Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Ablation of Parapelvic Renal Cysts and Caliceal Diverticula Using Bipolar Energy

Clinical efficacy of intraoperative real time ultrasound-assisted flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser incision and internal drainage in the treatment of parapelvic cysts

Objective

This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative real time ultrasound-assisted flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser incision and internal drainage in the treatment of parapelvic cysts, and to review recently published relevant literature.

Method

This is a retrospective study in which the clinical data of 47 patients who underwent flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser incision and internal drainage of parapelvic cysts in our center from March 2017 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A literature search was conducted to review and summarize relevant reports on endoscopic treatment of parapelvic cysts published in the past 10 years.

Results

Among 47 patients with parapelvic cysts who underwent flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser incision and internal drainage, 12 (25.53%) cases had a typical cyst wall bulging into the collecting system under flexible ureteroscope. As the cyst wall was thin and translucent in these cases, ultrasound was not used during the operation. The cysts of the remaining 35 patients were located with the aid of intraoperative real time ultrasound, and all underwent successful operation. No serious surgical complications occurred after surgery. The patients were followed up for 12–24 months after operation. The cyst in one case was observed larger than its original size before operation, so recurrence was considered. In another two cases, the diameters of the cysts were more than half of their original diameters before operation. Thus, the efficacy was poor in the three cases. For the remaining 44 cases, there was no obvious cyst observed or the diameter of the cysts was less than half their preoperative level.

Conclusion

The approach of ultrasound-assisted flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser incision and internal drainage in the treatment of parapelvic cysts is safe and effective, which helps to solve the problem of localization of atypical parapelvic cysts on endoscopic findings.

Methylene Blue Injection via Percutaneous Renal Cyst Puncture Used in Flexible Ureteroscope for Treatment of Parapelvic Cysts: A Modified Method for Easily Locating Cystic Wall

OBJECTIVE

To describe a modified technique for easily locating cystic wall during flexible ureteroscopic surgery for treatment of parapelvic renal cysts.

METHODS

Nineteen patients with symptomatic/asymptomatic parapelvic renal cyst were treated with modified or conventional flexible ureteroscopic surgery between February 2015 and March 2017, and the differences of the 2 techniques were compared. The detailed surgical procedures and results, postoperative complications, and patients' follow-ups were evaluated.

RESULTS

All the patients received endoscopic management by flexible ureteroscope successfully, without requiring another complicated surgery. The cysts were seen clearly in 9 patients with modified method. Two of ten patients who underwent conventional ureteroscopic surgery changed to the modified surgery intra-operatively since it was difficult to identify the cyst. The total time of search and incision of cysts was 24.2 ± 6.2 minutes and 17.7 ± 2.5 minutes for conventional and modified technique respectively (P = .01), of which 11.4 ± 4.8 minutes and 5.1 ± 1.1 minutes to search the cysts, respectively (P = .002), and the mean time of the procedure of puncture was 8 ± 2.3 minutes. Duration of pure incising the cystic wall was 12.8 ± 3.3 minutes and 12.6 ± 2.5 minutes for patients who underwent conventional and modified technique, respectively (P = .859). All patients acquired relief from the presentation of flank discomfort after surgery. All of the patients were followed-up over 12 months and no serious complications and recurrence was observed.

CONCLUSION

The modified technique can decrease time of searching the renal cyst and decrease the total time in flexible ureteroscopic treatment of parapelvic cysts. The limitations of our study were also observed and further studies are needed.

Randomized study of percutaneous ureteroscopic plasma column electrode decortication and laparoscopic decortication in managing simple renal cyst

Background

To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel technology referred to as percutaneous ureteroscopic plasma column electrode (PCE) by comparing laparoscopic decortication in the management of simple renal cyst (SRC).

Methods

Between March 2016 and June 2017, 53 patients with SRCs were randomized to divided into two groups, the PCE group (24 patients), or laparoscope group (29 patients). The operative time, blood loss, days of drainage, catheter, and hospital stay and complications were compared with the two groups. All patients were followed- up to 6 months after treatment.

Results

No patients had intraoperative complications such as hemopneumothorax, adjacent organ injury, infection or hemorrhage shock. In the PCE group and laparoscope group: the mean operation time was 34.1±8.2 vs. 58.4±16.7 min (P<0.05). The mean blood loss was 2.0±1.16 vs. 9.7±4.09 mL (P<0.05). The mean postoperative indwelling drainage tube time was 2.5±1.5 vs. 2.9±1.09 d (P>0.05). The mean intra-urethral indwelling catheter time was 2.1±0.88 vs. 2.0±1.15 d (P>0.05). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.0±1.7 vs. 3.7±1.53 (P>0.05). One patient in electrode group was suffered from rupture of the collecting system during the operation, and was treated by indwelling D-J stent. During follow up, no cysts recurrence was found.

Conclusions

Percutaneous ureteroscopic PCE decortication is a safe, minimally invasive and effective therapy to treat SRCs, with equal efficacy and advantages in shortening the operation time and reducing the amount of intraoperative bleeding compared with laparoscopic decortication.

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for Symptomatic Renal Sinus Cysts: Long-Term Results and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

To report the long-term multicenter experience with retrograde intrarenal holmium-laser incision (RIR-HoLI) in the management of symptomatic renal sinus cysts (RSCs). In the literature, RIR-HoLI has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment, but there are only a few reports regarding long-term results and reproducibility of this procedure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From June 2010 to June 2015, 14 patients with symptomatic RSCs underwent RIR-HoLI. The mean age was 52.1 ± 11.28 years (range 28-77) and the mean cyst size was 53.2 ± 14.23 mm (range 35-90). In all cases, contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) showed compression of the renal pelvis by the cyst (no malignancy). Surgical outcome was assessed in terms of symptoms improvement (measured by Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] for pain) and renal ultrasound findings at 3-6-12 months postoperatively and then yearly. CT scan was carried out at 12 months follow-up.

RESULTS

RIR-HoLI was successful in all patients. The mean operative time was 47.8 ± 13.54 min (range 30-80) and mean hospital stay was 3.5 days (range 2-5). There were 2 Clavien grade II complications (flank pain and urgency delaying discharge). After surgery, all patients -became asymptomatic (VAS score change, p = 0.0001). One patient had persistence of a small cyst (10 mm). Mean follow-up is 44 ± 17.24 months (range 24-84); all patients remained asymptomatic, with no signs of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

RIR-HoLI proved to be a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic RSCs. In our experience, it provided excellent long-term results and was reproducible at 4 different -institutions.

Ureteroscopic management of asymptomatic and symptomatic simple parapelvic renal cysts

Background

To investigate feasibility and safety of treating simple parapelvic renal cysts using flexible ureteroscopy with the Holmium laser.

Methods

Between February 2010 and July 2013, a total of 21 patients, aging from 29 to 71 (49.00 ± 13.23), were diagnosed with parapelvic renal cysts by ultrasonography in combination with contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) and intravenous urography (IVU) in the Department of Urology Surgery, People’s Hospital of the Zhejiang province. Fifteen patients were asymptomatic and 6 patients were symptomatic with flank pain. All patients underwent drainage of the cysts using flexible ureteroscopy with Holmium laser. Patients were followed up 1, 3 and 12 months after the operation.

Results

The intervention was successful in 20 patients and failed in 1 patient who, subsequently successfully underwent a laparoscopic cyst removal. There were no intra-operative and post-operative complications reported. The mean operation time was 27 min (range: 15 to 45 min). The mean hospital stay was 2.6 days (range: 1 to 5 days). Twenty patients were followed up until 15 months after surgery. After such ureteroscopic management, there were no renal cysts detected in 7 patients (35 %) and a reduction in size of the renal cysts was found in 13 patients (65 %). Flank pain subsided in all 6 (100 %) previously symptomatic patients.

Conclusions

Flexible ureteroscopy with the Holmium laser may be a feasible and effective treatment option in selected patients with simple parapelvic renal cysts. Further prospective randomized studies that compare the procedure to laparoscopic treatments are needed.