Natural orifice (NOTES) transurethral sutureless radical prostatectomy with thulium laser support: first patient report

Laparoendoscopic partial nephrectomy in single-incision triangulated umbilical surgery (SITUS) technique: early experience

BACKGROUND

Nephron sparing surgery for renal tumors has evolved as the standard of care for resectable renal tumors. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) has gained recognition after technical refinements were able to match the well-established criteria for open partial nephrectomy. Laparoendoscopic surgery (LESS) is one of the approaches to further minimize invasiveness of laparoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

We report our initial experience with LESS partial nephrectomy in single-incision transumbilical surgery technique (SITUS) in daily clinical practice.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From 2010, patients undergoing SITUS-PN were prospectively evaluated. Patients with small, solitary or multiple, exophytic-enhancing renal masses were selected, whereas patients with solitary kidney, endophytic or hilar tumors were excluded. Important clinical data, PADUA and RENAL score, were assessed prospectively.

MEASUREMENTS

Patients' characteristics, perioperative, hematologic and pathologic data as well as pain evaluation using the visual analogue pain scale (VAPS) were assessed.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 13 patients underwent LESS-PN/SITUS-PN (6 right and 7 left renal units). One patient was converted to conventional laparoscopy requiring two additional ports to treat bleeding from renal vessels. Pathology revealed renal cell carcinoma in nine patients, oncocytoma in one and benign cyst in three patients. No positive surgical margin was observed. The mean blood loss was 2.1 g/dl [range 0.5-4.5 g/dl] in hemoglobin. Minimal discomfort was noted at discharge (VAPS = 0.2 ± 0.6 [range 0-2]/10].

CONCLUSION

LESS partial nephrectomy in SITUS technique is feasible for selected exophytic tumors and has been integrated into our armamentarium for nephron sparing minimally invasive surgical treatment.

Urological applications of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)

Improvements in surgical techniques, and particularly the development and widespread clinical introduction of laparoscopy in the past two decades, have revolutionized the management of urological disease. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) holds promise in further advancing treatment outcomes in urology. This novel minimally invasive surgical approach can negate the requirement for skin incisions and, therefore, could potentially improve morbidity, convalescence, and cosmesis. After considerable preclinical development, the feasibility of 'hybrid' NOTES-involving concurrent laparoscopy-and 'pure' NOTES nephrectomy and prostatectomy procedures has now been successfully demonstrated in patients with urological conditions, whereas proof-of-concept studies of NOTES partial cystectomy have been performed in animal models. Whether such procedures offer therapeutic and safety benefits compared with traditional laparoscopic techniques remains unknown; indeed, concerns remain over the potential perioperative and postoperative adverse events associated with NOTES, such as incomplete closure of the entry-point incision, infection, and haemorrhage. In particular, however, the requirement for the development of specific rationally designed NOTES instrumentation as well as specially trained, highly skilled personnel to perform the surgery continues to restrict the utility of NOTES. Thus, considerable effort is now needed to shift the focus of research to refining NOTES methodologies to enable translation of these promising proof-of-principle studies into the clinic.

Long-term oncological and functional results of extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: one surgical team's experience on 1,600 consecutive cases

PURPOSE

To determine the oncologic and functional outcomes of ELRP on a single surgical team's series.

METHODS

A total of 1,600 consecutive ELRP patients were recorded with a 2-year follow-up. In 778 patients, a 5-year follow-up was available.

RESULTS

The mean operative time was 125,6 min (PLND not included) and 150,9 min (PLND included). Postoperative stage was pT2a in 282 patients (17.6 %), pT2b in 877 (54.8 %), pT2c in 18 (1.1 %), pT3a in 241 (15 %), and pT3b in 182 (11.3 %). Positive margins were detected in 7.4 and 13.4 % of pT2 and pT3 tumors, respectively. Overall complication rate was 4 %. PSA levels resulted in <0.2 ng/mL in 96.4, 94.9, 92, 90.9, and 81.5 % of the cases at 3, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months after surgery, respectively. BCRFS rates 5 years after ELRP were 88.7 % for patients staged as pT2, 73.9 % for pT3a, and 62.4 % for pT3b. Complete urinary continence rate resulted in 39 and 92 % after 1 and 12 months, respectively, with a further increase from 92 to 98.4 % at 24-month follow-up. A nerve-sparing procedure was performed in 45 % of patients. The overall potency rate at 12-month follow-up was 38.67 % for UNSS patients and 75 % for BNSS patients. Potency recovery was age-dependent, with patients aged <55 years who resulted potent in 46.8 % of UNSS and 95.8 % of BNSS after 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

ELRP is a standardized and safe procedure that implies advantages of both minimally invasive and extraperitoneal approaches with elevated standards for oncologic and functional outcomes obtained at long-term follow-up.

Feasibility of transrectal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy in the cadaveric model

OBJECTIVE

To examine feasibility of transrectal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy in human cadavers in the evolution of this technique, as transrectal hybrid NOTES nephrectomy has been demonstrated in the porcine model.

METHODS

Four hybrid transrectal NOTES nephrectomies were performed on 4 cadavers (3 female/1 male, 2 right/2 left). Pneumoperitoneum was created by periumbilical 12-mm trocar, through which a laparoscope was advanced to obtain intra-abdominal visualization. A 4-cm horizontal incision was made 2-cm above the dentate line and a submucosal tunnel was created in the posterior rectal wall/presacral space. A dual-channel gastroscope was advanced through the submucosal tunnel and retroperitoneum to the level of the kidney using air insufflation. A peritoneal window was created and renal mobilization was completed. A transumbilically applied laparoscopic 45-mm stapler was used to transect the ureter and renal hilum. A specimen entrapment bag was deployed transrectally for specimen extraction, followed by transrectal incision closure.

RESULTS

Transrectal NOTES nephrectomy was successfully performed in all cases, with intact specimen extraction. Median weight was 77 kg (range 74-85 kg); median body mass index (BMI) was 30.1 kg/m(2) (range 25.6-31.2 kg/m(2)). Mean operative time was 175 minutes (range 150-210 minutes). Median transrectal access time was 36 minutes (range 24-47 minutes). Median dimensions of removed kidneys were length 11.2 cm (range 10-12 cm), width 5 cm (range 4.5-6 cm), and thickness 3.8 cm (range 3-4.5 cm).

CONCLUSION

Transrectal hybrid NOTES nephrectomy in the cadaver model is feasible with intact specimen extraction and acceptable operative times. Preclinical survival studies are requisite to assess sterility and complications. This approach may be an alternative to transvaginal access.

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic radical prostatectomy

The purpose of this publication is to document the evolution of a new surgical procedure for the treatment of carefully selected patients with organ confined localized prostate cancer. Natural orifice surgery represents a paradigm shift in the surgical approach to disease, although its adoption into clinical practice has been limited to date. This manuscript describes the development of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgical radical prostatectomy (NOTES RP). The laboratory, animal, preclinical and early clinical experiences are described and detailed. While the early experiences with this approach are promising and encouraging, more information is required. Despite the early successes with the procedure, long-term oncological and functional outcomes are essential and more work needs to be done to facilitate the teaching and ease of the NOTES RP.