Guest Editors
Prof. Salvatore Siracusano
Email: salvatore.siracusano@univaq.it
Affiliation: Urologic Unit, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Sanit Pubblica, Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente (MESVA), University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila (AQ), Italy
Homepage:
Research Interests: uro-oncological surgery, urinary diversion, quality of life, bladder cystectomy
Prof. Cristina Lonardi
Email: cristina.lonardi@univr.it
Affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Lungadige San Francesco, 8, 37129 Verona, Italy
Homepage:
Research Interests: quality of life, urinary diversion
Summary
It is well established that the surgical treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, involving radical cystectomy with either heterotopic or orthotopic urinary diversion, imposes a highly disabling condition on patients due to severe impairment of quality of life (QoL). In this context, there are currently no specific guidelines regarding the evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly concerning when to conduct assessments, whether to use generic or disease-specific questionnaires, and how to effectively obtain and utilize scores for individual patients. Although the use of these tools in clinical research has become well-established, demonstrating the significant utility of HRQOL measurement for effective health planning, their application remains limited in routine clinical practice. This limitation is especially evident in cystectomized patients, as the length and complexity of interpreting questionnaires often deter their use, resulting in a lack of structured implementation for personalized patient care. In this supplement, we aim to outline contemporary techniques in radical cystectomy and emphasize the benefits of appropriately utilizing QoL or HRQOL questionnaires to enhance the care of patients undergoing this highly impactful surgery.
Scope and Themes
This special issue is divided into two primary sections, encompassing but not limited to the following topics:
(1) General Aspects
- The definition and evolution of the concept of Quality of Life (QoL) in medicine and fundamental methods of measurement
- Current advancements and techniques in robotic-assisted radical cystectomy
(2) Clinical Aspects
- Evidence-based analysis of QoL outcomes with ileal or colon conduits
- Evidence-based analysis of QoL outcomes with orthotopic neobladders
- Evidence-based analysis of QoL outcomes with cutaneous ureterostomy
- Comparative evidence of QoL differences between women and men
- Evidence-based analysis of QoL outcomes in elderly patients
This structure is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the surgical management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer and its implications for patients' quality of life.
Keywords
quality of life (QoL), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), radical cystectomy, heterotopic urinary diversion, orthotopic urinary diversion, ileal conduit, orthotopic neobladder, robotic surgery techniques
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