Saudi Urological Association consensus guidelines on the use of robotic surgery in urology

Over the past three decades, minimally invasive robotic technology has evolved substantially in urological practice, replacing many open procedures and becoming part of routine clinical practice. The Health Sector Transformation Program for the Kingdom's Vision 2030 aims to restructure the health sector and optimize its status and prospects as an effective and integrated ecosystem centered on the patient's health. Therefore, this consensus seeks to endorse the clinical practice guidelines for robotic surgery (RS) in the KSA, highlighting its effectiveness, safety, and favorable outcomes compared to open and laparoscopic surgeries in certain procedures when used by trained surgeons in well-structured RS programs.

Patients' perceptions and preferences for physicians' attire in hospitals in south western Saudi Arabia

Purpose:

Data regarding patients’ perception and satisfaction about physicians providing the medical care based on their attires in Southern Region of Saudi Arabia are scarce and even lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the patients’ opinion regarding the suitable attires of physicians.

Materials and Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was performed on a random sample of patients from Aseer Central Hospital, Southern Military Hospital and Abha Maternity Hospital. The questionnaire collected data on their perception of physicians’ attire as well as reflection of dress on trust and willingness to discuss personal issues.

Results:

The study included 248 patients. The majority (81.9%) of the participants agreed on the importance for physicians to wear their medical attires. Also 84.3% of them confirmed that physician's appearance is important source of their confidence. Skirt plus lab coat was the most favored for female physicians (39.3%). As for male physicians, scrub plus lab coat was the most preferred (33.6%) attire.

Conclusion:

Patients attending hospitals in southwestern Saudi Arabia preferred for their physicians to wear formal attire with white coats, rather than the Saudi national dress. Skirt plus lab coat was the most preferred for female physicians. As for male physicians, scrub plus lab coat was the most preferred attire. Patients approved the importance for physicians to wear their medical attires and confirmed that physician's appearance is important source for their confidence. The study recommends that physicians should adopt formal attire and the institutional dress code policy should be modified to fit these preferences.

Surgical and oncological outcome after laparoscopic versus open nephroureterectomy for non-metastatic, upper-tract urothelial carcinoma. A single-centre experience

Objectives:

We determined the surgical and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) in comparison to open nephroureterectomy (ONU) and factors predicting bladder recurrence after nephroureterectomy.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed and compared the data of patients who underwent ONU or LNU for non-metastatic, upper-tract urothelial carcinoma from 2000 to 2016. The primary endpoint was to determine bladder cancer recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). The data were analysed using Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, and Kaplan-Meier curve.

Results:

Total of 50 patients, of which 24 had LNU and 26 had ONU, met the inclusion criteria. Median durations of follow-up were 4.2 and 6.5 years (p=0.1070) in LNU and ONU, respectively. Operative time, blood loss and hospital stay were significantly lower in the LNU group than in the ONU group (p=0.0001, p=0.0001, p=0.0018). Cancer-specific survival rate in the LNU was 75% and ONU was 73.3% (p=0.1902), whereas BCRFS and CSS were not significantly different in both groups (log-rank test; BCRFS: p=0.809 and CSS: p=0.802). Patients who underwent ureteroscopy with biopsy (p=0.001), had multifocality (p=0.001) and previous history of (H/O) bladder cancer (p=0.020) were at significant risk for developing bladder cancer recurrence after nephroureterectomy.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy can benefit patients because of its minimal invasiveness, and oncologic outcomes are comparable to ONU. Preoperative ureteroscopy with biopsy, multifocality and previous H/O bladder cancer might be risk factors for bladder cancer recurrence.

Operative outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy. A report of the first 101 cases from a single center in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To report robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) outcomes from a single tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive cases of patients undergoing RPN at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia, between January 2008 and January 2018. The study reports patient's demographics, tumor characteristics, operative details, and perioperative outcomes, using descriptive statistics of median and range values. Results: One hundred and one patients underwent RPN during the study period. Average tumor size was 3 (1.3-6.4) cm and average radius exophytic nearness anterior/posterior location (RENAL) score was 6 (4-10). Perioperative parameters were blood loss 200 (5-1500) ml and warm ischemia time 17 (8-40) minutes, excluding off-clamp surgery in 12 (11.9%); operative time was 166 (66-381) minutes. Conversion to open partial nephrectomy occurred in 9 (8.9%) patients, major complications in 3 (3%) patients, positive surgical margins in 5 (5%) patients, and the hospital stay was 4 (2-14) days. A total of 73 (73%) patients achieved a trifecta of freedom from any complication, negative surgical margins, and ischemia time ≤25 minutes. Study limitations included the retrospective design and small cohort size. Conclusions: The initial experience of robotic partial nephrectomy was associated with a surgical outcome comparable to that reported by higher-volume centers.

Robotic partial cystectomy for lymphangioma of the urinary bladder in an adult woman

Lymphangioma of the urinary bladder is a very rare tumour in adulthood. Robotic partial cystectomy is evolving for treatment of a limited number of bladder tumours. We describe a case of an adult woman with a bladder dome lymphangioma for which robotic partial cystectomy was carried out.

Changing trends in presentation, diagnosis and management of renal angiomyolipoma: comparison of sporadic and tuberous sclerosis complex-associated forms

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the changing management of sporadic renal angiomyolipoma and renal angiomyolipoma associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) during the past 16 years.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 60 patients with angiomyolipoma seen at our institutions.

RESULTS

The median age at presentation was 45 years (range 7-78). The presentation was pain in 30 patients and hematuria in 13; it was incidentally discovered in 17 patients. Of the 60 patients, 43 were females. TSC was present in 14 patients. The median tumor size was 4 cm (range 0.3-40, mean 6.5 +/- 1.1). Of the 60 patients, 31 were followed up expectantly. Surgery or intervention was needed for 29 patients to control hemorrhage or relieve pain or because of the suspicion of malignancy. Of these 29 patients, 12 underwent nephrectomy, 11 partial nephrectomy, and 6 embolization. The patients treated for hemorrhage had a median tumor diameter of 11 cm (range 2-21). Patients were followed up for a mean of 39.3 +/- 5.4 months. The lesions grew an average of 4.7 +/- 3.4 cm for TSC tumors and 0.6 +/- 0.2 cm for sporadic angiomyolipoma tumors. None of the patients developed renal impairment. Patients with TSC presented at a younger age, had larger and bilateral lesions, and were more symptomatic during follow-up. In the past 6 years, a significant trend was seen toward finding tumors in asymptomatic patients and toward the use of conservative or interventional (embolization) treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Renal angiomyolipoma has a slow growth rate. The preservation of renal function was noted in all our patients. A recent shift was noted toward finding smaller tumors in asymptomatic patients and the use of conservative and interventional treatment.