A multicentre integration of a computer-led follow-up of prostate cancer is valid and safe.

OBJECTIVE: To test a computer-led follow-up service for prostate cancer in two UK hospitals; the testing aimed to validate the computer expert system in making clinical decisions according to the individual patient's clinical need with a valid model accurately identify patients with disease recurrence or treatment failure based on their blood test and clinical picture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A clinical-decision support system (CDSS) was developed from European (European Association of Urology) and national (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines along with knowledge acquired from Urologists. This model was then applied in two UK hospitals to review patients after prostate cancer treatment. These patients' data (n = 200) were then reviewed by two independent urology consultants (blinded from the CDSS and the other consultant's rating) and the agreement was calculated by kappa statistics for validation. The second endpoint was to verify the system by estimating the system reliability. RESULTS: The two individual urology consultants identified 12% and 15% of the patients to have potential disease progression and recommended their referral to urology care. The kappa coefficient for the agreement between the CDSS and the two consultants was 0.81 (P < 0.001) and 0.84 (P < 0.001). The agreement amongst both specialist was also high with k = 0.83 (P < 0.001). The system reliability was estimated on all cases and this demonstrated 100% repeatability of the decisions. CONCLUSION: A CDSS follow-up is a valid model for providing safe follow-up for prostate cancer.

Acute kidney injury in urology patients: incidence, causes and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalised patients and is associated with high mortality rates. However, the epidemiology of AKI in urology patients may differ due to a higher proportion of post-renal causes and surgical procedures that result in the intentional removal of renal parenchyma. OBJECTIVES: We performed a study to examine the incidence, aetiology and outcomes of AKI in a urological population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a single-centre observational study including all hospitalised patients who sustained AKI within the Urology Department over an 18 month period. Patients with AKI were prospectively identified by a hospital-wide, electronic AKI reporting system that also allows demographic, hospital admission and co-morbidity data collection. Data regarding aetiology of AKI and details of surgical procedures were added retrospectively by manual case-note search. RESULTS: 587 episodes of AKI occurred in 410 urology patients, giving an overall incidence of 6.7%. 137 (33.4%) were elective cases of whom 58 had undergone nephrectomy (radical and partial). Urinary obstruction and sepsis were the predominant causes of AKI in the 273 patients (66.6%) admitted as an emergency. Overall 30-day mortality was 7.8%; increasing severity of AKI was associated with mortality (4.8% in stage 1, 9.1% in stage 2, 14.9% in stage 3, P = 0.007). At time of discharge, only 57.7% of patients had recovered pre-morbid renal function. The observational nature of this study is a limitation, preventing determination of causality of associations. CONCLUSIONS: AKI is common in urology patients. The underlying aetiologies of AKI in this group may explain a lower overall mortality, although increasing AKI severity remains a marker of patients at higher risk of poor outcomes. The low rate of renal recovery suggests that urology patients who sustain AKI are exposed to a significant risk of CKD and its attendant consequences for long term health.

[The Endovision technique in renal percutaneous lithotripsy]. / L'approccio Endovision nella litotrissia percutanea endorenale.

INTRODUCTION: In order to achieve a safer percutaneous access to the kidney, even if not systematically, it is possible to combine the use of eco-fluoro-guided puncture with the endoscopic retrograde vision through flexible ureteroscopy. Our experience has been conducted in order to standardize the technique and highlight advantages and limitations. 
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 patients (15 M-11 F), mean age 46 years, underwent flexible ureterorenoscopy as first percutaneous access for pyelic or pyelocaliceal stones.
20 cases were conducted in the prone and 6 in the supine position. 
We proceeded with the study of the caliceal topography and the choice of the calyx suitable for puncture, studying the orientation of the main axis of the papilla of the lower or middle group. Leaving the endoscopic instrument in place, we proceeded with the contrast injection and the eco-fluoro-guided puncture. The retrograde instrument followed the puncture and access dilatation.
 RESULTS: In 16 cases we identified a papilla of the lower caliceal group with a correct orientation for the renal puncture; in the other 10, we chose a papilla of the middle group, because it was more favorable. In 10 cases the puncture was made at the center of the papilla with its axis in favor; in 16 it was necessary to correct the puncture because the needle had penetrated the fornix (no. 14) or had punctured the other side of the calyx (no. 2). 
In 10 cases the puncture correction caused some bleeding, which required a careful washing in order to clear the field of vision and repeat the procedure; in other 6 cases, this was not possible: the Endovision procedure was interrupted and completed according to the conventional method. There was no difference in technique between the supine and the prone position.
 DISCUSSION: It is not always likely to find a papilla of lower calyx suitable to correct puncture.
The Endovision technique is related to an inevitably blind moment linked to the displacement of the kidney, which is not followed by the flexible instrument, and to the limitations related to the visibility. The technique can be used both in the prone and supine position; chances are that it might not always be completed.

PCNL: tips and tricks in targeting, puncture and dilation.

Getting an effective and safe percutaneous access is the cornerstone in performing a successful and uneventful PCNL. The choice of the puncture site, according to our experience, is one of the most important factors that may influence the outcome of the procedure Preoperative imaging has a preliminary role in choosing the kind of approach but the most important role has to be given to intraoperative retrograde pyelography following occlusion balloon catheter placing. Ultrasound-guided renal puncture as well may show adequate anatomic details of the collecting system if a retrograde dilation is performed We routinely perform a single subcostal lower pole access. In our opinion, when the skin incision is located into the four-sided space between 12thrib, spine muscles, iliac crest and posterior axillary line, the risk of most non-haemorrhagic complications may be reduced. When the needle is proceeding towards its target, some radiological sign may confirm its correct insertion Dilation and operative sheath placing are the last steps of the percutaneous tract creation. Amongst the wide offer of dilating devices, our choice usually goes to the Amplatz fascial dilators associated to the "one-shot" technique and to the balloon hydraulic dilators.