Splenic injury during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a case report with novel management technique

Splenic Injury During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Case Report of a Rare Complication

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy has often been the preferred method for large and complex kidney stones. During percutaneous access to the collecting system, we encounter organ injuries due to anatomic neighborhoods. However, splenic injury is a relatively rare complication. We aimed to report how the complication process was managed conservatively in our case with transsplenic access. Then, a brief literature review on management strategy in similar conditions is highlighted. 

Iatrogenic spleen injury during minimally invasive left colonic flexure mobilization: the quest for evidence-based results

INTRODUCTION

To assess the frequency, risk factors and outcomes of iatrogenic spleen injury during minimally invasive colo-rectal surgery with a particular focus on the routine splenic flexure mobilization tehcnique.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Exclusion criteria: 1) topic not pertinent to the main topic of the review; 2) all case reports, editorials, conference highlights were excluded. After a title and abstract first selection and a final full-text analysis has been performed. The results of the selected articles are presented.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The iatrogenic splenic injury rate during colorectal surgery is 0.96%. The iatrogenic injuries cause around 20% of all splenectomy. Ligaments over-traction is the most frequent mechanism of damage. The routine splenic flexure mobilization is a matter of scientific debate. Risk factors - open surgery, male sex, peripheral vascular disease, malignant neoplasia, diverticulitis, emergency surgery and teaching-hospital status. There is a risk difference according to the procedure: transverse colectomy has the highest risk, followed by left colectomy and total colectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The routine mobilization of the left colonic flexure is a debated topic. However, according to some authors (including our experience), this procedure is not a risk factor and it may be advantageous: 1) it does not excessively prolong the total operative time; 2) better surgical skills development; 3) the tension-related ischemia is avoided; 4) wider oncological dissection. Technical accuracy with cautious dissection/visualization can reduce the rate of iatrogenic splenic damage. Laparoscopy decreases the rate of splenic injury by almost 3.5 times. Robotic surgery may have the potential to further reduce this complication, but more data are needed on the topic.

Conservative Management of Combined Pleural and Splenic Injury During Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy

Splenic injuries related to percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PCNL) are infrequent. Herein, we report a combined splenic and pleural injury incurred during PCNL along with radiographic images documenting the complication. A review of management techniques for similar injuries is included.

Noninvasive management for iatrogenic splenic injury caused by chest tube insertion: a case report

Splenic injury is one of the most critical complications of chest tube insertion and often requires invasive emergency management. However, noninvasive management such as delayed removal of the malpositioned tube may be considered for a stable patient without severe adverse event.

Iatrogenic splenic injury: review of the literature and medico-legal issues

INTRODUCTION

Iatrogenic splenic injury is a recognized complication in abdominal surgery. The aim of this paper is to understand the medico-legal issues of iatrogenic splenic injuries. We performed a literature review on PubMed and Scopus using iatrogenic splenic or spleen injury and iatrogenic splenic rupture as keywords. Iatrogenic splenic injury cases were identified. Most cases were related to colonoscopy, but we also identified cases related to upper gastrointestinal procedures, colonic surgery, ERCP, left nephrectomy and/or adrenalectomy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, vascular operations involving the abdominal aorta, gynecological operation, left lung biopsy, chest drain, very rarely spinal surgery and even cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There are several surgical procedures that can lead to a splenic injury. However, from a medico-legal point of view, it is important to assess whether the cause can be attributed to a technical error of the operator rather than being an unpredictable and unpreventable complication. It is important for the medico-legal expert to have great knowledge on iatrogenic splenic injuries because it is important to evaluate every step of the first procedure performed, how a splenic injury is produced, and whether the correct treatment for the splenic injury was administered in a judgment.

Nephrolithiasis Greater Than 2 cm and Splenomegaly

A 67-year-old male presented with left kidney stones in renal pelvis, 15 mm length. Preoperative CT showed massive splenomegaly. Retrograde intrarenal surgery approach was decided to avoid splenic injury, achieving the absence of residual stones.

[Biopsies of the kidney, prostate and urinary bladder]

BACKGROUND

Biopsies of the kidney, prostate and urinary bladder are amongst the most frequent interventions in urology. A correct indication, preparation and performance are important to achieve good results and low complication rates.

OBJECTIVES

In this review complication management in biopsies of the kidney, prostate and urinary bladder are discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A selective search of the literature, with emphasis on systematic reviews and larger cohort studies was performed.

RESULTS

Complication rates are generally low. However, certain factors such as coagulation disorders, anatomical malformations, accompanying morbidities or antibiotic resistance may play a significant role and increase rates of complications. Especially complications such as hematuria and injury of contiguous organs are described in the literature.

DISCUSSION

Biopsies of the kidney, prostate and urinary bladder can be performed with low complication rates if general and specific factors in the planning of the intervention and prevention of complications are considered.

Is computed tomography mandatory for the detection of residual stone fragments after percutaneous nephrolithotomy?

The introduction of minimally invasive endourologic procedures for upper urinary stone disintegration has closed the curtain on the era of open surgery for upper urinary tract stones in which complete stone eradication was the rule. This shift to minimally invasive procedures has led to the introduction of new terminology, such as stone-free rates and residual stone fragments, the presence of which after treatment was considered an acceptable therapeutic end point. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is currently considered the procedure of choice for large renal stones. Its use has been greatly facilitated by the favorable profile of multidetector CT with regard to its sensitivity in detecting small stones. Despite the fact that CT is considered essential for the diagnosis and exact localization of stones and has been used for the creation of percutaneous tracts in PCNL, however, its routine use for the post-PCNL detection of residual stones has not been established. There is evidence that routine application of post-PCNL CT provides additional advantages compared with other imaging modalities-namely, the identification of the presence and location of even small residual fragments, which has been shown to cause significant trouble and necessitate secondary procedures in a significant cohort of patients after PCNL. On the other hand, the issues of cost, availability of CT scanners, and radiation exposure along with the acceptable sensitivity, cost, and availability of other imaging studies has raised doubts as to whether CT should be the routine imaging study after PCNL. The present review will discuss the concept of clinically significant residual fragments and comment on the advantages and drawbacks of different imaging studies used for the detection of residual stones after PCNL. This review also aims to clarify the indications in which CT should routinely be performed or could be omitted in the follow-up after PCNL.

Nephrostolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PCNL) is the treatment of choice for large (>2 cm) renal calculi and staghorn calculi. Percutaneous access into the kidney is often achieved by interventional radiologists, either prior to stone surgery or in conjunction with the urology team. Several basic techniques should be considered in gaining access to the kidney to avoid both intraoperative and postoperative complications. In this article, the authors discuss indications for PCNL, techniques for renal access, complications of PCNL, and management of these complications. They also briefly discuss management of post-operative drainage tube(s).