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Introduction: The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the stone-free rate after the second intervention for every performed procedure (semirigid ureteroscopy, flexible ureteroscopy, semirigid plus flexible ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy). Materials and methods: A total of 149 patients, who came to the emergency room of “Saint John” Emergency Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, with acute renal pathology suggesting the presence of renal and/or ureteral lithiasis confirmed by imagining (x-ray, ultrasonography or computer tomography), were included in this retrospective study, which was conducted between September 2021 and September 2022. All selected patients had an indication of emergency surgical intervention that consisted of a double-J stent mounting. We analyzed the stone-free rate after the secondary intervention, which was one of the following procedures: semirigid ureteroscopy, flexible ureteroscopy, combined semirigid and flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Patients came back for the secondary intervention and were reevaluated using imaging techniques. Results:Endoscopic procedures were performed by 14 surgeons over a time period of two to six weeks after the initial stenting procedure. Encrusted stents were encountered in four cases and in five cases the patients were admitted with obstruction of previously inserted stents. From the total of 149 patients, 68 (45,6%) subjects underwent semirigid ureteroscopy, with a stone-free rate of 86% (59 cases), 32 (21,4%) F-URS, with a stone-free rate of 90,6% (30 cases), 41 (27,5%) combined flexible and semirigid ureteroscopy, with a stone-free rate of 90,24% (37 cases), and eight (5,3%) patients received PCNL, with a stone-free rate of 75% (six cases). Overall stone-free rate for all procedures was 90,06%. The mean operative time was 23 minutes. No major incidents or complications occurred during the procedures. Conclusion:The emergency pre-stenting before the definitive treatment of reno-ureteral lithiasis is a safe procedure. Flexible ureteroscopy was the most successful secondary intervention, with the highest rate of achieving stone-free status.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic definitely changed the management of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This study followed the modalities of treatments in patients with BPH associated with SARS-CoV-2 attending the Urology Clinic of “Sf. Ioan” Emergency Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. Material and methods:The present study included 81 patients (mean age 63.2 years, age range 55–87 years) with SARS-CoV-2 and BPH who were admitted to our Urology Department between January 2021 and January 2022. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was based on the PCR test and that of BPH by using the diagnostic triad consisting of digital rectal examination, PSA, free PSA and ultrasound examination. It should be noted that some of the hospitalized patients were following treatment with alpha blockers and/or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors at the time of admission. Results:Out of the 81 hospitalized cases, 13 required emergency endoscopic intervention under spinal anaesthesia (TURP or TURisP) for haemostasis because those patients presented with persistent haematuria which did not respond to conservative treatment. A number of 17 cases showed acute urinary retention during hospitalization and a urethrovesical catheter was fitted and will be re-evaluated urologically after the COVID episode. Of the remaining 51 subjects with BPH, 17 already had chronic urinary retention on admission, with urethrovesical probe present, 13 cases began during hospitalization with alpha-blocker treatment associated with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors; meanwhile, there were no urological interventions to modify the treatment regimen in the remaining 21 patients, who were strictly managed on the side of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion:There was no clear influence of the evolution of patients with BPH due to SARS-CoV-2 pathology, and the general management trend was to delay chronic cases until the time of viral infection remission.

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial.Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management.Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts prior to voting during a consensus conference.Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference.Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management.Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1-3 (disagree), 4-6 (equivocal), and 7-9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as >= 70% agreement and

The authors regret that a co-author was mistakenly missed from the authorship. The following co-author should have been included in the authorship: Peter-Paul M. Willemse Department of Oncological Urology, University Medical Center, Utrecht Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands © 2019 European Society of Medical Oncology and European Association of Urology

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management. Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts prior to voting during a consensus conference. Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference. Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1-3 (disagree), 4-6 (equivocal), and 7-9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement and ≤15% disagreement, or vice versa. In the Delphi survey, a second analysis was restricted to stakeholder group(s) considered to have adequate expertise relating to each statement (to achieve level 2 consensus). Results and limitations: Overall, 116 statements were included in the Delphi survey. Of these statements, 33 (28%) achieved level 1 consensus and 49 (42%) achieved level 1 or 2 consensus. At the consensus conference, 22 of 27 (81%) statements achieved consensus. These consensus statements provide further guidance across a broad range of topics, including the management of variant histologies, the role/limitations of prognostic biomarkers in clinical decision making, bladder preservation strategies, modern radiotherapy techniques, the management of oligometastatic disease, and the evolving role of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic disease. Conclusions: These consensus statements provide further guidance on controversial topics in advanced and variant bladder cancer management until a time when further evidence is available to guide our approach. Patient summary: This report summarises findings from an international, multistakeholder project organised by the EAU and ESMO. In this project, a steering committee identified areas of bladder cancer management where there is currently no good-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions. From this, they developed a series of proposed statements, 71 of which achieved consensus by a large group of experts in the field of bladder cancer. It is anticipated that these statements will provide further guidance to health care professionals and could help improve patient outcomes until a time when good-quality evidence is available.

Post-radical prostatectomy erectile dysfunction (post RP ED) is a major postoperative complication with a great impact on the quality of life of the patients. Until present, no proper algorithm or guideline based on the clinical trials has been established for the management of post RP ED. According to literature, it is better to initiate a penile rehabilitation program as soon as possible after surgery than doing nothing, in order to prevent and limit the postoperative local hypoxygenation and fibrosis. The results of numerous clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors therapy on post RP ED have made them the gold standard treatment. Encouraging results have been achieved in studies with vacuum erectile devices, intraurethral suppositories with alprostadil and intracavernosal injections, but due to their side effects, especially in the cases of intracavernosal injections and intraurethral suppositories, their clinical use was limited therefore making them a second line option for the post RP ED treatment. What should not be forgotten is that penile implant prosthesis has proven very effective, numerous studies confirming high rates of satisfaction for both patients and partners.

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management. Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts before voting during a consensus conference. Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference. Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1–3 (disagree), 4–6 (equivocal), 7–9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement and ≤15% disagreement, or vice versa. In the Delphi survey, a second analysis was restricted to stakeholder group(s) considered to have adequate expertise relating to each statement (to achieve level 2 consensus). Results and limitations: Overall, 116 statements were included in the Delphi survey. Of these, 33 (28%) statements achieved level 1 consensus and 49 (42%) statements achieved level 1 or 2 consensus. At the consensus conference, 22 of 27 (81%) statements achieved consensus. These consensus statements provide further guidance across a broad range of topics, including the management of variant histologies, the role/limitations of prognostic biomarkers in clinical decision making, bladder preservation strategies, modern radiotherapy techniques, the management of oligometastatic disease and the evolving role of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic disease. Conclusions: These consensus statements provide further guidance on controversial topics in advanced and variant bladder cancer management until a time where further evidence is available to guide our approach. © 2019 European Society for Medical Oncology

Objectives: A single centre, retrospective trial was performed trying to assess the impact of NBI cystoscopy in cases of non-muscle invasive bladder tumors (NMIBT) by comparison to the standard approach. Our goal was to determine the superiority of the new method in terms of detection rates and subsequent postoperative treatment changes. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 NMIBT suspected consecutive cases were enrolled in the study. The inclusion criteria were represented by hematuria, positive urinary cytology and/or ultrasound suspicion of bladder tumors. All patients underwent WLC and NBI cystoscopy. Standard transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) was performed for all lesions visible in WL and NBI guided resection for solely NBI observed tumors. Results: The overall NMIBT and CIS patients’ detection rates were significantly improved for the NBI evaluation ((94.9% versus 88.1% and 95.7% versus 65.2%). Also, on a lesions’ related basis, NBI cystoscopy emphasized a significantly superior diagnostic accuracy concerning the CIS, pTa and overall NMIBT formations ((95.2% versus 60.3%, 92.8% versus 83.9% and 94.1% versus 82%). Additional tumors were diagnosed by NBI in a significantly higher proportion of CIS, pTa, pT1 and NMIBT patients (56.6% versus 8.7%, 28% versus 10.3%, 30.3% versus 10.6% and 31.6% versus 9.4%). As a result of these supplementary findings, the postoperative treatment was significantly improved in a substantial proportion of cases (15.4% versus 5.1%). Conclusions: NBI cystoscopy represents a valuable diagnostic alternative in NMIBT patients, with significant improvement of tumor visual accuracy as well as detection rates. This approach provided a substantial amelioration to the risk category stratification and subsequent bladder cancer therapeutic management.

The remarkable progresses of imagistic and interventional techniques that have been implemented during the last decades facilitated the diagnostic and allowed the treatment indication changes for numerous renal disorders. The purpose of the present lecture was to outline a data review concerning a renal anomaly first described one century ago as well as to evaluate the impact of endourologic technical progresses over the therapeutic management of the respective disease. The medullary sponge kidney (MSK) or Cacchi-Ricci disorder represents a disturbance in the renal development characterized by the cystic type dilation and diffuse precalyceal ducts ectasias. The disease is also known as precalyceal tubular ectasia, pyramidal sponge kidney or cystic dilation of the renal collecting ducts MSK patients are most often asymptomatic, the diagnosis being emphasized in light of the investigations imposed by related complications such as renal stones, urinary tract infections (pyelonephritis), renal tubes acidosis or urine concentration defects.

Introduction:Nephroureterectomy with perimeatal cystectomy is still the gold standard in the treatment of urothelial upper urinary-tract carcinoma (UUTC). Ureteral endoscopic surgery was proposed as a complementary first step in nephroureterectomy, in order to obviate the low abdominal incision. Our goal was to establish the value of a novel method of endoscopic distal ureteral management in on step nephroureterectomy for UUTC: pluck technique by using bipolar plasma vaporization. Materials and Methods:During the last two years, we performed nephroureterectomy with pluck transurethral detachment of the intramural ureter by using bipolar plasma vaporization in 42 cases with UUTC (pTa in 16 cases, pT1 in 10 cases, pT2 in 9 cases, pT3 in 7 cases). The tumor was pyelocaliceal in 34 cases, ureteral in 7 cases, and both ureteral and pyelocaliceal in 1 case. The follow-up was performed by cystoscopy with urinary cytology, ultrasonography, intravenous urography and CT. The mean follow-up was of 14 months (range 8 to 26 months). Results:All procedures were completed successfully. The complications rate was of 4.8%: 2 cases of hematuria, one imposing an endoscopic approach and another one treated conservatively. During follow-up, 6 patients had bladder recurrences, 1 had renal fossa tumors and 1 had secondary lymph-node invasion. The disease-specific mortality rate was of 4.8%. Conclusions:The endoscopic approach of the terminal ureter with bipolar plasma vaporization as part of one-step nephroureterectomy is a safe, facile and effective method offering good oncological results.

Objective: Bipolar transurethral resection (TUR) has been introduced in the clinical practice nowadays. Benefits from bipolar TUR are represented by the use of saline irrigation, which avoids hypoosmotic hyperhydration (TUR–Syndrome), as well as by the reduced risk of obturator nerve stimulation. However, the previously introduced smaller bipolar resection loop caused prolonged operating–time. We report our initial experience with a newly developed regular sized loop for a bipolar resectoscope. Materials and Methods: Different loop calibers and configurations were tested and compared to a previously introduced bipolar system and conventional resection devices in TUR of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder tumors (TURP and TURBT). The resected tissue was pathologically examined for thermal damage and compared to a control group of monopolar conventionally resected tissue. Results: The handling of the resectoscope was comparable to that of the conventional ones. Cutting control, cutting speed and coagulation effectiveness were excellent, and no obturator nerve stimulation occurred. The resection area could easily be assessed and tissue examination showed no differences in terms of quality and quantity of thermal damages, since tissue carbonization was reduced. There was no sticking of the resected tissue on the loop. Conclusion: Regular sized loop bipolar resection is safe and efficient. Coagulation and cutting extent control seem superior to conventional TUR. Due to reduced carbonization, the resection ground can be easily assessed. The risk of obturator nerve stimulation is reduced. The histological quality of the tissue is not impaired. This device combines the advantage of a regular size resection loop with bipolar resection in normal saline. It has the potential to become a valuable alternative to monopolar TUR.

Hexaminolevulinate blue light cystoscopy (HAL-BLC) represents an increasingly acknowledged method in bladder cancer diagnostic. We aimed to evaluate the importance of this procedure in cases of non-invasive bladder tumors (NIBT), to compare it with standard white light cystoscopy (WLC), and to establish the efficiency of blue light transurethral bladder resection (BL-TURB). Between December 2007 and December 2008, WLC and BLC were performed in 70 cases. WL-TURB was performed for all lesions visible in WL, and BL-TURB for those only detected in BL. Patients diagnosed with NIBT were followed-up after an average period of 5 months (between 18 and 22 weeks) by WLC and BLC. The control group included the same number of consecutive cases of NIBT, which underwent only WLC and WL-TURB, as well as the same follow-up protocol as the study group. WLC correctly identified 115 tumors, and BLC, 157 tumors. The detection rate was 68.8% for WLC, with a 9.4% rate of false-positive results, and 94% for BLC, with a 14.6% rate of false-positive results. The diagnostic accuracy in CIS lesions was 57.3% for WLC and 95% for BLC, while in pTa tumors; it was 68.8% for WLC and 94% for BLC. 62 cases of the study group diagnosed with NIBT emphasized a recurrence rate of 6.4% after 5 months. The control group described a recurrence rate of 24.2%. HAL fluorescence cystoscopy is a valuable diagnostic method for patients with NIBT, with considerably improved accuracy by comparison to WLC, and a significant impact upon the short-term recurrence rate.

Bipolar electrosurgical approach represents an increasingly acknowledged technology in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and a promising alternative to standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). In this study, we aimed to evaluate a new method, transurethral resection in saline - plasma vaporization of the prostate (TURIS-PVP), by determining its efficiency, safety and short-term postoperative results. In May 2009, TURIS-PVP was performed in 25 cases of BPH. The investigative protocol included digital rectal examination (DRE), prostatic specific antigen (PSA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score, maximum flow rate (Qmax) and abdominal ultrasonography assessing prostate volume and post-voiding residual urinary volume (RV). All patients were investigated 1 month after surgery using IPSS, QoL, Qmax and RV. TURIS-PVP was successfully performed in all cases. The average BPH size was 53 ml, the mean operating time was 28 minutes, the median catheterization time was 24 hours and the mean hospital stay was 48 hours. No patient required blood transfusions or re-catheterization, and there were no significant intra- or postoperative complications. Preoperatively, the mean value of IPSS was 21.4, the mean QoL score was 4, the mean RV was 72 ml and the mean Qmax was 9.7 ml/s. The 1 month follow-up emphasized a mean IPSS of 4, a mean QoL score of 1.4, a mean RV of 14 ml and a mean Qmax of 21.5 ml/s. TURIS-PVP represents a valuable endoscopic treatment alternative for patients with BPH, with good efficacy, reduced morbidity, satisfactory follow-up parameters and fast postoperative recovery. IPSS, QoL, Qmax and RV measurements showed significant improvements at the 1 month follow-up.

Introduction: Secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS) represents a common late complication of prostate surgery, however so far insufficiently assessed in the available literature. More over, the previously attempted and analyzed therapeutic modalities failed to achieve acknowledgement as standard treatment for this particular pathology. Methods: The bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) was introduced as a viable mean of removing the obstructing scar formation in a gradual fashion. Several "tips and tricks" were described as particularly useful in optimizing the plasma corona vaporization effect. The proper BPV technique is simple and safe while closely relying on certain surgical steps, the simultaneous vaporization and coagulation processes and a superior endoscopic vision. Recent technological advances created the premises for further improvements. Results: The plasma-button vaporization is characterized by a satisfactory surgical speed, remote intraoperative bleeding risks, high-quality endoscopic visibility as well as the achievement of a complete sclerotic tissue removal. Within a short learning curve, a superior final aspect of the prostatic fossa and bladder neck is obtained at the end of surgery. The continuous plasma vaporization mode provides additional technical advantages. The previously described drawbacks of transurethral incision or resection seem to have been overcome by the practical features of the plasma vaporization process. Conclusions: The BPV technique outlines a promising modality of efficiently ablating the obstructing fibrous tissue in secondary BNS patients. The simplicity and safety of the bipolar vaporization approach, together with the thorough obstructing scar removal in a radical fashion, create the premises for a favorable long term BPV clinical outcome.

Introduction: A long term, retrospective study was performed aiming to outline a critical comparison concerning the efficacy, safety and durability of the bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV), standard monopolar transurethral resection (TUR) and “cold-knife" “star" transurethral incision (TUI) in secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS) cases. Materials & Methods: Of the 126 patients included in the trial based on maximum flow rate (Qmax) below 10 mL/s and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) over 19, classical resection was performed in 46 cases, “cold-knife" TUI in 37 cases and bipolar vaporization in 43 patients. The evaluation protocol comprised IPSS, QoL (quality of life) score, Qmax and PVR (post-voiding residual urinary volume) assessment performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the initial intervention. Results: Significant intraoperative complications (capsular perforation – 8.7%; bleeding – 4.3%) occurred secondary to monopolar resection. “Star" TUI was the fastest technique, followed by plasma-button vaporization (7.2 and 11.4 versus 16.5 minutes). BPV and TUI patients benefitted from the shortest catheterization periods (0.75 and 1 versus 2.0 days) and hospital stays (1.0 and 1.25 versus 2.0 days). Immediate postoperative adverse events consisted of hematuria (6.5% of the TUR cases) and acute urinary retention (8.1% of the TUI group). Significantly higher long term BNS recurrence rates requiring re-treatment were established in the TUI (18.7%) and TUR (12.8%) series by comparison to BPV (5.4%). Among patients that completed the follow-up protocol, equivalent IPSS, QoL, Qmax and PVR features were determined in the 3 study arms. Conclusions: The plasma vaporization approach was confirmed as a successful match to conventional TUR and “cold-knife" TUI in terms of surgical safety profile, postoperative recovery, therapeutic durability and urodynamic and symptom score parameters.

Introduction: High-grade obesity raises some specific problems regarding the endourological approach. The aim of our study was to determine if this pathology might influence the outcome of retrograde ureteroscopy. Materials and methods: We evaluated the outcome of 88 ureteroscopies performed in highly obese patients during the last 5 years. The data were compared with the results of 88 consecutive ureteroscopies performed in normal weight patients. Results: The success rate in the study group was of 91% by comparison with 95% in the normal weight group. The use of flexible ureteroscopes was imposed in 17% of the obese group vs. 11% in the control group. The complications rate (all mild) was of 6.8% in the obese group vs. 4.5% in the normal weight patients. The differences between the two groups, although present, were not statistically significant. However, in two cases with obesity, the weight of the patients was too high for the operating table, imposing supplementary sustaining measures. Conclusions: Ureteroscopic treatment of stones in obese patients is an acceptable treatment modality, with success rates similar to non-obese patients. Sometimes it may require some logistic measures in the operating theatre.

Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management. Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts before voting during a consensus conference. Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference. Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1–3 (disagree), 4–6 (equivocal), 7–9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as 70% agreement and 15% disagreement, or vice versa. In the Delphi survey, a second analysis was restricted to stakeholder group(s) considered to have adequate expertise relating to each statement (to achieve level 2 consensus). Results and limitations: Overall, 116 statements were included in the Delphi survey. Of these, 33 (28%) statements achieved level 1 consensus and 49 (42%) statements achieved level 1 or 2 consensus. At the consensus conference, 22 of 27 (81%) statements achieved consensus. These consensus statements provide further guidance across a broad range of topics, including the management of variant histologies, the role/limitations of prognostic biomarkers in clinical decision making, bladder preservation strategies, modern radiotherapy techniques, the management of oligometastatic disease and the evolving role of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic disease. Conclusions: These consensus statements provide further guidance on controversial topics in advanced and variant bladder cancer management until a time where further evidence is available to guide our approach, The authors would like to thank Peter E. Clark from Atrium Health, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA, for his contribution to the Delphi survey. Angela Corstorphine of Kstorfin Medical Communications Ltd provided medical writing support with the preparation of this manuscript; this support was funded jointly by EAU and ESMO.

The authors regret that a co-author was mistakenly missed from the authorship. The following co-author should have been included in the authorship: Peter-Paul M. Willemse Department of Oncological Urology, University Medical Center, Utrecht Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands