Recent advances in ureteral stents.

Purpose Of Review: Conventional ureteral stents, which have been in use for almost 30 years, are undergoing several changes in materials, designs and purposes of use.

Recent Findings: Recent advances in ureteroscopes reduced the numbers of double-J insertions. In addition, because of the frequent failures of the double-J stents in malignant obstructions of the ureter coiled metal stents, metal coil-reinforced stents and large-caliber self-expanding stents are being developed for such patients.

Feasibility of fluid volume conductance to assess bladder volume.

Aim: Ambulatory urodynamics has the potential to provide measurements of bladder function during activities of daily living; however, no method of real-time continuous bladder volume measurement exists. The present study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using fluid volume conductance to continuously assess bladder volume.

Methods: Prototype devices consisted of four electrodes mounted on a polymer body.

Povidone-iodine sclerotherapy is ineffective in the treatment of symptomatic renal cysts.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of povidone-iodine sclerotherapy after percutaneous drainage of simple renal cysts in the treatment of symptomatic patients.

Patients And Methods: Sixteen patients with symptomatic renal cysts were treated by percutaneous drainage and injection of povidone-iodine solution. The cysts were drained by a nephrostomy tube catheter, and povidone- iodine injections were repeated every 24 hours for 3 days.

Comparison of nitinol urethral stent infections with indwelling catheter-associated urinary-tract infections.

Background And Purpose: To determine the efficacy of intraurethral metal stents in preventing or eradicating urinary-tract infections (UTI) during the management of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by comparing the frequency and nature of the infections with indwelling-catheter-associated UTI.

Patients And Methods: The SAS relative-risk test was used to compare the risks of UTI in 76 patients with temporary urethral stents, 60 patients with BOO who had never been catheterized nor stented, and 34 patients with a permanent indwelling urethral catheter (PIUC). Infection was assessed 1 month after placement of the devices.

New approach to the management of stress urinary incontinence in patients with treatment failure.

Urinary incontinence affects about 40 million adults in the Western world. Many mechanical, behavioral, and surgical approaches have been used for its treatment. Many of the surgical techniques are successful, but about 50% of patients need re-treatment after 5 to 7 years.