Leandro G. Sala

The ‘buoy’ stent: evaluation of a prototype indwelling ureteric stent in a porcine model

To assess a prototype ureteric ‘buoy’ stent with a 10 F upper body tapering to a 3F tail, developed to potentially reduce stent‐related irritative symptoms while providing an adequate mould for healing after endopyelotomy.

Comparison of Healing after Cystotomy and Repair with Fibrin Glue and Sutured Closure in the Porcine Model

PURPOSE We compared healing after laparoscopic cystotomy using fibrin glue, sutures, or a combination to determine whether fibrin glue can obviate the need for sutures and whether there is any detriment when glue is used in the presence of sutures. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 24 Yorkshire pigs, a 3.5 cm vertical cystotomy was created laparoscopically and repaired as follows: Group 1--no closure; group 2--fibrin glue closure; group 3--suture repair; group 4--combined fibrin glue and suture repair. All animals had a Foley catheter for 1 week. In each group, three animals were harvested at 1 week (acute) and three animals were harvested at 6 weeks (chronic). RESULTS Acute: Group 1--all pigs had an unhealed defect that leaked when evaluated by cystography. Groups 2, 3, 4--mean leak pressures were 80, 97, and 60 cm H(2)O (P = 0.36), respectively. Mean bladder capacity was not significantly different between groups. Chronic: No leakage seen on a cystogram at 1 week; at 6 weeks, bladders were filled at > or =95 to 100 cm H(2)O without leakage. Histologically, there was more inflammation in the acute group v chronic group pigs. In the acute group pigs repaired with glue or suture + glue, there was more inflammation and less epithelial continuity than in the suture alone group. At 6 weeks, there was no difference between groups. CONCLUSION Fibrin glue provoked an intense inflammatory response that might have delayed healing acutely, resulting in a lower burst pressure in both scenarios in which it was used (i.e., alone or in combination with sutures). However, by 6 weeks, there did not seem to be any difference between groups either clinically or histopathologically.

1024: Immediate Impact of an Intensive One-Week Laparoscopy Training Program on Laparoscopic Skills Among Postgraduate Urologists

Introduction: Laparoscopic techniques are difficult to master, especially for surgeons who did not receive such training during residency. To help urologists master challenging laparoscopic skills, a unique 5-day mini-residency (M-R) program was established at the University of California, Irvine. The first 101 participants in this program were evaluated on their laparoscopic skills acquisition at the end of the 5-day experience. Methods: Two urologists are accepted per week into 1 of 4 training modules: (1) ureteroscopy/percutaneous renal access; (2) laparoscopic ablative renal surgery; (3) laparoscopic reconstructive renal surgery; and (4) robot-assisted prostatectomy. The program consists of didactic lectures, pelvic trainer and virtual reality simulator practice, animal and cadaver laboratory sessions, and observation or participation in human surgeries. Skills testing (ST) simulating open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery is assessed in all of the M-R participants on training days 1 and 5. Tests include ring transfer, suture threading, cutting, and suturing. Performance is evaluated by an experienced observer using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) scoring system. Statistical methods used include the paired sample t test and analysis of variance at a confidence level of P≤0.05. Results: Between July 2003 and June 2005, 101 urologists participated in the M-R program. The mean participant age was 47 years (range, 31 to 70). The open surgical format had the highest ST scores followed by the robotic and then the laparoscopic formats. The final ST scores were significantly higher than the initial ST scores (P<0.05) for the laparoscopic (58 vs. 52) and the robotic (114 vs. 95) formats. Open surgical ST scores did not change significantly during the training program (191 vs. 194) (P=0.17). Conclusion: Laparoscopic and robotic ST scores, but not open ST scores, improved significantly during this intensive 5-day M-R program. The robotic ST scores demonstrated greater improvement than did the laparoscopic ST scores, suggesting that the transfer of laparoscopic skills may be improved using the robotic interface.