Akhil Das

Intravesical Capsaicin in Neurologic Impaired Patients With Detrusor Hyperreflexia

Capsaicin is known to be neurotoxic for C-fiber afferents. We investigated the intravesical application of capsaicin in the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) in seven patients (ages 23-52) with neurologic impairment. The patients were evaluated with both ice-water cystometry and formal video-urodynamic studies. Four biweekly courses of intravesical capsaicin treatment were administered using increasing concentrations (100 microM, 500 microM, 1 mM, and 2 mM). Treatment effect was monitored using a bladder diary and urodynamic evaluation one month after capsaicin treatment. Prior to treatment, six of the seven patients demonstrated a positive ice-water test and DH. Two patients were not able to complete the study due to discomfort attributed to capsaicin. Five of the seven patients completed the four courses of increasingly concentrated capsaicin. Three patients noted symptomatic improvement while two did not. The mean urodynamic bladder capacity significantly increased from 124 +/- 39 ml pre-capsaicin to 231 +/- 62 ml one month post-capsaicin in the three patients with symptomatic improvement (p < 0.05). Urodynamic testing revealed that one of the six patients with a positive ice-water test lost that response after intravesical capsaicin. Intravesical capsaicin is a novel and promising treatment for detrusor hyperreflexia in neurologically impaired patients.

Holmium laser enucleation for large (greater than 100 mL) prostate glands

Background: To evaluate the holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) using the transurethral soft tissue morcellator (TUSTM), as a primary surgical treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with prostate glands > 100 mL.

EFFECT OF INTRAVESICAL CAPSAICIN AND VEHICLE ON BLADDER INTEGRITY IN CONTROL AND SPINAL CORD INJURED RATS

PURPOSE To determine the acute effect of intravesical capsaicin on bladder mucosal integrity in normal and spinal cord injured (SCI) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Intravesical reagents were instilled in 5 groups of age and weight matched female rats: 1) control + normal saline solution (NSS), 2) control + ethanol (EtOH), 3) control + capsaicin/EtOH, 4) SCI + NSS, 5) SCI + capsaicin/EtOH. Intravesical instillations were performed 4 weeks after a standard T10 SCI. Intravesical capsaicin (1 mM.) was dissolved in 30% EtOH/NSS. The animals (n = 3 each group) were sacrificed at 30 minutes, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days after intravesical instillation. Whole bladders were harvested, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and paraffin embedded. Tissue blocks were blind coded and sectioned (5 microns thickness) for histopathological analysis. All sections were initially stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E). Specific staining for mucin carbohydrate moieties included periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue. Also, immunohistochemical staining for GP51 (a urinary glycoprotein) was performed. RESULTS Control and SCI rats exhibited similar bladder mucosal histology by H & E and mucin specific stains. Instillation of saline demonstrated no effect on bladder histology, whereas instillation of intravesical capsaicin induced a profound acute effect of thinning of the epithelium, submucosal edema, and diminished presence of GP51. EtOH produced similar pathological findings, but to a lesser degree than capsaicin. Intravesical capsaicin demonstrated a similar effect in both control and SCI animals. The peak effect was seen after 30 minutes and continued for 24 hours. Partial recovery was noted after 72 hours and complete recovery was evident by 1 week. CONCLUSIONS The control and SCI rats demonstrated a histologically similar mucosa and glycosaminoglycan layer. The effect of saline instillation on the mucosa was negligible. Intravesical capsaicin dissolved in 30% ethanol/NSS had a profound effect on the bladder urothelium submucosa that was more pronounced than that seen with the ethanol vehicle alone in normal animals.

Treatment of biliary calculi using holmium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser

BACKGROUND The holmium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Ho: YAG) has been shown to be effective and safe for the treatment of urinary calculi. Its effectiveness for the treatment of biliary calculi was investigated. METHODS Endoscopic Ho: YAG lithotripsy of biliary stones was performed 7 times in 4 patients. Two patients had biliary duct calculi, and the other two patients had gall bladder calculi. All patients had multiple calculi that ranged in size from 4 mm to 5 cm. All procedures were performed percutaneously under intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. Rigid and flexible endoscopes were used to access the biliary calculi. Postoperative cholangiograms were performed on all patients. RESULTS All calculi were successfully fragmented with the Ho: YAG laser. The most common settings on the laser were 1.0 J and 10 Hz. Average total laser energy used was 12.24 kJ. Two patients required multiple procedures for the resolution of the biliary calculi. No vascular or biliary injuries were encountered. Three patients were free of biliary calculi on their postoperative cholangiogram. One patient with multiple gallbladder stones refused further treatment after two percutaneous procedures. CONCLUSION The holmium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser can be used safely and effectively in the endoscopic treatment of biliary calculi. This treatment maybe a suitable option in patients who are not candidates for more invasive procedures.

Intrarenal use of the holmium laser

We investigated the safety, effectiveness, and techniques of the holmium (Ho:YAG) laser intrarenally. Data are presented on 52 patients who were treated with the Ho:YAG laser intrarenally for urinary calculi or neoplasms.

Ureteroarterial fistula: A review of the literature.

Ureteroarterial fistulas are rare, erosive defects that occur between the distal segments of the ureter and the adjacent blood vessels in individuals with urologic and vascular comorbidities. Characterized by diffuse, pulsatile bleeding into the urinary tract, this condition carries a significant mortality rate in the absence of early recognition. Recent treatment efforts have focused on use of endovascular stenting techniques as an alternative to open surgical closure of the underlying defects in hemodynamically stable patients. We provide a literature review detailing the characteristics, mechanism, and management of ureteroarterial fistulas.

Urolithiasis location and size and the association with microhematuria and stone-related symptoms.

PURPOSE To conduct a study to assess the association between calculus location and size and the incidence of both microhematuria and symptoms of urolithiasis in a urology office environment. PATIENTS AND METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval, a prospective study was conducted with data from 100 consecutive patients who presented to our office with documented urolithiasis. The location (caliceal, pelvic, or ureteral) and size (<or ≥ 8 mm) of each calculus was determined from available diagnostic radiographs. The incidence of microhematuria was ascertained via a urine dipstick and microscopic examination. The presence of any symptoms associated with urolithiasis, including pain, subjective fever or chills, or urinary urgency, was recorded. RESULTS A total of 111 stones were found in the study population resulting in a 45.9% incidence of microhematuria. In patients with renal pelvic and ureteral stones, 67.6% demonstrated microhematuria vs 36.4% with caliceal stones, P=0.0035. For stones ≥ 8 mm, 62.5% were positive for microhematuria vs 29.1% of stones <8 mm, P=0.0006. Ureteral or renal pelvic stones caused the most symptoms (70.6%) compared with caliceal stones (16.9%), P=0.0001. In those patients who reported pain associated with urolithiasis, 65.6% had concomitant microhematuria vs 36.8% in those without pain, P=0.0097. CONCLUSIONS Urinary calculus location and size are associated with the incidence of microhematuria and stone-related symptoms. Pain related to urolithiasis may be a positive predictor for the presence of microhematuria.

Malignant Priapism Associated with Metastatic Urethral Carcinoma

We present a 40-year-old man with malignant priapism secondary to urethral squamous cell carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the tumor originating from the bulbous urethra, extending into the penile urethra and corpora spongiosa and cavernosa. A penile biopsy confirmed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra. Despite administration of systemic chemotherapy, the prognosis of the patient has worsened due to the extensive metastatic disease.

The Holmium Laser for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Brief Review

Abstract. At a wavelength of 2140 nm, the holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser can be used for incision, ablation and resection of prostatic tissue. This laser has revolutionised the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in our institution. Five different techniques have been utilised in evolving the current techniques using the Ho:YAG laser either alone or in combination with neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG laser for the surgical management of BPH. The clinical outcome of 664 patients undergoing these procedures is presented.Enucleation of the prostatic adenoma using the holmium laser energy is the most common procedure presently performed at our institution for the surgical management of BPH. A mechanical tissue morcellator appears to be the most efficient way to remove prostatic tissue, once enucleated, from within the bladder.

Transrectal Ultrasound of the Prostate

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), first described by Watanabe and colleagues in the 1960s, is an essential tool for the diagnosis of prostate cancer as well as for image-guided prostate interventions [1]. By the 1970s TRUS imaging had achieved wide use in clinical practice. Most commonly, TRUS is used to guide core needle biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis. This was first described by Hodge in 1989 when he advocated the systematic biopsy of the prostate gland [2]. Treatment modalities including brachytherapy, cryotherapy, and high-intensity focus ultrasound (HIFU) also rely on TRUS to appropriately treat prostate cancer patients [3]. In addition, TRUS provides valuable information for follow-up and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). TRUS may be helpful in the evaluation of patients with idiopathic infertility [4–8]. The indications and techniques for TRUS, proper documentation, anatomy of the prostate, and new ultrasonographic technologies will be discussed in this chapter. The topic of TRUS with prostate biopsy is covered in a separate chapter.