Cystic recurrence of prostate cancer.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Arnold M Kwart.
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PURPOSE: We determined the effectiveness of fibrin sealant in decreasing postoperative urinary leakage following radical retropubic prostatectomy performed by 1 surgeon at Washington Hospital Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April and November 2003 our group treated 32 consecutive patients with prostate cancer with radical retropubic prostatectomy. The first 16 patients (control) underwent the Walsh described technique and the second group of 16 patients had an additional application of fibrin sealant around the urethro vesical anastomosis. Postoperative drain output was measured every 8 hours. The results of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: The Blake drain was removed after 4 nursing shifts (times 1 through 4) in 81% (13 of 16) of the control group and in 100% (16 of 16) of the fibrin sealant group. The fibrin sealant group had significantly less drainage output overall compared with the control group (p = 0.005). The drainage output from each group decreased with time at a significant rate independent of each other (p <0.001), and there was a larger difference (p = 0.04) in output between groups at times 1 and 2 compared with times 3 and 4. There was no relationship between the amount of urinary drainage and drain output. There was no immediate morbidity associated with the use of fibrin sealant. CONCLUSIONS: The application of fibrin sealant to the urethro vesical anastomosis during radical retropubic prostatectomy does decrease postoperative drain output. With earlier drain removal, patients would benefit from less discomfort and from skilled nursing requirements. In select patients early drain removal could accelerate discharge home.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the hormonal (luteinizing hormone [LH], testosterone) and biochemical (prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) response to withdrawal of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy for patients with prostate cancer with an undetectable PSA who received this treatment for an extended period. METHODS: Four selected patients older than 70 years of age with advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate who were treated with a depot injection of LHRH and antiandrogen therapy had their treatment discontinued. During the period of total androgen blockade, each patient obtained and maintained a persistent undetectable PSA level. After cessation of androgen blockade, patients underwent serum measurements of PSA and testosterone at baseline and then every 6 months for 36 months. Serum LH was performed at baseline and then at 6, 18, and 36 months. RESULTS: At the time androgen ablative therapy was discontinued, patients had received LHRH agonist/antiandrogen therapy for a mean of 108 months (range 94 to 120). All 4 patients had castrate levels of testosterone (less than 0.5 ng/mL) and undetectable levels of PSA at baseline and with continued monitoring. At 6 and 18 months, all patients except one had LH levels in the normal range. All 4 patients remained clinically asymptomatic throughout the follow-up period with undetectable PSA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawing hormonal therapy in asymptomatic patients with advanced prostate cancer after prolonged total androgen blockade was noted to be safe and effective in elderly patients who had achieved an undetectable PSA level. It appears that reduced testosterone levels may be a result of altered and potentially irreversible Leydig cell function rather than continued suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.
PURPOSE: We describe a novel technique of enhanced exposure during radical retropubic prostatectomy in cases with significant cartilage overgrowth at the junction of the symphysis pubis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our institution 74 radical retropubic prostatectomies were performed between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999. In 9 cases (12%) exposure was limited by overgrowth of cartilage at the posterior aspect of the pubic symphysis. Electrovaporization of this cartilaginous outgrowth was performed using an extended Bovie tip on cut settings of approximately 250 W. using the Bard System 5000, Birtcher 5000 and 6400 series (Valley Lab, Boulder, Colorado). The cartilage was vaporized until flush with the pubic bone. RESULTS: This technique provided optimal exposure for direct visualization during the most critical part of the procedure. Added operative time was only 1 to 3 minutes. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were associated with this technique. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend this technique of vaporization when surgical exposure is limited by overhanging pubic symphysis cartilage. This technique enables better visualization during apical dissection, control of the dorsal vein complex and division of the urethra without additional operative time or surgical complications.