M.-O. Bitker

Résultats carcinologiques et fonctionnels de la prostatectomie totale laparoscopique robot-assistée

The current gold standard treatment for localized prostate cancer remains open radical prostatectomy. From 1992, several teams have tried to explore less invasive surgical access. The first robotically assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) case was reported in 2000. Enhancement of the ergonomics and optimization of the surgical vision provided by the robotic interface, are some reasons that explain the worldwide widespread of RALP. Although this procedure accounted for the vast majority of radical prostatectomies performed in United States, its diffusion is still limited in Europe. The cost for robot purchase and maintenance are obvious limiting factors for its expansion. According to the literature, the operating time and the blood loss are, once the learning curve is completed, similar to those of open or laparoscopic procedures. Hospital stay and time before bladder catheter removal are shorter compared to other approaches. Intermediate oncological and functional outcomes do not show difference with the open or laparoscopic results. Given that these data are encouraging, the limited follow-up with RALP do not allow to draw any definitive statement in comparison with conventional techniques.

Article de revueRésultats carcinologiques et fonctionnels de la prostatectomie totale laparoscopique robot-assistéeOncologic and functional outcomes after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

The current gold standard treatment for localized prostate cancer remains open radical prostatectomy. From 1992, several teams have tried to explore less invasive surgical access. The first robotically assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) case was reported in 2000. Enhancement of the ergonomics and optimization of the surgical vision provided by the robotic interface, are some reasons that explain the worldwide widespread of RALP. Although this procedure accounted for the vast majority of radical prostatectomies performed in United States, its diffusion is still limited in Europe. The cost for robot purchase and maintenance are obvious limiting factors for its expansion. According to the literature, the operating time and the blood loss are, once the learning curve is completed, similar to those of open or laparoscopic procedures. Hospital stay and time before bladder catheter removal are shorter compared to other approaches. Intermediate oncological and functional outcomes do not show difference with the open or laparoscopic results. Given that these data are encouraging, the limited follow-up with RALP do not allow to draw any definitive statement in comparison with conventional techniques.

Dysfonction érectile après prostatectomie totale: physiopathologie, évaluation et traitement

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the gold standard treatment for localized prostate cancer; yet erectile dysfunction (ED) in selected series is still reported as high as 80% after this surgery. Patient selection and surgical technique (i.e., preservation of neurovascular bundles) are the major determinants of postoperative ED. Pharmacological treatment of postoperative ED, using either oral or local approaches, is effective and safe. Thus, most men need adjuvant treatments to be sexually active following RP. These include intracorporeal injections of vasoactive drugs, vacuum constriction devices and transurethral dilators, all of which have reported response rates of 50 to 70%. Unfortunately, long-term compliance is sub-optimal, with a discontinuation rate of nearly 50% at 1year. These non-oral options should be offered on an individual basis to patients who have failed oral therapy (IPDE5) since efficacy and compliance vary. Also, these options should be considered in the early postoperative period to enhance sexual activity and penile oxygenation, which may prevent corporeal fibrosis. Early penile rehabilitation with intracavernosal injections is the gold standard for partients over 60years old and those who underwent non-sparing surgery. In younger patients and/or when preservation of nerve tissue was feasible, oral IPDE5 may be effective in promoting an earlier return of erectile function. Recent studies have shown that pharmacological prophylaxis early after RP can significantly improve the rate of erectile function recovery after surgery. Use of on-demand treatments for treatment of ED in patients subjected to RP has been shown to be highly effective, especially in cases of properly selected young patients treated with a bilateral nerve-sparing approach by experienced urologists.

Prostatectomies totales rétropubiennes, laparoscopiques et robot-assistées : comparaison des suites postopératoires, des résultats anatomopathologiques et fonctionnels : à propos de 86 prostatectomies☆

OBJECTIVE Compare three surgical approach procedures of total prostatectomy (retropubic, transperitoneal laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic), about technical, oncological and functional results. METHODS Eighty-six patients had a total prostatectomy for localized cancer, in a unique center, performed by two expert surgeons, on a 16-months-period. Twenty nine had a retropubic, 23 a transperitoneal laparoscopic and 34 a robot-assisted (Da Vinci) surgical approach. Retrospectively, operative time, blood loss, per- and postoperative complications, duration of catheterization, length of hospital stay, in each group had been compared. The positive margin rates, the PSA levels at one and six months postoperative had been compared. The continence has also been evaluated at six months. RESULTS The three groups are comparable even if the median age is significatively lower in the retropubic group (p=0.018). Duration of catheter (p<2.2 x 10(-16)), blood loss (p<3.12 x 10(-5)) and operative times support significatively the laparscopic approaches, clearer the conventional than the robot-assisted one. No significative difference has been shown about positive margin rates, even if its higher in the robot-assisted group (p=0.37). Finally, the continence rate is quite higher in the laparoscopic groups without statistic significativity (76 % retropubic versus 96.8 % laparoscopic and 85.3 % robot-assisted). CONCLUSIONS The conventional laparoscopic and robot-assisted approaches seem to present technical advantages. Nevertheless, pathologic results are shader: the positive margin rate in the robot-assisted group is higher, in particular regarding to pT2. These results are concordant with the available datas of the literature.

Article de revueDysfonction érectile après prostatectomie totale : physiopathologie, évaluation et traitementErectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: Pathophysiology, evaluation and treatment

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the gold standard treatment for localized prostate cancer; yet erectile dysfunction (ED) in selected series is still reported as high as 80% after this surgery. Patient selection and surgical technique (i.e., preservation of neurovascular bundles) are the major determinants of postoperative ED. Pharmacological treatment of postoperative ED, using either oral or local approaches, is effective and safe. Thus, most men need adjuvant treatments to be sexually active following RP. These include intracorporeal injections of vasoactive drugs, vacuum constriction devices and transurethral dilators, all of which have reported response rates of 50 to 70%. Unfortunately, long-term compliance is sub-optimal, with a discontinuation rate of nearly 50% at 1year. These non-oral options should be offered on an individual basis to patients who have failed oral therapy (IPDE5) since efficacy and compliance vary. Also, these options should be considered in the early postoperative period to enhance sexual activity and penile oxygenation, which may prevent corporeal fibrosis. Early penile rehabilitation with intracavernosal injections is the gold standard for partients over 60years old and those who underwent non-sparing surgery. In younger patients and/or when preservation of nerve tissue was feasible, oral IPDE5 may be effective in promoting an earlier return of erectile function. Recent studies have shown that pharmacological prophylaxis early after RP can significantly improve the rate of erectile function recovery after surgery. Use of on-demand treatments for treatment of ED in patients subjected to RP has been shown to be highly effective, especially in cases of properly selected young patients treated with a bilateral nerve-sparing approach by experienced urologists.

Résultats de la néphrectomie partielle pour les carcinomes à cellules rénales de plus de 4 cm

To date, radical nephrectomy (RN) remains the gold standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) larger than 4 cm. However, from the early 1990s, improvements in surgical techniques have lead to the development of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for small renal tumours of less than 4 cm in diameter. This surgical procedure avoids nephronic waste with an acceptable morbidity and similar oncological outcomes compared to radical surgery. Recent large published series did not show any difference between NSS and RN in terms of oncological safety. Specific and disease-free five-year survival rates (82% to 97.3% and 81% to 97.3%, respectively) have confirmed the safety of NSS. Regarding laparoscopic NSS, the technique is still under evaluation and only mid-term outcomes are available so far. However, these studies are still limited and longer follow-up is needed before any definitive statement can be made. Current guidelines recommend NSS only in case of RCC of less than 4 cm in diameter in elective indications. In daily practice however, surgical teams are pushing back the limit above the threshold of 4 cm. More and more surgeons are either considering anatomical location or technical expected difficulties rather than just the tumour size. NSS leads to higher risk of bleeding, especially in case of tumours larger than 4 cm. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to investigate thoroughly the vascularization of the tumour to avoid such complications with exhaustive and accurate preoperative imaging.

Article de revueRésultats de la néphrectomie partielle pour les carcinomes à cellules rénales de plus de 4 cmResults of nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma of more than 4 cm in diameter

To date, radical nephrectomy (RN) remains the gold standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) larger than 4 cm. However, from the early 1990s, improvements in surgical techniques have lead to the development of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for small renal tumours of less than 4 cm in diameter. This surgical procedure avoids nephronic waste with an acceptable morbidity and similar oncological outcomes compared to radical surgery. Recent large published series did not show any difference between NSS and RN in terms of oncological safety. Specific and disease-free five-year survival rates (82% to 97.3% and 81% to 97.3%, respectively) have confirmed the safety of NSS. Regarding laparoscopic NSS, the technique is still under evaluation and only mid-term outcomes are available so far. However, these studies are still limited and longer follow-up is needed before any definitive statement can be made. Current guidelines recommend NSS only in case of RCC of less than 4 cm in diameter in elective indications. In daily practice however, surgical teams are pushing back the limit above the threshold of 4 cm. More and more surgeons are either considering anatomical location or technical expected difficulties rather than just the tumour size. NSS leads to higher risk of bleeding, especially in case of tumours larger than 4 cm. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to investigate thoroughly the vascularization of the tumour to avoid such complications with exhaustive and accurate preoperative imaging.

Résultats de la promontofixation par voie laparoscopique robot-assistée pour la prise en charge des prolapsus urogénitaux : analyse de la littérature

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy (LSCP) is one of the gold standard surgical treatment for the management of urogenital prolapse. Robot-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (RALSCP) is an alternative surgical access which has been recently proposed. The aim of the current study was to report the functional results obtained after RALSCP. MATERIAL AND METHODS [corrected] A systematic review of the scientific literature was achieved in the Pubmed database, using the following keywords: robotic; robot; sacrocolpopexy; sacralcolpopexy. Clinical cases and series of less than five cases were spontaneously not selected herein. RESULTS Overall, 12 series in published between September 2004 and September 2011 which included 350 female patients were selected. The mean age was 63 years old with a pelvic organ prolapse of stage 3 to 4 in the Baden Walker classification. The mean operative time of the RALSCP was 207 minutes with a conversion rate of 3,4% and an intraoperative complication rate of 4,6%. The mean length of hospital stay was 3 days and the perioperative complication rate of 7,1%. The success rate of the RALSCP was 97% and the vaginal erosion rate was 2,5% with a median follow-up of 13,5 months. CONCLUSION The mid-term functional results obtained after RALSCP were equivalent to those obtained with the LSCP approach. However, there is no prospective randomized comparison available between the two access so far. In addition, the experience with RALSCP remains limited due to the important cost that the robotic access generates.

Sclérose de l’anastomose urétrovésicale après prostatectomie totale pour cancer

The present paper intends to review diagnosis and treatment issues of bladder neck anastomosis stricture after radical prostatectomy for localised prostate cancer. Even though cancer control is not necessarily a concern, quality of life may be greatly altered. Patients may suffer from dysuria, urgency and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Flowmetry, cystoscopy and cystography contribute to its diagnosis. Treatment should be graded according to the severity of the disease and the quality of life of the patient. Cold-Knife incisions and pneumatic dilatation are the first line treatments. Holmium laser shows good results on the stricture in a second line treatment. A two-stage strategy with an endoluminal stent followed by artificial urinary sphincter implant is the ultimate option to manage severe strictures, while maintaining acceptable quality of life. Continence sparing is the challenge of the treatment of this type of stricture.

Tumeur urothéliale primitive du haut appareil urinaire et seconde localisation ultérieure intravésicale

The urothelium is the epithelium that lines the upper and lower urinary tract. Over 95% of urothelial carcinomas are derived from urothelium. They can be located in the lower tract (bladder, urethra) or upper tract (pyelocaliceal cavities, ureter). Urothelial carcinomas are the fourth most common tumours after prostate (or breast) cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. On one hand, bladder tumours account for 90-95% of urothelial carcinomas. It is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract and the second most common malignancy of the urogenital tract after prostate cancer. It accounts for 5-10% of all cancers diagnosed each year in Europe. On the other hand, upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinomas (UUT-UCC) are scarce and account for only 5-10% of urothelial carcinomas. Recurrence in the bladder after primary UUT-UCC occurs in 15-50% of UUT-UCC. Differences in treatment modalities of the primary UUT-UCC do not play a key role in the subsequent appearance of a bladder recurrence. However, others factors have been described such as stage and location in the upper tract of the primary tumour or upper tract tumour multifocality. Previous history of bladder tumour is also associated with the risk that another tumour arises in the bladder subsequently. However, it becomes difficult to distinguish between natural history of bladder tumour and evolution of UUT-UCC in these cases. In most cases, bladder cancer occurs in the first two years after UUT-UCC management. Surveillance protocol is based on cystoscopy and on urinary cytology during at least every three months for two years. Current surveillance regimen have a low level of evidence considering the paucity of UUT-UCC.