Port site metastases in urological laparoscopic surgery

Port site and local recurrence of incidental solitary renal plasmacytoma after retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy

Port site and local recurrences are rather rare, especially after laparoscopic excision of renal malignancies. In addition to the known risk factors, including inappropriate surgical technique and specimen removal, the tumor biology is important. Renal plasmacytomas are rare manifestations of plasma cell tumors. We report a case of port site and local tumor recurrence of a solitary renal plasmacytoma after retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy without any known risk factors, other than the aggressive tumor biology itself.

Incidence of local recurrence and port site metastasis after laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy

OBJECTIVES

To address the incidence of local recurrence and port site metastasis in patients who underwent laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

METHODS

Between August 1993 and February 2006 116 laparoscopic RNU were performed in 115 patients at our institution. A traditional open excision, a laparoscopic stapler resection or a different approach was used for the management of the distal ureter in 76, 27, and 11 cases, respectively. Clinical follow-up as well as perioperative and pathologic data were retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

Perioperative and pathologic data were available in all 116 cases. Clinical outcomes were available in 107 patients with a mean follow-up of 30.5 months (range 1 to 148). Six patients (5.6%) had a local recurrence develop, including 1 patient with port site metastasis (0.9%) at an average of 5.7 months. In 2 of these patients, violation of the ipsilateral urinary tract was noted perioperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

We report, in this large single-center series of laparoscopic RNU, a low incidence of local recurrence. Our results confirm that a laparoscopic approach to upper tract TCC does not result in a clinically significant increased risk of tumor spillage provided that principles of oncologic surgery are followed.

Open radical cystectomy with lymphadenectomy remains the treatment of choice for invasive bladder cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Radical cystectomy with an appropriate lymph node dissection and an appropriate form of urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Optimal outcomes following radical cystectomy require an extended lymph node dissection, negative surgical margins, and a continent urinary diversion. There has been an increasing number of reports describing initial experiences with laparoscopic radical cystectomy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Intermediate and long-term oncologic outcomes with laparoscopic radical cystectomy remain undefined, and appropriate lymph node dissections laparoscopically have not been uniformly performed. Furthermore, the long-term functional outcomes associated with laparoscopically performed urinary diversions also remain undefined. There appears to be a recent trend toward performing the urinary diversion portion of the procedure extracorporeally, after laparoscopic removal of the bladder. Some studies suggest a decrease in postoperative analgesic requirements and quicker recovery of bowel function in those undergoing laparoscopic radical cystectomy, but these observations have not been corroborated by others.

SUMMARY

In the absence of long-term functional and oncologic outcome data, laparoscopic radical cystectomy should be considered an investigative technique, and potential candidates for this operation should be appropriately counseled.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with and without orthotopic bladder replacement

The successful introduction of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at the end of the last millennium represented a quantum leap in the technical development of minimally invasive surgery in urology. Therefore it seemed a logical step that, at the beginning of this millennium, first centers reported their initial experience with laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Based on more than 2000 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies, two centers have performed this procedure in 48 patients including a variety of urinary diversion (i.e. ileal conduit, ileal neobladder, sigmoid neobladder). In this article, all important surgical steps of laparoscopic radical cystectomy are presented, including the description of the most important techniques of urinary diversion. Based on our own experience, the results of 238 cases presented in the current literature are reviewed. The operating time mainly depended on the type and technique of urinary diversion and ranged between 352 and 430 minutes for ileal conduit, and between 478 and 649 minutes for orthotopic neobladder. The complication rate ranged between 16 and 18%, and the reintervention rate was 4-6%. Long-term follow-up is not available, disease-free survival after three years in a limited number of series ranges between 50 and 67%. No port site metastases have been reported so far. Even for the experienced surgeon laparoscopic radical cystectomy with urinary diversion represents a technically challenging procedure. Nevertheless, feasibility and safety have been proved by various authors. However, larger studies with long-term clinical outcome are necessary to determine the final value of the procedure.

Laparoskopische oder offene Tumornephrektomie und Nierenteilresektion

After initial scepticism laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has rapidly been developed to a standard of care which should be offered to all patients as an alternative to open surgery. This procedure is indicated for all renal tumours clinical stage 1-2 which are not considered for partial nephrectomy. Many studies now show that the oncologic outcome is good and comparable to open surgery. Follow-up, however, is limited to about 10 years. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has become a standardized procedure. Removal of the kidney by morcellation, favoured by the majority some time ago, has been abandoned to a great extent. Also the controversy about the advantages and disadvantages of the respective approach has been settled. Several prospective randomized studies proved that both the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches are equally effective. Excluding the bias of the learning curve the complication rate of laparoscopy is not higher than that of open surgery, but morbidity is clearly lower. Since the rate of elective partial nephrectomy is increasing rapidly, laparoscopy may be a good choice for this indication as well. When performed during ischaemia all principles of open surgery--excision of the tumour with clear margins, haemostasis using sutures, closure of the collecting system, suture repair of the renal parenchyma--can be duplicated. The problem of long warm ischaemia time can be managed by the evolution of the surgical technique, but also by induction of hypothermia. Complication rates are comparable to open surgery. Oncologic results, with limited follow-up however, are promising.

Port-Site Metastasis after Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: Case Report and Literature Review

Local recurrence and port-site metastasis remain a concern in urologic laparoscopic oncologic surgery. Portsite recurrence of renal-cell carcinoma after retroperitoneal and transperitoneal radical nephrectomy has been well documented. We report the first case of a port-site metastasis secondary to a partial nephrectomy and perform a literature review of this subject.

Pure laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with level II vena caval thrombectomy

Continued experience with the laparoscopic technique has allowed for controlled resection of renal neoplasms invading the renal vein and inferior vena cava. We present the case of a patient with a primary renal tumor extending into the vena cava that was completely managed with a laparoscopic approach.

Inhibition of tumor implantation after laparoscopy by specific oligopeptides: a novel approach to adjuvant intraperitoneal therapy to prevent tumor implantation in an animal model

OBJECTIVES

The development of intra-abdominal tumor spread and port-site metastases in urothelial cancer are still questions regarding the safety of laparoscopic methods for the resection of malignancies. Currently, the actual incidence of intra-abdominal tumor spread and port-site metastasis remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the influence of antiadhesive oligopeptides and cytotoxic agents (administered intraperitoneally) on implantation of a tumor cell suspension after laparoscopic surgery in an experimental model.

METHODS

Forty C57 bl6 mice underwent laparoscopy with CO(2) insufflation and instillation of a MB 49 syngenic urothelial tumor cell suspension into the abdominal cavity. Mice were randomly allocated to one of the following groups (n=10 mice per group), and all agents were administrated intraperitoneally: (1) control (phosphate-buffered saline); (2) unspecific oligopeptides; (3) specific oligopeptides; (4) mitomycin. The mice were sacrificed 14 d after the procedure, and the peritoneal cavity and port sites examined for the presence of tumor.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in tumor implantation and port-site metastases was observed in all treatment groups (specific oligopeptides and mitomycin). The oligopeptide group showed the best performance regarding body weight.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that tumor implantation after laparoscopic surgery and port-site metastases might be prevented by the intraperitoneal administration of specific oligopeptides or cytotoxic agents. Moreover, oligopeptides, in comparison with mitomycin, caused less weight loss of the mice.

Prevention and management of complications in urological laparoscopic port site placement

OBJECTIVES

To review complications associated with urological laparoscopic port-site placement and outline techniques for their prevention and management.

METHODS

Review of the literature using Medline.

RESULTS

Laparoscopy now plays a key role in urological surgery. Its applications are expanding with experience and evolving data confirming equivalent long-term outcome. Although significant port-site complications are uncommon, their occurrence impacts significantly on perioperative morbidity and rate of recovery. The incidence of such complications is inversely related to surgeon experience. Ports now utilise bladeless tips to reduce the incidence of vascular and visceral injuries, and subsequently port-site herniation. Metastases occurring at the port site are preventable by adhering to certain measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Whether performing standard or robot-assisted laparoscopy, port-site creation and maintenance is critical in ensuring minimal invasiveness in laparoscopic urological surgery. Although patient factors can be optimised perioperatively and port design continues to improve, it is clear that adequate training is central in the prevention, early recognition, and treatment of complications related to laparoscopic access.

A Prospective Study of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for T1 Tumors—Is Transperitoneal, Retroperitoneal or Hand Assisted the Best Approach?

PURPOSE

We designed a prospective, randomized clinical trial to compare 3 common approaches to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, namely transperitoneal, retroperitoneal and hand assisted.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 33 patients with a solid renal mass of 7 cm or less were prospectively enrolled in alternating fashion to a hand assisted procedure, a transperitoneal procedure with morcellation and a retroperitoneal procedure with intact specimen extraction. A single surgeon performed all operations. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative criteria were compared among the 3 techniques.

RESULTS

A total of 11 patients underwent each type of procedure. There was no significant difference in age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, body mass index or tumor size among the groups. Mean operative time was significantly lower using the hand assisted approach, whereas estimated blood loss was similar in all 3 groups. Incision size, hospital stay and time to normal daily activity were less using the transperitoneal approach. While not significant, there was a trend toward less narcotic use in the transperitoneal group. Hernia formation was seen with increased frequency in the hand assisted group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series the hand assisted approach had significantly shorter operative time than the transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach but it had the greatest risk of hernia formation. The transperitoneal approach was associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay and the earliest resumption of normal activity.

Long-term outcomes of the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma

It has been 35 years since the radical nephrectomy was standardized by the work of Robson et al. (J Urol 101:297-301, 1969). Despite being based on a retrospective review of only 88 cases operated upon over a span of 15 years, this publication was an important milestone in the attempt to create uniformity in the staging of Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the measurement of surgical outcomes for RCC. Although this manuscript forms the basis for our contemporary measurement of the long-term results of RCC surgery and set the standard to which the entire subsequent literature was compared, contemporary research subsequently has questioned many of Robson's conclusions regarding RCC. In Robson's era, the majority of patients presented with large, symptomatic tumors, pre-operative staging was imprecise, and many patients had locally advanced disease at the time of surgery: of the 88 patients in Robson's series, 75% were managed through a thoracoabdominal incision. Since that time, advances in renal imaging and clinical staging have led to the increased detection of incidental, lower stage, organ-confined tumors more amendable to expanded surgical options. Surgical techniques have evolved and technological advances have made possible new methods of managing renal tumors in situ that have emphasized a transition from radical to less extirpative approaches. In addition, understanding of the basic biology and genetics of kidney cancer has led to improved prognostication and the development of effective immunotherapies for advanced disease. The current concepts and long-term outcomes of the surgical management of RCC will be reviewed to help elucidate some of these changes, from the evolution of open to laparoscopic to percutaneous, from radical to partial to ablative approaches.

Case Report: Port-Site Metastasis after Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal-Cell Carcinoma

A 65-year-old man with a 5.5 x 3.2-cm stage T(2)N(0)M(0) grade III renal-cell carcinoma suffered a port-site metastasis 8 months after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with specimen removal in an organ-retrieval bag. This case underlines the need to be conversant with, and care to avoid, risk factors for this complication.

Suprarrenalectomía abierta y laparoscópica. Revisión de 10 años

We present a 10 years open adrenalectomy review in our Service and the beginning of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the last year as a part of the retroperitoneal laparoscopic program at the Hospital Universitario La Paz . The first laparoscopic adrenalectomy was done after 21 retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgeries. Our initial experience has been so good that we have reduced the contraindications for this technique and we have increased the number of laparoscopic surgery cases.

Port site metastases after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy

Laparoscopy has become a well-established alternative to open surgery for the management of many urologic tumors. Metastases at one of the port sites is not a common complication, though there are some reports of port site metastases after laparoscopic management for renal tumors and pelvicaliceal tumors, as well as after laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. Herein, we report a case of port site metastases after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of such pathology to be reported. Although rare, the laparoscopic surgeon should be aware of such complications when dealing with malignant masses.

Urological laparoscopy: basic physiological considerations and immunological consequences

PURPOSE

The applications of laparoscopy to urological surgery continue to grow at a steady pace. A complete understanding of the physiological and immunological changes associated with pneumoperitoneum is required. We reviewed the physiology of laparoscopy with regard to the major organ systems and summarize the effects of pneumoperitoneum on immune function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Articles published in the scientific literature from 1990 to 2004 with relevance to laparoscopic physiology and the immune response to pneumoperitoneum were reviewed using PubMed.

RESULTS

Pneumoperitoneum induces predictable pulmonary and renal responses. The cardiovascular and hemodynamic responses are phasic and dynamic in nature, and only generalizations regarding cardiac function can be made. Renal parenchymal and venous compression during pneumoperitoneum are the etiology of oliguria during laparoscopy. The effects are reversible and cause no adverse effects on renal function. There is a general trend toward systemic immune preservation and peritoneal immune depression during insufflation based laparoscopy. Attenuated peritoneal immunity has been demonstrated most consistently by altered macrophage function.

CONCLUSIONS

Physiological changes incurred as a result of pneumoperitoneum have minimal adverse effects in healthy individuals undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Interest has grown in the impaired peritoneal immune response to CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Altered intraperitoneal immunity may represent a new avenue for the development of adjuvant therapies for minimally invasive treatments of urological malignancies and for the prevention of port site metastasis. Further elucidation and investigation into the immunological responses to pneumoperitoneum during urological laparoscopic procedures is called for.

Long-term survival analysis after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy

PURPOSE

This report assesses the long-term oncological efficacy of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with open radical nephrectomy in patients with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed the data from 121 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy between 1991 and 1999 for clinical tumor stage T1/2 N0M0. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed with emphasis on tumor recurrence and survival. Statistical comparison was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

The median followup was 73 months for the laparoscopic group and 80 months for the open group. Of the 67 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, 53 survived without any recurrence of disease, 2 are currently alive with metastasis, 2 died of metastatic disease in months 12 and 17, and 10 patients died without any disease recurrence. Laparoscopic port site metastasis did not develop in any patients. Of the 54 who underwent open surgery, 34 survived without any recurrence of disease, 1 currently has metastasis, 6 died of metastasis within 17 to 74 months, and 13 died without any disease recurrence. A comparison of the 5 and 10-year disease-free survival rates of the laparoscopic and open groups revealed no significant differences. In addition, the 5 and 10-year cancer specific and actuarial survival rates were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on long-term followup, our evaluation confirmed for clinical tumor stage T1/2 N0M0 that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is oncologically equivalent to open radical nephrectomy.

Oncological outcome of 100 laparoscopic radical nephrectomies for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic renal surgery is now accepted within the urological community and its indication is extended to oncological operation. The oncological outcome and survival of patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma were evaluated.

METHODS

From October 1998 to July 2003, 100 patients underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. All operations were performed by transperitoneal approach with early vascular control. Perioperative events and pathological data were recorded prospectively. Patients were followed up by clinical examination, chest radiograph, ultrasonography and/or computed tomography where appropriate.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 61 years. Median operating time was 120 min and blood loss was 100 mL. There were five open conversions. There was no perioperative mortality but 11 patients had complications. Resection margins were clear in all but one patient. The median tumour size was 4.6 cm. The median follow-up time was 30 months. All patients survived up to the date of review. No patient developed port-site recurrence but two patients had recurrence at the renal bed 1 year after the operation. Five patients developed distant metastases involving liver, lung and bone.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a safe and efficacious treatment option for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. The intermediate-term oncological outcome appears favourable.

Laparoscopic Assisted Radical Cystectomy: The Montsouris Experience after 84 Cases

PURPOSE

Radical cystectomy is the gold standard treatment for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and the laparoscopic approach is currently being evaluated worldwide. We report our preliminary results of this laparoscopic surgical approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2001 and February 2005, we have performed a total of 84 laparoscopic assisted prostatocystectomies or cystectomies for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder on 71 male and 13 female patients. The 2002 TNM staging for these tumors were: pTa-1: 13 cases; pT2: 59 cases; pT3: 11 cases; pT4: 1 case. Technical aspects are described and the initial results are reported.

RESULTS

The median operating time was 280 min. The median blood loss was 550 cc with a transfusion rate of 5%. There has been no conversion to an open technique.

COMPLICATIONS

No death, one pulmonary embolism, two urinary fistulas, three haematomas, one pyelonephritis. ONCOLOGICAL RESULTS: The pathology reports confirmed that all the surgical margins were free of tumor invasion. After 18 months of follow up no trocar seeding was observed.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic assisted cystectomy is a feasible technique which results in decreased bleeding and less postoperative pain. Long term follow-up is needed to confirm the oncologic outcomes.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with ileal conduit diversion

Remaining the gold standard treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer and high-risk superficial tumors, the radical cystectomy has been translated into a fully laparoscopic protocol, actually gaining more and more acceptance worldwide. In this article, a transperitoneal antegrade laparoscopic protocol is described for radical cystectomy performed in both genders. After removal of the specimen, generally through a mini-laparotomy, most of the teams perform the maneuvers for urinary diversion through an ileal conduit as an open procedure, although a completely laparoscopic procedure has been successfully achieved. Laparoscopic cystectomy will face the proof of time if oncologic rules about surgical management of transitional cell carcinoma are carefully respected to avoid any cell spillage. When obvious laparoscopic advantages for the patients are encountered with laparoscopic cystectomy, it seems unlikely that a full laparoscopic protocol, including the diversion, may gain wide acceptance; in that case, the true laparoscopic benefits would be wasted by unjustified lengthening of operative time and by compromising the quality of uretero-ileal anastomoses.

Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy for malignancy in 31 patients

PURPOSE

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignancy is controversial. We analyzed our experience with laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy for cancer with an emphasis on predictors of surgical outcome and oncological followup data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since July 1997, 31 patients have undergone a total of 33 laparoscopic adrenalectomies for malignancy. Mean adrenal tumor size was 5 cm (range 1.8 to 9). The laparoscopic approach was transperitoneal in 17 cases, retroperitoneal in 15 and transthoracic in 1. Data were obtained from patient charts, radiographic reports and direct telephone calls to patient families.

RESULTS

Associated organ resection (radical nephrectomy) was performed in 3 patients. One case was electively converted to open surgery. There was no operative mortality. The pathological diagnoses were metastatic cancer in 26 cases and primary adrenal malignancy in 7. Current median followup, available on 30 patients, was 26 months (range 1 to 69). Overall 15 patients (48%) died and 16 (52%) were alive, of whom 13 (42%) showed no evidence of disease. Cancer specific survival at a median followup of 42 months was 53% and 5-year actuarial survival was 40%. Local recurrence was noted in 7 patients (23%). There were no port site metastases. Survival was similar in patients with tumors less than 5 cm vs 5 cm or greater. Survival was not associated with patient age, tumor size, operative time or surgical approach. Survival was compromised in patients with local recurrence (p = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy can be performed with acceptable outcomes in the carefully selected patient with a small, organ confined, solitary adrenal metastasis or primary adrenal carcinoma. To our knowledge the largest series in the literature to date is presented.

Laparoscopic specimen extraction: morcellation

OBJECTIVES

To review our experience with intact extraction and morecellation of nephrectomy specimen, and the advantages and disadvantages of morcellation indicated by current reports.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a previous study, 56 consecutive patients undergoing radical and simple transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy were prospectively evaluated. Morcellation specimens (33) were extracted at the umbilical or lateral port sites and intact specimens (23) through an infraumbilical incision. Data were obtained on pathology, narcotic requirements, hospital stay, complications, estimated blood loss, size of renal mass based on preoperative imaging, specimen weight and extraction incision length.

RESULTS

The mean incision length was 1.2 cm in the morcellation group and 7.1 cm in the intact group (P< 0.001). There were no significant differences in pain or recovery between the groups. In two cases of tumor nephrectomy, microscopic invasion of the perinephric adipose tissue in the intact specimen group were up-staged from clinical T1 to pT3a disease; there was no change in patient treatment based on this information.

CONCLUSIONS

With proper technique, morcellation is safe for extracting renal tumours. The specimen can be evaluated for histology but not for pathological staging, limiting its use with transitional cell carcinoma. Port-site seeding is rare, and does not appear to be more frequent than with open nephrectomy. Although morcellation is cosmetically more desirable, there was no significant advantage in operating time, pain or duration of hospital stay. The choice od extraction method depends on the surgeon's preference and patient choice.

Port-Site Metastasis: The Influence of Biology

OBJECTIVE

Several surgical and technical mechanisms have been proposed for the development of port-site metastasis, but the influence of tumor and host biologic factors has not been emphasized. We present a case of a pelvic chordoma that metastasized to a prior laparoscopic radical nephrectomy port-site.

METHODS

A 62-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for a pT1b grade 3 renal cell carcinoma, followed 6 weeks later by resection of a sacral chordoma. The incisions and areas of dissection for the two procedures were discontinuous.

RESULTS

Eight months following the LRN she developed a nodule in one of the laparoscopic port-sites. The port-site metastasis was treated with wide surgical resection, which was confirmed as metastatic chordoma on histologic examination.

CONCLUSION

Based on the chronological sequence and physical distance between surgical sites, only biological factors could have contributed to this port-site metastasis. This unusual case highlights the important role that tumor and host biologic mechanisms play in the development of port-site metastasis.

ONCOLOGICAL CONTROL FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC NEPHROURETERECTOMY: 7-YEAR OUTCOME

PURPOSE

Proof of the oncological safety of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) relies on truly long-term outcome being at least equivalent to that of open surgery. We compared the long-term oncological outcome of laparoscopic versus open nephroureterectomy (ONU) in patients with upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between April 1992 and January 1999, 26 LNUs and 42 ONUs were performed at our hospital for suspected upper tract TCC. Hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed to assess preoperative staging, pathology and followup.

RESULTS

There were 4 patients excluded from study (1 who underwent LNU and 3 ONU) since the histological diagnosis was other than TCC. Median followup for the laparoscopic and open groups was 101 and 96 months, respectively. There was local recurrence in 2 patients (8%) after LNU and in 6 patients (15.4%, p = 0.3) after ONU. TCC recurred in the contralateral kidney or ureter in 2 LNU cases (8%) and 1 ONU case (2.6%, p = 0.3). There was bladder recurrence in 7 patients (28%) following LNU compared with 15 patients (42%, p = 0.2) after open nephroureterectomy. The 1 and 5-year metastasis-free survival rates were 80% and 72% for LNU compared with 87.2% and 82.1% for ONU (p = 0.33 and 0.26). Upper tract tumor grade and stage influenced the incidence of metastatic and contralateral disease, but not the incidence of local or bladder recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

In the surgical management of upper tract TCC, the laparoscopic approach does not affect long-term oncological control. Tumor stage and grade are important prognostic factors in the development of metastases and cancer specific mortality.

Solitary port-site metastasis after laparoscopic bilateral nephroureterctomy for transitional cell carcinoma in a renal transplant recipient

A renal transplant recipient with upper tract transitional cell carcinoma developed a solitary port-tract recurrence 8 months after a hand-assisted laparoscopic bilateral nephroureterectomy and was successfully managed by a local wide excision and adjuvant radiotherapy. Follow-up for 3 years after the salvage therapy showed no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis. This patient is the first one in the literature to have a solitary port-site metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma in renal transplant recipients.

What are the Oncological Risks of Minimal Access Surgery for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Cancer?

OBJECTIVES

A review of the oncological safety of minimal access surgery for the treatment of urinary tract cancers. The particular areas reviewed were port-site metastases, local tumour recurrence and long-term survival.

METHODS

Review of the literature using Medline.

RESULTS

There is a low rate of port-site metastases following laparoscopic surgery for urological malignancies, these are usually related to the stage and grade of the tumour. So far follow-up data shows that laparoscopic surgery for urological malignancy does not result in higher levels of local recurrence or shorter survival than open surgery. Percutaneous (PCN) and ureteroscopic (URS) resection of TCC of the upper urinary tract are acceptable forms of treatment for grade 1 and 2 TCCs even in patients with normal contralateral kidneys. However, for grade 3 TCC nephroureterectomy should be utilised because of increased risk of local recurrence (URS) and track seeding (PCN).

CONCLUSIONS

Provided the principles of cancer surgery, combined with proper case selection are followed, minimal access surgery for urological cancer is safe and is rapidly emerging as the standard of care for many upper tract tumours.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignancy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary malignancies and tumors metastatic to the adrenal is controversial. Most studies demonstrate that results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignant lesions are similar to those of open adrenalectomy, without its morbidity. The results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for tumor metastases suggest that it may benefit patients who have a metachronous metastasis from any of a variety of primary tumors. Selective laparoscopic adrenalectomy for potentially malignant tumors requires seeking signs of local invasion, lymphadenopathy, or distant metastasis; there are no other reliable preoperative criteria of malignancy. Diagnostic laparoscopy may be useful, and in some cases, may establish a diagnosis. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy should be cautiously performed, with the goals of achieving complete tumor resection without disruption of the adrenal capsule.

Tumor seeding in urological laparoscopy: an international survey

PURPOSE

During the last 10 years laparoscopy has been applied to treat most urological pathology including malignancies. There has been concern regarding peritoneal dissemination and port site metastases. We undertook a survey to assess the incidence of this occurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 50 international urology departments with experts in laparoscopic urological surgery were contacted for this study. Each site was asked to complete a 2-page survey regarding the volume of laparoscopic urological procedures and port site recurrences.

RESULTS

Nineteen sites elected to participate. A total of 18750 laparoscopic procedures were performed, of which 10912 were for cancer. These included 2604 radical nephrectomies, 559 nephroureterectomies, 555 partial nephrectomies, 27 segmental ureterectomies, 3665 radical prostatectomies, 1869 pelvic lymph node dissections, 479 retroperitoneal lymph node dissections, 336 adrenalectomies and 108 procedures listed as other. Tumor seeding was reported in 13 cases (0.1%), including 3 nephroureterectomies for transitional cell carcinoma, 4 nephrectomies (incidental transitional cell carcinoma), 4 adrenalectomies for metastases, 1 retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer and 1 pelvic lymph node dissection for cancer of the penis. Port seeding occurred in 10 cases (0.09%) and peritoneal spread in 3 cases (0.03%).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of tumor seeding after laparoscopic oncological surgery is rare and does not appear greater than what has been historically reported for open surgery. Tumor seeding seems to be most commonly related to the removal of high grade tumors and deviation from oncological surgical principles.

Trocar Arrangement for HALS

The appropriate position of the hand-access device and trocars for hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery depends on several factors, including the surgeon's preference, physical stature, and handedness; the patient's anatomy; and the type of procedure being performed. This article reviews the options, including measures for special circumstances such as patient obesity.

Evaluation of water jet morcellation as an alternative to hand morcellation of renal tissue ablation during laparoscopic nephrectomy: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of morcellation with a new prototype device that uses high-pressure water flow as a cutting/ablating tool and compare it with standard manual morcellation.

METHODS

Ten porcine kidneys were morcellated with the new water jet device and ten with conventional manual morcellation. Morcellation in all cases was performed in commercially available entrapment bags. The two groups were evaluated for morcellation time, fragment size, and perforation rates (macroscopic and microscopic).

RESULTS

The kidney size in both groups was similar. Morcellation was significantly (P <0.0001) faster in the water jet morcellator group than in the hand morcellation group (5.6 versus 11.9 minutes). The macroscopic evaluation after filling the entrapment bags with normal saline revealed 4 (40%) and 2 (20%) pinhole perforations in the water jet and hand morcellation groups, respectively. The microscopic evaluation revealed an 80% perforation rate in the water jet group and a 20% rate in the hand morcellator group. The size of the resulting fragments in the water jet group was not available, because the morcellated kidney was transformed in a semiliquid form. Therefore, cytology evaluation of the tissue was not possible.

CONCLUSIONS

Water jet technology can be used to morcellate renal porcine tissue effectively. It is faster, but the problems of safety and histologic evaluation must be solved before this promising technology can be used in a clinical setting.

Port site recurrence after laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastatic melanoma

Port site metastasis after adrenal surgery is a rare entity. We describe the case of a 70-year-old man with a solitary adrenal metastasis from malignant melanoma, which was laparoscopically removed. Twelve months later, he presented a recurrence near one of the laparoscopic port sites. This lesion was surgically removed and after a 18-month follow-up, the patient presents no evidence of disease.

Renal cell carcinoma: modern surgical approach

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In the past decade, minimally invasive therapy options for renal cell carcinoma have been devised in an attempt to minimize operative morbidity while achieving comparable oncologic and functional outcomes. Herein, we evaluate the new developments related to the modern surgical and energy ablative techniques for renal cell carcinoma.

RECENT FINDINGS

When compared with the open counterpart, laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomies have equivalent operative time, decreased blood loss, superior recovery, and improved cosmesis. Nowadays, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy can be performed for pT2 tumors (up to 15 cm), and level I renal vein thrombus is not a formal contraindication for the laparoscopic procedure. Ongoing advances in laparoscopic techniques and operator skills have allowed the development of a reliable technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, which includes the ability to achieve effective intracorporeal renal hypothermia. Cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation therapies have been performed through a laparoscopic or percutaneous approach, using a combination of fine probes and high-resolution imaging studies to precisely target the lesions and accurately monitor the freezing or heating ablation process. Noninvasive tumor ablation can now be achieved by extracorporeally induced high-intensity focused ultrasound.

SUMMARY

These minimally invasive techniques represent the modern surgical approach for renal cell carcinoma, aiming to decrease patient morbidity. Laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomy techniques duplicate the open approach. Results obtained with energy ablative techniques are encouraging. Based on the known slow growth rates of small renal cell carcinoma, one should be cautious when interpreting the short-term results of energy ablative therapies monitored by imaging only.

Oncological safety of laparoscopic surgery for urological malignancy: experience with more than 1,000 operations

PURPOSE

Although laparoscopy is being increasingly used to treat urological malignancies, there is still concern regarding the induction of local recurrence and port site metastasis. To our knowledge no major clinical study with long-term followup has been presented in the field of urological laparoscopy. We assessed the oncological safety of laparoscopy with emphasis on incidence of local recurrence and port site metastasis, analyzing the risk factors for such events based on a 10-year experience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From June 1992 to May 2002 we performed 1,098 laparoscopic procedures for urological malignancies, including 450 radical prostatectomies, 478 pelvic and 80 retroperitoneal lymph node dissections, 45 radical nephrectomies, 22 radical nephroureterectomies, 12 partial nephrectomies and 11 adrenalectomies. In 418 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy pelvic lymphadenectomy was done simultaneously. Of the procedures 917 were performed transperitoneally, including 181 via retroperitoneal or extraperitoneal access. A total of 567 procedures were performed in case of histologically proven cancer, whereas 531 represented only staging operations.

RESULTS

Median followup was 58 months (range 4 to 127). Eight local recurrences were observed (0.73% overall, 1.41% of histologically proven cases). There were recurrences after nephroureterectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter in 1 patient, after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in 1, growing teratoma after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in 2, local recurrence of prostate cancer in 3 and after removal of an adrenal metastasis of melanoma in 1. Two port site metastases (0.18% overall, 0.35% of histologically proved cases) occurred, including metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma after adrenalectomy and a residual mass following 2 cycles of chemotherapy after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our experience the incidence of local recurrence and the risk of port site metastases is low and seems to be mainly related to the aggressiveness of the tumor and immunosuppression status of the patient, respectively rather than to technical aspects of the laparoscopic approach.