Pre-percutaneous nephrolithotomy opacification for caliceal diverticular calculi

Management of renal caliceal diverticular stones: A decade of experience

Objective:

The objective of this study is to evaluate our methods for management of renal caliceal diverticular stones (CDS).

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study from January 2005 to July 2015 and included patients who were treated for renal CDS. Patients were evaluated for treatment modality, puncture site (in case percutaneous nephrolithotomy [PCNL] attempted), operative time, stone clearance rate, and complications. During PCNL, if the infundibulum was found to connect the diverticulum to the calyx, then a double J stent was placed. No attempt was made to dilate the diverticular neck or to create a neoinfundibulum.

Results:

Twenty-four patients were treated for CDS during the study period. Two patients underwent shockwave lithotripsy, and 22 were managed by PCNL. Mean stone size was 16.37 mm (range: 6–35 mm) and mean diverticulum size was 20.62 mm (range: 12–37 mm). No fulguration was done in initial 17 patients, while fulguration by Holmium Laser was performed in the last five cases treated with PCNL. Mean operative time was 70.31 min (range: 47–90 min). Mean follow-up was 34 months, diverticulum resolved in 14 patients and reduced in size in 7 patients.

Conclusion:

Caliceal diverticular calculi can be treated most efficiently by PCNL. Stone-guided puncture and no attempt to dilate or create neoinfundibulum reduces operative time and morbidity while yielding high stone-free rate.

Retrospective Analysis of Ultrasound-guided Flexible Ureteroscopy in the Management of Calyceal Diverticular Calculi

Background:

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the most widely recommended treatment for calyceal diverticular calculi, providing excellent stone-free results. However, its invasiveness is not negligible considering its major complication rates. Flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) is currently used to treat calyceal diverticula. However, the greatest drawback of FURS is locating the diverticulum since its neck is narrow and concealed. In such a case, the FURS procedure must be converted to PCNL. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound-guided flexible ureteroscopy (UFURS) identifying diverticulum and the management of calyceal diverticular calculi.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who had calyceal diverticular calculi. In all 12 patients in the UFURS group, direct FURS failed to find evidence of calyceal diverticula but were confirmed with imaging. The other 12 patients in the PCNL group received PCNL plus fulguration of the diverticular walls.

Results:

Puncture of calyceal diverticulum was successful in all 12 UFURS patients. Two patients in this group had postoperative residual calculi and two patients developed fever. In the PCNL group, percutaneous renal access and lithotomy were successful in all 12 patients. One patient in this group had residual calculi, one had perirenal hematoma, and two patients developed fever. No significant difference was found in the operating time (UFURS vs. PCNL, 91.8 ± 24.2 vs. 86.3 ± 18.7 min), stone-free rate (UFURS vs. PCNL, 9/12 vs. 10/12), and rate of successful lithotripsy (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/12 vs. 11/12) between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Postoperative pain scores in the FURS group were significantly lower than that in the PCNL group (2.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.2 ± 1.5, P < 0.05). Hospital stay in the UFURS group was significantly shorter than that in the PCNL group (3.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.4 ± 1.0 days, P < 0.05). All patients were symptom-free following surgery (UFURS vs. PCNL, 10/10 vs. 12/12).

Conclusion:

Ultrasound-guided puncture facilitates identification of calyceal diverticula during FURS and improves the success rate of FURS surgery.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery in the management of symptomatic calyceal diverticular stones: a single center experience

To evaluate the outcome of RIRS in managing symptomatic calyceal diverticular as a minimally invasive option, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 43 patients who underwent RIRS from 2005 to 2014 for symptomatic calyceal diverticular stones. A month after the initial operation, the success rate was (81.4%, 35 patients) of which 21 (48.83%) patients were stone free and 14 (32.6%) patients had clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRFs), and 90% patients were symptom free. Eight patients (16.6%) had significant residual fragments (>3 mm), five of them became completely stone free after the second procedure, other three patients were symptom free and underwent a routine follow-up. The final treatment success rate was 93.0%. The initial success rate in the lower calyx was significantly lower than the other calices (P = 0.040). In addition, the association between the stone size and the initial treatment success was significant (P = 0.036). There was no association between any of our other variables and the success rate. The mean first operative time was 60.95 ± 12.43 min (range 34-92). No major complication (Clavien III-V) occurred, although there were five minor complications (11.6%) (Clavien I-II). There were no admissions to intensive care or deaths in our series, the mean hospitalization time was 1.77 ± 0.80 days. The management of calyceal diverticular calculus with RIRS is highly effective and can be accomplished with low morbidity.

Minimally invasive percutaneous cystostomy with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy for calculus in bladder diverticula

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of minimally invasive percutaneous cystostomy with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy for treating calculus in bladder diverticula. Percutaneous cystostomy with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy was performed on six elderly male patients with calculi in bladder diverticula, who could not be treated with transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy. The stones were successfully removed from all patients, with no complications such as bladder perforation, rupture, urethritis or cystitis. The surgery time was 15–60 min, with an average time of 32 min. Postoperative ultrasound or X-ray examination showed no stone residues and the bladder stoma healed well. No recurrent stones were detected in the follow-up of 3–24 months (average, 16 months). Minimally invasive percutaneous cystostomy with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy is a safe, efficient and easy treatment for calculus in bladder diverticula. This method provides a new clinical approach for lithotripsy and we suggest that it is worthy of wider use.

Percutaneous management of caliceal diverticuli

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Caliceal diverticula are rare congenital abnormalities that can become symptomatic if associated with a calculus or infection. We review percutaneous management of caliceal diverticula.

METHODS

Pathogenesis, clinical evaluation, management options, and recommended follow-up for symptomatic caliceal diverticula are reviewed. We present our single-stage and prepercutaneous nephrolithotomy opacification techniques for the management of caliceal diverticula. This involves complete extraction of all stone particles and ablation of the diverticular cavity without infundibular identification or dilation. Comparison of outcomes between our current ablative technique and our previous dilation technique is evaluated.

RESULTS

Percutaneous management of caliceal diverticula offers the highest symptomatic relief and stone-free rate of available management options. We identified 106 patients with caliceal diverticula who were treated with a percutaneous approach. Review of 85 of these patients demonstrated that most procedures can be performed with a small nephrostomy tube in place for 24 hours and an overnight hospital stay. Minimal complication and stone recurrence rates were observed. Patients treated with caliceal diverticular ablation experienced a shorter hospital stay, fewer complications, and a higher stone-free status than those patients who were treated with dilation of the diverticular infundibulum.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous management of caliceal diverticula using cavity ablation is a minimally invasive technique that offers long-term symptomatic relief with minimal complications.

[PCNL: special indications]

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy has sometimes particular indications related to the patient, his anatomy or the stone itself. These situations will be described.

Management of stones in calyceal diverticulum

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Congenital abnormities in urology are very common. These abnormalities include calyceal diverticula, which are frequently diagnosed as an incidental finding. Once symptomatic, calyceal diverticula have to be located by accurate imaging and then treated in an appropriate manner.

RECENT FINDINGS

Possible methods of treatment in calyceal diverticula are generally the same as in other abnormalities of the kidney: extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, endoscopic procedures, percutaneous procedures, laparoscopy and open surgery. It is important to find the exact location of the stone-bearing diverticulum and various imaging techniques may be used for this purpose. Metabolic work-up remains important.

SUMMARY

There is a strong trend towards endoscopical and laparoscopical treatment in renal abnormalities such as calyceal diverticula. A combination of these two methods seems to be appropriate in some cases.