Irving J. Fishman

ARTIFICIAL URINARY SPHINCTER FOR POST-RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY URINARY INCONTINENCE: LONG-TERM SUBJECTIVE RESULTS

PURPOSEnIncontinence affects between 3% and 60% of patients after radical prostatectomy. Insertion of an artificial urinary sphincter is a mainstay therapeutic option available to these patients. We assessed patient satisfaction, outcome and complications long after artificial urinary sphincter implantation.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnFrom a data bank of 131 patients who underwent artificial urinary sphincter prosthesis insertion we identified 71 with a mean age of 72 years who had also undergone radical prostatectomy and were available for evaluation. This group included 29 patients (40.8%) who received an earlier version of the AMS-800 (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota) and 42 (59.2%) who received the newer narrow back cuff device. Information on surgical procedures and followup were obtained from a computerized database. Patients were also contacted by an impartial reviewer who administered a standard telephone questionnaire on the degree of continence, complications, other means used to help with urinary continence, proficiency in device operation and satisfaction.nnnRESULTSnAt a mean followup of 7.7 years (range 0.5 to 16) 19 patients (27%) used 0, 23 (32%) used 1, 11 (15%) used 1 to 3 and 18 (25%) used more than 3 daily, while 1 used an external catheter. Surgical revision in 21 cases (29%) was required due to mechanical failure in 18 (25%), device erosion in 3 (4%) and infection in 1 (1.4%). The need for revision correlated significantly with the design of the sphincter (p = 0.005). Only 7 of the 42 patients in whom a narrow cuff AMS-800 was implanted needed revision versus 18 of the 23 with a previous design. Mean time to revision was 2.5 years (range 0.5 to 8). The device was removed in 2 cases (2.8%). Of the patients 41 (58%) are very satisfied, 14 (19%) are satisfied and 16 (23%) are unsatisfied with the device. The degree of satisfaction correlated with the number of pads used (p = 0.0005) and sphincter design (0.028) but not with the number of surgical revisions (p = 0.521) or patient age.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe artificial urinary sphincter is a viable treatment option for post-radical prostatectomy incontinence with a high rate of continence and satisfaction for a long period after the procedure. Patients should be informed that complications necessitating device revision and explantation may appear late in followup. A standard definition of treatment success and studies of homogenous groups of patients with an artificial urinary sphincter would enable better understanding and patient education in the future.

Cigarette smoking and othervascular risk factors in vasculogenic impotence

A total of 132 consecutive patients with erectile impotence underwent extensive evaluation, including vascular evaluation with intracavernous injection of papaverine and penile duplex ultrasonography, to determine the etiology of impotence. Three vascular risk factors, smoking, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, were investigated for their impact on vasculogenic impotence. The patients were divided into four groups: one with no risk factors, one with one vascular risk factor, one with two vascular risk factors, and one with all three risk factors. The results of penile vascular evaluation in these patient groups were compared. The incidence of penile vascular impairment was found to be higher in patients with one vascular risk factor than in those with none. The proportion of abnormal penile vascular findings significantly increased as the number of risk factors increased. These data confirm the important role of vascular risk factors, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, in the pathogenesis of organic impotence.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN IMPOTENT PENILE TISSUE : A COMPARISON OF 65 PATIENTS

To determine whether impotence is caused by specific and consistent changes in erectile tissue, we compared the ultrastructure of the corpora cavernosa in 6 controls with that in 59 patients undergoing implantation of a penile prosthesis. The impotent patients were divided into groups based on a medical history of hypertension (10), pelvic surgery (9), alcoholic smokers (8), hypertensive alcoholics (3), hypertensive alcoholic smokers (3), smokers (3), diabetics (8), diabetic smokers (3), Peyronies disease (3), spinal cord injury (3) and isolated causes (6). Our data demonstrate that different behavioral and/or medical conditions produce similar degenerative tissue responses. There is no single or specific cause of impotence that is manifest by consistent changes in erectile tissue.

Correlation of altered penile ultrastructure with clinical arterial evaluation.

We investigated the ultrastructural changes in the penile erectile tissue from 32 consecutive patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation. Because most of the patients had undergone papaverine injection with or without duplex ultrasonography, we compared these results with the electron microscopic findings. In patients with a good arterial response and full erection after papaverine injection the ultrastructural findings were similar to those reported in normal men. In patients with moderate arterial disease a distinct increase in mitochondria with aggregation and cytoplasmic vacuolization in smooth muscle cells was noted. These findings could be interpreted as an active cellular attempt to respond to the altered environmental and nutritive situation. In patients with severe arterial insufficiency the cellular structure was markedly altered, the number of intracavernous smooth muscle cells was reduced and the density of the connective tissue separating individual cells was increased. These changes in the smooth muscle cells consisted of contour irregularity with fragmentation and loss of the basal lamina. The cytoplasm was largely devoid of contractile elements. The nuclei tended to be pleomorphic with unevenly distributed chromatin. The endothelium was also altered significantly in this group. A careful clinical evaluation of penile arterial function should be performed in all patients undergoing penile arterial or venous corrective surgery. If doubt remains, a penile biopsy may be indicated.

EVALUATION OF MISOPROSTOL CYTOPROTECTION OF THE BLADDER WITH CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE (CYTOXAN) THERAPY

Cyclophosphamide is a well established cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders, certain solid tumors, and nonneoplastic disorders such as nephrotic syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Hemorrhagic cystitis can be a complication of this drug varying between two and 40 per cent. Misoprostol, which is a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog, was found to significantly decrease the histological damage to the bladder from cyclophosphamide. Male rats receiving misoprostol in conjunction with cyclophosphamide were found to have a reduction in ulceration, inflammation and edema of the bladder walls as compared to those treated with cyclophosphamide alone.

Use of fresh placental membranes for bladder reconstruction.

Several biodegradable and artificial materials have been used in the urinary tract for partial or total replacement of the bladder. Most of the graft materials have resulted in stone formation, collapse, rejection, or extrusion of the graft without adequate reconstruction of a functional bladder. In this paper, we present our assessment of the use of placental membranes as a feasible, economic, and acceptable organic agent for bladder reconstruction. Eight mongrel dogs were subjected to supratrigonal cystectomy, and then a 10 X 10 centimeter patch of human placental membrane was sutured to the remaining trigone in a watertight fashion. The dogs were sacrificed twelve weeks after surgery. Histologic examinations revealed evidence of regeneration of normal-appearing smooth muscle along the path of a retracting placental patch, and thus of reconstitution of a normal-appearing and functioning bladder. On the basis of this study, we believe that placental membranes, because of their low antigenic properties and easy availability, provide an excellent graft material for the urinary tract. Further studies concerning the application of this graft material in various pathological conditions are now in progress.

The Role of Transrectal Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis and Management of Prostatic and Seminal Vesicle Cysts

Cysts in the region of the prostate and seminal vesicles are interesting because of their differential diagnosis and embryological relevance. We present our experience with 5 cases that include a müllerian duct cyst, diverticulum of the spermatic tract, seminal vesicle cyst and 2 prostatic cysts. Transrectal ultrasonography had a significant role in the diagnostic evaluation of these cysts. Ultrasonographically guided transperineal needle aspiration added significant diagnostic information and might have a therapeutic value. After a review of the literature, we propose an algorithm for the evaluation and management of prostatic and seminal vesicle cysts.

Evaluation of Vasculogenic Erectile Impotence using Penile Duplex Ultrasonography

A total of 140 patients underwent penile vascular evaluation with intracavernous papaverine injection combined with duplex ultrasonography. Of these patients 8 were potent men who were evaluated for reasons other than erectile failure. These potent men were used as controls to obtain normal values. The remaining 132 patients had erectile impotence of various etiologies. Real-time imaging with high resolution, high frequency probes allowed for visualization of the cavernous arteries along the entire length in addition to accurate measurement of the diameter. Simultaneous selectively focused Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure the blood velocity and other vascular parameters in the cavernous and dorsal arteries. Comparison of measurements before and after papaverine injection allowed for objective interpretation of the injection results. The results were analyzed and compared to other data available on the same patients, such as history and physical examination, nocturnal penile tumescence, penile blood pressures, selective arteriography and dynamic cavernosography. In addition to the 8 potent men, there were 35 patients (27% of the impotent patients) whose vascular findings were normal. A total of 78 patients (59% of the impotent patients) had arterial insufficiency; a subgroup of 13 patients had the pelvic arterial steal syndrome. Dynamic cavernosography confirmed venous leak in all 19 patients (14% of the impotent patients) whose penile duplex ultrasonography suggested the possibility of a venous leak. Ten patients (7%) had prolonged erection after papaverine injection and they were managed without consequences. One patient had a small hematoma that resolved uneventfully. Penile duplex ultrasonography was a helpful and objective method to evaluate vasculogenic impotence.

Experience with inflatable penile prosthesis

Prosthesis surgery for management of erectile impotence has become an increasingly important aspect of urology. The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) provides the impotent patient with a controllable, natural-appearing and physiologically functional penis. Major modifications in the prosthesis and in the surgical implantation technique have been made since its initial introduction. In this article we present a histologic review of the IPP and our ten-year experience with it.

Prevention of urinary tract infection during intermittent catheterization.

We studied prospectively 40 patients with recent spinal cord injuries to determine the effectiveness of the combination of oral methenamine and an intravesicular acidifying agent for prevention of urinary tract infection during intermittent catheterization. The incidences of bacteriuria and symptomatic urinary tract infections were significantly less in the treated group. This combination appears to be a safe, effective means to reduce pyelonephritis in spinal cord injury patients on intermittent catheterization.