Good outcome in prune-belly syndrome despite associated severe anomalies

A boy aged 4.5 years with prune-belly syndrome (PBS) and associated urethral stenosis, oligohydramnios, imperforate anus and vesicosigmoid fustula is described. In contrast to the anticipated poor prognosis, vesicostomy and divided transverse colostomy performed after birth followed by prophylaxis of infection and bicarbonate supplementation have resulted in a good outcome. The vesicosigmoid fistula might have served in utero as a natural diversion protecting from pressure-induced renal damage. It is suggested that the main determinant of prognosis in PBS is the presence and degree of kidney dysplasia at birth as reflected by the neonatal renal function after performance of an indicated urinary diversion procedure rather than the presence of severe associated anomalies.Supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Health AM 37223-01 and the Medical School and Graduate School Research Committees of the University of Wisconsin and a Research Career Development Award KO4 AM 00421 (RWC), by the Pearl M. Stetler Foundation (SD) and by a National Kidney Foundation fellowship (IZ)     

Development of a non-invasive treatment system for urinary incontinence using a functional continuous magnetic stimulator (FCMS)

A system composed of a functional continuous magnetic stimulator (FCMS) and a saddle-type coil has been developed for non-invasive treatment of urinary incontinence, especially stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The FCMS conditions were as follows: 2 kW maximum electrical power consumption, 800 V maximum capacitor voltage, 720 μs pulsewidth (180 μs rise time), and 5–30 Hz frequency. A frequency between 5 and 10 Hz is used to treat urge incontinence and a frequency between 25 Hz and 30 Hz is used to treat urge incontinence. The coil (120 mm long, 90 mm wide and 50 mm thick) fits the most suitable region for this treatment, the region from the anus to the perineum. The coil is cooled to maintain a coil temperature between 20 and 25°C so that it can be used efficiently and safely. In experiments with anaesthetised dogs, it was confirmed that the urethral pressure increased when the circumference of the perineum received continuous magnetic stimulation of 720 μs pulsewidth (180 μs rise time), 10Hz frequency and about 520 V capacitor voltage. This result suggests that magnetic stimulation can be effective as a urinary incontinence therapy.     

腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的全机器人远端胃切除术(GC-NOSES Ⅳ式)

目的经自然腔道取标本手术(natural orifice specimen extraction surgery,NOSES)具有美观、腹壁损伤小、术后疼痛轻等优势,笔者旨在探究机器人(Da Vinci Xi)在胃癌NOSES中的手术技巧及应用要点。方法选取南昌大学第一附属医院普外科1例胃癌病例,简介使用Da Vinci Xi手术机器人系统进行腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的远端胃切除术的手术步骤。结果手术顺利完成,术中及术后无并发症。结论经腹部无辅助切口经阴道取标本的远端胃切除术是安全、可行的,机器人的应用为手术的进行创造了极大的便利。     

Robotic transanal total mesorectal excision: Is the future now?

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the standard surgical treatment for the curative radical resection of rectal cancers. Minimally invasive TME has been gaining ground favored by the continuous technological advancements. New procedures, such as transanal TME (TaTME), have been introduced to overcome some technical limitations, especially in low rectal tumors, obese patients, and/or narrow pelvis. The earliest TaTME reports showed promising results when compared with the conventional laparoscopic TME. However, recent publications raised concerns regarding the high rates of anastomotic leaks or local recurrences observed in national series. Robotic TaTME (R-TaTME) has been proposed as a novel technique incorporating the potential benefits of a perineal dissection together with precise control of the distal margins, and also offers all those advantages provided by the robotic technology in terms of improved precision and dexterity. Encouraging short-term results have been reported for R-TaTME, but further studies are needed to assess the real role of the new technique in the long-term oncological or functional outcomes. The present review aims to provide a general overview of R-TaTME by analyzing the body of the available literature, with a special focus on the potential benefits, harms, and future perspectives for this novel approach.     

Primary anastomosis for complete bulbar urethral rupture with rectal laceration caused by straddle injury: A case report

IntroductionThe initial management of urethral trauma remains disputed, and there are several suitable techniques, including delayed repair and suprapubic urinary diversion as well as primary endoscopic or open alignments. The treatment choice used depends on the rupture’s location and length as well as the accompanying trauma.Case presentationA 33-year-old male patient was referred to the department of emergency, with the chief complaint of inability to void experienced 1 day before being admitted, after falling from a height of approximately three meters. There was a laceration to the perineum 3 cm long to the rectum, with no active bleeding. After the incident, the patient could not void, but the lower abdomen was not painful. Upon retrograde urethrography examination, contrast extravasation of the bulbous urethra was seen through the anorectal laceration. Immediate debridement and repair for the anorectal wound, then primary anastomosis for the bulbous urethra, was performed.DiscussionThe likelihood of an injury to the anterior urethra increases with certain clinical features, including blood in the urethral meatus, palpable bladder distention, and a butterfly appearance on the perineum. Immediate exploration and reconstruction of the urethra is recommended in urethral traumas associated with penile fractures and non-life-threatening penetrating injuries. Furthermore, small lacerations are repaired primarily, while total ruptures are treated with anastomosis.ConclusionProper identification and management of urethral rupture determines the outcome. Initial urethral trauma management is disputed; however, a bulbous urethra rupture with anorectal lacerations can be treated safely and effectively with primary anastomosis.     

Flexible tantalum stents: Effects in the stenotic canine urethra

Purpose Evaluate the effects of flexible tantalum stents (Strecker) implanted into stenotic canine urethras.Methods Eight conditioned, adult, German shepherd dogs, weighing 30–40 kg, were used. Strictures were created surgically in the bulbar urethra just proximal to the os penis. Two months postsurgery, strictures were documented radiographically and then balloon dilated. Following dilatation, a single Strecker stent was placed across the stricture. Stents were 7 mm in expanded diameter and either 2 or 4 cm in length. Retrograde urethrography was performed immediately after stent placement and then biweekly for up to 12 months. Two dogs were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months post-stenting, and necropsy was performed. The urethra was excised, fixed, and examined by scanning electron and light microscopy.Results Clinical success was achieved without complications in all animals. Hyperplasia of the urothelium was noted 4–6 weeks after stent placement and was most pronounced at 4–6 months. Mucosal folds were found between the stent struts. Restenosis occurred at the distal end of the stent in one dog. Histological alterations were noted in the deeper layers of the urethral wall.Conclusion Strecker stents were well tolerated in all animals and seem useful for the treatment of urethral strictures.Presented at CIRSE Annual Meeting and Postgraduate Course, Budapest, June 20–24, 1993     

Malignant lymphoma of the bladder and female urethra

Primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas account for 0.4% of malignant neoplasms arising in the bladder and female urethra, but do not comprise a uniform group, and three subgroups can be identified which account for a majority of cases. The most common is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma similar to neoplasms arising in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue at other sites — so-called MALTomas. These generally display indolent behavior. A second group accounting for approximately one-fifth of cases is composed almost entirely of large lymphoid cells, and these tumors have a poor prognosis. A third possible group comprises only a few patients who present with diffuse thickening of the bladder wall, and have a poor prognosis. The authors present a new case which suggests that this latter group may be of T-cell origin. In addition to these three subtypes, others no doubt await recognition. The different forms of primary lymphoma appear to require different treatments, and some guidelines are proposed.     

Constricting band penile injury with urethral transection

Constricting band penile injuries in children may be caused by inadvertent entrapment by a variety of agents including hair, thread, and circumcision dressings. Alternatively, the offending band may have been self-applied or applied by an attendant. Unrelieved, the band causes serious vascular occlusion, progressive tissue necrosis, and injury to the urethra and erectile tissue. We report a case of CBPI in a 12-year-old circumcised boy. The glans was attached to the penile shaft by a tenuous segment of tissue dorsally with complete transection of the urethra. A three-stage reconstruction using a delayed groin flap was successful.     

Clinical importance of urethral pressure variations

The cause of female urethral instability is still controversial. With the help of this retrospective analysis of 1168 continuous long-term recordings of the intraurethral pressure at the maximum point of urethral pressure, the correlation between pressure variations (UPV) and simultaneous bladder instability was investigated. It could be stated that clinically important UPV (more than 15 cmH₂O) are found more often in women who suffer from signs of bladder instability (defined as low bladder compliance combined with uninhibited detrusor contractions and/or urinary leakage) than in patients without signs of unstable bladder.