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The feasibility of remote perioperative telemonitoring of patient-generated physiologic health data and patient-reported outcomes in a high risk complex general and urologic oncology surgery population is evaluated.Complex general surgical/urologic oncology patients wore a pedometer, completed ePROs (electronic patient-reported outcome surveys) and record their vitals (weight, pulse, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and temperature) via a telehealth app platform. Feasibility (% adherence) was assessed as the primary outcome measure.Twenty-one patients with a median age 58 (32-82) years were included. The readmission rate was 33% and the incidence of ≥Grade 3a morbidity was 24%. Adherence to vital sign and ePRO measurements was 95% before surgery, 91% at discharge, and 82%, 68%, and 64% at postdischarge d2, 7, 14, and 30, respectively. There was significant worsening of mobility, self-care and usual daily activity at postdischarge d2 compared to preoperative baseline (p 0.05). Median daily preoperative steps taken by patients withGrade 3a versus ≥Grade 3a postoperative morbidity was 6062 versus 4166 (p 0.05). Of those interviewed, 87% (13/15) viewed vital sign devices as helpful in recovery.Telemonitoring is feasible in a general surgical and urologic oncology setting. Future studies will ascertain optimal patient selection, duration, and extent of perioperative monitoring.

Objectives To determine if eliminating the prophylactic placement of a pelvic drain (PD) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) affects the incidence of early (90-day) postoperative adverse events. Materials and Methods In this parallel-group, blinded, non-inferiority trial, we randomized patients planning to undergo RARP to one of two arms: no drain placement (ND) or PD placement. Patients with demonstrable intra-operative leakage upon bladder irrigation were excluded. Randomization sequence was determined a-priori using a computer algorithm, and included a stratified design with respect to low vs. intermediate/high D'Amico risk classifications. Surgeons remained blinded to the randomization arm until final eligibility was verified at the end of the RARP. The primary endpoint was overall incidence of 90-day complications which, based on our standard treatment using PD retrospectively, was estimated at 13%. The non-inferiority margin was set at 10%, and the planned sample size was 312. An interim analysis was planned and conducted when 1/3 of the planned accrual and follow-up was completed, to rule out futility if the delta margin was in excess of 0.1389. Results From 2012 to 2016, 189 patients were accrued to the study, with 92 patients allocated to the ND group and 97 patients allocated to the PD group. Due to lower than expected accrual rates, accrual to the study was halted by regulatory entities, and we did not reach the intended accrual goal. ND and PD groups were comparable in median PSA (6.3 vs 5.8 respectively, p=0.5), clinical stage (p=0.8), D'Amico risk classification (p=0.4), median lymph nodes dissected (17 vs 18, p=0.2) and proportion of patients receiving an extended pelvic lymph node dissection (70.7% vs 79.4% respectively, p=0.3). Incidence of 90-day overall and major (Clavien ≥ III) complications in the ND group (17.4% and 5.4%, respectively) was not inferior to the PD group (26.8% and 5.2%, respectively; p=0.0008 and p=0.007 for difference of proportions

Objective To prospectively assess the ideal dosing and the value of fluorescent sentinel lymph node (LN) detection with indocyanine green (ICG) for the detection of LN metastases in intermediate- and high-risk patients undergoing robot-assisted prostatectomy and extended pelvic LN dissection (ePLND). Patients and Methods Twenty patients received transperineal prostatic injections of ICG. Patients were cycled through 5 doses (1.25, 2.5, 3.75, 5, and 7.5 mg) so optimal ICG dosing could be discovered early. Results ICG injection was able to identify fluorescent LN (FLN) packets in all 20 patients. Compared to the higher ICG doses, the 1.25 and 2.5 mg doses had fewer FLN packets and were abandoned after 1 dose each. The median number of FLN packets was 4.0, 6.0, and 4.5 for the respective doses of 3.75, 5.0, and 7.5 mg. The external iliac group was the most common site of fluorescence in 27.2% of patients, followed by the common iliac (21.3%), obturator (20.3%), internal iliac (18.5%), and node of Cloquet (7.7%). Seven (35%) of 20 patients had node-positive disease. Of the 5 patients that had fluorescent tissue outside of our ePLND template, 1 had a positive node present in the anterior bladder neck fat. Across all patients, ICG had 62% sensitivity, 50% specificity, 8% positive predictive value, and 95% negative predictive value in detecting LN metastases. Conclusion The low sensitivity of ICG for the detection of LN metastases highlights why FLN dissection with ICG does not represent an alternative to ePLND.

Purpose This article describes a novel technique for the repair of penile urethral strictures and establishes the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of this innovative surgical approach. Materials and methods Patients with urethral strictures underwent a one-sided anterior dorsal oral mucosal graft urethroplasty through a penoscrotal inversion technique. The clinical outcome was considered a failure when any instrumentation was needed postoperatively, including dilatation. Results Five patients underwent the novel procedure. The patients' mean age was 58 years. The cause of stricture was instrumentation in 2 cases (40%), lichen sclerosis in 1 case (20%), and failed hypospadias repair in 2 cases (40%). The mean stricture length was 3 cm. The overall mean (range) follow-up was 6 months (range, 3-9 months). Of the 5 patients, 4 (80%) had a successful outcome and 1 (20%) had a failed outcome. The failure was successfully treated by use of a meatotomy. Conclusions The penile inversion technique through a penoscrotal incision is a viable option for the management of penile urethral strictures with several advantages to other techniques: namely, no penile skin incision, a single-stage operation, and supine positioning.

Despite advances in nonsurgical treatments and noninvasive surgical techniques, radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection remains the gold standard treatment for urothelial and non-urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with invasion into the muscularis propria [1]. Radical cystectomy is also frequently employed in the setting of high-risk, non-muscle-invasive disease refractory to less invasive therapies.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a procedure thought to require experience with a significant number of cases before mastering. Most RARP series examine outcomes after the learning curve or by combining results from multiple surgeons. We review a single surgeon’s experience during the transition from open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) to RARP using a matched case–control model. We prospectively analyzed 50 RARP cases and made comparison with the last 50 consecutive RRP cases. Operative time was longer for RARP than RRP (341 versus 235 min, p < 0.01), and mean estimated blood loss was less for RARP than RRP (533 versus 1,540 ml, p < 0.01). There was a trend towards fewer positive surgical margins (PSM) for RARP (10%) than RRP (24%; p = 0.06). High-risk patients were found to have a greater percentage of PSM following RRP (70%) in comparison with RARP (17%; p = 0.04). The number of patients who experienced complications was no different between groups (16 versus 12, p = 0.37). Erectile function at 12, 18, and 24 months showed no difference between groups (p = 0.15, 0.92, and 0.23, respectively). There was no difference in continence at 1 year (88.6% versus 89.1%; p = 0.94). During 27.1 months of follow-up for the RARP group and 30.4 months for the RRP group, 92% and 94% of patients had an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (defined as ≤0.1), respectively (p = 0.38). We report similar outcomes in patients undergoing RARP by a surgeon transitioning from RRP to RARP, confirming that the learning curve does not affect patient outcomes over a 2-year follow-up.

Background The technique of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has evolved significantly since its inception >10 yr ago. Several high-volume centers have reported standardized techniques with refinements and subsequent outcomes. Objective To review all existing literature on RARC and urinary diversion techniques and summarize key points that may affect oncologic, surgical, and functional outcomes. Design, setting, and participants The Pasadena Consensus Panel on RARC and urinary reconstruction convened May 3–4, 2014, to review the existing peer-reviewed literature and create recommendations for best practice. The panel consisted of experts in open radical cystectomy and RARC. No commercial support was received. Surgical procedure The consensus panel extensively reviewed the surgical technique of RARC in men and women, extended pelvic lymph node dissection, extracorporeal urinary diversion, and intracorporeal urinary diversion. Critical aspects of the technique are described. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Preoperative, operative, and postoperative parameters from the largest and most contemporary RARC series, stratified by urinary diversion technique, are presented. Results and limitations Preoperative, operative, and postoperative measures of RARC technique adhere closely to the standards established in open surgery. Conclusions Refinement of techniques for RARC and urinary diversion over the past 10 yr has made it safe, reproducible, and oncologically sound. Patient summary We summarize the critical aspects of surgical techniques reviewed at the Pasadena international consensus meeting on RARC and urinary reconstruction. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative measures of RARC technique adhere closely to the standards established in open surgery.