Deceased donor kidney procurement: Systematic review of the surgical technique.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney procurement procedure must be carried out following a standardized technique in order to optimize kidney grafts for their subsequent implantation. OBJECTIVES: Review of the available literature on kidney procurement procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Narrative review of the available evidence on deceased donor kidney procurement technique after a search of relevant manuscripts indexed in PubMed, EMBASE and Scielo written in English and Spanish. RESULTS: Deceased donor kidney procurement can be divided into two groups, donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD). Kidney procurement in DBD frequently includes other chest and/or abdominal organs, requiring multidisciplinary surgical coordination. During the harvesting procedure, the renal vascular pedicle must remain intact for subsequent implantation and reduced ischemia time. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate execution and perfect knowledge of the technique for surgical removal and anatomy reduces the rate of graft losses associated to inadequate harvesting techniques.

[Urinary calculi in myelomeningocele adults]. / Litiasis urinaria en adultos con mielomeningocele.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The improvements in the management of newborns with myelomeningocele (MMC) have obtained a big increase in survival, allowing them to get longevity like never before, but data regarding urologic diseases during adult age are still missing. We herein evaluate the features of urinary lithiasis in adults born with MMC and the therapies used for its treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We review 52 patients diagnosed at birth of MMC, between 18 and 40 years old, treated in our institution, with a mean follow-up of 6.7 years. RESULTS: 10 patients (19.2%) were diagnosed of urolithiasis. Three developed kidney calculi and one of them, with 7 more patients, developed bladder calculi (15.3%). The neurological level was < or = L2 in 3 cases, L2-S1 in 5, and > or = S1 in the other two. The type of neurogenic dysfunction of inferior urinary tract was multiple lesion of lower motor neurone in 6 cases, upper motor neurone in 1 case, multiple mixed lesion in 1 case and in case it was impossible to determine. Two patients had a bladder augmentation procedure and one of these with other 3 patients had a non-functional AMS-800 artificial urinary sphincter. Bladder stones were treated endoscopically in 14 procedures and by suprapubic cystolithotomy in 4 procedures, combined with removal of AMS-800 in 3 of them. One patient spontaneously passed a small stone. In one case, 2 ESWL and 2 percutaneous nephrolithotomies were needed. Three patients developed multiple recurrences during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary lithiasis is common in adults with MMC. Some distinct features of these patients, together with their anatomical configuration and some therapies used in them, cause diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylaxis issues for the calculi they may develop.

[Primary seminal vesicle abscess: diagnosis and treatment by transrectal ultrasound]. / Absceso primario de vesicula seminal: diagnóstico y tratamiento mediante ecografía transrectal.

A 38 years old man with the only past medical history of bilateral orchiopexy 15 years ago is diagnosed of left primary seminal vesicle abscess. The patient is sent to our emergency service with an ultrasound finding of either dilated vas deferent or seminal vesicle abscess with hiperecogenic material inside it. The examination was performed after a 5 month history of purulent ejaculation. The diagnose of seminal vesicle abscess is confirmed by TRUS and, in the same procedure, drainage of the abscess was completed by needle-aspiration puncture. After this treatment the patient stay 12 hours at the observation room with intravenous antibiotics and is discharged home with oral antibiotics. We are interested in this case because of the low incidence of this pathology and the easy diagnosis and treatment by TRUS.

Hydrodynamic and biochemical effects of isolated hypothermic renal perfusion depending on the pump model and perfusion solution.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate hydrodynamic, biochemical, and histological consequences of hypothermic isolated renal perfusion using a new computerized perfusion system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The device that allowed us to obtain on renal hydrodynamics during perfusion included multiple parts. The organ was perfused at 4 degrees C with a constant flow either using a classic roller pump or a pump designed in our laboratory to employ vacuum or atmospheric pressure sequentially to achieve a truly pulsatile wave (vacuum-powered tubular pump). The study included 16 minipigs with Eurocollins or Belzer perfusion solutions sampled at predefined interval and histological studies of the organs performed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in weight increase between the two types of pumps; those perfused with Eurocollins showed greater values than those with Belzer solution. Onset of nitric oxide (NO) in the perfusion solution increased inversely with the renal vascular resistance. The highest NO levels were observed with the Belzer solution and vacuum pump. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in renal hydrodynamics, as induced by perfusion wave form and solution type, may be recorded in real time using a computerized system. A vacuum pump with the Belzer solution achieved the best experimental results.

[Renal abscess in patients diagnosed with AIDS and disseminated tuberculosis]. / Abscesos renales en pacientes diagnosticados de SIDA con tuberculosis diseminada.

Presentation of two cases of renal abscess formation in patients with stage IV C-1 AIDS and active associated tuberculosis. The microorganism isolated in the first case was S. aureus. Culture of the second cases was artefacted since antibiotic administration had already been started. Also, both patients showed abdominal abscesses, at spleen and liver level in the first case, and prostatic level in the second case, both compatible with Mycobacterium tuberculosis dissemination. Both cases showed a lethal evolution. The role played by the immunodeficiency as a precipitating agent in the extrapulmonary tuberculosis and in the formation of renal abscesses is analyzed.

[Management of pancreatic lesions in urologic surgery]. / Manejo de la lesión pancreática en cirugía urológica.

Surgical trauma of the pancreas cauda can occur when the renal hilum is dissected during left radical nephrectomy, mainly when normal anatomy is altered by the tumoral or inflammatory pathology. This lesion can be appreciated during the surgical procedure or else a pseudocyst or pancreatic fistula can become evident post-operatively. The urologist's knowledge of what the correct management both intra-operatively and postoperatively of this pathology should include will lessen the significant morbidity it implies. Presentation of a series of 6 patients presenting pancreatic trauma during left radical nephrectomy. Comments on the pathophysiology of this disorder, intra-operative management and post-operative treatment, specifically emphasizing the use of Total Parenteral Nutrition and Momatostatin IV.

[Ureteral triplicity: trifid ureter with ipsilateral ureterocele and renal dysplasia in an adult with testicular seminoma]. / Triplicidad ureteral: uréter trífido con ureterocele ipsilateral y displasia renal en adulto con seminoma testicular.

Ureteral triplicity is a rare abnormality of which there are less than a hundred cases reported up to date. The possible absence of clinical signs can explain why this malformation passes unnoticed specially when there are blind branches and dysplastic renal segments. The paper presents the case of a 43 year-old male, attending the clinic on a testicle tumour consultation, in which in spite of the previously mentioned circumstances a preoperative diagnosis of trifid ureter with ipsilateral ureterocele and renal dysplasia was reached owing to the use of C.A.T.

[Incidence of prostatic cancer in symptomatic patients with non-suspicious rectal palpation and PSA levels greater than 10 ng/ml]. / Incidencia de cáncer de próstata en los pacientes sintomáticos con tacto rectal no sospechoso y niveles de PSA mayores de 10 ng/ml.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the overall incidence of prostate cancer in patients with symptoms of prostatism, no suspicious DRE and PSA > 10 ng/ml. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 397 eligible patients based on the above criteria, mean age 69.3 +/- 7.7 years and mean PSA level of 21.3 +/- 29.3 ng/ml, underwent ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsy of the peripheral and central areas. Patients with no cancer in the biopsy and surgery indication underwent prostate surgery. Incidence of cancer in the transitional area was evaluated in these patients. RESULTS: Biopsy was found to be positive for cancer in 15.4% patients. Patients with prostate cancer had PSA concentrations (p = 0.06) and PSAD (p < 0.0001) lower than cancer-free patients. Thirteen (21%) of these patients underwent radical prostatectomy; an extracapsular tumour was found in 46% of the surgical specimens. Of the 336 patients with benign histology in the biopsy, 94 (28%) underwent prostate surgery. Cancer in the transitional zone was found in 15% cases (5 T1a and 8 T1b), with significant differences between PSA (0.03) and PSAD (0.04) concentrations between patients with BPH or T1b tumour in the surgical specimen but not among patients with BPH and T1a cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 30% of these patients had prostate cancer, half of them found in the transitional area. PSA and PSAD did not show enough diagnostic strength to identify these patients. Most patients with cancer had clinically significant tumours. Therefore, we believe that prior to deciding the course of therapy these patients should undergo another series of biopsies including the transitional area, mainly in those with long-term life expectancy.

[Carcinoma of the penis: long-term follow-up]. / Carcinoma de pene: seguimiento a largo plazo.

Penis epidermoid carcinoma is responsible for about 1% of deaths by neoplastic diseases in developed countries. During a 5-10 years follow-up review, we found 14 patients, 9 of which started as localized stages in glans and/or prepuce. Lymph node affection was found in 9 cases, either at beginning of diagnosis or during follow-up. Lymphadenectomy, which demonstrated metastatic affection in 4 cases, was considered indicated in 6 patients. Two cases received inguinal chain radiotherapy and the remaining one underwent chemotherapy as first therapy. Percentage of actual survival rate, found after 5 years, among the 14 patients studied was 42.8% (6 cases), still unchanged after a 10-year follow-up. Five patients died due to their basic illness progression and 3 died of other tumour-unrelated processes. The paper analyzes the results obtained based on the literature reviewed, and discusses current therapy approaches for inguinal metastatic conditions.

[Genito-urinary tuberculosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. / Tuberculosis genitourinaria en el síndrome de immunodeficiencia adquirida.

Tuberculosis is being described as a highly associated entity with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in countries or geographical areas where this entity is endemic, even becoming its first clinical manifestation. Two cases of prostatic abscess are presented in patients with anti-HIV antibodies, who are parenteral drug users. In one of them, his genitourinary tuberculous infection was the first sign of AIDS. In the other, a previous association with tuberculous meningitis was found. The evolution and pathogenicity of tuberculous genitourinary in AIDS patients is discussed.

[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy: a case report]. / Nefrectomía laparoscópica por vía retroperitoneal: caso report.

Presentation of the first exclusively retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy performed on a female patient diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis in the right kidney who referred frequent discomfort in the ipsilateral lumbar fossa as well as sporadic urinary infections. The entire procedure was performed without entering the peritoneal cavity, creating a space in the retroperitoneum, using for that hydrostatic dilation following Gaur's recommendations and introducing in that space a total of 4 trocars. Surgery lasted 3 hours an 35 minutes, with a post-operative stay of 3 days; the anaesthetics used after surgery was minimum and patient's return to her usual daily activities was almost immediate after discharge. Considering our group's previous experience in laparoscopic nephrectomies, both in humans (another 3 cases) and experimental surgery (18 pigs), we believe retroperitoneal approach is a huge step ahead in urological laparoscopic surgery, since this is the typical approach in our specialty and allows a closer contact with the condition being treated. On the other hand, the combined retro- and transperitoneal accesses will involve-are already involving-a greater variety of laparoscopic techniques in urology.

[Differences in survival of patients with bladder cancer depending on depth of muscle infiltration]. / Diferencias en la supervivencia de los pacientes con cáncer de vejiga según la profundidad de la infiltración muscular.

OBJECTIVE: To study the survival of patients with bladder cancer and infiltration into the muscle who undergo radical cystectomy, documenting any survival difference based on the depth of muscle infiltration (pT2a vs. pT2b). MATERIAL AND METHOD: 109 patients with infiltration into the muscle (T2) in the TUR were treated with radical cystectomy between 1986 and 1996; 39 patients were excluded due to infra-staging and 2 died in the immediate postoperative: 68 patients were eligible for the study. Median follow-up was 51 months. At the time of analysis 44 were alive (2 with tumoral disease and one with a second non-urological tumour), 21 had died (4 for causes other than vesical tumour) and 3 patients were considered lost to follow-up at 3, 31 and 111 months. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the variables were compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year overall survival of our series was 76% and 62%, while cancer specific survival was 80% and 70% respectively. Cancer specific survival at 5 years by stages was: pT0-83%, pT1-80%, pT2a-66% and pT2b-60% (p = 0.52). The cystectomy specimen (pT0) showed no residual tumour in 15 (22%) patients, and 5-year cancer specific survival in this group was 83% vs. 66% in patients with residual cancer (p = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pT2a and pT2b bladder cancer showed no differences in survival and we believe they should be all included in the same prognostic group (pT2). pT0 patients are a subgroup of patients with significant survival rates in which radical cystectomy should be considered as overtreatment, and a more conservative protocol should be preferred.

[Local recurrence after radical cystectomy for cancer of the bladder]. / Recidiva local después de cistectomía radical por cáncer de vejiga.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to analyze the incidence, pathoanatomical characteristics, form of presentation and evolution of local relapses in patients undergoing radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Analysis of our series of 170 bladder cancer cystectomies performed between 1986 and 1997 with a follow-up median of 51 months. 91% patients received no pre-operative treatment, 58% had localized disease (pT1-pT3a) while the remaining 42% had locally advanced disease (pT3b-pT4a). In 94% cases, a staging lymphadenectomy was performed which was pN0 in 84% instances, 21% patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The incidence of local relapse was 6.5%, 45.5% of which already showed distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Preoperative (9% vs 6.5%) or adjuvant (8.3% vs 6.7%) treatment did not decrease the incidence of relapse. Local relapse was more frequent in patients with higher histologic degree (p < 0.05) and in patients with locally advanced disease (9.7% vs 4%). Mean time between cystectomy and relapse detection was 10.5 (4-23) months and mean survival 3.8 (1-15) months. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of local relapse was 6.5%, half of the patients showing distant spread at the time of diagnosis. The type of pre- or post-operative treatment had not influence on the incidence of relapse. Patients with higher degrees and locally advanced stages had local relapse more frequently. The appearance of a local recurrence implies a bad prognosis with a medial survival of 3.8 months.

[Upper urothelium tumor in patients treated with radical cystectomy for transitional carcinoma of the bladder]. / Tumor de urotelio superior en pacientes sometidos a cistectomía radical por carcinoma transicional de vejiga.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of tumours in the upper endothelium (TUE) that develop in patients with transitional carcinoma of the bladder treated with radical cystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1986 and 1996, 160 evaluable patients who underwent cystectomy due to transitional cancer of the bladder were reviewed and found to be infiltrant in 96% cases. Follow-up either until death or to the date of the study, was carried out with intravenous urography (IVU) in the first 6 months with additional urographies at least every two years. RESULTS: Five (3.1%) patients showed progress of the upper endothelium tumour, which was multifocal in 3 patients and infiltrant also in 3. No association was seen in these patients with in situ carcinoma of the bladder, or urethral invasion by the primary tumour: only one patient had tumour involvement of end ureters. After three months from diagnosis, tumour-related mortality was 50%. Incidence of upper endothelium tumours in patients with infiltrant tumour of the bladder was lower (1.9%) than in patients with surface tumour of the bladder (16.6%). CONCLUSION: Based on data from our series, the incidence of TUE was 3.1% with a mean time interval between cystectomy and TUE diagnosis of 25.4 months. IVU was diagnostic only in 40% cases. No risk factors were identified in our patients, and mortality due to advanced stage of TUE at three months was 50%. The high percentage of patients with advanced TUE in our series warrants the addition of an annual IVU in the follow-up of these patients.

[The diagnostic effectiveness of repeat echo-guided transrectal biopsy as a function of the clinical and anatomicopathological findings]. / Rentabilidad diagnóstica de la biopsia transrectal ecodirigida repetida en función de los hallazgos clínicos y anatomopatológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of false negatives in our series of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 106 patients (79% with high PSA and the remainder with suspicion digital rectal examination) with cancer-free transrectal biopsy underwent at least a second biopsy limited to the peripheral area: mean age 68 +/- 6.4 years, mean number of biopsy punctures 5 +/- 1, 95% patients with biopsies from both lobes. Re-biopsy indication was the result of persistently high PSA in 84 patients (13 with glandular atypia and 3 with PIN 3), or suspicion digital rectal examination in 22 patients (4 with glandular atypia and 2 with PIN 3). Second biopsy was performed in 89% patients, third in 10% and fourth in just one patient. RESULTS: 14% patients were found to have cancer, tumour diagnosis being made on the second biopsy in 93.3% cases. In patients with suspicion digital rectal examination only, cancer was detected in 31%, and 7.3% patients with high PSA had cancer; 40% patients with PIN 3 and 18% patients with glandular atypia had cancer. In patients with high PSA only, PSA (p = 0.6) and PSAD (p = 0.3) levels and the presence of changes in the ultrasound (p = 0.8) were not enough to detect cancer patients. Deobstructive prostate surgery was performed in 15 patients after re-biopsy, cancer being found in the transitional area in 20% cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our recommendation is that all patients with suspicion digital rectal examination, high grade PIN or glandular atypia should undergo re-biopsy which should include the transitional area. Due to the low incidence of cancer in patients with persistently high PSA and the inefficiency of biochemical and ultrasound parameters to detect patients with cancer, we suggest that each case should be assessed on an individual basis.

[Ultrasonographic and pathologic differences between non-palpable prostate cancer (T1c) and palpable lesions detected with rectal examination]. / Diferencias ecográficas y patológicasógicas entre los cánceres de próstata no palpables (T1c) y los palpables al tacto rectal.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether non-palpable cancers (T1c) have different ultrasound and pathological features from other palpable cancers of the prostate gland. MATERIAL AND METHOD: PSA levels, ultrasound features and Gleason score in 178 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994-1995 were compared. Correlation of pathological findings in surgical sections from 47 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: 22% tumours were non-palpable. No difference was observed between both age groups (p = 0.5) and PSA levels (p = 0.09). Differences were noted in favour of palpable cancer in PSAD (p = 0.01), incidence of ultrasound nodes (p < 0.001), capsule changes (p < 0.001), seminal vesicles (p < 0.001), Gleason score (p = 0.006) and bone scan (p < 0.05). Two (14%) patients with non-palpable cancer showed no tumour in the prostatectomy section. Apart from these 2 patients, no differences were found between both groups in terms of Gleason score (p = 0.3), local stage (p = 0.7) and node involvement (p = 0.4) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: 86% patients with non-palpable prostate cancer has clinically significant tumours and showed no differences from the rest of tumours undergoing radical prostatectomy.

[Yield of transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer in symptomatic patients with normal rectal digital test]. / Rendimiento de la ecografía transrectal en el diagnóstico del cáncer de próstata en los pacientes sintomáticos con tacto rectal normal.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the incidence of prostate cancer in symptomatic patients with non-suspect rectal examination and its correlation to PSA, PSAD levels and ultrasound findings. A total of 235 patients with non-suspect rectal examination underwent transrectal ultrasound and echo-guided prostate biopsy to assess an echographic node, PSA > 10 ng/mL and/or PSAD > 0.15 Incidence of prostate cancer was 16% and no correlation was seen to either PSA (95CI = 5%, 14.9%) or the existence of ecographic nodes (95CI = 5.2%, 22.2%), mainly in the subgroup of patients with PSA > 10 ng/mL and no identifiable echographic node (95CI = 5.5%, 29.5%). A PSA > 10 ng/mL or identifiable echographic nodes in symptomatic patients with non-suspect rectal examination did not involve a risk factor for prostate cancer, however a PSAD > 0.15 within the group with PSA > 10 ng/mL with no echographic nodes did involve a risk factor.

[Effectiveness of transrectal ultrasonography in local staging of prostatic cancer]. / Eficacia de la ecografía transrectal en el estadiaje local del cáncer de próstata.

OBJECT: To evaluate the value of rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound and their association in patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study on 56 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1995-1995, mean age 63.2 +/- 10 years, to compare local clinical staging of extracapsular dissemination and seminal vesicle invasion performed by rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound with pathological findings in the prostatectomy specimens. The sensitivity, specificity, VPP, VPN, accuracy and percentage of under- and over-staged patients were assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence of locally advanced disease was 48%. Sensitivity to detect extracapsular dissemination was significantly higher with ultrasound (38%) than rectal examination (6%). Association of both techniques increased the sensitivity (50%) though not significantly; sensitivity to detect vesicle invasion was very low (14%). Accuracy of ultrasound to establish an overall definition of the local stage was 66%, but 59% patients with locally advanced disease were understaged and only 10% patients with localized disease were overstaged. CONCLUSIONS: Transrectal ultrasound showed low sensitivity to define the locally advanced disease mainly at the seminal vesicle level, with acceptable specificity. Overall evaluation of findings with RE and TRU increase discreetly the efficacy of prostate capsule staging.