title: Acucise endopyelotomy: assessment of long-term durability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the long-term efficacy of Acucise endopyelotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 patients with 28 ureteropelvic junction obstructions was reevaluated 2 or more years after Acucise endopyelotomy (mean 32.5 months). Subjective analysis was done with analog pain scales and objective analysis was performed with diuretic renal scintigraphy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective followup was available for all 28 patients, and 17 (61%) had a favorable response with 36% totally free of pain and 25% markedly improved. Among 26 patients with objective followup (93%) 21 (81%) had a patient ureteropelvic junction based on a diuretic renal scan with a half-time of less than 10 minutes or a normal Whitaker test. Among all regularly followed patients failure occurred uniformly within 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acucise endopyelotomy is an effective and durable method for treating ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Nadler
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pearle
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nakada
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Clayman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*