BACKGROUNDOpen pyeloplasty has been historically described as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), even if new techniques have recently gained a prominent role in this field. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) is not widely prevelant because of the technically challenging nature and it represents the gold standard for UPJO only in expert hands. To overcome some difficulties and technical challenges encountered during pure laparoscopic pyeloplasty, we designed a set of new instruments and assessed them using porcine model.

METHODSAccording to the ideas from the surgeons, our medical engineer designed three new instruments, including the right angle laparoscopy scissors, the petal-shape ureter dilator and the guide tube. Four experienced laparoscopic experts were involved in a no survival porcine study to assess the help of these new instruments. Four experiments were conducted on live pigs that weighed 22 to 25 kg at the same time. After general anesthesia was administered, transperitoneal ureteroureterostomy was performed using standard laparoscopic instruments, including placing the double J stent anterograde. Then, the opposite lateral was done by the same surgeon plus these new devices for side-by-side comparative analysis. All experts were interviewed to assess these new instruments by the questionnaire based on the visual analog scale (VAS) from 1 (none) to 10 (very much).

RESULTSThe procedures were all technically successful. The right angle laparoscopy scissors and the guide tube were accepted by all participants and the Help Score were 6.75 and 4.25 respectively, at the same time the New Difficulty Score 1.25 and 1.75. However, the petal-shape ureter dilator got 1.5 Help Score and 6.5 New Difficulty Score. These surgeons made a negative comment and one of surgeons recommended the stone basket was more suitable.

CONCLUSIONThe right angle laparoscopy scissors and the guide tube may be helpful to minimize some difficulties in pure laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Animals ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Stents ; Swine

Aged ; Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; pathology ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of rigid ureterorenoscopy (URS) for renal pelvic stones (RPS) sized 1 to 2 cm and to determine the predictive factors for the requirement for flexible URS (F-URS) when rigid URS fails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients were included into the study. In 48 patients, the RPS were totally fragmented with rigid URS and F-URS was not required (group 1). In 40 patients, rigid URS was not able to access the renal pelvis or fragmentation of the stones was not completed owing to stone position or displacement and F-URS was utilized for retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) (group 2). The predictive factors for F-URS requirement during RIRS for RPS were evaluated. Both groups were compared regarding age, height, sex, body mass index, stone size, stone opacity, hydronephrosis, and previous treatments. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 48.6+/-16.5 years and the mean follow-period was 39+/-11.5 weeks. The overall stone-free rate in the study population was 85% (75 patients). In groups 1 and 2, the overall stone-free rates were 83% (40 patients) and 87% (35 patients), respectively (p>0.05). The independent predictors of requirement for F-URS during RIRS were male gender, patient height, and higher degree of hydronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid URS can be utilized in selected patients for the fragmentation of RPS sized 1 to 2 cm with outcomes similar to that of F-URS. In case of failure of rigid URS, F-URS can be performed successfully in this group of patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi/pathology/*surgery/therapy ; Kidney Calculi/*surgery ; Kidney Pelvis/pathology/*surgery ; Kidney Pelvis/*surgery ; Lithotripsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy/*methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery combined with ureteroscopic lithotomy through the pelvis for treatment of renal and ureteral calculi.

METHODSIn February 2010, 2 patients with renal and ureteral calculi underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery combined with ureteroscopic lithotomy through the pelvis.

RESULTSThe operation time in these two cases was 70 and 80 min, and the volume of intraoperative blood loss was about 20 ml. The exposure was excellent, and the patient recovered rapidly without complications or residual calculi.

CONCLUSIONRetroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery combined with ureteroscopic lithotomy through the pelvis is feasible for treatment of renal and ureteral calculi.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; complications ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Calculi ; complications ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe delayed diagnosis of pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) disruption in children following blunt abdominal trauma can result in loss of function of the involved kidney. We examined the potential for kidney preservation and the limits of diagnostic delays.

METHODSA retrospective review of 17 cases of PUJ disruption at Beijing Children's Hospital from 1993 to 2009 was done with respect to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

RESULTSThe interval from trauma to diagnosis of PUJ disruption was (52 ± 52) days. If one case with nephrectomy was excluded, the interval from trauma to diagnosis was (40 ± 20) days. The average time between injury and first treatment was (49 ± 25) days. Pelvi-ureteric reanastomosis and caliceal ureterostomy were performed separately in 11 and 4 patients, respectively. Ileal replacement for ureter injuries was finally performed in one patient. Hydronephrosis of the injured kidney was reduced and the function improved in 15 out of 17 patients (88%). Only one patient received nephrectomy and the nephrectomy rate was 5.9%.

CONCLUSIONDifferential renal function at the PUJ disruption side can be saved and the rate of nephrectomy reduced by appropriate surgery if the time to diagnosis and first treatment is limited to within two months.

Abdominal Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; injuries ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter ; injuries ; surgery ; Ureteral Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; pathology ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo compare the surgical effect of three-dimensional (3D) versus 2D laparoscopic surgery in ureter lithotomy.

METHODSFrom January 2014 to 2015 May, 45 patients with ureteral calculi were randomly allocated into 2 groups to undergo ureter lithotomy under 3D laparoscopy (25 cases) and 2D laparoscopy (20 cases). The time used for each surgical process (including the exposure, D-J tube discharge, suture and other surgical procedures) was recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe operation was completed smoothly in all the 45 patients. In this cohort, the wound drainage tube was removed in a mean of 3.0mnplus;0.8 days after the operation, the catheter was removed after a week, and the double J tube was removed at 1 month. Follow-up intravenous pyelography at 3 months after the operation reveal ureteral stricture in none of the cases. Comparison of the surgical data showed that the time used in each surgical process was significantly shorter in the 3D group than in the 2D group (P<0.05). 3D laparoscopic surgery allowed more precise operation by providing a good sense of depth as in an open surgery to reduce the operation time.

CONCLUSIONSAs a minimally invasive surgical technique, 3D laparoscopic surgery facilitates more precise and easier operation compared with 2D laparoscopy in ureter lithotomy.

Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Operative Time ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Ureter ; Ureteral Calculi ; surgery

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is characterized by decreased flow of urine down the ureter and increased fluid pressure inside the kidney. Open pyeloplasty had been regarded as the standard management of UPJO for a long time. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty reports high success rates, for both retroperitoneal and transperitoneal approaches, which are comparable to those of open pyeloplasty. However, open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty have yielded disappointing failure rates of 2.5%-10%. The main causes for recurrent UPJO are severe peripelvic and periureteric fibrosis due to urinary extravasation, ureteral ischemia, and inadequate hemostasis. In addition, failing to diagnose lower pole crossing vessels before or during the primary procedure is also responsible for recurrent UPJO. In addition, poor preoperative split renal function, hydronephrosis, presence of renal stones, patient age, diabetes, prior endopyelotomy history, and retrograde pyelography history were considered as predictors of pyeloplasty failure. The failure is usually defined by persistent pain, persistent radiographic obstruction (infection or stones), continued decline in split renal function, or a combination of the above. And the failure of pye-loplasty often occurs in the first 2 years after the surgery. The available options for managing recurrent UPJO with a salvageable renal unit include endopyelotomy, re-do pyeloplasty, stent implantation, percutaneous nephrostomy, ureterocalicostomy, and nephrectomy. Re-do pyeloplasty has such merits as high successful rates and rare complications, compared with endopyelotomy or ureterocalicostomy. And some investigators think that re-do pyeloplasty should be regarded as the gold standard for secondary therapy if feasible. Open pyeloplasty can enlarge the operating field, facilitate the exposure of the ureteropelvic junction, reduce the difficulty of operation, and thus reduce the occurrence of complications. There are no significant differences among the success rates of re-do pyeloplasty under open approach, traditional laparoscopy and robot-assisted laparoscopy, according to previous reports. However, traditional laparoscopic and robot-assisted pyeloplasty give advantages of cosmetology, small trauma, less postoperative pain, speedy recovery and shorter hospitalization, fewer complications and lower recurrent rates. If the primary pyeloplasty is an open operation in retroperitoneal approach, the traditional laparoscopic and robotic operation with retroperitoneal approach should be considered for secondary repair. The cause of recurrent UPJO should be evaluated before surgery and identified intraoperatively to minimize the possibility of recurrence.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction/surgery* ; Urologic Surgical Procedures

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Robotics ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; methods