Management of urinary-tract fistulas using reversible balloon nephrostomy: a single-center retrospective analysis of 56 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of balloon nephrostomy (BN) for treating urinary tract fistulas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single-center retrospective analysis, 56 patients were treated using BN between 2003 and 2014. All causes of urinary tract fistula were included. We assessed the effectiveness of drainage, complications, and the types of reconstruction surgery used. Success was defined as fistula closure without surgery. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 25 males (54%) and 31 females (55%) with a median age of 63 years who underwent BN for a urinary fistula secondary to surgery, i.e., urologic (40%; n = 22), gynecologic (34%; n = 19), or digestive (20%; n = 11). Of these patients, 48 (86%) had a history of cancer (49% had a tumor progression). Median drainage time was 90 days (10-583), with an average of three successive readjustments needed per patient. We obtained a 21% success rate (n = 12), morbidity was 6.5% (urinary sepsis, renal abscess, ureteral stricture), and 7% of patients developed ureteral stricture after balloon removal. There was no recurrence of any fistula within a median follow-up time of 15.2 months. CONCLUSION: This minimally invasive procedure can be used for selected urinary tract fistulas with few complications. It can also be used safely in populations that have several comorbidities.

Impact of cone beam - CT on adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study in a group of patients with primary aldosteronism was to evaluate the contribution of CB-CT (cone beam CT) to the overall success rate of adrenal vein sampling (AVS), and in particular to the selective cannulation of the right adrenal vein (RAV). METHOD: This was a retrospective single-center study including 91 AVS procedures performed by our consultant radiologist between March 2011 and January 2017. Fifty cases were performed with CB-CT and 50 were performed without. Angiography with CB-CT was carried out after RAV cannulation to check the accurate catheter position. For each patient, we collected technical and biochemical success rates, as well as irradiation data. RESULTS: The overall success rate of AVS with CB-CT was 80 %, vs. 44 % without (p = 0.00046), with right-sided selectivity of 88 % vs. 49 % (p < 0.0001). There was no significant increase in radiation exposure with CB-CT (p = 0.8206). Fluoroscopy time and quantity of iodine injected were significantly lower with CB-CT than without (p = 0.0039 and p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: CB-CT allows a better evaluation of the selectivity of right-sided adrenal catheterization and greatly increases the overall success rate of AVS.