Timothy P. Bukowski

In utero surgical treatment of fetal obstructive uropathy: a new comprehensive approach to identify appropriate candidates for vesicoamniotic shunt therapy.

OBJECTIVES We present a new approach to prenatal evaluation and prediction of renal function and long-term outcomes for fetuses considered candidates for in utero surgery. STUDY DESIGN A review of 34 cases of obstructive uropathies was made, with analysis of our approach to prenatal evaluation, the predictive value of urinary electrolytes and protein analysis in identifying renal dysplasia, and the outcomes of cases with and without in utero surgical intervention. RESULTS Ten of 11 pregnancies that were terminated had dysplasia; one female had cloacal dysgenesis. In three of eight unshunted cases megacystis resolved after vesicocentesis. Eight of 15 shunted fetuses survived. Of those predicted to have good postnatal outcome, six of six demonstrated good postnatal renal function. Of those predicted to have poor outcomes, two of two had poor postnatal renal function and dysplasia. Seven of 15 shunted fetuses died, four of four predicted to have dysplasia were confirmed, and three died of nonrenal causes. CONCLUSIONS Our prenatal approach successfully differentiated fetuses with underlying renal dysplasia from those without irreversible damage who subsequently benefited from in utero vesicoamniotic shunt placement.

Acquired Rectourethral Fistula: Methods of Repair

Rectourethral fistulas are a rare but devastating complication of urinary or rectal surgery, trauma or inflammation. Historically repair has posed a challenge because of technical difficulties and the high incidence of recurrent fistulas. We report 7 cases of acquired rectourethral fistulas of varying etiology (3 after prostatectomy, 3 after trauma and 1 after recurrent perineal abscess), which were managed by various means. Our data and those in the literature suggest that the first attempt at repair is the best and subsequent repairs become increasingly difficult; the York Mason approach allows easy accessibility with minimal risk of complications and the best chance for a functionally successful outcome when a vascularized flap is not required, and some cases may have such a low probability of successful resolution of the fistula as well as maintenance of urinary continence that cystectomy and supravesical diversion are appropriate considerations.

Fetal Therapy for Obstructive Uropathy: Specific Outcomes Diagnosis

AbstractPurpose: Attempts to evaluate prenatal vesico-amniotic shunt therapy have been hampered by inconsistencies in patient selection, treatment and termination criteria, and outcomes measurement. Outcomes have generally been measured against those of patients with postnatally detected posterior urethral valves. The purpose of this report was to evaluate the influence of the underlying diagnosis on the clinical outcomes of fetuses undergoing evaluation for prenatal intervention for suspected obstructive uropathy. Furthermore, specific outcomes diagnosis was compared to the published natural history of these disorders to begin to establish a basis for measuring the efficacy of prenatal intervention.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 55 consecutive patients undergoing prenatal evaluation using structured outcome measures stratified by specific diagnoses to provide a comparison to the reported natural history for each underlying disorder.Results: All fetuses had early onset ...

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND PREGNANCY IN WOMEN WHO UNDERWENT ANTIREFLUX SURGERY IN CHILDHOOD

PURPOSE For several decades ureteroneocystostomy has been performed in children to correct primary vesicoureteral reflux. A purported indication for antireflux surgery is to prevent significant upper urinary tract infection during pregnancy. We performed a long-term followup of women who underwent antireflux surgery during childhood to determine outcome in regard to urinary tract infection history and pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified 227 women of childbearing age who underwent ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux from 1964 through 1981. Of the 122 women contacted 41 had been pregnant (77 total pregnancies). Cystitis or asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyelonephritis developed during 18 and 5 pregnancies, respectively. The 77 pregnancies resulted in 57 term births, 7 voluntary pregnancy interruptions and 13 spontaneous abortions. RESULTS Patients who previously underwent successful antireflux surgery continued to have a significant number of urinary tract infections through the intervening years. Despite a higher than expected incidence of pyelonephritis, they had relatively little hypertension and renal insufficiency. During pregnancy the incidence of pyelonephritis was only slightly higher than that of the general population. However, severe complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, premature birth and acute renal failure, occurred more frequently in women with a history of renal scarring or hypertension (7 of 12) than in those with a history of recurrent infection alone (3 of 10). CONCLUSIONS When renal scarring is present, reflux should be corrected before pregnancy to minimize maternal and fetal morbidity. When scarring is not present, the literature suggests that women with a history of reflux are at increased risk for pyelonephritis during pregnancy whether or not ureterocystostomy was performed. Pregnant women with a history of reflux may benefit from prophylactic antibiotics and women with reflux nephropathy should be followed throughout life.

Is There a Best Alternative to Treating the Obstructed Upper Pole

PURPOSE We addressed whether salvage of upper pole renal units in comparison to partial nephrectomy affects differential renal function in patients with a duplicated obstructed upper pole. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children who underwent surgery for a unilateral obstructed duplicated kidney at our institution from 1988 to 1995. Patients were evaluated with respect to postoperative complications, reoperation rate and percent change in differential renal function of the obstructed duplicated kidney, as determined by nuclear renography. RESULTS We identified 46 patients with a unilateral obstructed upper pole of a duplicated kidney who were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (12 patients) underwent an upper pole salvage procedure, that is ureteropyelostomy or ureteroureterostomy, and group 2 (31 patients) underwent partial nephrectomy. Three reoperations (25%) were performed in group 1 and 1 (4%) was done in group 2. Postoperative symptomatic urinary tract infections were diagnosed in 3 group 1 patients (25%) and in 2 (8%) in group 2. Average change in ipsilateral renal function in the 8 patients who underwent upper pole salvage procedures was 2.25 +/- 2.34% (range -6 to 12). In the 8 patients who underwent upper pole nephrectomy and who also had postoperative renal scans average change in function was -1.25 +/- 4.51% (range -23 to +16). CONCLUSIONS There was no statistically significant loss of relative renal function in patients treated with partial nephrectomy and no significant gain in relative renal function in those treated with an upper pole salvage procedure. The reoperation rate was higher in the upper pole salvage than in the partial nephrectomy group (25 versus 4%). While not statistically significant, we believe that this rate is clinically important. We think that partial nephrectomy should remain the preferred treatment for most patients with obstructed duplicated kidneys.

Epididymitis in Older Boys: Dysfunctional Voiding as an Etiology

Although male infants and young boys with epididymitis have a high incidence of anatomical pathology, dysfunctional voiding is not a well established cause of epididymitis. In our series 36 boys with epididymitis underwent noninvasive urodynamic studies to determine whether a physiological defect could be assigned as an etiology. The 2 mechanisms proposed are similar to that in children with vesicoureteral reflux associated with dyssynergia or bladder instability and to a cause of recurrent urinary tract infection in children (the infrequent voider syndrome). Urinalysis and urine culture are recommended in all children with epididymitis and urethral swabs are obtained from those who are sexually active. We recommend renal/bladder ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography in all infants and young children with epididymitis. In the older child we advocate detailed questioning regarding voiding symptoms and the performance of noninvasive urodynamic studies.

THE INFECTED URACHAL CYST: PRIMARY EXCISION VERSUS A STAGED APPROACH

PURPOSE We compared outcomes following single or 2-stage repair of infected urachal cysts in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the records of 17 patients 1 day to 14 years old (median age 22 months) with a urachal cyst. Immediate cyst excision was performed in 6 patients without infection, while those with an abscess underwent single or 2-stage repair. RESULTS Median postoperative hospital stay for the urachal abscess group was 14 and 11.5 days for single and 2-stage procedures, respectively. After immediate excision postoperative complications developed in each case, although none occurred with a 2-stage approach. CONCLUSIONS In the absence of infection, urachal cyst excision affords the most benign postoperative course. However, when infection is present, perioperative drainage with subsequent total excision, including a cuff of bladder, may offer the most effective surgical option.

Testicular Autotransplantation: A 17-Year Review of an Effective Approach to the Management of the Intra-Abdominal Testis

PURPOSE Patients with intra-abdominal testes represent a small but challenging group who require innovative therapy. We report our 17-year experience with testicular autotransplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Testicular autotransplantation was performed in 23 patients with 27 intra-abdominal testes. RESULTS The success rate was 96% and average operative time was 4.25 hours with 40 to 90 minutes for vascular anastomoses. A contralateral Fowler-Stephens procedure had previously failed in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS Since the variability of collateral blood supply in patients with high undescended testes may potentially compromise the Fowler-Stephens procedure, we believe that testicular autotransplantation should be strongly considered in such patients, particularly those with bilateral undescended testicles.

Use of Urinary Beta-2-Microglobulin to Predict Severe Renal Damage in Fetal Obstructive Uropathy

PURPOSE Establish a clinically relevant threshold for urinary beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) to predict the presence of several renal damage in fetuses with obstructive uropathies. METHODS Retrospective review was conducted of urinary beta 2m levels, clinical outcomes, and pathological findings in 36 fetuses evaluated for presumed obstructive uropathy. Patients were divided into those free of renal injury (group 1, n = 13) and those with clinical or pathological evidence of severe irreversible renal injury (group 2, n = 23). RESULTS Including all patients, a threshold beta 2m value of > 6 was able to predict the presence of severe renal damage with a 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity. beta 2m levels tended to decrease with increasing gestational age among those patients without renal injury (group 1), while beta 2m levels increased among those with severe renal damage (group 2). There was no difference in mean beta 2m levels in those < 20 weeks (p = 0.065) while there was a high degree of difference in those > 20 weeks of gestation (p < 0.001). In those > 20 weeks, a threshold of > 10 predicted the presence of severe renal damage with 100% sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS Urinary beta 2m, especially in the fetus > 20 weeks, may be a clinically useful marker to detect the presence of severe renal damage due to obstructive uropathy and thus be an important adjuvant in the proper selection of fetuses for antenatal intervention.

Long-term intravesical oxybutynin chloride therapy in children with myelodysplasia.

PURPOSE We evaluated the clinical use of long-term intravesical oxybutynin chloride in the treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children with myelodysplasia who could not tolerate oral anticholinergics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients recommended for intravesical oxybutynin chloride therapy. A total of 12 girls and 18 boys 1 to 17 years old was recruited for study. Oxybutynin chloride (5 mg.) was instilled 2 times daily and pretreatment cystograms were compared to followup urodynamic studies. Duration of therapy was 2 to 26 months (mean 13, median 12). RESULTS Mean total capacity plus or minus standard deviation increased from 209 +/- 103 to 282 +/- 148 ml. (p < 0.01), mean safe capacity increased from 157 +/- 105 to 234 +/- 147 ml. (p < 0.01) and mean age adjusted safe capacity increased from 76 +/- 36 to 115 +/- 62%. Of the 29 patients who were incontinent 3 (10%) achieved continence and 19 (65%) reported a decreased use of sanitary pads. None of the patients had systemic side effects related to intravesical treatment. CONCLUSIONS We believe that intravesical oxybutynin chloride is a viable treatment option for patients with myelodysplasia in whom oral therapy fails.