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The incidence of bladder cancer is three times as high in men compared to women. Moreover, women are generally diagnosed with a more severe tumor stage and have poorer prognosis. This study aimed to examine the association between gender, stage, and prognosis among a subgroup of bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy. A total of 460 patients (131 women, 329 men) with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy at Aarhus University Hospital in 2015–2018 were retrospectively selected for this study and followed until 2021 at the latest. Correlations between gender, patient and tumor characteristics and oncological outcomes were analyzed by the Chi-squared test. By the use of multiple linear regression, we adjusted for age, comorbidity and the proportion of organ-confined and non-organ-confined disease at diagnosis. Female patients were found to be younger and less comorbid than male patients. A higher proportion of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer and non-organ-confined disease at the time of cystectomy was observed among female patients. Recurrence of cancer occurred 3.4 (0.1–6.7) months earlier in female patients, and they had a 47% higher cancer-specific mortality (RR = 1.47 (1.04–2.1)) compared to male patients. In the adjusted analysis, the association of an earlier recurrence in female patients remained. This study verifies that gender disparities exist among bladder cancer patients, even after adjusting for age, comorbidity and for the proportion of organ-confined and non-organ-confined disease at cystectomy. Further investigations are required to investigate the etiology of this observed difference between sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recommended treatment of localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is cystectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for eligible patients. However, the percentage who receive NAC is varying. The aim was to evaluate the variation in percentage of patients receiving NAC in Denmark since implementation in 2013, the potential influence of comorbidity on NAC administration, and the pathological outcome at time of cystectomy with and without NAC. Patients were identified by cystectomy procedure codes and date of diagnosis in the period 2013–2019 in The Danish Bladder Cancer Database. Chi square test and Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate demographics and tumor-specific characteristics. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and compare age-adjusted CCI subgroups. Overall, 1032 patients age ≤75 years and tumor stage ≥T2 were included in the study; 594 patients (58%) received NAC. The percentage of NAC administration varied from 27% to 92%. Patients who received NAC had significantly less comorbidity estimated by CCI when compared to patients not receiving NAC. Of patients with MIBC who received NAC, 57% had complete response (CR) at cystectomy, whereas 29% of patients who did not receive NAC had CR at cystectomy (p < 0.01). Patients with comorbidity estimated by high CCI score had a lower probability of receiving NAC. The probability of CR was twice as high in patients with MIBC treated with NAC compared to patients undergoing cystectomy alone. However, almost one third of patients with MIBC were tumor free at cystectomy despite no NAC administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parastomal hernia (PH) in association with an ileal conduit is a common complication that is difficult to treat. Mesh reinforcement has been suggested to improve outcomes; either as prophylaxis or for treatment of a parastomal hernia during abdominal wall reconstruction. A retrospective study was performed in consecutive patients subjected to mesh implantation between 2000 and 2016 having a concurrent or previous ileal conduit reconstruction. Postoperative and late urostomal complications, as well as hernia occurrence, were ascertained by a chart review of patients' records. A total of 25 patients were included of whom 13 (52%) developed either a urostomal complication, a PH, or both. Complications were caused by mesh erosion in four patients, of which three were diagnosed more than five years after surgery. Four patients developed a urostomal stenosis. One out of eight patients with urostomal complications were subjected to a new ileal conduit reconstruction and another four to other types of revisional surgery. Every second patient with an ileal conduit developed either a local urostomal complication, a PH, or both after abdominal wall mesh reconstruction. A careful and cautious attitude towards the use of mesh in patients with an ileal conduit is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas the literature has demonstrated an acceptable safety profile of stapled anastomoses when compared to the hand-sewn alternative in open surgery, the choice of intestinal anastomosis using sutures or staples remains inadequately investigated in robotic surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of both anastomotic techniques in robotic-assisted radical cystectomy. A retrospective analysis of patients with urinary bladder cancer undergoing cystectomy with urinary diversion and with ileo-ileal intestinal anastomosis at a single tertiary centre (2012–2018) was undertaken. The robotic operating time, hospital stay and GI complications were compared between the robotic-sewn (RS) and stapled anastomosis (SA) groups. The only difference between the groups was the anastomosis technique; the other technical steps during the operation were the same. Primary outcomes were GI complications; the secondary outcome was robotic operation time. There were 155 patients, of which 112 (73%) were male. The median age was 71 years old. A surgical stapling device was used to create 66 (43%) separate anastomoses, while a robot-sewn method was employed in 89 (57%) anastomoses. There were no statistically significant differences in primary and secondary outcomes between RS and SA. Compared to stapled anastomosis, a robot-sewn ileo-ileal anastomosis may serve as an alternative and cost-saving approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the predictors of post-ileal conduit (IC) parastomal hernia (PSH) based on a standard grading methodology and according to the patients reported outcome measures (PROM). A prospective evaluation for patients with IC attending their scheduled follow-up was conducted between December 2013 and October 2015. The hernia stage was determined according to the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification as types I and II included defect size < 5 cm without and with a concomitant incisional hernia, respectively. Types III and IV included defect size > 5 cm without and with a concomitant incisional hernia (high-grade hernia). The evaluation was performed by a non-contrast CT scan. PROM were defined as symptomatic if there were hernia-related abdominal discomfort, appliance problems, and/or bowel complications. Perioperative parameters were modeled for prediction of high-grade and PROM outcomes. PSH was diagnosed in 138 (39.9%) patients, symptomatic in 119 (34.4%) and high-grade in 59 (17%). Independent predictors of radiologically diagnosed PSH were hypoalbuminemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7; 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–2.7; p = 0.02), localised disease (OR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9; p = 0.04) and negative lymphadenopathy (OR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2–0.8; p = 0.004). Predictors of symptomatic PSH were hypoalbuminemia (OR: 2; 95%CI: 1.2–2.3: p = 0.003) and previous hernia surgery (OR: 2.1; 95%CI: 1.1–4.2; p = 0.024). Only a small proportion of patients with PSH were asymptomatic. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia was the most significant factor contributing to the development and symptomatizing of PSH. Previous hernia surgery further contributed to the patient complaint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]