The history of robot used in the urology and future trends / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

@#However, the use of robots in medicine has only 30 years of history. The application of robots in surgery originates from the need of modern man to achieve two goals: the telepresence and the performance of repetitive and accurate tasks. The first ‘‘robot surgeon’’ used on a human patient was the PUMA 200 in 1985. In the 1990s, scientists developed the concept of ‘‘master–slave’’ robot, which consisted of a robot with remote manipulators controlled by a surgeon at a surgical workstation. Despite the lack of force and tactile feedback, technical advantages of robotic surgery, such as 3D vision, stable and magnified image, Endo Wrist instruments, physiologic tremor filtering, and motion scaling, have been considered fundamental to overcome many of the limitations of the laparoscopic surgery. Since the approval of the da Vinci robot by international agencies, American, European, and Asian surgeons have proved its factibility and safety for the performance of many different robot-assisted surgeries. </br> Comparative studies of robotic and laparoscopic surgical procedures in general surgery have shown similar results with regard to perioperative, oncological, and functional outcomes. However, higher costs and lack of haptic feedback represent the major limitations of current robotic technology to become the standard technique of minimally invasive surgery worldwide. Therefore, the future of robotic surgery involves cost reduction, development of new platforms and technologies, creation and validation of curriculum and virtual simulators, and conduction of randomized clinical trials to determine the best applications of robotics.

Results of laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junctional stricture / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background@#An aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcomes of laparoscopic ureteropyeloplasty compared to that of open surgery at the Urology and Andrology Center of the First Central Hospital of Mongolia. Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) is the most common site for upper urinary tract obstruction occurring 1 in 750 - 1500 births. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was first reported in 1993 by Schuessler WW and its technique was dismembered pyeloplasty.@*Material and Methods@#In the period from June 2018 to September 2019, we have operated 91 ureteropyeloplasty cases. Patients were randomized into Group I (45 laparoscopy) operated by the laparoscopic ureteropyeloplasty and Group II (46 open surgery) operated by the open ureteropyeloplasty. All the patients had ureteropelvic junction obstruction and ureteropyeloplasty was performed. Both groups were compared according to the operative time, and recovery duration. We studied restoration of renal function and causes of conditions. Demographic data including age, gender and complications were recorded. Renal diethylenetriamine penta-acetate scintigraphy was respectively performed 6 months after surgery. @*Results@#Mean age was 32±12.05 ranging 16-62 in all the study population. A total of 91 (55 men and 36 women) were participated. Ureteropelvic junction stricture was occurred 75.66% in laparoscopic cases and 84.78% in open cases which leads to hydronephrosis and it was statistically different (p<0.028). Compared to that of open surgery, wound size was 6 time smaller, blood loss and hospital stay less than 2 fold and wound healing is 5 days shorter than open surgery. There was statistical different (p<0.001) between parameters of 2 groups. In laparoscopic and open group respectively, renal function was 41.78±10.02ml/min, 42.15±11.34 ml/min (1.73м2). After intervention, renal function was increased by (46±10.17ml/min, 46.09±11.50ml/min) and there was difference between 2 groups (p<0.003). In laparoscopic group, renal function was more improved than open group (p=0.05).@*Conclusion@#Laparoscopic surgery had less blood, less analgesics usage, fewer hospital stays, and faster wound healing. Renal function was improved 6 months after surgery.

The evaluation of immunosuppressive regimens in kidney transplant Mongolian recipients / Эрүүл мэндийн лаборатори

Background@#However kidney transplantation has being performed in Mongolia since 2006, because of pre-transplant sensitization, ABO incompatibility, hepatitis B and C virus activation many patients are taken kidney transplantation in abroad. The transplantation centers use own immunosuppressive regimens.@*Objective@#Our aim was to assess the immunosuppressive regimens efficacy and toxicity in kidney transplant Mongolian recipients.@*Methods@#We analyzed data from 96 adult kidney transplant recipients who had taken kidney transplantation in different transplant centers from August 2006 through January 2014. There were 3 kinds of regimens Group I Simulect induction with standard triple /FK506/CyA+MMF/AZA+steroid/, Group II Campath-1H induction with CNI monotherapy and Group III Campath-1H induction with standard triple /FK506/CyA+MMF/AZA+steroid/. We retrospectively collected the post-transplant first two years serum creatinine. The study was performed in 2014. The questionnaire was taken and blood samples collected for determination of tacrolimus through level and for other laboratory tests. The primary end point was the first two years serum creatinine, the secondary end points included rejection episodes, blood through level of tacrolimus and some laboratory findings. @*Results@#The post-transplant first two years serum creatinine levels were significantly different in 3 groups. Group III showed similar results compared to Group I. There was not enough data of biopsy proven acute rejection episodes however group II said more rejections occurred. However participants said that rejection occurred in 15 (15.6%) biopsy was done only 3 (3.1%) cases. Blood through level of tacrolimus was significantly different in three groups. Some laboratory findings showed different between three groups. @*Conclusions@#A regimen of Campath-1H induction with CNI monotherapy (Group II) may be advantageous for short-term renal function and cost effective but there were more rejection complications and increased creatinine. The regimen of Campath-1H induction 11 with standard triple (Group III) may be advantageous for long-term renal function, allograft survival, but there should consider about infection complications and polycythemia. Simulect induction with standard triple could be best choice but transplantations were performed in experienced centers. The study enrolled few cases and cases which were performed at the beginning of transplant program so many things could influence on the result. The study was compared beginner transplant center with experienced centers. Longitudinal cohort study needed in the future.

Minimally Invasive Approaches to Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

@#There are many treatment options for the management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Open pyeloplasty has a high success rate and has been considered as a gold standard. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are associated with reduced morbidity, improved cosmetic result and better convalescence than open pyeloplasty. For endopyelotomy, these advantages for minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopic pyeloplasty and robot assisted pyeloplasty have superior success rate than open pyeloplasty. However, the success rate for laparoscopic surgery could potentially be improved by careful selection of patients, using the criteria of stricture <2 cm, renal function >25% and the absence of severe hydronephrosis. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty and robot-assisted pyeloplasty have similar success rates to open pyeloplasty (>90%) and the best outcomes have been reported for robot-assisted pyeloplasty although this treatment option is less readily available than laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Retrograde endopyelotomy is a simple, safe, and effective therapeutic option for primary and secondary symptomatic UPJO. </br> Retrograde endopyelotomy should be considered a viable first-line treatment option for the management of patients with UPJO. These include balloon dilation, antegrade endopyelotomy, retrograde endopyelotomy, Acucise endopyelotomy and laparoscopic pyeloplasty. During last decade, advances in endourological techniques have resulted in significant progress in the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat UPJO. </br> Surgeons described their modification of Kusters dismembered procedure that involved anastomosis of the spatulated ureter to a projection of the lower aspect of the pelvis after a redundant portion was excised. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was first reported in 1993 both by Schuessler and others and by Kavoussi and Peters, who utilized dismembered pyeloplasty technique. During last decade, advances in endourological techniques have resulted in significant progress in the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat UPJO. The combination of less postoperative morbidity, improved cosmesis, shorter convalescence and comparable operative success rates has lured many patients away from gold standard of open pyeloplasty. Only few retrospective studies have been conducted regarding laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty. Success rates are comparable for laparoscopic pyeloplasty.</br> The number of minimally invasive surgeries performed by us increased from year to year. Therefore the characteristics and performance of the surgeries should be studied in detail and based on the finding the evidence based medicine should be placed in.

VASCULAR RECONSTRUCTION DURING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION FOR PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS / Мэс засал

Introduction: This article provides areview about techniques and pitfalls of arterialand venous reconstruction during kidneytransplantation. Main reasons of our clinicalstudy are to evaluate vascular variationsof kidney, posttransplantation vascularcomplication incidence and present status ofsurgery outcome.This retrospective researchbased on cross-sectional assessmentofconsecutive 102 kidney transplantation cases,which performed from 2006 to 2015 at theFirst Central Hospital of Mongolia.Materials and methods: Statisticalprocessing andanalysis on posttransplantionpatient history data are made byMicrosoftExcel, SPSS19.0software.Results: Despite rising technicaldifficulties caused by vascular variations,pelvic and inguinal morphology of recipientand the existence of multiple renal arterieskidney transplantation is a safe and highlyefficient procedure.On this article wereexplained 44 kidney transplantation caseswith reconstruction using microvasculartechniques to reconstruct renal arteriesand veins. About 10 different kinds ofreconstructions were done in our practice.Due to investigation of consecutive 102kidney transplanted recipients, 24,51% had avascular anatomical variations. And describedabout 44 vascular reconstructions used inour hospital in case of vascular variations.According to the lit., vascular complicationsranges from 1 to 16%. In our hospital,vascularcomplication of kidney transplantation withmultiple vessels is 4,0-12,0%. Also, incidenceof vascular complication in group with singlevessels from 1.3 to 2.6% and in group withmultiple vessel 4 to 12%.Even it is highcomparing with other international articles;it’s almost in same results. But lymphaticcomplication is higher than others; it showsneeds of careful and accurate dissection ofrecipient site anastomosing vessels.Conclusion: Multiple renal graft’sveselshave been associated with a higher rateof vascular complications, including arterialstenosis and lymphorrhea. It shows needs ofcareful and accurate dissection of recipientsite anastomosing vessels.

The evaluation of immunosuppressive regimens in kidney transplant Mongolian recipients / Эрүүл мэндийн лаборатори

Background:However kidney transplantation has being performed in Mongolia since 2006, because of pre-transplant ensitization, ABO incompatibility, hepatitis B and C virus activation many patients are taken kidney transplantation in abroad. The transplantation centers use own immunosuppressive regimens.Objective:Our aim was to assess the immunosuppressive regimens efficacy and toxicity in kidney transplant Mongolian recipients.Material and Methods:We analyzed data from 96 adult kidney transplant recipients who had taken kidney transplantation in different transplant centers from August 2006 through January 2014. There were 3 kinds of regimens Group I Simulect induction with standard triple /FK506/CyA+MMF/AZA+steroid/, Group II Campath-1H induction with CNI monotherapy and Group III Campath-1H induction with standard triple /FK506/CyA+MMF/AZA+steroid/. We retrospectively collected the post-transplant first two year serum creatinine. The study was performed in 2014. The questionnaire was taken and blood samples collected for determination of tacrolimus through level and for other laboratory tests. The primary end point was the first two years serum creatinine, the secondary end points included rejection episodes, blood through level of tacrolimus and some laboratory findings.Results:The post-transplant first two years serum creatinine levels were significantly different in 3 groups. Group III showed similar results compared to Group I. There was not enough data of biopsy proven acute rejection episodes however group II said more rejections occurred. However participants said that rejection occurred in 15 (15.6%) biopsy was done only 3 (3.1%) cases. Blood through level of tacrolimus was significantly different in three groups. Some laboratory findings showed different between three groups.Conclusion:A regimen of Campath-1H induction with CNI monotherapy (Group II) may be advantageous for short-term renal function and cost effective but there were more rejection complications and increased creatinine. The regimen of Campath-1H induction with standard triple (Group III) may be advantageous for long-term renal function, allograft survival, but there should consider about infection complications and polycythemia. Simulect induction with standard triple could be best choice but transplantations were performed in experienced centers. The study enrolled few cases and cases which were performed at the beginning of transplant program so many things could influence on the result. The study was compared beginner transplant center with experienced centers. Longitudinal cohort study needed in the future.

Kidney transplantation in Mongolia using effective and economical immunosuppression - a three-year experience.

Between August 2006 and August 2009, 34 ethnic Mongolians were the recipients of a kidney transplant at the Central Clinical Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In 31 of the operations the donor was either a sibling or parent. In 4 recipients the donors were 2 recently deceased accident victims following controlled cardiac arrest and after next of kin permission. All 4 recipients are alive with life-supporting function. Appropriate legislation was passed in 2008. Thirty-one of the 34 recipients (91%) are alive. The 1-year patient and graft survival is 91% and 82%, respectively. In all cases, recipients received 1 dose of Campath 1 preoperatively followed by monotherapy with either Cyclosporin or Tacrolimus. Due to the remote geographical location of some of the recipients, appropriate serum drug levels were difficult to monitor. Azathioprine was therefore added in the last 13 recipients. Except for acute rejection episodes, no patients received steroid therapy. There were 7 diagnosed and treated acute rejections in the 34 recipients (21%). The mean annual cost of the immunosuppressive therapy period compared favorably with neighboring China and with costs in Spain. We conclude that the use of Campath 1 together with a non-steroid maintenance immunosuppressive regimen provides both economical and acceptable graft and patient survival in a developing country.

Serosurveillance for foot-and-mouth disease in Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) and livestock on the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, viral disease that affects most ruminant and porcine species, and periodic outbreaks on Mongolia's Eastern Steppe affect Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) and livestock. During 2005-08, we collected sera from 36 and 57 calf and adult gazelles, respectively, and from adult domestic animals sympatric with the gazelles, including 138 sheep (Ovis aries), 140 goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), 139 Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus), and 138 cattle (Bos taurus). Our goal was to determine whether the prevalence of the antibody to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in gazelles declined relative to previous estimates in the absence of FMD outbreaks. Overall, 2.0% (95% CI 0.7-3.3%, n=555) of the four livestock species were antibody-positive for nonstructural proteins of FMDV (FMDV-NS), whereas 30.3% (95% CI 26.5-34.1%, n=555) had antibodies for structural proteins (i.e., vaccination-derived antibodies). Seven of 57 free-ranging gazelle calves (7.5%, 95%CI 1.6-12.4%) were FMDV-NS positive. None of 36 adult gazelles sampled in 2008 were antibody-positive for exposure to FMDV, indicating a significant decline (χ(2)=18.99; P<0.001; df=1) in antibody prevalence among gazelles from the same area during a livestock outbreak in 2001. The episodic nature of FMD outbreaks on the Eastern Steppe, Mongolia, with evidence of FMDV exposure in gazelles only during or following concurrent outbreaks in livestock, suggests that FMDV may spill over into the gazelle population during livestock outbreaks and that successful control of FMD on the Eastern Steppe requires a focus on control in livestock populations through vaccination.

Kidney transplantation achievements in Mongolia.

Between August 2006 and August 2009, 33 patients with end-stage renal disease were the recipients of kidney transplantations. The donors were living related 29 operations with 4 recipients of 2 deceased donors following accidents with cardiac arrest controlled after permission by the next of kin. We used standard techniques for the donor and recipient operations. All recipients were prescribed 1 dose of alemtuzumab (Campath 1 H 20-30 mg), peroperatively preceded by 500 mg methylprednisolone. In 2 recipients, a second infusion of Campath 1 was administered on postoperative day 2. On postoperative day 3, we prescribed monotherapy with either cyclosporine (n=29) at a starting dose of 7 mg/kg body weight or tacrolimus (n=6) at a starting dose of 0.7 mg/kg body weight. With the exception of patients treated for an acute rejection episode, no patient received steroid therapy. There were 7 acute rejection episodes, which were treated with 3 consecutive daily doses of methylprednisolone (250 mg). The 1-year patient survival was 94% and 2-year graft survival, 84.8%. We concluded that the use of Campath 1 together with a non-steroid maintenance immunosuppressive regimen provided acceptable graft and patient survival in our developing country.

Exposure of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) to foot and mouth disease virus.

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious acute viral disease that affects most ruminant and porcine species. During 2001, 33 serum samples were collected from Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. Samples were tested for antibodies to seven subtypes of foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV). Antibodies were detected in 67% of the animals, and serologic results indicated exposure to FMDV-O. This virus was present in domestic animal populations in Mongolia from 2000 to 2002, and it is likely that the antibodies to FMDV detected in these gazelles resulted from spillover of virus from domestic animal sources.