The Safety and Efficacy of Adjuvant Hemostatic Agents During Laparoscopic Nephron-Sparing Surgery: Comparison of Tachosil and Floseal Versus No Hemostatic Agents.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of TachoSil and Floseal during laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery (LNSS), and to evaluate postoperative complications, especially hemorrhage and urinary leakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients that underwent LNSS for a small renal mass (SRM) performed by the same experienced surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups, based on hemostatic agent: group 1: no adjuvant hemostatic agent (no AHA); group 2: TachoSil; group 3: Floseal. RESULTS: The study included 79 patients; no AHA group: n = 18; TachoSil group: n = 25; Floseal group: n = 36. The 3 groups were similar in terms of diameter [29.6 ± 11.5 mm, 26.4 ± 13.4 mm and 30.4 ± 9.6 mm, respectively (P = .218)] and PADUA scores [6.9 ± 0.9, 6.7 ± 1 and 6.9 ± 0.9, respectively (P =.540)]. Mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the Floseal group (120.9 ± 23.1 minutes) than in the no AHA group (156.6 ± 34.4 minutes). Mean ischemia time was longest in the no AHA group (24.3 ± 4 minutes) and shortest in the Floseal group(21.3 ± 4.3 minutes). Intra-abdominal (IA) catheter drainage on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher in the no AHA group thanin the TachoSil and Floseal groups [156.9 ±78.3 mL vs. 72.6 ± 64.5 and 60.8 ± 30.2 mL, respectively (P < .05)]. Mean duration of hospitalization was 3.2 ± 0.5 days in the no AHA group that was significantly longer than in the Floseal group (2.8 ± 0.7 days) (P = .043). There were not any differences in intraoperative complications, the transfusion rate, surgical margin positivity, or postoperative complications between the 3 groups (P = .596, P =.403, P = 1.0, P = .876, respectively). However, pseudoaneurism as a late term complication occurred in 27.7% patients in the no AHA group. CONCLUSION: TachoSil and Floseal are safe and effective adjuvant treatments for patients undergoing LNSS. They might be useful especially in preventing pseudo aneurisms, shortening intraoperative ischemia time and hospital stay and decreasing postoperative drainage. Shortened operation and warm ischemia time may also be attributed to long learning curve of LNSS.

Factors affecting the success of endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux and comparison of two dextranomer based bulking agents: does bulking substance matter?

INTRODUCTION: Among the interventional treatment modalities for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), endoscopic subureteric injection seems to be the least invasive method with acceptable outcomes when applied in appropriate patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the presented study is to investigate the parameters which may affect the outcomes of endoscopic injection and to compare the efficacy of two different bulking agents both composed of dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer. STUDY DESIGN: The data of patients who underwent endoscopic VUR treatment between 2003 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with history of previous open antireflux surgery, more than one failed endoscopic treatment for reflux, VUR caused by posterior urethral valve, duplex system and overt spinal dysraphism were excluded. Surgical technique was the classical STING method. One of the two dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer agents was used (Deflux in 109 and Dexell in 131 patients). Both agents were composed of similar amounts of hyaluronic acid gel (15 mg in Deflux versus 17 mg in Dexell) but different sized dextranomer microspheres (80-250 µm in Deflux and 80-120 µm in Dexell). During the follow-up, ultrasonography was performed with 3-month interval, antibiotic prophylaxis was continued until the control voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) was taken. Patient based success was defined as the disappearance of reflux on control VCUG performed 3-6 months after the operation. RESULTS: Data were available for 240 patients. Mean age and mean postoperative follow-up were 78 ± 41 months and 19 ± 18 months. The overall success rate was 73.2%. Gender, laterality, grade of VUR, presence of voiding dysfunction, renal scar and preoperative breakthrough infection (BTI) were not found to affect the outcome, whereas age younger than 54 months and previous history of failed endoscopic injection were found to negatively affect the outcome both in univariate and multivariate analysis. The postoperative UTI (5 febrile and 43 nonfebrile) rate was 20%. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that postoperative UTI was more common in patients with persisting reflux, with preoperative breakthrough infections and in girls. Patient characteristics, treatment outcome and postoperative UTI rate were similar regarding the used bulking agent. No ureteral obstruction was experienced within the follow-up period. DISCUSSION: Our success rate for second injection is about 60%, which is significantly lower than for the patients who underwent first injection. We could not find any affecting factor for this difference. Contrary to the literature, our success rates were similar in different reflux grades. We can explain this finding that we value the intraoperative orifice configuration more than the grade which can be accepted as a patient selection bias. The lower success rate in children younger than 54 months can be explained by unstabilized bladder dynamics and higher voiding pressures in this age group, who are still in the toilet-training phase. Despite successful endoscopic treatment, UTI might occur. Postoperative UTI was more common in patients with persisting reflux, preoperative BTI and girls. The similar success rates of both bulking agents proved that dextranomer size does not affect the clinical outcome. Limitations of our study can be counted as follows: 1. the data do not include the number of patients in whom conversion to open surgery was decided intraoperatively because of the unfavorable orifice configuration, 2. our data do not include the injected volume records. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic treatment of VUR has satisfying outcomes in properly selected cases. Younger age (<54 months) and previous history of failed injection history were found to be related to unfavorable results. Postoperative UTI occurs more frequently in patients with persisting reflux, preoperative breakthrough infection history and girls. The choice of one of the dextranomer-based substances does not affect the surgical outcome and postoperative UTI development.

Quality of life survey following laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of renal cancer patients following laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two (64.9%) patients who were treated with open radical nephrectomy (ORN group) and 39 (35.1%) patients who were treated with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN group) were included in this study. QoL was evaluated by Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical domain scores obtained before surgery, 1 and 6 months after surgery. Analgesic requirement and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores following surgeries were recorded. RESULTS: The demographic features of the groups were similar. There was a significant difference in tumor size be­tween the ORN group (71.59 & plusmn; 29.83 mm) and LRN group (57.08 & plusmn; 19.33 mm) (P = .011). In the LRN group there was less blood loss, a lower transfusion rate, earlier ambulation, more rapid convalescence and shorter hospitalization; however, the difference in surgical duration between the ORN group (122.86 & plusmn; 36.8 min) and LRN group (140.17 & plusmn; 50.71 min) was not significant (P = .383). Analgesic requirement and VAS pain scores were similar in both groups. In terms of SF-36 physical domain scores, the general health perception score in the LRN group was higher than that in the ORN group at pre-surgery, 1 and 6 months after surgery. SF-36 physical functioning and general health perception scores in both groups were significantly lower in 1 month after surgery and were higher in 6 months after surgery, as compare to before surgery. Bodily pain scores in LRN group did not change significantly after surgery (P = .376). CONCLUSION: LRN exhibited some technical advantages, including less blood loss, shorter hospitalization and more rapid recovery. Although the ORN patients had relatively larger tumors, analgesic requirement, postoperative complications, body pain, and physical functioning weren't significantly different between the groups. QoL was higher 6 months after surgery than before surgery in both groups. & nbsp;

Ureteritis cystica: A rare entity in children.

Ureteritis cystica (UC) is a benign condition. Although it can often be diagnosed with imaging techniques, we report a case of a child for whom we planned nephrectomy and ureteral augmentation cystoplasty, but abandoned the cystoplasty due to extensive UC in the ureter.

Histopathological evaluation of orchiectomy specimens in 51 late postpubertal men with unilateral cryptorchidism.

PURPOSE: We evaluate the histopathological features of uncorrected undescended testis presenting at a late postpubertal age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 51 men (age 20 to 24 years) diagnosed with inguinal unilateral undescended testis found on routine examination for military recruits. None was evaluated or treated for undescended testis previously. All of the men had a normal contralateral testis and no other observed phenotypic alterations, and all had undergone unilateral orchiectomy. The surgical specimens were first examined histologically, and sections were additionally examined with immunohistochemical methods using antibodies against CD117 and OCT3/4 proteins to verify the presence of intratubular germ cell neoplasia. RESULTS: Histopathology revealed the presence of germ cells at different maturation levels in 26 of 51 (51%) cases. There were 28 cases (55%) with different degrees of basal membrane thickening. A decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter was observed in 23 (45%) patients. Six patients (12%) had dystrophic calcification and 12 (24%) had Leydig cell hyperplasia. Although morphological evaluation did not show intratubular germ cell neoplasia in any patients, 1 with germ cells had positivity for OCT3/4 and CD117 staining. Therefore, 1 case out of 51 had diagnosed intratubular germ cell neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide range of histopathological changes in undescended testis. Nearly half the patients may still have significant germ cell activity at a variety of maturation levels. The incidence of intratubular germ cell neoplasia was 2% in this group. Intratubular germ cell neoplasia may be overlooked with hematoxylin and eosin staining so immunohistochemical study should be added for evaluation.

Upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: is there a best?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prognostic and risk factors for bladder and systemic recurrence after nephroureterectomy (NU) in patients with upper urinary tract (UUT) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 101 patients with nonmetastatic UUT TCC who underwent NU between 1987 and 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. Kaplan-Meier curves for sex, age, anemia, smoking, stone disease, or history of bladder tumor, primary tumor localization, multiplicity, and disease stage and grade were constructed to predict 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for recurrence. RESULTS: Bladder, distant, and local recurrence rates at a mean of 56.19 ± 5.30 months after NU were 38.5%, 19.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that among the patients with bladder recurrence, female patients had significantly lower 5-year RFS than did male patients (34.7% ± 0.13% vs. 62.4% ± 0.06%, P = .038); however multivariate analysis showed that both female sex and a history of smoking were independent risk factors for bladder recurrence (odds ratio [OR], 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-11.4; P = 0.005 and OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.1-7.4; P = .032, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that among the patients with local and distant recurrence, anemia, a positive history of bladder tumor, localization of the primary tumor, multiplicity, disease stage, and tumor grade significantly affected RFS, whereas primary tumor stage and grade were the only independent risk factors for 5-year RFS (OR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.45-13.79; P = .009 and OR, 5.82; 95% CI, 2.08-16.26; P = .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Female sex and a history of smoking were independent risk factors for bladder recurrence after NU. Such patients should be monitored closely using cystoscopy and urine cytologic examination. Invasive and higher grade UUT TCC was associated with worse local or systemic RFS.

Prevalence and predictors of benign lesions in renal masses smaller than 7 cm presumed to be renal cell carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: The present study was designed to determine the incidence and predictive factors of benign renal lesions in 450 patients who underwent surgical removal of solitary renal masses <7 cm in diameter. Of the 450 renal masses, 88 (19.9%) were benign lesions. Female sex, nephron-sparing surgery, surgery between 1990 and 1996, cystic components on imaging, and small tumors (<4 cm) were independently associated with benign pathology. PURPOSE: To determine the association between preoperative parameters with final benign pathology in patients who underwent surgical removal of solitary renal masses <7 cm in diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of 450 patients without metastatic disease who underwent radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for removal of renal masses <7 cm between January 1990 and December 2009 was reviewed. Age, sex, symptoms, year and type of surgery, solid or cystic appearance, and tumor size were analyzed as presumed predictors of benign pathology. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify parameters associated with benign pathology. RESULTS: In all, 88 (19.9%) of the tumors were benign, including 39 (8.7%) oncocytomas and 22 (4.9%) angiomyolipomas. The benign lesion rate for tumors ≤2, 2.1-4, and 4.1-7 cm was 30.3%, 27.1%, and 12.5%, respectively (2P < .001). For the periods of 1990-1996, 1997-2003, and 2004-2009, the frequency of benign tumors was 25%, 17.3%, and 18.4% (2P = .271), the incidental tumor rate was 48.1%, 60.4%, and 63.8% (2P = .027), mean tumor size was 5, 4.6, and 4.1 cm (2P < .001), and the NSS rate was 28.8%, 43.2%, and 52.7% (2P < .001), respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, NSS, surgery between 1990 and 1996, cystic components on imaging, and small tumors (<4 cm) based on radiologic examination were independently associated with benign pathology (odds ratio [OR] = 3.26, 2.56, 2.43, 2.41, and 1.96, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of incidental and small tumors amenable to NSS increased over time. Female sex was the strongest predictor of benign pathology.