PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the value of the NTrap(R) (Cook Urological INC, USA), which was designed to block the upward movement of stones during ureteroscopic lithotripsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the data of 144 patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy for an upper ureteral stone from June 2006 to May 2010. Sixty-eight patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy without the use of the NTrap(R) were assigned to Group I and 76 patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy with the NTrap(R) were assigned to Group II. The size of the stones, operation time, success rate, and pre- and postoperative complications were compared retrospectively between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients (Group I: 35.8 years; Group II: 32.6 years) and the sex ratios were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean size of the stones was 6.9 mm and 7.4 mm, which also was not significantly different between the two groups. The mean operation time was 82.7 minutes and 78.7 minutes. The operation time was shorter in Group II, but the difference was not significant. The success rate of stone removal was 89.7% and 98.7% in Groups I and II, respectively; Group II showed a significantly higher success rate. Two cases of ureteral perforation and one case of ureteral avulsion occurred in Group I, and one case of ureteral perforation occurred in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: NTrap(R), which is an instrument used to assist during ureteroscopic lithotripsy, can be considered to be an effective tool that blocks the upward movement of the stone and aids in safe stone removal.
Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Ureter ; Ureteral Calculi ; Ureteroscopy

PURPOSE: The best option for varicocele treatment is controversial. We evaluate our experience using laparoscopic varicocelectomy & inguinal varicocelectomy, and then compared the two methods. We started this study to find the best treatment for varicocele patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2002 and July 2008, 168 cases (Group I) were treated with laparoscopic varicocelectomy and 157 cases (Group II) were treated with the inguinal approach. We assessed the two methods according to operative time, hospital stay, recurrence rate, complication rate, and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 30.2+/-10.9 min for laparoscopic varicocelectomy and 62.6+/-13.3 min for inguinal varicocelectomy (p<0.05). The recurrence rate was 2% for laparoscopic varicocelectomy and 8% for inguinal varicocelectomy (p>0.05). The complication rate was 10.7% for laparoscopic varicocelectomy and 12.7% for inguinal varicocelectomy (p>0.05). The cost of laparoscopic varicocelectomy was 401,870 won, but inguinal varicocelectomy was 256,480 won (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic varicocelectomy required a shorter operative time but no superior outcomes compared to inguinal varicocelectomy. The laparoscopic approach cannot be replaced with the routine open approach but it is thought to be worth consideration in selective cases.
Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Recurrence ; Varicocele

Segmental testicular infarction is a rare cause of acute scrotum. Its etiology is not well defined and it can be clinically confused with a testicular tumor. Imaging studies play an important role in the preoperative diagnosis, with a Color doppler ultrasonography as the investigation of choice although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be useful in doubtful cases. We report a case of segmental testicular infarction treated with partial orchiectomy seen in a 58-year-old man with right scrotal pain.
Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Scrotum ; Testis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

The calyceal diverticulum is a cystic cavity lined by a transitional epithelium, is encased within the renal substance, and is situated peripheral to a minor calyx, to which it is connected by a narrow channel. Both congenital and acquired factors have been suggested to explain the formation of a calyceal diverticulum. We experienced a case of a huge calyceal diverticulum that was newly developed after a renal injury.
Diverticulum ; Epithelium ; Kidney

GMH/IVH(Germinal martrix-Intraventricular hemorrhage ) is an inportant factor that influences on the mortality rate of low-birth-weight infants. The real-time high resolution sonography with a mechanical sector scanner is a convenient and useful method for the detection and follow-up study of intracranial hemorrhage in low-birth-weight infants. Authors analysed 112 cases of neurosonographic findings in low-birth-weight infants, weighing less than 2,500gm. The incidence of GMH/IVH was 54.5%. The severity of GMH/IVH was classified into 4 grades(I-IV) and their percentages were 41%, 41% 8.1%, and 9.9%, respectively. The onset of GMH/IVH was within the first week after birth in 75.4% of cases. The overall mortality rate of low-birth-weight infants with GMH/IVH was 18% (4% for grade I, 12% for grade II, 40% for grade III and 83% for grade IV). In the follow-up study of 61 cases, complete absorption was seen in 25 cases, rebleeding in 5 cases, cystic change in 24 cases, ventriculomegaly in 9 cases and hydrocephalus in 7 cases. The incidence of GMH/IVH in neonates with pathologic lung conditions was 82.5% and that with normal lung conditions was 39%. In conclusion, sonography is very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of GMH/IVH in low-birth-weight infants. Our study is the first step in the further study of the relationship between GMH/IVH and neuromotor outcome.
Absorption ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Lung ; Methods ; Mortality ; Parturition

BACKGROUND: Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS) operating since July 2006 is the first nationwide monitoring system for nosocomial infections in the in the intensive care unit (lCU) with a standard protocol and web-based prompt response network in Korea. This report describes the characteristics of the KONIS hospitals compared with those of all Korean hospitals with 400 beds and over. METHODS: A survey was conducted for the 44 hospitals participating in KONIS 2006, and the data were rechecked by the KONIS hospitals through KONIS web-network. The survey form included questions about the size of the hospital, infection control personnel, nursing personnel, and the status of microbiologic laboratory. RESULTS: Compared to all Korean hospitals with 400 beds and over, the KONIS hospitals were larger in term of average number of beds (857 vs 654); the number of hospitals with 700 beds and over was over-represented in Seoul (P=0.01) and under-represented in the central/south area (P<0.001) The majority of the KONIS hospitals were major teaching university-affiliated (88,6%) and private (72.7%), but in the central/south area, public hospitals comprised up to 60%. The number of infection control professionals (ICP) averaged 1.6, hospital beds per ICP 531, and infectious disease physicians 1.3. Medical and medical combined ICUs were the major component (67,1%) of the KONIS ICUs, The lCU bed per nurse was 0.63. CONCLUSION: The KONIS 2006 hospitals were over-represented in the overall indicators in Seoul. Because no objective indicators were available regarding the patient quality, KONIS data must be interpreted in consideration of all indicators.
Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection* ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Nursing ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: THe Korean Society for Nosocomial Infection Control (KOSNIC) orfanized the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS) to establish a nationwide database of Nosocomial infection (NI) rate in the intensive care units (ICUs) of Korean hospitals. This report is a summary of the data from July through September 2006. METHODS: The KONIS performed a prospective sruveillance for nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTI), bloodstream infections (BSI), and pneumonia (PNEU) at 76 ICUs in 44 hospitals. NI rates were calculated as the numbers of infections per 1,000 patient-days or device-days. RESULTS: A total of 846 nosocomial infections were fOlllld during the study period: 407 UTIs (397 cases were urinary catheter-associated), 204 BSIs (182 were central line-associated), and 235 PNEUs (161 were ventilator-associated). The rate of urinary catheter-associated UTIs was 4.61 cases per 1,000 device-days and urinary catheter utilization ratio was 0.83. The rate of central line-associated BSIs was 3.16 and the utilization ratio was 0.55. The rate of ventilator-associated PNEUs was 3.80 and the utilization ratio was 0.41. Although the ventilator utilization ratio was lower in the hospitals with 400-699 beds than in the hospitals with more than 900 beds, the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was higher in the smaller hospitals than in the larger ones. The rates of all three device-associated infections were the highest in the neurosurgical ICUs and the rates were the lowest in the surgical ICUs. CONCLUSION: This study may contribute to the development of effective strategies for NI control according to the size of hospital and the type of ICUs.
Cross Infection* ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Prospective Studies ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Ventilators, Mechanical