Matched pair analysis of wide versus narrow focus during shockwave lithotripsy for urolithiasis.

Purpose: To compare stone clearance and complications between a 'wide' (9 × 50 mm) and 'narrow' shockwave focus (6 × 28 mm) when undertaking shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in patients with renal or ureteric stones.

Methods: Data from patients undergoing SWL using the dual focus Storz Modulith SLX-F2 lithotripter at a single centre were prospectively collected between February 2018 and September 2020. Patients were matched by stone size, location, and number of treatments.

Storz Medical Lithotripsy Index Predicts Success of Shock Wave Lithotripsy in Ureteric Stones.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting treatment success in patients who underwent Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for ureter stones and to investigate the effect of Storz Medical Lithotripsy Index (SMLI) on treatment effectiveness in ureteric stones.

Method: Prospective data were collected on patients undergoing SWL treatment for ureter stones between January 2013 and May 2021. Stone location, number, and size were determined with Non contrast CT (NCCT) for all patients.

An analysis of stone management over the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, France and England.

Objectives: To understand the implications that the rising upper urinary tract (UUT) stone prevalence in Europe and the increasing burden places on patients and healthcare providers (HCPs), we investigated the evolution of diagnoses and procedures in Germany, France and England over the decade before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: We identified International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes related to UUT stones diagnosis and extracted procedure volumes for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy (URS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy and open surgery using national procedure codes from the German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System, the French Technical Agency of Hospitalisation Information and NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics. We analysed procedures vs hospital diagnoses from 2010 to 2019 and reported results per 100 000 inhabitants.

The New Lithotripsy Index predicts success of shock wave lithotripsy.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting treatment success in patients who underwent Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and to investigate the effect of the Storz Medical Lithotripsy Index (SMLI) on treatment effectiveness.

Methods: Prospective data were collected on patients undergoing SWL treatment for kidney stones between January 2013 and May 2021. Stone location, number and size were determined with non-contrast CT (NCCT) for all patients.

Utility of blood tests in screening for metabolic disorders in kidney stone disease.

Objectives: To determine the clinical utility of blood tests as a screening tool for metabolic abnormalities in patients with kidney stone disease.

Subjects And Methods: Clinical and biochemical data from 709 patients attending the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for assessment and treatment of kidney stones were prospectively collected between April 2011 and February 2017. Data were analysed to determine the utility of serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), urate, chloride, bicarbonate, potassium and phosphate assays in screening for primary hyperparathyroidism, normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism, hyperuricosuria, distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and hypercalciuria.

The utility of automated volume analysis of renal stones before and after shockwave lithotripsy treatment.

This study aimed to evaluate the additional utility of an automated method of estimating volume for stones being treated with shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) using computed tomography (CT) images compared to manual measurement. Utility was assessed as the ability to accurately measure stone burden before and after SWL treatment, and whether stone volume is a better predictor of SWL outcome than stone diameter. 72 patients treated with SWL for a renal stone with available CT scans before and after treatment were included.

Genetic variants of calcium and vitamin D metabolism in kidney stone disease.

Kidney stone disease (nephrolithiasis) is a major clinical and economic health burden with a heritability of ~45-60%. We present genome-wide association studies in British and Japanese populations and a trans-ethnic meta-analysis that include 12,123 cases and 417,378 controls, and identify 20 nephrolithiasis-associated loci, seven of which are previously unreported. A CYP24A1 locus is predicted to affect vitamin D metabolism and five loci, DGKD, DGKH, WDR72, GPIC1, and BCR, are predicted to influence calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) signaling.

Predicting shockwave lithotripsy outcome for urolithiasis using clinical and stone computed tomography texture analysis variables.

We aimed to develop and evaluate a statistical model, which included known pre-treatment factors and new computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) variables, for its ability to predict the likelihood of a successful outcome after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment for renal and ureteric stones. Up to half of patients undergoing SWL may fail treatment. Better prediction of which cases will likely succeed SWL will help patients to make an informed decision on the most effective treatment modality for their stone.

Impact of Case Volume on Shock Wave Lithotripsy Outcomes: Data from the National Shock Wave Lithotripsy Database of New Zealand.

To assess the impact of individual operator case volume on shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment outcomes in more than 9000 stone cases over a 20-year period in New Zealand. Stone cases treated with SWL on the Mobile Medical Technology (MMT) vehicle between June 19, 1995, and December 1, 2014, were identified. Data collection was undertaken prospectively for patient, stone, and treatment characteristics, and retrospectively for treatment outcomes.

The Fluid Mechanics of Ureteroscope Irrigation.

Purpose: To develop a physical understanding of ureterorenoscopy irrigation, we derive mathematical models from basic physical principles and compare these predictions with the results of benchtop experiments. Mathematical modeling can be used to understand the role of inlet pressure, tip deflection, the presence of working tools, geometric properties of the instruments used, and material properties of the irrigation fluid on resulting flow rate.

Materials And Methods: We develop theoretical models to describe irrigation flow in an idealized setup and compare with benchtop experiments for flow through a straight scope, a scope with a deflected tip, and a scope with a working tool inserted.

Tracking kidney stones in a homogeneous medium using a trilateration approach.

Shock wave lithotripsy is a non-invasive procedure by which kidney stones are fragmented by thousands of shock waves. Currently, many shock waves are delivered to the body that do not impact the stone, but do result in tissue trauma. This motivates developing a monitoring system to locate kidney stones, with the goal of gating shock waves not aligned with the stone, and hence, reducing renal trauma during lithotripsy.

A Drosophila genetic model of nephrolithiasis: transcriptional changes in response to diet induced stone formation.

Background: Urolithiasis is a significant healthcare issue but the pathophysiology of stone disease remains poorly understood. Drosophila Malpighian tubules were known to share similar physiological function to human renal tubules. We have used Drosophila as a genetic model to study the transcriptional response to stone formation secondary to dietary manipulation.

The Preoperative Assessment and Optimization of Patients Undergoing Major Urological Surgery.

Purpose Of Review: Improving patient outcomes from major urological surgery requires not only advancement in surgical technique and technology, but also the practice of patient-centered, multidisciplinary, and integrated medical care of these patients from the moment of contemplation of surgery until full recovery. This review examines the evidence for recent developments in preoperative assessment and optimization that is of relevance to major urological surgery.

Recent Findings: Current perioperative medicine recommendations aim to improve the short-term safety and long-term effectiveness of surgical treatments by the delivery of multidisciplinary integrated medical care.

CT Texture Analysis of Ex Vivo Renal Stones Predicts Ease of Fragmentation with Shockwave Lithotripsy.

Introduction: Understanding the factors affecting success of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) would improve informed decision-making on the most appropriate treatment modality for an individual patient. Although stone size and skin-to-stone distance do correlate with fragmentation efficacy, it has been shown that stone composition and architecture, as reflected by structural heterogeneity on CT, are also important factors. This study aims to determine if CT texture analysis (CTTA), a novel, nondestructive, and objective tool that generates statistical metrics reflecting stone heterogeneity, could have utility in predicting likelihood of SWL success.

Trends in urological stone disease: a 5-year update of hospital episode statistics.

Objective: To provide a 5-year follow-on update on the changes in prevalence and treatment of upper urinary tract (UUT) stone disease in England.

Methods: Data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) website (http://www.hesonline.

Routine Antibiotic Prophylaxis Is Not Required for Patients Undergoing Shockwave Lithotripsy: Outcomes from a National Shockwave Lithotripsy Database in New Zealand.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of routine prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of urinary tract infection (UTI) after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and identify predictors of UTI development in a multicenter series of over 10,000 stone cases treated in New Zealand over a 20-year period.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated with SWL on the Mobile Medical Technology vehicle between June 19, 1995 and December 1, 2014 were identified. Data collection was undertaken prospectively for patient, stone and treatment characteristics, and, retrospectively, for treatment outcomes.

Proteomic changes in response to crystal formation in Drosophila Malpighian tubules.

Kidney stone disease is a major health burden with a complex and poorly understood pathophysiology. Drosophila Malpighian tubules have been shown to resemble human renal tubules in their physiological function. Herein, we have used Drosophila as a model to study the proteomic response to crystal formation induced by dietary manipulation in Malpighian tubules.

Management of iatrogenic ureteric injury with retrograde ureteric stenting: an analysis of factors affecting technical success and long-term outcome.

Background Iatrogenic ureteral injuries arise as serious complication following obstetrics, gynecological, general, and urological surgery with incidence in the range of 0.5-10%. Retrograde placement of double-J ureteric stent is a possible treatment option if the injury is not recognized at the time of surgery.

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): outcomes from a national SWL database in New Zealand.

Objectives: To present the national outcomes for New Zealand of over 9000 stone cases treated with SWL at 21 centres over a 20 year period.

Subjects/patients And Methods: Stone cases treated with SWL on board the Mobile Medical Technology (MMT) vehicle between 19 June 1995 and 1 December 2014 were identified, and data collection undertaken prospectively for patient, stone and treatment characteristics, and retrospectively for treatment outcomes. The primary outcome was treatment success, defined as complete stone clearance or clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRFs) of ≤4 mm.

In Vitro Assessment of Three Clinical Lithotripters Employing Different Shock Wave Generators.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that shock wave lithotripsy machines vary in their ability to fragment standardized artificial urinary calculi.

Materials And Methods: An in vitro test configuration was used to fragment synthetic U-30 Gypsum (U.S.

Quantification of the Range of Motion of Kidney and Ureteral Stones During Shockwave Lithotripsy in Conscious Patients.

Effective shockwave lithotripsy requires accurate targeting of the stone throughout the course of treatment. Stone movement secondary to respiratory movement can make this more difficult. In vitro work has shown that stone motion outside the focal region reduces the efficacy of stone fragmentation; however, there are few clinical data on the degree of stone movement in patients during treatment.

The success of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in treating moderate-sized (10-20 mm) renal stones.

Many centres favour endourological management over shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in the management of moderate-sized (10-20 mm) renal stones. International guidelines support all available modalities for the treatment of these stones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of SWL in the treatment of 10- to 20-mm renal stones.

Consent information leaflets - readable or unreadable?

Objective: The objective of this article is to assess the readability of leaflets about urological procedures provided by the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) to evaluate their suitability for providing information.

Methods: Information leaflets were assessed using three measures of readability: Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) grade formulae. The scores were compared with national literacy statistics.