Robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction using a tubularized peritoneal flap: a novel technique in a chronic porcine model. World J Urol. 2017;35:89-96. [PMID: 27151276 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-016-1840-4]

Tissue-engineered autologous peritoneal grafts for bladder reconstruction in a porcine model

Ileal neobladder construction is a common treatment for patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy. However, metabolic disorders caused by transposed bowel segments occur frequently. Bladder tissue engineering is a promising alternative approach. Although numerous studies have reported bladder reconstruction using acellular and cellular scaffolds, there are also disadvantages associated with these methods, such as immunogenicity of synthetic grafts and incompatible mechanical properties of the biomaterials. Here, we engineered an autologous peritoneal graft consisting of a peritoneal sheet and the seromuscular layer from the ileum. Three months after the surgery, compared with the neobladder made from the ileum, the reconstructed neobladder using our new method showed normal function and better gross morphological characteristics. Moreover, histopathological and transcriptomic analysis revealed urothelium-like cells expressing urothelial biomarkers appeared in the neobladder, while no such changes were observed in the control group. Overall, our study provides a new strategy for bladder tissue engineering and informs a variety of future research prospects.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloureterostomy for ureteropelvic junction rupture sustained in a traffic accident: A case report

BACKGROUND

Ureteral reconstruction is a highly technical type of laparoscopic or open surgery. The incidence of ureteral injury is low; however, ureteral injuries tend to be overtreated. Robotic surgery for urinary reconstructive surgery is growing in popularity, which has made procedures such as pyeloplasty, ureteroureterostomy, and ureteroneocystostomy possible, with minimal damage to the patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloureterostomy in Korea, in a 17-year-old female patient with a ureteral injury.

CASE SUMMARY

The patient, a 17-year-old girl without previous medical history, was presented at the emergency room and complained of abdominal and back pain. Tenderness in the right upper quadrant was observed on physical examination. Hemorrhage in the right perirenal space was observed without abdominal organ injuries on the initial enhanced abdomen computed tomography (CT) scan. Ureteral injury was not suspected at this time. The patient was stabilized via conservative treatment, but complained of right flank pain 3 wk later and revisited the emergency room. An enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed a huge urinoma in the right perirenal space with hydronephrosis of the right kidney. Retrograde and antegrade pyelography were performed. Extravasation and discontinuity of the ureter were found. A rupture of the ureteropelvic junction was diagnosed and reconstructive surgery was performed. After 3 mo, the patient did not complain of any symptoms without any abnormal radiologic findings.

CONCLUSION

This case report discusses the safety and effectiveness of this minimal invasive procedure as an alternative to conventional open or laparoscopic surgery.

A Contemporary Case Series of Complex Surgical Repair of Surgical/Endoscopic Injuries to the Abdominal Ureter

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic ureteral injuries are devastating complications potentially resulting in irreversible impairment of renal function and/or infectious sequelae. Only few data are available on the management of such injuries to the abdominal ureter.

OBJECTIVE

To report the etiology, perioperative outcomes, and treatment failure rate of different reconstructive surgical interventions for iatrogenic injuries to the abdominal ureter in a contemporary case series.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent reconstructive surgery for iatrogenic injuries to the abdominal ureter at our academic centers between July 2013 and April 2019. All interventions were performed via either an open or a robot-assisted approach by a single expert surgeon.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

Different surgical reconstructive procedures, such as Boari bladder flap, ureteroureterostomy, ileal replacement, and pyeloureteroplasty, have been adopted.

MEASUREMENTS

Outcome measures were the etiology of iatrogenic injuries, rate of postoperative complications, and rate of treatment failure, defined as upper urinary tract obstruction requiring permanent urinary drainage.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Nineteen patients were included. Injuries were consequent to endourological procedures in nine (47.4%), gynecological procedures in two (10.5%), colonic surgery in two (10.5%), vascular surgery in two (10.5%), and other surgeries in four (21.1%) cases. Boari bladder flap was performed in 12 (63.2%), ureteroureterostomy in two (10.5%), ileal substitution in two (10.5%), and pyeloureteroplasty in three (15.8%) cases. Only four (21.1%) procedures were performed robotically. Major postoperative complications were recorded in three (15.8%) patients. After a median follow-up of 16 (interquartile range 12-24) mo, treatment failure was observed in two (15.8%) cases. We accept the limitations of a small retrospective single-surgeon series with preference-based management choice.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series, endourological procedures were the most frequent cause of iatrogenic injuries to the abdominal ureter requiring reconstructive surgery. A Boari bladder flap was the preferred option to bridge extensive ureteral defects. Despite the complexity of such procedures, major postoperative complications were infrequent and treatment failure rate was low.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We report on a contemporary series of patients with disparate iatrogenic injuries to the abdominal ureter requiring complex reconstructive surgery. Despite the difficulty of such procedures, we found that major postoperative complications were infrequent and treatment failure rate was low.