Initial management of complex urological disorders: bladder exstrophy

Bladder exstrophy is a rare condition associated with lifelong issues including infection,renal insufficiency, incontinence, and fertility. Despite its seriousness, many affected children lead normal lives. With new operative techniques, children require fewer surgeries and have more hope for continence.With close follow-up, no child should develop renal insufficiency. Families should be reassured that a normal life and parenthood with normal sexual function are possible.     

The role of renal autotransplantation in complex urological reconstruction

From 1972 to 1988, 108 patients underwent renal autotransplantation for renal artery disease (67), ureteral replacement (27), or renal cell carcinoma present bilaterally or in a solitary kidney (14). The most common indication for renal autotransplantation was to allow extracorporeal repair of complex branch renal artery lesions. Of the 54 patients in this group technically satisfactory branch renal arterial reconstruction and a successful clinical outcome were achieved in 52 (96%). Renal autotransplantation is the treatment of choice in these patients and also in selected children with main renal artery disease. Renal autotransplantation provided excellent results in 25 of 27 patients (92%) who required replacement of all or a major portion of the ureter. Over-all renal function was well preserved in these patients and only 1 has experienced chronic bacteriuria. Renal autotransplantation is a useful alternative to ileal interposition in this setting. Extracorporeal partial nephrectomy and renal autotransplantation were successful in 12 of 14 patients (85%) undergoing a nephron-sparing operation for renal cell carcinoma. In situ techniques are associated with less morbidity and currently are preferred in this group.     

BPH with coexisting overactive bladder dysfunction--an everyday urological dilemma

The aim of this study was to use a systematic schedule, including urodynamics, to describe the rate of coexisting overactive bladder (OB) in patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We also identified differences between the patients with pure BOO compared with those with BOO combined with OB (BOO + OB). One hundred and sixty-two men referred to our clinic due to LUTS were included. Patients with a history that might affect their bladder function were excluded. After cystometry and pressure-flow studies, the patients were divided into pure BOO and BOO + OB. Of the 162 men, 55% had pure BOO. BOO + OB was found in 45%. Age, s-PSA, voided volume, and obstruction grade differed significantly between the groups. The patients with BOO + OB were older, had a higher s-PSA, voided smaller volumes, and were more obstructed. We found no differences in TRUS-volume, Q-max, IPS score, or PVR. There was a strong association between OB and BOO, the percentage of OB increasing with increased obstruction. TRUS-volume, Q-max, IPS score, and PVR did not predict whether the patients had a combined BOO + OB or not. These findings indicate that BOO is a progressive disease, which in time causes pronounced obstruction and perhaps in itself contributes to the development of OB.     

Effect of bladder management on urological complications in spinal cord injured patients

PURPOSE: The optimal method of bladder management in spinal cord injured patients remains controversial. We investigated the association of type of bladder management with urological complications in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, upper tract imaging and video urodynamics of 316 posttraumatic spinal cord injured patients. Mean followup plus or minus standard deviation since injury was 18.3+/-12.4 years. Patients were categorized according to bladder management method, including chronic urethral catheterization, clean intermittent catheterization, spontaneous voiding and suprapubic catheterization in 114, 92, 74 and 36, respectively. No significant differences in patient age at injury, followup interval, or level, completeness or mechanism of injury were noted among bladder management method groups. Infection, stone disease, urethral complications and radiographic abnormalities were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 398 complications recorded 236 developed in 61 (53.5%) patients on chronic urethral catheterization, 57 in 25 (27.2%) on clean intermittent catheterization, 57 in 24 (32.4%) who voided spontaneously and 48 in 16 (44.4%) on suprapubic catheterization. The intermittent catheterization group had statistically significant lower complication rates compared with the urethral catheterization group and no significantly higher complication rates relative to all other management methods for each type of complication studied. The percent of patients with complications was greater in the chronic urethral catheterization group only 5 years after injury, while the percent in all other management groups remained similar up to 15 years after injury. CONCLUSIONS: Clean intermittent catheterization is the safest bladder management method for spinal cord injured patients in terms of urological complications. Inappropriate selection of a bladder management method not only adversely affects patient quality of life, but also has a significant detrimental impact on the economic status of the health care system.     

Hematuria in cases of bladder cancer

In the majority of cases, painless macroscopic hematuria is a typical initial symptom of bladder carcinoma. The time of occurrence (early and late symptom) neither correlates with tumor size and degree nor with infiltration depth. The respective testing method and threshold value exert a significant influence on frequency and constancy of a potential microscopic hematuria. Without sufficient standardization, however, it is understandable that even the existing guidelines for diagnosis of hematuria recommend different methods and threshold values.This paper provides an overview of the various testing methods and threshold values in microscopic hematuria, their influence on the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma as well as the possibility of differentiating the source of hematuria morphologically.     

经腹腔途径腹腔镜手术141例报告

目的:总结经腹腔途径泌尿外科腹腔镜手术的初期经验。方法:回顾性分析141例经腹腔途径患者的手术结果。结果:138例患者通过腹腔镜完成手术,3例转为开放手术。无需要二次手术患者,无围手术期死亡发生,无大血管及腹腔内脏器损伤等严重并发症。术后远期,1例出现不完全性肠梗阻,1例出现切口疝。结论:初学者进行经腹腔途径的泌尿外科腹腔镜手术是安全可靠的;在手术过程中,对解剖的认识和采取谨慎的态度,是避免严重并发症发生的关键。     

Two cases of bladder leiomyoma

Two cases of leiomyoma of the bladder are reported. The first case was a 79-year-old female who presented with gross hematuria and frequent urination. Cystoscopy disclosed a large tumor covered by intact mucosa. This lesion was further evaluated by ultrasound, and was thought to be a submucosal tumor of the bladder. The second case was a 43-year-old female who was referred for further investigation of left giant hydronephrosis. During the investigation, submucosal tumor was incidentally found. Concerning the etiology of the hydronephrosis, left ureteral stenosis due to a previous gynecological operation was suspected. These lesions proved to be leiomyoma of the bladder histologically, and were successfully enucleated. Difficulty in diagnosis of this disease and controversy as to the optimal treatment prompted us to report these cases and to review 68 cases reported in the Japanese literature.