EAU Guidelines on Assessment and Nonsurgical Management of Urinary Incontinence

Context

The previous European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on urinary incontinence comprised a summary of sections of the 2009 International Consultation on Incontinence. A decision was made in 2010 to rewrite these guidelines based on an independent systematic review carried out by the EAU guidelines panel, using a sustainable methodology.

Objective

We present a short version of the full guidelines on assessment, diagnosis, and nonsurgical treatment of urinary incontinence, with the aim of increasing their dissemination.

Evidence acquisition

Evidence appraisal included a pragmatic review of existing systematic reviews and independent new literature searches, based on Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome questions. Appraisal of papers was carried out by an international panel of experts, who also collaborated on a series of consensus discussions, to develop concise structured evidence summaries and action-based recommendations using a modified Oxford system.

Evidence summary

The full version of the guidelines is available online (http://www.uroweb.org/guidelines/online-guidelines/). The guidelines include algorithms that refer the reader back to the supporting evidence, and they are more immediately useable in daily clinical practice.

Conclusions

These new guidelines present an up-to-date summary of the available evidence, together with clear clinical algorithms and action-based recommendations based on the best available evidence. Where such evidence does not exist, they present a consensus of expert opinion.     

Does osteoporosis therapy invalidate FRAX for fracture prediction?

Ten-year fracture risk assessment with the fracture risk assessment system (FRAX) is increasingly used to guide treatment decisions. Osteoporosis pharmacotherapy reduces fracture risk, but the effect is greater than can be explained from the increase in bone mineral density (BMD). Whether this invalidates fracture predictions with FRAX is uncertain. A total of 35,764 women (age ≥50 years) and baseline BMD testing (1996–2007) had FRAX probabilities retroactively calculated. A provincial pharmacy database was used to identify osteoporosis medication use. Women were categorized as untreated, current high adherence users [medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥0.80 in the year after BMD testing], current low adherence users (MPR <0.80), and past users. Fractures outcomes to 10 years were established form a population-based health data repository. FRAX and femoral neck BMD alone stratified major osteoporotic and hip fracture risk within untreated and each treated subgroup (all p-values <0.001) with similar area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In untreated and each treated subgroup, a stepwise gradient in observed 10-year major osteoporotic and hip fracture incidence was found as a function of the predicted probability tertile (all p-values <0.001 for linear trend). Concordance (calibration) plots for major osteoporotic fractures and hip fractures showed good agreement between the predicted and observed 10-year fracture incidence in untreated women and each treated subgroup. Only in the highest risk tertile of women highly adherent to at least 5 years of bisphosphonate use was observed hip fracture risk significantly less than predicted, though major osteoporotic fracture risk was similar to predicted. In summary, this work suggests that the FRAX tool can be used to predict fracture probability in women currently or previously treated for osteoporosis. Although FRAX should not be used to assess the reduction in fracture risk in individuals on treatment, it may still have value for guiding the need for continued treatment or treatment withdrawal     

Detrusor overactivity leak point pressure in women with urgency incontinence

Introduction and hypothesis  

When incontinence accompanies detrusor overactivity (DO), the pressure at which it occurs may have important predictive value and should be termed DO leak point pressure (DOLPP).     

Serum xylosyltransferase 1 level increases during early posttraumatic osteoarthritis in mice with high bone forming potential

Increased proteoglycan (PG) synthesis is essential for the stimulation of cartilage repair processes that take place during the reversible phase of osteoarthritis (OA). In articular cartilage, xylosyltransferase 1 (Xylt1) is the key enzyme that initiates glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain synthesis by transferring the first sugar residue to the PG core protein. Biological activity of PGs is closely linked to GAG biosynthesis since their polyanionic nature directly contributes to the proper hydration and elastic properties of the cartilage tissue present at the articular interface. The aim of this study was to investigate whether variations in the level of Xylt1 present in serum can be used to predict OA disease progression. The influence of bone forming activity on the systemic release of this enzyme was addressed by experimentally-inducing OA in mice of two different genetic backgrounds that were previously characterized for their distinct bone metabolism: C57BL/6J (B6, high bone remodelers) or C3H/HeJ (C3H, high bone formers). Serum was collected after medial meniscectomy or sham surgeries in young adult mice of these two strains over a period of 3.5months at which point knee histopathology was assessed. A significant increase in serum Xylt1 levels observed shortly after meniscectomy positively correlated with severe cartilage damage evaluated by histological assessment at later time points in mice of the C3H background. In contrast, no temporal regulation of Xylt1 level was found between meniscectomies and control surgeries in B6 mice, which developed OA at a slower rate. Additionally, longitudinal evaluation of the serum levels of other markers of cartilage/bone metabolism (C1,2C, osteocalcin) did not reveal any association with late knee damages. Our results strongly support the idea that serum Xylt1 has a clinical value for monitoring risk of OA progression in young adults with high bone forming potential. Ultimately, the understanding of posttraumatic mechanisms regulating PG synthesis and their modification by GAG will be essential so that interventions that stimulate cartilage regrowth can be undertaken prior to irreversible destruction of the joint tissue. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Osteoarthritis".     

Anatomic bifurcated reconstruction of chronic bilateral innominate-superior vena cava occlusion using the Y-stenting technique

This article presents the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome due to fibrosing mediastinitis with multiple failed attempts at recanalization. We initially treated him with unilateral sharp needle recanalization of the right innominate vein into the SVC stump followed by stenting. Although his symptoms improved immediately, they did not completely resolve. Six months later, he returned with worsening symptoms, and venography revealed in-stent restenosis. The patient requested simultaneous treatment on the left side. The right stent was dilated, and a 3-cm-long occlusion of the left innominate vein was recanalized, again using sharp needle technique, homing into the struts of the right-sided stent. Following fenestration of the stent, a second stent was deployed from the left side into the SVC, and the two Y limbs were sequentially dilated to allow a true bifurcation anatomy (figure). The patient had complete resolution of his symptoms and continues to do well 6 months later.     

The impact of implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology on the surgical treatment of thyroid nodules

Published data suggest that the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) is valuable in directing therapy of thyroid nodules. Literature examining the effect of the BSRTC on management when compared with pre BSRTC is lacking, however. This study evaluates the impact of applying the BSRTC retrospectively to a series of patients who underwent surgery after a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) classified using the pre BSRTC system, and investigates how the BSRTC application to the same population would have ultimately affected the management strategy. One hundred patients who had previously undergone both FNAB and thyroidectomy before implementation of the BSRTC were randomly selected. Each FNAB was examined by a single cytopathologist (blinded to both the original interpretation and the surgical pathology findings) and reclassified using the BSRTC. Accuracy of both systems was examined using the final pathology as the true diagnosis. Of 68 FNABs initially classified as indeterminate, 32 (47.1%) were reclassified as benign. There was no significant difference in overall rates of detection of malignancy on final pathology in specimens classified as benign, both pre and post application of the BSRTC (P = 0.70). Application of the BSRTC resulted in a significant percentage of indeterminate specimens being reclassified as benign, presumably due to more standardized criteria for interpretation and reporting. No significant change in detection of malignancy was observed. We conclude that application of the BSRTC may result in lower rates of thyroidectomy, while preserving the same diagnostic accuracy in the detection of thyroid malignancy.     

Analysis of 185 iliac vessel injuries: risk factors and predictors of outcome

HYPOTHESIS: Iliac vascular injuries incur high mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective 100-month study (January 1, 1992, through April 30, 2000). PATIENTS: One hundred forty-eight patients with 185 iliac vessel injuries. OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival and mortality, analyzed by univariate and logistic regression. RESULTS: Admission mean +/- SD systolic blood pressure was 81 +/- 42 mm Hg, mean Revised Trauma Score was 6.0 +/- 2.8, and mean Injury Severity Score was 20.0 +/- 9.5. The mechanism of injury was penetrating in 140 patients (95%) and blunt in 8 (5%). The mean estimated blood loss was 6246 +/- 6174 mL. Of the 185 injured vessels, 71 (99%) of 72 iliac arteries were repaired, 101 (89%) of 113 iliac veins were ligated, and 12 (11%) of 113 iliac veins were repaired. Overall survival was 51% (76/148). Mortality was 82% (49/72) in patients with exsanguination. Survival by vessel: iliac artery, 57% (20/35); iliac vein, 55% (42/76); and iliac artery and vein, 38% (14/37). Significant predictors of outcome were thoracotomy in the emergency department, associated aortic injury, inferior vena cava injuries, iliac artery and vein injury, intraoperative arrhythmia, and intraoperative coagulopathy. On logistic regression, independent risk factors for survival were absence of thoracotomy in the emergency department, surgical management, and arrhythmia. Mortality by grade on the Organ Injury Scale of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST-OIS) was as follows: grade III, 35% (33/95); grade IV, 71% (24/34); and grade V, 79% (15/19). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality remains high. Associated vessel injuries and intraoperative complications predict mortality. AAST-OIS grade for abdominal vascular injuries correlates well with mortality.     

Porcine small intestinal submucosa as a carrier for skin flap prefabrication

The feasibility of porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as a carrier in skin flap prefabrication was examined in this study. Thirty-eight rats were randomly divided into five groups. The saphenous vascular bundle was used as the vascular carrier. In group 1 (n = 8), an arteriovenous fistula was made by anastomosis of distal saphenous artery and vein. A SIS patch (1.5 x 2 cm2) was placed underneath the vascular bundle. In group 2 (n = 8), the vascular bundle was isolated and laid over the SIS patch. The distal saphenous vessels were ligated when the flap was raised. In group 3 (n = 8), an arteriovenous fistula was made without SIS implant. In group 4 (n = 8), the flap was raised with only the vascular bundle with the distal end ligated. After 2 weeks of maturation, the flap was raised with only the vascular bundle. In group 5 (n = 6), SIS was implanted and the flap including the SIS patch was raised and replaced without the vascular pedicles. The survival of the flaps and histology were evaluated at 5 days after flap replacement. The results showed that the average survival area in group 1 was 99% +/- 3% and the survival area in group 2 was 86% +/- 16%. The mean survival areas in group 3 and 4 were 60% +/- 9% and 25% +/- 10%, respectively. No flap survival was observed in the group 5. These were significantly lower than in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Histology showed that SIS patch was incorporated into the adjacent connective tissue and increased amounts of neovascularization were seen between the collagenous sheets and dermis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that porcine SIS can incorporate into the adjacent tissue and induce angiogenesis in flap prefabrication. This biomaterial can provide a scaffold for supporting and enhancing the survival of vascular prefabricated skin flap.