No abstract

SUMMARY The principles underlying the aluminium hydroxide gel treatment of phosphatic calculi have been outlined. A new preparation called Hyalgel has been tried on a small series of urinary stone patients and its effect has been studied on the lowering of the urinary phosphate level, the size of renal calculi and the prevention of recurrent stones. Some difficulties in the application of this treatment have been discussed. Our preliminary results are given and compared with the more significant results of American writers.

Summary 158 replies to a questionnaire suggest that many British surgeons remain wary of using trans‐uretero‐ureterostomy, fearing to risk the opposite ureter and kidney or preferring to use a Boari flap or other operation. 141 (27 personal and 114 reported) cases are surveyed. 56 simple Y‐anastomoses performed by 27 surgeons gave very good results, with only 4 exceptions due to wrong indications or techniques. Complications were rare. No damage to any opposite ureter or kidney by the procedure was reported. 10 operations enabling a solitary kidney to drain via the opposite spare ureter were all successful. We recommend that during nephrectomy any spare healthy ureter should be preserved so that, if necessary, it can be used to drain the opposite kidney.