Cystoscopic ureteral stent placement: techniques and tips

Perioperative serum creatinine change and delayed urologic complications following total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between perioperative serum creatinine change and delayed urologic complications following total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for benign indications.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 510 cases (503 cases without delayed urologic injuries and 7 cases with delayed urologic injuries) in which TLH was performed for benign indications were retrospectively reviewed. The patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between patients with and without delayed urologic injuries. Laboratory markers (serum creatinine level at the preoperative and postoperative periods, white blood cell [WBC] ratio, and C-reactive protein [CRP] ratio) were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic value of these laboratory markers.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in age, parity, body mass index, the presence of diabetes mellitus, preoperative GnRH agonist use, previous history of abdominal surgery or the performance of adnexal surgery, ASRM score, the presence of cul-de-sac obliteration, operative time, blood loss or weight of the resected specimens between the two groups. The proportions of patients who showed an elevated creatinine level on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher in the delayed urologic injury group (9.9% vs. 57%, P < 0.001). The combination of the three laboratory markers yielded an area under the ROC curve value of 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.491–1) in the detection of delayed urologic injuries.

Conclusion:

A change in the serum creatine level over baseline after surgery may indicate the possibility of urologic injuries. The combination of creatinine change and other factors, such as WBC or CRP would be helpful for detecting urologic complications after TLH.

Functional Properties of Polyurethane Ureteral Stents with PLGA and Papaverine Hydrochloride Coating

Despite the obvious benefits of using ureteral stents to drain the ureters, there is also a risk of complications from 80-90%. The presence of a foreign body in the human body causes disturbances in its proper functioning. It can lead to biofilm formation on the stent surface, which may favor the development of urinary tract infections or the formation of encrustation, as well as stent fragmentation, complicating its subsequent removal. In this work, the effect of the polymeric coating containing the active substance-papaverine hydrochloride on the functional properties of ureteral stents significant for clinical practice were assessed. Methods: The most commonly clinically used polyurethane ureteral Double-J stent was selected for the study. Using the dip-coating method, the surface of the stent was coated with a poly(D,L-lactide-glycolide) (PLGA) coating containing the papaverine hydrochloride (PAP). In particular, strength properties, retention strength of the stent ends, dynamic frictional force, and the fluoroscopic visibility of the stent during X-ray imaging were determined. Results: The analysis of the test results indicates the usefulness of a biodegradable polymer coating containing the active substance for the modification of the surface of polyurethane ureteral stents. The stents coated with PLGA+PAP coating compared to polyurethane stents are characterized by more favorable strength properties, the smaller value of the dynamic frictional force, without reducing the fluoroscopic visibility.

Show Me How Video: Straight-Up Approach to Bedside Ureteral Stents

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate placement of bedside double-j ureteral stents in an Emergency Department or hospital floor setting.

BACKGROUND

Ureteral stent placement is a potentially lifesaving intervention and is one of the most common procedures performed by urologists. Although this procedure is typically performed in the operating room, studies have shown placing ureteral stents at the bedside could potentially decrease delay in stent placement, alleviate financial burdens of operating room use, decrease radiation exposure, and avoid general anesthesia risks^1-5. We demonstrate a safe and efficacious method for bedside ureteral stent placement without fluoroscopic guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the setting of the Emergency Department we use ketamine for conscious sedation and local anesthesia while on the wards, we utilize just local anesthesia. After the patient has been sterilely prepped and draped, the operator passes the flexible cystoscope into the bladder in the standard fashion. The obstructed ureteral orifice is identified, and an extra-long guidewire is used to place a 4.8-French ureteral stent through the scope and beyond the obstruction. A post-operative plain film x-ray of the abdomen confirms proper placement. If significant issues are encountered, the procedure is abandoned, and standard operating room stent placement is undertaken.

RESULTS

The technique is simple and reproducible for placing double-j ureteral stents outside of the operating room environment without general anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

In select patients, bedside double-j ureteral stent placement using our method is a safe and reproducible way to avoid the costs and risks associated with general anesthesia and to optimize utilization of scarce operating room resources.

Use of observed ureteric catheter movement to facilitate laparoscopic identification and dissection of the ureter in complex gynaecological procedures

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Ureteric injury is a serious complication in gynaecological surgery. Identification and dissection of the ureter is important to minimise the risk of injury. However, some pelvic pathologies and previous pelvic surgery can render laparoscopic identification and dissection of the ureter difficult and risky. This video demonstrates the use of observing ureteric catheter movement to facilitate identification and dissection of the ureter in complicated laparoscopic gynaecological procedures.

MATERIALS

A 42-year-old woman with previous history of total abdominal hysterectomy underwent laparoscopic removal of her right ovary, which was plastered over the course of the ureter. A 5-F ureteric catheter was inserted, and observing its movement facilitated identification and dissection of the ureter from the ovary.

RESULTS

The procedure was completed safely, and the patient was discharged the same day.

CONCLUSIONS

This video demonstrates that moving the ureteric catheter laparoscopically to facilitate identification and dissection of the ureter in complex gynaecological procedures may be useful for urogynecologists when assisting ureteric dissection in complex cases.