What is the safe and effective dilator number during access in PCNL? Three-shot dilation versus classical sequential Amplatz dilation.

BACKGROUND: Although PCNL has been used for a long time to treat nephrolithiasis, there is still contradictory information concerning the use of the dilation method. In this study, we aimed to compare conventional sequential Amplatz dilatation (SAD) using ten dilators and a method using three dilators (12, 20, and 30 Fr), which we named "three-shot dilatation" (3SD), in terms of fluoroscopy time (FT), operation time, bleeding and stone-free rates. METHODS: The study included patients who underwent PCNL with the SAD and 3SD methods. A different surgeon with extensive endourology experience applied each technique. One of the surgeons operated on the patients using the SAD method with ten dilators, and the other surgeon performed the operations using the 3SD method involving three Amplatz dilators (12, 20, and 30 Fr). RESULTS: A total of 283 patients, 138 in the 3SD group and 145 in the SAD group, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 47.32 ± 13.71 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding preoperative characteristics (p > 0.05). The FTs of access 2, total access, and total operation were significantly shorter in the 3SD group (p = 0.0001). The decrease in hemoglobin was statistically significant in the 3SD group compared to the SAD group (p = 0.022), while the blood transfusion requirements of the groups were similar (p = 0.176). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding stone-free rates (p = 0.973). In four patients in the SAD group, re-access was necessary due to the loss of passage due to the guide wire slipping out of its place. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative FT can be shortened using the described 3SD method without compromising surgical safety. However, this method can be used as an intermediate step in the transition to one-shot dilation by surgeons experienced in performing SAD.

Regular penis-root masturbation: A promising behavioral treatment method for lifelong premature ejaculation.

AIM: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of penis-root masturbation (PRM), a newly defined behavioral therapy (BT) technique, in patients with unsuccessful medical treatment due to premature ejaculation (PE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 35 patients aged 25-43 years, who were diagnosed with lifelong PE. Patients and their partners were informed about the PRM technique and asked to practice PRM three times a week for three months, with or without sexual intercourse. The patients' Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) scores and intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) were recorded and compared before PRM training (T0) and at the third (T3) month after the start of PRM training. RESULTS: The mean±SD PEDT scores were 16.26±1.94 at T0, 10.63±1.14 at T3. When compared to T0, the PEDT values at T3 were significantly lower (P=0.021). In terms of IELT, the mean T3 values (192.43±56.71) were significantly longer (P=0.035) than at T0 (50.43±13.84seconds). CONCLUSION: PRM BT shows promise for lifelong PE patients who do not benefit from or discontinue to pharmacotherapy. Larger prospective trials are required to confirm these findings.

A new percutaneous nephrolithotomy position in horseshoe kidney: 45 degrees sided prone.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we aimed to determine the effects of the 45 degrees sided prone position to the surgeon's comfort, operation time, fluoroscopy time and complications at the operation of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for the treatment of kidney stone of horseshoe kidney (HK) or rotation anomaly kidney. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty eight patients (25 male, 13 female) with renal calculi and HK, underwent PCNL. After the amplatz sheath was inserted into the collecting system, the patients in group 1 (n:20) were taken to the 45 degrees side position to the side of the operation and patients in group 2 (n:18) were operated in classical prone position. Operative data of two groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: Mean stone size of group 1 was 557.8 ±244.8 mm3 (188-1175) and group 2 was 590.7 ±172.8 mm3 (423-909) (p = 0.639). In group 1 mean operation time was 78.6 ±21.8 (45-120) minutes and in group 2 was 95.05 ±11.5 (69-120) minutes. The difference for operation time was statistically significant and shorter in the sided group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The working position of rigid nephroscope is 90 degrees to the body after the dorsomedial or dorsolateral access. In our study the position of patient is laterally sided 45 degree and the flexion on the surgeon's shoulder was minimised. This new position described for PCNL in HK allows comfortable working position for surgeon after upper pole posterior calyces access.

Ureteral Catheter Versus Nephrostomy Tube for Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Under Spinal Anesthesia: A Prospectively Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate overnight ureteral catheterization vs nephrostomy tube for urinary diversion in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) under spinal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled using block randomization between February 2016 and July 2016. Patients with renal stones >2 cm confirmed via noncontrast-enhanced CT were included. All patients underwent PNL under spinal anesthesia. Group 1 refers to patients who had a nephrostomy tube following PNL, whereas group 2 refers to overnight ureteral catheterization. Those who refuse spinal anesthesia, <18 years of age, >70 years of age, and anomalous kidneys (ectopic pelvic kidney, horseshoe kidney, etc.) were excluded. In group 1, nephrostomy tube (14F) was removed 48 hours after surgery, whereas the ureteral catheter (6F) was removed at postoperative 12th hour in group 2. Visual analogue scores (VASs) at 24th hour and mean narcotic analgesic (tramadol) amounts were compared. RESULTS: There were 30 patients in both groups. Mean age, mean body mass index, and stone area were not significant between groups (p > 0.05, for all). With regard to operative measures, mean duration of surgery, mean number of accesses, and mean drop in Hb levels were comparable. Besides, mean hospitalization period in group 1 was 68.8 ± 12 hours, whereas it was 54.5 ± 10 hours in group 2 (p < 0.001). No patients in either group needed transfusion. Stone-free rates were similar in both groups (83% vs 90%, p = 0.391). Mean 24th hour VAS was 6.17 ± 1.4 in group 1 and 3.37 ± 1.4 in group 2 (p < 0.001). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in mean tramadol requirements between groups (181.67 ± 56.45 vs 86.67 ± 57.13, groups 1 and 2, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PNL under spinal anesthesia, using an open-ended ureteral catheter to be removed at early postoperative period reduces analgesic requirement and duration of hospital stay without compromising surgical outcomes and complication rates.