Background: Learning curve of laparoscopic nephrectomy (LN) is mainly affected by two main factors: plotting performance and experience. However, there is paucity in the literature addressing the number of cases required to adopt LN. Herein, we aimed to assess the learning curve of LN for various renal disorders and number of cases required to adopt the technique. Between September 2015 and December 2017, consecutive patients undergoing LN for various renal diseases were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, the first 20 cases (group A) and subsequent 20 cases (group B). All procedures were performed by a single trainee urologist under supervision of an expert endourologist. Learning curve was assessed using operative time and incidence of complications. Results: A total of 40 patients were included in this pilot clinical study. Mean age was 38.2 ± 16.3 years. The mean operative time for patients in group B was significantly lower than the mean operative time for patients in group A (108.5 vs. 139.3 min, p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between both groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss (86 vs. 104 ml; p = 0.081), conversion to open surgery (5% vs. 10%; p = 0.256) and postoperative complications (5% vs. 15%; p = 0.09) for group B and group A, respectively. Similarly, there was no significant difference between both groups in terms of hospital stay (42 ± 8 vs. 46 ± 11 h p = 0.01). The trainee surgeon reached a plateau after 22 cases. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a minimum of 22 LN procedures are needed in order to adopt the technique of laparoscopic nephrectomy. Learning curve of LN is mainly affected by number of performed procedures within a short period of time.

Background Open pyeloplasty has been the gold standard for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in children and young adolescents. However, the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of pyeloplasty is increasing as it has the potential to provide a better and more desirable cosmetic outcome in addition to less postoperative pain and decreased recovery time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty (TLP) for the treatment of UPJO in children and young adolescents.Patients and methods Twenty-nine patients with UPJO with 32 renal units were subjected to TLP at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Egypt, during the period from May 2008 to December 2012. The outcome measurements of this study included operative time, internal stent placement, hospital stay, intraoperative complications, and success rates. Success is defined as both symptomatic relief and radiographic resolution of hydronephrosis at the last follow-up. Patients were followed up with intravenous urography and diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid scan at 3, 6, and 12 months regularly for both functional and morphological outcomes. ResultsThe study included 29 patients (12 male and 17 female) with 32 obstructed renal units. The mean age was 4.23 ± 2.1 years (range 3-16 years). All procedures were completed laparoscopically without conversion. The mean operative time was 143.41 ± 23 min (range 110-220 min). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.1 days (range 3-8 days). All patients achieved full recovery without any complications. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 36.34 ± 5.18 months (range 22-60 months). Success rate was 96.9%. Only one case developed recurrent UPJO and was treated with retrograde endopyelotomy and stenting.Conclusion TLP has the advantages of less postoperative pain, short hospital stay, and rapid recovery, with excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. However, it requires advanced skill level for intracorporeal suturing and knot tying.

Our study aimed to evaluate our experience in tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in distal and midpenile hypospadias reoperation. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study in which we reviewed the medical records of 56 patients who underwent tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in distal and midpenile hypospadias reoperation. Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty was performed using a surgical technique like the primary tubularized incised plate repair based on the Snodgrass's method. We recorded complications and functional outcomes of redo procedures. Results: We reviewed 56 patients who ranged in age from 2-16 years (mean 7.02±3.8 years). The overall complication rate was 33.9% (n=19). Eight patients (14.3%) had fistula, six had meatal stenosis (10.7%), four had dehiscence (7.1%), and one had neourethral stenosis (1.8%). The complications occurred in 13 of mid-penile cases representing 50% of mid-penile cases but occurred in six cases of distal-penile cases (20%). The success rate of tubularized incised plate urethroplasty reoperation was 94.6% after repair of fistula and meatal stenosis by simple closure of fistula and meatoplasty. Conclusion: Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty is a safe and effective alternative procedure for hypospadias reoperations. The outcome is favorable if the urethral plate has no scars and with distal meatal location. The complication rate increases if the third redo is done and with midpenile meatal location.