The role of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in an asymptomatic special patient group with small renal calculi.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data concerning extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) management of small (< or = 5 mm) asymptomatic renal caliceal stones are lacking in the literature. In this study, we aimed to determine the effectiveness of SWL in a special group of patients who had very small (< or = 5 mm) asymptomatic renal caliceal stones. The group of patients consisted of pilots, gendarmes, and soldiers, such as commandos, for whom treatment was obligatory and who had to be stone free because of their military duties. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined SWL data and retrieved information for 84 patients with small asymptomatic renal caliceal stones. The SWL sessions were performed with a Siemens Lithostar lithotriptor. The mean age of the patients was 34 +/- 13 years. The mean stone size was 4.8 +/- 0.4 mm. The mean numbers of shockwaves and energy used were 2707 +/- 1742 and 18 +/- 2 kV, respectively. The location of stones were: 11 right upper calix, 10 right middle calix, 17 right lower calix, 13 left upper calix, 16 left middle calyx, and 17 left lower calix. Eighty-four patients underwent 101 SWL sessions. Only eight patients had second and three patients had third SWL treatments. SWL was performed five times for only one patient. All mean values were realized with an SPSS 10.0 statistical program. RESULTS: After the first, second, and third SWL sessions, the stone-free rate was calculated as 87%, 93% and 94%, respectively. Only five patients with lower renal caliceal stones were not stone free. The reported complications were macroscopic hematuria necessitating medical attention in four patients, skin ecchymosis in seven patients, severe colic pain in two patients, and urinary-tract infection in one patient. There was no need for hospitalization for these complications. CONCLUSION: SWL is effective and safe in patients with very small (< or = 5 mm) asymptomatic renal caliceal stones in all locations.

Dribbling of urine due to ectopic vaginal insertion of an upper pole ureter diagnosed by magnetic resonance urography.

Imaging the urinary tract in children has been mainly based on ultrasound (US) and intravenous pyelography (IVP), but these imaging modalities rarely show ectopic insertion of the ureter and the condition is often under diagnosed due to unusual clinical presentations. Recently newer magnetic resonance urography sequences have been developed that provide better delineation of the urinary tract. We report a 3-year-old girl presenting continuous dribbling of urine in which magnetic resonance urography revealed ectopic vaginal insertion of the ureter.

The effect of biofeedback treatment on voiding and urodynamic parameters in children with voiding dysfunction.

PURPOSE: We studied the effects of biofeedback treatment on voiding and urodynamic parameters in children with voiding dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 188 children between June 1998 and November 2003. Biofeedback was performed with a urodynamics processor that enables simultaneous recording of urine flow and electromyography, and visual display of flow/electromyography activity. At the beginning of the study this treatment was performed once weekly. After patients understood the concept and performed homework regularly sessions were scheduled at 3 to 4-week intervals and continued for 6 months. All children were evaluated at 6 months and again at 2 years after completing biofeedback training. RESULTS: The number of the children completing biofeedback was 168 (89.4%). Improvement was obtained in all parameters, ranging from 59.2% to 87.8% at 6 months. Maximum improvement was acquired with flattened voiding in 65 of 74 children (87.8%), whereas the least improvement was acquired with daytime wetting in 58 of 98 children (59.2%). These improvements continued at 2-year followup, and ranged from 53.1% to 87.3%. While the rate of improvement for nocturnal enuresis, staccato voiding, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract infection had increased, the remaining parameters had decreased at 2-year followup. CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback training is a simple, effective and well tolerated treatment modality in children for various parameters resulting from bladder dysfunction. Motivation and willingness to participate in biofeedback treatment are important selection criteria.

Endoscopic treatment of multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary retention.

Although prostatic calculi are relatively common, the etiology of these stones is not clear. We report a case with multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary obstruction and a concomitant bladder stone. We treated these stones endoscopically. We found a lot of different sized stones endoscopically, some protruding into the urethra, some filling different cavities on the prostate. So these cavities suggest prostatic calculi may occur related to intraprostatic reflux in the congenital or acquired diverticulum of the prostatic tissue. In addition, the stone composition of the bladder and prostatic stones was the same. All of these results show that the origin of bladder and prostatic stones can be the same. This case also supports a theory of intraprostatic reflux and urine stasis.