Kidney Stones Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Kidney Stones, including details on causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis of nephrolithiasis, calculi.

Role of laparoscopic stone surgery.

Desai RA, Assimos DG

Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. rdesai@wfubmc.edu

OBJECTIVES: To define the role of laparoscopic stone surgery in current urologic practice. METHODS: All cases of laparoscopic surgery for renal calculus disease performed at a single institution during a 2-year period were reviewed. A total of 449 stone-removing procedures were performed by one of us (D.G.A.) during this interval, of which 5 were laparoscopic (1.1%). Of the five laparoscopic procedures, three were pyelolithotomy/pyeloplasty, one was laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, and one was caliceal diverticular stone removal. RESULTS: All 5 patients were rendered stone free, and no patient had perioperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic approach is rarely needed in patients requiring stone removal. However, it can be a safe and effective approach in the management of select patients with complex stone disease.

Published 4 April 2008 in Urology, 71(4): 578-80.
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Articles on Kidney Stones published 4 April 2008:

Shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones is not associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.   Urology, 71(4): 586-91; discussion 591-2.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the influences of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatments for renal and ureteropelvic junction stones on new onsets of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We compared the new onsets of hypertension and DM after SWL in renal and ureteral stone groups. The renal stone group consisted of 772 patients treated with SWL, who had a possibility of renal and pancreatic shock wave damage. The ureteral stone group consisted of 505 patients treated with SWL, who were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Tubeless PCNL with patient in supine position: procedure for all seasons?--with comprehensive technique.   Urology, 71(4): 581-5.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has historically been performed with the patient in the prone position, which has inherent drawbacks. Supine PCNL has numerous benefits in terms of safety, efficacy, and versatility and is comparable with respect to vascular and bowel injury. This study was intended to prove that PCNL with the patient in the supine position is an alternative method of doing PCNL along with comprehensive technique. METHODS: A total of 184 patients with 191 renal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Kidney Stones published 17 March 2008:

Urinary trefoil factor 1 is a novel potent inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystal growth and aggregation.   J Urol, 179(4): 1615-9.

PURPOSE: Crystal growth and aggregation are the important mechanisms of calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidney. Recently we successfully purified trefoil factor 1 from human urine and used an oxalate depletion assay to indirectly infer its inhibitory activity against calcium oxalate crystal growth. We searched for direct evidence to define the inhibitory activity of urinary trefoil factor 1 against calcium oxalate crystal growth. Moreover, we also evaluated whether urinary trefoil factor ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Reduction of oxidative stress in cultured renal tubular cells and preventive effects on renal stone formation by the bioflavonoid quercetin.   J Urol, 179(4): 1620-6.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of quercetin on renal tubular cell injury induced by oxalate and the inhibitory effects of quercetin on urinary crystal deposit formation in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDCK cells (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Virginia) were incubated with different concentrations of oxalate with and without quercetin. MTT (Sigma) assays for cell viability, malondialdehyde and catalase activity were measured to investigate the antioxidant effect of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Safety and efficacy of flexible ureterorenoscopy and holmium:YAG lithotripsy for intrarenal stones in anticoagulated cases.   J Urol, 179(4): 1415-9.

PURPOSE: We compared perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy and Ho:YAG lithotripsy for renal calculi with or without anticoagulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients undergoing flexible ureterorenoscopy and Ho:YAG lithotripsy for renal calculi at 2 institutions from 2001 to 2007. We identified 37 patients on anticoagulation with Coumadin, clopidogrel or aspirin in whom anticoagulation therapy was not discontinued before surgery. Data on the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Kidney Stones published 3 March 2008:

Living renal donor allograft lithiasis: a review of stone related morbidity in donors and recipients.   J Urol, 179(3): 832-6.

PURPOSE: The use of screening computerized tomography angiography has resulted in the increased detection of incidental nephrolithiasis in potential living renal donor candidates. We reviewed current acceptance guidelines for donors with stone disease as well as data on stone related outcomes in donors with stone disease and recipients who received a kidney with a stone left in situ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a medical literature search in English using MEDLINE/PubMed that addressed ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for single intrarenal stones 2 cm or greater--is this the new frontier?   J Urol, 179(3): 981-4.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy has been the standard of care for intrarenal calculi greater than 2 cm. Flexible ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy is a minimally invasive treatment modality that is able to treat large intrarenal calculi with the potential to decrease morbidity, while maintaining a high level of efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 patients with a single intrarenal calculus 2 cm or greater were treated with retrograde ureteroscopic nephrolithotripsy. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Prospective study of the long-term effects of shock wave lithotripsy on renal function and blood pressure.   J Urol, 179(3): 964-8; discussion 968-9.

PURPOSE: We clarified the long-term effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on renal function and blood pressure, and its relation to body mass index and type of lithotriptor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with a single radiopaque renal stone 2 cm or less in length were followed for 18 to 57 months (mean 43.6 +/- 13.8) after being stone-free by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy using 2 lithotriptors. Mean patient age was 47.9 +/- 9.1 years (range 23 to ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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