European urology
-
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) commonly recurs, requiring invasive and costly transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). A meta-analysis of seven trials published in 2004 demonstrated that intravesical chemotherapy (IVC) following TURBT reduces recurrences. Despite European Association of Urology endorsement, adoption of this practice has been modest. ⋯ Our updated meta-analysis supports that IVC prolongs RFI and reduces ERs of NMIBC when administered immediately after TURBT. However, contemporary methodology suggests low evidence quality for examined outcomes. Thus RCTs with careful randomization and blinding are still warranted to clarify the usefulness of immediate postoperative IVC in this population.
-
Review Practice Guideline
The 2013 EAU guidelines on chronic pelvic pain: is management of chronic pelvic pain a habit, a philosophy, or a science? 10 years of development.
Progress in the science of pain has led pain specialists to move away from an organ-centred understanding of pain located in the pelvis to an understanding based on the mechanism of pain and integrating, as far as possible, psychological, social, and sexual dimensions of the problem. This change is reflected in all areas, from taxonomy through treatment. However, deciding what is adequate investigation to rule out treatable disease before moving to this way of engaging with the patient experiencing pain is a complex process, informed by pain expertise as much as by organ-based medical knowledge. ⋯ Chronic pelvic pain persisting after appropriate treatment requires a different approach focussing on pain. This approach integrates the medical, psychosocial, and sexual elements of care to engage the patient in a collaborative journey towards self-management.
-
Approximately 10-20% of recurrences in patients treated with nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) develop beyond 5 yr after surgery (late recurrence). ⋯ LVI, Fuhrman grade 3/4, and a tumor stage >pT1 are independent predictors of late recurrence after at least 5 yr from surgery in patients with RCC. We developed a risk score that allows for prognostic stratification and individualized aftercare of patients with regard to counseling, follow-up scheduling, and clinical trial design.
-
Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is increasingly used compared with a standard laparoscopic technique, but it remains uncertain whether potential benefits offset higher costs. ⋯ Higher costs of robotic prostatectomy may be offset by modest health gain resulting from lower risk of early harms and positive margin, provided >150 cases are performed each year. Considerable uncertainty persists in the absence of directly comparative randomised data.