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Biomedical subjects

F Rovera

Publications and source records attributed to F Rovera.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Orchiopexy].

The Authors illustrate their experience in the treatment of a case of left criptorchidism using laparoscopic technique associated with traditional surgery (Fowler-Stephens technique) without important complications during and after the procedure. The non palpable testis was located in the peritoneal cavity. The first step consists in a laparoscopic clip ligation of the spermatic vessels with the intent of improve the vasal collateral blood flow. After a 6 months interval, the patient underwent laparoscopic orchidopexy.

Adult↗

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy with MPL9000 for the treatment of urinary stones in pediatric patients.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is now applied as the treatment of choice in most cases of urinary stones. Its acceptance in pediatry, however has been only gradual despite numerous positive studies. We report on fourteen young patients (mean age: 9.7 years) who were all treated by ESWL with the MPL9000 lithotriptor for renal stones. Each patient received an average of 1440 shocks with generator energy set at 14.4 Kv. Six of these patients required either analgosedation or anesthesia. No observable complications of treatment occurred. At one-month follow up, the kidneys of twelve patients were found to be stone-free, while two still presented fragments that could pass spontaneously. At three-month follow-up, thirteen patients were stone-free and a single patient retained some fragments. From this data we infer that ESWL with the MPL9000 lithotriptor may be used safety and efficiently to treat urolithiasis in younger patients.

Adolescent↗

Urological laparoscopy: our preliminary results.

From the beginning of urological applications of laparoscopy, this technique has found many clinical indications. In our center, after an experimental training in animals, we performed 48 operations using laparoscopy: 18 pelvic lymphadenectomies (15 for prostate cancer, 2 for bladder tumor and 1 for penis carcinoma), 11 ligatures of the spermatic vein (3 bilateral), 4 orchidopexies, 10 excisions of renal cysts, 4 nephrectomies and 1 adrenalectomy. For cryptorchidism, laparoscopy is a less invasive alternative to surgical exploration; in case of prostate cancer, laparoscopic pelvic node dissection has a lower incidence of complications and requires few days of hospitalisation. The excision of renal cysts by laparoscopy, in case of large symptomatic pathology, is an efficacious operation with low morbidity. In case of nephrectomy for small wrinkled kidneys or severe hydronephrosis, long execution time makes cost/benefit ratio somewhat debatable; adrenalectomy, instead, is easier than nephrectomy and offers many advantages in comparison with traditional surgical approach. All indications will be better evaluated at a later date, with the indispensable learning period and the continuous progress of technical equipment.

Genital Diseases, Male↗

[Laparoscopic nephrectomy].

Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a new procedure in which the entire kidney is removed introducing it in an Endopouch and, after morcellation pulled out through a 12 mm port. After an initial experimental experience, in our Institute we have performed one laparoscopic nephrectomy for left pyelonephritic kidney and ureteral reflux. The operation required the positioning of 5 trocars and 4 hours for its execution. The discharge of the patient was possible four days after.

Adult↗

[Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy].

7 patients, suffering by prostatic adenocarcinoma in clinical stage B, were undergone to laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy, to obtain a complete staging. The average time of execution of the operation was 180 minutes. The absence of important complications during and after surgical time, within low surgical trauma, has allowed the dismission of patients 48 hours after the operation. The low morbility demonstrated for this technique has allowed the dissection of a number of lymph node to consent an adequate staging.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Renal cysts resection].

Six patients with inferior and middle polar renal cysts of 8-15 centimeters of diameter, underwent the resection of the cyst by laparoscopic technique. The operation required an average time of execution of two hours and the positioning of four trochars to consent an adequate access. The absence of important complications during and after the operation has allowed a quick dismission of the patients. The laparoscopic treatment of renal cysts represent a valid choice to traditional surgery and percutaneous needle aspiration.

Follow-Up Studies↗

[Laparoscopic cystectomy: an experimental model of urinary diversion].

During our experimental trial we achieved laparoscopic cistectomies with urinary diversion to prove our manual capability with the reconstructive surgery. We executed, on male pigs, 10 cistectomies with urinary diversion using laparoscopic technique. We performed 5 ureterocutaneostomies on 5 pigs and, in the other ones, 5 ureterosigmoidostomies. During UCS the pigs laid in lateral position, and during USS in supine position. The average time of the operation is going to reduce in consideration of the overcoming of the initial techno-instrumental difficulties and is 60 minutes for cistectomy, 30 minutes for ureterocutaneostomy and 120 minutes for ureterosigmoidostomy.

Animals↗

Urinary excretion of citrate, glycosaminoglycans, magnesium and zinc in relation to age and sex in normal subjects and in patients who form calcium stones.

One hundred and ninety-seven healthy subjects and 104 patients with idiopathic calcium stone disease had their urinary excretion of citrate, glycosaminoglycans, magnesium, and zinc measured and the results correlated with sex and age. In normal subjects the daily excretion of citrate, magnesium, and zinc increased with age to a maximum during the fifth decade and remained relatively constant until the eighth decade when they decreased. The daily excretion of magnesium and zinc were higher in men than in women, which was attributed to the higher body weights of the men. The urinary excretion of citrate, magnesium, and zinc related to creatinine remained relatively constant with age in adult life; analyses of magnesium and zinc excretion rates divided by urine creatinine did not distinguish men from women. There was no significant difference between men and women for citrate excretion in 24 hour urine, but the citrate:creatinine ratio was significantly higher in women than men. The higher citrate excretion in women may explain the lower incidence of calcium stones in women. The highest glycosaminoglycan excretion rates were seen during the first two decades which is why children and teenagers are less prone to develop calcium stones in spite of high urinary calcium concentrations. Urinary citrate and magnesium excretion were lower, and glycosaminoglycan and zinc excretion were higher, in stone formers than in controls. It seems that a decreased excretion of citrate and magnesium together with an increased excretion of calcium, may contribute to the formation of calcium stones. The role of urinary glycosaminoglycans and zinc in the formation of calcium stones remains uncertain.

Adolescent↗

[Recurrence of lithiasis after extracorporeal lithotripsy, percutaneous surgery, and open surgery for calculi of the upper urinary tract].

The safety and short-term effectiveness of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) have already been well established. However, long-term follow-up studies are essential to prove that the recurrence rate after PCNL and/or ESWL is equal or even better than that of surgery. We reviewed 57 patients treated with ESWL monotherapy, 45 patients treated by PCNL (or by PCNL combined with ESWL for complete staghorn stones) and 59 patients treated by open surgery who all had at least three years of follow-up. The overall recurrence rate for ESWL was 37% for PCNL and for open surgery 39%. ESWL, PCNL and open surgery all showed a higher rate of recurrence and persistent bacteriuria when associated with residual stones. Therefore every effort should be made to remove residual fragments following stone treatment. We conclude that because of its efficacy and low morbidity ESWL should be the treatment of choice for most of renal calculi. Complete staghorn calculi are best treated with open surgery because the complete elimination of all calculous material and the eradication of infection are achieved at a higher rate than by PCNL and ESWL.

Adult↗

[Metastasis and markers].

Tumor markers are antigens which can be associated with certain malignancies. A variety of markers have been demonstrated in genitourinary tumors. The best known examples are human chorionic gonadotropin (bHCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for testicular tumors, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) for prostatic cancer. The plasma levels of these substances are influenced by the tumor mass and therefore by the tumor stage. Markedly elevated plasma levels can be demonstrated when metastases are present, although a few patients without metastases may elaborate abnormal amount of markers. The removal of the primary tumor leads to a fall to normal levels: a still increased level indicates residual primary tumor or the presence of metastases. Measurements of markers are also of value in estimating the effects of medical treatment and in detecting local or distant recurrences.

Acid Phosphatase↗

[Postoperative impotence].

Increasing interest has developed in recent years about the preservation of sexual function after urological surgery. The pelvic plexus which is formed by parasympathetic visceral efferent preganglionic fibers that arise from the sacral center provides autonomic innervation to the corpora cavernosa. The cavernous nerves emerge from the pelvic plexus and then travel along the posterolateral portion of the seminal vesicle and prostate and then along the membranous urethra. The preservation of the nerve supply of the corpora during urological and pelvic procedures is of vital importance to preserve potency.

Erectile Dysfunction↗

Hyperoxaluria in patients with idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis.

We studied 476 patients with idiopathic renal calcium stone disease (286 M, 190 F) while they ate their customary diets. Each subject collected a 24-hour urine sample and completed a dietary diary for a 3-day period. Daily urinary oxalate excretion (M 0.24 +/- 0.15 mg/dl, F 0.23 +/- 0.15 mg/dl) and nutrient intake values were calculated and multiple regression analyses were performed. Daily urinary oxalate excretion was significantly (p < 0.001) related to urinary volume (R = 0.24), vitamin C intake (R = 0.33) and body mass index (R = 0.37) and inversely related to calcium intake (R = -0.35). We conclude that urinary oxalate reflects endogenous oxalate production, presumably related to body size, but also intestinal absorption of oxalate, related to dietary intake and to the effect of dietary calcium intake which reduces intestinal oxalate absorption.

Adult↗