The Outcome of Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Ureterolithotomy for the Management of Upper Ureteral Stones Larger than 10 mm: A Comparison with Rigid Ureteroscopic Removal of Stones with Lithoclast(R)

PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcome of laparoscopic retroperitoneal ureterolithotomy (LRU) and compared the results with the rigid ureteroscopic removal of stones with the Lithoclast(R) (rigid URS) for the management of large upper ureteral stones (> or =10 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2002 and March 2008, rigid URS and LRU were performed in 37 and 24 patients, respectively. We evaluated the outcomes of each procedure and compared the success rate according to the location (above and below the L3 level by the third intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine) and size of the stones (10-15 mm and > or =15 mm in diameter). RESULTS: The overall success rate for rigid URS and LRU were 70.3% (26/37) and 91.7% (22/24), respectively (p=0.059). For rigid URS, the success rate was 50.0% (8/16) and 85.7% (18/21) for stones above and below the L3 level (p=0.030), respectively, and 85.7% (23/28) and 33.3% (3/9) for stones 10-15 mm and > or =15 mm in diameter, respectively (p=0.011). For LRU, the success rate was 92.3% (12/13) and 90.9% (10/11) for stones above and below the L3 level, respectively (p=0.902), and 50.0% (1/2) and 95.5% (21/22) for stones 10-15 mm and > or =15 mm in diameter, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LRU demonstrated a high success rate regardless of the location and size of the stones. The outcomes with rigid URS were more varied. These results suggest that LRU is a feasible alternative for large upper ureteral stones that are 15 mm or more in size or located above the intervertebral disc between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae.

Laparoscopic Partial Cystectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder / 대한비뇨기과학회지

From February 2004 to August 2005, 3 patients with muscle invasive bladder adenocarcinoma were identified as candidates for partial cystectomy, and they underwent laparoscopic partial cystectomy. Case 1 and case 2 were primary bladder adenocarcinoma with a pathologic stage of T3aN0M0 and T2bN0M0, respectively, and case 3 was metastatic bladder adenocarcinoma from gastric cancer. The mean surgical time was 213 minutes(range: 140-300). The blood loss was 117cc(range: 60-220), respectively. There were no significant complications after surgery. During a mean follow-up period of 22 months, case 1 and case 2 with primary adenocarcinoma did not have local or systemic recurrence, but case 3 with metastatic adenocarcinoma had intra-abdominal recurrence without local recurrence. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy is a safe, feasible, minimally invasive alternative to open partial cystectomy for treating selected cases of patients with muscle invasive bladder adenocarcinoma.

Clinical Manifestations and Indications for Management of Ureteroceles in Adults / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: To review the clinical manifestations, indications and the management outcomes of adult patients with ureteroceles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2006, 20 adult patients (9 females, 3 males) with ureteroceles were investigated for their clinical symptoms, type of ureterocele and renal function. The outcomes of surgical or conservative management, according to the patients' symptoms were also individually analyzed. The median follow-up was 38 months (12-50 months). RESULTS: The ages at diagnosis of the ureteroceles ranged from 19 to 70 years (mean 37.9 years). The ureterocele-related symptoms were flank pain (3), hematuria (1) and lower urinary tract symptoms (4). Two cases were incidentally detected with ultrasound (1) or computed tomography (1), and another 2 patients presented with non-specific flank pain or a hematuria. Eight patients exhibited an intravesical single system and 4 were associated with upper pole of a duplex system. Only one patient had an ectopic ureterocele, in which the orifice was located in the mid-urethra. The ureterocele-related symptoms were managed using a transurethral incision (5) or resection (1) of the ureterocele, with ureteroscopic stone retrieval (2). The symptoms were resolved after surgery, and there were no recurrence of symptoms or any deterioration of the renal function during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: To diagnose an ureterocele in adult patients requires a high index of suspicion, as not all patients present with the typical clinical manifestations associated in children. Our results suggested that ureterocele-related symptoms are the main indication for surgery in adult patients. While methods with lower morbidity may be a useful, expectant treatment, they may also be an appropriate option for the management of incidentally detected ureteroceles.

Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen as a Predictor of Prostate Volume in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of total prostate-specific antigen(PSA) as a predictor of the prostatic volume in men with symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1999 to 2003, data were collected from 942 patients complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS). Baseline prostatic volume(PV) and serum PSA were measured using transrectal sonography and ELSA-PSA2 kit. Patients with a history of prostate surgery, prostatic cancer and conditions other than BPH at baseline were excluded. Transrectal prostatic biopsy was performed in 162 of patients with a serum PSA >4.0 ng/ml to exclude prostatic cancer. A log-transformed linear regression model was used to estimate threshold PVs in men with BPH, and to select the optimal serum PSA cut-off values. RESULTS: The analyses included 942 patients with a mean age of 63.8 years, mean baseline PV 29.59 ml, and mean baseline PSA value 2.37 ng/ml. PV as well as serum PSA increased with age. Linear regression analyses showed that PV and serum PSA have an age-dependent log-linear relationship. Optimal serum PSA cut-off values for the overall study population irrespective of age was 1.7 ng/ml (AUC: 0.800+/-0.053) to detect PV >30 ml and 2.2 ng/ml (AUC: 0.805+/-0.027) to detect PV >40 ml. The age-specific criteria for detecting men with prostate glands exceeding 40 ml are PSA >1.9 ng/ml (AUC: 0.800+/-0.053), >2.2 ng/ml (AUC: 0.805+/-0.027), and >3.4 ng/ml (AUC: 0.763+/-0.039) for men with BPH in their 50 s, 60 s, and 70 s, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that PV is strongly related to serum PSA in men with BPH and the relationship depends on age. The age-specific criteria for detecting men with prostate glands exceeding 40 ml are PSA >1.9 ng/ml, >2.2 ng/ml, and >3.4 ng/ml for men with BPH in their 50 s, 60 s, and 70 s, respectively. And in the absence of reliable direct measurement of PV, serum PSA can estimate the degree of prostate enlargement accurately to be useful for therapeutics, especially medical management.

Initial Experience of Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: A retroperitoneal laparoscopy, by providing direct access to the retroperitoneal cavity, is useful as an approach to urological surgery. Here, our initial experience of retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomies, in 18 consecutive patients with renal cell carcinomas, is reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 18 consecutive patients, with renal cell carcinomas, that underwent a retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy between June 2000 and September 2002, were reviewed. RESULTS: The retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomies, for the renal cell carcinomas, were successfully performed in all but 3 patients. These 3 were converted to an open technique due to severe adhesion in 1 and bleeding in the other 2. Of the 15 renal cell carcinomas, the final pathological stages were pT1N0M0 in 14 and pT2N0M0 in 1. The mean tumor size and specimen weight were 4.3cm, ranging from 2 to 7.5cm and 258gm, ranging from 203 to 372gm, respectively. The tumors involved the upper pole, the mid pole and the lower pole in 5, 6 and 4 cases, respectively. The mean operative time and estimated blood loss were 195 minutes, ranging from 160 to 260 minutes, and 181.3cc, ranging from 50 to 500cc, respectively. In 4 of the 15 patients, Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) were used for the control of post operative pain, the other 11 required minimal postoperative analgesics. The mean interval to resuming oral intake and hospital stay were 2.3 days, ranging from 2 to 3 days, 5.4 days, ranging from 4 to 7 days, respectively. Complications occurred in 2 patients, and included partial atelectasis in 1 and pulmonary edema in the other. Neither local recurrence nor distant dissemination was observed during the mean follow-up of 13.6 months (range 4 to 25). CONCLUSIONS: A retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a safe and effective alternative, to an open radical nephrectomy, in patients with a localized renal cell carcinoma.

Polypoid Cystitis Managed by Bladder Substitution / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Polypoid cystitis is an unusual benign lesion characterized by the edema, congestion and inflammation elevating the vesical mucosa into papillary projections. It is rare in the absence of one of the following 3 recognizable causes: indwelling catheters, vesical fistula or chronic bladder irritation. We report a case of a rapidly growing, huge polypoid cystitis without identifiable cause in a 17-year-old female, who was managed by cystectomy with uterus preservation and orthotopic bladder substitution.

Pharmacological Erection with Prostaglandin E(1) in the Treatment of Chordee or Penile Curvature / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The artificial erection is critical to chordee repair. We report the use of a natural erection induced by prostaglandin E(1)(PGE1) in the diagnosis and treatment of penile curvatu re as an alternative to artificial erection in children and adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacological erection was induced 14 children with a mean age of 5 years (range 1-10) and 8 adults with a mean age of 33 years (range 18-58) to diagnose and repair anomalies, such as simple penile curvature, chordee with or without hypospadias, webbed penis and Peyronie's disease. Alprostadil (1-16ng) as a agent for induce erection was used exclusively, but no agents were routinely given to reverse the erection was used exclusively, but no agents were routinely given to reverse the erections. The dose injected intracavernosally was dependent on the patient's age, penile size and response, and ranged from 0.5 to 10 micrograms. Time to and adequacy of erection, detumescence, changes in blood pressure and pulse rate were monitored. RESULTS: A dilatation of erectile tissue was achieved within 8 minutes and was judged adequate in 2 and excellent in 20. The mean duration of erection was 107 minutes, while a prolonged erection, for up to 2.5 hours, occured on 2 patients who were treated conservatively. Detumescence were occurred when the corpora were opened, but re-erected penis after closure of corpora in 7 cases who treated with Nesbit's corporeal plication or fibrous plaque excision and dermal graft. Although there were the impression of increased bleeding, there were no specific changes in blood pressure or pulse rate. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological erection in penile curvature is effective and reliable with no significant complications. Although PGE1 is expensive and induced slightly increased bleeding, pharmacological erection has the advantage of tumescence of the entire penis and consequently a constant and natural representation of chordee without corporeal or urethral injury. Therefore, the erection achieved by injecting PGE1 into the corpora cavemosa is a useful alternative to artificial erection in the diagnosis and treatment of penile anomalies.

Two Cases of High Flow Priapism / 대한비뇨기과학회지

No abstract available.

Two Cases of High Flow Priapism / 대한비뇨기과학회지

No abstract available.