Delay from biopsy to radical prostatectomy influences the rate of adverse pathologic outcomes

BACKGROUND

We sought to determine maximum wait times between biopsy diagnosis and surgery for localized prostate cancer, beyond which the rate of adverse pathologic outcomes is increased.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 4,610 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between 1990 and 2011. Patients were stratified by biopsy Gleason score and PSA value. For each stratification, χ2 analysis was used to determine the smallest 15-day multiple of surgical delay (e.g., 15, 30, 45…180 days) for which adverse pathologic outcomes were significantly more likely after the time interval than before. Adverse outcomes were defined as positive surgical margins, upgrading from biopsy, upstaging, seminal vesicle invasion, or positive lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Two thousand two hundred twelve patients met inclusion criteria. Median delay was 64 days (mean 76, SD 47). One thousand six hundred seventy-five (75.7%), 537 (24.3%), and 60 (2.7%) patients had delays of <=90, >90, and >180 days, respectively. Twenty-six percent were upgraded on final pathology and 23% were upstaged. The positive surgical margin rate was 24.2% and the positive lymph node rate was 1.1%. Significant increases in the proportion of adverse pathological outcomes were found beyond 75 days in the overall cohort (P = 0.03), 150 days for patients with Gleason <=6, and PSA 0-10 (P = 0.038), 60 days for patients with Gleason 7 and PSA >20 (P = 0.032), and 30 days for patients with Gleason 8-10 and PSA 11-20 (0.041).

CONCLUSION

In low-risk disease, there is a considerable but not unlimited surgical delay which will not adversely impact the rate of adverse pathologic features found. In higher risk disease, this time period is considerably shorter.

The Impact of a Biopsy Based 17-Gene Genomic Prostate Score on Treatment Recommendations in Men with Newly Diagnosed Clinically Prostate Cancer Who are Candidates for Active Surveillance

INTRODUCTION

The biopsy based 17-gene GPS was clinically validated to predict the likelihood of adverse surgical pathology in men with NCCN® very low, low or low-intermediate risk prostate cancer. We performed a prospective study to assess the impact of incorporating GPS into treatment recommendations in 3 high volume urology practices.

METHODS

Men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer meeting specific NCCN criteria were prospectively enrolled in the trial. Biopsy tissue was analyzed. Urologists indicated treatment recommendations on questionnaires administered before and after GPS. The primary study objectives were to assess all changes in treatment modality and/or treatment intensity after GPS.

RESULTS

A total of 158 men were included in analysis, including 35, 71 and 52 at NCCN very low, low and low-intermediate risk. Biological risk predicted by GPS differed from NCCN clinical risk alone in 61 men (39%). Overall 18% of recommendations between active surveillance and immediate treatment changed after GPS. The relative increase in recommendations for active surveillance was 24% (absolute change 41% to 51%). In 41 of 158 men (26%) modality and/or intensity recommendations changed after GPS, including 25, 14 and 2 in whom recommendation intensity decreased, increased and were equivocal, respectively. All changes were directionally consistent with GPS. The NCCN low risk group showed the greatest absolute recommendation change after GPS (37%). In 17 of 57 men (30%) the initial recommendation of radical prostatectomy was changed to active surveillance after GPS. Urologists indicated greater confidence and found that incorporating GPS was useful in 85% and 79% of cases, respectively, including when biological risk confirmed the clinical risk category.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that the 17-gene GPS influenced treatment recommendations among urologists and provided increased confidence in these recommendations in patients at NCCN very low to low-intermediate risk.

Utilization and Perioperative Outcomes of Partial Cystectomy for Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder: Lessons from the ACS NSQIP Database

INTRODUCTION

We identified predictors of partial cystectomy in the ACS NSQIP® database of more than 400 hospitals across North America. We also reviewed perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of patients with an ICD-9 diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who were treated with partial or radical cystectomy from 2007 to 2012. The proportion of patients who underwent partial vs radical cystectomy and the proportion who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared across time. We reviewed 30-day morbidity and mortality, and determined risk factors. Logistic regression was used to identify factors predictive of undergoing partial vs radical cystectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 2,393 patients met study inclusion criteria. The ratio of partial to radical cystectomy was low and stable at 0% to 7% (p = 0.36). While patients undergoing radical cystectomy were more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy in later years (p <0.001), neoadjuvant chemotherapy use before partial cystectomy was consistently low with time (p = 0.68). The 30-day morbidity rate after partial and radical cystectomy was 23.3% and 58.1% (p = 0.001), and the 30-day mortality rate was 1.6% and 2.1%, respectively (p = 0.66). On multivariate regression factors independently associated with partial vs radical cystectomy were cerebrovascular accident history (OR 4.4, p = 0.005), current nonsmoking (OR 0.43, p = 0.032) and lack of trainee participation in the operation (OR 0.28, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of the number of partial to radical cystectomies performed was stable. Cerebrovascular accident history, nonsmoker status and lack of trainee participation were associated with partial cystectomy. Patients treated with radical cystectomy but not those who underwent partial cystectomy were more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy in later years. Large detailed registries such as ACS NSQIP have important potential use for evaluating trends in urological practice.

Increasing volume of non-neoplastic parenchyma in partial nephrectomy specimens is associated with chronic kidney disease upstaging

INTRODUCTION

We examined the effect of non-neoplastic parenchymal volumes (NNPVs) in partial nephrectomy (PN) surgical specimens on long-term postoperative renal function. PN for renal cortical neoplasms has demonstrated superior long-term renal function outcomes compared with radical nephrectomy. Minimizing the distance between the surgical margin and tumor will reduce the NNPV removed. The role of NNPV on postoperative outcomes has been preliminarily investigated, with varying results. Thus, we sought to determine the association between the NNPV removed and postoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our institutional database was queried for patients who had undergone PN from 1990 to 2012. The demographic and pathologic data were collected. The ellipsoid formula was used to calculate the surgical specimen and tumor volumes, which were then subtracted from each other to determine the NNPV. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of postoperative CKD upstaging according to the eGFR.

RESULTS

A total of 584 patients meeting the inclusion criteria had undergone PN. On binary logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, tumor volume, surgical modality, and preoperative CKD stage, an increasing NNPV in the surgical specimen was independently associated with postoperative CKD upstaging (odds ratio, 1.004; P = .007).

CONCLUSION

An increasing NNPV removed during PN correlated with CKD upstaging using the eGFR; therefore, additional emphasis should be placed on healthy parenchymal preservation, with long-term follow-up to ensure adequate oncologic outcomes.

Venous thromboembolism after major urologic oncology surgery: a focus on the incidence and timing of thromboembolic events after 27,455 operations

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence and timing of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and identify risk factors for venous thromboembolism among patients undergoing major surgery for urologic malignancies. VTE events are stratified by occurrence in the inpatient vs outpatient settings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology and International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes to identify patients undergoing major surgery for urologic malignancies between 2005 and 2012. The incidence of overall 30-day VTE, postdischarge VTE, and post-VTE death was calculated for each surgical procedure. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for VTE, adjusting for covariates including age, race, gender, smoking status, medical comorbidities, performance of pelvic lymph node dissection, and operative time.

RESULTS

The study identified 27,455 patients who underwent an operation for malignancy--radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, radical prostatectomy, or radical cystectomy. The incidence and timing of VTE varied substantially across the procedures of interest. Overall, VTE occurred after radical cystectomy in 113 of 2065 of patients (5.5%), whereas only 19 of 2624 (0.7%) and 12 of 1690, respectively, of patients undergoing minimally invasive radical or partial nephrectomy procedures suffered a VTE event within 30-days of surgery. Among patients suffering a VTE after radical prostatectomy, 147 of 178 of venous thromboembolic events (82.6%) occurred after hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the significant burden of VTE beyond the time of hospital discharge. Identification of high-risk patients should prompt consideration of extended-duration VTE prophylaxis in the outpatient setting.

Effect of a genomic classifier test on clinical practice decisions for patients with high-risk prostate cancer after surgery

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of a genomic classifier (GC) test for predicting metastasis risk after radical prostatectomy (RP) on urologists' decision-making about adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Subjects and Methods

Patient case history was extracted from the medical records of each of the 145 patients with pT3 disease or positive surgical margins (PSMs) after RP treated by six high-volume urologists, from five community practices. GC results were available for 122 (84%) of these patients. US board-certified urologists (n = 107) were invited to provide adjuvant treatment recommendations for 10 cases randomly drawn from the pool of patient case histories. For each case, the study participants were asked to make an adjuvant therapy recommendation without (clinical variables only) and with knowledge of the GC test results. Recommendations were made without knowledge of other participants' responses and the presentation of case histories was randomised to minimise recall bias.

Results

A total of 110 patient case histories were available for review by the study participants. The median patient age was 62 years, 71% of patients had pT3 disease and 63% had PSMs. The median (range) 5-year predicted probability of metastasis by the GC test for the cohort was 3.9 (1–33)% and the GC test classified 72% of patients as having low risk for metastasis. A total of 51 urologists consented to the study and provided 530 adjuvant treatment recommendations without, and 530 with knowledge of the GC test results. Study participants performed a mean of 130 RPs/year and 55% were from community-based practices. Without GC test result knowledge, observation was recommended for 57% (n = 303), adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) for 36% (n = 193) and other treatments for 7% (n = 34) of patients. Overall, 31% (95% CI: 27–35%) of treatment recommendations changed with knowledge of the GC test results. Of the ART recommendations without GC test result knowledge, 40% (n = 77) changed to observation (95% CI: 33–47%) with this knowledge. Of patients recommended for observation, 13% (n = 38 [95% CI: 9–17%]) were changed to ART with knowledge of the GC test result. Patients with low risk disease according to the GC test were recommended for observation 81% of the time (n = 276), while of those with high risk, 65% were recommended for treatment (n = 118; P < 0.001). Treatment intensity was strongly correlated with the GC-predicted probability of metastasis (P < 0.001) and the GC test was the dominant risk factor driving decisions in multivariable analysis (odds ratio 8.6, 95% CI: 5.3–14.3%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Knowledge of GC test results had a direct effect on treatment strategies after surgery. Recommendations for observation increased by 20% for patients assessed by the GC test to be at low risk of metastasis, whereas recommendations for treatment increased by 16% for patients at high risk of metastasis. These results suggest that the implementation of genomic testing in clinical practice may lead to significant changes in adjuvant therapy decision-making for high-risk prostate cancer.

Dorsal penile nerve block for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy catheter related pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Purpose

Following Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) patients routinely have penile pain and urethral discomfort secondary to an indwelling urethral catheter. Our objective was to assess the effect of dorsal penile nerve block with bupivacaine on urethral catheter-related pain after RARP.

Methods

From 2012–2013, 140 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer were enrolled in an IRB approved double-blinded, randomized control trial comparing a dorsal penile nerve block of bupivacaine versus placebo after RARP performed by a single-surgeon. Patients were asked to complete questionnaires using the Wong-Bakers FACES Pain Rating scale while hospitalized and for 9 days post-operatively, until the catheter was removed. The primary end-points were: catheter-related discomfort, abdominal (incisional) pain, and bladder spasm-related discomfort. Secondary end-points included narcotic and other analgesic usage.

Results

120 patients were randomized to placebo vs. bupivacaine dorsal penile nerve bock. The two arms (n = 56 bupivacaine and n = 60 placebo) did not differ in preoperative, perioperative, or pathological results. There was no difference in narcotic utilization between the two cohorts. Abdominal pain was slightly lower in the bupivacaine arm at 6 hours compared to the placebo arm, but there was no difference in abdominal pain at other time points, and there were no differences in reported catheter-related discomfort or bladder spasm-associated discomfort at any of the measured time points.

Conclusions

The data does not support the routine use of a dorsal penile nerve block with bupivacaine following RARP.

Baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: is there an association with adverse pathologic features?

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency in men undergoing radical prostatectomy and determine whether an association exists between preoperative VitD levels and adverse pathologic features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease from January to August 2012 were prospectively followed and those with available preoperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were included. Men with a known diagnosis of VitD deficiency or taking VitD supplementation were excluded. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine whether preoperative VitD level is predictive of adverse pathologic outcomes.

RESULTS

One hundred consecutive men were included. Mean age was 62 (range, 42-79) years and mean VitD level was 26 (range, 6-57) ng/mL. Overall, 65 men (65%) had suboptimal levels of VitD (< 30 ng/mL), and 32 (32%) had deficiency (< 20 ng/mL). There was no significant correlation between VitD and age (P = .5). In logistic regression analysis, VitD level was not predictive of pathologic Gleason (P = .11), pathologic stage (P = .7), or positive margin status (P = .8).

CONCLUSION

The association between VitD and prostate cancer has been controversial and data suggesting an increased risk of aggressive cancer in men with low levels of VitD have been inconsistent. We found that baseline preoperative VitD level was not associated with any adverse pathologic features. However, VitD deficiency is a common finding in this population, although unrelated to patient age. These results represent the first time the correlation between VitD and prostate cancer has been evaluated in a cohort of men undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Effect of a genomic classifier on adjuvant radiation recommendations after prostate cancer surgery

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Background: Clinical guidelines recommend adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) after radical prostatectomy in men with adverse pathological features. Practice patterns vary on use of ART. This prospective, multi-center study examines the effect of a genomic classifier (GC) on ART recommendations post-prostatectomy. Methods: A prospective, pre-post tumor-board–like survey was conducted to assess urologists’ treatment recommendations for ART as part of a clinical utility study; results are from a pre-specified interim analysis of 11 unique de-identified cases with adverse pathology. All case histories were based on patients treated by at least one of the urologists participating in the study. Patient age, pathological features, and preoperative prostate-specific antigen were presented to the respondents. Presentation of cases was randomized to minimize recall bias. For each case history, physician respondents first were asked to render an ART recommendation without knowledge of the GC findings (pre-GC); they were then asked to render an ART recommendation after GC findings were provided for the same cases (post-GC). Recommendations were made without knowledge of others’ responses. Results: Twelve urologists at 11 US institutions provided 132 adjuvant therapy recommendations. Pre-GC, ART was recommended in 56 (42%) cases. Thirty three percent (95% CI: 25-41%) of recommendations changed following review of GC results. Among pre-GC recommendations for ART, 39% (95% CI: 27-53%; n=22) changed to observation and among pre-GC recommendations for observation, 8% (95% CI: 3%-17%; n=5) changed to ART. Compared to observation, ART was 11.8 times (odds ratio 95% CI: 2.9 - 46.3) more likely to be recommended for cases with high risk GC scores. Adjuvant therapy recommendations were more strongly influenced by GC score (p=0.0006) than any clinical variable (all p>0.33) when both informed recommendations. Conclusions: Additional knowledge of the tumor’s genomic characteristics, as assessed by GC, results in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful change in treatment recommendations in patients indicated for adjuvant radiation therapy by current clinical guidelines.

Pain and analgesic use after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

While robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is associated with shortened convalescence and decreased blood loss over open prostatectomy, little objective data is available regarding postoperative pain/discomfort and use of analgesic medications after RARP. We sought to examine these parameters in a contemporary cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2011 to 2013, patients undergoing RARP were prospectively enrolled in a study to examine various pain parameters and carefully monitor opiate and other analgesic medication use while the patient recovered in the hospital. After discharge, the patients were asked to fill out a daily questionnaire regarding their pain parameters and self-report opiate usage. All questionnaires were based on the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale (0-10). Opiate dosages were converted to the approximate oral morphine sulfate equivalent dose (MSE).

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients, mean age 61 years, were enrolled in the study, underwent RARP, and completed follow-up questionnaires. None had a history of chronic narcotic use. Intraoperative opiate use was 94.1 mg MSE. There were 73.3% who received immediate postoperative ketorolac. After RARP, the main source of pain/discomfort was abdominal/incisional, followed by urethral catheter-related, penile, and bladder spasm-related discomfort. Abdominal pain was generally moderate for most patients and decreased significantly after about 4 days. Penile and urethral catheter-related discomfort was mild throughout the study period. Opiate analgesic medication use quickly decreased as the subjective pain scores improved.

CONCLUSIONS

After RARP, most patients experience mild/moderate abdominal discomfort, which improves steadily over several days. There is also a quick decline in the average opiate pain medication use that corresponds to the subjective improvement in pain symptoms. This information is useful for clinicians counseling patients on the pain associated with RARP and can serve as a reference to compare the convalescence associated with the other options for treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer.

Outcomes with delayed dorsal vein complex ligation during robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

INTRODUCTION

There are many concerns expressed by urologists performed robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) regarding management of the dorsal vein complex (DVC). We sought to examine the influence of delayed DVC ligation versus standard DVC ligation on the apical surgical margin status and other key surgical parameters following RALP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Columbia University Urologic Oncology Database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent RALP between 2008-2011. Operative records were analyzed to determine whether the DVC was ligated in the 'standard' or 'delayed' manner. The standard group had the DVC ligated prior to the apical dissection; in the delayed group, the DVC was initially transected and subsequently oversewn after completion of the apical dissection. Clinical and pathologic data was retrospectively evaluated and stratified by the type of DVC ligation to compare positive apical margin rates based on DVC-control technique.

RESULTS

A total of 244 patients were identified, including 118 in the standard group and 126 in the delayed group. Estimated blood loss (112 mL versus 122 mL), operative time (132 min versus 126 min), and postoperative continence rates (81% versus 84% at 3 months) were similar between the standard and delayed DVC groups (p = NS). Apical margin status was also similar in the two groups, with 3.4% having a positive surgical margin in the standard DVC ligation arm, and 1.6% having a positive margin in the delayed DVC ligation arm (p = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed DVC ligation after apical dissection is a safe approach with comparable surgical outcomes during RALP. From a technical standpoint, we feel it allows for improved visualization of the apical dissection and therefore has become standard practice at our institution.

Comparison of robot-assisted and open retropubic radical prostatectomy for risk of biochemical progression in men with positive surgical margins

OBJECTIVE

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a minimally invasive alternative to open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RP), and is reported to offer equivalent oncologic outcomes while reducing perioperative morbidity. However, the technique of extirpation can differ based on the usage of thermal energy and coagulation during RARP, which may alter the risk of finding a positive surgical margin (PSM) as cautery may destroy residual cancer cells. We sought to evaluate whether the method of surgery (RP vs RARP) affects the rate of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with PSMs.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The Columbia University Urologic Oncology Database was reviewed to identify patients who underwent RP and RARP from 2000 to 2010 and had a PSM on final pathology. BCR was defined as a postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥0.2 ng/mL. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was utilized to calculate BCR rates based on the method of surgery. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine if the method of surgery was associated with BCR.

RESULTS

We identified 3267 patients who underwent prostatectomy, of which 910 (28%) had a PSM. Of those with a PSM, 337 patients had available follow-up data, including 229 who underwent RP (68%) and 108 who underwent RARP (32%). At a mean follow-up time of 37 months for the RP group, 103 (46%) patients demonstrated BCR; at a mean follow-up time of 44 months for the RARP group, 62 (57%) patients had a BCR (p=0.140). Two-year BCR-free rates for RP vs RARP were 65% and 49%, respectively (log-rank p<0.001). However, after controlling for age, PSA, grade, and year of surgery, the surgical method was not significantly associated with increased risk of BCR (HR 1.25; p=0.29).

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the noninferiority of RARP to RP with regard to patients with PSMs. As such, all patients with a PSM at RP are at high risk for BCR and should be followed in the same manner regardless of the surgical approach.

Comparison of 3 upper tract anticarcinogenic agent delivery techniques in an ex vivo porcine model

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the degree of urothelial exposure using 3 upper tract delivery techniques in an ex vivo porcine model, to determine the optimal modality to locally deliver topical anticarcinogenic agents in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An indigo carmine solution was infused into en bloc porcine urinary tracts to test the 3 techniques: antegrade infusion via nephrostomy tube, reflux via indwelling double-pigtail stent, and retrograde administration via a 5F open-ended ureteral catheter. Nine renal units (3 per delivery method) were used. After a 1-hour dwell time, the urinary tracts were bivalved and photographed. Each renal unit was evaluated by 3 blinded reviewers who estimated the total percentage of stained urothelial surface area using a computer-based area approximation system. In addition, as a surrogate for exposure adequacy, a validated equation was used to calculate the staining intensity at 6 predetermined locations in the upper tract, with lower values representing more efficient staining.

RESULTS

Mean percent of surface area stained for the nephrostomy tube, double-pigtail stent, and open-ended ureteral catheter groups was 65.2%, 66.2%, and 83.6%, respectively (P = .002). Mean staining intensities were 40.9, 33.4, and 20.4, respectively (P = .023).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that retrograde infusion via open-ended ureteral catheter is the most efficient method of upper tract therapy delivery. Larger studies using in vivo models should be performed to further validate these findings and potentially confirm this method as optimal for delivery of topical anticarcinogenic agents in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Analysis of intracorporeal compared with extracorporeal urinary diversion after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium

BACKGROUND

Intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) has the potential benefits of a smaller incision, reduced pain, decreased bowel exposure, and reduced risk of fluid imbalance.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing extracorporeal urinary diversion (ECUD) and ICUD following robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We reviewed the database of the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC) (18 international centers), with 935 patients who had undergone RARC and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) between 2003 and 2011.

INTERVENTION

All patients within the IRCC underwent RARC and PLND as indicated. The urinary diversion was performed either intracorporeally or extracorporeally.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Demographic data, perioperative outcomes, and complications in patients undergoing ICUD or ECUD were compared. All patients had at least a 90-d follow-up. The Fisher exact test was used to summarize categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of 935 patients who had RARC and PLND, 167 patients underwent ICUD (ileal conduit: 106; neobladder: 61), and 768 patients had an ECUD (ileal conduit: 570; neobladder: 198). Postoperative complications data were available for 817 patients, with a minimum follow-up of 90 d. There was no difference in age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, or rate of prior abdominal surgery between the groups. The operative time was equivalent (414 min), with the median hospital stay being marginally longer for the ICUD group (9 d vs 8 d, p=0.086). No difference in the reoperation rates at 30 d was noted between the groups. The 90-d complication rate was not significant between the two groups, but a trend favoring ICUD over ECUD was noted (41% vs 49%, p=0.05). Gastrointestinal complications were significantly lower in the ICUD group (p ≤ 0.001). Patients with ICUD were at a lower risk of experiencing a postoperative complication at 90 d (32%) (odds ratio: 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.94; p=0.02). Being a retrospective study was the main limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted ICUD can be accomplished safely, with comparable outcomes to open urinary diversion. In this cohort, patients undergoing ICUD had a relatively lower risk of complications.

Characterization of perioperative leukocytosis in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: effects of Gleason score and race

INTRODUCTION

Our objective was to determine the impact of race and tumor grade on perioperative leukocytosis on patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

METHODS

A retrospective review of our urologic oncology database for patients undergoing RARP from August 2002 to July 2011 was conducted. A total of 768 patients were identified with complete data. Demographic data, preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA), biopsy Gleason score, pathology Gleason score, pathology stage, margin status, and node status were collected. White blood cell (WBC) counts were captured preoperatively, 1 hour postoperatively, and on postoperative day 1. We assessed the differences in leukocyte responses according to the race and Gleason score using ANOVA testing.

RESULTS

Preoperative WBC was lowest in black men and comparable between white and Hispanic men. At 1 hour, postoperative WBC remained lowest in Black men (p<0.001). Post-RARP leukocytosis varied significantly depending on the race (p<0.001). At 1 hour, patients with Gleason 8-10 tumors had decreased WBC compared to Gleason 6 patients (p<0.05) despite similar preoperative WBC and Charlson comorbidity index values.

CONCLUSIONS

We report novel clinical observations that suggest differences in the immune response associated with the race and Gleason grade following RARP. The clinical utility of these findings are yet to be determined.