Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis in the treatment of duplex system

PURPOSE: Duplex system is one of the most common anomalies of upper urinary tract. Anatomical and clinical presentation determine its treatment. Usually, the upper moiety has a poor function and requires resection, but when it is not significantly impaired, preservation is recommended. Laparoscopic reconstruction with upper pole preservation is presented as an alternative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four female patients with duplex system, one presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection and the others with urinary incontinence associated to infrasphincteric ectopic ureter, were treated. Surgical procedure envolved a laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis of the upper pole ureter to the pelvis of the lower moiety, with prior insertion of a double J stent. RESULTS: Surgical time varied from 120 to 150 minutes, with minimal blood loss in all cases. Follow-up varied from 15 to 30 months, with resolution of the clinical symptoms and preservation of the upper moiety function. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanatomosis is a feasible and safe minimally invasive option in the treatment of duplex system.

Comparative and prospective analysis of three different approaches for live-donor nephrectomy

PURPOSE: Living donor nephrectomy is usually performed by a retroperitoneal flank incision. Due to the significant morbidity and long recovery time for a flank incision, anterior extra peritoneal sub-costal and transperitoneal video-laparoscopic methods have been described for donor nephrectomy. We prospectively compare the long-term results of donors as well as functional recipients submitted to these three approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 live donor renal transplantations were prospectively evaluated from May 2001 to January 2004. Donors were compared with regard to operative and warm ischemia time, postoperative pain, analgesic requirements, and complications. Recipients were compared with regard to graft function, acute cellular rejection, surgical complications, and graft and recipient survival. RESULTS: The mean operative and warm ischemia times were longer in the video-laparoscopic group (p<0.001), whereas patients of the flank incision group presented more postoperative pain (p=0.035), required more analgesics (p<0.001), had longer hospital stays (p<0.001), and suffered more pain on the 90th day after surgery (p=0.006). In the sub-costal and flank incision groups, there was a larger number of paraesthesias and abdominal wall asymmetries (p<0.001). Recipient groups were demographically comparable and presented similar acute tubular necrosis incidence and delayed graft function. The incidence of acute cellular rejection was higher in the video-laparoscopic and flank incision groups (p=0.013). There was no difference in serum creatinine levels, surgical complications, or recipient or graft survival between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The video-laparoscopic and sub-costal approaches proved to be safe, and to provide donor advantages relative to the flank incision approach. Among recipients, the complication rate, graft survival, and recipient survival were similar in all groups.

Laparoscopic renal surgery in infants and children: is it a feasible and safe procedure for all pediatric age groups?

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopy is considered the mainstay for most renal procedures in adults, its role in the pediatric population is still controversial, especially for smaller children. We reviewed our experience in pediatric renal laparoscopic surgery in three pediatric age groups in an attempt to identify if age has an impact on feasibility and surgical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1995 to May 2006, 144 pediatric laparoscopic renal procedures were performed at our institution. The charts of these patients were reviewed for demographic data, urologic pathology and surgical procedure, as well as perioperative complications and post-operative outcomes. The findings were stratified into 3 groups, according to patient age (A: < 1 year, B: 1 to 5 years and C: 6-18 years). RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 4.2 years (42 days - 18 years). We performed 54 nephrectomies, 33 nephroureterectomies, 19 upper pole nephrectomies, 11 radical nephrectomies, 22 pyeloplasties and 4 miscellaneous procedures. The 3 age groups were comparable in terms of the procedures performed. Conversion rates were 0 percent, 1.4 percent and 1.9 percent for groups A, B and C, respectively (p = 0.72). Incidence of perioperative complications was 5 percent, 8.2 percent and 7.8 percent for age groups A to C, respectively (p = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Most renal procedures can be performed safely by laparoscopy in the pediatric population, with excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes. The morbidity related to the procedure was minimal irrespective of the age group.

Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of nonpalpable testis

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of the cryptorchid testicle is justified due to the increased risk of infertility and malignancy as well as the risk of testicular trauma and psychological stigma on patients and their parents. Approximately 20 percent of cryptorchid testicles are nonpalpable. In these cases, the videolaparoscopic technique is a useful alternative method for diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present data concerning 90 patients submitted to diagnostic laparoscopy for impalpable testicles. Forty-six patients (51.1 percent) had intra-abdominal gonads. In 25 testicles of 19 patients, we performed a two stage laparoscopic Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy. The other 27 patients underwent primary laparoscopic orchiopexy, in a total of 29 testicles. RESULTS: We obtained an overall 88 percent success rate with the 2 stage Fowler-Stephens approach and only 33 percent rate success using one stage Fowler-Stephens surgery with primary vascular ligature. There was no intraoperative complication in our group of patients. In the laparoscopic procedures, the cosmetic aspect is remarkably more favorable as compared to open surgeries. Hospital stay and convalescence were brief. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric age group, the laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible. Furthermore, the laparoscopic orchiopexy presents excellent results in terms of diagnosis and therapy of the impalpable testis, which is why this technique has been routinely incorporated in our Department.

Urogenital involvement in the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome: treatment options and results

OBJECTIVE: Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (KTWS) is a congenital condition characterized by vascular malformations of the capillary, venous and lymphatic systems associated to soft tissue and bone hypertrophy in the affected areas. This syndrome may involve bladder, kidney, urethra, ureter and genitals. We report the treatment of 7 KTWS patients with urogenital involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2005, 7 patients with KTWS were evaluated and the charts of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS: PatientsÆ median age was 19-years (range 4 to 46-years) and only 1 was female. The clinical presentation included genital deformities in 3 cases, hematuria in 2 and urethrorragia in 2, one of which associated with cryptorchidism and phimosis. Three patients had an association of pelvic and genital malformations, including 2 patients with hematuria due to vesical lesions and 1 patient with left ureterohydronephrosis due to a pelvic mass. Two patients had urethral lesions. Treatment included endoscopic laser coagulation for 1 patient with recurrent hematuria and 1 patient with urethrorrhagia, pelvic radiotherapy for 1 patient with hematuria and circumcision in 2 patients with genital deformities. One patient required placement of a double-J catheter to relieve obstruction. Hematuria and urethrorragia were safely and effectively controlled with laser applications. Circumcision was also effective. The patient treated with radiotherapy developed a contracted bladder and required a continent urinary diversion. CONCLUSIONS: Urogenital involvement in patients with KTWS is not rare and must be suspected in the presence of hematuria or significant cutaneous deformity of the external genitalia. Surgical treatment may be warranted in selected cases.

Ureteral calcinosis in juvenile dermatomyositis: successful precocious surgical management

We report a successful surgical intervention to repair bilateral ureteral strictures in a child with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and ureteral calcinosis. This is the fourth reported case in medical literature. A 9-year-old-girl with severe JDM, a rare connective tissue disease characterized by skin and muscles vasculitis, was under immunosuppressive therapy. In the course of the disease, she presented recurrent urinary tract infections. Bilateral ureteral dilation was detected by ultrasound (US) and intravenous pyelogram (IVP). CT scan showed bilateral ureteral calculus. Ureteroscopy revealed bilateral ureteral calcinosis, confirmed by histopathological analysis. Bilateral double-J stents were placed, resulting in transient improvement of ureteral dilation and infection, but only the surgical removal of abnormal ureteral portions was successful. In conclusion, endourological approach is recommended for diagnosis of urinary tract involvement by JDM because radiological evaluation can be misleading. The immunosuppressive treatment and the resection of damaged ureteral segments have allowed the control of urinary complications.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor

OBJECTIVE: To present the initial experience of videolaparoscopic nephrectomy in live renal donor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from April 2000 to August 2003, 50 left nephrectomies in live donor were performed by videolaparoscopy for transplantation. Twenty-eight patients were male (56 percent) and 22 female (44 percent). Mean age was 37.2 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 kg/m². RESULTS: Mean surgical time was 179.5 minutes, and warm ischemia time of the graft was 3.79 minutes. The mean estimated bleeding was 141 mL. There was no need of blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery. In 42 cases (84 percent), the vascular portion of the graft was considered good by the recipient's surgical team and in all cases, the ureter was considered of proper size, though in one of them (2 percent) its vascularization was considered improper. The transplanted kidneys produced urine still in the surgical room in 46 of the 50 transplantations considered. In only 2 cases opioid was required for analgesia. In average, 3.1 doses of dipyrone were used for each patient during hospital stay, and hospital discharge occurred, in average, after 3.2 days post-operatively. Two patients required re-operations and one of them evolved to death. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic nephrectomy in live donor for renal transplantation is an alternative to conventional open surgery. In relation to the graft, no alteration, either anatomic or functional, was detected. Though there is already a large documentation in the international literature regarding this procedure, in our setting a prospective randomized study with the usual surgical study is still necessary in order to prove the advantages and disadvantages of the method.

A litotripsia extracorpórea no tratamento de cálculos urinários em crianças / Extracorporeal lithotripsy for the treatment of urolithiasis in children

Objetivo: cálculos urinários atingem de 5 a 10por cento da população em alguma fase da vida. Destes casos, somente 2 a 3por cento são crianças.O tratamento da litiase urinária na faixa pediátrica, com o uso de métodos minimamente invasivos, representa uma alternativa cada vez mais atraente. O presente trabalho objetiva apresentar resultados de litotripsia extracorpórea como tratamento minimamente invasivo de litiase urinária na infância.Métodos: no periodo de setembro de 1991 a setembro de 2000, foram tratadas e acompanhadas 87 crianças, sendo que seis delas tinham dois cálculos; portanto foram tratados 93 cálculos urinários.Foi utilizado o equipamento de litotripsia extracorpórea por ondas de choque, da Dornier-Philips.Resultados: os cálculos piélicos, caliciais superiores e médios foram fragmentados e eliminados na porcentagem de 87,7por cento e 77,8por cento, respectivamente. Os cálculos localizados no cálice inferior foram eliminados em 64,7por cento. Dos três casos de cálculo coraliforme, somente um ficou livre do cálculo (33,3por cento). Os dez pacientes com cálculo ureteral ficaram livres de litiase (100por cento). Os cálculos vesicais foram tratados e eliminados em 60por cento dos casos.Conclusão: a litotripsia extracorpórea demonstrou ser uma forma eficiente de tratamento de cálculos piélicos, caliciais, ureterais e vesicais...

Cateterização vesical intermitente em paciente com transplante renal e disfunção vesical: uma alternativa viável / Intermittent catheterization in patients with renal transplantation and bladder dysfunction: a viable alternative

Relatamos a utilização do autocateterismo vesical intermitente para a manutenção e terapêutica da disfunção vesical em um paciente transplantado renal. Após 8 meses de cateterismo, somente um episódio de bacteriúria ocorreu, e houve nítida melhora da complacência vesical e da micção. Este procedimento apresenta-se como uma alternativa válida para o manuseio de tais pacientes.

We report the use of intermittent bladder catheterization for the maintenance and treatment of bladder dysfunction in a renal transplant patients. After 8 months of catheterization, bacteriuria only one episode occurred, and there was a marked improvement in bladder compliance and urination. This presents itself as a valid alternative for the handling of such patients.