Evaluation of cryoprobe deployment precision with body surface and in situ templates.

Objective: To evaluate the precision of cryoprobe targeting with a surface template, an in situ template (on the target organ), or a combined approach.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen participants placed five 17 G cryoprobes into porcine kidneys in a laparoscopic trainer using a surface template (group 1), an in situ template (group 2) or a combination of the two templates (group 3). The distance from the ideal probe placement was measured both on the anterior and posterior aspect of the kidney.

Is there a better way to biopsy the prostate? Prospects for a novel transrectal systematic biopsy approach.

The study reported here was undertaken to investigate a novel method of systematic, 3-dimensional, template-guided, transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. The TargetScan transrectal ultrasound and prostatic biopsy system (Envisioneering Medical Technologies, St. Louis, MO) uses a stationary transrectal ultrasound probe that acquires 3-dimensional and simultaneous biplanar ultrasound imaging.

Prospective randomized comparison of laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.

Objectives: The majority of localized renal cancers are currently managed by laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, with or without the hand-assist device. In this prospective randomized study, we evaluated the patient outcomes with a standard laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) versus a hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALN).

Methods: Over a 3-year period, we randomly assigned 21 patients with a localized renal mass of 10 cm or larger to a LRN group with intact specimen extraction or a HALN.

Trends in nephron-sparing surgery for renal neoplasia.

Objectives: To determine the extent that laparoscopy has replaced open surgery for nephron-sparing surgery in a mature laparoscopic environment.

Methods: The records of all patients at Washington University who underwent nephron-sparing surgery for localized renal masses from 1999 to 2003 were examined for clinical and pathologic information. Information regarding the mass size, surgery type performed, and surgeon training was obtained.

Parenchymal imaging adds diagnostic utility in evaluating haematuria.

Objective: To compare the findings of renal ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of patients with and with no haematuria. The increased use of cross-sectional imaging and US has led to a dramatic improvement in the diagnosis of renal masses, such that computed tomography and/or US have been integrated into the diagnostic evaluation of haematuria, and many more incidental renal lesions are now detected. Thus it is possible that the lesions identified during evaluation for haematuria are incidental, i.

Does varicocele grade predict vein number and size at microsurgical subinguinal repair?

Objectives: To correlate the varicocele grade on physical examination with the number and size of the veins present and ligated during surgery. Varicoceles are correctable causes of male factor infertility. No prior anatomic studies have correlated the preoperative clinical grade of a varicocele with the number of veins discovered and ligated during microsurgical subinguinal repair.