Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: Efficacy and Safety.

Although the effects of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) on patients with normal functioning kidneys have been widely studied, the outcomes of PCNL in populations with renal insufficiency remain underreported. We aimed to examine the literature and evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCNL in this non-indexed patient group. A systematic search was performed in accordance with Cochrane guidelines.

Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Bilateral Synchronous Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Bilateral Stone Disease: Evidence from a Systematic Review.

Introduction: With the evolution of endourologic technology, bilateral synchronous percutaneous nephrolithotomy (BS-PCNL) has emerged as a potentially practical intervention for patients with bilateral lithiasis. Although tradition has favored a staged approach, an increasing number of original studies have reported their experiences with the synchronous approach.

Materials And Methods: A Cochrane style search was performed after development of a sensitive and predefined search strategy.

An integrated laparoscopic simulator (i-Sim) to develop surgical skills outside the operating theatre: a novel means to improve training facilities in the UK.

Background: Minimal access surgery (MAS) is increasingly replacing open surgery. However, access to training in laparoscopy remains lacking. We propose the use of a novel and integrated laparoscopic simulator (i-Sim) to develop surgical skills.

The increased rate of prostate specific antigen testing has not affected prostate cancer presentation in an inner city population in the UK.

Objective: To assess whether the increased use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing over the last 15 years has changed the way prostate cancer presents in an inner city UK population, where PSA screening rates might be expected to be lower than in epidemiological studies based in North America, where there is a significant tendency to a localized stage and earlier age at diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised a 5-year retrospective and 5-year prospective analysis of data on 704 men diagnosed with prostate cancer over the 10-year period since the introduction of PSA testing (1994-2003).

Results: The median (range) age at presentation remained unchanged, at 72 (45-94) years; the PSA level at diagnosis was 20-46 microg/L, with a steady decline after 1997.