Perioperative Blood Transfusion Is a Predictor of Acute and Chronic Renal Function Deterioration after Partial and Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal functional and cardiovascular outcomes of partial nephrectomy versus radical nephrectomy for renal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the postoperative renal and cardiovascular outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN) versus radical nephrectomy (RN) for the treatment of renal carcinoma. A systematic literature search was performed on scientific databases including Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from their inception to September 2021. Studies comparing renal and cardiovascular outcomes between PN and RN in patients with renal cancer were included. The generic inverse variance method with random-effects models was used to determine the pooled hazard ratios and odds ratio for each outcome. Quality Assessment for observational studies was guided by the New-Castle Ottawa Scale. Overall, a total of 31 studies (n=51,866) reported renal outcomes, while 11 studies (n= 101,678) reported cardiovascular outcomes. When compared to PN, RN had a higher rate of new-onset postoperative EGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR 3.39; CI 2.45 - 4.70; I²=93%; P=<0.00001) and EGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR 4.70; CI 2.26 - 9.79; I²=98%; P=<0.0001). No difference was observed in new-onset advanced kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. A 19% reduction in cardiovascular events was observed in the PN group (HR 0.81; CI 0.70 - 0.93, P=0.002). No protective effect of PN was observed in new-onset or worsening hypertension (HR 0.85; CI 0.64 - 1.14, P=0.28) nor myocardial infarction (HR 0.86; CI 0.71 - 1.04, P=0.13). PN was associated with a decreased risk of postoperative early-stage CKD and cardiovascular events compared with RN. However, no benefit of PN over RN was observed in advanced CKD, new-onset or worsening hypertension, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality.

Robot-assisted versus conventional laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal hilar tumors: Parenchymal preservation and functional recovery

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN) can benefit patients in terms of functional recovery in the treatment of renal hilar tumors compared to conventional laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (CLPN).

METHODS

Between January 2019 and July 2021, patients with hilar tumors who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN) were acquired at our center and were classified into RALPN and CLPN groups. Ipsilateral parenchymal volume (IPV) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined independently 3-5 days before and 3 months after PN using contrast-enhanced computed tomography and nuclear renal scans. Pearson correlation was used to determine the link between ipsilateral GFR preservation and IPV preserved. Concurrently, multivariable analysis was employed to determine characteristics associated with functional recovery.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients with hilar tumors were studied, of which 41 received RALPN and 55 received CLPN. Excisional parenchymal volume was 27 and 37 cm³ (p = 0.005) in RALPN and CLPN groups, respectively, and IPV preserved was 77% and 68% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the ipsilateral GFR preserved was 77.7% and 75.3%, respectively (p = 0.003). On Pearson correlation, ipsilateral GFR preservation was linked with IPV preserved (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). According to a multivariate study, baseline GFR, IPV preserved, and surgical procedures (RALPN vs. CLPN) were significant factors influencing functional recovery.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that RALPN, rather than CLPN, can achieve better functional recovery in the treatment of hilar tumors due to its ability to win more IPV preserved. RALPN should be recommended as the first-line treatment for hilar tumors, but randomized controlled trials are required to validate our findings.

Oncosurgery-Related Acute Kidney Injury

Oncosurgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, staging, and management of cancer and cancer-related complications. Acute kidney injury is a common and important complication related to oncologic surgery, associated with longer hospital length of stay, greater costs, increased risk of incident or progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD), and higher mortality. The pathogenesis of oncosurgery-related acute kidney injury is multifactorial and determined by different variables, including patient characteristics (comorbidities, volume status, age, pre-existing CKD), specific cancer type or location, surgical procedure involved, as well as intrinsic neuroendocrine and hemodynamic responses to anesthesia and/or surgery. Early nephrology evaluation may be helpful to assist with preservation of kidney function and prevention of further kidney injury.

Frailty predicts outcome of partial nephrectomy and guides treatment decision towards active surveillance and tumor ablation

PURPOSE

To examine frailty and comorbidity as predictors of outcome of nephron sparing surgery (NSS) and as decision tools for identifying candidates for active surveillance (AS) or tumor ablation (TA).

METHODS

Frailty and comorbidity were assessed using the modified frailty index of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (11-CSHA) and the age-adjusted Charlson-Comorbidity Index (aaCCI) as well as albumin and the radiological skeletal-muscle-index (SMI) in a cohort of n = 447 patients with localized renal masses. Renal tumor anatomy was classified according to the RENAL nephrometry system. Regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of surgical outcome of patients undergoing NSS as well as to identify possible influencing factors of patients undergoing alternative therapies (AS/TA).

RESULTS

Overall 409 patient underwent NSS while 38 received AS or TA. Patients undergoing TA/AS were more likely to be frail or comorbid compared to patients undergoing NSS (aaCCI: p < 0.001, 11-CSHA: p < 0.001). Gender and tumor complexity did not vary between patients of different treatment approach. 11-CSHA and aaCCI were identified as independent predictors of major postoperative complications (11-CSHA ≥ 0.27: OR = 3.6, p = 0.001) and hospital re-admission (aaCCI ≥ 6: OR = 4.93, p = 0.003) in the NSS cohort. No impact was found for albumin levels and SMI. An aaCCI > 6 and/or 11-CSHA ≥ 0.27 (OR = 9.19, p < 0.001), a solitary kidney (OR = 5.43, p = 0.005) and hypoalbuminemia (OR = 4.6, p = 0.009), but not tumor complexity, were decisive factors to undergo AS or TA rather than NSS.

CONCLUSION

In patients with localized renal masses, frailty and comorbidity indices can be useful to predict surgical outcome and support decision-making towards AS or TA.

The impact of intraoperative bleeding on the risk of chronic kidney disease after nephron-sparing surgery

PURPOSE

The current literature regarding the effect of blood loss (eBL) after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) on long-term renal function is scarce. We tested the effect of eBL on the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) after NSS.

METHODS

Within an institutional prospectively maintained database, we identified 215 patients treated with NSS for cT₁N₀M₀ renal mass at one European high-volume center. Multivariable logistic regression models tested the effect of eBL on the risk of developing CKD, after accounting for surgical complexity, individual clinical characteristics, and surgical experience. Multivariable linear regression models identified predictors of eBL.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 36 months, 55 (25.6%) patients experienced CKD after surgery. At multivariable analyses, eBL independently predicted higher risk of CKD after NSS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.16; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.04-1.30; p < 0.01). Specifically, the relationship between eBL and probability of CKD emerged as nonlinear, with a plateau from 0 to 500 mL of eBL and an increase afterward. When multivariable linear regression analyses investigated predictors of eBL, hypertension (Est: 127, 95% CI 12-242; p = 0.03), clinical size (Est: 47, 95% CI 7-87; p = 0.02), and PADUA score (Est: 42; 95% CI 4-80 p = 0.03) achieved independent predictor status for higher intraoperative eBL. Conversely, surgical experience was associated with lower eBL (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative bleeding is independently associated with the risk of developing CKD after surgery, even after adjustment for well-known predictors of renal failure and tumor complexity. Hence, strategies aimed at maximally reducing such adverse events deserve special consideration.

Increased Use of Blood Transfusions to Manage Urological Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to an extensive reorganization of the healthcare system in Italy, with significant deferment of the treatment of urology patients. We aimed to assess the impact of deferred treatment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the need for blood transfusions in 3 Italian urology departments.

Methods

We reviewed hospital chart data on blood transfusions at the urology units of 3 academic centers in the north of Italy from March to April 2020. Data were compared with values from the same time frame in 2019 (March to April 2019).

Results

We observed significant reductions of the number of patients admitted to the urology units from March to April 2020 (373 vs. 119) and the number of performed surgeries (242 vs. 938) compared to 2019. Though, the number of transfused blood units was comparable between the 2 years (182 vs. 252), we found a greater mean number of blood units transfused per admission in 2020 (0.49 vs. 0.22; p < 0.0001). As a whole, the transfusion rate for hematuria was higher in 2020 than in 2019 (36 vs. 7.9%; p < 0.0001).

Discussion/Conclusion

The observed increased number of blood transfusions needed throughout the SARS-CoV-2 era could have had a negative impact on both patients and the healthcare system. It is possible to speculate that this is the consequence of a delayed diagnosis and deferred treatment of acute conditions.