The fish-hook configuration of the distal ureter indicates bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate in a historical series of patients whether morphological changes of the urinary tract imaged on intravenous urography (IVU) are associated with clinical or urodynamic data.

Methods

During a 1-year period, every man 45?years or older with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia was systematically evaluated with multi-channel computer-urodynamic investigation and IVU. Men with urinary retention, known bladder stones or diverticula, severely impaired renal function, or allergy to iodine contrast media were excluded. Structural alterations of the urinary tract were correlated with clinical and urodynamic data using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Data on 203 consecutive patients were available for analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the ??fish-hook?? configuration of the distal ureter (also known as ??hockey-stick??, or ??J-shaped?? ureter) was the only sign significantly associated with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) (odds-ratio 3.64; 95% confidence interval 1.69?C7.83; P?Conclusions The ??fish-hook?? shape of the distal ureter(s) indicates BPO and may be a result of prostate median lobe enlargement.     

The risk of intra-urethral Foley catheter balloon inflation in spinal cord-injured patients: Lessons learned from a retrospective case series

Background

Inflating the balloon of Foley catheter in urethra is a complication of urethral catheterisation. We report five patients in whom this complication occurred because of unskilled catheterisation. Due to lack of awareness, the problem was not recognised promptly and patients came to harm.

Case series

1. 1.
   A tetraplegic patient developed pain in lower abdomen and became unwell after transurethral catheterisation. CT pelvis revealed full bladder with balloon of Foley catheter in dilated urethra.
    
2. 2.
   Routine ultrasound examination in an asymptomatic tetraplegic patient with urethral catheter drainage, revealed Foley balloon in the urethra. He was advised to get catheterisations done by senior health professionals.
    
3. 3.
   A paraplegic patient developed bleeding and bypassing after transurethral catheterisation. X-ray revealed Foley balloon in urethra; urethral catheter was changed ensuring its correct placement in urinary bladder. Subsequently, balloon of Foley catheter was inflated in urethra several times by community nurses, which resulted in erosion of bulbous urethra and urinary fistula. Suprapubic cystostomy was performed.
    
4. 4.
   A tetraplegic patient developed sweating and increased spasms following urethral catheterisations. CT of abdomen revealed distended bladder with the balloon of Foley catheter located in urethra. Flexible cystoscopy and transurethral catheterisation over a guide-wire were performed. Patient noticed decrease in sweating and spasms.
    
5. 5.
   A paraplegic patient developed lower abdominal pain and nausea following catheterisation. CT abdomen revealed bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter and Foley balloon located in urethra. Urehral catheterisation was performed over a guide-wire after cystoscopy. Subsequently suprapubic cystostomy was done.
    

Conclusion

Spinal cord injury patients are at increased risk for intra-urethral Foley catheter balloon inflation because of lack of sensation in urethra, urethral sphincter spasm, and false passage due to previous urethral trauma. Education and training of doctors and nurses in proper technique of catheterisation in spinal cord injury patients is vital to prevent intra-urethral inflation of Foley catheter balloon. If a spinal cord injury patient develops bypassing or symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia following catheterisation, incorrect placement of urethral catheter should be suspected.

     

Treatment of obstructive uropathy in one of three young brothers suffering from Gorlin-Cohen syndrome: a case report

Background

Frontometaphyseal dysplasia, or Gorlin-Cohen syndrome, is an X-linked disorder primarily characterized by skeletal dysplasia, such as hyperostosis of the skull and abnormalities of tubular bone modeling. Some patients develop extraskeletal manifestations, such as urinary tract anomalies.

Case presentation

A 26-year-old male patient was diagnosed with frontometaphyseal dysplasia and suffered from chronic urine retention. Although the patient was primarily diagnosed with a neurogenic bladder, our work-up revealed posterior urethral valves, bladder neck stenosis, and multiple bladder stones. The patient was treated by transurethral resection of the urethral valves and bladder neck with simultaneous open cystolithotomy to remove the bladder calculi. After removal of the catheter, the patient voided normally and had no post-void residual urine. At the 1-year follow-up, he was still voiding normally; his urodynamic investigation was also normal.

Conclusions

In the recent literature, there is scarce information on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with malformations of the urinary tract as a result of Gorlin-Cohen syndrome. The case presented here could guide urological approaches to patients suffering from this rare condition.     

Cystoscopically guided percutaneous suprapubic cystolitholapaxy in children

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopically guided percutaneous suprapubic artery forceps litholapaxy for pediatric vesical and posterior urethral stone <1 cm in diameter.

Materials and methods

A retrospective series study of 73 children (68 boys and 5 girls) with vesical and urethral stones less than 1 cm in diameter with an average age of 3.5 years (range 1–9 years) were included in this study. Cases with previous suprapubic surgery, stones of more than 1 cm in diameter, multiple bladder or urethral stone, anterior urethral stones and cases with neurological or anatomical abnormalities were excluded from our study. The bladder was filled and punctured suprapubically by an artery forceps under the vision of the pediatric cystoscopy then the stone is completely crushed. All intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The stone-free rate status was evaluated 2 weeks postoperatively using plain X-ray/ultrasonography.

Results

All cases were successful, and the stones were completely crushed to smaller insignificant fragments in a single session. No intraoperative bladder perforation or bleeding was recorded. The mean operative time was 12.5 min (ranging from 9 to 17 min). There were no postoperative complications apart from 2 cases of persistent suprapubic leakage postoperatively for 24 h and the leakage stopped after 48 h with the insertion of 8 Fr Foley catheter. In all cases, no significant stone fragments were found 2 weeks postoperatively.

Conclusion

Our technique for management of pediatric vesical and posterior urethral stone less than 1 cm is an easy and safe with no intraoperative or postoperative significant complications.     

The efficacy and safety of simultaneous transurethral GreenLight photoselective vaporization of bladder tumor and prostate in patients with bladder tumor and lower urinary tract symptoms

Purpose

We compared the safety and efficacy of simultaneous transurethral GreenLight photoselective vaporization of bladder tumor and prostate (PVBT/PVP) in patients with bladder tumor and bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods

Sixty-two patients with bladder tumor were enrolled in our prospective and randomized trial. A total of 37 men underwent simultaneous transurethral PVBT/PVP, and 25 patients underwent PVBT alone. The clinicopathological parameters and the recurrence of bladder tumor on the bladder neck/prostatic fossa were evaluated in all patients.

Results

Clinicopathological parameters of both groups were similar. The rates of recurrence, progression and tumor recurrence of bladder neck/prostatic fossa were 16.0, 4.0 and 4.0 % in the simultaneous resection group, and 18.9, 5.4 and 8.1 % in the group PVBT, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Simultaneous PVBT/PVP may help decrease the overall recurrence rate and tumor recurrence in bladder neck/prostatic fossa. PVBT/PVP can be performed effectively and safely in patients with bladder tumor and BPH.     

经尿道输尿管镜下第三代碎石清石系统治疗婴儿膀胱结石及尿道结石合并急性尿潴留

目的 评价经尿道输尿管镜下第三代碎石清石系统(EMS)治疗婴儿膀胱结石及尿道结石合并急性尿潴留的疗效. 方法应用输尿管镜下EMS治疗三聚氰胺所致膀胱结石及尿道结石合并急性尿潴留患儿10例.男9例,女1例.平均年龄9个月.膀胱结石2例,尿道结石8例,结石直径0.5～1.1 cm,平均0.8 cm.全麻下行经尿道输尿管镜下碎石清石术,采用Wolf 8.0～9.8 F输尿管镜,在电视监视下,从输尿管镜操作通道伸入EMS超声碎石探针将膀胱结石及尿道结石完全粉碎吸出,术中膀胱内保持50～100 ml液体,灌注泵压力为160～210 kPa(1 kPa=10.20 cm H2O),平均180 kPa,超声碎石能量40%～60%,占空比30 0A～70%,平均60%.术后留置8 F双腔气囊导尿管. 结果 10例平均手术时间25 min,均将尿道结石冲入膀胱,在输尿管镜下一次性清除结石,麻醉清醒后拔除导尿管,均能立即顺利排尿.3 d后复查B超.膀胱、尿道内均无残留结石. 结论 对婴儿膀胱结石及尿道结石合并急性尿潴留患儿,应用输尿管镜下EMS清除结石,可以立即解除下尿路梗阻,恢复正常排尿,具有安全、高效、损伤小的优点,可作为膀胱结石及尿道结石合并急性尿潴留患儿手术解除下尿路梗阻的首选方法.     

Clinical Diagnosis of Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Patients with Benign Prostatic Enlargement and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Development and Urodynamic Validation of a Clinical Prostate Score for the Objective Diagnosis of Bladder Outlet Obstruction

Purpose

We attempted to improve the method of objective clinical evaluation of patients with benign prostatic enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Materials and Methods

We compared the results of free uroflowmetry and transrectal ultrasound prostate size determination with those of pressure-flow analysis of bladder outlet obstruction in 871 consecutive elderly men.

Results

Maximal flow, prostate size, and post-void residual and voided volumes were correlated with bladder outlet obstruction to derive a clinical prostate score.

Conclusions

Clinical prostate score shows a superior correlation with bladder outlet obstruction than isolated objective parameters or symptom scores.     

A multicenter prospective trial evaluating fetal bovine dermal graft (Xenform® Matrix) for pelvic reconstructive surgery

Background

Most bladder tumors are derived from the urothelium. Benign mesenchymal tumors are rare. Leiomyoma of the bladder is the most common benign neoplasm. We present a case of leiomyoma of the bladder presenting with acute urinary retention in a female patient and report on the post-operative change in urodynamic findings. To our knowledge, few cases of this kind have been reported.

Case Presentation

A 56-year-old woman presented with acute urinary retention. Evaluations including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, cystoscopy, and urodynamics contributed to a diagnosis of leiomyoma of the bladder. Various medications were ineffective for solving her lower urinary tract symptoms; therefore, a transurethral resection was performed. The final pathological report was leiomyoma. After the operation, her symptoms resolved; this improvement was confirmed by an urodynamic analysis. The postoperative urodynamics demonstrated a lower frequency of detrusor overactivity during filling cystometry and an increase in the uroflow rate, with reduced detrusor pressure in a pressure flow study.

Conclusions

Leiomyoma of the bladder can cause female outlet obstruction. A review of the literature and disease management is discussed.     

Necrotizing fasciitis after high-dose rate brachytherapy and external beam radiation for prostate cancer: a case report

Background

In recent years, the delayed side effects associated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer have drawn the interest of urologists. Although urosymphyseal fistula is one of these delayed side effects, this serious complication is rarely described in literature and is poorly recognized.

Case presentation

We report our experience in treating a 77-year-old male patient with necrotizing fasciitis after high-dose rate brachytherapy plus external beam radiation for prostate cancer. The patient was referred to our hospital with complaints of inguinal swelling and fever. He had a past history of radiotherapy for prostate cancer and subsequent transurethral operation for a stricture of the urethra. Computed tomography showed extensive gas within the femoral and retroperitoneal tissues and pubic bone fracture. Surgical exploration suggested that necrotizing fasciitis was caused by urosymphyseal fistula.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of necrotizing fasciitis caused by urosymphyseal fistula after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. There is a strong association between urosymphyseal fistula and prostate radiotherapy with subsequent surgical intervention for bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture. Therefore, surgical treatment for bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture after radiotherapy for prostate cancer should be performed with care.The present case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of urosymphyseal fistula. Immediate removal of necrotic tissues and subsequent urinary diversion in the present case may have led to good patient outcome.

     

Missed signs of autonomic dysreflexia in a tetraplegic patient after incorrect placement of urethral Foley catheter: a case report

Background

Autonomic dysreflexia is poorly recognised outside of spinal cord injury centres, and may result in adverse outcomes including mortality from delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a spinal cord injury patient, who developed autonomic dysreflexia following incorrect placement of urethral Foley catheter. Health professionals failed to recognise signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia as well as its significance in this tetraplegic patient.

Case presentation

A tetraplegic patient started sweating profusely following insertion of a Foley catheter per urethra. The catheter was draining urine; there was no bypassing, no bleeding per urethra, and no haematuria. Patient’s wife, who had been looking after her tetraplegic husband for more than forty years, told the health professionals that the catheter might have been placed incorrectly but her concerns were ignored. Ultrasound scan of urinary tract revealed no urinary calculi, no hydronephrosis. The balloon of Foley catheter was not seen in urinary bladder but this finding was not recognised by radiologist and spinal cord physician. Patient continued to sweat profusely; therefore, CT of pelvis was performed, but there was a delay of ten days. CT revealed the balloon of Foley catheter in the over-stretched prostate-membranous urethra; the tip of catheter was not located within the urinary bladder but was lying distal to bladder neck. Flexible cystoscopy was performed and Foley catheter was inserted into the bladder over a guide wire. The intensity of sweating decreased; noxious stimuli arising from traumatised urethra might take a long while to settle.

Conclusion

Inserting a catheter in a tetraplegic patient should be carried out by a senior health professional, who is familiar with spasm of bladder neck which occurs frequently in tetraplegic patients. Facilities for urgent CT scan should be available to check the position of Foley catheter in spinal cord injury patients when a patient manifests signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia following insertion of a urethral catheter. When an isolated symptom such as flushing or sweating is noticed in a tetraplegic patient, doctors should seek out other signs/symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia.

     

电切镜下同期治疗BPH并发膀胱结石疗效观察

目的：探讨BPH并发膀胱结石更为有效的治疗方法.方法：采用TURP联合电切镜下钬激光碎石术同期治疗BPH并膀胱结石患者23例,即通过电切镜电切攀通道置人经过裁剪的输尿管导管及钬激光光导光纤行膀胱结石钬激光碎石,冉行TURP.结果：23例均一次性手术成功,取石率100%,手术时间30～80 min,平均56 min,其中碎石时间3～20 min,平均9 min 术中无膀胱穿孔、膀胱出血、TURS 术后留置导尿3～5天,术后住院时间4～9天,平均5.6天 术后随访3～18个月.无结石复发,无尿道狭窄.结论：采用TURP加电切镜下钬激光碎石术治疗BPH并膀胱结石具有手术时间短、创伤小及安全等优势,能够治疗膀胱较大结石、多发结石,对治疗伴有膀胱出血患者更显优势.     

前列腺增生症并膀胱结石个体化治疗

目的 探讨前列腺增生症并膀胱结石的治疗方法.方法 前列腺增生并膀胱结石180例,分别行膀胱小切口切开取石、气压弹道碎石、大力碎石钳碎石术,取石后均行TUVP术.结果 本组180例手术顺利.术中术后无大出血及输血,无TUBS发生,拔管后均排尿通畅,术后所有病例均随访6个月,患者术后Qmax、IPSS、QOL评分较术前显著...     

Treatment of urethral stones by retrograde manipulation and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Objective To assess the effect of retrograde manipulation and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a monotherapy for urethral stones that are not associated with urethral strictures. Patients and methods Between August 1993 and January 1995, 34 male patients (mean age 38.7 years, range 7–55) presented with urethral stones. No patient had a suggested or past history of urethral stricture. Lidocaine jelly (2%) was instilled and retained inside the urethra for 5 min. A 16 F urethral catheter was advanced gently to push the stone back to the urinary bladder. Twenty patients had ESWL of their stones in the bladder, using a Storz Modulith SL20, in the prone position. Tilting the patient about 15° towards the side with the stone minimized movement of the stone during fragmentation. In-line co-axial echography (3.5 MHz) and intermittent pulsed fluoroscopy were used to monitor stone fragmentation. In situ fragmentation of posterior urethral stones was not possible because localization was difficult and the treatment was painful. Thirteen patients had cysto-urethroscopy and mechanical cystolitholapaxy under general anaesthesia. Results Stones impacted in the posterior urethra in 31 (91%) patients and in the anterior urethra in three (9%) patients. Stones ranged in size from 7 to 25 mm. One patient expelled an anterior urethral stone after the instillation of 2% lidocaine jelly. The urethral stones were pushed back to the bladder without complication in the remaining 33 patients. All 20 patients except one had their stones fragmented by ESWL in one session. The mean number of shock waves was 3600 ± 1480 (range 1200–6000) and the generator voltage ranged between 5 kV (560 bar) to 8 kV (940 bar). No patient in the ESWL group required anaesthesia or analgesia. Thirteen patients had successful mechanical cystolitholapaxy with no complications. Conclusion Both endoscopic lithotripsy and ESWL of urethral stones are safe and effective. However, transurethral lithotripsy requires general anaesthesia and carries a risk of bladder and urethral trauma. This study demonstrated that, in the absence of urethral stricture, urethral stones can be pushed back safely to the urinary bladder and fragmented effectively by ESWL. The success of the treatment depends on adequate anaesthesia of the urethra before inserting the urethral catheter. We propose that this new technique should be considered before resorting to endoscopic or surgical management of urethral stones, particularly in children.     

Reconstruction of Membranous Urethral Strictures

Purpose of Review

Due to the proximity of the rhabdosphincter and cavernous nerves to the membranous urethra, reconstruction of membranous urethral stricture implies a risk of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. To avoid these complications, endoscopic management of membranous urethral strictures is traditionally favored, and bulboprostatic anastomosis is reserved as the main classical approach for open reconstruction of recalcitrant membranous urethral stricture. The preference for the anastomotic urethroplasty among reconstructive urologists is likely influenced by the familiarity and experience with trauma-related injuries. We review the literature focusing on the anatomy of membranous urethra and on the evolution of treatments for membranous urethral strictures.

Recent Findings

Non-traumatic strictures affecting bulbomembranous urethra are typically sequelae of instrumentation, transurethral resection of the prostate, prostate cancer treatment, and pelvic irradiation. Being a different entity from trauma-related injuries where urethra is not in continuity, a new understanding of membranous urethral anatomy is necessary for the development of novel reconstruction techniques. Although efficacious and durable to achieve urethral patency, classical bulboprostatic anastomosis carries a risk of de-novo incontinence and impotence. Newer and relatively less invasive reconstructive alternatives include bulbar vessel-sparing intra-sphincteric bulboprostatic anastomosis and buccal mucosa graft augmented membranous urethroplasty techniques. The accumulated experience with these techniques is relatively scarce, but several published series present promising results. These approaches are especially indicated in patients with previous transurethral resection of the prostate in which sparing of rhabdosphincter and the cavernous nerves is important in attempt to preserve continence and potency. Additionally, introduction of buccal mucosa onlay grafts could be especially beneficial in radiation-induced strictures to avoid transection of the sphincter in continent patients, and to preserve the blood supply to the urethra for incontinent patients who will require artificial urinary sphincter placement. The evidence regarding erectile functional outcomes is less solid and this item should be furtherly investigated.

     

小切口联合经尿道前列腺电切术治疗前列腺增生合并膀胱结石

目的探讨前列腺增生症合并膀胱结石患者同期行膀胱取石和前列腺切除的临床效果。方法回顾性分析2000年9月～2004年6月我院32例采用小切口联合经尿道前列腺电切术(transurethralresectionoftheprostate,TURP)治疗前列腺增生合并膀胱结石的临床资料,腹壁小切口取出膀胱结石,利用此切口留置膀胱造瘘,再行TURP。结果32例均一次手术成功,取石率100%。手术时间45～120min,平均60min。术中出血量50～200ml,平均100ml。术后留置膀胱造瘘管2～3d,三腔气囊尿管3～7d。术后住院5～8d,平均6d。32例随访4～16个月,8例尿道狭窄,经尿道扩张后排尿正常,术后最大尿流率>15ml/s。结论对前列腺增生症合并膀胱大结石或多发结石患者,可首选小切口开放取石联合TURP。     

Giant stercoral stone and catheterization difficulty

An unusual case of giant calcification in the midline of the pelvis is reported herein. An 84-year-old male, whose urination was managed by clean intermittent self-catheterization (CIC), presented with catheter insertion difficulty. The patient had a history of transurethral operations for benign prostatic hyperplasia and small bladder stones. Kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) X-ray of post-enhanced computed tomography (CT) suggested a giant ball-shaped calcification in the bladder. A recurrent bladder stone was suspected. However, pelvic CT scan revealed that the giant calcification was, in fact, situated in the rectum. Thus, a diagnosis of giant stercoral stone was made. After the stone was removed manually, the patient had no difficulty in inserting the catheter. His prior complaint may have been caused by urethral bladder neck obstruction due to the giant stercoral stone.     

Normal anatomy of urethral sphincter complex in young Chinese males on MRI

Purpose

In this research, the normal anatomy of urethral sphincter complex in young Chinese males has been studied.

Methods

The sagittal, coronal, and axial T2-weighted non-fat suppressed fast spin-echo images of pelvic cavities of 86 Chinese young males were studied.

Result

Urethral sphincter complex is a cylindrical structure surrounding the urethra and extending vertically from bladder neck to perineal membrane. Urethral striated sphincter covers the anteriolateral urethra like a hat from bladder neck to verumontanum, while it surrounds the urethra in a ring shape from verumontanum to perineal membrane and backwards ends in central tendon of the perineum. From bladder neck to perineal membrane, the thickness of urethral smooth sphincter decreases gradually, and it extends forward to surround urethra with urethral striated sphincter as a ring. The length of urethral striated sphincter is 12.26–20.94 mm (mean 16.59 mm) at membranous urethra: 27.88–30.69 mm (mean 28.99 mm) from verumontanum to perineal membrane. The thickness of striated sphincter at membranous urethra is 4.29–6.86 mm (mean 5.56 mm) for the muscle of the anterior wall and 2.18–2.34 mm (mean 2.26 mm) for the muscle of the posterior wall.

Conclusions

In this paper, we summarized the normal anatomy of urethral sphincter complex in young Chinese males with no urinary control problems.     

经尿道前列腺电切联合小切口膀胱取石术治疗BPH并膀胱结石

目的：探讨BPH合并膀胱结石进行同期治疗更为有效的方法。方法：采用TURP联合经皮小切口卵圆钳膀胱取石术治疗BPH合并膀胱结石患者25例。即在电切镜监视引导下,将卵圆钳经耻骨上小切口插入膀胱腔内取石,再行TURP。结果：25例均一次手术成功,取石率100％,手术时间35～90min,平均65min,其中取石时间3～15min,平均7min;术后留置膀胱造瘘管1～3天,留置尿管3～5天;术后住院时间5～8天,平均6．2天。术后随访3～26个月,无结石复发,Qmax〉15ml／s。结论：TURP联合小切口卵圆钳膀胱取石术治疗BPH合并膀胱结石,具有取石时间短、创伤小、操作简单及安全有效等优点,尤其适合膀胱较大结石或多发结石患者。     

Complications of laser prostatectomy: a review of recent data

Introduction  

Laser techniques for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostate enlargement (BPE) have emerged as an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy (OP).