[Diagnosis and follow up with endoluminal ultrasound in the endourologic treatment of experimental ureteral stenosis]

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to determine the utility and reliability of endoluminal sonography transducer in the diagnosis and follow up after the treatment of partial ureteral obstruction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ten healthy Large White female pigs, weighing 35-40 Kg, were induced a partial ureteral obstruction by laparoscopic approach. All the studied animals underwent the same three-phase procedure; inducement (phase 1), diagnosis (phase 2) and treatment of experimental strictures (phase 3), as well as, a month follow up. In all the stages of the study endoluminal sonography was used to diagnose the stricture and to assess the treatment, as well as, to measure the internal ureter diameter.

RESULTS

The endoluminal ultrasonography was able to assess, in all the cases, the affectation of all the ureteral layers. All the animals develop a ureteral stricture after a four weeks ligature and, except in one animal, they progress favourably after the treatment using the balloon rupture technique of the stricture ureter. The means of the ureteral diameter are: phase 1 (0.46 +/- 0.10 cm), phase 2 (0.30 +/- 0.17 cm), phase 3 (0.47 +/- 0.13 cm).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the IVUS in the diagnosis of ureteral strictures results safe and useful, as well as, its application in the election and in the assessment of the treatment.

Effects of ultrasonic dental scaling on pulp vitality in dogs: an experimental study

We investigated whether dental pulpal damage is produced as a result of the application of an ultrasonic scaler commonly used in clinical veterinary dentistry. Using methods developed in preliminary studies, we examined six dogs. The radiographic thickness of the dentin and pulp cavity was measured. The ultrasonic scaler was applied to maxillary and mandibular premolar teeth for 30, 60, or 90 seconds, without the use of water as a coolant. The temperatures of the room, the pulp canal on untreated incisor teeth, the cheek, the gingival sulcus, and the dentin of the affected teeth were recorded using a probe with a thermistor attached to a resistivity meter and inserted in the dentin to a depth of 1 mm. Two weeks following scaling, the teeth were extracted for microscopic examination. In another dog serving as a control, the temperature of the dentin was increased to between 45 degrees C (113 degrees F) and 47 degrees C (117 degrees F) and the premolar teeth were removed for microscopic examination 15 days later. We concluded that the application of an uncooled ultrasonic scaler for 90 seconds did not increase the temperature of the dentin. However, damage comparable with acute pulpitis resulted as a consequence of the ultrasonic effect, similar to the effects produced by the 45-47 degrees C heat applied in the control animal.