Outpatient ureteric stent removal following kidney transplantation.

During a kidney transplant, a plastic tube (stent) is placed in the ureter, connecting the new kidney to the bladder, in order to keep the new join open during the initial phase of transplantation. The stent is then removed after a few weeks via a camera procedure (cystoscopy), as it is no longer needed. The present study compared performing this in the operating theatre or in clinic for transplanted patients using a new single-use type of camera with an integrated grasper system. The results have shown that it is safe and cost-effective to do this in clinic, despite patients being susceptible to infection after transplantation.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura preceding a lupus diagnosis: a case report.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a rare stress-related cardiomyopathy, has been observed in a few cases secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we report an unusual case where a postmenopausal woman presented initially with Takotsubo syndrome, later developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and cerebrovascular events, initially without clinical or laboratory features of SLE. During the course of her illness, she was found to satisfy four of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for a SLE diagnosis. This unique presentation of our patient, initially with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and cerebrovascular events preceding the diagnosis of SLE illustrates the importance of clinical observation and follow-up.

A Simple and Quick Solution to the Retained Traumatic Urethral Catheter.

A misplaced urinary catheter within the bulbar urethra in a medically complex patient could not be removed due to an undeflatable balloon. Simple bedside measures including flexible cystoscopy were unsuccessful in deflating this. Here we describe a simple and quick solution to this stressful situation using a transperineal ultrasound guided puncture. This method should be considered when the retained traumatic catheter lies distal to the prostate gland.

Percutaneous hook wire assistance during laparoscopic excision of an intrarenal mass.

Completely endophytic renal tumours pose challenges in laparoscopic nephron-sparing tumour excisions, with the use of intraoperative imaging techniques (e.g. ultrasound) being crucial when managing such tumours. The use of a percutaneous hookwire for tumour localisations are in use in several other surgical fields, such as breast surgery. An asymptomatic 52-year-old man presented with an incidental small right sided solid 33-mm interpolar renal mass identified on computed tomography. A guided insertion of a percutaneous localisation wire was carried out prior to a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy to assist in intraoperative tumour landmark/margins identification. Operative time was 210 minutes with zero ischaemia time, with an estimated blood loss of 200 ml. No perioperative complications were observed and the patient was discharged two days postoperatively. Histology revealed the mass to be a Fuhrman grade 2 clear-cell carcinoma with a 2-mm clear surgical margin. The patient remained free of recurrence at 16 months of follow-up. We have reported our first experience of wire localisation prior to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for an intrarenal mass, which to our knowledge could be the first of its kind in renal surgery. Percutaneous wire localisation of endophytic renal tumours is potentially safe and effective and can allow nephron-sparing surgery where laparoscopic ultrasound is not available. Longer-term and further evidence should be encouraged.