Comparison of Subureteral Endoscopic Injection of Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid and Lich-Gregoir Ureteral Reimplantation in the Treatment of Pediatric Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Background: The gold standard of surgical intervention of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is open ureteral reimplantation with high success and low complication rates. However, in recent years, endoscopic injection, dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Dx/HA), has become an effective therapy for VUR. It is noted that limited prospective randomized trials compare the different surgical techniques of especially endoscopic injection versus open procedures. We aimed to compare the outcomes of endoscopic injection of Dx/HA and Lich-Gregoir open technique of ureteral reimplantation for grades III and IV primary VUR in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2018, 60 pediatric patients with grades III and IV primary VUR were included in a prospective randomized trial. Thirty cases with 45 refluxing ureters managed by endoscopic injection of Dx/HA comprised group A. Open Lich-Gregoir technique used in the other 30 cases with 48 refluxing ureters composed of group B. Renal ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography, and renal scintigraphy were used for follow-up. The surgical success rate, cost-effectiveness, and occurrence of complications were evaluated and compared in both groups. Results: Sixty pediatric patients with 93 refluxing ureters (41 females and 19 males) were included in the trial. The mean follow-up for all patients was 17.7 ± 7.1 months. Overall reflux resolution was 80% (36/45) of the ureters in group A after a single injection and 93.75% (45/48) of the ureters in group B. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant concerning clinical or anatomical preoperative factors and surgical success rate. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of operative time and hospital stay. Conclusion: This comparative study demonstrated a high success rate of open ureteral reimplantation (Lich-Gregoir) procedure over the endoscopic injection of Dx/HA therapy to manage primary VUR grades III-IV. Clinical Trial Number: NCT04798443.

Management of lower ureteric stones: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the current concepts in lower ureteric stone management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between October 2008 and November 2010, 190 patients of both sexes and of different age groups with lower ureteric stones, underwent in situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) (48 cases), ureterorenoscopy (URS) (120 cases) and open stone surgery (OSS) (22 cases). The patients' clinical and radiological findings, as well as stone characteristics, were reviewed and correlated with the stone-free status. RESULTS: In the ESWL group, the operative time was 43.13 +22.5 min; the average number of sessions/patients was 1.5 sessions; the average number of SW/patients was 4500 SW/patients; the average energy was 16.5 kV; the average stone burden was 7.8/mm; the overall stone-free rate was 75% (36/48); and the average radiation exposure time was 3.5 min. In the URS group, the operative time was 49.21 +16.09 min; the average stone burden was 10.81mm; the overall stone-free rate was 97.5% (117/120); the average hospital stay was 3.99 days; and the average radiation exposure time was 0.75 min. In the OSS group, the operative time was 112.38 +37.1 min; the overall stone-free rate was 100% (22/22); and the average hospital stay was 9.74 days. CONCLUSION: In the management of patients with lower ureteral stones, URS, SWL and OSS were considered acceptable treatment options. This recommendation was based on the stone-free results, morbidity and retreatment rates for each therapy.