Suchai Soontrapa

Outcomes of surgical treatment for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: Comparison of retroperitoneoscopic and open nephroureterectomy

ObjectivesTo determine the surgical and oncologic outcomes in patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNU) in comparison to standard open nephroureterectomy (ONU) for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).Patients and methodsFrom April 2001 to January 2007, 60 total nephroureterectomy were performed for upper tract TCC at Siriraj Hospital. Of the 60 patients, thirty-one were treated with RNU and open bladder cuff excision, and twenty-nine with ONU. Our data were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. The recorded data included sex, age, history of bladder cancer, type of surgery, tumor characteristics, postoperative course, disease recurrence and progression.ResultsThe mean operative time was longer in the RNU group than in the ONU group (258.8 versus 190.6 min; p = 0. < 001). On the other hand, the mean blood loss and the dose of parenteral analgesia (morphine sulphate) were lower in the RNU group (289.3 versus 313.7 ml and 2.05 versus 6.72 mg; p = 0.868 and p = 0.018, respectively). There were two complications in each group. No significant difference in p stage and grade in both-groups (p = 0.951, p = 0.077). One patient with RNU had lymph node involvement, three in ONU. Mean follow up was 26.4 months (range 3–72) for RNU and 27.9 months (range 3–63) for ONU. No port metastasis occurred during follow up in RNU group. Tumor recurrence developed in 11 patients (bladder recurrence in 9 patients, local recurrence in 2 patients) in the RNU group and 14 patients (bladder recurrence in 13 patients, local recurrence in 1 patient) in the ONU group. No significant difference was detected in the tumor recurrence rate between the two procedures (p = 0.2716). Distant metastases developed in 3 patients (9.7%) after RNU and 2 patients (6.9%) after ONU. The 2 year disease specific survival rate after RNU and ONU was 86.3% and 92.5%, respectively (p = 0.8227).ConclusionRetroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy is less invasive than open surgery and is an oncological feasible operation. Thus, the results of our study supported the continued development of laparoscopic technique in the management of upper tract TCC.

Both EMLA and placebo cream reduced pain during extracorporeal piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy with the piezolith 2300

Background: The objectives were to determine whether a eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) or placebo cream reduces pain during extracorporeal piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy (EPSWL), and to determine which of the components of the application (i.e., the occlusive dressing, the cream, or the local anesthetic) contributes to analgesia. Methods: A randomized, double blind, crossover study (part 1) was performed in 12 patients who were scheduled for EPSWL procedures on an ambulatory basis who received the first treatment without any intervention and who had verbal pain scores of 70 or more (on a 0-to-100 scale). For the next two treatments at 2-week intervals, patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 g EMLA or 10 g placebo cream and then crossed over to receive the other. The cream and occlusive dressing were left in place and immersed in water throughout the procedure. Verbal numeric pain score was assessed at 5 min after receiving the maximal tolerable intensity of shock wave and at the end of the procedure. The study continued (part 2) in 202 ambulatory patients; 125 men and 77 women, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, subjected to EPSWL were randomly allocated into five groups who received (1) nothing on the skin (control), (2) plastic occlusive dressing, (3) placebo cream and plastic occlusive dressing, (4) EMLA cream and plastic occlusive dressing, (5) EMLA cream and plastic occlusive dressing for 60 min to achieve cutaneous anesthesia, which was removed before EPSWL. Pain score was evaluated 10 min into the procedure and at the end of the procedure. Result: Both parts of the study showed that patients who received either EMLA or placebo cream with dressing throughout the procedure experienced less pain and tolerated higher energy levels compared with the control. Patients who received only pre-EPSWL cutaneous anesthesia of EMLA and who received only the occlusive dressing did not have a reduction in pain score. Conclusions: EMLA and placebo creams under occlusive dressing reduced pain during EPSWL. The presence of the cream itself as a coupling medium contributed to analgesia. This may be a useful, simple, safe, and economical adjuvant technique to reduce pain during immersion EPSWL.

Outcomes of Radical Prostatectomy in Thai Men with Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVE Radical prostatectomy remains the standard treatment for early prostate cancer. Few data in the literature are from South East Asia. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of radical prostatectomy in Thai men. METHODS A total of 151 patients with prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, between 1994 and 2003. Clinical staging, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score were evaluated with pathological stage and margin status. Follow-up PSA monitoring and survival were analysed. RESULTS Of 121 patients with clinical localized disease, 79 (65.3%), 40 (33.1%) and two (1.6%) had localized, locally advanced and metastatic disease, respectively, on pathology. The chance of localized disease with a preoperative PSA of 10 ng/mL or less, more than 10-50 ng/mL and more than 50 ng/mL was 75.5%, 50% and 12.5%, respectively (all p < 0.001). The chance of localized disease with a Gleason score of 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 was 85%, 55.1% and 20.8%, respectively (all p < 0.02). Mean follow-up was 30 months. Among 140 evaluable patients, 51 (36.4%) had adjuvant therapy and 136 (97.1%) had undetectable PSA without clinical progression. The cumulative PSA progression-free survival among patients with pathological T1N0, T2N0 and T3N0 disease was 0.83 at 82 months, 0.48 at 85 months and 0.31 at 57 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Radical prostatectomy in Thai men shows excellent results. The trend is the same as in Western series. The chance of organ-confined disease and free margin was high in patients with clinical T2 or less, PSA less than 10 ng/mL and low Gleason score. PSA progression-free survival was high in patients with organ-confined disease.

Results of chimney modification technique in ureterointestinal anastomosis of Hautmann ileal neobladder in bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the surgical technique and functional outcome of a new application of the chimney modification to the popular Hautmann ileal neobladder. This modification used 3-5 cm chimney tubularized ileal segment for the bilateral ureterointestinal anastomosis. METHODS Between December 2000 and July 2004, 15 patients (14 men, 1 woman) with invasive bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy and Hautmann neobladder with chimney modification at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok. Mean age was 61.7 years (range, 43-72 years). Perioperative morbidity, early and late urinary diversion-related complications, other surgical complications, follow-up results of ureterointestinal anastomosis, renal function and metabolic disorders were evaluated. Patients were interviewed about their continence, voiding function and potency. RESULTS At a mean follow-up of 29.5 months, two patients had died of cancer progression. Of the 15 patients, nine (60%) had 10 early complications. Eight complications were related to the neobladder and two were not. Three (20%) patients had three late complications. Two complications were neobladder-related and one was not. There was no perioperative mortality. There was no ureteroileal anastomosis stricture in this series. Neobladder-ureteral reflux was demonstrated in eight of 22 ureteral units in 11 patients in whom cystography was performed. All patients had normal upper urinary tract without evidence of urinary obstruction. All 14 men (93% of study sample) had spontaneous urination, normal renal function and no metabolic acidosis. Good and satisfactory continence in the day and night were 93% and 73%, respectively. All male patients experienced impotence postoperatively. Only one sought treatment and was successfully treated with sildenafil. The one woman in this study required intermittent catheterization to empty the neobladder completely. She also had renal insufficiency with serum creatinine of 2.2 mg/dL and hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis. CONCLUSION New chimney modification in Hautmann ileal neobladder is simple and safe. Complications are acceptable. Follow-up results of renal and voiding functions are satisfactory. This operation can maintain good quality of life for patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

Laparoscopic Live-Donor Nephrectomy: A Comparison with the Open Technique and How to Reach Quality Standards: A Single-Center Experience in Thailand

OBJECTIVE We report our experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) compared with open donor nephrectomy (ODN). Prognostic factors associated with adverse outcomes in LDN were identified. METHODS From January 2000 to December 2009, 243 consecutive live-donor nephrectomies were performed, including 129 LDNs and 114 ODNs. We compared patient demographics, perioperative outcomes, and recipient graft function in each group. Prognostic factors for adverse outcomes in LDN were investigated using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Patient demographics, except mean donor age (P=.032), were similar between groups. Mean operative time (219 vs 163 minutes; P<.001) and warm ischemia time (WIT; 3.1 vs 1.7 minutes; P<.001) were significantly longer in LDN. Conversely, mean analgesic requirement (9.2 vs 14.7 mg morphine; P<.001) and postoperative hospital stay (6.5 vs 7.1 days; P=.003) were significantly lower with LDN. Mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was slightly lower in LDN (P=.15). There were 7 conversions from LDN to ODN. Complication rates were similar between the groups (P=.38). Delayed graft function (10.9% vs 1.7%; P=.016) and mean serum creatinine level at 1 month (1.47 vs 1.3 mg/dL; P=.04) were higher for LDN. However, 5-year allograft survival was not inferior among LDN (90% vs 85%; P=.42). Mean operative time (268 to 175 minutes; P<.001), EBL (316 to 66 mL; P<.001), and complication incidence (8 to 0 cases; P<.002) gradually decreased from the initial 43 cases to the last 43 cases of LDNs. Among surgeons who had performed-30 LDNs, the mean operative time and WIT were 197 mL and 2.8 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Based on our evidence, LDN was a feasible and safe surgical option for live-donor nephrectomy, even in a small volume center. Better results can be achieved after a learning curve of experience for both the surgeon and the institution.