Udo Engelmann

The Mainz Pouch (Mixed Augmentation Ileum and Cecum) for Bladder Augmentation and Continent Diversion

AbstractThe surgical technique for construction of the Mainz (mixed augmentation ileum and cecum) ileocecal pouch for bladder augmentation or continent urinary diversion focuses on 3 functional features: 1) creation of a low pressure reservoir of adequate capacity from cecum and 2 ileal loops, which are split open longitudinally, 2) antirefluxing ureteral implantation into cecum or ascending colon, achieved by a standard submucosal tunnel technique, and 3) in cases of bladder augmentation continence depends on competence of the bladder neck and urethral closure mechanisms, while in urinary diversion continent closure of the pouch is achieved by isoperistaltic ileoileal intussusception or implantation of an alloplastic stomal prosthesis.Of 11 patients with Mainz pouch bladder augmentation (5 of which were undiversions) 10 are completely dry day and night with normal intervals of bladder evacuation. Two patients with myelomeningocele are on intermittent catheterization for bladder evacuation, while the rema...

Radical cystectomy : Often too late?

From 1967 to 1985, 246 cystectomies for treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were performed. Perioperative mortality decreased from 15% in the early years to 0% in 1985. Preoperative radiotherapy was not given. Patients who underwent cystectomy immediately following the diagnosis of invasive bladder carcinoma had a significantly better prognosis than those having cystectomy after recurrence of a transurethrally resected invasive carcinoma in spite of identical G and T criteria. A total of 26 patients who were cystectomized because of tumor recurrence after definitive radiotherapy (salvage cystectomy) represented the group with the worst prognosis: they had a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. It is concluded from these results that recurrence of an infiltrating bladder tumor is an indication of poor prognosis. Early cystectomy after diagnosis of tumor infiltration can improve survival rates. Transurethral resection without adjuvant therapy cannot be regarded as reliable curative treatment of bladder cancer infiltrating the lamina propria (pT1). Modern surgical techniques of continent urinary diversion or total bladder replacement combined with sparing of the pelvic nerves (and thus preservation of potency) reinforce our view that radical cystoprostatectomy need no longer be regarded as mutilating surgery.

The mainz-pouch (mixed augmentation ileum 'n zecum) for bladder augmentation and continent diversion

SummaryThe ideal urinary reservoir constructed from bowel material should be a low-pressure system with a high capacity, capable of preventing upper tract deterioration resulting from ureteral obstruction or reflux. It should achieve reliable control of continence and assure easy emptying of the reservoir. In the Mainz-pouch, the combination of cecum and ileum, the latter of which is able to absorb pressure waves created by the cecum, produces a low-pressure system with a high capacity immediately postoperatively. By incorporating large bowel in our pouch, ureteral implantation can be done using a simple and reliable standard antireflux technique with a submucosal tunnel. The Mainz-pouch has been done since 1983 in 26 patients. Of these 11 were for bladder augmentation after subtotal cystectomy and 15 for continent urinary diversion. All of the patients with bladder augmentation are completely dry day and night; 2 patients with myelomeningocele are on intermittent catheterization for bladder evacuation. The remainder void spontaneously without significant residual urine. Of 15 patients with Mainz-pouch urinary diversion, 4 had an alloplastic stomal prosthesis implanted for control of continence and 11 have isoperistaltic ileo-ileal invagination, where by the invagination valve can easily be fixed to the intussuscepting ileum by sutures or staples. Of the 4 alloplastic stomal prostheses, 2 have been removed because of infection. In 1 of these patients, an ileo-ileal invagination was performed in the same operation to achieve continent closure. All patients with the invagination valve, as well as the 2 patients with an alloplastic stomal prosthesis, are completely continent, but in 3 cases, revision of the ileo-ileal invagination became necessary due to prolapse of the valve.

Immunotherapy in Bladder Cancer with Keyhole-Limpet Hemocyanin: A Randomized Study

A randomized, controlled study was begun in 1982 on the effect of keyhole-limpet hemocyanin and mitomycin C in the prevention of recurrent superficial bladder cancer (stages pTa to pT1, grades 0 to 3) in 44 patients. All tumors were resected and all patients were presumed to be free of tumor at initiation of the prophylactic instillations. Before the bladder instillation program was begun all patients in the keyhole-limpet hemocyanin group Ia were immunized with 1 mg. keyhole-limpet hemocyanin intracutaneously and then monthly bladder instillations of 10 mg. were given. The control group Ib received 20 mg. mitomycin C monthly. Of the 21 patients in the keyhole-limpet hemocyanin group Ia (mean followup 20.7 months) 3 (14.2 per cent) had recurrences, compared to 9 of 23 (39.1 per cent) in the mitomycin C group Ib (mean followup 18.3 months). The over-all preventive effect was significantly better (p less than 0.05, chi-square) in keyhole-limpet hemocyanin-treated patients than in those given mitomycin C. In 1984 a new single drug study (group II) was started with keyhole-limpet hemocyanin alone, administered as in group Ia. Of 81 patients in group II (nonrandomized, mean followup 22.8 months) 17 (20.9 per cent) had recurrences. Of the patients given keyhole-limpet hemocyanin 20 of 21 (95.2 per cent) in group Ia and 70 of 81 (86.4 per cent) in group II had complete and partial prevention (downgrading), compared to 16 of 23 (69.5 per cent) in group Ib. Our study was established to analyze the effect of a new method of immunotherapy; no adverse local or systemic side effects were noted.

MEASUREMENT OF VAGINAL AND MINOR LABIAL OXYGEN TENSION FOR THE EVALUATION OF FEMALE SEXUAL FUNCTION

PURPOSE Female sexual dysfunction is a new, rapidly expanding area of sexual medicine. Female sexual arousal disorder may, in part, be due to decreased pelvic blood flow. Therefore, we developed a simple noninvasive reproducible technique to measure vaginal and minor labial blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 12 healthy young women able to have orgasm through self-stimulation. Observations at orgasm were recorded in the 12 subjects after self-stimulation. Measurements were obtained intravaginally and on the minor labia using a modified Clark oxygen electrode to obtain partial oxygen pressure (pO(2)). RESULTS Mean basal vaginal value was 3.8 +/- 0.9 mm Hg and mean basal pO(2) on the minor labia was 18.3 +/- 3.7 mm. Hg. As soon as self-stimulation was initiated an increase in oxygen tension occurred and continued during sexual stimulation. Just before orgasm a further increase was noted with peak values measured immediately after the orgasm began (pO(2) 28.6 +/- 3.1 mm Hg intravaginally and 47.3 +/- 4.1 labial). Labial pO(2) measurement decreased relatively rapidly soon after orgasm. The time to return to basal vaginal values after orgasm varied from 20 to 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS Previously, changes in female sexual arousal responses have been difficult to evaluate and quantify clinically. We developed a simple noninvasive reproducible technique to measure vaginal and minor labial blood flow. Age based and cycle dependent normograms now can be produced for vaginal and labial blood flow using this method.

Future Options for Combination Therapy in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction in Older Men

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) has dramatically increased in parallel with the aging of the Western industrialised population. The estimated prevalence of ED worldwide in 1995 was 152 million men. As the population in industrial nations ages, an estimated 322 million men will be affected by ED by the year 2025. Oral drug therapy with the phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5 inhibitor sildenafil fails in some patients with ED; however, several different classes of drugs demonstrate efficacy in treating ED, creating the potential for pharmacological combination therapy.Pharmaceutical products that lead to the activation of or an increase in cyclic nucleotides (cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate), with or without nitric oxide donors or nitrates, as well as α-adrenoceptor antagonists, have been used to treat ED. Sildenafil has been used in combination with alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) and administered via intraurethral or intracavernous route. Successful intercourse using this combination of agents varies from 47% to 100% following failed monotherapy.Various combination therapies for ED are being studied using PDE5 inhibitors, together with other agents, α-adrenoceptor antagonists, and testosterone replacement therapy for men with hypogonadism. The combination of centrally acting agents with PDE5 inhibitors, e.g. a regimen of apomorphine plus PDE5 inhibitor, is an attractive approach because the two therapies target different mechanisms.New PDE5 inhibitors such as vardenafil should be tried first as therapy for sildenafil nonresponders before exploring any combination therapy options. Preliminary observations of combination therapy have been encouraging and provide a scientific rationale for prospective, randomised clinical trials with adequate numbers of patients.

Rapid Communication: Endoscopic Lithotripsy with a New Device Combining Ultrasound and Lithoclast

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Endoscopic lithotripsy is still the method of choice for a number of stones, especially large stones. Various disintegration techniques exist. We investigated the combination of two of these techniques: ultrasound and pneumatic lithotripsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fourteen consecutive patients with renal and one patient with bladder stones were treated with this new device. Ultrasound and pneumatic lithotripsy could be used independently or simultaneously. RESULTS Disintegration and stone removal was fast. The use of forceps or other instruments could generally be avoided. No complications attributable to the lithotripsy device were observed. CONCLUSION The combined ultrasound/pneumatic lithotripsy device is safe and highly effective. It reduces treatment time and enhances surgeons comfort.

Microscopic and biochemical fertility characteristics of semen after shockwave lithotripsy of distal ureteral calculi.

PURPOSE To elucidate the frequency and adversity of the effects of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) on the male reproductive system. We investigated the possible alterations in the quality of semen in patients treated by SWL for pelvic ureteral stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS The semen of 10 men was examined 1 day before and 5 and 90 days after SWL for distal ureteral stones, in accordance with the World Health Organisation guidelines. The results were compared with those from the semen samples of 10 healthy male volunteers undergoing SWL for calculi of the upper urinary tract. RESULTS Microscopic analysis of the semen samples revealed a transient decline in sperm density (24.7%), sperm motility (10%), sperm vitality (8%), and seminal fructose (27.5%) after SWL for distal ureteral stones. A distinctly higher number of spermatozoa of pathological origin was detected after SWL in the same group. There was no trace of microscopic hemospermia before shockwave treatment, but it was detected in 90% of the patients with lower ureteral calculi after SWL. Macroscopic hemospermia was detected in two of these nine patients. No deterioration of the semen characteristics and no hemospermia was observed after treatment in the control group with upper urinary stones. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations confirmed a transient deterioration in semen quality after SWL for distal ureteral calculi, whereas no deterioration was observed after SWL for upper ureteral stones. Impaired sperm quality values returned to normal within 12 weeks after SWL, clearly indicating a damaging effect of SWL on seminal vesicle or ejaculatory duct function. The initial procreative capacity was restored in all patients.

Experimental investigations on the absorption of intravesically instilled mitomycin C in the urinary bladder of the rat.

After ligation of ureters and urethra, male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated over 3 h with either 2 mg mitomycin C (MMC) intravesically (group I), or in conjunction with pre-instillation bladder electrocoagulation (group II) or iatrogenic Escherichia coli/xylene-induced severe cystitis (group III). Vesical absorption of MMC was investigated by measuring serum MMC up to 180 min postinstillation on the basis of a thin agar plate method. There was no statistically significant different with regard to the total amount of MMC absorbed between groups I and II. However, when groups I and III or II and III were compared, a significant differing transvesical absorption was calculated, being higher for the electrocoagulation than for the cystitis group. The possible clinical implication of this finding is discussed in connection with the most recent literature.

Diagnosis and follow-up of testicular carcinoma in situ by DNA image cytometry.

Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the testis has been described as precursor of all types of germ cell cancer except spermatocytic seminoma. At present the diagnosis of CIS is based on light microscopic examination of a testis biopsy specimen. A series of 50 infertile patients underwent both surgical testis biopsy and aspiration biopsy as part of a study protocol in order to assess spermatogenesis. In 1 patient embryonal carcinoma and contralateral CIS was diagnosed, in 1 patient bilateral CIS was discovered. Diagnosis of CIS was made by DNA image cytometry of the testis aspiration biopsy: a typical aneuploid cell population was shown consistent with malignancy. Follow-up was performed by repeated aspiration testis biopsies: DNA histograms showed complete absence of haploid cells consistent with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome in the patient with unilateral germ cell cancer and contralateral CIS treated with localized radiation. In the other patient no treatment was performed and DNA histograms continuously showed an aneuploid cell population consistent with persistent CIS. No invasive cancer developed within 4 years after diagnosis. Our results underline the potential use of DNA cytometry in the diagnosis and follow-up, of CIS of the testis offering the advantage of an objective and rapid technique.