[First experience of 3D-laparoscopy in donor nephrectomy]. / Nachal'nyi opyt ispol'zovaniya 3D-videosistem pri laparoskopicheskoi donorskoi nefrektomii.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the first experience of 3D imaging for laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 28 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies and 28 subsequent transplantations to related recipients. Of these, 14 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were performed using 3D camera. The main intraoperative parameters and information about postoperative period in donors and recipients were compared with similar data on previous laparoscopic donor nephrectomies and kidney transplantations with traditional 2D imaging. There were 15 left-sided and 13 right-sided nephrectomies. Twenty and eight laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed via retroperitoneal and transperitoneal access, respectively. There were no significant between-group differences in age, sex ratio, BMI, side of surgery and number of renal arteries. RESULTS: Surgery time (119.28±9.18 and 124.85±7.49 min, respectively) and blood loss (106.78±16.12 and 119.28±19.79 ml, respectively) were similar. Laparoscopic nephrectomy with 3D imaging was followed by significantly shorter primary warm ischemia (2.41±0.79 and 3.23±0.57 min, respectively, p=0.004) and time of extracorporeal preparation of the transplant (back table) under cold preservation (27.21±5.42 and 32.36±5.33 min, respectively, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Initial experience of video systems with 3D imaging in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has not yet led to significant reduction of surgery time and improvement of transplant function compared to traditional 2D imaging. At the same time, there was a shorter period of primary warm ischemia and back table time. Further analysis is needed to assess possible benefits of 3D imaging in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

[Kidney transplantation from Covid-19 positive deceased donor: what are the consequences for recipients?]

INTRODUCTION: In recent months, with the spread of COVID 19, the number of kidney transplants from deceased donors has declined significantly in most countries. One of the reasons is the possibility of infection of the recipient with SARS-CoV-2. Determining the risk of transmission of COVID 19 with a donor organ is very important for developing a kidney transplantation policy during a pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We present cases of kidney transplantation from COVID 19 positive deceased donor to two dialysis patients in single center. Deceased donor: a 45 years old man with diabetes, who had a major hemorrhagic stroke resulting in brain death. He had normal urine output and serum creatinine level for last 24 hours before kidney harvesting. For a few hours after organ harvesting, the donor was diagnosed COVID 19 (retrospective nasopharyngeal swab rRT-PCR which was confirmed by morphological examination and RNA-PCR of specimens from the trachea and bronchus). Recipient 1: a 49 years old man with polycystic kidney disease had been on hemodialysis for 28 months. He was in urgent list because of problems with vascular access. So non identical ABO (0-donor, B-recipient) kidney transplantation from this deceased donor was done in May 2020. Recipient 2: a 45 years old man with polycystic kidney disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). was registered on urgent waiting list because of low transport capacity of peritoneum. Kidney transplantation from the same deceased donor was done at the same time. In both cases we completely abandoned any antilymphocytic agents for induction, despite non ABO identical transplantation in one of the recipients and the delayed graft function. Both patients received only basic immunosuppression, including tacrolimus, methylprednisolone and a mycophenolic acid. RESULTS: In first case cold ischemia time was 22 hours. The recipient had delayed graft function with increasing of urine output on day 8 post-transplant. No other deviations from the usual course were seen during hospital stay. The patient was discharge from hospital with serum creatinine level 122 mkmol/L. The cold ischemia time was 21 hours in another patient. Graft function was immediate with a decrease serum creatinine to 92.5 mkmol/L at discharge. Both patients had no febrile and no other symptoms of acute respiratory disease during all hospital stay. No abnormalities on chest X-ray were seen. No serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were detected before and during 6 weeks after surgery. Repeated nasopharyngeal swabs rRT-PCR were negative during all the period. Both recipients were discharged for 5 weeks after surgery to prevent out-of-hospital contamination of COVID 19, which would be difficult to differentiate from transmission infection. After 9 months both patients are doing well with no clinical or laboratory signs of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Today we have no evidence of the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 from a SARS-Cov-2 positive donor to a kidney recipient. We also have no reason to suspect kidney damage by COVID-19 in a deceased donor at normal serum creatinine level. Avoiding the use of anti-lymphocyte drugs for induction of immunosuppression may also reduce the risk of developing COVID19 after transplantation. A careful collection and analysis of such dates is necessary to develop modern practical recommendations for transplant centers.

Is Kidney Transplantation From a COVID-19-Positive Deceased Donor Safe for the Recipient?

INTRODUCTION: In recent months, the number of kidney transplants from deceased donors has declined significantly. One of the reasons is the possibility of infection of the recipient with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Determining the risk of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a donor organ is very important for developing a kidney transplantation policy during a pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We present cases of kidney transplantation from COVID-19-positive deceased donors to 2 dialysis patients 49 and 45 years old. One of them was on hemodialysis for 28 months; the other received continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Both patients received only basic immunosuppression, including tacrolimus, methylprednisolone, and mycophenolic acid. No antilymphocyte agents were used for induction therapy. RESULTS: Cold ischemia time was 22 and 21 hours, respectively. One recipient had delayed graft function with increasing of urine output on day 8; another had immediate function. Both patients had no febrile and no other symptoms of acute respiratory disease during their hospital stay. No abnormalities on the chest x-ray were seen. No serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were detected before and during 6 weeks after surgery. Repeated nasopharyngeal swabs real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) were negative during the period. Both recipients were discharged 5 weeks after surgery with serum creatinine levels of 122 and 91 mcmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Today we have no evidence of the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 from a SARS-CoV-2 positive donor to a kidney recipient. We also have no reason to suspect kidney damage by COVID-19 in a deceased donor at normal serum creatinine level.

[Laparoscopic radical cystectomy: novel technique with late dividing of the ureters].

INTRODUCTION: Despite considerable progress during last decade, laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) still remains a complex and time-demanding procedure. The number of patients with baseline chronic kidney diseases has gradually increased. AIM: to compare the results of our novel technique of LRC with late dividing of the ureters with conventional procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients with bladder cancer, who underwent to LRC in a single clinic between April 2013 and January 2017, were included in the study. A conventional LRC was performed in 25 patients, while in other 25 cases, a novel technique of LRC was used. In all cases, LRC was done with fully intracorporeal urinary diversion. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test for parametric testing. In order to compare two groups, Student t-test was used for independent samples. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between two groups in average length of procedure, blood loss volume and length of hospital stay. Major intraoperative complications (injury of the rectum) occurred in two patients, one in each group. Both cases were successfully managed intraoperatively. In addition, there were two postoperative complications in each group that required repeat intervention. The mean serum creatinine level on the 2nd day after surgery was significantly higher after conventional LRC (171.6 and 147.7 mol/L), while glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower (58 and 72 ml/min/1.73 m2), compared to group of novel technique of LRC with late dividing of the ureters. A total of four patients in group of conventional LRC and two patients in group of novel technique had cancer progression. Two patients (one in each group) died because of cancer progression after 15 and 34 months after surgery. The mean follow-up was 25.6 (12-39) months after LRC with late dividing of the ureters and 33.2 (18-48) months in group of standard LRC. CONCLUSION: LRC with late dividing of the ureters allow to prevent prolonged contact of hyperosmolar and, in some cases, non-sterile urine with peritoneum and decrease inflammation and risk of postoperative adhesions. Using of novel technique may decrease rate of perioperative nephropathy, which is especially important in patients with decreased renal function (single functioning kidney, hydronephrosis, diabetes, renal failure, adjuvant chemotherapy). However, more procedures and longer follow-up period are necessary in order to evaluate ontological results of the novel technique.

[Left-sided renal cell cacrinoma with vena cava inferior thrombus: totally laparoscopic removal].

A surgical treatment of patients with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) of levels II-III, originating from the left renal vein involves performing thrombectomy, radical nephrectomy and lymph nodes dissection. In most cases it requires major open surgery which leads to complications in 38% of patients and perioperative mortality of 4-10%. In recent years, the laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy have been gradually introduced. However, there are anecdotal reports about performing of such interventions in case of left-sided renal tumor with thrombus in the IVC. A description of technique and own experience of performing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy from the IVC in 3 patients with tumor thrombus of levels II-III, originating from left kidney are presented. In one case distant metastases were detected preoperatively and in another patient an involvement of tail of the pancreas by the tumor was diagnosed. There was no conversion to open surgery. The maximum tumor size ranged from 5 to 16 cm. The length of tumor thrombus in the IVC was 2.4-7 cm and estimated blood loss was 300-2500 ml. In one case a blood transfusion was required postoperatively. The follow-up period was 4-26 months. One patient died from progression of the disease after 5 months, two other patients are alive without any signs of relapse. The initial experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy from IVC in patients with left-sided renal cell cancer suggests that this technique is reproducible and relatively safe with respecting of basic principles of oncology and vascular surgery. The surgery is not associated with major perioperative complications, significant blood loss and is accompanied by a rather favorable postoperative period. An accumulation of a larger number of cases is needed to assess the oncological results of this technique.

[Laparoscopic radical cystectomy: innovations and classics].

INTRODUCTION: Radical cystectomy remains the gold-standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. To combine the advantages of minimally invasive interventions and the well-established open surgery, we attempted to reproduce as accurately as possible the technique of open radical cystectomy using a laparoscopic procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 35 patients (27 men and 8 women) with invasive bladder cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) between April 2013 and March 2016. The study included only patients with fully intra-corporal ileum conduits. RESULTS: The operating time averaged 378 min., the mean blood loss was 285 ml, the mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.4 days. Only 20% of patients needed postoperative opioid analgesia. Postoperative complications occurred in 11.4% of patients. The vast majority of them were successfully managed by minimally invasive methods. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy is a safe and effective treatment modality for invasive bladder cancer. However, more patients and a longer observation period are needed to recommend the method as a standard of care.

[Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy].

INTRODUCTION: Although laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has confidently established itself as the "gold standard" for treating renal cell carcinoma, reports on laparoscopic level II-III inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus thrombectomy are still lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2013 through April 2015, three patients with renal cell carcinoma and level II IVC tumor thrombi underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with IVC thrombectomy using a retroperitoneal approach. Tumor sized 10, 8, and 9 cm in the greatest dimension, the length of the IVC thrombi in proximal direction were 2.8, 4.1 and 3.5 cm, respectively. RESULTS: In all patients, the endoscopic interventions were completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. Blood loss was less than 450 ml. No significant intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. The patients were discharged from the hospital in satisfactory condition at days 19, 7 and 14, respectively. One patient with multiple lung and bone metastases died 11 months after the operation. The two other patients showed no signs of disease progression during the follow-up (16 and 35 months). CONCLUSION: The retroperitoneal approach has certain advantages over the transperitoneal one. The method is relatively safe and reproducible. However, additional experience and further research are needed before the place of such operations in routine clinical practice can be assessed.

[RADICAL LAPAROSCOPIC NEPHRECTOMY WITH INFERIOR VENA CAVA THROMBECTOMY].

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has proven itself as the "gold standard" treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus is a complicating factor that occurs in 5% to 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma. In world literature, there are only anecdotal reports on using laparoscopic approach for IVC thrombectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Herein we report our experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy of the level II tumor thrombus in the IVC. Two patients (79-year-old female and 48-year-old male) underwent radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy from IVC for renal cell carcinoma T3bNxM0 complicated by the formation of a tumor thrombus in the IVC. To do this, IVC was isolated, the right gonadal and lumbar veins were ligated and transected. The IVC and the left renal vein blood flow were controlled with a plastic clip and Satinski clamp. After thrombectomy and resection of the IVC, the wall the defect was sutured with continuous Prolene suture. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy without conversion to open surgery was successfully carried out in both patients. During 6-18 months follow-up no local recurrence or distant metastasis were observed. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma complicated with tumor thrombus level II is a safe and reproducible method, which can be applied to a specific population of patients.

[Treatment of exstrophy of bladder in adults].

Exstrophy of bladder in adults is extremely rare, since such anomalies are usually underwent surgery in early childhood. Difficulties in the treatment of adult patients are associated with severe long-term changes of the mucosa and surrounding tissues, chronic urinary infection, as well as a large diastasis between pubic bones and inefficiency of osteotomy. The article describes the methodology and results of the surgery in a patient 33 years old with exstrophy-epispadias after failed previous interventions. During the follow-up period of more than 5 years, there were no complications related to continent reservoir, reconstruction of the anterior abdominal wall, and urinary infection. Decrease in renal function was not observed. Thus, the cystectomy with formation of continent reservoir from the ileum is accompanied by a good functional and cosmetic results. Resection of vesical plate is justified due to severe long-term changes of the mucosa and the surrounding skin, as well as a high risk of malignancy. The use of polypropylene ? allows to reconstruct the anterior abdominal wall without osteotomy and provides a sufficient degree of its strengthening.

[Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using local ischemia].

Oncological outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy are no worse than those after open sparing operation for kidney cancer. However, laparoscopic procedures are accompanied by a longer warm ischemia. In order to reduce the ischemic injury, local ischemia by isolation and temporary clamping of the individual branches of the renal artery was used. From January 2009 to June 2012, 60 laparoscopic partial nephrectomies were performed in the clinic, including 34 resections with temporary clipping of renal artery and 26 resections with temporary clipping of secondary and tertiary segmental and subsegmental branches. Functions of affected kidney were evaluated before and after surgery in both groups of patients. At 3 months after surgery, significantly lower decline of the function of affected kidney was observed in patients who underwent resection with the use of local ischemia compared with patients who received the intervention accompanied by a temporary clamping the renal artery. Partial nephrectomy using local ischemia can significantly expand the indications for laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic sparing operation for renal cell cancer.

[Efficacy of detection of specific nuclear protein of matrix 22 in the urine in diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer].

The method is based on enzyme immunoassay for definition of nuclear matrix proteins forming part of the cell nuclear capsule. Quantity of these proteins increase 20-80 times in cancer of the bladder. A total of 83 patients participated in the trial. Group 1 consisted of 18 patients with primary bladder cancer, group 2 - of 26 patients with histologically confirmed bladder cancer recurrence. Group 3 - 19 patients with operated bladder cancer without recurrent disease for at least 6 months. Control group - 20 healthy donors. The test urine sample was placed into a test hole and 30 min later the result was assessed. Overall sensitivity of the method was 52% (p < 0.05). Sensitivity of the test increases with progression of the disease: T1 - 37%, T2 - 75%, T3 - 80% (p < 0.05); G1 - 30%, G2 - 50%, G3 87% (p < 0.05). Overall specificity was 95% (p < 0.05). Thus, nuclear matrix proteins 22 represent a prospective marker of the bladder cancer with high specificity and sensitivity in defining not only primary tumors but also the disease recurrences.

[Treatment of ureteral vast obliteration after kidney transplantation]. / Lechenie protiazhennykh oblitertsii mochetochnika posle transplantatsii pochki.

Ureteral ischemia is one of the causes of obliterations arising after kidney transplantation. Reureterocystoanastomosis does not solve the problem of ischemia. Ureteropyelostomy with the recipient's ureter is the most effective open surgical intervention. Choice of operation is made with consideration of specific features of blood supply. If the use of own recipient's ureters is impossible, pyelocystostomy with Boari flap is indicated for allograft's rescue.

[Status of the upper parts of the digestive tract and Helicobacter pylori infections in patients with chronic kidney failure after kidney transplantation]. / Sostoianie verkhnikh otdelov pishchevaritel'nogo trakta i Helicobacter pylori-infektsiia u bol'nykh khronicheskoi pochechnoi nedostatochnost'iu posle transplantatstii pochki.

The purpose of the study was to examine the state of upper parts of the digestive tract, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its relation to the pathology revealed in patients with chronic renal insufficiency after kidney transplantation.

[Use of pyelo-cystic anastomosis in ureteral obliteration after kidney transplantation]. / Primenenie pielotsistoanastomoza pri obliteratsii mochetochnika posle transplantatsii pochki.

Reconstruction of the urinary tract because of ureteral stricture after kidney transplantation is a serious problem. In development of obliteration of the recipient's ureter near anastomosis and in the absence of own ureters reconstruction is made by pyelocystoanastomosis. A case is reported of a successful use of this method in reconstruction of the urinary tract. Preoperative preparation includes transcutaneous nephrostomy. Sometimes Boary flap is used. The arising reflux had insignificant effect on the transplant's function.

[Use of a three-component scheme of immunosuppression on morphologic and immunohistochemical changes of transplants in the early postoperative period]. / Primenenie trekhkomponentnykh skhem immunosupressii na morfologicheskie i immunogistokhimicheskie izmeneniia transplantata v blizhaishem posleoperatsionnom periode.

Three-component (cyclosporin A, corticosteroids and azathioprine) immunosuppression has been widely introduced in the treatment of recipients of renal transplants because it allows a significant reduction of the components' doses in greater effectiveness. The analysis of the results of 83 puncture biopsies obtained in the immediate postoperative period after kidney transplantation has shown that administration of an imidazole derivative allows raising therapeutic concentration of cyclosporin up to 200-300 ng/ml, thus preventing rejection crises. However, increased blood concentration of cyclosporin does not increase its toxicity as a result of a significant fall in the overall level of the metabolites.

[Generalized tuberculosis after kidney transplantation]. / Generalizovannyi tuberkulez posle transplantatsii pochki.

Tuberculosis is one of severe infectious complications in patients on hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation. Incidence of disseminated and generalized forms is high, whereas clinical symptoms are weak and nonspecific. An aggressive generalized form of tuberculosis was observed in a kidney transplant recipient. M. tuberculosis, the antigen and DNA were registered only a few days before death. Disseminated foci in the lungs were seen on CT image only in the agonal period in spite of multiple x-ray investigations. Thus, our experience and experience of other investigators evidence that if recipients of renal transplant have fever of unknown genesis and do not respond to standard antibiotic therapy, tuberculosis should be suspected and a course of specific antituberculosis therapy should be started as early as possible.

[Use of stent-nephrostomy in the treatment of renal transplant urologic complications by percutaneous surgical techniques]. / Primenenie stenta-nefrostomy v lechenii urologicheskikh oslozhnenii u bol'nykh posle transplantatsii pochki s pomoshch'iu chreskozhnykh operativnykh vmeshatel'stv.

Ureteral complications including stricture of the ureter and necrosis of the ureter with urinoma are the most frequent urological complications after renal transplantation. About 1-12% of recipients suffer from these complications. Percutaneous techniques allow correction of ureteral complications by less traumatic than open surgical operations and sufficiently effective method. Ureteral complications were registered in 20 cases (3.6%) out of 561 renal transplantations carried out in our institute from 1990 to 1995. Only in 5 cases open surgical correction was necessary, 15 patients after percutaneous nephrostomy underwent bougienage and/or balloon dilatation of ureter with further antegrade stenting. In all percutaneous operations special stent-nephrostoma developed in our department was used. Use of the stent-nephrostoma with its further transformation into the ureteral stent has some substantial advantages versus routine stent procedure.

[Use of plasmapheresis in intensive therapy of acute steroid-resistant rejection reaction in renal transplants]. / Primenenie plazmafereza v intensivnoi terapii ostroi steroidrezistentnoi reaktsii ottorzheniia renal'nykh transplantatov.

For many years the treatment of steroid-resistant rejection (SSR) remains a common problem od renal transplantation. We used plasmapheresis (PPH) in the treatment of SRR in 29 renal transplant recipients. All patients had progressive deterioration of renal function and compatible biopsy histology. The first group (15 patients) was administered PPH with methylprednisolone (MP). The second group (14 patients) was treated by intravenous MP. There was no significant difference in the time of beginning and severity of rejection. In the PPH group the results were better: a significant increase in SSR reversion was attained (73.3%) in comparison with the control (42.8%), the number of grafts lost during the first year was less (26.7 versus 57.2%). Better results were observed in patients with high levels of serum anti-HLA antibodies. Their transplants functioned well during 12 months after SSR. Hence, PPH can be used in patients with SSR with high levels of anti-HLA antibodies.