The Urethroplasty Evolution and Rise of the Non-transecting Techniques for Bulbar Urethral Strictures / Evolución de la uretroplastia y auge de las técnicas no transectoriales para las estenosis uretrales bulbares

Urethral stricture disease is a relatively common urologic condition with an estimated incidence of 9/100,000 men younger than 65 years. The risk of stricture is markedly increased in patients older than 65 years with an incidence of 21/100,000, which is almost half the incidence for urolithiasis in this population. This indicates the importance and high burden of strictures.[1] Symptomatic patients typically present with obstructive urinary symptoms (e.g., incomplete emptying, straining, weak stream, etc.) and occasionally have a history of recurrent infections, hematuria, bladder stones, or renal failure.[2] More than half of strictures arise in bulbar urethra.

La estenosis uretral es una afección urológica relativamente frecuente, con una incidencia estimada de 9/100.000 varones menores de 65 años. El riesgo de estenosis aumenta notablemente en los pacientes mayores de 65 años, con una incidencia de 21/100.000, que es casi la mitad de la incidencia de urolitiasis en esta población. Esto indica la importancia y la elevada carga de las estenosis.[1] Los pacientes sintomáticos suelen presentar síntomas urinarios obstructivos (por ejemplo, vaciado incompleto, esfuerzo, chorro débil, etc.) y, en ocasiones, tienen antecedentes de infecciones recurrentes, hematuria, cálculos vesicales o insuficiencia renal.[2] Más de la mitad de las estenosis surgen en la uretra bulbar.

Radial Artery Pseudoaneurysm following Transradial Artery Coronary Angiography: A case report

OBJECTIVE@#This report aims to raise physician clinical awareness of radial artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) and promote early recognition of this potentially serious complication. The article highlights various proposed treatment strategies in the management of this condition. @*BACKGROUND@#Radial artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare potentially serious complication following transradial artery coronary angiography for left heart catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention. Risk factors associated with the development of RAP include multiple arterial puncture attempts, use of systemic anticoagulation, inadequate hemostasis following post-procedural compression, vascular site infection, use of larger sheaths, female gender, age of 70 years and older, diabetes mellitus, obesity and/or patients with high body mass index.1-3 Conservative medical treatment and/or surgical repair are the primary therapeutic approaches in the management of RAP. @*CONCLUSION@#Transradial artery access is associated with a significantly lower risk of major bleeding and vascular access site complications, reduces morbidity and mortality compared with the transfemoral approach. It is important to recognize though that complications do still occur with the transradial approach. RAP is one such entity wherein prevention is key - with adequate post-procedural compression, frequent observation, and careful assessment of the radial access site.

Assessment of physician practice regarding coronary risk factor identification and management

BACKGROUND: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is closely associated with several major risk factors including many that can be modified or eliminated. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking and obesity are among these. Early identification of these risk factors gives the physician opportunities for primary and secondary prevention of CAD.OBJECTIVE: To assess the practice of physicians with regards identification and management of risk factors of patients with CAD at the Makati Medical Center.METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and one (201) patients admitted at the Makati Medical Center from July 2001 up to December 2001 with symptomatic or objective evidence of myocardial ischemia during treadmill exercise and angiographic findings of CAD were assessed. Identification and management of the different risk factors by the physicians were reviewed.RESULTS: Of the 201 patients 167 (83 percent) were male, 65 (32 percent) were over 65 years old and 7 (3 percent) had strong family history of CAD. One hundred twenty seven (63 percent) had hypertension, 77 (38 percent) had diabetes mellitus, 96 (47 percent) had dyslipidemia, 113 (63 percent) were obese and 103 (51 percent) were smokers. Active management was done for the hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Only 39 percent of the smokers were off the habit for more than a year and only 19 percent of the obese received counseling for weight loss and exercise.CONCLUSION: All patients identified with hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus were placed on appropriate diet and medications, patients with smoking problems and obesity were less consistently managed with smoking cessation approaches and weight losing manipulation through diet and exercise.

Inhaled nitric oxide as therapy for pulmonary hypertension in postoperative cases of congenital heart defects.

This is a prospective study using inhaled nitric oxide (NO) as a selective pulmonary vasodilator in postoperative cases of CHD. From February 1995 to December 1995, NO was used selectively in 10 patients postoperatively in whom conventional management of PAH crisis failed and PA pressures were more than half the systemic pressure. The age of the patients varied from 2 months to 3 years and duration of NO inhalation ranged from 1 day to 13 days. Of 10 patients, 8 patients responded well with 5-20 ppm and 2 did not respond, even after increasing the NO to 120 ppm. The preoperative mean pulmonary systolic pressure was 83 +/- 17.1 mm Hg against mean systemic systolic pressure of 84 +/- 9.2 mm Hg. Postoperatively, their PA pressure reduced to 54 +/- 16.1 mm Hg (mean systolic) with systemic pressure of 85 +/- 15.9 mm Hg (mean systolic). After using inhaled NO, PA pressure dropped to 19 +/- 2.5 mm Hg mean systolic (p < 0.0078), after excluding the nonresponders. The two nonresponders died postoperatively. Our study shows that NO selectively reduces the PA pressure unlike conventional vasodilators. This helps to decrease the incidence of postoperative PAH crisis, thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality. However, long-term beneficial effects are yet to be studied.

Ectopic pregnancy in King Fahd Hofuf hospital: a five year experience

Out of a total of 45,836 deliveries over a five-year period [1986-1990], 128 cases of ectopic pregnancy [0.28% incidence] managed during this period was compared with other previously published data in terms of presentation and management. There were no maternal deaths among the cases treated. The age distribution was 16-44 years with higher incidence 46 [36%] occurring in the range of 25-30. One hundred thirty [93%] were multipara. The presenting complaints included pain [100%], vaginal bleeding [78.4%] and amenorrhea [39.8%]. The most consistent clinical finding was cervical excitation tenderness [88%]. Ultrasonography [88%] and laparoscopy [50%] were adjunctive only to history and physical examination which was found to be most important in the diagnosis. Detection of an adnexal mass separate from the ovaries with or without hemoperitoneum was diagnostic of ectopic pregnancy. One hundred two [79.6%] diagnosed as rupture, 17 [13%] as aborted and five [3.9%] as intact. With the changing picture of ectopic pregnancy, one case each was initially diagnosed as appendicitis, urinary tract infection and anemia and admitted in the medical ward before further review confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. The sites of implantation included 123 in ampulla [96%], one each in ovary, cornual and cervix with two diagnosed as having abdominal pregnancy. The predisposing factors include pelvic inflammatory disease [22.6%], previous ectopic [10.2%] and recent IUCD [9%], but none insitu at the time of ectopic. Our treatment of choice is salpingectomy but 12% had salpingo-oophorectomy for various reasons, while total abdominal hysterectomy was performed for the cervical pregnancy for uncontrollable hemorrhage

review of late fetal deaths in Al-Hassa: a retrospective study

Cases of late intratureine fetal deaths seen at King Fahad Hofuf Hospital during one year were reviewed. Grand multiparity accounted for the largest number of cases while diabetes mellitus was the most important associated factor. Our late fetal death rate of 12.6 per 1000 compares favorably with other published data from the Kingdom, but much more could be done to improve the figures