Background: Preoperative bladder urine culture (PBUC) analysis has become a standard application before any stone surgery. When growth is detected in PBUC, it is contraindicated to perform flexible ureterorenoscopy (f-URS). The results of the PBUC susceptibility test do not correlate well with those of the renal pelvic urine culture (RPUC) analysis. Previous studies have demonstrated the positivity of RPUC as an important marker for the development of infections after endoscopic operations. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the consistency between PBUC and RPUC and to identify preoperative markers associated with a positive RPUC. Methods: Data from 129 patients who underwent f-URS on renal and proximal ureteral stones in two centers between 2015 and 2020 were prospectively recorded in a database and retrospectively analyzed. PBUC was obtained from all the patients preoperatively, and RPUC was taken at the beginning of the f-URS operation. The results of the two cultures were compared. Results: There was growth in PBUC in 25 (19.4%) patients and RPUC in 35 (27.1%) patients. Possible predictive markers in predicting a positive RPUC were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Preoperative urine density at the renal pelvis [odds ratio (OR): 0.848, p<0.001],grade≥2 hydronephrosis (OR:18.970,p=0.001), and lower calyceal stone localization (OR:0.033,p=0.017) were determined as independent predictive factors for a positive RPUC. The ability of pelvis urine density to predict positive RPUC positivity was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic analysis, in which the area under the curve value was determined to be 0.858 (0.780-0.936). The cut-off value of pelvis urine density in the prediction of RPUC positivity was 4.5, at which it had 80% sensitivity and 77.7% specificity. Conclusions: PBUC may not represent true colonization. Although bladder urine culture is negative before the operation, patients with preoperative hydronephrosis and low pelvis urine density may have RPUC growth.

Abstract The T.O.HO. scoring system was developed to predict stone-free status after flexible ureterenoscopy (fURS) lithotripsy applied for ureter and renal stones. This study aimed to perform the external validation of the T.O.HO. score in the Turkish population and propose a modification for this system. Material Methods Patients who underwent fURS for kidney and ureteral stones between January 2017 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patient and stone characteristics and perioperative findings were noted. The T.O.HO. score was externally validated and compared with the STONE score. Stone-free parameters were evaluated with the multivariate analysis. Based on the results of this analysis, the T.O.HO. score was modified and internally validated. Results A total of 621 patients were included in the study. The stone-free rate was determined as 79.8% (496/621) after fURS. The regression analysis showed that stone area had better predictive power than stone diameter (p=0.025). Lower pole (reference), middle pole [odds ratio (OR)=0.492 p=0.016] and middle ureteral (OR=0.227, p=0.024) localizations, stone density (OR=1.001, p<0.001), and stone volume (OR = 1.008, p <0.001) were determined as independent predictive markers for stone-free status. Based on the effect size of the stone surface area in the nomogram, stone volume was divided into five categories, at 1-point intervals. The AUC values of the T.O.HO., STONE, and modified T.O.HO. score in predicting stone-free status were calculated as 0.758, 0.634, and 0.821, respectively. The modified T.O.HO. created by adding stone volume was statistically significantly superior to the original version (ROC curve comparison, p < 0.001). Conclusion The T.O.HO. score effectively predicted stone-free status after fURS. However, Modified T.O.HO. SS showed the best predictive performance compared with original T.O.HO. SS.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the outcomes and complication rates of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in geriatric patients according to Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Materials and Methods: Between April 2011 and January 2020, patients who underwent PCNL and RIRS for renal stone between 10 and 30 mm in geriatric patients were retrospectively evaluated. All patients’ Pre-surgery comorbidities were recorded and the CCI was calculated. The two groups’ perioperative values, stone free rates and complication rates were compared. Postoperative complications were noted according to the Clavien scoring system. Results: There were 89 and 72 patients in the PCNL and RIRS group, respectively. The median age was 67 years in both of groups (p=0.192). The stone size were 22.2 ± 3.5 and 19.9 ± 7.1 in the PCNL and RIRS group, respec¬tively ( p = 0.082). CCI scores were similar in both groups (p=0.098). Stone free and complication rates were significantly higher in PCNL group (p = 0.021, p = 0.034). Also we found that overall complication and major complication rates were statistically significant difference with especially Charlson comorbidity index score ≥2 in PCNL group (p = 0,016, p = 0,029). According to correlation analysis of intraoperative and postoperative results with Charlson comorbidity index, there was positive correlation between total complication with PCNL and RIRS group, respectively (p < 0,001, p = 0.024). In addition, there was positive correlation between lenght of hospital stay with PCNL and RIRS group, respectively (p = 0,007, p < 0,001). Also there was positive correlation between blood transfusion requirement with PCNL group (p=0,009). Conclusion: Despite there was higher stone clearence in PCNL, the complication rates were higher compared to RIRS. So RIRS might be a safe alternative treatment method to PCNL in older patients with a high CCI score.

Objective: To classify intraoperative and postoperative complications using the modified Clavien classification system (MCCS) and modified Satava classification system (SCS) and to evaluate the parameters associated with complications in patients undergoing retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for renal and proximal ureteral stones. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 949 patients who underwent RIRS for renal stones and upper ureteral stones at two institutions between March2015 and June2020. Intraoperative complications were assessed using SCC and postoperative complications were graded according to MCCS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken to determine predictive factors affecting complication rates. Results: The female/male ratio of 949 patients was found to be 346 (36.5)/603(63.5). The median stone size was determined as 13 mm. The stone-free rate was 83.6%after the first intervention, and the final stone-free rate was 94.4% after re-procedure. According to SCS, the intraoperative event and complication incidence was 153(16.1%). MCCS revealed postoperative complications in 121(12.8%) patients. Major complications were observed in 18(1.9%) patients. The rate of complications was higher in patients with renal anomalies (9.9% vs 3.9%, p=0.006). Besides, stone localization, size, number and density were associated with the development of complications (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). In addition, the multivariate analysis revealed that for the patients with grade≥3 complications according to MCCS, only stone-free status was a significant predictor of complication development (p=0.044) whereas for those with grade ≥2b complications according to SCS, significant predictors were stone size (p<0.001), stone density (p=0.022), and fluoroscopy time (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that abnormal kidney anatomy, multiple stones, operative time, and stone-free status were reliable predictors of complication development during and after RIRS. Appropriate preoperative management should be planned according to these predictors to prevent intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Objective: To present a nation-wide analysis of the workload of urology departments in Turkey week-by-week during Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: The centers participating in the study were divided into three groups as tertiary referral centers, state hospitals and private practice hospitals. The number of outpatients, inpatients, daily interventions and urological surgeries were recorded prospectively between 9-March-2020 and 31-May-2020. All these variables were recorded for the same time interval of 2019 as well. The weekly change of the workload of urology during pandemic period was evaluated; also the workload of urology and the distributions of certain urological surgeries were compared between the pandemic period and the same time interval of the year 2019. Results: A total of 51 centers participated in the study. The number of outpatients, inpatients, urological surgeries and daily interventions were found to be dramatically decreased by the third week of pandemics in state hospitals and tertiary referral centers; however the daily urological practice were similar in private practice hospitals throughout the pandemic period. When the workload of urology in pandemic period and the same time interval of the year 2019 were compared; a huge decrease was observed in all variables during pandemic period. However, temporary measures like ureteral stenting, nephrostomy placement and percutaneous cystostomy have been found to increase during Covid-19 pandemic compared to normal life. Conclusions: Covid-19 pandemic significantly effected the routine daily urological practice likewise other subspecialties and priority was given to emergent and non-deferrable surgeries by urologists in concordance with published clinical guidelines.