Urolithiasis is not only one of the most frequently encountered diseases at uro logical clinics; it is also the disorder whose treatment has shown the most rapid progress in the past decade. In that period, medicine has experienced a real revolution, characterized by minimally invasive treatments, improvement of the quality of life, and cost-effectiveness in treatment outcomes. In urology, the revolution started with the development of endoscopic retrograde treatment of urolithiasis in the upper urinary tract, which led to development of the percuta neous antegrade maneuver in the latter half of the 1970s. The most remarkable event occurred in 1982, when clinical use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was introduced by the Munich group, represented by Dr. Christian Chaussy, at the 18th Congress of the International Society of Urology in San Francisco. With the advent of these new strategies, open surgery for urolithiasis has all but dis appeared. Today, with the availability of new technology and equipment, guide lines for the treatment of urolithiasis have changed in all developed countries. It is quite timely that the Meeting of International Consultation on Urolithiasis will be held in Paris in June 2001 to establish international guidelines for urolithiasis. Looking through this textbook for urolithiasis, I was greatly impressed to learn that we have already drawn up some guidelines. The book includes all the updated advances of urolithiasis presented by the most prominent and experi enced urologists from all around the world.

Discusses guidelines that have been developed for urolithiasis treatment

Klappentext

Urolithiasis is one of the most frequently encountered disorders in urology clinics, but among all urological diseases, it has witnessed the most rapid progress in treatment in recent years. New techniques and technology have brought minimally invasive therapies, improvement in the quality of patients' lives, and cost-effectiveness in treatment outcomes. Development of endoscopic retrograde treatment of urolithiasis led to the percutaneous antegrade maneuver, followed by clinical use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Today, subsequent advances in urology have all but eliminated the need for open surgery. This book discusses guidelines that have been developed for urolithiasis treatment, and includes chapters on distal ureteral calculi, calyceal calculi, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and staghorn calculi, urolithiasis in children, and complications of urolithiasis, thus providing a valuable source of the latest information for all urologists.

Inhalt
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Ureteral Stones: Implications in Japan and Limitations.- Management of Urolithiasis: Guidelines in the USA.- Epidemiology of Urolithiasis in Japan.- UrolithiasisPatient Evaluation and Medical Treatment.- Contemporary Management of Distal Ureteral Calculi.- Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy (PNL): What Factors Make PNL Difficult and What Are the Ways to Prevent and Solve Those Problems?.- Technology of Shockwave Lithotripsy.- Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy.- Calyceal Calculi.- Urolithiasis in ChildrenESWL and Auxiliary Measures.- Treatment of Complicated Urolithiasis.- Common and Uncommon Complications Related to ESWL.- Complications of Urolithiasis Treatment (PNL).