金属支架植入治疗上尿路闭锁的中期结果

目的评价金属支架植入治疗上尿路闭锁的中期疗效。方法1995年10月至1998年12月，采用金属支架永久植入治疗上尿路闭锁患者13例，其中肾盂输尿管连接部闭锁8例，肾下盏输尿管吻合口闭锁3例，输尿管上段闭锁和输尿管膀膀吻合口闭锁各1例。闭锁长度1．0～3．6cm。采用影像学方法定期随访，必要时行输尿管镜检查。结果13例术后随访1～9年，平均92个月。输尿管引流通畅6例，需辅助停留输尿管内支架管、换管时见支架处上皮覆盖完全3例，因肾功能进行性恶化而行肾切除2例，因肾积脓感染无法控制而取出金属支架2例。3例患者分别于置管后4、6、6个月发现支架内肉芽组织生长，用钬激光汽化肉芽组织。其中1例4个月后又出现肉芽组织生长，再用钬激光汽化后长期留置双J管。2例患者于置管术后28、32个月并发支架近端结石，分别用微创经皮取石术和输尿管镜取出。结论金属支架植入治疗上尿路闭锁安全、有效，中期结果满意，其对上尿路动力学的影响尚需进一步研究。     

Long-term results of permanent metallic stent implantation in the treatment of benign upper urinary tract occlusion

AIM: The management of complicated benign upper urinary tract occlusion is extremely challenging, especially in patients unable to undergo an open operative procedure. We report the long-term results of a permanent metallic stent for benign upper urinary tract occlusion. METHODS: From October 1995 to December 1998, 13 patients (8 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 43 years) with benign upper tract occlusion have been treated by metallic stent implantation. All patients had a nephrostomy tube to relieve the obstruction and the average time of the nephrostomy tube stay was 27 months, ranging from 3 to 131 months. The average length of occlusion was 2.7 cm, ranging from 1 to 3.6 cm. Ultrasonography, urography, diuresis renography and urine culture were performed every 3 months after stent insertion. Ureteroscopy was done when needed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 92 months (12-132 months). Ureteral patency was achieved in six patients and assisted patency with a Double-J stent was achieved in three patients. In two patients the kidney had to be removed because of progressive malfunction and in two patients the metal stent had to be extracted with the Holmium: YAG laser, burning it down due to the uncontrollable pyonephrosis. In three patients the ipsilateral flank pain recurred. One of these patients experienced urine leakage due to the initial nephrostomy tract: a ureteroscopy revealed a complete hyperplastic urothelial response. Proximal stone formations were found in 2 patients and all were removed by percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). No stent migration or fragmentation was observed. CONCLUSION: The implantation of metal stent is a safe and effective treatment for benign upper urinary tract occlusion, and has satisfying long-term outcome in selected cases. A further investigation is needed for its impact on the urodynamics of upper urinary tract.     

金属网状支架在治疗上尿路闭锁中的应用

目的 探讨腔内泌尿外科技术放置永久性金属网状支架患者的临床疗效。方法 对１１例因开放手术造成上尿路闭锁，经腔内成形术放置记忆金属网状支架的临床资料进行回顾性总结。结果 １１例均获随访１年以上，５例引流通畅，４例需长期置双Ｊ管加强引流，２例最终切肾。结论 对上尿路严重狭窄或闭锁者，采用腔内泌尿外科技术放置永久性记忆金属网装支架，为一种可替代开放手术的方法。     

Nickel-titanium shape memory alloy Memokath 051 ureteral stent for managing long-term ureteral obstruction: 4-year experience

PURPOSE: We present our 4-year experience with the thermo-expandable shape memory alloy Memokath 051 stent (Engineers and Doctors of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark) for managing long-term ureteral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy ureteral stent to treat 28 patients 29 to 86 years old (mean age 59.2). Ureteral obstruction was caused by malignancy in 18 cases and by recurrent benign disease in 10. A total of 37 stents were inserted from November 1996 to November 2000 using general anesthesia. Mean followup was 19.3 months (range 3 to 35). RESULTS: Upper tract decompression was achieved in all cases. Currently 15 stents are functional in 13 patients, while 8 patients died with a total of 13 functioning stents in place. In 7 patients 9 stents were removed for various reasons. There has been no radiological evidence of encrustation to date. No patient has been rehospitalized with stent related sepsis pain or hematuria, resulting in improved quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This stent seems to provide a significant benefit over conventional Double-J (Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York) and other metallic stents. Its remarkable thermal memory permits removal, a feature that until recently was not available in any other metallic ureteral stent. Durable and complication-free decompression of the upper tract can be achieved with the Memokath 051.     

Outcome of dual flange metallic urethral stents in the treatment of neuropathic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Abstract Purpose: To review the results of metallic urethral stents used in patients with neuropathic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI). Patients and Methods: In a rehabilitation unit for SCI and stroke in Cape Town, South Africa, we performed a case note review of dual flange Memokath stents placed from March 2008 until October 2011. Stents were placed rather than performing an external sphincterotomy in selected patients. With the patient under deep general anesthesia, a thermosensitive expandable metallic stent was positioned over the internal and external urethral sphincters. Results: In total, 33 stents were placed in 28 male patients. SCI was cervical in 23 patients and thoracic in 5. Average follow-up was 18 months (range 1-40 months, median 18 months). The most common indications were repeated catheter blockage in eight patients and urinary tract infection in six. The average time from SCI to stent insertion was 79 months (range 1-468 months, median 21 months). Severe autonomic dysreflexia was present in 17 cases before stent placement and in 7 after stents were placed (P=0.003). Stents failed in 15 patients (45%) and were removed. The most common reason for failure was stone formation. Comparing the group of patients with stents lasting >20 months (n=11) to the group with stent removal before 20 months (n=10), the mean time between SCI and stent placement was 31 vs 119 months (P=0.057). Medium term results (up to 27 months) were significantly influenced by earlier stent placement (P=0.0484). One major complication was stent migration that caused an urethrocutaneous fistula.     

Expansion and bioabsorption of the self-reinforced lactic and glycolic acid copolymer prostatic spiral stent

PURPOSE: Self-reinforced bioabsorbable stents can be made self-expanding due to the viscoelastic memory of the oriented bioabsorbable materials. A new self-expandable self-reinforced copolymer of lactic/glycolic acid, lactic/glycolic molar ratio 80:20 stent was developed to prevent postoperative urinary retention after procedures that induced prostatic edema. In in vitro experiments the expansion rate has been up to 100% during the first few hours at body temperature. We investigated the expansion rate and biodegradation of the self-reinforced lactic and glycolic acid copolymer prostatic spiral stent in vivo in the prostatic urethra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 men, 52 to 84 years old, with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement underwent interstitial laser coagulation of the prostate. A self-reinforced copolymer of lactic/glycolic acid, lactic/glycolic molar ratio 80/20 stent was inserted into the prostatic urethra at the end of the operation. The stent lumen diameter was 4.5 mm. The location and diameter of the lumen and degradation of the stent were studied with transrectal ultrasound at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively. At 6 months patients underwent cystoscopy. RESULTS: All except 1 patient voided on postoperative day 1. Mean lumen diameter was 7.4 mm. (range 6.2 to 8.2) at 1 month and 7.2 mm (range 6.2 to 7.5) at 2 months. At 4 months the stent was degraded into small pieces. No pieces of stent were found in the prostatic urethra on ultrasound or cystoscopy at 6 months. However, a portion of the spiral stent was found at the bottom of the bladder in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The speed and expansion rate of the self-reinforced copolymer of lactic/glycolic acid, lactic/glycolic molar ratio 80/20 stent was sufficient to lock the stent in place and ensure voiding in cases of edema induced bladder outlet obstruction. Strength retention greater than 2 months was long enough to avoid later impairments of voiding.     

The use of a metallic stent in 32 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. Preliminary results and 3 months of follow-up]

A prospective noncontrolled study of the safety and potential efficacy of the metallic stent was performed on 32 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. Mean age was 76.6 years (range, 56-98 years), and mean prostatic volume was 24.2 cm3. The patients were selected on the basis of a quantitative symptom score (QSS), uroflowmetry measurements, and residual urine volume (RU). Nineteen patients had urinary retention and remaining 13 patients had moderate symptoms and signs of prostatism. Placing the stent was successfully done in 31 patients (97%). It took 15 minutes to place the stent using transabdominal and/or endorectal sonography. After 3 months, 27 patients (87%) showed improved QSS. In patients with dysuria, maximum flow rate (MFR) and RU before treatment were 6.9 +/- 1.7 ml/sec and 112.3 +/- 61.8 ml, respectively. After treatment, they improved to 12.3 +/- 2.7 ml/sec and 12.7 +/- 6.7 ml, respectively. On the other hand, all patients who had urinary retention were able to urinate just after treatment, and MFR and RU were 12.9 +/- 3.6 ml/sec and 24.4 +/- 43.3 ml, respectively. Evaluation on the basis of improvement in MFR and reduction in RU showed that the stent was effective in 71% of total patients (22 out of 31 patients), 94% of the patients with urinary retention (17 out of 18 patients). The overall clinical efficacy of this stent was 68% (21 patients). There were no major complications such as urge incontinence and urinary tract infection during follow-up. Although proximal migration of the stent was observed in 6 patients, the stent could be taken out and replaced in 4 patients. From the above results, we conclude that the metallic stent is useful for the treatment of prostatism and urinary retention.     

Impact of stents on urological complications and health care expenditure in renal transplant recipients: results of a prospective, randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE: We performed a randomized, prospective trial to compare the incidence of early urological complications and health care expenditures in renal transplant recipients with or without ureteral stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients receiving a renal transplant at a single center were randomized preoperatively to undergo Double-J stent or no-stent ureterovesical anastomosis from November 1998 to October 2001. Early urological mechanical complications were recorded, including urinary leakage or obstruction, or urinary tract infections within 3 months of transplantation. Direct health care costs associated with stenting, urological complications and urinary tract infection management were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients were randomized to a stent (112) and a no-stent (89) group. In the no-stent group 11 patients received a stent due to intraoperative findings and were excluded from study. At 3 months there were significantly more cases of urinary leakage (8.9% vs 0.9%, p <0.008) and ureteral obstruction (7.7 % vs 0%, p <0.004) in the no-stent than in the stent group. Mean time of stent removal was 74.3 days. A significant increase in urinary tract infections was observed when stent was left greater than 30 days after transplantation compared to the rate in the no-stent group (p <0.02). An additional cost of 151 UK pounds per patient was incurred in the no-stent group vs the stent group. CONCLUSIONS: Using a ureteral stent at renal transplantation significantly decreases the early urinary complications of urine leakage and obstruction. However, there is a significant increase in urinary tract infections, primarily beyond 30 days after transplantation. Stent removal within 4 weeks of insertion appears advisable.     

Usefulness of short-term retrievable ureteral stent in pediatric laparoscopic pyeloplasty

PURPOSE: Methods of stenting after laparoscopic pyeloplasty have included indwelling Double-J stents and percutaneous nephrostomy tubes. The disadvantages of these methods are that they necessitate a second surgery for stent removal or require an external drainage bag. To circumvent these issues, the tolerance, safety and outcomes of using a Double-J ureteral stent with a dangler, permitting early office removal, was investigated in a series of pediatric laparoscopic pyeloplasties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records from a consecutive series of pediatric patients undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasties were reviewed. Indications for surgery included ipsilateral flank pain with severe hydronephrosis (12 patients), recurrent pyelonephritis with severe hydronephrosis (2), and hematuria and flank pain (6). All patients were discharged home within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure with prophylactic oral antibiotics. The stent was removed by postoperative day 18 during a followup office visit. Patient tolerance of the indwelling stent, outpatient removal and success of pyeloplasty were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty by 1 surgeon (LAB) between 2001 and 2005. All patients underwent cystoscopy and retrograde Double-J ureteral stent placement before pyeloplasty under the same anesthesia. Mean patient age at operation was 11.3 years (median 11.3, range 4.6 to 17.2). Stents were left indwelling for a mean of 10.3 days (median 10, range 7 to 18). All patients tolerated the Double-J stent well, with 2 requiring anticholinergic therapy for mild urgency symptoms and 1 demonstrating urinary tract infection. All patients tolerated outpatient stent removal via the dangler at the office without discomfort. One patient was lost to followup. At a mean followup of 1.04 years (range 0.1 to 2.88) 17 of 19 patients (89%) had resolution of flank pain/urinary tract infections, with sonographic improvement in hydronephrosis with or without endoscopic intervention. Six patients (30%) had flank pain with or without continuous hydronephrosis and required re-stenting, and 3 also required balloon dilation. Of these 6 patients 2 (10%) had recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction and required open pyeloplasty. All patients are now clinically and radiologically unobstructed and asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty with indwelling Double-J ureteral stent with a dangler is successful and the stent is well tolerated. Whether the duration of ureteral stenting affects the surgical success will require further controlled long-term studies.     

Permanent stenting in the treatment of ureteral strictures.

Permanent metallic stents have found wide application for use in the vascular and biliary systems and currently devices are also available for use in the urinary tract. Permanent stenting of the ureter has proven to be an useful option in the management of obstruction caused by external compression due to malignancy whereas the efficacy of permanent stenting in the treatment of benign ureteral strictures is still controversial. We treated three patients with benign ureteral strictures by implantation of a self-expanding endoluminal stent that resulted in ureteral patency persisting up to 24 months.     

经膀胱镜输尿管双J管置入治疗小儿上尿路梗阻

目的探讨经膀胱镜留置输尿管双J管在小儿上尿路梗阻中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2014年12月~2018年5月45例膀胱镜输尿管双J管置入治疗上尿路梗阻的资料,其中先天性肾积水20例,急性输尿管结石梗阻23例,肾盂离断成形术后积水复发2例。均经膀胱镜逆行置入F3、F4或F4.7双J管。结果2例先天性肾积水和3例急性输尿管结石梗阻未能置入输尿管双J管,其余40例留置双J管位置良好。先天性肾积水18例均于术后6个月取出双J管,8例随访3~4年积水未加重,10例因积水加重行腹腔镜肾盂离断成形术;急性输尿管结石梗阻20例于1~2周拔除输尿管双J管,二期输尿管镜钬激光碎石成功;肾盂离断成形术后积水复发2例均于术后6个月拔除输尿管双J管,1例随访1年5个月肾积水无再次加重,1例因肾积水再次加重于拔管后20天行腹腔镜肾盂离断成形术。结论输尿管双J管置入可有效缓解小儿上尿路梗阻,达到缓解肾脏压力的目的,可作为婴幼儿和儿童上尿路梗阻的一线治疗方案。     

Interstitial laser coagulation and biodegradable self-expandable,self-reinforced poly-L-lactic and poly-L-glycolic copolymer spiral stent in the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Interstitial laser coagulation of the prostate (ILCP) induces necrosis, edema, and an increased risk of postoperative urinary retention. The object here was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and utility of a new self-expandable self-reinforced (SR) PLGA copolymer(lactic:glycolic ratio 80/20) spiral stent inserted after ILCP to promote voiding. The SR-PLGA stent has a degradation time of 2 to 2.5 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty men with a mean age of 70.5 years (range 52-85 years), suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic enlargement underwent ILCP. A suprapubic catheter was inserted, ILCP performed, and an SR-PLGA 80/20 spiral stent inserted on completion of the operation. The suprapubic catheter was removed when voiding commenced. As prophylactic antibiotic, ciprofloxacin was used in a single dose before ILCP, followed by trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin for 2 weeks. RESULTS: All except three patients started to void on the first postoperative day. In two of the three cases, the stent had moved proximally and had to be relocated, whereafter voiding succeeded. The mean maximum and average flow rates increased, while DAN-PSS-1 symptom score and post voiding residual urine volume decreased statistically significantly. At 2 months, the stent was still intact in the urethra in all except three patients. At 4 months, it had been degraded into small fragments, and at 6 months, it had been completely eliminated. The only exceptions were three patients with an uncalcified piece of the stent in the bladder. Half of the patients had irritative symptoms caused at least partly by ILCP itself; 10% had asymptomatic urinary infection postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The self-expandable SR-PLGA copolymer stent is safe and highly biocompatible. It ensures voiding in the case of temporary obstruction caused by prostatic edema. The degradation time is long enough in all patients to cover the need for postprocedure urinary drainage.     

输尿管软镜钬激光碎石术治疗婴幼儿上尿路结石

目的探讨输尿管软镜联合钬激光治疗婴幼儿（<2岁）上尿路结石的可行性与有效性。 方法回顾性分析我科自2016年1月至2018年2月应用输尿管软镜治疗婴幼儿上尿路结石62例（77侧）。其中男37例,女25例,均为维吾尔族,年龄8～24个月,单侧上尿路结石47例,双侧上尿路结石15例。输尿管上段结石19侧,肾盂结石31侧,肾上盏结石18侧,下盏结石9侧,结石最大径8～25 mm。所有患儿均Ⅰ期置入双J管被动扩张输尿管2周,Ⅱ期采用导丝引导下直接置入输尿管软镜,配合200 μm钬激光光纤碎石,激光功率为20～30 W,术后留置双J管2～3周。 结果62例均入镜成功,51例行一次碎石手术（双侧上尿路结石6例）,9例双侧上尿路结石行两次碎石手术,2例下盏结石未能寻及继续观察。术后住院3～5 d,术后8周复查67侧结石排尽,结石清除率87.0%（67/77）,平均手术时间为35 min（20～55 min）。 结论输尿管软镜联合钬激光碎石治疗婴幼儿上尿路结石,有较高的清石率和临床安全性。     

PTCD并胆道支架治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸临床观察

目的 研究PTCD（经皮经肝胆管引流术）并胆道支架置入术对恶性梗阻性黄疸的治疗效果.方法 对19例行PTCD并胆道支架置入术的恶性梗阻性黄疸患者行回顾性分析.结果 技术成功率100％,术前血清总胆红素（228.9±30.2）μmol/L,术后2周时,血清总胆红素分别下降到（167.4 ±42.1）μmol/L （P＜0.05）.8例出现并发症,其中胆道出血2例,胆管炎4例,支架阻塞1例,胆汁漏1例,经治疗好均好转.结论 PTCD并胆道支架置入术是一种安全、有效的姑息治疗梗阻性黄疸的方法.     

Myofascial wrap to treat intractable urinary incontinence in children

Objectives. The management of intractable urinary incontinence in the patient with cloacal or bladder exstrophy/epispadias, failed bladder neck plasty, or failed augmentation cystoplasty remains a surgical challenge. The myofascial wrap, a modification of the rectus fascial wrap, was developed to treat intractable urinary incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence in these problematic cases. A full-thickness, vascularized pedicle of anterior rectus sheath, rectus abdominis muscle, and posterior rector sheath is incorporated into a bladder neck wrap to provide support, mucosal coaptation, and active muscular tone.Methods. Eight patients (5 females and 3 males) with total urinary incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence underwent the myofascial wrap. Urinary tract pathology included cloacal exstrophy (2), female epispadias (2), classic bladder exstrophy (1), male epispadias (1), myelomeningocele (1), and a pelvic tumor (1). The procedure is performed by harvesting a full-thickness strip of pedicled rectus muscle along with the anterior and posterior fascial sheaths. The strip is passed underneath and then over the bladder neck in a near 360° wrap. The free end of the wrap is anchored into the pubic bone in an ipsilateral subperiosteal pouch.Results. Six of the 8 patients are completely continent, and 2 patients void spontaneously without the need for catheterization.Conclusions. The myofascial wrap provides support, mucosal coaptation, and muscular tone to an incompetent sphincter and bladder neck. Favorable results in a very difficult population of pediatric patients warrant its continued use.     

The use of prostatic stents in patients with urinary retention who are unfit for surgery. An interim report.

Under local anaesthesia, 19 patients (18 with acute and 1 with chronic urinary retention) underwent insertion of an expandable stainless steel tubular "stent" into their prostatic urethra under fluoroscopic control. All were considered to be at major risk from prostatic surgery. The 18 patients with acute retention voided spontaneously following the initial stent procedure, but the patient with chronic retention required a period of suprapubic catheterisation. Following the endoscopic insertion of an additional stent this patient also voided spontaneously. During a follow-up period of 3 to 7 months (mean 4), 4 patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 15 patients all void spontaneously. Recurrent asymptomatic urinary tract infections were seen in all but 1 patient initially, but none of those who were followed up for over 5 months had evidence of infection. Although the follow-up period is limited, the results to date demonstrate that the insertion of an expandable prostatic stent is a safe and reliable method of treating acute urinary retention in patients unfit for surgery. Further follow-up is required to assess long-term safety and to exclude late complications.     

Renal transplantation in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction of different origin: a single-center experience

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) of various origins is a challenging issue in the field of pediatric transplantation. We report our single-center experience to evaluate patient and graft survivals as well as the risks of the surgery and immunosuppressive therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 70 pediatric transplant patients, 11 displayed severe LUTD. Videourodynamic tests were performed on all patients preoperatively as well as postoperatively if required. The cause of urologic disorders were neurogenic bladder (n = 5) and urethral valves (n = 6). Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was needed in six patients to empty the bladder. To achieve a low-pressure reservoir with adequate capacity pretransplantation augmentation ileocystoplasty was created in four patients and gastrocystoplasty in one patient. Three of the patients received kidneys from cadaveric and eight from living donors. All patients were treated with calcineurin-based immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: The mean age at transplantation was 15 +/- 4.7 years. The median follow-up after transplantation was 36 months (6 to 62 months). At their last visit the median creatinine level was 0.95 mg/dL (0.8 to 2.4 mg/dL). Three patients had recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections who had augmented bladder on CIC. One patient with ileocystoplasty who developed urinary leak and ureteral stricture in the early postoperative period was treated by an antegrade J stent. CONCLUSION: Severe LUTD carried high risks for the grafted kidney. However, our data suggested that renal transplantation is a safe and effective treatment modality, if the underlying urologic diseases properly managed during the transplantation course. Since surgery and follow-up is more complicated, patient compliance and experience of transplantation team have significant impacts on outcomes.     

Metal stent placement for two patients with post-transplantation renal artery stenosis,using intravascular ultrasound imaging

Post-transplantation renal artery stenosis is recognized at relatively early periods after renal transplantation. We report herein our experience of utilizing transluminal expanded metal stents (Palmaz stent and Wall stent) for post-transplantation renal artery stenosis, and monitoring with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. The recipients were a 51-year-old woman (case 1) and a 57-year-old man (case 2), and the grafts were procured from cadaveric donors. Renal function had deteriorated suddenly at 5 months after renal transplantation in case 1 and at 86 months in case 2. The cause of the graft dysfunction was renal arterial stenosis. Color doppler ultrasound imaging and angiography diagnosed post-transplantation renal artery stenosis. The renal artery stenosis was serious, being greater than 90% in both patients. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed, but its effectiveness was not sufficient; therefore, an indwelling endoluminal metallic Palmaz stent and an indwelling Wall stent were placed at the sites of stenosis while monitoring was done with IVUS. No complications were recognized at all. The length and degree of stenosis location became clear by using IVUS, and suitable stents could be selected for the renal artery stenosis. The clinical effect was excellent; the renal function improved to the pre-hospitalization value. We conclude that the Palmaz stent and the Wall stent were useful as a noninvasive strategy for treating post-transplantation renal artery stenosis. This procedure could be performed safely and surely using IVUS.     

Retroperitoneoscopic heminephrectomy of the right upper collecting system emptying into an ectopic ureterocele in a 5-year-old girl: a case report

A 5-year-old girl with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection since the age of 14 months was diagnosed as having a right duplicated urinary collecting system with the upper ureter ectopically opening in the urethra. She underwent retroperitoneoscopic heminephrectomy for a right dysplastic kidney and open ureterocelectomy and reimplantation of the refluxing lower ureter via Pfannenstiel incision. She survived the procedure without serious complications and resumed normal daily activities by day 6. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the 16th case of laparoscopic heminephrectomy for pediatric patients and the first case treated by the retroperitoneal approach in the English literature.     

Self-expanding stent insertion for urethral strictures: a 10-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Urolume endourethral self-expandable metallic stent (American Medical Systems, MI, USA) in treating urethral strictures, based on a follow-up of> 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 1989 and June 1990, the Urolume stent was inserted into 15 patients (aged 25-77 years) who had recurrent urethral strictures. The mean duration of stricture before stent insertion was 10.9 years. The patients (all men) were followed using a questionnaire and uroflowmetry, and if necessary, retrograde cysto-urethrography and/or urethroscopy and/or X-ray urodynamics. RESULTS: Two failures were caused by excessive tissue proliferation in the stent, which ended in stent removal or a suprapubic catheter. Another two stents were removed because of discomfort or pain. Two patients developed stenosis in the stent after 7 and 9 years. In the final evaluation only two of the 15 patients were satisfied with their stent. The mean maximum urinary flow rate at the last follow-up was 15 mL/s, and half the patients noted 'stent' incontinence. Lower urinary tract infections, urge and stress incontinence, and discomfort with ejaculation, were all symptoms perceived at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: The long-term results of the Urolume stent in this study weaken the optimistic early results. Only two of the 15 patients were satisfied with their stent.