Objectives: To assess the efficacy of adjunctive tamsulosin therapy in improving the success rate of laser-assisted semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) for removing proximal ureteral stones. Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 165 patients with proximal ureteral stones ≥10 mm. The patients were randomly assigned to a tamsulosin group (Group I, n = 81) receiving tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily for 1 week pre-URS and a control group (Group II, n = 84) without tamsulosin therapy. Treatment consisted of URS using a semi-rigid ureteroscope (7.5 Fr), followed by intracorporeal holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy. The patients were followed up regularly for 8 weeks after URS. Results: The operative time was 43.4 and 49.6 min in Groups I and II, respectively (p < 0.001). Scope to stone access rate was 93.8 and 82.1% in patients of Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.022). The stone-free rate was significantly higher in Group I compared to Group II (74/81; 91.4% vs. 67/84; 79.8%; p = 0.035). The complication rate was significantly lower in Group I compared to Group II (17.3 vs. 38.1%, p = 0.003). Only minor complications were encountered and were managed conservatively. Conclusions: Tamsulosin therapy prior to semi-rigid URS improved ureteroscopic access to proximal ureteral stones, thus leading to an increased success rate and low morbidity.

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In this study, we evaluated the relationship between haemodialysis (HD) duration and erectile function status and gonadal hormones serum levels in adult men with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A total of 118 men with ESRD on chronic HD were eligible for analysis. The erectile dysfunction (ED) was defined and graded according to the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) score. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone (TST), prolactin (PRL) and estradiol (E2) were measured using the standard laboratory technique. The mean age was 48.97 ± 14.68 years and mean duration of HD was 4.58 ± 3.03 years. The overall prevalence of ED was 78.8%; from them 31.2% had severe grade. The prevalence of ED was comparable in HD duration categories [≤5 years (79.7%), 5-10 years (76.5%), >10 years (80.0%); p > 0.05]. The percentage of abnormal serum levels of FSH, LH, TST, PRL, E2 were 5.1%, 1.6%, 18.6%, 90.7% and 0.0% respectively. No significant relationships were observed between HD duration and IIEF-5 score or gonadal hormones serum levels (p < 0.05). We concluded that HD duration has no effect on erectile function status and gonadal hormones serum levels. Other factors may be relevant to these conditions in this particular group of patients.