Reducing the rate of negative ureteroscopy: predictive factors and the role of preoperative imaging.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate factors that may predict a negative ureteroscopy (URS) performed for ureteric calculi in prestented patients and to assess preoperative imaging in reducing the rate of negative URS. METHODS: Data were collected on emergency stent placement for a ureteric calculus from April 2011 to February 2016 (Group A) and October 2016 to October 2019 (Group B). Data included patient demographics, indication for a stent, stone characteristics, baseline bloods, urine culture, readmission, negative URS rate and the use of pre-URS imaging. Multivariate logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 257 patients who underwent emergency stent insertion, 251 underwent deferred URS for a ureteric calculus and 6 avoided URS due to pre-URS imaging. Indications for stent were pain (42%), sepsis (39%) and acute kidney injury (19%). Mean stone size was 7.8mm, mean stone density was 699 Hounsfield units (HU) and the stone locations were upper (62%), mid (13%) and lower ureter (25%). The overall negative URS rate was 12%. The negative URS rate was lower in patients with pre-URS imaging compared with those with none, 6% and 14%, respectively (OR=2.33, 95% CI: 0.69-7.56, p=0.2214). Logistic regression analysis indicated stone size as the only significant predictor of a negative URS, where the greater the size of the stone the less likely URS would be negative (ß=0.75, 95% CI: 0.60-0.94 p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Utilising pre-URS imaging can lead to a reduction in negative URS rate. Stone size <5mm appears to be the subgroup most likely to benefit from imaging.

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 difficult ureter: what is the incidence of pre-stenting?

INTRODUCTION: Difficulty may be encountered with retrograde access for rigid and flexible ureterorenoscopy (URS) due to anatomic abnormalities, a narrow ureteric lumen, tortuous ureteric path or previous instrumentation. Ureteric dilatation using a balloon or tapered dilator can occasionally fail and will usually lead to the placement of a ureteric stent. We present our experience and incidence of pre-stenting after failed standard access and dilatation techniques, the aim being to quote a figure for the patient at the time of consent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from a single surgeon at a regional tertiary referral stone unit. The outcomes of those patients pre-stented, for failed access, were recorded. RESULTS: Between December 2007 and December 2008, a total of 119 patients underwent flexible and rigid URS. Mean patient age was 49 years (range, 19-86 years). Of these, 107 cases were undertaken for urolithiasis and 12 cases for diagnosis of upper tract malignancy. 12% (13/107) of cases were for pain and non-diagnostic imaging and 8.4% (9/107) of patients were pre-stented because of failed access, without complication, and subsequently had successful interval treatment. Of the remaining successful cases of confirmed urolithiasis, 33% (28/85) and 67% (56/85) were undertaken for ureteric and renal calculi, respectively. Stone clearance rates were 83% (19/23) and 75% (3/4) for lower pole renal calculi 5-10 mm and > 10 mm in size, respectively. The overall clearance rate for lower pole calculi was 81% (22/27). The ureteric stone clearance rate was 86% (24/28) rising to 92% (24/26) in those solitary stones less than 10 mm in size. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ureteric pre-stenting in a tertiary referral unit was 8% and should be considered and indeed discussed with patients when obtaining pre-operative consent, especially for purely elective, non-urgent, upper tract cases. The alternative for these difficult, tight ureters is extensive balloon dilatation, with the risk of trauma and the potential for long-term stricture formation.

A randomized controlled trial of nephrostomy placement versus tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

PURPOSE: We established whether totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy with no nephrostomy or ureteral stent is a safe management technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to have a nephrostomy placed (group 1 control) or none (group 2 treatment). A total of 25 patients were randomized to each group. Cases were considered uncomplicated and suitable for randomization if there was no significant bleeding or residual stone load, the pelvicaliceal system was intact and there was no evidence of a residual ureteral stone. The primary outcome measure was length of stay, and secondary outcomes were analgesic requirements and postoperative complications such as bleeding, infection or ureteral obstruction. Hospital readmission rates and stone clearance rates were also recorded. RESULTS: Mean stone size was 21.6 vs 17.5 mm. There were no transfusions in either group. Hemoglobin change was 2.03 vs 1.18 gm/dl and mean creatinine increase was 0.029 vs -0.111 mg/dl. There were no differences in hemorrhage, infection and serum parameters. There were no readmissions in either group. Mean length of stay was 3.4 vs 2.3 days (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This trial demonstrates that percutaneous nephrolithotomy without nephrostomy or stent is a safe and well tolerated procedure in selected patients. Length of stay was reduced with no major complications in either group. We believe that totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be considered an accepted standard of care for selected cases and it is possible to reserve placement of a nephrostomy tube or internal ureteral stent for specific indications.

Clostridium difficile in urology.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to determine the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in a UK urology ward from 2000 to 2005, and correlate and compare the data with other specialty wards and national figures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Urology patients with a positive stool culture for C. difficile between 2000 and 2005 were identified from a hospital database. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and data such as antibiotic use, urological diagnosis and elective/emergency status of the patient were recorded and analysed. The number of C. difficile cases on an elderly care ward, an acute medical ward and an acute surgical ward were also recorded for this period. Data on the number of admissions and occupied bed-days on all 4 wards were compared. RESULTS: There were 33 cases of C. difficile on the urology ward between 2000 and 2005. The incidence of this infection varied between 10.2 and 48.4 cases per 10,000 patient episodes (mean 21.0). There was a significant difference between the number of C. difficile cases per 1000 patient days between the urology ward and the acute medical ward (P = 0.002) and the elderly care ward (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to suggest that there has been an increase in the incidence of C. difficile in a UK urology ward. The rates on the urology ward were lower than the national average, and significantly lower than those rates on an acute medical ward and an elderly care ward. There is a 0.21% chance of a patient testing positive for C. difficile during their stay on a urology ward.

Day-case rigid and flexible ureteroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of rigid and flexible ureteroscopy as a day-surgery procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients requiring elective ureteroscopy from March 2004 were considered for a day-surgery procedure. The standard day-surgery exclusions existed but there were no urological criteria for exclusion. A single consultant urologist performed or supervised all procedures. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients underwent 50 rigid and 14 flexible procedures. Six diagnostic ureteroscopies were performed. There was a 96% stone clearance rate. Five patients required an unplanned admission within the first 2 weeks' postoperatively. Three of these patients were admitted on the day of surgery, two for pain and one for social reasons. Two patients were admitted at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, for urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopy, both rigid and flexible, is a safe procedure for the day-surgery setting. Routine use of prophylactic antibiotics, intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in an acceptable re-admission rate.

A key cause of paraphimosis.

A 90-year-old man on hormonal treatment for invasive (T4) adenocarcinoma of the prostate presented as an emergency with a paraphimosis secondary to placement of four circumferential key rings around his penis. He had experienced referred penile pain from his prostate cancer, and to overcome this, had attempted to 'gate out' his pain by constricting his penis and thus stimulating the pudendal nerve. His treatment in our unit consisted of a penile local anaesthetic block, removal of the key rings with a ring cutter and manual reduction of the paraphimosis.

A 4-year review of balloon dilation of ureteral strictures in renal allografts.

BACKGROUND: Ureteral obstruction necessitating intervention occurs in 2% to 7.5% of all renal allograft recipients. Conventional management includes open surgical repair, although more recently, percutaneous ureteral dilation has been performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The management and outcome of all seven allograft ureteral strictures treated with balloon dilation in our unit over a 4-year period were reviewed. Half (55%) of these strictures occurred in the proximal ureter. RESULTS: Four strictures were dilated successfully with a requirement for five dilations in total. These patients have stable graft function with no evidence of obstruction. Five strictures persisted despite 11 dilations. There were no significant complications from balloon dilation. CONCLUSION: Definitive surgical management should be considered if obstruction persists after one attempt at ureteral dilation, as multiple dilations have a low success rate (25%).

Percutaneous retrograde varicocele embolisation using tungsten embolisation coils: a five year audit.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous retrograde varicocele embolisation using Spirale tungsten coils over a period of five years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients underwent local anaesthetic day case varicocele embolisation via a right femoral approach. Venous anatomy was identified and classified. Morbidity and recurrence were recorded at three month clinical follow up. RESULTS: The procedurewas technically successful in 94% of the patients. The varicocele recurred in 16%, the majority of whom had complex venous anatomy. 8% of the patients complained of discomfort at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Although the coils used in this study have been withdrawn, a high technical success rate is described with failure being predominantly due to complex venous anatomy.

Five-year data from the Oxford Laser Prostatectomy Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the natural history of a group of patients who underwent contact laser prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were followed up at 5 years after enrolling in a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial of TURP vs contact laser prostatectomy. RESULTS: Of the initial trial patients, 11.5% had died (seven in the laser and 10 in the TURP arm) and eight (5.4%) were too incapacitated by coexistent medical disease to respond to the questionnaires. Thirty-eight patients were not available for follow-up, despite numerous invitations. Thirteen of the laser patients (18%) and 11 of the TURP patients (14.5%) had undergone re-operation. Two patients from each arm had received alpha-blockers for worsening symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after prostatic surgery, a significant number of patients were dead or disabled by coexistent medical disease. The re-operation rate after TURP and contact laser prostatectomy were similar.

A double-blind randomized controlled trial and economic evaluation of transurethral resection vs contact laser vaporization for benign prostatic enlargement: a 3-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of contact laser prostate surgery in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and contact laser prostatectomy was conducted, with an economic evaluation of both procedures. The primary outcome measure was the change in the American Urologic Association symptom score, with secondary outcome measures being the peak urinary flow rate, treatment-related complications, re-operation rate and health service costs. RESULTS: The perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements were statistically significantly lower for laser prostatectomy than for TURP. There was no clinically significant difference between TURP and contact laser prostatectomy in the mean change in symptom scores and flow rates. There were distinct perioperative advantages in favour of the contact laser treatment, but some disadvantages in terms of re-catheterization and re-operation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Contact laser prostatectomy is a valid treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy. The performance of contact laser prostatectomy as day-case surgery would have cost advantages to the National Health Service.

An audit of positive findings in flexible and rigid check cystoscopy.

Both flexible and rigid cysto-urethroscopy are routinely used in the surveillance of transitional cell bladder tumours. This study addressed the issue of patient selection for either rigid or flexible cystoscopy. What proportion of positive findings at flexible cystoscopy and negative findings at rigid cystoscopy are acceptable? Standards were set of 10% for the former and 50% for the latter and our practice was then audited. A retrospective analysis of 800 patients undergoing check cystoscopy revealed a positive finding rate of 8.3% using the flexible instrument and 48.1% using the rigid instrument.