Publications by authors named "Ahmed E Ghazi"

Purpose: In the field of urology, 3D printing and modeling are now regularly utilized to enhance pre-operative planning, surgical training, patient-specific rehearsals (PSR), and patient education and counseling. Widespread accessibility and affordability of such technologies necessitates development of quality control measures to confirm the anatomical accuracy of these tools. Herein, we present three methods utilized to evaluate the anatomical accuracy of hydrogel PSR, developed using 3D printing and molding for pre-operative surgical rehearsals, of robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on enhancing training for robotic surgery crisis management, specifically the emergency robotic undocking protocol (ERUP), which traditionally relied on anecdotal experiences.
  • Researchers evaluated a new training curriculum through simulations that involved high-stress surgical scenarios to assess baseline knowledge, confidence, and surgical performance metrics.
  • Results showed significant improvements in knowledge and confidence post-training, with participants reporting high cognitive demand and perceived realism, indicating that the curriculum was effective in preparing teams for real-life surgical emergencies.
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The use of volume-rendered images is gaining popularity in the surgical planning for complex procedures. IRIS™ is an interactive software that delivers three-dimensional (3D) virtual anatomical models. We aimed to evaluate the preoperative clinical utility of IRIS for patients with ≤T2 localized renal tumors who underwent either partial nephrectomy (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN).

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to report on the safety (complications) and efficacy (oncological and functional outcomes) of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), performed at our institution, in patients aged over 70.

Patients And Methods: Review of our prospectively collected database [Cancer Information Systems (CAISIS)] identified two hundred and fifteen (215) patients, aged > 70, who underwent RARP for localized prostate cancer between July 2003 and August 2017. A propensity score-matched analysis, with multiple covariates, was performed to stratify the patients into Age ≤ 70 and Age > 70 comparison groups.

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the use of the Single Port (SP) robotic platform in treating bladder diverticula (BD) caused by bladder outflow obstruction (BOO) through two different surgical approaches: Extravesical (EV) and Transvesical (TV).
  • The methods employed included RABD-SP surgery with access through a subumbilical incision for the EV approach and a Gelport system for the TV approach, allowing for effective excision of BD in both cases without major complications.
  • Both patients experienced minimal blood loss, short hospital stays, and successful voiding trials post-surgery, demonstrating that RABD-SP can be tailored to individual patient needs for treating BD and related conditions.
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During the past 5 years, the body of literature surrounding the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing in the field of urology has grown exponentially. Incentivized by work hour restrictions, patient safety initiatives, and inspired by technical advances in biomaterials and rapid printing strategies, this emerging, and fascinating area of research has begun to make headway into clinical practice. However, concerns about cost, limited understanding of the technical processes involved, and lack of its potential uses remain barriers to its widespread adoption.

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Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) performed with the extraperitoneal (EP) technique (RASP-EP) minimizes the risk of bowel injury, particularly when bowel adhesions may be expected to be prominent, by negating the need to be in the transperitoneal space. However, there is a perception of its technical difficulty owing to the limited space that can be expanded within the space of Retzius. We aimed to describe, in the accompanying video, the step-by-step approach for a technically proficient procedure.

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Purpose: To assess the efficacy of an accelerated proficiency-based training protocol in robotic simulation practice in delivering durable proficiency compared to conventional training methods.

Methods: Novice medical students (n = 16) were randomized into either the accelerated skills acquisition protocol (ASAP) or conventional training protocol (CTP). Subjects were trained to proficiency on the da Vinci Skills Simulator (dVSS) by an expert trainer.

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Objective: To evaluate the utility of robotic repair of injuries to the ureter or bladder from obstetrical and gynaecological (OBGYN) surgery

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of all patients from four different high-volume institutions between 2002 and 2013 that had a robot-assisted (RA) repair by a urologist after an OBGYN genitourinary injury.

Results: Of the 43 OBGYN operations, 34 were hysterectomies: 10 open, 10 RA, nine vaginally, and five pure laparoscopic. Nine patients had alternative OBGYN operations: three caesarean sections, three oophorectomies (one open, two laparoscopic), one RA colpopexy, one open pelvic cervical cerclage with mesh and one RA removal of an invasive endometrioma.

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