title: Early outcome following diathermy versus cold knife ablation of posterior urethral valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare early outcomes following diathermy versus cold knife ablation of posterior urethral valves (PUV).
  
  
  METHODS
  All neonates and children who underwent primary ablation of PUV between January 2004 and March 2011 were included. Primary ablation was performed using an 8.5 resectoscope, with either diathermy hook (Group I) or sickle-shaped cold knife (Group II). A uniform management protocol was used and voiding cystourethrogram was repeated in all patients at 3 months follow-up. All patients with poor anterior urethral stream and persistent dilatation of posterior urethra on follow-up underwent repeat cystoscopy. Early outcomes were compared between Groups I and II using Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, a total of 83 cases underwent primary PUV ablation. Group I included 42 patients (mean age 6.2 months; 10 days to 9 years) while Group II included 41 (mean age 3.4 months; 12 days to 5 years). Overall 12/83 (14.4%) required repeat procedure for persistent obstruction: stricture 9 (10.8%); residual valve 3 (3.6%). Group I had a significantly higher stricture rate (9/42; 21.4%) than Group II (0/41) (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in terms of residual valves, haematuria, retention or extravasation between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cold knife ablation is superior to diathermy in relieving PUV obstruction in a single attempt.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, Chennai 600116, India. drrameshbabu1@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: Ranjith
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000517:prevention & control; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery