Predisposing factors and treatment outcome in Fournier's gangrene. Analysis of 28 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the etiologic factors and the effects of surgical debridement and adjunctive therapies on morbidity and mortality of Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: 27 males, 1 female, a total of 28 patients with a mean age of 58 years treated for Fournier's gangrene were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Predisposing factors including diabetes, alcohol abuse, paraplegia and renal insufficiency were identifiable in 54% of the patients. Etiologic origin of the gangrene was urogenital, cutaneous and anorectal in 43, 25 and 11% of the patients, respectively. The pathology was limited to genitalia in 10, extending to perineum in 8, the umbilicus in 7 and even up to the axilla in 3 patients. Suprapubic cystostomy and colostomy were necessary in 18 and 2 cases, respectively. We used hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 2 and honey in 6 patients to accelerate wound healing. A repeat debridement was necessary in 39% of the cases. Plastic surgery and grafting were done in 14 patients. Our mortality rate was 7%. CONCLUSION: Early recognition of the pathology and aggressive surgical debridement are the mainstay of the management of Fournier's gangrene. Additional strategies to improve wound healing and increase patient survival are also needed.

Evaluation and treatment of penile fractures: accuracy of clinical diagnosis and the value of corpus cavernosography.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and feasibility of treatment on the basis of cavernosographic findings in men with clinical features consistent with penile fracture. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients (mean age 32 years, range 18 to 65) who presented with a history of blunt penile trauma and clinical signs and symptoms indicating penile fracture during the past 11 years were included. The charts of the first 13 patients, who were seen between 1990 and 1994 and were treated surgically on the basis of the clinical findings, were reviewed retrospectively. In the next 27 patients, a prospective study was designed and treatment was determined according to their cavernosogram findings: 21 with evidence of corporal injury treated surgically and 6 with normal imaging treated conservatively. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 32 months (mean 14). RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis of penile fracture was accurate in 11 of 13 patients and was false in 2 (15%). In the prospective study, corporal injury as determined by cavernosography was confirmed surgically in all cases. The cosmetic and functional results were satisfactory in all, including the patients treated conservatively. No serious complication was reported. CONCLUSIONS: In men with blunt penile trauma, the clinical presentation can be misleading and may result in unnecessary surgery. The results also demonstrated that cavernosography is a useful investigation method and may be helpful in selecting the treatment approach in these cases.

Neodymium:YAG visual laser ablation of the prostate: 7 years of experience with 230 patients.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the short and long-term outcome of neodymium:YAG visual laser ablation prostatectomy for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 230 patients with symptomatic BPH underwent visual laser ablation prostatectomy. Evaluation measures included the American Urological Association symptom score, maximum urinary flow rate, post-void residual urine volume and morbidity. RESULTS: Median followup was 36 months (range 6 to 79). Of the patients 220, 196, 180, and 167 were available at 6 months, 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Moreover, 98 patients were followed for a minimum 5 years. At 6 months maximum urinary flow rate increased from 6.7 to 17.9 ml. per second, post-void residual urine volume decreased from 159 to 52 ml. and the American Urological Association symptom score was reduced from 22 to 7.2. Improvement in the evaluation parameters also continued at 5 years. Early complications consisted of prostatitis, urinary retention, and bleeding in 6 (2.6%), 3 (1.4%) and 1 (0.4%) patient, respectively. Irritative symptoms persisting greater than 4 weeks were seen in 28 (12.2%) patients. Late complications were bladder neck contracture, urethral stricture, and urinary retention in 3 (1.4%), 2 (0.9%) and 2 (0.9%) patients, respectively. Of the 153 sexually active men 5 noticed erectile impotence at 6 months. There were 20 (12.0%) patients who reported retrograde ejaculation. The reoperation rate was 5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results further confirmed that visual laser ablation prostatectomy is a safe and effective treatment for BPH. It has minimal morbidity and durable therapeutic effects. However, the major disadvantage is postoperative irritative voiding symptoms.