Salvage holmium laser enucleation of the prostate after previous interventions: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the re-treatment setting (salvage HoLEP) and compare it to the primary HoLEP procedure that is commonly used for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were systematically screened, from inception to 8 August 2022. Other potentially eligible studies were retrieved using the reference lists of the included studies. Retrospective and prospective studies, both comparative and non-comparative, were included. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final qualitative synthesis. One study was prospective comparative (non-randomised), seven studies were retrospective comparative, and four studies were retrospective non-comparative or case series. In total, 831 patients were treated with salvage HoLEP in the above studies. Previous intervention before salvage HoLEP ranged among studies. The most commonly performed was transurethral resection of the prostate. Intraoperative parameters of salvage HoLEP were comparable with those reported during primary HoLEP, while all postoperative outcomes were significantly improved after salvage HoLEP and were similar with those observed after primary HoLEP. No major complications were noted after salvage HoLEP according to Clavien-Dindo classification. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage HoLEP after previous interventions for treating recurrent or residual BPH is a feasible, safe, and efficient procedure. Data presented in selected studies, along with the holmium laser's physical properties to resect more tissue and to dissect along the true anatomical plane of BPH, render HoLEP an ideal salvage treatment modality for recurrent or residual BPH symptoms.

Fluid dynamics within renal cavities during endoscopic stone surgery: does the position of the flexible ureteroscope and ureteral access sheath affect the outflow rate?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of ureteroscope position within renal cavities as well as different locations of the tip of the ureteral access sheath (UAS) on fluid dynamics during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational clinical study was performed. Measurements with a flexible ureteroscope placed in the upper, middle and lower calyces were obtained with the tip of the UAS placed either 2 cm below the pyelo-ureteric junction (PUJ), or at the level of the iliac crest. RESULTS: 74 patients were included. The outflow rates from the middle and upper calyxes were statistically significantly higher compared to the lower calyx, both with the UAS close to the pyelo-ureteric junction and at the iliac crest. When the UAS was withdrawn and positioned at the level of the iliac crest, a significant decrease in outflow rates from the upper (40.1 ± 4.3 ml/min vs 35.8 ± 4.1 ml/min) and middle calyces (40.6 ± 4.0 ml/min vs 36.8 ± 4.6 ml/min) and an increase in the outflow from the lower calyx (28.5 ± 3.3 ml/min vs 33.7 ± 5.7 ml/min) were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that higher fluid outflow rates are observed from upper and middle calyces compared to lower calyx. This was true when the UAS was positioned 2 cm below the PUJ and at the iliac crest. Significant worsening of fluid dynamics from upper and middle calyces was observed when the UAS was placed distally at the level of the iliac crest. While the difference was statistically significant, the absolute change was not significant. In contrast, for lower calyces, a statistically significant improvement was documented.

Robot-assisted pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction: initial experience with the novel avatera system.

PURPOSE: This pilot study was designed to interpret the technically specific features of the avatera robotic system and present our initial experience with this novel platform in robot-assisted pyeloplasty (RAP). METHODS: A single-center prospective study was conducted including all patients who underwent RAP with the avatera robotic system from June 2022 to October 2022 in our Department. Transperitoneal robot-assisted dismembered pyeloplasty was performed in all cases. The trocar placement and the surgical technique were similar in all patients. The successful completion of the procedures, operation time (including draping, docking and console time), decrease in hemoglobin postoperatively, and presence of any complications were the study's primary endpoints. RESULTS: In total, nine patients underwent RAP using the avatera system. All procedures were successfully completed. The draping of the robotic unit was completed in a median time of 10 min (range 7-15), while the median docking time was 17 min (range 10-24). The median console time was 88 min (range 78-116) and no complications were noticed. The median hemoglobin drop was calculated to 0.7 g/dL (range 0.4-1). During the mean follow-up of 9.33 ± 2.78 months, no late postoperative complications were noticed. CONCLUSION: The early outcomes of the use of the novel avatera system in RAP are presented. All operations were successfully completed with safety and efficacy, without complications or significant blood loss.

Outcomes of thulium prostatectomy with "Oyster technique" versus transurethral prostatectomy (TURP): a randomized control trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the perioperative and postoperative outcomes between Oyster prostate vaporesection using Tm-YAG laser and the conventional transurethral prostatectomy using monopolar energy. METHODS: Patients with LUTS with an accumulative size of at least 60 ml were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups to undergo Tm-YAG laser vaporesection (Group 1) or conventional monopolar transurethral prostatectomy (Group 2). The primary endpoints were the reduction in IPSS and the increase in Qmax postoperatively. Secondary endpoints included the Hemoglobin drop, the complication rate, the changes in urodynamic parameters, the duration of hospitalization and catheterization and the changes in IIEF during the 24-month follow-up. RESULTS: In total 32 and 30 patients were enrolled in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Patient age (p = 0.422) and prostate volume were similar among the groups (p = 0.51). The outcomes in terms of IPSS decrease and Qmax amelioration were comparable (p = 0.449 and p = 0.237, respectively). Operative and hospitalization times were lower in Group 1 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). Hemoglobin drop, changes in urodynamic parameters and improvement in IIEF and QoL scores did not differ among the two Groups. The average time with the catheter was 2.06 ± 0.35 and 2.5 ± 0.82 (p = 0.003) days for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. The overall complication rate was 6.2% for Group 1 and 13.3% for Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The Oyster technique leads to similar postoperative outcomes compared to the standard monopolar transurethral prostatectomy. The shorter catheterization, hospitalization and operation time should be considered advantages of the Oyster technique.

Non-papillary prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal abnormalities: single-institution experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of non-papillary prone PCNL for the treatment of patients with renal abnormalities. METHODS: An observational retrospective cohort study including PCNL cases of patients with renal abnormalities was performed. The following inclusion criteria were applied: renal stones > 1.5 cm with maximal diameter, anatomical malformations of affected kidney (malrotated kidneys, horseshoe kidneys and kidneys with complete duplicated systems, medullary sponge kidney), patients treated with standard (30Fr) PCNL or mini-PCNL (22Fr). The lithotripsy was performed using the Lithoclast Master or the Lithoclast® Trilogy (EMS Medical, Nyon, Switzerland). RESULTS: Overall, 57 patients, 35 males, and 22 females with any renal malformation underwent non-papillary prone PCNL. Our study included 25 patients with horseshoe kidneys, 21 with malrotated kidneys, 9 with kidneys with duplicated pelvicalyceal systems and 2 with medullary sponge kidneys. The mean cumulative stone size was 36 ± 1.4 mm and most of the stones were in the lower calyceal group (36.9%) and in the pelvis (27.2%). The stone-free rate (SFR) was 84.2% and the mean hospitalization time was 2.7 ± 0.7 days. In total, postoperative complications were developed in six patients (10.5%), half of them presenting fever and the other half requiring blood transfusion (Grade II). CONCLUSION: The PCNL is the method of choice for treating large stones in anomalous kidneys. The generally accepted panacea that only a papillary puncture is safe is questioned by our results. Based on our experience, a non-papillary puncture proved to be a safe and effective procedure.

Endoscopic management of encrusted ureteral stents: outcomes and tips and tricks.

PURPOSE: To report our experience in the management of encrusted ureteral stents (EUS) and provide technical insight of our endourological approaches for difficult scenarios posed by this entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of a longitudinally collected database of 58 patients with encrusted US between December 2012 and May 2022 was performed. The ureteral stents were initially inserted due to obstructive uropathy, pyelonephritis or after a successful endoscopic procedure for urolithiasis. A combination of antegrade/retrograde treatment in single or multiple sessions took place for the retrieval of the encrusted stents. Non-contrast enhanced computer tomography was used for the follow-up of the patients at 1-month after the removal of the encrusted stent. RESULTS: Overall 58 patients, 39 males and 19 females with a median age of 51 years old were included in the study. Indwelling time was < 6 months, 6-12 months and > 12 months in 22%, 57% and 21% of the cases, respectively. All US were successfully removed. Semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) and flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) were used in 90% of the cases. In 10% of the cases, a second-stage percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) or endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) was performed. All US were successfully released. Stone-free rate was 84% at 1-month. Overall complication rate was 10.5% (mostly postoperative fevers, 5.4%). CONCLUSION: Removal of the encrusted US is a challenging procedure. Appropriate decision-making and knowledge of specific tricks may result in safe and successful management of significant EUS.

The feasibility of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: an experimental study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of the avatera system for performing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) followed by intracorporeal reconstruction of ileal neobladder. METHODS: Six anesthetized female pigs were used to perform RARC and formation of the intracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder. Three surgeons with different level of expertise in the use of robotic systems performed RARC after a short instructional lecture and a 2-h hands-on training. The urinary diversion phase was performed only by the experienced surgeon. The successful completion of the procedure, operative time for demolitive and reconstructive phases, intraoperative blood loss and malfunction of the robotic system were evaluated. RESULTS: An improvement of the operative time was observed for each surgeon. The experienced surgeon, the fellow and the resident improved their time by 11, 15, and 22 min, respectively, between the first and the second RARC performed. The most significant time difference was demonstrated by the resident, who had no previous experience in using robotic systems. The time difference between the first and the last orthotopic ileal neobladder creation for the experienced surgeon was 51 min. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of avatera system for performing complex surgical procedure such as RARC with intracorporeal neobladder formation was demonstrated by this experimental study. No major bleeding or severe malfunctions were observed during the procedures. Significant improvement in operative time was demonstrated with the increasing experience from 1st to 6th case.

The effect of prolonged laser activation on irrigation fluid temperature: an in vitro experimental study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of prolonged laser activation on irrigation fluid temperature by varying the power settings flow rate (10-30 ml/min). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study using a 20 ml syringe, 12/14 ureteral access sheath, a dual-lumen catheter and a thermocouple was performed. The laser was fired with 12 W (0.3 J × 40 Hz), 40 W (1 J × 40 Hz), 60 W (1.5 J × 40 Hz) using Quanta Ho 150 W (Quanta System, Samarate, Italy). All trials were performed with fluid outflow rate of 10, 20 and 30 ml/min with the fixed fluid volume at 10 ml. RESULTS: Continuous laser activation for 10 min with the outflow rate of 10 ml/min using only 12 W resulted to continuous temperature rise to as high as 83 °C. Similar rise of temperatures were observed for 40 W and 60 W with 10 ml/min outflow rate with intermittent laser activation. With 20 and 30 ml/min outflow rates the maximum temperatures for all power settings were below the threshold (< 43 °C). However, the time to reach the same total emitted energy was 60% and 40% shorter 60 W and 40 W, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study found that continuous laser activation with as less as 12 W using 10 ml/min outflow rate increased the irrigation fluid temperature above the threshold only after 1 min. In the current experimental setup, with the fluid outflow rate of 20 and 30 ml/min safe laser activation with 60 W and 40 W (temperature < 43 °C) can be achieved reaching the same total emitted energy as with 12 W in significantly shorter time period.

Comparison of renal parenchymal trauma after standard, mini and ultra-mini percutaneous tract dilation in porcine models.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether reducing tract dilation diameter in PCNL (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) procedures results in minimizing of renal trauma of the percutaneous tract. METHODS: A percutaneous renal access tract was established bilaterally to 11 pigs. Two pigs were euthanized immediately after the experiment, while nine pigs were sacrificed 1 month later. The percutaneous accesses were dilated up to 30Fr, 22Fr or 12Fr. The animals underwent a contrast-enhanced computer tomography immediately after the procedure and 30 days later. DMSA-scintigraphy with SPECT-CT was also performed. The kidneys of all animals were harvested for histological evaluation. The volume of scar tissue and the percentage of renal volume replaced by scar tissue were calculated. RESULTS: Immediate post-procedural CT-scans revealed a significant difference in defect diameter among the three modalities. However, the scar volume calculated on CT-images and histopathology showed a significant difference only when 30Fr dilation was compared to 12Fr dilation. The percentage of scar volume was negligible in all cases, but there was still a statistical difference between 30 and 12Fr dilation. Dilation up to 22Fr revealed no statistical differences compared to the other two modalities. DMSA-scintigraphy showed no scar tissue in any case. CONCLUSION: Dilation up to 30Fr may cause a significantly larger scar tissue on renal parenchyma compared to 12Fr dilation as it was shown on CT-images and microscopic evaluation, but based on the DMSA/SPECT-CT this difference seems to be insignificant to the renal function. The scar tissue caused by 22Fr dilation seemed to have no significant difference from the other modalities.

The use of 14/16Fr ureter access sheath for safe and effective management of large upper ureteral calculi.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of ureteroscopic lithotripsy for the management of large proximal ureteral stones > 10 mm using 14/16 Fr ureteral access sheath (UAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients' data from prospective database undergoing ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy with a use of 14/16Fr UAS were collected. All patients were pre-stented prior to the procedure. The fragmentation was performed with a semi-rigid ureteroscope using holmium laser energy with a power setting of 35 W (frequency-35 Hz; energy-1 J). Follow-up was scheduled at 4 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In total 78 patients, 43 males and 35 females, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 59.5 ± 13.3 with a mean maximal stone diameter of 13.4 ± 2.1. The mean operative time was 35.7 ± 9.7 and the mean hospital stay was 2 ± 0.7 days. The primary SFR at 4 weeks was 73 patients (93.6%), while all 78 patients (100%) were stone free at 3-month follow-up, 2 of the patients receiving additional treatment. In total, 8 (10.2%) patients experienced Grade II complications. Intraoperative ureteral lesions were observed in 41 (52.6%) cases. Out of them 31 patients (39.7%) developed Grade 1, 8 patients (10.3%) Grade 2 and only 3 patients (2.6%) Grade 3 lesions. CONCLUSION: The use of 14/16Fr ureteral access sheath on pre-stented patients was associated with successful outcomes. A high stone-free rate of 93.6% was achieved at 4-week follow-up. The procedure was not associated with increased rate of postoperative complications and intraoperative ureteral injury.

What is the impact of pulse modulation technology, laser settings and intraoperative irrigation conditions on the irrigation fluid temperature during flexible ureteroscopy? An in vivo experiment using artificial stones.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of different combinations of laser power settings and irrigation conditions using the pulse modulation technology of Quanta™ on irrigation fluid temperature (IFT) during FURS (flexible ureteroscopy) on an in-vivo porcine model with artificial stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A female pig was used. Following the insertion of artificial stones (Begostone™, BEGO USA, Lincoln, RI), a K-type thermocouple was fixed to the created percutaneous access tract. Real-time recordings of IFT during FURS were performed without UAS (ureteral access sheath), with 10/12 UAS, 12/14 UAS and 14/16 UAS. Stone fragmentation was achieved using Quanta Litho Cyber Ho 150 W™ (Samarate, Italy). The IFT was recorded for 30 s, during laser activation, with power settings of 20, 40, 60, 75 and 100 W under both manual pump and gravity irrigation. RESULTS: The IFT rise above 54 °C was recorded above a power of 40 W when gravity irrigation was used. The use of UAS prolonged the time for IFT to reach high values, although high power settings increase IFT within seconds from the laser activation. Under pump irrigation, only the 100 W power setting without the use of UAS resulted in dangerous IFT after approximately 10 s. CONCLUSION: The high-power Ho:YAG laser can cause a damaging thermal effect to the kidney exceeding the threshold of 54 °C, under gravity irrigation. Lower power settings (up to 40 W) can be used with safety. According to our experiment, when using high power settings, the use of UAS and manual pump irrigation, is the safest combination regarding renal thermal damage.

Nonpapillary prone endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery: effectiveness, safety and tips, and tricks.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nonpapillary prone endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) and provide practical tips and tricks for the successful accomplishment of the procedure respecting the anatomical particularities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is an analysis of a prospectively collected database including all cases of ECIRS performed between January 2019 and December 2021 in a high-volume tertiary center. All patients underwent the procedure in prone-split leg position. A nonpapillary renal puncture was performed. The used access sheaths were 22Fr or 30Fr. Lithotripsy was performed anterogradely with a dual-energy lithotripter with incorporated suction and retrogradely with holmium Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients were included. The initial stone-free rate (SFR) was 84.8% and the final SFR was 90.9%. The median stone size was 35 mm and 60% of patients had staghorn calculi. The prevalence of renal abnormalities was 21.3%, including 3 cases of horseshoe kidney, 2 cases of malrotation and 2 cases with complete duplicated systems. The median operative time was 47 min. The median hospital stay was 3 days and median hemoglobin loss was 1.2 gr/dL. Overall, the complication rate was 9.1%, all being Grade II complications (n = 2 fever and n = 1 transient bleeding). CONCLUSIONS: Nonpapillary prone ECIRS is an effective and safe procedure. Standardization of the procedure is critical to achieve good outcomes. Patients who benefit the most are probably the ones where additional punctures can be avoided using this technique, namely patients with renal abnormalities, incrusted ureteral stents and staghorn stones.

The use of ureteral access sheath during mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy with high-power holmium YAG laser.

PURPOSE: To present our preliminary results and describe a technical modification of mini-PCNL (12Fr) with the insertion of a ureteral access sheath (UAS) to facilitate the procedure. METHODS: A prospective study for the time period of January 2020 to January 2021 was conducted including patients with renal stones sized ≤ 25 mm in whom prone mini-PCNL (tract size 12Fr) together with the retrograde insertion of UAS was performed. All patients had been prestented at least 1 week prior to the planned surgery. A single-step tract dilation to 12Fr diameter was performed through a nonpapillary medial puncture. The lithotripsy was achieved using high-power holmium yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Ho:YAG) with the 60 W power setting (40 Hz and 1.5 J). The follow-up investigations were planned at 1-month after the surgery. RESULTS: In total, 32 patients with the median age and stone size of 56.5 (IQR = 53-62) years and 20.8 (IQR = 19.3-22.7) mm were included. The median operative and cumulative fluoroscopy time were 34.0 (IQR = 29.9-37.5) and 1.9 (1.8-2.1) min, respectively. The stone-free rate (SFR) at 1-month follow-up was 93.8% (30/32). Only one patient developed a fever and required prolonged antibiotic administration. None of the patients experienced clinically significant bleeding. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results showed that the use of UASs during mini-PCNL procedures is feasible and provides directed evacuation of the stone fragments reaching 93.8% SFR at a 1-month follow-up. Future well-designed studies are necessary to prove our findings.

Simulation training in transurethral resection/laser vaporization of the prostate; evidence from a systematic review by the European Section of Uro-Technology.

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection (TURP) and photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) constitute established surgical options to treat benign prostate hyperplasia. We investigated the current literature for simulators that could be used as a tool for teaching urologists alone or within the boundaries of a course or a curriculum. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials-CENTRAL. Search terms included: Simulat*, train*, curricull*, transurethral, TUR*, vaporesect*, laser. The efficacy of different simulators and the impact of different devices, curricula and courses in training and trainee learning curves were the primary endpoints. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies are selected and presented. Validated virtual reality TURP simulators are the UW VR, PelvicVision, Uro-Trainer, and TURPsim™. Validated synthetic TURP models are Dr. K. Forke's TURP trainer, Bristol TURP trainer, different tissue prostate models, and 3D-printed phantoms. The Myo Sim PVP and the GreenLightTM are sufficiently validated PVP simulators. Several TURP and PVP training curricula have been developed and judged as applicable. Finally, the TURP modules of the European Urology Residents Education Programme (EUREP) Hands-on Training course and the Urology Simulation Bootcamp Course (USBC) are the most basic annual TURP courses identified in the international literature. CONCLUSIONS: Simulators and courses or curricula are valuable learning and training TURP/PVP tools. The existent models seem efficient, are not always adequately evaluated and accepted. As part of training curricula and training courses, the use of training simulators can significantly improve quality for young urologists' education and clinical practice.

Comparison between standard, mini and ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy for single renal stones: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Based on the current trend of miniaturization of instruments used in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), it is necessary to compare different PCNL modalities regarding their access sheath size used. Thus, the safety and efficacy among standard, mini and ultra-mini PCNL (s-PCNL, m-PCNL, um-PCNL) were compared. METHODS: We performed a prospective, non-randomized trial between January 2018 and July 2020. Patients with stones classified as Guy's stone score grade I were included. The set-up for s-PCNL and m-PCNL included a 30 Fr and 22 Fr percutaneous tract, respectively. In both set-ups, an ultrasonic/ballistic lithotripter was utilized. In the case of um-PCNL, a 12 Fr percutaneous tract was established. A high-power laser was used for lithotripsy. Hemoglobin drop, complication rate, length of hospital stay (LOS), stone-free rate (SFR) and operation time were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients, 28 patients per method, were evaluated. Hemoglobin drop was higher in the s-PCNL group when compared to m-PCNL (p = 0.008) and um-PCNL groups (p < 0.001), while um-PCNL group had the slightest hemoglobin drop. LOS was similar between s-PCNL group and m-PCNL group, but um-PCNL group required shorter hospital stay than the other two modalities (p < 0.001). The complication and transfusion rates as well as SFR did not differ between groups. Operation time in the um-PCNL set-up was longer compared to s-PCNL (p < 0.001) and m-PCNL (p = 0.011), whereas s-PCNL and m-PCNL did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: m-PCNL showed less hemoglobin drop, but similar operation time and SFR when compared to s-PCNL. um-PCNL showed even less hemoglobin drop, but the operation time was longer compared to the two other modalities.

Stone ablation rates using innovative pulse modulation technology: Vapor tunnel, virtual basket, and bubble blast. An in vitro experimental study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Virtual BasketTM , Bubble BlastTM , and Vapor TunnelTM are three laser pulse modulation technologies that modify the holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser pulse transmission through the creation of bubbles emerging from the fiber tip with different effects on the target stone. The primary outcome of the current study was to test the stone ablation rates for the different pulse modulation modes, Virtual Basket, Bubble Blast, and Vapor Tunnel, using different power, energy, and frequency settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quanta Cyber: Ho 150 WTM , a 365 µm PrecisionTM fiber, and hard and soft phantom BegoStonesTM were used in an in vitro experimental configuration in a saline bath. In the Virtual Basket mode, the combinations of power, energy and frequency were tested; 10 W = 0.5 J × 20 Hz, 10 W = 0.5 J × 20 Hz, 60 W = 1 J × 60 Hz and 60 W = 2 J × 30 Hz. In the Bubble Blast mode, the combinations, 12 W = 1.2J × 10 Hz, 60 W = 1.2J × 50 Hz and 60 W = 2 J × 30 Hz, were tested. Similarly, the combination of 10 W = 0.5 J × 20 Hz was tested with Vapor Tunnel mode. High-speed camera captures of the bubble formation and regular photographs of the fragmentation pattern were also taken for each mode. RESULTS: High power lithotripsy was faster and related to higher ablation rates. The Virtual Basket, Bubble Blast, and Vapor Tunnel modalities showed different ablation rates for the same energy and frequency settings. For hard stones, there was an improvement in the ablation rate using 60 W = 2 J × 30 Hz compared with 60 W = 1 J × 60 Hz and 60 W = 1.2 J × 50 Hz. The highest ablation rates were recorded using the Virtual Basket mode with the high-power settings of 2 J of energy and 30 Hz of frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The Virtual BasketTM pulse-modulation technology was related to the highest ablation rates for both hard and soft stones, compared to the Bubble BlastTM and the Vapor TunnelTM technologies in high-power and low-power lithotripsy respectively. For the same high power settings, higher energy seems to provide higher ablation rates.

Is There Any Clinical Benefit for Peri-operative Administration of Tranexamic Acid for Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of current systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the efficacy and safety of the administration of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing PCNL. The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. This systematic review and meta-analysis includes randomized comparative prospective studies. RECENT FINDINGS: The primary endpoints were the hemoglobin drop, the bleeding complications, and the transfusion rate. Secondary endpoints included the operative time, the stone-free rate, the hospital stay, and the overall complications. Two-thousand five-hundred six publications were screened for this study. Six RCTs (1262 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. As for our primary endpoints, the hemoglobin drop was lower in the tranexamic group than in the control group, with mean difference (MD) of - 0.65 (p < 0.0001); the bleeding complications were rarer in the tranexamic group than in the control group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.32 (p < 0.00001); and the transfusion rate was lower in the tranexamic group with an OR of 0.34 (p = 0.0007). Concerning the secondary endpoints, the operative time was less in the tranexamic group with an MD of - 10.39 (p < 0.0001), the meta-analysis of the stone-free status data showed no statistical significance between the two groups with an OR of 1.58 (p = 0.09), the hospital stay was significantly less in the tranexamic group with an MD of - 1.38 (p = 0.005), and the overall complications were rarer in the tranexamic group than in the control group with an OR of 0.34 (p = 0.12). The peri-operative use of TA contributes to the reduction of blood loss, bleeding complications, mean operative time, and hospital stay. The use of TA seemed to be safe and well tolerated in patients undergoing PCNL. PROSPERO protocol (Registration number: CRD42019122818).

Thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate: a systematic review of the current outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: One recent addition to different lasers used for endoscopic enucleation of the prostate is the thulium fiber laser (TFL). The purpose of this systematic review is to present the feasibility, safety and efficacy of TFL Enucleation of the Prostate (ThuFLEP). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed®, Scopus® and Cochrane® primary databases were systematically screened. The search strategy used the PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) criteria. Patients should be adults with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) undergoing ThuFLEP. While comparative studies reporting comparison of ThuFLEP to other BPO treatments were included, cohort studies with no comparison group were also accepted. Outcomes including enucleation time and complication rates were reported. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Twelve studies met all the predefined criteria and were included in the final qualitative synthesis. Mean operative time and enucleation time ranged from 46.6±10.2 to 104.5±33.6 and from 38.8±17.9 to 66.0±24.9 minutes, respectively. Most of the complications were Grade I or Grade II ones. Although TFL was found to present some advantages over older BPO treatments, its outcomes were comparable with other endoscopic enucleation approaches. CONCLUSIONS: ThuFLEP seems to be a feasible, safe and efficient approach for BPO symptoms management. Limited evidence showed that although ThuFLEP was associated with a reduced total operative time, it was also associated with worse IPSS improvement at 1-year follow-up, when compared with MOSESTM Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). These findings confirm the well-established opinion that the enucleation technique itself is more important than the technology which is used.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using the avatera system™: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is a minimally invasive, safe procedure preferred in the management of localized prostate cancer. In this study, we present our initial experience with the avatera™ system (avateramedical GmbH, Jena, Germany) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. METHODS: A total of fourteen patients underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using this newly introduced system in our department from June 2022 to October 2022. The primary endpoints of the study were the time and the successful completion of the operation, the hemoglobin drop and the presence of complications. The pathologic tumor stage and the presence of positive surgical margins were also recorded. Follow-up of the patients for the functional outcomes over a period of 3 months took place. RESULTS: The completion of all the surgeries was successful. The median draping and docking times were 9.5 minutes (7-13) and 10 minutes (5-40), respectively. The median console time was 103.5 minutes (90-121). No conversion to laparoscopic or open prostatectomy was necessary. The median hemoglobin drop was 1.95 g/dL (0.3-2.7), while positive surgical margins were present in two patients postoperatively. No major complications or need for transfusion were noticed. Six months after the procedure, 78.6% of the participants were continent while 77.7% of the nerve-sparing patients reported erections adequate for intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: All the operations were completed successfully without major complications or significant blood loss. The functional outcomes were acceptable according to the literature. Based on the early outcomes, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with the avatera™ system (avateramedical GmbH) could be considered feasible, safe, and efficient.

Use of artificial stones in training and laboratory studies, have we found the right material? Outcomes of a systematic review from the European School of Urology.

Objective: In this review, we investigated the current literature to find out which artificial stones (AS) are available in endourology, and in which experimental and training schemes they are used. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Twenty-one out of 346 studies met our inclusion criteria and are presented in the current review. The inclusion criteria were the existence of AS and their use for laboratory and training studies. Results: There is a wide variety of materials used for the creation of AS. BegoStone powder (BEGO USA, Lincoln, Rhode Island) and plaster of Paris™ were used in most of the studies. In addition, Ultracal-30 (U. S. Gypsum, Chicago, IL) was also used. Other materials that were used as phantoms were AS created from plaster (Limbs and Things, UK), standardized artificial polygonal stone material (Chaton 1028, PP13, Jet 280; Swarovski), model stones consisting of spheres of activated aluminum (BASF SE, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Deutschland), Orthoprint (Zhermack, Badia Polesine, Italy), and a combination of plaster of Paris, Portland cement, and Velmix (calcium sulfate powder). Many experimental settings have been conducted with the use of AS. Our research demonstrated nine studies regarding testing and comparison of holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser devices, techniques, and settings. Six studies were about extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy testing and settings. Three experiments looked into treatment with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Additionally, one study each investigated imaging perioperatively for endourological interventions, stone bacterial burden, and obstructive uropathy. Conclusion: AS have been used in a plethora of laboratory experimental studies. Independent of their similarity to real urinary tract stones, they present a tremendous potential for testing and training for endourological interventions.