Yoon Soo Hah

Prostatic Urethral Angulation Associated With Urinary Flow Rate and Urinary Symptom Scores in Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the prostatic urethral angle (PUA) on the peak flow rate (Qmax) and urinary symptoms in the clinical setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS The records were obtained from a prospectively maintained database for first-visit men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Uroflowmetric measurements, postvoid residual urine volume, and International Prostate Symptom Score were assessed. The prostate-related parameters, including prostate volume, PUA, and intravesical prostatic protrusion, were measured using transrectal ultrasonography. Patients with comorbidities that can affect voiding function or in whom the PUA could not be measured were excluded. RESULTS A total of 316 patients were included. On multivariate linear regression analysis, the PUA (P = .002) was independently associated with the International Prostate Symptom Score. However, the International Prostate Symptom Score was not influenced by patient age, prostate volume, or intravesical prostatic protrusion. The mean PUA was significantly different according to symptom severity. The mean PUA was 42.2° ± 7.0°, 45.5° ± 9.1°, and 47.3° ± 8.6° in patients with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively (P = .004, analysis of variance). Although the PUA (P <.001) and patient age (P <.001) were independent predictors of Qmax, the prostate volume and intravesical prostatic protrusion did not affect the Qmax. The mean PUA was 52.2° ± 7.3° in patients with a Qmax <10 mL/s, 45.0° ± 7.9° in those with a Qmax ≥10 mL/s but <20 mL/s, and 39.8° ± 7.9° in those with a Qmax of ≥20 mL/s (P <.001, analysis of variance). CONCLUSION The results of our study has shown that the PUA is significantly associated with the Qmax and symptom scores in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Our findings suggest that the PUA should be considered in the treatment of male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Factors Associated with Complications of the Ureteral Stump After Proximal Ureteroureterostomy

PURPOSE Ureteroureterostomy is a treatment modality for managing an ectopic ureterocele or ectopic ureter and preserving upper pole kidney function. However, the development of urinary tract infection at the residual ureteral stump is a concern. We analyzed factors affecting the development of urinary tract infection at the residual ureteral stump after proximal ureteroureterostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2002 and December 2009 proximal ureteroureterostomy was performed in 80 patients with ectopic ureterocele or ectopic ureter associated with a duplex system. Excluding 6 patients who did not meet the study inclusion criteria, we investigated age at operation, diameter of the upper pole ureter on ultrasonography, differential renal function and the presence of vesicoureteral reflux in 74 patients. Risk factors for residual ureteral stump infection and decreased differential renal function were analyzed. RESULTS During a median followup of 5.0 years an additional operation was required in 9 patients (12.2%) due to urinary tract infection at the residual ureteral stump a median of 2.4 years after initial proximal ureteroureterostomy. The preoperative maximal diameter of the upper pole ureter was significantly greater in patients with infection complications. The postoperative maximal diameter of the upper pole ureter was also significantly greater on postoperative ultrasonography performed a median 43.0 days after the operation. Median preoperative and postoperative differential renal function was 47.8% and 47.0%, respectively. No preoperative factors were significantly related to the decrease in differential renal function. CONCLUSIONS Proximal ureteroureterostomy is a safe treatment for ectopic ureterocele or ectopic ureter with a low postoperative complication rate. Upper pole ureter diameter was correlated with the development of a urinary tract infection at the residual ureteral stump.

Correlation of Prostatic Urethral Angle with the Severity of Urinary Symptom and Peak Flow Rate in Men with Small Prostate Volume

Purpose To evaluate the effects of prostatic anatomical factors on male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the peak flow rate (Qmax) in patients with small prostate volume (PV). Materials and Methods Records were obtained from a prospectively maintained database of first-visit men with LUTS. Patients whose total PV (TPV) was greater than 30 mL were excluded; 444 patients were enrolled in the study. The TPV, transitional zone volume (TZV), transitional zone index (TZI), intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), and prostatic urethral angle (PUA) were measured by transrectal ultrasonography. LUTS were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) questionnaires. Uroflowmetric measurements were also made. Results PUA (r = 0.269, P<0.001), TZV (r = 0.160, P<0.001), and TZI (r = 0.109, P = 0.022) significantly correlated with the IPSS. Qmax (r = −0.334, P<0.001) and OABSS (r = 0.211, P<0.001) correlated only with PUA. In a multivariate regression analysis, PUA and age were independently associated with IPSS, OABSS, and Qmax. For IPSS of 20 or greater, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PUA was 0.667 and the cut-off value was 43.7°. When Qmax was 10 mL/s or less, the AUC of PUA was 0.664 and the cut-off value was 43.5°. Conclusions PUA has a significant association with symptom severity and Qmax among prostatic anatomical factors analyzed in men with LUTS and small PV. PUA should be considered as an important clinical factor in male LUTS management. Furthermore, the impact of PUA on response to medical treatment and disease progression needs to be investigated.

Clinical implications of a feeling of incomplete emptying with little post-void residue in men with lower urinary tract symptoms

It remains unclear why patients suffer from a feeling of incomplete emptying despite no or little post‐void residual (PVR). Accordingly, we evaluated the clinical implications thereof in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Does Hydronephrosis After Extravesical Ureteral Reimplantation Deteriorate Renal Function

PURPOSE We analyzed whether newly developed or aggravated hydronephrosis deteriorates differential renal function after extravesical ureteral reimplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed extravesical ureteral reimplantation in 93 patients with unilateral vesicoureteral reflux between January 2006 and December 2009. Excluding 3 patients with other combined disease, a retrospective cohort analysis of 90 consecutive patients was conducted. We performed ultrasonography before and 1 month after extravesical ureteral reimplantation, and dimercapto-succinic acid scan before and 6 months after extravesical ureteral reimplantation. Of the patients 83 underwent final dimercapto-succinic acid scan at 6 months postoperatively. We analyzed the preoperative studies and perioperative parameters to evaluate the factors affecting newly developed or aggravated hydronephrosis at 1 month, and decrease in differential renal function at 6 months after extravesical ureteral reimplantation. RESULTS Newly developed or aggravated hydronephrosis was observed in 25 patients (28.4%) 1 month after extravesical ureteral reimplantation. Younger age at surgery was a risk factor (p = 0.003). Of the patients 23 showed improvement on ultrasound 6 months postoperatively. In 12 patients (15.7%) a decrease in differential renal function of more than 5% was observed 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative parenchymal reduction on dimercapto-succinic acid scan was the only significant factor (p = 0.008). There was no correlation between newly developed or aggravated hydronephrosis and final decrease in differential renal function (p >0.999). CONCLUSIONS Although newly developed or aggravated hydronephrosis after extravesical ureteral reimplantation is common, especially in younger patients, it is transient and does not affect differential renal function. A postoperative decrease in differential renal function without further urinary tract infection could develop when there is a parenchymal reduction on preoperative dimercapto-succinic acid scan.

Time to Disease Recurrence Is a Predictor of Metastasis and Mortality in Patients with High-risk Prostate Cancer Who Achieved Undetectable Prostate-specific Antigen Following Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Background Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a feasible treatment option for high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). While patients may achieve undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after RARP, the risk of disease progression is relatively high. We investigated metastasis-free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) outcomes and prognosticators in such patients. Methods In a single-center cohort of 342 patients with high-risk PCa (clinical stage ≥ T3, biopsy Gleason score ≥ 8, and/or PSA levels ≥ 20 ng/mL) treated with RARP and pelvic lymph node dissection between August 2005 and June 2011, we identified 251 (73.4%) patients (median age, 66.5 years; interquartile range [IQR], 63.0–71.0 years) who achieved undetectable PSA levels (< 0.01 ng/mL) postoperatively. Survival outcomes were evaluated for the entire study sample and in groups stratified according to the time to biochemical recurrence dichotomized at 60 months. Results During the median follow-up of 75.9 months (IQR, 59.4–85.8 months), metastasis occurred in 38 (15.1%) patients, most often to the bones, followed by the lymph nodes, lungs, and liver. The 5-year metastasis-free, cancer-specific, and OS rates were 87.1%, 94.8%, and 94.3%, respectively. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis revealed time to recurrence as an independent predictor of metastasis (P < 0.001). Time to metastasis was an independent predictor of OS (P = 0.003). Metastasis-free and CSS rates were significantly lower among patients with recurrence within 60 months of RARP (log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion RARP confers acceptable oncological outcomes for high-risk PCa. Close monitoring beyond 5 years is warranted for early detection of disease progression and for timely adjuvant therapy.

An evidence-based evaluation of health information on erectile dysfunction from 10 nationwide daily newspapers in Korea.

Purpose A rapid growth in the socioeconomic status of Koreans has triggered an unprecedented explosion of health information for the general population. Despite its obvious benefits, this increase in information could also result in potentially harmful effects for both consumers and professionals who do not use it appropriately. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the quality and accuracy of health information on erectile dysfunction from 10 nationwide daily newspapers. Materials and Methods This study analyzed health information from 10 nationwide daily newspapers in Korea from January 2011 through December 2011. We reviewed the health information for quality by using evidence-based medicine tools and evaluated the accuracy of the information provided. Articles that simply summarized scientific congresses or journal articles and that did not include direct quotations were excluded, as were advertisements. Results A total of 47 articles were gathered. Among them, 27 (57.4%) contained inaccurate or misleading statements on the basis of an evidence-based medicine evaluation. These statements included using inappropriate surrogate outcomes as clinical endpoints (three cases, 6.4%), extrapolating nonhuman results to humans (two cases, 4.3%), exaggerating the significance of results (eight cases, 17.0%), and using incorrect words (14 cases, 29.8%). The rate of error was higher in the information from Korean sources than in that from international sources (22 cases vs. 5 cases). Conclusions Approximately 57% of all articles on erectile dysfunction from 10 nationwide daily newspapers were found to contain inaccuracies.