Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in pheochromocytoma

Since the first laparoscopic adrenalectomy, the technique has evolved and it has become the standard of care for many adrenal diseases, including pheochromocytoma. Two laparoscopic accesses to the adrenal have been developed: transperitoneal and retroperitoneal. Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy may be recommended for the treatment of pheochromocytoma with the same peri-operative outcomes of the transperitoneal approach because it allows direct access to the adrenal glands without increasing the operative risks. Although technically more demanding than the transperitoneal approach, retroperitoneoscopy can shorten the mean operative time, which is critical for cases with pheochromocytoma where minimizing the potential for intra-operative hemodynamic changes is essential. Blood loss and the convalescence time can be also shortened by this approach. There is no absolute indication for either the transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach; however, the latter procedure may be the best option for patients who have undergone previous abdominal surgery and obese patients. Also, retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a good alternative for treating cases with inherited pheochromocytomas, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A, in which the pheochromocytoma is highly prevalent and frequently occurs bilaterally

Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis in the treatment of duplex system

Purpose: Duplex system is one of the most common anomalies of upper urinary tract. Anatomical and clinical presentation determine its treatment. Usually, the upper moiety has a poor function and requires resection, but when it is not significantly impaired, preservation is recommended. Laparoscopic reconstruction with upper pole preservation is presented as an alternative treatment. Materials and Methods: Four female patients with duplex system, one presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection and the others with urinary incontinence associated to infrasphincteric ectopic ureter, were treated. Surgical procedure envolved a laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis of the upper pole ureter to the pelvis of the lower moiety, with prior insertion of a double J stent. Results: Surgical time varied from 120 to 150 minutes, with minimal blood loss in all cases. Follow-up varied from 15 to 30 months, with resolution of the clinical symptoms and preservation of the upper moiety function. Conclusion: Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanatomosis is a feasible and safe minimally invasive option in the treatment of duplex system

Comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory findings in uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women

INTRODUÇÃO: As infecções do trato urinário (ITU) feminino são muito prevalentes em mulheres. Em geral, elas dividem-se em cistites e pielonefrites de acordo com seu nível anatômico. Seu tratamento, apesar de simples, depende do conhecimento da flora bacteriana e do padrão de sensibilidade local, principalmente em tempos de aumento de resistência bacteriana. Este estudo avaliou e comparou a flora e o padrão de sensibilidade das bactérias causadoras de infecção não complicada do trato urinário feminino no período de 2007 a 2012. MÉTODOS: Analisamos retrospectivamente os resultados de 493 culturas de urina de pacientes com idade a partir de 14 anos e sintomas clínicos de cistite ou pielonefrite tratadas no Pronto-Socorro ou Ambulatório de Urologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. As pacientes foram separadas em três grupos: 1- pacientes com cistite simples atendidas no Pronto-Socorro; 2- pacientes com cistite simples atendidas no Ambulatório; 3- pacientes com pielonefrite atendidas no Pronto-Socorro. As características demográficas como idade, presença de ITU de repetição, diabetes mellitus (DM) e outras comorbidades, e os resultados de flora bacteriana e padrão de sensibilidade foram analisados e comparados entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: A média de idade das pacientes nos três grupos foi 43,2, 55,0 e 36,0 anos, respectivamente. ITU de repetição esteve presente em 36,0%, 76,1% e 26,5% das pacientes dos grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente, enquanto que 8,5%, 22,7% e 2,2% das pacientes nos grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente, eram diabéticas. Escherichia coli (E. coli) foi a bactéria responsável por 75,1% das infecções no geral e 87,3% das pielonefrites. Staphylococcus saprophyticus foi o segundo agente etiológico mais frequente (6,7%), principalmente no grupo 1 (10,0%), enquanto que nas diabéticas, Enterococcus faecalis foi o segundo agente etiológico (15,6%). Ao avaliarmos todas as pacientes, o antibiograma demonstrou sensibilidade à amoxacilina/ácido clavulânico (AAC), ampicilina, ciprofloxacina, levofloxacina, nitrofurantoína, norfloxacina e sulfametoxazol/trimetoprima (SMT) de 85,8%, 46,5%, 82,0%, 83,3%, 88,3%, 83,3% e 65,7%, respectivamente. Nas pielonefrites, a sensibilidade geral à cefalotina, cefepime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacina e gentamicina foi de 67,0%, 95,5%, 94,3%, 81,8% e 98,0%, respectivamente. Ao analisarmos apenas as infecções por E. coli, os antibióticos orais com sensibilidade > 90% foram AAC (96,5%) e nitrofurantoína (98,8%). No geral, ao compararmos pacientes sem e com ITU de repetição, os antibióticos amicacina, gentamicina e nitrofurantoína foram os únicos que não apresentaram diminuição significativa de sensibilidade. Nas infecções de repetição por E. coli, os únicos antibióticos orais que mantiveram sensibilidade > 90% foram AAC e nitrofurantoína. Ao compararmos ITU por E. coli nas pacientes = 50 anos, os antimicrobianos orais que mantiveram sensibilidade > 90% em ambas faixas etárias foram AAC e nitrofurantoína. Nas pacientes diabéticas, houve diminuição estatística da sensibilidade ao ácido nalidíxico (80,5% x 61,5%), ciprofloxacina (84,8% x 65,1%), gentamicina (97,4% x 81,0%), levofloxacina (85,4% x 66,7%) e SMT (66,0% x 50%), respectivamente. As infecções por E. coli nas pacientes diabéticas também apresentaram diminuição estatística aos mesmos antibióticos; AAC e nitrofurantoína mantiveram sensibilidade > 95% nesta situação. Análise de regressão logística identificou aumento de chance de resistência ao ácido nalidíxico, ciprofloxacina e levofloxacina de 3,62, 4,72 e 5,27, respectivamente, quando há ITU de repetição, e à gentamicina de 5,38 quando há DM. CONCLUSÕES: Pielonefrites foram mais comuns em mulheres jovens em relação às cistites. E. coli foi o principal agente causador das infecções urinárias não complicadas, principalmente em pielonefrites. A nitrofurantoína manteve sensibilidade in vitro acima de 90% em diversas situações como no tratamento geral das cistites por E. coli, em casos de cistite de repetição, em mulheres > 50 anos e em diabéticas. AAC mostrou sensibilidade in vitro acima de 90% em algumas situações: ITU de repetição por E. coli, mulheres com idade >= 50 anos e diabéticas. A ceftriaxone apresentou sensibilidade in vitro suficiente para o tratamento empírico de pielonefrite. O histórico de infecção urinária de repetição aumentou a chance de resistência ao ácido nalidíxico, ciprofloxacina e levofloxacina e DM aumentou a chance de resistência à gentamicina.INTRODUCTION: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are common. Urinary tract infections are usually divided into cystitis or pyelonephritis, according to anatomical level. Although treatment of UTI is simple, it depends on knowledge of the local uropathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. This study analyzed the causative pathogens of UTIs in women and their susceptibility patterns between 2007 and 2012. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 493 urine culture results of female patients aged 14 years and older with clinical diagnosis of cystitis or pyelonephritis who were treated at the urological emergency unit or urological outpatient clinic. Patients were divided into three groups: 1- simple cystitis attended to in the emergency unit; 2- simple cystitis attended to in the urological outpatient clinic; 3- pyelonephritis attended to in the emergency unit. Results of demographic data, such as age, history of recurrent UTI, diabetes mellitus (DM) and comorbidities, and those of the causative pathogens and their susceptibility patterns were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The mean age for groups 1, 2 and 3 was 43.2, 55.0 and 36.0 years, respectively. Recurrent UTI was present in 36.0%, 76.1% and 26.5% of patients in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. DM was present in 8.5%, 22.7% and 2.2% of patients in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was responsible for 75.1% of all UTIs and 87.3% of pyelonephritis. Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the second most common agent (6.7%), mainly in group 1 (10.0%), while Enterococcus faecalis was the second most common agent in diabetic patients (15.6%). General susceptibility rates to amoxicillin/clavulanate (A/C), ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMT) were 85.8%, 46.5%, 82.0%, 83.3%, 88.3%, 83.3% and 65.7%, respectively. For pyelonephritis, the general susceptibility rates to cephalothin, cefepime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were 67.0%, 95.5%, 94.3%, 81.8% and 98.0%, respectively. Analysis of the E.coli isolates showed that more than 90% of the strains were susceptible to A/C (96.5%) and nitrofurantoin (98.8%). There was a decrease in the susceptibility rates to all antimicrobials in patients with recurrent UTI, except for amikacin, gentamicin and nitrofurantoin. In cases of recurrent UTI by E. coli, susceptibility rates for oral nitrofurantoin and A/C were above 90%. In a comparison of patients below 50 years and those aged 50 and older diagnosed with E. coli UTI, only A/C and nitrofurantoin maintained susceptibility rates above 95% for all ages. Comparison between diabetic and non-diabetic patients showed a significant decrease in susceptibility rates for ciprofloxacin (84.8% x 65.1%), gentamicin (97.4% x 81.0%), levofloxacin (85.4% x 66.7%), nalidixic acid (80.5% x 61.5%) and SMT (66.0% x 50%), respectively. A similar susceptibility rate of E. coli was found in diabetic patients; however, A/C and nitrofurantoin maintained susceptibility rates above 95% in this situation. A multivariate analysis identified an increased odds of resistance to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and nalidixic acid (OR=4.72, 5.27 and 3.62, respectively) in the presence of recurrent UTI, while there was an increased probability for resistance to gentamicin (OR=5.38) in the presence of DM. CONCLUSIONS: Pyelonephritis was more common in young women than cystitis. E. coli was the main agent for uncomplicated UTI, particularly for pyelonephritis. Nitrofurantoin maintained in vitro susceptibility rates above 90% in many situations, such as E. coli infections, recurrent infections, women older than 50 years and diabetic patients. A/C maintained susceptibility rates above 90 % in some situations, such as recurring UTI caused by E. coli, women aged 50 years or older and diabetic patients. Ceftriaxone had a sufficient in vitro susceptibility profile to be indicated for empirical treatment of pyelonephritis. Recurrent UTI increased the odds of resistance to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and nalidixic acid, while DM increased the chance of resistance to gentamici

Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women in a Sao Paulo Quaternary Care Hospital: Bacterial Spectrum and Susceptibility Patterns

Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women are very common. Regular analysis of bacterial flora is important to formulate updated guidelines. The objective of this study is to determine and compare the microbiology of UTIs and their susceptibility patterns in a quaternary care hospital. In a seven-year review, the urine culture results of 480 female patients with uncomplicated UTIs were analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis and treatment characteristics: Group 1, cystitis at outpatient basis; group 2, cystitis at the Emergency Unit; and group 3, pyelonephritis. Group 1 included older patients, with a higher incidence of concomitant diabetes mellitus and recurrent UTIs. E. coli was the most common pathogen, responsible for 75.1% of cases, mainly for pyelonephritis (87.3%). Of the oral antimicrobials tested for cystitis, amoxicillin/clavulanate and nitrofurantoin had the highest susceptibility profiles (84.4% and 87.3%, respectively). For E. coli only, their susceptibility profiles were as high as 90.8% and 97.4%, respectively. For pyelonephritis treatment, fluoroquinoles had a susceptibility profile <90%, while ceftriaxone and gentamicin had susceptibility >90%. Uncomplicated UTI treatment is becoming more challenging because the susceptibility profiles of oral antimicrobials are increasingly resistant. In our environment, cystitis can still be managed with nitrofurantoin. Uncomplicated pyelonephritis should be managed with ceftriaxone or gentamicin

Cranberries and lower urinary tract infection prevention

Lower urinary tract infections are very common diseases. Recurrent urinary tract infections remain challenging to treat because the main treatment option is long-term antibiotic prophylaxis; however, this poses a risk for the emergence of bacterial resistance. Some options to avoid this risk are available, including the use of cranberry products. This article reviews the key methods in using cranberries as a preventive measure for lower urinary tract infections, including in vitro studies and clinical trials