Michael N. Ferrandino

Intraoperative and postoperative complications of radical retropubic prostatectomy in a consecutive series of 1,000 cases.

PURPOSE We critically examined the intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with radical retropubic prostatectomy in the modern era. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between April 18, 1994 and July 13, 2000, 1,000 men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy performed by a single surgeon. The whole inpatient hospital medical record of 909 patients, the outpatient charts of 955 and a self-administered patient survey completed by 679 were reviewed by 2 data managers not involved in surgical management or followup care. In all 1,000 cases at least 1 of the 3 data sources was reviewed. RESULTS Mean patient age was 60.3 years. In 73%, 99.8% and 95.7% of cases serum prostate specific antigen was 10 ng./ml. or less, disease was clinical stage T1 or T2 and Gleason score was 7 or less, respectively, while 19.9% of pathological specimens showed positive margins. There were 8 intraoperative complications (0.8%). All 5 rectal injuries and the single ureteral injury were detected during the initial surgical procedure and repaired without sequelae. Only 14 men (1.4%) had any other complications during hospitalization. Until postoperative day 30, 4 pulmonary emboli (0.4%) with or without deep vein thrombosis and 5 myocardial infarctions (0.5%) developed. There were no intraoperative or in-hospital postoperative deaths and only 1 postoperative death secondary to myocardial infarction during the initial 30 days. Reexploration was done for hemorrhage and a disrupted anastomosis in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Mean hospitalization was 2.3 days, 9.7% of patients required allogenic blood transfusion and 15 (1.5%) were rehospitalized. CONCLUSIONS Our series represents a rigorous assessment of the complications associated with radical retropubic prostatectomy. It shows that in the hands of an experienced urological surgeon, this procedure is associated with minimal intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. Of the patients 98% had no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Our series enables appropriate contemporary comparisons to be made with laparoscopic prostatectomy and radiation therapy. This outcomes analysis implies that radical retropubic prostatectomy cannot be assumed to have greater morbidity than radiation therapy and it sets a high standard for those advocating laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

The Incidence of Fluoroquinolone Resistant Infections After Prostate Biopsy—Are Fluoroquinolones Still Effective Prophylaxis?

PURPOSE Fluoroquinolones have been shown to decrease infective complications after prostate biopsy. However, fluoroquinolone resistance is emerging. We quantified contemporary rates of infective complications and the incidence of fluoroquinolone resistant infections after prostate biopsy under fluoroquinolone prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the records of 1,273 patients who underwent prostate biopsy at New York Harbor Veterans Affairs Hospital from January 2004 to December 2006. Patients received levofloxacin or gatifloxacin. Using the Veterans Affairs computerized patient record system we reviewed all patient visits within 1 month after prostate biopsy. Visits were queried for infective symptoms. Positive cultures were evaluated for resistance patterns. The annual and overall incidence of infective complications and fluoroquinolone resistant infections was calculated. RESULTS Of 1,273 patients 31 (2.4%) presented with infective symptoms after biopsy. The overall incidence of fluoroquinolone resistant infections was 1.2% (15 cases). When stratified by year, there were statistically significant increases in the incidence of infective complications and fluoroquinolone resistance from 2004 to 2006. Of the positive cultures those from 89% of patients yielded Escherichia coli and 90% were fluoroquinolone resistant. Fluoroquinolone resistant E. coli were also resistant to gentamicin in 22% of cases, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in 44%, piperacillin in 72% and ampicillin in 94%. However, 100% sensitivity was demonstrated for amikacin, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. CONCLUSIONS Fluoroquinolones are still effective as antibiotic prophylaxis for prostate biopsies but there is an increase in infective complications and fluoroquinolone resistance. When patients present with post-prostate biopsy infective symptoms, almost 50% are associated with fluoroquinolone resistant pathogens. Empirical treatment with ceftriaxone, ceftazidime or amikacin should be initiated until culture specific therapy can be implemented.

Radiation Exposure in the Acute and Short-Term Management of Urolithiasis at 2 Academic Centers

PURPOSE Diagnostic imaging has a central role in the evaluation and management of urolithiasis. A variety of modalities are available, each with benefits and limitations. Without careful consideration of imaging modalities in quantity and type patients may receive excessive doses of radiation during initial diagnostic and followup evaluations. Therefore, we determined the effective radiation dose associated with an acute stone episode and short-term followup. MATERIALS AND METHODS A multicenter retrospective study of all patients who presented with an acute stone episode was performed. The analysis included all imaging studies related to stone disease performed within 1 year of the acute event. Using accepted effective radiation dose standards for each of these examinations, the total radiation dose administered was calculated and compared by patient characteristics including stone location, stone number and intervention strategy. The primary outcome assessed was a total radiation dose greater than 50 mSv, the recommended yearly dose limit for occupational exposure by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. RESULTS We identified 108 patients who presented to our respective institutions with a primary acute stone episode between 2000 and 2006. The mean age in our cohort was 48.6 years and 50% of the patients were men. Patients underwent an average of 4 radiographic examinations during the 1-year period. Studies performed included a mean of 1.2 plain abdominal films of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (range 0 to 7), 1.7 abdominopelvic computerized tomograms (range 0 to 6) and 1 excretory urogram (range 0 to 3) during the first year of followup. The median total effective radiation dose per patient was 29.7 mSv (IQR 24.2, 45.1). There were 22 (20%) patients who received greater than 50 mSv. Analysis of stone location, number of stones, stone composition, patient age, sex and surgical intervention indicated no statistically significant difference in the probability of receiving a total radiation dose greater than 50 mSv. CONCLUSIONS A fifth of patients receive potentially significant radiation doses in the short-term followup of an acute stone event. Radiographic imaging remains an integral part of the diagnosis and management of symptomatic urolithiasis. While debate exists regarding the threshold level for radiation induced fatal malignancies, urologists must be cognizant of the radiation exposure to patients, and seek alternative imaging strategies to minimize radiation dose during acute and long-term stone management.

Beyond Prone Position in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Comprehensive Review

CONTEXT Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is traditionally performed with the patient in the prone position. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of the prone and supine positions, particularly in obese patients and in those with staghorn calculi. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A Medline search was conducted for articles published during the last 10 yr related to PNL in the prone and supine positions. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS This search revealed 9 published studies for supine and 25 for prone PNL. None of the supine PNL studies reported visceral injuries, while transfusion rates were 0.0-9.4% and stone-free rates were 69.6-95.0%. One study of supine PNL evaluated a significant proportion of obese patients. Prone PNL studies in obese patients report transfusion rates of 3.2-8.8% and stone-free rates of 79.0-89.2%. In the only randomized study, excluding obese patients and staghorn calculi, operative time favors the supine position. A nonrandomized comparative study demonstrated similar complication rates with insignificant improvement in treatment success for supine PNL; however, when comparing series with similar proportions of staghorn calculi cases, there are slightly improved outcomes for prone PNL. Moreover, comparison of weighted means favors prone PNL. CONCLUSIONS For obese patients and staghorn calculi, prone PNL appears to be associated with decreased operative times with similar bleeding rates and slightly better stone-free rates than supine PNL.

Small renal mass biopsy--how, what and when: report from an international consensus panel.

To discuss the use of renal mass biopsy (RMB) for small renal masses (SRMs), formulate technical aspects, outline potential pitfalls and provide recommendations for the practicing clinician. The meeting was conducted as an informal consensus process and no scoring system was used to measure the levels of agreement on the different topics. A moderated general discussion was used as the basis for consensus and arising issues were resolved at this point. A consensus was established and lack of agreement to topics or specific items was noted at this point. Recommended biopsy technique: at least two cores, sampling different tumour regions with ultrasonography being the preferred method of image guidance. Pathological interpretation: ‘non‐diagnostic samples’ should refer to insufficient material, inconclusive and normal renal parenchyma. For non‐diagnostic samples, a repeat biopsy is recommended. Fine‐needle aspiration may provide additional information but cannot substitute for core biopsy. Indications for RMB: biopsy is recommended in most cases except in patients with imaging or clinical characteristics indicative of pathology (syndromes, imaging characteristics) and cases whereby conservative management is not contemplated. RMB is recommended for active surveillance but not for watchful‐waiting candidates. We report the results of an international consensus meeting on the use of RMB for SRMs, defining the technique, pathological interpretation and indications.

Factors Affecting Patient Radiation Exposure During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

PURPOSE We identified patient and stone characteristics that may contribute to increased radiation exposure during percutaneous nephrolithotomy and offer technique modifications to limit the radiation dose. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the records of 96 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the last 2 years. The effective radiation dose was calculated using accepted conversion tables. We performed multivariate linear regression to determine the association of the effective radiation dose with specific patient, stone and procedural characteristics. RESULTS Mean±SD patient age was 51.5±13.4 years and 62.5% of the patients were female. Median body mass index was 32.0±9.7 kg/m2 (range 16.2 to 59.6) and the median stone burden was 4 cm2. Increased body mass index (p<0.001), higher stone burden (p=0.013), stone nonbranched configuration (p=0.002) and a greater number of percutaneous access tracts (p=0.040) were significantly associated with an increased effective radiation dose. Specifically obese patients with a body mass index of 30 to 39.9 kg/m2 had a more than 2-fold increase in the mean adjusted effective radiation dose and morbidly obese patients with a body mass index of 40 kg/m2 or greater had a greater than 3-fold increase vs that in normal weight patients with a body mass index of less than 25 kg/m2 (6.49 and 9.13 mSv, respectively, vs 2.66, p<0.001). Other stone specific parameters, including site and composition, percutaneous access site and estimated blood loss were not associated with the effective radiation dose. CONCLUSIONS Patients with higher body mass index, greater stone burden, nonbranched stones and multiple nephrostomy access tracts are at risk for increased radiation exposure during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Urologists must seek alternative strategies to minimize radiation exposure, such as tighter collimation to the region of interest, judicious use of magnification and the acquisition of as few images as possible during stone removal.

In Vivo Determination of Urinary Stone Composition Using Dual Energy Computerized Tomography With Advanced Post-Acquisition Processing

PURPOSE We assessed whether dual energy computerized tomography with advanced post-image processing can accurately differentiate urinary calculi composition in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 25 patients scheduled to undergo ureteroscopic/percutaneous nephrolithotomy were prospectively identified. Dual energy computerized tomography was performed using 64-slice multidetector computerized tomography. Novel post-processing (DECTSlope) used pixel by pixel analyses to generate data sets grayscale encoding ratios of relative differences in attenuation of low (DECT80 kVp) and high energy (DECT140 kVp) series. Surgical extraction and Fourier spectroscopy resulted in 82 calculi. Of these stones 51 showed minor admixtures (uric acid, ammonium urate, struvite, calcium oxalate monohydrate and brushite) and 31 were polycrystalline (mixtures of calcium oxalate monohydrate/dihydrate and calcium phosphate). Analyses identified stone clusters of equal composition and distinct attenuation descriptors on DECT140 kVp, DECT80 kVp and DECTSlope. Iterative cross-validation of the 3 dual energy computerized tomography data sets was used to identify characteristic attenuation limits for each stone type. RESULTS Attenuatio profiles showed substantial overlap among various stones on DECT140 kVp (uric acid 427.3±168.1 HU, ammonium urate 429.9±99.7 HU, struvite 480.2±123.5 HU, calcium oxalate monohydrate 852.4±301.4 HU, brushite 863.7±180.1 HU and polycrystalline 858.1±210.5 HU) and on DECT80 kVp (uric acid 493.6±182.8 HU, ammonium urate 591.5±157.9 HU, struvite 712.4±173.9 HU, calcium oxalate monohydrate 1,240.5±494.7 HU, brushite 1,532.1±273.1 HU and polycrystalline 1,358.7±316.8 HU). Statistically spectral separation was not sufficient to characterize stones unambiguously based on DECT140 kVp/DECT80 kVp attenuation. Analysis of attenuation showed sufficient spectral separation on DECTSlope (uric acid 14.9±10.9 U, ammonium urate 56.1±1.8 U, struvite 42.7±1.4 U, calcium oxalate monohydrate 62.8±1.8 U and brushite 113.2±5.3 U). Polycrystalline stones (51.8±3.7 U) overlapped with struvite and ammonium urate stones. This overlap was resolved as all struvite/ammonium urate stones measured 900 HU or less and all polycrystalline stones measured more than 900 HU on DECT80 kVp. CONCLUSIONS Dual energy computerized tomography with novel post-processing allows accurate discrimination among main subtypes of urinary calculi in vivo and, thus, may have implications in determining the optimum clinical treatment of urinary calculi from a noninvasive, preoperative radiological assessment.

Race is associated with discontinuation of active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer: Results from the Duke Prostate Center

Background:Active surveillance (AS) is increasingly utilized in low-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients. Although black race has traditionally been associated with adverse PC characteristics, its prognostic value for patients managed with AS is unclear.Methods:A retrospective review identified 145 patients managed with AS at the Duke Prostate Center from January 2005 to September 2011. Race was patient-reported and categorized as black, white or other. Inclusion criteria included PSA <10 ng ml−1, Gleason sum ⩽6, and ⩽33% of cores with cancer on diagnostic biopsy. The primary outcome was discontinuation of AS for treatment due to PC progression. In men who proceeded to treatment after AS, the trigger for treatment, follow-up PSA and biopsy characteristics were analyzed. Time to treatment was analyzed with univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and also stratified by race.Results:In our AS cohort, 105 (72%) were white, 32 (22%) black and 8 (6%) another race. Median follow-up was 23.0 months, during which 23% percent of men proceeded to treatment. The demographic, clinical and follow-up characteristics did not differ by race. There was a trend toward more uninsured black men (15.6% black, 3.8% white, 0% other, P=0.06). Black race was associated with treatment (hazard ratio (HR) 2.93, P=0.01) as compared with white. When the analysis was adjusted for socioeconomic and clinical parameters at the time of PC diagnosis, black race remained the sole predictor of treatment (HR 3.08, P=0.01). Among men undergoing treatment, the trigger was less often patient driven in black men (8 black, 33 white, 67% other, P=0.05).Conclusions:Black race was associated with discontinuation of AS for treatment. This relationship persisted when adjusted for socioeconomic and clinical parameters.

Outcomes of Metallic Stents for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction

PURPOSE Malignant ureteral obstruction often necessitates chronic urinary diversion and is associated with high rates of failure with traditional ureteral stents. We evaluated the outcomes of a metallic stent placed for malignant ureteral obstruction and determined the impact of risk factors previously associated with increased failure rates of traditional stents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients undergoing placement of the metallic Resonance® stent for malignant ureteral obstruction at an academic referral center were identified retrospectively. Stent failure was defined as unplanned stent exchange or nephrostomy tube placement for signs or symptoms of recurrent ureteral obstruction (recurrent hydroureteronephrosis or increasing creatinine). Predictors of time to stent failure were assessed using Cox regression. RESULTS A total of 37 stents were placed in 25 patients with malignant ureteral obstruction. Of these stents 12 (35%) were identified to fail. Progressive hydroureteronephrosis and increasing creatinine were the most common signs of stent failure. Three failed stents had migrated distally and no stents required removal for recurrent infection. Patients with evidence of prostate cancer invading the bladder at stent placement were found to have a significantly increased risk of failure (HR 6.50, 95% CI 1.45-29.20, p = 0.015). Notably symptomatic subcapsular hematomas were identified in 3 patients after metallic stent placement. CONCLUSIONS Failure rates with a metallic stent are similar to those historically observed with traditional polyurethane based stents in malignant ureteral obstruction. The invasion of prostate cancer in the bladder significantly increases the risk of failure. Patients should be counseled and observed for subcapsular hematoma formation with this device.

First Prize (Tie): Dual-Energy Computed Tomography with Advanced Postimage Acquisition Data Processing: Improved Determination of Urinary Stone Composition

INTRODUCTION The characterization of urinary calculi using noninvasive methods has the potential to affect clinical management. CT remains the gold standard for diagnosis of urinary calculi, but has not reliably differentiated varying stone compositions. Dual-energy CT (DECT) has emerged as a technology to improve CT characterization of anatomic structures. This study aims to assess the ability of DECT to accurately discriminate between different types of urinary calculi in an in vitro model using novel postimage acquisition data processing techniques. METHODS Fifty urinary calculi were assessed, of which 44 had >or=60% composition of one component. DECT was performed utilizing 64-slice multidetector CT. The attenuation profiles of the lower-energy (DECT-Low) and higher-energy (DECT-High) datasets were used to investigate whether differences could be seen between different stone compositions. RESULTS Postimage acquisition processing allowed for identification of the main different chemical compositions of urinary calculi: brushite, calcium oxalate-calcium phosphate, struvite, cystine, and uric acid. Statistical analysis demonstrated that this processing identified all stone compositions without obvious graphical overlap. CONCLUSION Dual-energy multidetector CT with postprocessing techniques allows for accurate discrimination among the main different subtypes of urinary calculi in an in vitro model. The ability to better detect stone composition may have implications in determining the optimum clinical treatment modality for urinary calculi from noninvasive, preprocedure radiological assessment.