Current Urology Reports最新文献

Purpose of review: This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the risks of radiation exposure in endourology and highlights strategies to ensure the health and safety of endourologists during pregnancy.

Recent findings: Recent studies have measured radiation exposure to endourologists during fluoroscopic procedures, underscoring the role of protective measures such as lead shielding, low-dose fluoroscopy, and pulsed imaging to significantly reduce radiation doses. Adherence to these strategies enables endourologists to safely perform fluoroscopic procedures throughout pregnancy while staying within recommended exposure limits. This review outlines the latest research on radiation exposure in endourology with a focus on exposure risks during pregnancy. Major findings include insights into potential stochastic and dose-dependent effects of radiation exposure on pregnant endourologists and their fetuses as well as effective dose-reduction strategies to mitigate these risks. Further research is needed to improve individual understanding of exposure risks and establish standardized institutional and policy frameworks for radiation safety during pregnancy.

Purpose of review: This narrative review summarizes the evolution of the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and its role in treating male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This review discusses the history of AUS and changes that have helped drive current and future developments in AUS innovation.

Recent findings: Recent AUS models have addressed many shortcomings of prior devices designed for the treatment of SUI. However, the need for manual pumping as well as the risks of erosion, infection, and malfunction remain areas of concern, prompting innovative transformations to AUS development. The AUS is the gold standard and most effective treatment for male SUI. Currently available devices have limitations, especially in patients with reduced manual dexterity and cognition. Additionally, there are inherent risks for urethral erosion and device failure. Despite the efficacy and success of modern-day AUS devices, there is still opportunity for innovation in the AUS market. This includes the advent of electronic assisted devices as well as adjustable and variable pressure mechanisms to create dynamic artificial sphincters that minimize complications while maximizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of review: To provide a primer for how augmented reality (AR)-guided surgical technology works at a fundamental level and discuss recent advances and limitations in a rapidly advancing field, including studies aiming to reduce current issues limiting wider adoption.

Recent findings: Among the studies published within the last five years, AR-guided technologies have advanced from pre-operative planning to intraoperative use in procedures including robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and renal transplantation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques have allowed for development of automatic registration to address challenges with soft tissue deformation. Subspecialities which may benefit from further AR/MR adoption include reconstructive and andrology, which were underrepresented in our review. Augmented reality refers to the process of superimposing digital information (e.g., preoperative imaging) on top of the physical world. Along with its interactive counterpart, mixed reality (MR), AR has become an area of sustained research interest in the urological surgery space. This technology has significant implications for surgical accuracy, efficiency, and medical education. As a result, it is critical for clinicians to both be aware of advancements in the field and understand the basics of this technology. We discuss articles published from March 2021 to February 2025, across a range of urologic procedures and applications, and discuss how recent trends point to a shift towards higher-powered, prospective studies incorporating intraoperative usage of AR/MR.

Purpose of review: Every surgical procedure presents challenges for surgeons before, during, and after the operation. This review aims to explore strategies for anticipating and addressing these challenges in kidney transplant surgeries.

Recent findings: Specifically, it focuses on equipping surgeons with the knowledge necessary to navigate vascular anatomical variations encountered during kidney retrieval and transplantation. By elucidating both typical and uncommon anatomical configurations, surgeons can better anticipate challenges and optimize surgical outcomes. The review underscores the critical importance of understanding kidney vascular anatomical variations in the context of transplantation. By providing insights into preoperative planning and mitigating intraoperative challenges, this knowledge has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients undergoing kidney transplantation.

Purpose of review: The purpose was to present latest findings on factors that can help improve risk profiling for surgery in the elderly and thus improve outcomes.

Recent findings: Approximately two thirds of patients undergoing urological surgery are elderly. A number of assessment tools are now available for clinical application to facilitate risk planning when considering surgery. There is an overall lack of trials performed in the elderly on account of a number of factors including cognitive impairment, mobility and perceived lack of benefit. Clinicians are generally poor at estimating 10-year survival in patients and usually underestimate it. Treatment success in this demographic varies from the index patient and an individualised approach should be taken. It is of increasing relevance for clinicians to familiarize themselves with tools that can facilitate surgical care in the elderly. Prospective studies are needed, which also monitor outcomes in patients who did not undergo surgery.

Purpose of review: Robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RaPN) is the treatment of choice for small and resectable renal tumors offering better results in terms of blood loss, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay compared with the open partial nephrectomy (OPN), while for both techniques the risk of postoperative renal dysfunction is limited. However, the oncologic outcomes of the robotic procedure are yet to be determined. Therefore, a comprehensive research of PubMed/Medline, Embase and Scopus databases from the year 2000 till June 2024 was performed to elucidate the results related to oncologic outcomes. The ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized cohort studies was applied for the assessment of the quality of the included studies. All statistical analyses were performed with the use of STATA software version 15.0.

Recent findings: The study was registered in International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Metaanalysis Protocols database with the registration number INPLASY202450054. Overall 11 studies with 4758 patients were included in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. No statistically significant difference between the two treatment methods was reconded for the outcomes of overall survival [HR: 1.23 (95% CI: 0.68, 2.20)- p = 0.488], disease-specific survival [OR: 2.53 (95% CI: 0.65, 9.78)- p = 0.179], progression-free survival [HR: 1.04 (95% CI: 0.60, 1.79)- p = 0.901], recurrence-free survival [HR: 0.83 (95% CI = 0.54, 1.27)-p = 0.394] and disease-free survival [OR: 1.01 (95% CI = 0.98, 1.03)-p = 0.582]. The quality of most of the included studies was deemed moderate. Despite the need for more high quality comparative studies it is assumed that these results could be helpful in decision making and in counselling patients with resectable renal tumors to whom a nephron sparing surgery may be considered.

Purpose of review: Neurogenic bladder dysfunction (NBD) is a frequent complication of neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and spina bifida. Managing NBD remains challenging, especially for patients who fail to respond to standard therapies. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM), though FDA-approved for non-neurogenic conditions, is increasingly explored off-label in neurogenic populations.

Recent findings: Recent studies demonstrate that SNM can improve lower urinary tract symptoms, bladder storage, and emptying in select NBD patients. Small case series and retrospective reviews suggest reduced catheterization and medication use. Technological advances, such as closed-loop systems and MRI-compatible devices, are broadening SNM's clinical potential. SNM is emerging as a valuable, minimally invasive treatment for neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Careful patient selection and understanding of underlying pathophysiology are essential for success. As evidence grows and device innovations continue, SNM could reshape management strategies for patients with neurogenic bladder.

Purpose of review: Urothelial carcinoma is a prevalent malignancy within the United States that may involve the upper and/or lower urinary tracts. Multimodal treatment is often employed, with transurethral resection and intravesical therapy standard of care for non-muscle-invasive disease; neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by radical cystectomy or trimodal therapy for muscle-invasive disease; and combination immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates standard of care for metastatic disease. These treatments carry risks of surgical complication or treatment-associated toxicity which can impair quality of life. Predictive biomarkers of treatment tolerability are currently limited.

Recent findings: There is emerging evidence that radiological biomarkers can predict treatment outcomes among patients with urothelial carcinoma. In this review, we evaluate the existing data on radiological biomarkers evaluable from current standard-of-care imaging in predicting treatment outcome among patients with urothelial carcinoma.