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OBJECTIVETo compare the last generation of 3-dimensional imaging (3D) vs standard 2-dimensional imaging (2D) laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective observational study was conducted during the 4th Minimally Invasive Urological Surgical Week Course held in Braga (Portugal) in April 2013. The course participants and faculty were asked to perform standardized tasks in the dry laboratory setting and randomly assigned into 2 study groups; one starting with 3D, the other with 2D laparoscopy. The 5 tasks of the European Training in Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills were performed. Time to complete each task and errors made were recorded and analyzed. An end-of-study questionnaire was filled by the participants. RESULTSTen laparoscopic experts and 23 laparoscopy-naïve residents were included. Overall, a significantly better performance was obtained using 3D in terms of time (1115 seconds, interquartile range [IQR] 596-1469 vs 1299 seconds, IQR 620-1723; P ¼ .027) and number of errors (2, IQR 1-3 vs 3, IQR 2-5.5; P ¼ .001). However, the experts were faster only in the "peg transfer" task when using the 3D, whereas naïves improved their performance in 3 of the 5 tasks. A linear correlation between level of experience and performance was found. Threedimensional imaging was perceived as "easier" by a third of the laparoscopy-naïve participants (P ¼ .027). L aparoscopy has been increasingly adopted in urology over the last 2 decades, and it is nowadays commonly used in the management of several urologic diseases. Traditionally, laparoscopy has been based on 2-dimensional (2D) imaging, which has represented a considerable challenge for those approaching this technique.1 Thus, 3-dimensional (3D) visualization technology for laparoscopy has been proposed, since the early 1990s, as a way to facilitate laparoscopic performance. However, early 3D laparoscopic technology was limited in terms of image quality, so that its use had not been implemented. 2More recently, industry has developed novel 3D systems where the imaging is similar to stereoscopic vision, in which the depth perception is achieved by different unique images received by each eye. Thus, more recent studies have suggested a possible advantage provided by these new 3D systems during laparoscopic performance.3-5 However, comparative assessments of new generation 3D vs 2D laparoscopy remain limited, especially in the urology field.

Pelvic plexus block under Doppler ultrasound guidance provides better analgesia than periprostatic nerve block during office based transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Abbreviations & AcronymsAbstract: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of several metabolic abnormalities, its prevalence is increasing worldwide. To summarize the most recent evidence regarding the relationship between metabolic syndrome, its components and the oncological outcomes in bladder cancer patients, a National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed search for relevant articles either published or e-published up to March 2014 was carried out by combining the following Patient population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome terms: metabolic syndrome, obesity, body mass index, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, bladder cancer, risk, mortality, cancer specific survival, disease recurrence and progression. Metabolic syndrome is a complex, highly prevalent disorder, and central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension are its main components. Published findings would suggest that metabolic syndrome per se might be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in male patients, but it did not seem to confer a risk of worse prognosis. Considering the primary components of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia), available data are uncertain, and it is no possible to reach a conclusion yet on either a direct or an indirect association with bladder cancer risk and prognosis. Only with regard to type 2 diabetes mellitus, available data would suggest a potential negative correlation. However, as the evaluation of bladder cancer risk and prognosis in patients with metabolic disorders is certainly complex, further studies are urgently required to better assess the actual role of these metabolic disorders.