Spermatic cord torsion: a retrospective analysis

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the time interval and possible delay in transportation to referral units for the treatment of testicular torsion. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all cases of spermatic cord torsion surgically treated at a university hospital between January 2018 to December 2021. We evaluated the time intervals, including pain onset until the first presentation (D1), interhospital transference time (D2), pain onset until urological evaluation in a tertiary service (D3), urological evaluation until surgery (D4), and time from pain onset to surgical treatment (D5). We analyzed demographic and surgical data, orchiectomy rates, and time intervals (D1-D5). Torsions presented to the first medical presentation within 6h were considered early for testicular preservation. Results Of the 116 medical records evaluated, 87 had complete data for the time interval analysis (D1 to D5) and were considered the total sample. Thirty-three had D1 ≤6h, 53 had D1 ≤24h (includes patients in the D1 ≤6h subgroup), and 34 had D1 >24h. The median time intervals of the total samples and subgroups D1 ≤6h, D1 ≤24h, and D1 >24h were D1 = 16h 42min, 2h 43min, 4h 14min and 72h, D2 = 4h 41min, 3h 39min, 3h 44min and 9h 59min; D3 = 24h, 6h 40min, 7h and 96h; D4 = 2h 20min, 1h 43min, 1h 52min and 3h 44min; D5 = 24h 42min, 8h 03min, 9h 26min and 99h 10min, respectively. Orchiectomy rates of the total sample, subgroups D1 ≤6h, D1 ≤24h, and D1 >24h were 56.32%, 24.24% (p<0.01), 32.08% (p<0.01), and 91.18% (p<0.01), respectively. Conclusion Late arrival at the emergency department or a long interhospital transference time determined a large number of patients who underwent orchiectomy. Thus, public health measures and preventive strategies can be developed based on the data from this study aiming to reduce this avoidable outcome.

Prostate cancer awareness in the city of São Paulo / Conhecimento da população da cidade de São Paulo a respeito do câncer de próstata

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate awareness of prostate cancer in the population of the city of São Paulo. Methods: A total of 392 adults were randomly interviewed on public spaces in the city of São Paulo, and answered a questionnaire that addressed demographic questions and specific knowledge about the prostate cancer. A score was used to assess awareness of cancer in general, and of prostate cancer, considering satisfactory knowledge a score of 6 points. Results: The mean age was 36.9 years (standard deviation of ±12.6) and 58.2% of participants were male. No previous contact with information related to prostate cancer was reported by 45.5% of participants. For these cases, a greater proportion was observed among men aged over 50 years. As to the score, the mean was 3.7 (standard deviation of ±1.3), with a positive correlation among higher scores, higher income and education level. Less than 5% of participants believed they should only search for prostate cancer screening when symptomatic. Finally, among the less frequent responses to risk factors for prostate cancer, is "ethnic origin" (2.8%). Conclusion: Even though most participants did not have a satisfactory score, the level of awareness demonstrated in this study seems superior to that of other populational series. Hence it suggested the assessed population understood some essential concepts in prostate cancer, such as the importance of screening and the follow-up. The efforts made by the Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia on educational campaigns partially explain this. However, working in some concepts, like identifying risk factors for prostate cancer, might optimize screening outcomes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento da população da cidade de São Paulo em relação ao câncer de próstata. Métodos: Foram entrevistados randomicamente 392 adultos em espaços públicos da cidade de São Paulo, os quais responderam a um questionário que abordava questões demográficas e de conhecimentos específicos sobre o câncer de próstata. Um escore foi utilizado para avaliar o conhecimento de câncer em geral e do câncer de próstata, considerando um conhecimento satisfatório com escore de 6 pontos. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 36,9 anos (desvio-padrão de ±12,6), e 58,2% dos participantes eram do sexo masculino. Ausência de contato anterior com informações relacionadas ao câncer de próstata foi relatada por 45,5% dos participantes. Nesses casos, maior proporção foi observada entre os homens com mais de 50 anos. Quanto ao escore, a média foi 3,7 (desvio-padrão de ±1,3), com correlação positiva entre maiores escores e maiores renda e escolaridade. Menos de 5% dos participantes acreditavam que só deveriam procurar o rastreamento do câncer de próstata quando sintomáticos. Por fim, entre as respostas menos frequentes aos fatores de risco para câncer de próstata, encontrou-se "etnia" (2,8%). Conclusão: Embora a maioria dos participantes não tenha apresentado escore satisfatório, o nível de conhecimento revelado neste estudo parece superior ao de outros estudos populacionais. Assim, sugere-se que a população avaliada tenha compreendido alguns conceitos essenciais do câncer de próstata, como a importância do rastreamento e do acompanhamento. Os esforços da Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia nas campanhas educacionais explicam parcialmente isso. No entanto, trabalhar em alguns conceitos, como identificar fatores de risco para câncer de próstata, pode otimizar os resultados do rastreamento.

HRQOL related to urinary diversion in Radical Cystectomy: a systematic review of recent literature

ABSTRACT Introduction: The health-related QoL is a patient-centered evaluation covering several aspects. This evaluation seems to be particularly important in patients submitted to radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion with ileal conduit (IC) or a neobladder (NB). Objective: Review all recent data comparing QoL outcomes after radical cystectomy with NB and IC diversions. Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement in December 2018. All articles published from January 01, 2012 to December 31, 2018, were included. A study was considered relevant if it compared QoL outcomes using validated questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C30, FACT-G, FACT-BL, FACT-VCI, and BCI). Evidence Synthesis: In 11 included studies, a total of 1389 participants were accounted (730 NB and 659 IC cases). The studies were conducted in 8 different countries, two were prospective, and none was randomized. There were two studies favoring results with a neobladder, 3 with incontinent diversion and 6 with no differences. The EORTC-QLQ-C30 was the most used instrument (5 studies) followed by FACT VCI and BCI (3 studies each). Given the heterogeneity of data and lack of prospective studies, a meta-analysis was not performed. Conclusion: No superiority of one urinary diversion was characterized. It seems that the choice must be individualized with an extensive preoperative orientation of the patient and their relatives. That will probably influence how the patient accepts the new condition.

PSA kinetics before 40 years of age

ABSTRACT Purpose: The baseline PSA has been proposed as a possible marker for prostate cancer. The PSA determination before 40 years seems interesting because it not suffers yet the drawbacks related to more advanced ages. Considering the scarcity of data on this topic, an analysis of PSA kinetics in this period seems interesting. Materials and Methods: A retrospective assay in a database of a private diagnostic center was performed from 2003 to 2016. All subjects with a PSA before 40 years were included. Results: 92995 patients performed PSA between the ages of 21 - 39. The mean value ranged from 0.66 ng / mL (at age 22) to 0.76 ng / mL (at age 39) and the overall mean was 0.73 ng / mL. As for outliers, 3783 individuals presented a baseline PSA > 1.6 ng / mL (p95). A linear regression model showed that each year there is a PSA increase of 0.0055 ng / mL (β = 0.0055; r2 = 0.0020; p < 0.001). A plateau in PSA between 23 and 32 years was found and there were only minimal variations among the ages regardless of the evaluated percentile. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that PSA kinetics before 40 years is a very slow and progressive phenomenon regardless of the assessed percentile. Considering our results, it could be suggested that any PSA performed in this period could represent the baseline value without significant distortions.

Idiosyncratic reaction after injection of polyacrylate - polyalcohol copolymer

ABSTRACT Context: Polyacrylate-polyalcohol copolymer is a synthetic product, non-biodegradable, with low rate of therapeutic failure and lower incidence of reactions at the site of injection, when compared to biodegradable agents. We report an unprecedent, exuberant and persistent inflammatory reaction following injection of that substance. Patient: a 17 years-old patient with vesico-ureteral reflux and complete pyelocaliceal right duplication was submitted to treatment with polyacrylate-polyalcohol copolymer (STING technique). In the seventh day of post-operatory, she presented intense dysuria and hypogastric pain, without laboratory exams alterations; a symptomatic treatment was started. After two months, the symptoms persisted and an ultrasound detected thickening of bladder wall close to the uretero-vesical junction. After that exam, a cystostopic biopsy showed epithelial hyperplasia with increased edema of lamina propria, suggesting an adverse reaction to the polymer. After four months, there was complete remission, but the reflux persisted with the same grade. Hypothesis: This is an unprecedent reaction following injection of this copolymer. The presence of characteristics such as absence of infection, temporal relation between treatment and beginning of symptoms, and detection of epithelial hyperplasia at the local of injection reinforce the hypothesis of association of the substance and adverse reaction. In that patient, important complains motivated early investigation of urinary tract, that confirmed those aspects. Maybe if that reaction had occurred in patients with lower capacity of expression (such as in infants) it would be unnoticed.

A safe teaching protocol of LRP (Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy)

ABSTRACT Purpose The LRP has a steep learning curve to obtain proficiency during which patient safety may be compromised. We present an adapted modular training system which purpose to optimize the learning curve and perform a safe surgery. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of the LRP safe learning protocol applied during a fellowship program over eight years (2008-2015). The surgery was divided in 12 steps and 5 levels of difficulty. A maximum time interval was stipulated in 240 minutes. After an adaptation, the fellows had 120 minutes to perform all the corresponding modules to its accumulated skill. The participants gradually and safely pass through the steps and difficulty levels. Surgeries performed by fellows were analyzed as a single group and compared to a prior series performed by tutor. Results In eight years, 250 LRP were performed (25 per apprentice) during fellowship program and 150 procedures after completion. The baseline characteristics were comparable. Most cases operated were of intermediate risk. Mean operative time was longer in the fellow group when compared to the tutor (150 min). Mean estimated blood loss were similar among the groups. Functional and oncological outcomes were better in the Tutor's group. No conversion to open surgery was performed. Conclusions The LRP safe learning protocol proved to be an effective method to optimize the learning curve and perform safe surgery. However, the tutor's functional and oncological results were better, showing that this is a procedure with a steep learning curve and proficiency demands more than 25 cases.

Prevalência de marcadores sorológicos de hepatite B em pacientes internados para tratamento de alcoolismo em uma unidade de saúde mental do oeste catarinense / Prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B in patients admitted for alcohol treatment in a mental health unit of the western Santa Catarina

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de marcadores sorológicos do vírus da hepatite B com alcoolistas internados na Unidade de Saúde Mental do Hospital Regional (USMHR) de Palmitos, região oeste do estado de Santa Catarina. Foram coletada 68 amostras de material biológico para a realização dos marcadores sorológicos HBsAg, anti HBc total e anti HBs da hepatite B no período de novembro de 2009 a março de 2010. Destes, 63 (92,6%) eram do gênero masculino com idade entre 21 a 70 anos (média de 47 anos) e 5 (7,4%) do gênero feminino com idade de 22 a 53 anos (média de 42 anos)Verificou-se uma positividade de 2,9% para os marcadores sorológicos HBsAg e anti HBc total , 47,1% do marcador anti HBs e anti HBc, 14,7% para o anti HBc isolado.19 (27,9%) alcoolistas apresentaram resultado não reagente para nenhum marcador(suscetíveis). estes resultados sugerem um aumento significativo dos marcadores sorológicos no grupo dos alcoolistas, demonstrando uma maior suscetibilidade dos mesmos para adquirirem a infecção pelo HBV, ressaltando assim a importância de se vacinar o grupo suscetível, como medida preventiva, principalmente por se tratar de uma doença em que as chances de infecção aumentam com a idade.