Pekka A. Hellström

Late Urodynamic Findings After Surgery for Cauda Equina Syndrome Caused by a Prolapsed Lumbar Intervertebral Disk

Bladder function was evaluated urodynamically in 17 patients operated on 2 to 3 years previously for the cauda equina syndrome caused by a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disk. Of the patients 10 (59 per cent) reported the bladder function to be normal, while the other 7 had symptoms of obstruction or incontinence. Urodynamic findings were normal in 4 patients (24 per cent). In 3 patients (18 per cent) no detrusor contraction could be demonstrated in the pressure-flow electromyography study. Two patients (12 per cent) used the detrusor and straining during voiding. Cystometry showed an unstable detrusor in 3 patients (18 per cent). The remaining 5 patients (29 per cent) had either an increased bladder capacity or a decreased maximum flow rate. Neurological findings were normal in 2 patients (12 per cent). All of the patients with a decentralized detrusor had defective perianal sensation but detrusor contraction could be demonstrated in 3 who also had sensory impairment in the perianal region. Bladder function can be disturbed seriously in cauda equina patients without symptoms and, thus, all patients with the cauda equina syndrome should be tested urodynamically. An emergency operation seems to be capable of reducing late disturbances in bladder function. Regeneration of the autonomous nerves supplying the bladder and genitals may require an interval of several months to years.

Urodynamics in Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Urodynamic examinations were performed on 19 patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostatic carcinoma. Altogether 16 urodynamic parameters were analyzed preoperatively and 6 months afterwards. There was a significant decrease in bladder wall compliance and an increase in intravesical and abdominal pressure at maximum flow rate postoperatively. These findings may reflect a partial bladder decentralization caused by surgery. The amount of residual urine was reduced postoperatively. Two patients (10.5%) were totally incontinent, and in both the postoperative urethral closure pressures were low.

BLADDER NECK INCISION OR TRANSURETHRAL ELECTRORESECTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF URINARY OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY A SMALL BENIGN PROSTATE? A Randomized Urodynamic Study

Transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) was compared with bladder neck incision (BNI) in the treatment of 24 patients with urinary obstruction caused by a small benign prostate. An evaluation of the urodynamic findings and subjective symptoms was undertaken before the operation and 6 months afterwards. Thirteen patients underwent TURP and 11 BNI. All patients except one in the BNI group subjectively considered the result good. The urodynamic evaluation showed that the detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate decreased more in the TURP group than in the BNI group and the urethral pressure profile was shorter after the operation. The maximum flow rates after the operation were similar in both groups. Retrograde ejaculation developed in 62% of the patients after TURP but none after BNI. BNI is recommended for men under 60 years with minimal prostatic hypertrophy and with an active sexual life.

Treatment of Penile Incarceration by the String Method: 2 Case Reports

We report 2 cases of penile incarceration in a 10-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man. In both cases the penis was encircled by a metallic object. The string method described was successful, rapid, atraumatic and simple to use.

Intrascrotal adenomatoid tumors.

Adenomatoid tumors are regarded as uncommon neoplasms of the paratesticular tissues, probably of mesothelial origin. The majority of cases reported have involved the epididymis. We report our experience with 8 cases of testicular tumors and 11 of epididymal adenomatoid tumors during a 13-year period, and review the relevant literature. The incidence of adenomatoid tumors relative to all tumors in the testis was 6.9% (8 of 116), exceeding that of Leydig cell tumors, which were previously believed to be the most common benign testicular neoplasms. The adenomatoid tumors included 38% epididymal tumors (11 of 29). The clinical course of the tumors was benign, without recurrences. Local excision is regarded as the treatment of choice for epididymal and testicular adenomatoid tumors.

Colocystoplasty for the Treatment of Severe Interstitial Cystitis

Twelve patients with end-stage interstitial cystitis and intractable symptoms resistant to conservative measures underwent supratrigonal cystectomy and colocystoplasty, comprising 7 right colocystoplasties and 5 open-loop sigmoidocystoplasties. Mean follow-up was 4.7 years. Ten patients had complete relief of pain and a decrease in frequency, while 2 patients required cystectomy and urinary diversion because of persistent symptoms or infection and incontinence. Bladder function was evaluated urodynamically in 11 patients. The bladder capacities in the right colocystoplasties were between 325 and 800 ml (mean 495), compared with 180 and 500 ml (mean 345) in the sigmoideocystoplasties. Two patients suffered from mild urge incontinence. All the patients retained their sensation of bladder fullness and voided without difficulty. In only 3 cases was a procedure needed to lower the bladder outflow tract resistance. Most patients did not need long-term antibiotics. No impairment in renal function was noted. In view of the good results achieved colocystoplasty can be recommended more often for the treatment of interstitial cystitis, detubularized right colocystoplasty being the operation of choice.

Ethanolamine Oleate Sclerotherapy for Hydroceles and Spermatoceles: A Survey of 158 Patients with Ultrasound Followup

Sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate was used to treat 102 hydroceles in 100 patients and 63 spermatoceles in 58 patients. Scrotal ultrasound examination was performed before the sclerotherapy and at each followup visit. Of the hydroceles 98% were cured completely and 68% were cured after only 1 sclerosant instillation, while 60% of the spermatoceles resolved completely and 33% partially, with 7% failures. No hydroceles recurred during an average followup of 43 months, whereas spermatocele recurred in 4 patients more than 1 year after successful treatment, with a mean followup of 46 months. Approximately half of the patients experienced pain after treatment, 3 had infection and 2 had hematoma. No changes in the structure or size of the testicles were found by ultrasound during followup. Ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy is a safe, effective and economical form of outpatient therapy that can be recommended as primary treatment for hydroceles in adults and as an alternative to surgery for spermatoceles with 1 to 3 cysts in elderly men in whom fertility is not important.

Testicular infarction following ethanol embolization of a renal neoplasm.

A case of infarction of the left testis secondary to transcatheter embolization of a malignant left renal tumor with absolute ethanol is presented. The mechanism producing this complication was due to the anomalous nature of the left testicular artery, originating from the left renal artery distal to the site of the balloon occlusion catheter. The importance of this anomaly is discussed and the literature reviewed.

Is routine ipsilateral adrenalectomy during radical nephrectomy harmful for the patient

To investigate the effects of unilateral adrenalectomy on the postoperative course and laboratory parameters, 40 patients with a renal tumour were randomized either to undergo (n = 20) or not to undergo (n = 20) ipsilateral adrenalectomy. Adrenal hormone (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and aldosterone), adrenocorticotropic hormone, electrolyte, creatinine, growth hormone, glucose, insulin and free fatty acid concentrations were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Cortisol and epinephrine concentrations were elevated immediately after the operation but returned to preoperative levels within the first 2 postoperative days. There were no significant differences between the adrenalectomy and non-adrenalectomy groups, except that the cortisol concentration was higher in the latter in the afternoon of the day of surgery. The conclusion is that no long-term shortage of adrenal hormones is caused by unilateral adrenalectomy. Other metabolic and endocrine responses were identical in the groups. Thus ipsilateral adrenalectomy does not seem to be harmful to the patient and the need for it must be resolved on the basis of local tumour factors.

INCREASED INTRAPROSTATIC PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PROSTATITIS

Abstract The purpose of this prospective study was to develop a method for measuring intraprostatic pressure. Intraprostatic, extraprostatic and perineal subcutaneous pressures were measured in 43 patients. Twenty-four patients had chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) and prostatic hyperplasia (group A), 10 patients had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (group B) and 9 patients served as controls (group C). The pressure measurements were performed with a Stryker pressure monitor under transrectal ultrasonographic control at three different points: perineal subcutaneous tissue, paraprostatic tissue and the apex of the prostate beneath the capsule. Significantly higher intraprostatic pressure values (Pu2009<u20090.001) were recorded in the patients with CNP compared with the BPH patients or the controls. We conclude that this novel method of measuring intraprostatic pressure, which has not been reported earlier, could be a new tool in the diagnosis of CNP and in the evaluation of the therapeutic effects of the different treatment modalities used in CNP.