Evaluation of 2,590 urological laparoscopic surgeries undertaken by urological surgeons accredited by an endoscopic surgical skill qualification system in urological laparoscopy in Japan.

BACKGROUND: In 2003, the Japanese Urological Association (JUA) and Japanese Society of Endourology (JSE) established a urological laparoscopic skill qualification system, called the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System in Urological Laparoscopy of JUA and JSE (ESSQSJJ). The main goal of the system is to decrease the prevalence of complications associated with laparoscopic surgery. To validate the qualification system, perioperative outcome and the prevalence of complications in different types of urological laparoscopic surgery performed by accredited surgeons were evaluated. METHODS: One hundred thirty-six surgeons who obtained the qualification in 2004 were prospectively asked to submit intraoperative and postoperative data of their latest 20 cases at the end of 2009, along with the number of laparoscopic urological surgeries performed in each year for a 5-year period (2004-2009). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were graded according to the Satava classification and modified Clavien classification, respectively. RESULTS: Data of 2,590 urological laparoscopic surgeries of 130 surgeons, including 904 laparoscopic radical nephrectomies, 430 laparoscopic nephroureterectomies, 390 laparoscopic adrenalectomies, 320 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies, and 170 laparoscopic partial nephrectomies, were analyzed. Complications were noted in 97 (3.7%) patients. Major intraoperative complications (grade II or III) occurred in 32 (1.2%) patients, and major postoperative complications (grade III or higher) occurred in 24 (0.9%) patients. The prevalence of conversion to open surgery, allogeneic transfusion, and perioperative mortality was 2.5%, 1.6%, and 0%, respectively. The number of surgeries performed by each qualified surgeon or the role of the surgeon (main operator vs. mentor/instructor) in the surgery did not affect the prevalence of intraoperative complications or postoperative complications. The open conversion rate was significantly higher in surgeons with a low surgical volume. CONCLUSIONS: ESSQSJJ can ensure urological laparoscopic surgeons who can perform various types of urological laparoscopic surgeries with a low prevalence of perioperative complications and reasonable outcomes.

Pure laparoscopic complete excision of distal ureter with a bladder cuff for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma techniques for removing the lower ureter with a bladder cuff have been a matter of debate. We have developed a pure laparoscopic technique for the complete resection of the lower ureter with a bladder cuff. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was performed in ten patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma using this technique. After a working space was made retroperitoneally, the ureter was ligated at the distal site of the tumor. Retracting the ureter cranially, a stay suture was placed at an anterior point on the bladder and the bladder opened. With the patient placed in a lateral position, there was no urine leakage from the opened bladder. The ureteral orifice was confirmed laparoscopically. Incising around the ureteral orifice, the distal ureter was detached with the bladder cuff. The opened bladder wall was closed with running stitches. RESULTS: This method was technically successful in these ten cases with minimal bleeding and average operative time of 87 min. The margins of the bladder cuff were all negative and the average follow-up period of 19 months revealed only one (10%) bladder tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The ligation of the distal part of the ureter and the complete excision of the ipsilateral orifice and a bladder cuff under laparoscopic vision could reduce bladder tumor recurrence. Although this is a limited study with a small sample, the observation of low rates of bladder tumor recurrence after 19 months warrants further study.

Laparoscopic versus open radical prostatectomy: urodynamic evaluation of vesicourethral function.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on vesicourethral function and compare it to that of open radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Sixty-three patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer were included in this retrospective analysis. Urodynamic parameters, including maximum urethral closing pressure (MUCP), functional profile length (FPL), bladder compliance, maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) and detrusor overactivity, were considered. Continence status and changes in urodynamic findings before and after surgery were evaluated. In addition, postoperative urodynamic findings were compared with those in 58 patients undergoing open radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: After laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, MUCP and FPL showed a significant postoperative decrease. Continence rates after surgery were 82% in the laparoscopic and 78% in the open group. Comparison of postoperative data between continent and incontinent patients in both surgical groups showed significantly lower MUCP, shorter FPL, lower bladder compliance and higher incidence of detrusor overactivity in incontinent patients. Although there was no significant difference in postoperative MUCP and FPL between the two groups, bladder compliance was significantly lower and incidence of detrusor overactivity was significantly higher in the open prostatectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has a negative impact on storage function by impairing function of the urethral sphincter and decreasing bladder compliance. There is no difference in postoperative urethral function between open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Laparoscopic surgery might be associated with less impairment of bladder function than open surgery.

Identification and expression of a sialyltransferase responsible for the synthesis of disialylgalactosylgloboside in normal and malignant kidney cells: downregulation of ST6GalNAc VI in renal cancers.

Although disialyl glycosphingolipids such as GD3 and GD2 have been considered to be associated with malignant tumours, whether branched-type disialyl glycosphingolipids show such an association is not well understood. We investigated the sialyltransferases responsible for the biosynthesis of DSGG (disialylgalactosylgloboside) from MSGG (monosialylgalactosylgloboside). Among six GalNAc:alpha2,6-sialyltransferases cloned to date, we focused on ST6GalNAc III, V and VI, which utilize sialylglycolipids as substrates. In vitro enzyme analyses revealed that ST6GalNAc III and VI generated DSGG from MSGG with V(max)/K(m) values of 1.91 and 4.16 respectively. Transfection of the cDNA expression vectors for these enzymes resulted in DSGG expression in a renal cancer cell line. Although both ST6GalNAc III and VI genes were expressed in normal kidney cells, the expression profiles of ST6GalNAc VI among 20 renal cancer cell lines correlated clearly with those of DSGG, suggesting that the sialyltransferase involved in the synthesis of DSGG in the kidney is ST6GalNAc-VI. ST6GalNAc-VI and DSGG were found in proximal tubule epithelial cells in normal kidney tissues, while they were downregulated in renal cancer cell lines and cancer tissues. All these findings indicated that DSGG was suppressed during the malignant transformation of the proximal tubules as a maturation arrest of glycosylation.

Renal L-type fatty acid--binding protein in acute ischemic injury.

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) bind unsaturated fatty acids and lipid peroxidation products during tissue injury from hypoxia. We evaluated the potential role of L-type FABP (L-FABP) as a biomarker of renal ischemia in both human kidney transplant patients and animal models. Urinary L-FABP levels were measured in the first urine produced from 12 living-related kidney transplant patients immediately after reperfusion of their transplanted organs, and intravital video analysis of peritubular capillary blood flow was performed simultaneously. A significant direct correlation was found between urinary L-FABP level and both peritubular capillary blood flow and the ischemic time of the transplanted kidney (both P < 0.0001), as well as hospital stay (P < 0.05). In human-L-FABP transgenic mice subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury, immunohistological analyses demonstrated the transition of L-FABP from the cytoplasm of proximal tubular cells to the tubular lumen. In addition, after injury, these transgenic mice demonstrated lower blood urea nitrogen levels and less histological injury than injured wild-type mice, likely due to a reduction of tissue hypoxia. In vitro experiments using a stable cell line of mouse proximal tubule cells transfected with h-L-FABP cDNA showed reduction of oxidative stress during hypoxia compared to untransfected cells. Taken together, these data show that increased urinary L-FABP after ischemic-reperfusion injury may find future use as a biomarker of acute ischemic injury.

Organ intact retrieval via umbilical incision after simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal masses.

PURPOSE: We report on two cases of laparoscopic bilateral nephrectomy for renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with end-stage renal disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bilateral renal masses were detected in two patients with acquired renal cystic disease. They underwent bilateral laparoscopic nephrectomy. The specimens were removed intact via an umbilical incision. RESULTS: The operative times were 8 hours and 6 hours and the estimated blood loss was 154 mL and 120 mL. Both patients resumed oral intake on postoperative day 1 and were discharged on postoperative day 6. No intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred. The pathology report revealed bilateral RCC. The original length of the umbilical incision was 4 cm which shrank to 3 cm by 2 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral laparoscopic radical nephrectomy including intact organ retrieval for bilateral renal masses via a small umbilical incision is feasible.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in upper-pole apical renal tumor using gauze sling and flexible laparoscope.

Upper-pole apical renal tumors are difficult to see using conventional rigid laparoscopes during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Added to this, the instrument angle makes tumor excision and kidney reconstruction difficult. We therefore elevated the kidney using a gauze sling and observed the lesion through a flexible laparoscope. With a clear field of vision, we could excise tumors and repair the kidney more easily.

[Two cases of bilateral renal cell carcinoma in patients with Von Hipple-Lindau disease].

Von Hipple-Lindau (VHL) disease is a rare familial cancer syndrome that is dominantly inherited and pre-disposes affected individuals to developing various tumors, including hemangioblastoma of the retina and central nervous system, and multicentric renal cell carcinoma. We report two cases of VHL disease with bilateral renal cell carcinoma. Case 1: A 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of bilateral kidney tumor incidentally found. We performed left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and laparoscopic nephrectomy, ex vivo excision and reconstruction, and autotransplantation for the right kidney. Case 2: A 43-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of left kidney tumor incidentally found. Because the suspectious lesion in the right kidney was very small, we decided to follow it up with no treatment. We performed laparoscopic nephrectomy, ex vivo excision and reconstruction, and autotransplantation for left kidney.

[Endoscopic trigonoplasty II for primary vesico-ureteral reflux].

PURPOSE: We report a technique and outcome of endoscopic trigonoplasty II (ET II), anti-reflux surgery via a transvesicostomy transurethral approach and discuss its usefulness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen female patients, aged 5 to 64, with 23 refluxing ureters (grade I : 5, II : 2, III : 14, IV : 2) underwent the ET II. The principle of this surgery is tightening the muscular backing and elongating the intramural ureter. The operation consists of three steps: 1) two 5 mm locking trocars are placed into the bladder, 2) irrigating with 3% D-sorbitol solution, the bladder wall is incised upward along each side of the ureter using a resectoscope, to make a 2 to 3 cm U-shaped bladder flap including the ureter, 3) under a pneumobladder, the incised wall is sutured to make a muscular bed with a needle-holder via the urethra and forceps via the abdominal trocar. The U-shaped flap is fixed with two distal anchor sutures and four additional mucosal sutures. Urethral catheter is indwelled and the operation is finished. In recent four cases, we closed the tracts endoscopically. RESULTS: The average operative time was 144 minutes per ureter. In one patient with unilateral reflux, we switched to open surgery because of bleeding. Of 22 refluxing ureters, the reflux disappeared in 18 ureters (82%) and improved grade III to I in 1 ureter (5%) after 3 months and disappeared in 19 ureters (86%) after 12 months postoperatively. Ureteral injury was occurred in 3 patients during the transurethral incision of the bladder. Though we repaired it by placing a double-J stent in the 2 patients, reflux recurred in 12 months postoperatively in one of them. In the other patient cystoscopy revealed a vesicoureteral fistula in the injured portion. She subsequently underwent successful open Politano-Leadbetter ureteroneocystostomy. The average duration of indwelling catheter was shortened from 4.3 to 3.0 days by closing the tracts endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: The overall cessation rate of the ET II was inferior to those of open anti-reflux surgeries or laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation. We do not recommend ET II for vesicoureteral reflux.

Direct visualization of cortical peritubular capillary of transplanted human kidney with reperfusion injury using a magnifying endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: We developed a direct imaging system of renal microcirculation by a magnifying-endoscopy that enables visualization of the movement of erythrocyte in glomerular and cortical peritubular capillary (CPC). We investigated the microcirculation of CPC in the early phase of both living- and cadaveric-donor transplant kidneys. METHODS: Erythrocyte velocity in CPC were monitored and measured in 20 renal transplants at 20, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after reperfusion. The kidney grafts came from 11 living donors and 9 non-heart-beating cadaveric donors. RESULTS: In living-donor transplants, erythrocyte velocity in CPC at 20 minutes after revascularization declined to one third of baseline value just before nephrectomy and recovered to the prenephrectomy value 120 minutes after reperfusion. In contrast, it continued to be disturbed for 90 minutes in cadaveric-donor transplants. Erythrocyte velocity in CPC more significantly deteriorated in cadaveric transplants than in those of living transplants at 20 through 60 minutes after the revascularization. In living-donor transplants, erythrocyte velocity did not correlate with donor age, both warm (WIT) and cold ischemic time (CIT), time to the initial urination, and best creatine clearance. In the cadaveric transplants, ischemic time, both WIT and CIT, did not correlate with the erythrocyte velocity. However, donor age, duration of acute tubular necrosis, and best creatine clearance after transplantation significantly correlated with the erythrocyte velocity. CONCLUSION: The measurement of erythrocyte velocity in CPC is a reliable method for predicting the recovery of renal function and reserved renal function of kidney allografts undergoing prolonged ischemia.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty using endoscopic GIA stapler for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

PURPOSE: We applied laparoscopic pyeloplasty in 10 patients with ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. To evaluate the efficiency and safety of this procedure using an endoscopic GIA stapler, the clinical outcomes and our procedures are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 1996 to March 2003, eight female and two male patients with a mean age of 22.3 years suffering from UPJ obstruction diagnosed by various combinations of ultrasonography, excretory urography, retrograde ureteropyelography, CT, and MRI were treated with laparoscopic dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty with resection of a dilated redundant renal pelvis. In six cases, an endoscopic gastrointestinal automatic stapler (Endo-GIA) was used. The procedure was performed via an extraperitoneal approach in two cases and a transperitoneal approach in eight. RESULTS: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was successful in all patients, including the six treated using an Endo- GIA stapler. The mean operating time was 291 minutes, and the mean anastomotic time was 105 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 44 mL. Postoperative complications occurred in five cases: anastomotic urinary leakage in two and pyelonephritis in three. The mean time to full convalescence in the entire series was 22 days. No urolithiasis occurred in the patients treated with the Endo-GIA stapler during the follow-up period of 2 to 76 (mean 22) months. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty including the Endo-GIA stapler technique is an efficient and safe procedure that provides excellent results for extrinsic or complicated UPJ stenosis. The risk of stone formation has not yet been determined.

[Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy].

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical results of 24 patients who underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy by a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between 1999 and 2004, including 16 elective cases and 8 imperative cases. Twenty-two were successfully treated laparoscopically; two cases in the imperative group required conversion to open surgery because of uncontrollable bleeding. A vascular clamp was used in 12 cases for an average of 26 minutes. The creatinine clearance changed from 98 to 93 ml/min in the elective cases and from 49 to 44 ml/min in the imperative cases. Pathological evaluation revealed RCC in 10 elective cases and 6 imperative cases. Local recurrence (renal hilum lymph node and ipsilateral kidney) was found in 2 patients in the imperative group. Although laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is useful, long-term follow-up is necessary for evaluating the tumor control.

[Renal transplantation].

Recent immunosuppressive drugs, including mycophenolate mofetil and basiliximab in addition to calcineurin inhibitors, have reduced the incidence and severity of acute allograft rejection in kidney transplants. This article introduces newly developed agents such as CTLA4-Ig, LEA29Y, rituximab, and FTY720 and also reviews immunosuppressive protocols which withdraw steroid or calcineurin inhibitors. Unrelated or ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplants have increased due to advancement of immunosuppressive

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: morbidity compared with adrenalectomy for tumors of other pathology.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy in nine patients with pheochromocytoma and compare the morbidity with that of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for tumors of other pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and November 1999, nine patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma via a transperitoneal approach. Of the patients, eight had solitary tumors, and one presented with bilateral pheochromocytomas. The mean size of the tumors was 5.4 cm. The surgical outcomes of the 9 patients were compared with those of 28 patients with adrenal tumors of other pathology (primary aldosteronism in 15 patients, Cushing syndrome in 6, and nonfunctioning adenoma in 7) who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy during the same period. The mean size of the adrenal tumors of other pathology was 2.4 cm. RESULTS: In eight of the nine patients with pheochromocytoma, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was successful. The procedure was converted to open surgery in the patient with bilateral tumors because of uncontrollable hemorrhage. A hypertensive crisis with the systolic blood pressure >200 mm Hg occurred in 6 patients (67%), but the episode could be controlled by temporary discontinuation of tumor manipulation, administration of drugs, or both. In adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma, the mean operative time was longer (199 v 177 minutes) and the mean estimated blood loss was greater (360 v 54 mL) than for tumors of other pathology. Blood transfusion was given to two patients with pheochromocytoma but to no patient with tumors of other pathology. The patients with adrenal tumors of other pathology could resume normal activity earlier (mean 18 v 26 days) than those with pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSION: The operation is more difficult and the morbidity is higher in laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma than that for tumors of other pathology. An experienced team of surgeons with advanced laparoscopic skills and anesthesiologists is mandatory. In large tumors, great caution should be taken for intraoperative complications. Nevertheless, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is not contraindicated for pheochromocytoma and can be performed safely.

[Effect of acute rejection episode on occurrence of chronic rejection after kidney transplantation].

Chronic rejection is the most prevalent cause of renal transplant failure in the late post-transplant period. The clinical significance of acute rejection episodes on occurrence of chronic rejection is controversial. We analyzed 503 cases of the first renal transplantation maintained by calcinurine inhibitor for the correlation of acute rejection and clinical chronic rejection. The later the first episode of acute rejection occurred, the shorter was the half-life of graft. The acute rejection occurring within 3 post-transplant months worsens long-term graft survival if the peak creatinine level exceeds 2 mg/dl. Multivariate analysis by the Cox proportional hazard model for factors affecting cadaver graft loss by chronic rejection, revealed that the risk factor of acute early rejection was lower than those of donor age and post-transplant hypertension.

[A fact-finding inquiry on urinary management of the elderly in home care].

A fact-finding inquiry was made on elderly people in home care, in order to investigate urinary management. A questionnaire survey was performed on 2,322 elderly people (1,023 male and 1,299 female) cared at home by 40 home nursing stations in Aichi prefecture. The survey focused on the urinary management and the practical problems at home. The number of the elderly managed by an indwelling catheter was 225 (9.7%) and 1,301 (56.0%) of the elderly wore diapers. The rates of the people managed by an indwelling catheter or diapers widely varied among the home nursing stations. In 25.3% of the people managed by an indwelling catheter, the catheter was used because of urinary incontinence, which should not normally be indicated. Diapers were unnecessarily used in 23.9% of people mainly for a protective purpose. The majority of the people whose voiding dysfunction was managed either by an indwelling Foley catheter or diapers had had this treatment started before discharge from hospital. Only 5.8% of the elderly wearing diapers received consultation from medical specialists. Intermittent catheterization was performed in 36 people (1.6%), and in 23 (63.9%) the catheterization was carried out by the care givers. We conclude that the urinary management in the elderly cared at home is insufficient and that standardization of the urinary management and creation of a network of care givers, nurses, general physicians, medical specialists and government representatives should be urgently needed to improve the quality in urinary management in the elderly.

[Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection for testicular cancer: Nagoya experience].

Three patients with stage I disease and 3 patients with stage III disease were treated with laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection. The patient was placed in a semilateral position and 5 trocars were introduced through the lateral abdominal wall. After incising the peritoneum along the Toldt line, the colon was reflected medially and the retroperitoneal structures such as the ureter, aorta, inferior vena cava and both renal arteries and veins were exposed. For right-side disease the paracaval and interaortocaval lymphnodes were dissected, and for left-side disease, the interaortocaval and paraaortic lymphnodes were dissected. The procedure was completed successfully on all 6 patients. The average operative time was 3.4 hours for 3 patients with stage I disease and 4.4 hours for 3 patients with stage III disease treated with prior chemotherapy. All patients started to walk and resumed oral intake from the first post-operative day and the average duration to full convalescence was 21 days. Anteriograde ejaculation and erection were preserved in all six patients. Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection will be a useful technique for management of testicular cancer.

[Comparison of laparoscopic versus open surgery for adrenal tumor].

We performed 25 laparoscopic adrenalectomies for adrenal tumor between January 1998 and December 2000. In 23 cases, adrenal tumors were successfully removed laparoscopically, but in 2, the laparoscopic procedure was converted to open surgery because of liver injury and endoscopically uncontrolled bleeding at the renal hilum. Postoperative complications, involving retroperitoneal hematoma, hypercapnia, and wound infections, could be managed without surgical treatment. We compared laparoscopic adrenalectomy with conventional open surgery, which had been performed for 24 adrenal tumors in our clinic. The mean operative time for the laparoscopic adrenalectomy (228.8 +/- 65.5 minutes) was significantly longer than those for the open surgery (156.0 +/- 43.8 minutes). The estimated blood loss (82.3 +/- 125.4 g) was significantly less than those for the open surgery (210.8 +/- 167.7 g), and the laparoscopic adrenalectomy had significant advantages in lessening postoperative analgesic requirements, shortening postoperative recovery period, and preserving good physical appearance. Therefore, we conclude that the laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a less invasive surgery, and is acceptable as a standard operation for adrenal tumors.

[Tunica vaginalis testis autografting for Peyronie's disease: report of two cases].

Two patients with refractory Peyronie's disease were treated by tunica vaginalis testis autografting following surgical excision of indurated tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. One patient could achieve relief of pain and a straight erection of the penis 3 months after surgery. Another patient could not obtain a satisfactory erection during the follow-up of 6 months, but could have sexual intercourse after 7 months. A tunica vaginalis testis autograft might be an ideal substitute for tunica albuginea because it has several advantages: it causes no rejection at the recipient site; it is flexible enough to accommodate to expansion; there is no development of sebaceous glands and hair follicles that may occur in the use of a dermal graft; and it is easy to obtain.