Pushing the Envelope: Laparoscopic Nephrectomy as Outpatient Surgery

Readmissions after radical nephrectomy in a national cohort

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors and costs associated with 30-day readmissions for patients undergoing radical nephrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database to identify adults who underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cancer, stratified by surgical approach. We determined patient factors associated with readmission rates, diagnoses, and costs using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 19,523 individuals, the 30-day readmission rate was 7.7% (n = 1,506). On multivariate regression, odds of readmission were significantly increased with age ≥75 in those who underwent open nephrectomy (OR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.03-1.78). Subjects with a Charlson comorbidity score ≥3 had significantly higher rates of readmission regardless of surgical approach (Open RN - OR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.33-2.56; Lap RN - OR: 1.99; 95%CI 1.10-3.59; Robotic RN - OR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.23-3.86). Common reasons for readmission were gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, urinary tract infections, and wound complications across all surgical approaches. The mean cost per readmission was as high as 126% ($20,357) of the mean index admission cost.

CONCLUSION

One in 13 adults undergoing radical nephrectomy is readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Associated readmission cost is up to 1.26 times the cost of index admission. Our findings may inform efforts aiming to reduce hospital readmissions and curtail healthcare costs.

Medical disease and ambulatory surgery, new insights in patient selection based on medical disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Improvements in perioperative care contributed to enlarge the eligibility criteria for day case surgery and more and more patients with comorbidities may be concerned. However, underlying medical diseases may influence postoperative outcomes, and therefore, must be considered when selecting patients to undergo ambulatory surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

To limit postoperative complications, rigid patient selection criteria are often applied in ambulatory surgery. In practice, however, most of these criteria predict the occurrence of treatable perioperative adverse events but not the need for unanticipated admission or readmission.

SUMMARY

The underlying medical diseases should not be considered as sole criteria but they should rather be regarded as a dynamic process, which includes the surgical procedure as well as the experience and expertise of the perioperative setting.

Empowerment-Based Education in Urological Patients: A Scoping Review

Prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer are the three most frequently diagnosed urological cancers. Educational programs could teach patients to become experts in disease management. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the literature to identify the educational requirements and strategies for improving and implementing educational processes for urological patients undergoing surgery. We searched several databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. All adult patients undergoing urological educational interventions were included in the review. Of 3,197 initially identified articles, 42 were retained. Urological patients undergoing prostatectomy, cystectomy, and nephrectomy require cognitive, psychological, and functional support. For each level of support, several methods exist to provide support, including informational brochures, preoperative counseling, telephone support, online content, educational videos, support groups, individual stress management interventions, peer support, online interventions, partner support, and various educational programs that help the patient manage negative effects associated with the urological intervention.

Partial nephrectomy should be classified as an inpatient procedure: Results from a statewide quality improvement collaborative

OBJECTIVES

To examine length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates for all minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) and MI radical nephrectomy (MIRN) performed for localized renal masses ≤7 cm in size (cT1RM) within 12 Michigan urology practices. Both RN and PN are commonly performed in treating cT1RM. Although technically more complex and associated with higher complication rates, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services considers MIPN an outpatient procedure and MIRN is inpatient.

METHODS

We collected data for renal surgeries for cT1RM at MUSIC-KIDNEY practices between May 2017-February 2020. Data abstractors recorded clinical, radiographic, pathologic, surgical, and short-term follow-up data into the registry for cT1RM patients.

RESULTS

Within MUSIC-KIDNEY, 807 patients underwent MI renal surgery at 12 practices. Median LOS for cT1RM patients after MIPN (n = 531, 66%) was 2 days and after MIRN (n = 276, 34%) was also 2 days. Among patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic PN, 171 (32%), 230 (43%), and 130 (24%) stayed ≤1, 2, ≥3 days. Among patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic RN, 81 (29%), 112 (41%), and 83 (30%) stayed ≤1, 2, ≥3 days. No significant difference was observed between MIPN and MIRN on LOS commensurate with outpatient surgery (≤1-day, OR = 0.97, P = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Less than one-third of patients had a LOS ≤1-day and LOS was comparable for MIPN and MIRN. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be advised that MIPN is a more complex surgery than MIRN, most patients receiving a MIPN will require a ≥2-day hospital stay and it would be more appropriate to classify MIPN an inpatient procedure with MIRN.

Novel technique: direct access partial nephrectomy approach through a transperitoneal working space (Roskilde technique)

Objectives: To describe a direct access partial nephrectomy technique through a transperitoneal working space (Roskilde technique).Materials and methods: Prospective single-center descriptive study between April 2015 and January 2017. The surgical outcomes are evaluated according to the Trifecta criteria (negative margins, warm ischemia time < 20 min and a Clavien-Dindo complication score < 3).Surgical procedure: The same access to the transperitoneal cavity as in a Standard transperitoneal Partial Nephrectomy was used. A direct access was established by incision of the peritoneum directly onto the renal fascia. The renal vessels and tumor were identified and the tumor removed with standard technique. The perinephric fat and peritoneum were then closed with a running suture.Results: In total, 122 patients underwent the Roskilde technique. The mean age was 62.2 years, the median Padua score was 12 (IQR = 9-12) and the median tumor size was 32 mm (IQR = 12-90). The median operative time was 101 min (IQR = 90-125). The trifecta achievement criteria goal was achieved in 116/122 (95%), with a median warm ischemia time of 8 min (IQR = 0-12).Conclusions: The Roskilde technique is safe and feasible. It can be performed on complex renal masses, and it seems to result in short operative times and high Trifecta achievement.Trial registration: None.

Retroperitoneal Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: Systematic Review and Cumulative Analysis of Comparative Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To compare the outcomes of retroperitoneal vs transperitoneal approach for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed through January 2018 using PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid databases. Article selection proceeded according to the search strategy based on PRISMA criteria. Only studies comparing retroperitoneal to transperitoneal approach for RAPN were deemed eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

Seven retrospective case-control studies were identified and included in the analysis, with a total number of 1379 patients (866 for transperitoneal group; 513 for retroperitoneal group). In the retroperitoneal group, tumors were slightly larger [weighted mean difference (WMD): 0.29 cm; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04-0.54; p = 0.02], and more frequently located posterior/lateral (odds ratio: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.41-0.90; p = 0.01). In two of the studies only posterior tumors had been included. Both operating time (WMD 20.17 min; 95% CI 6.46-33.88; p = 0.004) and estimated blood loss (WMD 54.57 mL; 95% CI 6.73-102.4; p = 0.03) were significantly lower in the retroperitoneal group. In addition, length of stay was significantly shorter in the retroperitoneal group (WMD 0.46 days; CI 95% 0.15-0.76; p = 0.003). No differences were found regarding overall (p = 0.67) and major (p = 0.82) postoperative complications, warm ischemia time (p = 0.96), and positive surgical margins (p = 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Retroperitoneal RAPN can offer in select patients similar outcomes to those of the most common transperitoneal RAPN. Furthermore, it may be particularly advantageous for posterior upper pole and perihilar tumors and associated with reduction in operative time and hospital stay. Robotic surgeons should be ideally familiar with both approaches to adapt their surgical strategy to confront renal neoplasms from a position of technical advantage and ultimately optimize outcomes.