Bilateral single system ectopic ureters with bilateral urethral insertion and horseshoes kidneys in a female child.

A 14-months old female child was diagnosed with bilateral single system ectopic ureters opening into the urethra, with small bladder capacity, horseshoes kidneys, and bilateral hydronephrosis, presenting recurrent febrile UTI accompanied by continuous incontinence and elevated renal function. Early bilateral re-implantation of the ureters (modified Lich-Gregoir) was done in one setting, resulting jn no recurring febrile UTIs and continuous wetting, improving renal function parameter, competent bladder neck, and 10 folds increased in bladder capacity after 1-year follow up. We showed that earlier treatment enables patient to preserve both renal and bladder function without involving complex reconstructive surgery.

The learning curve for a single surgeon using ultrasonography to guide supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy with an alken metal telescopic dilator.

Ultrasound (US) has three advantages over fluoroscopy for guiding percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNCL): it provides an assessment of adjacent structures and real-time puncture adjustment, and is radiation free. This study aimed to define the number of procedures that should be performed to achieve competence in US-guided PCNL using an Alken metal telescopic dilator. A non-randomised retrospective study with consecutive sampling was used for the study design. A total of 50 patients above 18 years of age with the largest diameter of renal stone ≥20 mm were included. They were divided into five groups based on timing of the surgery to evaluate and visualise improvements based on primary outcomes within the groups. Line charts were used, and statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the learning curve. Most of the base characteristics between the groups were similar. Tract dilatation time decreased significantly after 20 PCNLs were performed (p < 0.001). Stone-free status markedly increased after 20 PCNLs were performed (p < 0.001). Postoperative fever (10%) and need for blood transfusion (26%) were the only complications. Basic competency was achievable after 20 PCNL procedures were performed, and further improvements in outcomes were achieved after 40 PCNLs with an acceptable rate of non-severe complications.

X-ray-free Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Supine Position Using Alken Metal Telescoping Dilators in a Large Kidney Stone: A Case Report.

X-ray-free ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has been proven to be safe, feasible, and affordable. Kidney dilatation during X-ray-free ultrasound-guided PCNL is mostly using balloon dilators. This report presents our experience of performing X-ray-free ultrasound-guided PCNL in supine position using Alken metal telescopic dilators in a patient with a large kidney stone. A 50-year-old male presented with right complete staghorn stone sized 46×30×24 mm (stone burden: 50,985 mm3 with sphere formula) and grade II hydronephrosis. The computed tomography (CT) scan showed no right ureteric stone, kinking, or stenosis. Ureteral catheter and guidewire were placed retrogradely under ultrasound guidance during cystoscopy. Normal saline was pumped via the ureteral catheter to make artificial hydronephrosis thus assisting the process. Kidney dilatation was performed with Alken metal telescoping dilators. Urine flow from the dilators confirmed that our dilator had reached the collecting system. The stone was identified and fragmented with combination of both pneumatic and shock pulse lithotripter. Double J stent and nephrostomy tubes were inserted at the end of the procedure. All of the steps were performed purely under ultrasound guidance. There was no residual stone after the procedure, confirmed by ultrasound, nephroscope, and postoperative X-ray. There was no significant complication during or after the procedure. The patient was discharged on postoperative day two. X-ray-free ultrasound-guided PCNL in supine position using Alken metal telescoping dilators seems to be a feasible, safe, and cost-effective approach in managing kidney stones, including staghorn and large stones.

X-ray-free ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a comparative study with historical control.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes and complications of supine X-ray-free ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (XG-PCNL) with fluoroscopy-guided (FG)-PCNL in both prone and supine positions. METHODS: This was a comparative study that included a prospective cohort and historical control groups. This study analysed 40 consecutive patients who undergone supine XG-PCNL between October 2019 and March 2020. The control groups were composed of historical control formed from the last 40 consecutive patients who underwent FG-PCNL in both supine and prone positions from our PCNL database from January 2018 and September 2019. Patients' demographics, stone characteristics and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were classified into the supine XG-PCNL, supine FG-PCNL, and prone FG-PCNL groups (each N = 40). They had similar baseline characteristics and initial stone burden. The supine XG-PCNL group had higher puncture attempts, nephrostomy tube placement, and longer surgery duration than both the supine and prone FG-PCNL groups. However, the stone-free rate was similar in all groups (85%, supine XG-PCNL; 72.5%, supine FG-PCNL; 77.5% prone FG-PCNL; p = 0.39). No significant difference was found in the complication rate and length of stay among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Supine XG-PCNL is an alternative to both supine and prone FG-PCNL with similar efficacy and complication rates for kidney stone patients. This could be a good alternative to urological centres with no access to fluoroscopy.

TUR-P phantom for resident surgical training: food-based design as a human mimicking model of the prostate.

PURPOSE: This study would like to develop a novel model similar to human prostate in terms of its texture profile, sensation upon resection, and anatomical hallmarks for resident transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) training. METHODS: Ten phantom designs were proposed, using broadly available ingredients and a homemade protocol. Three steps of evaluation and development were done: objective measurement measuring texture profile (e.g. hardness, elasticity, cohesiveness/consistency, and adhesiveness/stickiness) using TA-XT2i Texture Analyzer (Llyod Instruments, Ametek Inc) to compare the designs with human prostate, finding the most similar design to prostate; expert consensus by a panel of urologist/senior residents comparing the simulation of TUR-P on the selected design with pre-existing control phantom; and anatomical design development using 3D printing for molding. RESULTS: Texture profile analysis for mean hardness, elasticity, cohesiveness/consistency, and adhesiveness/stickiness of human prostate was 3753.4 ± 673.4, 85 ± 1.9, 0.7 ± 0.03, and 0, respectively, and design IX was the most similar to human prostate (3660.7 ± 465.6, 87.0 ± 2.5, 0.6 ± 0.05, 0). Furthermore, expert consensus showed superiority of design IX compared with pre-existing control phantom (16.95 ± 1.36 vs 8.86 ± 3.10; P < 0.001). Most of the respondents agreed that the texture, consistency, and phantom ability to mimic human prostate upon resection were similar with human prostate, though hallmarks of the prostate e.g. veromontanum, and lobes were lacking. We used these feedbacks to develop a mold, designed to produce these important anatomical hallmarks. CONCLUSION: This study developed a cost-effective prostate model from a food-based design that is similar to human prostate in terms of its texture and sensation upon TUR-P resection provided with important anatomical hallmarks.