Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a review

Percutaneous fixation of acetabular fractures

The objective of surgery for acetabular fractures is to achieve precise reduction to restore joint congruence, fix internal bone fragments, avoid displacement of the fracture and allow rapid rehabilitation.Open reduction and internal fixation is the benchmark method for displaced acetabular fractures, but open reductions can increase morbidity, causing neurovascular injury, blood loss, heterotopic bone formation, infection and poor wound healing.An anatomical reduction with a gap of 2 mm or less is a predictor of good joint function and reduced risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.The percutaneous approach is associated with fewer complications than open techniques, but acetabular geometry makes percutaneous screw insertion a challenging procedure.The percutaneous technique is recommended for non-displaced or slightly displaced fractures, and in obese, osteoporotic and elderly patients who cannot receive total joint arthroplasty.We recommend the use of intramedullary cannulated screws.Fracture reductions are achieved by manual traction of the affected bones. If some fracture displacement remains, accessory windows can be used to introduce a ball spike pusher, a hook or a Steinmann pin which can be used as a joystick to rotate the fracture.In this paper, we describe the accessory windows for the anterior column, the quadrilateral plate and the posterior column. We detail the position, direction and kind of screws used to stabilize the anterior and posterior columns. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170054.

A comparison of preliminary oncologic outcome and postoperative complications between patients undergoing either open or robotic radical cystectomy

Purpose:

To compare complications and outcomes in patients undergoing either open radical cystectomy (ORC) or robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RRC).

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively identified patients that underwent ORC or RRC between 2003- 2013. We statistically compared preliminary oncologic outcomes of patients for each surgical modality.

Results:

92 (43.2%) and 121 (56.8%) patients underwent ORC and RRC, respectively. While operative time was shorter for ORC patients (403 vs. 508 min; p<0.001), surgical blood loss and transfusion rates were significantly lower in RRC patients (p<0.001 and 0.006). Length of stay was not different between groups (p=0.221). There was no difference in the proportion of lymph node-positive patients between groups. However, RRC patients had a greater number of lymph nodes removed during surgery (18 vs. 11.5; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-existing comorbidities or in the Clavien distribution of complications between groups.

ORC and RRC patients were followed for a median of 1.38 (0.55-2.7) and 1.40 (0.582.59) years, respectively (p=0.850). During this period, a lower proportion (22.3%) of RRC patients experienced disease recurrence vs. ORC patients (34.8%). However, there was no significant difference in time to recurrence between groups. While ORC was associated with a higher all-cause mortality rate (p=0.049), there was no significant difference in disease-free survival time between groups.

Conclusions:

ORC and RRC patients experience postoperative complications of similar rates and severity. However, RRC may offer indirect benefits via reduced surgical blood loss and need for transfusion.

Flexible 3D laparoscopic assisted reduction and percutaneous fixation of acetabular fractures: Introduction to a new surgical option

The gold standard for fractures of the acetabulum is to perform an open reduction and internal fixation in order to achieve anatomical reduction. In a well-defined subset of patients, percutaneous techniques may be employed but achieving reduction by closed means can be challenging especially for fractures with large degrees of displacement. Such patient may include elderly patients who may not have the physiologic reserve to withstand open approaches. In our paper, we present a new option using laparoscopic assisted reduction of the acetabular fracture and percutaneous fixation. The young obese patient refused all forms of blood products transfusion and presented with a displaced transverse posterior wall fracture. While we do not recommend routine use of such technique and recognize its numerous limitations, we present it as an alternative strategy in a small subset of patients.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcome of an Initial Series of Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer After a Median Follow-up of 10 Years

INTRODUCTION

When laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) was introduced as a novel treatment option for prostate cancer, it had to compete with the established open techniques. The short- and intermediate-term oncologic and functional outcomes were encouraging and comparable to those with retropubic radical prostatectomy. However, the long-term oncologic safety for LRP has yet to be fully elucidated. We evaluated the long-term oncologic outcomes of an initial series of patients who had undergone LRP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An initial unselected and consecutive series of 100 patients who had undergone LRP for clinically localized prostate cancer from 1999 to 2001 was identified. The pre-, intra-, and postoperative data were collected. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value of ≥ 0.2 ng/mL. The outcome measures were cancer control (CC), BCR-free survival (BCRFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 64 ± 7 years, and the mean preoperative PSA level was 9.6 ± 8.3 ng/mL. Of the 100 patients, 79 (79%) had stage pT2 and 15 (15%) had stage pT3 disease. Positive surgical margins were found in 25 patients (25%; 16.4% for pT2 and 40% for pT3). The median follow-up time was 126 months (range, 60-176 months). The 5-year CC rate was 82%. The estimated 10-year BCRFS was 83% and 80% for patients with stage pT2 and pT3 tumors, respectively. The median time to BCR was 52 months (range, 6-144 months). The estimated 10-year CSS and OS was 98% and 93%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our long-term follow-up data from an initial unselected patient cohort have indicated that LRP offers excellent long-term oncologic control for patients with localized prostate cancer.

Robotic surgery of the liver: Italian experience and review of the literature

Robotic liver resection is a new promising minimally invasive surgical technique not yet validated by level I evidence. During recent years, the application of the laparoscopic approach to liver resection has grown less than other abdominal specialties due to the intrinsic limitations of laparoscopic instruments. Robotics can overcome these limitations above all for complex operations. A review of the literature on major hepatic surgery was conducted on PubMed using selected keywords. Two hundred and thirty-five patients in 17 series were analysed and outcomes such as operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, complications, conversion rate, and costs were described. The most commonly performed procedures were wedge resection and segmentectomy, but the predominance of major hepatectomies performed with robotic surgery is likely due to the superior control achieved by the robotic system.

The conversion and complication rates were 4.2% and 13.4%, respectively. Intracavitary fluid collections and bile leaks were the most frequently occurring morbidities. The mean operation time was 285 min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 50–280 mL. The mean postoperative hospital stay was four to seven days. Overall survival and long-term outcomes were not reported. Robotic liver surgery in Italy has become a clinical reality that is gaining increasing acceptance; a survey was carried out on robotic surgery, which showed that it is perceived as a significant advantage for operators and a consistent gain for the patient. More than 100 robotic hepatic resections have been performed in Italy where important robotic training schools are active.

Robotic liver surgery is feasible and safe in trained and experienced hands. Further evaluation is required to assess the improvement in outcomes and long-term oncologic follow-up.

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells associated to matrixen on the erectile function in the rat model with bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs mixed with Matrixen as a cell carrier on the erectile dysfunction caused by bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

White male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated control group (n = 5), bilateral cavernous nerve crushing group (BCNC group, n = 10), BCNC administered with MSCs group (n = 10,1x106 in 20 µL), BCNC administered with Matrixen group (n = 10.1x106 in 20 µL), BCNC administered with MSCs/Matrixen group (n = 10.1x106 in 20 µL). After functional assessment at 4 weeks, major pelvic ganglion (MPG) and penile tissue were collected. Immunofluorescent staining of MPG was performed with PKH26 and Tuj1. Western blot analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were done in corpus cavernosum.

RESULTS

ICP/MAP ratios of BCNC with MSCs and MSCs/Matrixen groups were significantly increased compared with BCNC and BCNC with Matrixen group. Moreover, ICP/MAP ratios of MSCs/Matrixen group were significantly increased compared with BCNC with MSCs group. In MPG, the more implantation of MSCs and increased expression of nerve cells were observed in MSCs/Matrixen group compared with BCNC with MSCs group. Significant increase expression of eNOS and nNOS was also noted in BCNC with MSCs/Matrixen group.

CONCLUSION

The erectile function was more preserved in MSCs/Matrixen group compared with the administration of MSCs alone in the rats with bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury. Therefore, we consider that the use of transplant cell carrier such as Matrixen may help the implantation of MSCs and improve the therapeutic effect of MSCs.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: 10 years experience

PURPOSE

The authors assess the morbidity, functional results and oncologic follow-up of a series of laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed in over a 10-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data on 780 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed between September 1997 and December 2007 were stored in a personal database. The following parameters are described and critically analyzed: operative time, blood transfusions, conversions, length of hospital stay, complications, functional results of sexual potency and urinary continence, surgical margins and oncologic follow-up.

RESULTS

Operative time averaged 125 minutes, with a mean bleeding volume of 335 mL and mean hospital stay of 4.3 days. The rate of conversion to open surgery was 1.36% and the overall complication rate was 14.24%. The pathology analysis showed pT2 tumors in 82.60% and pT3 tumors in 17.39% of cases. The overall positive margin rate was 19.58%, with a biochemical recurrence of 10.27% at a mean follow-up of 62.5 months. Urinary continence and sexual potency yielded rates of 88% and 61%, respectively, 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a technically well-defined procedure that provides good oncologic and functional results after proper training.