Retroperitoneoscopic Nephroureterectomy Research Articles

Systematic review and meta-analysis of completely retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy versus traditional retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of completely retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (CRNU) for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). A systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify trials comparing the outcomes of CRNU and other surgical procedures. A total of 6 case-control studies were selected for analysis. The efficacy and safety of CRNU were evaluated using mean difference or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CIs, employing continuous or dichotomous method with a random or fixed-effect model. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 11.0 software. The meta-analysis indicated that CRNU in subjects with UTUC was significantly associated with a shorter operation time (standardized mean difference, -1.36; 95% CI, -1.61 to -1.11, P < .001) and lower blood loss (standardized mean difference, -0.54; 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.31, P < .001) when compared to traditionally retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (TRNU). No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of grade I & II complications (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.49-2.2, P = .915) and total complications (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.38-1.27, P = .238) between CRNU and TRNU. The findings suggest that CRNU is an advanced surgical technique that is safe and effective for the treatment of UTUC. We recommend that CRNU be further employed for patients with UTUC. Further randomized, multicenter trials are needed to validate these results, given the limitations of this study.

Single-Position Complete Retroperitoneoscopic Radical Nephroureterectomy with Bladder Cuff Excision for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Purpose: We proposed a new technique, single-position complete retroperitoneoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (SCRNU), which proved to be efficient for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Materials and Methods: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 86 patients diagnosed with UTUC at our hospital from June 2013 to June 2021. The patients who underwent traditional retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (TRNU) (n = 28) and SCRNU (n = 58) were consecutively enrolled. Demographic characteristics, perioperative parameters, and follow-up data were collected and compared between the two groups. Results: Both procedures were performed effectively in 86 patients without converting to open surgery. The mean follow-up time was 45.4 months for the SCRNU group and 39 months for the TRNU group. All follow-up patients survived without incidence of bladder incision tumor. Further, the follow-up results showed that there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate of bladder tumor between the two methods. SCRNU group was superior to TRNU group because of shorter operating time, fewer perioperative complications, less postoperative pain, lower recurrence rate, and cheaper medical expenditure. Conclusions: The SCRNU technique is less invasive, have fewer complications, and has a better cosmetic outcome.

MP26-02 SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC NEPHROURETERECTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH SEVERE HYDRONEPHROSIS

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP26-02 SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC NEPHROURETERECTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH SEVERE HYDRONEPHROSIS Pei-Hsin Lee and Chien Hui Ou Pei-Hsin LeePei-Hsin Lee More articles by this author and Chien Hui OuChien Hui Ou More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003254.02AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: For upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), the severity of hydronephrosis was reported to be correlated to the advanced disease. Besides, previous studies revealed that retroperitoneal nephroureterectomy seemed to show better progression free survival than transperitoneal approach in patients with UTUC. However, when large hydronephrosis presented, the difficulty of retroperitoneal approach was elaborated. This study aimed to emphasize the efficacy of the pre-operative volume reduction procedures, which would make retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy more feasible. METHODS: The 18 patients with severe hydronephrosis, who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy performed by one experienced operator, from December 2005 to July 2022 in the tertiary center were retrospectively included. All the patients received the pre-operative volume reduction procedures. Primary outcomes, such as estimated blood loss, total operative time and hospitalized stay were documented. RESULTS: In our study, the three types of volume reduction procedures were implemented. In benign lesions, a percutaneous nephrostomy catheter would be inserted for drainage. For possible malignant lesions, intra-operative retrograde ureteral catheter insertion or incision at the proximal site of obstructive upper ureter was performed other than percutaneous approach, for minimizing the risk of tumor seeding. Under such managements, retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy could be implemented with less blood loss (mean=25 ml, range<10 to 150), shortened operative time (mean=123.3 minutes, range 86 to 169) and lower hospital day (mean=7.2 days, range 5 to 10). Only one complication (5.6%, 1/18) was noted with hypovolemic shock. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with severe hydronephrosis, retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy might be a safe, low-risk and time-saving approach after pre-operative volume reduction of hydronephrosis. Source of Funding: None. © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e352 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Pei-Hsin Lee More articles by this author Chien Hui Ou More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Curative effect of complete transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in post kidney transplantation patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of complete transabdominal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in treating primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) for post kidney transplantation patients. Methods: The clinical data of patients with primary renal pelvis and ureter tumors after kidney transplantation in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from May 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Seventeen patients (including 9 patients in ipsilateral transplanted kidney group and 8 patients in contralateral transplanted kidney group) underwent traditional retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (TRNU), and 24 patients (including 14 patients in ipsilateral transplanted kidney group and 10 patients in contralateral transplanted kidney group) underwent complete transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (CTNU). The perioperative clinical indicators of all patients were recorded and analyzed, and the surgical indicators of two techniques were compared. Results: Forty-one patients [16 males and 25 females, with a median age of 57 (53, 70) years old] were finally included. The operation time in the contralateral transplanted kidney group [(95±44) min] from CTNU was significantly decreased compared with that in the ipsilateral group from CTNU [(159±49) min] and the contralateral [(196±20) min] or ipsilateral [(205±21) min] groups from TRNU (all P<0.01). The blood loss volume [(84±39) ml vs (106±44) ml vs (109±20) ml vs (112±21) ml, P=0.271] and postoperative hospital stay [(10.6±2.1) d vs (11.8±1.7) d vs (10.3±1.5) d vs (11.4±1.5) d, P=0.171] were not statistically different among these four groups. During the median follow-up of 24 months, 13 patients developed contralateral recurrence or metastasis, 8 patients developed intravesical recurrence, and 5 patients died of UTUC. Conclusions: Single-position complete transabdominal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for the treatment of primary renal ureteral tumors after kidney transplantation has the advantage of a short operation time, without increasing intraoperative blood loss or perioperative complications. It is suitable for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation, especially for the contralateral side of the transplanted kidney.

Risk factor analysis of intravesical recurrence after retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

BackgroundOne of the major concerns of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with nephroureterectomy is intravesical recurrence (IVR). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the predictive risk factors for IVR after retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNU) for UTUC.MethodsClinicopathological and surgical information were collected from the medical records of 73 patients treated with RNU for non-metastatic UTUC, without a history of or concomitant bladder cancer. The association between IVR after RNU and clinicopathological and surgery-related factors, including preoperative urine cytology and pneumoretroperitoneum time, was analyzed using the Fisher exact test.ResultsDuring the median follow-up time of 39.1 months, 18 (24.7%) patients had subsequent IVR after RNU. The 1- and 3-year IVR-free survival rates were 85.9% and 76.5%, respectively. The Fisher exact test revealed that prolonged pneumoretroperitoneum time of ≥ 210 min was a risk factor for IVR in 1 year after RNU (p = 0.0358) and positive urine cytology was a risk factor for IVR in 3 years after RNU (p = 0.0352).ConclusionsIn UTUC, the occurrences of IVR in 1 and 3 years after RNU are highly probable when the pneumoretroperitoneum time is prolonged (≥ 210 min) and in patients with positive urine cytology, respectively. Strict follow-up after RNU is more probable recommended for these patients.

Effects of robot-assisted versus hand-assisted nephroureterectomy on circulating tumor cells for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

To compare perioperative circulating tumor cells (CTC) in primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients who underwent hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HANU) or robotic-assisted nephroureterectomy (RANU). A total of 29 patients received RANU (n = 10) or HANU (n = 19). Peripheral blood samples were collected before, 24 h after surgery (POh24) and on postoperative day 28 (POD28). The demographic and pathologic data are similar in both groups. RANU had a longer operative time (p = 0.031), less bleeding volume (p = 0.004), and comparable pain sore (p = 0.169). The mean CTC numbers before surgery (2.4 vs. 2.3, p = 0.482), POh24 (2.4 vs. 1.9, p = 0.668) and POD28 (0.5 vs. 0.6, p = 0.280) were not significant different among groups. The amount of CTCs in both groups decreased and reached similar level on POD28. No significant difference of overall and intravesical recurrence rate between the two approaches. In comparison to RANU, more surgical manipulation does not affect tumor cell translocation into the bloodstream in UTUC patients who received HANU. However, a longer follow-up would be needed for the final comparison of tumor recurrence.

Retroperitoneoscopic Nephrectomy in Pediatric Patients.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in pediatric population is becoming more and more popular among pediatric urologists and now it can be considered the best treatment for nephroureterectomy that is one of the most frequent urological procedures. The main indications to MIS ureteronephrectomy in children are congenital or acquired benign conditions such as nonfunctional and/or damaging kidney, renal dysplasia, and destroyed kidneys due to obstructive or refluxing uropathy. Since ever in open urological surgery, the lateral retroperitoneal approach represents the typical way to approach this kind of surgery. Although different surgical approaches can be chosen (i.e., posterior retroperitoneal, lateral retroperitoneal, laparoscopic transperitoneal, and robotic approach), the lateral retroperitoneal approach represents the typical way to perform this kind of surgery, also with minimally invasive techniques. In this article, we illustrate the technique of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy in infants and children, reporting our experience with this technique in the past 20 years.

Clinical Features of Patients with Nonmalignant Upper Tract Lesions Mimicking Urothelial Cancer

Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of patients who have undergone nephroureterectomy with nonmalignant upper tract lesions presumed to be urothelial carcinoma from images in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: Between October 2004 and October 2015, our institute had 350 patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for possible upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma without a routine diagnostic ureteroscopy (URS) or ureteroscopic biopsy. Trauma, urolithiasis, or infection were excluded. We collected imaging findings; urine cytology results; renal function status; previous urothelial history; and the final pathology results. Twenty-three (6.6%) patients had nonmalignant benign lesions found from pathology. Results: The 23 patients comprised nine men and fourteen women. Most patients were middle-aged. Initial symptoms included gross hematuria, hydronephrosis, and flank pain. From self-voided urine cytology, the most common result was atypical cells. The number of patients was equal in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) plus postkidney transplantation group and the non-ESRD group. In addition, we divided patients into two groups according to lesioned kidney function status: Nonfunctional kidney (NFK) or functional kidney (FK). The most common pathologic feature found in the NFK group was atrophic kidneys. On the other hand, the most common diagnosis in the FK group was pyelonephritis. Conclusion: Nonmalignant pathologic lesions were detected in 23 patients who had undergone retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy without preoperative diagnostic URS for upper tract lesions. Self-voided urine cytology provided limited information for diagnosis in this group. For the almost 75% of patients with NFK, nephroureterectomy may be a feasible diagnostic and therapeutic method.

Retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy and ipsilateral bladder cuff resection in peritoneal dialysis-dependent patients: tips for immediate reinstitution.

To maximize the chance of maintaining peritoneal dialysis (PD) after retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy without interruption in PD-dependent patients who were suspected as having upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). During 2005-2018 at our hospital, 10 PD-dependent patients who were suspected as having UTUC underwent hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARN) and bladder cuff resection by a single surgeon. The medical record and post-operative outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Our surgical tips aiming at staying on PD including keeping adequate but relatively lower insufflation pressure during the operation, reducing the negative pressure of the drain tube post-operatively and initiating PD at a low volume with gradual titration, were also presented in the article. A total of ten patients were enrolled in our study. The first five patients failed to resume PD and need interim hemodialysis due to various reasons. After some technique modifications, all the following five patients have PD reinstitution immediately after the operation without increasing the incidence of post-operative complications. Staying on PD wound be beneficial for those ESRD patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy due to UTUC, mainly to avoid hemodynamic interference and possible complications related to hemodialysis during the peri-operative period. However, it remains challenging for surgeons. We concluded the key points to minimize peritoneal violation. By adherence to our tips, retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy should be strongly considered in PD patients with suspicious UTUC if feasible.

Initial experience of complete laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy combined with transvesical laparoscopic excision of distal ureter in patients with upper urinary tract cancer

BackgroundSelecting the treatment procedure for cancer patients is a challenging task. We report our initial experience of complete laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC).MethodsA total of four patients with UTUC underwent complete laparoscopic RNU combined with transvesical laparoscopic excision of the distal ureter using three 5-mm ports. Transvaginal specimen extraction was applied in female patients to reduce incisional pain and improve cosmesis. Peri-operative complications were evaluated using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Postoperative pain was evaluated during hospitalization using a numeric pain rating scale (scales of 1 to 10). Patients who underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery combined with open excision of the distal ureter during the same period were included as a control group (conventional RNU, consisting of laparoscopic nephrectomy combined with open bladder cuff excision) for pain scale evaluation.ResultsThe novel surgery was successfully completed for all four patients (two males and two females). The mean pneumoperitoneum time for retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy and specimen extraction was 174 min, while the mean pneumovesicum time for the ureteral orifice excision was 88 min. One male patient had bladder leakage at the suture site of the bladder wall, which lasted for 2 weeks. No patient experienced recurrent disease during the follow-up period (median, 10 months). Mild to moderate pain lasted for 5 or 6 days after RNU. A couple of days after surgery, the numeric pain rating scale of complete laparoscopic RNU and conventional RNU group reached its peak level at 3.0 ± 1.8 and 5.3 ± 2.8, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the degree of postoperative pain (P = 0.31).ConclusionsWe described our initial experience and outcome of complete laparoscopic RNU for UTUC. Further experience and research are required to determine whether this advanced laparoscopic technique yields better outcomes and has true clinical value.

V18 - Total retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy with modified pluck technique: Initial experience

V18 - Total retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy with modified pluck technique: Initial experience

Clinical analysis of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for renal tuberculosis

ObjectivesTo explore the feasibility and safety of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for kidney tuberculosis. MethodsForty-eight retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomies and thirty-five nephroureterectomies for kidney tuberculosis procedures were performed from June 2008 to December 2014. The patients consisted of 53 males and 30 females with a mean age of 36 years (range: 26–51 years). The patients' data were reviewed and analyzed. ResultsThe retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy procedures were completed successfully in 48 cases with no conversions to open surgery. The mean operating time was 170 minutes (range: 121–258 minutes), the mean blood loss was 110 ml (range: 70–250 ml), and the mean hospital stay was 5.70 days (range: 5–14 days); these were all much less than nephroureterectomy procedures (P < 0.05). A total of five minor complications (10.4%) occurred, injury to the peritoneum was observed in three patients, and infection at the incision site was observed in two patients, there were no obvious difference between the two surgical methods (P > 0.05). Seventy-five patients were followed up, and the average follow-up time was 12.5 months (range: 6–20 months). All the patients recovered without any lesions remaining. ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy is a feasible, safe, effective, and less invasive treatment modality for treating renal tuberculosis.

Evaluation and outcome of the distal ureteral stump after nephro-ureterectomy in children. A comparison between laparoscopy and retroperitoneoscopy

In children with a poorly functioning kidney due to vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or ureteropelvic junction obstruction, management is by nephrectomy with total or proximal ureterectomy. The complete removal of all the ureter minimizes the risk of future morbidity associated with the distal ureteral stump (DUS), including febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs), lower quadrant pain and hematuria, the so-called ureteral stump syndrome. To assess the outcome of the DUS after nephroureterectomy, we analyzed our recent experience of nephrectomy performed via retroperitoneoscopy and via laparoscopy. The records of 21 consecutive patients (median age 3.5 years, range 1-10 years) who underwent nephroureterectomy via laparoscopy or via retroperitoneoscopy were retrospectively reviewed for symptoms caused by DUS and their management. Nephrectomy was undertaken for a poorly functioning dysplastic (4), scarred from VUR (10) or hydronephrotic (7) kidney. In the laparoscopic group (11 pts), 6 cases required nephrectomy for reflux while 5 patients were operated for hydronephrotic or dysplastic non-functioning kidney. In the retroperitoneoscopic group (10 pts), nephrectomy was performed for reflux in 4 cases versus 6 patients affected by hydronephrotic or dysplastic non-functioning kidney. The patients were evaluated using ultrasound (US) to check DUS length and clinically to evaluate symptoms due to a symptomatic DUS. The average length of surgery was 50 min for laparoscopy and 80 min for retroperitoneoscopy. The average of follow-up was 5 years. The length of DUS after laparoscopic nephrectomy was shorter (range 3-7 mm, statistically significant) than the DUS after retroperitoneoscopy (range 2-5 cm) (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic patients were all asymptomatic. Two patients, after retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, presented with recurrent UTIs; a voiding cystography revealed a VUR on the residual DUS and a redo surgery was performed in both the patients to remove the DUS (Figure). Several authors have stated that, in case of subtotal ureterectomy, the incidence of symptomatic DUS after nephrectomy for high-grade vesicoureteric reflux is low. However, in our series, the incidence of symptomatic DUS after nephroureterectomy was not insignificant (2/21, 9.5%). Symptoms related to a refluxing DUS occurred only in patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy, where the DUS was longer than the DUS detected in laparoscopic patients. Considering that laparoscopy permits removal of all the ureter near the bladder dome, in children with non-functioning kidney due to VUR, it is advisable to always perform a laparoscopic rather than a retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy to prevent problems related to a symptomatic DUS.

Oncologic Results of Retroperitoneoscopic Versus Open Surgery for T2 Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

BackgroundThe present study was designed to compare oncologic outcomes of T2 upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients treated with retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNU) or open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU). Patients and MethodsT2 upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients were treated with RNU (n = 110) or ONU (n = 118) and followed-up for > 5 years. Demographic and clinical data, including preoperative indexes, intraoperative indexes, and oncological outcomes, were retrospectively compared to determine the efficacy of the 2 procedures. ResultsThe RNU and ONU groups were statistically similar in age, sex, tumor location, and tumor pathologic grade. The original surgery time required for RNU and ONU was statistically similar, but RNU was associated with a significantly smaller volume of intraoperative estimated blood loss and shorter length of postoperative hospital stay. Follow-up (average: 43.2 months; range, 6-72 months) revealed that the estimated 5-year overall survival rate and the estimated 5-year disease-specific survival rate after RNU was slightly worse than after ONU (66.0% vs. 67.1%, and 80.8% vs. 83.8%, respectively), and the estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate and the estimated 5-year intravesical recurrence-free survival rates were slightly better than ONU (79.5% vs. 77.9%, and 68.3% vs. 65.6%, respectively). However, none of these differences were statistically significant. ConclusionThe open surgery strategy and the RNU strategy are equally effective for treating T2 upper tract urothelial carcinoma. However, the RNU procedure is safer, less invasive, and requires a shorter duration of postoperative hospitalized care; thus, RNU is recommended as the preferred strategy.

Laparoscopic Ureterolysis In Patients With Retroperitoneal Fibrosis And Obstructive Uropathy: Taipei City Hospital Experience

Materials and Methods: Between July 2014 and March 2015, 6 female patients received refined pluck technique by ureteral occlusion and transurethral cystorrhaphy in nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). At beginning, the ureter orifice was occluded with intravesical silk suture transurethrally aided by extracorporeal knot tying. Transurethral excision of bladder cuff was performed by circumcision of the ureteric orifice and intramural ureter with a Collins knife. The bladder cuff is freed deeply to extravesical space allowing subsequent“plucking” of the entire ureter from above. The bladder defect is repaired with absorbable sutures transurethrally. The tumor was pyelocaliceal in 4 cases, ureteral in 2 cases. The follow-up was performed by cystoscopy, urine cytology and computed tomography (CT) scan. We present our preliminary data. Results: 4 transperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision and 2 hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excisionwere performed. All patients are female. Histology showed high grade in everyone. There were 2 patients with pT1 staging, 2 patients with pT2 staging and 2 patients with pT3 staging. There was no lymph node metastasis found in the specimen and all surgical margin were clear. No major perioperative complications occurred. Conclusion: This refined pluck technique by ureteral occlusion and transurethral cystorrhaphy in nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a safe and effective alternative according to our preliminary experience. Long term follow-up and larger patient number are needed.

Leaving residual ureteral orifice after hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial cancer is less time consuming and do not affect overall survival

Leaving residual ureteral orifice after hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial cancer is less time consuming and do not affect overall survival

Efficacy of the intracorporeal one-hand tie technique for renal pedicle control during hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy

ObjectiveThis study examined the efficacy of the intracorporeal one-hand tie technique for renal pedicle control during hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARN). MethodsThe intracorporeal one-hand tie technique was conducted in 32 consecutive patients with upper tract urothelial cancer that underwent HARN and open bladder cuff excision. ResultsAll suture ligatures were successful in securing the renal vessels, except one minor venous bleeding that occurred during vessel transection, which was then controlled by additional clips. The process of controlling the renal pedicle took an average of 12.4 minutes (range, 8–30 minutes). No pedicle control related morbidities were noted. By sparing the usage of endovascular clips and staplers, operative costs were reduced and associated malfunctions eliminated. ConclusionThe intracorporeal one-hand tie technique is an easy, reliable, and cost-effective method in controlling the renal pedicle during HARN. Its efficacy in pedicle control is beyond doubt.

The role of laparoscopy-assisted renal autotransplantation in the treatment of primary ureteral tumor.

To evaluate the effect and safety of laparoscopy-assisted renal autotransplantation treatment for primary ureteral cancer (PUC). Medical records of patients undergoing hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy–extracorporeal total ureterectomy–renal autotransplantation–pyelocystostomy (Lap AutoTx) were analyzed. Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative data were assessed. Fifteen patients diagnosed with PUC underwent this novel approach. Three kidneys were abandoned owing to the detection of residual cancer on the renal pelvic junction, surgeon’s judgment on three severe atherosclerotic arteries, and palpable pelvic lymph nodes proven to be evidence of metastatic disease by frozen section analysis. Twelve patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 7.5 years) were treated with Lap AutoTx for PUC successfully. No perioperative mortality occurred. One patient with solitary kidney experienced delayed graft function that required short-term hemodialysis. Three recurrent superficial diseases in three patients were treated with transurethral resection. The mean ± SD follow-up duration was 12.1 ± 6.7 months (range 3–24 months). The renal pelvicaliceal system was easily examined by flexible cystoscopy. Lap AutoTx is less invasive compared with the traditional two-incisional manner and can be performed safely even among elderly patients. Compared with other currently used therapies, this novel treatment can be used to successfully treat PUC with the added advantages of total resection of the ureteral lesion, preservation of the renal function, and simplification of follow-up procedures.Primary ureteral cancer (PUC) is an aggressive disease and has a poor prognosis.1 Studies have shown high prevalence and invasiveness of PUC in Taiwan.2,3 Nephroureterectomy with excision of the bladder cuff is still believed to be the gold standard treatment for PUC.4 Most PUC occurs among individuals aged more than 60 years, and most of these patients are also at high risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).5,6 Nephroureterectomy not only results in excessive loss of renal function, but also puts the patient at risk of CKD, which contributes to the progression of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. In addition, diminished renal function after nephroureterectomy compromises the possible use of adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced disease.Endoscopic surgery (ES) and segmental resection (SR) can be used for renal preservation in PUC cases, but there still are limitations to these approaches, and indefinite invasive ureteroscopy is required during follow-up. Only a few studies have focused on renal autotransplantation (AutoTx) after extracorporeal total ureterectomy (ETU) for PUC. This type of treatment possesses advantages of total resection of malignant ureteral lesions, preservation of renal function, and simplification of follow-up protocols. In two reported case series, all cases involved surgery performed with the traditional 2-incision approach, and only a few cases involved pure PUC.7,8 We have reported that hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARNU) for the treatment of PUC is less invasive and results in better functional outcomes with fewer complications and comparable oncologic control compared with open nephroureterectomy.9 In this study, we report our experience of this treatment combined with ETU and AutoTx for pure PUC.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis: A case report.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a high-grade malignant neoplasm which exhibits morphological and/or immunohistochemical evidence of bidirectional epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. Sarcomatoid carcinoma occurring in the upper urinary tract is rare. The present study reports a case of primary sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis. A 49-year-old female patient was admitted to Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital for experiencing two weeks of intermittent hematuria. A computed tomography scan revealed a mass of 2 cm in diameter in the left renal pelvis. A retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy combined with a bladder cuff excision was performed, and the final pathological diagnosis was sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient did not receive systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Regular follow-up was performed for 30 months, and there was no evidence of tumor local recurrence or distant metastasis.

Hand-Assisted Retroperitoneoscopic Nephroureterectomy With Bladder Cuffing After Preperitoneal and Retroperitoneal Perivesical Ballooning

PurposeWe aimed to describe the surgical technique of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARNU) with bladder cuffing after preperitoneal and retroperitoneal perivesical ballooning.Materials and MethodsFrom March 2008 to September 2012, we performed HARNU and open bladder cuffing in 28 consecutive series of patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. We performed HARNU according to the following procedure: (1) a camera port incision was made on the posterior axillary line; (2) multiple, repeated, preperitoneal and retroperitoneal ballooning was performed on both the posterior axillary line and in the umbilicus; (3) a 7.0 cm skin incision was made from the suprapubic to the lower inguinal with the balloon present in the extraperitoneal area; (4) hand-assisted laparoscopic retroperitoneal nephroureterectomy; (5) cessation of gas insufflation; and (6) extravesical cuffing as an open surgical procedure.ResultsThe mean estimated blood loss was 250 mL. The mean operation time was 240 minutes. The mean time to oral intake and ambulation was 1.0 day and two days, respectively. As for postoperative complications due to the hand-assisted device, one patient developed febrile urinary tract infection within three weeks postoperatively and was hospitalized again to receive parenteral antibiotics.ConclusionsWe made a low Gibson incision for a route for the hand-assisted procedure as well as a window for open surgery in dissecting the distal ureter and extracting the surgical specimens. Thus, our results indicate that the HARNU might be a feasible surgical modality.