Improving Time to Continence After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: Augmentation of the Total Anatomic Reconstruction Technique by Adding Dynamic Detrusor Cuff Trigonoplasty and Suprapubic Tube Placement

AI-powered real-time annotations during urologic surgery: The future of training and quality metrics

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Real-time artificial intelligence (AI) annotation of the surgical field has the potential to automatically extract information from surgical videos, helping to create a robust surgical atlas. This content can be used for surgical education and qualitative initiatives. We demonstrate the first use of AI in urologic robotic surgery to capture live surgical video and annotate key surgical steps and safety milestones in real-time.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

While AI models possess the capability to generate automated annotations based on a collection of video images, the real-time implementation of such technology in urological robotic surgery to aid surgeon and training staff it is still pending to be studied.

METHODS

We conducted an educational symposium, which broadcasted 2 live procedures, a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and a robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). A surgical AI platform system (Theator, Palo Alto, CA) generated real-time annotations and identified operative safety milestones. This was achieved through trained algorithms, conventional video recognition, and novel Video Transfer Network technology which captures clips in full context, enabling automatic recognition and surgical mapping in real-time.

RESULTS

Real-time AI annotations for procedure #1, RARP, are found in Table 1. The safety milestone annotations included the apical safety maneuver and deliberate views of structures such as the external iliac vessels and the obturator nerve. Real-time AI annotations for procedure #2, RAPN, are found in Table 1. Safety milestones included deliberate views of structures such as the gonadal vessels and the ureter. AI annotated surgical events included intraoperative ultrasound, temporary clip application and removal, hemostatic powder application, and notable hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, surgical intelligence successfully showcased real-time AI annotations of 2 separate urologic robotic procedures during a live telecast. These annotations may provide the technological framework for send automatic notifications to clinical or operational stakeholders. This technology is a first step in real-time intraoperative decision support, leveraging big data to improve the quality of surgical care, potentially improve surgical outcomes, and support training and education.

Urologic latency time during uroflow stop test with electromyography: an incontinence detector in rehabilitation after robotic radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence (UI) is the most common presentation following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), but a postoperative non-invasive and objective test is still lacking. To assess pelvic floor integrity after RARP, we recently proposed Uroflow Stop Test (UST) with surface electromyography (EMG).

AIM

Here we provide two new clinical parameters: the neurologic latency time (NLT) and the urologic latency time (ULT) derived from UST-EMG Test. Principal outcome was to evaluate their variation during one year follow-up and ULT ability to predict post-RARP UI.

DESIGN

Observational and longitudinal study.

SETTING

Interdivisional Urology Clinic (Perugia-Terni, Italy).

POPULATION

Patients with prostate cancer treated with a full nerve-sparing RARP who underwent postoperative pelvic floor muscles training (PFMT): a diurnal functional home program and a weekly hospital program with the use of biofeedback, between 1 and 3 months postoperatively.

METHODS

All patients consecutively performed a UST-EMG test at one, three, six, and twelve months after surgery. At each follow-up visit we collected NLT values, ULT values, 5-item 26-Expanded Prostate Cancer Index (EPIC), Incontinence Developed on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI) Short Form and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). We analysed statistically significant differences in NLT and ULT between continent and incontinent patients and we evaluate the diagnostic ability of 1-month post-surgery ULT value to diagnose the presence of postoperative UI.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were enrolled. The mean time to PFMT was 31.08 (range: 30-35) days. Overall IPSS, NLT and ULT had similar trends: progressive decrease until the six months after surgery (1-month vs. 3 months vs. 6 months, P<0.05) to plateau thereafter. When considering the two group of patients, IPSS and NLT were significantly higher in the incontinent group only one month after surgery, while ULT became similar between the two groups at 6 months after surgery. The best cut-off of 1-month ULT values that maximized the Youden function at 12-months resulted 3.13 second.

CONCLUSIONS

NLT and ULT may respectively account for the nerve and the urethral closure system integrity post-RARP. In the first month after RARP, both NLT and ULT differs between incontinent vs. continent patients. NLT become similar between two group after one month, confirming the recovery from neuropraxia, but ULT remains statistically significant different until 3 months postoperatively. The value of 1-month ULT resulted a valid tool to predict incontinence status at 12 months.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

ULT and NLT may be also useful tools to monitor the continence progressive recovery after RARP and they may help rehabilitation specialists to evaluate the ongoing results during postoperative follow-up.

Modified hood technique for single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy contributes to early recovery of continence

Background and purpose

Urinary incontinence is one of the common side effects of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Here, we described the modified Hood technique for single-port RARP (sp-RARP) and assessed the interest of this new technique for early continence recovery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients who underwent sp-RARP modified hood technique from June 2021 to December 2021. The pre-and intraoperative variables, postoperative functional and oncological outcomes of patients were collected and analyzed. The continence rates were estimated at 0 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months and 12 months after catheter removal. Continence was defined as wearing no pad over a 24 h period.

Results

Mean time of operation and estimated blood loss were 183 min and 170 ml, respectively. The postoperative continence rates at 0 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months and 12 months after catheter removal were 41.7%, 54.2%, 75.0%, 91.7% and 95.8%, respectively. There were two patients who detected positive surgical margins and no patients observed complications requiring further treatment.

Conclusion

The modified hood technique is a safe and feasible method that provides better outcomes in terms of early return of continence, without increasing estimated blood loss and compromising oncologic outcomes.

Surgical techniques to improve continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy directly affects urinary continence dynamics with incontinence being a major factor in patients’ quality of life, social and psychological status. In order to help maintain continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), a number of surgical techniques have been described. In the present narrative review, we summarize the surgical techniques that have been applied during RARP and their effects on incontinence rates and time to continence recovery.

Surgical techniques to improve continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy directly affects urinary continence dynamics with incontinence being a major factor in patients' quality of life, social and psychological status. In order to help maintain continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), a number of surgical techniques have been described. In the present narrative review, we summarize the surgical techniques that have been applied during RARP and their effects on incontinence rates and time to continence recovery.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing approach: surgical technique and one-year functional and oncologic outcomes

Various neurovascular bundle-sparing techniques have been introduced to maximize recovery of erectile function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing technique aims to preserve periprostatic structures and neurovascular bundles as much as possible by avoiding clipping of the vascular pedicles. This study reports 1-year functional and oncologic outcomes and postoperative complications in 105 patients with intact preoperative erectile function who underwent a modified clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing RARP. Intact erectile function was defined as score ≥ 21 on the Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire or ability to have sexual intercourse. Median follow-up was 26.5 months (IQR 15.25-48). Postoperative erectile function recovery rates were 71.4%, 81.9%, 88.6%, 92.4%, and 94.3% at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. The rate of positive surgical margins was 16.2% overall and 11.8% in patients with stage pT2 disease. The biochemical recurrence rate was 6.7% overall. The modified clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing technique is safe and feasible and can achieve excellent recovery of erectile function after RARP. Further large-scale prospective comparative studies are warranted.

Detrusorrhaphy during Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Early Recovery of Urinary Continence and Surgical Technique

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has largely replaced open radical prostatectomy as the standard surgical treatment for prostate cancer. However, postoperative urinary incontinence still persists and has a significant impact on quality of life. We report the superior results of the detrusorrhaphy technique during RARP that helps achieve early continence. Our prospective study involved 95 consecutive patients who underwent RARP between March 2015 and May 2017; fifty patients underwent RARP using the new detrusorrhaphy technique (group 1) and 45 underwent standard RARP (group 2). The postoperative oncological and functional outcomes were compared between the two groups. The postoperative continence was assessed at 0 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, 8-12 weeks, and 6 months after catheter removal. Continence was defined as the use of no pad over a 24 h period. Mean operative time in groups 1 and 2 were 250 and 220 min, respectively. Intraoperative complications were not encountered in any patient. The continence rates after catheter removal in groups 1 and 2 were 68% and 0% at 0 day, 78% and 17.8% at 1 week, 86% and 64.4% at 4 weeks, 92% and 73.3% at 8-12 weeks, and 100% and 91.1% at 6 months, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the nerve sparing technique, D'Amico risk groups, and prostate volume were involved in the early recovery of urinary continence. The detrusorrhaphy technique is simple, safe, and feasible, which helped achieve earlier continence. It showed significantly better outcomes than those achieved with the standard RARP technique in terms of urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, our findings need to be validated in further studies.