A single centre experience of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in infants and its long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Renal stones in infants requiring Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is rare. There is insufficient literature on the long-term implications of PCNL in growing kidneys of these children. OBJECTIVES: To review our experience of PCNL amongst infants i.e., < 1year of age and to analyse the safety and efficacy of this procedure and assess its long-term renal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained data base between 2005 and 2020. All infants with unilateral renal stones >12 mm underwent PCNL. Changes in the serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate and renal size prior to the PCNL and at the last follow up were monitored. The demographics, clinical profile, operative details, post-operative complications and follow up data were collated and analyzed. RESULTS: 86 children were diagnosed with renal stones of whom, 24 infants met our inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The average age was 9.75 months with fever being the commonest presenting symptom. Five infants were diagnosed with metabolic abnormalities, hypercalciuria being the commonest. Majority of the infants (22) had single stones and the lower calyx was the commonest site (50%). The mean stone burden was 19.5 mm. The stone free rate was 91% during the primary PCNL, which increased to 100% after re-do PCNL. The overall complication rate was 16% which was graded by the modified Clavien Dindo scale for surgical complications. The median follow up period was 144 months and average age at the last follow up was 10.5 years. At the last follow up, a mean serum creatinine of 0.4 mg/dl, mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 98 ml/min/1.72 m2 and a mean renal size of 8.3 cm was recorded, which was comparable to that of a normal child, thus signifying no deterioration of renal functions and renal growth. Three children showed the presence of cortical scars on an isotope scan at follow up. However, all the 24 operated renal units demonstrated preserved renal functions. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: PCNL performed during infancy does not hinder the growth potential of the kidney. Each of the 24 children achieved the target renal size and estimated glomerular filtration rate corresponding to the duration and body size at the end of the follow-up. Thus, PCNL in infants <1 year of age is safe and effective with no adverse effects at long term follow-up.

A Novel method of ensuring safe and accurate dilatation during percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To report our technique that helps locate the guidewire into the ureter enabling safe dilatation during PCNL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases in which the guidewire failed to pass into the ureter following successful puncture of the desired calyx were subjected to this technique. A second guidewire was passed through the outer sheath of a 9 Fr. metallic dilator cannula, passed over the first guidewire. The cannula and outer sheath were removed, followed by percutaneous passage of a 6/7.5 Fr ureteroscope between the two guidewires, monitoring its progress through both the endoscopic and fluoroscopic monitors. Once the stone was visualized in the calyx a guidewire was passed through the working channel and maneuvered past the stone into the pelvis and ureter under direct endoscopic vision. This was followed by routine tract dilatation. RESULTS: This technique was employed in 85 out of 675 cases of PCNL carried out at our institute between Jan 2010 to June 2014. The mean time required for our technique, calculated from the point of introduction of the ureteroscope untill the successful passage of the guidewire down into the ureter was 95 seconds. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications as a result of this technique. Guidewire could be successfully passed into the ureter in 82 out of 85 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the ureteroscope introduced percutaneously through the puncture site in PCNL, is a safe and effective technique that helps in maneuvering the guidewire down into the ureter, which subsequently enables safe dilatation.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of kidney masquerading as renal carcinoma.

Inflammatory pseudotumor also known as inflammatory fibroblastic tumor is a rare benign tumor, which commonly affects the lung. It is very rarely seen in the genitourinary tract. As the preoperative diagnosis, clinically and radiologically is inconclusive, it is imperative to surgically remove and confirm it on histopathologic examination. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor in a 51-year-old male who presented with flank pain and was treated with nephrectomy.

A Novel method of ensuring safe and accurate dilatation during percutaneous nephrolithotomy

ABSTRACT Objective: To report our technique that helps locate the guidewire into the ureter enabling safe dilatation during PCNL. Materials and Methods: Cases in which the guidewire failed to pass into the ureter following successful puncture of the desired calyx were subjected to this technique. A second guidewire was passed through the outer sheath of a 9 Fr. metallic dilator cannula, passed over the first guidewire. The cannula and outer sheath were removed, followed by percutaneous passage of a 6/7.5 Fr ureteroscope between the two guidewires, monitoring its progress through both the endoscopic and fluoroscopic monitors. Once the stone was visualized in the calyx a guidewire was passed through the working channel and maneuvered past the stone into the pelvis and ureter under direct endoscopic vision. This was followed by routine tract dilatation. Results: This technique was employed in 85 out of 675 cases of PCNL carried out at our institute between Jan 2010 to June 2014. The mean time required for our technique, calculated from the point of introduction of the ureteroscope untill the successful passage of the guidewire down into the ureter was 95 seconds. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications as a result of this technique. Guidewire could be successfully passed into the ureter in 82 out of 85 cases. Conclusions: Use of the ureteroscope introduced percutaneously through the puncture site in PCNL, is a safe and effective technique that helps in maneuvering the guidewire down into the ureter, which subsequently enables safe dilatation.

Laparoscopic extravesical detrusorraphy, a minimally invasive treatment option for vesicoureteral reflux: a single centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy in pediatric patients offers more benefits than was earlier presumed and these widely reported benefits significantly outweigh any concerns regarding the technical difficulties. Laparoscopic correction of vesicoureteral reflux aims to duplicate the excellent results of open surgery while at the same time reducing perioperative morbidity and analgesic requirements, improving cosmesis and shortening hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: To share our experience of laparoscopic extravesical detrusorraphy, highlight our technical modification of intraoperative minimal "atraumatic" ureteric handling of the ureter, which we hypothesize may decrease ureteral complications, and report our results. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective chart review of 76 toilet-trained children (98 refluxing units), in the age group of 3-16 years, with Grade I-IV reflux, who underwent laparoscopic detrusorraphy from June 2006 to January 2014. A ureteric catheter is inserted into the refluxing ureter and is tied to the Foleys to drain into a common bag. A three port technique is used. During ureteral dissection, a vascular sling in the form of a Rumel loop is used for atraumatic handling of the ureter. A detrusor tunnel is created with hook electrocautery. A stay suture is later passed through the abdominal wall and slings around the dissected ureter, which helps in holding the ureter approximated against the mucosal trough during detrusorraphy. Detrusor fibers are approximated with 5-0 Vicryl. No drain is placed and the Foley and ureteric catheter(s) are removed after 24 h. Intravenous ketorolac is given every 6 h for the first 24 h. Oral paracetamol is used for analgesia after the first 24 h. Adequate bladder emptying is ensured by assessment of post void residual urine before discharge. Renal USG alone is performed 2 weeks post operatively and repeated after 3 months along with a VCUG (voiding cystourethrography). Success was defined as absence of reflux in the follow-up VCUG done at 3 months. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 102 ± 26.5 min for unilateral detrusorraphy and 165 ± 18 min for bilateral extravesical detrusorraphy. The mean duration of hospital stay was 1.5 ± 1.7 days. There was one case of urinary retention that was managed with temporary recatheterization. There were no cases of ureteral ischemia, obstruction, hematuria or bladder spasms. Surgery was successful in 97.9% of the refluxing units (96/98). In two patients with grade IV reflux, there was downgrading to grade II on VCUG done at 3 months' follow-up. The reflux resolved at 8 and 14 months' follow-up, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our technique of atraumatic handling of the ureter, initially with the help of a vascular sling and later with the help of a stay suture passed percutaneously through the abdominal wall, resulted in no ureteric injuries. The postoperative morbidity of this procedure is low because the bladder is not opened, the ureter is not transected, no new UVJ is created and there is no need for placement of a drain. The risk of postoperative bowel adhesions is low as the ureter is dissected out through a narrow peritoneal window, which is again extraperitonealized at the end of the procedure (see figure). The postoperative complications of gross hematuria and bladder spasms, which may be especially encountered in patients undergoing laparoscopic Cohen's, were not seen in our case series. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic extravesical detrusorraphy provides a minimally invasive treatment option for treatment of unilateral/bilateral grade I-IV vesicoureteral reflux. The postoperative morbidity is low and the success rate is favorable. Our technical modification of a "vascular sling" around the ureter facilitates atraumatic ureteric handling, which may reduce distal ureteral complications like ureteral ischemia and obstruction.

Bleeding ureter: endometriosis mascarading as a ureteral malignancy - a case report.

Ureteral endometriosis is a serious localization of disease burden that can lead to urinary tract obstruction, with subsequent hydroureter, hydronephrosis, and potential kidney loss. As the diagnosis is elusive, a heavy clinical suspicion is necessary. Surgical technique to treatment varies, but the goal is to salvage renal function and decrease disease burden. Here, we are presenting a rare case of bleeding ureter in a young lady who had endometriosis of the ureter.

Fetus in bladder.

This is the first reported case of vesicouterine fistula presenting with a fully formed dead fetus in the urinary bladder.

Hepatic and adrenal hemangioendothelioma-a case report.

Haemangioendothelioma (HE) liver is a mesenchymal vascular tumour, intermediate between a haemangioma and an angiosarcoma. It has a variable clinical course, is a low grade malignancy and is associated with long-term survival. It has a characteristic histologic appearance. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that the neoplastic cells in HE are of endothelial derivation. These are essential to distinguish HE from metastatic carcinoma and primary epithelial liver tumour. We report a case of a 36-year-old male with HE of the liver with adrenal involvement, probably metastatic, with tuberculosis as an incidental finding. To our knowledge this is the first such case reported in literature. The confirmation of diagnosis was done by immunohistochemical study.

Recurrent renal cell carcinoma presenting as gastrointestinal bleed. A case report.

Recurrence in renal carcinoma after primary therapy is a rare but known event. The recurrences are often asymptomatic, but could manifest in varied forms depending on the organ involved. In this report, we present a case wherein the recurrent tumor had ulcerated into the duodenal lumen manifesting as an upper gastrointestinal bleed. A 58-year-old male patient underwent radical nephrectomy on the right side for renal cell carcinoma (T2, N0, M0). Three years and 5 months later, the patient presented with an acute episode of upper gastrointestinal bleed. The recurrence was diagnosed by biopsy through endoscopy and evaluated by computed tomography (CT) scan. The patient was managed with an en bloc pancreatico-duodenectomy after metastatic evaluation and is disease free for 2 years. Recurrences in renal cell carcinoma can show varied presentation. Only 2 cases of gastrointestinal bleed of recurrent renal cell carcinoma are reported. High index of suspicion and long term follow-up are required. Aggressive surgical management for recurrence of renal cell carcinoma is warranted as good prognosis could be expected in the absence of metastasis.