[Pneumatic lithotripsy vs Holmium: YAG Laser lithotripsy for the treatment of ureteral stones.]

OBJECTIVE

Pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) and Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy (LL) are the most widely accepted methods in the endoscopic treatment of ureteral lithiasis. The objective is to compare efficacy and safety of pneumatic lithotripsy vs. Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral lithiasis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective, single-blind, multicenter study. Adult patients were recruited from August 2017 to March 2019, in 23 institutions throughout Argentina. Patient demographics, stone characteristics, presence of double J stent prior to the intervention, stonefree rate (SF) and postoperative complications were evaluated and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 366 patients with ureteral lithiasis were included, 204 in the PL group and 162 in the LL group. The SF rate was significantly higher in the LL group (77% vs. 92%), OR 3 .43 (1.76 to 6.70). The complication rate was significantly lower in the LL group (9.8% vs. 2.5%), OR 0.23 (0.07 to 0.71). In the multivariate analysis, the use of Ho: YAG energy, the location of the lithiasis in the distal ureter, and the preoperative placement of double J stent, were found to be predictors of SF status.

CONCLUSIONS

Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy has a higher stone-free rate and a lower complication rate compared to pneumatic lithotripsy.

[Preoperative double J stent placement in the endoscopic treatment of ureteral and renal Stone: A multicenter, national study.]

OBJECTIVE

Aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the preoperative placement of JJ stent compared to not doing in patients undergoing ureteroscopy for ureteral and kidney stone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective, observational, multicenter study. Adult patients, who underwent ureteroscopy treatment for ureteral and kidney stone, were recruited from August 2017 to March 2019, in 23 Argentine institutions. The variables analyzed included: demographic data, stone size and location, stone-free rate (SFR) and complications.

RESULTS

580 patients were included. 473 with ureteral stone (309 with and 164 without prior JJ stent) and 107 with kidney stone (77 with and 30 without prior JJ stent). The SFR was higher in the group with previous JJ stent, both in the treatment of ureteral stone (82.2% vs. 90.9%, OR 2.15 (1.17 to 3.96)), and in the treatment of kidney stone (73.3% vs. 89.6%, OR 3.14 (1.02 to 9.61)). No differences were established in the complication rate both in the treatment of ureteral stone (6.1 vs. 6.1%, OR 0.98 (0.45 to 2.19)) and in the treatment of kidney stone (6.7 vs. 5.2%, OR 0.76 (0.13 a 4.46)).

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative placement of JJ stent, increases SFR in the treatment of ureteral and kidney stone, but not decrease the complication rate.

[Medical expulsive treatment for ureteral stones.]

INTRODUCTION

Medical Expulsive Treatment (MET) for ureteral stones has been questioned for the last few years.

OBJECTIVES

The main goal of our study is to define the indications of MET, the different drugs that are used and their effectiveness and to propose a follow-up strategy. Secondary objectives include the effectiveness of MET in some special subgroups such as pregnant women and children and to assess aspects of MET cost-effectiveness compared with other options for ureteral lithiasis treatment (ureterorenoscopy or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have reviewed the most relevant clinical trials and meta-analysis evaluating the impact of the different drugs available for MET. For the research we used some keywords like "medical expulsive treatment/therapy", "ureteral lithiasis", "urolithiasis", "effectiveness", "alpha-blockers" and "calcium-antagonists". MEDLINE database was used for there search (using the portal web Pubmed).

RESULTS

Highest quality studies currently availables how significant methodological limitations leading to heterogeneous and restricted evidence, which is only applicable to patients and lithiasis with specific conditions. Nevertheless, in general terms, it seems that MET can play a certain role in the expulsion of lithiasis ≥ 5mm y ≤ 10 mm located in the distal ureter, although it has not been possible to demonstrate that any of the drugs used may have special superiority in terms of effectiveness. In pregnancy and children, the recommendations of MET are also irregular. Finally, MET seemsto be an alternative cost-effective compared to active options of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher quality clinical trials are needed to reliably advice MET. With the current evidence, it appears that MET can improve the expulsion of distal ureteral lithiasis ≥ 5 mm and ≤ 10 mm, even though we have not found differences between the drugs that are available for MET.

Comparative analysis of direct and indirect costs of two minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of renal/ureteral calculi smaller than 2 cm

OBJECTIVE

To perform a comparative analysis of indirect and direct costs of two minimally invasive techniques (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) vs. ureteroscopy with holmium laser (URS/RIRS)) for the treatment of renal/ureteral calculi smaller than 2 cm.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective, comparative, non-randomized study of 84 patients treated for kidney stones smaller than 2 cm between January and December 2016. Of these, 38 (45.67%) were treated with ESWL (18 renal lithiasis and 20 ureteral lithiasis) and 46 (54.32%) with URS/RIRS (22 renal lithiasis and 24 ureteral lithiasis). A total of 19 (41.3%) patients in the URS/RIRS group and 15 (39.5%) patients in the ESWL group were actively working before treatment. The variables analyzed were sex, age, number and size of lithiasis, time (days) off from work due to treatment, estimate of indirect cost due to labor productivity loss and direct treatment costs including follow-up (total number of procedures, ancillary care, visits and diagnostic tests). The 2015 Wage Structure Survey (INE) was used to estimate the indirect cost. In addition, the «Work Productivity and Activity Impairment» (WPAI) questionnaire was also used to determine the level of perceived productivity loss.

RESULTS

The mean number of sessions until lithiasis resolution was achieved was 2.57 for the ESWL group and 1.04 for the URS. The mean number of days off from work in the URS group was 7.16 days and 3.18 (p = 0.034) in the ESWL group. The total indirect costs resulting from productivity loss were EUR 621.55 and EUR 276.05 for the URS and ESWL, respectively. Direct costs in the ESWL group were EUR 1,382.9 and EUR 2,317.71 in the URS group. The level of work impairment perceived by patients undergoing URS was 18.88% and 21.33% in the ESWL group. The degree of impairment for performing activities of daily living was 24.44% in the URS and 15% in ESWL.

CONCLUSIONS

The ESWL technique requires a higher number of sessions for the resolution of kidney stones under 2 cm, but it has a lower impact on total costs and on the perceived degree of affectation.

The analgesic efficacy of ultrasound guided unilateral transversus abdominis plane block in the pain management of shock wave lithotripsy

OBJECTIVES

We conducted this study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound guided unilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block when used in combination with oral diclofenac administration during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL).

DESIGN AND SETTING

The study is a retrospective clinical experimental study conducted in a university hospital between January 2017 and January 2018.

METHODS

42 SWL eligible patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n: 15) received no medication due to patient's preference. Group 2 (n: 15) received 50 mg oral diclofenac 30 minutes prior to the procedure, and Group 3 (n: 12) received both oral diclofenac and unilateral ultrasound (US) guided TAP block 30 minutes before the procedure. Patient`s characteristics, SWL data and "visual analogue pain scale" (VAS) scores were collected and compared between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 44 eligible patients were included in the study. When compared between groups, patient's characteristics including age, body mass index, and SWL data including stone size, SWL number, total energy transmitted and duration of the procedure, were similar and there was no statistical significance. Between groups statistical significance was achieved in only VAS scores. Mean VAS scores in groups 1,2, and 3 were 6.3 ± 1.8, 4.3 ± 2.3, and 1.3 ± 1.0, respectively. No complication was seen in any of the groups.

CONCLUSION

Pain relief during SWL operations is still a challenging issue for many clinicians. Our study demonstrates that, among many other anesthetic/analgesic agents and techniques described, unilateral US guided TAP block and diclofenac combination is a feasible option for pain relief during SWL procedures.

[Treatment of uretero-renal stones with shock wave lithotripsy. Results and complications with the dornier gemini emse 220f-XXP.]

OBJECTIVES

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a minimally invasive therapeutic option for the treatment of renal-ureteral lithiasis. The aim of this study was to analyze the results and complications of shock wave extracorporeal lithotripsy treatment with the Dornier Gemini® Generator EMSE 220f-XXP device in patients with renal and ureteral lithiasis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study including 377 patients with renal or ureteral lithiasis with indication for treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The following variables were analyzed, age, sex, body mass index, lithiasis size, lithiasis location, presence of urinary diversion, number of lithotripsy sessions, number of shock waves, fluoroscopy time, wave energy, applied focal energy coefficient, efficiency coefficient, lithiasic fragmentation, lithiasic clearance, residual lithiasis, presence of lithiasis and complications. The results were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 considering statistical significance p≤0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 377 patients, 213 were men and 164 women, with a mean age of 51.28 ± 12.77 years. The mean size of the stones in maximum diameter was 11.77 ± 6.13 mm. Lithiasis fragmentation occurred in 81.9% of cases, with a percentage of residual lithiasis after the first session of 58.7% and a total or partial expulsion rate of lithiasis fragments of 68.3%, with global success at the end of sessions of lithotripsy of 69.8%. The overall Efficiency Ratio was 0.42, higher in upper calyx 0.51 and lower in medium calyx 0.35, with significant differences (p<0.05). The only differences were found in relation to the success of lithotripsy treatment (75% versus 64.6%, p=0.02), according to lithiasis size (≤10 mm maximum diameter in comparison to >10 mm). In patients with a DJ catheter there is a higher percentage of residual lithiasis (p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with extracorporeal lithotripsy in small lithiasis and in well-selected patients obtains good results with a low rate of complications regardless of sex and body mass index.

[Mortality predictive factors in patients with urinary sepsis associated to upper urinary tract calculi]

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with urinary sepsis associated to ureteral calculi admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to identify predictors of mortality in the first 24 hours of admission.

DESIGN

A retrospective observational study covering a 16-year period (2006-2011) was carried out.

SETTING

The combined clinical/surgical ICU of a secondary-level University hospital.

PATIENTS

All patients admitted to the ICU due to obstructive urinary sepsis.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN VARIABLES

We analyzed general clinical and laboratory test and urological data. The diagnostic technique, affected side, decompression technique, isolated microorganism and antibiotic therapy used were also considered. The assessment of risk factors was performed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients admitted to the ICU were included in the study, with a mortality rate of 19.6%. The diagnosis was mainly established by ultrasound, and the most commonly used decompression technique was retrograde JJ stenting. Microorganisms were isolated in 48.6% of the patients. In total, 20.6% of the patients had bacteremia. Multivariate analysis found age, acute renal failure and the use of vasoactive drugs administered continuously for the first 24 hours of admission to be independently associated to mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced age, acute renal failure and the need for vasoactive drugs were associated to an increased risk of mortality in patients with urinary sepsis associated to upper urinary tract calculi.