Percutaneous nephrolithotomy access by urologist or interventional radiologist: practice and outcomes in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of urologist vs interventional radiologist (IR) access during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the contemporary UK setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data submitted to the British Association of Urological Surgeons PCNL data registry between 2009 and 2015 were analysed according to whether access was obtained by a urologist or an IR. We compared access success, number and type of tracts, and perceived and actual difficulty of access. Postoperative outcomes, including stone-free rates, lengths of hospital stay and complications, including transfusion rates, were also compared. RESULTS: Overall, percutaneous renal access was undertaken by an IR in 3453 of 5211 procedures (66.3%); this rate appeared stable over the entire study period for all categories of stone complexity and in cases where there was predicted or actual difficulty with access. Only 1% of procedures were abandoned because of failed access and this rate was identical in each group. IRs performed more multiple tract access procedures than urologists (6.8 vs 5.1%; P = 0.02), but had similar rates of supracostal punctures (8.2 vs 9.2%; P = 0.23). IRs used ultrasonograhpy more commonly than urologists to guide access (56.6% vs 21.7%, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in complication rates, lengths of hospital stay or stone-free rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that favourable PCNL outcomes may be expected where access is obtained by either a urologist or an IR, assuming that they have received the appropriate training and that they are skilled and proficient in the procedure.

Hospital Volume Does Not Influence the Safety of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in England: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between hospital case volume and safety-related outcomes after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) within the English National Health Service (NHS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study used the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database, a routine administrative database, recording information on operations, comorbidity, and outcomes for all NHS hospital admissions in England. Records for all patients undergoing an initial PCNL between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2012 were extracted. NHS trusts were divided into low-, medium-, and high-volume groups, according to the average annual number of PCNLs performed. We used multiple regression analyses to examine the associations between hospital volume and outcomes incorporating risk adjustment for sex, age, comorbidity, and hospital teaching status. Postoperative outcomes included: Emergency readmission, infection, and hemorrhage. Mean length of stay was also measured. RESULTS: There were 7661 index elective PCNL procedures performed in 163 hospital trusts, between April 2006 and March 2012. There were 2459 patients who underwent PCNL in the 116 units performing fewer than 10 PCNL procedures per year; 2643 patients in the 37 units performing 10 to 19 procedures per year; and 2459 patients in the 9 hospitals performing more than 20 procedures per year. For low-, medium-, and high-volume trusts, there was little variation in the rates of emergency readmission (L 9.7%, M 9.3%, H 8.4%), infection (3.0%, 4.2%, 3.8%), or hemorrhage (1.3%, 1.5%, 1.5%), and there was no statistical evidence that volume was associated with adjusted outcomes. Mean length of stay was slightly shorter in the medium- (5.0 days) and high-volume (5.0) groups compared with the low-volume group (5.3). The effect remained statistically significant after adjusted for confounding. CONCLUSION: Hospital volume was not associated with emergency readmission, infection, or hemorrhage. Length of stay appears to be shorter in higher volume units.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in England: practice and outcomes described in the Hospital Episode Statistics database.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the postoperative outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We extracted records from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database for all patients undergoing PCNL between March 2006 and January 2011 in English NHS hospitals. Outcome measures were haemorrhage, infection within the index admission, and rates of emergency readmission and in-hospital mortality within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: A total of 5750 index PCNL procedures were performed in 165 hospitals. During the index admission, haemorrhage was recorded in 81 patients (1.4%), 192 patients (3.8%) had a urinary tract infection (UTI), 95 patients (1.7%) had fever, and 41 patients (0.7%) had sepsis. There were 595 emergency readmissions in 518 patients (9.0%). Reasons for readmission were varied: 70 (1.2%) with UTI, 15 (0.3%) sepsis, 73 (1.3%) haematuria, 25 (0.4%) haemorrhage, and 25 (0.4%) acute urinary retention. There were 13 (0.2%) in-hospital deaths within 30 days of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Haemorrhage and infection represent relatively common and potentially severe complications of PCNL. Mortality is extremely rare after PCNL (about one in 400 procedures overall) but almost one in 10 patients have an unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery. Complications of PCNL may be under-reported in the HES database and need to be corroborated using other data sources.

Multi-length or 24 cm ureteric stent? A multicentre randomised comparison of stent-related symptoms using a validated questionnaire.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: One of the suggested factors for stent-related symptoms is that excess distal intravesical stent mass may cause bladder irritation. There is a lack of studies investigating this in a randomised controlled fashion using a validated questionnaire. This study compared two of the most commonly used length of stents (a 30 cm multi-length vs a 24 cm long stent) and showed no significance difference in stent-related symptoms in patients with either of these stents. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether excessive redundant intravesical stent component contributes to the severity of stent-related symptoms in patients with a ureteric stent. We compared stent-related symptoms in patients who had either a standard 24 cm or multi-length ureteric stent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 162 patients with upper urinary tract calculi requiring ureteric stent insertion were randomised to receive either a 6 F × 24 cm Contour(TM) or multi-length 6 F × 22-30 cm Contour VL(TM) stent. Patients were requested to complete the validated Bristol Ureteric Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) at 1 and 4 weeks after stent insertion and 4 weeks after removal. The mean scores for each domain of the USSQ for both groups were compared using the Student's t-test. Any adverse events, e.g. stent migration, early removal of stent due to stent-related symptoms and failure of stent insertion, were also recorded. RESULTS: In all, 153 patients who had successful stent insertion were requested to complete the USSQ and 74% of patients returned at least the week 1 questionnaire. At 1 and 4 weeks with the stent in situ, comparison of the mean scores showed no significant difference in urinary symptoms, pain, general health, work performance, sexual dysfunction and number of days patients stayed in bed or reduced their routine activities. Three (2%) patients had their stent removed early due to stent-related symptoms and five (3%) had failed stent insertion. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find any difference in symptoms between the 24 cm or multi-length Contour stents. However, the study was not powered to detect small differences particularly for the pain symptom domain. Stents should only be used sparingly and the stent dwell-time should be minimised.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the United kingdom: results of a prospective data registry.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is commonly used in the management of large upper renal tract stones. It is highly effective but carries a greater risk of significant morbidity than less invasive treatment options such as ureteroscopy or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the current practice and outcomes of PCNL using a national prospective data registry. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: All surgeons undertaking PCNL in the United Kingdom were invited to submit data to an online registry. MEASUREMENTS: Effectiveness was assessed by stone-free rates and safety according to complications including blood transfusion, fever, and sepsis rates. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Since January 2010, data on 987 patients who had 1028 PCNL procedures were collected. A total of 299 of 1012 procedures (30%) were for staghorn calculi, 299 (30%) for stones >2 cm, 329 (33%) for stones 1-2 cm, and 89 (9%) for stones <1cm. There were no significant differences in rates of failed access or complications according to whether a urologist or radiologist obtained renal access. There was a nonsignificant trend to a higher transfusion rate with balloon dilatation (7 of 222 [3.2%]) compared with serial dilatation (2 of 245 [0.8%]) of the renal tract (p = 0.093). Totally tubeless procedures were not associated with higher complication rates but did lead to a significant reduction in median length of stay (3 d vs 1.5 d; p<0.0001). Intraoperatively, 78% of patients were believed to be stone free, which was confirmed in 68% with postoperative imaging. Blood transfusion was required in 24 of 968 patients (2.5%). The incidence of postoperative fever was 16% and of sepsis was 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The PCNL data registry is a unique resource providing vital information on current practice and critical outcome data. Using the registry, endourologists can audit their practice against national outcome data for this benchmark procedure. It will help surgeons counsel patients during consent for this complex endourologic procedure about the possible outcome in their hands.

Randomized trial of laparoscopic v open nephrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clayman and associates first described laparoscopic nephrectomy in 1990. This paper describes the first randomized controlled trial to compare laparoscopic with open surgery for simple and radical nephrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2001 and 2004, 45 patients requiring simple or radical nephrectomy (tumors as large as 8 cm) were randomized to either open surgery through a loin incision or laparoscopic nephrectomy (transperitoneal). Outcome measures included operative time, complications, hospital stay, pain scores, time to return to normal activities, and quality of life scores (EuroQol). RESULTS: The mean operative time was 105 minutes in the laparoscopic group and 93 minutes in the open-surgery group (P = 0.4). Blood loss, complications, and the mortality rate were similar in the two groups, as was the hospital stay at a median of 4 days in the laparoscopic group and 5 days in the open group (P = 0.9). Postoperative visual analog pain scores averaged 3.6 in the laparoscopic group compared with 5.4 in the open group (P = 0.02). There was no difference in pain scores at 3 months. Return to normal activities was faster in the laparoscopic group at 42 days v 62 days in the open group (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic nephrectomy is associated with less postoperative pain and a faster return to normal activities than open nephrectomy.

Urolithiasis and obesity: metabolic and technical considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing prevalence of obesity poses a challenge to urologists in the diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis. This review summarizes the new evidence linking obesity and urolithiasis, and the technical considerations and modifications necessary in the diagnosis and treatment of stone disease in obese patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have confirmed the epidemiological link between obesity and urolithiasis, and have provided some possible explanations for its underlying cause. New clinical series have demonstrated that flexible ureterorenoscopy and adapted percutaneous nephrolithotomy techniques can result in similar stone clearance rates and morbidity to the non-obese patient. New data, however, suggest that obesity may be an independent predictor of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment failure for ureteric stones. Evidence of the efficacy of dietary modification and medical treatment of metabolic abnormalities has been reported in obese stone formers. SUMMARY: Urolithiasis can be safely and effectively managed in obese patients with minor modifications to the established surgical techniques. Increased understanding of the underlying metabolic abnormalities in obese patients with urolithiasis may improve prevention strategies in the future.

Managing severe loin pain in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the intravenous urogram used in an appropriate setting is a valuable investigation for managing severe loin pain in pregnancy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. POPULATION: Fifteen pregnant women referred with severe loin pain. METHODS: A prospective study collecting data over a 24-month period was performed. Women with severe loin pain believed to be of renal origin that had failed to respond to conservative treatment were referred by their obstetricians. The intravenous urogram was performed that consisted of a two-film series (plain film and a 20-minute postmicturition film). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Management of severe loin pain in pregnancy based on the findings of the intravenous urogram. RESULTS: Over the two-year period, 15 women had an intravenous urogram performed at a median gestation of 32 weeks (24-36 weeks). All women had undergone a prior urinary tract ultrasound examination within 24 hours of referral, which showed dilatation on the symptomatic side in 15/15 cases. The intravenous urogram confirmed dilatation on the ipsilateral side in 14/15 cases and revealed the level of dilatation in all of these cases. Delayed excretion of contrast was seen in all 14/15 cases. Three patients had obstructing ureteric calculi revealed by the intravenous urogram and one patient had a non-dilated and non-obstructed system. CONCLUSIONS: An intravenous urogram is a safe investigation in the appropriate setting. It allows for an accurate diagnosis to be made and for appropriate treatment to be instigated with joint decisions from urologic, obstetric and radiologic teams. This multidisciplinary approach care can be specifically tailored to the individual patient, which we feel is safer for both mother and baby.