The Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy with Alpha-Blocker and Low-Dose Propiverine Hydrochloride for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Accompanied by Overactive Bladder Symptoms

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined therapy with an alpha-blocker (tamsulosin 0.2 mg) and low-dose anti-cholinergics (propiverine HCl 10 mg) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) accompanied by overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 119 male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with prostate volume of 20 ml or greater, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of more than 8, and OAB symptoms from May 2007 to April 2008. Patients with post-void residual volume (PVR) over 100 ml were excluded. Among these patients, 74 patients were treated with tamsulosin 0.2 mg plus propiverine HCl 10 mg (group A) and 45 patients were treated with tamsulosin 0.2 mg only (group B). The clinical parameters, including IPSS, quality of life (QoL) score, uroflowmetry, and PVR were re-evaluated after 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients, including 70 in group A and 45 in group B, completed the study. IPSS, QoL score, voided volume, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and PVR showed significant improvement after 3 months of treatment (p0.05). Changes in the QoL score were -1.9+/-1.1 and -1.5+/-0.9 for group A and group B, respectively (p=0.043). Changes in all other parameters were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For those patients with LUTS due to BPH and concomitant OAB, combination therapy with an alpha-blocker (tamsulosin 0.2 mg) and low-dose anti-cholinergics (propiverine HCl 10 mg) may be a reasonable and effective therapeutic option as an initial therapy.

Results of Microorganism Detection by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and the significance of microorganisms as the causative factor of CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of 19 possible causative microorganisms of prostatitis in 849 patients who had prostatitis symptoms from April 2007 to March 2009 by using multiplex PCR. All of the enrolled patients were category III by the definition of the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Workshop. RESULTS: Of the 849 patients, 414 (49%) and 435 (51%) were categories IIIa (inflammatory CPPS) and IIIb (noninflammatory CPPS). On multiplex PCR, using the third voided urine specimen (VB3), 369 (89%) of the 414 category IIIa and 367 (84%) of the 435 category IIIb cases were found to have positive PCR results for causative microorganisms. The common microorganisms were Enterococcus, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Chlamydia trachomatis in 173 (18%), 144 (15%), 129 (13%), 78 (8%), and 69 cases (7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were too many positive PCR results for causative microorganisms in the CPPS patients despite negative urine culture examination. Therefore, it is necessary to rule out contamination of the specimen to achieve reliable results with multiplex PCR. However, multiplex PCR can detect various unknown microorganisms suggestive of the etiology of CPPS, particularly those that are difficult to cultivate. PCR is expected to play an important role in the diagnosis of CPPS, but further studies will be required to define the usefulness of molecular tests.

Iatrogenic Ureteral Injury: When and How to Treat?

Iatrogenic ureteral injury is a complication that can occur during a variety of pelvic or abdominal surgeries. The most frequent causes are gynecological ones, followed by colon and vascular surgeries. Management of ureteric injury depends on the time of diagnosis and the severity of organ damage. Injuries diagnosed intraoperatively should be treated immediately. Occasionally, intraoperative ureteral injury is overlooked, and symptoms of the late diagnosis of ureteral injury are usually nonspecific; therefore, the diagnosis is delayed for days or weeks postoperatively. Management of injuries diagnosed postoperatively is more complex. There are differing opinions on whether an initial conservative or immediate operative intervention is the best line of action. Delayed repair is suggested on the grounds that it will reduce inflammation and tissue edema. However, many authors are in favor of early repair, perhaps because tissue planes are easier to find before fibrosis becomes too dense. Ureteral injuries occurring at the level of the pelvic brim should be best managed with an end-to-end anastomosis, preferably around a ureteric stent. More distal injuries also should be ideally managed with an end-to-end anastomosis, after excision of the crushed or compromised segments. However, if the remaining distal segment is short, ureteral reimplantation is the procedure of choice. The Boari flap technique for ureteral reimplantation is invaluable in cases with a short proximal segment. Delayed recognition of iatrogenic ureteral injury may be associated with serious complications, so prompt recognition of ureteral injuries is important. Recognition of the injury before closure is the key to easy, successful, and complications-free repair. Increased awareness of the risk for ureteral damage during certain operative maneuvers is vital to prevent injury, and to decrease the incidence of iatrogenic injury. A sound knowledge of abdominal and pelvic anatomy is the best prevention.

Adenocarcinoma Arising in Augmented Bladder / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Adenocarcinoma arising in an augmented bladder is a relative rare neoplasm. We report here on 2 cases of adenocarcinoma that developed in augmented bladders 23 and 30 years after ileocystoplasty, and both tumors were associated with contracted bladder due to tuberculosis. We also reviewed the literatures related to neoplasms occurring after urinary diversion procedures.