Modern Applications of 3D Printing: The Case of an Artificial Ear Splint Model.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a leading manufacturing technique in the medical field. The constantly improving quality of 3D printers has revolutionized the approach to new challenges in medicine for a wide range of applications including otoplasty, medical devices, and tissue engineering. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of an artificial ear splint model applied to the human auricle for the treatment of stick-out protruding ears.

Evaluation of outcome following lithotripsy.

Purpose Of Review: Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is considered as an initial option for a significant proportion of urinary tract stones. Despite efforts for standardized terminology and methodology, published studies on lithotripsy outcome are very different. This review will focus on a brief description of evidence-based medicine and recent literature results on SWL outcome.

Ureteric stents compromise stone clearance after shockwave lithotripsy for ureteric stones: results of a matched-pair analysis.

Objective: To identify the effect of the presence of a ureteric stent on the outcome of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), by comparing patients with ureteric stones with matched-pair analysis.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing ESWL with the Sonolith Vision lithotripter (Technomed Medical Systems, Vaulx-en-Velin, France) were identified from our prospectively maintained database. Only adult patients with a solitary, radio-opaque, previously untreated ureteric stone were considered for further analysis.

Blood splash injury: an underestimated risk in endourology.

Background And Purpose: Mucocutaneous and transconjunctival exposure are important portals for the transmission of blood-borne infections to surgeons and health-care workers. Despite this knowledge, few surgeons or their assistants wear protective equipment for procedures perceived to be affiliated with less risk. This study investigates the potential risk of mucocutaneous and transconjunctival blood splash injury during common laparoscopic and endourologic procedures undertaken using standard video endoscopy equipment.

Case report: endourologic treatment for a ureteral stone in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta.

A 53-year-old man with osteogenesis imperfecta presented with a 9-mm stone in the left middle ureter. The patient was treated endourologically by ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. The lack of similar cases, the rare nature of the disease, and the difficulties in treatment suggest that the entire endourologic armamentarium and a specialized center are necessary to achieve a successful outcome.

Optimizing shock wave lithotripsy in the 21st century.

Objective: Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) has radically changed treatment of stone disease and appears to be the first option for the majority of patients. This review of current literature focused on suggestions for optimising technique, patient selection, results, and lithotriptor comparison for SWL.

Methods: Literature search for SWL was performed for recently published papers in English language.

Time of administration of a single dose of oral levofloxacin and its effect in infectious complications from transrectal prostate biopsy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of two prophylactic schemes for prostate biopsy using a single dose of oral levofloxacin given either before, or immediately after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.

Materials And Methods: A total of 300 men formed two groups of 150 patients each: the first group received one dose of 500 mg of levofloxacin 30 min to an hour before, and the second group the same antibiotic immediately after prostate biopsy. No pre-biopsy enema was used.

Characteristics of patients with stage T1b incidental prostate cancer.

Objective: To study the characteristics of patients with incidental prostate cancer.

Material And Methods: The proportion of incidentally diagnosed prostate cancer was investigated in patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) at our clinic over a 5-year period. "True" incidental prostate cancer was defined as cases where the preoperative digital rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value were normal.