Urologic surgery in gynecologic oncology: a large single-institution experience

A comparative analysis of high-flux and low-flux dialysis in cervical cancer patients with obstructive renal failure showing no significantly improved renal function after catheterisation

Objective:

This study aims to compare the clinical application value of high-flux dialysis with low-flux dialysis in patients without significantly improved renal function after cervical cancer and obstructive renal failure catheterisation.

Methods:

This prospective randomised study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019. Eighty cervical cancer patients with obstructive renal failure who showed no significant renal function improvement after catheterisation were randomised into two groups (n = 40 in each group) in the Second People’s Hospital of Yibin City. High-flux and low-flux dialysis were employed in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Treatments in both groups were provided every other day, with the whole course lasting one week. Data were recorded before and after dialysis included inflammatory factors such as IL-6, CRP and TNF-a, large and moderate molecular toxins (e.g., β2 micro-globulin, parathyrin (PTH) and cysteine protease inhibitor). Renal function changes during the dialysis were also recorded. Afterwards, the two groups were compared regarding the overall efficacy.

Results:

Both the experimental group and the control group experienced a significant decrease in IL-6, CRP, TNF-a, β2 micro-globulin, PTH and cysteine protease inhibitor, with the decrease in the experimental group being more evident (p < 0.05). After dialysis was completed, the experimental group restored renal function indicators such as Cre, CysC and serum K+ levels more quickly than the control group (p < 0.05). The effective rate was 100% for the experimental group and 87.5% for the control group. The intragroup difference in the efficacy.was significant.

Conclusions:

High-flux dialysis appears to be more beneficial for cervical cancer patients with obstructive renal failure, showing no significant improvement in renal function after catheterisation. It restored renal function more quickly, had more radical draining of inflammatory factors and large and moderate molecular toxins, and had a higher overall effective rate.

Is a Vaginectomy Enough or is a Pelvic Exenteration Always Required for Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Cervical Cancer? A Propensity-Matched Study

PURPOSE

Reporting the perioperative and survival outcomes of vaginectomy with respect to a matched series of pelvic exenteration (PE) in women with isolated recurrent cervical cancer.

METHODS

The records of vaginal recurrent cervical cancer patients admitted at Fondazione Policlinico "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS in Rome from January 2010 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. A propensity-matched score analysis was performed by age, clinical stage, disease-free interval, and R0 resection. Postsurgical complications and survival rates were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifteen women underwent vaginectomy, and 30 patients were submitted to PE. No statistical differences were observed between the two groups at baseline characteristics. The vaginectomy procedures were successfully performed in all women, and no case required conversion to PE. Moreover, a higher rate of major postoperative complications after PE with respect to vaginectomy (p = 0.027) was recorded. Among them, three women required reoperation within 30 postoperative days, and four experienced two or more complications. Twenty-five (55.6%) women experienced recurrence: 8 of 25 (32.0%) in the vaginectomy group, and 17 of 25 (68%) in the PE group, with a median progression-free survival of 20 months and 13 months, respectively (p = 0.169). In total, 5 of 15 (33.3%) died of disease in the vaginectomy group and 13/30 (43.3%) in the PE group, with a median overall survival of 39 and 18 months for vaginectomy and PE, respectively (p = 0.161).

CONCLUSIONS

The vaginectomy seems to allow for salvage treatment, such as radiotherapy and/or PE, but with a minimal impact on the quality of life in appropriately selected women with local recurrent cervical cancer.

Surgical outcomes of segmental ureteral resection with ureteroneocystostomy after major gynecologic surgery

INTRODUCTION

Describing the surgical and oncological outcome of bladder-preserving ureter reconstruction (BPUR) with segmental ureteral resection after major gynecologic surgery.

MATHERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with BPUR admitted at a single institution between March 2012 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical and oncological data were assessed.

RESULTS

Forty-six women with gynecologic tumors involving the ureter were treated with BPUR. R0 resection was achieved in 40/46 patients (86.9%), while pathologic margins were microscopically positive in 6 women (13.1%). Overall, 12 women (26.0%) received radiotherapy before surgery: among them, 8 patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Twenty-six women underwent BPUR during primary surgery, whereas 20 (43.4%) required BPUR upon recurrence. Twenty-six patients (56.2%) were found to have hydronephrosis at pre-operative workup. The psoas bladder hitch was the most common procedure performed for urinary reconstruction (63%) with respect to direct reimplantation (37%). Fourteen patients (14/46 = 30.4%) experienced urological complications. Urinary leakage occurred in 9 patients (19.5%), specifically: 5 uretero-vaginal fistula, 3 uroperitoneum, 1 uretero-enteral fistula. There were 3 cases (6.5%) of hydronephrosis at the side of ureteroneocystostomy and 2 cases (4.3%) of unilateral renal impairment requiring nephrectomy. At multivariate analysis only pre-operative radiotherapy (p = 0.047) and a history of pelvic irradiation (p = 0.025) were independently associated with an increased risk of developing severe urinary complications.

CONCLUSIONS

BPUR is feasible in gynecologic cancer with invasion of the urinary tract. However, since a slight increase of post-operative urological complications was observed in the previously irradiated fields, a personalized surgical planning is recommended for these women in the next future.

Laterally Extended Pelvic Resection for Gynaecological Malignancies: A Multicentric Experience with Out-of-the-Box Surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate morbidity and oncological outcome in a multicentre series of women with gynaecological malignancies infiltrating pelvic side wall (PSW) that received laterally extended pelvic resection (LEPR).

METHODS

Patients operated between 2007 and 2017 at three institutions were included. LEPR was defined as an en bloc lateral resection of a pelvic tumour involving sidewall muscle, and/or bone, and/or major nerve, and/or major vascular structure. Postsurgical complications and survivals were evaluated.

RESULTS

Sixty-three women with gynaecological tumours involving PSW were treated with LEPR. Five women underwent primary LEPR, whereas 58 (92%) patients needed LEPR because of recurrence. Twenty-four women (38%) received previous radiation therapy before the surgery. R0 resection was achieved in 54 patients (85.7%), whereas the pathologic margins were microscopically and macroscopically positive in 8 (12.7%) patients and 1 (1.6%) patient, respectively. There was one perioperative death, whereas major postoperative complications occurred in 17 patients (27.7%). Thirty (47.5%) women experienced recurrences: 24/54 (44.4%) were in the R0 group, and 6/9 (66.6%) were in the R1 group, with a median PFS of 15 months and 7 months, respectively (p = 0.024). In total, 11 of 54 (20.3%) patients died of disease in the R0 group and 5 of 9 (55.5%) in the R1 group; a median OS was not reached and was 32 months for R0 and R1 groups, respectively (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Involvement of the PSW should not prevent obtaining R0 resection. Although the LEPR is associated with considerable morbidity (≈ 30%), a long-term survival seems to be achieved in those women with complete resection.