ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We assessed the long-term outcome of laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a database of 69 patients who underwent retrograde laser endoureterotomy from October 2001 to June 2007 we identified 35 with a benign ureteral stricture. Clinical characteristics, operative results and functional outcomes were investigated. Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and radiographic resolution of obstruction. RESULTS: Median followup was 27 months (range 10 to 72). All except 1 patient were followed at least 16 months. All patients completed clinical followup and 33 completed imaging. Of 35 patients 29 (82%) were symptom-free during followup and 26 of 33 (78.7%) were free of radiographic evidence of obstruction. All except 1 failure occurred within less than 9 months postoperatively. The success rate was higher for nonischemic strictures (100% vs 64.7%, p = 0.027) and tended to be higher for strictures 1 cm or less (89.4% vs 64.2%, p = 0.109). CONCLUSIONS: Holmium laser endoureterotomy is effective for benign ureteral stricture in well selected patients. Most failures occur within less than 9 months after surgery, which may indicate a need for closer followup during postoperative year 1. Factors that might may outcome are ischemia and stricture length.
Subject(s)
Lasers, Solid-State/therapeutic use , Ureter/surgery , Ureteral Obstruction/surgery , Constriction, Pathologic , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Time Factors , Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methodsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We assessed the efficacy of papaverine hydrochloride, a commonly used smooth muscle relaxant, for the treatment of renal colic as a single agent and in combination with sodium diclofenac. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-blind clinical study was performed at 2 centers. A total of 86 patients with acute renal colic were randomized to 3 treatment groups of 120 mg intravenous papaverine hydrochloride (29), 75 mg intramuscular sodium diclofenac (30), and papaverine hydrochloride plus sodium diclofenac (27). Pain intensity was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale at 0, 20 and 40 minutes after treatment. Further analgesia given at patient request consisted of 1 mg/kg intramuscular meperidine. Urinalysis, complete blood evaluation and imaging were performed in all patients. All adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the 3 groups. Pain intensity decreased significantly (p <0.01) after 20 and 40 minutes in all groups. Papaverine hydrochloride was as effective as sodium diclofenac in alleviating pain and the combined treatment group showed a slight trend of more rapid relief. Significantly more patients in the papaverine group required further analgesia and 4 patients (14.8%) reported minor adverse effects (dizziness in 3, sleepiness in 1). CONCLUSIONS: Papaverine hydrochloride is as effective as sodium diclofenac for the short-term relief of acute renal colic pain and may be advantageous in patients with contraindications for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, sodium diclofenac appears to provide a longer effective analgesia.
Subject(s)
Colic/drug therapy , Kidney Diseases/drug therapy , Papaverine/therapeutic use , Parasympatholytics/therapeutic use , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Diclofenac/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Prospective Studies , Single-Blind Method , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Proximal urethral defects account for approximately 20% of hypospadiac urethras. Previous surgical interventions involved hair-bearing genital skin which consequently resulted in a hairy urethra, which is seen mainly in older patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the CO2 laser for urethra hair elimination. METHODS: Four men aged 18-20 years with hairy urethras, who failed electrolysis treatment, were treated with CO2 laser desiccation at low fluences (2-5 watts). The treatments were performed at 1-month intervals. Treatment was continued until no hair was seen. Visual assessment of the hair reduction was recorded. RESULTS: Patients received two to four treatment sessions (average 3.2). On clinical assessment 3 months after the last treatment, outcome was rated excellent (no hair) in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: CO2 laser desiccation should be considered as a therapeutic modality for a hairy urethra, especially after the failure of electrolysis.
Subject(s)
Carbon Dioxide/therapeutic use , Hair Removal/methods , Hypertrichosis/etiology , Hypertrichosis/radiotherapy , Hypospadias/surgery , Low-Level Light Therapy , Skin Transplantation/adverse effects , Adult , Humans , Male , Plastic Surgery Procedures/adverse effects , Scrotum/surgery , Treatment Outcome , Urethra/surgeryABSTRACT
This is a short report on a splenic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. Previously, the patient had renal carcinoma removed by nephrectomy. The diagnosis of metastasis was based on morphology and immunohistochemistry. It is certainly true that splenic metastases from renal cell carcinoma are rare. Nevertheless, they have been well described in the literature. A giant cell reaction to tumor is noted in a number of cancers and mainly represents an unusual phenotype.
