Which is access suitable for a solitary upper pole renal stone? A possible novel criterion.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to discover a new criterion for choosing subcostal or supracostal upper pole renal access before performing PCNL in upper pole renal stone cases. METHODS: Between April 2006 and July 2009 we performed 35 subcostal upper poles PCNL in solitary upper pole stone cases. The inclusion criteria were stone size >1.5 cm or stone size <1.5 cm and resistant to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. The exclusion criteria were renal anomalies, uretero-pelvic junction obstruction, multiple stone (associated pelvic or a lower pole stone) and any contraindication for surgery. We determined access length as the new criterion (the distance between the point of needle entrance and lower border of stone on the skin) and access success, in all patients. Then we analyzed the relationship between these two main variables and used roc curve to find a reliable cut point of access length. RESULTS: The mean of access length was 9.72 cm (range: 6-14) and access was successful in 29 (82.8%) patients. Between measured variables, access length was the only variable that related to access success (P=0.04); furthermore, two reliable cut points (8 cm and 12 cm) for predicting access success. If access length was <8 cm or 8-12 cm or >12 cm, the access success was 100%, 83% and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Access length can be used as a criterion for choosing subcostal upper pole renal PCNL and predicting its success, in the case of solitary upper pole renal stones 12 cm can serve as a critical valve for a decision.

Efficacy and morbidity following PCNL in patients with renal anomalies: the outcome from a randomized study comparing different imaging modalities for assessment.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to assess outcome of totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (TPCNL) performing with and without preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan, in anomalous kidneys. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with renal anomaly were randomly divided into two groups. Exclusion criteria was stone size >3.5 cm. Twenty six had malrotation, 21 had horseshoe kidney and 3 had ectopic pelvic kidneys. For 25 patients, TPCNL was performed with preoperative CT scan and in the remnant only intravenous urography and renal ultrasonography were done, preoperatively. The incidence of complications and outcomes were compared between two groups in a 1 month period. RESULTS: In the group with preoperative CT scan, the mean (SD) stone size was 2.9 (0.75) vs. 2.7 (0.95) cm2. Between the two groups, there were not statistical differences in the mean (SD) analgesic requirement, hemoglobin drop, operation time, hospital stay, and return to normal activity. They were 7.5 (1.7) vs. 6.1 (1.9) mg of morphine, 1.20 (0.36) vs. 1.52 (0.27) mg/dl, 64 (13.2) vs. 59 (13.3) minutes, 1.9 (0.4) vs. 1.7 (0.45) and 12.4(2.9) vs. 10 (3.5) days, respectively. Only 2 patients required blood transfusion and one patient had postoperative pneumothorax in the group with CT while in the other group, three patients required postoperative transfusion and one showed postoperative fever. A successful outcome at the first attempt was 88% in group with CT vs. 80% in the other group. CONCLUSION: It seems that TPCNL could be done with safety in renal anomalies by omitting preoperative CT scan.

Use of Surgicel for sealing nephrostomy tract after totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fibrin glue and gelatin matrix have been used to seal nephrostomy tracts to reduce bleeding and extravasation after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). In this study, Surgicel (oxidized cellulose) was used to seal the nephrostomy tract after totally tubeless PNL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with kidney calculi were treated with totally tubeless PNL. According to randomization, at the conclusion of surgery, the nephrostomy tracts were sealed with Surgicel in ten patients and left unsealed in the other ten. Postoperatively, the two groups were compared with respect to hematocrit changes and extravasation as detected by abdominal ultrasonography and wound-dressing inspection. RESULTS: There was statistically significant decrease in the hematocrit in both the study (P = 0.017) and the control (P = 0.003) group. When the two groups were compared with respect to the decrease in hematocrit, no statistically significant difference was seen (P = 0.241). Similarly, extravasation from the nephrostomy tract was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Sealing the nephrostomy tract with Surgicel after totally tubeless PNL did not decrease bleeding or extravasation from the tract.

Totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the requirement for routine placement of a ureteral stent and a nephrostomy tube following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 43 patients underwent totally tubeless PCNL and was compared with a control group of 43 age-, sex-, weight-, and procedure-matched patients who had previously undergone PCNL with placement of a ureteral stent and a nephrostomy tube. Exclusion criteria for the tubeless approach were more than two percutaneous accesses, significant perforation of the collecting system, a large residual stone burden, significant postoperative bleeding, ureteral obstruction, and renal anomaly. The incidence of complications, length of hospitalization, analgesia requirements, and interval to return to normal activities were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: All 43 percutaneous procedures were performed without significant complications. None of the patients demonstrated urinoma in postoperative renal ultrasound scans. The average length of hospital stay was 1.6 days, with two-thirds of the patients staying <1 day for the study group, and 5.2 days for the controls (P < 0.001). The average analgesia requirement was 9.8 mg and 28.4 mg of morphine, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients returned to normal activities with 12.7 days v 24.6 days for the controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Totally tubeless PCNL is a safe and effective procedure. The hospitalization and analgesia requirements are less and the return to normal activities faster with this technique.

Effect of smoking on prognostic factors of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of smoking on the clinical characteristics and growth trend of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study from February 2000 to March 2003, patients with TCC of bladder, referred to our clinic, were selected and divided into high-grade and low-grade groups. Groups were matched for other known risk factors and the effect of smoking on size, number, and presenting grade of TCC in each group was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients, with a mean age of 65.1 +/- 14.0 year, were included in this study, of whom 36 were females and 149 were males (male to female ratio of 4.1 to 1). Eighty-three patients were smokers (44.9%) with a mean 20.01 +/- 11.09 pack-year (range 0.75 to 60) smoking history. History of smoking was positive in 36.1% of the patients with low-grade tumors; whereas, 90% of the patients with high-grade tumors were smokers (P = 0.000, OR = 15.9, 95% CI: 6.7-36.9). There was a statistically significant correlation between the history of smoking and size and number of tumoral lesions (P = 0.000, P = 0.000, respectively). Positive history of smoking was also associated with higher grades of tumor in both men and women (OR = 12.8 and 8.8, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study showed that smoking not only induces bladder cancer, but also, once it develops, it can increase the grade of tumor, resulting in worse prognosis. Thus, smoking cessation might favorably alter the course of bladder cancer.