The Economic Implications of a Reusable Flexible Digital Ureteroscope: A Cost-Benefit Analysis.

PURPOSE: Questions remain regarding the durability and longevity of flexible ureteroscopes. The objective of this study was to estimate the potential economic benefits of single use, flexible digital ureteroscopes compared to our recent experience with reusable flexible digital ureteroscopes using cost-benefit analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ureteroscopic procedures were prospectively recorded over the 12-month period of February 2014 to February 2015. All flexible ureteroscopies were performed using Flex XC digital ureteroscopes (Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, El Segundo, California). Cost assessment was based on the original purchasing cost and repair-exchange fees divided by the number of cases. An algorithm was created to include per case reprocessing costs and calculate the benefit-to-cost ratio. This cost was compared to potential costs of the LithoVue™, a single use digital ureteroscope. RESULTS: In 160 cases a flexible reusable ureteroscope was used. There was damage to 11 ureteroscopes during this time with an average of 12.5 cases to failure. Excluding original purchasing costs, the cost analysis revealed an amortized cost of $848.10 per use. After 99 ureteroscope cases the cost-benefit analysis favored reusable ureteroscopes compared to disposable ureteroscopes. CONCLUSIONS: Digital ureteroscopes are the latest trend in the evolution of endourology. It appears that a disposable ureteroscope may be cost beneficial at centers with a lower case volume per year. However, institutions with a high volume of cases may find reusable ureteroscopes cost beneficial.

Infectious complications associated with the use of temporary prostatic urethral stents in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the infectious outcomes after the insertion of the temporary prostatic urethral stent (TPUS) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between November 2007 and September 2012, ninety TPUS were used in 33 patients with BPH at our institution. All patients had negative urine cultures prior to the first stent insertion. TPUS were sent for cultures at time of removal or exchange. Stents were removed at the time of definite surgical intervention, at 4-6 weeks, or when patients elected another course of treatment. Colonization was defined as asymptomatic positive stent culture. Infection was defined as symptomatic positive stent culture requiring treatment. Infection and colonization rates are reported. Logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of infection at any point. Predictors examined were age, body mass index, history of prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, neurologic disorder, erectile dysfunction and the sequence of stent placement. RESULTS: The majority of the subjects, 72% (24/33) had 1-2 stents, 9.0% (3/33) had 3-4 stents, 6.0% (2/33) had 5-6 stents, and 12% (4/33) of patients had more than 6 stents. From the 69 available culture results, the symptomatic infection rate was 16% (11/69) (95% CI: 8.2%-26.7%). The colonization rate was 58% (40/69) (95% CI: 45.5%-69.7%). None of the predictors examined were identified as a predictor of infection. There was no colonization detected when stents were removed in the first 20 days. CONCLUSION: Infection rates with TPUS in BPH patients are acceptable and early removal may prevent colonization.

Robot Assisted Renal Allograft Nephrectomy: Initial Case Series and Description of Technique.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes and perioperative complication rates following robot- assisted transplant nephrectomy ((RATN). METHODS: All patients who underwent RATN at our institution were included. No exclusion criteria were applied. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed and reported. This included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes. Complications were reported utilizing the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Descriptive statistics were reported using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, means and standard deviation for continuous variables. RESULTS: Between July 2014 and April 2018, 15 patients underwent RATN. Most patients had the transplant in the right iliac fossa (13/15). Ten patients underwent a concomitant procedure. The total operative time for the entire cohort was 336 (±102) minutes (including cases who had concomitant procedures) and 259 (±46 minutes) when cases with concomitant procedures were excluded. Mean estimated blood loss was 383 (±444) mL. Postoperatively, 3 patients required blood transfusion. Average hospital stay was 4 (±2.7) days. Most patients had finding consistent with graft rejection on final pathology. There were 5 complications; 3 of which were minor (grade 2 = 2 and grade 3 = 1); one patient had a wound infection requiring dressing (3A) and one patient died due to pulmonary embolism following discharge. Limitations include small series and retrospective nature of the study. CONCLUSION: This case series demonstrate that RATN is technically feasible. With continued experience and larger case series, the robotic approach may provide a minimally invasive alternative to open allograft nephrectomy.

Robot-assisted Transplanted Ureteral Stricture Management.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of robot-assisted transplanted ureteral reimplantation as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 2015 and March 2016, 5 patients presented with transplanted ureteral strictures after failure of a previous endoscopic management. All patients underwent robot-assisted ureteral reimplantation. Patients' demographics, perioperative outcomes, and complications are reported. RESULTS: All patients presented with deterioration of kidney function with or without recurrent urinary tract infection. Two patients had short strictures (<1 cm) and 2 had long strictures (>1 cm), whereas 1 patient had a nitinol ureteral stent in situ. The location of the stricture varied among these patients with 3 distal and 1 proximal. Intraoperatively, 3 patients had a modified Lich-Gregoir reimplantation and 2 patients had a pyelovesicostomy. The mean operative time was 164 (±52) minutes. There were no intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery, or significant blood loss necessitating blood transfusion. There were no urine leaks in the immediate or late postoperative period. One patient developed a Clavien grade IVa complication (sepsis). The median length of stay, the duration of catheterization, and the duration of stenting were 1 day (range 1-5 days), 7 days (range 6-14 days), and 39 days (range 25-51 days), respectively. After a median follow-up of 79 days (range 40-139 days), no strictures or delayed leakages were identified. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted transplanted ureteral reimplantation is technically feasible. With a larger number of cases and a longer follow-up, robot-assisted transplanted ureteral reimplantation may provide a new and effective, minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of this complex surgical problem.

A New Laser Platform for Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Does the Lumenis Pulse 120H Laser Platform Improve Enucleation Efficiency?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the recently introduced Lumenis Pulse 120H laser platform, which offers a dual-pedal footswitch and preset energy modes to easily switch among laser settings, facilitates a more efficient process in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients at a single institution who underwent HoLEP with the new Lumenis Pulse 120H laser platform were matched 1:2 with patients who underwent the procedure with the previously used 100-watt VersaPulse single-pedal laser platform. Matching was performed by using propensity scores calculated by a logistic model that considered preoperative transrectal ultrasound prostate volume and patient age. The primary outcome was enucleation efficiency of each platform, determined by the weight of prostate tissue resected and enucleation time. The McNemar test and a conditional logistic model were used to associate predictors and cases. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients who underwent HoLEP with the Lumenis Pulse 120H platform were matched with 58 patients who underwent the procedure with the 100-watt platform. We observed statistically significant differences in operating room total time, procedure time, and enucleation time. Other perioperative and postoperative outcomes were comparable between the 2 groups. Enucleation efficiency was similar between the 2 laser platforms (0.89 g per minute in the control group vs 0.84 g per minute in the Lumenis Pulse 120H group). CONCLUSION: The efficiency of the new Lumenis Pulse 120H laser platform is comparable to the 100-watt VersaPulse laser platform in HoLEP when comparing g of tissue enucleated per minute.