Early Postoperative Morbidity of Robotic Versus Open Radical Cystectomy in Obese Patients

Complications after Prostate Cancer Treatment: Pathophysiology and Repair of Post-Radiation Urethral Stricture Disease

Radiation therapy (RT) in the management of pelvic cancers remains a clinical challenge to urologists given the sequelae of urethral stricture disease secondary to fibrosis and vascular insults. The objective of this review is to understand the physiology of radiation-induced stricture disease and to educate urologists in clinical practice regarding future prospective options clinicians have to deal with this condition. The management of post-radiation urethral stricture consists of conservative, endoscopic, and primary reconstructive options. Endoscopic approaches remain an option, but with limited long-term success. Despite concerns with graft take, reconstructive options such as urethroplasties in this population with buccal grafts have shown long-term success rates ranging from 70 to 100%. Robotic reconstruction is augmenting previous options with faster recovery times. Radiation-induced stricture disease is challenging with multiple interventions available, but with successful outcomes demonstrated in various cohorts including urethroplasties with buccal grafts and robotic reconstruction.

Urinary diversions for benign and oncologic indications: what did we learn about short term complications in the last 24 months?

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Urinary diversion (UD) with or without cystectomy is a procedure with high short term complication rates. In this review, we summarize the most relevant findings of the last 2 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

The use of a prophylactic mesh decreases the risk of parastomal hernia after ileal conduit (IC) surgery without adding mesh-related complications according to a recent randomized multicentre trial. Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly applied for UD and is evolving from extra- to intra-corporeal reconstruction in both continent and incontinent diversions, but there is still a need for appropriately designed studies assessing both short- and long-term complications. Promising techniques to decrease ureterointestinal stricture rates have been reported from small series, such as retrosigmoid placement of the proximal IC to avoid transpositioning of the left ureter, or in robot-assisted surgery the use of indocyanine green with near-infrared light to improve visualisation of distal ureteral viability.

SUMMARY

Most recent reports derive from observational data. Appropriate randomized studies are warranted for the evaluation of new techniques to be implemented in a surgical area that still is associated with high complication rates.

Obesity is associated with adverse short-term perioperative outcomes in patients treated with open and robot-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Obese patients may be predisposed to adverse perioperative outcomes and it is uncertain whether robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) benefits obese patients in comparison to open radical cystectomy (ORC). Thus, we tested the effect of obesity and surgical approach on perioperative outcomes and total hospital charges.

METHODS

Within the National Inpatient Sample database (2008-2015), we identified obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) vs. non-obese patients with non-metastatic bladder cancer treated with RARC or ORC. Estimated annual percent changes and weighted multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for clustering as well as age, comorbidities, hospital volume, and respectively surgical approach, lengths of stay, and/or complications were used.

RESULTS

Of all 11,594 patients (unweighted patient count), 1,119 (9.7%) were obese vs. 10,475 (90.3%) were not-obese. Obesity rate increased significantly over time (5.5%-13.3%, annual change: 11%, P = 0.001). RARC, as well as treatment in high volume hospitals was more prevalent in obese vs. non-obese patients (18.3 vs. 14.5% and 40.9 vs. 37.0%, both P < 0.01). In multivariable regression models, obesity independently predicted overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.23, confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.42), major complications (OR 1.63, CI: 1.41-1.87), longer hospital stay (OR 1.17, CI: 1.02-1.34) and higher total hospital charges ($+8,260, CI: 3951-12,570), all P < 0.01). In subgroup analyses in obese patients, RARC was not associated with overall (OR 1.15, P = 0.4) and major complications (OR 1.10, P = 0.6) or length of stay (OR 0.78, P = 0.1) compared with ORC but with higher hospital charges (+$16,794, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Obesity predisposes to higher rates of adverse perioperative outcomes at radical cystectomy. The benefit of RARC could not be validated in obese patients.