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Over the last 40 years the treatment of urolithiasis passed from open surgical therapies to minimally invasive approaches. From the introduction of the first ureteroscopes in '80s many technological improvements allowed to reduce endourological instruments' size, ensuring in the meanwhile an increasingly high success rate in the resolution of the urolithiasis. The purpose of the study is to review the current role of the ureteroscopy(URS) in the treatment of urinary stones. A non-systematic review was performed considering the most recent Guidelines and results from Literature. The results confirm that, considering ureteral calculi, the stone-free rate (SFR) for URS is significantly higher than for ESWL in the treatment of distal ureteral stones <10 mm and >10 mm. Endoscopy has a first-line role also in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones >10 mm, together with ESWL. Retreatment rate and ancillary procedures are also lower in patients treated with URS, despite it is more invasive if compared with ESWL. Recent data are available in Literature about the treatment of nephrolithiasis with Retrograde Intra-Renal Surgery (RIRS). RIRS is the first-line treatment, together with ESWL, for stones <20 mm, and second choice for stones >20 mm. However, for large renal stones the role of RIRS is still being discussed. In conclusion, the majority of urinary stones can be treated by rigid or flexible URS. Further studies are required to clarify the role of endoscopy in the treatment of large stones, especially if compared to percutaneous approaches.

Pelvic lymphoceles, occurred in patients undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy, are believed to increase the risk of deep venous thrombosis and so thromboembolic complications. The authors' aim is to evaluate the usefulness of pelvic ultrasonography in the diagnosis and in the possible early treatment of pelvic lymphoceles. Fifty-eight patients undergone radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, between January '98 and December '99, underwent a pelvic ultrasonography in VII post-operative day. When a symptomatic or large (over 5 cm) lymphocele was found, it was treated with ultrasound (US) guided drainage. In the study, the following parameters were considered: lymphocele occurrence, size, location and treatment and thromboembolic complication. Statistical analysis was carried out with Fisher's exact test. Pelvic US showed a lymphocele in 23 out of 58 (40%) patients. Mean size was 5 cm. Deep venous thrombosis occurred in 4 patients, all with pelvic lymphoceles. No thromboembolic complications were recorded. In our experience, pelvic ultrasound has shown to be an easy e reliable tool for diagnosis and percutaneous treatment of pelvic lymphoceles.

The above study was undertaken in order to demonstrate the efficacy of ketanserin in mild to moderate essential arterial hypertension. Twenty-two patients, mean age 49.7 yrs., were studied during 36 months. After a 15-day washout period with clinical and instrumental assessment of basal conditions, treatment with 40 mg ketanserin every 12 hrs. was started. Pressure, blood chemistry and instrumental investigation were carried out systematically and showed the hypotensive action of ketanserin as well as a significant (about 12%) rise in HDL-cholesterol.