Role of flexible uretero-renoscopy in management of renal calculi in anomalous kidneys: single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Flexible uretero-renoscopy (FURS) is an accepted modality for management of renal calculi in orthotopically placed kidney. Though it has been used in management of calculi in anomalous kidneys, the literature is scarce. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To define the role of FURS in the management of stones in anomalous kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all the patients with anomalous kidneys who primarily underwent FURS from January 2010 to December 2015 at our institute. In our study, we included patients with anomalies of lie, fusion and rotation. A total of twenty-five patients with twenty-five renal units having renal calculi in anomalous kidneys were evaluated. Indications for FURS included stone size less than or equal to 2 cm, contraindication to PCNL like bleeding tendencies, patients on anticoagulants or patients who refused ESWL and PCNL. Complete clearance of stone was defined as no residual fragment greater than 2 mm at the end of 4 weeks. The parameters evaluated were patient demographics, type of renal anomaly, stone size, location, laterality, patient's presentation, need for preoperative stenting, operative time, need for postoperative DJ stent, hospital stay, analgesic requirement, number of stages or auxiliary procedures required for stone clearance, success rate and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with calculi in anomalous kidneys were managed with FURS. These 25 patients had a total of 37 stones. Out of 25 patients, 14 had ectopic kidneys with 19 stones, 5 had malrotated kidneys with 6 stones, 5 had horseshoe kidneys with 11 stones and one had a left-to-right crossed fused ectopia with a single stone. Average age of presentation was 38.28 ± 12.59 years. Majority of the patients had the stones located in pelvis (n = 11) or lower calyx (n = 11). Eight stones were in middle calyx (n = 8), five in upper calyx (n = 5) and two in upper ureter (n = 2). Fifteen patients had a single stone, and 10 of them had 2 or more stones. Average size of stone was 14.71 ± 4.11 mm and average density being 1210.8 ± 237.7 Hounsfield units. Five patients had a preplaced DJ stent. Average Operative time was 74 ± 21.2 min, and patients had an average hospital stay of 59.48 ± 17.8 h. DJ stent was placed postoperatively in 21 patients, and four were managed with a ureteric catheter. Complete clearance was achieved in 22 (88 %) patients, three patients required two stages and one required the third stage. Three patients (12 %) could not be managed with FURS and required percutaneous stone clearance. CONCLUSION: Primary FURS is an effective and less invasive modality for management of renal calculi less than 2 cm in kidneys with anomalies of lie, fusion and rotation. It can offset the low clearance rate and high complication rate of ESWL and PCNL, respectively. Ureteral access sheath is an important tool to overcome anatomical challenges of anomalous kidney. Basket and Laser are indispensable accessories for FURS in anomalous kidneys.

Factors predicting outcomes of micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy: results from a large single-centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: To present our single-centre experience of the micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy (microperc) technique and define its role in the management of renal calculi as well as to analyse the factors predicting outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 139 patients who underwent microperc for renal calculi between June 2010 and November 2014 at our institution. The factors analysed were demographic variables, which included age, sex, stone volume, stone density (Hounsfield units [HU]) and stone location, and intra- and peri-operative variables, such as operating time, drop in haemoglobin level, stone clearance and complications. RESULTS: The mean ± sd (range) patient age was 38.99 ± 17 years (9 months to 73 years), stone volume was 1 095 ± 1 035 (105-6 650) mm(3) and stone density was 1 298 ± 263 HU. The mean ± sd (range) operation duration was 50.15 ± 9.8 (35-85) min, hospital stay was 2.36 ± 0.85 (2-5) days and drop in haemoglobin level was 0.63 ± 0.84 (0-3.7) mg/dl. Eight patients had renal colic that was managed by antispasmodic medication, four patients had renal colic severe enough to warrant JJ stenting and three patients had urinary tract infections which were managed with appropriate antibiotics. We were able to complete microperc in 130 patients, with 119 (91.53%) patients being rendered completely stone-free, while in 11 patients (8.46%) there were some residual fragments seen on imaging. On multivariate analysis, stone number, volume and density were found to be significant predictors of clearance. Conversion to mini- or standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy was required in nine patients (6.47%), with intra-operative complications and stone number being the significant factors warranting conversion on a multivariate basis. CONCLUSION: The outcomes in the present study suggest that microperc is a promising treatment method for solitary renal stones with volumes <1 000 mm(3) and stones with low density (HU), regardless of stone location. In the present series we achieved a high success rate with low morbidity; however larger, prospective and comparative studies from multiple centres are required to further establish the role of microperc in the management of renal calculi.

Chicken and porcine models for training in laparoscopy and robotics.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the most recent literature and contemporary role of the use of porcine and chicken models in laparoscopic and robotic simulation exercises, for training and skill assessment. RECENT FINDINGS: There are multiple types of the simulators which include mechanical, virtual reality, hybrid simulators and animal models. The recent literature has seen insurgence of several of such simulators, specifically the animate ones comprising porcine and chicken models. The different training models reported have evolved from generalized and simpler, to a more task dedicated and complex versions. Unlike in the past, the recent publications include analysis of these models incorporating different measures of validity assessment. SUMMARY: On account of the natural tissue properties inherent to these porcine and chicken models, they are proving to be instrumental in acquisition of higher surgical skills such as dissection, suturing and use of energy sources, all of which are required in real-time clinical scenarios be it laparoscopy or robotic-assisted procedures. In-vivo training in the animal model continues to be, perhaps, the most sophisticated training method before resorting to real-time surgery.

Extending indications of micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy: It is not just about cracking stones.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience and results of using the MicroPerc™ micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy armamentarium (PolyDiagnost, Germany) for unusual indications unexplored using this modality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the MicroPerc™ system for stone clearance in three ureteric calculi, two bladder calculi, one case of urethral calculus, for antegrade biopsy in a case of upper tract urothelial carcinoma, for Deflux® (dextranomer/hyaluronic copolymer, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Uppsala, Sweden) injection in three cases of vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR), and three cases of posterior urethral valve (PUV) fulgurations. A 4.85-F 'All-Seeing Needle®' (PolyDiagnost) was used in most of the cases. An 8-F mini-micro sheath was used where stability was deemed necessary. Clinical data were collected in a dedicated database. Intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: All patients were successfully treated with complete stone clearance at 1 month with no residual fragments. The antegrade biopsy confirmed a high-grade papillary neoplasm. There were no technical difficulties with injection of Deflux or PUV fulgurations. Follow-up at 1 year revealed no stone recurrence, resolved reflux in all three cases, and all the children that had had PUVs were voiding well. The small sample and retrospective nature of the analysis are the limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: MicroPerc™, besides its usual use for minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy, can also be feasibly used for ureteric, bladder and urethral stones, and for treating non-calculus diseases such as PUVs and VUR. True to its name, it may be an 'All-Seeing Needle' in reality with much more to offer and harvest from.

Complete Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy in Circumcaval Ureter with Upper Tract TCC: Initial Case Report.

Transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper tract in a case of circumcaval ureter (CCU) is a rare entity. Laparoscopic transperitoneal nephroureterectomy in such case represents a unique challenge in the era of minimally invasive surgery. We report a case of complete transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision done for TCC in a case of CCU. This case report describes the first point of technique of the procedure done for this rare entity. A 38-year-old male patient underwent the procedure for high-grade TCC of right lower calix. The essential tenets of the procedure included performance of the technique in a manner contrary to the conventional nephroureterectomy. The case report describes the procedure in the following steps: management of lower ureter and bladder cuff followed upper tract procedure after transposition of bladder cuff posterior to inferior vena cava. The procedure was accomplished utilizing four ports and a 6 cm Pfannenstiel incision with operative time of 220 minutes and blood loss of 50 mL.