Peter M. Braun

PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOMY VERSUS URETERAL STENTS FOR DIVERSION OF HYDRONEPHROSIS CAUSED BY STONES: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

PURPOSE Urinary diversion with percutaneous nephrostomy or ureteral stent is indicated by symptoms, such as persistent colic, high temperature and uremia, of hydronephrosis caused by stones. We evaluate which of these 2 methods is superior concerning the course of procedure, relief of accompanying symptoms and quality of life in regard to patient age and sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 40 patients with stone induced hydronephrosis were randomized into either percutaneous nephrostomy or stent insertion groups. These patients were then evaluated by procedure (use of analgesics, x-ray exposure, success of insertion), relief of accompanying symptoms (duration of diversion, intravenous administration of antibiotics for high temperature) and quality of life (questionnaire immediately and 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively). RESULTS Two comparable groups of patients were formed, with an average age of 55 versus 49 years and a male-to-female ratio of 12:8 versus 9:11 for those who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy versus those who received a stent, respectively. Percutaneous nephrostomy was successfully completed in 100% of patients and stents were successful in 80%, with a 20% conversion to percutaneous nephrostomy. The x-ray exposure was shorter in the percutaneous nephrostomy group (p = 0.052). Administration of analgesics was more frequent in the stent group (p = 0.061). Percutaneous nephrostomy indwelling time was shorter (50% less than 2 weeks) than that of stents (25% less than 2 weeks, p = 0.043). Antibiotics were administered for greater than 5 days in 0% of patients who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy versus 64% in those with stents (p = 0.174). Reduction in quality of life was moderate but more pronounced in patients with stents compared to those who underwent percutaneous nephrostomy, and was more distinct in males and younger patients. The quality of life progressively improved in the course of diversion with percutaneous nephrostomy but deteriorated with stents. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that percutaneous nephrostomy is superior to ureteral stents for diversion of hydronephrosis caused by stones, especially in patients with a high temperature, as well as in males and juveniles.

Effect of subthalamic deep brain stimulation on the function of the urinary bladder

Detrusor hyperreflexia is a relevant clinical symptom for patients suffering from Parkinsons disease. In a series of 16 patients, we demonstrated that subthalamic deep brain stimulation has a significant and urodynamically recordable effect leading to a normalization of pathologically increased bladder sensibility.

Functional Outcome Following Photoselective Vaporisation of the Prostate (PVP): Urodynamic Findings Within 12 Months Follow-Up

OBJECTIVES We determined the impact of potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser therapy of the prostate on urodynamic results, voiding function, quality of life, and sexual function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Forty-five patients complaining of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urodynamically proven obstructive voiding were included in the prospective study. Follow-up exams were repeated 3 mo and 12 mo after the treatment. INTERVENTION All patients underwent photoselective 80-Watt KTP laser vaporisation of the prostate performed by two experienced surgeons. MEASUREMENTS Disease-specific quality of life and sexual function were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Inventory of Erectile Function (IIEF). Video-urodynamics were carried out to determine changes in pressure flow and bladder function. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS The average preoperative prostate volume was 47.63 ml (range 30-75 m). The mean preoperative PSA-value, which had been 3.5 ng/ml (range 0.13-7 ng/ml) initially, dropped by 34.2% after 3 mo and 37.1% after 12 mo. Despite transient micturition complaints (40%), all patients showed significant improvement in the IPSS in urinary peak flow and detrusor pressure at peak flow. The mean post-void residual urine volume decreased, while erectile function and libido scores remained unaffected by the procedure according to the IIEF. Detrusor contractility was also not affected in any of the patients. The single-centre study design and small number of patients may have limited the study results. CONCLUSIONS KTP laser therapy of the prostate achieves significant improvements both symptomatically as well as with respect to objective micturition parameters. The procedure leads to a functional deobstruction of the lower urinary tract with steady improvement results throughout the follow up period.

Nocturnal tumescence: a parameter for postoperative erectile integrity after nerve sparing radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE The exact process and time required for rehabilitation of erectile function after nerve sparing prostatectomy remain unclear to date. Different theories of the pathophysiology of postoperative erectile dysfunction are currently being discussed. In a prospective study we performed recordings of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity during the acute phase after nerve sparing radical prostatectomy, ie in the first night after removal of the catheter, to assess the organic penile integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 27 patients with local prostate carcinoma who had been sexually active before the intervention, we performed unilateral or bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy. Preoperative sexual function of all patients was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire. On the day of catheter removal (postoperative day 7 to 14) an NPTR recording was performed on the following night with an erectometer (RigiScan). RESULTS All patients had a preoperative IIEF score greater than 18. After removal of the catheter 25 of 27 patients (93%) showed 1 to 5 nocturnal rigidity increases by greater than 70% for at least 10 minutes. In a control group of 4 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy without nerve sparing, no nocturnal erections were recorded. CONCLUSIONS NPTR recording during the acute phase after nerve sparing radical prostatectomy showed residual erectile function as early as the first night after catheter removal. These results are significant for selecting adequate pharmacological treatment for optimal therapy and rehabilitation of satisfactory erections and sexual function. In cases of early nocturnal tumescence, application of a PDE5 inhibitor can support successive organ rehabilitation. However, if tumescence does not occur, penile injection therapy is recommended.

Objective and Subjective Changes in Patients with Peyronie's Disease after Management with Shockwave Therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Very few reports have been published on the management of Peyronies disease by shockwave therapy. Existing publications on this topic are based on subjective improvement described by the patients themselves. Our aim was to determine objectively the effect of shockwave therapy on the signs and symptoms caused by Peyronies disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS To date, 65 patients (age 58.4 +/- 8.7 years) have been enrolled in a therapeutic pilot study. The disease duration was 33.7 +/- 42.9 months. Inclusion criteria were palpable plaque together with deviation, pain (visual pain scale), or loss of distal rigidity. Clinical examination (prior to first therapy and 1, 6, and 18 months after last shockwave delivery) included palpation and sonography of the plaque (mean surface size 2.2 +/- 1.1 cm(2)), measurement of deviation, assessment of pain and distal loss of rigidity (artificial erection induced by intracavernosal injection of 5 microg of alprostadil [Caverject]). Shockwaves (1,000 impulses at 12 kV per square centimeter of plaque) were delivered to the nonerect penis once a week for a period of 5 weeks with the Minilith; Storz Medical. RESULTS Eighteen months (N = 35) after the last shockwave session, the deviation angle had decreased from 59.3 degrees +/- 38.1 degrees to 49.3 degrees +/- 32.5 degrees (N = 24; P = 0.1496). Pain during erection disappeared in 15 of 17 patients and was reduced in 1 other patient (P < 0.0001). There was no effect on distal rigidity in any patient. Six patients achieved satisfactory sexual intercourse (vaginal penetration) before and 15 patients after shockwave therapy. The adverse effects were small skin hematomas in 90% of patients and initial transient macrohematuria in 30%. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates objective and subjective changes in patients with Peyronies disease after shockwave therapy. Artificial erection served as a control to assess improvement of the deviation angle.

Androgen receptor expression in clinically localized prostate cancer: immunohistochemistry study and literature review

AIM To evaluate androgen receptor (AR) expression in clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS Specimens were studied from 232 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostatic adenocarcinoma without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or chemotherapy at our institution between November 2001 and June 2005. Immunohistochemical study was performed using an anti-human AR monoclonal antibody AR441. The mean AR density in the hot spots of different histological areas within the same sections were compared and the correlation of malignant epithelial AR density with clinicopathological parameters such as Gleason score, tumor, nodes and metastases (TNM) stage and pre-treatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was assessed. RESULTS AR immunoreactivity was almost exclusively nuclear and was observed in tumor cells, non-neoplastic glandular epithelial cells and a proportion of peritumoral and interglandular stromal cells. Mean percentage of AR-positive epithelial cells was significantly higher in cancer tissues than that in normal prostate tissues (mean +/- SD, 90.0% +/- 9.3% vs. 85.3 +/- ?9.7%, P < 0.001). The histological score yielded similar results. The percentage of AR immunoreactive prostatic cancer nuclei and histological score were not correlated with existing parameters such as Gleason score, tumor, nodes and metastases stage and pre-treatment PSA value in this surgically treated cohort. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that there may be limited clinical use for determining AR expression (if evaluated in hot spots) in men with localized PCa.

Unilateral vs bilateral sacral neuromodulation in pigs with formalin-induced detrusor hyperactivity

To investigate the efficacy of unilateral vs bilateral sacral neuromodulation (SNM) under standard experimental conditions by stimulating the dorsal sacral roots in pigs with formalin‐induced detrusor hyperactivity.

Refluxing chimney versus nonrefluxing LeDuc ureteroileal anastomosis for orthotopic ileal neobladder: a comparative analysis for patients with bladder cancer.

PURPOSE Radical cystectomy and various techniques of urinary diversion are gold standard treatments for invasive bladder cancer. However, postoperative hydronephrosis is a common complication in these patients. A special focus was placed on the type of ureteroileal anastomosis used with 2 different techniques performed at 1 institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 1995 and 2003 a total of 106 consecutive patients with bladder cancer underwent cystectomy followed by construction of an ileal neobladder. The nonrefluxing technique of ureter tunneling described by LeDuc and the refluxing chimney technique used for ureter implantation into the ileum-neobladder were compared. Hydronephrosis due to ureteral strictures was studied immediately following surgery and up to 5 years after surgery. RESULTS A total of 204 RU were included in the study. The LeDuc technique was used in 132 RU (64%) and the chimney technique was used in 72 RU (36%). Hydronephrosis rate of 2% were found in each of the 2 groups after 5 years of followup. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative hydronephrosis due to ureteral strictures is observed at the same rate during long-term followup with the LeDuc and chimney techniques. We favor the chimney technique compared to the LeDuc tunnel due to easier technical preparation and a better chance to identify the ureters endoscopically at a later time. The chimney does give extra length to reach the ureteral stump, especially in cases of distal ureteral carcinoma in situ.

Penile Carcinoma (pT1 G2): Surveillance or Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection?

Background: Due to the low incidence of squamous cell penile cancer and lack of well-designed studies, controversies persist over the therapeutic approach in patients with pT1 G2 carcinoma. Patients and Methods: Between 1992 and 2003, 16 patients with T1 squamous penile cancer were treated in our institution either by surveillance or by inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND). Results: A total of 8 primary lesions were classified as pT1 G2 carcinoma with 4 tumors developing early or delayed inguinal metastatic disease. Conclusions: The natural behavior of pT1 G2 squamous penile carcinoma and its metastatic potential has been underestimated in recent literature. Since morbidity after early ILND has markedly decreased and its superiority over delayed ILND has been shown, we advocate the early modified inguinal lymph node dissection until strong prognostic factors for positive inguinal lymph nodes have been validated.

TAILORED LAMINECTOMY: A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR NEUROMODULATOR IMPLANTATION

PURPOSE Neuromodulation of sacral roots is an alternative mode of therapy for patients with urge incontinence or detrusor hypocontractility. We investigated the effects of sacral (S3) nerve stimulation in patients using a new surgical approach for sacral neuromodulator implantation. Modification of the implantation method with sacral laminectomy and bilateral electrode placement led to distinct improvement of stimulation, positioning and dislocation. We developed tailored laminectomy for bilateral neuromodulator electrode implantation to minimize surgical trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tailored laminectomy was performed in 6 patients with urge incontinence and 3 with a hypocontractile detrusor. After making a 10 cm. longitudinal skin incision we exposed the spinous processes of S2 and S3. Instead of complete 2-level laminectomy, only 2 oval laminectomy holes were made with a high speed ball drill. An electrode fixation hole was drilled at the edge of the laminectomy window and the wire was fixed with nonabsorbable suture material. RESULTS In patients with idiopathic urge incontinence (followup 12.5 months, range 7 to 18) the number of leaks decreased from 7.2 to 0 daily and functional bladder capacity increased from 298 to 352 ml. In patients with a hypocontractile detrusor (followup 10.5 months, range 6 to 20) detrusor pressure increased during voiding from 12 to 34 cm. water and post-void residual decreased from 350 to 58 ml. Average surgery time was 2 hours 15 minutes. In 1 case a seroma developed near the impulse generator. CONCLUSIONS Tailored laminectomy is a fast, minimally invasive and reliable technique for neuromodulator implantation.