Antegrade endopyelotomy

[Clinical and therapeutic aspects of pyelo-ureteral junction abnormalities at the University Hospital of Point G]

Cette étude a été faite pour analyser les aspects cliniques et thérapeutiques des anomalies de la jonction pyélo-urétérale. Etude transversale et descriptive portant sur 35 cas d'anomalies de la jonction pyélo-urétérale (AJPU) colligés au service d'Urologie du CHU du Point G durant une période de 4 ans (Janvier 2010 au Décembre 2014). Les données ont été recueillies sur les fiches d'enquête, les dossiers médicaux et les registres du bloc. Les données sociodémographique, clinique et thérapeutique ont été saisies sur Microsoft Word 2007 et analysées sur Excel 2007 et SPSS 18.0. 35 cas d'AJPU ont été colligés en 4 ans. La moyenne d’âge était de 29,3 ans. La douleur lombaire était le motif de consultation le plus fréquent soit 40%. 20% des patients ont été en consultation pour la première fois 10 ans d’évolution symptomatique. Une destruction rénale avait été observée dans 28,6%. Le couple Echographie + UIV a permis d’établir le diagnostic chez 37,1%. La complication lithiasique était présente chez 17,1% des patients. 51,4% des patients ont reçu une pyéloplastie à ciel ouvert selon Anderson KUSS. L'anomalie de la jonction pyélo-urétérale dans notre étude a été caractérisée par un retard de consultation avec des complications redoutables. La chirurgie à ciel ouvert a été le gold standard avec des résultats satisfaisants. L'endopyéloplastie, la cure de la jonction coelioscopique sont des chirurgies mini invasives non disponible chez nous mais à encourager et à intégrer dans l'arsenal thérapeutique.

The use of endoluminal ultrasonography for preventing significant bleeding during endopyelotomy: evaluation of helical computed tomography vs endoluminal ultrasonography for detecting crossing vessels

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, in a prospective study, the efficiency of helical computed tomography (CT) and endoluminal ultrasonography (ELUS) for detecting significant crossing vessels, a major cause of bleeding complications when treating patients with pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction, and to compare our results using ELUS with those of an earlier multicentre study (not using ELUS), to see whether the complication rate decreased.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 27 patients with a PUJ who had isotope renography, intravenous urography, helical CT and ELUS before surgery. Depending on the findings of ELUS, patients were treated with a pure lateral Acucise incision (Applied Medical, Irvine, CA, USA) an Acucise with changed cutting direction, or (later) a laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

RESULTS

ELUS detected 15% more crossing vessels than helical CT; 16 patients had Acucise (seven lateral, nine other cutting direction), eight were treated with a laparoscopic pyeloplasty and three with other procedures. By contrast with earlier reports and as a consequence of using ELUS, there was no bleeding, vs 16% in the study not using ELUS. The success rate of 73% of the endourological approach is comparable with previous reports.

CONCLUSION

ELUS is more sensitive in detecting relevant crossing vessels than helical CT and therefore the use of ELUS can better prevent bleeding complications. ELUS can also improve the success rate by helping in selecting the correct treatment. Because it is minimally invasive and safe, ELUS combined with Acucise (or other possible endourological techniques, like holmium laser incision) should be the first choice of treatment for PUJ stenosis.

Detection of crossing vessels as the cause of ureteropelvic junction obstruction: the role of antegrade pyelography prior to endopyelotomy

PURPOSE

To review the utility of antegrade pyelography in detecting crossing vessels as the cause of uretero-pelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction prior to planned endopyelotomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records, surgical reports, and medical images was performed in 109 consecutive adult patients in our practice who underwent antegrade pyelography just prior to planned endopyelotomy for symptomatic UPJ obstruction between January 1996 and December 2002.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were identified in whom a specific antegrade pyelographic appearance was detected in the diagnosis UPJ obstruction caused by crossing vessels. Surgical plans were changed in all 14 patients from antegrade endopyelotomy to open surgical pyeloplasty, during which the anterior (ventral) crossing vessels causing obstruction were confirmed. An additional three patients in the reviewed endopyelotomy group clinically failed their initial endopyelotomy procedure and were shown at the time of subsequent open or laparoscopic reconstructive surgery to have UPJ obstruction caused by anterior crossing vessels, but that diagnosis was missed at the time of the initial antegrade pyelogram.

CONCLUSION

A specific antegrade pyelographic appearance was identified to diagnose UPJ obstruction caused by anterior crossing vessels with a sensitivity of 82.4% and a specificity of 100%. The direct obstructing effect of the vessels on the ureter is defined with pyelography as an acute posteriorly angulated ureteral deformity just below a patent UPJ. Recognition of this specific antegrade pyelographic appearance permits use of an appropriate surgical technique for UPJ obstruction repair.

Endopyelotomy in Childhood: Our Experience with 37 Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate our experience and results with endopyelotomy in the pediatric population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1990 and 2002, we performed percutaneous antegrade endopyelotomy under general anesthesia in 37 children because of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stricture. The youngest patient was 4.5 years and the oldest 17 years at the time of the procedure (mean age 11.5 years). One patient had bilateral stenosis; the two sides were operated on separately. After insertion of a 4F ureteral catheter and filling the collecting system with colored contrast material, a middle calix was punctured under fluoroscopic control. The tunnel was dilated to 26F by telescopic metal dilators. After insertion of a 0.035-inch gidewire through the UPJ, all its layers were cut by a cold knife in the dorsolateral direction so that the periureteral fatty tissue could be seen. Finally, the ureteral wound was stented by a 6F to 12F transrenal drain or a double-J catheter, which was removed after 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Among the 37 patients, the procedure had to be repeated in 1 because the transrenal drain stenting the UPJ slid back to the renal pelvis. We had to perform open pyeloplasty or nephrectomy in two patients because of bleeding or failed procedure. The average postoperative hospital stay was 6 days. Comparison of the preoperative intravenous urograms with studies performed 1 year after endopyelotomy showed an overall success rate of 89%. All patients are without complaints at the moment.

CONCLUSIONS

In experienced hands, endopyelotomy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of UPJ stricture, not only in the adult, but also in the pediatric, population.

Endopyelotomy - a Minimally Invasive Surgical Option for Pelvi-ureteric Junction Obstruction: a Study Of 34 Cases

We performed antegrade endopyelotomy in 34 cases in the last 2½ years. In all cases standardized antegrade percutaneous method was used. A single guide wire and a cold knife were used to perform the endopyelotomy. Nephrostomy tube was retained for 48 hours and the repair stented for 6 weeks. Patients were followed up at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operatively for subjective improvement and objectively by DTPA scans/IVU and ultrasound. The population included 2 bilateral cases, one horseshoe kidney and 3 children. The patient's age ranged from 9-59 years, average 32 years. There were 21 males and 13 females. 28 renal units were primary and 8 were secondary pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. Follow up period was 3-28 months. Most cases had significant symptomatic and functional recovery postoperatively. Five cases presented with urinary tract infection, which regressed after treatment. At 3(rd) month postoperatively the DTPA/IVU scan was equivocal in 7 cases. In these, a RGP was done which in every case showed a patent PUJ. In 5 cases that were still symptomatic, 6-8 weeks of further stenting produced symptom regression. Two cases failed and needed revision, one by open pyeloplasty and the other by endopyelotomy. Our success rate overall in these cases followed upto 1 year post operatively is 91.6%. We conclude that endopyelotomy is successful across a wide spectrum of cases.

Immediate closure of nephrostomy tube wounds using a tissue adhesive: a novel approach following percutaneous endourological procedures

PURPOSE

We assessed the feasibility of immediate sealing of nephrostomy tube wounds after percutaneous surgery using a tissue adhesive.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study represents a prospective series of 27 consecutive percutaneous procedures. After nephrostographic exclusion of infrarenal urinary obstruction the nephrostomy tubes were removed and the wound edges were glued together using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate. The wound was covered by gauze to assess the efficiency of sealing and the patients were followed clinically. Another consecutive series of 20 patients who had been treated during 6 months before the current study were used for comparison. The nephrostomy wound in this group was dressed and left to close spontaneously.

RESULTS

A total of 27 percutaneous procedures were performed in 25 patients with a median age of 51 years (range 9 to 77). There were 26 cases of percutaneous nephrolithotomy for an average stone burden of 32.6 mm. (range 16 to 70) and 1 pediatric case of percutaneous antegrade balloon dilation of ureteral stricture related to Cohen reimplantation. Median size of the nephrostomy tubes was 16Fr (range 12Fr to 24Fr) and they were maintained a median of 4 days (range 1 to 16) postoperatively. Urinary leakage ceased immediately after tissue adhesive application in all cases. One patient in whom renal colic developed secondary to edema of the ureteral orifice underwent temporary stenting in retrograde fashion. There were no additional complications at a median followup of 5 months (range 3 to 7). The study group had a significantly shorter hospital stay than the wound dressing group (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Wound sealing following nephrostomy tube removal using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate appears to be a safe, simple and efficient method for immediate abolishment of urinary leakage. This novel approach avoids patient and medical personnel inconvenience, permitting early release from the hospital without physical and social limitations related to persistent wound urinary discharge.

Bioabsorbable SR-PLGA horn stent after antegrade endopyelotomy: a case report

PURPOSE

To evaluate the suitability of a bioabsorbable stent as a partial internal catheter after percutaneous endopyelotomy in ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction therapy.

PATIENT AND METHODS

The material for the helical spiral stents was a copolymer of polylactide and glycolide (PLGA; L:G ratio 80/20). The self-reinforcement (SR) was accomplished by heating and drawing by Bionx Implants Ltd, Tampere, Finland. The stents were horn shaped, with an initial outside diameter 6 to 3.0 mm +/- 0.2 mm and a length of 90 mm. The stent was partially degraded before insertion so it would degrade faster from the distal end, proceeding gradually to the proximal end. According to in vitro estimation, the degradation time of the material was 2 to 2.5 months. The railroaded cold-knife technique was used for antegrade endopyelotomy. After relief of the UPJ obstruction, the stent was pushed to the upper ureter.

RESULTS

The 37-year-old male patient had under open pyeloplasty 5 years previously. He had a pelvic stone 32 mm in diameter and tight restenosis of the UPJ. Percutaneous lithotripsy, incision of the stenosis, and application of the SR-PLGA helical horn-shaped spiral stent was without early or late complications. Eighteen months after the operation, retrograde pyelography showed the UPJ to be totally unobstructed.

CONCLUSIONS

The bioabsorbable horn-shaped SR-PLGA helical spiral stent proved a suitable alternative for stenting of the UPJ after antegrade endopyelotomy, bringing a reduced need for postoperative percutaneous kidney drainage and no need for subsequent stent removal. The bioabsorbable helical stent works as a partial catheter, which prevents vesicoureteral reflux and reduces the risk of postoperative renal infection.

The role of Acucise endopyelotomy in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction

OBJECTIVE

Open surgical pyeloplasty has been the gold standard for the correction of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Endourological management of UPJO has gained increased acceptance, with reported success rates of 57-87%. It has been suggested that Acucise endopyelotomy (AE) should be the procedure of choice for patients with UPJO. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of AE in the treatment of UPJO and the factors contributing to surgical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-two patients (34 primary, 8 secondary UPJO) underwent AE between June 1995 and December 1999. Presenting symptoms were; pain 34 (80.9%), UTI 10 (23.8%) and haematuria 5 (11.9%). Preoperative evaluation included ultrasound and/or intravenous urogram with diuretic renography. Hydronephrosis was graded in 36 patients. Of these 4, 14, 9 and 9 had grade I, II, III and IV hydronephrosis, respectively. Twenty-four patients were stented prior to endopyelotomy and one required nephrostomy. Overall (true) success was defined as clinically pain free and radiologically no evidence of obstruction on diuretic scan.

RESULTS

The average operating time was 45 min and mean hospital stay was 2.7 days. Mean follow-up was 27 months (range 6-55). The objective success rate was 52% and the subjective success rate was 64%. A total of 19 patients (45.2%) had long lasting clinical and radiographic treatment success. Three (7%) patients required nephrectomy and five (12%) underwent open pyeloplasty. Success rate for grade I/II hydronephrosis was 55.5% and only 27.7% with grade III/IV hydronephrosis. Normal renograms were found in 12 (48%) of those with perioperative extravasation compared to three (25%) without. Only one of the eight patients with secondary UPJO had a normal post-operative renogram. Size or type of stent used had no effect on surgical outcome. The substandard results were noted in patients with grade III/IV hydronephrosis, poor pre-operative renal function, secondary UPJO and without perioperative extravasation.

CONCLUSIONS

Acucise endopyelotomy is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for the management of UPJO. Although the results of AE are suboptimal, its lower degree of invasiveness makes it reasonable choice for first-line treatment. Careful selection of patients will improve the results of AE, although multicentre randomized trials are needed to make a valued comparison with other techniques.

An endourologic approach to complete ureteropelvic junction and ureteral strictures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Complete stricture of the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ), ureter, or both represents a secondary upper tract obstruction and is a challenge for surgical management. The endourologic repair of these complete strictures remains controversial because of the many unsatisfactory results in the literature. The aim of this study was to achieve recanalization of the ureter or the UPJ using endourologic techniques to prove durable success of this technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We present data on the 21 patients with complete UPJ or ureteral strictures treated over 5-year period. The length of the obliterated portion of the ureter or UPJ ranged from 0.3 to 1.7 cm. The stricture was at the UPJ level in 12 patients (57%), in the upper ureter in 3, and in the lower ureter in 4. The technique was a combined approach, with antegrade introduction of the guidewire and retrograde cold-knife incision in the majority of the cases. In five cases, the incision was carried out in the reverse direction with a guidewire introduced retrograde up to the stricture level. An originally designed 6F to 7F polyethylene double-J stent with a movable 12F to 16F silicon sheath or percutaneous tube was placed at the completion of the procedure.

RESULTS

The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 48 months. Recanalization was achieved in 17 patients (81%), of whom 14 became symptom free. Other surgical outcomes necessitated open surgical intervention (pyeloplasty, nephrectomy) in two patients. One patient developed a clinically significant recurrent urinary tract infection and deterioration of kidney function. Thus, the overall success rate of the endourologic management of the complete UPJ and ureteral strictures was 67% in our series.

CONCLUSION

Endourologic management with retrograde or antegrade pyeloureterotomy can be successful in patients with short (up to 1.0-cm) obliterative strictures who are without extensive hydronephrosis and with preserved renal function.

Endopyelotomy outcome as a function of high versus dependent ureteral insertion

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether a high versus a dependent ureteral insertion significantly affects the outcome of endopyelotomy for management of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.

METHODS

Sixty patients with UPJ obstruction were treated with an endopyelotomy by way of either an antegrade percutaneous approach (n = 36) or a retrograde hot-wire balloon incision (n = 24). In these 60 patients, the ureteral insertion was high on the renal pelvis in 19 (32%), dependent in 25 (42%), and indeterminate in 16 (26%). Intravenous urography was performed 4 to 6 weeks after stent removal (8 to 12 weeks after endopyelotomy) and then at 6 to 12-month intervals. Success of the procedure was defined as resolution of symptoms and decrease in hydronephrosis compared with pre-endopyelotomy studies.

RESULTS

With a follow-up range of 2 to 41 months (mean 10.3), the overall success rate was 80%. This rate was independent of whether the procedure was performed in an antegrade or retrograde fashion. A successful result was achieved in 15 (78.9%) of those with a high insertion, 19 (76%) of those with a dependent insertion, and 14 (87.5%) of those with an equivocal insertion; these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

The type of ureteral insertion (ie, high versus dependent) had no significant impact on the outcome of endopyelotomy by way of either a percutaneous or retrograde approach. As such, these anatomic variations need not play a role in a decision-making algorithm for contemporary management of UPJ obstruction.