Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados iniciais e a curva de aprendizado dos primeiros 100 casos consecutivos do tratamento cirúrgico da obstrução da junção ureteropiélica por meio da pieloplastia robótica laparoscópica. Materiais e Métodos: Um total de 99 pacientes (41 homens e 58 mulheres), com idade média de 38 anos (18-81 anos), foi submetido a 100 pieloplastias robóticas laparoscópicas consecutivas (um procedimento bilateral), realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião. A determinação da curva de aprendizado foi baseada na avaliação do tempo de anastomose, tempo cirúrgico, complicações precoces e tardias e resultados a longo prazo. Os casos foram divididos em grupos de 25 procedimentos consecutivos (grupos 1, 2, 3, 4) de acordo com a data, em ordem cronológica, em que foram submetidos ao procedimento. Os pacientes foram reavaliados pelos médicos do serviço de urologia 3, 12 meses e anualmente após o procedimento através de avaliação clínica, onde relatavam melhora ou não dos sintomas, e exames de imagem (urografia excretora e/ou cintilografia renal). Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relação à idade e índice de massa corpórea. O tempo médio para confecção da anastomose foi de 50,0, 36,8, 34,2 e 29,0 minutos para os grupos 1 a 4, respectivamente (p=0,137). O tempo cirúrgico médio foi 144,6, 119,2, 114,5 e 94,6 minutos, apresentando uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos 1 vs. 2 (p=0,015), 1 vs. 3 (p=0,002), 1 vs. 4 (p < 0,001) e 2 vs. 4 (p=0,022). A internação hospitalar média foi de 7,08, 4,76, 4,88 e 4,20 dias, apresentando uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos 1 vs. 2 (p < 0,001), 1 vs. 3 (p < 0,001) e 1 vs. 4 (p < 0,001). Complicações significativas (Clavien-Dindo grau > 3) ocorreram apenas no grupo 2 (2 complicações grau IIIb). Um paciente no grupo 1 necessitou de conversão cirúrgica para a via aberta devido a dificuldades técnicas na dissecção piélica. O seguimento pós-operatório médio foi de 50,6 meses. Houve perda de seguimento em três pacientes do grupo 1, um do grupo 2, dois do grupo 3 e um do grupo 4. Uma melhora significativa (clínica e radiológica) foi demonstrada em 98,9% dos casos nesta série. Em um seguimento tardio (50 meses) um paciente do grupo 3 apresentou um quadro de obstrução recorrente da JUP. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram que a PRL é uma alternativa efetiva para o tratamento da estenose da JUP com altas taxas de sucesso e baixo índice de complicações. Apesar da presença de uma alta taxa de sucesso já nos primeiros casos uma queda significativa no tempo de internação e tempo cirúrgico foi evidente após a realização de 25 procedimentos. Aparentemente um número de 25 casos parece ser suficiente para um aprendizado efetivo das bases deste procedimento cirúrgico e uma diminuição sustentada de seu tempo operatório / Purpose: To evaluate the results and learning curve of laparoscopic robotic pyeloplasty during the initial 100 cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 99 patients (41 men, 58 women), with a median age of 38 years (range: 18-81 years), underwent 100 consecutive laparoscopic robotic pyeloplasties (one bilateral procedure), performed by the same surgeon. Learning curve estimations were used for anastomosis, operative time, early and late complications and long-term results. Sequential analyses were performed between the cases, which were divided in groups of consecutive 25 procedures (groups 1, 2, 3 and 4). Statistical analyses comparing the groups were performed. Results: All groups were similar with respect to age and body mass index. The median anastomosis time was 50.0, 36.8, 34.2 and 29.0 minutes for groups 1 to 4, respectively (p=0.137). Median operative time was 144.6, 119.2, 114.5 and 94.6 minutes, with a statistical difference present when comparing groups 1 and 2 (p=0.015), 1 and 3 (p=0.002), 1 and 4 (p < 0.001) and 2 and 4 (p=0.022). Mean hospital stay was 7.08, 4.76, 4.88 and 4.20 days, with a statistical difference present when comparing groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001), 1 and 3 (p < 0.001) and 1 and 4 (p < 0.001). Major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or above) were present only in group 2 (2 grade IIIb complications). One patient in the group 1 required a conversion to open surgery due to dissection difficulties during pyelic exposure. The medium follow up was 50.6 months. Three patients in group 1, one in group 2, two in group 3 and one in group 4 were lost to follow-up. A significant improvement (clinical and radiological) was present in 98.9% of patients in this series. At a late follow-up (50 months) one patient in group 3 presented a recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that success rate of LARP is high and complication rates are low. The operative time (learning curve) decreased with experience, confirming the procedure\'s complexity. Although favorable results were already present in the first few cases, a significant decrease in hospital stay and surgical time was evident after 25 cases. Apparently, 25 cases appear to be a reasonable experience in order to decrease the operative time and master the basics of the procedure

Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados iniciais e a curva de aprendizado dos primeiros 100 casos consecutivos do tratamento cirúrgico da obstrução da junção ureteropiélica por meio da pieloplastia robótica laparoscópica. Materiais e Métodos: Um total de 99 pacientes (41 homens e 58 mulheres), com idade média de 38 anos (18-81 anos), foi submetido a 100 pieloplastias robóticas laparoscópicas consecutivas (um procedimento bilateral), realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião. A determinação da curva de aprendizado foi baseada na avaliação do tempo de anastomose, tempo cirúrgico, complicações precoces e tardias e resultados a longo prazo. Os casos foram divididos em grupos de 25 procedimentos consecutivos (grupos 1, 2, 3, 4) de acordo com a data, em ordem cronológica, em que foram submetidos ao procedimento. Os pacientes foram reavaliados pelos médicos do serviço de urologia 3, 12 meses e anualmente após o procedimento através de avaliação clínica, onde relatavam melhora ou não dos sintomas, e exames de imagem (urografia excretora e/ou cintilografia renal). Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relação à idade e índice de massa corpórea. O tempo médio para confecção da anastomose foi de 50,0, 36,8, 34,2 e 29,0 minutos para os grupos 1 a 4, respectivamente (p=0,137). O tempo cirúrgico médio foi 144,6, 119,2, 114,5 e 94,6 minutos, apresentando uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos 1 vs. 2 (p=0,015), 1 vs. 3 (p=0,002), 1 vs. 4 (p < 0,001) e 2 vs. 4 (p=0,022). A internação hospitalar média foi de 7,08, 4,76, 4,88 e 4,20 dias, apresentando uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos 1 vs. 2 (p < 0,001), 1 vs. 3 (p < 0,001) e 1 vs. 4 (p < 0,001). Complicações significativas (Clavien-Dindo grau > 3) ocorreram apenas no grupo 2 (2 complicações grau IIIb). Um paciente no grupo 1 necessitou de conversão cirúrgica para a via aberta devido a dificuldades técnicas na dissecção piélica. O seguimento pós-operatório médio foi de 50,6 meses. Houve perda de seguimento em três pacientes do grupo 1, um do grupo 2, dois do grupo 3 e um do grupo 4. Uma melhora significativa (clínica e radiológica) foi demonstrada em 98,9% dos casos nesta série. Em um seguimento tardio (50 meses) um paciente do grupo 3 apresentou um quadro de obstrução recorrente da JUP. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram que a PRL é uma alternativa efetiva para o tratamento da estenose da JUP com altas taxas de sucesso e baixo índice de complicações. Apesar da presença de uma alta taxa de sucesso já nos primeiros casos uma queda significativa no tempo de internação e tempo cirúrgico foi evidente após a realização de 25 procedimentos. Aparentemente um número de 25 casos parece ser suficiente para um aprendizado efetivo das bases deste procedimento cirúrgico e uma diminuição sustentada de seu tempo operatório / Purpose: To evaluate the results and learning curve of laparoscopic robotic pyeloplasty during the initial 100 cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 99 patients (41 men, 58 women), with a median age of 38 years (range: 18-81 years), underwent 100 consecutive laparoscopic robotic pyeloplasties (one bilateral procedure), performed by the same surgeon. Learning curve estimations were used for anastomosis, operative time, early and late complications and long-term results. Sequential analyses were performed between the cases, which were divided in groups of consecutive 25 procedures (groups 1, 2, 3 and 4). Statistical analyses comparing the groups were performed. Results: All groups were similar with respect to age and body mass index. The median anastomosis time was 50.0, 36.8, 34.2 and 29.0 minutes for groups 1 to 4, respectively (p=0.137). Median operative time was 144.6, 119.2, 114.5 and 94.6 minutes, with a statistical difference present when comparing groups 1 and 2 (p=0.015), 1 and 3 (p=0.002), 1 and 4 (p < 0.001) and 2 and 4 (p=0.022). Mean hospital stay was 7.08, 4.76, 4.88 and 4.20 days, with a statistical difference present when comparing groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001), 1 and 3 (p < 0.001) and 1 and 4 (p < 0.001). Major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or above) were present only in group 2 (2 grade IIIb complications). One patient in the group 1 required a conversion to open surgery due to dissection difficulties during pyelic exposure. The medium follow up was 50.6 months. Three patients in group 1, one in group 2, two in group 3 and one in group 4 were lost to follow-up. A significant improvement (clinical and radiological) was present in 98.9% of patients in this series. At a late follow-up (50 months) one patient in group 3 presented a recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that success rate of LARP is high and complication rates are low. The operative time (learning curve) decreased with experience, confirming the procedure\'s complexity. Although favorable results were already present in the first few cases, a significant decrease in hospital stay and surgical time was evident after 25 cases. Apparently, 25 cases appear to be a reasonable experience in order to decrease the operative time and master the basics of the procedure

Introdução: A alteração dos níveis normais de marcadores séricos e urinários ocorre na presença de dano renal associado à uropatia obstrutiva. Valores séricos e e urinários de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 ainda não foram avaliados em modelo experimental de uropatia obstrutiva. Material e Métodos: Ratos foram divididos em sete grupos: referência, sham operation, nefrectomia unilateral, ligadura completa de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ambos ureteres, nefrectomia unilateral associada à obstrução parcial do ureter contralateral. Morfometria renal e ureteral, concentrações séricas e urinárias de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 e expressão tecidual renal de CA 19-9 foram analisadas. A correlação destes marcadores com os grupos submetidos a obstrução completa, obstrução parcial ou sem obstrução foi realizada. Resultados: Achados anatomopatológicos correlacionaram-se positivamente à intensidade da obstrução ureteral e negativamente aos níveis urinários de CA 19-9. Subexpressão acentuada do CA 19-9 foi observada em unidades renais com obstrução completa. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas para os marcadores TGF beta1 urinário, TGF beta1 sérico e para o CA 19-9 sérico Conclusões: O CA 19-9 urinário correlacionou-se negativamente com o grau de obstrução ureteral. A análise imuno-histoquímica demonstrou a expressão do CA 19-9 no citoplasma das células epiteliais tubulares, sugerindo produção renal do marcador. O TGF beta1 sérico e urinário não apresentaram modificações de acordo com o grau de severidade e tempo de obstrução, o que pode estar relacionado a remodelamento renal menos intenso em resposta à uropatia obstrutiva nestes ratos / Introduction: Abnormal levels of serum and urinary markers occur in the presence of renal damage associated to obstructive uropathy. Urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and CA 19- 9 have not yet been evaluated in an experimental model of obstructive uropathy. Material and Methods: Rats were divided into seven groups: reference, sham operation, unilateral nephrectomy, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial bilateral ureteral obstruction, and unilateral nephrectomy with contralateral partial ureteral obstruction. Kidney and ureter morphometry, TGFbeta1 and CA 19-9 serum and urinary concentrations and CA 19-9 renal tissue expression were analysed. Correlation of these markers to complete, partial obstruction or unobstructed groups was performed. Results: Pathological findings correlated positively with the degree of ureteral obstruction, but negatively with urinary CA 19-9 levels. Marked underexpression of CA 19-9 was observed in kidneys with complete ureteral obstruction. No statistically significant differences were found for urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and also for serum CA 19-9. Conclusions: Urinary CA 19-9 correlated negatively with ureteral obstruction grade. Immunohistochemistry depicted CA 19-9 expression on epithelial tubular cells cytoplasm, suggesting renal origin. Serum and urinary TGFbeta1 did not show alterations in response to severity and length of urinary obstruction, which might be associated with less intense renal remodeling

Introdução: A alteração dos níveis normais de marcadores séricos e urinários ocorre na presença de dano renal associado à uropatia obstrutiva. Valores séricos e e urinários de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 ainda não foram avaliados em modelo experimental de uropatia obstrutiva. Material e Métodos: Ratos foram divididos em sete grupos: referência, sham operation, nefrectomia unilateral, ligadura completa de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ambos ureteres, nefrectomia unilateral associada à obstrução parcial do ureter contralateral. Morfometria renal e ureteral, concentrações séricas e urinárias de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 e expressão tecidual renal de CA 19-9 foram analisadas. A correlação destes marcadores com os grupos submetidos a obstrução completa, obstrução parcial ou sem obstrução foi realizada. Resultados: Achados anatomopatológicos correlacionaram-se positivamente à intensidade da obstrução ureteral e negativamente aos níveis urinários de CA 19-9. Subexpressão acentuada do CA 19-9 foi observada em unidades renais com obstrução completa. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas para os marcadores TGF beta1 urinário, TGF beta1 sérico e para o CA 19-9 sérico Conclusões: O CA 19-9 urinário correlacionou-se negativamente com o grau de obstrução ureteral. A análise imuno-histoquímica demonstrou a expressão do CA 19-9 no citoplasma das células epiteliais tubulares, sugerindo produção renal do marcador. O TGF beta1 sérico e urinário não apresentaram modificações de acordo com o grau de severidade e tempo de obstrução, o que pode estar relacionado a remodelamento renal menos intenso em resposta à uropatia obstrutiva nestes ratos / Introduction: Abnormal levels of serum and urinary markers occur in the presence of renal damage associated to obstructive uropathy. Urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and CA 19- 9 have not yet been evaluated in an experimental model of obstructive uropathy. Material and Methods: Rats were divided into seven groups: reference, sham operation, unilateral nephrectomy, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial bilateral ureteral obstruction, and unilateral nephrectomy with contralateral partial ureteral obstruction. Kidney and ureter morphometry, TGFbeta1 and CA 19-9 serum and urinary concentrations and CA 19-9 renal tissue expression were analysed. Correlation of these markers to complete, partial obstruction or unobstructed groups was performed. Results: Pathological findings correlated positively with the degree of ureteral obstruction, but negatively with urinary CA 19-9 levels. Marked underexpression of CA 19-9 was observed in kidneys with complete ureteral obstruction. No statistically significant differences were found for urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and also for serum CA 19-9. Conclusions: Urinary CA 19-9 correlated negatively with ureteral obstruction grade. Immunohistochemistry depicted CA 19-9 expression on epithelial tubular cells cytoplasm, suggesting renal origin. Serum and urinary TGFbeta1 did not show alterations in response to severity and length of urinary obstruction, which might be associated with less intense renal remodeling

Background: Ureteral herniations are a rare occurrence, generally found incidentally on cross sectional imaging or during surgical intervention for unrelated processes. Several locations of ureteral herniations can occur including the inguinal, femoral, sciatic, obturator, and thoracic regions. While few reports of ureteral hernias are reported in the literature overall, the vast majority of those reported are inguinoscrotal herniations found during evaluation and treatment of inguinal hernias. Pelvic outlet ureteral herniations intrinsically are more common secondary to their dependent locations. Intrathoracic ureteral herniations through diaphragmatic defects are an exceptionally rare subset of ureteral herniations and have only been described sparingly. Fewer than ten case reports of diaphramatic ureteral herniations have been reported and none have described both cystoscopic management and open reconstruction. Case presentation: We report the case of a 81 year old female with flank pain who was found to have idiopathic diaphragmatic hernia with incarcerated proximal ureter. She had no prior injury or surgery that explained her clinical presentation. She was initially observed and then managed conservatively with ureteral stent exchanges. Ultimately she underwent open surgical repair of her diaphragmatic hernia, reduction, resection and anastomosis of redundant proximal incarcerated ureteral segment, and nephropexy for a hypermobile right renal unit. This case report illustrates the pre-and post-operative imaging studies of a very rare intrathoracic ureteral herniation as well as surgical approach to repair. Conclusion: A herniated ureter is a potential source of serious renal and ureteral complications. The thoracic herniation of ureter is the rarest of the ureteral herniations. When discovered, they should be managed to preserve renal function and prevent strangulation of the affected segment of ureter. This case report documents the treatment of a thoracic ureteral herniation with observation, conservative endoscopic management, and finally open surgical reconstruction.

<p>The primary goal of this dissertation was to assess the feasibility of transforming an electromagnetic (EM) shock wave lithotripter with an acoustic lens as its focusing device from the original axisymmetric pressure distribution to a non-axisymmetric steerable acoustic field. This work was motivated by the desire to better match the distribution of effective acoustic pressure and pulse energy with the trajectory and anatomical features around renal and ureteral calculi during clinical shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). The acoustic field transformation was accomplished by the design of a fan-shaped acoustic barrier (mask) placed on top of the lithotripter acoustic lens to selectively reduce the source aperture along the direction of the barrier axis, therefore effectively broadening the beam width (<italic>BW</italic>) of the lithotripter field in this preferred direction. Moreover, the geometry of the original lens (L₁) was modified so that the acoustic focus of the new lens (L₂) at high output voltages (necessitated by the incorporation of the mask) is closely aligned with the lithotripter focus. The mask was further driven by a motor-controlled gear system to rotate around the lithotripter axis, generating a steerable and non-axisymmetric acoustic field. In this dissertation project, a linear acoustic model was first used for parametric studies to assess the effects of mask geometry (opening angle and thickness) on beam elongation and peak pressure reduction. Based on this analysis, two mask geometries (L₂+M₈₀₂₅ and L₂+M₉₀₃₀) were selected for modest and maximum beam elongation within the acceptable output range of the shock wave source. The acoustic and cavitation fields of the new lens with masks, as well as the corresponding field produced by the original lens, were characterized using fiber optical probe hydrophone measurements and stereoscopic high-speed imaging. Different output voltage settings were used for each lens configuration (i.e., 14 kV for L₁, 15.8 kV for L₂+M₈₀₂₅, and 17 kV L₂+M₉₀₃₀) to produce equivalent acoustic pulse energy of 45 mJ in all setups, measured in the lithotripter focal plane. Under this condition, L₂+M₈₀₂₅ and L₂+M₉₀₃₀ generate lower peak pressure (38.2 and 36.8 MPa) with a significantly broadened BW_y (11.4 and 14.3 mm) along the y-axis (head-to-toe direction of the patient), which is aligned with the mask axis, compared to the high peak pressure (44.1 MPa) and moderate <italic>BW</italic> (7.5 mm) of L₁. It is worth noting that L₂+M₈₀₂₅ and L₂+M₉₀₃₀ produce a <italic>BW</italic>_x (7.6 and 7.5 mm) in the orthogonal direction to the mask axis, which is also comparable to L₁. Similarly, the beam width of the cavitation field was broadened from 8.1 to 12.2 mm for L₂+M₈₀₂₅, and from 10.9 to 17.9 mm for L₂+M₉₀₃₀, compared to the range of 8.8 to 9.4 mm measured from L₁. In comparison, L₂+M₈₀₂₅ produces a denser and narrower bubble cloud along the y-axis than L₂+M₉₀₃₀. In vitro stone comminution (<italic>SC</italic>) tests in a tube holder (Diameter = 14 mm) have demonstrated that L₂+M₈₀₂₅ and L₂+M₉₀₃₀ are more effective at off-axis positions and during simulated respiratory motion along the elongated beam direction. The results of <italic>SC</italic> also confirmed the correlation between <italic>SC</italic> and the average peak pressure, p_+(avg), and effective acoustic pulse energy, E_eft, delivered to the stone, as shown in previous studies. Furthermore, a ureter model was developed and used to assess the performance of L₂+M₉₀₃₀, which has the maximally elongated <italic>BW</italic> under various static and simulated respiratory motion conditions. The results suggest that L₂+M₉₀₃₀ can produce significantly better <italic>SC</italic> than L₁ when the elongated beam is effectively aligned with the stone/fragments in the ureter or with their motion trajectory during the course of SWL treatment. Altogether, the results of this dissertation work have demonstrated <italic>in vitro</italic> that a non-axisymmetric and steerable acoustic field can significantly enhance stone comminution under clinically relevant SWL conditions. Future work is warranted to optimize the mask design and steering protocol to maximize the benefit of such an adaptable and versatile design to improve the performance and safety of clinical EM lithotripters.</p> / Dissertation

Note:

Background: The success of kidney transplant surgery and ureteral reconstruction requires the preservation of the ureteral blood supply. Because of its potential vulnerability to surgical trauma during trans plant and reconstructive surgery, the ureteral vasculature merits a full anatomical description. Methods: The microvascular anatomy of the ureter was studied in male New Zealand white rabbits by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and alkali digested tissue. Results: The rabbit ureter is supplied predominantly by a branch of the renal artery proximally (cranial ureteral artery) and by a branch of the vesicular artery distally (caudal ureteral artery). Minor vascular continuities are also present between the capillary beds of the ureter and those of the renal pelvis cranially and the bladder wall caudally. There are no external vascular connections to the middle ureter with the exception of a single, small vein which drains into the inferior vena cava. A single group of longitudinal arteries and veins runs the full length of the ureter within the adventitia. Branches of these longitudinal vessels pass tangentially through the muscularis to supply a vascular complex within the lamina propria. This complex in turn supports a rich, mucosal capillary plexus located at the junction between the transitional epithelium and the lamina propria. In the fixed ureter the capillary plexus lies in grooves formed by displacement of the basal layers of the overlying transitional epithelium. The capillaries are continuous or fenestrated, are often invested with pericytes, and are distributed uniformly around the entire circumference of the ureter. Conclusions: The ureteral vasculature exhibits several unique features related to its function in urine conduction and its ability to accommodate expansion and contraction. The combination of techniques used provides a clear three‐dimensional view of this vasculature. Our findings also confirm that, because of its limited blood supply, the ureter may be very susceptible to injury during renal transplantation or other abdominal surgery.

No description available.

No description available.