Renal vascular injuries.

Even today, most renal vascular injuries result in loss of renal function. Kidney salvage is not possible because of late diagnosis and the presence of severe associated injuries. Physical exam and basic laboratory tests are not sensitive; thus, a high index of suspicion is required. Repair should be attempted for all solitary kidneys and for patients sustaining bilateral injuries. All viable kidneys should be revascularized in order to increase the chances of obtaining adequate functional renal tissue. In the event that revascularization is not feasible, nephrectomy can be performed at a later time, if hypertension develops. In some cases, delayed return of function is possible, but in most cases the kidney will atrophy without producing hypertension. Most importantly, maintaining a high index of suspicion, prompt diagnostic evaluation, and judicious treatment can optimize outcome lowering the significant morbidity and mortality of renal vascular injuries.

Clinical and radiological findings in patients with gas forming renal abscess treated conservatively.

PURPOSE: Emphysematous pyelonephritis in diabetics is considered a potentially lethal infection. Mortality rates of patients treated conservatively approaches 80% in some series. These patients often present with signs of sepsis or septic shock. In contrast, gas forming renal abscess is rare, with patients presenting entirely differently from those with emphysematous pyelonephritis. To our knowledge this process has been previously described only in isolated case reports. We describe a series of 5 patients with this distinct process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 5 patients with gas forming renal abscesses. RESULTS: Each patient presented with diabetes mellitus with initial blood glucose ranging from 313 to 552 mg./dl., fever (average 101F), flank or abdominal pain and pyuria. No patient had evidence of septic shock at hospitalization. Escherichia coli was the documented organism in each case. Mild renal insufficiency was noted in most patients based on serum creatinine. Radiological evaluation revealed gas filled pockets within the renal parenchyma, which were most effectively shown by computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen. There was no radiological evidence of pus. Percutaneous drainage of an abscess in 1 case did not produce any purulent material or alter the clinical course. Each patient responded to correction of the underlying metabolic abnormalities with intravenous antibiotics (average 23 days) followed by prolonged oral antibiotic therapy (average 9 weeks). In contrast to the management of emphysematous pyelonephritis, surgical or percutaneous drainage was not necessary. Serial CT revealed complete resolution of gas in the parenchyma within 6 months in patients with long-term followup. Of note, gas was persistent on CT months after infection had clinically resolved. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a unique entity within the spectrum of pyelonephritis. The clinical appearance of gas forming abscesses within the renal parenchyma without liquefaction in diabetic patients was remarkably benign compared to the radiographic appearance of the disease process. Conservative management with intravenous and oral antibiotics was successful in each patient, avoiding the need for invasive intervention.

Comparison of the breaking strength of polyglactin mesh in urine, serum, and cell culture media.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the durability of polyglactin woven mesh in various in vitro environments, including urine, since polyglactin 901 mesh has been considered for implementation in urinary tract reconstruction. METHODS: Segments of 1 x 1-cm sterile woven and knitted polyglactin 910 mesh with and without collagen coating were exposed to the following conditions: dry (at room temperature and at 37 degrees C, humidified air), in porcine and human serum and urine, in porcine urine over a range of pH levels, in infected urine, in cell culture media (MCDB 105 with 5% fetal bovine serum), and in cell culture media with porcine bladder fibroblasts. The mesh breaking strength was measured at 0, 12, 21, 28, and 36 days. RESULTS: The mean breaking strength for dry, room temperature mesh segments measured 350 g for all time intervals. At day 21, the breaking strength for all mesh types in human and porcine serum, cell culture media, and cell culture media with bladder fibroblasts was less than 10% of the control, but the human and porcine urine maintained 12% to 24% of the control breaking strength (this difference did not reach statistical significance). There was no significant difference in the breaking strength in human and porcine urine or human and porcine serum. By day 38, the breaking strength for all mesh types in all solutions was less than 5% of the control breaking strength. The presence of fibroblasts increased the rate of degradation of the mesh compared with the urine, serum, and cell culture media alone. There was a significant prolongation of degradation with decreasing pH, as well as with infected urine. This prolongation was additive; in fact, all mesh types in low pH (5.0), infected urine showed minimal degradation at 38 days. CONCLUSIONS: In acidic infected urine, the durability of polyglactin 910 mesh is significantly prolonged compared with the other conditions tested. Therefore, when used in urinary tract reconstruction, as in other organ systems, the integrity of the polyglactin mesh should diminish rapidly after 3 weeks as long as the urine is kept sterile and a neutral to alkaline pH is maintained.

Endoscopic ureteroneocystostomy for post-transplantation ureterovesical junction stenosis.

We report a new technique for the management of ureterovesical junction stenosis in a renal transplant recipient. Endoscopic retrograde resection of a bladder window permitted direct retroperitoneal vision and longitudinal incision of the distal ureter. Ureteral and bladder mucosa were in close proximity and were stabilized with a double-J catheter. This alternative transmural transvesical ureteroneocystostomy had minimal morbidity and may be an alternative to traditional open surgical repair of these lesions.