Comparison of voiding vesicoureteral urosonography with fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrography in children with vesicoureteral reflux.

Objective: To evaluate the value and compliance rate of voiding vesicoureteral urosonography in pediatric vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 80 children with high-risk VUR admitted to Children's Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from December 2018 to December 2020 were selected. All patients underwent voiding urosonography (VUS) and fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). The sensitivity and compliance of voiding vesicoureteral urosonography were compared, and its application value was evaluated. Results: A total of 160 PUUs were examined, and all cases were normal. Among them, 56 PUUs had reflux (35.00%, 56/160), 46 PUUs had reflux under both examination methods (28.75%, 46/160), and 10 PUUs were only detected under VUS (6.25%, 10/160). Thirty-four cases of VUR (42.50%, 34/80) were diagnosed by VUS, among which 15 cases were bilateral reflux and 4 cases were unilateral reflux. Twenty-five cases (35.00%, 25/80) were diagnosed by VCUG, among which 10 cases were bilateral regurgitation and five cases were unilateral regurgitation. No significant difference was observed in the detection rate of reflux between the two methods (P=0.432). A total of 146 PUUs were found to be consistent between the two methods (91.25%, 160), including 2 Grade-I reflux, 6 Grade-II reflux, 14 Grade-III reflux, 12 Grade-IV reflux, eight Grade-V reflux, and 104 without reflux, demonstrating SATISFACTORY consistency between the two groups (Kappa=0.885). Conclusion: Voiding vesicoureteral urosonography has a high coincidence rate in the detection of vesicoureteral reflux in children.

Congenital midureteral stenosis in children: a 13-year retrospective study based on data from a large pediatric medical center.

BACKGROUND: Midureteral stenosis is very rare in children and can cause congenital hydronephrosis. We report our experience treating children with congenital midureteral stenosis at our center, focusing on the differences in preoperative diagnosis and treatment compared with other congenital obstructive uropathies. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 26 children diagnosed with congenital midureteral stenosis at our center between January 2007 and December 2020, such as preoperative examination methods, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative follow-up results. RESULTS: Of the 1625 children treated surgically for ureteral narrowing, only 26 (1.6%) were diagnosed with midureteral stenosis, including 15 infants and 11 children. Eighteen (69.2%) were boys, 13 (50%) were affected on the left side, and 23 (88.5%) had isolated ureteral stenosis. Overall, 13 (50%) of the children presented with prenatal hydronephrosis, and 13 (50%) presented with abdominal pain or a mass. All the children had undergone urinary ultrasound and intravenous urography preoperatively; the diagnostic rate of ultrasound was 92.3%. Only 7 (26.9%) children had undergone pyelography. All the children had undergone surgery. The ureteral stenotic segment was less than 1 cm long in 25 (96.2)% of the children. The mean follow-up duration was 22 months (range: 6-50 months). One child developed anastomotic strictures. Urinary tract obstruction was relieved in the other children without long-term complications. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital midureteral stenosis is rare, accounting for 1.6% of all ureteral obstructions, and its diagnosis is crucial. Urinary ultrasound has a high diagnostic rate and should be the first choice for midureteral stenosis. Retrograde pyelography can be used when the diagnosis is difficult, but routine retrograde pyelography is not recommended. Congenital ureteral stenosis has a relatively short lesion range, largely within 1 cm. The treatment is mainly resection of the stenotic segment and end-to-end ureteral anastomosis, with a good prognosis.

Primary laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children: A single-center experience of 279 patients and analysis of possible factors affecting complications.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) has been widely used in the treatment of pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). However, no prior reports with a large pediatric series have focused on the analysis of complications and impact factors of the outcomes. We hypothesized there were risk factors of higher Clavien grade postoperative complications. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of complications and risk factors of high Clavien grade postoperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All children with UPJO treated with primary transperitoneal LP between July 2016 and July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The Clavien complication grades in groups with different weight, intraoperative complication (drainage methods), anteroposterior pelvic diameters (APPD), side, gender, title of surgeon, preoperative presentation and obstruction reason were compared. RESULTS: Of the 279 children, intraoperative complications in which the placement of double-J stents was not accomplished and conversion to open surgery (Satava grade II) occurred in 17 (6.09%) and 2 (0.72%) patients, respectively. A total of 270 patients (277 kidneys) were included in the analysis of postoperative complications. Postoperative complications occurred in 51 (18.89%) patients. The most frequent postoperative incident was febrile UTI in 27 patients. Of the 13 patients who required reoperations, 6 patients had kidney restenosis and were considered as failure of surgery. All complications with an exact onset time occurred within 10 months after surgery. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, weight <10 kg and having intraoperative complication with nephrostomy tube were risk factors of higher Clavien postoperative complication grade (P＜0.05). DISCUSSION: Patients who were <10 kg in weight and having intraoperative complication with nephrostomy tube had a greater risk of a higher Clavien grade postoperative complication. To reduce high Clavien grade postoperative complications, asymptomatic patients under 10 kg in weight and having intraoperative complication with nephrostomy tube need close monitoring. In the 26 patients who had an exact time of the postoperative complications, the longest time we found was 10 months. Thus, we recommend the follow-up time required to observe postoperative complications in patients should be at least 10 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: LP has been proven to be safe and effective in children with a low rate of complications. Weight <10 kg and having intraoperative complications with nephrostomy tube were risk factors of higher Clavien grade postoperative complications. Children with low weight and intraoperative complications need more attention in terms of the occurrence of complications.

Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix for Urethroplasty Coverage in Proximal Hypospadias Repair: a Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: The complication rates of proximal hypospadias, especially fistula, are much higher than those of distal hypospadias. Urethral coverage is an effective method for reducing fistulas. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has been shown to exhibit structural compatibility and biocompatibility, both of which promote tissue healing. METHODS: The present non-randomized study evaluated the efficiency, feasibility, and safety of using ADM for urethroplasty coverage in patients with proximal hypospadias. This prospective study enrolled 35 patients (age range 15-60 months) with proximal hypospadias who underwent operation between September 2018 and March 2019 at Beijing Children's Hospital (Beijing, China). Urethroplasties were performed by the transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) technique. ADM was applied and sutured over the urethroplasty as an additional covering layer. Patient outcomes were compared with those of 80 non-matched control patients with proximal hypospadias who underwent the same procedure, with dartos as a covering layer. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.56 months (range 9-15 months), urethral fistula occurred in six patients (17.1%) in the ADM group and 28 patients (35%) in the dartos group. Superficial wound infection was observed in six patients (17.1%) in the ADM group and 10 patients (12.5%) in the dartos group. One patient in the ADM group had diverticulum, compared with five patients (6.25%) in the dartos group. Meatal stenosis and urethral stricture were observed in four patients (11.4%) in the ADM group and six patients (7.5%) in the dartos group; all of these complications were treated conservatively. No glans dehiscence was observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Use of ADM may be a safe and efficient covering technique to provide an additional coverage layer for proximal hypospadias repair, thereby reducing the incidence of fistula formation, especially among patients who have poor-quality covering materials.

Urodynamic performance in boys with Y-type urethral duplication.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the urodynamic features of patients with Y-type urethral duplication. METHODS: Patients with Y-type urethral duplication were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical presentation, urodynamic findings, surgical methods, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2016, six boys were diagnosed with Y-type urethral duplication at our institution. All patients underwent urodynamic testing. Urodynamic testing in patient 1 and 2 revealed detrusor pressure as 100cmH2O and 88cmH2O in the voiding stage, while urinary flow rate were 0ml/s and 2.8ml/s with volume of residual urine as 300ml and 110ml respectively, which consistent with the typical urodynamic of lower urinary tract obstruction. Patient 1, 3, 4 and 6 showed impaired bladder compliance as 7.5ml/H2O, 12ml/H2O, 6ml/H2O and 6ml/H2O respectively. Patient 5 and 6 also showed maximum urethral pressure as 110cmH2O and 125cmH2O with maximum urethral closure pressure as 103cmH2O and 110cmH2O respectively in the resting state. CONCLUSIONS: Y-type urethral duplication is one potential cause of lower urinary tract obstruction, as seen in the abnormal urodynamic findings in our patients. Further studies are needed to elucidate the characteristics of this rare condition and determine optimal surgical management. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective case series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4 observational study without controls.

Immediate or delayed repair of pelvic fracture urethral disruption defects in young boys: twenty years of comparative experience.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of the patient with pelvic fracture urethral disruption defects (PFUDD) remains controversial especially in pediatric urology. Debate continues in regarding the advisability of immediate repair versus delayed repair. The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in the outcomes of immediate and delayed repair of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects in young boys. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 210 boys with posterior urethral disruption after pelvic injury between 1992 and 2012. Exclude partial urethral injury, a total of 177 cases acquired follow-up. All patients were evaluated by plain radiography, ultrasonography, or a computed tomography scan to assess the conditions of the upper urinary tract and to exclude other severe injuries. Data on 35 patients who underwent immediate repair were compared to those on 142 treated with delayed urethroplasty. After the diagnosis of a complete urethral injury, the immediate repair group underwent urethroplasty via the perineal approach if the patient's condition was stable, and serious complications were treated. The delayed repair group patients with the delayed urethroplasty average 6 months after injury. All patients were evaluated postoperatively for urethral strictures, incontinence and impotence. The patients were assessed by uroflowmetry and renal ultrasonography with evaluation of the postmictional residue every 3 months during the first year of follow-up. We assessed incontinence and erectile function by questioning the parents or the children themselves. Statistical analysis with the chi-square test was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven patients were followed up with an average 58 months (range 6 to 192 months). Strictures developed in 3 (9%) patients in immediate repair group; two required direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU), the other patient required dilatation. Strictures developed in 11.9% of the delayed repair group, 17 patients need visual internal urethrotomy or urethroplasty. Incontinence (11.4%) and impotence (8.6%) seem less frequent in the immediate repair group than in the delayed reconstruction group (17.7% and 21.8%, respectively). However, the results showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups in strictures after first surgery, incontinence and impotence. Patients with delayed reconstruction underwent an average of 2.6 procedures compared with an average of 1.1 in the immediate repair group. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate repair of urethral disruption is possible when the patient's condition was stable. It may decrease the requirement for subsequent urethral surgeries. Immediate repair does not appear to increase the rate of impotence or incontinence. The strictures after immediate repair also may be easier to treat. Although immediate repair could be inconvenient in the massively injured patient, it is still a worthwhile maneuver in dealing with PFUDD.