Outcomes of Open Cystolithotomy and Percutaneous Cystolithotripsy in the Management of Urinary Bladder Stone

Introduction: Urinary bladder stone occupies only 5% of all urinary tract stone. Various techniques have been used for the management of bladder stone. Open Cystolithotomy is the traditional treatment but a percutaneous approach has been also in practice. Aims: To confirm the best options between open cystolithotomy and percutaneous cystolithotripsy for the treatment of bladder stone. Methods: It is a prospective hospital based study from May 2019 to January 2021 in Nepalgunj Medical College. Total 42 patients with inclusion criteria were divided into two groups. Group I was allocated to 21 patients who were treated with open cystolithotomy while Group II were allocated to 21 patients who were treated with percutaneous cystolithotripsy. Two groups were compared for stone free rate, mean hospital stay, mean postoperative scar, mean operation time and rate of post-operative complications. Results: The stone free rate in Group I was 100 % and in Group II was 90.47 %. Mean Operation time was in Group I and Group II were 40.09+ 2.48 minutes and 31.38+15.65 days, respectively with p<0.05. Mean hospital stay was significantly low in Group II (3.71+1.87 days ) when compared to Group I (7.67+ 2.12 days) with p<0.001. Mean scar length of Group I (5.466+2.9 cm) with respect to Group II (1.04+0.09) was significantly long (p<0.01). Rate of complications were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.5). Conclusion: For management of urinary bladder stones sized up to 4 cm, both open cystolithotomy and percutaneous cystolithotripsy are effective, with a low incidence of complications. However, comparing the surgery time, hospital stay, length of scar between two procedures, percutaneous cystolithotripsy procedure is more beneficial for treatment of urinary bladder stone.

USAGE OF SUPPORTING PAD FOR SUPINE PCNL: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Objective: This study aims to compare the safety, efficacy, and other surgical outcomes of supine PCNLs performed with and without the use of supporting pad. Material & Methods: We enrolled 27 patients who undergone PCNL procedure with supine position for renal stones with all sizes between January - December 2019. Divided into two groups, operated with and without supporting pad, with 13 and 14 patients respectively. Inclusion criteria are patients with renal stones, including staghorn, multiple calyx, and proximal ureteral stones. Meanwhile, pediatric patients under 12 years old, uncorrectable bleeding disorders, active urinary infection, and pregnancy are excluded. Results: Our observation showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups, although blood loss and length of stay in supporting pad showed better results. A statistically significant difference was found in stone-free-rate (P = 0.006) favoring in supine PCNL with supporting pad. Conclusion: Supine PCNL with support padding may be a safe and more effective choice to treat renal stones. Nevertheless, the patient’s anatomic variations may influence this. Thus, a prospective study with a larger population is needed to verify our outcomes.

Evaluation and comparison of S.T.O.N.E. and Guy’s scoring systems for predicting percutaneous nephrolithotomy outcomes in supine position

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) was applied in the prone position until recently. But also, in recent years supine positions was applied in patients with kidney stones. Predicting how much renal stones can be cleared after surgery and possibility of complications is an important question for both surgeons and patients. Therefore different scoring systems are used to evaluate outcomes of PCNL before surgery. Patients and methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 80 patients with renal stone who underwent PCNL in the supine position were evaluated preoperatively by S.T.O.N.E. and Guy’s scoring systems (GSS). The predictions of both scoring systems for stone-free and complication rates in patients who underwent PCNL in the supine position were evaluated. Also, these scoring systems were compared among themselves for reliability. Result: In both scoring systems, there was a statistically significant difference between postoperative stone-free (SF) and residual stone (RS) of patients and in predicting the likelihood of complications in patients. No statistically significant difference was found between the two scoring systems in predicting the stone-free rate. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that S.T.O.N.E. nephrolithometry and Guy’s score systems can be used effectively to predict stone-free rate, complications, and operation duration in supine position PCNL for renal stones.

Feasibility of one-shot dilation access in the pediatric age group

ObjectiveTo compare sequential fascial dilation (SFD) versus one-shot dilation (OSD) in the pediatric patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy.MethodsThe present study is an observational study. The study subjects were divided into two groups. In group 1, renal dilation was done using the SFD and in group 2, renal dilation was done using the OSD. The amount of time exposed to radiation during access to pelvicalyceal system was estimated. Complications, stone free rates, ancillary procedures for residual stones and hospital stay were compared. Modified Clavien-Dindo classification was used for grading the complications.ResultsRadiation exposure and operative time were less in OSD group (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.068 to 14.072, and 2.565 to 12.435, p<0.005). The mean drop of hematocrit was statistically less significant in OSD group (p=0.032). In both groups, complications, stone free rate and hospital stay were statistically insignificant.ConclusionsOSD is feasible in the children with reduced radiation exposure and shorter operative time. The outcome was similar to SFD.

Comparison of Fragmentation and Dusting Laser Modes for Laser Ureteroscopy Lithotripsy of Ureteral Stones at a Single Center

Background Laser ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) is an efficacious treatment for ureteral stones. There have been few previous studies compared the different energy and frequency settings for URSL in a single center. The fragmentation and dusting laser mode were simultaneously used in our medical center. We compared the efficacy and outcomes of these two laser modalities for the treatment of ureteral stones.Methods Patients who underwent fragmentation or dusting laser URSL for ureteral stones were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic data, stone parameters, perioperative data and stone-free rates were analyzed between the two groups.Results There were a total of 421 patients with ureteral stones who met the study criteria. More patients in the dusting group had multiple ureteral stones and pyuria than in the fragmentation group. The fragmentation group had a better stone free rate and a lower push back rate compared with the dusting group. (82% vs. 71%; 10% vs. 20% respectively, both p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that stone basket use (odds ratio [OR] = 3.026; p<0.001) significantly improved the stone free rate, whereas multiple stones (OR=0.322; p <0.001), upper ureteral stone location (OR=0.098; p=0.002) and pyuria (OR=0.428; p=0.001) significantly decreased the stone free rate. The laser mode used was not significantly related to the stone free rate in the multivariate analysis.Conclusions Both laser modes were effective and safe for ureteral lithotripsy. Risk factors associated with a lower stone free rate were multiple stones, pyuria, upper ureteral stone location and an operation without the use of a stone basket.

Percutaneous cystolithotripsy for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Introduction. According to the literature, 5.0% of patients with urolithiasis are characterized by the presence of stones in the bladder. The issue of bladder stones for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia remains relevant and requires further improvement of approaches to surgical treatment.Purpose of the study. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of energy-diverse percutaneous cystolithotripsy (and placement of a cystostomy catheter) in comparison with transurethral cystolithotripsy.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 56 cases in patients (aged 54-82 years) with bladder stones was carried out. All patients were treated in the Urology Clinic of the Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University from 2019 to 2021. Two groups were formed: group I — 26 (46.4%) patients who underwent percutaneous cystolithotripsy, group II — 30 (53.6%) patients underwent transurethral cystolithotripsy. The duration of surgery, intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed.Results. On average, the duration of surgery for the percutaneous approach was shorter than for transurethral access (35 vs 44 min). The stone-free rate in the case of the percutaneous approach was 100.0%, while in transurethral cystolithotripsy the stone-free rate was 90.0%. In the early postoperative period, in groups I and II, gross hematuria was observed for 2 (7.6%) and 4 (13.3%) patients, respectively. In the late postoperative period, 2 patients from group II had a urethral stricture.Conclusions. Percutaneous cystolithotripsy is a minimally invasive method of stone fragmentation, characterized by a minimal risk of intra- and postoperative complications.

Outcomes of fluoroscopy-free retrograde intrarenal surgery and predictive factors of stone-free

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of flouroscopy-free retrograde intrarenal surgery (ffRIRS) and to investigate the factors that may affect stone-free rate. Materials and methods: The charts of patients who underwent ffRIRS between January 2017 and August 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with missing preoperative imaging and patients with kidney anomalies were excluded from the study. Age, gender, stone size, stone localization, stone density, laterality, operation time, stone-free rate, complications and auxiliary procedures were recorded and analyzed. Results: Study group involved 44 (43.1%) female and 58 (56.8%) male patients. Stone-free rate in a single-session ffRIRS were found to be correlated with stone localization (p = 0.003), stone volume (p = 0.004), and stone density (p = 0.009) but not with age (p = 0.950). Patients with multiple calyceal stones and a stone burden over 520 mm3 were found to be less stone-free. The complication rate in female gender (n = 7) was significantly higher compared to male (n = 1) (p = 0.011). No major complications such as ureteral injury or avulsion were observed. Overall, 13 patients (12.7%) needed auxiliary procedures. The operation time seemed to be affected by stone size and gender (p = 0.005; p = 0.044, respectively). Conclusions: Stone-free rate in ffRIRS were found to be affected by stone density, size, and localization. Patients with multiple caliceal stones and high stone burden (< 520 mm3) have been found to have low stone-free rate, so one can speculate that having fluoroscopy assistance in RIRS might help us to improve surgical success.

The active guidewire technique versus standard technique as different way to approach ureteral endoscopic stone treatment

Background: One of the greatest challenges in semi-rigid ureteroscopies, for both stones and tumors, is the control of endoscopic vision and the maintenance of low intracavitary liquid pressure. We present a comparison between two operative techniques: in the first method an ordinary guide wire (diameter 0.032'') is used for the procedure; in the second one a 5 Fr ureteral catheter replaces the guidewire (we called it “Active guidewire”) Methods We compared 50 semirigid ureteroscopies (sURS) performed using the active guidewire with another 50 procedures conducted with a classic guidewire. We evaluated the difference in operating times, quality of endoscopic vision, periprocedural infections rate and stone-free rate. Results: The use of active guidewire has considerably reduced the standardized operating times per unit stone-volume by about 39%. Vision quality has improved considerably thanks to the continuous flow in-and-out. Consequently, periprocedural infections decreased (3% vs 30%) and the stone-free rate rose from 86% to 92%. Discussion and conclusions: Employing an “active guidewire” instead of the standard guidewire, the risk of complications related to high pressures and operating time is considerably lower, as well as better treatment quality thanks to the cleaner vision. This technique has proven to be safe as well as easy to apply, and in our belief is to be preferred whenever the ureter accepts without forcing, both the presence of the catheter and the semi-rigid 7 F ureteroscope.