Renal calculi in children

Feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of adult-sized instruments in pediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Little evidence exists regarding the benefits and disadvantages of adult-sized instruments for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in pediatric patients. This systematic review aims to clarify the safety and efficacy of this approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review using databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane and included studies that evaluated PCNL in children. All identified records underwent two-phase title/abstract and full-text screening. Pediatric patients were defined as 17 years or younger, and adult-sized instruments as 24Fr and above. The primary outcomes were success (stone-free) rate and surgical complications obtained from studies comparing adult-sized and pediatric-sized instruments.

RESULTS

A total of 84 abstracts and 16 full text article were assessed till July 2021 and 6 studies were included. All studies were retrospective. Number of accesses (Odds ratio (OR), adult-sized to pediatric-sized: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.52-1.78, p = 0.89), initial stone-free rate (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.42-1.27, p = 0.26), final stone-free rate (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.38-3.44, p = 0.82), and residual stones (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.42-1.49, p = 0.46) could be analyzed, none with significant differences. Overall complication rates did not differ significantly between the groups. However, one study reported more grade III/IV complications in the adult-sized instrument group. The adult-sized instrument group had a higher hemoglobin/hematocrit decrease in 3 studies. Duration of surgery, fluoroscopy time, length of hospital stay, times to nephrostomy tube removal, and transfusion rate could not be assessed in meta-analysis; however, they were comparable between the adult-sized and pediatric-sized groups. Studies also showed that adult-sized instruments are applicable in children younger than 3 years and those with staghorn calculi as well as in fluoroscopy-free ultrasound-guided PCNL.

CONCLUSION

Adult-sized instruments had comparable outcomes to the pediatric-sized ones and can be applied in pediatric PCNL when factors such as accessibility justify their use. The number and design of the studies restrict the reliability of the comparisons. Therefore, future studies with improved methodology may better reveal the impact of instruments on the outcome of PCNL in children.

Fluoroscopy-free ultrasonography-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy in pediatric patients: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

To present the safety and efficacy of fluoroscopy-free ultrasound-guided PCNL for the treatment of renal calculi in pediatric patients of all ages.

METHODS

30 children with mean age of 5 years (6 months-12 years) underwent totally ultrasound-guided PCNL from March 2013 to August 2016. The pyelocalyceal system was punctured in prone position using only ultrasonography guidance, and the tract was dilated using a single shot dilation technique. No fluoroscopy was used during any of the stages of renal access. The procedure was performed using adult-sized instruments.

RESULTS

The mean stone size was 27.1 ± 8.7 mm. Mean access time was 4.3 ± 2 min. Mean nephroscopic time was 34.6 ± 15.2 min. Mean hospital stay of patients was 3 days (range 2-5). 21 patients were stone-free after the procedure (70% success rate). Only four patients out of 30 experienced postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that fluoroscopic-free ultrasound-guided PCNL in pediatric patients of all ages is safe, highly efficient, and minimizes potential radiation exposure risks associated with the procedure.

Phenotypic variability of Dent disease in a large New Zealand kindred

BACKGROUND

Dent disease 1 is a rare cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in childhood secondary to mutations in the gene encoding the chloride-proton exchanger, CLC-5, which is found mainly in the proximal tubule. Clinical manifestations are variable and there are no known genotype-phenotype correlations.

CASE DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT

The proband was identified as having a mutation in CLCN5. The extended family of the proband was invited to participate in a study of Dent disease after several males were noted to have a history of CKD. Urine retinol binding protein, urine calcium, serum creatinine, and DNA samples were collected for analysis. Ten hemizygous males and 6 heterozygous females were identified. Advanced CKD was detected in 3 males (1 child). Renal biopsies in 4 children showed both glomerular and tubulo-interstitial changes. There was no correlation between age and disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first reported family from the southern hemisphere with this condition. A novel CLCN5 mutation is described, c.1618G>C (p.Ala540Pro). The severity of renal disease varies greatly among individuals.