Showing papers by "Rick Popert published in 2020"

"TREXIT 2020": why the time to abandon transrectal prostate biopsy starts now.

Abstract: In 1847, 20 years before germ theory was popularised by Louis Pasteur, the Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis famously reduced maternal mortality from post-partum sepsis from 16 to 1% simply by encouraging hand hygiene among his peers [1]. Despite the evidence, many physicians of the day were offended by the assertion that they themselves may be the cause of patient deaths and rejected Semmelweis’s life-saving advice. Aged just 47, he suffered a nervous breakdown, was committed to an asylum and died within 2 weeks, ironically and tragically, from a gangrenous wound. Like Semmelweis, urologists today have the opportunity to nearly eliminate infections we cause by performing transrectal (TR) prostate biopsy and switch instead to the clean transperineal (TP) approach—a process our coauthors at Guy’s Hospital in London, UK, have opportunistically dubbed “TRexit” [2, 3]. Despite the recent advances in prostate cancer imaging with MRI [4] and PSMA PET [5], a biopsy is still required to establish a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The vast majority of prostate biopsies are still performed using the TR approach— over 2 million per year in Europe and North America alone [6]. However, in recent years TP biopsy has gained increasing favour due to its avoidance of rectal flora [7]. By passing the biopsy trocar from dirty to clean, TR biopsy breaks the fundamental surgical principle of sterile technique. The procedure is thus plagued by the potential for inoculation of a large dose of rectal bacteria into the bloodstream. Despite the use of standard antibiotic prophylaxis, typically a fluoroquinolone, due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, post-TR biopsy infection is increasing [6, 8] and was recently reported to be alarmingly high at 10% [9]. TR biopsy sepsis can also be lifethreatening. Its mortality rate is 0.13% of TR biopsies in

Initial outcomes of local anaesthetic freehand transperineal prostate biopsies in the outpatient setting.

Abstract: Objectives To evaluate the histopathological outcomes, morbidity and tolerability of freehand transperineal (TP) prostate biopsies using the PrecisionPoint™ access system (Perineologic, Cumberland, MD, USA) under local anaesthetic (LA) in the day surgery and outpatient environments, as systematic and targeted biopsies can be taken with the potential for reduced morbidity, particularly sepsis. Patients and methods In all, 176 patients underwent freehand TP prostate biopsies from May 2016 to November 2017. The procedure was carried out either under LA alone or with the addition of sedation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were reported using the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS), version 2. Tolerability was assessed using a visual analogue scale pain score for each procedural stage. Histopathological outcomes and complications were recorded. Results The mean (range) age was 65 (36-83) years, median (range) prostate-specific antigen level was 7.9 (0.7-1374) ng/mL, and the mean (range) prostate volume 45 (15-157) mL. Biopsies were taken under LA alone (160 patients, 90%) or under LA with sedation (16, 9%). The main indication for biopsy was primary diagnosis (88.6%). In all, 91 (52%) patients underwent systematic TP biopsies (mean 24.2 cores). Cognitive MRI-targeted biopsies alone were performed in 45 patients (26%; mean 6.8 cores), and 40 (23%) had both systematic and target biopsies (mean 27.9 cores). Of the 75 patients who had primary systematic biopsies alone, 46 (61%) were positive, and 28/46 (60.9%) were diagnosed with clinically significant disease (Gleason ≥3+4). VAS pain scores were greatest during LA administration. There were five complications (2.8%, Clavien-Dindo Grade I/II). No patients developed urosepsis. Conclusions Freehand TP biopsies using the PrecisionPoint access system is a safe, tolerable and effective method for systematic and targeted biopsies under LA in the outpatient setting. It has replaced transrectal biopsies in our centre and has potential to transform practice.

The clinical and financial implications of a decade of prostate biopsies in the NHS: analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics data 2008-2019.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical and financial implications of a decade of prostate biopsies performed in the UK National Health Service (NHS) through the transrectal (TR) vs the transperineal (TP) route. METHODS We conducted an evaluation of the TR vs the TP biopsy approach in the context of 28 days post-procedure complications and readmissions. A secondary evaluation of burden of expenditure in NHS hospitals over the entire decade (2008-2019) was conducted through examination of national Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. RESULTS In this dataset of 486 467 prostate biopsies (387 879 TR and 98 588 TP biopsies), rates of infection and sepsis were higher for the TR compared to the TP cohort (0.53% vs 0.31%; P < 0.001, confidence interval 99% ). Rates of sepsis have more than doubled for TR biopsies in the last 2 years compared to the previous decade (1.12% vs 0.53%). Infective complications were the main reasons for readmissions in the TR cohort, whereas urinary retention was the predominant reason for readmission in the TP cohort. Over the last decade, non-elective (NEL) readmissions seem higher for the TP group; however, in the last 2 years these have reduced compared to the TR group (3.54% vs 3.74%). The cost estimates for NEL readmissions for the entire decade were £33,589,527.00 and £7,179,926.00 respectively, for TR and TP cohorts (P < 0.001). Estimated costs per patient readmission were £2,225.00 and £1,758.00 in the TR and TP groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of nearly half a million prostate biopsies in the NHS over the entire decade gives sufficient evidence for the distinct advantages of the TP route over the TR route in terms of reduced infections and burden of expenditure. In addition, there is a potential for savings both in upstream and downstream costs if biopsy is performed under a local anaesthetic.

The management impact of 68gallium-tris(hydroxypyridinone) prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-THP-PSMA) PET-CT imaging for high-risk and biochemically recurrent prostate cancer.

Abstract: To determine the impact on clinical management of patients with high-risk (HR) prostate cancer at diagnosis and patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) using a new kit form of 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), namely tris(hydroxypyridinone) (THP)-PSMA, with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). One hundred eighteen consecutive patients (50 HR, 68 BCR) had management plans documented at a multidisciplinary meeting before 68Ga-THP-PSMA PET-CT. Patients underwent PET-CT scans 60-min post-injection of 68Ga-THP-PSMA (mean 159 ± 21.2 MBq). Post-scan management plans, Gleason score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA doubling time (PSAdt) were recorded. HR group: 12/50 (24%) patients had management changed (9 inter-modality, 3 intra-modality). Patients with PSA 20 μg/L (3/24, 12.5%). Gleason scores > 8 were associated with detection of more nodal (4/16, 25% vs 5/31, 16.1%) and bone (2/16, 12.5% vs 2/31, 6.5%) metastases. BCR group: Clinical management changed in 23/68 (34%) patients (17 inter-modality, 6 intra-modality). Forty out of 68 (59%) scans were positive. Positivity rate increased with PSA level (PSA 8 (78.9% vs 51.2%). 68Ga-THP-PSMA PET-CT influences clinical management in significant numbers of patient with HR prostate cancer pre-radical treatment and is associated with PSA. Management change also occurs in patients with BCR and is associated with PSA and Gleason score, despite lower scan positivity rates at low PSA levels < 0.5 μg/L.

Targeted and systematic cognitive freehand-guided transperineal biopsy: is there still a role for systematic biopsy?

Abstract: Objectives To assess whether targeted cognitive freehand-assisted transperineal biopsies using a PrecisionpointTM device still require additional systematic biopsies to avoid missing clinically significant prostate cancer, and to investigate the benefit of a quadrant-only biopsy approach to analyse whether a quadrant or extended target of the quadrant containing the target only would have been equivalent to systematic biopsy. Patients and methods Patients underwent combined systematic mapping and targeted transperineal prostate biopsies at a single institution. Biopsies were performed using the Precisionpoint device (Perineologic, Cumberland, MD, USA) under either local anaesthetic (58%, 163/282), i.v. sedation (12%, 34/282) or general anaesthetic (30%, 85/282). A mean (range) of 24 (5-42) systematic and 4.2 (1-11) target cores were obtained. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were reported using the Likert scale. Clinically significant cancer was defined as Gleason 7 or above. Histopathological results were correlated with the presence of an MRI abnormality within a spatial quadrant and the other adjoining or non-adjoining (opposite) quadrants. Histological concordance with radical prostatectomy specimens was analysed. Results A total of 282 patients were included in this study. Their mean (range) age was 66.8 (36-80) years, median (range) prostate-specific antigen level 7.4 (0.91-116) ng/mL and mean prostate volume 45.8 (13-150) mL. In this cohort, 82% of cases (230/282) were primary biopsies and 18% (52/282) were patients on surveillance. In all, 69% of biopsies (195/282) were identified to have clinically significant disease (Gleason ≥3 + 4). Any cancer (Gleason ≥3 + 3) was found in 84% (237/282) of patients. Of patients with clinically significant disease, the target biopsies alone picked up 88% (171/195), with systematic biopsy picking up the additional 12% (24/195) that the target biopsies missed. This altered with Likert score; 73% of Likert score 3 disease was detected by target biopsy, 92% of Likert score 4 and 100% of Likert score 5. Target biopsies with additional same-quadrant-only systematic cores picked up 75% (18/24) of significant cancer that was missed on target only, found in the same quadrant as the target. Conclusion Systematic biopsy is still an important tool when evaluating all patients referred for prostate biopsy, but the need is decreased with increasing suspicion on MRI. Patients with very high suspicion of prostate cancer (Likert score 5) may not require systematic cores, unless representative surrounding biopsies are required for other specific treatments (e.g. focal therapy, or operative planning). More prospective studies are needed to evaluate this in full.

Our first month of delivering the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway within the limitations of COVID-19 using local anaesthesia transperineal biopsy.

Abstract: The COVID‐19 pandemic is impacting all urological cancer services. On March 19th the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) provided pragmatic guidance for prostate cancer diagnostic services (Table 1).(1)

Safety of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ site admissions within a high volume urology department in the United Kingdom at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Background Contracting COVID-19 peri-operatively has been associated with a mortality rate as high as 23%, making prevention vital. Objectives The primary objective is to determine safety of surgical admissions and procedures during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic using ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ sites. The secondary objective is to determine risk factors of contracting COVID-19. Design, Setting and Participants A retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients admitted from 1st March – 31st May 2020 at a high-volume tertiary urology department in London, United Kingdom. Elective surgery was carried out at a ‘cold’ site requiring a negative COVID-19 swab 72 hours prior to admission and to self-isolate for 14 days pre-operatively, whilst all acute admissions were admitted to the ‘hot’ site. Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis Complications related to COVID-19 were presented as percentages. Risk factors for developing COVID-19 infection were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results and Limitations A total of 611 patients, 451 (73.8%) male and 160 (26.2%) female, with a median age of 57 (interquartile range 44-70) were admitted under the urology team; 101 (16.5%) on the ‘cold’ site and 510 (83.5%) on the ‘hot’ site. Procedures were performed in 495 patients of which 8 (1.6%) contracted COVID-19 post-operatively with 1 (0.2%) post-operative mortality due to COVID-19. Overall, COVID-19 was detected in 20 (3.3%) patients with 2 (0.3%) deaths. Length of stay was associated with contracting COVID-19 in our cohort (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39). Limitations include possible under reporting due to post-operative patients presenting elsewhere. Conclusions Continuation of surgical procedures using ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ sites throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was safe practice, although the risk of COVID-19 remained and is underlined by a post-operative mortality. Patient Summary Using ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ sites has allowed the safe continuation of urological practice throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.