ABSTRACT A major challenge in the management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the selection of patients who would benefit from surgical treatment. Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) indicate renal cell stress and are associated with cell cycle arrest. The [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7] ratio (Nephrocheck®) has been recently applied in patients in intensive care units patients to predict the development of acute kidney injury. In this study, we evaluated the performance of these biomarkers performance to distinguishing obstructive hydronephrosis (HN) from non-obstructive HN. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with UPJO were enrolled in this study. Urinary [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7] and clinical characteristics (hydronephrosis grade, differential renal function, and drainage half-time) were measured in the following groups: 26 children with obstructive HN at initial diagnosis (group 1A) and after six months of dismembered pyeloplasty (group 1B); 22 children with non-obstructive HN (group 2), and 26 children without any urinary tract condition, as the control group (group 3). Results: Comparing the initial samples, [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7] had higher levels in the HN groups and lower levels in the control group; however, no difference was observed between the HN groups (obstructive vs. non-obstructive). After six months of follow-up, patients who underwent dismembered pyeloplasty showed stability in the urinary concentration of [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7]. All patients with [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7] higher than 1.0 (ng/mL)2/1000 had diffuse cortical atrophy on ultrasonography. Conclusions: We showed that urinary levels of urinary [TIMP-2] [IGFBP7] are higher in children with HN than controls. Nephrocheck® is not reliable in predicting the need for surgical intervention for pediatric patients with UPJO.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Symptomatic duplex kidneys usually present with recurrent urinary tract infection due to ureteral obstruction (megaureter, ureterocele or ectopic ureter) and/or vesicoureteral reflux. Upper-pole nephrectomy is a widely accepted procedure to correct symptomatic duplex systems with poor functioning moieties, also known as upper or proximal approach. The distal ureteral stump syndrome (DUSS) can be a late complication of this approach. There is no consensus upon the length of ureteral dissection and the better approach to symptomatic disease in duplex systems, so we aim to identify if extended ureteral dissection can prevent DUSS in top-down approach. Materials and Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients with symptomatic duplex system were retrospectively classified into two groups: those with limited ureteral excision after heminephrectomy (HN) (group-1) and those with extended ureterectomy after HN (group-2). Patients were followed-up for at least 36 months regarding outcomes of distal ureteral stump. Results: Overall complication was 20%. A total of 8 patients required unplanned further surgery in Group-1 (30%) whereas only 1 patient required unplanned surgery in group 2 (6%) (p=0.07). Subgroup analysis showed that Group-1 presented more DUSS requiring surgery during follow-up than group-2 (p=0.04). Factors possibly affecting complications incidence (such as ureterocele or ectopic ureter) did not differ between groups (p=0.72 and p=0.78). Conclusion: Upper pole nephrectomy should be performed with extended distal ureteral dissection to prevent ureteral stump complications.

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children with complex ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) and compare to children with iso-lated UPJO without associated urinary tract abnormalities. Material and Methods Medical records of 82 consecutive children submitted to transperi-toneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty in a 12-year period were reviewed. Eleven cases were con-sidered complex, consisting of atypical anatomy including horseshoe kidneys in 6 patients, pelvic kidneys in 3 patients, and a duplex collecting system in 2 patients. Patients were di-vided into 2 groups: normal anatomy (group 1) and complex cases (group 2). Demographics, perioperative data, outcomes and complications were recorded and analyzed. Results Mean age was 8.9 years (0.5-17.9) for group 1 and 5.9 years (0.5-17.2) for group 2, p=0.08. The median operative time was 200 minutes (180-230) for group 1 and 203 minutes (120-300) for group 2, p=0.15. Major complications (Clavien ≥3) were 4 (5.6%) in group 1 and 1 (6.3%) in group 2, p=0.52. No deaths or early postoperative complications such as: urinoma or urinary leakage or bleeding, occurred. The success rate for radiologic improvement and flank pain improvement was comparable between the two groups. Re-garding hydronephrosis, significant improvement was present in 62 patients (93.4%) of group 1 and 10 cases (90.9%) of group 2, p=0.99. The median hospital stay was 4 days (IQR 3-4) for group 1 and 4.8 days (IQR 3-6) for group 2, p=0.27. Conclusions Transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty is feasible and effective for the management of UPJO associated with renal or urinary tract anomalies.

ABSTRACT Introduction Horseshoe kidney occurs in 1 per 400-800 live births and are more frequently observed in males (M:F 2:1). Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is commonly associated with horseshoe kidneys. The variable blood supply, presence of the isthmus and high insertion of the ureter contribute to this problem. Case report An asymptomatic 6 year-old boy presented with antenatal hydronephrosis. Ultrasonography and CT scan demonstrated left UPJO associated with a horseshoe kidney. DMSA showed 33% of function on the left side. DTPA showed a flat curve and lack of washout. A left dismembered laparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed after identification of crossing vessels and abnormal implantation of the ureter. After one year, the child is asymptomatic. DTPA demonstrated a good washout curve. Results Our cohort consisted of six patients, five males and one female, with a mean age of 6 years (range 6m-17 years) and a mean follow-up of 3 years. Ureteropelvic junction obstruction was more common on the left side. Symptoms appeared only in 34% of the cases. Mean operative time was 198 minutes (range 120-270 minutes). Crossing vessels were common (observed in 50% patients). High implantation of ureter was seen in 67% patients and intrinsic obstruction in 83%. Surgical difficulties were found in two cases. Hospital stay was 4.3 days (3 to 6 days), with only one patient having a mild complication (pyelonephritis). All cases had clinical and radiologic improvement. Conclusion Laparoscopic pyeloplasty is safe and feasible in children with UPJO in horseshoe kidneys, with good results and minimal morbidity.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados da utilização da técnica laparoscópica no tratamento do feocromocitoma de supra-renal. MÉTODO: Dez pacientes, sete homens e três mulheres, entre 10 e 67 anos de idade (média 48), com feocromocitoma, foram operados por via laparoscópica transperitoneal e avaliados retrospectivamente, com base nos diagnósticos clínico-laboratorial e anátomo-patológico. Em todos os casos havia um tumor sólido unilateral de supra-renal, cinco à direita e cinco à esquerda, cujo maior eixo variou de 7 a 80 mm (média 32). Nove dos dez pacientes eram hipertensos crônicos ou tinham história de picos hipertensivos. Um paciente era normotenso, mas apresentava alterações metabólicas sugestivas de hiperfunção adrenérgica. RESULTADOS: Nenhum óbito ocorreu na série. Houve duas (20%) conversões para cirurgia aberta, uma por sangramento venoso e uma por dificuldade de dissecção junto à veia cava, cujo paciente apresentava um tumor parcialmente retrocaval. O tempo operatório nos oito casos não-convertidos foi de 70 a 215 minutos (média 136). Um paciente (10%) recebeu transfusão de sangue e outro (10%) apresentou duas complicações - insuficiência renal aguda e infecção de tecido celular subcutâneo. Ambos foram convertidos para cirurgia aberta. Nenhum dos casos não-convertidos recebeu transfusão ou apresentou complicação. A alta hospitalar foi concedida entre o 2º e o 11º PO (mediana 3). O exame anátomo-patológico das peças cirúrgicas confirmou o feocromocitoma em todos esses dez casos, num deles associado a um tumor cortical produtor de aldosterona. CONCLUSÕES: A supra-renalectomia laparoscópica para casos selecionados de feocromocitoma é factível e apresenta bons resultados.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of the laparoscopic technique in the treatment of adrenal pheochromocytoma. METHOD: Ten patients, 7 men and 3 women, between 10 and 67 years of age (mean 48) with pheochromocytoma underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy and were evaluated retrospectively, based on clinical, laboratory, and pathological diagnosis. In all cases there was a solid unilateral adrenal tumor, 5 on the left side and 5 on the right side, whose greater diameter varied from 7 to 80 mm (mean 32). Nine of the 10 patients were chronically hypertensive or had already had hypertensive crises. One patient was normotensive, but presented metabolic alterations suggestive of adrenergic hyperfunction. RESULTS: No deaths occurred in this series. There were two (20%) conversions to open surgery, one due to venous bleeding and one due to the difficulty of dissection behind the vena cava in a patient presenting a partially retro-caval tumor. Surgical time in the 8 non-converted cases ranged from 70 to 215 minutes (mean 136). One patient (10%) received blood transfusion, and another (10%) presented two complications - acute renal failure and a subcutaneous infection. Both had been converted to open surgery. None of the non-converted cases was transfused or presented complications. Hospital discharge occurred between the 2nd and 11th post-operative day (mean 3). The pathological exam of the surgical specimens confirmed the diagnoses of pheochromocytoma in all 10 cases, one of them associated with an aldosterone-producing cortical tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for selected patients presenting pheochromocytoma is feasible and provides good results.