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Michael Perrotti

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Perrotti.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Medical malpractice in urology, 1985 to 2004: 469 consecutive cases closed with indemnity payment.

PURPOSE: Malpractice premiums have increased by up to 57% for urologists in the last 3 years, for which the reasons are not clearly reported. We sought to better understand factors contributing to the current medical malpractice crisis in urology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Working with the Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company of New York State we evaluated malpractice claims in urology that were closed with indemnity payment between 1985 and 2004. Individual claims were assessed for the purported negligent act, the procedure when applicable and the expense incurred. We also evaluated the impact of new technologies, eg laparoscopic nephrectomy, on reported claims. RESULTS: A total of 469 urology malpractice claims were closed with indemnity payment during the period evaluated for a total loss indemnity of Dollars 99,335,431. The number of files closed with indemnity payment yearly remained relatively constant at an average of 22 claims. The average indemnity payment increased each year and after correcting for inflation a 191% increase was observed for the period evaluated. The greatest number of claims was related to postoperative events (total of 101), followed by intraoperative events (96), failure to diagnose a given condition (60), medication administration error (21) and a foreign body left following surgery (20). In the area of new technologies laparoscopic surgery accounted for 4 claims and transurethral needle ablation accounted for 1. Vasectomy accounted for 8 claims. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study surgical procedures were the greatest generator of claims with the most common being oncological. Emerging and new technologies, eg laparoscopy and robotics, did not account for the increase in indemnity payments observed to date. Only further investigation will determine whether this is secondary to a lag time in the closure of suits related to these emerging technologies or to a lack of such suits. The actual number of claims closed with indemnity payment yearly remained relatively constant. However, the indemnity payment per claim far outpaced that expected for inflation. The observed increase in indemnity payment per claim would appear to be a significant contributing factor to the current malpractice crisis in urology.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Phase I trial of weekly docetaxel with concurrent three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the treatment of unfavorable localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

PURPOSE: A phase I trial was conducted to determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of concurrent weekly docetaxel and three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT) in unfavorable localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with unfavorable localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate underwent daily 3-D CRT to a total dose of 70.2 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction and concurrent docetaxel given once a week for 8 to 9 weeks. The initial weekly docetaxel dose level was 5 mg/m(2) and the docetaxel doses were escalated as follows: 8, 12, 16, 20, and 25 mg/m(2). RESULTS: Between January 2000 and August 2002, 22 men completed the chemoradiation therapy protocol. The dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 diarrhea, which occurred in the first two patients treated at the 25 mg/m(2) docetaxel dose level. The MTD of weekly docetaxel was determined to be 20 mg/m(2). The overall incidence of grade 2 diarrhea and grade 2 dysuria was 36% and 23%, respectively. Seven (32%) and 15 (68%) patients did not experience any diarrhea or dysuria, respectively. No neutropenia or thrombocytopenia was observed. One patient required intermittent urinary catheterization 10 months postcompletion of therapy, which resolved without any surgical intervention. Seventeen patients remain in prostate-specific antigen remission. At a median follow-up interval of 8 months (range, 2 to 27 months), all patients are alive. CONCLUSION: Concurrent weekly docetaxel in conjunction with 3-D CRT is well tolerated with acceptable toxicity. The MTD of weekly docetaxel was determined to be 20 mg/m(2) with concurrent 3-D CRT.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Routine pouchograms are not necessary after continent urinary diversion.

OBJECTIVES: Pouchograms are routinely performed before catheter removal after continent urinary diversion at our institution. Our aim was to determine the necessity of pouchograms based on a review of our experience. METHODS: A retrospective review of patient records and radiographic studies was done for patients undergoing radical cystectomy and continent urinary diversions between 1991 and 2001. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients underwent continent urinary diversion (orthotopic, n = 59; cutaneous, n = 13) during the study period. All underwent pouchogram postoperatively (median 22 days; range 20 to 27). Six patients (8.3%) had a demonstrable radiographic leak; in 5 of the 6 patients, the urine leak was suspected on clinical grounds. Three patients (4.7%) developed urosepsis after pouchogram. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that routine pouchograms before pouch activation after continent urinary diversion may not be necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Implications of radioactive seed migration to the lungs after prostate brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To review the incidence and the impact of pulmonary seed migration after prostate brachytherapy on lung function. Isolated reports of seed migration to the lungs after prostate brachytherapy have been published; however, the clinical consequences of this pulmonary migration have not been adequately evaluated. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy from 1998 to 2000. Pulmonary imaging with chest x-ray was performed 15 to 90 days (median 45) after the procedure. The chest radiographs were reviewed by a single radiologist (V.S.D.), and patients with seed migration to the lungs were evaluated by a single pulmonologist (A.M.H.) using a questionnaire, chest radiography, and pulmonary function tests. Computed tomography of the prostate after seed implantation was performed to check seed position and dosimetry. Odds ratio, confidence intervals, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between the type and number of seeds used, the incidence of pulmonary migration, and the effects on pulmonary function. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients underwent prostate brachytherapy during the study period and 58 patients underwent chest radiography. Seed migration occurred in 21 (36.2%) of 58 patients (95% confidence interval 23.8% to 48.6%). Thirty-four (0.71%) of 4755 seeds used migrated to the lungs. Nine patients had single seed migration to the right lung and three to the left lung. Nine patients had multiple (maximum of 4) and bilateral seed migration. No consistent relationship was found between seed migration and the type of seeds used (P = 0.24). Borderline statistical significance suggested an increased incidence of seed migration with an increasing number of implanted seeds (P = 0.054). Repeat chest radiography in 21 patients revealed no delayed migration at a median follow-up of 16 months. Clinical and pulmonary function testing revealed no consistent abnormality attributable to seed migration. CONCLUSIONS: Radioactive seed migration occurred in 36.2% of brachytherapy patients who had chest radiographs done in our series. Pulmonary seed migration may be influenced by the number of implanted seeds and does not appear to be influenced by the seed type. Additional study of this observed phenomenon is required. A thorough pulmonary workup failed to reveal any short-term harmful side effects; however, long-term follow-up is needed. Healthcare providers should discuss the possibility of pulmonary seed migration with patients with prostate cancer considering prostate brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective metastatic risk assignment in clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testis cancer: a single institution pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To gain initial experience with a histopathologic model to assign metastatic risk in patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testis cancer (CSI NSGCTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histopathologic factors were recorded prospectively, and metastatic risk assigned according to the proposed model. In the model tested, percentage of embryonal carcinoma (%EMB) > or = 80% and/or vascular invasion (+VI) denoted high (> 50%) occult disease risk, while %EMB < 80% plus absence of VI denoted low (< or = 10%) risk. Risk stratification was correlated with outcome and assessed statistically. RESULTS: There were 54 patients with CSI testis cancer evaluated during the study period. Patients with pure seminoma (n = 30), Sertoli cell tumor (n = 1), and Leydig cell tumor (n = 1) were excluded from analysis. Twenty-two patients had CSI NSGCTC and comprise the pilot study cohort. The median follow-up duration from the time of study entry is 31 months (range, 20-61 months). Utilizing the model tested, a statistically significant higher likelihood of occult disease in the high risk cohort compared to the low risk cohort was observed (67% vs. 0%; Fisher's exact test, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present pilot study are encouraging, particularly in the potential of identifying a cohort at low metastatic risk. In the appropriate setting, such a patient might be considered for surveillance alone following orchiectomy. High risk assignment was associated with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 67%. This level of risk is superior to single factor PPV, and if confirmed, could influence clinical decision making. Further experience with this model in an expanded setting is required to establish its reproducibility and predictive value.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Robotic prostatectomy outcomes.

The triad of cancer cure, rapid recovery of complete urinary continence, and preservation of sexual function are desirable in the contemporary surgical treatment of the young potent male with prostate cancer. Robotic prostatectomy is a Food and Drug Administration approved approach to radical prostatectomy, and is performed at our institution and elsewhere. We present a critical assessment of reported outcomes using this minimally invasive technique.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy with the use of a single midline hand-assist port.

Indications for bilateral adrenalectomy are rarely present in patients with Cushing's syndrome. The laparoscopic approach to adrenalectomy provides a postoperative course that compares favorably with that of open adrenalectomy, and the hand-assisted technique may provide an additional alternative to the open approach in performing bilateral adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗