Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:To describe and assess the outcomes of dorsal onlay oral mucosa graft urethroplasty for female urethral stricture. METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all female patients who underwent dorsal onlay oral (buccal or lingual) mucosa urethroplasty for urethral stricture between 2011 and 2020 at two academic institutions. The primary endpoint was clinical success defined as any subjective improvement in LUTS self-assessed by the patients 1-3 months after catheter removal. Four surgeons performed the urethroplasties using a standardized technique: suprameatal incision, dissection and longitudinal opening of the dorsal aspect of the urethra, harvest of the oral mucosa graft, graft onlay sutured into the urethral opening. RESULTS:Nineteen patients were included. The clinical success rate was 94.7% at 1-3 months and 90.9% at 1 year. After a median follow-up of 12 months (range 1-49) there was one recurrence (5.3%), clinical success was achieved in 17 patients (89.5%) and both the maximum urinary flow rate and post void residual were significantly improved (15.2 vs 7.4 ml/s preoperatively; P = .008 and 71.5 vs 161.1 ml preoperatively; P = .001 respectively). The de novo stress urinary incontinence rate was 15.7% at 1-3 months and 9.1% at 1 year. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Dorsal onlay oral mucosa graft urethroplasty for female urethral stricture appears feasible across multiple surgeons and is associated with a low perioperative morbidity, satisfactory functional outcomes and a low recurrence rate. Other series with larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.

OBJECTIVE:To describe a novel method of robotic assisted laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair (RAL-PHR), including the evolving use of the Da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic system. METHODS:Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected for patients who underwent RAL-PHR. The technique for RAL-PHR utilizes a 3 cm incision in the contralateral upper quadrant for the robotic trocar and a 12 mm assistant port. The hernia sac is freed from the fascial defect. Dual Surface Mesh is approximated to the fascial edges with a portion excised to tailor the conduit. RESULTS:Four patients underwent RAL-PHR and three utilized the SP robot. Median age was 74.4 (range: 69.0-76.9) and median BMI 28.6 (26.5-43.2). All patients underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer and median time from index operation to parastomal hernia repair was 47.3 (40.4-11.48) months. Concurrent operations to hernia repair included ureteroenteric stricture repair, panniculectomy, abdominal wall reconstruction, stoma revision, and incisional hernia repair. Median operative time was 3.9 (2.6-8.7) hours including concurrent operations, median EBL was 50 (10-100) cc, mesh used in 3 cases, with no intraoperative complications reported. Median length of stay was 1 day and 1 post-operative complication greater than Clavien 2 reported. At median follow up of 18.3 (3.63-38.3) months, no recurrences were reported and 1 patient had undergone stoma dilation in the OR. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:RAL-PHR using the SP system maximizes advantages of laparoscopic repair while allowing for flexibility to perform concurrent procedures and safer takedown of adhesions through just two incisions. RAL-PHR is a safe and effective alternative to open and laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair with several additional benefits.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:Developments in robotic reconstructive urology have introduced novel treatments for complex upper and lower urinary tract disease. Short-term and mid-term data demonstrates excellent outcomes and minimal morbidity, suggesting the advanced instrumentation and visualization of robotics represent a new treatment paradigm in patients that are historically difficult to treat. Here we review recent developments in the robotically assisted surgical management of urethral and ureteral strictures. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:The minimally invasive approach, enhanced precision and reach, and near-infrared fluorescence imaging capabilities of robotic platforms have proven to be valuable additions in reconstructive urology where perfusion is often compromised, or anatomy is distorted. These benefits are leveraged heavily in recent descriptions of robotic-assisted posterior urethroplasty and ureteroplasty. Short-term to mid-term follow-up data for these procedures show excellent patency rates with low morbidity and complication rates when compared with open approaches. Long-term data for these procedures are not yet available. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:The role of robotics in reconstructive urology is being actively investigated. Initial findings demonstrate excellent results with low morbidity in the treatment of upper and lower urinary tract disease. Long-term data will ultimately determine the role of robotics in the reconstructive armamentarium.

With the widespread dissemination of robotic surgical platforms, pathology previously deemed insurmountable or challenging has been treated with reliable and replicable outcomes. The advantages of precise articulation for dissection and suturing, tremor reduction, three-dimensional magnified visualization, and minimally invasive trocar sites have allowed for the management of such diverse disease as recurrent or refractory bladder neck stenoses, and radiation-induced ureteral strictures, with excellent perioperative and functional outcomes. Intraoperative adjuncts such as near-infrared imaging aid in identification and preservation of healthy tissue. More recent developments include robotics via the single port platform, gender-affirming surgery, and multidisciplinary approaches to complex pelvic reconstruction. Here, we review the recent literature comprising developments in robotic-assisted genitourinary reconstruction, with a view towards emerging technologies and future trends in techniques.