Dorsal oral mucosa graft in combination with ventral penile flap as an alternative to repair obliterative stenosis of the anterior urethra in a single surgical time

ABSTRACT Purpose: Obliterative urethral stenosis is a type of urethral lesion that compromises the whole corpus spongiosum's circumference. We present our experience in resolving complex long segment urethral obliteration in a single procedure using a combination of dorsal onlay oral mucosa graft (OMG) and ventral fasciocutaneous penile skin flap. Materials and methods: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed, which included data of men presenting long, obliterative strictures. Patients were excluded if they were lost to follow-up before one year. Failure was defined as need for further urethral instrumentation. The surgical technique used consisted on the fixation of OMG to the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum, thus creating a new urethral plate. Penile or foreskin flaps were employed to complete the ventral aspect. Postoperative follow-up was done with a voiding cystourethrography at week 3. Results: A total of 21 patients were included with a median age of 49 years. Mean follow-up was 25 months. Failure was found for 3 patients (2 of them needing dilations and only one required a new urethral reconstruction). Conclusion: Single stage combination of dorsal OMG with ventral fasciocutaneous penile flap showed good results for selected patients affected with obliterative urethral stenosis.

Safety and effectiveness evaluation of open reanastomosis for obliterative or recalcitrant anastomotic stricture after radical retropubic prostatectomy

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate safety, efficacy and functional outcomes after open vesicourethral re - anastomosis using different approaches based on previous urinary continence. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of patients treated from 2002 to 2017 due to vesicourethral anastomosis stricture (VUAS) post radical prostatectomy (RP) who failed endoscopic treatment with at least 3 months of follow-up. Continent and incontinent patients post RP were assigned to abdominal (AA) or perineal approach (PA), respectively. Demographic and perioperative variables were registered. Follow-up was completed with clinical interview, uroflowmetry and cystoscopy every 4 months. Success was defined as asymptomatic patients with urethral lumen that allows a 14 French flexible cystoscope. Results: Twenty patients underwent open re-anastomosis for VUAS after RP between 2002 and 2017. Mean age was 63.7 years (standard deviation 1.4) and median follow-up was 10 months (range 3 - 112). The approach distribution was PA 10 patients (50%) and AA 10 patients (50%). The mean surgery time and median hospital time were 246.2 ± 35.8 minutes and 4 days (range 2 - 10), respectively with no differences between approaches. No significant complication rate was found. Three patients in the AA group had gait disorder with favorable evolution and no sequels. Estimated 2 years primary success rate was 80%. After primary procedures 89.9% remained stenosis - free. All PA patients remained incontinent, and 90% AA remained continent during follow-up. Conclusion: Open vesicourethral re - anastomosis treatment is a reasonable treatment option for recurrent VUAS after RP. All patients with perineal approach remained incontinent while incontinence rate in abdominal approach was rather low.

Tratamiento Quirúrgico de la estenosis bulbomembranosa secundaria a fractura pelviana: resultados funcionales / Bulbomenbranous Urethral Stricture After Pelvic Fracture: Surgical Managment and Functional Outcomes

Objetivos: La incidencia de lesión uretral bulboprostática secundaria a fractura pelviana es del 5-10%. Una uretroplastia exitosa garantiza el comienzo de la rehabilitación de los pacientes. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en el manejo quirúrgico de la estenosis uretral secundaria a fractura pelviana y resultados funcionales: tasa de éxito, reestenosis, disfunción eréctil e incontinencia urinaria. Evaluamos si existe asociación entre la falta de erecciones postrauma y la reestenosis. Materiales y métodos: Cincuenta y tres pacientes fueron operados durante el período comprendido entre 2001 y 2015. Todos fueron estudiados con cistoscopia flexible, cistouretrografía retrógrada y miccional. La técnica quirúrgica empleada fue la resección y anastomosis primaria. Se utilizó siempre la sistemática del abordaje perineal progresivo para lograr una anastomosis sin tensión. Interrogamos sobre la calidad de las erecciones posterior al trauma y después de la cirugía, y su estado de continencia urinaria. Se realizó un análisis estadístico donde se evaluó si la falta de erecciones era un factor de riesgo para recaída. Resultados: La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 34,5 (r=17-67) años. La longitud promedio de la estenosis fue de 2,28 cm, siendo la uretra bulbomembranosa la más afectada (89%). La tasa de éxito fue del 86% (46/53), que asciende al 94% (50/53) al asociar un procedimiento endoscópico. Un solo paciente refirió disfunción eréctil postcirugía (1/19; 5,3%). Dos (3,7%) pacientes evolucionaron con incontinencia de orina de esfuerzo. No se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo de pacientes con erecciones y aquellos sin erecciones en cuanto a la posibilidad de reestenosis. Conclusiones: La anastomosis bulbomembranosa por vía perineal es el tratamiento de elección de la estenosis uretral postfractura pelviana. Los índices de incontinencia de orina y disfunción eréctil no aumentan significativamente luego de la uretroplastia. En nuestra experiencia, la falta de erecciones preoperatoria no predice mayor índice de recaídas(AU)

Objectives: Bulboprostatic urethral stricture after pelvic fracture occurs in about 5-10%. A successful urethroplasty guarantees the beginning of patient recovery. We present our experience in the surgical management of posterior urethral stricture after pelvic fracture and functional outcomes (success and failure rates, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence). The association between the lack of erections post-trauma and the incidence of restenosis was also evaluated. Materials and methods: 53 patients were operated between 2001- 2015. Preop workout included a flexible cystoscopy and a combination of retrograde and voiding cystourethrogram to define the site and length of urethral stricture. Resection and primary anastomosis was the technique always employed. In all cases the progressive perineal approach was followed in order to achieve a tension free anastomosis. Erectile function and urinary continence were evaluated before and after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate if lack of erections was a failure predictor. Results: Median age was 34.5 (r=17-67) years. Median urethral stricture length was 2.28 cm. Bulbomembranous junction was the most affected portion (89%). Success rate was 86% (46/53) ascending to 94% (50/53) when an endoscopic procedure was associated. One patient referred erectile dysfunction after surgery (1/19; 5.3%). Two patients (3.7%) developed stress urinary incontinence. The restenosis rate did not show statiscally differences between the erectile dysfunction and non-erectile dysfunction group. Conclusions: Perineal bulbomembranous anastomosis is the elected procedure for urethral stricture after pelvic fracture. Incidence of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are not significantly elevated after urethroplasty. In our experience, lack of erections before surgery does not predict a higher rate of restenosis(AU)

Resultados oncológicos en pacientes con cáncer de vejiga pT0 posterior a cistectomía radical / Oncological outcomes of Patients with pT0 Bladder Cancer after Radical Cystectomy

Introducción: El estadío pT0 del cáncer de vejiga implica la ausencia de enfermedad en la pieza de cistectomía radical (CR). El objetivo de este estudio es describir los resultados oncológicos de los pacientes con estadío pT0 posterior a CR por carcinoma urotelial de vejiga. Materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes sometidos a CR por cáncer de vejiga, en una sola institución, sin neoadyuvancia, entre junio de 2005 y julio de 2013. Se incluyeron aquellos pacientes con diagnóstico histológico de estadío pT0 pN0. Se estimó la sobrevida global, sobrevida cáncer-específica y sobrevida libre de recidiva con el método de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: De 254 pacientes cistectomizados, 17 presentaron estadío pT0 pN0 (6,7%). La mediana de edad fue 67 años (rango 49-85), 15 pacientes fueron hombres (88%). Los resultados patológicos posterior a resección transuretral de vejiga (RTUv) fueron 17% pT1 (n=3) y 83% pT2 (n=14). La mediana de tiempo entre RTUv y CR fue 60 días (rango 30- 95). Al 41% se le realizó derivación urinaria tipo Bricker y al 59%, una neovejiga. La mediana de estadía hospitalaria fue 8 días (rango 6-44). Se evidenció adenocarcinoma de próstata en 4 pacientes. La mediana de ganglios resecados fue 6 (rango 2-17). Ningún paciente recibió adyuvancia. La mediana de seguimiento fue 69 meses (rango 5-120). Un paciente presentó recidiva uretral a los 72 meses de la CR. La sobrevida cáncer-específica fue 100%, la sobrevida libre de recaída a 5 años fue 83,3% (intervalo de confianza [IC] de 95%: 53,5-100) y la sobrevida global a 5 años fue 82,4% (IC 95%: 64,7-100). Conclusión: El estadío pT0 del cáncer de vejiga presenta resultados oncológicos más favorables que los estadíos más avanzados. Sin embargo, la posibilidad de recurrencia existe, por lo que no se debe discontinuar el seguimiento de estos pacientes (AU)

Introduction: There are cases in which there is no evidence of disease in the radical cystectomy (RC) specimen (pT0 stage). The purpose of this study is to evaluate oncological outcomes of patients with pT0 bladder cancer after RC, in a single institution, without neo-adjuvant therapy. Materials and methods: Patients who underwent radical cystectomy from June 2005 to July 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had history of bladder urothelial carcinoma, treated with transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) and confirmed with pathological analysis. Study variables included TURB pathology, time to RC, and pathologic features. Overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated. Results: RC was performed on 254 patients; 17 patients (6.7%) had pT0N0 stage. Median age was 67 years (range 49-85 years); 15 patients were male (88%). TURB pathology specimens were 17% pT1 (n=3), and 83% pT2 (n=14). Median time between TURB and RC was 60 days (range 30-95). Seven patients (41%) received an ileal conduit, and ten patients (59%) received a neobladder. Median hospital stay was eight days (range 6-44). Prostate adenocarcinoma was found in four (23%) patients. Median resected lymph nodes were six (range 2-17). No patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 69 months (range 5-120 months). One patient had a urethral relapse 72 months after RC. There was no cancer-specific mortality. RFS at 5 years was 83.3% (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 53.5-100); OS at 5 years was 82.4% (CI 95%: 64.7-100). Conclusion: pT0 stage after radical cystectomy shows more favorable oncologic outcomes than higher stages. However, cancer recurrence was found in a low number of patients, thus, patient follow-up should be maintained (AU)

Overactive bladder - 18 years - Part I

ABSTRACT Abstract: Overactive bladder syndrome is one of the lower urinary tract dysfunctions with the highest number of scientific publications over the past two decades. This shows the growing interest in better understanding this syndrome, which gathers symptoms of urinary urgency and increased daytime and nighttime voiding frequency, with or without urinary incontinence and results in a negative impact on the quality of life of approximately one out of six individuals – including both genders and almost all age groups. The possibility of establishing the diagnosis just from clinical data made patients' access to specialized care easier. Physiotherapy resources have been incorporated into the urological daily practice. A number of more selective antimuscarinic drugs with consequent lower adverse event rates were released. Recently, a new class of oral drugs, beta-adrenergic agonists has become part of the armamentarium for Overactive Bladder. Botulinum toxin injections in the bladder and sacral neuromodulation are routine modalities of treatment for refractory cases. During the 1st Latin-American Consultation on Overactive Bladder, a comprehensive review of the literature related to the evolution of the concept, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management was conducted. This text corresponds to the first part of the review Overactive Bladder 18-years.

Overactive bladder - 18 years - Part II

ABSTRACT Traditionally, the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome has been based on the use of oral medications with the purpose of reestablishing the detrusor stability. The recent better understanding of the urothelial physiology fostered conceptual changes, and the oral anticholinergics – pillars of the overactive bladder pharmacotherapy – started to be not only recognized for their properties of inhibiting the detrusor contractile activity, but also their action on the bladder afference, and therefore, on the reduction of the symptoms that constitute the syndrome. Beta-adrenergic agonists, which were recently added to the list of drugs for the treatment of overactive bladder, still wait for a definitive positioning – as either a second-line therapy or an adjuvant to oral anticholinergics. Conservative treatment failure, whether due to unsatisfactory results or the presence of adverse side effects, define it as refractory overactive bladder. In this context, the intravesical injection of botulinum toxin type A emerged as an effective option for the existing gap between the primary measures and more complex procedures such as bladder augmentation. Sacral neuromodulation, described three decades ago, had its indication reinforced in this overactive bladder era. Likewise, the electric stimulation of the tibial nerve is now a minimally invasive alternative to treat those with refractory overactive bladder. The results of the systematic literature review on the oral pharmacological treatment and the treatment of refractory overactive bladder gave rise to this second part of the review article Overactive Bladder – 18 years, prepared during the 1st Latin-American Consultation on Overactive Bladder.

Neuromodulación: una alternativa terapéutica para las disfunciones miccionales / Neuromodulation: a therapeutic alternative for mictional dysfunctions

La neuromodulación mediante estimulación eléctrica de las raíces sacras (EERS) es una alternativa terapéutica no destructiva y reversible, indicada en pacientes con disfunción miccional crónica cuando los tratamientos conservadores han resultado ineficaces o mal tolerados. Esta estimulación logra influir sobre el comportamiento de la vejiga, del esfínter uretral externo y de los músculos del suelo pélvico. La estimulación es de tipo eléctrico y se ejerce mediante salvas de pulsos de corriente aplicada a la tercera raíz sacra (S3). El objetivo primordial de esta técnica es restablecer el patrón de micción normal