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Introduction: Placement of a ureteral stent at the time of renal transplantation can reduce complications when compared to non-stented anastomoses. Removal by flexible cystoscopy can be associated with discomfort, risk for infection, and high costs. New magnetic stents offer a means of bypassing cystoscopy by use of a magnetic retrieval device. Our objective was to compare clinical and cost-related outcomes of conventional and magnetic stents in patients undergoing deceased donor renal transplantation. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either a conventional or a Black-Star® magnetic stent. Clinical, procedural, and cost outcomes were assessed, and the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) was administered with the stent in situ and after stent removal. All variables were compared between groups. Results: Forty-one patients were randomized to conventional (n=19) or Black-Star (n=22) stent. The total time for stent removal under cystoscopy was significantly longer compared to Black-Star removal (6.67±2.47 and 4.80±2.21 minutes, respectively; p=0.019). No differences were found in the USSQ domains between groups. Rates of urinary tract infections and surgical complications between groups were similar. Stent removal was well-tolerated in both groups. Black-Star stent use resulted in a cost savings of $304.02 Canadian dollars (CAD) per case. Conclusions: USSQ scores suggest that stent removal with the Black-Star magnetic stent is as equally well-tolerated as flexible cystoscopy by renal transplant patients. Black-Star stent removal was significantly faster than conventional stents. No differences in discomfort, infection rate, or complication rate were found. Use of the Black-Star stent resulted in an estimated annual savings of $27 360 CAD at our centre.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in transplanted kidneys has been reported sporadically with incidence of about 0.5%. There are currently no standard guidelines on the management of allograft RCC in renal transplant recipients. Our objective was to study effectiveness of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for allograft RCC. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with RCC in renal allografts managed with NSS in our institution from January 2000 to December 2015. Patient demographics, interval between transplant and RCC diagnosis, operative parameters, perioperative complications, final pathology, and renal function were evaluated. Three females underwent successful NSS for allograft RCC. Cause of end-stage renal disease was IgA nephropathy in all; mean time between renal transplant and diagnosis of RCC was 23 years. We were able to stay extraperitoneal in all the cases. In the final pathology, two had papillary and one had clear cell RCC. One patient developed pyelocutaneous fistula which was managed by stenting. Long-term functional outcomes of NSS are excellent; none of our patients is dialysis dependent.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated collagen patch (Hemopatch®) in patients undergoing deceased donor renal transplant. The primary outcome was the amount of intraoperative estimated blood loss in those patients receiving the patch compared to without. Secondary outcomes were the subjective achievement of hemostasis, perigraft collection, and drop in hemoglobin 48 hours postoperatively. Methods: We performed a single-center, prospective, randomized trial. Patients scheduled to undergo deceased donor renal transplant surgery were randomized to receive the PEG-coated patch or standard hemostasis (i.e., electrocautery and clips). Results: A total of 30 patients were enrolled over 15 months and randomized to receive the PEG-coated patch (n=15) or standard hemostasis (n=15). The mean age was 62.5 years. As determined by the operating surgeon, hemostasis was successfully achieved in all 15 cases using the PEG-coated patch. In the PEG-coated patch group, there was a trend towards less estimated blood loss (237 cc vs. 327 cc; p=0.11) and a lower drop in hemoglobin 48 hours postoperatively (22.27 g/L vs. 29.53 g/L; p=0.09) compared to the standard hemostasis group. Perigraft collection was similar between groups (27% vs. 40%; p=0.43). Subgroup analysis on patients who received anticoagulation therapy revealed no significant difference in blood loss between groups. Conclusions: Based on our single-center experience, the PEG-coated patch (Hemopatch®) is a safe and feasible option to aid hemostasis during deceased donor renal transplant surgery. Hemostasis was successfully achieved in all cases using the PEG-coated patch.

OBJECTIVES Laparoscopic nephrectomy is considered the standard of care for most Stage T1 and T2 renal tumors. Most centers perform intact extraction rather than morcellation. The extraction incision location varies, with no consensus on the best site. We compared the operative and perioperative parameters after transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy procedures with intact specimen extraction through a Pfannenstiel (PFN) or expanded port site (EPS) incision. METHODS The consecutive charts of 150 patients (March 2001 to October 2003) undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, or laparoscopic donor nephrectomy with intact specimen extraction were reviewed. The specimens were extracted by way of a PFN or an EPS incision. Two analyses were completed. The first included only LRN, and the second included LRN, laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. RESULTS In the LRN-only analysis, the PFN group had a shorter hospital stay (2.84 versus 3.37 days, P

Purpose: We evaluated the effectiveness of terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy as a means of urinary drainage in kidney transplant recipients during a 20-year period. Materials and Methods: Five cadaveric and 2 living related patients underwent kidney transplantation with terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy between 1984 and 2004. These patients had no usable bladder or they were not suitable candidates for intermittent catheterization. Results: Followup was 20 months to 17 years. One patient underwent stomal revision 5 months after renal transplantation. Current serum creatinine 4 years later was 166 μmol/l. The remaining 6 patients had no evidence of ureteral obstruction and rarely had bacteriuria or urinary tract infections. Four patients had a functioning allograft with normal serum creatinine. One patient died with a normally functioning allograft and the remaining patient lost his graft due to chronic rejection. No patient in this series lost the graft due to a urological cause. Overall outcomes included excellent allograft function with minimal infection or stomal stenotic complications. Conclusions: Terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy is a simple, safe and alternative means of urinary diversion in patients with renal transplant and a defunctionalized lower urinary tract.

A 45-year-old female patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and a horseshoe kidney underwent right laparoscopic nephrectomy. The indication for nephrectomy was to create space within the right iliac fossa for renal transplantation. The operation proceeded as routine for laparoscopic nephrectomy for ADPKD, but was uniquely challenging due to the large size and extensive vasculature of the polycystic horseshoe kidney. In addition to documenting the feasibility of the pure laparoscopic approach for nephrectomy in patients with ADPKD and horseshoe kidney, this case highlights the abnormal location and vasculature encountered when operating on horseshoe kidneys.

The incidence of prostate cancer increases significantly in men as they become elderly. Open pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for the staging of prostate cancer has significant morbidity associated with it. Laparoscopic PLND may reduce this morbidity, especially in the elderly male. Thirty-two men, 65 years or older, underwent laparoscopic PLND for prostate cancer staging. The mean age of these patients was 71.3 years (range 65–76), with a mean follow-up of 11.3 months (range 1–23). The mean prostatic specific antigen (PSA) value was 29.1 ng/ml (range 3–113). The mean operative time was 167 minutes (range 75–295). With experience, the operative time fell to 149 minutes. Ninety-one percent of the patients were discharged from hospital within 48 hours. Only 6 minor immediate postoperative complications occurred with no intraoperative or long term postoperative complications occurring. The estimated intraoperative blood loss was ≤100 ml in 97% of the patients. Analgesic use post-operatively was minimal. In conclusion, laparoscopic PLND in the elderly male for prostate cancer staging is an acceptable and safe procedure. We feel it is preferable to the open operation.

The current diagnosis and management of pediatric urinary tract infection is reviewed along with recent developments in the pathophysiology of urinary infection. We discuss current knowledge of host and bacterial factors and how these influence our management in terms of investigation and treatment.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify and compare the costs of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) at our centre. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of our first 70 consecutive LRP cases and 70 consecutive RRP cases at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We performed cost analysis, including operating room costs, disposable instruments, blood transfusions, analgesic requirements and length of hospital stay. Overall expenses were then analyzed and compared. Results: Preoperative patient demographics and disease stages were comparable between the LRP and RRP groups. On a per procedure basis, large discrepancies were found in mean disposable instrument costs (LRP = $659.18 vs. RRP = $236.59), operating room costs (LRP = $4278.00 vs. RRP = $3139.00), mean cost of blood transfusions (LRP = $21.00 vs. RRP = $394.34), mean analgesia requirements (LRP = $12.94 vs. RRP = $41.06) and mean hospital stay bed costs (LRP = $3690.00 vs. RRP = $5027.14). Overall, costs for all patients in the LRP and RRP groups, respectively, were $606 307.29 and $618 721.57 with a cost saving of $12 414.28 in favour of the LRP arm. Conclusion: At our institution, we found that LRP costs are slightly less than those for RRP. Higher operative time and disposable instrument expenses are offset by the shorter hospital stays, fewer blood transfusions and less analgesic requirements for the LRP group. Further financial advantages for LRP will likely be achieved with additional reduction of operating room time and by minimizing disposables. Introduction : Le but de cette etude etait de comparer les couts d’une prostatectomie radicale par laparoscopie (PRL) et d’une prostatectomie radicale par voie retropubienne (PRR) a notre centre. Methodologie : Nous avons procede a un examen retrospectif des dossiers des 70 premiers cas consecutifs de PRL et de 70 cas consecutifs de PRR au centre St. Joseph’s Healthcare a Hamilton, en Ontario (Canada). Nous avons procede a une analyse des couts, y compris les couts relies a l’utilisation des salles d’operations, au materiel jetable, aux transfusions sanguines, aux analgesiques requis et a la duree du sejour a l’hopital. Les depenses globales ont ensuite ete analysees et comparees. Resultats : Les deux groupes etaient comparables quant aux donnees demographiques et au stade de la maladie avant l’operation. Des differences importantes ont ete decelees selon l’intervention dans les couts moyens du materiel jetable (PRL = 659,18 $; PRR = 236,59 $), les couts lies a la salle d’operation (PRL = 4278,00 $; PRR = 3139,00 $), le cout moyen des transfusions sanguines (PRL = 21,00 $; PRR = 394,34 $), les exigences moyennes en matiere d’analgesie (PRL = 12,94 $; PRR = 41,06 $) et les couts moyens pour un lit pendant une hospitalisation (PRL = 3690,00 $; PRR = 5027,14 $). Globalement, les couts pour l’ensemble des patients ayant subi une PRL ou une PRR etaient de 606 307,29 $ et de 618 721,57 $, respectivement; l’economie realisee grâce a la PRL etait donc de 12 414,28 $. Conclusion : A notre centre, nous avons observe que les couts lies a la PRL etaient legerement inferieurs a ceux d’une PRR. Des couts plus eleves en lien avec le temps d’operation et le materiel jetable sont compenses par des sejours plus courts en hopital et un nombre inferieur de transfusions sanguines et de doses d’analgesiques requises dans le groupe ayant subi une PRL. D’autres avantages financiers lies a la PRL decouleront probablement d’une plus grande reduction du temps d’operation et de la quantite de materiel jetable utilise.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty has been developed as a minimally invasive alternative to open pyeloplasty for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Several series have been published with similar success rates for the two procedures. We present our initial experience with laparoscopic pyeloplasty.A retrospective review of 29 consecutive patients (mean age 37 years) who underwent Laparoscopic dismembered Hynes-Anderson pyeloplasty in our institution between January 2001 to April 2003 was performed. All patients had flank pain with radiologic findings consistent with ureteropelvic junction obstruction and impaired drainage on diuretic renal scan. Patients were assessed at 6 weeks with an ultrasound and assessment of pain, then an intravenous pyelogram (i.v.p.) and diuretic renogram were completed at 6 months along with a repeat clinical assessment.Twenty-nine patients underwent the procedure with one patient converted to an open procedure due to difficulties with the anastomosis. Mean operating time was 225 minutes, which decreased with experience. Mean blood loss was 50 cc and no patient required transfusion. Mean hospital stay was 2.5 days. Mean follow-up was 12 months. Twenty-six patients had complete resolution of their pain and an improvement on ultrasound was demonstrated, but only six patients showed improvement in function on i.v.p. or renogram at 6 months. In five patients with 25% or less differential renal function preoperatively, the function was worse or negligible despite complete resolution of symptoms. One patient developed stent migration requiring repositioning and another developed calcification on the distal end of the stent requiring cystolithalopaxy prior to stent removal.In our experience, laparoscopic pyeloplasty offers excellent symptomatic relief in a minimally invasive fashion with low morbidity for adult patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. In patients with borderline function (25% or less) preoperatively and with a normal functioning contralateral kidney, nephrectomy should be a consideration.

Objective: The open Anderson–Hynes procedure has an overall success rate of 90% for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) was developed to reduce morbidity and hospital stay while preserving the excellent results. We report on the results of our experience with laparoscopic pyeloplasty.Methods: Between January 2001 and May 2006, 77 consecutive patients underwent LP performed by one of 4 surgeons at our institution. Patients were reassessed with ultrasound (U/S) or intravenous pyelogram (IVP) at 6 weeks. Diuretic renal scan and U/S or IVP were performed at 6 months, and subsequent follow-up included a U/S or IVP as well as clinical assessment. Patients were assessed for pain and hydronephrosis on radiologic imaging, clearance on diuretic renal scan (T1/2) and differential renal function.Results: We evaluated 73 patients. The mean patient age was 38 years (range 16–71 yr), the mean operating time was 218 minutes (range 110–409 min), and the mean blood loss was 57 mL (range 25–250 mL). Mean hospital stay was 3.0 days (range 2–7 d). The success rate was 90.4%, and failures were mainly due to poor function after surgery (3 patients). Pyelolithotomy was performed concomitantly on 6 patients, which on average extended operative time by 36 minutes.Conclusion: Our success rates are consistent with the LP experience of other centres and are comparable with rates for the open technique. Patients had short hospital stays, and complications were negligible. With experienced surgeons, LP should be the first-line treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Purpose : Data of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) with multiple renal arteries for donor and recipient outcomes were reviewed, with the aim of clarifying whether the laparoscopic approach is safe in the presence of multiple renal arteries. Materials and Methods : All donor nephrectomies performed at our institution from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Results were compared between LDN kidneys with multiple arteries and those with a single renal artery. Results : Out of 171 donor nephrectomies, 21 (12%) were performed for kidneys with multiple renal arteries. All of the 150 (88%) donor nephrectomies in the single vessel group were performed laparoscopically. In the multiple artery group, 9 (43%) underwent an open procedure while 12 (57%) underwent a laparoscopic procedure. The warm ischemia time was longer in the multiple artery group than the single artery group, but the difference was not statistically significant (4.25±0.87 min vs. 4.12±0.95 min, respectively). Regarding transplant recipients, the vascular anastomosis time was similar in both groups (30±4.6 min vs. 29.5±3.7 min). The operative blood loss in the transplant recipients was significantly more in the multiple artery group compared to the single artery group (339±292 ml and 130.7±44.8 ml, respectively; P =0.03). The recipient renal function was similar for both the groups at postoperative day 7, 1 month, and at 1 year. Conclusion : The data support the fact that the laparoscopic approach to donor nephrectomy in the presence of multiple renal arteries can be performed safely with adequate laparoscopic experience.