PurposeTo investigate surgical outcomes between retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) groups for a main stone sized 15 to 30 mm and located in the lower-pole calyx.Materials and MethodsPatients who underwent PNL or RIRS for a main stone sized 15 to 30 mm and located in the lower-pole calyx were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient in the RIRS group was matched to one in the PNL group on the basis of calculated propensity scores by use of age, sex, body mass index, previous treatment history, stone site, maximum stone size, and stone volume. We compared perioperative outcomes between the unmatched and matched groups.ResultsPatients underwent PNL (n=87, 66.4%) or RIRS (n=44, 33.6%). After matching, 44 patients in each group were included. Mean patient age was 54.4±13.7 years. Perioperative hemoglobin drop was significantly higher and the hospital stay was longer in the PNL group than in the RIRS group. The operative time was significantly longer in the RIRS group than in the PNL group. Stone-free rates were higher and complications rates were lower in the RIRS group than in the PNL group without statistical significance. The presence of a stone located in the lower-anterior minor calyx was a predictor of stone-free status.ConclusionsRIRS and single-session PNL for patients with a main stone of 15 to 30 mm located in the lower-pole calyx showed comparable surgical results. However, RIRS can be performed more safely than PNL with less bleeding. Stones in the lower-anterior minor calyx should be carefully removed during these procedures.

PurposeThe aim of our study was to assess the influence of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) on survival outcomes following radical cystectomy (RC) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).Materials and MethodsWe reviewed and analyzed the clinical data of 432 patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer from 1991 to 2012. PBT was defined as the transfusion of allogeneic red blood cells during RC or postoperative hospitalization.ResultsOf all patients, 315 patients (72.9%) received PBT. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, female gender (p=0.015), a lower preoperative hemoglobin level (p=0.003), estimated blood loss>800 mL (p<0.001), and performance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p<0.001) were independent risk factors related to requiring perioperative transfusions. The receipt of PBT was associated with increased overall mortality (hazard ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.94; p=0.003) on univariate analysis, but its association was not confirmed by multivariate analysis (p=0.058). In transfused patients, a transfusion of >4 packed red blood cell units was an independent predictor of overall survival (p=0.007), but not in cancer specific survival.ConclusionsOur study was not conclusive to detect a clear association between PBT and survival after RC. However, the efforts should be made to continue limiting the overuse of transfusion especially in patients who are expected to have a high probability of PBT, such as females and those with a low preoperative hemoglobin level and history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives:The objective of this study was to update the long-term outcome in the treatment of locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy.Materials and methods:Clinical data from 138 patients who underwent RNU for locally advanced UTUC (pT3/4 or pN+) were analyzed.Results:The adjuvant chemotherapy group comprised 66 patients, and other 72 patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy was the most common regimen, depending on the patient's eligibility and renal function. The median follow-up period was 48.7 months (interquartile range: 29.2-96.9 months). The 3-and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 76.0% and 69.9% for the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group versus 74.6% and 54.5% for the adjuvant chemotherapy group (p=0.301, log-rank test). Overall survival (OS) rates for the same time period were 70.1% and 62.9% for the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group versus 73.8% and 53.2% for the adjuvant chemotherapy group (p=0.931, log-rank test). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy could not predict DSS and OS after surgery. When patients who received cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (n=59) were compared to those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, similar results were found.Conclusions:There does not appear to be a significant DSS or OS benefit associated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Prospective randomized clinical trials are necessary to verify the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on locally advanced UTUC.

Background and ObjectivesZZThe purpose of this study is to evaluate drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings in patients with persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) surgery. Subjects and MethodZZPatients were included in this study if they had a postoperative DISE evaluation as well as pre-and postoperative polysomnography. DISE findings included the obstructive sites (velum, oropharyngeal lateral walls, tongue base, and epiglottis), and the obstructive patterns of velopharynx (anteroposterior, lateral, and concentric). ResultsZZA total of 77 patients were included in this study. Poor-responder patients to UPPP (n=50) and well-responder patients to UPPP (n=27) were similar with regard to age, gender, body mass index, preoperative AHI, and minimal O2 saturation. In our analysis of DISE findings on poor-responder, velopharynx was the most common obstruction site (100%), followed by oropharynx (88%), tongue base (70%), and epiglottis (44%). Results showed that most patients (n=49) had multiple obstructive sites. No significant differences according to position dependency and REM dependency were found in obstructive sites. However, severe OSA patients had tongue base obstruction more frequently than the moderate OSA patients did. The obstructive pattern of velopharynx usually showed concentric configuration (70%, 35 of 50). ConclusionZZOur results suggest that the preoperative DISE may be a useful method for determination of the personalized surgery to OSA patients because of its more precise information to upper airway obstruction.

CT is a reliable method for prostate volume measurement and is well correlated with TRUS. Although CT estimates of TPV are 20% lower than those obtained using TRUS, CT can be used as an alternative to TRUS when TRUS is not available.