Tubularized incised plate for mid shaft and proximal hypospadias repair

PURPOSE: We report outcomes from tubularized incised plate repair of mid shaft and proximal hypospadias by a single surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart review of all patients undergoing mid shaft and proximal hypospadias was performed. Those with tubularized incised plate were divided into 2 groups for mid shaft and proximal repairs. Group 1 underwent single layer urethroplasty using chromic catgut suture, while group 2 underwent 2-layer polyglactin subepithelial closure. All patients had a dartos barrier flap, while spongioplasty was also done in group 2 when possible. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients underwent mid shaft repairs, while 35 had more proximal defects. Complication rates for mid shaft repairs did not differ between the 2 groups, and averaged 13%. However, complications in mid shaft vs proximal repairs (37%) were significantly different (p = 0.04). Overall complications (53% vs 25%) and incidence of fistulas (33% vs 10%) decreased in proximal repairs from group 1 to 2. CONCLUSIONS: Tubularized incised plate repair was applicable for all mid shaft hypospadias cases and for those more proximal cases when ventral curvature could be straightened without plate transection and the incised plate was grossly supple. Outcomes were improved using 2-layer subepithelial tubularization of the neourethra. Results of mid shaft vs proximal hypospadias repairs are significantly different and should be reported separately.     

Comparative analysis of urinary incontinence severity after autologous fascia pubovaginal sling, pubovaginal sling and tension-free vaginal tape

PURPOSE: Autologous fascia, Pelvicol implant and polypropylene are common materials used in suburethral anti-incontinence procedures. We explored the relative effectiveness of the autologous fascia pubovaginal sling, Pelvicol pubovaginal sling and Gynecare TVT on self-reported postoperative urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a mailed cross-sectional survey of health related quality of life 1 to 3 years after suburethral anti-incontinence surgery performed at our institution. The Incontinence Symptom Index was used to assess the presence and severity of urinary incontinence symptoms and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 was used to assess impairment. Regression models were developed to identify factors with an independent effect on the presence, severity and impairment of urinary incontinence symptoms. RESULTS: The questionnaire was returned by 69% of eligible respondents (173 of 250). Those with previous incontinence surgery (OR 11.0, 95% CI 2.3-51.4) and medical comorbidities (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2) were more likely to report urinary incontinence symptoms, ie incontinence symptom index greater than 0. Symptom severity, which was analyzed only in respondents with urinary incontinence symptoms, was greater in the Pelvicol than in the autologous fascia pubovaginal sling and TVT groups (each p <0.01). No significant difference was observed between the TVT and autologous fascia pubovaginal sling groups (p = 0.15). Also associated with higher urinary incontinence symptom severity scores were body mass index (p = 0.03), a history of incontinence surgery (p = 0.01) and lower education (p <0.01). Impairment from urinary incontinence, as assessed by the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7, was associated with body mass index, severe depression and current smoking (each p = 0.01) but not with surgical treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Women who received an autologous fascia pubovaginal sling or TVT reported lower symptom severity scores than those who had a Pelvicol pubovaginal sling. Impairment was not associated with procedure type. These findings suggest better outcomes with autologous fascia pubovaginal sling and TVT. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.     

Adult anterior urethral strictures: a national practice patterns survey of board certified urologists in the United States

PURPOSE: We determined the methods and patterns of the evaluation of and treatment for adult anterior urethral stricture disease by practicing urologists in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide survey of practicing members of the American Urological Association was performed by a mailed questionnaire. A total of 1,262 urologists were randomly selected from all 50 states, of whom 431 (34%) completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Most urologists (63%) treat 6 to 20 urethral strictures yearly. The most common procedures used by those surveyed for urethral strictures were dilation (92.8%), optical internal urethrotomy (85.6%) and endourethral stent (23.4%). Minimally invasive procedures are used more frequently that any open urethroplasty technique. Furthermore, most urologists (57.8%) do not perform urethroplasty surgery. When used, the most common urethroplasty surgeries performed were end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty, perineal urethrostomy and ventral skin graft urethroplasty. Few urologists (4.2%) performed buccal mucosa grafts. For a long bulbar urethral stricture or short bulbar urethral stricture refractory to internal urethrotomy 20% to 29% of respondents would refer to another urologist, while 31% to 33% would continue to manage the stricture by minimally invasive means despite predictable failure. Of the urologists 74% believed that the literature supports a reconstructive surgical ladder, in which urethroplasty is only performed after repeat failure of endoscopic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Most urologists in the United States have little experience with urethroplasty surgery. Most urologists erroneously believe that the literature supports a reconstructive surgical ladder for urethral stricture management. Unfamiliarity with the literature and inexperience with urethroplasty surgery have made the use of endoscopic methods inappropriately common.     

Urethra actively opens from the very beginning of micturition: A new concept of urethral function

Transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound was carried out in an adult female and a male volunteer during micturition. Although the male urethra was enclosed by the prostate, its construction and the function were almost identical to the female urethra. The anterior fibromuscular stroma was not a part of the prostate, but was a part of the urethral muscle. The urethra was surrounded by a thick single muscle unit, developed only on the anterior and lateral sides of the urethra. When the participant wished to urinate, the initial motion was not a bladder contraction, but an active opening of the urethral lumen by the muscle unit. The same unit closed the urethra when continence was kept. In conclusion, the main function of the urethra is thought to be not a closure, but an opening to control the entire micturition process, rather than the bladder being primarily responsible for the control of micturition.     

内镜辅助置导尿管治疗尿道球部断裂的疗效观察

目的：探讨内镜辅助下置管治疗尿道球部断裂的治疗方法与效果。方法回顾性分析2004年7月～2012年9月内镜辅助下置管治疗尿道球部断裂19例的临床资料。结果19例全部手术治疗成功,术后留置导尿管4～8周,拔除导尿管后均能通畅排尿,定期行尿道扩张4次后,随访6～12个月,最大尿流率均＞15 ml/s,无尿道狭窄、尿失禁等发生,勃起功能较术前无明显下降。结论内镜辅助下尿道置管术是一种治疗尿道球部断裂损伤的有效选择。     

基于MRI和CT数据的女性泌尿系统三维建模

目的 探索女性泌尿系统三维模型的构建方法及意义。方法 收集2018年于南方医科大学南方医院妇科就诊患者的MRI及CT影像数据,选取采用妇科常用扫描序列进行扫描的MRI及CT数据集各10套,利用Mimics19.0软件对不同数据集的女性泌尿系统进行三维重建,并联合工程学软件,探索对膀胱尿道可进行测量的指标。结果 10套MRI数据集均成功构建膀胱及尿道,而10套CT数据集成功构建双肾、输尿管及膀胱。联合工程学软件,诸多膀胱尿道相关的几何参数可被测量,本研究中膀胱尿道后角：151.1±17.9°、β角：137.3±14.0°、尿道耻骨角：47.8±12.1°、尿道倾斜角：21.5±7.3°、α角：83.8±13.8°、耻骨后间隙：15.3±3.0 mm、尿道横纹肌厚度：2.6±0.6 mm。结论 计算机三维重建技术能够直观再现人体泌尿系统三维解剖形态,提供女性泌尿系统精细解剖的三维研究的平台,通过多项径线和角度的测量,可为将来研究不同人群泌尿系统精细解剖及功能的差异提供技术基础。     

Central nervous system control of the lower urinary tract: new pharmacological approaches to stress urinary incontinence in women

PURPOSE: Despite the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in women there are no approved drugs for the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Designing medical therapies requires a comprehensive understanding of how the internal and external sphincters are neurologically controlled. In this review recent advances in mapping storage and micturition reflexes, and the association of serotonergic and noradrenergic systems with these reflexes are discussed. RESULTS: Urine storage and micturition are controlled by a series of hard wired reflexes that are under the modulatory influence of serotonin and norepinephrine. Augmentation of the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems with duloxetine increases bladder capacity and urethral rhabdosphincter activity. The increase in sphincter activity is mediated by alpha1 adrenergic receptors and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing rhabdosphincter activity with duloxetine may offer a therapeutic benefit in women with stress urinary incontinence.     

Bulbourethral composite suspension:: a new operative technique for post-prostatectomy incontinence

PURPOSE: A new bulbourethral sling procedure is proposed for patients with post-radical prostatectomy incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bulbourethral composite suspension was performed in 16 consecutive patients, of whom 6 (38%) had severe stress incontinence and depended on a condom urinal catheter. Urinary stress incontinence was assessed preoperatively by a modified pad test, urethrocystoscopy and urodynamic evaluation. The procedure was performed with a longitudinal perineal and a transverse suprapubic incision with the patient under regional anesthesia. We placed a porcine dermis for urethral protection and a polypropylene retropubic sling, which was tied suprapubically with the patient coughing and during retrograde urethral closure pressure monitoring at 60 cm H2O. RESULTS: Preoperative evaluation excluded detrusor instability and urethral stricture. The polypropylene band was placed without neurogenic or vascular complications. All patients had primary wound healing. Patients reported only minimal postoperative pain. Clinical followup was performed a median of 14 months postoperatively (range 6 to 32). Of the 16 patients 11 (69%) were completely dry and 1 (6%) reported improved continence, while 4 (25%) had no benefit, including 2 who underwent an artificial sphincter procedure. Preoperative mean daily pad use decreased from 7 (range 2 to 12) to 1 (range 0 to 10) postoperatively (p = 0.0004) and postoperative quality of life improved significantly (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Bulbourethral composite suspension is a new, efficient operative sling technique in patients with severe post-prostatectomy stress urinary continence. Because morbidity and complications are low, this new technique may become an alternative to artificial urinary sphincter implantation. Long-term observation of urethral and detrusor function is necessary to elucidate the specific contribution of bulbourethral composite suspension in restoring urinary continence after radical prostatectomy.     

人正常泌尿系上皮细胞系作为组织工程化尿道种子细胞的可行性研究

目的:研究人正常泌尿系上皮细胞系(SV-HUC-1)在传代20代之后的性质变化,探讨将其作为组织工程化尿道研究种子细胞的可行性.方法:对于SV-HUC-1传代20代的细胞进行形态观察,应用RT-PCR法和间接免疫荧光法检测细胞标志蛋白表达.应用Cell TrackerTMBlue CMF2HC,进行活细胞示踪研究.结果:对于第20代SV-HUC-1细胞,应用倒置相差显微镜观察生长到其形态正常.应用RT-PCR法和间接免疫荧光法均检测到第20代SV-HUC-1细胞中Vimentin和CK-18的mRNA表达.应用研究活细胞示踪研究,在第20代SV-HUC-1细胞中加入活细胞示踪剂Cell TrackerTMBlue CMF2HC后,发现SV-HUC-1细胞生长良好.结论:SV-HUC-1细胞能够正常生长传代20代,形态正常,能够表达泌尿系上皮细胞的标志蛋白,并能以活细胞的方式进行示踪和观察.SV-HUC-1细胞系是适合作为尿道组织工程实验用的种子细胞.     

Preservation of the smooth muscular internal (vesical) sphincter and of the proximal urethra during retropubic radical prostatectomy: Description of the technique

We describe our technique for preservation of the smooth muscular internal (vesical) sphincter and proximal urethra during radical retropubic prostatectomy. The first steps of the prostatectomy reflect the standard retropubic prostatectomy; whereas for the final phases, the procedure continues in an anterograde manner with incision of the fibers of the detrusor muscle at the insertion of the ventral surface of the base of the prostate. At this level, the inner circular muscle of the bladder neck forms a sphincteric ring of smooth muscle that covers the longitudinally‐oriented smooth muscle component of the urethra that extends distally to the verumontanum; these two proximal structures represent the internal sphincter that envelops and locks the proximal urethra. A blunt dissection is continued until the ring‐shaped vesical sphincter is separated from the prostate and the longitudinally‐oriented smooth muscle component of the urethral musculature is identified. The base of the prostate is then gently separated from the urethra and from the bladder until the maximal length of the urethral musculature is isolated and preserved. Finally, a urethra‐urethral anastomosis is carried out and the ventral stitches are placed through the circular fibres of the bladder neck. In all cases we carry out circumferential biopsies of the proximal urethra and of the base of the prostate. The described technique is a feasible and safe method for preservation of the internal urethral sphincter. Despite the enthusiasm regarding our positive functional results, further studies with larger series are required to confirm these findings.