[Self-assessment of healthcare workers regarding the management of trans people in a university hospital]

INTRODUCTION

Trans people face more barriers when seeking healthcare than the cisgender population probably due to a lack of knowledge, education and comfort of healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and comfort felt by healthcare professionals in managing trans people in a French university hospital.

METHODS

A self-questionnaire was emailed to healthcare professionals working in departments usually involved in the care of trans people in a French university hospital "not specialized" in medical and surgical gender transition. The questionnaire included demographic questions and Likert scales regarding their knowledge and comfort in taking care of trans people. Responses on the 7-point Likert scales were categorized into "low", "medium" and "high" groups, and responses on the 5-point Likert scales were categorized into "in favour", "neutral" and "against" groups.

RESULTS

One hundred and two (29%) healthcare professionals answered the questionnaire. Half worked in surgical departments (urology, plastic surgery, gynecology), 24% worked in medical departments (endocrinology, reproductive medicine, cytogenetics) and 26% worked in psychiatry. The majority (60.3%) rated their level of knowledge as "low" and 39.7% as "medium". Sixteen percent rated their level of comfort in managing trans people as "low", 72.5% as "medium" and 11.5% as "high". A majority (77.5%) were in favor of having the costs of gender transition care covered by the national health insurance system, 16.4% were neutral and 6% were against this idea. Feelings about surgical and hormonal gender transition were overwhelmingly (96.4%) in favour or neutral and 91% were willing to get more training and education to manage trans people.

CONCLUSION

The lack of comfort felt by healthcare professionals in university hospital in managing trans people seems to be related to a lack of knowledge and training in that field and not to a disagreement with the need of transgender healthcare.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

[Impact of robotic assistance on the use and the outcomes of nephron-sparing surgery: A single center experience]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the acquisition of a Da Vinci^® robot on the use and outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It was a single center retrospective study including 280 patients who underwent PN from January 2006 to May 2013. The number of PN, tumors and patients' characteristics and perioperative outcomes have been assessed over 3 periods defined according to the main surgical approach: 2006-2008 (open PN), 2008-2010 (laparoscopic PN) and 2010-2013 (robotic PN).

RESULTS

Over the study period, the surgical approach has changed significantly in favor of minimally-invasive surgery and especially robotic approach. The PN/nephrectomy rate has also evolved to a higher proportion of PN over radical nephrectomy (P=0.002). No significant difference was noted between the three periods in terms of tumor size but there was a higher rate of highly complex tumors (RENAL score≥10) during the last period (10.7%; 18.6% and 33.2%; P=0.04). Warm ischemia time increased from 2006-2008 to 2008-2010 (26 vs. 23minutes) but decreased thereafter during the robotic era (14.5minutes; P<0.001). Regarding postoperative outcomes, the only change was a decreased length of stay over time (P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

In this single center series, the robotic approach was associated with a spread of PN and with an improvement of nephron-sparing surgery outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

[Oncologic and perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: A single-center prospective series]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to report perioperative and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in a single-center series and to evaluate the impact of the experience on perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

Between March 2012 and January 2016, 41 patients underwent RARC associated with extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. All RARC included were performed by a single-surgeon in one center. Perioperative and oncological datas were collected prospectively. Recurrence-free (RFS), overall (OS) and cancer-specific survivals (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier Method. The impact of the experience on perioperative data was estimated using Spearman's correlation test.

RESULTS

Mean age was 67,7years (±10.6). Most patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (73.2%). Mean operative time and mean estimated blood loss were respectively 319.5minutes (±85.3) and 662.5mL (±360.9). Eight patients needed perioperative blood transfusion (19.5%). Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 3 cases (7.3%). Ileal neobladder was performed in 26.8% of the cases (54.5% being performed intracorporeal), and non-continent urinary diversion in 73.2%. Mean nodal yield was 17.7 (±9.3). Positive surgical margins were observed in 1 patient (2.3%). Mean length of stay was 13.2 days (±9.8). Postoperative complication rate was 46,3%. After a median follow-up of 16months, estimated 2 year-OS and CSS were respectively 62 and 76.1%. Estimated 2-year RFS was 67.6%. Perioperative outcomes improved with experience with a significant decrease in operative time (P=0.04) and a significant increase of nodal yield (P=0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this single-center prospective study, satisfactory perioperative and oncological outcomes after RARC were observed despite the learning curve. Perioperative outcomes improved with surgeon's experience. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.