Transurethral resection of bladder tumor: A systematic review of simulator-based training courses and curricula

Objective:Transurethral resection of bladder tumor is one of the most common everyday urological procedures.This kind of surgery demands a set of skills that need training and experience.In this review,we aimed to investigate the current literature to find out if simulators,phantoms,and other training models could be used as a tool for teaching urologists.Methods:A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the recommendations of the European Association of Urology guidelines for conducting systematic reviews.Fifteen out of 932 studies met our inclusion criteria and are presented in the current review.Results:The UroTrainer(Karl Storz GmbH,Tuttlingen,Germany),a virtual reality training simulator,achieved positive feedback and an excellent face and construct validity by the participants.The inspection of bladder mucosa,blood loss,tumor resection,and procedural time was improved after the training,especially for inexperienced urologists and medical students.The construct validity of UroSim®(VirtaMed,Zurich,Switzerland)was established.SIMBLA simulator(Samed GmbH,Dresden,Germany)was found to be a realistic and useful tool by experts and urologists with intermediate experience.The test objective competency model based on SIMBLA simulator could be used for evaluating urologists.The porcine model of the Asian Urological Surgery Training and Education Group also received positive feedback by the participants that tried it.The Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning Initiative Project had an extraordinary face and content validity,and 60%of participants would like to use the simulators in the future.The 5-day multimodal training curriculum“Boot Camp”in the United Kingdom achieved an increase of the level of confidence of the participants that lasted months after the project.Conclusion:Simulators and courses or curricula based on a simulator training could be a valuable learning tool for any surgeon,and there is no doubt that they should be a part of every urologist's technical education.

Percutaneous antegrade management of large proximal ureteral stones using non-papillary puncture

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and the safety of medial non-papillary percutaneous nephrolithotomy(npPCNL)for the management of large proximal ureteral stones.Methods:We evaluated prospectively collected data of 37 patients with large proximal ureteral stones more than 1.5 cm in diameter treated by prone npPCNL.Depending on stone size,in-toto stone removal or lithotripsy using the Lithoclast®Trilogy(EMS Medical,Nyon,Switzerland)was performed.Perioperative parameters including operative time(from start of puncture to the skin suturing),stone extraction time(from the first insertion of the nephroscope to the extraction of all stone fragments),and the stone-free rate were evaluated.Results:Twenty-one males and 16 females underwent npPCNL for the management of large upper ureteral calculi.The median age and stone size of treated patients were 58(interquartile range[IQR]:51-69)years and 19.3(IQR:18.0-22.0)mm,respectively.The median operative time and stone extraction time were 25(IQR:21-29)min and 8(IQR:7-10)min,respectively.One case(2.7%)of postoperative bleeding and two cases(5.4%)of prolonged fever were managed conservatively.The stone-free rate at a 1-month follow-up was 94.6%.Conclusion:The npPCNL provides a straight route to the ureteropelvic junction and proximal ureter.Approaching from a dilated portion of the ureter under low irrigation pressure with larger diameter instruments results in effective and safe stone extraction within a few minutes.

Diagnostic value ultrasound signs of stones less than or equal to 10 mm and clinicoradiological variants of ureteric colic

Objective:To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasound signs of urinary stones less than or equal to 10 mm and to determine clinico-radiological variants of ureteric colic.Methods:A total of 455 ultrasound investigations were performed in patients referring to emergency department with urolithiasis and symptoms suspected of ureteric colic between January 2021 and May 2021.In addition to microscopic evaluation of urine sediment to detect different crystals and non-contrast spiral computed tomography to detect stones,B-mode and color Doppler sonography was performed to assess the presence of acoustic shadow(AS)and twinkle artifacts(TA)as possible signs of stone(s)in ureter.Results:While the sensitivity and specificity of AS and TA were higher than 90%in patients with stones greater than 5 mm;positive prognostic values of these parameters were found to be extremely low for stones with sizes of 1-3 mm with specificity and sensitivity values not exceeding 53%.The sensitivity and specificity of AS and TA in the upper and lower ureters were higher for stones greater than or equal to 5 than for compared to those less than 5 mm.At the same time,the diagnostic values of TA and AS for middle ureter stones were very limited.The most prevalent clinico-radiological variants of ureteric colic were types I,III,and V being observed in 39%,28% and 21% cases,respectively.Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that TA and AS parameters seem to have a very low sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of urinary stones less than 5 mm.The diagnostic value of TA and AS increase significantly in stones greater than or equal to 5 mm.Therefore,clinicians need to be very careful for overestimating the diagnostic values of TA and AS for stones less than 5 mm and non-contrast spiral computed tomography must be the method of choice for patients presenting to emergency department with ureteric colic.

Evolution of endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy （EERPE）： technique and outcome

Endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy （EERPE） is a well-established and standardized technique for treating patients with localized prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the procedure is continuously being refined with the expansion of anatomical knowledge. The development of a nerve-sparing approach and improvements in currently used equipment are expected to yield better results in cosmesis and convalescence without sacrificing the procedure＇s established benefits in terms of potency, continence and oncological management. In this study, the technique and its evolution are presented in detail, along with an analysis of its clinical efficacy. We also consult the literature to compare EERPE to transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, and we also discuss new technical advancements regarding the use of robotic assistance during EERPE.

Extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Comparison with transperitoneal technique

AIM: To determine peri-operative, oncological, functional and safety profiles of extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(e RARP) vs transperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(t RARP) in a single centre.METHODS: A total of 120 consecutive patients underwent 50 e RARP and 70 e RARP operations respectively by the same surgical team. Peri-operative and post-operative outcomes including blood loss, hospitalization, complications(Clavien grade), positive surgical margin(PSM) rates, continence and erectile function were compared. The performance of e RARP required several technical modifications. These included developmentof Retzius' space by balloon insufflation, laparoscopic dissection of lateral extensions of this area; caudal port positioning; cranial digital stripping of peritoneum for sucker port and lodging the bagged prostate specimen adjacent to the lateral assistant port to permit space for urethro-vesical anastomosis.RESULTS: Robotic console times were shorter with e RARP vs t RARP(145.1 min vs 198.3 min, P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in blood loss, PSM rates(e RARP 17.7% vs t RARP 22%) or complications(e RARP 8.5% vs t RARP 8%). A drain was used in all patients after t RARP and in 25/70 e RARP cases. Length of hospital stay was shorter after e RARP(mean 1.94 d vs 3.6 d, P < 0.0002). There were no differences between techniques in continence or potency at 6 mo. e RARP required several technical modifications: development of Retzius' space by balloon insufflation, laparoscopic dissection of lateral extensions of this area; caudal port positioning; and lodging the bagged prostate specimen adjacent to the lateral assistant port to permit space for urethro-vesical anastomosis.CONCLUSION: e RARP demonstrated advantages in surgical times, hospital stay and equivalence in PSM rates, complications and functional outcomes. e RARP is a useful alternative to t RARP especially in patients with adhesions, pre-existing inguinal hernias, or those unable to withstand steep Trendelenburg position.

Influence of bladder neck suspension stitches on early continence after radical prostatectomy： a prospective randomized study of 180 patients

Several techniques have been introduced to improve early postoperative continence. In this study, we evaluated the impact of bladder neck （vesicourethral anastomosis） suspension on the outcome of extraperitoneal endoscopic radical prostatectomy （EERPE）. In this research, a total of 180 patients underwent EERPE. Group 1 included patients who underwent nerve-sparing EERPE （nsEERPE） （n=45）, and Group 2 included patients who underwent nsEERPE with bladder neck suspension （BNS, n=45）. Groups 3 （n=45） and 4 （n=45） included patients who received EERPE and EERPE with BNS, respectively. Patients were randomly assigned to receive BNS with their nsEERPE or EERPE procedure. Perioperative parameters were recorded, and continence was evaluated by determining the number and weight of absorbent pads （pad weighing test） on the second day after catheter removal and by a questionnaire 3 months postoperatively. Two days after catheter removal, 11.1% of Group 1, 11.1% of Group 2, 4.4% of Group 3 and 8.9% of Group 4 were conti nent. The average urine loss was 80.4, 70.1, 325.0 and 291.3 g for the each of these groups, respectively. At 3 months, 76.5% of Group I and 81.3% of Group 2 were continent. The continence figures for Group 3 and 4 were 48.5% and 43.8%, respectively. Similar overall rates were observed in all groups. In conclusion, although there are controversial reports in the literature, early continence was never observed to be significantly higher in the BNS groups when compared with the non-BNS groups, regardless of the EERPE technique performed.

Grafts in Peyronie’s surgery without the use of prostheses:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Peyronie’s disease(PD)is characterized by abnormal penile curvature,and various surgical methods have been developed usingdifferent graft materials.However,there is currently no universal agreement on which type of graft is the best.The objective of thisreview was to evaluate the available literature and identify the most effective graft material for penile curvature correction in PD.A literature search was conducted using electronic databases,including PubMed,Scopus,and the Cochrane Library.The patients,intervention,comparison,and outcome(PICO)approach was used to define the eligibility of studies.Two authors independentlyselected studies,evaluated them,and extracted data.Random-effect models using the DerSimonian–Laird method were used.Moststudies were single-arm studies and had a high risk of bias.Buccal mucosa grafts(BMG)were found to result in the highest penilestraightening rates and were associated with the least de novo erectile dysfunction.TachoSil grafts demonstrated a high successrate in straightening despite a higher mean preoperative curvature,while Tutoplast grafts had a higher incidence of postoperativeerectile dysfunction.BMG had the highest percentage of postoperative penile straightening.Overall,the TachoSil graft showed thebest performance when preoperative curvature is taken into account.Based on the available literature,BMG appear to be the mosteffective for penile curvature correction in PD,but this is offset by the requirement for low preoperative curvature.The TachoSilgraft shows the best overall performance when preoperative curvature is considered.Comparative randomized clinical trials arestill needed to determine graft superiority.