Laparoscopic heminephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in cross-fused ectopic kidney

Crossed renal ectopia is a rare congenital malformation. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma in a 51-year-old man with right-to-left crossed fused renal ectopia. The patient was treated with ultrasound-guided laparoscopic heminephrectomy. Postoperative three-dimensional computed tomography showed normal perfusion of the remaining part of the kidney, with good excretion of contrast from both units of the cross-fused kidney.     

Totally laparoscopic creation of a novel stapled orthotopic neobladder in the porcine model

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic urinary diversion remains difficult and time consuming even when performed by experienced laparoscopists. Here we describe a novel procedure that quickly creates an ileal orthotopic neobladder with an afferent tubular segment using a laparoscopic stapling device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic cystectomy and stapled ileal neobladder were performed in five domestic juvenile pigs. Following cystectomy, 30 to 40 cm of terminal ileum was harvested, and ileal continuity restored. The harvested ileum was made into a J configuration, and three to seven laparoscopic staple firings were used to create a spherical pouch with an afferent limb modeled after the Studer-type neobladder. An aperture was created in the dependent portion of the neobladder, and urethral anastomosis was performed using six interrupted absorbable sutures. Ureterointestinal anastomosis was performed using a Wallace technique. Postoperative cystography and intravenous pyelography were performed. A 1-month survival study was completed in one pig. RESULTS: All five procedures were completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The majority of the steps of the procedures were performed by second- and third-year urology residents (PGY 3-4). Neobladder stapling, ureterointestinal anastomosis, and the first three urethral sutures were performed by an endourology fellow. Average time for neobladder creation and entire procedure was 78 and 355 minutes, respectively. Postoperative cystography revealed spherical orthotopic neobladder with minimal or no leakage in all animals. Average neobladder capacity was 100 mL, and no obstruction was visualized on intravenous pyelography immediately after the procedures. One pig successfully survived the 1-month study period. There was excellent neobladder storage, no clinically apparent renal obstruction, and no postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Total laparoscopic urinary diversion and specifically orthotopic neobladder remains one of the frontiers of minimally invasive urologic surgery. Our technique for stapled ileal neobladder provides substantial advantages in terms of the operative time required for orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. This may offer an avenue to foster the development of more feasible techniques for laparoscopic urinary tract reconstructive surgery.     

Angiogenesis Therapy for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

IntroductionOver the past 15 years, significant advances have been made in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The most significant of these advances has been pharmacological treatment of ED with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. This therapy greatly increased the awareness of ED and has helped stimulate research into the underlying causes of ED. While treatment with PDE5 inhibitors continues to be the current therapy of choice, approximately 40% of men treated with PDE5 inhibitors fail to have significant improvement in erectile function and PDE5 inhibitors do not reverse the vasculopathic processes associated with ED. With this in mind, new therapies must be developed. The treatment with angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) may be one such therapy.AimThis review will focus on defining key terms in the angiogenic process, angiogenic growth factors, and different delivery methods, and summarize results from angiogenic therapies for the treatment of ED.MethodsA review of the literature was performed on all angiogenic therapies for the treatment of ED. A brief review on the angiogenic factors was also performedResultsAngiogenic therapies for the treatment of ED are possible and promising; however, further investigation is needed to advance clinically.ConclusionsAlthough numerous studies have now employed angiogenic factors for the possible treatment of ED in several animal models, we are still not at the point to begin human investigations. Future studies need to examine proper dosage of the angiogenic agent, route of delivery, time course for delivery, and combination therapies. Lysiak JJ, Kavoussi PK, Ellati RT, Steers WD, and Annex BH. Angiogenesis therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.