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Objective:To present our initial experience on laparoscopic transperitoneal nephrectomies and to report the perioperative and postoperative outcomes in patients with kidney tumor.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively evaluated clinical data, laboratory results and radiological findings of 40 patients who underwent laparoscopic renal surgery performed by a single surgeon in a single center between November 2017 and May 2019. Thoracoabdominopelvic computed tomography was performed in all patients.Results:A total of 40 patients (26 males (65%), 14 females (35%) with a median age of 58.7 years underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal nephrectomy. Sixteen patients underwent laparoscopic simple nephrectomy (LSN) for nonfunctional kidney, 20 patients with solid renal tumors underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), and four patients underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for solid renal mass. The mean operative time was 207.9±79.1, 218.9±57.5 and 175.0±75.0 minutes for LSN, LRN and LPN, respectively. The mean length of hospital stays was 3.0±1.3, 2.7±0.6 and 2.7±1.5 days, respectively. Conversion to open surgery was done in 2 patients who underwent LRN and in two patients who underwent LSN due to intraoperative bleeding and intraperitoneal adhesions, respectively. We experienced postoperative complication only in one patient (2.5%) who underwent LSN.Conclusion:Advances in technology and surgical experience have led to an increase in laparoscopic kidney surgery even for advanced renal tumors. Serious complications may occur mainly in the early stages of the learning curve, but complication rates and operative time significantly decrease by the surgeons’ experience. Complicated and more extensive tumors make surgeons more experienced in advanced laparoscopic treatment techniques.

Objective:To analyze the effect of the anesthesia method (spinal and general) on the outcome of ureteroscopy (URS) in patients treated for proximal ureteral stones.Materials and Methods:Patients, who underwent URS for proximal ureteral stones at various urology clinics in Turkiye, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the anesthesia method performed; the procedure was performed under spinal anesthesia (SA) in group 1 and general anesthesia (GA) in group 2. Patients’ demographic, perioperative data and complication rates were compared between the two groups in a retrospective manner.Results:There were 309 and 329 patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean stone area and Hounsfield unit in GA group were higher (p0.05). The rate of success of URS, which is accepted as complete stone-free status, was higher in the SA group (p=0.041).Conclusion:URS, which is used in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones, has a high success rate, independent of the anesthesia method used. It is important to keep in mind the patient’s comorbidities prior to selecting the anesthesia method and that the stone area and the Hounsfield unit are the important factors affecting the outcomes.

Objective:The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and complications of holmium laser and pneumatic lithotripsy used in the ureterorenoscopic treatment of proximal ureteral stones.Materials and Methods:Data of 638 patients, who underwent ureterorenoscopy (URS) due to proximal ureteral stones in different centers, were obtained from patient files. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of lithotripter used: group 1; laser lithotripter (n=324; 50.8%) and group 2; pneumatic lithotripter (n=314; 49.2%). URS was considered successful upon determination stone-free status with the imaging methods after treatment. The effectiveness and the complications of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and pneumatic lithotripsy were compared.Results:The total success rate of URS was 82.6% and the complication rate was 8.1%. The mean age of patients was similar between the groups; however, the body mass index values, stone surface area and stone Hounsfield unit were significantly higher in group 1. Although the mean operative time, complication rate and the mean length of hospital stay were similar between the groups; the URS success and postoperative ureteral J stent use rates were significantly higher in group 1 and the push-back rate was significantly higher in group 2.Conclusion:If laser lithotripsy is available in a clinic, we believe that it is better to use it as the first option in the treatment of proximal ureter stones. However, considering that it is not easy to access laser lithotripters due to their high cost in Turkey, pneumatic lithotripters may be an effective and inexpensive alternative that can also be safely used in these cases.