ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Piezolith 3000(R) is one of the 3rd generation lithotriptors that uses double layered piezoelectric shock waves for the treatment of urinary stone. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Piezolith 3000(R) lithotriptor and we compared it with the previous Piezolith 2300(R) lithotriptor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 500 patients with urinary calculi who had been treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) from January 2002 to December 2003, but complete follow up data was available for only 385 cases. The distribution of stones, the success rate and the number of ESWL sessions according to the size and location of the stones, the auxiliary procedures and their complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 172 cases with renal stone and 213 cases with ureteral calculi. The success rate, defined as being stone-free or having asymptomatic residual fragments measuring 3mm or less, was 82.0% for the renal stones and 93.0% for the ureteral calculi. The overall success rate for all the calculi was 88.1%. The mean number of sessions was 3.6 for the renal stones and 2.3 for the ureteral calculi. The overall mean number of sessions was 2.8. All the treatments were performed without analgesia or sedation except for one child (5 years old) who was given oral sedation. Any serious complications or side effects such as renal hematoma were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Piezolith 3000(R) lithotriptor allows shorter treatment sessions and it has more comfortable positioning tools to focus on the stone. It also has the advantage of being anesthesia free and a lower morbidity rate (e.g. pain). Yet we couldn't find any difference of the success rate between the previous standard piezo-system and the Piezolith 3000 .
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Analgesia , Anesthesia , Calculi , Follow-Up Studies , Hematoma , Lithotripsy , Shock , Ureteral Calculi , Urinary Calculi , Urinary TractABSTRACT
There have been several recent reports on bladder calculi in women with a previous history of pelvic operation. We experienced 3 patients with foreign body induced bladder stones within 1 year. These calculi had formed on a retained intravesical non-absorbable sutures or a pledget. The radiological and cystoscopic findings and operative technique are discussed.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Calculi , Foreign Bodies , Sutures , Urinary Bladder Calculi , Urinary Bladder , Urinary Incontinence, StressABSTRACT
PURPOSE: It has previously been reported that patients with renal cell carcinomas(RCC) with normal platelet count have an increased survival rate compared with those with thrombocytosis. Whether thrombocytosis was associated with poor prognosis in patients with a renal cell carcinomas was determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The record of 161 patients with renal cell carcinomas, who underwent radical nephrectomies, between January 1993 and December 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were at least one perioperative platelet count and a histologic diagnosis of RCC. The survival, pathological tumor stage and grade, histological cell subtype, age, gender, hematuria and history of flank pain were recorded from the charts. Platelet counts were checked, and any patient with at least 1 platelet count greater than 400,000/mm3 was classified with thrombocytosis. RESULTS: Mean patient age and follow-up duration were 56.6, ranging from 30 to 80 years, and 49.8+/-28.8 months, respectively. There were 30 and 131 patients with thrombocytosis and persistently normal platelet counts, respectively. 11 of the 30 patients with thrombocytosis and 7 of the remaining 131 patients died of disease progression. Patients with thrombocytosis had a mean survival of 63.6 months, compared with 115.9 months in those without. The pathological tumor stage, nuclear grade and flank pain were associated with thrombocytosis(p<0.005). However, no statistically significant associations were found between other prognostic factors(cell subtype, gender, age and hematuria) and the presence of thrombocytosis. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative thrombocytosis was found more frequently in patients with advanced RCC, and those patients showed poorer survival compared with those with a normal platelet count. These results suggest that the perioperative platelet count could be a new prognostic factor in patients with RCC having undergone a radical nephrectomy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Diagnosis , Disease Progression , Flank Pain , Follow-Up Studies , Hematuria , Nephrectomy , Platelet Count , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , ThrombocytosisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Although a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most effective treatment method for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is difficult to predict the exact prognosis with this method. The peak flow rate (PFR) and post void residual urine (PVR), measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP in the operating room, were evaluated to see if they correlated with the surgical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients, having undergone TURP, had their PFR and PVR measured by abdominal compressing, both before and after TURP in the operating room. The abdomen was compressed to 100cm H2O of intravesical pressure with a concrete test hammer. All patients were requested to undergo uroflowmetry, and their international prostate symptom scores (IPSS) were assessed, 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The PFR and PVR, measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP, correlated well with the PFR measured 3 months after the TURP (p<0.05). Higher PFR, lower PVR and a greater improvement in the IPSS were observed, but these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the PFR and PVR, measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP, are thought to be a good parameter for predicting the prognosis of TURP.