Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Pyeloplasty for Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: Preliminary Results from 26 Cases

Background and Objectives: Pyelo-Ureteral Junction Syndrome (PUJS) is the most common obstructive malformation of the upper urinary tract in children and adults. The standard treatment is open pyeloplasty using the Kuss-Anderson technique. Because of the minimally invasive nature of the laparoscopic approach, it has become the approach of choice for the management of this pathology. We present the results of laparoscopic transperitoneal pyeloplasty used in the management of PUJS. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study from 2015 to 2020, including 26 patients who underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal pyeloplasty for PUJS. Results: Twenty-six patients, including 18 (69.2%) men and 6 (30.8%) women, with a mean age of 35.42 ± 13.62 years, were treated. Renal colic was the primary symptom in the majority of the cases (22, 84.6%)). The diagnosis was confirmed in all patients through an abdominal CT scan, which revealed that all 26 patients had hydronephrosis. Half of the patients (50.0%) were classified as Valayer-Cendron Type II, and eight (30.8%) patients had associated stones. Seventeen (65.4%) patients had pathologies on the left side, and all patients were treated using the Kuss-Anderson technique with a median operating time of 108.5 (90.0 - 136.0) minutes. The uncrossing of lower pole vessels was performed in 10 patients. The average duration of hospitalisation was 2.23 ± 0.82 days. No conversion was observed, and after an average follow-up of 53.69 days, the success rate was 92.3%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty is a minimally invasive technique of choice for the treatment of pyelo-ureteral junction obstruction. It is dependable, repeatable, and produces good functional outcomes that are equal to those of traditional surgery.

Intraluminal Lithotripsy with Rigid Ureteroscopy for Proximal and Distal Ureteral Stones: Results of a Single Center in Cameroon

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraluminal lithotripsy with a pneumatic lithotripter (EMS, Switzerland) and laser Holmium YAG in retrograde rigid ureteroscopy for proximal and distal ureteric calculi. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out from January 2015 to December 2019 including 175 patients with ureteric calculi who presented with ureteric colic at a mini-invasive surgical urological center in Douala, Cameroon. All the patients underwent retrograde ureteroscopy with a 7F rigid ureteroscope, and fragmentation was done with either a pneumatic lithotripter or a laser holmium YAG. Six patients who had urinary tract infection benefited from double J stent placement before retrograde ureteroscopy. The study variables included age, clinical symptoms, size and location of the stone, the type of lithotripsy, operating time, and the results of lithotripsy. Results: We included a total of 175 patients with a mean age of 40.95 ± 12.50 years. Seventy-six (43.43%) of our participants were females and all patients had at least one calculus confirmed by a CT scan. Stone sizes ranged from 5 - 26 mm (median of 12 mm). Fifteen (8.57%) stones were located in the upper ureter (pyeloureteric junction), 64 in the middle ureter, 20 in the iliac ureter, 43 in the pelvic ureter, and 33 at the vesico-ureteric orifice. The success rate was 100% for stones located in the iliac ureter, pelvic ureter and the ureteric orifice. For those in the middle and upper ureter, the success rate was 92.18% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion: Rigid ureteroscopy is an excellent treatment modality for ureteral calculi, especially those located at the distal part of the ureter. The procedure is associated with a shorter operation time and a shorter post-operative hospitalization period, in addition to its safety and effectiveness compared to open surgery.

Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Cystoprostatectomy for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Results and Oncologic Outcomes in a Single Center in Douala Cameroon

Background and Aim: Radical cystectomy is the treatment of choice for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Although open surgery is currently the gold standard for this procedure, it can also be done via laparoscopy. We aimed to evaluate the oncologic results and the place of laparoscopic cystectomy in the management of bladder cancer in a single urology center in Douala, Cameroon. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective, single-center study carried out from 2015 to 2019. We included 12 patients (ten men and two women) with bladder cancer who underwent total radical laparoscopic transperitoneal cystectomy with ilio-obturator lymph node dissection. Data on patients’ demographic characteristics, pre-operative and postoperative clinical parameters and workup results, and surgical outcomes were collected to determine the overall survival using a Kaplan-Meier curve. Results: We recruited ten men and two women with a median age of 61.5 [52.8 - 68.5] years. The mean tumor diameter was 3.75 ± 1.06 cm. Three (25%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy while eight did not. The mean surgery duration was 242 ± 45.85 minutes. Blood vessels and nerves were preserved in four (33.33%) patients during surgery. Transitional cell carcinoma was found in 10 (83.33%) patients while epidermoid carcinoma was found in two (16.67%) patients. Metastasis occurred in four (33.33%) patients while the tumor recurred in two (16.67%) patients who later died. Bricker’s ileal conduit urinary diversion was performed in 10 (83.33%) patients while the Studer neobladder was used in two (16.67%) patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 6 ± 1.48 days. Only one patient (8.33%) developed a postoperative complication. Six (50%) of the patients died while six survived. The median overall survival was 486 days and the five-year overall survival rate was 46.47%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cystectomy is a mini-invasive technique associated with good cancer control. When performed by well-trained staff using specialized equipment, it can be a safe and effective method of managing muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Bladder Cancer in Young Patients: Management and Outcomes

Background and Objective: Bladder cancer frequently occurs between the ages of 50 years and 70 years and rarely occurs before the age of 40 years. It accounts for 1% - 4% of all cases of cancer. This study focuses on the clinical, etiological, histological, therapeutic, and evolutive profiles of patients with bladder cancer aged less than 45 years. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out over seven years (from January 2014 to December 2020) on 15 patients below 45 years of age who were being treated for bladder cancer. The diagnosis was made in all patients via cystoscopy and abdominal computerized tomography, while the nature, grade, and degree of infiltration were determined via endoscopic resection and pathology. Results: The mean age of the 15 patients in this study was 34.4 ± 5.19 years. In 86.6% of cases, the patients had macroscopic hematuria as the main presenting complaint. Twelve patients (80%) had bladder tumors that did not infiltrate the muscle. These patients were followed up clinically. In 86.6% of cases, there was a single tumor with a mean diameter of 2.53 cm. In four patients (26.6%), mitomycin was started early. The overall rates of tumor recurrence and progression were 26.6% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion: Bladder cancer also occurs in young people, with similar clinical and epidemiological profiles as exists in elderly patients. The prognosis of bladder cancer in young people depends on the treatment method chosen by the physician.