Udo Nagele

Incidence, Prevention, and Management of Complications Following Percutaneous Nephrolitholapaxy

CONTEXT Incidence, prevention, and management of complications of percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PNL) still lack consensus. OBJECTIVE To review the epidemiology of complications and their prevention and management. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A literature review was performed using the PubMed database between 2001 and May 1, 2011, restricted to human species, adults, and the English language. The Medline search used a strategy including medical subject headings (MeSH) and free-text protocols with the keywords percutaneous, nephrolithotomy, PCNL, PNL, urolithiasis, complications, and Clavien, and the MeSH terms nephrostomy, percutaneous/adverse effects, and intraoperative complications or postoperative complications. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Assessing the epidemiology of complications is difficult because definitions of complications and their management still lack consensus. For a reproducible quality assessment, data should be obtained in a standardized manner, allowing for comparison. An approach is the validated Dindo-modified Clavien system, which was originally reported by seven studies. No deviation from the normal postoperative course (Clavien 0) was observed in 76.7% of PNL procedures. Including deviations from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacologic treatment or interventions (Clavien 1) would add up to 88.1%. Clavien 2 complications including blood transfusion and parenteral nutrition occurred in 7%; Clavien 3 complications requiring intervention in 4.1.%; Clavien 4, life-threatening complications, in 0.6%; and Clavien 5, mortality, in 0.04%. High-quality data on complication management of rare but potentially debilitating complications are scarce and consist mainly of case reports. CONCLUSIONS Complications after PNL can be kept to a minimum in experienced hands with the development of new techniques and improved technology. A modified procedure-specific Clavien classification should be established that would need to be validated in prospective trials.

EAU Guidelines on Robotic and Single-site Surgery in Urology

CONTEXT This is a short version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on robotic and single-site surgery in urology, as created in 2013 by the EAU Guidelines Office Panel on Urological Technologies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate current evidence regarding robotic and single-site surgery in urology and to provide clinical recommendations. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A comprehensive online systematic search of the literature according to Cochrane recommendations was performed in July 2012, identifying data from 1990 to 2012 regarding robotic and single-site surgery in urology. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS There is a lack of high-quality data on both robotic and single-site surgery for most upper and lower urinary tract operations. Mature evidence including midterm follow-up data exists only for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. In the absence of high-quality data, the guidelines panels recommendations were based mostly on the review of low-level evidence and expert opinions. CONCLUSIONS Robot-assisted urologic surgery is an emerging and safe technology for most urologic operations. Further documentation including long-term oncologic and functional outcomes is deemed necessary before definite conclusions can be drawn regarding the superiority or not of robotic assistance compared with the conventional laparoscopic and open approaches. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is a novel laparoscopic technique providing a potentially superior cosmetic outcome over conventional laparoscopy. Nevertheless, further advantages offered by this technology are still under discussion and not yet proven. Due to the technically demanding character of the single-site approach, only experienced laparoscopic surgeons should attempt this technique in clinical settings. PATIENT SUMMARY This work represents the shortened version of the 2013 European Association of Urology guidelines on robotic and single-site surgery. The authors systematically evaluated published evidence in these fields and concluded that robotic assisted surgery is possible and safe for most urologic operations. Whilst laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is performed using the fewest incisions, the balance between risk and benefit is currently unclear. The evidence to support the conclusions in this guideline was generally poor, but best for robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. As such, these recommendations were based upon expert opinion, and further high-quality research is needed in this field.

EAU Guidelines on Laser Technologies

CONTEXT The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Office has set up a guideline working panel to analyse the scientific evidence published in the world literature on lasers in urologic practice. OBJECTIVE Review the physical background and physiologic and technical aspects of the use of lasers in urology, as well as current clinical results from these new and evolving technologies, together with recommendations for the application of lasers in urology. The primary objective of this structured presentation of the current evidence base in this area is to assist clinicians in making informed choices regarding the use of lasers in their practice. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Structured literature searches using an expert consultant were designed for each section of this document. Searches were carried out in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Medline and Embase on the Dialog/DataStar platform. The controlled terminology of the respective databases was used, and both Medical Subject Headings and EMTREE were analysed for relevant entry terms. One Cochrane review was identified. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Depending on the date of publication, the evidence for different laser treatments is heterogeneous. The available evidence allows treatments to be classified as safe alternatives for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction in different clinical scenarios, such as refractory urinary retention, anticoagulation, and antiplatelet medication. Laser treatment for bladder cancer should only be used in a clinical trial setting or for patients who are not suitable for conventional treatment due to comorbidities or other complications. For the treatment of urinary stones and retrograde endoureterotomy, lasers provide a standard tool to augment the endourologic procedure. CONCLUSIONS In benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), laser vaporisation, resection, or enucleation are alternative treatment options. The standard treatment for BPO remains transurethral resection of the prostate for small to moderate size prostates and open prostatectomy for large prostates. Laser energy is an optimal treatment method for disintegrating urinary stones. The use of lasers to treat bladder tumours and in laparoscopy remains investigational.

In Vitro Investigations of Tissue-Engineered Multilayered Urothelium Established from Bladder Washings

OBJECTIVE Human urothelial cells (HUCs) are commonly isolated from native urothelium requiring open or endoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to raise primary monolayer cultures of HUCs from bladder washings, to generate multilayered urothelial sheets in vitro, to characterise the sheets immunologically, and to prove their viability. METHODS Irrigation fluids were taken from 29 adult patients. Isolated cells were cultured in serum-free keratinocyte medium. Confluent monolayer cultures were stratified, and evolved cell sheets were harvested after 10-16 d. Pancytokeratins and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) in the stratified cultures and the detached sheets were immunologically detected. To exclude the presence of mesenchymal cells, antibodies against fibroblast surface antigen and smooth muscle alpha-actin were used. In addition, expression of p63 and uroplakin III was investigated. The viability of the detached cell sheets was proven by establishing explant cultures of small sheet sections. RESULTS Confluent primary HUC cultures were established in 55.2% of the collected bladder washings between days 15-20. Multilayered urothelium developed in 62.5% of the monolayers. Histology revealed stratified cell layers similar to native urothelium. Both stratified cultures and detached sheets stained 100% positive for pancytokeratins and partially for CK20, indicating differentiation into superficial cells. No positive staining was observed with the mesenchymal markers used. p63 was expressed partially. Uroplakin III expression was not observed. Cell sheet viability was confirmed by rapid cell outgrowth in explant cultures. CONCLUSIONS Isolation of HUCs from bladder washings is a minimally invasive approach to establish primary urothelial cultures for creating autologous multilayered urothelial sheets.

The periprostatic autonomic nerves--bundle or layer?

BACKGROUND The functional outcome of a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (RP) depends on the knowledge of autonomic nerve distribution in correlation to the prostate. OBJECTIVE Recent literature has focused predominantly on the anterior prostate; this study evaluates the nerve distribution on the entire prostate, using a two-dimensional approach. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS From 17 non-nerve-sparing (NS) RP specimens, 77 whole mounted serial sections were immunostained with PGP9.5 and analyzed. INTERVENTION Each prostate half was divided into 12 sectors (three levels: apex, mid-part, base; four courses: anterior, anterolateral, posterolateral, posterior). MEASUREMENTS The extracapsular nerves were counted and classified by size (>200microm or <or=200microm). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Approximately two-thirds of the nerves were located in the posterolateral while 26.3/27.0% were located in the anterior and anterolateral. In the anterolateral, along the base-apex direction, the nerves decreased whereas they increased in the posterior. In the anterior, the highest counts were found in the mid-prostate. PGP 9.5 stain helps to determine the extracapsular nerve distribution, however, it does not allow a functional allocation. CONCLUSIONS The nerve course expands from the base in the mid-part to the anterior sector, before it narrows towards the apex in the posterior lateral and posterior sectors. Therefore, it is recommended that the surgeon focus on nerve preservation in particular at the apex, starting in the anterior at the mid section as well as the common posterolateral course.

Waterjet hydrodissection: first experiences and short-term outcomes of a novel approach to bladder tumor resection

IntroductionTURB is the standard approach to bladder tumors but suffers from several disadvantages. Waterjet hydrodissection is a new technology for removing superficial tumors in the GI tract promising to preserve the histological structures of biopsy specimens with favorable long-term results as recent studies have shown. The aim of this study was to show the feasibility and applicability of waterjet hydrodissection for removing papillary superficial bladder tumors.Materials and methodsIn five patients diagnosed with superficial papillary bladder tumor, transurethral submucosal dissection was conducted using the T-type I-Jet HybridKnife (Erbe, Tuebingen). The resection edges were labeled by means of electrical coagulation with the HybridKnife. Subsequently, a submucosal fluid cushion specific to the tissue layer was formed by the waterjet implementation function of the HybridKnife, thereby elevating the tumorous tissue. The tumor was endoscopically extracted with a retrieval bag. Biopsy specimens of the tumor edges and base were subsequently collected.ResultsAll tumors could be resected en bloc, and the lamina propria was intact in all specimens, allowing the pathologist to distinguish between superficial and invasive tumors. Pathological analysis confirmed R0 resection in all samples.ConclusionThese initial results prove the feasibility of waterjet hydrodissection for removing bladder tumors. In contrast to conventional TURB, this new technique allows the pathologist to assess the entire lamina propria and the resection edges due to the en-bloc resection and to determine invasiveness as well as R0 versus R1 resection. These first results are promising, long-term oncological follow-up, and prospective randomized surveys investigating the recurrence rate have to be evaluated.

Laparoendoscopic Single-site Partial Nephrectomy: A Multi- institutional Outcome Analysis

BACKGROUND Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) has been developed in an attempt to further reduce the surgical trauma associated with conventional laparoscopy. Partial nephrectomy (PN) represents a challenging indication for LESS. OBJECTIVE To report a large multi-institutional series of LESS-PN and to analyze the predictors of outcomes after LESS-PN. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Consecutive cases of LESS-PN done between November 2007 and March 2012 at 11 participating institutions were included in this retrospective analysis. INTERVENTION Each group performed LESS-PN according to its own protocols, entry criteria, and techniques. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Demographic data, main perioperative outcome parameters, and perioperative complications were gathered and analyzed. A multivariable analysis was used to assess the factors predicting a short (≤ 20 min) warm ischemia time (WIT), the occurrence of postoperative complication of any grade, and a favorable outcome, arbitrarily defined as a combination of the following events: short WIT plus no perioperative complications plus negative surgical margins plus no conversion to open surgery or standard laparoscopy. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS A total of 190 cases were included in this analysis. Mean renal tumor size was 2.6, and PADUA score 7.2. Median operative time was 170 min, with median estimated blood loss (EBL) of 150 ml. A clampless technique was adopted in 70 cases (36.8%), and the median WIT was 16.5 min. PADUA score independently predicted length of WIT (low vs high score: odds ratio [OR]: 5.11 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50-17.41]; p=0.009; intermediate vs high score: OR: 5.13 [95% CI, 1.56-16.88]; p=0.007). The overall postoperative complication rate was 14.7%. The adoption of a robotic LESS technique versus conventional LESS (OR: 20.92 [95% CI, 2.66-164.64]; p=0.003) and the occurrence of lower (≤ 250 ml) EBL (OR: 3.60 [95% CI, 1.35-9.56]; p=0.010) were found to be independent predictors of no postoperative complications of any grade. A favorable outcome was obtained in 83 cases (43.68%). On multivariate analysis, the only predictive factor of a favorable outcome was the PADUA score (low vs high score: OR: 4.99 [95% CI, 1.98-12.59]; p<0.001). Limitations of the study were the retrospective design and different selection criteria for the participating centers. CONCLUSIONS LESS-PN can be safely and effectively performed by experienced hands, given a high likelihood of a single additional port. Anatomic tumor characteristics as determined by the PADUA score are independent predictors of a favorable surgical outcome. Thus patients presenting tumors with low PADUA scores represent the best candidates for LESS-PN. The application of a robotic platform is likely to reduce the overall risk of postoperative complications.

Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PCNL) as an effective and safe procedure for large renal stones

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Comparative Study of the Management of Small and Large Renal Stones

OBJECTIVE To compare the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (MIP) between small (<2 cm) and large (>2 cm) renal calculi, because although MIP has proved its efficacy in small lower caliceal stones, the efficacy in large renal calculi has been questioned. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data from 191 consecutive minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MIP) procedures at a single institution from January 2007 to March 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. All stone sizes and complexity were included (98 were <2 cm and 93 were ≥ 2 cm). We performed a comparative analysis of procedures for calculi <2 cm and ≥ 2 cm regarding the stone-free rate, the need for auxiliary procedures, and complications. The Student t test for parametric continuous variables and the chi-square test or Fischers exact test for nominal variables were applied. RESULTS The primary stone-free rate was significantly lower for the large than for the small stones (76.3% vs 90.8%, P = .007), and the secondary stone-free rate after one auxiliary procedure (second-look percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureterorenoscopy, or shock wave lithotripsy) was not significantly different between the 2 groups (94.6% vs 98.9%, P = .1). The total complication rate was not significantly different (26.9% vs 19.4%, P = .2) between the 2 groups either. Grade III complications occurred in 5.2% of all patients, and no grade IV or V complications were observed. CONCLUSION Using MIP, the total stone-free rate was greater for the small than for the large calculi; however, most patients could be rendered stone-free with the use of one auxiliary procedure. The high success rate and low rate of higher grade complications justify the application of MIP for large stones.

Radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder for invasive bladder cancer: a critical analysis of long-term oncological, functional, and quality of life results

PurposeThe present contribution analyses long-term data regarding oncological, functional, and quality of life aspects of patients subjected to cystectomy due to malignancy with subsequent orthotopic bladder substitution.MethodsA literature search was conducted to review literature published from 1887 until today. Oncological aspects, special considerations on female patients, quality of life, geriatric patients, and impact of minimally invasive surgery were also addressed and discussed.ResultsAfter more than three decades, orthotopic bladder substitution subsequent to radical cystectomy has stood the test of time by providing adequate long-term survival and low local recurrence rates. Compared to radical cystectomy, neither radiation nor chemotherapy, nor a combination of both, offer similar long-term results. Orthotopic bladder substitution does not compromise oncological outcome and can be performed with excellent results regarding functional and quality of life issues. Chronological age is generally not a contraindication for cystectomy.ConclusionOrthotopic bladder substitution should be the diversion of choice both in men and in women, whenever possible. For orthotopic urinary diversion, a careful patient selection considering tumor extent, patient motivation, preoperative sphincter function, other local and systemic adverse confounding factors, and overall life expectancy must be taken into account. Minimally invasive techniques are promising concepts for the future, awaiting confirmation in larger patient cohorts.