Benjamin A. Sherer

Visual Internal Urethrotomy With Intralesional Mitomycin C and Short-term Clean Intermittent Catheterization for the Management of Recurrent Urethral Strictures and Bladder Neck Contractures

OBJECTIVE To evaluate our longitudinal experience using visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) with intralesional mitomycin C (MMC) and short-term clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) for urethral strictures and bladder neck contractures (BNC) after failure of endoscopic management. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case series involved review of our prospectively developed database of all men who underwent VIU with MMC and CIC in a standardized fashion for urethral stricture or BNC between 2010 and 2013 at our tertiary care medical center. Etiology was identified as radiation-induced stricture (RIS) or non-RIS and analyzed by stricture location. Cold knife incisions were made in a tri or quadrant fashion followed by intralesional injection of MMC and 1 month of once daily CIC. RESULTS All 37 patients previously underwent at least 1 intervention for urethral stricture or BNC before VIU with MMC and CIC. Mean stricture length was 2.0 cm (range, 1-6 cm; standard deviation, 1.0 cm). Over the median follow-up period of 23 months (range, 12-39 months), 75.7% of patients required no additional surgical intervention (RIS, 54.5%; non-RIS, 84.6%; P = .051). In those that did recur, median time to stricture recurrence was 8 months (range, 2-28 months). One patient with recurrence required urethroplasty. CONCLUSION VIU with MMC followed by short-term CIC provides a minimally invasive and widely available tool to manage complex recurrent urethral strictures (<3 cm) and BNC without significant morbidity. This approach may be most attractive for patients who are poor candidates for open surgery.

The Current State of Medical Malpractice in Urology.

Medical malpractice can present an unwelcome professional, emotional, and economic burden to the practicing urologist. To date, there is a paucity of data specific to urologic malpractice in the literature. We performed a comprehensive literature search to identify and evaluate recent studies related to urologic malpractice. We also analyzed 6249 closed urologic claims from the largest available specialty-specific data set gathered by Physician Insurers Association of America from 1985 to 2012. The resulting comprehensive review seeks to raise awareness of current trends in the malpractice environment specific to urologic surgery while also helping urologists identify opportunities for risk management and improved patient care.

2013-2014 Updates in Peyronie’s Disease Management

The number of patients presenting with Peyronie’s disease (PD) appears to be on the rise. This review provides an analysis of pertinent recent updates in the management of PD, focusing on data published within the past year. Objective benefit from injectable agents has been reported for years in mostly noncontrolled trials. The safety and efficacy of injectable collagenase clostridium histolyticum is now supported by data from a large-scale phase III randomized controlled trial. Other important advances have also been made in the surgical management of Peyronie’s disease, including new modifications to proven surgical techniques and a variety of approaches that can help enhance and restore penile length.

Current management of erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer survivors.

Purpose of review Although no standard management of erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer (CaP) survivors exists, many treatment options are available. This review summarizes the current understanding of the cause and management of erectile dysfunction in CaP survivors. Recent findings Erectile dysfunction after radical therapy for CaP may be more common than previously thought. Genetics and vascular comorbidities may have a significant impact on erectile dysfunction after CaP treatment. Although penile rehabilitation with medical modalities show good efficacy in motivated patients, the return of erectile function is never guaranteed with nonsurgical management. Penile prosthesis placement results in early return to sexual function after CaP treatment with high patient satisfaction rates. Various techniques allow safe placement of a three-piece penile prosthesis in patients with a history of pelvic surgery. Summary To optimize recovery of erectile function and prevent loss of penile length, penile rehabilitation should be initiated expeditiously after prostatectomy or radiation. In patients with refractory erectile dysfunction, dexterous and motivated patients remain excellent candidates for first and second-line medical therapies. However, early placement of a penile prosthesis following radical prostatectomy is now a proven and viable option.

Unfriendly Filter: An Unusual Cause of Hydronephrosis and Hematuria

A 67-year-old woman was referred to the urology clinic for abdominal pain and hematuria. Urine analysis showed microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography urogram revealed a misplaced inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in the right gonadal vein causing right hydronephrosis. Retrograde pyelography revealed a 3-cm ureteral narrowing at the level of the IVC filter. A double-J ureteral stent was placed in the right ureter prior to exploratory laparotomy, which revealed partial erosion of the IVC filter into the right ureter and a thrombosed right ovary. The patient underwent a right oophorectomy and removal of the misplaced IVC filter. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated.

Contemporary Review of Treatment Options for Peyronie's Disease

Peyronies disease (PD) is a penile wound-healing disorder resulting in fibrotic plaque in the tunica albuginea, likely resulting from micro trauma. Due to variable disease presentations, a myriad of proposed treatment options, physician misconceptions about the disorder, and severe psychological distress in afflicted patients, PD can be a difficult to manage entity. This review seeks to provide a current and comprehensive overview of oral, topical, intralesional, mechanical, and surgical therapies for PD.

Reply: To PMID 26099892.

for radiotherapy induced bulbomembranous urethral stricture disease. J Urol. 2014;191:1307-1312. 17. Meeks JJ, Brandes SB, Morey AF, et al. Urethroplasty for radiotherapy induced bulbomembranous strictures: a multi-institutional experience. J Urol. 2011;185:1761-1765. 18. Glass AS, McAninch JW, Zaid UB, et al. Urethroplasty after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Urology. 2012;79:1402-1405. 19. Mundy AR, Andrich DE. Posterior urethral complications of the treatment of prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2012;110:304-325.

Pharmacologic therapy for Peyronie’s disease: what should we prescribe?

Introduction: Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a wound healing disorder of the penis with a myriad of proposed treatment options reported in the literature. Evaluating the available data and therapeutic management of PD can be challenging and confusing, even for the most experienced treating physician. This review provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacologic treatment options for PD, focusing on the best available evidence. Areas covered: A comprehensive literature search for published articles evaluating oral, topical, and injectable pharmacologic agents for PD was completed. Prospective, controlled trials were given precedence for inclusion. Expert opinion: Although a multitude of oral agents have been proposed and evaluated in PD patients, results vary widely and a reproducible objective benefit has not yet been strongly established for any single oral agent. Well-designed, large-scale, randomized controlled trials evaluating oral agents in PD patients are lacking. Consistent objective benefit from injectable agents has been supported for years by various non-controlled trials. Recently, injectable collagenase Clostridium histolyticum became the first pharmacologic agent to obtain FDA approval for use in PD patients, supported by data from a large-scale, Phase III randomized controlled trial. Further elucidation of the genetic and mechanistic pathways involved in the development and progression of PD will help define future therapeutic targets.

En-Bloc Stapling of the Renal Hilum during Laparoscopic Nephrectomy: A Double-Institutional Analysis of Safety and Efficacy

OBJECTIVE To explore the safety and efficacy of en bloc stapling of the renal hilum (EBSH) during laparoscopic nephrectomy (LNx) in a large double-institution cohort with an extended follow-up period. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing LNx with EBSH between 2008 and 2014 at 2 academic medical centers. Data analyzed included tumor size, tumor pathology, operative time, estimated blood loss, and perioperative or postoperative complications. Evaluation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation was assessed by postoperative imaging studies, physical examination, or new-onset diastolic hypertension. RESULTS A total of 428 patients (mean age: 63 years) underwent LNx, of which there were a total of 433 renal units with EBSH (226 left renal units, 207 right renal units). Mean operative time was 169 minutes (range: 51-489 minutes). Mean estimated blood loss was 155 mL (range: 5 mL-2000 mL). Mean tumor size was 5.6 cm (range: 0.9-14.5 cm). EBSH was performed on 69 patients with chronic infectious and inflammatory benign conditions. Three hundred (70%) patients received post-procedural imaging. No patients developed clinical or radiographic evidence of AVF at a mean follow-up of 51 months. CONCLUSION EBSH during LNx is efficient, effective, and safe. This large series lends further support that EBSH during LNx may not be associated with any significant risk of AVF formation at extended follow-up. We advocate that this technique is a safe alternative to ligating the renal artery and vein during LNx.

Urology Residents' Experience and Attitude Toward Surgical Simulation: Presenting our 4-Year Experience With a Multi-institutional, Multi-modality Simulation Model

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the Urological residents attitude and experience with surgical simulation in residency education using a multi-institutional, multi-modality model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Residents from 6 area urology training programs rotated through simulation stations in 4 consecutive sessions from 2014 to 2017. Workshops included GreenLight photovaporization of the prostate, ureteroscopic stone extraction, laparoscopic peg transfer, 3-dimensional laparoscopy rope pass, transobturator sling placement, intravesical injection, high definition video system trainer, vasectomy, and Urolift. Faculty members provided teaching assistance, objective scoring, and verbal feedback. Participants completed a nonvalidated questionnaire evaluating utility of the workshop and soliciting suggestions for improvement. RESULTS Sixty-three of 75 participants (84%) (postgraduate years 1-6) completed the exit questionnaire. Median rating of exercise usefulness on a scale of 1-10 ranged from 7.5 to 9. On a scale of 0-10, cumulative median scores of the course remained high over 4 years: time limit per station (9; interquartile range [IQR] 2), faculty instruction (9, IQR 2), ease of use (9, IQR 2), face validity (8, IQR 3), and overall course (9, IQR 2). On multivariate analysis, there was no difference in rating of domains between postgraduate years. Sixty-seven percent (42/63) believe that simulation training should be a requirement of Urology residency. Ninety-seven percent (63/65) viewed the laboratory as beneficial to their education. CONCLUSION This workshop model is a valuable training experience for residents. Most participants believe that surgical simulation is beneficial and should be a requirement for Urology residency. High ratings of usefulness for each exercise demonstrated excellent face validity provided by the course.