title: The Whitaker hook in the treatment of posterior urethral valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of the Whitaker diathermy hook in the treatment of posterior urethral valves (PUV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with PUV underwent primary treatment under general anaesthesia using a diathermy hook. The results were assessed by the clinical course of the patient, serial measurements of serum creatinine level and repeat cystography 6 weeks and 6 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no complications in 12 patients and they required no further treatment of the valves. Three patients required a repeat procedure which resolved the urethral obstruction. Two patients continued to show incomplete disruption of the valves and required endoscopic treatment. Two patients developed ureteric obstruction after disruption of the valves, which was treated by supravesical diversion and later reversed with no further treatment of the valves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Whitaker diathermy hook is a safe and effective instrument which has not gained its rightful place in the treatment of patients with PUV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Manchester Children's Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandna
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine