Use of intra-operative ultrasound scanning in the localization of renal calculi

Fifty-one patients (57 renal units) diagnosed to have multiple nephrolithiases (3 or more stones in one kidney) who underwent open surgery were included in this study. These patients were randomized into two groups. The first group had the benefit of intra-operative ultrasound scanning to aid in the localization and removal of all calculi while the other set served as a control group. Post-operatively, all patients underwent radiography and/or ultrasonography to check for residual stones. Using Chi-square tests, the results showed a significantly higher stone-free rate in the ultrasound group (23 out of 27 renal units or 85%) than in the control group (17 out of renal units or 56%). The authors recommend that ultrasonography be used routinely for all patients with multiple nephrolithiasis in whom intra-operative localization and removal of calculi is expected to be difficult.

Efficacy of circumcision in reducing recurrent urinary tract infection in infants

A prospective study of infants, aged 1-2 years, who consulted at the National Kidney Insitute (NKI) for urinary tract infection from the period of August, 1992 to July 31, 1993 was performed. There was a total of 38 male infants studied. 19 underwent circumcision using the coronal technique and 19 remained uncircumcised and acted as controls. The mean age of the cases was 1.6 years. Our study showed that only 5.26% of circumcised male infants subsequently developed recurrent urinary tract infection, compared to 21.05% of uncircumcised male infants who developed recurrent urinary tract infection. It was observed that majority of the uncircumcised children who consulted for urinary tract infection were phimotic, which probably predisposed to preputial bacterial colonization and urinary tract infection. Computed relative risk is 0.25, suggesting a protective effect of circumcision on recurrent urinary tract infection in male infants 1-2 years of age.