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The author, disciple of Dr. Cifuentes, thinks about the influence and teaching of his professor emphasizing some features that specially marked us. We emphasize his capacity to observe reality, his meticulous reading of all tests, his analysis of all the information obtained, and his intellectual rigor in the elaboration of the diagnosis. His interest for the patient, his thoughts about bladder cancer or the importance of statistics, and the introduction and support of endoscopic surgery in Spain are outstanding features. It is also outstanding his defense of urology as a medical-surgical specialty. As a conclusion we have his best legacy: his thoughts, his books and scientific works.

Objectives: Transrectal ultrasound is the method that gives a direct image of the prostate, its limits, structural and morphologic anomalies, and anatomical relations. Therefore, prostate volume is easily determined, being the first step for the application of certain therapeutic procedures. Prostatic cryotherapy and brachytherapy have been developed over the last years as minimally invasive options for the treatment of prostate cancer. Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate has allowed the application of these technologies in the daily practice, guaranteeing high efficacy and safety indexes. Cryosurgery is the controlled freezing of tissues. Prostatic transrectal ultrasound is the only method able to show the real-time evolution of prostatic cryoablation, allowing the urologist to control the evolution of the ice ball and to reach the targeted anatomical structures guaranteeing the oncological objectives, and diminishing complications and sequels. Brachytherapy, as a local intraprostatic radiotherapy, needs exact volume and dose calculations before the implant of the radioactive source within the gland. With transrectal ultrasound of the prostate, ultrasound-tomographic cuts are made for prostatic volume calculation and planimetry Once dosimetry is completed, real-time transrectal ultrasound control is necessary to perform the implant of the needles loaded with the seeds. Today, prostate cryotherapy and brachytherapy would be inconceivable without transrectal ultrasound.

Objectives: To perform a bibliographic review of the main features of cryotherapy as a therapeutic option in the monagemente of prostate cancer and to report our initial experience., Methods: We employed the Endocare Fast-Trac system (Medipro) with 2.4 mm needles implanted in a single maneouvre without rack or transrectal U.S. transducer support. Two cycles of freezing thawing were employed, with apex backward movement when necessary. Freezing cycle duration was between 7-10 minutes or more. The Onik maneouvre--injection of saline into the Denonvillier's space-diminishes the risk of rectal injury and fistula allowing reaching posterior limits of the icaball beyond the prostatic capsule., Results: We treated 20 patients. Follow-up was between 3036 months. 58% of the patients had unilateral prostate cancer, 42% bilateral. In accordance to the classic definition 9 patients were classified as low risk of extraprostatic disease, 6 medium risk and 5 high risk; using number of positive cores as the criterion for risk 5, 6 and 9 were low, medium and high risk respectively. Per protocol prostate biopsies were performed in 18 patients 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Two patients underwent a second treatment due to persistence of cancer cells in the 6-month biopsy (11%). 3-month PSA nadirs after a total of 21 cryo treatments administered were < 0,2 ng/cc in 15 cases (78.9%), < 0.5 ng/cc in 17 (89.4%) and < or = 1.0 ng/cc in 18 (94.7%); it was over 1 ng/cc in only 5.6%. 30 month PSA for the same cutoff values was 27.8%, 50.0%, 66.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Prostate cancer cells were detected in the 12-month biopsies of 5.5% cases. All 24-month biopsies were negative., Complications: We observed scrotal edema, hematoma, perineal pain and constipation which lasted 2-3 weeks. 1 patient suffered injury of the mucosa at the prostatic urethra, which did not result in rectal fistula and was treated with bladder catheter for 3 months. 4 patients had erectile dysfunction before treatment. All others presented erectile dysfunction after treatment; 3 of them (20%) recovered rigidity enough to have intercourse over the 30 month period. No urethral sloughing or acute urinary retention appeared and all patients are continent., Conclusions: Prostatic cryosurgery is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer with very low surgical risk, low morbidity and almost null mortality.

About 2% of adults have an urachal cyst. The diagnosis is usually made due to its clinical complications. We report an inusual case of acute urinary retention due to an urachal cyst, with hipogastric pain and anuria as initial syntoms.

Introduction: The TVT system is the most common surgical technique of female stress urinary incontinence, because of the simplicity. good clinical results and rare complications., Material and Methods: From april, 1999 to march. 2004, it has been done in our department 100 TVT systems with the revision of the result over the six following months. The average follow-up rate was 10.36 months (R: 1-54 months) and looses mean the 11% of the cases. All the patients presented stress incontinence and their average age was 56.6 years old (30-80). The 12% of the cases have been previously operated of urinary incontinence. 21 patients presented previous surgery of pelvic floor. In the 17% of the cases, TVT systems was associated to another surgical technique: 15% of them was operated of cystocele, 1% of them had surgical correction of rectocele, 1% of them had a strong surgery of pelvic floor, that included TVT system, correction of pelvic floor and hysterectomy., Results: We obtained 65% of successful cases, defined as objective confirmation of absence of looses from the observer and the subjective reference of the patient: 17% of clear improvement (clear decrease of looses from the patient and subjective improvement) and 7% of failure of the technique. The total percentage of appearance of novo post-surgery urgency is 9%. There were complications in the 12% of the cases: there were three cases of bladder perforation, two of them intra-operative and one of them deferred and associated to an infection of surgical wound; another three cases of residue in the immediate post-operative that were resolved with bladder catheterization: one case of acute urinary retention that was treated with bladder catheterization with suprapubic cistostomy: one case of chemical peritonitis corrected with a conservative treatment; two cases of vaginal extrusion of sling, which were resolved with the section of the outer sling; one patient presented a hipogastric hematoma resolved with conservative measures: and one patient presented pelvic discomfort with spontaneous resolution., Conclusions: We consider the TVT system as an effective surgical technique in the treatment of the female stress urinary incontinence. It is a simple technique with a short stay in the hospital and rare complications.

Renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus is relatively uncommon and complicates radical nefrectomy. During the past twenty years our hospital have substantially contributed to the surgical stratification of renal cell carcinoma with extension into inferior vena cava through different techniques. The reason for this article is to discuss the mote efficient and appropiate surgical technique for this pathology. We believe that the diagnosis of vena caval invasion and level of tumoral extension is based on radiological examinations and it is crucial for the success of the surgery. We consider that the use of vena caval filter applied preoperatively could prevent the risk of thromboembolism during and after the surgery. The use of prosthetic grafts is unusual, because the long standing obstruction caused by the tumor thrombus will develope extensive collateral circulation which works as a natural veno-venous bypass. Finally, we try to avoid the use of veno-venous and cardiopulmonar bypass with or without complete hypothermic circulatory arrest due to the high association with adverse outcomes and mortality.

Cryosurgery is an emerging technology consisting on controlled freezing of tissues. Good results, maintained in the long-term, have been referred in the treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma. A role as possible substitute of partial nephrectomy in the treatment of renal adenocarcinomas smaller than 4-5 cm is under research. There is no discussion that freezing destroys cellular machinery and triggers several events the final result of which is cell death by necrosis and apoptosis. The decrease of temperature makes extracellular liquid crystallize and creates a hyperosmotic environment, which induces water to go out of the cell producing intracellular dehydration. Intracellular ice is created with fast freezing speeds being attributed the most destructive effect on biological tissues with irreparable damage. In blood vessels, it directly induces endothelial cell death and mechanical lesions of the endothelium; the consequence is the formation of thrombi that obstruct the lumen of the vessel. In the post-thawing phase there is an increase in free radicals formation and neutrophil activity, which induces cellular membrane lipids peroxidation and new endothelium lesions. Tissue destruction is determined by: minimal temperature achieved, freezing speeds, freezing phase duration, number of freezing-thawing cycles provided, and distance to the freezing focus. As we move away from the freezing focus cells are affected in different ways, and there are several mechanisms proposed to explain the lethal action induced by temperatures higher than--40 degrees C. In our series pathologic findings were: necrosis, hemorrhagic areas either developed or not, fibrosis, hyalinization and increases in the relative number of hematic capillaries, microscopic calcifications, basal cells hyperplasia, and transitional or squamous metaplasia. Residual cancer is localized in the areas less affected by freezing. It should be emphasize the scarce morbimortality associated with the procedure. It does not require ICU admission or blood transfusions, no cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) or heart events have been described, and mortality is null, so that it is feasible in high surgical risk patients and without age limit.

Objective: Sacral root neuromodulation is an effective technique for the treatment of Chronic Micturition Dysfunction (CMD) refractory to conventional therapy. New indications such as chronic pelvic pain and interstitial cystitis are currently making their way within the urologic setting. Several groups of gastric surgeons are now choosing this technique for the management of rectal diseases (constipation, sphincter dysfunction). This paper contributes our experience in the treatment of patients with CMD and the comparative results at one year from implant in all patients., Material and Methods: From December 1998 through July 2003, 18 neuromodulation definite implants were performed. The main indication was CMD in 62.5% patients. Follow up of patients was done at one month and three months, and every six months thereafter. Follow up is conducted through a micturition diary and QoL questionnaire. Electrode implant in the first 16 patients was achieved by open surgery. The next 2 patients had the electrode placed by a percutaneous technique using the "Tined Lead" kit., Results: Results at one year after implant were compared in all patients. The total number of neuromodulation implants placed was 18, 14 (77.7%) of which were women and 4 (22.3%) men. Mean age was 52.56 years. Implant indication was CMD in 72.2% patients, mixed incontinence (urinary and faecal) in 22.1%, and interstitial cystic disease in 5.5%. Symptoms improvement at one year from implant, as determined by a micturition diary and QoL questionnaire was 76.4%. Clinical improvement was greater in patients with urgency symptoms than in patients with predominance of voiding symptoms.

Objectives: To perform a historical review of varicocele and male infertility with the aim to find descriptions that first related them. In parallel, we review the evolution of treatment for varicocele up to date., Methods/results: We refer to multiple authors and their treaties on Medicine, from first to 20th Century, in which descriptions of these pathologies are found, focusing on descriptions of the surgical technique for treatment of varicocele and their application in Spain., Conclusions: Varicocele was already described in treaties from the first century having bee of n its treatment predominantly surgical from the first description to our days. Not identified as a cause of infertility until late, by the end of the 19th century, it is the main indication for treatment nowadays. The surgical technique has suffered many modifications over time, both in the approach as in the "radicality" of a vascular ligature applied.

Objectives: To report one case of prostate carcinoma with metastasis to the corpora cavernosum., Methods: We report the case of a 79-year-old patient with the diagnosis of Gleason 9 prostatic adenocarcinoma who presented a hard lesion on the glans penis one year after starting androgen blockade. The patient underwent palliative TURP and biopsy of the lesion., Results: Pathology reported a penile metastasis of prostatic adenocarcinoma., Conclusions: Penile metastasis are rare, usually appearing in advanced stages of the primary disease; their treatment is palliative and should only be carried out in symptomatic patients.

Acquired cystic renal disease (A.C.R.D.) is a risk factor for the development of renal carcinoma in the patient's own kidney after renal transplant (R.T.), development of a primitive tumor in the renal graft is infrequent, but the presence of metastasis of an epithelial tumor is very rare. This is the second case reported in the literature of metastasis of an epithelial tumor in the renal graft and the first case described of renal cell carcinoma metastasis (R.C.C.) in the renal graft. This paper describes the case of a patient with a normally functioning renal transplant and A.C.R.D. who develops RCC in his own kidney, with metastasis in the renal graft.

Objectives: To report the 7th case of pararenal angiomyolipoma published in the world literature and to review the international bibliography., Methods: We report the case of a 46-year-old female with history of renal colic and a complex mass on radiological tests., Results/conclusions: Extrarenal retroperitoneal angiomyolipoma is a rare pathology with no more than 7 published cases. The diagnostic difficulty and radiological similarities with liposarcoma make surgery the treatment of choice.

Objectives: The objective of this article is to perform a comprehensive exposition of the various non-endourological treatment options for upper urinary tract tumors in order to set the bases to choose the most adequate surgical indication depending on tumors' and patients' characteristics; we consider the various surgical approaches, and the historic evolution from the classic indication established by Albarran (radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff) to the current ones more conservative. We also consider the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of these tumors., Methods/results: We refer to the conclusions of various authors and their large series published in the literature, series considered classic already, and provide support adding our experience by reviewing 223 patients treated from 1977 to 2003 with a mean follow-up of 45 months (maximum 238 months)., Conclusions: We can state that it is acceptable to indicate less aggressive ways of treatment (nephroureterectomy without bladder cuff, distal or partial ureterectomy, and conservative operations) if the oncological radicality requirements are met, remembering that site, tumor grade and stage are determinant in the outcome.

Primary testicular lymphoma is an uncommon testicular tumour that accounts for no more than 9% of all testicular tumours in those series with higher incidence; testicular lymphoma as haematopoietic tumours are also rare accounting for just 1% of all lymphomas; but due to their highly malignant histopathology they may become highly aggressive tumours. Patient age at presentation is over 60 years old which makes it the most frequent tumour for this age group. There is no standard protocol to treat this malignancy due to lack of extensive series. We contribute one case and make a literature review discussing the current therapeutic trends for this disease.

Objectives: Cryosurgery is defined as in situ freezing of tissues. Criosurgery in the treatment of prostate cancer aims to: 1- Eliminate all the glandular tissues and completely destroy the adenocarcinoma, 2- With a minimum number of complications. a) Preserving neighbour structures: bladder neck, striated sphincter, and rectum. b) Preserving urethral mucosa to reduce the elimination of sloughing tissues., Methods: We describe the technique of prostatic cryosurgery including all innovations introduced during the last ten years. The map with the number and situation of the 6-8 crioprobes should be done in such a way that the iceball created around each of them overlaps the contiguous ones. Probe-mapping and icing strategy together get the prostate included in a unique, solid mass, in which temperature descents homogeneously and spreads out of its limits, so that intraprostatic and extraprostatic temperatures (sensors at the apex, Denonvilliers fascia and both neurovascular bundles) are below -40 degrees C., Results: The standardized technique is based on: Substitution of liquid nitrogen by argon. Use of 6 to 8 cryoprobes. The probes are properly inserted into the perineum percutaneously under transrectal ultrasound guidance. Ice ball evolution control by biplane transrectal ultrasound. Separation of the two layers of Denonvilliers' fascia by injection of saline solution. Real-time measurement of temperature descent. Minimal temperature lower than -40 degrees C Commercial ureteral heating system. Double cycle of freezing-unfreezing Administration of hormonal therapy during time enough to avoid the gland size to exceed 45-50 cc., Conclusions: We describe the most advanced technique for prostatic freezing, highlighting the basic requirements to achieve the objectives pursued. It has improved oncologic results, in relation to PSA and percentage of negative biopsies, and has dramatically reduced complications.

Objective: To present a series of 63 patients with urinary incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence who underwent the implantation of an AMS-800 artificial sphincter., Methods: From 1984 to December 2002 a total of 69 patients received this prosthesis, 63 of which were available for review. The cause of incontinence was sphincter incompetence in all cases, said secondary to prostate surgery, neurogenic bladder, post-traumatic urethral lesion, and epispadias. 52 of them were placed in the bulbar urethra, and 11 in the bladder neck. The cuff diameters varied from 4 to 10 cm and reservoir pressures from 51-60 to 71-18 H2O cm., Results: The complications that appeared, ordered by frequency, were: malfunction, infection and rejection or exteriorization, fistula, and unappropriate size. The total number of reoperations was 39 in 28 patients. Functional results were successful in 48 cases and failure in 15., Conclusions: The use of an AMS-800 prosthesis for the treatment of urinary incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence is effective but not without complications. The most frequent indication was following prostate surgery, being this group the one that obtains the best results. Patients with incontinence of neurogenic origin have the highest complication rate, and the worst results in relation to vascularization and tissue trophism abnormalities. In female patients we prefer other techniques that have similar results, are technically easier and more economic.

Objective: We report a recidive of penis carcinoma after 21 years of surgery., Methods: This is the case of a male of 85 years old, with partial penectomy; by epidermoid carcinoma. In physics exploration, that it displays excrecente lesion at level of gland of 1 month of evolution. Biopsy being the result of epidermoid carcinoma reason why is made. Total penectomy, a with cutaneus uretrostomy., Results: The histopathological study of the piece, confirm a epidermoid carcinoma well differentiated.

Objectives: To report one case of lithiasis transference from the donor associated with renal transplant., Methods: 53-year-old female with obstructive uropathy within the first post transplant month., Results/conclusions: Lithiasis transference after transplant is a cause of early obstructive uropathy after kidney transplantation. The low the incidence of lithiasis transference does not justify the performance of x-ray and/or ultrasound of the donor organ in terms of cost effectiveness. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is a valid therapeutic option on transplanted kidneys.

We report a new case of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, in a male of 67 years old, with locoregional recidive four months after first surgery, with two episodes of retroperitoneal hemorrhage after second surgery. The objective of this work is to contribute a new case and of doing one revision.

Testicular torsion in adult, is an uncommonly etiology, but we should make differencial diagnosis in every person over thirty years old, with acute scrotum. The wrong diagnosis raises the incidence orchiectomy in adults for vascular etiology. We report a male of 74 years old with acute scrotum and review of the literature.

Objectives: To report one clinical case of obstructive uropathy secondary to bladder pseudotumor., Methods: We report the case of a 74-year-old male with obstructive acute renal failure of unknown etiology., Results: After resolution of the acute renal failure by percutaneous nephrostomy, action was undertaken to control possible etiologic causes, resolving the bilateral ureter entrapment and bladder inflammatory process., Conclusions: Glandular cystitis is a nosological entity which in its severe forms behaves clinically and radiologically as a bladder pseudotumor, so that should be considered as a part of the differential diagnosis with bladder tumors. Final diagnosis comes from pathology. For treatment, it is basic to eliminate any predisposing factor, either infectious, or irritative, or obstructive; if no action is carried out on these factors other therapeutic measures as the aforementioned are not effective. Strict follow-up should be undertaken (every six months) because of the high incidence of bladder adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To review the main images that can be observed by ultrasound, trying to highlight what decision to take after their finding: exploratory surgery, orchyectomy, or follow-up., Methods: We performed a bibliographic review about the topic and incorporated our personal experience with scrotal ultrasound. Given that there is an extensive variety of anomalies that can be observed we divide them in liquid and solid lesions, and these in intra or extratesticular, plus a group of lesions that do not qualify in the previous groups., Results: The development of high frequencies transducers (8-10 Mhz) and a greater experience today allows to diagnose not only testicular tumors but also a number of benign clinical entities, with enough specificity in some of them as to avoid surgery., Conclusions: Ultrasound is a simple test, painless, and can be repeated without trouble, so that it is the first test that should be ordered when managing any intra scrotal problem.

We report a case of benign retroperitoneal schwannoma diagnosed casual in a 23 years old woman treated of a Wilm's tumour twenty years ago. A review of the on this unusual tumour is included.

Objective: To report the case of a solitary renal metastasis secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma., Methods: We report the case of a 51 year old patient who on abdominal ultrasonography was revealed a left renal tumour and a hepatic mass incidentally. A TAC showed the left renal tumor measuring 17 cm in size, possible involvement of left renal vein and a tumour mass in the right lobe of the liver. A TAC guided fine needle punction aspiration biopsy demonstrated a malignant hepatic lesion compatible with hepatocarcinoma, and malignant renal cells compatible with renal or adrenal carcinoma. Left radical nephrectomy and right hepatectomy was performed., Results: Histopathologic study confirmed the diagnosis of moderately differentiated trabecular hepatocarcinoma with lymph node and left renal metastasis.

Objectives: We report six cases of adrenal cyst, a rare pathologic entity which poses diagnostic problems and therapeutic controversies., Methods: We report six cases of adrenal cysts in 4 female and 2 male patients ages 26 to 68 years. All cases underwent surgical treatment., Results: Pathologic studies showed that all were adrenal cysts without malignancy in any case., Conclusions: Adrenal cysts are a rare disease of which correct diagnosis is difficult so that many times patients undergo surgery without a proper preoperative diagnosis. There are controversies about the right management of adrenal cysts.

Objectives: Bleeding secondary to severe vesicoprostatic pathology (mainly neoplasic disease and radiation cystitis) may be a serious clinical management problem due to its morbidity and associated increased resources demand in the form of admissions, transfusions and other measures. We review a series of patients embolized for this purpose, its efficacy, tolerability and adverse events., Methods: We review 8 patients who underwent hypogastric arteries embolization between July 1998 and December 2001, analyzing indications, efficacy and duration, tolerability, and consequences. Right femoral artery access was undertaken in all except one case that needed bilateral femoral accesses. Embolization was achieved by means of coils and particles. All procedures were performed under local anaesthesia., Results: 9 procedures were performed in 8 patients. 3 patients presented with hematuria due to radiation cystitis, 3 from prostatic carcinoma, and 2 with urethrorragy from urethral relapses after cystectomy. 7/9 embolizations were effective achieving immediate complete or almost complete bleeding control; in one case control was partial; another one had limited or no effect. Selective embolization of distal arteries was performed in 3 cases; all the remainders underwent direct hypogastric trunk embolization sparing the superior gluteal artery. Effect lasted between 1 and 31 months. 4 patients died, 3 of them without haematuria, 1 because of an intercurrent disease, and the others from disease progression. 2 patients underwent posterior surgery, one due to recurrent haematuria, and the other, a case of urethral tumour, due to partial failure; partial cystectomy and urethrectomy were performed respectively. 2 patients needed administration of morphic derivatives after embolization, all the others were managed with magnesium metamizol. Only one patient referred mild transitory gluteal claudication., Conclusions: Percutaneous arterial embolization is an effective instrument to treat patients with haematuria or urethrorragy and severe lower urinary tract pathology in whom curative treatments are not applicable due to their general status, life expectancy, or tumor status.

We present the results and complications found and compared in 2 large series of patients who underwent a surgical procedure to avoid Urinary Stress Incontinence in our hospital. From january of 1994 to december of 2001 we collected 195 patients with an average age of 57.9 y we compared them with a prior series of 189 patients collected between january of 1976 and december of 1993, with an average age of 53.6. The continence rate was similar in both series (70.8% pre-94 and 74.5% post 94), slight incontinence 22.7% pre-94 and 19.2% post-94 and for complete incontinence 6.3% pre-94 and 6.2% post-94. The Burch procedure was the most common and also shows the greatest effectiveness in our trial involving 113 cases and a continence rate of 74.3% in the first series and 144 cases and 77% respectively in the second series. The most common complications were very similar in both groups: tract urinary infection (5.2% and 9% first and second group), surgical wound infection (4.2% and 2.2% respectively). We conclude that in spite of the introduction of new and useful surgical procedure (TVT, periurethal substances injection...) the greatest long term success rate still corresponds to the Burch colposuspension.

Objective: Idiopathic spontaneous bladder rupture is a low incidence clinical entity. We perform a literature review and report a recurrent case, with special attention to its physiopathology mainly if associated with alcohol abuse., Methods: We report the case of a patient with recurrent spontaneous bladder rupture associated with alcohol abuse. The presentation of this case is uncommon., Results: 53 year old male with history of chronic alcohol abuse who presented with abdominal pain and renal failure., Conclusions: Spontaneous bladder rupture is the cause of acute abdomen and acute renal failure. Idiopathic rupture associated with substance abuse has proper clinical characteristics that make it to be considered a different entity than other causes of spontaneous bladder rupture.

Objectives: To describe the effectiveness of sacral root neuromodulation in ameliorating symptoms of refractory voiding disfunction in our center., Material and Methods: During the period from december 1998 throught december 2001, 31 Percutaneous Nerve Evaluation (PNE) was performed to 20 patients with refractory voiding dysfunction; a sacral nerve stimulation device was implanted in 10 patients (8 female, 2 male). The median age was 49 years. Refractory voiding dysfunction included: mixed disorders (30%), idiopathic nonobstructive chronic urinary retention (20%), urgency/frequency (20%), faecal and urinary incontinence with absence of sphincter defect (20%) and frequency (10%)., Results: The 2 patients with frequency/urgency decreased their symptoms more than 50%, bladders were emptied without post-void residual urine in 2 patients with urinary retention, faecal and urinary incontinence in 2 patients and mixed disorders in other 3, reduced their symptoms more than 90% without residual urine. The frequency improved more than 50% in 1 patient., Conclusions: Sacral Root Neuromodulation is a successful treatment in some cases of idiopathic chronic micturition dysfunction which don't respond to pharmacotheraphy or bladder retraining. The effects of neuromodulation are long-lasting and associated morbidity is low.

Objective: To analyze the impact of the use of the routine double-J stent in the incidence of urological complications, like fistula, stenosis, ureteral obstruction and urinary tract infection., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on two groups of patients: 28 without double-J stent and 28 with it. We reviewed urological complications: stenosis, fistula and obstruction. We paid special attention to urinary tract infection and other inherents complications to the use of double-J stents., Results: A patient from the double-J stended group (3.6%) developed a urinary fistula and there were no obstructions. 13 patients (46.6%) had a positive urinary culture in the first month post RT. Two urinary fistulas and 4 obstructions were developed in the non-stended group. Six major complications of the urinary tract. 14 patients (50%) had a positive urinary culture in the first month post RT., Conclusions: The use of double-J stent across uterovesical anastomosis decreases the post-RT ureteral complications. Stent placement does not increase the risk of urinary tract infection in the early post-RT.

Introduction: The TVT system is a new surgical procedure for female stress urinary incontinence. The object of this study is to report our initial experience with this technique. We report our results and complications too., Material and Methods: From April 1999 to July 2000, 23 systems TVT was implanted in our hospital. The patients were followed for a 6 to 21 month period. All the patients had stress incontinence. The mean age was 59 years. Gynaecological surgery was associated in 4 patients. One of them was excluded because a diagnosis mistake. TVT implies the implantation of a prolene tape around mid-urethra via a minimal vaginal incision., Results: 17 patients (77.27%) had a significantly improved in the post-operative evaluation. The mean post-surgical stay in the hospital was 1.7 days. A bladder base was damaged during the surgery. No urinary retention, erosion or urethral lesion were found., Conclusions: We consider the TVT operation to be a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. This surgery is easy to lean, fast, cheap and with a low rate of complications.

Objective: To analyze the series of patients who underwent replacement of their penile prosthesis between years 1990 to 1999, due to any kind of complication., Material and Methods: 85 patients underwent implantation, 13 different prosthesis models being utilized. It was replaced (once or more) in 15 of these patients (17.64%). The mean age at the moment of the replacement was 51.5 years. The most frequent surgical approach was the infrapubic one., Results: A total of 32 prosthesis-replacement interventions were carried out. The main causes were: mechanical failure (13 cases, 40.62%); infection (10 cases, 31.25%); and corpus cavernosum perforation (five cases, 15.62%). Progressive increase of complications incidence with regard to the ordinal number of the implanted prosthesis was not observed. Best overall results: Mentor Mark II and AMS 700 Ultrex Plus. At present day, only eight (53.33%) out of 15 reimplanted patients use their prosthesis with normality., Conclusions: Those patients who undergo replacement of their penile prosthesis are potential sources for later complications. Their knowledge and proper handling is important in order to a progressive improvement of the final results, (above all if--such as our case--these ones are not suitable for conformity).

Objective: To analyze the series of patients who underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy in our Center due to squamous penile carcinoma, between years 1984 to 1999., Material and Methods: Lymphadenectomy was carried out in 19 patients, with a mean age of 61 years. Bilateral ilioinguinal (42.1%) was the most frequent type of intervention. Only four patients underwent penectomy and lymphadenectomy simultaneously. We present the clinical and pathological results, according to the 1997 TNM classification., Results: Palpable inguinal nodes after antibiotherapy remained in seven out of 12 patients. The overall correlation between N and pN stages in our series was 68.42%. Pathological results according to pT and pN stages are also presented. Postoperative complications were present in 13 cases (68.42%), (lymphedema being the most frequent one). In those patients with two or less pN(+) nodes, an overall one-year and five-year survival of 90 and 80% were obtained; compared to 11.11 and 0% when there were more than two., Conclusions: The importance about control of metastatic lymph nodes in squamous carcinoma of the penis, places inguinal lymphadenectomy as an essential tool, in those suitable cases. However, its incidence of complications makes a progressive agreement about its indications be necessary.