Laparoscopic Dismembered Pyeloplasty in 47 Cases

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of a sequence of 47 laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasties for the treatment of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction, independently of the etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male and 27 female patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction were treated by Anderson-Hynes transperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty from April 2002 to January 2006. The age of the patients ranged from four to 75 years, with a mean age of 32.3 years. The follow-up ranged between six and 30 months, with a mean follow-up time of 24 months. The outcomes were evaluated through the assessment of symptoms and imaging studies. RESULTS: In 44 (93.6%) of the 47 patients, resolution of the pain and a reduction in ureteropelvic dilation were observed. The mean operative time was 157 minutes (ranging from 90 to 270 minutes). Neither blood transfusion nor conversion to open surgery was required. The mean hospital stay was 2.2 days. The presence of crossing vessels over the ureteropelvic junction was verified in 26 patients (55%), and vessel transposition in relation to the urinary tract was performed in 25 of these cases. In one patient, the crossing vessel was mobilized out of the ureteropelvic junction with a perivascular suture to the renal capsule associated with the pyeloplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of transperitoneal Anderson-Hynes laparoscopic pyeloplasty used for different causes of pyeloureteral obstruction presented a success rate similar to a previously-published open procedure, with the advantage of being less invasive. This procedure may be considered the first option for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Metabolic assessment of elderly men with urolithiasis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of metabolic disorders in elderly men with urolithiasis. METHODS: We performed a case-control study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) men older than 60 years of age and either (2) antecedent renal colic or an incidental diagnosis of urinary lithiasis after age 60 (case arm) or (3) no antecedent renal colic or incidental diagnosis of urolithiasis (control arm). Each individual underwent an interview, and those who were selected underwent all clinical protocol examinations: serum levels of total and ionized calcium, uric acid, phosphorus, glucose, urea, creatinine and parathyroid hormone, urine culture, and analysis of 24-hour urine samples (levels of calcium, citrate, creatinine, uric acid and sodium, pH and urine volume). Each case arm patient underwent two complete metabolic urinary investigations, whereas each control arm individual underwent one examination. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01246531. RESULTS: A total of 51 subjects completed the clinical investigation: 25 in the case arm and 26 in the control arm. In total, 56% of the case arm patients had hypocitraturia (vs. 15.4% in the control arm; p = 0.002). Hypernatriuria was detected in 64% of the case arm patients and in 30.8% of the controls (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Hypocitraturia and hypernatriuria are the main metabolic disorders in elderly men with urolithiasis

Metabolic assessment of elderly men with urolithiasis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of metabolic disorders in elderly men with urolithiasis. METHODS: We performed a case-control study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) men older than 60 years of age and either (2) antecedent renal colic or an incidental diagnosis of urinary lithiasis after age 60 (case arm) or (3) no antecedent renal colic or incidental diagnosis of urolithiasis (control arm). Each individual underwent an interview, and those who were selected underwent all clinical protocol examinations: serum levels of total and ionized calcium, uric acid, phosphorus, glucose, urea, creatinine and parathyroid hormone, urine culture, and analysis of 24-hour urine samples (levels of calcium, citrate, creatinine, uric acid and sodium, pH and urine volume). Each case arm patient underwent two complete metabolic urinary investigations, whereas each control arm individual underwent one examination. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01246531. RESULTS: A total of 51 subjects completed the clinical investigation: 25 in the case arm and 26 in the control arm. In total, 56% of the case arm patients had hypocitraturia (vs. 15.4% in the control arm; p = 0.002). Hypernatriuria was detected in 64% of the case arm patients and in 30.8% of the controls (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Hypocitraturia and hypernatriuria are the main metabolic disorders in elderly men with urolithiasis

Tonometria Gastrointestinal no Perioperatório do Transplante Hepático: Uma Revisão Integrativa

Introdução: A tonometria gástrica é uma ferramenta útil para examinar a perfusão esplâncnica regional por permitir o fornecimento de uma avaliação indireta do estado do enxerto hepático. Isso ocorre devido à hipoperfusão esplâncnica ser um parâmetro crítico no contexto do transplante de fígado, estando associada ao desenvolvimento de problemas como insuficiência hepática aguda e falência de múltiplos órgãos. Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos da tonometria gastrointestinal no perioperatório dos pacientes submetidos ao transplante hepático. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma Revisão Integrativa realizada nas bases de dados PubMed e BVS. Foram utilizados os descritores: “Tonometry”, “Splanchnic circulation” e “Liver transplantation”, incluindo o operador booleano “AND”, e selecionados artigos de relevância para o tema. Foram selecionados inicialmente 24 artigos, todos publicados nos últimos 20 anos, em português e/ou inglês. Após análise, seis artigos corresponderam ao objetivo proposto. Resultado: Observou-se que a diferença entre a PraCO2 no final da cirurgia e na fase anepática foi maior em pacientes sem disfunção do enxerto hepático. Foi identificada uma correlação positiva entre ΔpraCO2 e o pico de ALT após o transplante de fígado. Em outro estudo, verificou-se que a presença de enzimas hepáticas elevadas e a piora da função hepática sintética, coagulopatia e encefalopatia estava relacionada à má função do enxerto. Também foi comprovado que o pH gástrico intramucoso pode predizer a funcionalidade precoce do enxerto. Em um grupo com disfunção hepática, os pacientes apresentaram pH gástrico intramucoso abaixo de 7,3 no período perioperatório, mantendo-se baixo até a 24ª hora pós-operatória, enquanto o grupo sem disfunção apresentou pH gástrico intramucoso acima de 7,3, exceto na fase anepática, quando ficou abaixo desse valor. Conclusão: Descreve-se a utilidade da tonometria gastrointestinal para monitorar a circulação esplâncnica e a função do enxerto hepático durante o transplante hepático. Embora alguns estudos ofereçam suporte a essa afirmação, esta revisão apresenta limitações devido à quantidade restrita de artigos disponíveis, o que a impede de abranger uma ampla gama de evidências científicas

Panoramic snapshot of serum soluble mediator interplay in pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19: an exploratory study

IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can induce changes in the maternal immune response, with effects on pregnancy outcome and offspring. This is a cross-sectional observational study designed to characterize the immunological status of pregnant women with convalescent COVID-19 at distinct pregnancy trimesters. The study focused on providing a clear snapshot of the interplay among serum soluble mediators.MethodsA sample of 141 pregnant women from all prenatal periods (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters) comprised patients with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection at 3-20 weeks after symptoms onset (COVID, n=89) and a control group of pre-pandemic non-infected pregnant women (HC, n=52). Chemokine, pro-inflammatory/regulatory cytokine and growth factor levels were quantified by a high-throughput microbeads array.ResultsIn the HC group, most serum soluble mediators progressively decreased towards the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, while higher chemokine, cytokine and growth factor levels were observed in the COVID patient group. Serum soluble mediator signatures and heatmap analysis pointed out that the major increase observed in the COVID group related to pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-17). A larger set of biomarkers displayed an increased COVID/HC ratio towards the 2nd (3x increase) and the 3rd (3x to 15x increase) trimesters. Integrative network analysis demonstrated that HC pregnancy evolves with decreasing connectivity between pairs of serum soluble mediators towards the 3rd trimester. Although the COVID group exhibited a similar profile, the number of connections was remarkably lower throughout the pregnancy. Meanwhile, IL-1Ra, IL-10 and GM-CSF presented a preserved number of correlations (≥5 strong correlations in HC and COVID), IL-17, FGF-basic and VEGF lost connectivity throughout the pregnancy. IL-6 and CXCL8 were included in a set of acquired attributes, named COVID-selective (≥5 strong correlations in COVID and <5 in HC) observed at the 3rd pregnancy trimester.Discussion and conclusionFrom an overall perspective, a pronounced increase in serum levels of soluble mediators with decreased network interplay between them demonstrated an imbalanced immune response in convalescent COVID-19 infection during pregnancy that may contribute to the management of, or indeed recovery from, late complications in the post-symptomatic phase of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Obese Patients: Comparison Between the Prone and Total Supine Position

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) can be performed in the prone or in the supine position. Comparisons between the two techniques in obese patients are rare in the current literature. Methods: The records of obese patients (body mass index >30) who underwent PCNL in the prone or complete supine positions were reviewed. All patients had a noncontrast CT before and after the procedure. Stones were graded according to the Guy stone score and complications according to the Clavien grading. The stone-free rates, operative time, surgical complications, and hospital stay were analyzed. Results: A total of 56 PCNL were performed in 42 patients. Twenty-four PCNL were performed in the prone and 32 in the total supine position. Stone-free rate on the first postoperative day was 50% in the prone and 46.9% in the supine position (P = 1.0). Final stone-free rates were 83.3% and 78.1%, respectively (P = 0.74). Mean operative time was 164.6 minutes in the prone and 120.3 minutes in the supine position (P = 0.0017), and hospital stay was 4.38 and 2.68 days (P = 0.014), respectively. The transfusion rate was 20.8% in the prone and zero in the supine position patients (P = 0.01). Excluding Guy IV stones, transfusion rate was 8.3% in the prone position (P = 0.1). Significant surgical complications rate was 12.5% in the prone and 3.1% in the supine position (P = 0.302). Conclusion: PCNL performed in the prone or in the complete supine position in obese patients presents similar outcomes. The supine decubitus position has the advantages of a significantly shorter operative time and hospital stay

Management of Chronic Unilateral Hematuria by Ureterorenoscopy

Background and Purpose: Chronic unilateral hematuria is characterized by intermittent or continuous gross hematuria that cannot be diagnosed using standard radiology and hematology methods. In the past, it was managed with partial or total nephrectomy. In the age of minimally invasive procedures, however, endoscopy has enabled more accurate diagnosis and management. We analyzed our experience with transurethral ureterorenoscopy using a flexible ureteroscope to determine the feasibility and success of endoscopic management of renal hematuria. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the records of 13 patients who presented with chronic unilateral hematuria, in whom radiologic and laboratory tests failed to reveal the source of bleeding. In the cases in which the lesion was identified, after complete inspection of the collecting systems, the bleeding site was treated ureteroscopically with a holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet ( YAG) laser. Results: Follow-up ranged from 4 to 60 months ( mean 26 mos). During the follow-up of the 13 patients, 11 remained symptom-free, with only one session of flexible ureterorenoscopy necessary. Relapse occurred in two patients after 4 months and 6 months, respectively; during a second session of flexible ureteroscopy, the bleeding site was successfully identified and cauterized with a holmium: YAG laser. No surgical complications occurred. Conclusions: Conservative treatment of patients with chronic unilateral hematuria should always be considered. Laser ureteroscopic treatment is an excellent method and should be considered as the first option for the management of chronic unilateral hematuria