Serenoa repens extract in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

We are experiencing a revival of interest in phytotherapeutic agents, both in Europe and North America, especially as a consequence of patients' dissatisfaction with the adverse effects of the medical alternatives. One of the most frequently prescribed and studied such agents is Serenoa repens extract, derived from the berry of the dwarf palm tree. We aimed to review the most important published data regarding this type of treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Bipolar plasma vaporization vs monopolar and bipolar TURP-A prospective, randomized, long-term comparison.

Objective: To perform a prospective, randomized, long-term comparison between bipolar plasma vaporization of the prostate (BPVP), bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURis), and monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) concerning the perioperative and follow-up parameters.

Methods: A total of 510 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Q(max) <10 mL/s, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >19, and prostate volume between 30 and 80 mL were enrolled in the trial. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery by IPSS, quality of life, Q(max), and ultrasonography.

Treatment changes and long-term recurrence rates after hexaminolevulinate (HAL) fluorescence cystoscopy: does it really make a difference in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)?

Objectives: •  To evaluate in a prospective, randomized study the impact of hexaminolevulinate blue-light cystoscopy (HAL-BLC) on the diagnostic accuracy and treatment changes in cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) compared with standard white-light cystoscopy (WLC). •  To compare the long-term recurrence rates in the two study arms.

Patients And Methods: •  In all, 362 patients suspected of NMIBC were included in the trial based on positive urinary cytology and/or ultrasonographic suspicion of bladder tumours and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumours.

Retrograde flexible ureteroscopy: reshaping the upper urinary tract endourology.

Introduction of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy represented a leap forward in upper urinary tract endourology. Nowadays, areas of the pyelocaliceal system accessible otherwise only by percutaneous or open surgery, can be approached in a retrograde fashion, using the anatomical pathways. The flexible ureteroscopes evolved from the limited deflectable first generation ones to the digital very maneuverable models.

Innovative technique in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer-bipolar plasma vaporization.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a newly introduced endoscopic technique in the treatment of nonmuscle-invasive bladder tumors (NMIBT), the bipolar plasma vaporization of bladder tumors (BPV-BT), and to compare it with monopolar transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT).

Methods: A total of 120 patients with at least one bladder tumor larger than 3 cm were enrolled in the study and randomized for BPV-BT and TURBT. Resection biopsy followed by tumor plasma vaporization and biopsies of the tumoral bed were performed in the 60 cases of the BPV-BT arm.

HAL blue-light cystoscopy in high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer--re-TURBT recurrence rates in a prospective, randomized study.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of hexaminolevulinate blue-light cystoscopy and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) upon the short-term recurrence rate in high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) compared with conventional cystoscopy and resection.

Methods: Between December 2007 and November 2009, 446 patients were randomized for blue-light cystoscopy/resection and for standard cystoscopy/resection, respectively. The inclusion criteria consisted of positive urinary cytology and ultrasonographic suspicion of bladder tumors.

Transurethral resection (TUR) in saline plasma vaporization of the prostate vs standard TUR of the prostate: 'the better choice' in benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency, safety and short-term outcome of transurethral resection in saline plasma vaporization of the prostate (TURis-PVP), and to compare it to the standard TUR of the prostate (TURP).

Patients And Methods: In all, 155 patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with a maximum urinary flow rate (Q(max) ) of <10 mL/s, an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of >19 and prostate volume of 30-80 mL were enrolled in this prospective, randomized trial. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery by IPSS, health-related quality of life (HRQL) score, Q(max) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR).

Diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction--a practical update.

During the last decades, erectile dysfunction was considered a direct consequence of aging and, although of a great concern for the affected patient, little was available to evaluate and treat this problem. If aging could not be invoked in all cases, than the psychogenic etiology was the only explanation. Over the coming years, a better understanding of the physiology involved in the penile process of tumescence and detumescence has allowed for better approach of each disease asociated with erectile dysfunction so that adequate treatment modalities can be applied to the pacient.

Conventional fiberoptic flexible ureteroscope versus fourth generation digital flexible ureteroscope: a critical comparison.

Background And Purpose: Development of flexible renoureteroscopy had a significant impact on the diagnosis and management of upper urinary tract pathology. The aim of our study was to compare the performances of a fiberoptic flexible ureteroscope (FFU) with those of a digital flexible ureteroscope (DFU).

Material And Methods: We compared the maneuverability, visibility, and fragility of a Storz 11274AA FFU and of an Olympus URF-Vo DFU.

Hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy and transurethral resection of the bladder in noninvasive bladder tumors.

Purpose: We compared hexaminolevulinate (HAL) blue light cystoscopy (BLC) with standard white light cystoscopy (WLC) in the diagnosis of noninvasive bladder tumors (NIBT) and analyzed the efficiency of blue light transurethral resection of the bladder (BL-TURB).

Materials And Methods: WLC and BLC were performed in 64 cases. BL-TURB was applied for lesions that were detected only by BLC.

Influence of pyelocaliceal anatomy on the success of flexible ureteroscopic approach.

Introduction: Some particularities of pyelocaliceal anatomy are described to influence the success rate of flexible ureteroscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between anatomy (infundibulopelvic angle, length of the inferior caliceal infundibulum) and the success of flexible ureteroscopic approach of lower calyx.

Materials And Methods: We studied 47 patients in whom flexible ureteroscopic procedures were performed between October 2002 and October 2006: 43 cases with inferior caliceal calculi or multiple caliceal (including the inferior calyx) lithiasis and 4 patients with inferior calyx diverticulae and intradiverticular lithiasis.

Initial Romanian experience with green light hps 120 w laser in bph.

Introduction And Objectives: Potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser photoselective vaporization prostatectomy (PVP) is a relatively new technology for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We reviewed our initial experience regarding the efficacy and safety of this technique for symptomatic and obstructive BPH.

Material And Methods: During the last year, 35 patients with a mean age of 65.

Hexvix blue light fluorescence cystoscopy--a promising approach in diagnosis of superficial bladder tumors.

Introduction: Nowadays, Hexvix blue light cystoscopy (BLC) represents an increasingly acknowledged diagnostic method for patients with bladder cancer. The aim of our study was to establish the place of this procedure in superficial bladder tumors diagnosis and to compare it with standard white light cystoscopy (WLC).

Material And Methods: Between December 2007 and January 2008, WLC and BLC were performed in 20 cases.

Endoscopic ureteral procedures for one-step nephroureterectomy: experience in 100 cases.

Background And Purpose: Nephroureterectomy with perimeatal cystectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of urothelial upper urinary-tract carcinoma (UUTC). Ureteral endoscopic surgery has been proposed as a complementary step in nephroureterectomy, either open or laparoscopic, in order to obviate the low abdominal incision. Our goal was to establish the value of two techniques for endoscopic distal-ureteral management in one-step nephroureterectomy for UUTC.

Ureteroscopic laser approach in recurrent ureteropelvic junction stenosis.

Objectives: Endourological procedures are widely used for treating ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. Our aim was to establish the value of using laser retrograde endopyelotomy (REP) in cases with recurrence.

Materials And Methods: Between November 2000 and June 2005 we performed 30 REPs in recurrent UPJ obstruction with grades 3 and 4 hydronephrosis (failed pyeloplasty, 17 cases; failed endopyelotomy, 13 cases).

Complications of 2735 retrograde semirigid ureteroscopy procedures: a single-center experience.

Background And Purpose: Ureteroscopy is nowadays one of the techniques most widely used for upper urinary- tract pathology. Our goal is to describe its complications in a large series of patients.

Patients And Methods: Between June 1994 and February 2005, 2436 patients aged 5 to 87 years underwent retrograde ureteroscopy (2735 procedures) under video and fluoroscopic assistance.

Value of preoperative urethral ultrasound in optic internal urethrotomy.

Introduction And Objectives: The recurrence rate of internal urethrotomy (IU) is still high (long-term curative success rate between 20 and 45% after the first IU). We aimed to establish in a prospective randomized trial the value of urethral ultrasound in inflammatory urethral stricture (IUS) diagnosis and treatment.

Patients And Methods: Between June 1994 and January 2004, we performed IU in 562 cases with IUS (under 1.

Second transurethral resection and adjuvant radiotherapy in conservative treatment of pT2N0M0 bladder tumors.

Objectives: Because of the high rate of residual tumors after transurethral resection (TUR) and possible pT0 finding on postoperative vesical specimens after initial TUR, we studied the data achieved after a second TUR (reTUR) in pT2N0M0 bladder tumors who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Between February 1996 and January 2002, we studied 169 cases (91 males and 78 females) with pT2 bladder tumors, which underwent reTUR within four to six weeks from the initial resection. Tumor location was documented at both procedures on a designed map of the bladder.

Endoscopic classification and endourologic therapy in proximal incomplete ureteral duplication pathology.

Objective: To assess whether patients with proximal incomplete ureteral duplication (PIUD) had functional or anatomical Y junction zone pathology. In such cases, stasis and infection, with or without associated renal scarring, are often found. The results after minimally invasive treatment (retrograde endoincision of ureteral stenosis, localized on one limb) can be evaluated.