Endoscopic treatment of urinary tract calculi.

Removal of urinary tract calculi by endourological techniques is now widely practised and has reduced the indications for open surgical removal to a minority of cases. A review of 270 consecutive patients who presented to the Meath Hospital Urology department with urinary tract calculi and were treated by percutaneous or transurethral endoscopy is herein reported. The rates of successful clearance of renal (95%) and ureteric (78%) calculi compare well with previous reports. The majority of complications were minor and a low overall complication rate was experienced at ureterorenoscopy. In our experience, endourological treatment of urinary tract calculi is successful, efficient and safe and is the recommended approach to urinary tract calculi that require surgical intervention.

The Whitaker test: experimental analysis in a canine model of partial ureteric obstruction.

The Whitaker test has been described as a means of reaching a diagnosis in equivocal upper urinary tract obstruction, but there has been conflicting evidence regarding the validity of this test. The present study assesses the reliability of the test in an experimental model which creates an accurate and predetermined degree of partial obstruction of the ureter. The Whitaker test was performed using the standard perfusion rate of 10 ml./min. in male adult dogs using a long-term indwelling renal intrapelvic cannula before and after application of ureteric obstruction, and after one month. Control animals underwent a sham procedure. Results of in vivo and in vitro perfusion studies were compared. Perfusion studies at multiple flow rates were also performed. The Whitaker test reliably detected the presence of ureteric obstruction and the degree of partial obstruction could be determined. Multiple flow rate studies did not significantly improve test results. Provoked pressures in the highest grade of obstruction were less than expected and this may be due to pyelovenous reflux.

Evaluation of the processing functions of a digital subtraction angiography image processor.

A large number of imaging systems for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are now commercially available. Numerous evaluations of the performance of these systems have been reported in the literature. However systematic evaluations of the processing functions of DSA image processors have not been widely reported. Such an evaluation for one commercial system is presented in this paper. Functions evaluated include linear transformation, logarithmic transformation, integration, subtraction and temporal filtration. The observations indicate that image processing results are frequently achieved by indirect routes which compromise the fidelity of the image data.

Radio-isotope bone scanning in suspected osteomyelitis in children.

The usefulness of radio-isotope bone scanning in suspected osteomyelitis has been widely acclaimed. Fourteen children had rectilinear bone scans performed three hours after injection of Tc99m methylene diphosphonate. A diagnostic accuracy of 56% was achieved, which is lower than in other series. The reasons for this are discussed and the value of bone scanning in the evaluation of osteomyelitis is questioned.

Adrenal venography and ultrasound in the investigation of the adrenal gland: an analysis of 58 cases.

Adrenal venography has been carried out in 58 patients with the left adrenal vein being successfully catheterized in 91 per cent and the right in 77 per cent. Of the 30 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, 11 adenomas (12-35 mm diameter) have been demonstrated at venography and two of 15 mm suspected, all of which were confirmed surgically. Aldosterone levels in the adrenal vein plasma were raised on the affected side. In the group of proved micronodular hyperplasia, two patients had surgically confirmed macronodules and venography demonstrated one of 12 mm diameter. Two adenomas of 11 mm and one macronodule of 15 mm have been demonstrated at venography in the remainder who have not had an operation. Ultrasound was carried out in 12 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, ten of which had tumours at venography. Two adenomas measuring 30 and 31 mm were outlined by ultrasound and confirmed surgically. Seven adenomas, including one macronodule (10-25 mm in diameter) were not defined. Three intra-adrenal phaeochromocytomas (45-90 mm) and one extra-adrenal (80-85 mm) were demonstrated at arteriography, identified by ultrasound and confirmed surgically. Of the ten patients with Cushing's syndrome three had enlarged glands at venography, this was confirmed surgically. Cumulative experience from this analysis and published reports indicate that venography will demonstrate tumours of 10 mm or more in diameter and outline enlarged glands; aldosterone assays will lateralize tumours as small as 3 mm; ultrasound will outline tumours of 30 mm and selective adrenal arteriography will demonstrate tumours of 10 mm. One patient developed acute adrenal cortical insufficiency with intra-adrenal extravasation on one side and thrombosis of the central vein on the opposite side. A second case developed temporary adreno-cortical insufficiency. Published reports indicate that the risk of complication is about 1 per cent. The report includes an anatomical study of the efferent adrenal veins in 50 patients paying particular attention to the diameter, number of accessory hepatic veins, and the angle of entry and position of the right adrenal vein.