A Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy Performed in the Oblique Supine Lithotomy Position: A Better Choice

Objective. To investigate the efficacy and safety of the oblique supine lithotomy during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to treat upper urinary calculi. Methods. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 371 patients with upper urinary calculi who underwent PCNL at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to October 2020. Based on different positions, patients were divided into the observation group (oblique supine lithotomy position, 155 cases, Group 1) or control group (prone position, 216 cases, Group 2). Groups were compared for effectiveness, complications, bleeding, surgical time, clinical indicators, and hospitalization time. Results. There were no significant differences in the clinical baseline data between the two groups ( p > .05). However, the stone-free rate for patients was significantly higher in the observation than in the control group ( p < .05). Both operation time and hospital stay time were significantly lower in the observation versus the control groups ( p < .05). No significant differences were observed for complications or amount of blood loss ( p > .05). Conclusion. In patients with upper urinary calculi, percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the oblique supine lithotomy position has a higher stone-free rate than the prone position. This approach can shorten the operation and provide better comfort and quicker recovery to the patients. A further advantage is that there is no difference in safety and blood loss between the prone position and the oblique lithotomy position.

Acute limb ischemia following perineal reconstruction in lithotomy position: take-home message for plastic surgeons

Despite the extensive use of lithotomy position in several plastic surgery procedures, most reports regarding the related incidence of complications are presented in the urologic, gynecologic, and anesthesiologic fields. We present the case of a 54-year-old male patient. polytrauma patient who underwent internal iliac artery embolization leading to extensive gluteal necrosis requiring: debridement, abdominoperineal resection and composite anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction with prolonged lithotomy position. The patient presented lower limb ischemia briefly after surgical theater. A computed tomography scan revealed the obstruction of the left superficial femoral artery requiring emergency revascularization. Arterial thrombosis is a potentially devastating complication and plastic surgeons should be aware of the possible dangers when performing surgeries in prolonged lithotomy position. Preoperative detection of patients at high risks for developing complications should be performed in order to implement preventive measures and avoid potentially life-threatening sequelae.

Frequency of Sciatica in Women after Normal Vaginal Delivery in Lithotomy Position

Background and aim; Reflex changes, distal motor, and sensory involvement are the primary manifestations of secondary sciatica. Sciatica can be diagnosed with a dural mobility test due to pain sensitivity of dura nerve roots and their sleeves. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of sciatica in women after normal vaginal delivery in the lithotomy positions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 56 pregnant women with sciatica from March 2020 to February 2021 at Neurology and Gynaecology departments of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. A conventional sampling technique was used for sample and data collection. Ethical approval and consent were taken from all the individuals who met the inclusive criteria. All the pregnant women of age 25-45 years old with multigravida, primigravidas and neuropathy were enrolled in this study. All the women below or above 325-45 years and who had trauma and surgical intervention before conception were excluded. Symptom-based proforma was used for demographic and baseline characterization. SPSS version 20 was used for statistical data analysis. Results: According to the data of 56 multigravida pregnant women, sciatic nerve compression, and involvement during pregnancy in multigravida women. The mean age of all the women was 35.6 ± 5.73 with an age range between 25 years and 45 years. Sciatica mostly occurs in pregnancy 3rd trimester. The muscles weakness, mild function loss, increased weight, bad posture, and poor economic status are sciatica complications. The prevalence of mild muscle weakness, moderate weakness, and severe weakness were 23 (41%), 25 (44.72%) and 8 (14.28%) respectively. The mild function loss or weakness was 39 (70.51%) while moderate muscle weakness was 17 (29.49%). Conclusion: The present study found that in pregnant multigravida women, the commonly involved nerves are the sciatic nerve and median. Compression neuropathies are common in the third trimester of pregnancy. Compression neuropathies are caused by an increase in weight during pregnancy (above 55 kg), a low socioeconomic status, and poor posture. Keywords: Compression neuropathies, Sciatica, Multigravida

Outcome of fecal incontinence in the two-staged seton fistulotomy for complex fistula in ANO.

Objective: To determine the frequency of fecal incontinence in the two-staged Seton fistulotomy in complex fistula in ano. Study Design: Prospective Cohort study. Setting: Surgical Out-patient Department at Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. Period: September 2015 till March 2016. Material & Methods: After ethical review board approval, data was collected from 100 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All the procedures were conducted in the lithotomy position, under spinal or general anesthesia. A rigid sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy was done prior to intervention. Fistula tract was marked using hydrogen peroxide (H202) for the identification of the internal opening. The external opening was gently probed using a standard 3 mm blunt-tipped probe till the internal opening was reached. The portion of the track outside the sphincter mechanism and any lateral tracts were laid open. A feeding tube of size 5 French was loosely tied around the remaining muscular portion of the sphincter complex. The seton was left in place for six weeks followed by secondary fistulotomy. Patients were evaluated for incontinence one month after the second procedure. Results: In our study, mean age was calculated as 47.38+10.96 years, 73%(n=73) were male and 27%(n=27) were females, frequency of fecal incontinence in the two-staged Seton fistulotomy in complex fistula in ano was recorded in 17%(n=17). Conclusion: The frequency of fecal incontinence in the two-staged seton fistulotomy for complex fistula in ano was acceptable in our study population and in tandem with literature. The procedure may be a suitable alternative to loose-seton placement alone.

Risk factors for recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal surgery among Ugandan women: a prospective cohort study

Introduction and hypothesis This study was aimed at determining the recurrence rate and risk factors for the recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), at 1 year post-vaginal reconstructive surgery in a resource-limited setting. Methods We enrolled women who underwent vaginal surgery for POP at the urogynecology unit of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda between December 2018 and February 2020. The surgeries that were performed include anterior colporrhaphy for cystocele, posterior colporrhaphy for rectocele, vaginal hysterectomy with vault suspension for uterine prolapse, and cervicopexy in those with uterine prolapse where uterine-sparing surgery was desired. The women were followed up for a period of 1 year after surgery. Pelvic examinations in lithotomy position under maximum strain were carried out to assess for recurrence using the Pelvic Organ Quantification (POP-Q) system. Recurrence was defined as a prolapse of ≥POP-Q stage II. Descriptive analyses and multivariate log binomial regression were performed to determine risk factors for recurrence. Results Of the 140 participants enrolled, 127 (90.7%) completed the follow-up at 1 year. The recurrence rate was 25.2% (32 out of 127). Most (56.3%) of the recurrences occurred in the anterior compartment and in the same site previously operated. Women aged <60 years (RR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.16–4.72; p = 0.018) and those who had postoperative vaginal cuff infection (RR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.5–4.3; p = 0.001) were at risk of recurrence. Conclusion Recurrence of POP was common. Younger women, and those with postoperative vaginal cuff infection, were more likely to experience recurrent prolapse after vaginal repair.

Retrograde endoscopic assisted percutaneous treatment of urinary fistulas after partial nephrectomy

Background. Urinary fistulas (UFs) are one of the most significant complications after partial nephrectomy. Placement of an ureteral stent eliminates urine extravasation in the majority of patients. However, some of them have persistent UFs despite upper urinary tract drainage. Such cases require retrograde injection of fibrin glue into the renal cavity through a ureteroscope or via the percutaneous approach. Some authors reported cases of simultaneous use of 2 stents and percutaneous cryoablation of the fistula, but these techniques are rare and, therefore, it is problematic to evaluate their efficacy.Objective: to evaluate the results of the new treatment method for the elimination of persistent UFs using the retrograde endoscopic percutaneous approach.Materials and methods. This study included 5 patients (3 males and 3 females) with UFs developed after kidney resection. Mean age of the patients was 55.8 years. The tumor size was 2.5 to 4.8 cm; mean R.E.N.A.L. score was 7.8. All patients had earlier undergone minimally invasive partial nephrectomy; the time between surgery and UF development varied between 3 and 10 days. Four out of 5 patients had a large amount of discharge from their paranephral drainage system, examination of which confirmed high creatinine level. Patients underwent flexible ureteropyelography in the lithotomy position. During this procedure, we identified the damaged calyx and then performed percutaneous puncture targeting the distal end of the endoscope at this calyx, ensuring that the tip of the needle appeared in the paranephral cavity in front of the injured calyx. Using the flexible ureteroscope, we inserted the needle into the pelvis, dilated the puncture opening along the string, and installed a nephrostomy drainage system (12 Fr). Then the endoscope was removed and the ureter was additionally drained with a stent. The stent was removed after 8-10 days with subsequent antegrade pyelography. If there was no extravasation, the nephrostomy tube was removed and the patient was discharged from hospital to continue treatment in outpatient settings.Results. All patients with UFs resulting from partial nephrectomy was successfully operated on. No complications were registered. The mean surgery time was 45.0 ± 20.5 min (range: 40-65 min). Only two patients had some discharge from the fistula within 1 day after nephrostomy tube removal and it stopped without any additional interventions. Three patients had their fistula healed immediately. The treatment efficacy during the whole follow-up period of 18 ± 4 months (range: 6-26 months) was 100 %.Conclusion. Ureteral stenting ensures elimination of UFs in the majority of patients after partial nephrectomy. In individuals with persistent UFs, retrograde endoscopic percutaneous drainage of the pelvicalyceal system is the method of choice, because it allows rapid and effective treatment of UFs.