John Patrick Selph

The Artificial Urinary Sphincter is Superior to a Secondary Transobturator Male Sling in Cases of a Primary Sling Failure

PURPOSE We compared continence outcomes in patients with post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence treated with a salvage artificial urinary sphincter vs a secondary transobturator sling. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients undergoing salvage procedures after sling failure from 2006 to 2012. Postoperative success was defined as the use of 0 or 1 pad, a negative stress test and pad weight less than 8 gm per day. We performed the Wilcoxon test and used a Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS A total of 61 men presenting with sling failure were included in study, of whom 32 went directly to an artificial urinary sphincter and 29 received a secondary sling. Of the artificial urinary sphincter cohort 47% underwent prior external beam radiation therapy vs 17% of the secondary sling cohort (p = 0.01). Average preoperative 24 hour pad weight and pad number were higher in the artificial urinary sphincter cohort. Median followup in artificial urinary sphincter and secondary sling cases was 4.5 (IQR 4-12) and 4 months (IQR 1-5), respectively. Overall treatment failure was seen in 55% of patients (16 of 29) with a secondary sling vs 6% (2 of 32) with an artificial urinary sphincter (unadjusted HR 7, 95% CI 2-32 and adjusted HR 6, 95% CI 1-31). CONCLUSION In this cohort of patients with post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence and a failed primary sling those who underwent a secondary sling procedure were up to 6 times more likely to have persistent incontinence vs those who underwent artificial urinary sphincter placement. These data are useful for counseling patients and planning surgery. We currently recommend placement of an artificial urinary sphincter for patients in whom an initial sling has failed.

The Ohmmeter Identifies the Site of Fluid Leakage during Artificial Urinary Sphincter Revision Surgery

PURPOSE While the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter improves continence in up to 90% of patients, revision surgery may be needed in up to 50%. We determined whether an ohmmeter could accurately assess the site of fluid leak from individual components of the artificial urinary sphincter at the time of revision surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent artificial urinary sphincter revision surgery between 1996 and 2013. Patients in whom fluid loss was identified preoperatively by plain film radiography and who subsequently underwent revision surgery using the ohmmeter were assessed for outcomes. RESULTS The ohmmeter was used intraoperatively in a total of 20 surgeries in 19 patients and it correctly identified the location of fluid loss in 18 of 20 (90%). Fluid leakage was found from the pressure regulating balloon in 13 cases, from the cuff in 4 and from the tubing to the pressure regulating balloon in 1. None had fluid loss from the pump. In the 17 cases in which only the malfunctioning component was replaced a satisfactory postoperative outcome with a fully functional device was documented in all. Repeat surgery was performed in 5 of 17 cases (29.4%) at a median of 17 months (range 2 to 39). No patient underwent repeat surgery due to failure to accurately diagnose a component leak. CONCLUSIONS In cases of suspected fluid loss as a cause of artificial urinary sphincter malfunction an ohmmeter can identify the site of fluid loss during component revision surgery.

Long-term Artificial Urinary Sphincter Outcomes Following a Prior Rectourethral Fistula Repair.

OBJECTIVE To determine the long-term outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation following a successful rectourethral fistula (RUF) repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2012, a total of 26 patients underwent successful repair of an RUF. Stress urinary incontinence was treated in 6 patients (23%) with implantation of an AUS. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation included demographic variables, voiding diaries, 24-hour pad weight, urodynamic characteristics, operative time, estimated blood loss, complication rates, follow-up time, and cuff selection. RESULTS All 6 patients underwent successful RUF repair using a perineal approach. Mean age was 64.3 years (range 58-74). Mean follow-up after repair was 51.5 months (range 34-64). RUF etiology included radical prostatectomy (4), brachytherapy + external beam radiotherapy (1), and cryotherapy + external beam radiotherapy (1). The median time between RUF repair and AUS placement was 12 months (range 2-41). No intraoperative complications occurred during AUS implantation. The average operative time was 61.8 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 24 mL. The initial cuff size selected was 4.0 or 4.5 cm, and no patient required transcorporal cuff placement. Pad use was reported as ≤1 pad per day in all 6 patients at the initial 3-month follow-up. Median follow-up after AUS placement was 43.5 months (5-55). No patient required revision or removal for mechanical complications, infection, or erosion. No patient had recurrence of their previously repaired RUF or new-onset fecal incontinence. CONCLUSION Patients who require placement of an AUS after an RUF repair seem to fare just as well as patients who undergo primary AUS implantation with no increased rate of complications postoperatively.

Ureteral Endometriosis: Preoperative Risk Factors Predicting Extensive Urologic Surgical Intervention.

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for urologic reconstruction during surgery for endometriosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified patients in a surgical pathology database undergoing surgery for endometriosis at our institution from 2010 to 2015 and subsequently identified those patients with ureteral involvement. Patients were categorized as requiring minimal urologic surgery (eg, ureterolysis only) or more extensive urologic surgery (eg, ureteral reimplant). All patients were undergoing surgery for endometriosis, and preoperative risk factors were then identified to predict the need for intraoperative extensive urologic surgery. RESULTS Of 386 women undergoing surgery for endometriosis, 82 (21%) women required a surgical procedure on the ureter. Fifteen of these 82 patients (18.3%) with ureteral involvement required urologic surgical expertise in the form of either ureteral reimplantation with or without psoas hitch, or ureterolysis with ureteral stenting or omental wrap. The remaining 67 underwent ureterolysis alone or no intervention. The presence of flank pain, any urinary symptom, or hydronephrosis on preoperative imaging was a significant predictor of the need for major urologic intervention. CONCLUSION In patients with endometriosis undergoing surgery who complain of flank pain, any urinary symptom, or have hydronephrosis on preoperative imaging, one should have a high suspicion for needing to perform urologic reconstruction during surgery. Planning for this additional operation can afford the opportunity for appropriate urologic consultation and patient counseling.

Nephrogenic Adenoma: Clinical Features, Management, and Diagnostic Pitfalls

OBJECTIVE To review the diagnosis and management of nephrogenic adenoma (NA), an uncommon benign lesion found in the urinary tract. This lesion arises from a proliferation of implanted renal tubular cells. Although more common in adults, it can occur in all ages. NAs can recur and cause significant morbidity in patients. NAs are also a potential diagnostic pitfall as they can clinically and histologically mimic malignancy in the urinary tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed an Institutional Board Review approved search of our surgical pathology database from 2005 to 2015 for cases of NA. A retrospective chart review was performed with a focus on the clinical, pathologic, and radiographic findings in these patients. RESULTS We identified 32 cases of NA in 31 patients. Lesions were most common in Caucasian males (male-to-female ratio of 2:1) with an average age at diagnosis of 55 years (range 25-77). Bladder was the most common site of occurrence (81.2%), followed by ureter (9.4%), urethra (6.3%), and intrarenal collecting system (3.1%). Most patients (72%) were symptomatic and presented with hematuria (41%), lower urinary tract symptoms (28%), pelvic or flank pain (6%), hydronephrosis (19%), or urinary incontinence (13%). NA was asymptomatic and identified incidentally in 9 (28%) patients. One patient (3%) had a renal transplant and 8 (26%) patients had diabetes mellitus. Twenty-six (84%) patients were managed with endoscopic resection of their tumors. CONCLUSION NAs are benign lesions that may cause significant morbidity and mimic malignant tumors. There should be increased suspicion in patients with predisposing factors.

Mechanism of Action of the Transobturator Sling for Post-Radical Prostatectomy Incontinence: A Multi-institutional Prospective Study Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE To compare the length of the membranous (functional) urethra in male patients who underwent the male transobturator sling (TOS) for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI). The TOS is in established use for treatment of PPI; however, the precise mechanism of action is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective case-controlled study on men undergoing male TOS surgery from 2008 to 2014. The comparison arm included patients without incontinence after radical prostatectomy. All participants underwent dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and this was repeated after TOS placement for those who underwent the procedure. Three standardized points were measured using MRI and compared in both groups in addition to clinical measures. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients were enrolled and 31 patients completed the protocols. The controls (N = 14) had a longer vesicourethral anastomosis to urethra measured at the penile bulb (functional urethral length) distance compared to the pre-TOS group at rest (1.92 cm controls vs 1.27 cm pre-TOS, P = .0018) and at Valsalva (2.13 cm controls vs 1.72 cm pre-TOS, P = .0371). Placement of the sling (N = 17) increased the functional urethral length distance at rest (1.92 cm control vs 1.53 cm post-TOS, P = .09) and at Valsalva (1.94 cm post-TOS vs 2.13 cm control, P = .61), so that the difference was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION We identified that one possible mechanism in improvement in stress urinary incontinence post-TOS placement is the lengthening of the vesicourethral anastomosis to bulbar-urethra distance. This is the first such study utilizing dynamics MRI in post prostatectomy controls, incontinent pre-TOS, and post-TOS to assess and show these findings.

An American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) prospective multi-center research protocol: outcomes of urethral realignment versus suprapubic cystostomy after pelvic fracture urethral injury

Background Pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUI) occur in up to 10% of pelvic fractures. It remains controversial whether initial primary urethral realignment (PR) after PFUI decreases the incidence of urethral obstruction and the need for subsequent urethral procedures. We present methodology for a prospective cohort study analyzing the outcomes of PR versus suprapubic cystostomy tube (SPT) after PFUI. Methods A prospective cohort trial was designed to compare outcomes between PR (group 1) and SPT placement (group 2). Centers are assigned to a group upon entry into the study. All patients will undergo retrograde attempted catheter placement; if this fails a cystoscopy exam is done to confirm a complete urethral disruption and attempt at gentle retrograde catheter placement. If catheter placement fails, group 1 will undergo urethral realignment and group 2 will undergo SPT. The primary outcome measure will be the rate of urethral obstruction preventing atraumatic passage of a flexible cystoscope. Secondary outcome measures include: subsequent urethral interventions, post-injury complications, urethroplasty complexity, erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence rates. Results Prior studies demonstrate PR is associated with a 15% to 50% reduction in urethral obstruction. Ninety-six men (48 per treatment group) are required to detect a 15% treatment effect (80% power, 0.05 significance level, 20% loss to follow up/death rate). Busy trauma centers treat complete PFUI approximately 1–6 times per year, thus our goal is to recruit 25 trauma centers and enroll patients for 3 years with a goal of 100 or more total patients with complete urethral disruption. Conclusions The proposed prospective multi-institutional cohort study should determine the utility of acute urethral realignment after PFUI.

Analysis of cost of component replacement versus entire device replacement during artificial urinary sphincter revision surgery

To identify the costs of replacing an entire malfunctioning AUS device versus an individual component at the time of device malfunction.

Review Article: Past, Present and Future of Cancer Survivorship and the Importance of the Urologist

Introduction: Cancer survivorship is a concept that focuses on the complete medical and holistic care of the patient with cancer from the time of diagnosis to the time of death. In 2015 the number of cancer survivors in the United States was expected to exceed 14.5 million people and a significant portion of these patients have malignancies that affect the genitourinary health of the survivor. In this review we describe the concept of cancer survivorship and review the important role of the urologist in cancer survivor care. Methods: A literature search concerning cancer survivorship and urogenital neoplasms was performed. We systematically searched Medline® from inception until July 2015 with the objective of identifying studies specifically targeting broad survivorship care concerns for genitourinary neoplasms. We also included nonsystematically identified publications, and governmental and agency produced reports that are currently available through various government entities and organizations. Results: Systematic searching yielded 35 articles and 7 reports for inclusion in our literature review. Urology relevant Medline findings were categorized into review articles, biopsychosocial aspects of cancer care, guidelines or society recommendations, diet and exercise related materials, models or coordination of care, or other. We found that the development of guidelines and recommendations for survivorship care in urology has been limited by the quality of the studies published to date. Conclusions: More patients are surviving cancer and living with the consequences of treatment of the primary disease. Awareness of the components of survivorship will be critical as more national organizations require specific survivorship care programs to address these issues. Given that a large number of cancer survivors in the United States have survived urological malignancy or have urological side effects of treatment, the urology community must be familiar with the global concept of survivorship.

MP88-06 THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THE MALE TRANSOBTURATOR SLING IS VIA INCREASED FUNCTIONAL LENGTH OF THE MEMBRANOUS URETHRA: A PROSPECTIVE, CONTROLLED STUDY USING DYNAMIC MRI

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: We describe the first retropubic suburethral autologous sling created and placed during robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP). Surgical technique and preliminary data regarding its effectiveness in improving early urinary continence (UC) recovery are presented. METHODS: Between November 2013 and February 2014 a cohort of 60 continents and neurologically healthy patients affected by localized prostate cancer and submitted to RARP at single highvolume center were prospectively randomized into sling and non-sling group. Sling technique was performed in the following steps: 1) at the beginning of right pelvic lymphadenectomy, vas deferens was isolated and removed 2) on scrub nurse table the vas deferens specimen was shaped in a 5-cm section and inserted at the middle of 14cm absorbable double end wire 3) the autologous sling obtained was positioned before the time of bladder-urethral anastomosis, immediately below the plane of the reconstructed recto-uretralis muscle and fixed to the periosteum of the pubic branch bilaterally 4) after completion of the vesico-urethral anastomosis, the sling was anchored definitively pulling further and fixing its wire ends in order to give the wanted urethral support. Early UC recovery was assessed at 5 (catheter removal), 10 and 30 days postoperatively through the record of the daily number of pads used and the collection of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF). Chisquare test and Indipendent Sample T-test were used to investigate UC recovery between the two groups. RESULTS: Complete data collection was available for 60/60 (100%) patients. Mean SD age was 63 9.0 years. Mean SD number of pads daily used in non sling and sling group were at 5 days 1.9 1.2 vs 1.7 1.4 (p1⁄40.5); at 10 days 1.8 1.3 vs 1.3 1.3 (p1⁄40.1) and at 30 days 1.1 1.2 vs 0.4 0.8 (p1⁄40.01) respectively. At 1 month mean SD ICIQ-UI-SF score was 1.8 3.4 vs 4.8 4.6 (p1⁄40.01) in sling and nonsling group; moreover sling patients were found to be associated with a pad-free status ( 2: 4.7; p1⁄40.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience indicates that new designed suburethral autologous sling is technically feasible and may represent a reliable intraoperative solution in order to improve early UC recovery in patients undergoing RARP. Because the improvement in the percentage of UC recovery at one month post-operatively and the absence of surgical complications this technique has become standard in our department.