Our experience with management of congenital urological pathologies in adulthood: What pediatric urologists should know and adult urologists adopt in pediatric practice experience.

Purpose: To summarize our experience in the management of congenital anomalies in the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in adults. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all adult patients who underwent primary surgical intervention for CAKUT between 1998 and 2021. Results: The study included 102 patients with a median age of 25 (interquartile range, 23-36.5). Of these, 85 (83.3%) patients reported normal prenatal ultrasound, and the remaining 17 (16.7%) patients were diagnosed with antenatal hydronephrosis. These patients were followed-up conservatively postnatally and were discharged from follow-up because of the absence of indications for surgical intervention or because they decided to leave medical care. All studied adult patients presented with the following pathologies: 67 ureteropelvic junction obstructions, 14 ectopic ureters, 9 ureteroceles, and 6 primary obstructive megaureters, and the remaining 6 patients were diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux. Forty-three percent of the patients had poorly functioning moieties associated with ectopic ureters or ureteroceles. Notably, 67% of patients underwent pyeloplasty, 9% underwent endoscopic puncture of ureterocele, 3% underwent ureteral reimplantation, 6% underwent endoscopic correction of reflux, 7% underwent partial nephrectomy of non-functioning moiety, and the remaining 9% underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy. The median follow-up period after surgery was 33 months (interquartile range, 12-54). Post-operative complications occurred in 5 patients (Clavien-Dindo 1-2). Conclusions: Patients with CAKUT present clinical symptoms later in life. Parents of patients diagnosed during fetal screening and treated conservatively should be aware of this possibility, and children should be appropriately counseled when they enter adolescence. Similar surgical skills and operative techniques used in the pediatric population may be applied to adults.

Proximal Urethrostomy Versus Urethroplasty for Complex Urethral Strictures.

Background: The optimal treatment for complex urethral stricture (CUS) is yet to be determined. Comparisons of methods based on validated questionnaires or objective outcome measures are lacking. Objective: To compare proximal urethrostomy and urethroplasty for CUS using objective measures and validated questionnaires, and to evaluate trends in subgroups of patients who underwent proximal urethrostomy as the intended definitive treatment versus first-stage urethroplasty. Design setting and participants: We identified all patients who underwent proximal urethrostomy at our center from 2004 to 2021. The control group comprised patients who underwent urethroplasty for CUS (strictures >6 cm, recurrent posturethroplasty strictures, or CUS due to lichen sclerosus or past hypospadias surgery). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary outcome was a recurrent stricture at a minimal follow-up of 1 yr. The secondary outcomes included validated questionnaires, uroflowmetry, and residual urine volume. Survival was compared by a Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results and limitations: The study included 57 proximal urethrostomy and 75 urethroplasty patients. Results for these two groups were as follows: the cumulative incidence of stricture recurrence over a median follow-up of 46 mo was 22.6% for proximal urethrostomy versus 36.2% for urethroplasty (p = 0.106); no statistically significant differences were observed between groups in terms of postoperative quality of urination or life, satisfaction with outcome, and erectile function. Both groups had a significant improvement in urinary flow after surgery (19.65 vs 20.29 ml/s), with no difference between the groups (p = 0.796); the proximal urethrostomy group had a significant improvement in postvoid residual after surgery, but there was no difference between the groups in the last follow-up visit (79.16 vs 52.03 ml; p = 0.245). A subgroup analysis of the proximal urethrostomy group showed no significant differences in cumulative primary or secondary outcomes. Limitations included the retrospective design and the relatively small study population. Conclusions: Comparisons of the two groups revealed no significant differences in stricture recurrence, results of validated questionnaires, or objective measures of urination. Patient summary: Proximal urethrostomy is equivalent to urethral reconstruction, and it should be offered as a viable solution for complex urethral stricture.

Open Label, Pilot Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Intravesical Sustained Release System of Lidocaine and Oxybutynin (TRG-100) for Patients With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome, Overactive Bladder and Patients With Retained Ureteral Stents Following Endourological Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Intravesical instillation of analgesic and anticholinergic drugs have shown efficacy in the treatment of pain and voiding symptoms. Unfortunately, drug loss with urination and dilution in the bladder limit their durability and clinical usefulness. We have recently developed and tested in vitro, a sustained delivery system (TRG-100) of fixed-dose combination of lidocaine and oxybutynin designed to allow for a longer exposure of the urinary bladder to the drugs. OBJECTIVE: To asses the safety and efficacy of TRG-100 in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS), overactive bladder (OAB), and endourological intervention stented (EUI) patients in an open-label, prospective study. METHODS: Thirty-six patients were enrolled: 10 IC/BPS, 10 OAB, and 16 EUI. EUI patients received a once-weekly installation until stent removal, OAB and IC/BPS patient received weekly installations for 4 consecutive weeks. Treatment effect was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) score for the EUI group, voiding diaries for OAB group and VAS score, voiding diaries and O'Leary Sant Questionnaires for the IC/BPS group. RESULTS: The EUI group showed a mean 4-point improvement in their VAS score. The OAB group showed 33.54% reduction in frequency of urination and IC/PBS group showed a mean of 3.2-point improvement in their VAS score, 25.43% reduction in frequency of urination, and a mean 8.1-point reduction in O'Leary Sant Questionnaires score. All changes were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Intravesical instillation of TRG-100 was found to be safe and efficient in reducing pain and irritative bladder symptoms in our study population. TRG-100 efficacy and safety should be further assessed in a large, randomized control trial.

[OBTAINING A PROSTATE MPMRI BEFORE THE FIRST PROSTATE BIOPSY - IS IT THE TIME TO CHANGE THE INDICATIONS IN ISRAEL?]

INTRODUCTION: Transrectal ultrasound is utilized as an auxiliary tool when performing a prostate biopsy, but its sensitivity and specificity are low. Performing prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) before prostate biopsy can increase the probability to detect aggressive prostate cancer while decreasing the probability to detect indolent prostate cancer, thereby assisting in the selection of patients before the biopsy. The Israel Basket of Health Services does not include prostate mpMRI prior to the first prostate biopsy. Our objective was to examine the significance of performing mpMRI before prostate biopsy. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the demographic, clinical, and pathological data from men who underwent transrectal biopsy of the prostate in the last 30 months in our institute. In all men with suspicious findings on mpMRI, targeted biopsies were taken in addition to systematic biopsies. We considered cancer as clinically significant if the Gleason sum was 7 or above. Fisher's Exact test was performed for categorical variables and student t-test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixteen men underwent prostate biopsy; 163(32%) performed prostate mpMRI before the biopsy; 101(25%) performed mpMRI before the first prostate biopsy and 62(59%) before the second or more prostate biopsies. Prostate cancer was detected in 46% of all men (61% in men after mpMRI versus 38% in men without, p<0.0001). In men for whom this was the first prostate biopsy, prostate cancer was detected in 47% (73% in men after mpMRI versus 39% in men without, p<0.0001); and after second or more biopsies 38% (42% in men after mpMRI versus 33% in men without, p=0.4147). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer with mpMRI versus without. CONCLUSIONS: Performing prostate mpMRI before prostate biopsy significantly increases the detection rate of prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer. It should be recommended to perform mpMRI before any prostate biopsy in accordance with the European and American Urology Association, and NCCN guidelines.

Glans injury during ritual circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Circumcision is one of the most performed surgical procedure in the world, often performed for nontherapeutic reasons. Depending on cultural and social backgrounds, the procedure may be performed by various sources; from trained health care practitioners to laypeople, giving rise to different frequencies and types of complications. Glans injury during ritual circumcision is a rare yet serious complication due to its associated morbidity and long-term consequences. OBJECTIVE: In this study we describe the experience of two medical centers with the management and follow up of glans injury after ritual circumcision. METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed the medical files of all pediatric patients who presented to the ER with glans injury, following ritual circumcision, over a 17-year period from two medical centers. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients were identified, who underwent ritual circumcision between 7 and 9 days of age. On presentation, 1 infant had complete glans amputation, the others presented with partial amputation of the glans. 6 of the 8 patients had a simultaneous urethral injury. All patients underwent surgical correction for their injury; Patients with isolated glans injury, underwent primary glans anastomosis. Of the 6 cases with simultaneous urethral injury: 3 underwent end-to-end urethral anastomosis following anastomosis of the amputated glans, one patient with complete glans amputation underwent a similar procedure, with initial end-to-end urethral anastomosis followed by glans anastomosis to the corpora cavernosa and 2 were managed by urethrostomy together with anastomosis of the amputated glans tissue to the remaining glans. Both patients with urethral injury, in whom end to end urethral anastomosis has not been performed, were found to have hypospadias on follow up. The rest had good functional and cosmetic results. DISCUSSION: There is no single method for managing glans injury following circumcision. Some authors describe healing by secondary intention with delayed formal repair, while others advocate for primary anastomosis of the amputated glans, together with distal urethra-urethrostomy, in cases with simultaneous urethral injury. In this study, both patients without urethral anastomosis, developed secondary hypospadias due to meatal regression and required additional surgery, while the others showed good results. The limitations of our study are its retrospective nature and the small number of cases, preventing us to come to a definitive conclusion regarding the best way to treat such a rare injury. CONCLUSION: Prompt surgical correction by glanular replantation with urethro-urethrostomy, in case of concomitant urethral injury, give good cosmetic and functional results.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes following a proactive peripartum multidisciplinary management protocol for placenta creta spectrum as compared to the urgent delivery.

BACKGROUND: Adherent and invasive placenta, termed Placenta Creta Spectrum (PCS), is associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Incidence and risk factors for Placenta Creta are on the rise and call to optimize the obstetric care for this condition. OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between a ProActive Peripartum Multidisciplinary Approach (PAMA) as compared to the urgent management of the Placenta Creta Spectrum patients. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a single-center prospective observational study between 2005-2016. PCS patients registered with the implementation of a PAMA protocol 2014-2016 epoch(E2) were compared with the pre-PAMA 2005-2013 epoch(E1), managed by urgent team recruitment. The PAMA protocol is grounded on a continuum of care; A. Antenatal: PCS risk assessment based on clinical history and imaging, surgical, anesthesia, urological consults and designation of a dedicated team to be present at planned surgery; B. Delivery: planned at 34-35 weeks, massive transfusion protocol activation, insertion of ureteral catheters, vertical uterine incision, placement of vessel loops on the iliac vessels, avoidance of active placenta delivery, followed by the decision of hysterectomy or uterine repair; C. Post-operative care: intensive care admission. We evaluated maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period 158,438 deliveries were registered in our institution; we identified a total of 72 PCS cases (0.05%): 50(69.4%) in E1 and 22 (30.6%) in E2. Patient characteristics were comparable among epochs. Significantly, patients in E2 vs. E1 had fewer events of massive blood transfusion 36.0% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.05; were transfused less RBC units: median 4 vs. 1.5, p = 0.012, had no transfusion-related respiratory complications and hemorrhage control re-laparotomies. Hysterectomy and hollow visceral injury rates were comparable (72% vs. 63.7%, 26% vs. 22%; respectively). The hysterectomy pathology assessment was available for the majority of the cases in both epochs; percreta diagnosis rate significantly increased in E2. The neonatal outcome was similar among the epochs. CONCLUSIONS: Institution of a PAMA protocol for PCS resulted in eliminating the urgent deliveries and in reducing the associated significant hemorrhagic related maternal morbidity, with no increase in the rate of hysterectomy or adverse neonatal outcome.

SIU/ICUD Consultation on Urethral Strictures: Anterior urethra--primary anastomosis.

The management of primary and recurrent bulbar urethral stricture disease has been a source of controversy with the choice being between endoscopic urethrotomy and open urethroplasty. Further debate exists with regard to the choice of urethroplasty--either excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) or augmentation with a graft or flap. Using PubMed, a 35-year literature search was conducted (1975-2010) for peer-reviewed articles on bulbar strictures treated using EPA. Exclusions included articles with <10 patients, duplications, reviews, or in which the cohort was mixed and the data could not be separately analyzed. Seventeen articles fulfilled the criteria with a total of 1234 patients. Overall success was 93.8%. Reported complications were <5%, and there was no evidence of persistent loss of sexual function. The authors conclude that EPA is associated with a high success rate with low complication rate. Our recommendation is that it should be performed in patients with short isolated bulbar strictures, when expected success rates of other procedures are <90%.

Objective and subjective sexual outcomes in adult patients after hypospadias repair performed in childhood.

PURPOSE: We evaluated sexual function and psychosexual adjustment in adults who underwent hypospadias repair in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After receiving institutional review board approval, 119 of 449 adult patients (26.6%) who underwent hypospadias repair between 1978 and 1993 responded to questionnaires on penile appearance and sexual life. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to primary meatal location in childhood, including group 1-45 (37.8%) with glanular hypospadias, group 2-56 (48.2%) with distal hypospadias and group 3-18 (14%) with proximal hypospadias. RESULTS: All group 1 and 2 patients, and 11% in group 3 were satisfied with the penile appearance. Of group 1 patients 8.9% reported mild erectile dysfunction, as did 50% and 72.2% in groups 2 and 3, respectively. A total of 99 patients (83.2%) complained of premature ejaculation. All group 1 and 2 patients reported excellent self-esteem and relationship on the Self-Esteem and Relationship questionnaire. Most group 3 patients were satisfied with their relationship and only 1 (5.6%) was not satisfied. Two-thirds of the patients in groups 1 and 2 reported that sexual quality of life was excellent and the others described it as good. In group 3 sexual quality of life was somewhat decreased in all patients and 1 (5.6%) had poor sexual quality of life. Physical and mental component summaries were satisfactory in all patients reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the high incidence of mild erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation should not be disregarded and requires appropriate counseling before surgery.

Why I cannot find the prostate? Behind the subjectivity of rectal exam.

Background. Most physicians use digital rectal examination (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer and to estimate the prostates' size. The accuracy of DRE is known to be limited. We evaluate the ability of doctors to palpate the whole prostate with DRE. Methods. At time of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) the distances from the anus to the apex and base of prostates were measured. The TRUS's distances were compared to the mean index finger length of our clinic doctors. Results. The ability of the urologist to reach and examine the apex, half, three quarters and the whole prostate was in 93.7%, 66.3%, 23.2% and 3.2% of cases respectively. Conclusions. In most cases it was impossible to palpate the whole prostate. Anatomical location and volume of the examined prostate, as well as the length of his own index finger limit DRE and allow the examination of only a small portion of the prostate.

Surgical outcome of different types of primary hypospadias repair during three decades in a single center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical outcome of different techniques of primary hypospadias repair in a single department. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical files of all patients who had undergone primary hypospadias repair at our department during the past 3 decades (1978-2009). RESULTS: A total of 820 patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group of 309 patients (37.7%) had glanular hypospadias, the second group of 398 patients (48.5%) had distal hypospadias, and the third group of 113 patients (13.8%) had proximal hypospadias. Of these 820 patients, 67 (8.2%) required corpoplasty to straighten the penis. In the first group, 67 (21.7%) children underwent meatal advancement or meatoplasty, 211 (68.3%) underwent meatal advancement and glanduloplasty, 8 (2.6%) underwent tubularized incised plate hypospadias repair, and 23 (7.4%) underwent Mathieu flap hypospadias repair. In the second group, 196 (49.2%) underwent Mathieu hypospadias repair, 38 (9.5%) underwent tubularized incised plate repair, 142 (35.7%) underwent meatal advancement and glanduloplasty, and 22 (5.5%) underwent onlay-type hypospadias repair. In the third group, 28 (24.8%) underwent 2-stage hypospadias repair, 85 (75.2%) underwent single-stage surgery (including 68 [60.2%] onlay and 11 [9.7%] tubularized island flap), and 6 (5.3%) underwent tubularized incised plate hypospadias repair. Immediate complications developed in 46 (14.9%) in the first, 123 (30.9%) in the second, and 66 (58.4%) in the third group; 38 (4.6%) required additional surgery during or after adolescence. CONCLUSION: Our data have shown that despite the numerous techniques used for hypospadias surgery, the incidence of complications is still high in patients who undergo hypospadias repair.

Outcome of hypospadias repair in toilet-trained children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: To review a leading causes and surgical outcome of hypospadias repair in toilet-trained children and adolescents in our department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over the period from 1987 to 2010, 84 toilet-trained children and adolescents with a median age of 13 years (range 4-18) underwent hypospadias repair. Voiding symptoms were a cause for referral in 31(36%) patients, difficulties in self-appraisal or patient desire in 49(55.7%) and 4(4.8%) patients with DSD underwent male genitoplasty as a part of sex reassignment. Of those 43(51.2%) had glanular hypospadias, 36(42.9%) distal and 5(5.9%) had proximal type of hypospadias. Meatoplasty was performed in 18(21.4%) patients, MAGPI in 24(28.6%), Mathieu flip-flap in 20(23.8%), preputial pedicled flap as onlay in 2(2.4%) and as tubularized in 2(2.4%) patients, and TIP procedure was done in 16(19%). Two (2.4%) patients required two stage repair. RESULTS: Twenty-three (27.4%) developed surgery-related complications such as meatal stenosis in 3(15.5%), breakdown of primary repair in 7(8.3%), and urethral fistula in 13(15.5%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There are clear differences in terms of complications rate and overall success compared with the repair in the earlier ages.

Management of urogenital trauma: state of the art.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The field of urogenital trauma is undergoing constant improvement mainly due to better diagnostic tools, a shift toward standardized treatments and better trauma care. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most relevant studies published within the last 3 years on the subject. RECENT FINDINGS: Computerized tomography grading of renal trauma is an excellent predictor of the need for surgery and the final renal outcome in these patients, as most patients can be treated conservatively. Computerized tomography cystography has become the standard for the diagnosis of bladder rupture in which the indications for surgical intervention may be changing. The most common urethral trauma is posterior urethral injury due to pelvic fracture. The best results in adults and children are achieved by urethroplasty. SUMMARY: The diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary trauma is still evolving. The long-term sequels of these injuries may best be treated by urologists expert in urogenital reconstruction. In the future, tissue engineering may have an important place in the treatment of these patients.

Laparoscopic single site surgery: initial experience and description of techniques in the pediatric population.

PURPOSE: Recently new approaches to laparoscopic surgery, named natural orifice transluminal endoscopy and laparoendoscopic single site surgery, have been proposed to improve the cosmesis and decrease the morbidity associated with multiple ports sites. Experience with laparoendoscopic single site surgery technique in pediatric urology is still limited. We present our initial results with this technique in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since laparoendoscopic single site surgery received Food and Drug Administration approval, 11 patients have undergone a total of 14 procedures at our department, including nephrectomy due to nonfunctioning kidneys in 4, removal of bilateral intra-abdominal gonads in 2, unilateral varicocelectomy in 4 and bilateral varicocelectomy in 1. In all patients a multi-channel single laparoscopic port inserted through a 2 cm skin incision was used to achieve access to the abdominal cavity. RESULTS: All patients underwent laparoendoscopic single site surgery without complications within a reasonable operative time. None required conversion to open or conventional laparoscopic surgery. All except 1 patient were discharged home on the day of surgery or the day after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial data show that laparoendoscopic single site surgery is an effective technique for various pediatric and adolescent urology indications. Further application of this procedure in a large patient group will show whether there is a place for laparoendoscopic single site surgery in the pediatric urology surgical armamentarium.

Endoscopic bulking materials for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux: a review of our 20 years of experience and review of the literature.

Purpose. We reviewed our 20 years of experience and the current literature regarding the long-term outcome of endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) using the different tissue bulking substances with a special emphasis on the long-term efficacy. Material and Methods. Our own experience and the current literature on the long-term results after endoscopic treatment using various bulking agents were reviewed. Results. Short-term data following endoscopic treatment of VUR is similar to the various substances and comparable in the majority of the series to the success rate following open surgery. Recently, a relatively high recurrence rate was noticed especially with the use of dextranomer hyaluronic acid (Dx/HA) as a tissue augmenting material which raises the need for further search for alternative substances. Conclusions. Unfortunately, there is a significant shortage of evidence-based literature on the long-term followup after endoscopic correction of reflux with various substances. No doubt, there is a high recurrence rate during long-term followup after Dx/HA injection, and there is probably lack of proper evaluation regarding the long-term efficacy of other bulking materials. These facts demand long-term close observation and long-term studies beyond the routine protocols following endoscopic treatment of VUR and the correct parental counseling upon the endoscopic correction.

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in an adult population: Can we teach our adult urology colleagues?

OBJECTIVE: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is not well described or understood in adults. Since endoscopic correction of VUR has become a first-line therapy in children, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this technique in adult patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 1988-2008, 49 adult patients (6 males, 43 females) with a mean age of 33.6 years (range 18-64) underwent endoscopic treatment of VUR. Reflux was unilateral in 17 (34.7%) and bilateral in 32 (65.3%) patients, comprising 81 renal refluxing units (RRU). Of these, 71 (87.7%) were primary VUR. Reflux was Grade I in 14 (17%), Grade II in 46 (56.8%), Grade III in 17 (21%) and Grade IV in 4 (4.9%) RRU. Median renal function at surgery was 41.2%. Endoscopic correction utilized polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) in 38 (77.6%) and dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer in 11 (22.4%) patients. Recurrent febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) was the only indication for surgery. Grade I VUR was treated only in patients with contralateral high-grade VUR. RESULTS: The reflux was corrected in 63 (77.8%) RRU after a single injection, after second injection in 9 (10.6%) and after third in 4 (4.8%) RRU. In 3 (3.5%) RRU, VUR improved to Grade I. In 2 (2.4%), endoscopic correction failed, leading to open reimplantation. One patient with corrected VUR underwent nephrectomy due to non-functioning kidney and recurrent pyelonephritis. Fourteen (28.6%) patients suffered afebrile UTI. Five (10.2%) developed febrile UTI following successful endoscopic correction, leading to a diagnosis of VUR recurrence in two (4.1%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic correction of VUR in adults is a simple and effective procedure, as in pediatric practice.

Outcome of pediatric hypospadias repair in adulthood.

PURPOSE: To review the evolution of the technique of hypospadias repair. METHODS: A search of Pubmed, Medline and the Journal of Pediatric Urology was performed, and papers dealing with surgical techniques for hypospadias repair were critally reviewed. Special emphasis was given to papers on the effects in the long term of hypospadias repair on voiding and sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: The techniques for hypospadias repair have evolved over the years. The most popular technique now is tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. Long-term results with the use of the new techniques of the hypospadias repair in terms of voiding and sexual problems should be addressed. CONCLUSION: There is a need for valid studies on the outcomes of hypospadias repair in adults that were performed in childhood in terms of cosmetic appearance, voiding and sexual performance.

Transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is an effective procedure for large (more than 7 cm) renal masses.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate our experience with the transperitoneal radical nephrectomy (TLRN) in patients with large (more than 7 cm) renal mass to determine if this procedure can be recommended as a reference standard for treating large renal masses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 213 patients who underwent TLRN in both institutions we have reviewed medical files of 35 who had large than 7 cm renal masses. Operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, pathologic tumor type, and oncologic outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 10.1 cm (range: 7 to 19 cm). Mean blood loss during surgery was 388 mL (range: 150 to 600 mL). In 2 patients with 16 cm renal masses the operation was converted to hand-assisted technique as planned upon the surgery after ligation and transsection of the vascular pedicel to facilitate kidney dissection from surrounding tissue. In 1 patient the operation was converted to the open technique. Twenty-two (62.8%) patients had renal cell carcinoma and the remaining 13(37.5%) patients had other types of the renal tumors. Mean hospital stay was 4.36 days (range: 3 to 7 d). Median follow-up after the surgery was 29 months (range: 8 to 60 mo). Three patients who underwent cytoreduction nephrectomy died whereas receiving immunotherapy 3, 8, and 11 months, respectively, after surgery. One patient developed a local tumor recurrence and 2 developed remote metastasizes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that TLRN is an effective procedure for the removal larger than 7 cm renal tumors. In those patients with exceptionally big tumors planned conversion to the hand-assisted technique after laparoscopic ligation of the renal vessels enabling easier renal dissection whereas preserving the advantages of minimally invasive procedure.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in prepubertal children: 22-year experience at a single institution with a single lithotriptor.

PURPOSE: The sophistication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy challenges the efficacy of ESWL for urolithiasis in prepubertal patients. We evaluated our long-term experience with ESWL in these patients and determined its efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all prepubertal patients who underwent ESWL. We evaluated the need for tubing, the 3-month stone-free rate, the need for additional ESWL, and the effect of stone size and location, and cystinuria on the 3-month stone-free rate. RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2008, 119 males and 97 females with a mean age of 6.6 years who had urolithiasis underwent ESWL using the Dornier HM3 lithotriptor. We treated 157 children with renal calculi with an average +/- SD diameter of 14.9 +/- 8.9 mm, of whom 66 (42%) required a tube in the urinary system. The 3-month stone-free rate was 80% and 31 patients (19.7%) needed an additional procedure. Stone location did not affect the stone-free rate but stone size did. We treated 59 patients for ureteral stones with an average stone length of 9.5 +/- 4.8 mm, of whom 41 (69%) required tube insertion. The 3-month stone-free rate was 78% and 13 patients (22%) needed an additional procedure. The 3-month stone-free rate did not depend on stone location or size. The rate was 37.5% in patients with cystinuria and 82.5% in all others (p <0.0001). Six patients (2.8%) had complications. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-month stone-free rate after ESWL in prepubertal patients is 80% and 20% of patients require additional procedures. ESWL is most effective for kidney stones less than 11 mm. ESWL has inferior results for cystine stones compared to other calculi. Complications are rare.