Combined antegrade and retrograde access to difficult ureters: revisiting the rendezvous technique.

INTRODUCTION: Complex ureteric strictures present a significant challenge to the endourologist and uro-radiologist. Multiple separate interventions to try to cross the stricture are often attempted. We describe our experience managing a heterogenous patient group using the 'rendezvous' procedure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 16 patients and 18 ureters (one bilateral procedure, and two separate procedures in one patient) underwent rendezvous procedures. Seven patients had coexisting ureteric calculi treated. Each case was followed up for between 3 months and 5 years. RESULTS: In 16/18 ureters there was technical success at time of surgery; successfully crossing the stricture, allowing ureteroscopic access to the ureter, dilating and/or stenting the ureter. 2/18 were unsuccessful; one secondary to advanced malignancy resulting in a uretero-vaginal fistula and the second a failure to remove a retained, displaced ureteric stent. Of the 18 ureteric procedures; 7/18 were stent free at 3 months, improving to 8/18 stent free at 6 months. 4/18 remained nephrostomy dependent (failure of drainage despite stent or failure to stent) at 3 months, increasing to 6/18 being nephrostomy dependent at 6 months. 1/16 remained dialysis dependent with a nephrostomy tube. For those procedures involving ureteric calculi, 6/7 were stone free and 1/5 had a persistent stone fragment requiring further intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A combined approach may decrease the number of separate interventions required, with the aim of removing the need for a long-term nephrostomy, as well as providing opportunity to treat ureteric calculi in the context of stricture disease. Our experience has been that where the rendezvous has been required to treat strictures caused by malignant extrinsic compression, stenting has not been successful; this information is key to informed consent in a group of patients who may have a limited life expectancy.

The diagnostic yield of computed tomography in the management of acute flank pain and the emergency intervention rate for a proven acute ureteric stone.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnostic and management pathways for patients presenting with acute flank pain are complex. Although computed tomography (CT) of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (KUB) is the gold standard investigation for urolithiasis, the multitude of differential diagnoses must also be considered in the context of long-term risk from ionising radiation. This study investigated the integrated role and diagnostic yield of non-contrast CT in cases of acute flank pain. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of 1,442 consecutive patients investigated with CT KUB between March 2013 and February 2015. The primary outcome was diagnostic yield of CT with secondary outcomes being predictors of need for urological intervention. RESULTS: A cause for acute flank pain was identified in 717 patients (50%), there was an incidental finding in 389 patients (27%) and normal imaging was reported in 336 patients (23%). A diagnosis was more commonly made in male than in female patients (70% vs 40%) and with increasing age (46% in patients aged <30 years, 56% in those aged 30-49 years and 63% in those aged ≥50 years). The overall rate for an ipsilateral urinary tract stone was 41%. Factors strongly associated with emergency intervention included stone size >10mm (odds ratio [OR]: 11.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3-42.7), stones located at the pelviureteric junction (OR: 7.8, 95% CI: 2.6-22.9), C-reactive protein >50mg/l and ≤100mg/l (OR: 15.2, 95% CI: 5.1-45.3), and estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤30ml/min (OR: 5.8, 95% CI: 1.5-21.8). CONCLUSIONS: This contemporary study identifies age and sex as independent variables affecting the diagnostic yield of CT KUB in cases of acute flank pain, and highlights factors associated with a need for emergency intervention in proven ureteric stones.