Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of nonpalpable testis

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of the cryptorchid testicle is justified due to the increased risk of infertility and malignancy as well as the risk of testicular trauma and psychological stigma on patients and their parents. Approximately 20 percent of cryptorchid testicles are nonpalpable. In these cases, the videolaparoscopic technique is a useful alternative method for diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present data concerning 90 patients submitted to diagnostic laparoscopy for impalpable testicles. Forty-six patients (51.1 percent) had intra-abdominal gonads. In 25 testicles of 19 patients, we performed a two stage laparoscopic Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy. The other 27 patients underwent primary laparoscopic orchiopexy, in a total of 29 testicles. RESULTS: We obtained an overall 88 percent success rate with the 2 stage Fowler-Stephens approach and only 33 percent rate success using one stage Fowler-Stephens surgery with primary vascular ligature. There was no intraoperative complication in our group of patients. In the laparoscopic procedures, the cosmetic aspect is remarkably more favorable as compared to open surgeries. Hospital stay and convalescence were brief. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric age group, the laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible. Furthermore, the laparoscopic orchiopexy presents excellent results in terms of diagnosis and therapy of the impalpable testis, which is why this technique has been routinely incorporated in our Department.

Urogenital involvement in the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome: treatment options and results

OBJECTIVE: Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (KTWS) is a congenital condition characterized by vascular malformations of the capillary, venous and lymphatic systems associated to soft tissue and bone hypertrophy in the affected areas. This syndrome may involve bladder, kidney, urethra, ureter and genitals. We report the treatment of 7 KTWS patients with urogenital involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2005, 7 patients with KTWS were evaluated and the charts of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS: PatientsÆ median age was 19-years (range 4 to 46-years) and only 1 was female. The clinical presentation included genital deformities in 3 cases, hematuria in 2 and urethrorragia in 2, one of which associated with cryptorchidism and phimosis. Three patients had an association of pelvic and genital malformations, including 2 patients with hematuria due to vesical lesions and 1 patient with left ureterohydronephrosis due to a pelvic mass. Two patients had urethral lesions. Treatment included endoscopic laser coagulation for 1 patient with recurrent hematuria and 1 patient with urethrorrhagia, pelvic radiotherapy for 1 patient with hematuria and circumcision in 2 patients with genital deformities. One patient required placement of a double-J catheter to relieve obstruction. Hematuria and urethrorragia were safely and effectively controlled with laser applications. Circumcision was also effective. The patient treated with radiotherapy developed a contracted bladder and required a continent urinary diversion. CONCLUSIONS: Urogenital involvement in patients with KTWS is not rare and must be suspected in the presence of hematuria or significant cutaneous deformity of the external genitalia. Surgical treatment may be warranted in selected cases.

Tratamento da hiperplasia supra-renal congênita por deficiência da 21-hidroxilase / Treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia by 21-hydroxylase deficiency

O tratmento da hiperplasia supra-renal congênita por deficiência da 21-hidroxilase (HSRC-21 OH) tem como objetivos repor glico e mineralocorticóides, ecitar a virilizaçäo dos genitais externos, prevenir a desidratacao por perda de sal, controlar o hiperandrogenismo sem afetar a velocidade d crescimento, preservar a funçäo gonadal, fertilidade e estatura final. Relatamos a nossa experiência no acompanhamento de 96 pacientes com HSRC-21OH. nas crianças utilizamos como glicocorticóide o acetato de cortisona (18-20 mg/m2/dia) e nos adultos a dexametasona (0,25-0,75 mg/dia). quando necessário, a reposiçäo do mineralocorticóide foi feita com 9 alfa-fluor-hidrocortisona50-250µg/dia dependendo da faiza etária. Apesar da substiruiçäo adequadacom glico e/ou minerolocorticides o resultado final do tratamento da HSRC-21OH ainda deixa a desejar, principalmente em relaçäo ao crescimento, já que a estatura final na maior parte das caduísticas está entre -1 e -2 DP em relaçäo a estatura alvo. Novas terapêuticas da HSRC-21OH, como a associaçäo de hidrocortisona, fludocortisona , flutamida e tstolactona ou a supra rrenalectomia cirúrgica, ainda estäo em fase experimental e a evoluçäo a longo prazo é necessária para avaliar seu real efeito.

Cholelithiasis in cirrhotic patients (analysis of cholelithiasis among patients with liver cirrhosis in Säo Paulo, Brazil)

During the past 20 years, several authors have reported increased prevalence of cholelithiasis in liver cirrhosis. This biliary disease has been implicated with the deterioration of liver function, liver disease of alcoholic origin or even the presence of hypersplenism in this patient population. This study analyzes the incidence and possible factors which are responsible for promoting cholelithiasis in cirrhosis. The study included 110 cirrhotic patients of a private center specialized in treating liver diseases. The incidence of cholelithiasis was 27.3 per cent (25.3 per cent in males and 33.3 per cent in females). There was no correlation between liver function defined by Child's classification or through the laboratory examinations (AST, ALT, AP, GGT, PT, Alb, TB, DB, PA) and the presence of gallstones. No evidence was found that the etiology of cirrhosis or the presence/absence of hypersplenism affected the prevalence of cholelithiasis in this population. In conclusion, an increased prevalence of cholelithiasis was verified in this population of cirrhotics but the pathogenesis is still obscure.

Patogênese da retençäo de sódio em cirróticos / Pathogenesis of sodium retention in cirrhotics

Os cirróticos desenvolvem durante a evoluçäo natural da doença anormalidades na excreçäo de sódio. Mecanismos envolvidos na patogênese desse processo säo complexos e se caracterizam por reduzidos fluxo renal, pressäo de perfusäo e índice de filtraçäo glomerular, além de acentuadas anastomoses arteriovenosas. Ao mesmo tempo, hipotensäo arterial, débito e índice cardíacos elevados, com menor resistência vascular periférica, ocorrem. Na fase mais avançada, observa-se maior ativaçäo do sistema simpático, secreçäo aumentada de renina-angiotensina-aldosterona, além de substâncias vasoconstritoras, como leucotrienos, tromboxane e vasodilatadores, como prostaglandina, endotelina I, fator natriurético atrial e cininas. O caráter desses distúrbios hemodinâmicos, humorais e renais säo discutidos neste artigo

Complicaçöes neurológicas em cirróticos / Neurological complications in the cirrhotic patients

Alteraçöes histológicas do sistema nervoso central ocorrem em cirróticos, relacionados à gravidade da insuficiências hepática. As mais comumente observadas säo atrofia, edema, proliferaçäo de astrócitos protoplasmáticos tipo II (Alzheimer) degeneraçäo e perda de células nervosas, necrose laminar ou pseudolaminar do córtex cerebral e polimicrocavitaçäo da funçäo branco-cinzenta, descritas em pacientes que faleceram em coma hepático. Essas anormalidades se encontram associadas com encefalopatia hepática de manifestaçäo clínica ou evoluçäo subclínica (latente). Todos esses pacientes mostram distúrbios neuropsicológicos, correlacionados com medidas eletrofisiológicas, induzidos por fatores metabólicos, exteriorizáveis por ressonância magnética e tomografia cerebral computadorizada. Esses sinais neuroradiológicos säo reversíveis após transplante de fígado, fase em que outras alteraçöes neuropatológicas podem ser observadas. Essas, säo induzidas pelo uso de fármacos imunossupressores, tais como ciclosporina e FK-506. Outras complicaçöes nessa fase säo encefalopatia, crises, infartos cerebrais, hemorragia intracraniana, meningoencefalite, mielinólise pontina central e absessos. Tais aspectos säo comentados neste artigo