Prospective randomized study to evaluate and compare the post-procedural sexual function in patients undergoing semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy for distal ureteric stones in three different operating room settings

Objective:To evaluate and compare the effect of semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy on post-procedural sexual function with three different operating room settings.Methods:In this prospective randomized study,consecutive sexually active patients with normal pre-operative sexual function undergoing uncomplicated semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy for distal ureteric stones were randomized into three groups,with three different operating room settings.Procedure-related anxiety and sexual function were assessed pre-operatively using Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale and Brief Sexual Function Inventory(in males)and Female Sexual Function Index-6(in females),respectively.All the participants were stented following the procedure,and the stent was removed after 3 weeks.Post-procedural sexual function and general discomfort were assessed and compared between three groups at 1 week,3 weeks,and 12 weeks.The effect of surgery-related anxiety,preoperative sexual function,age,and general discomfort(including stent-related discomfort)on post-procedural sexual function were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Totally,327 eligible patients were randomized into three groups.The group of patients who underwent the procedural with a screen separating the operating area from the patient vision,while the patient could watch the endoscopy through a separate monitor,had better post-procedural sexual function compared to those who had total vision of the operating area as well as to those whose eyes were blocked.This difference was statistically significant.This post-procedural reduction in sexual function could not be attributed to in situ stent alone.Conclusions:Our study showed that semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy can have significant negative effect on sexual function,which can be reduced with proper preoperative counseling and an ideal operating room settings.

Effect of Preoperative Double-J Ureteral Stenting before Flexible Ureterorenoscopy on Stone-free Rates and Complications

The effect of preoperative Double-J(DJ)ureteral stenting before flexible ureterorenoscopy(FURS)in the treatment for urinary stones was evaluated.We retrospectively enrolled 306 consecutive patients who underwent FURS from Jan.2014 to Dec.2017.All the patients were classified into two groups according to whether they had DJ ureteral stenting before FURS.Baseline characteristics(age,sex,stone location,stone size,surgical success rate,operation time,stone-free rate of the first day after surgery,stone-free rate of the first month after surgery,total complication rate)were compared using Chi-square test for categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables.In total,306 patients were included in this study.The group of DJ stenting before FURS included 203(66.3%)patients,and non-DJ stenting before FURS was observed in 103(33.7%)patients.The group of DJ stenting before FURS was significantly associated with a shorter operation time(53.8 vs.59.3 min,P<0.001),a higher stone-free rate of the first day after surgery(69.0%vs.51.5%,P=0.003).However,statistical significant differences were not found in the age,sex,stone location,stone size,surgical success rate,stone-free rate of the first month after surgery(89.2%vs.81.6%,P=0.065)and total complication rate(5.4%vs.9.7%,P=0.161)between the two groups.Preoperative DJ ureteral stenting before FURS could reduce the operation time and increase stone-free rate of the first day after surgery.However,it might not benefit the stone-free rate of the first month after surgery and reduce the complication rate.Preoperative DJ stenting should be not routinely performed.

The effect of perirenal fat stranding on infectious complications after ureterorenoscopy in patients with ureteral calculi

Objective:Perirenal fat stranding(PFS)is linear areas of soft-tissue attenuation in the perirenal space on non-contrast computed tomography.The present study aimed to investigate whether PFS is associated with infectious complications after ureterorenoscopy(URS)in patients with ureteral calculi in any location.Methods:The data of 602 patients with ureteral stones who underwent URS were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into two groups as Group 1(PFS not detected)and Group 2(PFS detected).Gender,and age of patients,size,side,and location of the stone,operation time,double-J stent insertion status,perioperative ureter injury,postoperative infection after URS and related complications,and duration of hospital stay were compared.Results:While PFS was not detected in 530 patients,PFS was detected in 72 patients.The mean age,male/female ratio,side and localization of the stones,operation time,and perioperative insertion of the double-J after lithotripsy were statistically similar(p>0.05).The median stone diameter was smaller in Group 2(9 mm vs.8 mm)(p=0.033).Fever was observed in 30 and 38 patients in Group 1 and Group 2,respectively(p=0.0001).Urinary tract infection was detected in 24 and 27 patients in Group 1 and Group 2,respectively(p=0.0001).The urosepsis did not occur in any patients in Group 1,whereas 8(11.1%)patients in Group 2 experienced urosepsis(p=0.0001).Conclusion:According to the results of the present study,patients with ureteral stones accompanied by PFS are much more prone to ureteral injuries and infectious complications such as urinary tract infection,fever,and sepsis after URS.

Management of symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi:Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus flexible ureterorenoscopy

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate appropriate treatment for patients with symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi, by comparing the therapeutic outcomes for those undergoing minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) and flexible ureterorenoscopy (F-URS). Methods: From March 2009 to May 2014, 36 consecutive patients with caliceal diverticular calculi were divided into 2 groups:21 patients underwent MPCNL, and 15 were treated by F-URS. All procedures were performed by one surgical group, which ensured relatively constant parameters. Patient characteristics, operative time, hospital stay after surgery, stone-free rate, symptomatic improvement rate, complications, diverticular obliteration, and stone composition were analyzed retrospectively in the 2 groups. Results: Patient preoperative variables were comparable between the two groups, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Mean operative time was 136.9 ± 22.8 min in the MPCNL group and 117.3 ± 24.3 min in the F-URS group (P ? 0.019). Hospital stay was significantly longer in the MPCNL group than in the F-URS group (9.4 ± 3.1 vs. 6.9 ± 2.1 days, P ? 0.010). The stone-free rates after MPCNL and F-URS were 90.5%(19/21) and 60.0%(9/15), respectively (P ? 0.046). Additionally, 71.4%(15/21) of patients in the MPCNL group and 46.7%(7/15) of patients in the F-URS group had symptomatic improvement at the 6-month follow-up (P ? 0.175);the rates of complications in the 2 groups were 19.0%(4/21) and 13.3%(2/15), respectively (P ? 0.650). Complete diverticular obliteration was achieved in 16 (76.2%) cases in the MPCNL group and 5 (33.3%) cases in the F-URS group (P ? 0.017). The distributions of calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite in the stones were 66.7% (14/21) and 33.3% (7/21), respectively, in the MPCNL group;however, the distributions in the F-URS group were 46.7%(7/15) and 53.3%(8/15), respec-tively (P ? 0.310). Conclusion: MPCNL is an effective method for the treatment of caliceal diverticular calculi. However, F-URS is an alternative technique in selected patients with a patent infundibulum, despite lower stone-free rates than with MPCNL. Fulguration of the diverticular lining with a high-power holmium laser and permitting the cavity to collapse are useful to increase the chance of diverticular obliteration.

Sheathless and fluoroscopy-free retrograde intrarenal surgery:An attractive way of renal stone management in high-volume stone centers

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sheathless and fluoroscopy-free flexible ureterorenoscopic laser lithotripsy(FURSL)for treating renal stones.Methods:Between May 2015 and May 2017,135 patients with renal stones treated with sheathless and fluoroscopy-free FURSL were prospectively evaluated.Our technique involved a semirigid ureteroscopic assessment of the ureter,and the guidewire was left in situ to railroad the flexible ureteroscope.A holmium laser was used to fragment and dust the stones;fragments were neither grasped nor collected.Results:The study population consisted of 135 patients including 85 males(62.96%)and 50 females(37.04%)with a mean age of 40.65 years(range:3-70 years)were evaluated.The mean stone size was 17.23 mm(range:8-41 mm).Complete stone-free status was achieved in 122(90.37%)patients and clinically insignificant residual fragments(CIRF)in two(1.48%),while residual stones were still present in 11(8.15%)patients.Postoperative complications occurred in 23(17.4%)cases and were mostly minor,including fever in 17(12.6%),pyelonephritis in four(3.0%),subcapsular hematoma in one(0.7%)and steinstrasse in one(0.7%).These complications were Clavien Ⅰ-Ⅱ,GⅠ in 17(12.6%)patients,GⅡ in five(3.7%),and Clavien Ⅲb in one(0.7%).No major complications were observed.Stone size2 cm,operative time ≥30 min,and lasing time ≥20 min were significantly associated with a higher rate of complications and lower stone-free rates upon univariate analysis(p<0.05).Conclusion:Sheathless and fluoroscopy-free FURSL are effective and safe for renal stone management,especially for stones under 2 cm in diameter.This process is a feasible option for avoiding sheath complications,which can protect surgeons from the negative effects of radiation.

Ureterolithotripsy under Spinal Anesthesia in Pompe Disease (Glycogen Storage Disease Type 2): A Case Report

Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive inherited glycogen storage disease, usually respiratory muscles, cardiac muscle and skeletal muscles are affected in childhood and mortality is inevitable but has a slower progression in the adult. The patient was a 35-year-old male patient who was scheduled to undergo ureterorenoscopy due to right ureteral stone. He was diagnosed with pompe disease after detection of myopathy on EMG due to muscle weakness in the legs and hips. He was started on myozyme vials once every 15 days. Spinal anesthesia with 3 ml 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine was performed and adequate sensorial and motor block was achieves at T10 level. The surgery was completed with no complications and he was discharged two days later. The selection of appropriate anesthetic technique and a careful perioperative and postoperative monitoring are of utmost importance due to progressive muscle weakness, hypotonia, respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy in pompe disease.

The value of three-dimensional helical computed tomography for the retrograde flexible ureteronephroscopy in the treatment of lower pole calyx stones

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine if there is any advantage of three-dimensional helical computed tomography (3D-HCT) over intravenous urogram (IVU) for the retrograde flexible ureteronephroscopy in the treatment of lower pole calyx stones. Methods: From June 2012 to January 2014, a total of 52 cases of lower pole renal stones underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in our center. All patients underwent a preoperative IVU and three-dimensional helical computed tomography urography (3D-CTU) program to define the collecting system anatomy, manly concerning the following lower pole features; infundibu-lopelvic angle (IPA), infundibular length (IL), and infundibular width (IW). The examinations were performed in the same cen-ter of reference with a standardized method and with 3D-HCT Siemens Somaton Plus equipment. The measurements were per-formed by the same researcher, using a ruler and a square. Results: Based on clinical threshold difference of the anatomic factors on an IVU image to compare the difference between an IVU image and a 3D-CT image of 52 patients, the IPA was<30? when measured on intravenous pyelography (IVP) for 21 patients. We found that with the IPA of<30? measured with IVP only 19%(4/21) were correctly classified in the same size category using 3D-HCT, whereas 81%(17/21) were upgraded to 40e50? on 3D-CT. This difference was significant between IVP and 3D-HCT. Conclusions: 3D-HCT has advantages over IVU when analyzing the morphometric and the morphological features of kidney lower pole spatial anatomy for the retrograde flexible ureteronephroscopy in the treatment of lower pole calyx stones.