Optimization of an early discharge program after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Patient's safety and satisfaction on same day discharge after robotic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy versus discharge after 24 or 48 h: a longitudinal randomized prospective study

BACKGROUND

There is a tendency of prompted global health systems to reduce the length of hospital stay without compromising patient safety or satisfaction. We evaluated the safety and viability of early discharge in patients undergoing minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP), as well as patient satisfaction with this strategy.

METHODS

This longitudinal prospective study included 72 patients who underwent MIRP for prostate cancer. Three groups were performed according to the day of hospital discharge following surgery: same day (G1), first day after (G2), and second day after (G3). Satisfaction, adverse events, and readmission were analyzed for each group. Associations between clinicopathologic variables and same-day discharge were analyzed by comparing data between G1 patients who did and did not achieve same-day discharge.

RESULTS

16.7% of patients were not discharged according to randomization (10 randomized to G1). 80% of G1 patients who did not achieve same-day discharge had Gleason scores of 3 + 4 or 4 + 3, which were observed in 35.7% of patients discharged on the same day (P < 0.05). Average prostate weight was significantly lower in patients who achieved same-day discharge than in those who did not (P < 0.01). Univariable logistic regression points to Gleason scores of 3 + 4 or 4 + 3 as the main factors associated with unsuccessful same-day discharge (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in satisfaction scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Same-day discharge was both safe and feasible and does not appear to affect satisfaction in a subset of patients with prostate cancer. Surgeons should consider the Gleason score when determining whether same-day discharge is appropriate.

Streamlining brain tumor surgery care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a reconsideration of surgical patient management in the setting of scarce resources and risk of viral transmission. Herein we assess the impact of implementing a protocol of more rigorous patient education, recovery room assessment for non-ICU admission, earlier mobilization and post-discharge communication for patients undergoing brain tumor surgery.

METHODS

A case-control retrospective review was undertaken at a community hospital with a dedicated neurosurgery and otolaryngology team using minimally invasive surgical techniques, total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and early post-operative imaging protocols. All patients undergoing craniotomy or endoscopic endonasal removal of a brain, skull base or pituitary tumor were included during two non-overlapping periods: March 2019-January 2020 (pre-pandemic epoch) versus March 2020-January 2021 (pandemic epoch with streamlined care protocol implemented). Data collection included demographics, preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, tumor pathology, and tumor resection and remission rates. Primary outcomes were ICU utilization and hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were complications, readmissions and reoperations.

FINDINGS

Of 295 patients, 163 patients were treated pre-pandemic (58% women, mean age 53.2±16 years) and 132 were treated during the pandemic (52% women, mean age 52.3±17 years). From pre-pandemic to pandemic, ICU utilization decreased from 92(54%) to 43(29%) of operations (p<0.001) and hospital LOS≤1 day increased from 21(12.2%) to 60(41.4%), p<0.001, respectively. For craniotomy cohort, median LOS was 2 days for both epochs; median ICU LOS decreased from 1 to 0 days (p<0.001), ICU use decreased from 73(80%) to 29(33%),(p<0.001). For endonasal cohort, median LOS decreased from 2 to 1 days; median ICU LOS was 0 days for both epochs; (p<0.001). There were no differences pre-pandemic versus pandemic in ASA scores, resection/remission rates, readmissions or reoperations.

CONCLUSION

This experience suggests the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for implementing a brain tumor care protocol to facilitate safely decreasing ICU utilization and accelerating discharge home without an increase in complications, readmission or reoperations. More rigorous patient education, recovery room assessment for non-ICU admission, earlier mobilization and post-discharge communication, layered upon a foundation of minimally invasive surgery, TIVA anesthesia and early post-operative imaging are possible contributors to these favorable trends.

Ambulatory Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: Is It Ready for Prime Time? A Quality of Life Analysis

Purpose: To investigate the difference, if any, in the quality of life (QoL) at specified intervals in patients undergoing same day discharge (SDD, ambulatory) vs next day discharge (NDD) after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Materials and Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients underwent RALP with either SDD or NDD. They completed validated pain and health-related QoL questionnaires at predefined intervals postoperatively and results were compared between the two groups. Results: Pearson's coefficient revealed significant correlations between the time of discharge and physical well-being (r = -0.139; p = 0.005), emotional well-being (EWB) (r = -0.71; p < 0.001), functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) (r = -0.367; p < 0.001), functional assessment of cancer therapy-prostate (FACT-P) (r = -0.273; p < 0.001), pain severity score (PSS) (r = 0.237; p < 0.001), and pain interference score (PIS) (r = 0.214; p < 0.001). Student's t-test revealed significant (p < 0.001) difference in the means of PSS, PIS, EWB, FACT-G, and FACT-P between both groups. Time of discharge was found to be an independent significant predictor (p < 0.01) of PSS and PIS. Pearson's coefficients revealed that PSS had significant correlations with age (r = -0.60; p < 0.001), body mass index (r = 0.87; p < 0.001), and console time (CT) (r = 0.63; p < 0.001). CT also correlated with the estimated blood loss (r = 0.65; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients who were discharged the same day as their RALP had lesser pain and interference in general activity scores 2 days after discharge and had better perceived overall health than patients who were discharged on postoperative day 1.

The impact of obesity on pulmonary deterioration in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

Obesity affects respiratory and hemodynamic function in anesthetized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the body mass index (BMI) on pulmonary changes in a permanent 45° steep Trendelenburg position (STP) during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). 51 patients undergoing RALP under standardized anesthesia were included. Perioperative pulmonary function and oxygenation were measured in awake patients (T₀), 20 min after the induction of anesthesia (T₁), after insufflation of the abdomen in supine position (T₂), after 30 min in STP (T₃), when controlling Santorini's plexus in STP (T₄), before awakening while supine (T₅), and after 45 min in the recovery room (T₆). Patient-specific and time-dependent factor on ventilation and predicted peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), driving pressure (P_driv) and lung compliance (LC) in a linear regression model were calculated. PIP and P_driv increased significantly after induction of capnoperitoneum (T_2-4) (p < 0.0001). In univariate mixed effects models, BMI was found to be a significant predictor for PIP and P_driv increase and LC decrease. Obese patients a BMI > 31 kg/m² reached critical PIP values ≥ 35 cmH₂O. Postoperative oxygenation represented by the PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio was significantly decreased compared to T₀ (p < 0.0001). Obesity in combination with STP and capnoperitoneum during RALP has a profound effect on pulmonary function. Increased PIP and P_driv and decreased LC are directly correlated with a high BMI. Changes in PIP, P_driv and LC during RALP may be predicted in relation to patient's BMI for consideration in the preoperative setting. Trial registration number Z-2014-0387-6. Registered on 8 July 2014.

Diagnostic yield and complications of extended lymphadenectomy versus limited lymphadenectomy combined with radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

Lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer (PC) is the most reliable procedure for detecting lymphatic metastases. The optimal extension of this procedure is still a topic of debate.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the diagnostic performance and complications of extended lymphadenectomy (ELD) and limited lymphadenectomy (LLD) in a series of patients with high-risk PC who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with high d'Amico risk who underwent RP with lymphadenectomy between 1999 and 2014. A comparative analysis was performed of the diagnostic capacity of lymphatic metastases of ELD and LLD and of postoperative complications at 90 days.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were analysed, 20 (21.5%) and 73 (78.5%) of whom underwent ELD and LLD, respectively. The mean age of the series was 65.26 years (SD, 5.51). The median follow-up was 1.51 (0.61-2.29) years in the ELD group and 5.94 (3.61-9.10) in the LLD group. The median number of nodes obtained was 13 (9-23) in the ELD group compared with 5 (2-8) in the LLD group (p <.001). The percentages of patients with positive nodes in the ELD and LLD groups were 35% and 5.47%, respectively (p <.001). The overall complication rate at 90 days was 35.5% (33 patients). In the ELD group, 12 patients (60%) had complications, compared with 21 patients (28.8%) in the LLD group (p=.016), with no significant differences in severity according to the Clavien scale (p=.73).

CONCLUSIONS

In our series, the detection of metastatic nodes was significantly greater with ELD. ELD increases the number of complications, with no differences compared with LLD in severity according to the modified Clavien scale.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy training for residents: Hospital Universitario La Paz model

Introduction

In the last decade, we have seen the advance of laparoscopic surgery in urology. All laparoscopic procedures in our department are performed by staff members and are assisted by a single resident, ensuring resident training in laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of the Hospital La Paz training program for residents in the field of laparoscopic surgery.

Material and methods

We have done a retrospective review of LRP performed by the residents in our department. We also evaluated different variables. Descriptive statistical analysis was done and the results were compared with the descriptive analysis of the initial series of our department.

Results

We reviewed 82 patients, with an average age of 61.6 years. Most cases were pT1c at diagnosis. Average surgical time was 288 minutes, with a transfusion rate of 9.7% and a intra and postoperative complication rates of 1.2% and 7.3%. The mean hospital stay was 3.3 days. Histological results of this series are: 76.8% of pT2 and 23.2% of pT3. The biochemical relapse rate is 15.8%. Global surgical margin rate is 20.7%. The global continence rate is 52.4%.

Conclusions

The outcomes of LRP performed by residents are similar to the ones reported in the initial series of our department. The fact that 84.6% of the residents formed in this period actually belong to different laparoscopic units supports the success of La Paz Hospital training model.