Are weight or age limits for pediatric laparoscopic pyeloplasty? Results of a multicentric study.

INTRODUCTION: Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty is the technique of choice for the treatment of pyeloureteral junction obstruction (PUJO) with an excellent success rate. Minimally invasive surgery has become the standard of care for the management of PUJO in children. Although it has been comparable to the open approach at all levels, its diffusion or employment in younger children has not been widely adopted. Our aim is to evaluate laparoscopic pyeloplasty outcomes from international academic centers in children under 1 year of age, focusing on feasibility and outcomes including possible complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is review of consecutive infants under 1 year of age who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty between 2009 and 2018 with more than 12 months of follow-up. Seven different training centers with different backgrounds participated in this study. Evaluation was carried out with ultrasound and renogram before and after surgery. Demographic data, perioperative characteristics, complications, and results are described and analyzed. RESULTS: Over 9 years, 124 transperitoneal laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasties were performed on 123 children under 1 year of age; 88 males and 35 females, with 1 case of bilateral PUJO. Of the 124 renal units, 86 were left-sided. Mean age at surgery was 6.6 months (1 week-12 months), with 56% (n = 70) done before 6 months of age. Mean weight at surgery was 6.8 kg (3-12 kg), with 59% (n = 73) weighing less than 8 kg. Mean operative time (skin-to-skin) was 150 min (75-330 min). After a mean follow-up of 46 months (12-84 months), 12 (9%) patients developed complications, with only 1 needing a redo pyeloplasty also done laparoscopically. One child, with deterioration in renal function, underwent nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty under 1 year of age and/or less than 12 kilos is feasible with lower complication rate. Furthermore, age younger than 6 months and weight less than 8 kg are no longer limiting factors for a successful pyeloplasty as shown by this multicentre study.

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.

Latitudes and attitudes: A multinational study of laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children.

PURPOSE: The Anderson-Hynes technique has been the treatment of choice for primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children. Laparoscopic approach has shown similar outcomes to open, with advantages of shorter hospital stay and less pain. We reviewed the experience of 11 geographically diverse, tertiary pediatric urology institutions focusing on the outcomes and complications of laparoscopic pyeloplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted evaluating patients undergoing Anderson-Hynes dismembered laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Centers from four different continents participated. Demographic data, perioperative management, results, and complications are described. RESULTS: Over a 9-year period, 744 laparoscopic pyeloplasties were performed in 743 patients. Mean follow-up was 31 months (6-120m). Mean age at surgery was 82 months (1 w-19 y). Median operative time was 177 min. An internal stent was placed in 648 patients (87%). A catheter was placed for bladder drainage in 702 patients (94%). Conversion to open pyeloplasty was necessary in seven patients. Average length of hospital stay was 2.8 days. Mean time of analgesic requirement was 3.2 days. Complications, according to Clavien-Dindo classification, were observed in 56 patients (7.5%); 10 (1%) were Clavien-Dindo IIIb. Treatment failure occurred in 35 cases with 30 requiring redo pyeloplasty (4%) and 5 cases requiring nephrectomy (0.6%). CONCLUSION: We have described the laparoscopic pyeloplasty experience of institutions with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. They had very similar outcomes, in agreement with previously published data. Based on these findings, we conclude that laparoscopic pyeloplasty is safe and successful in diverse geographics areas of the world.

Simplified open approach to surgical treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in young children and infants.

PURPOSE: Indications for laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction are steadily growing but there is still a group of young children in whom open surgery continues to be the procedure most performed by pediatric urologists. We report our results in young children and infants with dismembered pyeloplasty done through a small flank incision on an outpatient basis or during a short hospital stay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2001 and July 2009, 45 patients with a median age of 11.2 months (range 1 to 50), of whom 72.9% were male, with confirmed ureteropelvic junction obstruction underwent classic Anderson-Hynes dismembered pyeloplasty thorough a 2.5 to 3.5 cm flank incision. Obstruction was on the left side in 51.2% of the patients. Pyeloureteral anastomosis was performed with a continuous 7-zero polydioxanone suture over a 7Fr multiperforated pyelostomy self-designed catheter in 89% of the patients. A Double-J® catheter was used in only 4 patients with other associated conditions. The stent was removed in the office 7 to 12 days after surgery. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 92 minutes (range 60 to 150). Median hospital stay was 11.5 hours (range 6 to 35) in the whole group but it decreased to 9.4 hours in the last 22 cases. There was no reoperation due to recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Mean postoperative followup was 47.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction surgery in small children can be done safely through a small incision with a short hospital stay without morbidity and with good cosmesis. We believe that open pyeloplasty will continue to be the best standard treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction surgery in small children until miniaturization and better laparoscopic instruments allow us to reproduce these results.

Laparoscopic Upper-pole Heminephrectomy for the Management of Duplex Kidney: Outcomes of a Multicenter Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcomes of patients undergoing upper-pole heminephrectomy surgery and to assess the different variables that may have an impact on outcome, specifically regarding morbidity and the need for further surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who underwent laparoscopic upper-pole heminephrectomy for a nonfunctional moiety between August 2007 and December 2019 was conducted at 3 centers. A total of 130 patients met the inclusion criteria. A transperitoneal approach was used. The following variables were evaluated: (1) preoperative: presentation, presence of ureterocele and history of ureterocele incision, hydronephrosis grade, presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and differential renal function (DRF) on renal scintigraphy; and (2) postoperative outcomes: Doppler ultrasound, renal scintigraphy, complications, febrile urinary tract infection, lower urinary tract symptoms, and need for further surgery. Findings were considered statistically significant at P <.05. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were observed in 5 patients (3.8%). Six patients (4.6%) needed further surgeries after heminephrectomy. The presence of ureterocele and VUR was related with the need for further surgeries odds ratio (OR) 4.91, P = .0415) and the occurrence of postoperative febrile urinary tract infection (OR 2.81, P = .0376). A 13.9% incidence of lower urinary tract symptoms was found with no difference between patients with ureterocele and those with an ectopic ureter. Renal scintigraphy showed a median decrease in DRF of 2.7%. No patient had complete loss of function. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic upper-pole heminephrectomy showed to be a feasible and safe procedure. In most patients this surgery will be the definitive procedure. Patients with both VUR and ureterocele will need special consideration. No significant loss of function in the remaining lower moiety was found.

Histologic changes after urethroplasty using small intestinal submucosa unseeded with cells in rabbits with injured urethra.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether small intestine submucosa has the same regenerative capacity when urethroplasty is performed in injured urethras. METHODS: Our experiment was conducted in 30 New Zealand male rabbits, all of which had urethral injury. One month after the injury, the animals were randomized into a control group or a group with onlay urethroplasty with small intestine submucosa. The animals were euthanized at 2, 4, 12, 24, and 36 weeks after urethroplasty, and their urethras were removed for histologic and immunohistochemical examination. Before the scheduled euthanasia, urethrography and cystoscopy were performed. RESULTS: After 2 weeks, there was evidence of a continuous monolayer of stratified epithelial cells and absence of smooth muscle fibers. One month later, the epithelium showed no changes from the previously observed features, but some smooth muscle fibers (representing newly formed vessels) became apparent. After 3 months, the graft showed increased concentration of smooth muscle fibers. After 6 and 9 months, the density of smooth muscle cells remained unchanged. Fiber arrangement was irregular, particularly at the anastomosis site. Epithelial and smooth muscle phenotypes were confirmed by immunohistochemistry using anti-pan-citokeratin (AE1/AE3) antibodies and anti-α-smooth muscle actin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Small intestine submucosa promotes regeneration in traumatized urethras, with slightly delayed epithelialization and abnormal distribution of smooth muscle. Urethral damage caused by trauma interferes with the normal healing process.

Results of Treatment of Grades IV and V Vesicoureteral Reflux with Endoscopic Injection of Polyacrylate Polyalcohol Copolymer.

PURPOSE: Here we report the results of a review of a prospectively maintained database of the use polyacrylate polyalcohol copolymer (PPC) injection to correct grades IV and V VUR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All children with grades IV and V primary VUR that presented with febrile urinary tract infection while on prophylaxis, in a 3-year period, were treated with a sub-ureteral injection of PPC. Institutional ethical approval was obtained. Exclusion criteria were incomplete bladder emptying documented on videourodynamic study, ureteral duplication, paraureteral diverticula, and poor ureteral emptying observed during fluoroscopy and previous open surgical or endoscopic treatment. Pre- and post-operative evaluation included urinalysis, renal and bladder ultrasonography, DMSA scan, and videourodynamic studies. RESULTS: Thirty-three children [36 renal units (RU)] were included with a median age of 57 months (range 7-108). There were 18 boys and 15 girls. Thirty RU had grade IV and 6 grade V VUR. Median follow-up time was 32 months (range 7-58). Reflux was cured in 32/36 RU with the first injection, but another two patients were reimplanted because of dilatation. Complications included early urinary tract infection in seven children, transient lower urinary tract symptoms in five children. Progressive ureteral dilatation was noted in four children and was treated with insertion of a double J stent. Two of these children eventually required an ureteroneocystostomy. CONCLUSION: The use of PPC to treat grades IV and V vesicoureteral reflux in young children has an overall success rate of 83.3%. Persistent ureteral dilatation was present in 11% associated with high injection volume. Future studies will attempt to maintain a high success rate reducing the volume of injection and the incidence of dilatation.

Anterior urethral valves: not such a benign condition .

PURPOSE: Anterior urethral valves (AUVs) is an unusual cause of congenital obstruction of the male urethra, being 15-30 times less common than posterior urethral valves (PUVs). It has been suggested that patients with congenital anterior urethral obstruction have a better prognosis than those with PUV, with less hydronephrosis, and a lower incidence of chronic renal insufficiency (5 vs. 30%). The long-term prognosis of AUVs is not clear in the literature. In this report we describe our experience and long-term follow up of patients with anterior urethral valve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 13 patients who presented with the diagnosis of AUVs in our institutions between January 1994 and June 2012. Two patients were excluded: one patient had no follow up after intervention; the other had a follow up <1 year. From the 11 patients included, we evaluated the gestational age, prenatal and postnatal ultrasound findings, voiding cystourethrogram findings, age upon valve ablation, micturition pattern, creatinine, and clinical follow up. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2012 we evaluated 150 patients with the diagnosis of urethral valves. Of this group, 11 patients (7.3%) had AUVs and an adequate follow up. Mean follow up is 6.3 years (2.5-12 years). Five (45.4%) patients had prenatal diagnosis of AUV. The most common prenatal ultrasonographic finding was bilateral hydronephrosis and distended bladder. One patient showed a large perineal cystic mass, which was confirmed to be a dilated anterior urethra. The mean gestational age was 37.6 weeks (27-40 WGA). Postnatally, 90% had trabeculated bladder, 80% hydronephrosis, and 40% renal dysplasia. The most common clinical presentation was urinary tract infection in five patients (45.4%), followed by weak urinary stream found in four patients (36.3%). The age at initial surgical intervention ranged between 7 days and 13 years. Seven (63.6%) patients had primary transurethral valve resection or laser ablation and three patients (27.2%) had primary vesicostomies. One boy (9.1%) had penile urethrostomy with excision of urethral diverticulum. Two (18.2%) patients developed end-stage renal disease. CONCLUSION: Anterior urethral valve is a rare congenital entity affecting the genitourinary system in males. Early urinary tract obstruction resulted in end-stage renal disease in 18% of our patient population. In our series, the complication rate and the evolution to renal failure are high and similar to patients with PUV. In patients with AUVs we recommend long-term follow up and close evaluation of patient's bladder and renal function.