Controversies in ureteroscopy: Wire, basket, and sheath.

In the last one to two decades, flexible ureteroscopy has rapidly expanded its role in the treatment of urologic stone disease. With the frequent and expanded use of flexible ureteroscopy, other ancillary instruments were developed in order to ease and facilitate this technique, such as ureteral access sheaths (UAS) and a variety of wires and baskets. These developments, along with improved surgeon ureteroscopic competence, have often brought into question the need to implement the "traditional technique" of flexible ureteroscopy. In this review, we discuss a brief history of flexible ureteroscopy, its expanded indications, and the controversy surrounding the use of UAS, wires, and baskets.

Laparoendoscopic single-site pyeloplasty: outcomes of an international multi-institutional study of 140 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report an international, multi-institutional series of laparoendoscopic single-site pyeloplasty (LESS-P) with analysis of functional outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LESS-P cases performed between October 2007 and June 2012 at 7 institutions worldwide per individual institutional protocols, entry criteria, and techniques were included. Patient characteristics, operative indications, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative follow-up were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 140 adult patients (age 39.9 ± 15.7 years; body mass index 24.8 ± 4.2 kg/m(2); 15% with previous abdominal surgery) who underwent unilateral LESS-P, most of whom (94.3%) had dismembered reconstructions. Mean operative time was 202.1 ± 47 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 61.2 ± 44.6 mL. Robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery was applied in 31 patients (22.1%). A single 2-3 mm accessory port was used in 44 patients (31.4%) and a single 5-12 mm accessory port was added in 9 patients (6.4%), whereas 10 patients (7.1%) were converted to conventional multiport laparoscopy. No patients required conversion to open surgery, nor were any intraoperative complications reported. Length of hospitalization was 2.4 ± 1.6 days. The overall 90-day postoperative complication rate was 18.6%, mostly low-grade complications (Clavien I-II). With a mean follow-up of 14.0 ± 10.8 months, 93.4% had resolution of symptoms and 94.4% had radiographic evidence demonstrating resolution of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Assessment of drainage with diuretic nuclear renal scan provided evidence of improvement in 86.5% of patients on their first postoperative renal scan. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the most comprehensive experience with LESS-P reported to date. Outcome measures parallel those of large published series of conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Despite these encouraging findings, longer follow-up is needed to determine the efficacy and durability of this approach for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Zero ischemia robotic partial nephrectomy: sequential preplaced suture renorrhaphy technique.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a robotic partial nephrectomy (PN) technique that eliminates renal global ischemia while decreasing parenchymal bleeding. METHODS: Before tumor resection, a suture is placed through the parenchyma adjacent to the tumor and deep to the planned edge of resection. The tumor resection is begun between the tumor edge and the preplaced suture and continued along the excision margin until some bleeding is encountered. A second suture is placed into the already excised parenchyma. This is repeated until the mass is completely excised, while suturing the parenchyma simultaneously. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent this technique between April 2008 and January 2013 by a single surgeon. Median age was 66 years and 64.3% (N = 9) were men. Median body mass index (BMI) was 27.5 Kg/m(2). Median radius, endophytic, nearness to collecting system, anterior/posterior, and location (RENAL) nephrometry score was 6.5. Median tumor size excised off clamp was 2.2 cm. Three patients had multiple tumors; 2 having a warm ischemia time (WIT) of 14.5 and 15 minutes. Median estimated blood loss (EBL) was 192.5 mL. Median operative time was 160 minutes. There were no Clavien grade 3 or 4 complications. One patient had a postoperative ileus and 1 patient had a blood transfusion and deep vein thrombosis. One patient had a positive tumor parenchymal margin, but negative excisional bed margin. Median hospital stay was 3 days and median follow-up was 8.4 months. CONCLUSION: Sequential preplaced suture renorrhaphy technique is a safe and effective technique that may be useful in renal function preservation by limiting or eliminating WIT while aiding in maximizing nephron preservation, especially in those patients with solitary kidneys and multiple tumors.

Ex-vivo ureteral spatulation during laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a novel approach to a difficult problem.

Ureteral spatulation and performance of the anastamosis to the renal pelvis are the most important and often technically demanding and time consuming steps in performing a laparoscopic pyeloplasty. We describe a novel ex-vivo technique of ureteral spatulation and placement of the apical anastamotic sutures. This technique is especially helpful in challenging cases where optimal angles may not be viable via pure laparoscopic technique. The technique was performed on six patients, five pediatric and one adult without any immediate complications or long-term stricture or anastamotic disruption.

Hypoechoic testicular mass: a case of testicular and epididymal sarcoidosis.

We present a case of testicular and epididymal sarcoidosis in a man with a hypoechoic testicular mass. Radical orchiectomy was averted by use of intraoperative frozen section analysis.