Urinary fistulas after partial nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma

Urinary fistulas after partial nephrectomy are rare complications of this operation. There are various reasons for their development, prevention and treatment. This review analyzes the results of the cases' prevalence of urine leakage after partial nephrectomy with various approaches, occurrence's predictors of urinary fistulas, possible ways of their intraoperative prevention and treatment methods. The obtained data show that the size of tumors, their endophytic nature and proximity to the kidney pelvicalyceal system, as well as suturing of its defect, can be predictors of the development of urinary fistulas (UFs). Some authors point to the influence of long ischemia time and high blood loss on the occurrence of UFs. The main method of treating UFs is ureteral stenting or percutaneous drainage of the kidney pelvicalyceal system. For long-term persistent UFs, the method of choice can be simultaneous introduction of 2 stents, retrograde or percutaneous injection of fibrin glue, percutaneous cryoablation of the UFs.

How I treat anemia in the perisurgical setting

Anemia is a common finding in the perioperative setting with significant untoward consequences including worsening of outcomes and diminished quality of life as well as increased risk of allogeneic blood transfusions. Here, we present 3 cases that illustrate how anemia can be perioperatively managed in patients undergoing cardiac, orthopedic, and oncology surgeries. Timely detection of anemia prior to high-blood loss surgeries can allow clinicians to manage it and optimize hemoglobin level, making patients better prepared for the surgery. Treatment of anemia should be guided by the etiology and may include erythropoietic agents, folic acid, B12, and iron preparations. Other blood management strategies geared toward reducing surgical blood loss such as autologous transfusion techniques and agents to optimize hemostasis are used during surgery and in the immediate postoperative period. Patients should be closely monitored following surgery for signs of ongoing bleeding in need of control. Finally, screening for and management of anemia should continue in the postoperative and postdischarge period, as persistence and recurrence of anemia can further undermine patient’s outcomes.

Preoperative anemia-screening clinics

Preoperative anemia is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality and with increased risk of perioperative transfusion. It is an important and modifiable risk factor for surgical patients. For high-blood-loss surgery, preoperative anemia is defined as hemoglobin <13 g/dL for both male and female patients. Preoperative anemia is common, ranging from 25% to 40% in large observational studies. The most common treatable cause of preoperative anemia is iron-deficiency anemia; the initial laboratory tests should focus on making this diagnosis. Management of iron-deficiency anemia includes iron supplementation with IV iron therapy when oral iron is ineffective or not tolerated, there is severe anemia, and there is insufficient time to surgery (<4 weeks). In other situations, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may be considered, particularly for those patients with multiple alloantibodies or religious objections to transfusion. To facilitate the diagnosis and management of preoperative anemia, establishment of preoperative anemia-screening clinics is essential. The goals of management of preoperative anemia are to treat anemia, reduce the need for transfusion, and improve patient outcomes.