[Endoscopic marsupialization of parapelvic renal cysts].

INTRODUCTION: Parapelvic renal cysts are very common. Indications for surgical treatment are upper urine tract obstruction, pain and recurrent gross hematuria. AIM: To analyze the efficiency and safety of endoscopic transurethral and percutaneous laser marsupialization of parapelvic renal cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 9 patients were undergone to transurethral intrarenal marsupialization of parapelvic renal cysts from March 2016 to February 2021 (4 men, 5 women, aged 42-78 years). Another 2 patients (2 men, aged 46 and 52 years) were treated by percutaneous approach. The average size of the cyst according to contrast-enhanced multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) was 3.1+/-1.8 cm. In two cases, papillary tumor of the pelvis was suspected. The anteroposterior diameter of the pelvis was 2.6+/-1.3 cm; 9 patients had pain in the loin area, while in 7 patients recurrent gross hematuria was also an indication for surgical treatment. For marsupialization, a holmium (Ho:YAG) laser Auriga XL (Boston Scientific, USA) was used in 4 patients, and in other cases (n=7) a procedure was performed using a thulium fiber laser (Tm Fiber) Fiberlase U1 (IRE-Polus, Russia). In 3 patients, to clarify the site of incision of the cyst, intraoperative ultrasound was used. In all cases, after draining the cyst, an internal stent was placed inside the cyst for a period of 4-6 weeks. RESULTS: The duration of transurethral surgery was 26+/-11 minutes, while percutaneous marsupialization of the cyst, which was performed in combination with percutaneous nephrolithotomy, took 10 and 18 minutes, respectively. The average catheterization time was 12+/-8 hours. Nephrostomy tube was removed on the 2nd day. The length of stay was 4+/-2 days. Febrile fever was noted in 1 patient (9%), which required a change in antibiotic therapy. During ultrasound control at discharge, the dilatation of the collecting system was not detected in any cases, while the residual cavity was found in 2 patients (18%). Follow-up contrast-enhanced MSCT and ultrasound within 3-30 months in all patients (n=11) showed no dilatation of the collecting system. In 1 (9%) patient, the residual cavity was preserved with a decrease in size to 1.2 cm without signs of upper urinary tract obstruction; the initial diameter of the cyst in this patient was 4.9 cm. There was no recurrence of gross hematuria. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, transurethral and percutaneous laser marsupialization of parapelvic renal cysts is an effective and safe method that allows definitive treatment for cysts up to 4 cm in size. If the cyst is larger than 4 cm, endoscopic removal should be balanced with the possibility of preserving the residual cavity. The most common complication of endoscopic treatment of intrarenal cysts is acute pyelonephritis with a rate of 9%.

[Comparative analysis of clinical features of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy].

INTRODUCTION: Kidney cancer (mostly renal cell carcinoma) is one of the ten most commonly diagnosed malignant tumors among men and women. Due to the widespread use of computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, the proportion of early-stage kidney cancers has increased. Currently, treatment options for stage 1 kidney cancer are radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, and active surveillance. Among organ-preserving intervention, three main techniques can be distinguished: open surgery, minimally invasive surgery and ablation methods. To date, robotic-assisted procedures have occupied their place among minimally invasive interventions. AIM: To carry out a comparative analysis of two methods of organ-preserving treatment of kidney tumors, namely robot-assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis of two groups of patients with kidney tumors who underwent robotic-assisted or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy during the period from 2012 to 2019 was performed. RESULTS: There were no differences between two groups in age, mean score on the RENAL nephrometry scale, preoperative creatinine levels, tumor size, and duration of warm ischemia. However, duration of surgery, the volume of blood loss, serum creatinine after surgery, the length of stay, the use of the technique of early unclamping of the renal artery, the use of technique "off-clamp" and the proportion of exophytic tumors with growth were significantly different between patients of two groups. CONCLUSION: We believe that the robotic system is intuitively convenient for performing partial nephrectomy, allowing the treatment of potentially more complex cases and expanding the indications for organ-preserving procedures.

[Transurethral endopyelotomy using thulium fiber laser].

INTRODUCTION: Transurethral endopyelotomy is an alternative treatment method for short stricture of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ). AIM: to evaluate the efficiency of transurethral thulium laser endopyelotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 94 patients with UPJ obstruction during the period from December 2016 to December 2018 were prospectively enrolled in the study. Pelvic size did not exceed 3 cm in 31 patients, and it was in the range from 3 to 4 cm and more than 4 cm in 35 and 28 cases, respectively. Depending on the treatment, all patients were divided into 2 groups. The main group included 48 patients who underwent retrograde thulium fiber laser endopyelotomy. In the control group (n = 46), patients underwent Anderson-Hynes laparoscopic pyeloplasty. In the main group, there were significantly more patients with more preserved ipsilateral kidney function, with short (less than 1 cm) and recurrent UPJ strictures and less severe hydronephrosis compared to the control group. In addition, there were no patients with crossing vessel in the main group. Postoperatively, an internal stent of 6-8 Fr was put in all patients for a period of 6-8 weeks. After stent removal, all patients underwent a follow-up examination, including an ultrasound examination and, if pelvic size was more than 3 cm, contrast-enhanced CT-urography was performed. RESULTS: In all patients, after stent removal, a decrease in the pelvic size was noted. The operation time in the main and control group was 24+/-14 minutes and 82+/-26 minutes, respectively. In all cases, ureteropyeloscopy was performed prior to laparoscopy to determine the exact length of stricture and to exclude narrowing of other parts of the ureter. After follow-up of 24 months, an examination in 36 patients of the main group and 29 patients of the control group was performed. There was 1 recurrence after laparoscopic pyeloplasty and 1 recurrence after endopyelotomy. In other patients of both groups, there were neither stricture, nor impaired renal function. CONCLUSION: The first experience of using a thulium fiber laser for transurethral endoscopic treatment of UPJ obstruction is presented in the article. Indications for the transurethral thulium endopyelotomy are the presence of primary or secondary UPJ obstruction (with a decrease in kidney function by no more than 40%), length of up to 1 cm, absence of an additional vessel and pelvic dilatation of no more than 4 cm.