Stentless florence robotic intracorporeal neobladder (FloRIN), a feasibility prospective randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Aim of the study was to evaluate perioperative, postoperative and mid-term functional outcomes of Florence intracorporeal neobladder (FloRIN) configuration technique performed with stentless procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single institution randomized 1:1 prospective series included consecutive patients treated with Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy (RARC) and FloRIN reconfiguration from January 2021 to February 2022. Postoperative complications were graded according to Clavien Dindo classification and divided in early (<30 days from discharge) and delayed (>30 days).

RESULTS

Overall, 63 patients were included in the analysis. Among these 32 (50.8 %) were treated with RARC + stentless FloRIN while 31 (49.2 %) underwent stent placement procedure. No differences were found in terms of baseline characteristics between the two groups. Stentless procedure was associated with significant shorter console time 328 vs 374 min (p = 0.04) and lower estimated blood loss (EBL) 330 vs 350 ml (p = 0.04) comparing to stent group. As regards perioperative features, no significant differences were recorded in terms of canalization (p = 0.58) and time to drainage removal (p = 0.11) while a shorter length of hospital stay was found in case of stentless procedure (p = 0.04). Early postoperative complications Clavien ≥ 3a occurred in 9.3 % and 12.9 % of patients while delayed major complications were recorded in the 3.1 % and 9.6 % of patients treated with stentless and stent FloRIN, respectively (p = 0.09). As regards the mid-term functional outcomes, no differences were found in terms of kidney function loss in both 3rd and 6th month assessment (p = 0.13 and p = 0.14, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, Stentless FloRIN is a feasible and safe IntraCorporeal Neobladder technique, as confirmed by the worthy functional and perioperative outcomes achieved in comparison with the standard FloRIN ureteral management strategy.

Redo Partial Nephrectomy for Local Recurrence After Previous Nephron-sparing Surgery. Surgical Insights and Oncologic Results from a High-volume Robotic Center

Background

The role of redo partial nephrectomy (PN) for recurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still overlooked.

Objective

To report our experience of salvage PN for local recurrence after previous nephron-sparing surgery (NSS).

Design setting and participants

We prospectively gathered data from patients treated with robotic redo PN for locally recurrent RCC after previous NSS from January 2017 to January 2023. The type of surgical resection technique was assigned to the pathologic specimen according to the surface-intermediate-base (SIB) score.

Surgical procedure

Redo PN was performed by using the Si Da Vinci robotic platform.

Measurements

Operative time, warm ischemia time, and intra- and postoperative complications were recorded. The severity of postoperative complications and tumor stage were evaluated.

Results and limitations

Overall, 26 patients entered the study. The median clinical diameter was 3.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.2-4.9) cm and the median Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical (PADUA) score was 8 (IQR 7-9). In 14 (53.8%) cases, recurrence was at the level of previous tumor resection bed. The median operative time was 177 (IQR 148-200) min, and hilar clamping was performed in 14 (53.8%) cases with a median warm ischemia time of 16 (14.5-22) min. Pure enucleation (SIB score 0-1), hybrid enucleation (SIB score 2), and pure enucleoresection (SIB score 3) were recorded in 13 (50%), eight (30.8%), and five (19.2%) cases, respectively. The totality of recurrent RCC far from previous tumor resection bed received a SIB score of 0-1, while in 57.1% and 35.8% of recurrent RCC on previous tumor resection a hybrid enucleation and a pure enucleoresection were performed, respectively. At a median follow-up of 37 (IQR 16-45) mo, five (19%) patients experienced disease recurrence, being local and systemic in three (11.5%) and two (7.7%) patients, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the feasibility and safety of redo PN for the treatment of locally recurrent RCCs after NSS, either on previous tumor resection bed or elsewhere in the kidney.

Patient summary

Robotic redo partial nephrectomy is a challenging procedure. The surgeon needs to tailor the surgical strategy and tumor resection technique case by case, given the heterogeneity of clinical scenarios and the need to achieve maximal functional preservation while ensuring oncologic efficacy.

Predictors of early catheter replacement after HoLEP. Results from a high-volume laser center

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to investigate clinical and surgical factors associated with early catheter replacement in patients treated with Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of patients treated with HoLEP at our Institution by a single surgeon from March 2017 to January 2021 were collected. Preoperative variables, including non-invasive uroflowmetry and abdominal ultrasonography (US), were recorded. Bladder wall modifications (BWM) at preoperative US were defined as the presence of single or multiple bladder diverticula or bladder wall thickening 5 mm. Clinical symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Only events occurred within the first week after catheter removal were considered.

RESULTS

Overall, 305 patients were included, of which 46 (15.1%) experienced early catheter replacement. Maintenance of anticoagulants/antiplatelets (AC/AP) therapy at surgery (p=0.001), indwelling urinary catheter (p=0.02) and the presence of BWM (p=0.001) were more frequently reported in patients needing postoperative re-catheterization. Intraoperative complications (p=0.02) and median lasing time (p=0.02) were significantly higher in this group. At univariate analysis, indwelling urinary catheter (p=0.02), BWM (p=0.01), ongoing AC/AP therapy (p=0.01) and intraoperative complications (p=0.01) were significantly associated with early catheter replacement. At multivariate analysis, indwelling urinary catheter (OR: 1.28; p=0.02), BWM (OR: 2.87; p=0.001), and AC/AP therapy (OR: 2.21; p=0.01) were confirmed as independent predictors of catheter replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience the presence of indwelling urinary catheter before surgery, BWM and the maintenance of AC/AP therapy were shown to be independent predictors of early catheter replacement after HoLEP.

Assessing the Performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Bladder Cancer: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence

INTRODUCTION

Lymph node (LN) involvement is a crucial determinant of prognosis for patients with bladder cancer, and an accurate staging is of utmost importance to better identify timely and appropriate therapeutic strategies. To improve the accuracy of LN detection, as an alternative to traditional methods such as CT or MRI, 18F-FDG PET/CT has been increasingly used. 18F-FDG PET/CT is also used in post-treatment restaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this narrative literature review is to provide an overview of the current evidence on the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis, staging, and restaging of bladder cancer, with a particular focus on its sensitivity and specificity for the detection of LN metastasis. We aim to provide clinicians with a better understanding of 18F-FDG PET/CT's potential benefits and limitations in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We designed a narrative review starting from a wide search in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases, selecting full-text English articles that have examined the sensibility and specificity of PET/CT for nodal staging or restaging after neoadjuvant therapy in patients with bladder cancer. The extracted data were analyzed and synthesized using a narrative synthesis approach. The results are presented in a tabular format, with a summary of the main findings of each study.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria: fourteen studies evaluated 18F-FDG PET/CT for nodal staging, six studies examined its accuracy for restaging after neoadjuvant therapy, and three studies evaluated both applications. To date, the use of F-18 FDG PET/TC for detection of LN metastasis in bladder cancer is controversial and uncertain: some studies showed low accuracy rates, but over the years other studies have reported evidence of high sensitivity and specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

18F-FDG PET/CT provides important incremental staging and restaging information that can potentially influence clinical management in MIBC patients. Standardization and development of a scoring system are necessary for its wider adoption. Well-designed randomized controlled trials in larger populations are necessary to provide consistent recommendations and consolidate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the management of bladder cancer patients.

Is there a role for tumor volume in prediction of prognosis for oral cancer?

PURPOSE

New prognostic factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (tumor-, host-, and environment-related) have been introduced recently to complete those traditionally considered. Among them, tumor volume (TV) could be the most interesting and applicable in clinical practice, considering the routine use of computed tomography in tumor staging. In this retrospective study we aimed to investigate whether a correlation exists among these new prognostic factors and survival outcomes.

METERIALS AND METHODS

We collected data about 140 patients affected by OSCC who underwent primary surgery. Prognostic factors were collected and Overall Survival (OS), Disease Specific Survival (DSS) and Disease Free Survival (DFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method; the Log-Rank test (Mantel-Cox) and Cox regression models were applied to investigate predictors of survival.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS, DSS and DFS were 73.6 %, 89.2 % and 75.2 % respectively. Nodal metastasis (pN+), relapse and American Society of Anesthesiologists ASA-II were found independent prognostic factors for OS, and significantly associated to worst DSS (p < 0.001). TV significantly correlated with higher relapse occurrence (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, lymph-node status, ASA classification and relapse significantly influenced DSS on univariate analysis. TV could represent an interesting additional parameter, since it significantly influenced DFS. However, prospective studies with standardized TV measurements and a greater number of patients are needed to validate this result.

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is safe and effective in patients with high comorbidity burden

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the efficacy and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients with high comorbidity burden.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from patients treated with HoLEP at our academic referral center from March 2017 to January 2021 were prospectively collected. Patients were divided according to their CCI (Charlson Comorbidity Index). Perioperative surgical data and 3-month functional outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

Out of 305 patients included, 107 (35.1%) and 198 (64.9%) were classified as CCI ≥ 3 and < 3, respectively. The groups were comparable in terms of baseline prostate size, symptoms severity, post-void residue and Qmax. The amount of energy delivered during HoLEP (141.3 vs. 118.0 KJ, p=0.01) and lasing time (38 vs 31 minutes, p=0.01) were significantly higher in patients with CCI ≥ 3. However, median enucleation, morcellation and overall surgical time were comparable between the two groups (all p>0.05). Intraoperative complications rate (9.3% vs. 9.5%, p=0.77), median time to catheter removal and hospital stay were comparable between the two cohorts. Similarly, early (30 days) and delayed (>30 days) surgical complications rates were not significantly different between the two groups. At 3-month follow up, functional outcomes using validated questionnaires did not differ between the two groups (all p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HoLEP represents a safe and effective treatment option for BPH also in patients with high comorbidity burden.

Patterns and Predictors of Optimal Surgical and Functional Outcomes after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP): Introducing the Concept of "Trifecta"

PURPOSE

The present study sought to provide reproducible and patient-oriented metrics to assess the rate of "successful" outcomes (Trifecta) following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Clinical and surgical predictors of failure to achieve Trifecta were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We queried our prospectively collected database of all patients treated with HoLEP between March 2017 and January 2021. Trifecta was defined as the contemporary presence of: (1) no postoperative complication within 3 months; (2) no urinary incontinence at 3-months follow-up; and (3) 3-month postoperative max flow-rate >15 mL/s. Cases were grouped according to Trifecta achievement. All surgical procedures were carried out by a single surgeon. Surgical experience was divided into two different eras according to the number of procedures conducted (surgical era). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of Trifecta failure.

RESULTS

Overall 305 patients were included. Of these, 192 patients (63.0%) achieved Trifecta. Preoperative patient-related features were comparable between the two groups, except for a higher post-void residual (PVR) in non-Trifecta patients (median 180 vs. 130 mL, p=0.003). A significant proportion of Trifecta patients (88.5%) were treated in the second surgical era and in 126 (65.6%) cases an en-bloc enucleation was performed. Multivariate analysis confirmed PVR ≥250 mL, first surgical era and standard three-lobes enucleation technique as independent predictors of Trifecta failure.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience the rate of "successful" HoLEP, defined according to our newly introduced Trifecta metric, was 63.0%. We demonstrated that surgical strategy together with rising experience and baseline PVR are key elements to forecast the outcomes.

Prognostic features of upstaged pT3a renal tumors with fat invasion after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: is it time for a new subclassification?

INTRODUCTION

The clinical management of pT3a pathologic-upstaged renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients is actually controversial. Aim of this study was i) to assess the impact of pT3a upstaging on oncologic outcomes after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for cT1-T2 RCC; ii) to explore clinical and surgical predictors of pT3a upstaging; iii) to evaluate the differential impact of perinephric fat invasion (PFI) or sinus fat invasion (SFI) on survival outcomes after RAPN in case of upstaged pT3a RCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical and surgical data from consecutive RCCs treated with RAPN in a single referral centre between January 2017 and June 2021 were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Pathological upstaging to pT3a tumors with fat invasion was further stratified in SFI or PFI. Uni- and multivariable analysis were fitted to explore clinical and surgical predictors of disease recurrence.

RESULTS

Overall, 1852 patients were enrolled and 179 (9.7%) with pT3a upstaging were found. Median age was 65 (IQR 56-73) years with a median BMI of 25.6 (23.6-29.0). At a median follow up of 26 (9-38) months, 76 (4.1%) patients showed disease recurrence. Multivariable analysis confirmed PADUA score ≥10 (OR 1.76, CI 95% 1.18-1.91, p = 0.001), age at surgery (OR 1.04, CI 95% 1.01-1.06, p = 0.01), clinical tumor diameter (OR 1.31, CI 95% 1.17-1.47, p = 0.001), tumor necrosis (OR 1.54, CI 95% 1.08-1.88, p = 0.001) and nucleolar grading ≥3 (OR 1.27, CI 95% 1.01-1.44, p = 0.001) as independent predictors of pT3a upstaging. Multivariate Cox regression model showed pathological sinus fat invasion as an independent predictor of disease recurrence (HR 3.43, CI 95% 1.51-7.77, p = 0.003) in pT3a upstaged group.

CONCLUSION

In pathologically upstaged pT3a RCCs, sinus fat invasion was confirmed as independent predictor of disease relapse. In this light, the definition of novel risk categories in the pT3a patients setting should be encouraged.