Freddy Mendez-Torres

Retrograde ureteroscopic endopyelotomy

Several different procedures can be used to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Retrograde ureteroscopic endopyelotomy provides a safe and adequate first line of treatment for this condition. With the advent of smaller ureteroscopes and ancillary devices, this technique has evolved to include children. Adherence to strict endourologic principles and direct visualization make retrograde ureteroscopic endopyelotomy a safe and effective treatment modality. This procedure represents an extension of the basic endoscopic skills of the urologist, creating a short learning curve and wide margin of safety.

Donor Nephrectomy in the Era of Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery

Living-donor nephrectomy has traditionally been performed through a flank incision with or without rib resection or by an anterior extraperitoneal incision, both of which reduce the willingness of potential donors to undergo the procedure. The first successful human laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was reported in 1995. In order to reduce warm ischemia and operative time and to make the operation safer and easier, some laparoscopic surgeons have used hand assistance. The authors describe their technique for this operation and review the results.

Complications of Urinary Stone Surgery

The surgical treatment of urinary tract calculi has changed enormously during the past two decades. With advances in fiberoptics, development of flexible instrumentation, and the widespread use of extracorporeal Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), open stone surgery (OSS) has mostly been replaced by minimally invasive procedures for managing both renal and ureteral calculi.