Francesco Visalli

The current role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in the evaluation of renal pathology

BackgroundBy using a microbubble contrast agent and contrast-specific imaging software, the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is able to depict the micro and macrocirculation of the target organ.MethodsA review of the peer reviewed literature was done regarding the current role of ultrasound CEUS imaging in the evaluation of renal pathology with reference to the diagnosis of renal ischaemia, in the characterization of complex cystic lesions and in those with equivocal enhancement at CT.ResultsCEUS provides information on tissue perfusion and may play a role in kidney mass characterization similar to the role of contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. In this context, the characterization of cystic lesions is probably the most consolidated field of application of contrast agents on kidney ultrasound imaging. Finally, CEUS provides a good alternative to CT, especially in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents.ConclusionsThe usefulness of CEUS in these applications is confirmed by extensive literature production and this article focuses on the potential clinical applications of recent advances in CEUS technology in urology.

Quality of Life Assessment With Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder Reconstruction After Radical Cystectomy: Results From a Prospective Italian Multicenter Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) parameters in patients who received radical cystectomy (RC) with ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB) reconstruction and to identify clinic-pathologic predictors of HRQoL. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2010 to December 2013, a multicenter, retrospective on 174 RC-IONB patients was carried out. All patients completed the following questionnaires: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) generic (QLQ-C30) and bladder cancer-specific instruments (QLQ-BLM30) and the IONB-Patient Reported Outcome (IONB-PRO). Univariate and multivariate analyses were computed to identify clinic-pathologic predictors of HRQoL. RESULTS Median age was 66 years (range, 31-83), and 91.4% of patients were men. Median follow-up period was 37 months (range, 3-247). The EORTC QLQ-C30 revealed that age >65 years, absence of urinary incontinence, and absence of peripheral vascular disease were independent predictors of deteriorated body image. A follow-up > 36 months and the presence of urinary incontinence were independent predictors of worsened urinary symptoms, whereas the absence of urinary incontinence was an independent predictor of a worsened body image according to EORTC QLQ-BLM30 results. A follow-up >36 months and the absence of urinary incontinence were independent predictors of better functioning in terms of relational life, emotional life, and fatigue as revealed by the IONB-PRO. CONCLUSION Age, presence of urinary incontinence, length of follow-up, and comorbidity status may influence postoperative HRQoL and should all be taken into account when counseling RC-IONB patients.

Porcine small intestinal submucosa implant in pubovaginal sling procedure on 48 consecutive patients: long-term results

OBJECTIVE The long-term efficacy of pubovaginal sling (PVS) procedure with porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) implant was retrospectively assessed. STUDY DESIGN Forty-eight patients with SUI underwent a pubovaginal sling with SIS. Patient evaluation included history, physical examination with stress test and prolapse assessment by Baden-Walker classification, routine laboratory tests, 24h-pad test, and multichannel urodynamic measurement. Postoperatively the patients were classified as cured, improved and unchanged or failed. A Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) was performed to verify post-operatively the quality of life of these patients. RESULTS At median follow-up of 76 months 33/48 (69%) were cured, 6/48 (12%) were improved while 9/48 (19%) were failed or unchanged. No urinary retention or dyspareunia was reported and no vaginal erosion or adverse tissue reaction was detected. The descriptive statistics of KHQ scores by dimensions was done in 32/48 patients (67%). Failed or unchanged patients showed worse scores than cured and improved patients in all KHQ dimensions showing an overall overlapping between objective and subjective results although these findings are weakened due to the lack of a preoperative evaluation of QoL. CONCLUSIONS PVS procedure using SIS cannot offer a durable option for the treatment of SUI as reported by the current mininvasive techniques.

Development of a questionnaire specifically for patients with Ileal Orthotopic Neobladder (IONB)

BackgroundThe ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB) is often used in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. The IONB allows to void avoiding the disadvantages of the external urinary diversion.In IONB patients the quality of life (QoL) appears compromised by the need to urinate voluntarily. The patients need to wake up at night interrupting the sleep-wake rhythm with consequences on social and emotional life.At present the QoL in IONB patients is evaluated by generic questionnaires. These are useful when IONB patients are compared with patients with different urinary diversions but they are less effective when only IONB patients are evaluated. To address this problem a specific questionnaire—the IONB-PRO—was developed.MethodsA) Based on a conceptual framework, narrative-based interviews were conducted on 35 IONB patients. A basic pool of 43 items was produced and organized throughout two clinical and four QoL dimensions. An additional 15 IONB patients were interviewed for face validity testing.B) Psychometric testing was conducted on 145 IONB patients. Both classic test strategy and Rasch analysis were applied. Psychometric properties of the resulting scales were comparatively tested against other QoL-validated scales.ResultsThe IONB-PRO questionnaire includes two sections: one on the QoL and a second section on the capability of the patient to manage the IONB. For evaluation of the QoL, three versions were delivered: 1) a basic 23-item QoL version (3 domains 23-items; alpha 0.86÷ 9.69), 2) a short-form 12-item QoL scale (alpha = 0.947), and 3) a short-form 15-item Rasch QoL scale (alpha = 0.967). Correlations of the long version scales with the corresponding dimensions of the EORTC-QLQ C30 and the EORTC-BLM30 were significant. The short forms exhibited significant correlations with the global health dimension of the EORTC-QLQ and with the urinary subscales of the EORTC-BLM30. The effect size was approximately 1.00 between patients at the 1-year follow-up period and those with 3, 5, and > 5-year follow-up periods for all scales. No relevant differences were observed between the 12-item short-form and the Rasch scale.ConclusionsThe IONB-PRO long and short-forms demonstrated a high level of internal consistency and reliability with an excellent discriminanting validity.

Morphological changes on the intestinal mucosa in orthotopic neobladder.

Introduction: The intestinal mucosa undergoes significant atrophic changes when it is used to reconstruct the urinary tract. We analyzed the ultrastructural changes of intestinal mucosa in the orthotopic neobladder on the basis of our clinical experience. Patients and Methods: Fifteen male patients with an ileal neobladder underwent endoscopic biopsy at different postoperative intervals. Results: No significant changes were observed 3 months after surgery. After 6 and 12 months, the structure of the microvilli was modified significantly. No other substantial changes after 24 months were observed. Conclusions: Progressive modifications occur in the cytoplasmic structures involved in the absorptive process. They do not seem to begin before 3 months and are almost totally completed after 1 year.

Mid- to long-term results of the Remeex system for the treatment of female incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency: A retrospective analysis of the first 50 patients

To retrospectively report our mid‐ to long‐term results following suburethral tension adjustable sling (Remeex system) implantation for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD).

Argus-T Sling in 182 Male Patients: Short-term Results of a Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term results with Argus-T sling in patients with post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 182 patients with PPI were treated with Argus-T sling at 5 urologic centers from June 2008 to March 2013. The preoperative evaluation included medical history, pad count (1-2 pads: mild PPI; 3-5 pads: moderate PPI; >5 pads: severe PPI), visual analog scale on continence, quality of life score scale, physical examination, cystoscopy, and urodynamic evaluation. Postoperative evaluation was performed 6 weeks postoperatively, and late follow-up was achieved in April 2013. We considered a successful result when patients were cured (0-1 pads/24 hours) and or improved (1-2 pads/24 hours or a reduction in pad per day usage greater than 50%). RESULTS Twenty-one (11.8%), 96 (52.7%), and 65 (35.7%) patients have mild, moderate, and severe incontinence, respectively. At the median follow-up of 22 months, the overall success rate was 86.2%. We obtained successful results of 95% in mild incontinence, 78% in moderate incontinence and 70% in severe incontinence. In cured and improved patients, we observed a statistically significant amelioration of quality of life (P <.0001). Sling regulation was carried out in 42.9% of cases, whereas its removal occurred in 9.3% of cases. Postoperative complications were reported in 14.3% of patients. In patients with previous radiotherapy, we observed a successful result in 61.2% of cases. CONCLUSION This study represents the first report that shows short-term results of Argus-T positioning in a large population. Argus-T seems to offer good outcomes in patients with mild and moderate PPI.

Quality of life following urinary diversion: Orthotopic ileal neobladder versus ileal conduit. A multicentre study among long-term, female bladder cancer survivors

INTRODUCTION Women undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) followed by urinary diversion (UD) for bladder cancer experience a substantial reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). At present, studies comparing long-term QOL outcomes for different UD methods, needed to inform evidence-based choices of bladder reconstruction for female patients, are sparse. Our objective was to compare two common UD methods in terms of their HRQOL outcomes in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed HRQOL in 73 consecutive female bladder cancer patients having undergone orthotopic ileal neobladder (IONB, N = 24) or ileal conduit (IC, N = 49) following RC between 2007 and 2013 in six Italian academic urological centres. Patients had no evidence of tumour recurrence and were actively followed up. Validated Italian versions of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) generic (QLQ-C30) and bladder-cancer-specific (QLQ-BLM30) questionnaires were used to evaluate HRQOL. RESULTS Patients in the IONB group were significantly younger than those in the IC group (median age: 67 and 73 years, respectively, p = 0.02). Barring that, the two groups did not present statistically significant differences in median length of follow-up (43 vs 54 months), pathological stage, grading of the neoplasm, or adjuvant chemo - or radiotherapy. No significant differences in QOL were found between the groups, with the exception of financial difficulties, affecting IONB patients significantly more than IC patients (mean score on a scale of 0-100: 33.3 ± 29.5 vs 18.4 ± 19.3, respectively; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION Financial difficulties was the only HRQOL item to differ between the two UD groups.

Evaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Function After Surgery

The function of the lower urinary tract is to store and release urine and is dependent on the activity of smooth and striated muscles in the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor. These structures are controlled by a complex interplay between the central and the peripheral nervous system and local regulatory factors. Malfunction of various levels may result in bladder control disorders. The evaluation of the LUT after the surgical approach of male-to-female transsexuals is similar to other areas of incontinence and includes a clinical approach with history, bladder diary, self-completed questionnaire, urodynamic studies, and radiographic imaging of the lower urinary tract which may provide important information for the treating clinician. Actually, the evaluation of the LUT function after surgery in MTF patients is still undefined, and in this chapter, we propose a model of recommendation based on evidence from the literature.

Male incontinence and the transobturator approach: An analysis of current outcomes.

Abstract Objectives: To provide an analysis of the outcomes in patients who have a suburethral sling placed using the transobturator approach for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy, because data in this specific area remain limited, and recent changes in male sling surgery might improve the efficacy in men with moderate or mild incontinence. Methods: We evaluated the results of transobturator non-adjustable and re-adjustable sling systems after reviewing previous reports identified using the Medline and PubMed databases for original articles, from 2002 to 2012, using the terms ‘postoperative male incontinence’, ‘transobturator’ and ‘male sling’. Of a total of 31 articles, we reviewed the 22 related to the outcomes of the suburethral sling with positioning by the transobturator approach. Results: Currently the only results of the transobturator approach are those relating to the AdVance™ device (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN, USA), for which the cure rate is ≈ 60% at 20 months. The remaining devices, although innovative, were assessed in studies for which the follow-up was too short to make a judgement. Conclusions: It would be advisable to reserve the transobturator approach for patients with mild and moderate incontinence, and refer those with severe incontinence, with or without adjuvant radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy, for treatment with an artificial urinary sphincter. More results and a long-term follow-up are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these devices.