[Acute renal insufficiency following endourethral surgery with glycine irrigation]

The authors analyse a case of acute renal failure in an old patient after a TUR of the prostate. The involved mechanism seems to be a toxicity of the glycine solution. In case of severe "TUR syndrome" with important resorption of glycine, the glycine could be catabolysed in oxalate, creating an hyperoxalemia and hyperoxaluria. The high blood level of oxalates can be responsible of acute renal failure and anuria. The treatment is simple: hemodialysis is able to eliminate quickly (in one session) the oxalates from the renal tubules and to restore the renal function. Prospective studies will give us an idea of the propitious conditions for this pathology and for the prevention.