Effectiveness and safety of the Dornier compact lithotriptor: an evaluative multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the Dornier compact lithotriptor for management of renal stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We administered 191 treatments to 169 patients with renal stones on 176 occasions with the patient under combined parental sedation and analgesia. The Dornier Compact lithotriptor is mobile and ultrasound guided, and uses an electromagnetic energy source. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients required a second treatment (13%), 123 (72.8%) were stone-free, 26 (15.4%) had fragments less than 4 mm. large, 16 (9.5%) had stone fragments larger than 4 mm, and 4 (2.4%) required auxiliary therapy (treatment failures). The side effects were mostly mild to moderate, with nausea and/or vomiting reported in 26 patients (14%), colic or pain in 66 (39%), ureteral obstruction in 2, steinstrasse in 7 (4%) and fever in 1. Our clinical results indicate that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was effective for treatment of stones in the kidney, with a low incidence of complications and adverse effects. The lithotriptor used is much smaller, less expensive and user friendly with no installation requirements, rendering it mobile. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate with newer generation devices compares well with results obtained using other stationary and larger versions.

Toward tougher oversight of managed care: MSNJ proposals.

The Medical Society of New Jersey has developed a detailed position statement on the regulation of health maintenance organizations (HMO). This statement has been presented to an advisory committee of the New Jersey State Department of Health, which is preparing new HMO regulations.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease and renal cell carcinoma in a 16-year-old boy.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare autosomal dominant disorder. Kidney lesions occur in the majority of cases, with renal cell carcinoma noted in 40% and renal cysts in 60%. Renal cell carcinoma in von Hippel-Lindau disease is usually bilateral and occurs at an earlier age than in patients with sporadic renal cell carcinoma. We report on a 16-year-old boy who, to our knowledge, is the youngest patient to present with von Hippel-Lindau disease and renal cell carcinoma. Controversy currently exists regarding the nature of renal cysts in von Hippel-Lindau disease and the optimal therapeutic approach (that is radical versus parenchymal sparing surgery). We review the histology of renal cysts and carcinoma, and discuss the rationale for selecting parenchymal sparing surgery.

Treatment in the prone position of calculi in the midureter overlying the bony sacrum with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Thirty-six patients with radiopaque calculi in the segment of the ureter overlying the sacrum, were treated in the prone position with an unmodified Dornier HM-3 lithotripter. Thirty-one treatments were successful and five failed for a success rate of 86%. Success is defined as the absence of fragments on KUB. The five failures were all removed ureteroscopically. Epidural anesthesia was used for all cases. A post-extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (post-ESWL) gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding episode, and an upper ureteral extravasation post-ESWL, as well as two patients who could not tolerate the position are discussed.

Spontaneous rupture of a bladder diverticulum.

A case of spontaneous rupture of an acquired bladder diverticulum is presented. Diagnosis was made preoperatively and full recovery followed surgical treatment. A review of the literature revealed 9 other cases of spontaneous rupture. Bladder outlet obstruction and urinary tract infection were present in the majority of cases. In the past misdiagnosis and delayed treatment led to significant mortality. However, the prognosis currently is better due to the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, better radiological imaging studies, and earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Is colony count necessary?

Evidence presented herein suggests that: (1) If the Gram stain of the spun urinary sediment is negative, there is no need to do a culture, sensitivity test, and colony count since significant bacteriuria and urinary infection are not present. There are very few false negative results. (2) Since there are many false positive Gram stains, the test is not specific. A positive Gram stain of the spun urinary sediment does not mean that bacteriuria is present. (3) The test is very sensitive in that practically all bacteriuric subjects had a positive Gram stain. (4) Because the Gram stain of the spun urinary sediment is so sensitive, a positive spun urinary sediment and culture should be treated regardless of the colony count.