Initial experience in the field of pediatric percutaneous nephrolitholapaxia in Bulgaria.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric urolithiasis is a very specific and challenging problem in the field of modern urology. Currently, there are three major methods for kidney stone removal: the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), the retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and the percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), the latter one proving to be an efficient and safe monotherapy of stones even with larger burden. Different sizes of nephroscopes are used (standard, mini, micro), where smaller size is logically correlated with safer profile, especially in pediatric population. AIM: To analyze the initial experience in using PCNL in children for the treatment of kidney concrements - rates of successful stone removal and registered complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six PCNL procedures of 25 children were performed - both standard and mini. The age ofpatients, size of the stones, operating time, changes in hemoglobin levels, duration of hospital stay, and the postoperative complications were recorded, analyzed and compared to data reported in current relevant literature. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 9±5.2 years (15 boys and 10 girls). The average size of concrements subjected to nephrolitholapaxia was 16±0.7 mm, most of the cases being single stones. The average operative time was 150±33.4 min, and the average hospital stay was 4.1±1.5 days. The percentage of stone free children postoperatively was 94%. Complications included blood loss requiring transfusion in 1 patient (4%), postoperative urinary tract infection and fever (2 patients), and self-limiting hematuria in 16%. CONCLUSIONS: PCNL is an effective and safe alternative in the management of nephrolithiasis in children. It is a method of choice for the treatment of concretions not suitable to treat with extracorporeal lithotripsy and after a qualitative selection of patients.

A rare case of congenital anterior urethral diverticulum in a two-year-old boy.

Congenital diverticulum is a very rare disease of the urethra in which there is a sacculus enlargement on its ventral surface. We present a Case of a 2-year-old boy with symptoms of urinary hesitancy and swelling in the penoscrotal angle that appears during micturition. The diagnosis of urethral diverticulum is confirmed by retrograde urethrography and voiding cystogram. An open operation was performed - diverticulectomy and primary repair of the urethra.

Primary renal echinococcosis - a rare location of hydatid disease.

Hydatid disease is a condition affecting mainly the liver or, to a lesser extent, the lungs. We present an uncommon case of a primary renal echinococcosis in a young man complaining of intermittent hematuria, dull flank pain, and palpable mass in the left lumbar and lateral abdominal area which increases its size over time. After initial self-treatment with painkillers and antibiotics, the patient was referred to a urological clinic, where the physical examination revealed a large tumour mass in the left kidney. Ultrasound showed a large multilocular renal cyst, with a CT highly suspicious for renal echinococcosis (15×12.8×24.2 cm). Serological tests confirmed presence of IgG against Echinococcus. The patient was operated using the lumbar approach and nephrectomy was performed. The man recovered completely after surgery without the need for further treatment.

Surgical treatment of urethral stricture disease - the earlier, the better.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of urethral strictures is a constantly evolving process. There are various treatment options like internal urethrotomy (IUT) and open surgery. A variety of techniques for urethral reconstruction are available (grafts, flaps, and excision-reanastomosis). Functional results of urethral reconstructive surgery are very satisfying and with low rate of complications. AIM: We assessed the early open surgical reconstruction in comparison with the continuation with the endourological treatment - IUTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 129 patients with urethral strictures referred to our center. At that time point, they had received two unsuccessful IUTs and were divided into two groups - consecutive IUT and surgical repair, which included excision and reanastomosis or augmented urethroplasty. These patients were evaluated at 12 months using urethrography and uroflowmetry. Sexual function was evaluated using the international index of erectile function questionnaire 5-IIEF. Chi-squared test for statistical analysis was used. RESULTS: Successful outcomes (urethrography presented equal caliber and Qmax was >15 ml/sec 12 months after the procedure) were achieved in 59 (88%) of the patients using reconstructive surgery versus 26 (41.9%) of the patients with consecutive IUT (p<0.001). Mild sexual dysfunction was reported by 12 (17.9%) patients from the group with open surgery and 7 (11.3%) from the group with continuous IUT (p=0.289). CONCLUSIONS: Early open surgery seems a reasonable solution to the problem of urethral strictures as there are only a few complications from this surgery and the functional results are satisfactory. The success rate using open surgery was found to be significantly greater than that in the consecutive IUT group, whereas no differences in the complication rates regarding sexual function were observed.