Jamison S. Jaffe

Single port access adrenalectomy.

OBJECTIVE To report the first single port access (SPA) adrenalectomy to minimize patient discomfort through a less invasive procedure. METHODS/RESULTS We performed the first SPA in a 63-year-old, otherwise healthy Caucasian female who had a 4.5-cm left adrenal mass that was incidentally discovered on computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Through a 2-cm single longitudinal supraumbilical incision extended down to the abdominal fascia, three 5-mm ports were placed through separate facial entry points, to make a triangular port arrangement. The adrenal vein was identified and ligated using hemoclips. The remainder of the dissection was done using hemocoagulation. The adrenal gland was extracted via an EndoCatch bag device by removing one 5-mm port and upsizing to a 12-mm port. CONCLUSION We report on the first SPA adrenalectomy. Although this technology is still in its infancy, the use of a single port for surgery provides a means to provide a potentially better patient outcome with a less invasive procedure.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a single-institutions learning curve.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the results of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at a high-volume conventional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) center, to determine whether a learning curve still exists. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 293 consecutive men underwent RALP between May 2000 and November 2006. We prospectively collected and reviewed patient data including the preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score, operative duration, and blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and pathologic Gleason score and margin status. RESULTS Mean operative duration for the entire group was 158 +/- 50 minutes, blood loss was 533 +/- 416 mL, hospital duration was 5 days, and mean age was 61 years. Operative time showed a statistically significant decline at 2 different breakpoints: after the first 12 cases, and after 189 cases, dividing the patients into 3 groups. Operative times were 242 +/- 64, 165 +/- 43, and 134 +/- 45 minutes, respectively, for each group. We also evaluated margin status in the 3 groups. The positive margin rate in each group was 7/12 (58%), 41/180 (23%), and 10/89 (9%), which was statistically significant. Foley catheter duration was also statistically significant among groups. Age, preoperative Gleason score, and PSA were statistically significant between the second and third groups. There was no statistical significance demonstrated in blood loss, postoperative Gleason score, and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS Urologists who are proficient in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy will still have a learning curve when first performing an RALP. Experienced laparoscopic surgeons demonstrated continued improvement in operative and pathologic parameters with regard to operative duration and positive margin rate as their experience grew.

A new diagnostic algorithm for the evaluation of microscopic hematuria

OBJECTIVES To evaluate a new diagnostic algorithm for microscopic hematuria in which intravenous urography (IVU) is performed as a secondary radiographic study when microhematuria has persisted for 3 months after the initial workup with renal ultrasound (US) and cystoscopy was negative. METHODS We evaluated 372 consecutive patients who presented with microhematuria and negative urine cultures and cytologic findings at our institution. All patients underwent renal US scanning and cystoscopy as their initial evaluation. All patients underwent re-evaluation 3 months after the initial workup. Patients with persistent microhematuria with no apparent etiology were then evaluated with IVU. RESULTS The initial evaluation was negative in 212 of 372 patients. Eighty-one of these patients had persistence of their microhematuria at the 3-month follow-up without a definitive diagnosis. Seventy-five of these patients underwent IVU. Abnormalities were found in 11 of the 75 patients. Six patients had renal stones, two had ureteral stones, two had ureteral tumors, and one had a tumor of the renal pelvis. Forty of the 131 patients with resolution of their microhematuria underwent IVU at their request. All those studies were normal. CONCLUSIONS The combination of cystoscopy and renal US along with urinalysis, urine culture, and cytology is a good initial evaluation in patients with microhematuria. Those patients with persistent microhematuria after 3 months without definite etiology of the bleeding may still benefit from IVU.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with urinary diversion: what is the optimal technique?

Purpose of review Laparoscopic prostatectomy has become a standardized procedure; consequently, many urologic surgeons have mastered it. Using the knowledge gained from this procedure, some laparoscopic urologic surgeons have also been successfully performing laparoscopic radical cystectomy. We review the current literature to determine the optimal technique for laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Recent findings Three techniques for the extirpative aspect of laparoscopic radical cystectomy have been described: robot-assisted, hand-assisted and pure laparoscopic surgery. Creation of the urinary bladder has been performed via both intracorporeal and extracorporeal techniques with more recent studies favoring the extracorporeal creation of the urinary diversion. Summary Laparoscopic radical cystectomy has become a standard procedure at many laparoscopic centers worldwide. The procedure is feasible with reproducible results. It appears to offer the patient all the advantages of other minimally invasive surgeries with respect to postoperative recovery.

Use of a prostate model to assist in training for digital rectal examination

OBJECTIVES To assess the accuracy of prostate size estimation on digital rectal examination (DRE) before and after training with a three-dimensional prostate model relative to prostate volume by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). METHODS A total of 100 subjects underwent DRE by one of four family physicians (FP1, n = 34; FP2, n = 26; FP3, n = 22; and FP4, n = 18). One half were examined before any training on DRE prostate size examination and one half after the physicians were trained. Training involved teaching with a three-dimensional prostate model having posterior surface areas corresponding to the average dimensions of six different prostate volumes. The FPs were instructed to estimate the prostate size on the DRE to the nearest 5 g. A single urologist unaware of the DRE results performed TRUS on all patients to measure the prostate volume. RESULTS Before training, the DRE size estimates ranged from 10 to 100 g (mean +/- SD 32.8 +/- 21.6), with a TRUS volume of 11 to 122 g (mean +/- SD 38.9 +/- 23.1). The correlation between the DRE and TRUS estimates was 0.25, suggesting low agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.31, 0. 38). After training, 50 different patients had DRE size estimates of 10 to 100 g (mean +/- SD 39.4 +/- 19.7) and TRUS volume of 10 to 119 g (mean +/- SD 41.5 +/- 24.1). The correlation between the techniques was higher in patients examined after training (r = 0. 765), suggesting much better agreement between the techniques (ICC 0. 87; 95% confidence interval 0.86, 0.88). Among the physicians, agreement between DRE and TRUS was higher after training (ICC 0.64 to 0.96) than before training (ICC 0.02 to 0.49). CONCLUSIONS Although the subjects examined before and after training differed, the agreement between TRUS and DRE prostate size estimates by the FPs appeared to be stronger after training with a three-dimensional prostate model. This model may be a useful tool to assist in training FPs and medical students to measure prostate size on DRE.

Effects of irrigation fluid temperature on core body temperature during transurethral resection of the prostate

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect irrigation fluid temperature has on core body temperature changes in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). METHODS Fifty-six male patients (mean age 71.2 +/- 8.2 years) scheduled for TURP were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized to one of two groups. Group 1 consisted of 27 patients who received room temperature irrigation fluid (70 degrees F) throughout TURP; group 2 consisted of 29 patients whose procedure was performed with warmed irrigation fluid (91.5 degrees F). The irrigation fluid used for both groups was glycine. The baseline temperature, final temperature, total time in the operating room, and amount of irrigation fluid used during the procedure were recorded for each patient. RESULTS No significant difference in the average time spent in the operating room or in the total irrigation fluid used between the two groups was observed. Of the 27 patients who received room temperature irrigation fluid, 15 (55.6%) had a decrease in body temperature. A decrease in temperature was observed in 21 (72.4%) of the 29 patients who received warm irrigation fluid. Groups 1 and 2 had 12 (44.4%) of 27 and 8 (27.6%) of 29 patients, respectively, who demonstrated an elevation in their core body temperature. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study suggest that irrigation fluid temperature is not a factor responsible for altering the core body temperature in patients undergoing TURP.

Serum Creatinine Predicts Success in Retrograde Ureteral Stent Placement in Patients with Pelvic Malignancies

OBJECTIVES To evaluate serum hemoglobin, baseline serum creatinine, serum creatinine at the diagnosis of obstructive hydronephrosis, and the increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline to predict for success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies. METHODS In a retrospective chart review, we identified 57 patients at our institution with obstructive hydronephrosis secondary to pelvic malignancies in which retrograde ureteral stent placement was attempted from January 2002 to May 2005. The patient charts were reviewed for the baseline serum creatinine, preoperative serum creatinine and hemoglobin, and serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis. This population was divided into group 1 (n = 31, 54%), in which retrograde stent placement was successful, and group 2 (n = 26, 46%), in which stent placement failed and subsequent percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement was required. The Student t test was used to determine whether a significant difference existed between the two groups for each laboratory parameter. RESULTS The serum hemoglobin and baseline creatinine were not significantly different between the two groups and could not be used to predict for the success or failure of stent placement (P = 0.10 and P = 0.59, respectively). However, the average serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis was significantly different between group 1 (2.4 +/- 1.4 ng/dL) and group 2 (5.3 +/- 6.3; P = 0.014), as was an increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study have shown that the serum creatinine level at the presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis can be used to predict for success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies.