Robot-assisted vs open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in adults

[Short-term functional outcomes of laparoscopic robotic-assisted cystectomy (RAC) with ileal conduit urinary diversion (ICUD) for lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD): A single-center retrospective study]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the short-term functional outcomes and morbidity of robotic-assisted cystectomy (RAC) and intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).

METHODS

All consecutive patients who underwent RAC+ICUD for LUTD in a tertiary hospital center, between July 2018 and May 2021 were retrospectively included. Medical records were systematically reviewed and patient, perioperative and postoperative data were collected. A good short-term functional outcome was defined by the combination of a satisfying urostomy equipment (absence of urine leakage and easy appliance of the urostomy bag), the absence of pelvicaliceal system dilatation on sonography, and the absence of renal function decrease at the 2months post-operative consultation. Intraoperative parameters and post-operative complications were collected to assess morbidity.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were included. Eight (22.8%) patients needed intraoperative conversion to laparotomy. Twenty-five patients (92,5%) met criteria for a good functional outcome 2months post-operatively. The median operative time was 346min (86.5-407.5). The median blood loss was 100mL (100-290) and 5 patients (18.5%) required blood transfusion. The median times to return of bowel function was 3 days (2-4) and the median length of hospital stay was 10 days (10-18). Peri-operative complications were reported in 16 patients (59.2%): 6 (22.2%) minor complications Clavien ≤ II and 10 (37%) major complications Clavien ≥ III. There was no significative decrease of the renal function (mean preoperative creatininemia of 61.2μmol/L (50.5-74.5) vs 64.5μmol/L (47-85.25) postoperatively) CONCLUSION: RAC+ICUD in LUTD can provide good short-term functional outcomes while limiting blood transfusion, time to return of bowel function and the length of hospital stay. These results should be confirmed by larger prospective study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Systematic review comparing uretero-enteric stricture rates between open cystectomy with ileal conduit, robotic cystectomy with extra-corporeal ileal conduit and robotic cystectomy with intra corporeal ileal conduit formation

Cystectomy is the gold standard treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer. Robotic cystectomy has become increasingly popular owing to quicker post- operative recovery, less blood loss and less post-operative pain. Urinary diversion is increasingly being performed with an intracorporeal technique. Uretero-enteric strictures (UES) cause significant morbidity for patients. UES for open cystectomy is 3-10%, but the range is much wider (0-25%) for robotic surgery. We aim to perform systematic review for studies comparing all 3 techniques, to assess for ureteric stricture rates. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement (Page et al. in BMJ 29, 2021). PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases were searched for the period January 2003 to June 2023 inclusive for relevant publications.The primary outcome was to identify ureteric stricture rates for studies comparing open cystectomy and urinary diversion, robotic cystectomy with extracorporeal urinary diversion (ECUD) and robotic cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD). Three studies were identified and included 2185 patients in total. The open operation had the lowest stricture rate (9.6%), compared to ECUD (12.4%) and ICUD (15%). ICUD had the longest time to stricture (7.55 months), ECUD (4.85 months) and the open operation (4.75 months). Open operation had the shortest operating time. The Bricker anastomoses was the most popular technique. Open surgery has the lowest rates of UES compared to both robotic operations. There is a learning curve involved with performing robotic cystectomy and urinary diversion, this may need to be considered to decide whether the technique is comparable with open cystectomy UES rates. Further research, including Randomised Control Trials (RCT), needs to be undertaken to determine the best surgical option for patients to minimise risks of UES.

Last Resort from Nursing Shortage? Comparative Cost Analysis of Open vs. Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomies with a Focus on the Costs of Nursing Care

Despite perioperative advantages, robot-assisted surgery is associated with high costs. However, the lower morbidity of robotic surgery could lead to a lower nursing workload and cost savings. In this comparative cost analysis of open retroperitoneal versus robot-assisted transperitoneal partial nephrectomies (PN), these possible cost savings, including other cost factors, were quantified. Therefore, patient, tumor characteristics, and surgical results of all PN within two years at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. The nursing effort was quantified by the local nursing staff regulation and INPULS^® intensive care and performance-recording system. Out of 259 procedures, 76.4% were performed robotically. After propensity score matching, the median total nursing time (2407.8 vs. 1126.8 min, p < 0.001) and daily nursing effort (245.7 vs. 222.6 min, p = 0.025) were significantly lower after robotic surgery. This resulted in mean savings of EUR 186.48 in nursing costs per robotic case, in addition to savings of EUR 61.76 due to less frequent administrations of erythrocyte concentrates. These savings did not amortize the higher material costs for the robotic system, causing additional expenses of EUR 1311.98 per case. To conclude, the nursing effort after a robotic partial nephrectomy was significantly lower compared to open surgery; however, this previously unnoticed savings mechanism alone could not amortize the overall increased costs.

Optimizing surgical outcomes in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy

Purpose

To evaluate predictors of high-quality surgery and their effect on surgical outcomes in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

Evidence acquisition

A systematic and thorough review was performed to identify the most recent literature on current optimal management and predictors of high-quality surgery for patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Conclusions

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is an aggressive cancer requiring efficient and high-quality surgery in order to achieve the best oncological outcomes. Negative surgical margins, number of lymph nodes resected, lymph node dissection template, and surgical volume have been associated with improved oncologic outcomes. Robotic radical cystectomy continues to evolve and recent randomized controlled trials have shown that oncological outcomes are non-inferior when compared to the open technique. Regardless of approach, surgical technique should continually be evaluated and refined to optimize outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Robotic surgery in comparison to the open and laparoscopic approaches in the field of urology: a systematic review

To establish the feasibility of robotic surgical procedures in urology in terms of the applications, merits, and demerits as well as the postoperative and oncological outcomes while comparing it with the conventional approaches. A systematic search of electronic databases was performed to identify Randomized Controlled Trials and Cohort studies on Robot-Assisted urological surgical procedures in comparison with the conventional methods. The quality assessment of included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the revised Cochrane "Risk of Bias" tool. A qualitative narrative synthesis of the data extracted from the studies was performed and presented in tabulated form. After screening, 39 studies were included in our review (7 Randomized Controlled Trials and 32 Cohort studies). Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy appears to be associated with lower estimated blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay. For Robot-Assisted Cystectomy, the results suggest longer operative time and fewer complications. Robot-Assisted Radical Nephrectomy was found to be associated with fewer perioperative complications and longer mean operative time while Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy was associated with less positive surgical margins and reduced need for postoperative analgesia. The mean operative time was longer while the length of stay was shorter for the robotic approach in inguinal lymphadenectomy and ureteral reimplantation. The feasibility of Robot-Assisted surgery varied for different outcome measures as well as for different procedures. Some common advantages were a shorter length of stay, lesser blood loss, and fewer complications while the drawbacks included longer operative time.Study protocol PROSPERO database (Registration Number: CRD42021256623).

French AFU Cancer Committee Guidelines - Update 2022-2024: Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC)

OBJECTIVE

To update the CCAFU recommendations for the management of muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC).

METHODS

A systematic review (Medline) of the literature from 2020 to 2022 was performed taking account of the diagnosis, treatment options and surveillance of NMIBC and MIBC, while evaluating the references with their levels of evidence.

RESULTS

MIBC is diagnosed after the most complete tumour resection possible. MIBC grading is based on CTU along with chest CT. Multiparametric pelvic MRI could be an alternative. Cystectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy is the gold standard treatment for non-metastatic MIBC. It should be preceded by platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients in good general health with satisfactory renal function. Enterocystoplasty is proposed in men and women in the absence of contraindications and when the urethral resection is negative on extemporaneous examination. Otherwise, transileal cutaneous ureterostomy is the recommended method of urinary diversion. Inclusion of all patients in an ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol is recommended. For metastatic MIBC, first line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy (GC or MVAC) is recommended, if general health (PS>1) and renal function (clearance>60mL/min) so allow (only 50% of the cases). Pembrolizumab immunotherapy has demonstrated an overall survival benefit in second-line treatment.

CONCLUSION

Updating the ccAFU recommendations should contribute to improving patient management, as well as the diagnosis and decision-making concerning MIBC treatment.

Cost-utility analysis of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer compared to open radical cystectomy in the United Kingdom

Background

Bladder cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the United Kingdom. Currently, open radical cystectomy (ORC) is the gold standard. Due to the risk of complications and a 2.3-8% mortality rate1, there is growing interest in the use of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). The aim of this study is to perform a cost-utility analysis, comparing RARC to ORC for bladder cancer patients from the perspective of the National Health Service England.

Methods

A three-stage decision tree: surgery, post-surgery transfusions and complications, in a 90-day time horizon, was produced to simulate possible pathways of patients. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated based on data derived from current literature. Multiple univariate sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate influences of varying costs of RARC and ORC on the ICER.

Results

The ICER for RARC compared to ORC resulted in £25,536/QALY. At the lower threshold of £20,000/QALY, RARC resulted in a negative NMB (£-4,843.32) and at the upper threshold of £30,000/QALY, a positive NMB (£624.61) compared to ORC. Threshold analysis showed that the intervention costs of £13,497 and £14,403 are met at the lower and upper threshold respectively. The univariate sensitivity analysis showed that the intervention costs of RARC or ORC, and the probabilities of complications, had the greatest impact on the ICER.

Conclusion

As the resultant ICER did not fall below the £20,000/QALY threshold, our study did not provide a definitive recommendation for RARC for bladder cancer. Negative values for the NMB at the lower threshold indicated the intervention was not feasible from a cost perspective. At the upper threshold of £30,000/QALY, this situation was reversed. The intervention became cost-effective. Therefore, further research is needed to justify the intervention.

Understanding the surgeon's behaviour during robot-assisted surgery: protocol for the qualitative Behav'Robot study

INTRODUCTION

Robot-assisted surgery is spreading worldwide, accounting for more than 1.2 million procedures in 2019. Data are sparse in the literature regarding the surgeon's mechanisms that mediate risk-taking during a procedure, especially robot-assisted. This study aims to describe and understand the behaviour of the surgeons during robot-assisted surgery and the change in their behaviour with increasing experience in using the robot.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with surgeons who perform robot-assisted surgery. An interview guide comprising open questions will be used to ensure that the points to be discussed are systematically addressed during each interview (ie, (1) difference in behaviour and preparation of the surgeon between a standard procedure and a robot-assisted procedure; (2) the influence of proprioceptive modifications, gain in stability and cognitive biases, inherent in the use of a surgical robot and (3) the intrinsic effect of the learning curve on the behaviour of the surgeons. After transcription, interviews will be analysed with the help of NVivo software, using thematic analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Since this project examines professional practices in the field of social and human sciences, ethics committee was not required in accordance with current French legislation (Decree no 2017-884, 9 May 2017). Consent from the surgeons is implied by the fact that the interviews are voluntary. Surgeons will nonetheless be informed that they are free to interrupt the interview at any time.Results will be presented in peer-reviewed national and international congresses and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication. The communication and publication of the results will be placed under the responsibility of the principal investigator and publications will be prepared in compliance with the ICMJE uniform requirements for manuscripts.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04869995.

Mini-laparotomy radical cystectomy with limited bowel externalization during ileal conduit urinary diversion reduces the rate of postoperative complications: a match-paired, single centered analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and functional outcomes of mini-laparotomy radical cystectomy (RC) in association with limited bowel externalization during ileal conduit urinary diversion.

METHODS

Between January 2018 and March 2020, 53 patients underwent RC plus pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder. This group of patients was intentionally treated utilizing the mini-laparotomy approach, with the addition of limited bowel externalization during conduit preparation and match-paired with 46 examinees from a historical series of patients who underwent conventional open RC plus PLND and ileal conduit diversion. Clinicopathological features and perioperative outcomes were examined from medical records, while postoperative pain was evaluated through the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS). Mean pain scores were evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 1-3.

RESULTS

There was no difference in specific intraoperative complications between groups, with a median (range) incision length of 8 (5-10) cm within the first group and 16.3 (12-22.6) cm within the second group. The first group had less postoperative pain compared with patients in the second group, with mean pain scores significantly lower across POD 1-3, 3.8 (IQR: 0-6) versus 6.7 (IQR: 3.8-8.1) and 2.5 (IQR: 1-3.7) versus 4.6 (IQR: 3-6), respectively (p = .012 and .002).

CONCLUSIONS

By using this technique, we were able to significantly reduce patients' postoperative pain, time to bowel restitution, and hospital stay, which are major issues in minimizing short-term postoperative complications of conventional open surgery.

Intravesical gemcitabine as bladder‐preserving treatment for BCG unresponsive non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer. Results from a single‐arm, open‐label study

Background

There is an unmet alternative medical therapy for BCG unresponsive patients.

Objective

To report efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine in NMIBC patients, who failed a previous course of BCG, or intolerant, and unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy (RC).

Material and methods

This is an open‐label, single‐arm study, which enrolled patients showing a failure or were intolerant to BCG and unwilling to undergo the RC. Intravesical gemcitabine was administered once a week for six consecutive weeks and once a month for 12 months. The primary outcome was DFS defined as the lack of a tumor on cystoscopy and negative urine cytology. Secondary endpoint was safety defined according a grading of side effects. OS, PFS, and DFS were described with Kaplan–Meier method at 12 and 24 months.

Results and limitations

Overall 36 patients were enrolled. The median follow‐up was 27 months. The DFS was 68.75% at the end of induction phase and 44.44% and 31.66% at 12 and 24 months of, respectively. The PFS was 43.75%. The OS and CSS were 77.9% (95% CI 58.78%‐88.92%) and 80.68% (95% CI 61.49%‐90.96%), respectively. There was no life threatening event or treatment‐related death (grade 4 or 5). The most common mild and moderate adverse events reported were urinary symptoms (LUTS) and fatigue (G1‐G2).

Conclusion

Patients who presented an unresponsive‐BCG recurrent NMIBC and unwilling to receive a RC, could benefit from intravesical gemcitabine as salvage organ‐sparing treatment.