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Introduction: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is an established, minimally invasive technique to treat patients with renal masses. The aim of this study was to assess the learning curve (LC) of RAPN, evaluate its impact on perioperative outcomes following RAPN and to study the role of surgeon experience in achieving “trifecta” outcomes following RAPN. Methods: We prospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological outcomes of 108 consecutive patients who underwent RAPN for renal tumors from January 2012 to December 2016 by a laparoscopy trained surgeon with no prior robotic experience. We used warm ischemia time (WIT) <20 min, operative time <120 min, and blood loss <100 ml as endpoints for plotting the LCs. Trifecta was analyzed in relation to our LC. Results: Surgeon experience was found to correlate with WIT, operative time, and blood loss. Overall 18.5% of patients developed complications. Complication rate reduced with increasing surgeon experience. LC was 44 cases for WIT ≤20 min, 44 cases for operative time <120 min, and 54 cases for blood loss <100 ml. Trifecta outcome was achieved in 67.6% patients overall and was found to correlate with increasing surgeon experience. Improvement in trifecta outcomes continued to occur beyond the LC. Conclusions: RAPN is a viable option for nephron-sparing surgery in patients with renal carcinoma. For a surgeon trained in laparoscopy, acceptable perioperative outcomes following RAPN can be achieved after an LC of about 44 cases. Increasing surgeon experience was associated with improved “trifecta” achievement following RAPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: "Primum non nocere" (first do no harm): Hippocrates (c. 460 BC-377 BC). Wrong site surgery is the fourth commonest sentinel event after patient suicide, operative and post-operative complications, and medication errors. Misinterpretation of the clinic letters or radiology reports is the commonest reason for the wrong site being marked before surgery. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 50 cases each of operations carried out on the kidney, ureter, and the testis. The side mentioned on clinic letters, the consent form, and radiology reports lists were also studied. The results were analyzed in detail to determine where the potential pitfalls were likely to arise. Results: A total of 803 clinic letters from 150 cases were reviewed. The side of disease was not documented in 8.71% and five patients had the wrong side mentioned in one of their clinic letters. In the radiology reports, the side was not mentioned in three cases and it was reported wrongly in two patients. No wrong side was ever consented for and no wrong side surgery was performed. Conclusion: The side of surgery was not always indicated in clinic letter, theatre list, or the consent form despite the procedure being carried on a bilateral organ. As misinterpretation is a major cause of wrong side surgery, it is prudent that the side is mentioned every time in every clinic letter, consent form, and on the theatre list. The WHO surgical safety checklist has already been very effective in minimizing the wrong site surgery in the National Health Service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Circumcision, by most conventional methodologies, involves division of the frenulum and excision of the entire foreskin covering the glans. This seemingly simple procedure is occasionally associated with dreadful and devastating complications. We describe a new frenulum-sparing technique that circumvents some of the potential complications of conventional techniques and could also potentially help preserve preputial role in sexual function. Materials and Methods: An initial dorsal slit, three fourths of the way up to the corona is extended laterally and obliquely on either side, to meet the preputial edge, 3-4 mm from the frenulum. A broad sleeve of sub-coronal mucosa is thus preserved. The frenulum is left untouched, leaving a wide skin bridge connecting the mucosal sleeve with the shaft skin. The raw area is closed with interrupted, synthetic absorbable sutures. Over a three year period, 42 patients were circumcised using this technique. Results: No significant complications like frenular bleed, painful postoperative erections, chordee, meatal stenosis, or urethracutaneous fistula were observed in any patient. The cosmetic results were pleasing. Conclusion: The frenulum-sparing technique of circumcision is a promising modification to the various existing techniques. The method described is technically easier to perform than conventional frenulum-dividing procedures and has an acceptable cosmesis. Further randomised controlled studies on larger cohorts are necessary to establish the true benefits of this technique over established procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of postoperative drains date back to Hippocrates. We report an iatrogenic case of migrated drain into the retroperitoneum. A novel technique using a rigid cystoscope for retrieval is described that prevented another laparotomy.