Bladder cancer (BC), the most frequent malignancy of the urinary system, is ranked the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide. Of all newly diagnosed patients with BC, 70-75% will present disease confined to the mucosa or submucosa, the non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC) subtype. Of those, approximately 70% will recur after transurethral resection (TUR). Due to high rate of recurrence, patients are submitted to an intensive follow-up program maintained throughout many years, or even throughout life, resulting in an expensive follow-up, with cystoscopy being the most cost-effective procedure for NMIBC screening. Currently, the gold standard procedure for detection and follow-up of NMIBC is based on the association of cystoscopy and urine cytology. As cystoscopy is a very invasive approach, over the years, many different noninvasive assays (both based in serum and urine samples) have been developed in order to search genetic and protein alterations related to the development, progression, and recurrence of BC. TERT promoter mutations and FGFR3
Ureteral calculi can be associated with urinary drainage blockage, requiring urinary diversion with percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) or retrograde ureteral stent (RUS). Currently no evidence exists to support the superiority of one method over the other. This study proposes to compare both approaches regarding the probability of spontaneous stone passage (SSP) and its effect on patient's quality of life (QoL). A prospective trial was carried out from July to October of 2017. 50 patients were selected with hydronephrosis secondary to ureteral stones requiring urgent urinary diversion and divided into two groups according to diversion technique: percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) or retrograde ureteral stent (RUS). The rate of SSP and QoL were evaluated. A PCN group (18 patients) and a RUS group (32 patients) were set. Stone size was higher in PCN (median 92 mm) than RUS (median 47 mm) (p = .012). The rate of SSP was 25% in RUS group and 38.9% in PCN. On the univariable analysis no statistical effect was found; however, when adjusted for stone size, location, previous ureteral manipulation and expulsive therapy, PCN showed a significant higher chance of SSP than RUS (OR = 6667). Besides, it was found that 30.2% (n = 13) of stones had an upward displacement associated with retrograde endoscopy. A significant decrease between pre- and post-intervention QoL was found with RUS (p < .001), but not found with PCN (p = .206). Patients in RUS group experienced more urinary symptoms, mostly haematuria (68.7% vs 16.7% in PCN group < .001) and dysuria (78.3% vs 16.7% in PCN group, p < .001). PCN was associated with a higher rate of spontaneous stone passage when adjusted for stone size and location. Moreover, PCN was better tolerated and associated with fewer urinary symptoms when compared with RUS.
Objectives. To analyze the outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) in octogenarian patients. Methods. The RESURGE (REnal SUrgery in the Eldely) multi-institutional database was queried to identify patients ≥80 years old who had undergone a PN or RN for a renal tumor. Multivariable binary logistic regression estimated the association between type of surgery and occurrence of complications. Multivariable Cox regression model assessed the association between type of surgery and All-Causes Mortality. Results. The study analyzed 585 patients (median age 83 years, IQR 81-84), 364 of whom (62.2%) underwent RN and 221 (37.8%) PN. Patients undergoing RN were older (p=0.0084), had larger tumor size (p<0.0001) and higher clinical stage (p<0.001). At multivariable analysis for complications, the only significant difference was found for lower risk of major postoperative complications for laparoscopic RN compared to open RN (OR: 0.42; p=0.04). The rate of significant (>25%) decrease of eGFR in PN and RN was 18% vs 59% at 1 month, and 23% vs 65% at 6 months (p values<0.0001). After a median follow up time of 39 months, 161 patients (31%) died, of whom 105 (20%) due to renal cancer. Conclusions. In this patient population both RN and PN carry a non-negligible risk of complications. When surgical removal is indicated, PN should be preferred, whenever technically feasible, as it can offer better preservation of renal function, without increasing the risk of complications. Moreover, a minimally invasive approach should be pursued, as it can translate into lower surgical morbidity.
RESUMOIntrodução: A satisfação com a profissão médica tem sido apontada como um fator essencial para a qualidade assistencial, o bemestar dos doentes e a estabilidade dos sistemas de saúde. Estudos recentes têm vindo a enfatizar um crescente descontentamento dos médicos, principalmente como consequência das alterações das relações laborais. Objetivos: Avaliar a perceção dos médicos de formação específica em Portugal, sobre as expectativas e grau de satisfação com a profissão, especialidade e local de formação; razões da insatisfação e intenção de emigrar.
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