prostate Sparing for Bladder Cancer in 100 Patients: 10-year Experience

PURPOSE To minimize the risk of incontinence and impotence without compromising oncological outcome, we performed prostate sparing surgery during radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Since 1992, 100 patients with a mean age of 64 years (range 48 to 82) underwent cystectomy for bladder transitional cell carcinoma with prostate sparing based on normal digital rectal examination of the prostate, normal prostate specific antigen (PSA), percent free PSA greater than 15 and normal transrectal ultrasound of the prostate. Prostate biopsies to exclude prostate cancer were performed on patients with an abnormal digital rectal examination, high PSA, percent free PSA less than 15 or hypoechoic lesions on ultrasound. Surgery consisted of transurethral resection of the prostate with analysis of frozen section of the prostatic urethra and transitional prostate and cystectomy with reconstruction by a Z ileal bladder anastomosed to the prostatic capsule after confirmation of the absence of prostate or bladder cancer on frozen sections of the surgical capsule specimens. Patients were followed closely with imaging and laboratory studies every 6 months and annually for 3 years thereafter. RESULTS Perioperative death occurred in 1 patient due to septicemia, 20 patients (20%) died of cancer and 6 (6%) died of nonrelated cancer causes. Mean followup 38 months (range 2 to 111). Postoperative pathological stage was PT0 in 2 cases, PtaT1 in 22, PT2 in 48, PT 3 in 28 and N+ in 13. The 5-year actuarial global survival according to pathological stage was pTaT1N0 in 96% of cases, pT2N0 in 83%, pT3N0 in 71% and N+ in 54% (p = 0.0001). The 5-year actuarial cancer specific survival was PT0, Ta T1 in 90% of cases, PT2 in 73%, PT3 in 63% and N- in 8%. The cancer specific survival according to pathological grade was 100% for well differentiated tumors (grade I), 76% for moderately differentiated tumors (grade II) and 47% for poorly differentiated tumors (grade III) (p = 0.003). Local recurrence was pTaT1N0 in 1 of 22 cases (4.5%), pT2N0 in 2 of 40 (5%), pT3N0 in 2 of 23 (8.5%) and N+ in 0 of 13 (0%). Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 3 patients (2 errors in the diagnosis and 1 cancer de novo within 5 years of followup). At 1-year followup 86 of 88 patients (97%) are fully continent (no pad) during the day, and 84 (95%) void 1 to 2 times a night to stay dry. Of 61 patients with previously adequate sexual function 50 (82%) maintained potency with retrograde ejaculation secondary to transurethral resection, 6 (10%) have partial potency and 5 (8.1%) are impotent. CONCLUSIONS Cystectomy with prostate sparing for bladder cancer is feasible and offers promising functional results with no additional oncological risk. Careful selection of patients is mandatory.