Incidencias y complicaciones en nuestras primeras 250 prostatéctomias radicales robóticas

OneShot-M: A New Device for Close Laparoscopy Pneumoperitoneum

INTRODUCTION

The induction of pneumoperitoneum is the first and most critical phase of laparoscopy, due to the significant risk of serious vascular and visceral complications. The closed technique for the creation of pneumoperitoneum could lead to several surgical complications. The present study aimed to overcome the complications associated with the insertion of Veress needle, improving its use, and facilitating the rapid creation of pneumoperitoneum.

METHODS

Thirty large white female pigs were enrolled in our study. A common plunger was modified in order to allow the passage of a 15-cm long Veress needle. This method was applied to 26 laparoscopic procedures (26 pigs) of several specialist branches.

RESULTS

OneShot-M close laparoscopy pneumoperitoneum creation device allowed us to obtain pneumoperitoneum quickly in all attempts, without any intraoperative and postoperative complications related to the use of the Veress needle.

CONCLUSION

The use of the proposed device showed an induction time as quick as the standard laparoscopic closed abdominal entry. The patented device is cheap and allows a safe abdominal entry. In addition, abdominal entry is much faster than the classic open technique.

Robotic rectovesical fistula repair: a successful approach

OBJECTIVE

To describe our technique of robotic rectovesical fistula (RVF) repair through the report of a case unique for its pathogenesis. RVF is a rare but devastating complication of prostatic surgery and can nowadays be managed with a minimally invasive approach.

PATIENT AND METHODS

We describe in detail all the steps of our robotic RVF repair, performed on a 76-year-old man who developed RVF after radical prostatectomy. The RVF had been induced by tissue erosion due to Hem-o-lok(®) (Teleflex Medical, Research Triangle Park, NC) clips and had been unsuccessfully treated with an over-the-scope clip.

RESULTS

Our surgery was successful with an operative time of 70 minutes and an estimated blood loss of 150 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative Day 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Our technique of robotic RVF repair was safe and effective. Care must be taken when considering new, endoscopic devices for the cure of RVF. A prospective study with a long follow-up is advised to validate our results.

Avoiding and managing vascular injury during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

There has been an increase in the number of urologic procedures performed robotically assisted; this is the case for radical prostatectomy. Currently, in the USA, 67% of prostatectomies are performed robotically assisted. With this increase in robotic urologic surgery it is clear that there are more surgeons in their learning curve, where most of the complications occur. Among the complications that can occur are vascular injuries. These can occur in the initial stages of surgery, such as in accessing the abdominal cavity, as well as in the intraoperative or postoperative setting. We present the most common vascular injuries in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, as well as their management and prevention. We believe that it is of vital importance to be able to recognize these injuries so that they can be prevented.

Endourethral Migration of a Hem-o-Lok Clip after Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Hem-o-Lok clips (Weck Surgical Instruments, Teleflex Medical, Durham, North Carolina, USA) are widely used in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy because of their easy application and secure clamping. To date, there have been some reports of their migration into the urinary tract, causing urethral erosion, bladder neck contractures orcalculus formation. We report a case of endourethral migration of a hem-o-lok after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. The hem-o-lok was almost completely endoluminal and attached to one end at the vesico-urethral anastomosis. The hem-o-lok was easily removed cystoscopically by using an endoscopic forceps.

Hem-o-lok clip: a neglected cause of severe bladder neck contracture and consequent urinary incontinence after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Background

Hem-o-lok clips are widely used during robot-assisted and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy to control the lateral pedicles. There are a few reports of hem-o-lok clip migration into the bladder or vesico-urethral anastomosis and only four cases of hem-o-lok clip migration resulting into bladder neck contracture. Herein, we describe the first case, to our knowledge, of hem-o-lok clip migration leading to severe bladder neck contracture and subsequent stress urinary incontinence.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old Caucasian man underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for a T1c Gleason 8 prostate cancer. One month after surgery the patient was fully continent; however, three months later, he presented with acute urinary retention requiring suprapubic drainage. Urethroscopy showed a hem-o-lok clip strongly attached to the area between the vesico-urethral anastomosis and the urethral sphincter and a severe bladder neck contracture behind it. Following cold-knife urethral incision and clip removal, the bladder neck contracture was widely resected. At 3-month follow-up, the patient voided spontaneously with a peak flow rate of 9.5 ml/sec and absence of post-void residual urine, but leaked 240 ml urine at the 24-hour pad test. To date, at 1-year follow-up, his voiding situation remains unchanged.

Conclusions

The present report provides further evidence for the risk of hem-o-lok clip migration causing bladder neck contracture, and is the first to demonstrate the potential of such complication to result into stress urinary incontinence.

Abdominal wall haemorrhage after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: is it a complication of robotic surgery?

OBJECTIVE

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the minimally invasive surgical treatment for patients with localized prostate cancer. Perioperative or postoperative complications following RARP have been reported in some studies and severe postoperative bleeding after RARP is rare, but hemodynamic instability may necessitate open surgical exploration and be associated with considerable morbidity. We reported postoperative bleeding cases, which is a kind of complication associated with robotic surgery and requiring massive transfusion after RARP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From August 2009 to May 2012, 317 consecutive patients who underwent RARP performed at our institution were analyzed. Patients with serious postoperative bleeding that caused hemodynamic instability after surgery were enrolled.

RESULTS

A total of 5 among 317 (1.6%) patients had bleeding requiring postoperative transfusion. In these cases, mean operative time was 114 min. The mean estimated blood loss was 110 ml during operation. In these patients, hematocrit (Hct) levels gradually fell after surgery and ecchymosis was detected on the side and posterior walls of the abdomen on the second day. The mean preoperative Hct was 44.3% and mean lowest Hct was 23.1%. All patients were successfully treatment without surgical exploration.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic radical prostatectomy has proven to be a safe surgical treatment with low morbidity. However, postoperative bleeding can reach serious problems. This is the first study to explain haemorrhage, associated with possible risk of robotic surgery.

Malfunction of the da Vinci robotic system in urology

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the incidence of malfunction of the da Vinci robotic system in a single center and to provide potential solutions.

METHODS

A total of 400 patients underwent da Vinci robotic urological surgery at Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan, from December 2005 to April 2011. Episodes of malfunction of the robotic system were analyzed by period of operation, type of procedure, type of malfunction and management of the event.

RESULTS

Overall, 14 cases of malfunction occurred (3.5% of the entire series). Among them, five (1.25%) occurred before the surgery and nine (2.25%) intraoperatively. Operative procedures included radical prostatectomy, bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection, dismembered pyeloplasty, partial nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, and radical and partial cystectomies. Areas of malfunctions included the robotic arm system and joint (11/14), optical system (1/14), power system and connector (1/14), endoscopic instrument (1/14), and software (1/14). In 10 cases, the failure was recoverable, whereas in four cases there was a critical failure, requiring a conversion to standard laparoscopy in three of them, and the rescheduling of the surgery in one case.

CONCLUSIONS

The da Vinci robotic system is extremely reliable for use in urology. Malfunction is rare and the risk of critical failure is very low. Managing mechanical failure before or during the surgery is the key to maintaining the safety of patients undergoing robotic surgical procedures.

Key areas in the learning curve for robotic urological surgery: a Spanish multicentre survey

BACKGROUND

The number of robotic-assisted procedures offered in Spain is rapidly increasing despite a lack of consensus criteria for training and credentialling.

OBJECTIVE

This national multicentre study was designed to analyze the different areas of the robotic urological surgery learning curve.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to all 13 urology units in Spain with an active robotics programme requesting information on training and problems encountered.

RESULTS

In most centres (n = 11, 84.6%), training programmes were animal-based; cadavers were used at only 2 (15.4%). Proctoring in initial procedures was practiced by 12 groups (92.3%). When initiating the robotics programme, the console was shared at 8 units (61.5%). Prior experience in open and/or laparoscopic surgery was reported by 10 of the groups (76.9%), and experience in open surgery only by 2 (15.4%) or robotic surgery alone by 1 (7.7%). The procedure with which the robotics programme was started in all 13 participating units was radical prostatectomy. The number of cases needed to complete the learning curve for this procedure was 20-25 cases according to 8 (61.5%) surgery teams.

CONCLUSIONS

Up until March 26, 2010, 1,692 operations, mostly radical prostatectomies, were conducted using the da Vinci robot in our country.