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The high prevalence and incidence of urinary stone disease, the severity of its symptoms, its high recurrence rate and resulting healthcare costs, make urolithiasis a chronic disease with significant impact on healthcare services and patient quality of life. There are several general tools available to assess health related quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses, as wellas some specific ones directed to urinary stone disease, such as the ureteral stent symptom questionnaire. Patient swith an obstructive ureteral stone or those indwelling aureteral stent, often present symptoms that may affecttheir quality of life considerably. Patient education and counselling regarding stent-related symptoms, as well as medical treatment, may help improve their perception of quality of life.

Objective: The contribution of therapeutic ureteroscopy done by Perez Castro in 1980 varied the management algorithm for ureteral lithiasis worldwide. The techniques of Retrograde Ureteroscopy and transrenal antegrade ureteroscopy led to the abandonment of open surgery for the treatment of ureteral lithiasis. Only Shock wave lithotripsy has maintained similar success rates in selected cases., Methods: Descriptive analysis of the semirigid and flexible ureteroscopy techniques performed in our department over the last 10 years giving detail on the technique and safety tips to increase the efficacy and efficiency of ureteroscopy. 4,533 semirigid ureterorenoscopies and 980 flexible ureterorenoscopies were performed between January 2005 and July 2016., Results: We registered 82% lithiasis elimination on a single operation with a 1,8% overall complication rate for complications higher than Clavien III. We registered 108 urinary sepsis episodes with 2 deaths secondary to massive shock. One patient required supra-selective renal embolization due to renal rupture and hemorrhage after URS. Four patients have required open or laparoscopic surgical repair Five patients required nephrectomy due to absent function of the renal unit after URS and 2 for complete ureteral avulsion on ureteroscope extraction., Conclusions: Semirigid ureterorenoscopy enables the elimination of ureteral lithiasis on a major ambulatory surgery regimen with an acceptable complication rate and a low rate of ancillary measures. Flexible ureteroscopy has resolved intrarenal lithiasis of up to 2 cm, being a substitute for percutaneous nephrolithotomy for these cases.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of obesity in the results of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in terms of efficacy and safety and to evaluate other aspects such as fluoroscopy time, radiation exposure, total operative time, hemoglobin loss, hospital stay, and the need of auxiliary procedures., Materials and Methods: We evaluated prospectively all the PCNLs performed at our institution between 2011 and 2012. A series of perioperative and postoperative details were recorded in our database. The patients were distributed in 4 groups using World Health Organization's classification of body mass index (BMI): normal weight, ≤ 25 kg/m(2); overweight, 25-29.9 kg/m(2); obese, 30-39.9 kg/m(2); and morbidly obese, ≥ 40 kg/m(2). Modified Clavien classification was used for reporting the complications. Results were compared between the groups using the chi square and multivariate logistic regression tests., Results: A total of 255 procedures were performed between January 2011 and December 2012. Overall stone clearance was 76.3% and complication rate using the modified Clavien grading system was 31.4%. No statistical differences in terms of complication rate and stone free rate were noted between the 4 groups. Total operative time and radiation doses increase along with BMI. No difference was found in fluoroscopy time, failure to gain access, hospital stay, or need for auxiliary procedures., Conclusion: Obesity does not increase complications in PCNL, and the efficacy of the technique is similar to normal weight patients with appropriate expertise. Total operative time and radiation exposure increase along with BMI, putting patients at risk., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the treatment of urinary calculi in renoureteral malformations., Methods: From April 1988 to December 2000, we have treated 158 patients with renoureteral malformations (36 horseshoe kidneys, 32 caliceal diverticula, 2 megacaliosis, 2 crossed renal ectopy, 3 polycystosis, 7 hydrocalyx, 24 complete duplex ureter, 18 incomplete duplex ureter, 22 ureterocele, 2 segmental megaureter)., Results: Renoureteral malformations were diagnosed in 158 of 19,000 patients that were treated in our stone unit from April 1988 and December 2000. Horseshoe kidney: 54% of the patients treated by ESWL are stone-free; PNL was performed in 2 patients and conventional surgery in another 2 patients. Caliceal diverticulum: 42% of the patients treated by ESWL are stone-free; 3 patients underwent conventional surgery. Other renal malformations: 62% of the patients treated by ESWL are stone-free. Ureteral malformations: duplex ureter and megaureter: 82% of the patients treated by ESWL are stone-free. Ureterocele: due to the poor results achieved by ESWL, we performed endoscopic transurethral meatotomy., Conclusions: These results indicate that ESWL alone can be considered to be the treatment of choice for small calculi in patients with renal malformations, although we consider it to be mandatory to perform individual assessment of the urinary tract and stone size in these patients in order to choose the best therapeutic option. The same criteria for the normal urinary tract can be applied in ureteral malformations except ureteroceles, for which we advocate performing endoscopic surgery for stone removal.

Introduction: Urinary calculi is an uncommon complication in kidney transplantation; several stone risk factors are found in transplanted patients, but in most cases there is not a relationship between these risk factors and stone formation. The treatment of these patients is complex due to their both immunosuppressive status and border-line renal function., Material and Method: From 1980 to February 2000, 1198 kidney transplant have been performed in our institution. We describe our series consisting in 22 urinary calculi (15 in the graft, 3 in the urether and 4 in the bladder) in 18 patients, including 7 stones detected in cadaveric donor patients., Results: We performed external shock wave lithotripsy in 7 patients, bench surgery in 4, endoscopic mechanic lithotripsy in 5, open surgery in 1 and observation in 6. Calcium oxalate (mono and dihidrate) was found in 9 of 13 calculi. Metabolic changes were found in 15 of the 18 patients, the most common was hiperuricemia. There were not complications of every treatment applied and 9% of them needed a savage treatment. We found recurrence in 4 cases (22.2%). Now 12 of the patients are stone-free (66.7%) and three have non-significative stones (83.3% without symptoms)., Conclusions: Detection of renal calculi in cadaveric renal donors is not a reason to refuse the graft for further transplantation. In both renal calculi up to 2 cm and uretheric calculi surgical treatment is assessed as first option. In caliceal stones smaller than 5 mm observations is the best treatment.

Unlabelled: Three factors in extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) result in pain: shock wave pressure, size of focal area and pressure distribution at entry in the skin. Our Lithotripsy Unit has performed 21,000 outpatient treatments (Dornier HM-4 Lithotripter) with no sedation or anaesthetics. Pain requiring treatment discontinuation resulted in 10% instances. Anxiety-associated pain increases the perceived intensity of pain and influences the emotional response to pain., Objective: To determine whether the variability in the response to the pain stimulus caused by ESWL is related to the patient's status/trait of anxiety., Method: Sample 20 patients; inclusion criteria: pyelic lithiasis > 2 cm, no previous SWEL and no obesity. One SWEL session (2500 pulses, 22 Kv). Anxiety was first evaluated using the status/trait of anxiety index (STAI) questionnaire; after treatment, pain was evaluated on a Numerical Analogic Scale., Results: Pain scores ranged from 2 to 8, mean score 4.1 (S.D. = 1.67); mean score for trait of anxiety 21.8 (S.D. = 8.52), and status of anxiety 29 (S.D. = 5.89). A significant correlation was found between pain-anxiety trait (R = .51; p = .02), which was higher when compared to pain-anxiety status (R = .67; p = .001)., Conclusions: SWEL is a painful therapy (95% of sample had mild-to-moderate pain); pain perception is increased by status of anxiety (45% of pain variance) more than by the trait of anxiety (26.3%); therefore, usage of sedation-analgesia in patients with high anxiety status would improve the lithotripter efficacy ratio.

Unlabelled: Caliceal diverticula may be congenital or acquired malformations of the collecting system, normally asymptomatic and discovered during an IVP. Indications for treatment included chronic vague flank pain, acute renal colic, urinary tract infection and hematuria. We present the results of 29 patients with symptomatic calculi in caliceal diverticula who were managed by ESWL monotherapy. All treatments were performed with electrohydraulic machine (Dornier HM 4) in ambulatory form., Results: The average followup was 42 months. 12 patients (40%) had passed successfully all of the stone fragments, while 2 patients (7%) had passed more than half and 4 (13.5%) had passed less than half of the fragments. 66 per cent of patients had been rendered free of symptoms. The possibility of producing a satisfactory result (66% free of symptoms and 40% stone free by X ray) and the low morbidity of ESWL suggest that this treatment may be appropriate for majority of calculi in calicea diverticula.

Presentation of the results obtained with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) applied to 3173 ureteral lithiasis with a Dornier HM-4 equipment. Location of lithiasis was pyeloureteral junction (329), lumbar ureter (1068), sacral ureter (238), iliopelvic ureter (1474) and "lithiasic path" (64). All lithiasis were treated in situ. Treatments were carried out ambulatory with no anaesthesia. Treatment/lithiasis rate was 1.3. Percentage of stone-free patients with ESWL alone was 79.2% after the first session, and reached 86.14% with retreatment. Percentage of success for lithiasis in pyeloureteral junction was 81.8%, 79.7% for lumbar ureter lithiasis, 80.09% sacral lithiasis, 90.10% iliopelvic ureter lithiasis and 79.9% for those in the "lithiasic path". 12.6% lithiasis required post-ESWL auxiliary manoeuvres. Post-ESWL minor complications (pain, vegetations) occurred in 5.6% cases and major complications (obstruction, fever, sepsis) in 2.9%. The factors influencing lithiasis fragmentation were the number of shock waves and the lithiasis duration. Size of lithiasis and presence or absence of ureteral catheter had no influence. These results suggest that ESWL is an effective method for managing ureteral lithiasis.

Objective: Renal haematomas after shock wave extracorporeal lithotripsy (SWEL) represent a potentially serious complication. This paper examines those cases of post-SWEL renal haematoma seen in our Centre, analyzing the likely risk factors., Patients and Methods: Between May 1988 and June 1996, 12,800 patients were treated with 15100 lithiasis at some level of the urinary tract requiring 16,000 SWEL sessions. All treatments were done with a Dornier HM-4 lithotripter. Voltage applied ranged from 18 to 26 Kv, averaging 2500 waves/session. Complementary testing (ultrasound/computerised tomography) was requested immediately after treatment if clinical complications were suspected., Results: A total of 10 renal haematomas (0.078%) were diagnosed. Six cases were mild, but 4 presented extensive haematoma with significant haemodynamic consequence. Although in one case nephrectomy was undertaken to control haemorrhage, death finally occurred by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Four patients who developed haematoma were hypertensive and 3 had a previously corrected haemostasis alteration., Conclusions: The possibility of renal haematoma should be taken into account in the face of persistent and unjustified pain after SWEL treatment. Normalization of blood pressure values, correction of urinary infection as well as adequate correction of haemostatic disorders is advisable.

Primary melanoma of the female urethra is very rare. Early diagnosis is very difficult and thus involves a long-term non-resolutive therapeutic approach. This paper presents the case of a 61-year old female patient with this type of tumour and nodular dissemination at the time of diagnosis. The patient developed lung and cranial metastasis with 5-year survival.

Leukoplakia is a morphological term that attempts to define keratinizing desquamative squamous metaplasia of the transitional epithelium. It is uncommon in the upper urinary tract (less than 100 cases have been reported) and has been attributed to infection or mechanical injury to the epithelium and/or genetic factors. We present a case of leukoplakia in a male patient with renal tuberculosis that had been in remission for the past 15 years. Eight years earlier he had intermittently passed keratin laminas (pathognomonic of leukoplakia) during the course of various episodes of nephritic colic. After discarding a reactivation of tuberculosis and malignancy of the metaplastic lesion, we continued conservative treatment with radiologic and cytologic control evaluations.

Review of 18 cases of ureterocele in the adult. The first clinical symptoms are unspecific, with a long-term evolution, and were found while carrying out routine urological examinations. The association to secondary lithiasis in over 60% cases and the presence of complete duplicity in 44% cases is highlighted. The choice treatment is by endoscopy in the simple cases without hydronephrosis or associated reflux. The technique of transversal incision in 'smiling mouth' at the base of the ureterocele produces good results.