Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: 3 years of experience with 454 patients.

Objective: To present our experience with 454 patients who had tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (TPCNL) over last 3 years.

Patients And Methods: From September 2004 to August 2007, all patients aged >14 years and undergoing PCNL were considered for TPCNL. Exclusion criteria were the presence of pyonephrosis, matrix calculi, significant bleeding or residual stone burden and need for three of more percutaneous accesses.

The management of renal matrix calculi: a single-centre experience over 5 years.

Objective: To define incidence of renal matrix calculi in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and describe its clinical, laboratory and radiological features; we also studied the efficacy of PCNL in managing this rare entity.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1368 PCNLs performed from April 2003 to March 2008, and identified 17 patients (mean age 44.3 years; 11 women and six men) having matrix calculi.

A randomized trial evaluating type of nephrostomy drainage after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: small bore v tubeless.

Purpose: To compare the outcome of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with small-bore nephrostomy drainage after PCNL.

Patients And Methods: We tested the hypothesis that tubeless PCNL is superior to small-bore nephrostomy drainage after PCNL in terms of postoperative pain, analgesic requirement, and hospital stay. To show a 10% difference in these parameters, a sample size of 30 persons per group would be needed.

Endoscopic management of adult orthotopic ureterocele and associated calculi with holmium laser: experience with 16 patients over 4 years and review of literature.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of holmium laser endoscopic incision and laser lithotripsy in adults with orthotopic ureterocele and associated calculi.

Patients And Methods: From May 2003 to August 2007 at our center, 16 adults underwent transurethral incision of an ureterocele and intracorporeal holmium laser lithotripsy for associated calculi. The perioperative data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Influence of prostate size on the outcome of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.

Objective: To analyse the effect of prostate size on the outcome of holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP, an established procedure for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH), in the initial 354 patients at 1 year of follow-up.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 354 patients who had HoLEP at our institution from April 2003 to March 2007. In 235 patients the prostate weighed <60 g (group 1), in 77 it weighed 60-100 g (group 2) and in 42 >100 g (group 3).