scholarly journals A comparison of operative and margin outcomes from surgeon learning curves in robot assisted radical prostatectomy in a changing referral practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Jaulim ◽  
A Srinivasan ◽  
S Hori ◽  
N Kumar ◽  
AY Warren ◽  
...  

Introduction The aim of this study was to explore the impact of increasing proportions of high risk referrals on surgical margin outcomes of a surgeon’s learning curve in robotic prostatectomy. Methods All patients in this study underwent robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by three different consultant urological surgeons. Data collected included preoperative clinical stage, Gleason score and prostate specific antigen levels, which were used to risk stratify patients according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteria. Oncological clearance was assessed by overall and stage specific positive margin status. Comparisons were made between each surgeon for the first and second 50 consecutive cases. Results For the three surgeons, there was a progressive increase in the proportion of high risk cases referred accompanied by a corresponding decline in low risk disease (p<0.001). Postoperative pathology also showed an upward trend in pT3 cases across the three eras. There was no statistical difference in overall positive margin rates between the surgeons. The overall rates were 12%, 20% and 23% for the first 50 cases, and 32%, 36% and 21% for the second 50 cases for the three surgeons respectively. Conclusions Our series demonstrates an upward trend in the risk profile of men referred for robotic prostatectomy over a nine-year period. Despite this, there was minimal impact on pathological and surgical outcomes among our surgeons, who were at the initial stages of their RARP learning curve. Our results suggest that there is no requirement for an active case selection bias against patients with high risk disease for surgeons newly embarking on their RARP learning experience.

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-9
Author(s):  
Khaled Ajib ◽  
Marc Zanaty ◽  
Mansour Alnazari ◽  
Emad Rajih ◽  
Pierre-Alain Hueber ◽  
...  

Introduction: We sought to determine the impact of salvage radiotherapy (SRT) on oncological and functional outcomes of patients with prostate cancer after biochemical recurrence (BCR) following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).Methods: Data of 70 patients with prostate cancer treated with SRT after developing BCR were retrospectively analyzed from a prospectively collected RARP database of 740 men. Oncological (prostate- specific antigen [PSA]) and functional (pads/day, International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS], and Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM]) outcomes were reported at six, 12, and 24 months after RT and adjusted for pre-SRT status.Results: Men who underwent SRT had a mean age, PSA, and time from radical prostatectomy (RP) to RT of 61.8 years (60.1‒63.6), 0.5 ng/ml (0.2‒0.8), and 458 days (307‒747), respectively. Freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) post-SRT, defined as a PSA nadir <0.2 ng/mL, was observed in 89%, 93%, and 81%, at six, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Undetectable PSA was observed in 14%, 35%, and 40% at the same time points, respectively. There was no significant difference in urinary continence post-SRT (p=0.56). Rate of strict continence (0 pads/day) was 71% at 24 months compared to 78% pre-SRT. Mean IPSS at six, 12, and 24 months was 3.4, 3.6, and 3.6, respectively compared to pre-RT score of 3.3 (p=0.61). The mean SHIM score pre-SRT was comparable at all time points following treatment (p=0.86).Conclusions: In this unique Canadian experience, it appears that early SRT is highly effective for the treatment of BCR following RARP with little impact on urinary continence and potency outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. E409-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Adili ◽  
Julia Di Giovanni ◽  
Emma Kolesar ◽  
Nathan C. Wong ◽  
Jen Hoogenes ◽  
...  

Introduction: Since its introduction, robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) has gained widespread popularity, but is associated with a variable learning curve. Herein, we report the positive surgical margin (PSM) rates during the RARP learning curve of a single surgeon with significant previous laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) experience.Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of the first 400 men with prostate cancer treated with RARP by a single surgeon (BS) with significant LRP experience. Our primary outcome was the impact of case timing in the learning curve on margin status. Our analysis was conducted by dividing the case numbers into quartiles (Q1‒Q4) and determining if a case falling into an earlier quartile had an impact on margin status relative to the most recent quartile (Q4).Results: The Q1 cases had an odds ratio for margin positivity of 1.74 compared to Q4 (p=0.1). Multivariate logistic regression did not demonstrate case number to be a significant predictor of PSM. The mean Q1 operative time was 207.4 minutes, decreasing to 179.2 by Q4 (p<0.0001). The mean Q1 estimated blood loss was 255.1 ml, decreasing to 213.6 by Q4 (p=0.0064). There was no change in length of hospitalization within the study period.Conclusions: Even when controlling for copredictors, a statistically significant learning curve for PSM rate of a surgeon with significant previous LRP experience was not detected during the first 400 RARP cases. We hypothesize that previous LRP experience may reduce the RARP PSM learning curve.


BMC Urology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuya Hikita ◽  
Masashi Honda ◽  
Shogo Teraoka ◽  
Ryoma Nishikawa ◽  
Yuske Kimura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In this study, we investigated the effect of preoperative prostate morphology, especially intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), on continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods Retrospective analysis was applied to patients who underwent RARP between October 2010 and July 2014. The following parameters were assessed in all patients: age, body mass index (BMI), prostate-specific antigen, magnetic resonance imaging and pressure-flow studies findings. The impact of preoperative and intraoperative factors on postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. To evaluate the effects of IPP, the patients were divided into groups according to the IPP length: Group 1, < 5 mm and Group 2, ≥ 5 mm. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, Quality of Life index and the number of pads used were assessed. Results A total of 119 patients were eligible for this study. Multivariate analyses showed that IPP (odds ratio (OR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.28, p < 0.05) and nerve-sparing (NS) (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18–0.61, p < 0.01) were significant factors related to UI in the first month after RARP. Twelve months after RARP, multivariate analyses revealed that only NS is a factor related to postoperative UI (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18–0.61, p < 0.01). The comparison of Groups 1 and 2 indicated significant differences in age (p < 0.01), prostate volume (p < 0.01), total IPSS and voiding symptom score (p < 0.05), compliance (p < 0.01), and detrusor pressure at maximum flow (p < 0.01). Group 1 had a higher continence rate (38.0%) than Group 2 (20.8%) in the first month after RARP (p < 0.05), but the difference was no longer significant from the third month after RARP. The total IPSS and voiding symptom scores were significantly different between the two groups before RARP, however, the significant difference disappeared from the first month after RARP. Conclusions The data suggest that IPP affects early postoperative UI. Although NS was strongly involved in UI in the early and later stages after RARP, IPP had no effect on UI in the later stages.


2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Andrea Bravi ◽  
Amy Tin ◽  
Emily Vertosick ◽  
Elio Mazzone ◽  
Alberto Martini ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Joshua Montroy ◽  
Ehab Elzayat ◽  
Chris Morash ◽  
Brian Blew ◽  
Luke T. Lavallée ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is concern that surgical quality initially declines during the learning phase of robotic surgery. At our institution, we used a multi-surgeon programmatic approach to the introduction of robotic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of patients treated during the first year of our program.Methods: This is a historical cohort of all radical prostatectomy patients during a one-year period. Baseline, perioperative, and long-term followup data were prospectively and retrospectively collected. Treatment failure was a composite of any postoperative radiation, androgen-deprivation, or prostate-specific antigen (PSA)≥0.2. Results: During the study period, 225 radical prostatectomy procedures were performed (104 robotic and 121 open). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (p>0.05). All patients were continent and 74% were potent prior to surgery. Mean estimated blood loss (280 cc vs. 760 cc; p<0.001) and blood transfusion (0% vs. 8.3%; p=0.002) was lower in the robotic cohort. Non-transfusion complications were similar between groups (13% vs. 12%; p=0.7). Mean hospital stay was shorter in the robotic cohort (1.4 vs. 2.5 days). There was no difference in overall positive margin rate (38% vs. 43%; p=0.4) or treatment failure at a median followup of 3.5 years (p=0.4). Robotically treated patients were more often continent (89% vs. 77%; p=0.02) and potent (48% vs. 32%; p=0.02).Conclusions: Using an inclusive multi-surgeon approach, robotic prostatectomy was introduced safely at a Canadian academic institution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Roman I. Slusarenco ◽  
Konstantin V. Mikheev ◽  
Artem O. Prostomolotov ◽  
Roman B. Sukhanov ◽  
Evgeny A. Bezrukov

This study aimed to report the learning curve in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by one surgeon who is experienced in laparoscopic prostatectomies. The records of 145 RARP cases performed between 2015 and 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 comprised the first 49 cases, group 2 comprised 50–88 cases, and the rest of the cases were assigned to group 3. Continence was defined as the necessity to use at least one pad during a day. Additionally, erectile function recovery was defined as having erection sufficient for sexual intercourse regardless of using a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Continence and erectile function recovery were assessed during interviews at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. First, all procedures were successfully performed without conversions or blood transfusions. The median follow-up period was 22 months. Moreover, the median skin-to-skin operative time (OT) was 220 minutes. The median blood loss was 150 ml, and the mean hospital stay was 8.9 ± 3.87 days. The median prostate volume was 36 cm³. The overall positive surgical margin rate was 13.1%. Overall, 38 (26.2%) postoperative complications were observed, and 17.9% of them were graded as minor. Anastomotic leakage decreased significantly from group 1 to group 3 (26.5% and 7%, respectively). The continence recovery (0-1 pad) rates were 60.6%, 75.7%, and 84.9% at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, respectively. Subsequently, the erectile function recovery rates were 50.9% and 65.4% at 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively. In conclusion, there are several types of learning curves for RARP. First, the shallowest learning curve was observed for the OT. Regarding the analysis of “advanced learning curve,” demonstrating the improvement of OT and blood loss is considered insufficient. Therefore, additional oncological and functional results that require a longer period of investigation are required.


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