Next-generation prostate cancer biobanking: toward a processing protocol amenable for the International Cancer Genome Consortium.

Next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing requires intact nucleic acids from high-quality human tissue samples to better elucidate the molecular basis of cancer. We have developed a prostate biobanking protocol to acquire suitable samples for sequencing without compromising the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. To assess the clinical implications of implementing this protocol, we evaluated 105 consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens from November 2008 to February 2009.

Duration of microdissection testicular sperm extraction procedures: relationship to sperm retrieval success.

Purpose: We evaluated the operative time of microdissection testicular sperm extraction in successful and failed procedures to identify the chance of sperm retrieval during longer microsurgical procedures.

Materials And Methods: A total of 793 men with nonobstructive azoospermia underwent a first attempt at microdissection testicular sperm extraction from January 2000 to September 2009. Clinical factors were analyzed, including age, testicular volume, endocrinological data and histology.

Successful repeat microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Purpose: We studied factors that can predict successful repeat microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 126 men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent 1 successful microdissection testicular sperm extraction attempt. Clinical factors identifiable at the second procedure, including age, testicular volume, endocrinological data and histology, were analyzed.

Residency training program paradigms for teaching robotic surgical skills to urology residents.

The advent of laparoscopic and robotic techniques for management of urologic malignancies marked the beginning of an ever-expanding array of minimally invasive options available to cancer patients. With the popularity of these treatment modalities, there is a growing need for trained surgical oncologists who not only have a deep understanding of the disease process and adept surgical skills, but also show technical mastery in operating the equipment used to perform these techniques. Establishing a robotic prostatectomy program is a tremendous undertaking for any institution, as it involves a huge cost, especially in the purchasing and maintenance of the robot.

Visual cues as a surrogate for tactile feedback during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: posterolateral margin rates in 1340 consecutive patients.

Objective: To analyse consecutive cases of robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), present the incidence of nerve-sparing-related positive surgical margins (SM+), include visual cues that might assist in smoothly changing to the robotic platform, and discuss the scientific rationale for 'intersensory integration' which might explain the 'reverse Braille' phenomenon, i.e. the ability to feel when vision is greatly enhanced, as the lack of tactile feedback during RALP is often cited as a disadvantage of robotic surgery, interfering with a surgeon's ability to make intraoperative oncological decisions.

Prostate volume and the incidence of extraprostatic extension: is there a relation?

Background And Purpose: Extraprostatic extension (EPE) of tumor is an important prognostic indicator that has an impact on long-term survival after radical prostatectomy. We investigated whether the prostate size has any association with the tumor volume and the incidence of EPE.

Patients And Methods: Seven hundred consecutive robot-assisted radical prostatectomy procedures performed by a single surgeon at a single center were studied.

Does 3-Dimensional (3-D) visualization improve the quality of assistance during robotic radical prostatectomy?

Objective: 3-Dimensional (3-D) visualization by the surgeon is considered to be one of the major advantages of robotic prostatectomy. We undertook this study to see if passing on this technology to the surgical assistants would improve the efficiency of their assistance.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in consecutive patients undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy by the same team, in one month at our center.

Future directions of robotic surgery: a case study of the Cornell athermal robotic technique of prostatectomy.

Robotic radical prostatectomy (RRP) has become an effective modality in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. We detail the experience at our institution and provide a perspective for future considerations of RRP with respect to improved preoperative imaging and surgical instrumentation.

Pelvic autonomic nerve mapping around the prostate by intraoperative electrical stimulation with simultaneous measurement of intracavernous and intraurethral pressure.

Purpose: In previous studies we noted that the neurovascular bundle was not identical to the bundle of the cavernous nerve fibers. In this study we sought to prove these anatomical findings electrophysiologically and map the autonomic nerve fibers by intraoperative simultaneous measurement of intracavernous pressure and intraurethral pressure.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2004 and May 2005 electrical stimulation was performed in 27 open pelvic surgeries, including 26 radical retropubic prostatectomies and 1 radical cystectomy, using an original bipolar electrode before prostate removal.

Preservation of the puboprostatic collar and puboperineoplasty for early recovery of urinary continence after robotic prostatectomy: anatomic basis and preliminary outcomes.

Objectives: The aims of the present study are to prove the hypothesis that the preservation of the puboprostatic collar and puboperineoplasty contribute to the early recovery of urinary continence after robotic radical prostatectomy. We reconfirm the anatomy of the periurethral supporting tissue and show the preliminary result on the early continence of patients undergoing this modification.

Methods: Using 10, male, fresh cadavers, we traced the endopelvic fascia, the fascia of levator ani, puboprostatic ligaments, rhabdosphincter, and puboperinealis muscle to devise strategies in preserving this complex.

Athermal Robotic Technique of prostatectomy in patients with large prostate glands (>75 g): technique and initial results.

Objective: To report our experience with robotic radical prostatectomy (rRP) for prostate glands of >75 g, as this technique is developing rapidly.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2005 and November 2005, 30 men with prostates of >75 g had rRP. Their clinicopathological and operative data were reviewed.

Anatomy of autonomic nerve component in the male pelvis: the new concept from a perspective for robotic nerve sparing radical prostatectomy.

The DaVinci Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale California) with its magnified 3-D vision and multi-jointed wristed instruments enabled us to perform radical prostatectomy with consideration for the pelvic anatomy. In the present paper, we review the pelvic autonomic neuroanatomy with respect to robotic prostatectomy and demonstrate the procedures and critical points of nerve-sparing robotic radical prostatectomy based on novel anatomic concepts. Microscopic and macroscopic data were acquired from 30 fresh and 25 fixed male cadavers.

Robotic prostatectomy: a pooled analysis of published literature.

Objective: Robotic prostatectomy has been recently added to the treatment armamentarium of localized prostate cancer. We reviewed published data on this modality with critical appraisal of outcomes and complications.

Methods: A Medline search was performed that encompassed all published articles on robotic prostatectomy.