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(1) Background: Regional anesthesia, achieved through nerve blocks, has gained widespread acceptance as an effective pain management approach. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic (LAP) transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. (2) Methods: From January 2023 to July 2023, 60 consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive radical prostatectomy were selected. Patients were split into two groups receiving ultrasound-guided (US) or laparoscopic-guided TAP block. The primary outcome was a pain score expressed by a 0−10 visual analog scale (VAS) during the first 72 h after surgery. (3) Results: Both LAP-TAP and US-TAP block groups were associated with lower pain scores postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in surgery time, blood loss, time to ambulation, length of stay, and pain after surgery (all p > 0.2). In the LAP-TAP block group, the overall operating room time was significantly shorter than in the US-TAP block group (140 vs. 152 min, p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach, compared to the US-TAP block, was equally safe and not inferior in reducing analgesic drug use postoperatively. Moreover, the intraoperative LAP-TAP block seems to be a time-sparing procedure that could be recommended when patient-controlled analgesia cannot be delivered.

Background Although surgery and anesthesia induce immunesuppression, remains largely unknown whether various anesthetic techniques have different immunosuppressive effects on cancer patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of total intravenous anesthesia with target-controlled infusion (TIVA-TCI) and balanced inhalation anesthesia (BAL) on the peri-operative levels of inflammatory cytokines and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with bladder cancer undergoing surgery. Methods Twenty eight consecutive patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy were prospectively randomized into two groups to receive TIVA-TCI (n = 14) or BAL (n = 14). Before the induction of anesthesia (T0), 6–8 hours (T1) post-surgery, and 5 days post-surgery (T2), Tregs and serum levels of interleukin -1beta (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin −2 (IL-2), interleukin −6 (IL-6), and interleukin −10 (IL-10) were measured. Results In the peri-operative period all cancer patients showed a marked and significant increase in IL-6. Moreover, TIVA-TCI patients also showed a higher increase in IFN-γ, whereas in BAL patients Tregs were reduced by approximately 30% during surgery. The incidence of infections, metastases, and death was similar in both groups. Conclusions The increase in the Th1 response in the TIVA-TCI group and the reduction in Tregs in the BAL group seem to balance the immunosuppressive effect induced by IL-6. Therefore TIVA-TCI and BAL can be both used in major surgery in patients with bladder cancer without worsening the outcome.

The use of adequate fluid therapy during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) remains controversial. The aim of the study was to assess whether the use of fluid therapy protocol combined with goal-directed therapy (GDT) is associated with a significant change in morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality compared to standard fluid therapy. Patients American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II–III undergoing CRS and HIPEC were randomized into two groups. The GDT group ( N  = 38) received fluid therapy according to a protocol guided by monitored hemodynamic parameters. The control group ( N  = 42) received standard fluid therapy. We evaluated incidence of major complications, total length of hospital stay, total amount of fluids administered, and mortality rate. The incidence of major abdominal complications was 10.5 % in GDT group and 38.1 % in the control group ( P  = 0.005). The median duration of hospitalization was 19 days in GDT group and 29 days in the control group ( P  < 0.0001). The mortality rate was zero in GDT group vs 9.5 % in the control group ( P  = 0.12). GDT group received a significantly ( P  < 0.0001) lower amount of fluid (5812 ± 1244 ml) than the control group (8269 ± 1452 ml), with a significantly ( P  < 0.0001) lower volume of crystalloids (3884 ± 1003 vs 68,528 ± 1413 ml). In CRS and HIPEC, the use of a GDT improves outcome in terms of incidence of major abdominal and systemic postoperative complications and length of hospital stay, compared to standard fluid therapy protocol.

Background/Aims: In partial nephrectomy with hilar clamping every minute of ischemia can impair renal function, thus great importance is having the controlled hypotension as a part of zero ischemia technique. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of hypotensive anesthesia on renal function, in patients undergoing robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) , during surgery and at 3 months follow up. Methods: This is a prospective study of 100 patients, ASA 1-2, who underwent zero ischemia RAPN under controlled hypotension (CH) from December 2011 through to May 2013. Serum creatinine, BUN, estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR), fractional excretion of sodium (FSE) and technetium Tc 99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTC-MAG-3), renal scintigraphy with effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were evaluated. Results: Mean duration of CH was 50±4 minutes. Acute renal failure wasn't observed in any of the patients. A significant variation of eGFR during the procedure and 24 hours after surgery was observed. No significant variation of BUN and FSE was detected. Comparing preoperative ERPF of the operated kidney with ERPF 3 months after surgery, it decreased by 2%. Conclusion: In patients with normal preoperative renal function CH didn't show any detrimental impact on renal function during and after robotic assisted partial nephrectomy.

Abstract Background Use of a locoregional analgesia technique, such as the ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPb), can improve postoperative pain management. We investigated the role of TAPb in robotic partial nephrectomy, a surgery burdened by severe postoperative pain. Methods In this prospective trial, patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists class I–III physical status undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy were randomly assigned to standard general anesthetic plus ultrasound-guided TAPb (TAP group) or sole standard general anesthetic (NO-TAP group). The primary end point was morphine consumption 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes were postoperative nausea and vomiting in the first 24 hours, sensitivity, and acute and chronic pain, as measured by multiple indicators. Results A total of 96 patients were evaluated: 48 patients in the TAP group and 48 in the NO-TAP group. Median morphine consumption after 24 hours was higher in the NO-TAP group compared with the TAP group (14.1 ± 4.5 mg vs 10.6 ± 4.6, P < 0.008). The intensity of acute somatic pain and the presence of chronic pain at three and six months were higher in the NO-TAP group. Conclusions Our results show that TAPb can significantly reduce morphine consumption and somatic pain, but not visceral pain. TAPb reduced the incidence of chronic pain.

During laparoscopic surgery, the role of PEEP to improve outcome is controversial. Mechanistically, PEEP benefits depend on the extent of alveolar recruitment, which prevents ventilator-induced lung injury by reducing lung dynamic strain. The hypotheses of this study were that pneumoperitoneum-induced aeration loss and PEEP-induced recruitment are inter-individually variable, and that the recruitment-to-inflation ratio (R/I) can identify patients who benefit from PEEP in terms of strain reduction. Sequential study. Operating room. Seventeen ASA I-III patients receiving robot-assisted prostatectomy during Trendelenburg pneumoperitoneum. Patients underwent end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) and respiratory/lung/chest wall mechanics (esophageal manometry and inspiratory/expiratory occlusions) assessment at PEEP = 0 cmH2O before and after pneumoperitoneum, at PEEP = 4 and 12 cmH2O during pneumoperitoneum. Pneumoperitoneum-induced derecruitment and PEEP-induced recruitment were assessed through a simplified method based on multiple pressure-volume curve. Dynamic and static strain changes were evaluated. R/I between 12 and 4 cmH2O was assessed from EELV. Inter-individual variability was rated with the ratio of standard deviation to mean (CoV). Pneumoperitoneum reduced EELV by (median [IqR]) 410 mL [80–770] (p < 0.001) and increased dynamic strain by 0.04 [0.01–0.07] (p < 0.001), with high inter-individual variability (CoV = 70% and 88%, respectively). Compared to PEEP = 4 cmH2O, PEEP = 12 cmH2O yielded variable amount of recruitment (139 mL [96–366] CoV = 101%), causing different extent of dynamic strain reduction (median decrease 0.02 [0.01–0.04], p = 0.002; CoV = 86%) and static strain increases (median increase 0.05 [0.04–0.07], p = 0.01, CoV = 33%). R/I (1.73 [0.58–3.35]) estimated the decrease in dynamic strain (p ≤0.001, r = −0.90) and the increase in static strain (p = 0.009, r = −0.73) induced by PEEP, while PEEP-induced changes in respiratory and lung mechanics did not. Trendelenburg pneumoperitoneum yields variable derecruitment: PEEP capability to revert these phenomena varies significantly among individuals. High R/I identifies patients in whom higher PEEP mostly reduces dynamic strain with limited static strain increases, potentially allowing individualized settings. •Optimal PEEP for laparoscopy is debated. Aeration loss and recruitment vary among patients, warranting personalized settings.•IIn this study, 17 patients undergoing robot-assisted prostatectomy during Trendelenburg pneumoperitoneum were studied.•Pneumoperitoneum variably reduced FRC. PEEP 12 cmH20 yielded variable recruitment, leading to diverse effects on lung strain.•EELV-derived R/I well reflected the effect of PEEP on lung strain, identifying patients benefiting the most from higher PEEP.

Background To evaluate the feasibility and the safety of robotic single-site hysterectomy (RSSH) in low risk early endometrial cancer. Methods Patients with clinical low risk early endometrial cancer were enrolled onto a prospective cohort trial. All surgical procedures were performed through a single 2–2.5 cm umbilical incision, with a multichannel system consisting of a five-lumen port providing access for two single-site instruments (da Vinci Si Surgical System, Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA), the 8.5 mm 3D HD endoscope, a 5/10 mm accessory port, and an insufflation adaptor. Results Between December 2011 and June 2012, a total of 17 patients were included in our pilot study. The median age of the patients was 64 years (range, 42–84 years), and median body mass index was 26.6 kg/m 2 (range, 18–52 kg/m 2 ). One patient was excluded from the study as a result of pelvic metastasis during inspection of abdominal cavity, and another patient was converted to vaginal surgery as a result of problems of hypercapnia. The median docking time, console time, and total operative time was 8 min (range, 5–14 min), 48 min (range, 45–51 min), and 90 min (range, 70–147 min), respectively. The median blood loss was 75 mL (range, 50–150 mL). No laparoscopy/laparotomy conversion was registered. The median time to discharge was 2 days (range, 1–3 days). Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications occurred. At a median of 7.5 months’ follow-up, all patients were disease-free. Conclusions RSSH is technically feasible in patients affected by low risk early endometrial cancer. Additional studies with gynecologic oncologic cases should be performed to explore the possible benefits of RSSH.

During robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), specific surgical conditions (a steep Trendelenburg position, prolonged pneumoperitoneum, effective myoresolution until the final stages of surgery) can seriously impair the outcomes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and ileus and the quality of cognitive function at the awakening in two groups of patients undergoing different reversals. In this randomized trial, patients that were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA) ≤III candidates for RARC for bladder cancer were randomized into two groups: In the sugammadex (S) group, patients received 2 mg/kg of sugammadex as reversal of neuromuscolar blockade; in the neostigmine (N) group, antagonization was obtained with neostigmine 0.04 mg/kg + atropine 0.02 mg/kg. PONV was evaluated at 30 min, 6 and 24 h after anesthesia. Postoperative cognitive functions and time to resumption of intestinal transit were also investigated. A total of 109 patients were analyzed (54 in the S group and 55 in the N group). The incidence of early PONV was lower in the S group but not statistically significant (S group 25.9% vs. N group 29%; p = 0.711). The Mini-Mental State test mean value was higher in the S group vs. the N group (1 h after surgery: 29.3 (29; 30) vs. 27.6 (27; 30), p = 0.007; 4 h after surgery: 29.5 (30; 30) vs. 28.4 (28; 30), p = 0.05). We did not observe a significant decrease of the PONV after sugammadex administration versus neostigmine use. The Mini-Mental State test mean value was greater in the S group.

Purpose To evaluate the technical feasibility, safety and functional outcomes of zero ischaemia laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy with controlled hypotension for renal tumours larger than 4 cm. Methods We evaluated 121 consecutive patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) scores 1–2 who underwent laparoscopic ( n  = 70) or robotic ( n  = 51) partial nephrectomy with controlled hypotension with either tumour size ≤4 cm (group 1, n  = 78) or tumour size >4 cm (group 2, n  = 43) performed by a single surgeon from December 2010 to December 2011. Operative data, complications, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rates and effective renal plasma flow calculated from 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine renal scintigraphy were compared. Differences between groups were evaluated by the Chi-square test and the Student’s t test. Results A significant difference in mean intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications was found between the two groups: 168 ml (range: 10–600 ml in group 1) and 205 ml (range: 90–700 ml in group 2); p  = 0.005, and 6.4 % versus 18.6 %; p  = 0.004, respectively. The mean percentage decrease of ERPF of the operated kidney was 1.8 % in group 1 and 4.1 % in group 2. Conclusions Laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy with controlled hypotension for tumours >4 cm in ASA 1–2 patients was feasible with significant higher intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications compared to smaller renal masses. The benefits of avoiding hilar clamping to preserve kidney function seem excellent.