Forehead-supporting chair system for follicular unit extraction hair transplantation

The seated and prone positions are the most common surgical positions used during follicular unit extraction (FUE). Compared to the latter, the former eases centering and enables more optimal surgical field exposure due to gravitational effects on intraoperative bleeding. Furthermore, the surgeon can simultaneously work with multiple assistants, increasing efficiency and reducing operative time. During the harvesting stage of FUE, the patient is often seated in an electric height-adjustable salon chair. Such equipment, however, does not provide support for the head; maintaining a fixed upright position for an extremely long-lasting and delicate surgery that requires loupes with ×5 or higher magnification is challenging for both the surgeon and the patient. On the other hand, a support system that firmly fixes the patient's forehead would have ergonomic benefits during the process of FUE donor harvesting in a seated position. Firm support of the forehead would also enable upward traction to provide tension on the scalp, lessen the gap between the hair exit angle and internal hair angle, and reduce graft torsion, ultimately minimizing follicular injury and optimizing graft quality.

Photo Epilation with Intense Pulsed Light for Thinning of Anterior Hairline after Hairline Correction Surgery in East Asians

BACKGROUND: Thin hairs are critical to achieve natural result in female hairline correction surgery. However, there are few studies on the usefulness of hair thinning by intense pulsed light (IPL) after hairline correction surgery in East Asian females. METHODS: Hair thinning using IPL was performed in 54 women who had complained about thick hairs along the frontal hairline after hairline correction surgery. Patient mean age was 31.2 years old and patients were an average of 2.1 years post-hairline correction surgery. Initial treatment used 10 J, while second and third sessions were conducted with 10 to 15 J according to responsiveness to treatment. RESULTS: Mean thickness of individual hairs assessed before the procedure was 78.86 µm. The mean number of procedures was 1.6 per patient. Forty of 54 subjects (74%) achieved satisfactory hair thinning with only one procedure from 78.01 to 66.14 µm after treatment. The measured thickness was 66.43 µm at the end of the first year in patients who were satisfied after one procedure. Thirteen cases achieved satisfactory hair thinning after two sessions. Mean thickness was 74.44 µm and 67.51 µm, before and after the second session. One case required a third session with 15J, thinning from 89.00 to 66.50 µm. CONCLUSIONS: Hair thinning by IPL is a very useful method to provide a natural look after hairline correction surgery in East Asians, who have naturally thick hair.

Predicting the Permanent Safe Donor Area for Hair Transplantation in Koreans with Male Pattern Baldness according to the Position of the Parietal Whorl

BACKGROUND: The most crucial factor in hair transplantation for male pattern baldness (MPB) patients is the efficient utilization of the donor-recipient ratio. However, there is no known factor that scientifically predicts the rate of progression of alopecia or indicates a permanently safe donor area. METHODS: The study considered 1,008 Korean adult males with MPB; of these, it excluded 56 males with an absence of parietal whorls (PWs). The authors investigated the distance from the vertical bimeatal line (VM) to the PW, from the PW to the upper border of the helical rim (HR), and the distance from the PW to the occipital fringe (OF) in 952 subjects with a PW. Furthermore, we examined the distance from the PW to the OF considering the duration of alopecia and age in 322 subjects with vertex alopecia. RESULTS: The distance between the VM and PW varied from 1.5 to 11 cm, with an average distance of 6.25 cm. The PW-HR distance ranged from 3.4 to 17.5 cm, and the average distance was 7.79 cm. The PW-OF distance ranged from 0.5 to 5.5 cm, and the average distance was 2.37 cm. CONCLUSIONS: For the PW, very large variations existed in the vertical direction. The position of the PW could predict the progression range of the total alopecia of the vertex. Alopecia mostly progresses within 6 cm of the PW toward the occipital side.

Retroperitoneoscopic Nephrectomy for a Horseshoe Kidney with Unilateral Severe Hydronephrosis and Ureteral Hypoplasia

A horseshoe kidney is the most common renal fusion anomaly. It is well known that horseshoe kidneys may be associated with many urological problems, including calculi, vesicoureteral reflux, and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. However, a horseshoe kidney with unilateral severe hydronephrosis and ureteral hypoplasia is very rare. We report an 11-year-old female who underwent a retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for a horseshoe kidney with severe hydronephrosis and unilateral ureteral hypoplasia.

Retroperitoneoscopic Nephrectomy for a Horseshoe Kidney with Unilateral Severe Hydronephrosis and Ureteral Hypoplasia

A horseshoe kidney is the most common renal fusion anomaly. It is well known that horseshoe kidneys may be associated with many urological problems, including calculi, vesicoureteral reflux, and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. However, a horseshoe kidney with unilateral severe hydronephrosis and ureteral hypoplasia is very rare. We report an 11-year-old female who underwent a retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for a horseshoe kidney with severe hydronephrosis and unilateral ureteral hypoplasia.

The Clinical Effects of Amitriptyline on the Nocturia of Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of amitiptyline, as one of the first-line therapies, on the nocturia of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and December 2006, 50 patients completed this study(Group I=20, Group II=14, Group III=16). Group I was treated with doxazocin 4mg, group II was treated with doxazocin 4mg and tolterodine 4mg and the third group was treated with doxazocin 4mg and amitriptyline 10mg. We measured the treatment efficacy, the clinical parameters and we examined three days of the voiding diaries at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment, respectively. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, all the patients had significant improvement for the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS) and the quality of life(QoL) score among the clinical parameters and they also showed improvement of their frequency of micturition per 24 hours, per night(nocturnal frequency) among the voiding diary parameters(p0.05). Although there was 1 case of mild dry-mouth in group II and 1 case of mild dry-mouth and drowsiness in group III, none of the patient dropped out due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant improvement in the IPSS, the QoL score and the nocturnal frequency after treatment with amitriptyline 10mg. Therefore, amitriptyline 10mg would be helpful as a first-line therapy for BPH patients with nocturia.

Evaluation of Renal Microvasculature Using Micro-computed Tomography in Rat / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Rodent models that mimic human renal diseases are being increasingly recognized as powerful tools in the development of new drugs and for evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutics in a preclinical setting. However, there are few reports on microvasculature imaging of the urinary system in small animals. An experimental study was performed to evaluate the microvasculature in a rat kidney using micro- computed tomography(CT) with three-dimensional images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five Sprague-Dawley male rats(age: 10-12 weeks, weight: 200-250g) underwent a laparotomy under anesthesia with an intramuscular injection of 0.5cc xylazine hydrochloride and ketamine mixed solution(1:10). After ligation of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava immediately above the renal artery, a 24 gazed catheter was inserted into the abdominal aorta. A physiological solution and heparin(500U) were infused through the catheter to flush the blood from the renal vasculature. The kidney was enhanced using self-made contrast material. The excised kidney was frozen for the micro-CT scan. RESULTS: The mean longitudinal diameter and weight of the 10 resected kidneys was 1.95+/-0.15cm and 2.0+/-0.28g, respectively. The images were represented by three-dimensional arrays of cubic voxels with opacities in the blood vessels. In the section taken from the arrays, four regions of the kidney could be identified easily by their characteristic vascular features. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-CT is a promising method for evaluating the renal microvascular architecture in a rat kidney. It can for the foundation of an experimental study aimed at providing quantitative information on the urinary system in a rodent model.

Laparoscopic Simple Prostatectomy

Simple prostatectomy has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. In recent years, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has emerged as a feasible treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer. The advantages of laparoscopic procedures are minor surgical scars, shorter hospital stay, fewer analgesics utilization, and more rapid return to daily normal activities. We describe the use of laparoscopic resection of large hyperplastic prostate adenomas as an alternative to open prostatectomy.

Vesicovaginal Fistula Treated by Neurovascular Pudendal-thigh Flap

Obstetrical procedures such as prolonged obstructed labour are responsible for the majority of vesicovaginal fistula(VVF) in developing countries, while gynecological procedures are more common causes in developed countries with hysterectomy accounting for 75% of fistulae. Other less common causes of VVF include uterine cancer, pelvic irradiation, gastrointestinal pelvic surgery, tuberculosis, intra-uterine device or Bechet's disease. Although radiation techniques are being advanced, several recent studies have shown the incidence of VVF after pelvic radiation therapy for cervical cancer to range from 0.6~2%. We report, a case of 47-year-old female with VVF after pelvic radiation therapy, which was treated by neurovascular pudendal-thigh flap.