Circulating Chromogranin A is associated with disease extent, progression and recurrence in patients with non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NF-PNET).

Objectives: Non-functioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NF-PNET) are rare tumors with heterogeneous biology. Radiology and serum biomarkers are used for post-resection surveillance; however, no universally established protocol exists. Serum Chromogranin A (CgA) concentration is elevated in NF-PNET, and generally correlates with burden of disease; many CgA studies include mixed gastrointestinal and pancreatic populations.

The use of nephron-sparing intervention does not appear to be compromised after a period of active surveillance for patients with cT1 renal masses.

Introduction And Objective: It remains unknown whether the use of nephron sparing intervention (NSI) is impacted with delayed intervention after a period of active surveillance (AS) compared with immediate intervention for patients with clinically localized renal masses ≤7cm (cT1RMs). We hypothesized that the proportion of patients undergoing NSI is similar among patients undergoing immediate and delayed intervention for cT1RMs.

Methods: We retrospective reviewed the prospectively maintained Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) registry for patients undergoing intervention for cT1RMs from 05/2017 to 09/2023.

Impact of Gene Expression Classifier Testing on Adjuvant Treatment Following Radical Prostatectomy: The G-MINOR Prospective Randomized Cluster-crossover Trial.

Background And Objective: Decipher is a tissue-based genomic classifier (GC) developed and validated in the post-radical prostatectomy (RP) setting as a predictor of metastasis. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled cluster-crossover trial assessing the use of Decipher to determine its impact on adjuvant treatment after RP.

Methods: Eligible patients had undergone RP within 9 mo of enrollment, had pT3-4 disease and/or positive surgical margins, and prostate-specific antigen <0.

Staging accuracy in patients with clinical T2N0 gastric cancer: Implications for treatment sequencing.

Background: Patients with clinical T2N0 (cT2N0) gastric adenocarcinoma are recommended to undergo either perioperative chemotherapy or upfront resection. If T2N0 disease is pathologically confirmed, patients may be observed without chemotherapy. These guidelines create the possibility of both systemic therapy overuse and underuse depending on clinical staging accuracy.

Surgeon Skill and Perioperative Outcomes in Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

Importance: Technical skill in complex surgical procedures may affect clinical outcomes, and there is growing interest in understanding the clinical implications of surgeon proficiency levels.

Objectives: To determine whether surgeon scores representing technical skills of robot-assisted kidney surgery are associated with patient outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This quality improvement study included 10 urological surgeons participating in a surgical collaborative in Michigan from July 2021 to September 2022.

Total Pancreatectomy With Percutaneous Islet Autotransplant After Remote Islet Processing: A Viable Paradigm?

Objectives: Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT) is important therapy for select chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. The specialized technique of islet isolation limits widespread TPIAT use. We hypothesized that remote islet isolation provides satisfactory islet yield and perioperative outcomes.

The impact of low pressure pneumoperitoneum in robotic assisted radical prostatectomy II: a prospective, randomized, double blinded trial.

Objective: To analyze postoperative ileus rates and postoperative complications between the different pneumoperitoneum settings. The secondary objective was to evaluate narcotic use and intraoperative blood loss between the different pneumoperitoneum settings.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double blinded study was conducted at pneumoperitoneum pressures of either 12 mmHg or 15 mmHg for patients undergoing robotic assisted radical prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection by a single high volume surgeon.

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with variant histology muscle invasive bladder cancer undergoing robotic cystectomy: Data from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium.

Objective: To assess the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for patients with variant histology (VH) muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Methods: Retrospective review of 988 patients who underwent RARC (2004-2023) for MIBC. Primary outcomes included the utilization of NAC among this cohort of patients, frequency of downstaging, and discordance between preoperative and final pathology in terms of the presence of VH.

Practice-Level Variation in Opioid-Free Discharge Following Surgery for T1 Renal Masses: A MUSIC-KIDNEY Analysis.

Introduction: Opioid prescription following surgery has played a role in the current opioid epidemic. We evaluated practice-level variation in opioid prescribing following surgery for cT1 renal masses and examined the relationships between opioid-free discharge and postoperative emergency department (ED) visits and readmissions.

Methods: We retrospectively examined all T1 renal mass (RM) patients with data regarding postoperative opioid prescriptions within the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative-Kidney Mass: Identifying and Defining Necessary Evaluation and Therapy (MUSIC-KIDNEY) registry from April 2021 to March 2023.

Transduodenal Sphincteroplasty: A Visual Case Study.

Background: Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a challenging and rare clinical entity resulting in pancreatobiliary pain and stasis of bile and pancreatic juice. This problem was classically treated with surgical therapy, but as classification of the disease has changed and newer methods of endoscopic evaluation and therapy have evolved, operative transduodenal sphincteroplasty is now generally reserved as a final therapeutic option for these patients. In this video and manuscript, we describe our approach to operative transduodenal sphincteroplasty in a patient with type I Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Transgastric pancreatic necrosectomy: Tricks of the trade.

Necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) affects 20 % of the 300,000 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis every year. Mechanical intervention to debride necrotic and/or infected pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue is frequently required. Minimally invasive approaches to treat pancreatic necrosis have gained popularity over the last two decades, including transgastric pancreatic necrosectomy.

Building a Roadmap for Surveillance of Renal Masses Using a Modified Delphi Method to Help Achieve Consensus.

Objective: To establish a consensus for initial evaluation and follow-up of patients on active surveillance (AS) for T1 renal masses (T1RM).

Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to gather information about AS of T1RM, with a focus on patient selection, timing/type of imaging modality, and triggers for intervention. A consensus panel of Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative-affiliated urologists who routinely manage renal masses was formed.

Adolescent male with bilateral succinate dehydrogenase-deficient renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney managed successfully with staged bilateral robotic-assisted partial nephrectomies: A case report.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare subset of familial RCC with only 59 cases reported. SDH deficiency is associated with hereditary paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma syndrome. Most of the cases are solitary tumors with only two reported cases of bilateral tumor.

Readmission in acute pancreatitis: Etiology, risk factors, and opportunities for improvement.

Acute pancreatitis is associated with a readmission rate ranging from 7 to 34%. Readmission rates are highest among biliary (4-37%) and alcohol-induced (2-60%) acute pancreatitis. Severe acute pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis have readmission rates ranging from 20 to 75%.

Analysis of Complications After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Between 2002-2021.

Objective: To identify trends in complications following robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) using a multi-institutional database, the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC).

Methods: A retrospective review of the IRCC database was performed (2976 patients, 26 institutions from 11 countries). Postoperative complications were categorized as overall or high grade (≥ Clavien Dindo III) and were further categorized based on type/organ site.

Management of Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Necrotizing pancreatitis affects 10% to 15% of all patients with acute pancreatitis. Despite improved understanding of this complex disease, it is still attended by up to 15% mortality. Necrotizing pancreatitis provides the clinical challenges of working in a multi-disciplinary group, determining proper timing for intervention, and identifying appropriate intervention approaches.

Obesity Worsens Local and Systemic Complications of Necrotizing Pancreatitis and Prolongs Disease Course.

Background: Obesity is epidemic in the USA. Limited data exist examining obesity's influence on necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) disease course.

Methods: Retrospective review of prospectively maintained database of 571 adult necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated between 2007 and 2018.

Which objective emergency department parameters leads to expedited intervention in patients with acute urinary tract calculi.

Objectives: To retrospectively determine which objective measurements had an increased likelihood of requiring immediate surgical intervention in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute ureteral calculi.

Materials And Methods: Employing our institution's electronic medical record system, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 4366 patients who presented to the ED with an acute ureteral calculus over an 8-year period. Data consisting of relevant demographic information, vital signs, laboratory parameters, and interventional history was obtained and analyzed.

Robotic-assisted nephrectomy with level II IVC thrombectomy using Rummel Tourniquets.

Background:: Inferior vena cava (IVC) invasion from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs at a rate of 4-10% (1). IVC thrombectomy (IVC-TE) can be an open procedure because of the need for handling of the IVC (2). The first reported series of robotic management of IVC-TE started in 2011 for the management of Level I - II thrombi with subsequent case reports in recent years (2-5).

Early postoperative serum hyperamylasemia: Harbinger of morbidity hiding in plain sight?

Background: The clinical significance of postoperative serum pancreatic enzyme elevation after pancreatoduodenectomy is understudied. We hypothesized that elevation in serum enzymes predicts morbidity and mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Methods: Retrospective review of 677 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy at a single institution from 2013 to 2019.