Subureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection versus extravesical reimplantation for primary low grade vesicoureteral reflux in children: a comparative study

PURPOSE: We compare the outcome of extravesical ureteral reimplantation to endoscopic polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique, Uroplasty, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) subureteral injection for primary low grade vesicoureteral reflux in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2000, 180 patients underwent polydimethylsiloxane injection (74, 108 ureters) or extravesical ureteral reimplantation (106, 166 ureters) for low grade vesicoureteral reflux. Low grade reflux was defined as grades I to III. Outcome analysis included success rates, de novo hydronephrosis, voiding efficiency, urinary tract infections and complications. RESULTS: Mean patient age at surgery for the injection and surgery groups was 60 and 77 months, and mean followup was 12 and 15 months, respectively. Of the patients who underwent single injection 80.6% were cured of reflux at 3 months and 91.6% were cured at last followup. Success rate after reimplantation was 95.8% at 3 months which improved to 98.8% 1 year later. The success rate was significantly different between the injection and reimplantation groups at 3 and 12 months (p <0.01). Postoperative complications in the reimplantation group included transient urinary retention after bilateral surgery in 2 patients (3.3%), suprapubic fluid collections in 2 and wound seroma in 1. No complications occurred in the polydimethylsiloxane group. CONCLUSIONS: Extravesical ureteral reimplantation has near perfect success with a low but definite complication rate. Polydimethylsiloxane offers high success rates for reflux in an ambulatory setting with no short-term complications. Currently, endoscopic polydimethylsiloxane injection is our preferred mode of therapy for low grade vesicoureteral reflux in children when surgical correction is indicated.     

MR breast screening in patients with genetic mutation

PURPOSE: To compare screening breast MRI with conventional screening techniques in high-risk patients with genetic mutation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 85 patients (mean age of 43 years) with genetic mutation and screening > or = 2 years (mean of 2.7 years, 231 screening examinations). BI-RADS lesions 3-5 were biopsied; isolated BI-RADS 3 lesions on MRI were followed. Results from both techniques were compared. The number of short interval follow-up examinations and biopsy results were reviewed. RESULTS: Eight cancers were diagnosed (3 in situ, 5 invasive carcinomas including an interval cancer, mean size of 14 mm). The sensitivity values for mammography, US and MRI were 12.5%, 50% and 95%, and specificity values were 98.7%, 97.3% and 94.8% respectively. Nineteen short interval follow-up MRI examinations were performed (19%): 14% of patients at initial screening and 5% and 6% at the the second and third screenings. Thirty-two biopsies were performed in 17 patients, including 18 after MRI (PPV of cytology: 30%, and biopsy: 58%). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the value of MRI for screening of high-risk patients with genetic mutation.     

Surgical repair for degenerative and rheumatic mitral valve disease. Operative and mid-term results

BACKGROUND: Non randomized studies suggest that mitral valve repair for rheumatic disease is technically more difficult than repair for degenerative disease, and that operative and late results are worse. New surgical techniques have been developed in our and other institutes during the last 5 years, and this moved us to review the experience with these two pathologies and to compare the operative and mid-term RESULTS: METHODS: From March 1996 to September 1997, 66 patients underwent primary mitral valve repair for treatment of degenerative or rheumatic disease. Fifty-two patients (79%) were in the former group (group A) and 14 in the latter (group B). Surgery was performed by 2 experienced cardiac surgeons. A new technique to calculate the exact artificial chordae length was introduced. In 2 cases, tricuspid autografts were transposed to mitral position and reinforced with artificial chordae. Patients were followed both clinically and echocardiographically. The follow-up data were collected in a 1-month period (May 2000). The average clinical follow-up was 3.1+/-0.9 years (range 1.7 to 4.2 years) while the average echocardiographic follow-up was 2.7+/-0.7 years (range 9 months to 4 years). All values were expressed by means of the average and standard deviation. chi(2) and Student's "t"-test were used to analyze the significance between variables. The Kaplan-Meyer method was used for actuarial statistics. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths in either group. In group A, 1 patient underwent a second surgical repair 1 week later, successfully. In group B no patients underwent reoperation within 30 days or during the initial hospitalization. At follow-up of group A there were the following events: deaths from cancer (n=2), endocarditis (n=1), aortic dissection (n=1). At follow-up of group B there were mitral valve replacement (1 year after first operation, n=1), Ross procedure (n=1), ischemic heart failure (n=1). Among the remaining 62 patients followed, 32 were in NYHA class I, 15 in class II, 3 in class III, and none in class IV, in group A. In group B, 7 patients were in class I, 4 in class II, 1 in class III and none in class IV (p=ns). In group A mitral regurgitation was absent in 23 patients, mild in 21, moderate in 6, while in group B it was absent in 4, mild in 6, and moderate in 2 (p=ns). In both groups there were no cases of severe insufficiency. The mean gradient was 1.1+/-1.7 mmHg in group A (median=0), and 2.4+/-3.1 mmHg in group B (median=0), (p=ns). No case of systolic anterior movement was seen at mid-term. The event free-survival rate was 92.8% in group A and 92.3% in B. CONCLUSIONS: Perfecting and innovation of surgical techniques make possible nowadays to reach good and equivalent operative and mid-term results in both pathologies.     

Silicone gel implants in breast augmentation and reconstruction

Silicone gel implants have been widely used for breast augmentation and reconstruction since the 1960s. Several alterations to both elastomer shell and filler gel have been made over the years to improve their ability to replicate the natural breast and to decrease the incidence of capsular contracture. The latter is a pathologic process involving the periprosthetic tissues formed in response to the presence of the implant. When severe, capsular contracture may cause firmness, distortion, and pain. In response to many claims of implant-related connective tissue disease, the US Food and Drug Administration placed a moratorium in 1992 on silicone gel breast implants for cosmetic purposes. Despite a preponderance of scientific data to their safety, silicone gel implants are presently available in the United States only as part of limited clinical trials. They continue to be used in Europe and other parts of the world.     

Osteoid Osteoma: CT-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Water-Cooled Probe

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of osteoid osteoma by using the water-cooled probe. Methods During the period from July 2002 to February 2006, fifty-one patients with osteoid osteomas localized in femur (29), tibia (10), calcaneus (2), talus (2), metatarsus (2), humerus (1), sacrum (1), scapula (1), olecranon (1), patella (1) and thoracic vertebra (1) were treated with CT-guided RF ablation using the Cooltip™ Tyco Healthcare probe. Mean age was 20 (range, 3.5–57 years) and male to female ratio was 36/15. Mean follow-up period was reported 2 years (range, 9–51 months). The procedures were carried out under general anesthesia and the patients were discharged from the hospital within 24 h. Results Technical failure was reported in only one procedure. Pain disappeared postoperatively in all the patients within 2–3 days and no patients needed analgesic treatment after a week. All patients were allowed fully weight bear and function without limitation after the procedure. Recurrence of the pain was observed in one patient who was treated successfully with a second ablation. Our primary and secondary clinical success rates were 98 and 100% respectively. In one case, wound infection was observed after the procedure as the only post-operative complication in our series. Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous RF ablation of osteoid osteomas using the water-cooled probe is a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure with high success rate and lack of relapses.     

Can fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodule help in determining the extent of surgery in follicular and Hurthle cell neoplasm at a community teaching institution?

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was used to evaluate cold thyroid nodules in 179 patients treated between 1990 and 1998. The purpose of this study was to see whether FNAB findings of follicular or Hurthle cells could help in planning the extent of thyroid surgery. Group I patients (47) had findings suggestive of follicular or Hurthle cell neoplasm. Group II patients (132) had inconclusive results. In group I FNAB was 100 per cent correct in diagnosing follicular or Hurthle cell neoplasm with a high percentage of malignant findings (malignancy 85 per cent and benign adenoma 15 per cent). In Group II malignancy was found in 16 per cent and benign pathology in 84 per cent. Women were more likely to have malignancy than men. The average age was over 50 years in patients with either malignant or benign nodules. In addition there was no significant difference in average size of benign or malignant nodules (2.9 vs 2.6 cm respectively). When an FNAB finding was suggestive of neoplasm malignancy was found in 85 per cent. On the other hand when an FNAB was inconclusive malignancy was present in 16 per cent. Thus we conclude that using FNAB finding can guide surgical resection and recommend performing total or subtotal thyroidectomy when FNAB is suggestive of neoplasm and lobectomy when FNAB is inconclusive.     

Constrained Acetabular Liners Cemented Into Cages During Total Hip Revision Arthroplasty

The combination of acetabular bone loss and hip instability is challenging. Sixteen patients underwent revision total hip arthroplasty using constrained acetabular liners cemented into cages. The average follow-up was 28 months (range, 24-60 months). Clinical evaluation was obtained using the Harris hip score along with radiographic data. At latest follow-up, 13 patients were available for evaluation. Although the average postoperative Harris hip score was 62 points, which was better than the preoperative score of 27 points, the overall radiographic failure rate was 23%. The combination of poor acetabular bone stock and altered stresses from the increased constraint likely led to the poor outcome. We would only recommend use of a cemented, constrained acetabular liner in combination with a protrusio cage as a bail out or salvage procedure.     

Efficacy of endoscopic subureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection for treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in children: a North American clinical report

PURPOSE: Subureteral injection of bulking agents is an accepted surgical treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in children. Polydimethylsiloxane, a silicone elastomer, is an ideal agent because of bulky consistency, lack of migration, minimal local inflammatory reaction and is safe in laboratory animals. We record our experience with endoscopic subureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection in children for vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 2-year period 16 boys and 58 girls, with an average age of 8 years, with 112 refluxing ureters underwent endoscopic subureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection to treat vesicoureteral reflux. Vesicoureteral reflux was grade I in 8, II in 43, III in 50, IV in 10 and V in 1 ureter. Operative indications were breakthrough urinary tract infection in 29 children, nonresolution of reflux 38 and high grade reflux 7. All procedures were on an outpatient basis and performed with patient under general anesthesia. All children had a postoperative ultrasound and voiding cystourethrogram at 12 weeks. Followup was from 6 to 24 months. RESULTS: Overall, reflux was corrected in 90 (81%) ureters and 56 (76%) children after a single injection. With repeat injection reflux was corrected in 101 (90%) ureters and 63 (85%) children. Correction by grade was 85%, 84%, 80%, 45% and 0% for grades I to V, respectively. With repeat injection correction was 100%, 92%, 90% and 55% for grades I to IV, respectively. There were no surgical complications. De novo contralateral reflux developed in 2 (3%) children. There were 3 (4%) children who required open ureteral reimplantation for failed injection. Detection of the polydimethylsiloxane implant by followup ultrasound was 89% sensitive and 86% specific for the correction of reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic subureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection is an effective treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in children. The procedure is safe with low associated morbidity. The presence of the polydimethylsiloxane implant can be documented accurately by ultrasound, and there is a strong correlation between implant stability and correction of reflux.     

Tunica vaginalis for correcting penile chordee in a rabbit model: is there a difference in flap versus graft?

PURPOSE: We compared tunica vaginalis applied as a flap versus a graft for covering defects in the ventral tunica albuginea in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used 18 New Zealand White rabbits in the study. The urethra was mobilized off of the corpus cavernosum. A defect was created in the ventral aspect of the tunica albuginea by excising a 1 x 0.5 cm. rectangular area. The defect was covered by the testicular surface of tunica vaginalis as a vascularized flap in 9 animals and as a graft in 9. At 2, 6 and 12-week intervals 3 animals per group were sacrificed. Transverse sections of the penis at the repair site were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson's trichrome for microscopy. RESULTS: Autopsy revealed no contracture in any of the tunica vaginalis flaps. In contrast, the tunica vaginalis grafts had contracted by a mean of 22% (range 20% to 25%) at 2, 38% (range 30% to 44%) at 6 and 42% (range 38% to 48%) at 12 weeks. Microscopic examination of the tunica vaginalis flaps showed evidence of an intact blood supply and viable cremasteric muscle layer but no evidence of necrosis. Collagen remodeling and maturation was noted at 12 weeks. In tunica vaginalis grafts there was evidence of necrosis of all tunica vaginalis layers at 2 weeks with granulation tissue and active fibrosis at the periphery. At 6 and 12 weeks most necrotic tissue was replaced by fibrosis. Osseous metaplasia was identified in 1 graft at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal use of tunica vaginalis for correction of chordee is as a flap rather than as a free graft. Grafts were associated with significant necrosis and contracture, of which neither was associated with flaps.