The tension-free transvaginal tape procedure in the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence: a French prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in a prospective multicentre study (five centres) the preliminary results regarding efficacy and morbidity of the new tension-free transvaginal tape (TVT) technique in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence (USI) in women. METHODS: From November 1996 to May 1999, 52 women of mean age 64 (range 37--91) years underwent the TVT procedure to treat isolated grade 2 or 3 USI (44 cases) or grade 1 or 2 USI associated with uterine or rectal prolapse surgery (8 cases). Twenty-nine patients (55.8%) presented recurrent USI (1--4 previous procedures). Clinical data showed urethrovesical junction hypermobility in 35 cases (67.3%), isolated intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) in 17 cases (32.6%) and pelvic organ prolapse in 8 cases. Urodynamics confirmed ISD in 27 cases (51.9%) with a mean urethral closure pressure of 18.5 (range 7--25) cm H(2)O. All data were collected by surgeons on a questionnaire. RESULTS: The surgical procedure was performed under spinal cord anaesthesia in 82.7% of patients (local anaesthesia 11.5%) with a mean operation time of 30 (range 20--60) min for TVT implantation. Six bladder injuries (11.5%) were identified and the needle was repositioned. Mean hospital stay was 2.5 (range 1-7) days in the group who underwent TVT alone. Mean follow-up of continence was 15.2 (range 6--36) months: 83% of patients were dry and 17% were improved. Nine patients (17.3%) required self-catheterization for 2--10 days postoperatively. No recurrence of USI, defect healing or tape rejection were reported. CONCLUSION: TVT is a new technique for the surgical treatment of USI which is useful for recurrent cases. The advantages are simplicity, low morbidity, reproducibility and reduced operative time. These early results indicate the technique is effective in correcting incontinence and is locally well tolerated. But these are preliminary data and the long-term outcome on USI and the urethra is needed.

[Repair of female urinary incontinence with prolene "TVT": preliminary results of a multicenter and prospective survey]. / Cure d'incontinence urinaire féminine par bandelette de prolène "TVT": résultats préliminaires d'une enquête multicentrique et prospective.

OBJECTIVES: A multicentre, prospective study (6 private centres, 1 general hospital and 1 teaching hospital) was conducted to evaluate the perioperative morbidity and short-term functional results of the TVT procedure in the treatment of the female urinary stress incontinence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From November 1996 to September 1999, 120 patients with a mean age of 65.2 years (range: 37-91) were operated according to the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) technique for isolated urinary stress incontinence (stage 2 or 3) in 94 cases and associated with pelvic tone disorder in 26 cases. 59 patients (49.2%) presented recurrence of urinary incontinence that had already been operated between 1 and 4 times. Physical examination demonstrated hypermobility of the urethra in 73 cases (60.8%), isolated clinical sphincter incompetence in 47 cases (39.2%) and pelvic tone disorders in 31 cases. Urodynamic studies, performed in 113 patients, demonstrated sphincter incompetence in 65 cases (57.5%) with a mean maximum urethral closure pressure of 18 cmH2O (range: 5-29). RESULTS: The operation, performed under spinal anaesthesia in 97 cases (80.8%), general anaesthesia in 16 cases (13.3%) and local anaesthesia in 7 cases (5.8%) lasted an average of 28.7 min (range: 15-60) for insertion of the TVT. Perioperative complications consisted of twelve bladder injuries (10%) and two pelvic haematomas (1.7%). No cases of infection, erosion or migration of the tape were reported. In the group of 94 patients operated exclusively by TVT, the mean hospital stay was 2.6 days (range: 1-7). Twelve patients (10%) required self-catheterization for 2 to 30 days. With a mean follow-up of 15.2 months (range: 36-6), continence was restored in 104 patients, corresponding to a cure rate of 86.7%. A marked improvement was obtained in 11 cases (9.2%) and five cases (4.2%) were considered to be failures. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure is a new approach to the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. Its advantages are its simplicity, the rapidity of the technical procedure and the short-term efficacy on continence. A longer follow-up is essential to assess to the functional outcome and the long-term urethral tolerance.

A randomized comparison of the clinical and hormonal effects of two GnRH agonists in patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were (i) to compared the efficacy of the two long-acting GnRH agonists (GnRHa) triptorelin (Trp) and leuprolide (Leu) in men with prostate cancer and (ii) to assess the pattern of plasma testosterone levels following each injection of GnRHa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 67 patients referred for prostate cancer not suitable for surgery were randomly allocated to two treatment regimens: 33 patients received 3.75 mg Trp i.m. at 4-week intervals for 3 months and 34 patients were treated with 3.75 mg Leu s.c. at the same rhythm of administration for 3 months. RESULTS: Clinical data at entry and assessed monthly during follow-up did not differ between the two groups. Plasma prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone were measured before, 24 and 72 h after each injection of GnRHa. During treatment, PSA dropped similarly in both groups. By month 2, testosterone was < 1.0 nmol/l in 77 and 48% of patients treated with Trp and Leu, respectively (p = 0.02). 24 and 72 h after GnRHa injection, 77 (Trp) and 56% (Leu) of patients had testosterone < 1.0 nmol/l (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The second and third injections of GnRHa were not followed by a significant increase in testosterone. Trp induced a higher decrease in testosterone than did Leu. The implications in terms of survival should, however, be studied in a larger and longer study.

[Urethroplasty using a free full thickness skin graft for stenosis of the bulbar or bulbo-membranous urethra]. / Urétroplastie par greffe libre de peau totale pour sténose de l'urètre bulbaire ou bulbo-membraneux.

Nineteen patients with urethral stricture involving the bulbar urethra were treated by a one-stage free full-thickness skin graft urethroplasty. Results with one year follow-up: excellent: 16--fair: 1--poor: 2. These results are slightly altered with 5 years follow-up: excellent: 12--fair: 3--poor: 3. An urethrotomy was necessary for three patients.

[A critical study of the prognosis of renal adenocarcinoma and an attempted classification. Apropos of a series of 322 cases]. / Etude critique du pronostic de l'adénocarcinome rénal et essai de classification. A propos d'une série de 322 dossiers.

The prognosis of adult renal adenocarcinoma was evaluated by analyzing 322 cases treated by extensive nephrectomy (1979-1988). Five-year actuarial survival curves showed that prognosis was closely correlated with anatomic spread: no clear prognostic significance could be ascribed to venous invasion but involvement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes proved to be nearly as negative a prognostic factor as metastatic disease. The grade of malignancy also had a major impact on prognosis. Because the TNM classification, although accurate, is difficult to use and relies solely on descriptive data, a simple five-stage classification is proposed but remains to be validated. The classification system advocated by Robson groups stages with very different outcomes and consequently seems unhelpful.

[Oncocytic tumors of the kidney. 11 cases (1978-1987)]. / Tumeurs rénales oncocytaires. Onze cas (1978-1987).

Analysis of this series of cases reveals the following points: complementary investigations (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) sometimes suggest the diagnosis, the oncocytic nature is often a surprise pathological finding, it is difficult to determine whether the lesion is a pure oncocytoma and the exact grade cannot be determined on frozen section, the choice between radical surgery and conservative surgery is made even more difficult, the study of the course of the disease raises the question of whether the term of oncocytoma should not be reserved to low grade tumours.

[Renal autotransplantation. An exceptional solution for salvage of the kidney following failure of surgery of bilateral megaureter]. / L'auto-transplantation rénale. Solution exceptionnelle de sauvetage du rein après éche de la chirurgie d'un méga-uretère bilatéral.

The authors report the case of a patient with primary bilateral mega-ureter presenting with recurrent pyelonephritis due to reflux occurring after 3 successive reimplantations. Transposition of the right kidney into the homolateral iliac fossa allowed correct anti-reflux with a good clinical, radiological and bacteriological result with a follow-up of 3 years. Renal auto-transplantation represents a last resort solution in certain extreme situations when other simpler procedures are impossible and when preservation of the kidney is essential (solitary kidney or bilateral lesions).

[Vesical replacement by ileo-caecal graft detubulized after total prostato-cystectomy]. / Remplacement vésical par greffon iléo-caecal détubulisé après prostatocystectomie totale.

Following total prostato-cystectomy, the nearest substitute to a physiological reservoir is a constructed ileo-caecal pouch. The non-mesenteric sides of the caecum and ileum are incised on a length of 15 cm for each apex of the caecum which is anastomosed with the urethra, respecting the striated sphincter. The ureters are implanted into the caecal portion of the pouch. Owing to the length of the ileo-caecal mesenterium, this technique can be used in every case of prostato-cystectomy. Twelve cases followed up for 6 to 18 months are reported.

[Current strategy in the treatment of urinary calculi since the introduction of the EDAP lithotripter]. / Stratégie actuelle dans le traitement des lithiases urinaires depuis l'implantation du lithotripteur EDAP.

The extracorporeal lithotripter has radically changed the treatment of urinary stones. Three-hundred and seventy-four stones in 356 patients were treated over an eight-month period. Extracorporeal lithotripsy (262 cases) is mainly indicated in pelvic and calyceal stones measuring less than 2.5 cm, stones located in the lumbar ureter and previously flushed, and some stones of the pelvic ureter. Analysis of results showed that extracorporeal lithotripsy achieved fragmentation in 80% of cases and complete elimination 3 months after the procedure in 70% of cases. Repeat procedures were needed in 23% of patients. Complementary procedures were required to relieve obstruction in 4% of patients. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy now has very few indications but remains useful in large pelvic stones, failures of EDAP (7 cases), and some staghorn stones with few ramifications. Open surgery (24 cases) is still useful for complex staghorn stones, soft stones in febrile patients, calyceal stones with destruction of the neighboring renal parenchyma, incarcerated lumbar stones, and stones associated with an obstructive malformation of the urinary tract. Ureteroscopy (69 cases) proved highly reliable in stones located in the pelvic ureter. An improvement, therefore, but no miracle.

[Use of the laser in urology]. / Application du laser en urologie.

The usage of laser therapy in urology is based upon thermal effects that lead to tissue destruction by coagulation necrosis and volatilization. The endoscopic treatment of bladder tumors has been its most important utilization. The authors report their experience with 681 bladder tumors in 198 patients and present the technical details of laser therapy, the indications and the results. The recurrence rate at the previously treated tumor area was found to be rather improved: 0.75/100 months/patient for stage pTa and 0.92/100 months/patient for stage pT1. Other utilizations for laser therapy exist: upper tract urothelial tumors mainly in selected cases as solitary kidney; urethral localizations of urothelial tumors and condylomata acuminata; urethral stenosis, as a complement of optical urethrotomy; hemorrhagic cystitis after radiotherapy and some forms of chemotherapy. The pulsed dye laser may become an important advance in endoscopic treatment of ureteral calculi.

[Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced-stage tumors of the bladder]. / Chimiothérapie a base de cisplatine dans le traitement des tumeurs de vessie a un stade avancé.

Since October 1984, 39 patients have been treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy for advanced bladder tumour of for pelvic recurrence or metastasis after total cystectomy. Cisplatin-methotrexate protocol (23 cases): 2 cases died during the first two cycles and 21 were evaluated after three cycles: only 39% of objective responses (2 CR-5 PR-2 MR) were observed with a mean survival not exceeding 12.6 months (7 deaths, 2 patients alive at the present time). All of the non-responders died within 4 to 16 months following the start of treatment (mean survival: 8.7 months). These particularly disappointing results led to the suspension of this protocol. Cisplatin-methotrexate-vinblastine protocol: 16 cases since September 1986. Eleven patients have been evaluated after three cycles: 3 CR-3 PR-5 PROG. The C.M.V. protocol appears to have a superior efficacy, principally on bladder, lymph node or lung lesions, at the cost of a higher but acceptable toxicity. Hepatic and central nervous system metastases were observed secondarily in this case.

[Bilateral cancer of the kidney and cancer of a solitary kidney]. / Cancers du rein bilatéraux et sur rein unique.

The analysis of a series of 31 cases of bilateral renal cancers and cancers of solitary kidneys revealed the following findings: 1) conservative in situ surgery with clamping of the renal pedicle and dopamine, when it is possible, appears to be by far the most logical and simplest solution (17 cases); 2) ex-vivo surgery with auto-grafting represents an extreme solution (2 cases); 3) cases of technical impossibility, in the absence of distant metastases, require radical nephrectomy followed by dialysis (3 cases); 4) in advanced forms, surgical abstention followed by hormone therapy (8 cases) or highly selective embolisation (1 case) sometimes provides surprising survivals.

[Blunt injuries of the pancreas in children. Diagnostic and therapeutic approach apropos of 8 cases]. / Traumatismes fermés du pancréas de l'enfant. Approche diagnostique et thérapeutique à propos de 8 cas.

From 1970 to 1985, eight severe blunt pancreatic traumas were admitted. There is significant difference in morbidity between early pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy (a mean hospital stay of 23 days, low loss of weight) and initial simple external pancreatic drainage with delayed partial pancreatectomy or pancreato-cystojejunostomy Roux-en-Y (mean hospital stay of 45 days, 24% loss of weight, one death two years later). Thus it seems essential to diagnose the pancreatic injury and particularly rupture of the pancreatic duct. Aiming to evaluate these lesions, biology, ultrasonography or computerized axial tomography proved insufficient. As a result, in the last two patients, an endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was performed confirming total transection of the pancreatic duct, one case with fistula, the other with a contrast fluid stop. The surgical approach was guided by these X-ray findings and a distal pancreatectomy performed preserving spleen. The authors propose the following protocol: endoscopic pancreatography if an evident improvement in recent pancreatic injury is not obtained in 48 hours, or in the case of former complicated pancreatic trauma; in the event of total rupture of pancreatic duct, operation should be carried out: abdominal exploration guided by the X-rays findings, distal pancreatectomy or, rarely, repair of the pancreatic duct; when no pancreatic duct lesion is found, but ultrasonographic blunt trauma patent, the surgical decision depends on the amount of peripancreatic reaction: medical treatment or external drainage; when lesion of the head of pancreas is detected, conservative treatment is to be preferred to pancreatoduodenectomy.

[Peritoneal complications during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: surgical aspects]. / Les complications péritonéales au cours de la dialyse péritonéale continue ambulatoire: aspects chirurgicaux.

The principal complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is peritonitis in most cases benign and treated effectively by local, specific antibiotic therapy. In some cases, however, the infection fails to respond to medical treatment and surgical exploration occasionally reveals serious lesions such as sclerosing peritonitis or an intestinal perforation. Prognosis is dependent not only on the extent and severity of the lesion but also on the rapidity of operative intervention. The development of an appendicitis, often masked by early antibiotic therapy, represents a particular course of peritoneal infection during CAPD.