Background and Objectives: The European Association of Urology guidelines on urolithiasis highlight the limited evidence supporting the superiority of percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) over retrograde ureteral stent placement for the primary treatment of infected hydronephrosis secondary to urolithiasis. We, therefore, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effects of PCN and retrograde ureteral stent in patients with severe urinary tract infections secondary to obstructive urolithiasis. Materials and Methods: Meta-analyses were performed to compare four outcomes: time for the temperature to return to normal; time for the white blood cell (WBC) count to return to normal; hospital length of stay; and procedure success rate. After a full-text review, eight studies were identified as relevant and included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: No significant difference was detected between PCN and retrograde ureteral stenting for the time for the temperature to return to normal (p = 0.13; mean difference [MD] = -0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.69, 0.21; I2 = 96%) or the time for the WBC count to return to normal (p = 0.24; MD = 0.46; 95% CI = -0.30, 1.21; I2 = 85%). There was also no significant difference between methods for hospital length of stay (p = 0.78; MD = 0.45; 95% CI = -2.78, 3.68; I2 = 96%) or procedure success rate (p = 0.76; odds ratio = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.34, 2.20; I2 = 47%). Conclusions: The clinical outcomes related to efficacy did not differ between PCN and retrograde ureteral stenting for severe urinary tract infection with obstructive urolithiasis. Thus, the choice between procedures depends mainly on the urologist\'s or patient\'s preferences.

Percutaneous renal surgery, although much less invasive than other procedures, is subject to several complications, which can occur at any time during the course of treatment, starting from the performance of the minimal nephrostomy procedure. We present an extremely rare vascular complication of percutaneous nephrostomy represented by arteriovenous fistula that occurred in a 24-year-old patient known to have right ureteropelvic junction obstruction operated with the absence of double-J catheter permeability and grade II-III hydronephrosis for which minimal percutaneous nephrostomy was urgently fitted. The arteriovenous fistula was resolved by supraselective artery embolization.

UNASSIGNED: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is an extremely rare tumor with nonspecific clinical manifestations, making diagnosis challenging.
UNASSIGNED: Herein, we report a case of MPM with occult onset presenting with bilateral hydronephrosis and renal insufficiency. A 30-year-old man was admitted to the Urology Department because of recurrent bilateral lower back pain. The etiology was unclear after a series of laboratory tests, imaging examinations, bone marrow aspiration, renal puncture biopsy, ascites examination, ureteroscopy, and so on. Finally, MPM was diagnosed by laparoscopic exploration and biopsy. Moreover, during the course of the disease, the patient\'s bilateral ureters were compressed, and the obstruction could not be relieved after the placement of ordinary ureteral stents. Percutaneous nephrostomy or metal ureteral stenosis was appropriate in managing malignant ureteral obstruction as it could improve renal function.
UNASSIGNED: The onset of this case was insidious, and the diagnosis was difficult, with a poor prognosis. To date, only a handful of cases have been reported. We hope this case can provide some enlightenment for our clinical work.

UNASSIGNED: To assess if there is a preferable intervention between retrograde ureteral stent (RUS) and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tube, in cases of upper urinary tract stone obstruction with complications requiring urgent drainage, by evaluating outcomes regarding urinary symptoms, quality of life (QoL), spontaneous stone passage, and length of hospital stays, since there is no literature stating the superiority of one modality over the other.
UNASSIGNED: We searched MEDLINE and other sources for relevant articles in June 2019 without any date restrictions or filters applied. The selection was done first by the title and abstract screening and then by full-text assessment for eligibility. Only randomized controlled trials or cohort studies in patients with hydronephrosis secondary to obstructive urolithiasis that presented comparative data between PCN and RUS placement concerning at least one of the defined outcome measures were included. Lastly, MEDLINE database and PubMed platform were screened again using the same terms, from June 2019 until November 2022.
UNASSIGNED: Of 556 initial articles, seven were included in this review. Most works were considered of moderate-to-high quality. Three studies regarding QoL showed a tendency against stenting, even though only one demonstrated statistically significant negative impact on overall health state. Two works reported significantly more post-intervention urinary symptoms in stenting patients. One article found that PCN is a significant predictor of spontaneous stone passage, when adjusted for stone size and location. Findings on length of hospital stays were not consistent among articles.
UNASSIGNED: PCN appears to be the intervention better tolerated, with less impact on the patient\'s perceived QoL and less post-operative urinary symptoms, in comparison with RUS. Nevertheless, further studies with larger samples and a randomized controlled design are suggested.

UNASSIGNED: The debate regarding the optimal drainage method for acute obstructive upper urinary tract infection persists, focusing on the choice between percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) and retrograde ureteral stenting (RUS).
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to systematically examine the perioperative outcomes and safety associated with PCN and RUS in treating acute obstructive upper urinary tract infections.
UNASSIGNED: A comprehensive investigation was conducted using the Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to December 2022, following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The utilized keywords included \'PCN\', \'RUS\', \'acute upper obstructive uropathy\', and \'RCT\'. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies providing accurate and analyzable data, which incorporated the total subject count, perioperative outcomes, and complication rates. The assessed perioperative outcomes included fluoroscopy time, normalization of temperature, normalization of serum creatinine, normalization of white blood cell (WBC) count, and operative time. Safety outcomes encompassed failure rate, intraoperative and postoperative hematuria, postoperative fever, postoperative pain, and postoperative nephrostomy tube or stent slippage rate. The study protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022352474).
UNASSIGNED: The meta-analysis encompassed 7 trials involving 727 patients, with 412 assigned to the PCN group and 315 to the RUS group. The outcome of the meta-analysis unveiled a reduced occurrence of postoperative hematuria in the PCN group [odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.99, p = 0.04], along with a decreased frequency of insertion failure (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.81, p = 0.01). In addition, the RUS group exhibited a shorter fluoroscopy time than the PCN group (mean difference = 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.48, p = 0.0004).
UNASSIGNED: Given the significant impact of hematuria and catheterization failure on postoperative quality of life, the preference for PCN appears more advantageous than RUS.
Meta-analysis of perioperative outcomes and safety of percutaneous nephrostomy vs retrograde ureteral stenting in the treatment of acute obstructive upper urinary tract infection The optimal drainage method for acute obstructive upper urinary tract infection between PCN and RUS is currently debatable. Our meta-analysis found PCN performed better than RUS in hematuria and catheterization failure rate, although PCN was associated with longer exposure time.

The association between a duplex renal collecting system and ectopic ureter insertion is well-established. Although congenital genitourinary abnormalities are usually detected during childhood, incidentally, or due to underlying symptoms or medical complications, a few cases might not be diagnosed/treated until adulthood. Herein, we present a case of a 43-year-old lady who came to the emergency department with acute left flank pain associated with a burning sensation during micturition for four days. Imaging showed a duplex collecting system, and findings suggestive of obstructive uropathy. The patient underwent an initial trial of left ureteroscopy that was unsuccessful. Therefore, the interventional radiology (IR) department was consulted to perform left percutaneous nephrostomy insertion with antegrade ureteric stenting, where the patient was noted to have ectopic ureter insertion into the anterior wall of the vagina by antegrade ureterogram. The patient underwent ureter re-implantation to save the kidney from further insult.

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a severe kidney infection characterized by gas formation, predominantly affecting diabetic women. Symptoms include fever, pain, and nausea, requiring urgent and accurate management due to its potentially fatal nature.
METHODS: This article reports a successful management of a case of bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis complicated with perinephric, retroperitoneal collection and urosepsis.
CONCLUSIONS: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe kidney infection characterized by acute necrotizing infection in the renal tissue and nearby structures. While EPN typically affects individuals with risk factors such as diabetes, obstructive uropathy, and hypertension, this case is unique because the patient lacks these common risk factors but hails from a region where EPN is more prevalent. The management of EPN has evolved over the years, with recent advances in imaging, antibiotics, and drainage techniques leading to a shift from invasive surgical procedures to more conservative approaches, resulting in improved outcomes and reduced mortality rates.
CONCLUSIONS: Emphysematous pyelonephritis demands urgent intervention to prevent high mortality rates. Swift, tailored treatment, including antibiotics and possible surgical interventions, is crucial, involving a multidisciplinary approach for improved patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with urosepsis associated with upper urinary tract stones require further stone management after emergency drainage.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of elective flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (F-URSL) for upper urinary tract stones in patients with prior urosepsis who have undergone emergency drainage using retrograde ureteral stent(RUS) or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN).
METHODS: Between January 2017 and December 2021, clinical data were collected for 102 patients who underwent elective F-URSL following emergency drainage for urosepsis caused by upper ureteral or renal stones. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the drainage method used: the RUS group and the PCN group. The collected data included patient demographics, stone parameters, infection recovery after emergency drainage, and clinical outcomes post F-URSL. Subsequently, the data underwent statistical analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included in the statistical analysis, with 58 (56.86%) in the RUS group and 44 (43.14%) in the PCN group. Among the patients, 84 (82.35%) were female and 18 (17.65%) were male, with an average age of 59.36 years. Positive urine cultures were observed in 71 (69.61%) patients. Successful drainage was achieved in all patients in both groups, and there were no significant differences in the time required for normalization of white blood cell count (WBC) and body temperature following drainage. Additionally, all patients underwent F-URSL successfully, and no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of operative time, stone-free rates, postoperative fever, and postoperative hospital stay.
CONCLUSIONS: Both RUS and PCN have been established as effective approaches for managing urosepsis caused by upper urinary tract stones. Furthermore, the impact of these two drainage methods on the subsequent management of stones through elective F-URSL has shown consistent outcomes.

UNASSIGNED: There are persistent controversies about the outcomes and benefits of drainage of malignant ureteral obstruction by percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). This study aimed to assess the predictors of the time-to-nadir (TTN) of serum creatinine (SCr) levels after drainage of bilaterally obstructed kidneys (BOKs) due to bladder cancer (BC) by PCN.
UNASSIGNED: This prospective nonrandomized study included patients with BOKs due to BC treated by PCN between April 2019 and March 2022. The primary outcome measure was TTN.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 55 patients with a median age (range) of 66 years (47-86 years), 32 (58.2%) had a normal nadir SCr and 23 (41.8%) had a high nadir SCr within 21 days after drainage of BOKs due to BC. High nadir SCr was associated with a higher mean age (p = 0.011) and lower body mass index (BMI, p = 0.043). However, patients with normal nadir SCr had a significantly shorter TTN (p = 0.023) and an increased mean SCr trajectory (p < 0.001) during TTN. In multivariate analysis, low urine output at presentation (p = 0.021) and high BMI (p = 0.006) were associated with longer TTN. However, the mean parenchymal thickness (p = 0.428) and laterality of drainage (p = 0.466) were not associated with the mean TTN and SCr normalization rates. According to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification, 8 cases of hematuria were managed conservatively (grade 2), and 2 cases of PCN slippage were repositioned using local anesthesia (grade 3).
UNASSIGNED: Despite the safety of PCN for drainage of BOKs due to BC, more than 41% of the patients failed to have a normal nadir SCr. Predrainage low urine output and high BMI were associated with longer TTN. Laterality of drainage had no significant effects on the TTN and SCr trajectory.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze prognostic factors associated with ureteral stent failure and to develop a prediction model for malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) in patients with non-urological cancers.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with non-urological cancers who underwent ureteral stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) for MUO between 2006 and 2014. Variables predicting stent failure were identified using Cox regression analysis.
RESULTS: Of the 743 patients, 468 (63.0%) underwent ureteral stenting only, and 275 (37.0%) underwent PCN owing to technical (n=215) or functional (n=60) stent failure. The median overall survival was 4 [interquartile range (IQR) 1-11] months, and the median interval duration to stent failure was 2 (IQR 0-7) months. In univariate analysis, lower gastrointestinal cancer, previous radiotherapy to the pelvis, bladder invasion, lower ureteral obstruction, and low previous estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (<30 mL/min/1.73 m²) were significantly associated with a decreased survival rate. In multivariate analysis, bladder invasion and previous eGFR were significant predictors. With these two predictors, we divided patients into three groups based on their presence: low-risk (neither factor; n=516), intermediate-risk (one factor; n=206), and high-risk (both factors; n=21). The median stent failure-free survival rates of patients in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 26 (8-unreached), 1 (0-18), and 0 (0-0) months, respectively (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: In cases of ureteral obstruction caused by non-urological cancers, patients with bladder invasion and a low eGFR showed poor stent failure-free survival. Therefore, PCN should be considered the primary procedure for these patients.