Clinical safety and efficacy of microwave ablation for small renal masses.

PURPOSE: CT-guided MWA is a safe and effective tool that should be utilized in the treatment of small renal masses (SRMs). We aim to clarify the utility of CT-guided MWA by examining patient outcomes such as recurrence, treatment success, changes in renal function, and complications. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with SRMs who underwent same day renal mass biopsy (RMB) and CT-guided MWA between 2015 and 2022 was performed. Treatment safety was assessed by 30-day complications according to the Clavien-Dindo system and change in eGFR >30 days post-procedure. Treatment efficacy was defined by local recurrence and incomplete treatment rates and calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 108 renal masses were found in 104 patients. The overall complication rate was 7.4% (8/108), of which 4 were major complications (3.7%). For those with renal function available >30 days post ablation, the median eGFR was 47.2 (IQR: 36.0, 57), compared to 52.3 (IQR: 43.7, 61.5) pre-ablation, p<0.0001. 5-year local recurrence free survival was 86%. Among those with biopsy proven malignancy (n= 66), there were five local recurrences (7.54%) occurring at a median of 25.1 months (IQR 19.9, 36.2) and one case (1.5%) of incomplete treatment. CONCLUSIONS: As the medical field continues to evolve towards less invasive interventions, MWA offers a valuable tool in the management of renal masses. With low major complication and recurrence rates, our findings support the utility of CT-guided MWA as a tool for treatment of SRMs.

Bladder Stones in Renal Transplant Patients: Presentation, Management, and Follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: The study aim was to analyze the presentation, management, and follow-up of renal transplant patients developing bladder calculi. METHODS: Patients who underwent renal transplant with postoperative follow-up at our institution were retrospectively analyzed (1984-2023) to assess for the development of post-transplant bladder stones. All bladder stones were identified by computerized tomography (CT) imaging and stone size was measured using this imaging modality. RESULTS: The prevalence of bladder calculi post-renal transplantation during the study window was 0.22% (N=20/8835) with a median time to bladder stone diagnosis of 13 years post-transplant. Of all bladder stone patients, 6 (30%) received deceased donor and 14 (70%) living donor transplants. There were 11 patients with known bladder stone composition available; the most common being calcium oxalate (N=6). Eleven (55%) patients had clinical signs or symptoms (most commonly microhematuria). Fourteen of the bladder stone cohort patients (70%) underwent treatment including cystolitholapaxy in 12 subjects. Of these 14 patients, 9 (64%) were found to have non-absorbable suture used for their ureteroneocystotomy closure. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of bladder stones post-renal transplant is low. The utilization of non-absorbable suture for ureteral implantation was the main risk factor identified in our series. This technique is no longer used at our institution. Other factors contributing to bladder stone formation in this population warrant identification.

Radical cystectomy and women's sexual health - can we do better?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Female sexual function after radical cystectomy is a crucial, but historically overlooked component of bladder cancer survivorship. This review focuses on recent studies, which have investigated pelvic health and sexual function after radical cystectomy. We discuss modifiable factors, which may contribute to decreased sexual function after radical cystectomy and techniques, which may lead to improved outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Sexual function is important to women and there is a significant desire (and unmet need) for more perioperative counseling and discussion regarding sexual function changes and quality of life impacts. Sexual function may be altered due to a combination of hormonal changes from ovarian removal, anatomic changes from vaginal alteration, and sensation changes due to damage to the neurovascular bundle. Techniques to preserve these structures have been developed. SUMMARY: Sexual function is an important component of survivorship and increasing attention is being focused on this area. Long term studies with objective measures are needed for to compare various techniques and ensure oncologic safety. Ovarian preservation, anterior vaginal wall preservation, and vaginal estrogen replacement should be carefully considered for most patients.

Spectral photoacoustic imaging to estimate in vivo placental oxygenation during preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder accounting for 14% of global maternal deaths annually. Preeclampsia - maternal hypertension and proteinuria - is promoted by placental ischemia resulting from reduced uteroplacental perfusion. Here, we assess longitudinal changes in placental oxygenation during preeclampsia using spectral photoacoustic imaging. Spectral photoacoustic images were acquired of the placenta of normal pregnant (NP) and preeclamptic reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) Sprague Dawley rats on gestational days (GD) 14, 16, and 18, corresponding to mid- to late gestation (n = 10 per cohort). Two days after implementation of the RUPP surgical model, placental oxygen saturation decreased 12% in comparison with NP. Proteinuria was determined from a 24-hour urine collection prior to imaging on GD18. Blood pressure measurements were obtained on GD18 after imaging. Placental hypoxia in the RUPP was confirmed with histological staining for hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, a cellular transcription regulator which responds to local oxygen levels. Using in vivo, longitudinal imaging methods we determined that the placenta in the reduced uterine perfusion pressure rat model of preeclampsia is hypoxic, and that this hypoxia is maintained through late gestation. Future work will utilize these methods to assess the impact of novel therapeutics on placental ischemia and the progression of preeclampsia.