Posterior Urethral Valves, Unilateral Vesicoureteral Reflux, and Renal Dysplasia (VURD) Syndrome: Long-Term Longitudinal Evaluation of the Kidney Function.

The presence of unilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and renal dysplasia associated with posterior urethral valves (PUV) (VURD syndrome) was believed to represent a pressure-released pop-off mechanism protecting kidney function. We aimed to investigate its role with respect to long-term kidney function in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. We compared the iohexol glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured at 5 (GFR5) and 10 (GFR10) years of age in children with (Group A) and without (Group B) VURD syndrome, who underwent PUV resection under 2 years of age. VURD syndrome was diagnosed in cases of unilateral loss of kidney function (<15% on nuclear medicine test) associated with ipsilateral grade IV-V VUR. VURD syndrome was diagnosed in 16 (12.8%) out of 125 patients who met the inclusion criteria. While the median GFR5 was similar in the 2 groups [Group A: 87.3 (74.7-101.2) mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. Group B: 99.6 (77-113) mL/min/1.73 m2, p-value: 0.181], the median GFR10 values were significantly lower in children with VURD syndrome [Group A: 75.7 (71.2-85.9) mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. Group B: 95.1 (81.2-114.2) mL/min/1.73 m2, p-value: 0.009]. Similar results were obtained in a longitudinal analysis of the children with GFR measurement available both at 5 and 10 years of age [GFR5 in Group A: 93.1 (76.9-103.5) mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. Group B: 97.5 (80-113) mL/min/1.73 m2, p-value: 0.460; GFR10: Group A: 71.9 (71.9-85.9) mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. Group B: 94.8 (81.5-110.6) mL/min/1.73 m2, p-value: 0.024]. In conclusion, VURD syndrome does not show a protective role in kidney function preservation. On the contrary, it seems to be associated with a deterioration of the kidney function on a long-term follow-up.

Morbidity following suprapubic line insertion for videourodynamics in children.

INTRODUCTION: Previously in our unit, urodynamics were delayed after insertion of suprapubic (SP) lines. We postulated that performing urodynamics on the same day as SP line insertion would not result in increased morbidity. We retrospectively compared complications in those having urodynamics on the same day against those who had delayed urodynamics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Notes were reviewed for patients undergoing urodynamics via SP lines from May 2009 until December 2018. In 2014 we modified our practice to allow urodynamics on the same day as SP line insertion in some patients. Patients undergoing videourodynamics would have two 5 Fr (mini Paed) SP lines inserted under general anaesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: those that had urodynamics on the same day as SP line insertion and those that had urodynamics after an interval of more than one day. The outcome measure was the number of problems affecting those in each group. The two groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests and Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: There were a total of 211 patients with a median age of 6.5 years (range three months to 15.9 years). Urodynamics were performed on the same day in 86. Delayed Urodynamics were performed at an interval of more than one day in 125. Adverse events included pain or difficulty with voiding, increased urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, leak from catheter site, extravasation, extension of in-patient stay, visible haematuria, urethral catheterisation, and urinary tract infection. Problems affected 43 (20.4%) children. In the same day group, 11 (13.3%) patients had problems, in the delayed group 32 (25.6%) had problems; this was statistically significant (p = 0.03). The difference in combined incidence of important problems (requiring urethral catheterisation, extended admission or abandonment of urodynamics) was not statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: When using suprapubic catheters for urodynamics there is no additional morbidity when catheters are inserted on the same day as the urodynamics study compared to when urodynamic are delayed.

Pediatric Nephrectomy: Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes of Three Different Minimally Invasive and Open Approaches.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is now the gold standard for nephrectomy in pediatric patients. Retroperitoneoscopic (using either one or two instruments) and transperitoneal (TP) approaches are described. We compared the perioperative outcomes of different techniques [single-instrument retroperitoneoscopic (SIRP), two-instrument retroperitoneoscopic (TIRP), TP, and open approach]. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of patients who underwent nephrectomy surgery in the period from January 2009 to January 2020 at a single center was carried out. We excluded patients who underwent other procedures under the same anesthetic, underwent heminephrectomy, and those with incomplete records. The primary outcome measures were operative time, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to analyze continuous variables. Chi square test was used to compare categorical variables. Results: A total of 213 nephrectomies were analyzed; SIRP (n = 35), TIRP (n = 50), TP (n = 74), and open (n = 54). Median age (months) was 71 for SIRP, 113 for TIRP, 67 for TP, and 21 for open. No statistical difference was identified for mean operative time (P = .067) or mean hospital stay (P = .69). Intraoperative complications were significantly more in the open group (P = .03). Postoperative complications were rare and only noted in the open group. There was no conversion to open surgery in the SIRP and TIRP groups. Conversion rate was 5.4% (4/74) in the TP group. Conclusion: MIS nephrectomy is safe, and no difference among techniques (SIRP, TIRP and TP) has been demonstrated. They are comparable to open surgery in terms of operative time and hospital stay, but are associated with significantly less complications.

The Role of Biopsy in the Workup of Patients with Neuroblastoma: Comparison of the Incidence of Surgical Complications and the Diagnostic Reliability of Diverse Techniques.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood, accounting for approximately 15% of all cancer-related deaths in the pediatric population. The overall survival of children with high-risk disease is around 40-50% despite the aggressive treatment protocols. In accordance with the most recent guidelines, a complete classification of the primary tumor, including its histopathological and molecular analysis, is necessary. In this regard, the biopsy of the primary tumor is an important diagnostic procedure adopted not only to confirm the diagnosis but also for staging and risk stratification of the disease. In this study, the authors describe their unicentric experience with four different approaches adopted for sampling NB tumors: (i) the open incisional biopsy; (ii) the minimally invasive thoracoscopic/laparoscopic incisional biopsy; (iii) the ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy; (iv) the laparoscopic-assisted core needle biopsy. The benefits of each technique are analyzed along with their contraindications.