Mohamed M. Hussein

Does tamsulosin increase stone clearance after shockwave lithotripsy of renal stones? A prospective, randomized controlled study.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of the selective α-blocker tamsulosin on stone clearance after shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) of renal stones. Material and methods. A prospective, randomized, controlled study was carried out in 166 patients who underwent SWL for renal stones between January and December 2007. Group 1 (n = 83) took tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily and diclofenac sodium injection (75 mg) on demand. Group 2 (n = 83) took only diclofenac sodium as needed. Patients were on this regimen for 4 weeks or until stone clearance and were followed up for a maximum of 3 months. They were evaluated for stone clearance, time to stone clearance, colic attacks, need for analgesics and any side-effects at 2 weeks, and 1, 2 and 3 months. Results. In total, 136 patients (67 in group 1 and 69 in group 2) were available for evaluation. The demographic profile was comparable in both groups. Group 1 had a clearance rate of 73% (49/67) versus 55% (38/69) in group 2 (p = 0.008). Time to stone clearance was significantly different at 1, 2 and 3 months (p = 0.02, 0.01 and 0.008, respectively), but not significant at 2 weeks (p = 0.52). In group 2, higher number of patients had more frequent attacks of colic and used more analgesics than in group 1 (p = 003, 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Nine patients (13.4%) in group 1 had ejaculatory dysfunction. Conclusions. Tamsulosin significantly increases stone clearance after SWL of renal stones. It decreases the pain and amount of analgesics needed, with a low rate of side-effects.

Solo Ultrasonography-Guided Percutanous Nephrolithotomy for Single Stone Pelvis

PURPOSE To evaluate the success and outcomes of solo ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for management of a single stone pelvis. PATIENTS AND METHODS From April 2008 to April 2010, the procedure was applied to 34 patients (22 men and 12 women) whose ages ranged from 25 to 55 years (mean 29.5 y) with unilateral single stone pelvis in a moderately to markedly dilated pelvicaliceal system (PCS). The stone size ranged from 20 to 30 mm (mean 24 mm). Middle caliceal puncture and dilation were performed in all cases by an experienced urologist under US guidance with a needle-guided system attached to the side wall of the US probe. The evaluation of the procedure included the success of accessing the stones, the occurrence of intraoperative or postoperative complications, the stone-free rate, and the need for auxiliary maneuver. RESULTS The access was successful in all cases. Minor intraoperative complications occurred in two cases where PCS perforation was detected and was managed conservatively by Double-J stent insertion for 4 weeks. The only reported postoperative complication was fever in five cases that responded to antibiotic treatment. Thirty-two (94%) patients were stone free on postoperative day 2; significant residual stones (8 and 10 mm) were detected in two patients who underwent shockwave lithotripsy, and they became stone free within 10 days. CONCLUSION Solo US-guided PCNL can be performed safely as an alternative to the fluoroscopy-guided PCNL for single stone pelvis in a moderately to markedly dilated PCS by an experienced urologist.

Modified N-shaped ileal neobladder after radical cystectomy

OBJECTIVE We report on the feasibility and outcomes of the N-shaped pouch with an afferent tubular isoperistaltic segment as a new technique for creating a capacious, low pressure bladder substitute following radical cystectomy. METHODS Between April 2000 and April 2006, 42 patients (36 male, 6 female) with invasive bladder cancer were considered good candidates for orthotopic urinary diversion. All had radical cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution by an ileal low pressure reservoir (N-shaped) with an afferent isoperistaltic tubular segment. Of the 42 patients, 36 (86%) had squamous cell carcinoma; 6 had transitional cell carcinoma. None of the patients had positive lymph nodes after pathologic examination of the specimen. The patients were available for a median follow-up period of 24.8 months. Follow-up included clinical and radiographic studies to determine functional and oncological outcomes. RESULTS Eleven patients (26.2%) had early complications during the period ≤ 3 months following surgery. Seven of these patients had complications such as wound infection, prolonged ileus, persistent urinary leakage, and deep venous thrombosis that were treated conservatively. One female patient developed a pouch-vaginal fistula that required repair. The remaining 3 patients had oncologic failures, 1 of which was isolated urethral recurrence. Late complications occurred in 15 patients (35.7%). These included pouch stones, outflow obstruction, mucus retention, and adhesive bowel obstruction. Daytime and night-time continence was achieved in 92% and 80% of the patients, respectively, and ureteroileal stricture was observed in 5%. The upper tracts remained unchanged or improved in nearly 95% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Ileal orthotopic bladder substitution (N-shaped) with an afferent ileal tubular segment offers good functional results with good preservation of the renal units. It is considered a safe and technically feasible surgical procedure.

Supine pediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND Many authors reported their experience with supine PCNL in adult population comparing the outcome with prone PCNL and they found that the stone free rate and the operative time were in favor of prone PCNL with a lower patient morbidity among patients with supine PCNL. This encouraged us to perform supine PCNL in pediatric population. AN OBJECTIVE In this study we evaluated the safety and efficacy of supine PCNL in pediatric population. STUDY DESIGN (SUBJECTS/PATIENTS/MATERIALS/METHODS) Between April 2011 and February 2014 a total of 27 children (6 girls and 21 boys) presented with renal calculi. The stones were single pelvic stone in 14 cases, pelvic stone with lower calyceal stones in 7 cases and pelvic stone with upper calyceal stones in 6 cases. The mean stone size was 32 mm (range 20-47 mm). All patients were managed with supine PCNL performed by a single surgeon. Marking the posterior axillary line in standing position before the operation is a mandatory initial step. The patients were placed in supine position with elevation of the ipsilateral shoulder and hip by means of two bags one underneath the shoulder and the other underneath the hip to widen the operative field. The technique was performed using a sheathless 19 fr. Richard wolf rigid nephroscope after acute tract dilation by amplatz dilators. Complications (intraoperative and postoperative) and stone free rate rates were reported. RESULTS A single lower calyceal access was used in all cases through which we could successfully remove even the upper calyceal stones. Kinking of the guide wire during tract dilatation were encountered in 4 cases and the guide wire was successfully exchanged using a small Teflon dilator in 2 cases while ultrasonographic guided lower calyceal repuncture was done in 2 cases. The average operative time (from the beginning of the puncture trial to nephrostomy tube insertion) was (41 ± 15) min. The operation was successfully completed as planned in all cases with two cases of intraoperative complications (one case of pelvicalyceal system perforation and another case of intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion). The initial stone free rate was (92.5%). Postoperative complications was reported in the form of 2 cases of fever that respond to medical treatment for 72 h. DISCUSSION The main advantages of supine pediatric PCNL is that it is comfortable for the surgeon, the anesthetist and the child. The main disadvantages of supine pediatric PCNL is that it is not familiar for most urologists and small field of operation. The short outcome of our study is the small number of cases and the lack of comparative study with prone pediatric PCNL. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric supine PCNL is a safe and effective method for management of pediatric renal stones. It carries the advantages of easily upper calyx access through the lower calyceal tract, low incidence of fluid absorption or hypothermia and easy anesthesia monitoring. However a larger number of cases are needed to be evaluated.

Pediatric retrograde intra-renal surgery for renal stones <2 cm in solitary kidney

Introduction: Management of renal stones in children with a solitary kidney is a challenge. In the current study, the efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in these children were determined. Patients and Methods: Records of children with renal stones who were treated at our institute between August 2011 and August 2014 were retrospectively assessed. Inclusion criteria were: Children with single renal stone <2 cm size, in a solitary kidney. A 7.5 Fr flexible ureteroscope (FURS) was introduced into the ureter over a hydrophilic guidewire under visual and fluoroscopic guidance - applying a back-loading technique. The stone was completely dusted using 200 μm laser fiber (0.2-0.8 joules power and10-30 Hz frequency). At the end of the maneuver, a 5 Fr JJ stent was inserted into the ureter. The children were discharged home 24 h postoperative - provided that no complications were detected. Results: Fourteen children (3 girls and 11 boys) with median age 9.5 years (range 6-12) were included. The mean stone burden was 12.2 ± 1.5 mm (range 9-20). Stones were successfully accessed in all of the cases by the FURS except for 2 cases in whom a JJ stent was inserted into the ureter and left in place for 2 weeks to achieve passive dilatation. All of the stones were dusted completely. The immediate postoperative stone-free rate (SFR) was 79%, and the final SFR was 100% after 3 weeks. No intraoperative complications were observed. Conclusions: RIRS for renal stone <2 cm in children with a solitary kidney is a single-session procedure with a high SFR, low complication rate, and is a minimally invasive, natural orifice technique.