Eugene V. Kramolowsky

A Comparison of Urologic Application of Bipolar Versus Monopolar Five French Electrosurgical Probes

Urologic endoscopic procedures often involve electrosurgery. Recently bipolar probes have become commercially available. This study compares monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical probes in relation to power losses in urologic endoscopic instruments with the infusion of sterile water and saline, and the power transmitted by probes to tissue correlated to tissue destruction in each fluid. The power losses through each instrument in both solutions were minimal. The bipolar electrode functioned at a much lower power output than did the monopolar electrode. The bipolar probe was also more effective in saline than sterile water. The depth, width and volume of tissue damage for both electrodes were found to vary with generator power output. The data shows the burns had similar diameters for both probes but the bipolar probe caused significantly less burn depth than the monopolar probe. These initial studies indicate that bipolar electrodes can function in normal saline with less depth damage compared to the monopolar probe.

Use of 5F Bipolar Electrosurgical Probe in Endoscopic Urological Procedures

Experimental data have shown bipolar electrodes to function in saline solution with less volume and depth of tissue destruction compared to similar sized monopolar electrodes. We applied the same bipolar generator and electrodes used in laboratory testing in 41 procedures on 36 patients to determine if the bipolar electrode will provide clinically adequate hemostasis. The bipolar electrode was used for bladder fulguration in 37 procedures and ureteral fulguration in 4. The procedures were performed by 7 urological surgeons and in normal saline solution. The bipolar electrode was believed to perform as well as the standard monopolar probe in 39 procedures. The 2 failures included 1 bladder tumor fulguration and 1 electroincision of a ureterointestinal anastomotic stricture. There were no episodes of recurrent bleeding after any procedure. The bipolar system has the added advantage of not requiring a return electrode (ground pad), thereby eliminating the possibility of skin burns.

In vivo effect of 5 French bipolar and monopolar electrosurgical probes on the porcine bladder

SummaryPrevious in vitro studies have indicated bipolar electrosurgical probes would electrodesiccate tissue in a normal saline solution. This study applies similar sized monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical probes to porcine bladder in order to compare each probes effect in vivo. The power delivered by each probe was calculated; the width and depth of the porcine bladder damage was measured and the volume of the damage calculated. The animals were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 96 h post-procedure so that the amount of tissue destruction could be quantitated relative to the bladders natural tissue reaction. The data shows the power (watts) delivered by the monopolar probe to be approximately six times that of the bipolar probe. Like-wise, the area of bladder wall damage was larger with monopolar at all time periods sampled and showed significant differences at 24 and 48 h. These studies indicate that in viable bladder, tissue bipolar probes will electrodessicate at a lower power and with less shortterm tissue damage.

Ureteral Perforation During Ureterorenoscopy: Treatment and Management

Ureterorenoscopy has become a popular diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the modern urologist but this procedure is not without complications and risks. The technique may result in perforation of the ureter and subsequent stricture formation in some cases. In this study a ureteral perforation rate of 17 per cent was noted after 142 ureteroscopic procedures, with stricture formation occurring in 5 per cent. The type of dilation, reason for the procedure or placement of a postoperative stent did not seem to affect the formation of stricture but the location of the injury appeared to be significant. Of those injuries not requiring immediate surgical repair perforations within the pelvis (6 of 11) led to strictures more often than those beyond the pelvis (1 of 9). Treatment of the strictures with either an open repair or percutaneous antegrade dilation was successful.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy in Children

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has proved to be an effective method of treating upper urinary tract calculi. We report on 14 patients 17 years old or younger who were treated with the Dornier lithotriptor. Special adjustments of the gantry and water level, as well as shielding of the lungs, were necessary in those children less than 135 cm. in height or 30 kg. in weight. Hospital stay averaged 2.5 days and ranged from 1 to 6 days. There were no major intraoperative complications. Postoperative pulmonary edema developed in 1 patient and only 3 required parenteral analgesics for postoperative pain control. Of the 12 patients for whom a 3-month followup is available 10 are free of stone. One patient required ureterolithotomy for removal of impacted stone fragments. We conclude that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a safe and effective method of treating renal calculi in children.

The Value of Testosterone Deprivation in Stage D1 Carcinoma of the Prostate

The question of whether hormonal manipulation is effective in the treatment of stage D1 carcinoma of the prostate has yet to be determined conclusively. To study this question a retrospective review was conducted of 68 patients with stage D1 disease. Of the patients 22 underwent immediate orchiectomy, 24 delayed orchiectomy and 11 exogenous antiandrogen treatment (8 immediate and 3 delayed treatment), and 11 had no androgen deprivation. The patients were placed into 2 groups consisting of those receiving immediate hormonal deprivation (30) and those having treatment at the time of bone metastasis or who are as yet untreated (38). The minimum followup was 60 months. The median interval to progression to bone metastasis was 43 months in the delayed treatment group compared to 100 months in the immediate hormonal deprivation group. This difference was statistically significant (p equals 0.0087). Likewise, the median period from diagnosis to death was 90 months in the delayed treatment group and 150 months in the immediate treatment group. This difference was not significant (p equals 0.1110). Thus, orchiectomy or adequate androgen deprivation from our data significantly prolongs the interval to bone metastasis in patients with metastatic prostate cancer limited to the pelvic lymph nodes. The apparent increased length of survival of the immediate treatment group lacks statistical confirmation.

The interaction between electrosurgical generators, endoscopic electrodes, and tissue

Endoscopic monopolar and bipolar devices were compared during cutting and coagulation. It was observed on appropriate animal models that the initial resistance (impedance) values recorded correspond to the normal tissue impedance at the electrode. The subsequent impedance values increase 25 to 50 ohms for the coagulator which relates to tissue desiccation and for the cutting electrodes the impedance increases greater than 1000 ohms during the arcing process. At similar power settings, typical monopolar generators produce maximum power at 300 to 500 ohms while typical bipolar generators produce maximum power at 25 to 100 ohms. With impedances greater than 1000 ohms, monopolar generators are capable of higher power output than are bipolar generators. Since cutting is a high impedance process, bipolar cutting electrodes do not perform as intended with typical bipolar generators. Therefore, bipolar cutting electrodes should be employed with a monopolar generator or a generator designed specifically for their use.

Management of Benign Ureteral Strictures: Open Surgical Repair or Endoscopic Dilation?

We reviewed 20 cases of ureteral strictures, 15 of which were secondary to ureteral trauma. Of the patients 6 were managed initially by open repair and 14 underwent endoscopic manipulation. All 6 open repairs were successful, compared to 9 of the 14 patients who underwent endoscopic dilation of the ureteral stricture. Of the 5 failures 3 were due to the inability to cannulate the strictured ureter with a guide wire and 2 failed to respond to balloon dilation. Of these 5 patients 4 were treated successfully by an open operation. There were no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications. The average hospitalization was less for the endoscopic group (2.1 days) compared to the open surgical group (8.3 days). Followup ranged from 6 to 48 months.

The frozen section in lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the prostate.

From January 1969 through August 1982 we performed 257 pelvic lymph node dissections for staging of carcinoma of the prostate. One or more lymph nodes were submitted for frozen section in 100 cases (39 per cent): 43 (43 per cent) had positive nodes on frozen and permanent sections, while frozen section was negative in 57 (57 per cent). Of the latter 57 cases (16 per cent) had positive nodes on paraffin sectioning of all tissue submitted. Thus, in our series there was a 16 per cent chance of overlooking metastatic disease at the time of pelvic lymph node dissection even with the aid of intraoperative frozen sections.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and followup of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis

Four cases of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis are reported. Magnetic resonance and computerized tomographic images were obtained for diagnosis in each case, and followup scans were obtained at various intervals after therapy. In all 4 cases magnetic resonance imaging was equal or superior to computerized tomography in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis, outlining the extent of involvement, preoperative planning and assessing response to medical or surgical therapy.