Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting hospital systems and the availability of resources for surgical procedures. Our aim is to provide guidance for urologists to help prioritize urological cancer surgeries. Materials and Methods: We reviewed published literature on bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial carcinoma, penile cancer, testis cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer and adrenal cancer. Results: For muscle invasive bladder cancer delays should be less than roughly 10 weeks and neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered. Patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer should be counseled appropriately based on risk and intravesical therapies can continue. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma should also be treated with minimal delays for high risk patients, especially with ureteral tumors. Surgery for T1 renal cancers when indicated can be delayed until adequate resources are available. Patients with T2 renal cancer should be considered for early surgery if there are unfavorable preoperative characteristics. Higher stage renal tumors should be considered for early surgery. An early multidisciplinary approach is recommended for metastatic renal cancers. High risk prostate cancer may need preferential treatment and consideration of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. Penile cancer can have worse sexual or oncologic outcomes with prolonged surgical delay. Likewise, adrenal cancer is aggressive and needs early surgical treatment. Testicular cancer should be treated in a timely manner with surgery or chemotherapy, as indicated. Conclusions: This review should further assist urologists in recognizing patients with potentially aggressive tumor biology that warrants early treatment.

No abstract

No abstract

The threat of radiation exposure from warfare or radiation accidents raises the need for appropriate animal models to study the acute and chronic effects of high dose rate radiation exposure. The goal of this study was to assess the late development of fibrosis in multiple organs (kidney, heart, and lung) in survivors of the C57BL/6 mouse model of the hematopoietic-acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). Separate groups of mice for histological and functional studies were exposed to a single uniform total body dose between 8.53 and 8.72 Gy of gamma radiation from a 137Cs radiation source and studied 1–21 months later. Blood urea nitrogen levels were elevated significantly in the irradiated mice at 9 and 21 mo (from ~22 to 34 ± 3.8 and 69±6.0 mg/dl, p<0.01 vs non-irradiated controls) and correlated with glomerosclerosis (29±1.8% vs 64±9.7% of total glomeruli, p<0.01 vs non-irradiated controls). Glomerular tubularization and hypertrophy and tubular atrophy were also observed at 21 mo post-total body irradiation (TBI). An increase in interstitial, perivascular, pericardial and peri-bronchial fibrosis/collagen deposition was observed from ~9–21 mo post-TBI in kidney, heart and lung of irradiated mice relative to age-matched controls. Echocardiography suggested decreased ventricular volumes with a compensatory increase in left ventricular ejection fraction. The results indicate that significant delayed effects of acute radiation exposure occur in kidney, heart, and lung in survivors of the murine H-ARS TBI model which mirrors pathology detected in larger species and humans at higher radiation doses focused on specific organs.

Purpose: Single-port (SP) robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) through the transvesical approach is a novel surgical option in the management of large prostatic glands. We present the first multi-institutional study to further assess the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of SP RASP. Materials and Methods: From February 2019 to November 2021, 91 consecutive patients of 3 separate institutions underwent transvesical RASP using the da VinciÒ SP robotic surgical system. Surgeries were performed by 3 experienced surgeons. Through a suprapubic incision and transvesical access, the SP robot is docked directly into the bladder, and the prostatic enucleation is performed. Prospective data collection, including baseline characteristics, perioperative and postoperative outcomes, was performed. The mean followup period was 4.6 months. Results: The mean (SD) prostate volume was 156 (62) ml. The mean (SD) total operative time was 159 (45) minutes, and the median (IQR) estimated blood loss was 100 (50, 200) cc. The median (IQR) postoperative hospital stay was 21.0 (6.5, 26.0) hours; however, 42% of all patients were discharged the same day. The median (IQR) Foley catheter duration was 5 (5, 7) days. Only 3 patients (3%) developed Clavien grade 2 postoperative complications. At 9-month followup, the median (IQR) International Prostate Symptom Score and quality of life score were 4 (2, 5) and 0 (0, 1), respectively, with a mean (SD) maximum flow rate and post-void residual of 21 (17) ml/second and 40 (55) ml, respectively. Conclusions: In a multi-institutional setting, the SP RASP promotes a pain-free procedure, same-day discharge, short Foley catheter duration, low complication rate and quick recovery.