Contemporary urologic minilaparoscopy: indications, techniques, and surgical outcomes in a multi-institutional European cohort.

Objectives: To provide an analytical overview of contemporary indications, techniques, and outcomes of urologic minilaparoscopy (ML) in multiple European centers.

Methods: Data of patients who had undergone a minilaparoscopic urologic procedure at nine European institutions between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively gathered. Surgical procedures were classified as upper or lower urinary tract and as ablative or extirpative and reconstructive.

Perioperative and renal functional outcomes of elective robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for renal tumours with high surgical complexity.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative, postoperative and functional outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for renal tumours with high surgical complexity at a large volume centre.

Patients And Methods: Perioperative and functional outcomes of RAPNs for renal tumours with a Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical (PADUA) score of ≥10 performed at our institution between September 2006 and December 2012 were collected in a prospectively maintained database and analysed. Surgical complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Robot-assisted, single-site, dismembered pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction with the new da Vinci platform: a stage 2a study.

Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) has gained popularity in urology over the last few years.

Objective: To report a stage 2a study of robot-assisted single-site (R-LESS) pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This study is an investigative pilot study of 30 consecutive cases of R-LESS pyeloplasty performed at two participating institutions between July 2011 and September 2013.

Simple enucleation versus standard partial nephrectomy for clinical T1 renal masses: perioperative outcomes based on a matched-pair comparison of 396 patients (RECORd project).

Objectives: To compare simple enucleation (SE) and standard partial nephrectomy (SPN) in terms of surgical results in a multicenter dataset (RECORd Project).

Materials And Methods: patients treated with nephron sparing surgery (NSS) for clinical T1 renal tumors between January 2009 and January 2011 were evaluated. Overall, 198 patients who underwent SE were retrospectively matched to 198 patients who underwent SPN.

[Suture materials in urology].

Since ancient times, sutures have been a fundamental part of the surgeon's practice. Beside the vegetable and animal origin materials, in the last decades different refined synthetic materials have been introduced in the clinical practice. More recently, different devices, such as staplers and tissue sealers have been developed.

The roles of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, PCA3 and prostate health index-which is the best predictor of prostate cancer after a negative biopsy?

Purpose: In patients with a negative prostate biopsy and persistent suspicion of prostate cancer, additional analyses such as the PCA3 score, PHI and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging have been proposed to reduce the number of unnecessary repeat biopsies. In this study we evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCA3, PHI, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and various combinations of these tests in the repeat biopsy setting.

Materials And Methods: A total of 170 patients with an initial negative prostate biopsy and persistent suspicion of prostate cancer were enrolled in this prospective study.

Fluctuation in prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) score in men undergoing first or repeat prostate biopsies.

Objective: To evaluate the variability in prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) score over time in men with elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels who are undergoing first or repeat prostate biopsy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 360 men from two Italian institutions who had undergone at least two PCA3 assessments were selected. Of these, 97.

Prognostic role of overt hypercortisolism in completely operated patients with adrenocortical cancer.

Background: Although prognostic parameters are important to guide adjuvant treatment, very few have been identified in patients with completely resected adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).

Objective: To assess the prognostic role of clinical symptoms of hypercortisolism in a large series of patients with completely resected ACC.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A total of 524 patients followed at referral centers for ACC in Europe and the United States entered the study.

Robotic versus laparoscopic adrenalectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Over the last decade, robot-assisted adrenalectomy has been included in the surgical armamentarium for the management of adrenal masses.

Objective: To critically analyze the available evidence of studies comparing laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic literature review was performed in August 2013 using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic search engines.

Open versus laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for clinical T1a renal masses: a matched-pair comparison of 280 patients with TRIFECTA outcomes (RECORd Project).

Aim Of The Study: To report a matched-pair comparative analysis between open (OPN) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for clinical (c) T1a renal masses from a large prospective multicenter dataset.

Materials And Methods: The RECORd Project includes all patients who underwent OPN and LPN for kidney cancer between January 2009 and January 2011 at 19 Italian centers. Open and laparoscopic groups were compared regarding clinical, surgical, pathologic, functional results and TRIFECTA outcome.

Margins, ischaemia and complications rate after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: impact of learning curve and tumour anatomical characteristics.

Objectives: To present our laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) results according to the margin, ischaemia and complications (MIC) system recently proposed for the standardized reporting of partial nephrectomy (PN) outcomes. To assess the role of learning curve and tumour anatomical characteristics on the outcomes by using MIC system.

Patients And Methods: Data were obtained from our prospectively maintained LPN database, including only patients who underwent LPN performed with vascular clamping.

Vegetarian low-protein diets supplemented with keto analogues: a niche for the few or an option for many?

Background: Low-protein diets are often mentioned but seldom used to slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential for implementation of a simplified low-protein diet supplemented with alpha-keto analogues (LPD-KA) as part of the routine work-up in CKD patients.

Methods: In an implementation study (December 2007-November 2011), all patients with CKD Stages IV-V not on dialysis, rapidly progressive Stage III and/or refractory proteinuria, were offered either a simplified LPD-KA, or commercially available low-protein food.

Prognostic role of bone sialoprotein in clear cell renal carcinoma.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) follows a variable clinical course related to disease stage and metastatic spread (including to bone). Molecular and genetic factors bear prognostic significance in RCC, including proteins involved in extracellular matrix invasion. Among these, bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) are physiologically implicated in bone metabolism, and have a prognostic role in several tumors.

Operative safety and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma >7 cm: a multicenter study of 222 patients.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) >7 cm, addressing the issue of modality and risk factors for complications and open conversion, and to assess the oncologic outcome.

Methods: The data of 222 patients undergoing LRN for RCC >7 cm prospectively enrolled from 2002 to 2010 at 5 urologic centers were reviewed. Transperitoneal LRN was performed by 5 experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Effects of serum testosterone levels after 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy on the outcome of patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Controversy exists about whether testosterone serum levels at a cutoff point of < 50 ng/dL during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHA) treatment are related to the outcome of patients with prostate cancer. We assessed the relationship between serum testosterone levels after 6 months of LHRHA therapy and disease outcome in a consecutive series of patients with prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Serum testosterone levels were measured prospectively in a cohort of patients given LHRHA for 6 months.

Excessive urinary tract dilatation and proteinuria in pregnancy: a common and overlooked association?

Background: Proteinuria and dilatation of the urinary tract are both relatively common in pregnancy, the latter with a spectrum of symptoms, from none to severe pain and infection. Proteinuria is a rare occurrence in acute obstructive nephropathy; it has been reported in pregnancy, where it may pose a challenging differential diagnosis with pre-eclampsia.The aim of the present study is to report on the incidence of proteinuria (≥ 0.

The use of mannitol in partial and live donor nephrectomy: an international survey.

Purpose: Animal studies have shown the potential benefits of mannitol as renoprotective during warm ischemia; it may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is sometimes used during partial nephrectomy (PN) and live donor nephrectomy (LDN). Despite this, a prospective study on mannitol has never been performed. The aim of this study is to document patterns of mannitol use during PN and LDN.

Clampless laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a step towards a harmless nephron-sparing surgery?

Purpose: To evaluate the results of our technique of clampless laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and its impact as an emerging treatment for small renal masses (SMRs).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained database: data of 117 patients who consecutively underwent LPN at our Institution from January 2009 to December 2011 were studied. Patients were divided into 2 Groups based on operative technique: Group A: clampless-LPN (cl-LPN); Group B: conventional LPN (clamping of renal artery).

Randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background: The advantages of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) over laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) have rarely been investigated in randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To compare RARP and LRP in terms of the functional, perioperative, and oncologic outcomes. The main end point of the study was changes in continence 3 mo after surgery.

Standard vs mini-laparoscopic pyeloplasty: perioperative outcomes and cosmetic results.

Unlabelled: Study Type - Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? New techniques and instrumentation in laparoscopy including the use of 'single-port' devices and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery have been proposed to reduce the invasiveness of these procedures. The introduction of small laparoscopic instruments (<3 mm) continues to further the field. To date, mini-laparoscopic instruments have been used in many urological procedures, e.