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Biomedical subjects

U Ferrando

Publications and source records attributed to U Ferrando.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Erectile dysfunction after kidney transplantation: our 22 years of experience.

AIM: To evaluate the results of treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in kidney transplant recipients before and after the advent of sildenafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1981 through 2002, 971 male patients of mean age 53.4 years received a renal graft. Erectile dysfunction (ED) was investigated in all patients at the first urologic visit posttransplantation. Psycho-sexual support was offered to all patients. Before sildenafil use (1998), our diagnostic approach was complex. From 1998 we tested: serum levels of testosterone, prolactin, and glucose with penile duplex ultrasonography and NPT reserved for selected cases. RESULTS: From 1981 through 1998, 365 male kidney transplant recipients (45%) reported ED. Only 169 patients chose to be treated: 27 responded to psycho-sexual therapy; 3 received testosterone with benefit; 133 had a good results from intracavernosal injection of vasoactive drugs; and 6 received a penile prosthesis. Since 1998, 126 patients reported ED (78.3%). Only 78 chose treatment: 24 patients had a satisfactory response to sildenafil (65% with 50 mg and 35% with 100 mg). PGE1 alone or in combination with papaverine and phentolamine produced a good response in 37 patients; 17 patients did not respond to pharmacotherapy; and 5 received a tricomponent penile prosthesis without complications. The side effects of sildenafil and PGE1 therapy were similar to those reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: ED is an important problem in male renal transplant recipients. Cultural resistance to treatment is common. However, treatment with sildenafil citrate and intracavernosal self-injection of PGE1 are well accepted, and prosthetic devices may help in resistant cases.

Erectile Dysfunction↗

The use of the small caliber JJ stent with anti-reflux valve in double kidney transplant. Personal experience.

BACKGROUND: In the experience of other authors, double kidney transplant have a higher complication rate (30%) if compared with single renal graft. In personal experience the use of small calibre ureteral stents with antireflux valve can reduce this complication rate. METHODS: From November 1999 to April 2001, at the A.S.O. S. Giovanni Battista in Turin, we performed 29 double kidney transplantations with the application of small calibre stents in 20 male and 9 female patients, aged 50-74 years. The uretero-neocystostomies were carried out according to Lich-Gregoire technique, and the JJ stents used were pediatric ones, 12 cm long and 4.8 Ch, with antireflux valve. RESULTS: We complained only 2 urological complications out of 58 anastomoses (distal unilateral ureteral necrosis in 1 case and total ureteral necrosis in the other). CONCLUSIONS: Complication rate is lower than in the literature: the authors suggest that the use of small calibre JJ stents can keep the complication rate low in double kidney transplant.

Aged↗

[Nephron-sparing treatment of kidney neoplasms in transplanted kidney. Our experience].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate survival rate, follow-up and renal function in patients treated with "nephron-sparing" approach due to cancer in a transplanted kidney. METHODS: During the 18 years' activity of our Transplantation Centre 3 renal carcinomas in transplanted kidneys (0.24%) have been found. Diagnoses were made in one case during transplantation procedures and, in the remaining two, 1 month and 10 years after. All tumours were unifocal, small (10, 12 and 18 mm of diameter), capsulated and low stage (T1). The resection of the mass ("nephron-sparing" surgery) and of a layer (1 cm thick) of the tissue surrounding the tumour was performed. The histological exam showed in all cases low grade (G2) renal cell carcinoma and negative surgical margins. RESULTS: 138, 94 and 15 months after transplant all patients are alive, without disease recurrence and with good renal function. In all cases the doses of immune-suppressive therapy were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Renal cancer in transplanted kidneys is generally treated with nephrectomy. On the contrary, we decided to apply the same criteria which are accepted for the treatment of renal neoplasms in general and then to perform a "nephron-sparing" surgery when the tumour is small, capsulated and with negative surgical margins at the intraoperative histological exam. In personal experience good results from the oncologic and nephrologic point of view have been accomplished.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Use of small calibre JJ ureteral stent with anti-reflux valve in uretero-vesical anastomosis during renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We report our experience in transplantation proceedings with the use of small caliber JJ ureteral stent with antireflux valve during uretero-vesical anastomosis. METHODS: During renal transplantations we usually perform an uretero-cystoneostomy with antireflux technique according to Lich Gregoir. In the past we used to intubate the uretero-vesical anastomosis only in particular cases; since April 1998 we performed 112 single and 8 double transplants and in all cases we positioned a 12 cm long paediatric 4.8 Ch JJ ureteral stent with antireflux valve, in order to reduce urologic complications. The vesical catheter was usually removed in 6o-7o day and the ureteral stent 40-60 days after transplantation. RESULTS: We have performed 129 uretero-vesical anastomoses and we complained only one case of early dehiscence of the anastomosis (unilateral in a double transplant) and two cases of late stents' displacement. We noticed no stenosis of the anastomosis and no dysfunction in urine outflow from the upper urinary ways. CONCLUSIONS: The routinary use of paediatric JJ ureteral stents with antireflux valve was decisive in drastically reducing early urologic complications after renal transplantation. Furthermore, the risk of vesico-ureteral reflux is almost completely reduced, thanks to the technique adopted for the anastomosis which allows a physiologic-like antireflux mechanism, to the presence of the antireflux valve and to the early recovery of the physiologic ureteral peristalsis, which is promoted by the small calibre of the stent. These factors lead to a faster recovery of the renal function, with excellent results from the nephrologic and urologic points of view.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

[Obstructive azoospermia. Instrumental diagnosis: echography and endoscopy].

Obstructive disorders of seminal tract are mainly distinguished in Proximal and Distal Obstructive Syndrome, following typical seminal pattern. Fine localization of obstruction is very important for prognostic and therapeutic evaluation. In Proximal Obstruction the role of echography and endoscopy is today poorly defined and usefull. In Distal Obstruction a preeminent role is recognised to transrectal ultrasound and its mini-invasive applications: biopsy, evacuative puncture, direct contrastography of obstructed seminal way. At this regard is reported a case of dysmorphic congenital obstruction documented with transrectal ultrasound and contrastography. Diagnostic endoscopic indications mainly refer to therapeutic procedures.

Endoscopy↗

[The percutaneous treatment of the urological complications following kidney transplantation].

Renal transplantation is considered the treatment of choice in most cases of renal failure; the urologic complication rate ranges 1 to 10% in different surveys. This work was aimed at evaluating the application and results of interventional radiology in these cases. Since 1983, 24 patients (20 males and 4 females) whose age ranged from 18 to 63 years (mean age: 42 years) have been submitted to percutaneous maneuvers in our department. Thirty-four complications were treated: 14 stenoses, 11 fistulas, 7 urinomas and 2 transient obstructions. Complete success was obtained in 15/24 patients (62.5%), while 7/24 patients (29.16%) underwent reoperation and in 2/24 cases (8.34%) a definitive pyelostomy catheter was inserted. In 7 stenosis cases ureteroplasty was successfully performed and a double-J endoprosthesis inserted; the follow-up results (5-21 months) were satisfying in all cases. The only complication was one case of endoperitoneal hematoma. Considering the good results obtained, the low morbidity and mortality and the low cost, percutaneous maneuvers must be considered the treatment of choice in the urologic complications of renal transplants. When the percutaneous treatment of the main lesion fails, pyelostomy does nonetheless allow the drainage of urinary collections, the maintenance of renal function and the improvement of local and general conditions, which makes it easier to reoperate under elective conditions.

Adolescent↗

Palliative cryotherapy in inoperable prostate carcinoma.

Cryotherapy was applied by us as a palliative in 91 cases of carcinoma of the prostate. 1. Disobstruction was achieved in 87% of patients. 2. Results proved stable over time. 3. Operating mortality, survival curve, number of deaths, etc. was not statistically different in patients treated with cryotherapy compared with patients undergoing other treatments. 4. Precutions are required to combat infection of cryotherapy patients in the first few weeks. We feel authorized to pursue cryotherapy in the future exploiting all its immunologic possibilities.

Aged↗