Treatment of lower ureteric stones by ESWL and ICPL: a comparative study.

This study was carried-out to find-out better and effective treatment option for Lower Ureteric Stones (LUS) by comparing Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) with ureterorenoscopic (URS) Intracorporeal Pneumatic Lithotripsy (ICPL). A total of 60 patients attending the outpatient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with lower ureteric stones were divided into two groups, 30 in group-I (URS + ICPL) and the remaining 30 in group-II (ESWL). In group-I, 60% were male with mean age of 32.76 years and in group-II, 40% were male with mean age of 36.23 years. The ratio of involvement of right to left ureter was 1.7:1. The mean stone size was 10.7 + 2.69 mm (SD) in group-I and 9.9 + 1.97 mm (SD) in group-II. The differences in age, sex and side of involvement of ureter were not significant (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Among the groups 24 (80%) in group-I and 26 (86.61%) of patients in group-II were found stone free. The post procedure loin pain, fever and haematuria were more common in group-I than in group-II. The LUTS and loin pain were significantly more in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.05). The post procedure fever was significantly more in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.001). The mean post procedure hospital stay was 5.7 + 2.54 days for group-I and 1.57 + 0.531 days for group-II. Post procedure hospital stay was significantly less in group-II than in group-I (p < 0.05). The post procedure follow up attendance in this study was significantly low in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.05). ESWL was found effective method than URS + ICPL for the treatment of lower ureteric stones.

Efficacy of terazosin and finasteride in symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: A comparative study.

Medical treatment for symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has become popular for the last few years. This study was designed to find out and compare the efficacy of terazosin, a alpha1 adrenoceptor blocker and finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor in symptomatic BPH. A total of 60 patients (30 in terazosin group and 30 finasteride group) of symptomatic BPH were selected. Terazosin group received 1 mg daily at bedtime for 3 days, 2 mg at bedtime for 7 days, thereafter 5 mg at bedtime daily for 6 months. Finasteride group received 5 mg once daily. In terazosin treated patients, improvement after 3 months were as follows, IPSS 3.93 +/- .74 points reduction, Qmax 2.13 +/- .68 ml/s increase, post-voided residual urine volume (PVR) 20.67 +/- 10.56 ml reduction (significant, p<0.001) and prostate volume 0.57 +/- 1.54 ml reduction (not significant). Similar statistical differences were observed at 6 months follow up. In finasteride treated patients, improvements after 3 months were as follows, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) 1.38 +/- .63 points reduction, Qmax 0.55 +/- 0.78 ml/s increase, PVR 5.93 +/- 7.64 ml reduction (significant, p<0.001) and prostate volume 0.17 +/- 5.6 ml reduction (non-significant). At 6 month follow up statistical differences were significant in all parameters including prostate volume 4.57 +/- 5.30 ml reduction (p<0.001). In comparison, statistically significant superiority of terazosin over finasteride was found in improving IPSS, Qmax and PVR in both follow up visits. But terazosin had nonsignificant effect in reducing prostate volume; in contrast, finasteride had significant effect in second visit. It can be concluded from this study that terazosin 5mg once daily is effective in mild to moderate cases of symptomatic BPH. On the other hand, finasteride 5mg once daily may be useful in large prostate and to be given for at least 6 months.

Role of free to total prostate specific antigen ratio in serum in the diagnosis of prostatic enlargement.

This study was aimed to demonstrate the significance of free/total Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) ratio in the diagnosis of prostatic enlargement. The study was carried out in a total number of 100 subjects, of which 58 had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 42 had carcinoma prostate and 50 were age matched control. The subjects were collected from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Venous blood (5ml) was drawn from each subject before digital rectal examination or pre-urethral manipulation for estimation of PSA. Final diagnosis was made by histopathological examination, specimen being obtained by transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), open prostatectomy and per rectal tru-cut biopsy with biopsy gun. The study showed a highly significant difference of serum PSA and free/total PSA ratio in differentiating BPH from carcinoma prostate. Free/total PSA ratio was highly significant in differentiating between BPH and carcinoma prostate (p<0.001) and carcinoma prostate and control (p<0.001). In the marginally elevated PSA, free/total PSA ratio reduced biopsy by 81-85% in BPH and carcinoma prostate respectively. The overall specificity, positive predictive value and efficiency of free/total PSA was much higher than that of total PSA in differentiating BPH from carcinoma prostate.