Biplanar oblique access technique: A new approach to improve the success rate of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving suitable percutaneous access to the kidney is the most important step in percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The triangulation biplanar access technique under fluoroscopy is the standard method to achieve percutaneous renal access, but it is not successful in all cases. We used the new biplanar oblique access technique as a rescue method for the failed standard biplanar technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this oblique access technique on access outcome. METHODS: In total, 782 percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures were performed under the standard triangulation biplanar technique. The biplanar access failed in 35 cases. Access failure was defined as no urine dropping from the needle or inability to insert the guide wire into the renal pelvis or selected calyx. In 28 failed access cases, the lower calyx was the targeted calyx. We used the oblique access technique for these cases. Initially, the arm of fluoroscopy was in the vertical position. Then the fluoroscopy device was rotated to 30° near the surgeon and 30° caudal to the patient and the needle was inserted into the appropriate calyx. RESULTS: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures were performed by the oblique access technique in 28 patients. Successful access was achieved in eight patients by the oblique technique (success access rate = 28.6%). No major or minor complication occurred in these patients. CONCLUSION: The oblique technique is an auxiliary method for accessing the lower calyx in cases which the standard triangular biplanar method has failed. As the failure rate of the biplanar technique is low, the oblique technique can be considered as a useful method for percutaneous access.

Comparison of Open Versus Laparoscopic Versus Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: A systematic analysis of the evidence regarding oncological, perioperative and postoperative outcomes of open nephroureterectomy (ONU), laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU), and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALNU) was designed. METHODS: The summarized data were abstracted from 52 original research articles representing 19,195 patients. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were reviewed in March 2017, following PRISMA framework. A total of 52 publications were selected for inclusion. The primary outcomes were 2- and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate, overall survival (OS) rate, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate. The secondary outcomes were operative time, lengths of hospitalization period, estimated blood loss, transfusions, major Clavien complication rate, metastasis rate, bladder recurrence rate, and positive surgical margin. RESULTS: On comparing LNU versus ONU and HALNU versus ONU, no significant differences between the 5-year CSS rate (P = .25, P = .39), OS rate (P = .06, P = .46), and RFS rate (P = .85, P = .73) were found. On comparing LNU versus ONU and HALNU versus ONU during a 2-year follow-up period, the following were found: CSS rate (P = .61, P = .04) and OS rate (P = .33, P = .19). There were no significant differences between the LNU versus ONU and HALNU versus ONU rates, regarding bladder recurrence (P = .12, P = .85) and metastasis rate (P = .07, P = .27). Significant higher operative time (P = .01, P = .0004), lower length of hospitalization period (P < .001, P < .001), and estimated blood loss (P = .0004, P < .001) were found in comparison to that of LNU versus ONU and HALNU versus ONU. CONCLUSION: Both LNU and HALNU had comparable oncological and better perioperative and postoperative outcomes, when compared with ONU.

Tubeless versus standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the post-operative outcomes between tubeless and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) among children. METHODS: Literature searches were performed following the Cochrane guidelines. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that included three trials investigating the outcomes including the length of hospital stay, operation time, hemoglobin decrease, blood transfusion rate, perirenal fluid presence, post-operative fever, stone clearance rate, and the need for a second operation. RESULTS: The patients who underwent tubeless PCNL had shorter length of hospitalization compared to standard PCNLs (mean difference -1.57, 95% confidence interval -3.2 to 0.07, p = 0.06). No significant decrease was detected in hemoglobin after tubeless PCNL compared to standard PCNL (mean difference 0.05, 95% confidence interval -0.03 to 0.13, p = 0.21). There were no significant differences in operation time (p = 0.7), perirenal fluid presence (p = 0.15), post-operative fever (p = 0.72), stone clearance (p = 0.68), and the need for a second operation (p = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no significant difference between tubeless and standard PCNLs in children. However, due to the lack of data, the results should be mentioned prudently. Future randomized trials with more sample sizes and longer follow-ups are warranted.