Urologia Journal

It is assumed that the outcome of kidney transplantation from living donors is more favorable than deceased donors. However, over the years there has been an overall improvement in transplant survival from both living and deceased donors. In this article we have evaluated and compared the most recent results in living and deceased donor kidney transplantations.

Four hundred and forty six patients underwent kidney transplantation in our center from September 2009 to March 2014. The patients divided in two groups living (group A) and deceased (group B) donor transplantation groups. The patients were followed until September 2016. Acute rejection, graft survival, delayed graft function, renal artery thrombosis, graft nephrectomy, ureterocutaneous fistula, postoperative hypertension, mortality, hospital stay, hyperlipidemia, post transplantation diabetes and lymphocele rate measured and compared in two groups.

Most variables were not different between the two groups except lymphocele and delayed graft function. Lymphocele was more prevalent in group A (13.8% vs 3.1%, p-value = 0.02) and delayed graft function results were more desirable in living donor transplantation group (group B).

Although, delayed graft function was less common in transplantation from living donors, short, and long term graft survival was not significantly different in this study.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent malignancy of the urinary tract. Recent studies demonstrated the role of aquaporins urothelial tumor cells (AQPs) as potential prognostic factor for tumor progression and invasion. In this study we investigated the AQP3 expression levels inside primary superficial (pTa) low grade bladder cancer, correlating with pathological parameters and clinical outcomes.

We retrospectively analyzed tumor samples of 66 patients with diagnosis of superficial urothelial (pTa) bladder cancer between 1997 and 2007. All patients underwent transurethral bladder resection (TURB) and immediate single instillation of mitomycin C. All tumors samples were blindly reviewed by two expert anatomopathologists and only pTa low grade urothelial bladder cancer were included. Cancer recurrence was defined as the detection of bladder lesions during follow-up cystoscopy. AQP3-immunoreactive areas detected at immunohistochemical analysis were classified as AQP3 positive.

Of these 60.6% of patients was detected as negative for AQP3 expression. Forty-two patients develop cancer recurrence during follow-up with a mean progression free survival of 16.44 months. The absence of reaction for AQP3 was observed 56% (9/16) tumor grading G1 and 62% (31/50) tumor grading G2. No correlation was observed with sexual gender, grading of tumor differentiation, and recurrence of cancer disease. Kaplan-Meier curves of disease-free survival (DFS) showed a significant separation (p = 0.028) between patients AQP3-positive and AQP3-negative. It was observed a mean DFS of 23.83 and 14.43 months respectively in absence and presence of AQP3 expression.

AQP3 expression is related to disease-free interval (DFI) and the absence of AQP3 expression correlates with a late relapse. The expression of AQP3 does not provide a reproducible quantitative aspect. AQP3 are not suitable to forecast tumor cell behavior but they perform a role as regulator for tumor cell homeostasis and for additional therapeutic developments.

Atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) occurs in approximately 5% of prostate biopsies. Approximately 30%–40% of these patients may develop prostate cancer (PCa) within a 5-year period, often not clinically significant. Current guidelines recommend a repeat biopsy within 3–6 months after the initial diagnosis, but it seem not to be the best strategy.

Objectives—evaluating the natural history of ASAP, stratifying the risk of csPCa after ASAP, identifying predictive factors of PCa after atypical diagnosis. Materials and methods—retrospective single-institutional study on patients undergoing prostate biopsy for suspicious PCa (2005–2016). We evaluated the incidence of overall PCa, intermediate-high risk of PCa and csPCa in case of ASAP, according to D’Amico classification and Epstein modified criteria.

Out of 4.567 patients undergoing prostate biopsy, ASAP was detected in 2.6% of cases. All patients with ASAP underwent repeat saturation biopsy within 6 months and PCa was diagnosed in 34.5%. According to D’Amico classification, 26%, 5.9%, and 2.5% had low, intermediate, and high-risk disease, respectively. According modified Epstein criteria, the incidence of csPCa was 12.6%. LRT showed that the overall probability to develop PCa doubled when PSA density (PSAD) moved from values lower than 0.13 ng/ml/cc to class 0.13–0.30 ng/ml/cc, and it tripled when PSAD was higher than 0.30 ng/ml/cc.

The rate of csPCa in patients with an initial diagnosis of ASAP who had repeat biopsy was 12.6%. The overall PCa rate was 34.5%. Among patient undergoing RP, an upgrading from ncsPCa to csPCa was reported in 35% of cases. PSAD is the only predictive factor directly associated to the risk of developing PCa on repeat biopsy. These findings suggest that immediate repeat biopsy remains the correct strategy in absence of novel predictor factors and non-invasive diagnostic evaluations.

Testicular cancer is mostly seen in young men. We planned this study that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) would help us predict the prognosis of the patients, except known markers such as AFP, hCG, and LDH.

Between 2015 and 2020, we conducted our study on 152 patients undergoing radical orchiectomy in our clinic. We divided our patients into good, moderate, and poor prognostic groups. We also created a control group of healthy patients of similar ages. We evaluated the NLR results in preoperative peripheral blood statistically among these groups.

We found a significant difference between the control group and the patient group, and between the good and moderate/poor prognostic groups for preoperative NLR.

This study created the opinion that preoperative NLR will help us predict the prognosis of patients.

Nowadays, the partial nephrectomy (PN) not only is considered oncological equivalent to radical nephrectomy as renal tumor’s treatment, but has also give benefits in quality of life and overall survival of patients.

The primary objective of the present study was to report our single center experience with NSS, predominantly performed by a robot assisted access, in a high-volume center with large experience with minimally invasive surgery.

Between June 2018 and January 2020, a consecutive series of 109 patients (pts) with a renal mass suspicious of renal cell carcinoma, feasible of NSS, detected by ultrasound and abdominal computed tomography (CT), underwent NSS and they were included in a prospectively maintained institutional database. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics, perioperative and postoperative parameters, pathological data were recorded.

The mean clinical maximum CT tumor diameter was 37.3 ± 19.6 mm (median 31.5 mm; interquartile range 25–45 mm). PADUA risk was low in 54 pts (49.5%), intermediate in 48 pts (44.0%), high in seven pts (6.4%). The clinical T stage was mostly pT1a (70.6%). NSS was performed by open surgery in nine pts (8.3%), laparoscopy in one pts (0.9%) and was robot assisted in 99 pts (90.8%). A simple enucleation was performed in 67 pts (61.5%), an enucleoresection was performed in 37 pts (33.9%) and a partial nephrectomy was performed in five pts (4.6%). Warm ischemia was performed in 41 pts (37.6%), with a mean warm ischemia time of 5.1 ± 7.1 min. The mean pathological maximum tumor diameter was 35.5 ± 21.7 mm (median 30 mm; interquartile range 22–40 mm). Overall PSM rate was 11.9% (13 pts). In 78% of cases no complication was recorded. No major complications (grade III-IV-V) were noted.

Our findings suggest that NSS is a safe, reproducible and minimally invasive approach as treatment of small renal masses. NSS permits to achieve a fine oncological management without any worsening of renal function.

To analyze the feasibility, safety and advantages of Laparo-Endoscopic Single-site Surgery radical prostatectomy (LESS-RP) based on our personal experience.

Details of 520 patients were retrospectively analyzed, from 2009 to 2019. Extraperitoneal approach, with only two accesses (2.5 cm and 5 mm respectively) was used to perform radical prostatectomy. Perioperative characteristics and postoperative oncologic and functional outcomes are reported.

The mean age was 66.6 ± 5.6 years. Mean PSA level was 9 ± 3.5 ng/ml. According to D’Amico classification, the percentage of patients with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease cases were 116 (22.4%), 275 (52.8%), and 129 (24.8%) respectively. Mean operative time was 156 ± 43 min. Mean estimated blood loss was 214 ± 93 ml. Positive surgical margins (PSMs) were detected in 110 (21.2%) patients. PSM rates in pT2 and pT3 stages were 20.1% and 22.9%, respectively. The overall complication rate was 9.2%, based on the modified Clavien classification. The 12 months continence and potency rates were 90.9% and 49.1%, respectively. The biochemical recurrence rate was 6.8%, at the median follow-up time of 26.7 months (IQR 12–32).

Our analyses show that LESS-RP is a safe procedure, if performed by surgeons with adequate experience and skills. Unlike the classic laparoscopic prostatectomy, this technique allows better aesthetic and psychological results, reduced postoperative pain, and a faster return to normal daily activity with the same functional and oncological results.

The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, this pandemic has dramatically affected the entire world, even radically influencing the way patients are framed at triage. Symptoms and tests in most cases lead to a correct diagnosis; however, error may be around the corner.

A 60 years old patient was referred with weight loss, fatigue and mild fever for 3 weeks as he was working in a COVID-19 ward. After a positive swab and chest CT scan, he was admitted in the hospital and treated as mild COVID-19 patient. A CT scan performed after the patient was discharged revealed a renal lesion misidentified as a tumor then clarified to be an abscess which retrospectively appears to be the main cause of his symptoms.

Clinicians should consider other life-threatening disease in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with similar symptoms to minimize mistakes and avoid further unnecessary investigations.

Nephrectomy leads to derangement of renal function and various adaptive changes by the remaining kidney over a period of time. This study is performed to evaluate the amount of derangement of renal function in donor and radical nephrectomy, how much the remaining kidney adapts over a period of time and the time taken for stabilisation of renal function.

A total of 60 patients who underwent nephrectomy (Radical/Donor) were followed up for 12 months with serial estimation of renal function and was compared with preoperative renal function. Data was analysed with statistical analysis.

Patients who underwent radical nephrectomy had 37% initial decline in renal function which was later stabilised at 19% lower than baseline value. Patient who underwent donor nephrectomy had initially 39% decline in renal function which was later stabilised at 24% lower than normal.

Removal of functional renal tissue led to reduction of renal function. This decline is more evident in the initial post-operative period and then begin to stabilise over months. The greater is the amount of normal tissue removed, the greater is the reduction of renal function and more time it will take to stabilise, increasing overall morbidity of the patient. This study suggests that even patients with normal GFRs should be followed up postoperatively to determine their ultimate renal functional outcomes.

The aim of this study is determine and compare improvement of hydronephrosis, renal function, and operative outcome between laparoscopıc and open pyeloplasty in adults.

Sixty-five adult patients with primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) underwent pyeloplasty between January 2014 and September 2020. Thirty-four patients had laparoscopıc pyeloplasty (LP), 31 patients had open pyeloplasty (OP). In this retrospective study demographics, differential renal function (DRF), hydronephrosis, anteroposterior diameter of pelvis renalis (APD) and operative outcomes: operation time, blood loss, complications, hospital stay, etiology, analgesic requirement, complications, and success rates were compared between two groups.

Improvement of APD is higher in OP group (p: 0.001). Improvement of DRF (p: 0.713) and hydronephrosis (p = 1.000), success (p: 0.407) and complication rate (p: 0.661) are comparable between two groups. Median hospital stay, postoperative analgesia requirement and blood loss was less in LP group, mean operative time was shorter in OP group (p: 0.001).

Pain complaints are greatly reduced after pyeloplasty in adult patients but the drainage of kidney, DRF and hydronephrosis does not improve as much as desired. Improvement of APD is better and median operative time is less in OP, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and analgesic requirement is less in LP group in our study.

The COVID-19 is a challenge for both patients and physicians in emergency department (ED). This study was aimed to report the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on visits and treatments for patients with ureteral stones in a general hospital ED.

The patients with ureteral stones were collected from 24 January to 24 March 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing. Two periods were divided for study: 24 January to 24 February (Period 1) and 25 February to 24 March (Period 2). Data on patients’ characteristics, attendance, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, stone features, and final treatment choices were retrieved from the computer and compared with the data in the same periods in 2019.

The study included 376 patients with ureteral stones during the COVID-19 outbreak periods in 2020 and 343 patients during the same periods in 2019. Compared with the same periods in 2019, the number of patients with ureteral stones was less in Period 1 (137 vs 163) but had a rebound phenomenon in Period 2 (239 vs 180). The visit frequency was significantly reduced (2.6 ± 0.4 vs 3.6 ± 0.8, p < 0.01) and the VAS scores and the onset time increased (7.7 ± 1.3 vs 5.5 ± 1.6, p < 0.01; 7.4 ± 1.8 vs 8.2 ± 1.5, p < 0.01, respectively) in Period 1. More patients chose oral analgesics medication to release from renal colic in the COVID-19 outbreak period instead of ESWL and intravenous analgesics medication (Period 1, 54.0% vs 20.2%, p < 0.01; Period 2, 20.9% vs 13.3%, p = 0.044; respectively). However, the percentage of patients underwent endoscopy surgery in outbreak period showed no significant difference compared with that in 2019.

These results showed that the COVID-19 outbreak can directly affect the visits and final treatment choices for patients with ureteral stones.

Laparoscopy is currently the gold standard for the management of adrenal tumors as it is associated with less morbidity. Owing to technological advances, even large adrenal tumors are currently amenable to laparoscopic removal. In this work, we describe our multidisciplinary collaborative approach for management of adrenal tumors at a single center.

Between January 2017 and January 2020, 18 patients with adrenal lesions were operated at our center. Five of these patients had incidentalomas. All patients were evaluated in coordination with endocrinologists and anesthetists. All patients underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The surgical complications were classified as per Clavein-Dindo system. All patients with pheochromocytoma and Cushing syndrome were followed up by the endocrinologist for further evaluation and titration of glucocorticoids and antihypertensive medication.

Two out of the 18 patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status III. Out of the 18 patients, only one required conversion to open surgery. Five patients developed intraoperative hypertensive crisis while three patients developed hypotensive crisis. All patients were ambulated on the first postoperative day and were discharged on the third post operative day. None of the patients developed any major (Clavein-Dindo III–V) intra operative or post operative complications.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the procedure of choice for adrenal tumors. A multi-disciplinary approach involving the endocrinologist, anesthesiologist, and laparoscopic surgeon can help achieve favorable outcomes.

We aimed in this survey to assess fertility and reproductive health awareness among medical students.

A total of 354 female and male final year medical students (193 females and 157 males) were recruited for this survey at the Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, who attended the lectures of the andrology and sexually transmitted disease department.

Our study demonstrated that the mean ages of the female and male medical students when they want to have their first child were 26.95 ± 2.924 and 28.7 ± 3.94, respectively, and and p = 0, while the mean ages of the female and male medical students when they want to have their last child were 32.5 ± 3.2 and 34.7 ± 5.1, respectively, and p = 0.001. Our study demonstrates that a majority of the female and male medical students moderately estimated the efficacy of the assisted reproductive technique to take a baby home, and the means of their estimation were 42.620% ± 12% and 43.5% ± 13.1% and p = 0.482. Moreover, our study showed that 75 (39.1%) females were convinced that vaginal delivery has a potential negative effect on the sexual functions. However, 99 (51.6%) females did not see any potential negative effect of vaginal delivery. In addition, 18 (9.4%) females responded in an indefinite way to this question. Finally, our study demonstrated that 145 (92.4%) males rejected the proposal of vasectomy.

Interestingly, our study revealed increased estimation by the participants of the efficacy of the assisted reproductive technique to take a baby home, despite the fact that they were medical students who had already studied the subject of gynecology in their fifth year and should have estimated it properly.

We present the management of the second reported case of carcinosarcoma of the kidney parenchyma with malignant degeneration of both epithelial and mesenchymal components.

A 36-year-old woman came to our attention for an incidental sonographic finding of a lesion in the lower pole of the left kidney. A contrasted computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of a 50 × 52 mm² contrasted lesion in the left lower kidney pole. The patient underwent a challenging laparoscopic left partial nephrectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The histological examination led to the diagnosis of a carcinosarcoma of the kidney parenchyma with malignant degeneration of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel at 175 mg/m² plus carboplatin area under the curve 6 intravenously for six cycles. At a follow-up of 42 months, the patient is alive and does not show any local recurrences or distant metastases.

A multi-disciplinary therapeutic approach, combined with an adequate doctor–patient relationship and a close and detailed follow-up, is of fundamental importance in obtaining good outcomes in such rare and challenging cases.

The cancer of testicles represents 1% of male neoplasms and 5% of urological malignant neoplasm. Its incidence has been growing in Western societies. Cancer of testicles usually presents as an increase of consistence in one testicles and absence of pain, as a casual ultrasound scan finding, or it could be highlighted by a scrotal injury. The surgical treatment is either radical orchiectomy or radical orchiectomy plus retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

The case presented concerns a 48-year-old male with a history of left testicular trauma and subsequent hypotrophy. Over the next 4 years, the patient developed a testicle size increase up to 15 cm in diameter. At diagnosis, he had retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. The patient was, after surgery, referred to the oncology department.

The awareness of the male population respect to testicular cancer and its screening methods (e.g. self-examination) is essential to make the diagnosis at an early stage. It is also essential to psychologically support patients undergoing surgical and/or pharmacological therapy due to risk of determining anxiety or depression compared to the whole population.

Synthetic mid-urethral slings are currently the most common performed surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. The transobturator mid-urethral sling technique has been widely accepted owing to its high success and low complication rates. Although complications are rarely seen, it may cause significant morbidity.

We report a case of vaginocutaneous fistula following transobturator mid-urethral sling procedure and a successful reconstruction with transvaginal sling excision and fistula closure.

Vaginocutaneous fistula is a known but rarely seen long-term complication of transobturator tape. With an increased use of mesh, various delayed complications can be seen in the long-term follow-up. This case showed us the need for longer and detailed studies that evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the transobturator tape procedure.