Quality of life after percutaneous nephrolithotomy for caliceal diverticulum and secluded lower-pole renal stones.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The treatment of caliceal diverticulum and deeply secluded lower-pole stones is challenging, and the indications are controversial. This study assessed the changes in the quality of life (QoL) of patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for symptomatic caliceal diverticula and deep lower-pole calculi to determine whether there is a change in the "bother factor" in order to improve treatment strategies for this group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients undergoing PCNL were evaluated prospectively using the SF36 QoL questionnaire before and 6 weeks after PCNL. The results before and after PCNL were compared individually and by group and analyzed statistically. A P value

A new SWL titanium stent (Zebra Stent): resistance to shockwave exposure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, a new-concept lumen-less Teflon-coated double-J wire stent (Zebra stent) has been introduced to facilitate residual stone clearance, in particular after SWL. Its metal core expresses highly mismatched acoustic impedance. It was the aim of this study to exclude damage to the stent through shockwaves. Also, its Teflon coating should to some degree prevent encrustation, and stents removed from stone formers were examined for encrustation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Series of 2000 shockwaves of an average and a maximum energy were applied to defined areas of Zebra stents in a waterbath on a Siemens Multiline Lithotriptor. Stents were then examined for core and sheath damage by digital photography, scanning electron microscopy, and microradiography. In addition, two Zebra stents and one conventional double-J stent from two stone formers were assessed in the same way for damage and encrustation. RESULTS: There was no damage whatsoever to either of the stents. Whereas there was considerable encrustation on the conventional double-J stent, there was none on the Zebra stents after 4 and 5 weeks in situ. CONCLUSIONS: Zebra stents resist shockwaves to a maximum number and energy sufficiently to be applied safely under SWL. Whether they resist encrustation to a higher degree in the short term than conventional stents remains to be established.

Transurethral ethanol ablation of prostate.

Transurethral ethanol ablation of the prostate (TEAP) has emerged among the treatment alternatives to transurethral resection of prostate as a promising minimally invasive therapy that can be performed on an outpatient basis with fewer complications. It was introduced approximately 5 years ago, and to date, 12-month results are encouraging. We herein review the procedure and outcomes of TEAP.

Ureterolithiasis after Cohen re-implantation--case report.

BACKGROUND: In the past decades, the widespread use of cross-trigonal ureteral reimplants for the treatment of children with vesicoureteral reflux has resulted in a large population of patients with transversely lying ureters. As this population gets older they will consequently be entering an age group at higher risk for stone and urothelial cancer formation. If ureteroscopy becomes necessary, the transverse position of the ureter makes ureteric access often impossible. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a young man who not only suffered from urolithiasis due to hyperparathyroidism, but also further jeopardized his treatment by omitting the fact that as a child he underwent Cohen reimplantation of the right ureter. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the particular difficulties the endoscopist may face in this group of patients. Patients with difficult ureteric access, abnormal anatomy, or those with known cross-trigonal ureteric reimplantations should be managed in a specialised endourology unit.