Long-term consequences of urethral stents.

The results of the self-expandable urethral stent (Wallstent) in the treatment of urethral strictures were evaluated in 7 patients with a followup of 23 to 31 months. The 4 failures were caused by exuberant fibrotic proliferation in the lumen of the stent, which required further endoscopic treatment in 2 patients and even surgical removal of the stent in 1. In the other 2 patients the fibrotic proliferation was progressive and will require further treatment.

Submucosal migration of ureteric calculi: related to ESWL?

Three patients were reinspected by ureteroscopy after repeat ESWL. Ureteroscopy initially did not disclose an intraluminal stone and only visualized a severe inflammatory reaction of the ureteric wall and a boss of the ureter at the level of the fluoroscopically suspected stone location. An intact stone in all 3 cases was finally exposed by tactile contact at the top of the ureteroscope after perforating the mucosa with a guide wire.

Effect of alkalinization on calcium oxalate monohydrate calculi during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: in vivo experiments.

Previous in vitro experiments demonstrated the reduced microhardness of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) calculi, relative to dry values, when saturated with an alkaline solution (pH = 9.5). Nineteen patients with a COM calculus in the distal ureter which had been resistant to prior extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in situ, were treated when the stone was surrounded by alkaline urine.

Anaesthesia-free extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in patients with renal calculi.

Modern extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can be performed with combined ECG and respiratory triggered shock wave release. Disconnecting the ECG triggering increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias, including potentially malignant ones. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of any sympatho-adrenal excitation as a possible explanation for the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia.

High energy pulsed dye laser lithotripsy: management of ureteral calcium oxalate monohydrate calculi.

High energy pulsed dye laser lithotripsy (Candela MDL-2000), with energy output upgraded to a maximum of 140 mJ. at the laser fiber tip using the 320 mu core fiber, was compared to the initially commercialized device, with the energy output fixed at 60 mJ. using the 200 mu core fiber (Candela MDL-1).

Anesthetic requirements during electromagnetic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

An important aspect of modern extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the ability to perform the procedure without anesthesia. Between June 1987 and April 1990, a total of 7,500 treatments were performed in our Lithotripsy Unit, using the Lithostar (Siemens AG, Erlangen, FRG): moreover 80% of the treatments were carried out as an anesthesia-free outpatient service. All treatments were reviewed for anesthetic requirements.

Analysis of the pressure perturbation due to the introduction of a measuring probe under an elastic garment.

Attention is drawn to the increase of the pressure on the skin due to the introduction of a measuring probe under an elastic garment. The increase of pressure is explained by looking at the force equilibrium on the transducer. Making some assumptions on the geometry and the conditions that actually prevail at the interface, this mechanical phenomenon is expressed mathematically.

Effect of estramustine phosphate on free androgens. A comparative study of the effect of orchiectomy and estramustine phosphate on free androgens in patients with prostatic cancer.

Total serum testosterone, serum testosterone binding globulin and free androgen index were determined before and during treatment in 14 patients with previously untreated disseminated prostatic cancer. Six patients received estramustine phosphate and six other patients underwent orchiectomy. Two further patients received estramustine phosphate because of tumor progression one and two years after orchiectomy.