OBJECTIVES: To review the present evidence supporting the use of single-incision slings for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence.METHODS: A Pubmed search was performed using words as stress urinary incontinence, slings, singleincision slings, mini-sling, TVT-Secur™, MiniArc™, TFS, Arcusto-Arcus™ and Ajust™. This search was complemented by a review of the references from the papers found in the initial search. Only papers written in English, with a minimum of 30 cases and 6 months follow up were analyzed.RESULTS: Sixteen papers were found with the defined characteristics, 4 of them being comparative studies. Most studies include a low number of patients with followup not exceeding 12 months. Techniques are easy and seem to require a short learning curve, exception being TVT-Secur™. Operating time is short and complications are few and mild. Generally, results at 12 months are close to those reported after conventional slings. In two comparative studies Mini-Arc™ was as effective as a transobturator comparator. However in two additional comparisons, single incision slings had worse outcomes than the conventional comparator.CONCLUSION: Some single-incision slings look promising in most series and even as effective as conventional sub-urethral slings at short term evaluation. However, no experience reported by independent authors can be found. Therefore, at this moment a clear statement in favor of the widespread use of single-incision slings cannot be made. More studies must define the efficacy of these techniques against conventional sub-urethral slings. In addition, comparisons among available singleincision slings should define one ideal model.

Nephron-sparing surgery is currently considered the gold standard treatment for T1 renal tumors. As laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) represents a technically challenging procedure, robotic surgery has been increasingly used during the last few years in the field of nephron-sparing surgery. The aim of this review is to analyze the techniques and outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN).Currently available evidence shows that RPN is a feasible and safe procedure for small localized renal tumors and also for selected complex renal tumors. Early comparative studies have demonstrated similar perioperative outcomes between RPN and LPN. With a trend toward, a shorter ischemia time in the RPN. However oncological follow-up is limited and further prospective trials are awaited to confirm benefits at robotic approach during partial nephrectomy.

Introduction of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy represented a leap forward in upper urinary tract endourology. Nowadays, areas of the pyelocaliceal system accessible otherwise only by percutaneous or open surgery, can be approached in a retrograde fashion, using the anatomical pathways. The flexible ureteroscopes evolved from the limited deflectable first generation ones to the digital very maneuverable models. The ancillary instruments and the energy sources underwent a similar evolution. Flexible ureteroscopy is a very useful investigative method, especially in patients with equivocal data provided by the imaging. Introduction of this procedure decreased significantly the number of cases with so called “essential” hematuria. The conservatively treated upper urinary tract tumors can be also followed-up more efficiently, the recurrence being identified before becoming radiological obvious. Initially reserved only for diagnostic purposes, flexible uretero-pyeloscopy may be used also in the treatment of various pathological conditions of the upper urinary tract such as lithiasis, stenosis, tumors, pyelocaliceal abnormalities etc. However, technical limitations regarding the visibility and access are still influencing the outcome of the method. The characteristics of the available flexible endoscope, and how they are influenced by the energy sources and ancillary instruments used is crucial for achieving the best performances. Also the particularities of the lesion and upper urinary tract anatomy have a significant impact over the flexible ureteroscopic approach. Despite the efficacy already achieved, the technological progress may still allow various improvements of the method, including robotic flexible ureteroscopy.