Is laparoscopic pyelolithotomy an alternative to percutaneous nephrolithotomy for treatment of kidney stones larger than 2.5 cm in pediatric patients?

PURPOSE: The aim was to compare laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy in terms of efficacy and safety for the treatment of renal pelvis stones larger than 2.5 cm in pediatric patients. METHODS: Our study consisted of two groups. Group 1 included 33 patients who underwent laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LPL) between January 2013 and March 2022, and group 2 included 39 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). The basic clinical parameters of the patients were recorded. Mean operation time, stone size, estimated blood loss, blood transfusion rate, postoperative hospital stay, stone-free rate, postoperative analgesia requirements, intraoperative complications, and early and late postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In our study, the mean age of the patients in groups 1 and 2 was 8.89 ± 1.58 years and 9.1 ± 1.85 years, respectively (p = 0.657). The mean stone size was 2.37 ± 0.38 cm in group 1 and 2.55 ± 0.45 cm in group 2 (p = 0.64). The mean operation time was 85.65 ± 20.55 min in group 1, while it was 76.11 ± 13.12 min in group 2 (p = 0.08). The stone-free rate was 100% in both groups. Intraoperative mean blood loss, need for postoperative analgesia, blood transfusion and intraoperative complication rates were significantly higher in the PCNL group (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results show that laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is a safe and effective method for pediatric patients with large kidney stones.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP), for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), is an alternative to open pyeloplasty in the pediatric population.

We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RALP for UPJO in a heterogeneous pediatric population. The medical records of all patients with UPJO who underwent RALP over the last 6 years and completed at least 6 months of follow-up, were retrospectively reviewed. Data included age, sex, laterality, weight, preoperative and postoperative ultrasound and renal scintigraphy results, operation time, complications, length of hospital stay. We separately examined two groups: low-weight children (< 10 kg) and those who underwent RALP after failed pyeloplasty. One hundred patients with a median age of 18 months (range 2-216) underwent RALP. The median weight was 10 kg (range 4-90). The median operative time, including docking and console time, was 75 min (range 40-183). The median hospital stay was one day (range: 1-3). Ninety-eight percent of the patients showed improvement or stable hydronephrosis on postoperative imaging, with a better drainage curve on dynamic radionuclide scans. In two patients, the hydronephrosis worsened. One patient's ipsilateral UVJ was obstructed, and the other patient's UPJO recurred. The operative time was shorter in the low-weight group (p < 0.001), but the length of hospital stay and success rate were not different. Neither the hospital stay nor the success rate of redo RALP patients differed significantly from a control group of primary RALP patients. Our data show that RALP might be utilized as a universal approach in pediatric patients with UPJO.

Are robots the future? A case for robotic pyeloplasty as the gold standard treatment in ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Robotic pyeloplasty is still a relatively novel procedure. Clinically, early studies have shown high success rates, decreased complication rates, decreased length of hospital stay, and better cosmetic results. This goal of this article is to argue for the use of robotic pyeloplasty as the gold standard of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) treatment. Results of studies that have compared robotic pyeloplasty with other procedures currently used are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Our study, a comprehensive review of published outcomes of robotic pyeloplasty and alternative therapies, consisted of 666 pediatric patients and 653 adult patients. Our review coincided with the previously established studies that robotic pyeloplasty shows equivalent surgical success rates as previous standard of care treatments. Open pyeloplasty has fallen out of favor as standard of care due to the increased length of hospital stay, increased adverse events, and the undesirable aesthetics. SUMMARY: The use of robotic pyeloplasty has shown to have clinical outcomes that are consistent with other intervention for UPJO, with a potential decrease in length of stay and morbidity. More work has to be done to develop ways to decrease cost of the robot to help establish it as the gold standard for UPJO treatment.

A Novel Semirigid Ureterorenoscope with Vacuum Suctioning System for Management of Single Proximal Ureteral and Renal Pelvic Stones: An Initial Experience.

INTRODUCTION: A novel semirigid ureterorenoscope, named the Sotn ureterorenoscope, was designed with a vacuum suction system. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using the Sotn ureterorenoscope to manage single proximal ureteral or renal pelvic stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from consecutive patients treated with a Sotn ureterorenoscope between February 2010 and August 2015 at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Jiangmen Wuyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in China. The primary outcome was the primary stone-free rate (SFR) in 1 month. The secondary outcomes were the final SFR and the perioperative complication rate. RESULTS: A total of 386 patients were evaluated, including 240 males and 146 females. The median (interquartile range [IR]) age was 50 (40-59) years. There were 96 and 290 stones located in the renal pelvis and proximal ureter, respectively. The median (IR) operative time and console time for all patients were 40 (30-70) and 20 (12-38) minutes, respectively. The primary overall SFR was 86.5%, whereas the SFRs for stones with a diameter of ≤1, 1 to 2, and 2 to 3 cm were 95.7%, 86.9%, and 69.0%, respectively. Complications occurred in 90 patients (23.3%); these complications were classified as Clavien-Dindo grades 1 to 2 (minor) in 79 (20.5%) patients, and grades 3 to 4 (major) in 11 (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The novel semirigid Sotn ureterorenoscope featuring a vacuum suction system is effective and safe for managing proximal ureteral and renal pelvic stones.

Hidden incision endoscopic surgery (HIdES) trocar placement for pediatric robotic pyeloplasty: comparison to traditional port placement.

Robotic assisted laparoscopy pyeloplasty (RALP) has been associated with shorter recovery, less pain and improved cosmesis. To minimize visible scars, the hidden incision endoscopic surgery (HIdES) trocar placement has been previously developed. Our aim was to compare outcomes between the HIdES and traditional port placement (TPP) for pediatric RALP. A retrospective study was performed on patients under 15 years of age who underwent RALP at a single institution between August 2011 and November 2013. Patient demographics, intraoperative details, narcotic administration, and complications were reviewed. A total of 49 patients were identified (29 in HIdES, 20 in TPP). There was no difference in median age (p = 0.77) or median height (p = 0.88) between the two groups. Median operative time was 180 min for HIdES and 194 min for TPP (p = 0.27). Eleven patients (11/29, 37.9%) in the HIdES group and fourteen patients (14/20, 70%) in the TPP group received postoperative narcotics (p < 0.05). Median follow-up was 42 months for HIdES and 41 months for TPP (p = 0.96). There were two complications (2/29, 6.9%) with HIdES, and one complication (1/20, 5.0%) with TPP (p = 1.00). The success rates were 96.6% (28/29) for HIdES and 100% (20/20) for TPP (p = 1.00). HIdES trocar placement for pediatric robotic pyeloplasty is a safe and viable alternative to TPP. HIdES is comparable to TPP regarding operative time, narcotic administration, hospital stay, and complication rate, without compromising success.

Ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane vs surgeon administered intraoperative regional field infiltration with bupivacaine for early postoperative pain control in children undergoing open pyeloplasty.

PURPOSE: Regional analgesic techniques are commonly used in pediatric urology. Ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block has recently gained popularity. However, there is a paucity of information supporting a benefit over regional field infiltration. We present a parallel group, randomized, controlled trial evaluating ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block superiority over surgeon delivered regional field infiltration for children undergoing open pyeloplasty at a tertiary referral center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following ethics board approval and registration, children 0 to 6 years old were recruited and randomized to undergo perioperative transversus abdominis plane block or regional field infiltration for early post-pyeloplasty pain control. General anesthetic delivery, surgical technique and postoperative analgesics were standardized. A blinded assessor regularly captured pain scores in the recovery room using the FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale. The primary outcome was the need for rescue morphine administration based on a FLACC score of 3 or higher. RESULTS: Two pediatric urologists performed 57 pyeloplasties during a 2.5-year period, enrolling 32 children (16 in each group, balanced for age and weight). There were statistically significant differences in the number of children requiring rescue morphine administration (13 of 16 receiving transversus abdominis plane block and 6 of 16 receiving regional field infiltration, p = 0.011), mean ± SD total morphine consumption (0.066 ± 0.051 vs 0.028 ± 0.040 mg/kg, p = 0.021) and mean ± SD pain scores (5 ± 5 vs 2 ± 3, p = 0.043) in the recovery room, in favor of surgeon administered regional field infiltration. No local anesthetic specific adverse events were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block is not superior to regional field infiltration with bupivacaine as a strategy to minimize early opioid requirements following open pyeloplasty in children. Instead, our data suggest that surgeon delivered regional field infiltration provides better pain control.

Intraoperative and postoperative complications of laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a single surgical team experience with 236 cases.

PURPOSE: To describe and analyze a single surgical team's experience with intraoperative and postoperative complications arising from the Anderson-Hynes transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) procedure in the treatment of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 236 consecutive patients who underwent transperitoneal LP over a period of 8 years (2004-2012). These patients' records were retrospectively analyzed for intraoperative and postoperative complications. Of the 236 patients, 111 (47.0%) were males and 125 (53%) were females. In 226 patients, surgical indication was primary UPJO, and in 10 patients, recurrent obstruction. Two hundred and eleven patients (89.4%) were symptomatic. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 96.5 minutes (range 45-360 min). The mean blood loss was 20 mL (range 5-500 mL), and no blood transfusions were necessary. The overall success rate was 97% (229 patients) with a mean follow-up of 38 months (range 6-84 mos). In 86 of the 94 patients who presented with a crossing vessel (91.5%), the anomalous crossing vessel was transposed to the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) dorsally because of evident obstruction. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.2 days (range 3-14 days). All 211 preoperative symptomatic patients reported a complete resolution of symptoms after the procedure. Intraoperative incidents occurred in nine (3.8%) patients, while postoperative complications occurred in 32 (13.5%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective analysis confirms that LP is an efficacious and safe procedure resulting in a reported success rate of 97% and a concomitant low level of intraoperative (3.8%) and postoperative complications (13.6%). Major complications necessitating active management occur in a low percentage of cases (5.9% of patients). The most frequent and severe intraoperative complications are related to the Double-J stent insertion. The most common postoperative complication is urine leakage.

Extraperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a multicenter study of 55 procedures.

PURPOSE: We assessed the feasibility, reproducibility and morbidity of retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 55 retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasties were performed at 3 institutions between September 1996 and May 2000 in 33 women and 21 men. Results were analyzed in regard to radiological assessment by excretory urography at 3 months, complications and hospital stay. RESULTS: We performed dismembered pyeloplasty in 48 cases and Fenger plasty in 7 cases. Crossing vessels were noted in 23 patients. The conversion rate was 5.4%. Mean operative time was 185 minutes (range 100 to 260), mean hospital stay was 4.5 days (range 1 to 14) and mean followup was 14.4 months (range 6 to 43.6). The overall complication rate was 12.7%. Complications in 7 patients included hematoma in 3, urinoma in 1, severe pyelonephritis in 1 and anastomotic stricture in 2 requiring open pyeloplasty at 3 weeks and delayed balloon incision at 13 months, respectively. Excretory urography in 50 patients and ultrasound in 4 showed decreased hydronephrosis in 88.9% at 3 months. Normal physical activity and absent pain were reported by 47 patients (87%) 1 month after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty seems to be a valuable alternative to open pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The long-term outcome must be assessed before this procedure may be definitively validated.

Acupressure wristbands do not prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting after urological endoscopic surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of acupressure wristbands in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). METHODS: Two hundred ASA I-II patients undergoing elective endoscopic urological procedures were included in a randomized, prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Spherical beads of acupressure wristbands were placed at the P6 points in the anterior surface of both forearms in Group I patients (acupressure group, n = 100) whereas, in Group 2 (control group, n = 100) they were placed inappropriately on the posterior surface. The acupressure wristbands were applied 30 min before induction of anesthesia and were removed six hours postoperatively. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and maintained with nitrous oxide and oxygen, fentanyl, isoflurane and vecuronium. The tracheas were extubated on the operation table after patients received neostigmine and atropine. Post operative nausea and vomiting were evaluated separately as none, mild, moderate or severe at the time of patient's arrival in PACU, then at six hours and twenty-four hours after surgery by a blinded observer. RESULTS: In the acupressure group, 25 patients had PONV compared with 29 patients in the control group (P = NS). CONCLUSION: Application of acupressure wristbands at the P6 of both forearms 30 min before induction of anesthesia did not decrease the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing endoscopic urological procedures.

Detection of fluid volume absorption by end-tidal alcohol monitoring in patients undergoing endoscopic renal pelvic surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of relevant fluid absorption (calculated volume above 500 ml) during endoscopic procedures of the renal pelvis. DESIGN: Prospective clinical investigation with implementation of statistical process control tools (SPC). SETTING: Nonuniversity teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 62 consecutive ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled for endoscopic renal pelvic surgery with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Intraoperative measurement of breath alcohol for detection of fluid absorption. Irrigation fluid (0.9% saline) with 1% alcohol for tracing the irrigation fluid. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Calculation of the amount of fluid absorbed using breath alcohol values. Process variability (numbers of patients with relevant fluid absorption) defined by SPC. The prevalence of fluid absorption in endoscopic renal pelvic surgery was 6%. Peak fluid absorption during a vascular route was detected by the monitoring. Monitoring was easily introduced into routine clinical practice. No relevant side effects due to the monitoring were seen in patients with relevant fluid absorption. There was no mortality, but two patients with detected severe fluid overload were admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment. CONCLUSION: Breath alcohol levels during general anesthesia for endoscopic renal pelvic surgery were technically simple to measure. Our results show the predictive value of alcohol monitoring, which has been previously demonstrated only for transurethral prostatectomy. The prevalence of relevant fluid absorption was 6% compared to 13% during transurethral resection of the prostate.

Dorsal lumbotomy incision for pediatric pyeloplasty--a good alternative.

This study reviews the value and benefits of the dorsal lumbotomy incision (DL) for exposure of the pelviureteric junction (PUJ) in infantile and paediatric pyeloplasty. Ninety-one children underwent pyeloplasty for confirmed PUJ obstruction between January 1993 and December 1997. The conventional loin incision (CL) (n = 60) was used as the standard, to which DL (n = 31) was compared. Information on the duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, length of time to return to full oral intake, and complications was obtained retrospectively from the hospital chart. The results were analysed using a non-parametrical statistical analysis. Follow-up was between 6 months and 5 years (median 2.4 years). The median age at surgery was 1.5 years (1 month-14 years). The median operating time was similar in both groups (95 min). The median length of stay was 3 days for the DL group compared to 7 days for the CL group (P < 0.001). The length of hospital stay had no correlation to the patient's age at surgery or the type of postoperative analgesia used. The median time to return to full oral intake and unrestricted activity in the DL group was 43 h compared to 83 h for the CL group (P < 0.001). The surgeons found that there was better exposure of the PUJ in infants in the DL group compared to the DL incision. There were no operative complications related to the DL itself. At the time of last follow-up 3 children required re-operation for a failed pyeloplasty, 2 in the DL group. The results suggest that DL is a safe and reasonable alternative to CL in paediatric pyeloplasty and probably the incision of choice in infantile pyeloplasty.

Treatment of cystine stones: combined approach using open pyelolithotomy, percutaneous pyelolithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and chemolysis.

Treatment of cystine stones in the urinary tract can be difficult because of a high frequency of recurrence, resistance to Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), difficulty in localization and access to peripheral stones during Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy (PCNL), and the insufficient effect of oral chemolysis. We present two cases of urinary cystine calculi treated with a combination of pyelolithotomy, PCNL, ESWL and percutaneous irrigation chemolysis, using N-acetylcysteine and Tromethamine-E.

Percutaneous pyeloplasty.

The indication for and the technique of the percutaneous operation on strictures at the ureteropelvic junction are reported on 120 patients. The results of evaluation of 66 followed-up cases are presented. The new method proves to be superior to open surgery in secondary (acquired) stenoses with a success rate of 89 per cent, whereas in congenital stenosis the success rate was 75 per cent. However, if this simple and safe technique does fail, open plastic surgery still can be performed.

Renal function in idiopathic hydronephrosis in children. Follow-up after conservative and surgical treatment.

In 64 children (age 1-15, mean 7.3 years) with unilateral idiopathic hydronephrosis, measurements were made of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), separate glomerular filtration rate (SGFR, measured as 51Cr-EDTA clearance combined with renography) and renal concentrating capacity. Onset symptoms were urinary tract infection in 34 children and abdominal pain in 25, while 5 were asymptomatic. Surgery was performed soon after the first investigation in 34 children and during the follow-up period in 14, and 16 children received only conservative treatment. The mean follow-up time was 4.4 years. At the time of diagnosis the total GFR and the SGFR of the affected kidney were normal or almost normal in all the children (respective means 108 +/- 16 and 50 +/- 12 ml min-1 X 1.73 m2(-1)). The total GFR remained normal at follow-up, but SGFR became subnormal in two conservatively and two surgically treated children. The concentrating capacity was initially lower in the children with, than in those without urinary tract infection. The former values had increased significantly at follow-up examination. The study indicates that the parenchymal function in unilateral idiopathic hydronephrosis in children more than 1 year old usually is normal, but may deteriorate due to urinary tract infection. Such infection should be carefully searched for and treated. Since very few of these children seem to have pelvic obstruction, surgery seldom is primarily necessary.

Percutaneous stone removal procedures including irrigation.

The authors review the indications, techniques, and complications of percutaneous stone removal. Step-by-step descriptions of each technique are provided.

Management of ureteropelvic obstruction in the first year of life.

From July 1971 until December 1978 we treated 19 male and 5 female children less than 1 year old for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Diagnosis was based on high dose excretory urography with delayed films. Ultrasound was performed in some cases to confirm hydronephrosis. Cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography were not required. Of 32 obstructed kidneys 27 were repaired by dismembered reduction pyeloureteroplasty. Of 8 patients with bilateral involvement 3 underwent unilateral repair only because of lesser contralateral obstruction and 1 underwent unilateral nephrectomy. Of the 27 repairs 20 were protected by nephrostomy or pyelostomy drainage plus a small caliber silicone rubber or polyvinyl stent. Of the 6 non-stented repairs 2 had delayed opening of the repair. A frozen section renal biopsy aided in a decision to repair the kidney in 4 of 6 instances and in 10 other instances a renal biopsy was obtained for prognostic purposes. There were no secondary nephrectomies, although 2 boys required reoperations for a successful result. Instillation pyelography with fluoroscopic monitoring was used to determine when the tubes could be removed. Generally, we removed the stent 4 or 5 days postoperatively and the nephrostomy at a variable time after demonstration of patency of repair. In this group of small children pyelostomy or nephrostomy and intubation of the repair are useful additions to the surgical technique to prevent obstruction of the tiny and delicate infant ureter by anastomotic edema or kinking of the repair.

Jejunal conduits: technique and complications.

Thirty patients underwent jejunal urinary diversion: 27 bilateral cutaneous ureterojejunostomies, 2 cutaneous pyeloureterojejunostomies and 1 bilateral pyelocutaneous jejunostomy. In the majority of the cases this high diversion was indicated for malignant disease with preoperative and postoperative irradiation of the pelvis. Postoperative morbidity in these cases is not different from thatin cases of ileal conduit operation, except for a high incidence of reversible hypochloremic acidosis with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and uremia. This electrolytic syndrome is the consequence of a continuous exchange of ions between the jejunal content and the extracellular fluid with resultant loss of sodium chloride and absorption of potassium and urea. An important link in the pathophysiology of the jejunal syndrome is the hypersecretion of renin-aldosterone, which aggravates the disturbance. Limited renal function (glomerular filtration rate less than 50 cc per minute), long loop and inadequate salt intake are among contributing factors. The syndrome is correctable by administration of salt. Some patients must be placed on salt supplement indefinitely. The jejunum is not recommended for urinary diversion in patients with limited renal function, those on low salt diet or those in whom a long intestinal loop would be required for diversion.