Can bipolar energy serve as an alternative to monopolar energy in the management of large bladder tumours >3 cm? A prospective randomised study.

Objectives: To assess the safety and the effectiveness of bipolar energy in the transurethral resection of primary large bladder tumours (TURBT) and compare it to conventional monopolar energy. Patients and methods: From November 2015 to June 2017, 80 patients underwent endoscopic resection primarily for large bladder cancer tumours of >3 cm. They were randomly assigned into two groups: 40 patients underwent a TURBT with conventional monopolar current (M-TURBT) and 40 were treated with bipolar current (B-TURBT). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for the patients' demographic and tumour characteristics. There was a significant difference between M-TURBT and B-TURBT for resection time, obturator reflex, hospital stay, and catheterisation time, which were all higher in the M-TURBT group; the mean (SD) resection time was 26.45 (5.73) vs 22.85 (7.52) min (P = 0.048), the obturator reflex was 25% vs 5% (P = 0.025), the median hospital stay and catheterisation times were 2 vs 1 day (P = 0.012 and P = 0.023, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups for bladder perforation, TUR syndrome, drop in haemoglobin level, and blood transfusion rate. However, there was statically significant difference in the postoperative haematuria rate, which was higher in the M-TURBT group, at 24 patients vs eight in the B-TURBT group (60% vs 20%; P = 0.01). After 1-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the groups. Conclusion: B-TURBT is a safe and effective alternative procedure to M-TURBT for the management of primary large bladder tumours of >3 cm. Abbreviations: CONSORT: consolidated standards of reporting Trials; Hb: haemoglobin; NMIBC: non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer; TUR: transurethral resection; (B-)(M-)TURBT: (bipolar) (monopolar) transurethral resection of bladder tumour.

Autologous versus synthetic slings in female stress urinary incontinence: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the clinical (patient's morbidity, quality of life [QoL]) and economic impact of autologous vs synthetic slings in female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), as over the last decade, the introduction of synthetic vaginal tapes for managing SUI has gained wide acceptance being quicker with low morbidity. Synthetic vaginal tapes have been progressively replacing the use of autologous rectus fascia. However, the high cost of these synthetic tapes is almost always an obstacle for most patients of limited socio-economic resources in the Egyptian community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 126 women with SUI. Data for patients that matched the study inclusion criteria were collected from the Urology Department of Ain-Shams University Hospitals from March 2011 to May 2013. Patients were categorised into two groups: Group I included 62 patients who underwent an autologous sling procedure using rectus sheath; and Group II included 64 patients that had a synthetic sling, using transobturator tape (TOT). The following variables were compared: operative time, postoperative pain scores, duration of indwelling urethral catheter, hospital stay, cost including the price of the synthetic tape when used, return to normal activity, and QoL assessment (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF]) before and after discharge from hospital. RESULTS: Patients amongst the two groups were normally distributed with no statistically significant differences in patient's demographic data and comorbidities. The mean hospital stay was longer and the return to normal activity was delayed in Group I compared to Group II. The highest mean postoperative pain score was recorded in Group I. The overall morbidity was 12.9% and 4.68% in groups I and II, respectively. The mean (SD) overall cost was 2571.65 (254.8) and 3502.34 (196.9) Egyptian pounds (local currency) in groups I and II, respectively, being insignificantly lower in Group I when compared to Group II (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences between groups I and II for operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative pain scores. However, the differences in hospital cost amongst Group I and Group II were in favour of Group I. Post-surgical outcome was categorised into either complete cure (dry) or improved or failed with no significant differences in success rate and QoL amongst the study groups. The mean (SD) change in the QoL score was 10.95 (4.19) and 12.32 (4.1) in groups I and II, respectively. The higher success rate (complete cure) was in Group II, at 93.75%. Also, a statistically significant improvement of >70% of mean ICIQ-UI-SF score was shown in all groups when compared to baseline on both the 1- and 6-month follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: Autologous grafts should be considered as a repair option in females with SUI in countries were health insurance policies do not cover the cost of synthetic materials in many instances. The cost-effectiveness of synthetic TOT slings, as a minimally invasive procedure with lower overall morbidity, has yet to be confirmed in larger scale studies with longer periods of follow-up, to confirm the durability of its successful outcomes and be considered as the primary treatment of choice in female SUI.

Corrigendum to "Twin penile skin flap, is it the answer for repair of long anterior urethral strictures?" [Arab J. Urol. 16(2) (2018) 224-231].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.12.006.].

Twin penile skin flap, is it the answer for repair of long anterior urethral strictures?

OBJECTIVE: To present our twin ventral penile skin flap technique for the management of complex long anterior urethral strictures not caused by lichen sclerosis (LS), with evaluation of surgical outcome and complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with long complex anterior urethral strictures who were all referred to Ain Shams University hospital and operated on by three reconstructive surgeons. The surgical procedure was carried out as follows: exposure of the urethra through a ventral longitudinal penile skin incision and another perineal incision; two ventral longitudinal dartos-based penile skin flaps are used for urethral augmentation as onlay flaps. Clinical data were collected in a dedicated database. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative follow-up data for each patient were recorded and analysed. A descriptive data analysis was performed. RESULTS: Between January 2012 and February 2015, 47 patients diagnosed by urethrograms as having long anterior urethral strictures, with a mean (SD, range) length of 17.56 (2.09; 14-21) cm, were managed by twin penile skin flap repair. Four patients were lost to follow-up, thus 43 patients constituted the study cohort. The mean (range) follow-up period was 31 (22-36) months. The overall success rate was 95.35% (41/43). At 12-months postoperatively, the 41 successful cases had a mean (SD, range) peak urinary flow rate of 20.26 (3.06, 14-25) mL/s and American Urological Association Symptom Score of 5.6 (1.85, 3-8). Postoperative complications included urethrocutaneous fistula in three patients (6.97%), mild sacculation of the flap in seven patients (16.52%), post-micturition dribbling in 34 patients (79.07%), decreased penile girth in two patients (4.65%), and chordae of <15° with no need for repair in three patients (6.97%). CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of a favourable urethral plate and ample non-hirsute penile skin, one-stage twin penile skin flap urethroplasty provides excellent results for non-LS related complex strictures, with minimal acceptable complications. It proved to be especially efficient in circumcised patients.

Ureterocalicostomy for treatment of complex cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in adults.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate ureterocalicostomy (UC) in the management of selected cases of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. METHODS: The data from 22 patients who underwent UC from April 2002 to April 2009 were reviewed. The indications for UC were primary UPJ obstruction with completely intrarenal pelves (2 cases), complicated (secondary or recurrent) UPJ obstruction with an intrarenal pelvis and/or reversed caliceopelvic ratio (16 cases) and after iatrogenic injury at the UPJ (4 cases). The evaluation of treatment outcome was performed subjectively by symptom assessment and objectively using ultrasonography, radiography, and radioisotope diuretic renography. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 26.7±20.99 months, UC success was achieved in 16 patients (73%), with complete cure in 12 and improvement in 4. In 2, the condition remained stable, and failure occurred in 4 patients. Of these 4 patients, 2 underwent nephrectomy and 2 were treated with indwelling double-J stents with frequent exchanges. CONCLUSIONS: The results of UC in the present study were satisfactory. The procedure could be the best alternative in the case of complex UPJ obstruction in the presence of intrarenal pelvis and/or when the degree of calicectasis is greater than that of pyelectasis.