Leo Doumanian

WATER: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Aquablation® vs Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Purpose: We compared the safety and efficacy of Aquablation and transurethral prostate resection for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods: In a double‐blind, multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial 181 patients with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent transurethral prostate resection or Aquablation. The primary efficacy end point was the reduction in International Prostate Symptom Score at 6 months. The primary safety end point was the development of Clavien‐Dindo persistent grade 1, or 2 or higher operative complications. Results: Mean total operative time was similar for Aquablation and transurethral prostate resection (33 vs 36 minutes, p = 0.2752) but resection time was lower for Aquablation (4 vs 27 minutes, p <0.0001). At month 6 patients treated with Aquablation and transurethral prostate resection experienced large I‐PSS improvements. The prespecified study noninferiority hypothesis was satisfied (p <0.0001). Of the patients who underwent Aquablation and transurethral prostate resection 26% and 42%, respectively, experienced a primary safety end point, which met the study primary noninferiority safety hypothesis and subsequently demonstrated superiority (p = 0.0149). Among sexually active men the rate of anejaculation was lower in those treated with Aquablation (10% vs 36%, p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Surgical prostate resection using Aquablation showed noninferior symptom relief compared to transurethral prostate resection but with a lower risk of sexual dysfunction. Larger prostates (50 to 80 ml) demonstrated a more pronounced superior safety and efficacy benefit. Longer term followup would help assess the clinical value of Aquablation.

Gunshot wounds to the scrotum: a large single-institutional 20-year experience.

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Adult Urethral Stricture Disease after Childhood Hypospadias Repair

Background. Adult patients with urethral stricture after childhood hypospadias surgeries are infrequently discussed in the literature. We report our experience in treating such patients. Materials and Methods. A retrospective chart review was performed. From 2002 through 2007, nine consecutive adult patients who had current urethral stricture and had undergone childhood hypospadias surgeries were included. All adult urethral strictures were managed by a single surgeon. Results. Mean patient age was 38.9 years old. The lag time of urethral stricture presentation ranged from 25 to 57 years after primary hypospadias surgery, with an average of 36 years. Stricture length ranged from 1 to 17 cm (mean: 10.3 cm). Open graft-based urethroplasties were performed in 4/9 cases. Salvage perineal urethrostomy was performed in 2/9 cases. Another 3 cases chose to undergo repeat urethrotomy or dilatations—none of these patients was cured by such treatment. Complications included one urethrostomy stenosis and one urinary tract infection. Conclusion. Urethral stricture may occur decades after initial hypospadias surgery. It can be the most severe form of anterior urethral stricture, and may eventually require salvage treatment such as a perineal urethrostomy. Patients undergoing hypospadias surgery should receive lifelong follow-up protocol to detect latent urethral strictures.

WATER II (80-150 mL) procedural outcomes

To present early safety and feasibility data from a multicentre prospective study (WATER II) of aquablation in the treatment of symptomatic men with large‐volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Single-Surgeon Experience With Robot-Assisted Ureteroneocystostomy for Distal Ureteral Pathologies in Adults

Purpose To demonstrate our technical approach for robot-assisted ureteroneocystostomy (R-UNC) for benign and malignant distal ureteral pathologies. Materials and Methods Between January 2009 and January 2013, a total of 10 patients underwent R-UNC in the distal ureter by a single surgeon. Indications for R-UNC were as follows: idiopathic (3), fistula (2), iatrogenic (2), malignancy (2), and chronic vesicoureteral reflux (1). Results Tension-free anastomosis was attained in all 10 R-UNC procedures. A psoas hitch was performed in 6/10 cases (60%). Intravesical and extravesical reimplantations were completed in 5/10 (50%) and 5/10 cases (50%), respectively. A nonrefluxing ureter was constructed in 2/10 cases (20%). The patients mean age was 52.9±16.6 years, their mean body mass index was 30.8±6.3 kg/m2, the mean operative time was 211.7±69.3 minutes, mean estimated blood loss was 102.5±110.8 mL, and mean length of stay was 2.8±2.3 days. There were no intraoperative complications. There was one Clavien-Dindo grade I and one Clavien-Dindo grade II postoperative complication. The mean postoperative follow-up duration was 28.5±15.5 months. Two patients had recurrence of ureteral strictures at 3 months postoperatively and were managed successfully with balloon dilation. Conclusions Our technique for R-UNC demonstrates good perioperative outcomes. However, underlying periureteral inflammation and pelvic adhesions may predispose patients for stricture recurrence after R-UNC.

Symptom relief and anejaculation after aquablation or transurethral resection of the prostate: subgroup analysis from a blinded randomized trial

To test the hypothesis that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) robotic surgery with aquablation would have a more pronounced benefit in certain patient subgroups, such as men with more challenging anatomies (e.g. large prostates, large middle lobes) and men with moderate BPH.

Robotic Management of Rectourethral Fistulas After Focal Treatment for Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVEnTo describe our management strategy for rectourethral fistula (RUF) after focal treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) using 2 cases as an example. Almost 50% of RUFs are associated with energy treatment modalities for PCa. The adjacent damage to healthy tissue along with limited pliability of it makes the success of the repair troublesome. There is no standardized approach for these scenarios.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnFor case 1, an 83-year-old man underwent cryotherapy for PCa. On postoperative day 14, he presented with urine per rectum. Cystoscopy confirmed the presence of an RUF. Urinary and fecal diversions were unsuccessful. Three months later, robotic surgical repair was performed. For case 2, an 85-year-old man underwent salvage therapy for PCa with high-intensity focused ultrasound after previous treatment with external beam radiation therapy. Two months postoperatively, he presented with urine per rectum. A computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of an RUF. Robotic surgical repair was subsequently performed.nnnRESULTSnBoth patients underwent robotic-assisted RUF repair, including salvage prostatectomy , rectal defect closure, and omental flap placement. In the first case, healthy urethra was present after the salvage prostatectomy, and the next step was completion of a vesicourethral anastomosis. In the second case, the next step was closure of the bladder neck and suprapubic tube placement due to the extensive tissue destruction the residual urethra. Success was confirmed with imaging studies and no reported symptoms at 9 and 4 months, respectively.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe robotic system is useful for the treatment of a complicated RUF. The optimal reconstruction strategy depends on the ability to reach the distal urethra, the patients characteristics, and preferences.

Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement Following Pelvic Radiation: Technical Considerations and Contemporary Outcomes

BACKGROUNDnPelvic radiation is a known risk factor for the development and progression of erectile dysfunction. When medical therapy fails, the 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) can offer patients a definitive treatment option. Because of radiation-induced vascular changes and tissue fibrosis, a careful surgical approach is necessary to avoid intraoperative complications and attain successful outcomes. Despite its widespread use in prostate cancer treatment, there are no contemporary studies examining the effects that pelvic radiation can have on 3-piece IPP placement and device survival.nnnAIMnTo present technical considerations and contemporary outcomes of placing a 3-piece IPP for refractory erectile dysfunction in patients with a history of pelvic radiation.nnnMETHODSnWe retrospectively reviewed 78 patients who underwent placement of a 3-piece IPP (AMS 700; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) after being treated with pelvic radiotherapy from 2003 through 2016. All patients had been treated with external beam and/or brachytherapy for treatment of prostate malignancy. An infrapubic approach was used in all patients, with reservoir placement in the space of Retzius or in the lateral retroperitoneal space. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes including prosthetic infection and mechanical failure were examined and statistical analysis was performed.nnnOUTCOMESnRates of device infection, revision surgery, and reservoir complications.nnnRESULTSnNo intraoperative complications were observed. After a mean follow-up of 49.0 months (6.6-116.8), 2 patients developed an infection of their prosthesis that required explantation. These patients underwent successful IPP removal and immediate reimplantation. 11 patients (14.1%) required revision surgery (pump replacement, nxa0=xa04; pump relocation, nxa0= 2; cylinder replacement, nxa0= 4; reservoir replacement owing to leak, nxa0= 1). No reservoir-related complications such as herniation or erosion into adjacent structures were observed.nnnCLINICAL IMPLICATIONSnThe 3-piece IPP can be placed safely in a broad range of patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy.nnnSTRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONSnThis study describes contemporary long-term outcomes of the IPP in patients treated with pelvic radiation and includes patients with prior pelvic surgery and artificial urinary sphincter, which are commonly encountered in practice. It is limited by its single-center experience and lacks a comparison group of patients. Objective patient satisfaction data were not available for inclusion.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe 3-piece IPP can be placed successfully in patients with a history of pelvic radiation without a significant increase in infectious complications, reservoir erosion, or mechanical failure compared with the global literature. Loh-Doyle J, Patil MB, Nakhoda Z, etxa0al. Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement Following Pelvic Radiation: Technical Considerations and Contemporary Outcomes. J Sex Med 2018;15:1049-1054.

Mechanical failure rates of artificial urinary sphincter components: Is the 3.5-cm urethral cuff at higher risk?

We report the rates of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) mechanical failure in a contemporary cohort of patients stratified by component type and size to determine if the 3.5‐cm cuff is at higher risk of failure.

Surviving Fournier's gangrene: Multivariable analysis and a novel scoring system to predict length of stay

BACKGROUNDnThere is no contemporary scoring system to predict hospital length of stay and morbidity in Fourniers gangrene. A retrospective study was conducted to formulate a scoring system to predict duration of hospitalization, resource utilization, need for reconstruction, morbidity and mortality.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective chart review was performed on 54 patients treated for FG from 2010-2016 at LAC+USC Medical Center, the largest public hospital in Los Angeles County. Strobe guidelines were followed and the study was approved by the IRB. Predictors of LOS, morbidity, mortality and resource utilization were identified and univariate linear regressions performed to determine significance. Significant univariate predictors were used to develop a novel scoring system, the Combined Urology and Plastics Index (CUPI). The CUPI score was then compared to existing scoring systems for predicting length of stay.nnnRESULTSnThe mean patient age was 49.3, and the mean BMI was 28.6. Patients on average were hospitalized for 37.5 days, with a mean of 8.3 days in the ICU. Three patients (5.6%) died during their hospital stay, and 33 (61%) required reconstructive surgery. Multivariate logistic modeling showed that BMI (pu2009=u20090.001) and alkaline phosphatase (pu2009<u20090.001) correlated with decreasing length of stay, while age at admission was not significantly correlated (pu2009=u20090.369). Univariate analysis of existing scoring systems showed that FGSI, LRINEC, NLR, and CCI were not significantly correlated with length of stay, while the newly calculated CUPI score was shown to be a significant predictor of longer hospital stays (pu2009=u20090.001).nnnDISCUSSIONnEarly emphasis on supportive care, nutrition, and involvement of reconstructive surgeons can decrease LOS in patients with Fourniers gangrene. The CUPI score on admission may be a useful tool for predicting LOS in this population.