Non-invasive evaluation of obstruction after ureteroscopic stone removal: Role of renal resistive index assessment

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate prediction of postoperative ureteral obstruction needing ureteral stent insertion by evaluating the resistive index (RI) values and the grade of hydronephrosis. Material and Methods: A total of 66 adult patients undergoing stentless endoscopic ureteral stone treatment (URS) between January 2018 and January 2019 were included in this prospective study. Preoperative patient and stone characteristics were noted. All patients were evaluated with renal Doppler ultrasonography study to assess degree of hydronephrosis and RI values. A renal Doppler ultrasonography was repeated at postoperative 1st, 3rd and 7th days. Changes in both RI and hydronephrosis levels before and after the procedures were noted. On the postoperative 7th day, patients were divided into two groups including obstructive and non-obstructive cases according to RI values assessed where a RI value of 0.7 was accepted as the cut-off for obstruction. The preoperative and perioperative characteristics of both groups were evaluated in a comparative manner. Results: The mean patient age was 43.6 ± 1.72 years. Significant improvements were noted in RI and grade of hydronephrosis after the operation. The grade of hydronephrosis and RI values were found to improve more significantly on postoperative 3rd day when compared to the postoperative 7th day (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01). A significant correlation was detected between the grade of hydronephrosis (>grade 2) and obstructive RI values (> 0.7) in each postoperative visits (p: 0.001). RI values (> 0.7) at postoperative seventh days were correlated with larger mean stone size, increased ureteral wall thickness, increased diameter of the ureter proximal to the stone, and longer duration of the operation. Preoperative high-grade hydronephrosis indicated obstructive RI values at postoperative seventh day (p = 0.001) Conclusion: Changes in RI values on Doppler sonography and the grade of hydronephrosis may be a guiding parameter in assessing postoperative ureteral obstruction.

Renal artery stenosis: the challenging in diagnosis and therapy

Hypertension is still the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in Indonesia. Renovascular hypertension is one type of secondary hypertension. It is commonly caused by the presence of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Whereas, atherosclerosis (ARAS) and fibromuscular disease (FMD) are the most common causes of RAS. Early diagnosis is necessary because it has the potential to be cured by eliminating stenosis of the renal artery. However, the signs and symptoms of renovascular hypertension are not specific. The supporting examination to diagnose RAS is also expensive. So, screening in the population at risk is needed. The examinations to prove the presence of RAS are arteriography, captopril renogram, renal ultrasonography, renal Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and computed angiographic tomography (CTA). Until now, three therapeutic modalities can be selected in the management of renovascular hypertension; pharmacological therapy, surgical intervention, percutaneous intervention angioplasty with and without stenting. This narrative review summarizes the literature focused on the diagnosis and therapy of RAS.

Longitudinal prospective observational type study about determinants of renal resistive index variations in chronic renal failure patients treated with conventional medical and dietetic therapy

Objective: This longitudinal prospective observational type study was conceived with the aim to examine the impact on renal resistive index (RRI) of the variables that we can manipulate with therapeutic and or dietetic interventions in a chronic kidney disease population in order to known which of these variables was statistically related to changes in RRI and therefore could become the object of the greatest therapeutic effort. Material and methods: This study was undertaken between May 2016 to May 2017 in the outpatient nephrology and urology clinic of San Donato Hospital in Arezzo. The study population (84 patients: 47 males and 37 females) was randomly selected among the chronic kidney patients (with various degrees of renal impairment) affected by hypertension and or diabetes mellitus. After a comprehensive medical examination these patients were submitted to determination of serum creatinine, glycated hemoglobin, 24-hour urinary albumin excretion and finally renal Doppler ultrasonography. Then the patients were submitted to a full therapeutic and dietetic intervention to ameliorate the renal impairment by a wide range of actions and after on average a one-year interval were submitted again to a new medical examination and a second determination of serum creatinine, glycated hemoglobin, 24-hour urinary albumin excretion and a new renal Doppler ultrasonography too. Results: The comparison between basal and final data revealed a slight reduction in the mean of bilateral renal resistance indices (Delta RRI: -0.0182 ± 0.08), associated to a slight increase in the mean glomerular filtration rate (Delta GFR: 0.8738 ± 10.95 ml/min/1.73 m2), a reduction in mean body weight (Delta weight: -1.9548 ± 5.26 Kg) and mean BMI (Delta BMI: -0.7643 ± 2.10 Kg/m2) as well as a reduction in the mean systolic blood pressure (Delta systolic blood pressure: -8.8333 ± 25.19 mmHg). Statistical analysis showed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between Delta RRI and Delta weight (p < 0.03), Delta BMI (p < 0.02) and Delta systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the many limitations the our study clearly identifies the targets (yet widely known) to act on to prevent kidney alterations related to RRI and provides further evidence, if any, of the utility of RRI as a key parameter in monitoring patients with chronic renal failure and as a valuable tool to drive the clinical efforts to contrast the kidney disease.