Abstract Context A detailed understanding of renal surgical anatomy is necessary to optimize preoperative planning and operative technique and provide a basis for improved outcomes. Objective To ...evaluate the literature regarding pertinent surgical anatomy of the kidney and related structures, nephrometry scoring systems, and current surgical strategies for partial nephrectomy (PN). Evidence acquisition A literature review was conducted. Evidence synthesis Surgical renal anatomy fundamentally impacts PN surgery. The renal artery divides into anterior and posterior divisions, from which approximately five segmental terminal arteries originate. The renal veins are not terminal. Variations in the vascular and lymphatic channels are common; thus, concurrent lymphadenectomy is not routinely indicated during PN for cT1 renal masses in the setting of clinically negative lymph nodes. Renal-protocol contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is used for standard imaging. Anatomy-based nephrometry scoring systems allow standardized academic reporting of tumor characteristics and predict PN outcomes (complications, remnant function, possibly histology). Anatomy-based novel surgical approaches may reduce ischemic time during PN; these include early unclamping, segmental clamping, tumor-specific clamping (zero ischemia), and unclamped PN. Cancer cure after PN relies on complete resection, which can be achieved by thin margins. Post-PN renal function is impacted by kidney quality, remnant quantity, and ischemia type and duration. Conclusions Surgical renal anatomy underpins imaging, nephrometry scoring systems, and vascular control techniques that reduce global renal ischemia and may impact post-PN function. A contemporary ideal PN excises the tumor with a thin negative margin, delicately secures the tumor bed to maximize vascularized remnant parenchyma, and minimizes global ischemia to the renal remnant with minimal complications. Patient summary In this report we review renal surgical anatomy. Renal mass imaging allows detailed delineation of the anatomy and vasculature and permits nephrometry scoring, and thus precise, patient-specific surgical planning. Novel off-clamp techniques have been developed that may lead to improved outcomes.
Abstract Context On-clamp partial nephrectomy (PN) has been considered the standard approach to minimize intraoperative bleeding and thus achieve adequate control of tumor margins. The potential ...negative impact of ischemia on renal function (RF) led to the development of techniques to minimize or avoid renal ischemia, such as off-clamp PN and minimally ischemic PN techniques. Objective To review current evidence on the indications and techniques for and outcomes of minimally ischemic and off-clamp PN. Evidence acquisition A systematic review of English-language publications on PN without a main renal artery clamp from January 2005 to July 2014 was performed using the Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Evidence synthesis The searches retrieved 52 papers. Off-clamp PN has been more commonly applied to small and peripheral renal tumors, while minimally ischemic PN is best suited for hilar and medially located renal tumors. These approaches are associated with increased intraoperative blood loss and perioperative transfusion rates compared to on-clamp PN. Minimally ischemic and off-clamp PN have potential functional benefits when longer ischemia time is anticipated, particularly for patients with lower baseline RF. Limitations include the lack of prospective randomized trials comparing minimally ischemic and off-clamp to on-clamp techniques, and the small sample size and short follow-up of most published series. The impact of different resection and renorrhaphy techniques on postoperative RF and its assessment via renal scintigraphy requires further investigations. Conclusions Minimally ischemic and off-clamp PN are established procedures that may be particularly applicable for patients with decreased baseline RF. However, these techniques are technically demanding, with potential for increased blood loss, and require considerable experience with PN surgery. The role of ischemia in patients with a contralateral healthy kidney and consequently an indication for elective minimally ischemic or off-clamp PN remains a debatable issue. Patient summary In this review we analyzed available evidence on minimally ischemic and off-clamp partial nephrectomy. These techniques, although technically demanding, may be particularly applicable for patients with decreased baseline renal function.
Summary Renal oncocytoma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been long recognized as distinct tumors; however, it remains unknown if uniform diagnostic criteria are used to distinguish ...these tumor types in practice. A survey was distributed to urologic pathologists regarding oncocytic tumors. Responses were received from 17/26 invitees. Histologically, >1 mitotic figure was regarded as most worrisome (n = 10) or incompatible (n = 6) with oncocytoma diagnosis. Interpretation of focal nuclear wrinkling, focal perinuclear clearing, and multinucleation depended on extent and did not necessarily exclude oncocytoma if minor. Staining techniques most commonly used included: CK7 (94%), KIT (71%), vimentin (65%), colloidal iron (59%), CD10 (53%), and AMACR (41%). Rare CK7-positive cells (≤5%) was regarded as most supportive of oncocytoma, although an extent excluding oncocytoma was not universal. Multiple chromosomal losses were most strongly supportive for chromophobe RCC diagnosis (65%). Less certainty was reported for chromosomal gain or a single loss. For tumors with mixed or inconclusive features, many participants use an intermediate diagnostic category (82%) that does not label the tumor as unequivocally benign or malignant, typically “oncocytic neoplasm” or “tumor” with comment. The term “hybrid tumor” was used variably in several scenarios. A slight majority (65%) report outright diagnosis of oncocytoma in needle biopsies. The morphologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic characteristics that define oncocytic renal tumors remain incompletely understood. Further studies correlating genetics, behavior, and histology are needed to define which tumors truly warrant classification as carcinomas for patient counseling and follow-up strategies.
Abstract Context Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the current gold standard treatment for small localized renal tumors.; however, the impact of duration and type of intraoperative ischemia on renal ...function (RF) after PN is a subject of significant debate. Objective To review the current evidence on the relationship of intraoperative ischemia and RF after PN. Evidence acquisition A review of English-language publications on renal ischemia and RF after PN was performed from 2005 to 2014 using the Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Ninety-one articles were selected with the consensus of all authors and analyzed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. Evidence synthesis The vast majority of reviewed studies were retrospective, nonrandomized observations. Based on the current literature, RF recovery after PN is strongly associated with preoperative RF and the amount of healthy kidney parenchyma preserved. Warm ischemia time (WIT) is modifiable and prolonged warm ischemia is significantly associated with adverse postoperative RF. Available data suggest a benefit of keeping WIT <25 min, although the level of evidence to support this threshold is limited. Cold ischemia safely facilitates longer durations of ischemia. Surgical techniques that minimize or avoid global ischemia may be associated with improved RF outcomes. Conclusions Although RF recovery after PN is strongly associated with quality and quantity of preserved kidney, efforts should be made to limit prolonged WIT. Cold ischemia should be preferred when longer ischemia is expected, especially in presence of imperative indications for PN. Additional research with higher levels of evidence is needed to clarify the optimal use of renal ischemia during PN. Patient summary In this review of the literature, we looked at predictors of renal function after surgical resection of renal tumors. There is a strong association between the quality and quantity of renal tissue that is preserved after surgery and long-term renal function. The time of interruption of renal blood flow during surgery is an important, modifiable predictor of postoperative renal function.
Abstract Background Reports on long-term oncologic outcomes for patients who undergo robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) are scant, as for radical prostatectomy covering only the contemporary ...prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. Objective To evaluate cancer control in men who underwent RARP at least 10 yr ago. Design, setting, and participants From 2001 to 2003, we followed 483 consecutive men with localized prostate cancer who underwent RARP at a high-volume tertiary center. Intervention RARP as first-line therapy. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis We calculated biochemical recurrence –free survival (BCRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Actuarial rates were estimated via Kaplan-Meier. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify variables predictive of biochemical recurrence (BCR), receipt of salvage therapy, and metastases. Results and limitations There were 108 patients with BCR at a median follow-up of 121 mo (interquartile range: 97–132). Actuarial BCRFS, MFS, and CSS rates at 10 yr were 73.1%, 97.5%, and 98.8%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, D’Amico risk groups or pathologic Gleason grade, stage, and margins were the strongest predictors of BCR depending on whether preoperative or postoperative variables were considered. The value of the detectable PSAs together with disease severity were independent predictors of receipt of salvage therapy, together with a persistent PSA for metastases. Conclusions In contemporary patients with localized prostate cancer, RARP confers effective 10-yr cancer control. Disease severity and PSA measurements can be used to guide more personalized and cost-effective postoperative surveillance regimens. Patient summary Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy confers effective 10-yr cancer control for men with localized disease, similar to the open approach. Recurrence is best predicted by postoperative disease severity. Persistent disease signals the risk of progression likely requiring early salvage treatment; lower postoperative risk warrants protracted surveillance beyond 5 yr from surgery, and those with higher risk may require follow-up beyond 10 yr.
Purpose We determined practice patterns and perioperative outcomes of open and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy in the United States since the introduction of a robot-assisted modifier in the ...Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Materials and Methods We identified all patients with nonmetastatic disease treated with open, laparoscopic or robotic partial nephrectomy in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between October 2008 and December 2010. Utilization rates were assessed by year, patient and hospital characteristics. We evaluated the perioperative outcomes of open vs robotic and open vs laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using binary logistic regression models adjusted for patient and hospital covariates. Results In a weighted sample of 38,064 partial nephrectomies 66.9%, 23.9% and 9.2% of the procedures were open, robotic and laparoscopic operations, respectively. In 2010 the relative annual increase in open, robotic and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was 7.9%, 45.4% and 6.1%, respectively. Compared to open partial nephrectomy patients treated with minimally invasive partial nephrectomy were less likely to receive blood transfusion (robotic vs laparoscopic OR 0.56, p <0.001 vs OR 0.68, p = 0.016), postoperative complication (OR 0.63, p <0.001 vs OR 0.78, p <0.009) or prolonged length of stay (OR 0.27 vs OR 0.41, each p <0.001). Only patients who underwent the robotic procedure were less likely to experience an intraoperative complication (robotic vs laparoscopic OR 0.69, p = 0.014 vs OR 0.67, p = 0.069). Excess hospital charges were higher after robotic surgery (OR 1.35, p <0.001). Conclusions The dissemination of robotic surgery for partial nephrectomy in the United States has been rapid and safe. Compared to open partial nephrectomy the robotic procedure had lower odds than laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for most study outcomes except hospital charges. Robotic partial nephrectomy has now supplanted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy as the most common minimally invasive approach for partial nephrectomy.
Purpose Robot assisted partial nephrectomy is rapidly emerging as an alternative to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for the treatment of renal malignancy. We present the largest multi-institution ...comparison of the 2 approaches to date, describing outcomes from 3 experienced minimally invasive surgeons. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective chart review, evaluating 118 consecutive laparoscopic partial nephrectomies and 129 consecutive robot assisted partial nephrectomies performed between 2004 and 2008 by 3 experienced minimally invasive surgeons at 3 academic centers. Perioperative data were recorded along with clinical and pathological outcomes. Results The robot assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy groups were equivalent in terms of age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (2.3 vs 2.4) and radiographic tumor size (2.9 vs 2.6 cm), respectively. Comparison of operative data revealed no significant differences in terms of overall operative time (189 vs 174 minutes), collecting system entry (47% vs 54%), pathological tumor size (2.8 vs 2.5 cm) and positive margin rate (3.9% vs 1%) for robot assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, respectively. Intraoperative blood loss was less for robot assisted vs laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (155 vs 196 ml, p = 0.03) as was length of hospital stay (2.4 vs 2.7 days, p <0.0001). Warm ischemia times were significantly shorter in the robot assisted partial nephrectomy series (19.7 vs 28.4 minutes, p <0.0001). Subset analysis based on complexity revealed that tumor complexity had no effect on operative time or estimated blood loss for robot assisted partial nephrectomy, although complexity did affect these factors for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. In addition, for simple and complex tumors robot assisted partial nephrectomy provided significantly shorter warm ischemic time than laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (15.3 vs 25.2 minutes for simple, p <0.0001; 25.9 vs 36.7 minutes for complex, p = 0.0002). There were no intraoperative complications during robot assisted partial nephrectomy vs 1 complication during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Postoperative complication rates were similar for robot assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (8.6% vs 10.2%). Conclusions Robot assisted partial nephrectomy is a safe and viable alternative to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, providing equivalent early oncological outcomes and comparable morbidity to a traditional laparoscopic approach. Moreover robot assisted partial nephrectomy appears to offer the advantages of decreased hospital stay as well as significantly less intraoperative blood loss and shorter warm ischemia time, the latter of which may help to provide maximal preservation of renal reserve. In addition, operative parameters for robot assisted partial nephrectomy appear to be less affected by tumor complexity compared to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Interestingly while the advantages of robotic surgery have historically been believed to aid laparoscopic naïve surgeons, these data indicate that robot assisted partial nephrectomy may also benefit experienced laparoscopic surgeons.
To describe and evaluate a risk-stratified triage pathway for inpatient urology consultations during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. This pathway seeks to outline a urology patient care strategy ...that reduces the transmission risk to both healthcare providers and patients, reduces the healthcare burden, and maintains appropriate patient care.
Consultations to the urology service during a 3-week period (March 16 to April 2, 2020) were triaged and managed via one of 3 pathways: Standard, Telemedicine, or High-Risk. Standard consults were in-person consults with non COVID-19 patients, High-Risk consults were in-person consults with COVID-19 positive/suspected patients, and Telemedicine consults were telephonic consults for low-acuity urologic issues in either group of patients. Patient demographics, consultation parameters and consultation outcomes were compared to consultations from the month of March 2019. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test and continuous variables using Mann-Whitney U test. A P value <.05 was considered significant.
Between March 16 and April 2, 2020, 53 inpatient consultations were performed. By following our triage pathway, a total of 19/53 consultations (35.8%) were performed via Telemedicine with no in-person exposure, 10/53 consultations (18.9%) were High-Risk, in which we strictly controlled the urology team member in-person contact, and the remainder, 24/53 consultations (45.2%), were performed as Standard in-person encounters. COVID-19 associated consultations represented 18/53 (34.0%) of all consultations during this period, and of these, 8/18 (44.4%) were managed successfully via Telemedicine alone. No team member developed COVID-19 infection.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, most urology consultations can be managed in a patient and physician safety-conscious manner, by implementing a novel triage pathway.
The American Joint Committee on Cancer recognizes 6 rare histological variants of prostate adenocarcinoma. We describe the contemporary presentation and overall survival of these rare variants.
We ...examined 1,345,618 patients who were diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma, between 2004 and 2015, within the National Cancer Database. We focused on the variants mucinous, ductal, signet ring cell, adenosquamous, sarcomatoid and neuroendocrine. Characteristics at presentation for each variant were compared with nonvariant prostate adenocarcinoma. Cox regression was used to study the impact of histological variant on overall mortality.
Few (0.38%) patients presented with rare variant prostate adenocarcinoma. All variants had higher clinical tumor stage at presentation than nonvariant (all p <0.001). Metastatic disease was most common with neuroendocrine (62.9%), followed by sarcomatoid (33.3%), adenosquamous (31.1%), signet ring cell (10.3%) and ductal (9.8%), compared to 4.2% in nonvariant (all p <0.001). Metastatic disease in mucinous (3.3%) was similar to nonvariant (p=0.2). Estimated 10-year overall survival was highest in mucinous (78.0%), followed by nonvariant (71.1%), signet ring cell (56.8%), ductal (56.3%), adenosquamous (20.5%), sarcomatoid (14.6%) and neuroendocrine (9.1%). At multivariable analysis, mortality was higher in ductal (HR 1.38, p <0.001), signet ring cell (HR 1.53, p <0.01), neuroendocrine (HR 5.72, p <0.001), sarcomatoid (HR 5.81, p <0.001) and adenosquamous (HR 9.34, p <0.001) as compared to nonvariant.
Neuroendocrine, adenosquamous, sarcomatoid, signet ring cell and ductal variants more commonly present with metastases. All variants present with higher local stage than nonvariant. Neuroendocrine is associated with the worst and mucinous with the best overall survival.
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