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Background/Aim. Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the most accurate staging procedure in the diagnosis of lymph node involvement by prostate cancer. However, the therapeutic value of this procedure is still unclear. The objective of the study was to compare diagnostic and therapeutic values of extended and standard PLND as an adjunct of radical prostatectomy. Methods. The patients who underwent surgical treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer (n = 157) were enrolled in this open nonrandomized prospective study. In the standard PLND (sPLND) group 109 patients were enrolled while the extended PLND (ePLND) group involved 48 patients. Both groups were compared regarding age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, a percentage of positive biopsies, preoperative and postoperative Gleason score, number of retrieved and positive lymph nodes, duration of surgery, blood loss, amount of lymphorrhea and biochemical recurrence-free survival. Results. The average number of retrieved lymph nodes was 17.27 and 24.46 in the sPLND and ePLND group, respectively (p = 0.001). The rate of positive lymph nodes was 9/109 (8.3%) and 8/48 (16.7%) in the sPLND and ePLND groups, respectively. Biochemical recurrence was noted in 38/109 (31.2%) and 7/48 (14.6%) patients in the sPLND and ePLND group, respectively (p = 0.003). Conclusion. Comparison of sPLND to ePLND led to the following conclusions: nodal yield was significantly higher in the ePLND group; the ePLND template was associated with a much higher rate of lymph node metastases; the biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was significantly more favorable in the ePLND group comparing to the sPLND group.

Background/Aim. The minimally invasive laparoscopic nephrectomy was first performed in 1991. The objective of this paper was to present the surgical technique of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy and to our experience with this procedure in removal of non-functioning kidneys. Methods. This retrospective study enrolled 55 patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy at our institution during the period from January 2011 to November 2016. All patients had a unilateral non-functioning kidney confirmed by intravenous or computed tomography (CT)- urography and renal scintigram. Their medical records were analyzed for demographic data, duration of surgery, average blood loss, duration of hospital stay as well as time to return to normal life activities. Results. The mean age of patients was 43 years (range 23–78). Perioperative or early postoperative mortality was not recorded. Mean operative time was 82 minutes (range 45–210). The average blood loss was 90 mL (40–450). The average hospital stay was 4 days (3–7). Return to life activity was in average after 12 days (9–15). Conclusions. Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for a non-functioning kidney is a feasible, safe, and effective minimally invasive method. The length of hospital stay and convalescence was shorter than after open nephrectomy.

Introduction/Objective. Vesica ileale Padovana is the surgical technique for reconstruction of lower urinary tract following radical cystectomy using isolated ileal segment. This operative technique requires dissection of both ureters in full length, that can’t be possible in some cases. The paper is aimed to present our experience with modified surgical technique of vesica ileale Padovana using 40 cm of an isolated ileal segment and initial results. Methods. 10 male patients received modified ileal neobladder following radical cystectomy at our institution during the period 2008 to 2011. The mean age of patients was 59 years (45-70). Median follow-up was 76 months (62-93). Patients were monitored cautiously for functional outcome, local recurrence, and distant progression. Results. Perioperative, early and late postoperative mortality have not been noticed. There were only 2 major complications: prolonged postoperative ileus and prolonged urinary leakage requiring percutaneous nephrostomy and subsequent ureteral reimplantation due to stenosis of ureterovesical anastomosis in 1 patient (10 %), respectively. Average ileal neobladder capacity was 450 ml. Daytime and night continence were achieved in 9 (90%) and 7 (70%) of patients, respectively. Conclusion. This modification of orthotopic ileal neobladder has not been difficult to perform in our hands. Modified technique provides a clear advantage in easier ureteral implantation more proximally than in the original technique, requiring less length of ureters. Initial encouraging results should be confirmed in further clinical practice.

Introduction. Due to the ever-present lack of kidney transplant grafts, more and more organs obtained from the so-called “marginal donors” group are accepted, which can provide suboptimal effect of transplantation, depending on their characteristics and/or implantation techniques. Case report. We presented a case with successful variation of kidney position with modified approach of kidney transplantation from an infant to an adult female patient with normal postoperative recovery. Urethral anastomosis was performed without antireflux procedure and this has not led to the development of reflux disease at an early stage. Conclusion. The position of a pair of kidneys proved to be satisfactory despite the growth of the kidney to the expected size and relatively small pelvis. There were no problems with venous stasis and kidney function from the very beginning was good.