Multicenter retrospective study on benign testicular tumors in children: save as much as you can please.

BACKGROUND: Testicular tumors (TT) are infrequent in pediatric patients, representing 1% of pediatric solid tumors; benign testicular tumors (BTT) are the most common. We present a multicenter study aiming to describe the incidence, histology and surgical technique of BTT, with special emphasis on which approach could present better outcomes. METHODS: The records of pediatric patients diagnosed with BTT between 2005 and 2020 from 8 centers in 5 different countries in Latin-America, were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty two BTTs were identified. 73% tumors presented as a testicular mass, and 97% underwent testicular ultrasound as the initial imaging study, all of them had findings suggestive of a benign tumor. 87% had preoperative tumor markers (AFP and BHCG). In 66%, an intraoperative biopsy was done and 98% of the intraoperative biopsies were concordant with the final pathology report. Tumorectomy was performed in 81% of patients and total orchiectomy in the remaining 19%. Six percentage of patients underwent a subsequent orchiectomy. Mean follow-up was 39 months (1-278 months) where no cases of atrophy were observed clinically or on ultrasound. Fertility was not evaluated in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Proper management of BTTs is essential to avoid unnecessary orchiectomies. Preoperative ultrasound associated with intraoperative biopsy seems accurate in identifying benign pathology, thus enabling conservative testicular surgery with safety margins. Based on this multicenter series, we suggest performing an intraoperative biopsy with subsequent tumorectomy preserving healthy testicular tissue in BTT.

Ureteral replacement with appendix in pediatric renal transplantation.

Ureteral necrosis is an uncommon complication following RT which can adversely affect outcome. Even though authors agree that the native ureter ought to be preserved, there are cases in which graft function can only be salvaged by ureteral substitution. The scant references in the literature on the use of the appendix for left ureteral replacement in children prompted us to report the following two cases in whom the technique was employed and to assess the evolution of graft function in these patients.

Long-term urological assessment and management of cloaca patients: A single tertiary institution experience.

PURPOSE: Preserving renal function and achieving urinary continence are the most important urological goals in the management of cloaca patients. Many prognostic factors have been described, such as the length of the common channel (CC) and urethra, the presence of spinal dysraphism, and associated urological anomalies. The aim of this study was to analyze urinary continence status and need for reconstructive procedures and their correlation with urological risk factors in a series with a long-term follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The institutional database of patients with anorectal malformations was reviewed. Patients with cloaca who underwent cloacal reconstructive surgery at our institution between January 1995 and May 2015 and who had a minimum postoperative follow-up of 5 years with complete urological care were included. Urologic and spinal anomalies, length of the CC, renal function, urodynamic study patterns, continence status, and urologic reconstructive surgeries were assessed. A CC was defined as long CC when its measure was longer than 3 cm in the cloacogram and then confirmed by cystoscopy. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-five cloaca patients with a mean follow-up of 12 years (5-20) were included. A long CC was documented in 38 patients (69%). The sacral ratio (SR) was <0.4 in the AP projection in 30 (54.5%). Urodynamic evaluation revealed an inadequate detrusor contraction pattern in 65.4% of the cases. A CC >3 cm and SR <0.4 were significantly correlated with this urodynamic finding. A total of 50 patients (91%) achieved urinary continence, but only 30.9% had volitional voiding and 56% needed major urological reconstructive surgeries. Eighteen patients (32.7%) were in stage 2 or more of chronic kidney disease (<90 ml/min/1.73 m2) at the last follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Cloacal management requires a multidisciplinary and long-term follow-up. Early assessment of prognostic urological factors and accurate stratification of each patient are essential to avoid renal impairment and achieve urinary continence in the future. The length of the common channel and the presence of spinal dysraphism were correlated with the presence of neurovesical dysfunction specifically an abnormal bladder contraction efficiency. A significant number of these patients will need catheterization and reconstructive urinary tract surgeries to attain urinary continence. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. Retrospective comparative study.

Comparative, Prospective, Case-Control Study of Open versus Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty in Children with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: Long-term Results.

INTRODUCTION: We compare open pyeloplasty (OP) versus laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in children in a multicenter, prospective, case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2007 to March 2009, a program was established at Hospital Garrahan, the reference center, to perform LP with a mentoring surgeon that would attend the institution once a month. Every new case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) diagnosed in the reference institution was offered to participate in the study. If the patient was enrolled, it was scheduled for LP. The following patient diagnosed with UPJO was operated on with open technique and served as a case-control. In three other facilities, patients were only offered LP and had a matched control open case at the reference institution. The first end point of the study was patient recovery: analgesia requirement and length of hospitalization (LOH). The second end point of the study was resolution of UPJO in long-term follow-up for the two techniques. Demographic data, surgical time, perioperative complications, analgesia requirement, analgesia score during hospitalization, LOH, and outcome were recorded. Both groups received the same postoperative indications for pain control. Parents were asked to assess pain in their children every 4 h postoperatively and to complete a pain scale chart to which the nurses were blinded. RESULTS: Fifteen OP and 15 LP were compared. Groups were similar with regard to sex, age, weight, and laterality. Mean surgical time was longer in LP than in OP group (mean 188 versus 65 min) (p < 0.01). Hospitalization was shorter for LP group with a mean of 1.9 versus 2.5 days for OP group (p < 0.05). Postoperative analgesia requirement was significantly higher in the OP group with a mean use of morphine of 1.7 versus 0.06 mg/kg in the LP group (p < 0.05). Pain scores were similar in both the groups. At a mean follow-up of 58 months there were no failures. CONCLUSION: In this prospective comparative cohort, LP was a longer procedure than OP. Both procedures had the same efficacy and complication rates, but patients undergoing LP needed fewer narcotics for pain control and had a shorter hospitalization.

Laparoscopic Mitrofanoff procedure using single 'U-Stitch' anastomosis: a way to make it simple.

OBJECTIVE: to describe and incorporate a modification of the fully laparoscopic Mitrofanoff (LM) procedure with the aim of diminishing operative time and technical difficulties, and to reproduce functional results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of six patients with voiding dysfunction with indication for clean intermittent catheterization who did not require bladder augmentation and who underwent a fully LM procedure between January and November 2011. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 183.3 min with a mean hospital stay of 6.15 days. No complications were recorded during the surgical procedure. Postoperative hematuria is the most frequent complication associated with this technique. One patient presented appendicovesical anastomotic leak that resolved spontaneously after 8 days with abdominal drainage. There were no other postoperative complications on an average 6.8-month follow up. CONCLUSION: We believe fully LM is a feasible and reproducible approach. The U-Stitch appendix implantation technique reduces total operative time and makes the procedure technically easier.