Gregory E. Dean

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF PHIMOSIS IN CHILDREN: OUR EXPERIENCE WITH TOPICAL STEROIDS

PURPOSE Circumcision has traditionally been regarded as primary therapy for persistent phimosis in boys. Recently groups in Europe and Australia have advocated the use of topical steroids as conservative treatment in children. We report our experience with this approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between July 1997 and February 1998, 25 boys with a mean age of 8.3 years who presented to our clinic with phimosis were started on a topical steroid. After counseling the family regarding treatment options we prescribed a 1-month course of 0.05% betamethasone cream applied twice daily. RESULTS Of the 25 patients 24 completed the treatment and were evaluated. A total of 16 boys (67%) had a normal appearing foreskin that was easily retracted, while in the remaining 8 the outcome was unsuccessful and circumcision was scheduled. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that the application of topical steroids is a viable alternative for treating phimosis in children. Appropriate candidates for this therapy include boys older than 3 years who have persistent phimosis and no evidence of infection.

Outpatient Perineal Sling in Adolescent Boys With Neurogenic Incontinence

PURPOSE Management for urinary incontinence in boys with sphincteric incompetence secondary to a neurogenic etiology is a challenge. Minimally invasive approaches have inconsistent efficacy and may require multiple treatments. Open bladder neck reconstruction requires inpatient hospitalizations and can be associated with a high complication rate. To overcome some of these shortcomings we placed a polypropylene male perineal sling in male adolescents with neurogenic sphincteric incontinence. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome in our initial 6 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six patients 14 to 20 years old underwent placement of a polypropylene male perineal sling on an outpatient basis. Followup was 27 to 39 months (median 33). All patients had a history of myelomeningocele and underwent urodynamics showing normal compliance, adequate capacity and sphincteric incompetence. A suburethral sling was placed on an outpatient basis through a small perineal incision. Sling tension was adjusted for maximal urethral compression while still permitting uncomplicated urethral catheter passage. RESULTS All 6 patients reported immediate complete continence after sling placement. Two slings were removed after local infection developed and 1 was replaced. Another sling required revision secondary to incomplete bone anchor fixation. No patients had urethral erosion. All 5 patients with a sling currently in place were fully continent on intermittent catheterization every 3 hours and they reported excellent satisfaction with the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Our retrospective study suggests that the male urethral sling may be an outpatient option for neurogenic incontinence secondary to sphincteric incompetence. Long-term followup in our initial 6 patients shows encouraging durability. Continued study is required to determine strategies that might decrease the complication rate of this approach.

Outcomes of Urinary Diversion in Children With Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract Purpose: To gain a better understanding of the outcomes of the Mitrofanoff procedure for urinary diversion in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Descriptive retrospective. Participants/Methods: Individuals 6 to 27 years of age with SCI with at least 1 year follow-up after the Mitrofanoff procedure. Objective data collected via retrospective chart review include general demographics and medical/surgical history. Data collected via structured telephone interview include history of adverse urological events, bladder management, bladder management independence scores, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. Results: Sixteen subjects (13 female, 3 male) with a mean age of 19 years (range 6-27 y) who underwent the Mitrofanoff procedure were interviewed. Length of postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 8 years (mean 4.25 y). Complications included stomal stenosis 25% (n = 4) with a mean of 19 months to first occurrence of stenosis; urethral incontinence 75% (n = 12); renal /bladder calculi 19% (n = 3); and stomal leakage 44% (n = 7). Independence scores for bladder management after the Mitrofanoff procedure improved in 84% of subjects with tetraplegia and 25% of subjects with paraplegia. Eighty-eight percent (n = 14) were satisfied with the procedure, while 12% (n = 2) were somewhat satisfied. A thematic analysis of quality of life revealed that freedom (35%) and independence (35%) were most commonly cited. Conclusion: While some subjects experienced complications, satisfaction was relatively high and level of independence in bladder management was greatly improved. This study demonstrates that the Mitrofanoff procedure is a beneficial option to improve independence and ease of bladder management in children with SCI.

La Vega slit procedure for the treatment of phimosis

OBJECTIVES The surgical treatment of phimosis is usually circumcision. In countries in which circumcision is not widely practiced, this approach results in a phallus that is cosmetically unacceptable. We applied a ventral slit procedure to boys with severe phimosis and achieved outstanding results. METHODS All patients were selected during a 1-week medical mission to La Vega in the Dominican Republic during April 1997. Eight patients presented with severe phimosis. The patient age ranged from 3 to 7 years (mean 4.4). All patients were cleared by the team pediatrician before undergoing the procedure. RESULTS Eight patients underwent the procedure without complications. The operative time was less than 10 minutes in all instances. All had excellent postoperative cosmesis, were able to retract their foreskins, and voided without difficulty. A follow-up mission to La Vega in March 1998 yielded no complications involving this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS Unlike circumcision and the dorsal slit procedure, this approach yields a phallus that on initial appearance is indistinguishable from an uncircumcised phallus. The procedure is easily performed and should be considered in the treatment of phimosis whenever foreskin preservation is desired.

Glanular hypospadias repair

Glandular hypospadias represents approximately 15% of the hypospadias variants seen. This article will examine common surgical approaches applicable to the child with glandular hypospadias. Hypospadias repairs discussed in this article will include urethromeatoplasty, MAGPI, the GAP procedure, MIV glans plasty, urethral advancement procedure, and parameatal based flap variants, including the Mathieu and Barcat procedures. Because these anomalies are cosmetically less aberrant than more proximal variants, only those surgical techniques which assure a normal-appearing penis should be undertaken.

Feasibility of a femoral nerve motor branch for transfer to the pudendal nerve for restoring continence: a cadaveric study

OBJECT Nerve transfers are an effective means of restoring control to paralyzed somatic muscle groups and, recently, even denervated detrusor muscle. The authors performed a cadaveric pilot project to examine the feasibility of restoring control to the urethral and anal sphincters using a femoral motor nerve branch to reinnervate the pudendal nerve through a perineal approach. METHODS Eleven cadavers were dissected bilaterally to expose the pudendal and femoral nerve branches. Pertinent landmarks and distances that could be used to locate these nerves were assessed and measured, as were nerve cross-sectional areas. RESULTS A long motor branch of the femoral nerve was followed into the distal vastus medialis muscle for a distance of 17.4 ± 0.8 cm, split off from the main femoral nerve trunk, and transferred medially and superiorly to the pudendal nerve in the Alcock canal, a distance of 13.7 ± 0.71 cm. This was performed via a perineal approach. The cross-sectional area of the pudendal nerve was 5.64 ± 0.49 mm(2), and the femoral nerve motor branch at the suggested transection site was 4.40 ± 0.41 mm(2). CONCLUSIONS The use of a femoral nerve motor branch to the vastus medialis muscle for heterotopic nerve transfer to the pudendal nerve is surgically feasible, based on anatomical location and cross-sectional areas.

MECONIUM PEARLS IN THE SCROTUM

A 9-month-old boy presented with several firm masses in the left hemiscrotum discovered 2 weeks previously. He was the product of an unremarkable full-term pregnancy. The mother was also concerned with the appearance of the uncircumcised penis, which had become progressively less apparent with noticeable ballooning of the foreskin and prepenile skin during voiding. Physical examination demonstrated a buried penis as well as several nontender firm masses in the left hemiscrotum. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. Preoperatively scrotal ultrasound showed several spherical hyperechoic masses with shadowing in the left hemiscrotum (fig. 1). The masses were mobile and consistent with the diagnosis of meconium pearls. Screening abdominal ultrasound was normal. The patient underwent penile degloving and buried penis repair. The tunica vaginalis was opened and several spherical masses consistent with meconium pearls were removed (fig. 2). Subsequently standard left inguinal exploration was performed with high ligation of the patent processus vaginalis. Convalescence was unremarkable. Normal sweat chloride test results ruled out cystic fibrosis.

Improved Quality of Life After Continent Urinary Diversion in Pediatric Patients with Tetraplegia After Spinal Cord Injury

Nine patients with spinal cord injury from C4-C7 were interviewed about changes in quality of life after continent urinary diversion. Significant improvement was seen in the total score (p < .008) and personal development subscale (p < .012) of the Life Satisfaction Index for Adolescents (LSIA), the physical independence subscale of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART) (p < .043), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for toileting (p < .026) and bladder management (p < .016), and overall satisfaction (p < .007). We conclude that continent urinary diversion improved the quality of life in pediatric spinal-cord-injured patients with tetraplegia.

V7-09 PEDIATRIC ROBOT-ASSISTED LOWER POLE HEMINEPHRECTOMY WITH INTRAURETERAL INDOCYANINE GREEN IN A DUPLICATED COLLECTING SYSTEM NOT FOLLOWING WEIGERT-MEYER LAW

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Robotic surgical techniques have been adopted for procedures in pediatric urology even in reconstruction for neurogenic bladder. Our aim was to expand on the previously described bladder neck reconstruction with sling and Appendicovesicostomy (APV), by showing that the well described open split appendix technique can also be perform robotically, allowing for the creation of both APV and MACE. This video is to our knowledge, the first to demonstrate the use of robotic split appendix technique. METHODS: A 6 year-old male with myelomeningocele, neurogenic bladder and bowel was not able to achieve urinary continence on a standard regiment of IC and anticholinergic. Urodynamic showed adequate bladder capacity at 300 ml with low storage pressure and adequate compliance. Unfortunately he had a low leak point pressure indicating poor outlet resistance. Thus indication for a bladder neck reconstruction with APV was made. There was also a need for implementing a good bowel regiment and after evaluation at our Center for Colorectal and pelvic Reconstruction by the colorectal surgeon, indication for a MACE was also made. We selected to utilize the Intuitive Surgical DaVinci Si robotic surgery system for the operation. Prior to port placement, we performed cystoscopy and injected 300 units of Botox into the detrusor muscle, we placed ureteral catheter for easy ureteral orifice identification during bladder neck reconstruction and an 8 French Foley catheter. We used a 12mm camera port just superior to the umbilicus and three 8mm robotic ports. A 12mm accessory port was also placed for additional assistance. RESULTS: The patient was admitted the day prior to the procedure for mechanical bowel prep. The next morning he was taken to the operating room for the procedure. Total operative time was 7 hours. Total console time was 6 hours. A 10 French Foley catheter was placed through the APV channel and an 8 French feeding tube was placed through the MACE. A 5 French feeding tube was left stenting the urethra and was removed prior to discharge. He was started on a clear liquid diet on post-operative day #2 and advanced as tolerated. The patient was discharged home on post-operative day #4. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assisted bladder neck reconstruction with split appendix technique to create both APV and MACE is technically feasible in the pediatric population. As experience increases with such techniques, these authors expect that robotic surgery will continue to be utilized in more complex reconstruction and patients can experience the benefits that minimally invasive techniques offer.

Dermal patch graft correction of severe chordee secondary to penile corporal body disproportion without urethral division in boys without hypospadias

Historically, significant ventral penile curvature secondary to corporal body disproportion has been corrected either by dorsal plication or division of the urethral plate. In the rare situations where there is severe chordee in the face of an intact urethra with an orthotopic meatus, division of the urethral plate is commonly performed at the time of grafting the ventral defect created by incising the tunica albuginea. Subsequently, a staged procedure is necessary to reconnect the urethra at a later date. Herein the authors present a novel technique that shows it is possible to perform successful dermal patch orthoplasty without division of the urethra in patients with a normal orthotopic meatus and urethra via urethral mobilization. Three patients over the past 3 years with severe ventral chordee, orthotopic meati and normal urethral anatomy presented for correction. Two patients were 18 years old and one was 10 years old. All three boys were circumcised. The two older boys insisted on dorsal plication as a first approach which worked only temporarily for about 6 months while the younger boy had no prior surgery performed. Each boy underwent a circumcising incision, degloving of the shaft skin, extensive urethral mobilization and dermal patch graft orthoplasty to correct chordee. All surgeries were performed in an outpatient setting. No urinary drainage was used in any patient and a simple bio-occlusive dressing was employed in each case. Follow-up ranged from 11 months to 2 years (mean 1.5 years). All three boys have strong straight erections, full well directed urinary streams and no complications noted to date. Our conclusion based on this experience is that extensive urethral mobilization can allow for correction of severe ventral chordee without urethral division in a single operative setting in boys without hypospadias and a normal urethra. The accompanying movie herein describes the surgical technique.