Soc. Int. Urol. J., Volume 2, Issue 4 (July 2021) – 12 articles , Pages 6-266

The inspection of the urethra in patients with documented or suspected urethral stricture should be carried out with small caliber ureteroscope of 6/7.5Ch. Different from flexible cystoscope (16Ch) or resectoscope (26Ch), small caliber ureteroscope allows a comprehensive evaluation of the stricture, including its length and the status of the mucosa in its proximity, without injuring or overstretching the urethra. With a small caliber ureteroscope it is also possible to cross the stricture, allowing the evaluation of the proximal urethra, the external urethral sphincter, and the bladder. A 6/7.5Ch ureteroscope also allows estimation of the real caliber of the stricture, providing a useful landmark for further treatment decisions. Full article

Metallic ureteric stents are increasingly used for the management of malignant ureteric obstruction, a commonly encountered complication in urological and other malignancies. However, there has been limited evaluation of complications associated with these stents, including those that might arise from the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While most devices are deemed nominally “MRI-safe,” their implication on the quality of imaging produced has not been evaluated in clinical trials, and in our practice, significant artefact has been encountered with some ureteric stents—specifically, the Teleflex Rüsch DD tumour stent—compromising image quality and diagnostic certainty. Full article

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed screening, diagnostic workup, and treatment in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Our purpose was to review PCa screening, diagnostic workup, active surveillance (AS), radical prostatectomy (RP), radiotherapy (RT), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and systemic therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, LILACS, and Web of Science, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement for relevant material published from December 2019 to February 2021. Results: Prostate biopsy can be delayed, except when high-risk PCa is suspected or the patient is symptomatic. Active surveillance is appropriate for patients with very low risk, low risk (LR) and favorable intermediate risk (FIR). RP and RT for high risk and very high risk can be safely postponed up to 3 months. Hypofractionated external beam RT (EBRT) is recommended when RT is employed. ADT should be used according to standard PCa-based indications. Chemotherapy should be postponed until the pandemic is contained. Conclusions: The international urological community was not prepared for such an acute and severe pandemic. PCa patients can be adequately managed according to risk stratification. During the COVID-19 pandemic, LR and FIR patients can be followed with active surveillance. Delaying RP and RT in high risk and locally advanced disease is justified. Full article

Objective: To define predictors for initial retrograde ureteral stenting (RUS) failure with the need for the percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) insertion as a drainage method in patients with complicated acute calculus obstructive uropathy. Methods: We undertook a retrospective evaluation of patients who presented with complicated obstructive calculus uropathy (acute renal failure or obstructive pyelonephritis) between January 2016 and January 2020. Patients in whom there was failure to visualize ipsilateral ureteric orifice and those with extrinsic ureteral obstruction were excluded. Patient demographics and radiological data including stone site, hydronephrosis grade, maximum transverse stone diameter, periureteral density (PUD) and pericalcular ureteric thickness (P-CUT) at the maximum transverse stone diameter were assessed using non-contrast computed tomography at the time of admission. Results: The study included 256 patients who were managed initially by RUS trial. Of them, 48 (18.8 %) had RUS failure. The presence of acute pyelonephritis, increased maximum transverse stone diameter ≥ 9.5 mm, P-CUT ≥ 7.5 mm, and PUD at stone level ≥ 17.5 HU were risk factors associated with RUS failure (P = 0.007, 0.002, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Initial radiological stone and ureteric characteristics, in addition to the clinical diagnosis of obstructive pyelonephritis, can be used to determine PCN insertion as the preferred option over RUS for urinary drainage. Full article

Background: Adult primary retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPSs) are a group of heterogeneous tumors with different histological subtypes. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) analyses have recently provided significant insights into the biology of sarcomas by identifying genomic alterations (GAs) which could benefit from targeted therapies. Methods: RPS were evaluated by CGP using next-generation sequencing of up to 406 cancer-related genes. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was determined on 0.83 to 1.14 mut/Mb of sequenced DNA. Finally, PD-L1 expression was determined. Results: Overall, 296 cases of primary RPS were analyzed. Liposarcoma (LPS) subtype had more GA/tumor than leiomyosarcoma (LMS) subtypes, with follicular dendritic cell sarcomas harboring the highest and synovial sarcomas the lowest. TP53 and Rb1 alterations were the highest in LMS, and CDK4/6 and MDM2 in LPS. However, both the TMB and targetable GA rates were low across subtypes. PD-L1 immunostaining was low positive in 21% and high positive in 5% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: CGP analysis revealed that potentially actionable genomic targets were rare in our cohort of RPS. Moreover, RPSs seem less likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors based on putative biomarkers status. Nevertheless, genomic stratification according to histological subtypes led to description of GAs that can inform future clinical trials design. Full article

Objective: To report etiological and therapeutic features of vesicouterine fistulas (VUF) in Burkina Faso. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective, descriptive, and multicentric study based on the medical records of women treated for VUF from January 2010 to December 2016. Results: VUF accounted for 7.2% (36/497) of urogenital fistulas managed during the study period. The median age of the 36 patients was 35 years (interquartile range = 27 to 37.5 years) with values ranging from 16 years to 64 years old. Among VUF, obstetric fistula accounted for 26 cases (26/36) versus 10 cases (10/36) of iatrogenic fistula. Obstetric VUF were consecutive to emergency Caesarean section (n = 16) and vaginal delivery (n = 10) after prolonged obstructed labor. The 10 cases of iatrogenic VUF were subsequent to prelabour Caesarean section. The main circumstance of VUF occurrence was Caesarean section (26/36). In 10 cases (10/36), VUF was associated with a vesicovaginal fistula. Thirty days after the removal of the catheter, the success rate fell from 89% to 80.6%. Conclusion: VUF is rare but its frequency is not negligible in our context. The main circumstance of occurrence remains Caesarean section. The best treatment remains prevention Full article

Objective: To compare the perioperative morbidity of robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP), anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) and open simple prostatectomy (OSP) for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Methods: The national surgical quality improvement program database was queried for AEEP, RASP, and OSP procedures. Clavien-Dindo-graded complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and operative time were compared among the procedures. To control for the potentially confounding variables, we first conducted a multivariate backward conditional logistic regression, and then resorted to propensity score matching. Results: We identified 2867 AEEP, 234 RASP, and 1492 OSP procedures. After matching, the risk of pulmonary, renal, infectious, and thromboembolic adverse events was lower after AEEP but not RASP in comparison with OSP (P < 0.05). In comparison with RASP, AEEP had lower cardiac and thromboembolic events (P < 0.05). When compared with OSP, AEEP had reduced odds of Clavien-Dindo grade I (OR = 0.12; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.16) and II (OR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.24 to 9.58) complications. Also, AEEP had lower odds for grade I and II as well as grade IV complications (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.48, and OR = 0.05; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.24, respectively) compared with RASP. Conclusion: AEEP and RASP were associated with fewer perioperative adverse events, a shorter LOS and a reduced risk of transfusion compared with OSP. AEEP was associated with overall lower complication rates than RASP and OSP. Full article