[The Efficacy of a Released Ultrasonic Lithotripsy in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy : Randomized Trial Comparing Swiss LithoClast® Master Versus Swiss LithoClast®].

We prospectively randomized total 29 patients with renal stones into two groups between Aug 2014 and March 2016. The US group was treated using a ultrasonic lithotripter (Swiss LithoClast® Master) and the PN group was treated with a pneumatic lithotripter (Swiss LithoClast® ). We compared treatment outcomes in these groups. The US group consisted of 17 patients and the PN group 12 patients. There was no significant difference between the groups in baseline characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, side, stone size, and density). There was no significant difference in total operative time (p＝0.63), stone-free rate (p＝ 0.19), hemoglobin deficit (p＝0.49), or rate of postoperative sepsis (p＝0.99) between the two groups. However, intracorporal stone disintegration and removal time was significantly shorter in the US group than the PN group (p＝0.029). These results suggest that the ultrasonic lithotripter can be superior to the existing pneumatic lithotripter in saving intracorporal stone disintegration and removal time in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

[A Case of Adrenergic Crisis Caused by Spontaneous Rupture of Cystic Pheochromocytoma].

Pheochromocytoma crisis is a life-threatening situation. Herein we report a case of catecholamineinduced crisis caused by the rupture of cystic pheochromocytoma. A 76-year-old man with hypertension was referred to our hospital because of a cystic tumor in the retroperitoneal space adjacent to the aorta, which was suspicious of pheochromocytoma. Two days after admission, lower abdominal pain suddenly appeared, followed by hypertension with systolic pressure of 260 mmHg. Computed tomography revealed that the cystic tumor was ruptured spontaneously, leading to diagnosis of pheochromocytoma crisis. His blood pressure was successfully managed by medical treatment and he could recover from crisis. After adequate medical preparation by an α-adrenergic blocker, the tumor was successfully removed by laparoscopy, though the adhesion around the tumor was severe. To our knowledge adrenergic crisis caused by spontaneous rupture of cystic pheochromocytoma is rare, but we have to keep in mind that cystic pheochromocytoma can cause life-threatening crisis by the release of catecholamine due to rupture.

[TREATMENT OUTCOME OF OBSTRUCTIVE PYELONEPHRITIS DUE TO URETERAL CALCULI WITH DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULOPATHY].

OBJECTIVES: Because obstructive pyelonephritis secondary to ureteral stones can easily cause sepsis and concomitant disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), it is a potentially lethal disease. However, the optimal treatment for such severe patients has yet to be established. In this study, we aimed at clarifying the effectiveness of emergent drainage and DIC treatments for patients with septic DIC due to obstructive pyelonephritis. In additon, we also evaluated the impact of recombinant human thrombomodullin (rTM) for severe patients with DIC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2006 to May 2013, 31 patients with obstructive pyelonephritis secondary to ureteral stones who met the acute DIC criteria from the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine were treated at our institution. All patients received emergent drainage of urinary tract and anti-DIC treatment, as well as administration of antibiotics and adequate volume infusion. To evaluate the impact of rTM, patients received rTM were compared with those managed by other DIC therapeutic agents. RESULTS: The mean patients' age was 73 years old, and 27 patients (87.1%) were in a state of septic shock. All patients, except for one patient (3.2%) who died 6 days after drainage, could recover from sepsis and comcomitant DIC. Interestingly, thrombocyte count, creatinine, and SOFA Score in rTM group were recovered faster than those in no rTM group (p = 0.017, 0.0038, and 0.0006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that most patients with DIC caused by obstractive pyelonephritis can be successfully managed by emergency drainage and anti-DIC treatment. In addition, rTM may be effective for the treatment of such severe patients by improving organ failure associated with disordered coagulation.

[Treatment outcome of laparoscopic radical cystectomy at a single institution].

OBJECTIVE: The standard care for invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy with urinary diversion, but laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) is still being evaluated. We describe our initial experience of laparoscopic radical cystectomy compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2012, 84 patients underwent radical cystectomy by ORC (n = 54) or LRC (n = 30). Treatment outcomes including surgical and oncological outcomes between LRC and ORC were compared. We also assessed learning curve during LRC as to blood loss, operating time and complication rate. RESULTS: The patients' characteristics were similar in LRC and ORC groups except for ASA score. Importantly, Operating time during LRC was longer but complication rate of LRC was lower than that of ORC (586 min vs 424 min and 40% vs 69%, respectively). In addition, pathological stage or outcomes were similar in both groups and there were no significant difference between LRC and ORC groups in terms of overall and recurrence free survival rate. As for learning curve of LRC, operating time and blood loss tended to decrease with increased experience. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that LRC could be performed safely with decreased complication rate and similar oncological outcomes compared to ORC.