Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal ileal neobladder for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: technique and short-term outcomes

Objectives

To report the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with extracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder (OIN) in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

Materials and methods

Between October 2009 and December 2011, 37 patients with muscle-invasive UCB underwent a LRC with OIN. Indications included (a) muscle-invasive UCB T2–4a, N0–Nx, M0; (b) high-risk and recurrent non-muscle-invasive tumors; (c) T1G3 plus CIS; and (d) extensive non-muscle-invasive disease that could not be controlled by transurethral resection and intravesical therapy. Demographic data, perioperative, and postoperative variables were recorded and analyzed.

Results

The median operating time was 330 min, with a median estimated blood loss of 410 ml. Median length of stay was 12 days, and the mean length of the skin incision to extract the specimen and for the configuration of the neobladder was 7 ± 1 cm. The complication rate was 21.6 % (Clavien II). No Clavien III–V complications were reported. Daytime and nocturnal continence were preserved in 95 and 78 %, respectively. No local recurrence or port site metastasis occurred. Median time to disease recurrence was 14 months (IQR 9–24), and 1-year cancer-specific survival was 91.9 %.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal ileal neobladder is a challenging procedure but technically feasible, allowing low morbidity and oncological safety. Long-term oncological results are required to definitely recognize this procedure as a standard treatment for bladder cancer.     

The effectiveness of urinary incontinence treatments measured using the 15D Health-Related Quality of Life instrument

Introduction and hypothesis

The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significantly impaired among urinary incontinent women and the effectiveness of urinary incontinence (UI) treatment should be measured using an HRQoL instrument.

Methods

A prospective, observational study evaluating the HRQoL of 178 non-selected UI patients referred for routine treatment at the Helsinki University Central Hospital between the years 2004 and 2010. HRQoL was assessed using the generic 15D questionnaire on four occasions: before treatment, 6 and 18 months after treatment, and after a median follow-up of 5 years. The HRQoL of the patients was compared with that of an age-standardized Finnish female population.

Results

Compared with the general population, the baseline total HRQoL score of the patients was significantly impaired (p?<?0.001). It was worse among the urge or mixed (UUI (±SUI)) incontinence patients than among the stress incontinence (SUI) patients (p?=?0.035). During follow-up, HRQoL improved and the improvement was more substantial among the operatively than among the conservatively treated patients (p?=?0.027). Statistically significant improvement was only seen in the SUI group (Δ?+?0.021, 95 % CI 0.005–0.036), but clinically relevant improvement was also found in the operatively treated UUI (±SUI) group. The maximum benefit of treatment was reached between at 2 and 3 years.

Conclusions

15D is a sensitive tool for monitoring the change in HRQoL and could be implemented into clinical practice. Operative treatment of UI is effective when measured by improved HRQoL. Not only SUI patients, but also selected patients with an urgency component may benefit from surgery.     

Zystektomie mit Anlage einer Ileumneoblase bei der über 70-j?hrigen Frau

Background

As life expectancy is increasing the incidence and therefore the number of elderly female patients with bladder cancer is also increasing. The aim of this study was to assess long-term clinical, functional and oncological outcome in elderly women (≥70 years) who were treated by radical cystectomy and ileal neobladder reconstruction for invasive bladder cancer.

Material and methods

A total of 121 women with clinically organ-confined invasive urothelial carcinoma underwent radical cystecomy with an orthotopic ileal neobladder in Ulm between 1995 and 2010. The clinical course, functional, pathological, and oncological outcome of these women were analyzed retrospectively and compared between patients ≥70 (n=24) and <70 years of age (n=97). All complications which occurred during the first 90 days after surgery were analyzed in detail, defined and classified according to the modified Clavien system.

Results

The overall 90 day complication rates were 66.7?% and 62.5?% for patients ≥70 and <70 years, respectively. Of these 54.2% and 44.8% were minor complications and 12.5?% and 17.7?% were major complications, respectively. Infections were the most frequent cause of complications with 36.7?%. Univariate analyses revealed that neither age nor comorbidity (ASA score) were significant predictors of perioperative complications. The daytime continence rates were comparable in both age groups (71% versus 82%, p=0.64); however, younger patients showed significantly higher night time urinary continence rates (43% versus 89%, p=0.013). Neither univariable nor multivariable analyses indicated that age ≥70 years had a significant impact on tumor-specific survival.

Conclusions

Chronological age per se does not seem to be a contraindication for the creation of an orthotopic ileal neobladder; however, the risk of postoperative incontinence seems to increase with age.     

The ileal neobladder in female patients with bladder cancer: long-term clinical, functional, and oncological outcome

Purpose

To assess long-term clinical and oncological outcome in women undergoing radical cystectomy and ileal neobladder reconstruction for invasive bladder cancer.

Methods

From 1995 to 2010, a total of 121 women with clinically organ-confined urothelial carcinoma underwent radical cystectomy with an orthotopic ileal neobladder. Median follow-up was 56?months. Clinical course, functional, pathological, and oncological outcome of these women were analyzed.

Results

Seventy-six patients (62.8%) experienced a complication of some type within 90?days of the procedure. 56 patients (46.3%) experienced minor complications, whereas 20 patients (16.5%) experienced major complications. Pathological subgroups included 70 patients (57.9%) with organ confined, lymph node-negative tumors, 24 (19.8%) with extravesical, lymph node-negative disease and 27 (22.3%) patients with lymph node-positive disease. The 5-year overall survival rate in patients with organ-confined (??pT2, pN0), locally advanced (??pT3, pN0), and metastatic disease was 80.2%, 81.9%, and 45.1%, respectively. 4 women (3.3%) experienced a local (pelvic) recurrence. One patient presented with a urethral recurrence (0.8%). Daytime and nighttime urinary continence (0?C1 pad) was reported by 82.4 and 76.5%, respectively. Clean intermittent self-catheterization was required by 58.0%. The retrospective study design was the major limitation of the study.

Conclusions

Despite a considerable complication rate, radical cystectomy with orthotopic diversion in female patients with bladder cancer may be considered a standard therapeutic option for selected patients with excellent oncological outcome including a low incidence of local and urethral recurrence.     

Does intubated uretero-ureterocutaneostomy provide better health-related quality of life than orthotopic neobladder in patients after radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer?

Objectives  

Ileal orthotopic neobladder (ONB) has not proved to provide better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than other urinary diversion techniques after radical cystectomy. The aim of the study is to compare HRQoL assessed by four questionnaires between ONB and uretero-ureterocutaneostomy (UUC).     

Quality of life outcomes after radical cystectomy: long-term standardized assessment of Studer Pouch versus I-Pouch

Purpose

To investigate whether the ileal length used for the formation of two different orthotopic bladder substitutes [Studer (S)-Pouch vs. I-Pouch; 60 vs. 40 cm] impacts quality of life (QoL).

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 56 patients underwent radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder for bladder cancer [S-Pouch: 23 pat, 19 men, 4 women); I-Pouch: 33 pat (26 men, 7 women)]. They completed general (SF-36), cancer-specific (QLQ-C30) and bladder cancer-specific questionnaires (QLQ-BLM30) as well as a novel neobladder-specific questionnaire (TNQ). The questionnaire-based follow-up was 66 months (IQR 41–104; total range 9–161).

Results

I-Pouch patients reported better SF-36 physical health status (p = 0.026), QLQ-BLM30 continence scores (p < 0.001) and a more favorable QLQ-C30 total score compared to S-Pouch patients (p = 0.044). S-Pouch patients reported better QLQ-BLM30 general health status (p = 0.001). For the TNQ, no significant difference was found between both groups (p = 0.09). S-Pouch patients reported use of condom urinals more frequently (p = 0.026). S-Pouch patients tended to be on vitamin B12 substitution (p = 0.06). I-Pouch patients reported significantly higher micturition volumes (≥300 ml) compared to S-Pouch patients (30/33 vs. 16/23; p = 0.040). No differences were found with regard to bicarbonate supplementation and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Conclusion

Non-neobladder-specific questionnaires show controversial results for QoL outcomes of patients with Studer and I-Pouch. The TNQ suggests that none of these two types of neobladder is superior to the other in terms of QoL. Hence, general questionnaires are not valid enough to adequately address QoL aspects in patients with different neobladders. Development and validation of neobladder-specific questionnaires are needed.

     

Decreasing operative time and incontinence rates in patients treated with radical cystectomy and urethral diversion: a prospective randomized trial using a new suturing device (CAPIO)

Purpose

Radical cystectomy and orthotopic urinary diversion has been associated with significant long surgery time and postoperative urinary incontinence. We undertook a prospective randomized study to investigate the potential decrease in surgery time and improvement in the continence rate using a new suturing device compared with the traditional suture ligation, which is used for urethro-ileal anastomosis after radical cystectomy and orthotopic diversion for invasive bladder carcinoma.

Materials and methods

Between April 2005 and March 2010, 50 consecutive patients (37 men and 13 women) were recruited for the study. They were all subjected to radical cystectomy and W ileal neobladder orthotopic diversion by two senior surgeons. They were divided and randomized into two equal groups according to the methods of urethro-ileal anastomosis. The preoperative characteristics of both groups were equally distributed. One group underwent urethro-ileal anastomosis by the CAPIO suturing device, and the other group subjected to the usual stitches by needle older. Operative and early postoperative parameters were assessed. We followed the patients for 6?months postoperatively.

Results

The preoperative parameters of the two groups were equally distributed with no statistically significant difference in any parameter. There were no intraoperative deaths. The mean time spent for urethro-ileal anastomosis in CAPIO group was 10.2?±?1.4?min versus 19.6?±?2.4?min, which was statistically significant (P value = 0.0001). Also, the mean blood loss was less in the CAPIO group (P value 0.05). As regard the early postoperative follow-up, the postoperative continence rate was significantly better in the CAPIO group than in the classic suturing group.

Conclusions

CAPIO as a new suturing device significantly shortened the time needed to achieve the urethro-ileal anastomosis with better early postoperative continence rate. It makes urethral stump accessible at any time during surgery. It also enables surgeons to do anastomosis at any time after cystectomy with any number of sutures.     

Voiding trial outcome following pelvic floor repair without incontinence procedures

Introduction and hypothesis

Our aim was to identify predictors of postoperative voiding trial failure among patients who had a pelvic floor repair without a concurrent incontinence procedure in order to identify low-risk patients in whom postoperative voiding trials may be modified.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent pelvic floor repair without concurrent incontinence procedures at two institutions from 1 November 2011 through 13 October 2013 after abstracting demographic and clinical data from medical records. The primary outcome was postoperative retrograde voiding trial failure. We used modified Poisson regression to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).

Results

Of the 371 women who met eligibility criteria, 294 (79.2 %) had complete data on the variables of interest. Forty nine (16.7 %) failed the trial, and those women were less likely to be white (p?=?0.04), more likely to have had an anterior colporrhaphy (p?=?0.001), and more likely to have had a preoperative postvoid residual (PVR) ≥150 ml (p?=?0.001). After adjusting for race, women were more likely to fail their voiding trial if they had a preoperative PVR of ≥150 ml (RR: 1.9; 95 % CI: 1.1–3.2); institution also was associated with voiding trial failure (RR: 3.0; 95 % CI: 1.6–5.4).

Conclusions

Among our cohort, postoperative voiding trial failure was associated with a PVR of ≥150 ml and institution at which the surgery was performed.

     

Radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction following prior radical prostatectomy

Purpose

To review the perioperative and follow-up outcomes of patients undergoing radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction for bladder cancer after prior radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer.

Methods

A retrospective review of more than 1,900 patients treated with radical cystectomy at USC between 1990 and 2011 was conducted. Fifty-six patients were identified who were previously treated with RP for prostate cancer. Twenty-four of these patients (43?%) underwent orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. Perioperative data and follow-up including postoperative continence were analyzed.

Results

The median age at cystectomy for these 24 patients was 68?years (range 55?C89). The types of neobladder reconstruction were Kock neobladder in 3, Sigmoid reservoir in 1, Studer neobladder in 12, and T-pouch ileal neobladder in 8 patients. There were no major intraoperative complications. Of 19 patients eligible for evaluation of post-cystectomy urinary control, 11 patients (57.9?%) with good continence (0?C1 pad/day) after RP regained preoperative level of urinary control after cystectomy within 1?year. The continence rate of 13 post-RP patients with good continence was 84.6?%. Among the 4 patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy after RP, 1 regained good continence. One with poor continence after prostatectomy had an artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) placed 2?months after cystectomy, and 2 with fair and poor continence after prostatectomy had an AUS placed at the time of cystectomy.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing radical cystectomy after prior RP pose a challenge to urologists. Those who are continent post-RP have a fair chance of regaining good urinary control with neobladder reconstruction. Adjuvant radiotherapy for prostate cancer may have a negative impact on continence with neobladder reconstruction.     

Urinary functional outcomes in female neobladder patients

Purpose

The ratio between orthotopic and non-orthotopic diversions in women is far lower than in male patients. Data on urinary function in female patients with neobladders are therefore sparse.

Methods

We investigated the urinary function of female neobladder patients utilizing the Bladder Cancer Index, a validated and reliable health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) questionnaire. Furthermore, we tried to identify preoperative factors that may influence functional results. All living female patients with an orthotopic neobladder (N = 82) from the University of Southern California Bladder Cancer Database were sent a questionnaire including the University of Michigan Bladder Cancer Index. Univariate analyses were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by a multivariate stepwise regression model.

Results

Fifty-six patients (68.3 %) responded and were included in the analysis. Thirty-five (62.5 %) of these patients had to catheterize their neobladder to a certain amount, while 25 patients (44.6 %) depend on catheterization to empty their neobladder. Univariate analyses showed that patient age (>65 years) was the only variable associated with a statistically significant lower rate of neobladder catheterization. Better urinary bother scores were associated with organ-confined disease (p = 0.038) and education level (p = 0.01). However, these variables were not significant in a multivariate stepwise linear regression model.

Conclusion

Considerably more women require urinary catheterization to void than previously reported. In this study, representing the largest investigated cohort in this topic, we were unable to identify any predictors of this outcome or any other urinary HRQOL in this cohort.     

Nocturia and its impact on health-related quality of life and health care seeking behaviour in German community-dwelling men aged 50 years or older

Purpose

To evaluate the prevalence of nocturia/nocturnal voiding frequency and its impact on overall physical and mental health status in German community-dwelling men and determine which lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) is responsible for medical consultations in the 2-year follow-up period.

Methods

A sample of German men aged 50–80 years from a community-dwelling study was chosen for re-evaluation 2 years after initial assessment. Men were clinically investigated and completed the International Prostate Symptom Score, American Urology Association-Symptom Problem Index (AUA-SPI), and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Results

In total, 1,562 men were eligible for analysis. Mean nocturnal voiding frequency was 2.3 for all men and increased with ageing. SF-12 data indicated that physical but not mental health status was lower than in the average population. LUTS severity reduced both physical and mental health status (p < 0.001). Clinically relevant nocturia (≥2 voids/night) was present in 43 % of men and reduced both physical and mental health status (p < 0.001), whereas both HRQoL scales were not significantly reduced in men without or only one nocturnal void. In multivariate regression analysis using patient-reported bother (AUA-SPI) from LUTS, only bother from nocturnal voiding was significantly associated with medical consultations in the investigated 2-year follow-up period (odds ratio 2.6; 95 % confidence interval 1.6–4.2; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that nocturnal voiding is highly prevalent in community-dwelling men and reduce both physical and mental health status. Bother from nocturnal voiding is the most relevant component of LUTS responsible for medical consultations in German men.     

Bowel function in patients with urinary diversion: a gender-matched comparison of continent urinary diversion with the ileocecal pouch and ileal conduit

Purpose

To evaluate stool habits and associated quality of life (QoL) in a matched pair analysis of patients who underwent continent cutaneous diversion using the ileocecal segment [Mainz pouch I (MzPI)] with an intussuscepted ileal nipple as efferent segment with those receiving an ileal conduit (IC) after radical cystectomy.

Methods

We identified 250 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion (UD) with either MzPI with an ileal nipple or IC in our database. A detailed history of stool habits using the modified Wexner score was obtained, and questions addressing general lifestyle, comparison of symptom differences before and after surgery considering bowel function as well as bowel-associated QoL were assessed.

Results

Forty-five age- and sex-matched pairs could be compared. Overall, stool incontinence (p = 0.481) and the Wexner score (p = 0.464) revealed no differences between both groups. However, patients with MzPI as compared to those with IC had significant higher rates of stool frequency (53 vs 31 %), softer stool consistencies (60 vs 13 %), diarrhea (62 vs 20 %) and a lower rate of constipation (4 vs 22 %). Patients with MzPI had a trend toward lower bowel-associated QoL compared with patients with IC. Similarly, the MzPI group reported a significantly impaired overall postoperative QoL (51 %) compared to the IC group (29 %) (p = 0.024).

Conclusions

Patients following UD by MzPI have an increased stool frequency and softer stool consistency. However, there is no difference between both groups in terms of de novo stool incontinence. Change in bowel habits should be part of preoperative informed consent in any kind of UD. Careful patient selection is of paramount importance.

     

Comparison of microscopic (pT3a) and gross extravesical extension (pT3b) in pathological staging of bladder cancer: analysis of patient outcomes

Objective

To determine the prognostic value of pT3 bladder urothelial carcinoma substaging in patients without lymphatic involvement.

Patients and methods

Pathologic and clinical data were reviewed on patients who underwent radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma between 1991 and 2010. Of the 460 reviewed patients, 74 patients were diagnosed with pathologic T3No urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The impact of pathologic substaging (pT3a vs. pT3b) was examined to determine the effect on overall and disease-specific survival.

Results

Five years disease-specific and overall survival rates were 46.9 % and 39.6 % for patients with pT3aNo tumor, whereas these ratios were 34.4 and 30.3 %, respectively, for patients with pT3bNo tumor (p > 0.05). Mean disease-specific survival time was 43.94 ± 6.50 months for pT3aNo, while it was 39.01 ± 7.19 months for pT3bNo (p = 0.539). In multivariate cox regression analysis, age (p = 0.459), gender (p = 0.710), urinary diversion type (p = 0.088), and pT3 substaging (p = 0.554) were not noticed as an independent predictive factor for survival.

Conclusion

Macroscopic extravesical extension (pT3b) is not associated with a worse outcome than pT3a disease in lymph node-negative cases of bladder urothelial carcinoma.     

Analysis of female voiding dysfunction: a prospective, multi-center study

Purpose

Female voiding dysfunction lacks clear definitions or objective data even to this day due to the relatively low prevalence and complex etiologies of voiding dysfunction in women compared to men. The prevalence varies widely from 2.7 to 23 % (Nitti et al. in J Urol 161(5):1535–1540, 1999; Rees et al. in Br J Urol 47(7):853–860, 1975; Groutz et al. in Neurourol Urodyn 19(3):213–220, 2000; Farrar et al. in Br J Urol 47(7):815–822, 1975; Massey and Abrams in Br J Urol 61(1):36–39, 1988; Chassagne et al. in Urology 51(3):408–411, 1998). Diagnostic criteria and management of female voiding dysfunction have not yet been established. We performed a prospective, multi-center study at nine hospitals to investigate the characteristics and prevalence of female voiding dysfunction.

Materials and methods

A total of 1,415 women visited urology clinics in nine hospitals from September to December 2005. Among them, 792 patients presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We analyzed their urinary symptoms with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and obtained objective data using uroflowmetry, residual urine volume, and urinalysis. The authors hereby define female voiding dysfunction as maximum flow rate (Q _max) of 15 ml/s or less, which may be due to either bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) or bladder dysfunction caused by detrusor underactivity. BOO was defined as Q _max <15 ml/s with detrusor pressure >20 cmH₂O at Q _max, and detrusor underactivity was defined as Q _max <15 ml/s with detrusor pressure <20 cmH₂O at Q _max on pressure flow studies.

Results

Hundred and two patients (12.8 %) from a total of 792 LUTS patients complained of voiding difficulty. Mean total IPSS score, mean IPSS subscores for voiding and storage symptom was 19.5 ± 7.9, 12.0 ± 5.0, and 8.4 ± 3.4, respectively. Among the seven categories of IPSS, incomplete emptying was the most common symptom followed by weak stream. Eighty-nine patients (87.2 %) from a total of 102 voiding dysfunction patients showed BOO, while 13 patients (12.8 %) showed detrusor underactivity. Concomitant diseases observed with voiding dysfunctions were overactive bladder (32 patients), stress urinary incontinence (25), detrusor underactivity (13), previous stress urinary incontinence surgery (12), pelvic organ prolapse (4), and anatomical obstruction (3 patients).

Conclusion

The prevalence of voiding difficulty in female urology patients who visit urologic office clinic was 7.2 and 12.8 % in female LUTS patients. Voiding symptoms were more common than storage symptoms, while functional BOO was more prevalent than detrusor underactivity in female voiding difficulty patients. We may expect alpha blockers to be an effective treatment option in female voiding difficulty due to functional BOO.     

Comparison of standardized pre- and postoperative functional pelvic cine-MRI in patients with a bulbourethral composite suspension due to post-prostatectomy incontinence

Objectives

To compare functional pelvic cine-MRI in patients with post-prostatectomy incontinence before and after implantation of a bulbourethral composite suspension.

Patients and methods

Functional pelvic 1.5 T cine-MRI was performed at rest, under standardized Valsalva pressure and during micturition in six patients with post-prostatectomy incontinence before and 3 months after a bulbourethral composite suspension. Visibility and positioning of the implant as well as membranous urethral length (MUL) and positioning of the bladder neck (BN) in comparison with the pubococcygeal line (PCL) were evaluated. Clinical outcome was measured by patient-reported pad use and standardized questionnaires (ICIQ-UI SF and I-QOL). Paired data were tested with a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.

Results

Surgery was successfully performed in all patients. All patients returned to complete voiding. The ICIQ-UI SF score decreased significantly from median 16.5 to 5 (p = 0.016). I-QOL increased significantly from 70.5 to 93.5 (p = 0.047). Pad use improved from median 2 pads to 0 pads postoperatively (p = 0.031). Four of six patients were completely pad-free, and 2 were failures with persisting urinary incontinence. MRI revealed significant differences of the MUL at rest with median of 8 mm pre- and 13 mm postoperatively (p = 0.016). BN showed a significant elevation with respect to PCL under Valsalva with in median 0.5 to 5 mm postoperatively (p = 0.016). No significant MRI differences were found between patients showing clinical success or failure.

Conclusions

The bulbourethral composite suspension was associated with an increase in urethral length, urethral coaptation zone and bladder neck elevation, implying a non-compressive mode of action.     

Preoperative voiding detrusor pressures do not predict stress incontinence surgery outcomes

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative voiding detrusor pressures were associated with postoperative outcomes after stress incontinence surgery.

Methods

Opening detrusor pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow (p _det Q_max), and closing detrusor pressure were assessed from 280 valid preoperative urodynamic studies in subjects without advanced prolapse from a multicenter randomized trial comparing Burch and autologous fascia sling procedures. These pressures were compared between subjects with and without overall success, stress-specific success, postoperative detrusor overactivity, and postoperative urge incontinence using independent sample t tests.

Results

There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in mean preoperative voiding detrusor pressures in any comparison of postoperative outcomes.

Conclusions

We found no evidence that preoperative voiding detrusor pressures predict outcomes in women with stress predominant urinary incontinence undergoing Burch or autologous fascial sling procedures.     

Does the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life differ based on age?

Introduction and hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on quality of life (QOL) differs between women based on age.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients presenting for the management of UI was performed. Patients with UI and their corresponding degree of bother were identified by their responses to validated questionnaires. Distributions of comorbidities and types of UI were presented as frequencies and compared between age cohorts with a chi-square test. Mean scale scores were assessed for normality and a one-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Scheffé’s test was used to compare the scores.

Results

Of 765 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 22.4 % were <45, 28.9 % were 45–55, and 48.8 % were >55 years of age. Women older than 55 were significantly more likely to have urge UI and mixed UI than their counterparts (p?<?0.001). Women <45 and 45–55 were more negatively impacted in their ability to perform physical activities compared to women >55 (p?=?0.004), whereas women >55 were significantly less likely to feel frustrated by their incontinence than women <45 (p?=?0.022). However, there was no significant difference in overall impact of incontinence among groups (p?=?0.585).

Conclusions

UI equally impacts the functional and psychological QOL in women regardless of age. UI in women <55 results in a greater negative impact on level of physical activity, whereas women <45 are significantly more frustrated.     

The role of duloxetine in stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

This systematic review determined whether the duloxetine can get more benefits versus placebo in managing women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) all over the world.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing duloxetine with placebo in these patients. The eligible RCTs were identified from the following electronic databases: Cochrane CENTRAL, Medline and EMBASE. We treated the incontinence episode frequency (IEF) as the main outcome, and the secondary outcomes were cured, average voiding interval, incontinence quality of life (I-QOL), treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and discontinuation.

Results

The review contained ten trials including 5,738 women who were randomized to take duloxetine or placebo. All arms in individual trials were comparable for various baseline characteristics. Individual studies showed a significantly greater decrease in IEF than placebo group. The total IEF responders (defined as a woman who had at least a 50 % decrease in IEF with treatment) within the duloxetine-treated women were more than the placebo-treated women (52.5 vs. 33.7 %; RR = 1.56; 95 %CI, 1.46–1.66; p < 0.00001). TEAEs were commonly experienced by both two groups (62.7 vs. 45.3 %) though they were not critical.

Authors’ conclusions

Our meta-analysis showed that significant efficacy can be found in women treated with a certain dose of duloxetine. The adverse events like nausea, constipation, dry mouth, fatigue etc. are common.     

Psychometric validation of a German language version of a PROM for urethral stricture surgery and preliminary testing of supplementary ED and UI constructs

Purpose

To validate a German language version of the patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM) following urethral stricture surgery (USS) in a cohort of men undergoing one-stage buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (BMGU) for urethral stricture. Furthermore, to explore the responsiveness of erectile function (EF) and urinary incontinence (UI) constructs in the context of this intervention.

Methods

The USS-PROM captures voiding symptoms (ICIQ-MLUTS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (EQ-5D). To evaluate EF and UI, the IIEF-5 and ICIQ-UI SF were included. Between March 2012 and April 2013, all patients undergoing BMGU at our institution were prospectively enrolled in this study. Psychometric assessment included internal consistency, test–retest reliability, criterion validity and responsiveness.

Results

Ninety-three men completed the USS-PROM before and 3 months after surgery, with 40 (43 %) also completing the USS-PROM 6 months after surgery to assess reliability. Internal consistency: for the ICIQ-MLUTS, Cronbach’s α was 0.83. The test–retest intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94. There was a negative correlation between change in ICIQ-MLUTS total score and change in Q _max (r = ?0.40). All values exceeded our predefined thresholds. Significant improvements of voiding symptoms and HRQoL demonstrate responsiveness to change (all p values <0.001). While ICIQ-UI scores did not change (p > 0.05), IIEF-5 scores improved significantly (p = 0.048).

Conclusions

The German language USS-PROM shows similar psychometric properties to the English language version. This instrument can be improved by assessing EF by the use of IIEF-5. Further studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to evaluate the significance of measuring UI in urethroplasty patients.

     

Impact of metabolic syndrome on stress urinary incontinence in pre- and postmenopausal women

Aim

In the present study, we prospectively collected data from pre- to postmenopausal women with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and evaluated the impact of MetS on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

Material and methods

The women divided into four equal groups: premenopausal with and without MetS; postmenopausal with and without MetS. There were 100 women in each group. We assessed the women for SUI at gynecologic position and we determined cough stress test. MetS was defined according to the criteria established in 2005 by the NCEP/ATP III.

Results

Mean age was 48.52 ± 8.16 in women with MetS and 48.81 ± 8.31 in women without MetS. SUI was found more often in both pre- and postmenopausal women with MetS (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). It seems that postmenopausal women have more SUI than premenopausal women with MetS. We also evaluated the association between five components of MetS and SUI. Just, higher fasting glucose levels and waist circumference were significantly associated with SUI (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study shows that SUI is more prevalent in pre- and postmenopausal women with the MetS. SUI can be prevented with lifestyle changes for MetS. Multicenter studies with larger series and molecular studies are needed to determine the impact of the MetS on SUI.