Feasibility, safety and efficacy of argon beam coagulation in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for solid renal masses ≤ 7 cm in size

From sutureless to standard: a comprehensive analysis of conversion rates in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the rate at which sutureless partial nephrectomy (SLPN) transitions to standard partial nephrectomy (SPN), focusing on preoperative factors that might prompt such conversions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analyzed the efficacy of SLPN performed on adults at our institution from 2016 to 2023. The subjects were patients diagnosed with localized solid renal tumors. The primary technique employed was resection with scissors and argon beam coagulation for hemostasis, with suturing techniques used only when necessary. Predictive factors necessitating conversion to SPN were identified, and the associations among multiple variables were explored using various statistical analysis methods, including logistic regression, to identify key preoperative predictive factors.

RESULTS

Our institution performed 353 SLPN, with 21 cases (5.9%) necessitating conversion to SPN. The conversion rates for the Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy (LPN) subgroup and the Robotic-assist Partial Nephrectomy (RPN) subgroup were 7.9% (17/215) and 2.9% (4/138), respectively, nearing statistical significance (P = .066). Significant differences were observed between the conversion group and the no conversion group in terms of preoperative estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), age at surgery, tumor size, and exophytic/endophytic characteristics. Multivariate analysis identified age at surgery, preoperative eGFR, radiological tumor size, and tumor exophytic/endophytic nature as significant predictors for conversion to SPN.

CONCLUSION

This investigation highlights the efficacy and feasibility of SLPN while identifying critical factors influencing the necessity for conversion to SPN. The identified predictors, including younger surgical age, superior preoperative eGFR, and specific tumor characteristics, provide valuable insights for refining surgical strategies.

Renorrhaphy techniques in minimally invasive partial nephrectomy: a systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

In the absence of consensus on the optimal approach to renorrhaphy in partial nephrectomy, this systematic review aims to assess the various renorrhaphy techniques and their impact on surgical outcomes.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review of the literature was performed in March 2022, using PubMed and Scopus, without time restrictions and research filters for studies investigating renorrhaphy techniques in partial nephrectomy. Studies providing sufficient details on renorrhaphy techniques and their outcomes during minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (PN) were included in this analysis.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Thirty-one studies with 5720 patients were included in the analysis. In most studies, tumor diameter was <4 cm. RENAL and PADUA scores as well as tumor locations were heterogeneous between the studies. The results of the use of hemostatic agents were conflicting among different studies with limited evidence regarding the benefits of its routine use in partial nephrectomy. The use of barbed and running sutures was associated with a reduced warm ischemia time. While some studies showed a decreased warm ischemia time when omitting cortical renorrhaphy, others found that it may lead to higher incidence of minor complications without any significant improvement in other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

There is ongoing research to determine the optimal approach to renorrhaphy. The current evidence on the routine use of hemostatic agents is limited. The use of certain techniques such as barbed sutures, sliding clips and running sutures reduced the warm ischemia time. The omission of cortical renorrhaphy is still controversial.

Recent Advances in the Treatment of Bone Metastases and Primary Bone Tumors: An Up-to-Date Review

In the last decades, the treatment of primary and secondary bone tumors has faced a slow-down in its development, being mainly based on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions. However, these conventional therapeutic strategies present a series of disadvantages (e.g., multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence, severe side effects, formation of large bone defects), which limit their application and efficacy. In recent years, these procedures were combined with several adjuvant therapies, with different degrees of success. To overcome the drawbacks of current therapies and improve treatment outcomes, other strategies started being investigated, like carrier-mediated drug delivery, bone substitutes for repairing bone defects, and multifunctional scaffolds with bone tissue regeneration and antitumor properties. Thus, this paper aims to present the types of bone tumors and their current treatment approaches, further focusing on the recent advances in new therapeutic alternatives.

How to improve outcome in nephron-sparing surgery: the impact of new techniques

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nephron-sparing partial nephrectomy is the state of the art for localized small renal mass and it is gaining attention also for more advanced cases. In the present narrative review, we discuss the new developments that have occurred in the advancement of this approach over the past few years.

RECENT FINDINGS

Off-clamp, selective/superselective clamp and early-unclamping techniques are safe and feasible approaches, with potentially superior functional outcomes, and noninferior complications rate and oncological outcomes, when compared with main artery clamping. Renorrhaphy must preserve the physiological vascularization of residual parenchyma. Running sutures, particularly using barbed wires, shorten the operating and ischemia times. A further advantage could derive from avoiding a double-layer suture. Transperitoneal robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and retroperitoneal RAPN can be considered equivalent in terms of perioperative morbidity, functional and oncologic outcomes, regardless of tumor's location, thus the choice of the approach should be driven by the surgeon's expertise. Future improvements should be introduced by the single-port robotic surgery, which seems to be safe and feasibly also in an off-clamp manner.

SUMMARY

Significant advances have recently been achieved in nephron-sparing surgery technique. However, future studies with standardized reporting of these new techniques are needed to assess the real impact of them on early and long-term functional outcomes.