What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?• There is concern that warm ischaemia time during partial nephrectomy may have an adverse impact on postoperative renal function. As a result, there is increased interest in developing a safe and effective method for performing non-ischaemic partial nephrectomy. Several novel approaches have recently been described.• We present our initial experience performing zero-ischaemia partial nephrectomy using near-infrared fluorescence imaging to facilitate super-selective arterial clamping. We report the operative and early postoperative outcomes from such cases as compared with a matched cohort of patients undergoing traditional partial nephrectomy with clamping of the main renal artery. We show that this technique is both safe and effective and may lead to improved renal preservation at short-term follow-up. Objective• To describe a novel technique of eliminating renal ischaemia during robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. Patients and Methods• Over an 8-month period (March 2011 to November 2011), 34 patients were considered for zero-ischaemia RPN using the da Vinci NIRF system. • Targeted tertiary/higher-order tumour-specific branches were controlled with robotic bulldog(s) or neurosurgical aneurysm micro-bulldog(s). Indocyanine green dye was given, and NIRF imaging used to confirm super-selective ischaemia, defined as darkened tumour/peri-tumour area with green fluorescence of remaining kidney.• Matched pair analysis was performed by matching each patient undergoing zero-ischaemia RPN (n = 27) to a previous conventional RPN (n = 27) performed by the same surgeon. Results• Of 34 patients, 27 (79.4%) underwent successful zero-ischaemia RPN; seven (20.6%) required conversion to main renal artery clamping (ischaemia time <30 min) for the following reasons: persistent tumour fluorescence after clamping indicating inadequate tumoral devascularization (n = 5), and parenchymal bleeding during RPN (n = 2).• Matched-pair analysis showed comparable outcomes between cohorts, except for longer operating time (256 vs 212 min, P = 0.02) and superior kidney function (reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate (-1.8% vs -14.9%, P = 0.03) in the zero-ischaemia cohort. All surgical margins were negative. Conclusions• In this pilot study, we show that zero-ischaemia RPN with NIRF is a safe alternative to conventional RPN with main renal artery clamping.• Eliminating global ischaemia may improve functional outcomes at short-term follow-up.

This study suggests that fragment size larger than 4 mm after ureteroscopy is associated with significantly higher rates of stone growth, complications and the need for re-intervention. Ensuring complete stone-free status is the most effective strategy to reduce stone events after ureteroscopy.

Objectives To compare renal functional outcomes in robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) with selective arterial clamping guided by near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging to a matched cohort of patients who underwent RPN without selective arterial clamping and NIRF imaging. Methods From April 2011 to December 2012, NIRF imaging-enhanced RPN with selective clamping was utilized in 42 cases. Functional outcomes of successful cases were compared with a cohort of patients, matched by tumor size, preoperative eGFR, functional kidney status, age, sex, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score, who underwent RPN without selective clamping and NIRF imaging. Results In matched-pair analysis, selective clamping with NIRF was associated with superior kidney function at discharge, as demonstrated by postoperative eGFR (78.2 vs 68.5 ml/min per 1.73m2; P=0.04), absolute reduction of eGFR (−2.5 vs −14.0 ml/min per 1.73m2; P<0.01) and percent change in eGFR (−1.9% vs −16.8%, P<0.01). Similar trends were noted at three month follow up but these differences became non-significant (P[eGFR]=0.07], P[absolute reduction of eGFR]=0.10, and P[percent change in eGFR]=0.07). In the selective clamping group, a total of four perioperative complications occurred in three patients, all of which were Clavien I-III. Conclusion Utilization of NIRF imaging was associated with improved short-term renal functional outcomes when compared to RPN without selective arterial clamping and NIRF imaging. With this effect attenuated at later follow-up, randomized prospective studies and long-term assessment of kidney-specific functional outcomes are needed to further assess the benefits of this technology.

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The rate of negative ureteroscopy was 14% among pregnant women undergoing intervention in our series. Of the group treated surgically after imaging with ultrasound alone, 23% had no ureteral stone, resulting in the lowest positive predictive value of the modalities used. Alternative imaging techniques, particularly low dose computerized tomography, offer improved diagnostic information that can optimize management and obviate unnecessary intervention.

We identified many factors that were predictors of the preservation of potency after open radical retropubic prostatectomy. Only age, no history of diabetes mellitus and neurovascular bundle preservation were independent predictors. These parameters should be considered when counseling surgical candidates so that erectile function expectations are realistic.

Ureteroscopy performed during pregnancy has been previously reported to be urologically safe and effective for addressing ureteral stones. In our multi-institutional series a 4% rate of obstetric complications was observed. Based on this risk a multidisciplinary approach is prudent for the pregnant patient undergoing ureteroscopy.

or without the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors at least once in the month before or after ORRP. Of the 1110 men, 728 (66%) were potent and continent at baseline. Men undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy were excluded. The potency status was evaluated in 610 men at 24 months after ORRP, and the number of NVBs preserved was recorded at the time of ORRP. RESULTSOf men who were potent at baseline and had bilateral vs unilateral nerve sparing, 96% and 99% were continent at 24 months, respectively ( P = 0.50). Of the men who were potent and impotent at 24 months, 98% and 96% were continent at 24 months, respectively ( P = 0.25). Continence did not depend on whether men regained potency or whether they had a bilateral or a unilateral nerve-sparing procedure. CONCLUSIONOur observation that only 60% of men undergoing bilateral nerve-sparing ORRP regain potency suggests that the NVBs are often inadvertently injured, despite efforts to preserve them. We feel that potency status is the best indicator of the true extent of NVB preservation. That men undergoing bilateral vs unilateral nerve-sparing procedures, and that potent vs impotent men at 24 months have similar continence rates, provides compelling evidence that nerve-sparing is not associated with better continence. Based on these findings, NVBs should not be preserved in men with baseline erectile dysfunction, with the expectation of improving continence. KEYWORDSurinary incontinence, radical prostatectomy, nerve sparing, potency Study Type -Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4