SARS-CoV-2 and clinical urology. A brief review

Covid-19 disease is caused by the coronavirus of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2. The disease has evolved into a global pandemic that continues to this day. Coronavirus basically causes acute respiratory illness, the symptoms of which may remain milder even three months after the onset of this acute infection. Many patients also experience cardiological, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms that last for at least two months. Some patients report worsening of certain urinary symptoms. In this paper we investigate possible interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and urinary system.

Prostatic artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia during the COVID pandemic. A countermeasure to prostatic surgery cancellations

Purpose: To describe the utilization and role of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the COVID pandemic in a single tertiary center. Material(s) and Method(s): From March 2020 to November 2021, 105 patients with symptomatic BPH, were referred for evaluation for PAE as a result of cancellation of their scheduled surgery (transurethral resection or open prostatectomy) due to the COVID pandemic. The usual selection criteria for PAE were applied. Patients with indwelling bladder catheter (IBC) and severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were given priority over patients with moderate LUTS. For PAE, vascular access was gained via the femoral (4 French sheath) or left radial artery and PA was catheterized with a microcatheter (<=2.0 French). Embolization was performed with microspheres (100-300 and/or 300-500 microns, Embosphere, Merit Medical). Definition of clinical success was based on reduction of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of at least 25% from the baseline, or successful removal of IBC. Result(s): 65 patients (mean age: 71.5 years, mean prostatic volume: 90.6ml) eventually underwent PAE during the study period (IBC/severe LUTS: 31/34;unilateral/bilateral PAE: 14/51;radial/femoral access: 12/53 patients). All patients were discharged 3-10 hours post PAE. Clinical success rates were 98.5%, 90.2%, 80.2% and 80.2% at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months post PAE, respectively. Mean IPSS improvement was 52.8%. Complications (only minor: 12/65 patients) were managed on outpatient basis. Conclusion(s): During the COVID pandemic, PAE proved to be an effective countermeasure to prostatic surgery cancellations.