High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) hemiablation of the prostate: Late follow-up MRI findings in non-recurrent patients.

Objectives: Focal therapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging option for the treatment of prostate cancer and often followed up by MRI. Image assessment of treatment failure, however, requires proper knowledge about typical procedure-related changes in prostate MRI, which is sparse, in particular for unilateral HIFU treatment and late follow up (beyond 6 months). The goal of this study was therefore to compile the type and frequency of such MRI findings in selected patients without recurrent cancer 12 months after prostate hemiablation.

Intravesical Glycosaminoglycan Replacement with Chondroitin Sulphate (Gepan(®) instill) in Patients with Chronic Radiotherapy- or Chemotherapy-Associated Cystitis.

Background And Objective: Intravesical instillation of glycosaminoglycans is a promising option for the treatment of chronic cystitis, as it supports the regeneration of the damaged urothelial layer. We investigated the efficacy of short-term intravesical chondroitin sulphate treatment (six courses of instillation) in patients with chronic radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-associated cystitis.

Methods: This prospective, observational study included patients with chronic radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-associated cystitis, who received six once-weekly intravesical instillations of 0.

Extraperitoneal approach for robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy.

Objective: To present the experience with the extraperitoneal approach for robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) in a technique replicating the vesicocapsular incision technique of open surgery.

Patients And Methods: RASP was performed on patients with a prostate volume of >80 cm(3) with an indication for open enucleation of the prostate. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated by uroflowmetry, prostate-specific antigen level, and postvoid residual measurement, as well as by the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire.

Robot-assisted technique for boari flap ureteral reimplantation: is robot assistance beneficial?

Background And Purpose: Ureteral reconstructive surgery necessitates adequate exposure of the ureteral lesion and results in large abdominal incisions. Robot assistance allows the performance of complex ureteral reconstructive surgery through small incisions. The current series includes only cases of Boari flaps performed by robot assistance and attempts to describe in detail the technique, review the literature, as well as to expand the experience in the current literature.

Renal autotransplantation--a possibility in the treatment of complex renal vascular diseases and ureteric injuries.

Background: We report our contemporary experiences with renal autotransplantation in patients with complicated renal vascular diseases and/or complex ureteral injuries. Since its first performance, renal autotransplantation has been steadily improved and become a safe and effective procedure.

Material/methods: Between 1998 and 2006, 6 renal autotransplantations in 6 patients were performed at the University Medical Center of Leipzig.

Evaluating the learning curve of experienced laparoscopic surgeons in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background And Purpose: Radical prostatectomy is the gold standard surgical treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer. There is no consensus on the impact of previous laparoscopic experience on the learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). We compared the perioperative complications and early patient outcomes from our initial 100 cases of RALP with laparoscopic prostatectomy (LRP) cases performed well beyond the learning curve.

Clinical outcomes of laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery radical nephrectomy.

Introduction: The conventional laparoscopic surgery is now paving way to the new technologies including robotic and laparoscopic single-site surgery (LESS). We present our updated experience on LESS radical nephrectomy (LESS-RN).

Patients And Methods: The data from patients undergoing LESS-RN in our two institutions were reviewed along with various clinical and pathological parameters.