Perioperative outcomes of transurethral resection for t1 bladder tumors: quality evaluation based on patient, tumor and surgeon criteria

International consensus panel for transurethral resection of bladder tumours metrics: assessment of face and content validity

OBJECTIVE

To develop performance metrics that objectively define a reference approach to a transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT) procedure, seek consensus on the performance metrics from a group of international experts.

METHODS

The characterisation of a reference approach to a TURBT procedure was performed by identifying phases and explicitly defined procedure events (i.e., steps, errors, and critical errors). An international panel of experienced urologists (i.e., Delphi panel) was then assembled to scrutinise the metrics using a modified Delphi process. Based on the panel's feedback, the proposed metrics could be edited, supplemented, or deleted. A voting process was conducted to establish the consensus level on the metrics. Consensus was defined as the panel majority (i.e., >80%) agreeing that the metric definitions were accurate and acceptable. The number of metric units before and after the Delphi meeting were presented.

RESULTS

A core metrics group (i.e., characterisation group) deconstructed the TURBT procedure. The reference case was identified as an elective TURBT on a male patient, diagnosed after full diagnostic evaluation with three or fewer bladder tumours of ≤3 cm. The characterisation group identified six procedure phases, 60 procedure steps, 43 errors, and 40 critical errors. The metrics were presented to the Delphi panel which included 15 experts from six countries. After the Delphi, six procedure phases, 63 procedure steps, 47 errors, and 41 critical errors were identified. The Delphi panel achieved a 100% consensus.

CONCLUSION

Performance metrics to characterise a reference approach to TURBT were developed and an international panel of experts reached 100% consensus on them. This consensus supports their face and content validity. The metrics can now be used for a proficiency-based progression training curriculum for TURBT.

Does repeat transurethral resection of bladder tumor influence the diagnosis and prognosis of T1 bladder cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To reduce recurrence or progression of tumor, NCCN guidelines recommend repeat transurethral resection of bladder tumors (reTURB) for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The study aims to compare the impact of initial TURB and reTURB on the rate of residual or upstaging tumors and short-term and long-term survival outcomes of T1 bladder cancer (BC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched through several public database, including PubMed, Embase, Ovid Medline and Ovid EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The latest search time was October 2021.

RESULTS

In general, 68 articles were involved. Short-term RFS (1-year and 3-year) of reTURB group was better compared with TURB group in T1 patients. The pooled RR were 1.10 (95%CI: 1.01-1.19) and 1.15 (95%CI: 1.03-1.28), respectively. While reTURB did not improve long-term RFS (5-year, 10-year, 15-year) in T1 patients. The pooled RR were 1.12 (95%CI: 0.97-1.30), 1.11 (95%CI: 0.82-1.50) and 1.37 (95%CI: 0.50-3.74), respectively. Analysis of PFS, OS and CSS demonstrated similar outcomes with RFS. We found that about two-thirds of samples contained detrusor. The residual tumor rate in stage T1 was 0.48 (95%CI: 0.42-0.53). While the rate of upstaging in stage T1 was 0.10 (95%CI: 0.07-0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, reTURB might provide short-term survival benefits for T1 BC, but it was not the same for long-term outcomes. The residual and upstaging rates of T1 BC in reTURB were around 50% and 10%, respectively. Our study might be conducive to clinically informed consents when patients expressed their concerns about the necessity of reTURB and its impact on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.