The 3-finger technique in establishing percutaneous renal access: a new and simple method for junior trainees.

Introduction And Objectives: Urology trainees may lack experience in gaining renal access during percutaneous nephrolithomy (PCNL). Establishing the correct depth of initial percutaneous needle insertion is one of the major obstacles. As such, we have identified an easy technique, which can be performed, to establish correct depth adjustment allowing easier access.

Sixteen years of experience with stone management in horseshoe kidneys.

Introduction: Horseshoe kidney is the commonest congenital renal fusion anomaly, and is often complicated by urolithiasis. We focus on our 16 years of experience with stone management in horseshoe kidneys.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the progress of 44 patients treated between 1987 and 2002.

One week of ciprofloxacin before percutaneous nephrolithotomy significantly reduces upper tract infection and urosepsis: a prospective controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate whether 1 week of ciprofloxacin before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with stones of > or = 20 mm or pelvicalyceal dilatation, reduces urosepsis, as we previously reported that such patients have four times the risk of urosepsis after PCNL.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing PCNL, and who fulfilled strict selection criteria, were recruited prospectively into a study which was conducted in two phases. The study methods were similar to those previously described; patients with dilated pelvicalyceal systems and/or stones of > or = 20 mm from phase 1 (previously published) acted as controls.

Stone and pelvic urine culture and sensitivity are better than bladder urine as predictors of urosepsis following percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective clinical study.

Purpose: Urosepsis due to manipulation during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) can be catastrophic despite prophylactic antibiotic coverage, and negative midstream urine culture and sensitivity testing (C&S). It has been postulated that bacteria in the stone may be responsible for systemic infection. In this prospective study we determined the correlation between different sites of urine sampling, including stones, and also ascertained which is more predictive of urosepsis.

Treatment of lower ureteral stones using the Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter.

Background And Purpose: Lithotripsy using new-generation machines requires minimal anesthesia and so can easily be given in an outpatient setting. We report our experience with the Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter in the primary management of lower ureteral stones.

Patients And Methods: We identified 128 patients treated with SWL for lower-ureteral stones between April 1999 and August 2001.

The Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter: the first 500 renal calculi.

Background And Purpose: Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) is now the best noninvasive treatment for renal calculi, rendering many patients stone free. This prospective study was performed to evaluate the short-term results of patients undergoing SWL with the Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter for all renal calculi.

Patients And Methods: Between April 1999 and May 2000, there were 500 renal calculi treated in 166 female and 334 male patients with a mean age of 53 +/- 15 years.