A Novel Distal Active Flexible Vacuum-assisted Ureteric Access Sheath in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is one of the primary treatments for renal stones. The ureteral access sheath (UAS) was widely used in RIRS.1,2 The aim of this paper is to introduce a new UAS, the distal active flexible vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheaths (DAFV-UAS), for the renal calculus during RIRS. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old female presented to the outpatient clinics of our hospital with a left renal lower calyx stone. Abdominal CT demonstrated that the left kidney's lower calyx stone size was 10.54 ×10.38 mm, and the mean Hounsfield density was 965HU. After adequate anti-infective treatment, the DAFV-UAS was used in RIRS. No perioperative complications were observed. The left renal stone had been cleared completely. DISCUSSION: The DAFV-UAS (10/12.5 Fr, 38 cm, creek, Jiangsu, China) includes a good flexibility and deformability tube at the tip, about 10 cm long. It has an active bending function, negative pressure suction function, and the function of convenient flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS) entry and exit of the ureter.3 In this case, the f-URS adopted a 7.5 Fr single-use digital f-URS. The Irrigation method was automated irrigation system, and the flow was 30 mL/min. The suction level was 0.02mpa. With the help of DAFV-UAS, the field of view is always clean, the small gravel particles can be sucked out from the sheath gap, and the larger gravel particles are sucked out by withdrawing the scope intermittently. CONCLUSION: DAFV-UAS is a promising new device which allows for negative pressure suction directed right at a renal stone and efficient and effective stone clearance.

Reasons and risk factors for delayed discharge after day-surgery percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: Day-surgery percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is being developed quickly but some potential factors are affecting the recovery process. This study is aim to analyze the reasons and risk factors for delayed discharge after day-surgery PCNL. METHODS: The data of 205 patients who accepted day-surgery PCNL in our institution between January 2018 and February 2020 were analyzed, retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors for delayed discharge. Besides, the nomogram prediction model was established by the multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The rate of delayed discharge was 14.6%. Independent risk factors for delayed discharge were larger stone burden (odds ratio [OR] = 3.814, P = 0.046), positive urine nitrite (OR = 1.001, P = 0.030), longer duration of surgery (OR = 1.020, P = 0.044), multiple nephrostomy tubes (OR = 4.282, P = 0.008). The five main reasons that caused delayed discharge included psychological reasons, pain, bleeding, urosepsis, and urine leakage. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified some independent risk factors for a hospital length of stay longer than 24 h. Patients with larger renal stones or positive urine nitrite may be at increased risk of delayed discharge after day-surgery PCNL. Reducing surgery time and nephrostomy tubes will help to facilitate recovery.

Comparison of the Prone Split-Leg Position with the Traditional Prone Position in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Propensity Score-Matching Study.

Background and Objective: Several positions have been described for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). The aim of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of the traditional prone position PCNL (TP-PCNL) and the prone split-leg position PCNL (PSL-PCNL). Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was made of the data of 212 patients who underwent prone PCNL in PSL or TP between January 2017 and November 2019. The demographic and preoperative clinical data were used for propensity score-matching (PSM). Following the PSM based on a multivariable logistic regression model, the PSL-PCNL and TP-PCNL groups were compared in preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative parameters. All surgical procedures were performed by an experienced endourologist. Results: After PSM, 51 patients from the PSL-PCNL group were matched to 51 TP-PCNL patients. The stone burden was not statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.388). The mean operation time of the two groups was significantly different (81.5 ± 32.4 minutes vs 93.1 ± 25.9 minutes, respectively, p = 0.026). The hemoglobin decrease in the PSL-PCNL group was greater than that in the TP-PCNL group (-17.7 ± 16.9 g/L vs 13.1 ± 10.9 g/L, p < 0.001). Both groups had similar stone-free rates after 2 weeks (p = 0.49). No significant difference was observed between the groups in the total complication rate (p = 1). Conclusions: The application of PSL in PCNL simplifies the surgical procedure and shortens the operating time. Another important advantage is that it allows retrograde intrarenal surgery and ureteroscopy to be performed simultaneously. We recommend the PSL to be applied in PCNL for renal stone patients.

Multiple-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy as a day surgery for the treatment of complex renal stones: an initial experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of multiple-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as a day surgery for the treatment of complex renal stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A mature protocol for day surgery was implemented. Forty-six patients who underwent planned day-surgery PCNL via multiple tracts for the treatment of complex renal stones were retrospectively reviewed. All procedures were performed by an experienced surgeon. The outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The mean stone size and burden were 4.8 cm and 990.2 mm2, respectively. There were 26 (56.5%) and 20 (43.5%) patients with staghorn stones and multiple stones, respectively. Totals of two, three, and more than three tracts (with up to 7 tracts) were established in 22, 11, and 13 patients, respectively. The tract sizes ranged from 14 to 24 Fr. One to four nephrostomy tubes were placed in most patients, and a tubeless process was accomplished in only 3 (6.5%) patients. The mean surgery time was 116 min with a hemoglobin drop of 22.1 ± 16.8 g/L. Eight (17.4%) patients developed postoperative complications, with severe complications (Clavien grades III-IV) in two cases (4.4%). 39 (84.8%) patients were discharged within 24 h after surgery, and 7 (15.2%) patients were fully admitted. Only 1 (2.2%) patient required readmission. The stone clearance rate was 84.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Day-surgery PCNL can be safely performed via multiple percutaneous tracts by experienced surgeons and is an efficient strategy for the treatment of complex renal stones.