Browsing by Author "Cicione, A"
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- Collecting system percutaneous access using real-time tracking sensors: first pig model in vivo experiencePublication . Rodrigues, PL; Vilaça, JL; Oliveira, C; Cicione, A; Rassweiler, J; Fonseca, J; Rodrigues, NF; Correia-Pinto, J; Lima, EPURPOSE: Precise needle puncture of the renal collecting system is a challenging and essential step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). This works aims to evaluate the efficiency of a new real-time electromagnetic tracking (EMT) system for in vivo kidney puncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six anesthetized female pigs underwent ureterorenoscopies in order to place a catheter with an EMT sensor into the desired puncture site and to ascertain the success of puncture. Subsequently, a tracked needle with a similar EMT sensor was navigated into the sensor inside the catheter. Four punctures were performed by two surgeons in each pig: one in the kidney and one in the middle ureter, on both right and left pig sides. Number of attempts and time needed to evaluate the virtual trajectory and to perform the percutaneous puncture were outcomes measurements. RESULTS: Overall 24 punctures were easily performed without any complications. Surgeons required more time to evaluate the trajectory during ureteral puncture than kidney (median 15 versus 13 seconds, range 14 to 18 and 11 to 16 seconds, respectively; p= 0.1). The median renal and ureteral puncture time were 19 and 51 seconds respectively (range 14 to 45 and 45 to 67; p=0.003). Two attempts were needed to achieve a successful ureteral puncture. The presented technique demands presence of renal stone for testing. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed EMT solution for renal collecting system puncture proved to be highly accurate, simple and quicker. This method might represent a paradigm shift in percutaneous kidney access techniques.
- Contemporary urologic minilaparoscopy: indications, techniques, and surgical outcomes in a multi-institutional European cohort.Publication . Porpiglia, F; Autorino, R; Cicione, A; Pagliarulo, V; Falsaperla, M; Volpe, A; Gozen, AS; Celia, A; De Sio, M; Saita, A; Damiano, R; Zacchero, M; Fiori, C; Terrone, C; Bertolo, R; Greco, F; Breda, A; Lima, E; Rassweiler, JOBJECTIVES: 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. The main surgical outcome parameters were analyzed and relevant operative data related to the surgical technique were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 192 patients (mean age 45.25±17.8 years) were included in the analysis. Most of them were nonobese (mean body mass index [BMI] 24.7±3.6 kg/m(2)) at low estimated surgical risk (mean American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] 1.69±0.68). Indications for surgery were mostly nononcologic (132 cases, 68.8%). Most of the procedures were done in the upper urinary tract (133 cases, 69.2%) and were mostly with a reconstructive intent (109 cases, 56.7%). Overall operative time was 132.7±52.3 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 60.9±47.6 mL while the mean hospital stay was 5±2.1 days. Most of the postoperative complications were low Clavien grade (1 and 2), with only one (0.5%) grade 3 and one (0.5%) grade 4 complications recorded. CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of common procedures can be safely and effectively performed with ML techniques. By duplicating the principles of standard laparoscopy, but potentially offering less surgical scar and trauma, ML can be regarded as a viable option when looking for a virtually "scarless" surgery.
- Metabolic syndrome diagnosis and widespread high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia significantly increase prostate cancer risk: results from a multicenter biopsy study.Publication . Cicione, A; De Nunzio, C; Tubaro, A; Cantiello, F; Manno, S; Oliveira, C; Lima, E; Damiano, RBACKGROUND: To test in multicenter setting if patients affected of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and initial widespread high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (wHGPIN) diagnosis are at higher risk of prostate cancer (PCa) on repeat biopsy. METHODS: Patients clinical charts from three European Academic Hospital were reviewed in order to identify patients with initial diagnosis of HGPIN undergone to repeat biopsy. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted to minimize patient heterogeneity. MetS was defined according to Word Heart Organization criteria while initial wHGPIN when ≥4 cores biopsy were involved. A multivariate logistic model was computed to assess the association between PCa and clinical-pathological variables. RESULTS: Overall 283 patients were scheduled. Median age was 67 years (IQR 62-72). MetS was diagnosed in 116/283 (41 %) patients and PCa was detected in 84/283 (29.7 %) patients. In particular, PCa was more frequently diagnosed in patients affected of wHGPIN and MetS (45/86, 52.3 %) than in patients with wHGPIN and normal metabolic profile (28/95, 29.5 %), p = 0.002. The multivariate logistic model confirmed that wHGPIN and MetS are independent risk factors for following PCa diagnosis, respectively OR 2.4 (95 % CI 1.01-5.71, p = 0.04), OR 2.79 (95 % CI 1.49-5.22, p = 0.01) while total PSA and DRE findings are not able to predict PCa at repeat biopsy, OR 1.05 (95 % CI 0.98-1.03 p = 0.69) and OR 1.01 (95 % CI 0.55-1.84, p = 0.96) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: wHGPIN is positively associated to PCa; assessing metabolic profile and repeat prostate biopsy is advisable in patients with initial diagnosis of wHGPIN.
- Novel method of full-thickness bladder closure with an endoscopic suturing machine: a survival study in a porcine modelPublication . Oliveira, C; Autorino, R; Ferreira, C; Cicione, A; Damiano, R; De Sio, M; Correia-Pinto, J; Lima, EOBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a pure endoscopic closure method for vesical perforations using fully absorbable material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pilot experimental study was performed in eight anaesthetized female pigs. Four 10-mm and four 20-mm endoscopic full thickness cystotomies were created. An endoscopic suturing machine (RD-180®; LSI Solutions, Victor, NY, USA) was deployed through the working channel of a cystoscope and used to close the incisions with absorbable sutures. Immediate assessment of the quality of the closure was obtained by distending the bladder with saline solution stained with methylene blue under laparoscopic control. After 3 weeks of follow-up, a necropsy examination was performed to check for signs of peritonitis and wound dehiscence and to assess the quality of healing. RESULTS: The experiment was completed in all eight pigs without complications. The median procedure time was 10 ± 4.3 min. The immediate bladder distention test did not show any methylene blue leakage. The postoperative period was uneventful. The post mortem examination after 3 weeks revealed complete healing of the bladder wall incisions with no signs of infection, wound dehiscence or adhesions in the peritoneal cavity of any of the pigs. CONCLUSION: This study describes a successful novel method for endoscopic closure of bladder perforations. The technique was easy, reproducible and safe. Nevertheless, further experimental investigation should be carried out before clinical application of this method.
- Retropubic, laparoscopic and mini‑laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a prospective assessment of patient scar satisfactionPublication . Quattrone, C; Cicione, A; Oliveira, C; Autorino, R; Cantiello, F; Mirone, V; De Sio, M; Carrubbo, L; Damiano, R; Pavone, C; Lima, EPURPOSE: To compare patient scar satisfaction after retropubic, standard laparoscopic, mini-laparoscopic (ML) and open radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: Patients undergoing RP for a diagnosis of localized prostate cancer at a single academic hospital between September 2012 and December 2013 were enrolled in this prospective nonrandomized study. The patients were included in three study arms: open surgery, VLP and ML. A skin stapler was used for surgical wound closure in all cases. Demographic and main surgical outcomes, including perioperative complications, were analyzed. Surgical scar satisfaction was measured using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Questionnaire (POSAS) and the two Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ) scales, respectively, recorded at skin clips removal and either at 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 32 patients were enrolled and completed the 6 month of follow-up. At clips removal, laparoscopic approaches offered better scar result than open surgery according to the POSAS. However, at 6 months, no differences were detected between VLP and open, whereas ML was still associated with a better scar outcome (p = 0.001). This finding was also confirmed by both BIQ scales, including the body image score (ML 9.8 ± 1.69, open 15.73 ± 3.47, VLP 13.27 ± 3.64; p = 0.001) and the cosmetic score (ML 16.6 ± 4.12, open 10 ± 1.9, LP 12.91 ± 3.59; p = 0.001). Small sample size and lack of randomization represent the main limitations of this study. CONCLUSIONS: ML RP offers a better cosmetic outcome when compared to both open and standard laparoscopic RP, representing a step toward minimal surgical scar. The impact of scar outcome on RP patients' quality of life remains to be determined.
- Three-dimensional vs standard laparoscopy: comparative assessment using a validated program for laparoscopic urologic skillsPublication . Cicione, A; Autorino, R; Breda, A; De Sio, M; Damiano, R; Fusco, F; Greco, F; Carvalho-Dias, E; Mota, P; Nogueira, C; Pinho, P; Mirone, V; Correia-Pinto, J; Rassweiler, J; Lima, EOBJECTIVE: To compare the last generation of 3-dimensional imaging (3D) vs standard 2-dimensional imaging (2D) laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted during the 4th Minimally Invasive Urological Surgical Week Course held in Braga (Portugal) in April 2013. The course participants and faculty were asked to perform standardized tasks in the dry laboratory setting and randomly assigned into 2 study groups; one starting with 3D, the other with 2D laparoscopy. The 5 tasks of the European Training in Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills were performed. Time to complete each task and errors made were recorded and analyzed. An end-of-study questionnaire was filled by the participants. RESULTS: Ten laparoscopic experts and 23 laparoscopy-naïve residents were included. Overall, a significantly better performance was obtained using 3D in terms of time (1115 seconds, interquartile range [IQR] 596-1469 vs 1299 seconds, IQR 620-1723; P = .027) and number of errors (2, IQR 1-3 vs 3, IQR 2-5.5; P = .001). However, the experts were faster only in the "peg transfer" task when using the 3D, whereas naïves improved their performance in 3 of the 5 tasks. A linear correlation between level of experience and performance was found. Three-dimensional imaging was perceived as "easier" by a third of the laparoscopy-naïve participants (P = .027). CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional imaging seems to facilitate surgical performance of urologic surgeons without laparoscopic background in the dry laboratory setting. The advantage provided by 3D for those with previous laparoscopic experience remains to be demonstrated. Further studies are needed to determine the actual advantage of 3D over standard 2D laparoscopy in the clinical setting.