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Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a widespread and frustrating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, with severe consequences on patients' quality of life and health care systems' costs. Currently, the most severe cases of SUI are treated using implanted (and rather invasive) extraurethral artificial sphincters. The authors propose an innovative, minimally invasive endourethral device for the treatment of SUI. Methods: Ten patients with SUI were enrolled in three Italian centers and underwent device implantation. After 10, 30, 60, and 90 days, correct device position was confirmed by ultrasonography. Improvements in continence and quality of life were evaluated through a 24-hour pad-test, an International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnarie-Short Form (ICI-Q) and a custom checklist. The device was explanted after 90 days. Results: The proposed device was successfully implanted and explanted in 8 out of 10 patients. The results of the pad-test, ICI-Q, and custom checklist demonstrated remarkable improvements in continence (median improvement: 82% with respect to the initial condition) and quality of life (mean reduction of the impact of urine losses on the quality of life: 61%). No major pain or discomfort was reported. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed endourethral artificial sphincter in addressing SUI. The proposed device was successfully implanted and explanted in a short time (∼10 minutes) without intrinsic side effects and without triggering pain or discomfort.

Purpose: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the most common robotic procedures performed in urologic oncology. The Hugo Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System (Medtronic, USA©) has recently been launched on the market and is characterized by the modularity of four different independent arm carts. The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate safety and feasibility of three-arms setting for RARP using the Hugo RAS™ System in a large case series., Methods: Between October 2022 and December 2023, a large case series of patients from two tertiary referral center who underwent RARP through HUGO™ RAS were prospectively enrolled. Informed written consent was obtained before the procedure and a three-arms setting was used in every case. Follow-up was scheduled according to EAU guidelines., Results: A total of 86 patients were included in this study and underwent RARP with Hugo™ RAS System. Median Console time time was 114 min (IQR, 75-150), median docking time 4 min (IQR, 3-5). Lymphadenectomy was successfully performed when indicated in 19 patients (22.1%). A vesicourethral anastomosis using the modified Van Velthoven technique was successfully achieved in all cases. No post-operative complications > Clavien II up to 30 post-operative days were reported. In all patients, catheter was removed on the 7th postoperative day., Conclusion: We conducted the first large case series of RARP through the novel Hugo™ RAS System using a three-arms configuration. This innovative robotic platform showed an easily accessible docking system, providing excellent perioperative outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Despite advancements in prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and fusion biopsy (FB), the management of incidental prostate cancer (IPCa) after surgery for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective study is to determine the prevalence of IPCa in our cohort and identify potential predictors for its occurrence., Methods: We enrolled patients underwent TURP or simple prostatectomy for BPO at our high-volume center between January 2020-December 2022. Data on age, pre-operative total PSA (tPSA) and PSA density (PSAd) levels, prostate volume, previous MRI, biopsies, specimen weight, rates of positive tissue slices, ISUP score and three-month tPSA were collected., Results: Of 454 patients with negative digital rectal examination who underwent BPO surgery, 74 patients (16.3%) were found to have IPCa. Of these, 33 patients (44.6%) had undergone previous mpMRI. Among the patients who had mpMRI, 23 had negative mpMRI results for suspected prostate cancer, while 10 had positive mpMRI findings (PIRADS ≥ 3) but no evidence of tumor upon FB. KW analysis indicates that PSAd was statistically associated with higher ISUP score, while at univariable regression analysis negative mpMRI (p = 0.03) was the only potential predictor for IPCa., Conclusions: Among the ISUP groups, PSAd showed a correlation with the tumor, while negative mpMRI was protective against clinically significant PCa. In the era of mpMRI and FB, the IPCa rates found at our center is higher than reported in existing literature and if it were confirmed with further studies, maybe there is a need for expansion in urology guidelines., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: We aim to compare the performance of three different radiomics models (logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM)) and clinical nomograms (Briganti, MSKCC, Yale, and Roach) for predicting lymph node involvement (LNI) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients., Materials and Methods: The retrospective study includes 95 patients who underwent mp-MRI and radical prostatectomy for PCa with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Imaging data (intensity in T2, DWI, ADC, and PIRADS), clinical data (age and pre-MRI PSA), histological data (Gleason score, TNM staging, histological type, capsule invasion, seminal vesicle invasion, and neurovascular bundle involvement), and clinical nomograms (Yale, Roach, MSKCC, and Briganti) were collected for each patient. Manual segmentation of the index lesions was performed for each patient using an open-source program (3D SLICER). Radiomic features were extracted for each segmentation using the Pyradiomics library for each sequence (T2, DWI, and ADC). The features were then selected and used to train and test three different radiomics models (LR, RF, and SVM) independently using ChatGPT software (v 4o). The coefficient value of each feature was calculated (significant value for coefficient ≥ ±0.5). The predictive performance of the radiomics models and clinical nomograms was assessed using accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) (significant value for p ≤ 0.05). Thus, the diagnostic accuracy between the radiomics and clinical models were compared., Results: This study identified 343 features per patient (330 radiomics features and 13 clinical features). The most significant features were T2_nodulofirstordervariance and T2_nodulofirstorderkurtosis. The highest predictive performance was achieved by the RF model with DWI (accuracy 86%, AUC 0.89) and ADC (accuracy 89%, AUC 0.67). Clinical nomograms demonstrated satisfactory but lower predictive performance compared to the RF model in the DWI sequences., Conclusions: Among the prediction models developed using integrated data (radiomics and semantics), RF shows slightly higher diagnostic accuracy in terms of AUC compared to clinical nomograms in PCa lymph node involvement prediction.

Background : The Hugo™ Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system is a new cutting-edge robotic platform designed for clinical applications. Nevertheless, its application for cystic renal tumors has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this context, we present an initial series of Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy (RAPN) procedures carried out using the Hugo™ RAS system for cystic renal masses. Methods : Between October 2022 and January 2024, twenty-seven RAPN procedures for renal tumors were performed at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico. Our prospective board-approved dataset was queried for "cystic features" (n = 12). Perioperative data were collected. The eGFR was calculated according to the CKD-EPI formula. Post-operative complications were reported according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Computed tomography (CT) scans for follow-up were performed according to the EAU guidelines. Trifecta was defined as the coexistence of negative surgical margin status, no Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3 complications, and eGFR decline ≤ 30%. Results : All the patients successfully underwent RAPN without the need for conversion or additional port placement. The median docking and console time were 5.5 (IQR, 4-6) and 79.5 min (IQR, 58-91 min), respectively. No intraoperative complications occurred, as well as clashes between instruments or with the bedside assistant. Two minor postoperative complications were recorded (Clavien-Dindo II). At discharge, serum creatinine and eGFR were comparable to preoperative values. Only one patient (8.4%) displayed positive surgical margins. The rate of trifecta achievement was 91.7%. Conclusions : RAPN for cystic renal masses using the novel Hugo™ RAS system can be safely and effectively performed. This robotic system provided satisfactory peri-operative outcomes, preserving renal function and displaying low postoperative complications and a high trifecta rate achievement.

Background: Recently, an innovative tool called "proficiency score" was introduced to assess the learning curve for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). However, the initial study only focused on patients with low-risk prostate cancer for whom pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) was not required. To address this issue, we aimed to validate proficiency scores of a contemporary multicenter cohort of patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with RARP plus extended PLND by trainee surgeons., Material and Methods: Between 2010 and 2020, 4 Italian institutional prostate-cancer datasets were merged and queried for "RARP" and "high-risk prostate cancer." High-risk prostate cancer was defined according to the most recent European Association of Urology guidelines as follows: prostate-specific antigen >20 ng/mL, International Society of Urological Pathology ≥4, and/or clinical stage (cT) ≥ 2c on preoperative imaging. The selected cohort (n = 144) included clinical cases performed by trainee surgeons (n = 4) after completing their RARP learning curve (50 procedures for low-risk prostate cancer). The outcome of interest, the proficiency score, was defined as the coexistence of all the following criteria: a comparable operation time to the interquartile range of the mentor surgeon at each center, absence of any significant perioperative complications Clavien-Dindo Grade 3-5, no perioperative blood transfusions, and negative surgical margins. A logistic binary regression model was built to identify the predictors of 1-year trifecta achievement in the trainee cohort. For all statistical analyses, a 2-sided p < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: A proficiency score was achieved in 42.3% patients. At univariable level, proficiency score was associated with 1-year trifecta achievement (odds ratio, 8.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.42-31.7; p = 0.001). After multivariable adjustments for age, nerve-sparing, and surgical technique, the proficiency score independently predicted 1-year trifecta achievement (odds ratio, 9.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.83-50.1; p = 0.007)., Conclusions: Our findings support the use of proficiency scores in patients and require extended PLND in addition to RARP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using flexible ureterorenoscopes is a cornerstone approach for renal stone removal, yet it carries a significant risk of postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI). With the emergence of single-use ureterorenoscopes, there is growing interest in their potential to mitigate this risk. This study aimed to compare the postoperative infection rates between single-use and multi-use ureterorenoscopes in RIRS procedures and to identify predictors of postoperative UTI. Methods: Data were collected from 112 consecutive patients who underwent RIRS for renal stones between March 2022 and September 2023. Peri-operative variables including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), stone size, stone location, type of ureterorenoscope, Hounsfield Units (HU), pre-operative hydronephrosis, laboratory analysis, and operative time were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the predictors of postoperative UTI. Results: Of the cohort, 77 surgeries (68.7%) utilized multi-use ureterorenoscopes, while 35 (31.3%) utilized single-use devices. Stone diameter, number of stones, type of ureterorenoscope, and operative time were significant predictors of postoperative UTI in the univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression showed that operative time (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.55-0.99; p = 0.03) and type of ureterorenoscope (multi-use vs. single-use) (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08-1.2; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of postoperative UTI. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study highlights that multi-use ureterorenoscopes and prolonged operative time are associated with an increased risk of postoperative UTI in RIRS procedures. Careful pre-operative evaluation and meticulous patient selection are essential to minimize the occurrence of postoperative UTIs and optimize patient outcomes in RIRS for renal stones.

Introduction: Hugo Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System has been conceived with enhanced modularity but its role for nephron-sparing surgery setting still remains poorly explored. We aimed to describe our experience in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) with a three-arms setting for the first off-clamp series using the new Hugo RAS System., Methods: Patients were placed on an extended flank position at the margin of the surgical bed with a slightly flexion (45°). The first 11 mm robotic trocar (camera port) was placed along the pararectal line 14 ± 2 cm far from the umbilicus. The pneumoperitoneum was then induced through the AirSeal system (SurgiQuest, Milford, Connecticut, USA©). Two more 8 mm operative robotic ports were placed under direct vision, either 8 ± 1 cm far from optic's port. Two 12 mm laparoscopic ports for bed-assistant were placed between robotic ports. Monopolar curved shears, fenestrated grasper, and large needle driver were used in a three-instruments configuration., Results: Off-clamp RAPN was successfully performed in seven patients with cT1 renal masses using a trans-peritoneal route. Median port placement and docking time was 6 min (IQR, 4-8 min). Hemostasis was achieved through renorraphy using a single transfix stitch with sliding clips technique. There was no need for additional ports placement. No intraoperative complications occurred, no clashing of robotic instruments or between the robotic arms was observed. No technical failures of the system occurred. Median console time was 83 min (IQR, 68-115 min). Median estimated blood loss were 200 ml (IQR, 50-400 ml). All patients were discharged between post-operative day 2 and 3, without the need of hospital readmission. No complications were recorded within the first 30 post-operative days., Conclusions: We performed the first series of off-clamp RAPN using the novel HUGO RAS System. This novel robotic platform showed an easy-friendly docking system, providing excellent perioperative outcomes with a simple three-arms configuration., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background/Objectives : The absence of validated tools to assess the skill transfer from laparoscopy to robotic surgery remains an unsolved issue in the context of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). We aimed to describe and validate a novel proficiency score to critically evaluate the surgical quality of RAPN with the Hugo™ RAS System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Methods : Between October 2022 and September 2023, 27 consecutive patients underwent off-clamp RAPN for localized renal tumors at our institution. To analyze the learning curve (LC), the cohort was chronologically divided into two phases of 6 months each. Proficiency was defined as the achievement of trifecta while maintaining a comparable intraoperative time in the interquartile range of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy performed by the same surgeon. A logistic binary regression model was built to identify predictors of proficiency achievement. Results : A proficiency score was achieved in 14 patients (74.1%). At univariable analysis, number of consecutive procedures > 12 (OR 13.7; 95%CI 2.05-21.1, p = 0.007), pathological tumor size (OR 0.92; 95%CI 0.89-0.99, p = 0.04) and essential blood hypertension (OR 0.16; 95%CI 0.03-0.82, p = 0.02) were found to be predictors of proficiency score. At multivariable analysis, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, number of consecutive procedures > 12 (OR 8.1; 95%CI 1.44-14.6, p = 0.03) was the only independent predictor of proficiency score achievement. Conclusions : Our results showed that the skills of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon are transferrable to the novel Hugo™ RAS System in the context of nephron-sparing surgery. Improved surgical quality may be expected after completing the first 12 consecutive procedures.

(1) Background : Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is still performed in many referred urological institutions, representing a valid alternative to robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). We aimed to compare trifecta outcomes of LPN and RAPN with the Hugo™ RAS System. (2) Methods : Between October 2022 and September 2023, eighty-nine patients underwent minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (group A, RAPN = 27; group B, Laparoscopic PN = 62) for localized renal tumors at our Institution. Continuous variables were presented as median and IQR and compared by means of the Mann-Whitney U test, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies (%) and compared by means of the χ 2 test. (3) Results : Group A showed a higher rate of male patients (81.5% vs. 59.7%, p = 0.04) and a higher trend towards larger clinical tumor size (34 vs. 29 mm, p = 0.14). All the other baseline variables were comparable between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Regarding post-operative data, group A displayed a lower operative time (92 vs. 149.5 min, p = 0.005) and a shorter hospital stay (3 vs. 5, p = 0.002). A higher rate of malignant pathology was evidenced in group A (77.8% vs. 58.1%, p = 0.07) as well as a lower trend towards positive surgical margins (3.7% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.82), even if not statistically significant. (4) Conclusions : The rate of trifecta achievement was 92.6% and 82.3% for group A and B ( p = 0.10), respectively. In terms of trifecta outcomes, RAPN using the Hugo™ RAS System showed comparable results to LPN performed by the same experienced surgeon., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Available data on medical treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) support the use of more than one therapy line to delay chemotherapy. We evaluate in a longitudinal real life multicenter cohort, the oncological outcome of mCRPC patients treated with Abiraterone Acetate (AA) and Enzalutamide (EZ) in a chemo-naïve setting, who received locoregional treatments for subsequent development of oligorecurrent disease., Methods: We prospectively collected data on chemo-naïve mCRPC patients, who received either AA or EZ as first or second line treatment between Oct-2012 and Nov-2020 at 5 centers. High-volume disease at mCRPC onset was defined as bulky positive nodes (≥5 cm) or more than 6 bone metastases. Survival probabilities were computed at 12, 24, 48 and 60 months after treatment start. The impact of loco-regional treatments on progression free survival (PFS) were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was applied., Results: Overall, 117 chemo-naive mCRPC patients received a first line therapy. Fifty-seven (48.7%) patients received AA and 60 (51.3%) received EZ. Eight (6.7%) patients underwent salvage chemotherapy after first line failure. Overall, 28 patients shifted to a second line therapy. Two-yr progression-free, cancer-specific and overall survival probabilities were 65.5%, 82.2% and 78.4% respectively. Since diagnosis of mCRPC, oligo progression occurred in 25 patients who received stereotactic radiation therapy (23/25, 92%) focused on metastasis (4 nodal sites and 19 bones) or salvage lymph node dissection (2/25, 8%). At Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with low volume disease displayed higher PFS probabilities (log rank p = 0.009) and in this subgroup of patients loco-regional treatments had a significant impact on PFS (p = 0.048), while it was negligible in the whole cohort and in patients with high volume disease (p = 0.6 and p = 0.75)., Conclusions: Low-volume mCRPC patients are exposed to improved PFS and seem to benefit from locoregional treatments., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Although statins are known to protect against cardiovascular accidents, their anti-inflammatory features could play a role in preventing tumorigenesis. We investigated the association between statin intake and prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and aggressiveness., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed. Our dataset on patients undergone systematic prostate biopsy from December 2008 to December 2022 was searched for histopathologic and clinical data. Prognostic Grade Group ≥3 tumors were defined as high-grade (HG). The association between Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), statin use and PCa diagnosis and HG disease was assessed using logistic regression analyses., Results: Data on 1685 patients were collected; MetS affected 344 (20.4%) men and 138 (36.5%) were taking statins at least for 6 months at the time of biopsy. Among the 671 (39.8%) men diagnosed with PCa, 327 (48.7%) presented with a HG disease. Tumor incidence was higher among men taking statins, compared to controls (46.8% vs. 37.8%; P=0.002); also, high grade diseases were more common in the former group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (49.1% vs. 48.6%; P=0.89). Statin intake (OR 1.44; 95% CI [1.05-1.98]; P=0.02) independently predicted PCa diagnosis but not high-grade disease (P=0.8)., Conclusions: Statin use may be associated with an increased risk of PCa diagnosis.

(1) Background: Regional anesthesia, achieved through nerve blocks, has gained widespread acceptance as an effective pain management approach. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic (LAP) transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. (2) Methods: From January 2023 to July 2023, 60 consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive radical prostatectomy were selected. Patients were split into two groups receiving ultrasound-guided (US) or laparoscopic-guided TAP block. The primary outcome was a pain score expressed by a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS) during the first 72 h after surgery. (3) Results: Both LAP-TAP and US-TAP block groups were associated with lower pain scores postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in surgery time, blood loss, time to ambulation, length of stay, and pain after surgery (all p > 0.2). In the LAP-TAP block group, the overall operating room time was significantly shorter than in the US-TAP block group (140 vs. 152 min, p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach, compared to the US-TAP block, was equally safe and not inferior in reducing analgesic drug use postoperatively. Moreover, the intraoperative LAP-TAP block seems to be a time-sparing procedure that could be recommended when patient-controlled analgesia cannot be delivered.

Background: BPH-6 achievement remains an objective far to be evaluated for every technique currently available for the surgical management of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) with the goal of preserving ejaculatory function. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of BPH-6 achievement of urethral-sparing robot assisted simple prostatectomy (us-RASP) on a large series performed at two tertiary-care centers., Methods: Two institutional us-RASP datasets were merged, considering eligible all patients with a follow-up >12 months. Baseline, perioperative and functional data according to BPH-6 endpoint were assessed. Descriptive analysis was used. Frequencies and proportions were reported for categorical variables while medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were reported for continuously coded variables. A logistic regression model was built to identify predictors of BPH-6 achievement. For all statistical analyses, a two-sided P<0.05 was considered significant., Results: Study cohort consisted of 94 eligible patients. The median follow-up was 40.7 months (IQR 31.3-54.2). Overall BPH-6 achievement was 54.7%. Compared to baseline, reduction of ≥30% in IPSS was observed in 93.6% of patients, reduction of <6 points for SHIM in 95.7% and response to MSHQ-EjD question 3 indicating emission of semen in 72.6%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, prostate volume between 110-180 mL (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01-0.92; P=0.043) and higher preoperative SHIM score (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.05-1.32; P<0.01) were independent predictors of BPH-6 metric achievement., Conclusions: us-RASP may provide a complete resolution of BOO and preservation of ejaculatory function in sexually active men with a prostate volume ranging 110-180 mL.

Registrative trials recommended the use of upfront chemotherapy in high-volume metastatic prostate cancer. We reported survival outcomes of patients with high-volume mCRPC treated with ARTA in a chemo-naïve setting compared to patients treated with chemotherapy as first-line from a longitudinal real-life multicenter series. We retrospectively collected data on mCRPC patients treated at six centers. The dataset was queried for high-volume disease (defined as more than 6 bone lesions or bulky nodes ≥ 5 cm). We compared the main clinical features of chemo-naïve versus chemo-treated patients. The Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test were used to compare continuous and categorial variables, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare differences in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), cancer specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in an upfront ARTA or chemo-treated setting. Survival probabilities were computed at 12, 24, 48, and 60 months. Out of 216 patients, 88 cases with high-volume disease were selected. Sixty-nine patients (78.4%) received upfront ARTA, while 19 patients received chemotherapy as the first-line treatment option. Forty-eight patients received Abiraterone (AA), 21 patients received Enzalutamide (EZ) as the first-line treatment. The ARTA population was older ( p = 0.007) and less likely to receive further lines of treatment ( p = 0.001) than the chemo-treated cohort. The five-year PFS, CSS and OS were 60%, 73.3%, and 72.9%, respectively. Overall, 28 patients (31.8%) shifted after their first-line therapy to a second-line therapy: EZ was prescribed in 17 cases, AA in seven cases and radiometabolic therapy in four patients. Sixteen cases (18.2%) developed significant progression and were treated with chemotherapy. At Kaplan-Meyer analysis PFS, CSS and OS were comparable for upfront ARTA vs chemo-treated patients (log rank p = 0.10, p = 0.64 and p = 0.36, respectively). We reported comparable survival probabilities in a real-life series of high-volume mCRPC patients who either received upfront ARTA or chemotherapy. Patients primarily treated with chemotherapy were younger and more likely to receive further treatment lines than the upfront ARTA cohort. Our data support the use of novel antiandrogens as first line treatment regardless tumor burden, delaying the beginning of a more toxic chemotherapy in case of significant disease progression.

The current literature relating to the novel Hugo TM RAS System lacks consistent data concerning the bedside features of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). To describe the trocar placement and docking settings for RAPN with a three-arm configuration to streamline the procedure with Hugo TM RAS, between October 2022 and April 2023, twenty-five consecutive off-clamp RAPNs for renal tumors with the Hugo TM RAS System were performed. We conceived a trouble-free three-arm setting to ease and standardize RAPN trocar placement and docking settings with Hugo TM RAS. Perioperative data were collected. Post-operative complications were reported according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The eGFR was calculated according to the CKD-EPI formula. Continuous variables were presented as the median and IQR, while frequencies were reported as categorical variables. Off-clamp RAPNs were successfully performed in all cases without the need for conversion or additional port placement. The median age and BMI were 69 years (IQR, 60-73) and 27.3 kg/m 2 (IQR, 25.7-28.1), respectively. The median tumor size and R.E.N.A.L. score were 32.5 mm (IQR, 26-43.7) and 6 (IQR, 5-7), respectively. Two patients were affected by cT2 renal tumors. The median docking and console time were 5 (IQR, 5-6) and 90 min (IQR, 68-135.75 min), respectively, with slightly progressive improvements in the docking time achieved. No intraoperative complications occurred alongside clashes between instruments or with the bed assistant. In experienced hands, this simplified three-instrument configuration of the Hugo TM RAS System for off-clamp RAPN resulted in feasible and safe practice, providing patient-tailored trocar placement and docking with non-inferior peri-perioperative outcomes to other robotic platforms.

The use of robotic surgery (RS) in urology has grown exponentially in the last decade, but RS training has lagged behind. The launch of new robotic platforms has paved the way for the creation of innovative robotics training systems. The aim of our study is to test the new training system from Hugo™ RAS System-Medtronic. Between July 2020 and September 2022, a total of 44 residents from urology, gynaecology and general surgery at our institution participated in advanced robotic simulation training using the Hugo™ RAS simulator. Information about sex, age, year of residency, hours spent playing video games, laparoscopic or robotic exposure and interest in robotics (90.9% declared an interest in robotics) was collected. The training program involved three robotic exercises, and the residents performed these exercises under the guidance of a robotics tutor. The residents' performance was assessed based on five parameters: timing, range of motion, panoramic view, conflict of instruments and exercise completion. Their performance was evaluated according to an objective Hugo system form and a subjective assessment by the tutor. After completing the training, the residents completed a Likert scale questionnaire to gauge their overall satisfaction. The rate of the residents' improvement in almost all parameters of the three exercises between the first and the last attempts was statistically significant ( p < 0.02), indicating significant progress in the residents' robotic surgical skills during the training. The mean overall satisfaction score ± standard deviation (SD) was 9.4 ± 1.2, signifying a high level of satisfaction among the residents with the training program. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the training program utilizing the Hugo™ RAS System is effective in enhancing robotic surgical skills among residents and holds promise for the development of standardized robotics training programs in various surgical specialties.

Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze the predictive value of the Fournier gangrene severity index (FGSI), the simplified FGSI (SFGSI), and the Uludag FGSI (UFGSI) on mortality in patients affected by Fournier's Gangrene (FG)., Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, from January 2000 to May 2023, to identify original cohorts comparing data between surviving and non-surviving FG patients. The statistical analysis consisted of two parts. First, the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the FGSI, SFGSI, and UFGSI at admission were extrapolated from each study, and the pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was obtained using the Der Simonian-Laird random-effect model. Second, to evaluate the accuracy of the FGSI, SFGSI, and UFSGI in predicting mortality, true positive (TP), false positive (FP), true negative (TN), and false negative (FN) values were extracted where possible and reported in 2 × 2 contingency tables. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values were pooled, and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were constructed., Results: Overall, forty studies comprising 2257 patients were included. The pooled analysis revealed that the FGSI, SFGSI, and UFGSI values at admission were higher in non-survivors than survivors (MD: 5.53 (95% CI: 4.68-6.37); MD: 2.41 (95% CI: 1.06-3.77); and MD: 5.47 (95% CI: 3.68-7.26), respectively). Moreover, the AUC values of the FGSI, SFGSI, and UFGSI were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80-0.87), and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96), respectively., Conclusions: The higher scores of the FGSI, SFGSI, and UFGSI on admission were associated with mortality. Moreover, when comparing accuracy rates, the UFGSI exhibited the highest AUC value.

The advent of robotic surgical systems had a significant impact on every surgical area, especially urology, gynecology, and general and cardiac surgery. The aim of this article is to delineate robotic surgery, particularly focusing on its historical background, its evolution, its present status, and its future perspectives. A comprehensive literature review was conducted upon PubMed/MEDLINE, using the keywords "robotic surgical system", "robotic surgical device", "robotics AND urology". Additionally, the retrieved articles' reference lists were investigated. Analysis concentrated on urological surgical systems for laparoscopic surgery that have been given regulatory approval for use on humans. From the late 1980s, before daVinci ® Era in 2000s, ancestor platform as Probot ® and PUMA 560 were described to outline historical perspective. Thus, new robotic competitors of Intuitive Surgical such as Senhance ® , Revo-I ® , Versius ® , Avatera ® , Hinotori ® , and Hugo TM RAS were illustrated. Although daVinci ® had high level competitiveness, and for many years represented the most plausible option for robotic procedures, several modern platforms are emerging in the surgical market. Growing competition through unique features of the new robotic technologies might extend applications fields, improve diffusion, and increase cost-effectiveness procedures. More experiences are needed to identify the role of these new advancements in surgical branches and in healthcare systems.

Since its introduction in the early 2000s, robotic surgery has represented a significative innovation within a minimally invasive surgery approach. A variety of robotic platforms have been made available throughout the years, and the outcomes related to those platforms have been described in the literature for many types of surgeries. Medtronic's Hugo TM RAS system is one of the newest robotic generations launched, but because of its recent placing on the field, comprehensive clinical data are still lacking. The aim of the present state of the art is to address the current literature concerning the use of the Hugo TM RAS robot in order to report its feasibility, safety and clinical applications in different surgical branches. Two reviewers independently conducted a search on the "PubMed" electronic database, using the keywords "Hugo" and "Hugo RAS". After the initial screening of 35 results, a total of 15 articles concerning the Hugo RAS system were selected for the review, including both oncological and benign surgery. Patients' demographic and baseline data were compared including, when available, docking system times, complications and oncological outcomes in the fields of urologic, gynecologic and general surgery. With reference to urological procedures, a total of 156 robot-assisted radical prostatectomies, 10 robot-assisted partial nephrectomies, and 5 robot-assisted adrenalectomies were performed, involving a total of 171 patients. The surgical branch in which the Hugo system found its major application was urology, which was followed by gynecology and general surgery. The Hugo RAS system by Medtronic represents an innovative and safe surgical platform, with excellent perspective for the future and different clinical applications in many surgical branches. More studies are needed to validate the safety and results from this new robotic platform.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and frustrating condition that affects patients' quality of life as well as the Healthcare systems. Currently, the most severe cases of UI are treated using implanted, invasive artificial sphincters. We propose an innovative, minimally invasive magnetic endourethral sphincter for the treatment of stress UI (SUI) in patients for whom previous medical and surgical treatments have failed., Methods: Six patients with severe SUI were enrolled at a single center and underwent cystoscopic sphincter implantation. After 10 days, correct device position was confirmed by ultrasonography. The sphincter was explanted after 28 days., Results: In all patients, the sphincter was successfully implanted using an endoscopic approach. One patient reached the end of the pilot test (28 days) with the sphincter correctly placed. Patients' responses on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form questionnaire improved from a score of 18 out of 21 at the screening visit (UI without reasons) to a score of 3 out of 21 (almost perfect continence). No major pain and discomfort were reported., Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of sphincter implantation, explantation, and overall tolerability, although a redesign of the sphincter distal part is needed.

Several efforts in recent years have been made to predict urinary continence (UC) recovery after radical prostatectomy. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of surgical urethral length preservation (SULP) on urinary continence after LARP (laparoscopic-assisted radical prostatectomy). We retrospectively queried our datasets from May 2021 to May 2022. After the application of exclusion criteria, a total of 100 patients who underwent LARP for prostate cancer at our institution were enrolled. Through a sterile ruler inserted by a 12 mm trocar, the length of the membranous urethra spared during LARP was assessed intra-operatively. The baseline and peri- and postoperative data of patients were collected, and UC was defined as 0 or 1 on a safety pad. The median SULP was 20.5 mm (IQR, 14.5-25), and the median intraoperative EBL were 150 mL (IQR, 100-200). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed a significant difference at 20 mm, which was used as the cut-off value for SULP (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models showed that SULP and EBL < 250 mL were associated with UC recovery (all p < 0.02). Surgical urethral length preservation seemed to improve early UC recovery after LARP. Further multicentric studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Prostate cancer (PCa) surgery has a strong impact on men's social and sexual lives. For this reason, many patients ask for robotic surgery. To assess the rate of lost patients due to the lack of a robotic platform (RPl) at our center, we retrospectively selected 577 patients who underwent prostate biopsy between 2020 and 2021 who were eligible for radical prostatectomy (RP) (ISUP ≥ 2; age ≤ 70 yr). Patients eligible for surgery who decided to be operated received a phone call interview asking the reason for their choice. Overall, 230 patients (31.7%) underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical prostatectomy (LaRP) at our center, while 494 patients (68.3%) were not treated in our hospital. Finally, 347 patients were included: 87 patients (25.1%) underwent radiotherapy; 59 patients (17%) were already under another urologist's care; 113 patients (32.5%) underwent robotic surgery elsewhere; and 88 patients (25.4%) followed the suggestion of friends or relatives based on their surgical experience. Despite no surgical technique for RP having shown superiority in terms of oncological or functional outcomes, patients eligible for PCa treatment decided to be operated on elsewhere because of the lack of an RPl. Our results show how the presence of an RPl may increase the case volume of RP by 49% at our center.