An in-house coordinator program to increase organ donation in public trauma hospitals.

A 4-year retrospective study was conducted regarding the donor potential, consent rates, and organ recovery at a large 500-bed public trauma hospital. An independent organ procurement organization hired two in-house coordinators, one white and one black, to work exclusively in the hospital. The duties of the in-house coordinators included the following: working with nurses, physicians, and residents to identify donors; closely managing and coordinating the consent process; and assisting organ procurement coordinators in donor management.

The Baylor College of Medicine experience with gold seed implantation.

Advances in imaging technology and implant technique have led to the resurgent interest and practice of brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which radioactive sources are placed directly into the tumor; it offers the advantage of maximizing the radiation dose delivered to the tumor while sparing the adjacent normal tissue. Permanent implants have become an important component of radiation delivery.

Concurrence of de novo membranous glomerulonephritis and recurrent IgA nephropathy in a renal allograft.

Recurrent IgA nephropathy is commonly reported in renal transplant. De novo membranous glomerulonephritis is the most frequent type of glomerulonephritis seen in renal transplant. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, the association of these two conditions in a single patient has never been documented.

Genitourinary emergencies.

An awareness of pitfalls and perils in diagnosis of traumatic injuries to the genitourinary tract, and indications and contraindications for studies and instrumentation, will help diagnose these sometimes underdiagnosed injuries and help minimize morbidity. Suspicion of testicular torsion should lead to prompt urologic consultation, and priapism also should be promptly treated to preserve function. The treatment of acute urinary retention consists of prompt bladder drainage with attention to etiology and methods.

Ureteral injury.

The management of ureteral injuries resulting from external violence or surgery is usually straightforward and is primarily a problem of recognition and development of a treatment plan that allows either repair of the injury away from the site of pathology or conservative drainage and diversion. However, decisions as to the proper therapy can be complicated by legal, economic, and emotional considerations, which make management of these patients difficult. In the last 5 years, endoscopic manipulation of the ureter for the treatment of stones and stricture has become commonplace.