Robot-Assisted Pyeloplasty with HUGO™ Robotic System: Initial Experience and Optimal Surgical Set-Up at a Tertiary Referral Robotic Center

Background: In February 2021 Medtronic® (Minneapolis, MN) launched the HUGO™ Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System in the global market. The aim of the current study is to describe the first case series and the optimal setup of robot-assisted pyeloplasty procedure, performed with HUGO RAS system in a tertiary referral robotic center. Methods: Data from consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted pyeloplasty at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis Hospital (Aalst, Belgium) were recorded. Baseline characteristics, and perioperative and surgical outcomes were collected. Results: Overall, 10 robot-assisted pyeloplasties were performed (October 2022-September 2023). Based on our expertise, the following minor setting changes have been made, relative to the official setup guide: the endoscope port and, subsequently, the left and right-hand ports were positioned more laterally. Additionally, the reserve/4th port was placed more laterally and cranially, and adjusted the arm cart's tilt angle, reducing it from -30° to -15°. The median docking time was 8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.2-9.8) minutes, and the median active console time was 89.5 (80.0-95.8) minutes. No conversion to open/laparoscopic surgery or perioperative complications was encountered. A single technical problem was recorded in 1 (10%) procedure. Specifically, one arm was blocked, and the procedure was accomplished with three arms without compromising the procedure success. Conclusions: This study represents the first worldwide series of robot-assisted pyeloplasty performed with the HUGO RAS system and shows promising results. The procedure might be safely performed with this robotic platform achieving optimal perioperative outcomes.

[Evaluation of the efficiency and safety of pain relief in the postoperative period in children after urological interventions]

INTRODUCTION

Urinary tract disorders are one of the most common pathologies in children, regardless of age, and every year their prevalence is growing. Our study is dedicated to improvement of postoperative pain management after pediatric urologic procedures and to implementation of modern approaches for enhanced recovery.

AIM

To develop optimal methods of postoperative pain relief for moderate and severe intensity of pain syndrome in children undergoing urological procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved 34 patients who were undergone to urological procedures. For an objective assessment of the quality of anesthesia, the following research methods were used: clinical study with the determination of the pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the determination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse oximetry and echocardiographic study.

RESULTS

The analysis of the postoperative period with monitoring of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse oximetry, subjective assessment of the pain intensity on the VAS and the echocardiographic study showed that the relative stability of the condition was associated with an adequate pain relief. The use of a combination of infulgan, which caused an early analgesic effect, with tramadol realizing its action later, provides a prolongation of analgesia. A combination of tramadol with infulgan was several times more efficient than ketorolac.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a combined analgesia after urological procedures, including ketorolac, provides a hemodynamically stability in the entire postoperative period.

The combinatorial use of propofol-fentanyl-ketamine for sedoanalgesia in patients undergoing urological procedures

Objectives:

To compare sedoanalgesia achieved using propofol-fentanyl-ketamine (PFK) combination with general anesthesia (GA) in terms of safety, hemodynamic stability, and perioperative complications.

Methods:

Patients in the GA group were anesthetized using fentanyl (2 μg kg-1) and propofol (2 mg kg-1). The PFK group was anesthetized using a mixture of which each one ml contains 0.005 mg of fentanyl, 5 mg of propofol, 5 mg of ketamine, and 2 mg of lidocaine. Patients received an initial dose of 0.05 ml kg-1, followed by 0.05 mg kg-1 60 seconds later. Maintenance boluses of 0.025 ml kg-1 were administered every 3-5 minutes. Respiration occurred spontaneously through a simple face mask with 3 L min-1 O₂.

Results:

The GA group had 37 (37%) patients develop hypotensive episodes, compared to one (1%) episode in the PFK group (p<0.001). Five (5%) patients in the PFK group had an episode of transient O₂ desaturation, compared to one (1%) patient in the GA group (p=0.212). The duration of induction and termination of anesthesia were significantly shorter in the PFK group (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The PFK combination herein described is safe, effective, and provides intraoperative hemodynamic stability in patients with multiple comorbidities undergoing urological procedures.

A short course of antimicrobial therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria is safe and effective before urologic procedures

INTRODUCTION

In the presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) before the urological procedure, the duration of antimicrobial treatment is controversial. This study aims to evaluate whether a short course of antimicrobial therapy is safe and effective in cases with ASB before urological procedures.

METHODOLOGY

We retrospectively reviewed adult patients who had ASB before undergoing several urological procedures between 2011 and 2019. The patients received a single dose of an appropriate parenteral antibiotic, determined by antimicrobial sensitivity testing, 30 to 60 minutes before the urological procedure. If a urinary catheter was placed post-procedure, a second dose was given.

RESULTS

A total of 293 patients who had ASB before undergoing several urological procedures were included in the study. The total number of procedures was 328. Female/male ratio was 92 (31.4%)/201 (68.6%). The mean age was 63.7 ± 14.9 years. The most common isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli (155 [47%]), Klebsiella pneumoniae (38 [11.6%]), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28 [8.5%]). The most common antimicrobial used was ertapenem. A second dose antimicrobial was given for 290 procedures due to a urinary catheter after a urological procedure. The mean hospitalization time was 3.97 ± 3.42 days. None of the patients developed infectious complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that a single dose of parenteral antimicrobial drug administered 30-60 minutes before the urologic procedures and a second dose in the presence of a post-procedure catheter, was adequate to prevent post-procedure septicemia and urinary tract infection.

A case-control study: are urological procedures risk factors for the development of infective endocarditis?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between urological procedures and the development of infective endocarditis (IE), as there are case-reports linking urological procedures to IE but evidence of a causal relationship is lacking and no major guidelines advise prophylaxis to prevent development of IE during transurethral urological procedures. No case-control study has been undertaken to examine the relationship between urological procedures and the development of IE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of the IE database at our institution. The population consisted of patients diagnosed with enterococcal, staphylococcal, Streptococcus bovis-group and oral streptococcal IE over a 10-year period. Possible risk factors for the development of IE, including urological procedures were collected. A case-control design was used and univariable and multivariable analyses were carried out. Missing data was accounted for using the multiple imputations method.

RESULTS

We included 384 patients with IE. There was a statistical association between the development of enterococcal IE and preceding urological procedures (odds ratio 8.21, 95% confidence interval 3.54-19.05, P < 0.05). Increasing age and being an intravenous drug user were also associated with enterococcal IE. Haemodialysis and the presence of an intracardiac device were associated with the development of coagulase-negative staphyloccal IE.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to show a statistical association between urological procedures and the development of IE. The bacteraemia leading to IE may be a result of the urological procedures or a consequence of the underlying urological pathology causing recurrent subclinical bacteraemias.