Current process and outcomes of the surgical management of LUTS due to benign prostatic enlargement: how consistent are we? - results from the multi-institutional audit of surgical management of BPE (AuSuM BPE) in the United Kingdom.

Objective: In view of changing landscape of surgical treatment for LUTS secondary to BPE, this audit was undertaken to assess key aspects of the processes and outcomes of the current interventional treatments for BPE, across different units in the UK.

Materials And Method: A multi-institutional snapshot audit was conducted for patients undergoing interventions for LUTS/BPE over 8-week period. Using Delphi process two-part proforma was designed to capture data.

What is the best method to evaluate urine pH? A trial of three urinary pH measurement methods in a stone clinic.

Background: Monitoring of urinary pH is an important part of the assessment of patients with urinary tract stones. It provides valuable information about the future stone risk of certain patients and further allows the effective tailoring of medical intervention. Accurate measurement is therefore essential in these patients.

National practice and outcomes of laparoscopic pyeloplasty in the United Kingdom.

Background And Purpose: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty is now widely practiced in the United Kingdom and considered the gold standard in the treatment of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The aim of this audit was to determine the national practice and outcomes for this procedure.

Patients And Methods: The British Association of Urological Surgeons sent out standardized audit proformas in May 2008 to units across the United Kingdom inviting surgeons who were performing laparoscopic pyeloplasties to submit their results over the last 4 years.

Citrate inhibits growth of residual fragments in an in vitro model of calcium oxalate renal stones.

Background: Alkaline citrate is thought to be helpful in reducing recurrences of calcium oxalate stones. The evidence for this is incomplete, there have been few good trials, all with their own limitations, and not all reported any significant benefit. In vitro studies are usually cited to support the clinical studies but these too have their drawbacks, in particular they relate to crystals and microscopic aggregates and not to actual stone growth.