John J. Pahira

Bilateral Complete Ureteral Obstruction Secondary to an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Perianeurysmal Fibrosis: Diagnosis by Computed Tomography

The sixteenth case of bilateral ureteral obstruction with anuria secondary to an abdominal aortic aneurysm with perianeurysmal fibrosis is presented. The details of this case clearly indicate the need for a combined vascular and urologic approach to patients with this disorder. A complete preoperative evaluation, including excretory urography, retrograde pyeloureterography, aortography and, when indicated, venacavography, may determine renal and vascular abnormalities that will allow a more definitive and successful management of this difficult problem. Furthermore, we believe that the use of computed tomography is an invaluable tool to define this retroperitoneal disease process and its precise relationship to the ureters.

New self-developing film for intraoperative renal stone localization

The use of intraoperative radiography for localization of small renal calculi has been a valuable adjunct to surgery. Unfortunately, because of the considerable time required for mobilization of the kidney, the development of x-ray films and the not infrequent need for repeat exposures, considerable time can be added to the operation. We have found that the use of Polaroid film can give high-quality intraoperative radiographs. The main advantage of Polaroid film over the standard Kodak kidney film is that the film is developed in the operative suite and, in most cases, requires less than one minute.