Comparing the effect of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis only with continuous low-dose antibiotic treatment on the incidence of urinary tract infection and stent related-symptoms in patients undergoing Double-J (DJ) stent insertion following transurethral lithotripsy (TUL).

PURPOSE: There are some controversial data about the peri operative use of antibiotics after double-J (DJ) insertion. This study aimed to compare the rates of urinary tract infections (UTI) and stent-related symptoms (SRSs) in patients who received only perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and those given continuous low-dose antibiotic therapy for the entire stent-indwelling time following transurethral lithotripsy (TUL). METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial 178 patients received intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis (ciprofloxacin 400 mg) before the TUL and then randomly divided into two groups to either receive no antibiotic treatment after procedure (group A, 90 patients) or to additionally receive a continuous low-dose antibiotic treatment with one ciprofloxacin 500 mg every 12 h for 3 days and then ciprofloxacin 250 mg once daily for the entire stent-indwelling time (group B, 88 patients). The rates of UTIs, SRSs and incidence of drug side-effects were evaluated in groups. RESULTS: A total of 7 patients had positive urine culture [group A: 4 (4.4%) vs. group B: 3 (3.4%); P = 0.722]. Only 1 patient in group B had febrile UTI in the mean duration of indwelling stent in situ. The rate of SRSs was 92.2% and 89.8% in Group A and B, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.609). A total of 4 patients in Group B complained of gastrointestinal side effects of ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Continuous low-dose antibiotic treatment has no role in reducing the incidence of UTIs and SRSs during the indwelling time of ureteral stents compared with the peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis only.

Comparing spinal anesthesia approaches for transurethral lithotripsy in patients with proximal ureteral stones: A randomized clinical trial of bupivacaine alone versus bupivacaine with fentanyl.

Despite the benefits of spinal anesthesia and the preference of anesthesiologists for this technique, it is less accepted by urologists due to the proximity of the stone place in the ureter and the possibility of pain, restlessness, and occasional movements of the patient during surgery. The current study investigated the success of bupivacaine plus intrathecal fentanyl in patients undergoing transurethral lithotripsy (TUL). In this randomized clinical trial, from April 2021 to September 2021, 54 patients with proximal urolithiasis candidates for TUL were enrolled. Patients were randomly categorized into two groups: group A received bupivacaine 10 mg and 0.5 ml of normal saline, while group B received bupivacaine 10 mg with 0.5 ml (25µg) of intrathecal fentanyl. According to our findings, about 74% of the patients were men, and the mean age of the patients was 66.14±22.46 years. The onset time of the sensory block, sensory block level, pain score, degree of relaxation, depth of the motor block, occurrence of anesthesia complications, oxygen saturation, and mean arterial blood pressure were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the duration of the motor block in group B was longer than in group A (p<0.001). Also, retropulsion was observed only in five patients (18.5%) in group A, significantly higher than in group B (p=0.019). Bupivacaine with fentanyl 25µg provided adequate spinal anesthesia with lower retropulsion in patients with urolithiasis who are candidates for TUL.

Effectiveness of tamsulosin in prevention of post-operative urinary retention: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Purpose: Urinary retention is one of the most common complications contributing to surgical procedures. Recent studies have shown the benefits of alpha-adrenergic blockers in preventing post-operative urinary retention (POUR). The aim of this prospective study was to compare the prophylactic effect of tamsulosin with placebo on postoperative urinary retention. Materials and Methods: In this randomized placebo controlled, clinical trial, 232 male patients aged 18 to 50 years old admitted to Razi University Hospital for varicocelectomy, inguinal herniorrhaphy, and scrotal surgery were randomly assigned to receive either three doses of 0.4mg tamsulosin (n = 118) or placebo (n = 114), 14 and 2 hours before, and 10 hours after surgery. Patients were closely monitored for the development of urinary retention 24 hours after surgical intervention. The primary endpoint was to investigate the effect of tamsulosin in prevention of post-operative urinary retention during the first 24 hours after surgical intervention. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18 and the P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred and eighteen patients were included in tamsulosin arm and 114 in placebo arm. POUR in patients who received tamsulosin was significantly lower than placebo, as 5.9% of the patients treated with tamsulosin and 21.1% placebo group, reported urinary retention following surgery (P = 0.001). No serious adverse effects were seen in both groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that short perioperative treatment with tamsulosin can reduce the incidence of urinary retention and the need for catheterization after varicocelectomy, inguinal herniorrhaphy, and scrotal surgery. .

Middle calyx access in complete supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: Middle calyx access has been underused in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), especially in the supine position. We compared the safety and efficacy outcomes between middle calyx and lower calyx accesses in the complete supine PCNL in a non-randomized single-surgeon clinical study. METHODS: Between February 2008 and October 2011, 170 patients underwent posterior subcostal single tract complete supine PCNL with one-shot dilation and middle calyx (n = 48) and lower calyx (n = 122) accesses. Stone location and surgeon decision determined target calyx for access. Inclusion criteria were pelvis stones, staghorn stones and multiple location stones. Exclusion criteria were renal anomalies, only upper calyx stones, only middle calyx stones and only lower calyx stones. Important parameters were compared between the two groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Two groups were similar in important patient- and stone-related parameters. Mean operative time (60.7 minutes), mean postoperative hospital stay (1.84 days) and mean hemoglobin drop (0.67 g/dL) in the middle calyx group were significantly lesser than in the lower calyx group (80.1 minutes, 2.19 days, 1.36 g/dL). The middle calyx group (89.6%; 79.6%) had a higher stone-free rate (p = 0.054) and efficiency quotient than the lower calyx group (76.2%; 61.6%). In the middle calyx group (10.4%; 2.1%), complication and transfusion rates were lesser (p > 0.05) than lower calyx group (14.8%; 7.4%). No significant difference (p = 0.40) was seen between two groups using the modified Clavien classification of complications. INTERPRETATION: Middle calyx can be an optimal access in PCNL with the complete supine position for many of upper urinary tract stones due to its superior outcomes.

Factors affecting operative time during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: our experience with the complete supine position.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Operative time influences surgical outcomes, operation-related and indirectly anesthesia-related complications. We investigated variables that affect operative time during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with the complete supine position. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed data of 120 patients who underwent complete supine PCNL by one surgeon. Correlation between age, sex, body mass index (BMI), preoperative serum creatinine and hemoglobin levels, history (stone surgery, shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), hypertension, diabetes), stone (side, opacity, burden, complexity), imaging for access, calix for access, number of tracts, and tubeless approach with operative time were assessed by univariate and multivariate statistical tests. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 60.62±30.70 minutes. In univariate analysis, age, sex, groups of BMI, hypertension, diabetes, previous stone surgery and SWL, stone opacity, operation side, number of tracts, and tubeless approach had no effect on operative time. BMI (P=0.029, negative correlation), stone burden (P=0.001, positive correlation), imaging for access (P=0.001, fluoroscopylower>middle) and probably complex stones (P=0.057, complex>noncomplex) were effective factors on operative time. Multiple linear regression revealed association between BMI (P=0.000, negative correlation), stone burden (P=0.005, positive correlation), imaging for access (P=0.000, fluoroscopy