Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of congenital anomalies of the external genitalia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the anatomic evaluation and management planning of complex congenital genitourinary anomalies. METHODS: Multiplanar T(1) and T(2)-weighted MR images were obtained in 6 pediatric patients with congenital genitourinary anomalies, including aphallia, diphallia, ectopic scrotum, and epispadias. The imaging studies were read by experienced radiologists and discussed with the urologic surgeons in a multidisciplinary conference. RESULTS: Each congenital anomaly was demonstrated in detail by MRI. The MR images of penile agenesis showed hypoplastic corpora cavernosa and a vestigial bulb. In patients with penile duplication, MRI was able to delineate the course of each corporal body and the varying degree of thickness of the tunica albuginea. For the patient with scrotal ectopia, detailed MR images excluded both the possibility of urethral and corporal duplications and the presence of viable testes in the ectopic scrotum. In the case of epispadias, MRI illustrated the precise spatial relationship between the erectile bodies and urethra. Additionally, MRI identified related aberrant pelvic organs and provided images of the external genital structures. CONCLUSIONS: MRI, by rendering excellent anatomic interpretation of complex genital anomalies and associated abnormal pelvic tissues, assists surgeons in conceptualizing the anomalous structures and contributes to their formulation of management approaches.

Urological complications after renal transplantation using ureteroureteral anastomosis in children.

PURPOSE: Ureterovesical reimplantation is most often performed for renal transplantation in children. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ureteroureteral reimplantation in pediatric renal transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the charts of 92 boys and 72 girls who underwent a total of 166 ureteroureteral anastomoses for renal transplantation from January 1990 to December 1999. Spatulated end-to-end anastomosis was performed between recipient and graft ureters without stenting and with a bladder catheter for at least 10 days. RESULTS: Mean patient age at transplantation was 11.2 years (range 1 to 21.5). There were 22 living related donor and 144 cadaveric grafts. Urological anomalies and nephropathy were the cause of end stage renal disease in 146 and 20 patients, respectively. Urological complications were noted in 14 of the 166 transplantations (8.4%) in 10 boys and 4 girls, including 12 initial and 2 repeat grafts from 2 living related and 12 cadaveric donors. Five of these patients had undergone previous urological surgery. The 2 children (1.2%) with acute ureteral obstruction underwent repeat intervention after stent failure. Anastomotic leakage in 7 cases (4.2%) was treated conservatively in 1 and with a Double-J stent (Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York) only required in 3. Reoperation was required in 3 cases. One patient (0.6%) with late ureteral stenosis underwent repeat anastomosis, 1 (0.6%) required reimplantation for recurrent pyelonephritis due to vesicoureteral reflux in the graft, 1 (0.6%) with a valve bladder required bladder augmentation and ureteral reimplantation, and 1 (0.6%) with lymphocele and 1 (0.6%) with lithiasis were successfully treated conservatively. Complications were associated with acute rejection in 6 cases. Mean followup without graft loss in patients who presented with versus without complications was 58.3 months (range 1 to 112) versus 75 (range 1 to 118). In the former patients with a mean age of 16 years 9 months versus those without urological complications mean serum creatinine was 116 and 108 mol./l., respectively. Two grafts were lost in patients with urological complications, including 1 who died of pulmonary embolism and 1 with refractory chronic rejection. Seven patients were lost to followup after 54 months (range 12 to 113) of adequate graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroureteral anastomosis is a safe and effective technique for pediatric renal transplantation with a low complication rate, which may be due to better vascularization of the shorter ureteral end of the graft. Our results should encourage the use of this technique in pediatric renal transplantation. Efforts to preserve the recipient ureters should be made at nephrectomy.

The effects of intravesical lidocaine on bladder dynamics of children with myelomeningocele.

PURPOSE: Other studies have suggested that intravesical lidocaine may temporarily improve bladder dynamics but details of these effects and their application to children have not been examined. We evaluated the effects of intravesical lidocaine on bladder urodynamics of children with myelomeningocele and tried to correlate these effects with subsequent clinical response to oral oxybutynin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of children with myelomeningocele who had undergone urodynamic examinations from 1992 to 1998 were reviewed retrospectively. In children with uninhibited contractions or poor compliance 150 to 300 mg. lidocaine were instilled for 8 minutes and cystometry was repeated. Changes in bladder capacity and compliance, number of uninhibited contractions and bladder volume at which pressure of 40 cm. H2O was reached were recorded before and after the lidocaine instillation. Clinical response to subsequent treatment with oral oxybutynin was assessed from chart review. RESULTS: A total of 48 urodynamic studies in 22 girls and 20 boys with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 8.3 +/- 5.7 years and myelomeningocele were evaluable. After instillation of lidocaine, urodynamics showed increased bladder capacity in 70.8% of studies (34 of 48), with an average increase in volume of 66% (p <0.05). No change or decreased bladder capacity occurred in 29.2% of studies. Bladder compliance improved in 61.7% of the studies (29 of 47, p <0.05) and worsened in 38.3%. Bladder volume at which the pressure of 40 cm. H2O was reached increased in 77.8% of studies (14 of 18, p <0.05). After lidocaine the number of uninhibited contractions decreased by 3.2 in 56.8% of studies (21 of 37, p <0.05). Correlation of lidocaine induced changes in bladder capacity, compliance and number of uninhibited contractions with improvement on oral oxybutynin was 70.6%, 64.3% and 66.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intravesical lidocaine can improve bladder capacity and compliance and decrease the number of uninhibited contractions in many children with neurogenic bladder caused by myelomeningocele. These observations suggest that intravesical lidocaine has effects on the neurogenic bladder that improve bladder dynamics. Although intravesical lidocaine testing may not reliably predict clinical response to oral oxybutynin at the prescribed dosages, a possible therapeutic role for intravesical lidocaine or similar agents should be explored further.

FPSUND: a new clinical classification of urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a frequent condition that is usually clinically classified into three main subgroups: urge, stress and mixed. The latter, which can account for up to 50% of the patients, is notoriously heterogeneous. It is one of the reasons why the reports of therapeutic approaches to treat incontinence vary in the medical literature and it also explains the difficulty to compare results between studies. In an attempt to address this problem and to clarify the field of urinary incontinence, we have developed new clinical classification of urinary incontinence (FPSUND) where each symptom related to incontinence is rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms). In this acronym, "F" stands for frequency of micturition, "P" for the use of protection, "S" for the stress component of incontinence, "U" for urgency, "N" for the number of nocturnal micturition and "D" for the number of diurnal micturition. Urologists from nine different centers across Canada were asked to evaluate female patients suffering from urinary incontinence using the FPSUND classification. A total of 148 women, aged 18 to 70, suffering from urinary incontinence were thus enrolled in the study. A second, independent evaluation of the same patients was performed by registered nurses or by urodynamic technicians. The reproducibility of the classification between two observers, as measured by the Weighted Kappa score was excellent, with kappa scores between 0.47 and 0.74 (p<0.05). Overall, the users of the classification found it very easy to use in a clinical setting. We would like to propose the FPSUND classification of urinary incontinence as a useful mean to evaluate patients suffering from incontinence and as a way to assess treatment outcome.

[FPSUND: a pan-Canadian evaluation of a clinical classification of urinary incontinence]. / FPSUND: évaluation pan-canadienne d'une classification clinique de l'incontinence urinaire.

Historically, urinary incontinence is divided into 3 subtypes: stress, urge and mixed. This latter group, which according to many studies can account for up to 50% of the patients, is very heterogenous. For this same reason, the reports of treatments of urinary incontinence are very difficult to analyse using this simple classification. In a attempt to clarify this situation and to help the acquisition of useful clinical information relating to urinary incontinence, were have developed a clinical classification of urinary incontinence (FPSUND) in which 6 symptoms are graded in severity from 0 to 3. In this acronym, the F stands for frequency, the P for the use of protection, the S for stress-related complaints, the U for urge-related complaints, the N for nocturia and the D for the number of daily micturitions. Urologists across Canada were sent the French or English version of the classification and used it to evaluate 148 female patients aged from 18 to 70, suffering from urinary incontinence. A second, independent evaluation, was also performed on the same patients by registered nurses or urodynamic technicians. Reproducibility between observers, as assessed by the weighted Kappa score ranged from 0.47 and 0.74 (p < 0.05), was very good. Generally, the users of the classification found it very easy to use. In summary, we propose the FPSUND clinical classification of urinary incontinence as a useful and accurate tool to classify urinary incontinence and as a means to assess treatment outcome.

Modified Lich-Gregoir ureteral reimplantation: experience of a Canadian center.

PURPOSE: Various techniques of ureteral reimplantation have been described for correction of vesicoureteral reflux. We report our experience regarding the safety and efficacy of a modified Lich-Gregoir extravesical approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1991 to January 1996 we evaluated prospectively 256 patients who underwent a modified Lich-Gregoir procedure for correction of vesicoureteral reflux. A total of 385 vesicoureteral units were reimplanted, including 41 duplex systems. The modification to the Lich-Gregoir technique we used consists of ending the paraureteral myotomy with an inverted Y, which permits easier detrusor muscle reapproximation. RESULTS: This procedure was successful initially in 214 of 237 patients, as confirmed by a normal voiding cystourethrogram 4 to 6 months postoperatively. Of the 237 cases persistent vesicoureteral reflux developed in 13 patients, which resolved spontaneously in 9 after 1 year, contralateral reflux developed in 8, which was treated conservatively, and ureteral obstruction developed in 2. Thus, the 1-year overall success rate was 96%. Urinary retention developed in 12 children with bilateral reimplantation (8.3%) with successful recovery in all after conservative management with urethral catheter drainage of 1 week or less. The duration of hospitalization after surgery ranged from 1 to 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Lich-Gregoir technique of extravesical ureteral reimplantation is successful, simple to perform, reproducible and associated with low morbidity. It also requires minimal hospital stay. These results should encourage the use of this technique when indicated to correct vesicoureteral reflux in children.