The impact of preoperative venous thromboembolism on patients undergoing TURBT: Perioperative outcomes and healthcare costs from US insurance claims data.

Objectives: To assess the impact of a positive history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) on perioperative outcomes, including length of in-hospital stay, readmission rates, 90-day postoperative complications, and healthcare costs in bladder cancer (BCa) patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) in the United States.

Patients And Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with a BCa diagnosis undergoing TURBT were identified in the Merative® Marketscan® Research de-identified databases between 2007 and 2021. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted by relevant perioperative confounders was used to investigate the association between diagnosis of VTE before TURBT and 90-day complication rates, new postoperative VTE events, re-hospitalization, and total hospital expenditures (2021 US dollars).

Gemcitabine and docetaxel for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: EuroGemDoce group results.

Objective: To evaluate the oncological efficacy and safety of sequential intravesical gemcitabine/docetaxel (Gem/Doce) therapy in a European cohort of patients with high-risk and very-high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after previous Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 95 patients with NMIBC, treated with Gem/Doce at 12 European centres between 2021 and 2024. Patients previously treated with BCG who had completed a full induction course and received at least one follow-up evaluation were included.

Differentiating sensor changes in a composite heart failure ICD monitoring index: clinical correlates and implications.

Background: The HeartLogic algorithm (Boston Scientific, St Paul, MN) integrates data from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) sensors to predict heart failure (HF) decompensation: first (S1) and third (S3) heart sounds, intrathoracic impedance, respiration rate, ratio of respiration rate to tidal volume (RSBI), and night heart rate.

Objective: This study assessed the relative changes in ICD sensors at the onset of HeartLogic alerts, their association with patient characteristics, and outcomes.

Methods: The study included 568 patients with HF carrying ICDs (CRT-D, n = 410) across 26 centers, with a median follow-up of 26 months.

Evolution and Prognostic Impact of Left Ventricular Myocardial Work Indices After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Purpose: Left ventricular myocardial work (LVMW) has been shown to better characterize LV function in patients with severe aortic stenosis by correcting LV afterload. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution in LVMW indices after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and their prognostic value.

Methods: The following LVMW indices were calculated before and immediately after TAVR in 255 patients (median age 82 years, 51% male): global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE).

Young age and adequate BCG are key factors for optimal BCG treatment efficacy in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Objective: To investigate the impact of ageing on survival outcomes in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treated non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients and its synergy with adequate BCG treatment.

Method: Patients with NMIBC who received BCG treatment from 2001 to 2020 were divided into group 1 (< = 70 years) and group 2 (> 70 years). Overall Survival (OS), Cancer-Specific Survival (CSS), Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS), and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: The ratio between tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) has been shown to be a reliable, non-invasive surrogate of the right ventricular-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling. The present study analysed the association between TAPSE/PASP and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and the prognostic role of RV-PA in patients undergoing CRT implantation. The primary endpoints were: the association between baseline TAPSE/PASP and CRT response/cardiovascular and all-cause death.

Biopsy strategies in the era of mpMRI: a comprehensive review.

Background: Since its initial description the prostate biopsy technique for detection of prostate cancer (PCA) has constantly evolved. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has been proven to have a sensitivity exceeding 90% to detect the index lesion. This narrative review discusses the evidence around several biopsy strategies, especially in the context of patients that might be eligible for focal therapy.

Local salvage therapies in patients with radio-recurrent prostate cancer following external beam radiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: To date, radio-recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the fourth most common urological malignancy when considering the number of men with localized PCa who undergo radiation treatment and subsequently experience a biochemical recurrence. This systematic review aimed to summarize available evidence about the outcomes of local salvage strategies in patients with local PCa recurrence following primary external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive bibliographic search on MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection databases in October 2023 to identify studies published in the last 20 years evaluating outcomes of local salvage procedures in patients with locally radio-recurrent PCa following EBRT.

Deintensification of Treatment for Low-grade Bladder Tumors: A Collaborative Review by the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG).

Background And Objective: Management of low-grade (LG) urothelium-confined (Ta stage) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) poses a distinct therapeutic challenge. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), the standard treatment, frequently has to be repeated because of high tumor recurrence rates. This places a considerable strain on both patients and health care infrastructure, underscoring the need for alternative management approaches.

Emergency robotic surgery: the experience of a single center and review of the literature.

Backgrounds: Laparoscopic surgery is widely used in abdominal emergency surgery (AES), and the possibility of extending this approach to the more recent robotic surgery (RS) arouses great interest. The slow diffusion of robotic technology mainly due to high costs and the longer RS operative time when compared to laparoscopy may represent disincentives, especially in AES. This study aims to report our experience in the use of RS in AES assessing its safety and feasibility, with particular focus on intra- and post-operative complications, conversion rate, and surgical learning curve.

Developments in conservative treatment for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Introduction: To reduce the risk of disease recurrence and progression of intermediate and high-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancers (NMIBCs), intravesical adjuvant treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) represents the standard of care, although up to 50% of patients will eventually recur and up to 20% of them will progress to Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC). Radical Cystectomy (RC) is the treatment of choice in this setting; however, this represents a major and morbid surgery, thus meaning that not all NMIBCs patient could undergo or may refuse this procedure or may refuse. The search for effective bladder sparing strategies in NMIBCs BCG-unresponsive patients is a hot topic in the urologic field.

Management of temporary mechanical circulatory support devices in cath-lab and cardiac intensive care unit.

Different temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) devices are available and can be used to maintain end-organ perfusion while reducing cardiac work and myocardial oxygen demand. tMCS can provide support to the right ventricle, left ventricle, or both, and its use can be considered in emergency situations such as cardiogenic shock or in elective procedures such as high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention to prevent haemodynamic deterioration. Invasive and, most importantly, non-invasive haemodynamic parameters should be taken into account when choosing the type of tMCS device and its initiation and weaning timing, determining the need for a device upgrade, and screening for complications.

Estimation of lifetime costs for patients receiving a transplant: the case of liver transplantation related to hepatitis B in Italy.

Introduction: In Italy, post-liver transplant (LT) hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection prophylaxis is frequently based on a combined regimen of anti-HBV immunoglobulin (HBIG) and oral antivirals. However, little information is available at the national level on the cost of LT and the contribution of HBV prophylaxis. This study aimed to quantify the direct healthcare cost for adult patients undergoing LT for HBV-related disease over a lifetime horizon and from the perspective of a National Healthcare Service.

Intraoperative technologies to assess margin status during radical prostatectomy - a narrative review.

Positive surgical margin (PSM) is a frequent concern for surgeons performing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa). PSM are recognized as risk factors for earlier biochemical recurrence and expose patients to adjuvant or salvage treatments such as external radiotherapy and hormonotherapy. Several strategies have been established to reduce PSM rate, while still allowing safe nerve-sparing surgery.

Changes in Global Longitudinal Strain after TAVI: Additional Prognostic Value over Cardiac Damage in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Previous studies demonstrated the prognostic value of baseline cardiac damage staging as well as left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in cardiac damage stage and LVGLS after TAVI and to investigate their prognostic values when integrated into the follow-up assessment. Patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI were hierarchically classified into cardiac damage stages based on echocardiographic criteria before TAVI and at a 6-month follow-up.

Echocardiographic assessment of patient hemodynamics in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome which is due to cardiac structural and/or functional abnormalities that result in elevated intra-cardiac pressures and/or inadequate cardiac output. Hemodynamic assessment in HF allows the identification and characterization of cardiac dysfunction, systemic and/or pulmonary congestion and the eventual impairment of systemic perfusion which are fundamental to phenotype HF, risk stratify HF patients and to guide their treatment. Patient hemodynamics can be characterized invasively with right heart catheterization but also non-invasively with the use of echocardiography and other non-invasive ultrasound tools.

Fluorescence-guided laparoscopic lymph node biopsy for lymphoma: the FLABILY study.

To date, no reports have indicated laparoscopic lymph node biopsies using Indocyanine green (ICG) in cases of lymphoproliferative disease. Preliminary data of patients undergoing fluorescence-guided laparoscopic lymph node biopsy (FGLLB) using ICG was retrospectively analysed from the multicentre registry FLABILY study. Between June 2022 and February 2024, 50 patients underwent FGLLB.