The aim of the study was to assess the preoperative and intraoperative potential risk factors for infectious complications after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). A total of 303 patients who underwent PCNL for renal stones were included in the recent study. A detailed history including past renal surgery, nephrostomy insertion and recurrent urinary infection were obtained from all patients. Preoperative urine culture, renal pelvic urine culture and stone culture were obtained from all patients. The intraoperative data were prospectively noted. All patients were followed up postoperatively for signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. In 83 (27.4%) of the patients, SIRS was observed and of these patients 23 (7.6%) were diagnosed as sepsis. Escherichia coli was the most common organism detected in cultures, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus and Klebsiella spp. in all patients. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, presence of infection stone, stone burden and recurrent urinary tract infection were associated with both SIRS and sepsis development. Presence of infection stone, stone burden ≥800 mm(2) and recurrent urinary tract infection can be identified as independent predictors for the development of SIRS and sepsis.

Introduction:The management of patients with large impacted upper ureteral stones is difficult; there is no standard treatment. We compared the outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and ureteroscopic lithotripsy (UL) to treat large (≥1.5 cm), impacted, upper ureteral stones. Methods: In total, 86 patients with large impacted upper ureteral stones were included in this study. Of these patients 41 underwent UL and 45 underwent PCNL. The inclusion criteria were: longest diameter of stone ≥1.5 cm, the localization of stone between the lower border of L4 spine and ureteropelvic junction and impacted stone. Results: In the UL group, we were unable to reach the stone in 3 patients because of ureteral stricture and edema despite balloon dilation. Of these 3 patients, we were unable to optimally visualize the stone in 2 patients due to bleeding and mucosal injury following balloon dilation. The stricture was too firm and could not be passed in the third patient. Also in the UL group, 15 patients had stones or big fragments which migrated into the renal collecting system. In the PCNL group, 21 patients had concurrent renal stones <1 cm and stones were successfully removed in all patients. No statistically significant difference was found between groups in terms of operation time. Mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the UL group. Success rates were 82.3% in the UL group and 97.6% in the PCNL group (p = 0.001). Conclusion:The recent study confirms that PCNL is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure with acceptable complication rates in the treatment of patients with large, impacted upper ureteral stones.

Both GSS and CROES nomograms had comparable accuracies in predicting post-PCNL stone-free status. Different from the previous reports, our results showed that both nomograms were predictive of overall complications, EBL, and operative time.

Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP) has been introduced as an alternative to standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with lesser morbidity. However, the efficacy of this new technique has not been well known. To compare the results of standard TURP and TVP, 76 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BFH) were divided into two groups in a randomized clinical trial. Preoperative assessment included AUA Symptom score, maximum flow rates (Qmax), digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen, and transrectal ultrasonography, with biopsy if the patient was randomized to vaporization. Transrectal temperature measurements and the hemoglobin concentration of the irrigation fluid were investigated in all the patients during the procedure. Although the transrectal temperature was higher in the TVP group (0.53-1.27 degrees C; mean 0.83 degrees C), no associated complication were determined. However, blood loss was significantly lesser than with TURP (340 mL v 60 mL). Two patients in the TURP group required blood transfusions, and one had sphincteric incontinence, whereas one postoperative retention, one reoperation with bladder perforation, and one sphincteric incontinence were seen in the TVP group. On the other hand, 12-month follow-up demonstrated that the uroflow rates improved in a similar manner. The Qmax increased in the TURP and TVP groups from 8.8 and 8.3 mL/sec to 19.6 and 17.2 mL/sec, respectively. The mean AUA Symptom Score decreased from 13.7 to 7.9 and 6.1 at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In the TVP group and from 14.6 to 7.3 and 7.0 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, in the TURP group. There were significant differences in the mean catheterization time (P < 0.0001) and hospital stay (P < 0.0001) in favor of TVP. Our results suggest that TVP is a safe and effective alternative treatment for symptomatic BPH.

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