Complex cystine kidney stones treated with combined robot-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and intraoperative renoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Cystinuria, a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a defect in cystine renal reabsorption, can often determine complex cystine renal calculi, leading to important complications such as urinary obstruction, urinary infections, and impaired kidney function. Complex kidney stones can have a difficult management and can be very arduous to treat. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a 20-year-old Jeowah's witness woman with complex cystine renal stones treated with combined robot-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and intraoperative renoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and intraoperative renoscopy can be useful to achieve an immediate high stone clearance rate also in complex renal stones. This combined technique could be indicated to minimize intraoperative bleeding. Moreover, it can also be used in pediatric cases or when there is no ureteral compliance. However, this strategy can be performed only in hospital referral centers by expert surgeons.

Development of a Surgical Safety Training Program and Checklist for Conversion during Robotic Partial Nephrectomies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of standardized training and institutional checklists on improving teamwork during complications requiring open conversion from robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants to a surgical team safety training program were randomly divided into 2 groups. A total of 20 emergencies were simulated: group 1 performed simulations followed by a 4-hour theoretical training; group 2 underwent 4-hour training first and then performed simulations. All simulations were recorded and scored by 2 independent physicians. Time to conversion (TC) and procedural errors were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. A correlation analysis between the number of previous conversion simulations, total errors number, and TC was performed for each group. RESULTS: Group 1 showed a higher TC than group 2 (116.5 vs 86.5 seconds, P = .0.53). As the number of simulation increased, the numbers of errors declined in both groups. The 2 groups tend to converge toward 0 errors after 9 simulations; however, the linear correlation was more pronounced in group 1 (R2 = 0.75). TC shows a progressive decline for both groups as the number of simulations increases (group 1, R2 = 0.7 and group 2, R2 = 0.61), but it remains higher for group 1. Lack of task sequence and accidental falls or loss of sterility were higher in group 1. CONCLUSION: OC is a rare but potentially dramatic event in the setting of RAPN, and every robotic team should be prepared to manage intraoperative emergencies. Training protocols can effectively improve teamwork and facilitate timely conversions to open surgery in the event of intraoperative emergencies during RAPN. Further studies are needed to confirm if such protocols may translate into an actual safety improvement in clinical settings.

Endourologic Diagnosis and Robotic Treatment of a Giant Fibroepithelial Polyp of the Ureter.

Background: Fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs) are a rare cause of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. Radiologists and urologists are not always confident with this disease because of its rarity, complex diagnosis, and heterogeneity of the available treatment options. Case Presentation: We present the endourologic diagnosis and the robotic management of a ureteral polyp close to the left UPJ. A 16-year-old woman with a 12 years history of left lumbar pain was referred to our Center. A computed tomography scan detected a left hydronephrosis with no signs of obstructions at MAG-3 scintigraphy. The endourologic evaluation revealed a giant FEP of the left ureter, which was removed surgically with a videolaparoscopic robot-assisted approach. Conclusion: Considering that conventional radiologic imaging techniques can hardly detect a ureteral FEP, an endourologic study of the urinary tract is mandatory to directly observe the polyp. The mini-invasive treatment of ureteral FEPs is feasible and safe, and should be considered as first option in young patients.