Which is easier for beginners: supine or prone position percutaneous nephrolithotomy? Assessment of the learning curve in novice urologists through a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) could be performed in both prone and supine positions. Each position has its own advantages and disadvantages. "Learning curve" is a graph that represents progress of a skill against the time needed to master the technique.

The role of pregabalin in relieving ureteral stent-related symptoms: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate the role of pregabalin in relieving USRS in patients with an indwelling double-J (DJ) stents.

Patients And Methods: A total of 500 adult patients with a unilateral single ureteral stone who underwent ureteroscopic stone management and required DJ stent insertion were prospectively included in our study. Patients were blindly assigned into four groups A, B, C and D.

Comparative study for evaluating the cosmetic outcome of small-incision access retroperitoneoscopic technique (SMART) with standard retroperitoneoscopy using the Observer Scar Assessment Scale: are small incisions a big deal?

Aim: To compare the scars and cosmetic results of trocars of 3, 5, and 10 mm in cases by small-incision access retroperitoneoscopic technique pyeloplasty (SMARTp) and standard laparoscopy pyeloplasty (SLp).

Methods: Between January 2012 and October 2013, 20 pyeloplasties were performed: 12 with SMARTp and 8 with SLp techniques. A 5-mm homemade balloon trocar was used to create the retroperitoneal space.

Preventing stone retropulsion during intracorporeal lithotripsy.

Several studies of ureteroscopic treatment for ureteral stones have reported that most stone clearance failures can be attributed to stone fragment retropulsion. Stone retropulsion can result in increased operative time and cost-resulting from the need to change from the semi-rigid ureteroscope to a flexible instrument to chase migrated calculi-and additional procedures to treat residual migrated fragments are often required. The degree of migration depends mainly on the energy source used for lithotripsy; pneumatic and electrohydraulic lithotripters are associated with a greater degree of retropulsion than lasers.

A progressive extended protocol for the basic laparoscopic training using the pelvitrainer.

Unlabelled: Abstract Purpose: We describe an extended training program using the pelvitrainer to improve the basic laparoscopic skills of the junior urologists.

Materials And Methods: Ten junior residents were involved in our program that consisted of an hour of training every other day; every 3 hours represented one training session. This curriculum started with 4 inanimate tasks that included peg transfer, disc cutout, extracorporeal, and intracorporeal knot tying.

Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy in selected patients with ectopic pelvic kidney: a feasible minimally invasive treatment option.

Background And Purpose: Ectopic pelvic kidney is a rare congenital anomaly. It carries more risks for obstruction and stone formation than a normal located kidney. The treatment of renal stones in these patients is challenging.

A randomized prospective controlled study for assessment of different ureteral occlusion devices in prevention of stone migration during pneumatic lithotripsy.

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of two different ureteral occlusion devices (stone cone and entrapment net) in preventing retrograde stone migration during ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy. Proximal migration of stone fragments during ureteroscopic lithotripsy is a common problem, especially when the pneumatic lithotripter is used for stone fragmentation.

Patients And Methods: A total of 195 patients with proximal ureteric stones were prospectively randomized into one of three groups in this study, with 65 patients in each group.

A randomized comparison between three types of irrigating fluids during transurethral resection in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: Central nervous system changes, circulatory and electrolyte imbalances are the main complications of endoscopic transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) which is known as transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome, which occurs as result of excessive absorption of irrigating fluid. We compare glycine 1.5% versus glucose 5% and normal saline 0.

Clusterin as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

We investigated the feasibility of profiling and measuring the concentration of clusterin in urine and serum for individuals with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and comparing it with nontumor controls. In addition, we analyzed the correlation of expression of clusterin in specimens of TCC to various clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis of bladder cancer. Blood and urine samples were used from 68 patients with TCC of the bladder and from 61 patients with benign urological diseases.

Conservative Management of Major Blunt Renal Trauma with Extravasation: A Viable Option?

Objectives: To evaluate our experience in the management of patients with major blunt renal trauma treated at a major urban trauma center during the last ten years.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of 72 patients with major blunt renal lacerations treated from 1998 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were broken down into two groups based on whether they were managed conservatively (group 1) or surgically (group 2).

Sexual function among women with stress incontinence after using transobturator vaginal tape, and its correlation with patient's expectations.

Objective: To evaluate changes in female sexual function after a transobturator vaginal tape (TOT) procedure for treating genuine stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and its correlation with patient's expectation.

Patients And Methods: The study included women treated with a suburethral TOT for genuine SUI, neurologically intact, heterosexual and married, aged >18 years, with no previous history of malignancy, pelvic radiotherapy and no other associated surgical or psychological diseases. Patients were interviewed before surgery and with the aid of a questionnaire including female sexual function, the Beck depression indices and their expectation of sexual function after surgery.

Ureteroscopic management of lower ureteric calculi: a 15-year single-centre experience.

Objective: To review our 15-year experience with ureteroscopic treatment of distal ureteric calculi and to determine the impact of improved technology and techniques on the efficacy, success and complications of the procedure.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4512 patients who underwent 5133 ureteroscopic procedures for the treatment of distal ureteric calculi at our institution from January 1991 to December 2005. The patient and stone characteristics, treatment variables and clinical outcomes were assessed.

The use of polypropylene mesh as a transobturator sling for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (early experience with 40 cases).

This study evaluated the use of traditional polypropylene mesh, used in hernias repair, as a sling in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Forty patients diagnosed with SUI underwent transobturator sling fashioned from the ordinary polypropylene mesh (vypro II). Each lateral end of the tape is secured by a zero prolene suture.