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Biomedical subjects

Harrison M Abrahams

Publications and source records attributed to Harrison M Abrahams.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for pediatric recipients: outcomes analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To present our outcomes of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for pediatric recipients. Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become the technique of choice for live donor nephrectomy. However, limited data are available regarding the role of this technique for pediatric recipients, who may pose special challenges and considerations, and whose parents need additional information. METHODS: Since November 1999, we have performed laparoscopic nephrectomy in more than 300 consecutive patients for live donor transplantation. Of these, 20 cases were identified that involved a recipient younger than 18 years of age. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were reviewed to analyze the outcomes of these specific cases. The data were compared with a similar group of pediatric recipients receiving kidneys procured using the traditional open technique. RESULTS: The mean donor and recipient age was 40 years (range 26 to 52) and 13 years (range 1.7 to 18), respectively, and 19 cases (95%) involved the left kidney. The mean donor and recipient operative time was 3.3 hours (range 2.5 to 5.2) and 3.9 hours (range 2.4 to 5.1), respectively. The warm and anastomotic time averaged 4 minutes (range 2 to 8) and 30 minutes (range 16 to 41), respectively. Nineteen of the grafts functioned immediately, with a mean creatinine at 24 hours of 2.0 mg/dL (range 0.3 to 6.0). At last follow-up (mean 13.6 months), the mean creatinine was 1.1 mg/dL. Ureteral stricture requiring stent placement occurred in 2 patients (10%). No statistically significant differences were noted in operative parameters, complications, or renal function compared with a contemporary cohort of 26 pediatric patients receiving organs obtained by open donor nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our early experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for pediatric recipients confirmed that the technique provides quality organs with excellent function. The method yields outcomes comparable to those after traditional open donor nephrectomy and does not require modifications for the recipient operation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Laparoscopic-assisted upper pole ureterocalicostomy using renal inversion and autotransplantation.

Despite various described methods of reconstruction after upper ureteral injury, many cases are complex and remain a surgical challenge. Careful preoperative evaluation and planning are crucial in the selection of the appropriate procedure, particularly in patients in whom preservation of the renal mass is imperative. We report a case of severe upper ureteral injury and subsequent fibrosis, with no usable renal pelvis and focal upper pole dilation, that was managed with renal inversion and upper pole ureterocalicostomy. The option of autotransplantation was provided by laparoscopic nephrectomy and ex vivo reconstruction, minimizing patient morbidity and maximizing a successful outcome. This case illustrates the expansion of laparoscopy from the mere extirpative to a role in complex reconstruction. To our knowledge, this reconstructive strategy has never been previously reported and may be applicable in a limited number of situations.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed2004

The argument against the routine use of ureteral access sheaths.

The current authors' experience with thousands of ureteroscopic procedures has led them to believe that ureteral access sheaths are seldom necessary. No study to date has accurately determined an advantage of using these sheaths for routine ureteroscopy. The current authors have outlined their alternative methods that eliminate the reported advantages of the sheaths. Their philosophy of stone treatment uses laser lithotripsy for small stone burdens and SWL or PNL for larger stone burdens and eliminates the need for prolonged ureteroscopic procedures. Several disadvantages of access sheaths are evident. When this information is taken into account, the routine use of a ureteral access sheath becomes unnecessary. It is only in unusual cases that ureteral access sheaths are of any utility.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2004

Pure laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy: step-by-step approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Debate surrounds laparoscopic kidney procurement for right donor nephrectomy. We detail our pure laparoscopic technique of right kidney retrieval. TECHNIQUE: We use a four-port transperitoneal approach and extract the kidney through a low Pfannenstiel incision. Important elements include: (1) dividing the triangular ligament; (2) identifying the vena cava early; (3) minimizing ureteral dissection; (4) mobilizing the kidney within Gerota's fascia; (5) dissecting the renal artery behind the vena cava; (6) cutting the extraction incision to the peritoneum; (7) applying a Hem-o-Lok and single metal clip on the artery; (8) placing the Endo-TA stapler on the renal vein adjacent to the vena cava; (9) cutting the vessels without clips/staples on the kidney side; and (10) retrieving the kidney manually. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This is a reliable method of right pure laparoscopic donor nephrectomy that maximizes donor benefit and cost-effectiveness. Right laparoscopic nephrectomy is likely easier with this technique and should not be avoided if it is the preferred kidney for transplantation.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

The primary stone event: a new hypothesis involving a vascular etiology.

PURPOSE: We detail a new hypothesis regarding a vascular phenomenon as the primary event in the formation of urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A complete MEDLINE search was performed to examine the existing literature regarding the etiology of nephrolithiasis. In addition, urinary calculi were retrieved from 11 patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy and analyzed for total and esterified cholesterol content. RESULTS: A review of the literature on stone disease revealed many factors inconsistent with the current paradigm of the initiation of nephrolithiasis. These arguments can be based and classified on epidemiological, clinical, physiological, anatomical, and molecular data. In our stone analysis free and esterified cholesterol were found in varying quantities between 0.058 and 2.258 microg/mg stone and 0.012 and 0.777 microg/mg stone, respectively. Esterified cholesterol was found to comprise 75% of total serum cholesterol. In urinary stones esterified cholesterol accounted for 14% to 16% of total cholesterol and the esterified-to-free cholesterol ratio appeared to be related to stone composition. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous inconsistencies exist between current theories of the initial event in nephrolithiasis formation and empirical observational data on stone disease. Our review of the literature and our study of the cholesterol content of renal stones support a new theory regarding the initial stone forming event. We base this novel hypothesis on multiple epidemiological, physiological, anatomical and clinical observations. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis and its clinical usefulness.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed2004

Technique, indications and outcomes of pure laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic nephrectomy for living renal transplantation has emerged as the gold standard. Nevertheless, experience with this technique for procuring right kidneys is limited. We report our single institution results of pure laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was initiated at the our institution in November 1999. Patient selection was initially limited to the left kidney but right surgery was started 2 years later after 97 operations had been performed. We prospectively acquired data on the donor and recipient, and specifically analyzed outcomes of the right kidneys. RESULTS: In a 40-month period 300 laparoscopic donor operations were performed. Overall 44 procedures (15%) were on the right side with the fraction greater (22%) after removing exclusion of the right kidney from laparoscopic selection criteria. In this cohort mean operative time was 170 minutes, significantly less than the 190 minutes for 50 contemporaneous left kidneys (p = 0.001). No case of right donor nephrectomy required open conversion and vessels were of adequate length. Donor and recipient complications were similar in the 2 groups without technical graft loss in the entire series. CONCLUSIONS: Our method of laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy yields excellent graft quality with adequate vascular length and without the need for elaborate modifications or hand assistance. Moreover, the right operation is technically easier and it achieved comparable donor morbidity and recipient renal function. With sufficient experience the right kidney should be procured laparoscopically when indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Symptomatic perirenal serous cysts of müllerian origin mimicking renal cysts on CT.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe the clinical presentation, CT appearance, and management of a series of symptomatic perirenal serous cysts of müllerian origin, confirmed by laparoscopic resection. CONCLUSION: Perirenal serous cysts of müllerian origin are uncommon lesions that may present as large symptomatic perirenal cystic masses mimicking exophytic renal cysts on CT. Serous cyst of müllerian origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis when CT reveals a large solitary perirenal cyst in a woman with flank or abdominal pain or both. Laparoscopic resection may be an effective treatment of such cysts.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Simplified pure laparoscopic bowel anastomosis.

Laparoscopic bowel anastomosis can be a challenging and time-consuming process. No detailed intracorporeal technique has been well described, and most laparoscopists use an extracorporeal technique, which has many disadvantages. We detail a simple, pure laparoscopic method that creates a capacious isoperistaltic side-to-side enteroenterostomy.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed2003

Upper quadrant access for urologic laparoscopy.

Initial access into the peritoneum and establishing pneumoperitoneum are required for laparoscopy. Various techniques have been described to achieve insufflation and place trocars. We describe our method of initial entry into the upper quadrant and subsequent incorporation of this site as a working port during upper urinary tract laparoscopy. This is an easy and safe means of entering the peritoneum, even after prior surgery, and provides a functional trocar for retraction and dissection.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: financial disincentives by the Health Care Financing Administration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a minimally invasive alternative to open radical nephrectomy. We have noticed that since the beginning of 2001, when the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 50545 became available for laparoscopic nephrectomy, the reimbursement for the laparoscopic operation was significantly lowered. This led us to survey 25 laparoscopic urologic surgeons to assess trends in reimbursement from all over the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During this period, the records of reimbursements for radical nephrectomy were available from a single practice to compare that for the open and laparoscopic techniques. The 19 open and 10 laparoscopic operations were entered in a database for statistical analysis. Endourologists around the country also were polled on the subject. RESULTS: The average reimbursement for an open radical nephrectomy was $1581 +/- 325 (SD), while the average reimbursement for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was $1192 +/- 184. Twenty-five polled endourologists had noted similar reductions in reimbursement for laparoscopic procedures. Many of those polled had participated in the Specialty Society Relative Value Unit (RVU) survey for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and stated that their recommendations were that the value be considered greater than that of the open counterpart. CONCLUSION: The highly significant difference in reimbursement reflects a financial disincentive to surgeons performing laparoscopic procedures. It is obvious that in the U.S., the Health Care Financing Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) is devaluating all surgical procedures, and financial pressures of this type are disturbing.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed2003

Endoscopic management of milk of calcium-filled ureterocele stump.

A 38-year-old woman with a duplicated right collecting system and a history of right upper-pole heminephrectomy was referred for persistent dysuria and right lower-quadrant abdominal discomfort. Imaging identified a remnant ureter and a ureterocele filled with what appeared to be a large homogenous stone. At cystoscopy, the ureterocele was incised with a holmium:YAG laser, releasing a large quantity of white milky fluid (milk of calcium). There was no evidence of any solid material. Endoscopic evaluation should be the first step in patients with stones in a ureteral stump because milk of calcium may be the etiology of what appears to be a large stone burden in an obstructed system.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Infection and urinary stones.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite modern antibiotic therapy and technological advances in lithotripsy, the presence of infection in urinary stone patients as well as infectious stones are still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Many new investigations are focusing on the pathogenesis and treatment of these difficult cases. RECENT FINDINGS: Most of the current literature on the subject focuses on pathogenesis of infectious urinary stones. The remaining literature highlights difficult cases, outcomes of treatments, and overall reviews of the subject. SUMMARY: Recent findings lend more theories as to how infection leads to stone formation. Further investigation is critically needed to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from infections with urinary stones and infectious stones.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Utility of oral dissolution therapy in the management of referred patients with secondarily treated uric acid stones.

OBJECTIVES: Uric acid stones are best managed by chemolysis. Some patients with acutely symptomatic stones opt for endourologic therapies. The radiolucent nature of these stones makes secondary interventions difficult to plan. Computed tomography becomes the modality of choice to identify stone locations and size in these patients. We analyzed patients with uric acid stones referred to our stone center after primary treatment had failed to establish the efficacy of oral alkalinization therapy. METHODS: Eleven patients presented after one or more failed attempts to intervene for uric acid stones. Charts were reviewed for age, sex, time with stone before referral, medical therapies undertaken, number of antecedent urologic interventions, number of radiographic studies performed, subsequent procedures performed, and outcomes with a minimal follow-up of 6 months. RESULTS: Eight patients were men and four presented with bilateral stone disease (overall, 15 involved upper tracts). Sixty-seven percent of patients had right-sided solitary calculi. All patients at presentation filled out urinary pH diaries. Of the 11 patients, 4 stated they had been prescribed oral alkaline therapy but were found to be noncompliant, 4 were never prescribed this therapy, and 3 took the medication sporadically. All patients were counseled on self-dosing to maintain their urinary pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and to continue the diaries. Computed tomography scans were done in 9 patients, and intravenous urography and ultrasonography in the other 2 patients confirmed the stone burden. Only 3 patients (27%) required subsequent interventions (ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy). CONCLUSIONS: Secondarily referred patients with uric acid stones are best treated with medical therapy. These findings suggest that the initial medical regimens had failed because of noncompliance or lack of effective follow-up by the primary urologist. Seventy-three percent of these patients had dissolution of the stones, requiring no further endourologic intervention.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Topiramate-induced nephrolithiasis.

Topiramate is a recently developed antiepileptic medication that is becoming more widely prescribed because of its efficacy in treating refractory seizures. Urologists should be aware that this medication can cause metabolic acidosis in patients secondary to inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. In addition, a distal tubular acidification defect may result, thus impairing the normal compensatory drop in urine pH. These factors can lead to the development of calcium phosphate nephrolithiasis. We report the first two cases of topiramate-induced nephrolithiasis in the urologic literature.

Acids↗