[Female urinary stress incontinence: transobsturator technique]. / Cabestrillo suburetral transobturatriz en el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo femenina.

The wide use of retropubic TVT has been associated with various complications. To avoid these, alternative procedures have been developed and continence rates obtained with these new routes have been quite similar to those after classic TVT. In the transobsturator technique (TOT) described by Delorme and colleagues in 2001, the tape is inserted through the obturator foramens from outside to inside and is positioned without tension under the urethra. Another surgical technique allows the passage of a tape from inside to outside. The aim of this paper is to describe a new, simple surgical technique for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence and to evaluate its feasibility.

[Artificial sphincter implantation in women with urinary incontinence using a combined abdomino-vaginal approach]. / Implantación del esfínter urinario artificial en la mujer con incontinencia urinaria por vía combinada abdomino vaginal.

OBJECTIVE: The artificial sphincter has been utilized for urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincteric insufficiency, with good fixation of the urethra and a maximum urethral closing pressure of 20-30 cms H2O, or after failed attempts at correction using other techniques. This procedure is difficult to perform since the patients have generally undergone several operations and it is necessity to prepare the cleavage between the urethra and vagina. We propose a modified combined vaginal and suprapubic approach of the technique described by Appell and Abbassian in 1988 for enhanced exposure of the urethra and bladder neck and easy access. METHODS: The modified combined abdominovaginal approach has been utilized in 18 females aged 16-62 years since 1995. RESULTS: 16 patients were continent (88%). One patient (5.5%) required removal of the artificial sphincter due to infection. Another patient (5.5%) has mild incontinence and requires 2 pads a day. Four patients (22%) with detrusor instability are receiving anticholinergics. Three patients (16%) with an underlying neurogenic incontinence require intermittent catheterization. Fourteen patients (77.7%) have type III stress urinary incontinence. We performed the Kelly procedure in 10 patients (55.5%), the Marshall-Marcetti-Kranz in 7 (38.8%), Gittes in 3 (16.6%), and 2 patients (11.1%) had a sling procedure. Two techniques were simultaneously performed in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of patients in this series is small, the fact that only one case required removal of the artificial spincter due to infection indicates that this is a useful alternative approach that significantly facilitates implantation of the artificial sphincter in these patients.

[The development and preliminary validation of the IU-4 questionnaire for the clinical classification of urinary incontinence]. / Elaboración y validación preliminar del cuestionario para la clasificación clínica de la incontinencia urinaria IU-4.

RATIONALE: To prepare and validate a simple and self-administered questionnaire for the clinical rating of patients with urinary incontinence (UI) for use in the clinical practice. METHODS: The questionnaire was prepared based on a review of the literature on urinary incontinence and the views of 7 urodynamic urologists. The initial questionnaire UI-5 included 5 items related to UI symptoms that divided patients into three categories: stress incontinence (UEI), urge incontinence (UUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). An additional question evaluates the impact of UI type on the quality of life. The of construct validity was analyzed correlating the responses to UI-5 items and the question on quality of life. The area under the ROC curve was calculated for each UI type correlating the UI-5 scores and the results of the urodynamic test. The cut-off values for each scale were determined based on sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP). RESULTS: The study included 188 females with UI (73.4% with UEI, 13.3% with UUI and 13.3% with MUI; based on the urodynamics). Only 4.3% patients did not answer some UI-5 items. One item related to the protective material used was excluded as it was not related to UI types, and so the final questionnaire included only 4 items (UI-4). The results show that UI-4 discriminates the different types of incontinence: UEI (SE: 0.69/SP: 0.76; 1 item), UUI (SE: 0.83/SP: 0.65; 2 items), MUI (SE: 0.72/SP: 0.65; 1 item). 100% patients with MUI, 84% with UUI and 59.9% with UEI report some impact on their quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: UI-4 is simple, valid and easy to administer, and can be particularly valuable in the clinical rating of UI in settings where urodynamic testing is not easily available such is primary health care.

[Current overview of the treatment of postmyelomeningocele neurogenic bladder]. / Panorama actual del tratamiento de la vejiga neurogénica postmielomeningocele.

OBJECTIVE: The present article reviews the current therapeutic modalities for neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele. METHODS: The procedures utilized in the treatment of neurogenic bladder are described. The results achieved by the artificial urinary sphincter in 43 patients are presented. RESULTS: Most of the patients were 8 to 20 years of age at the time the artificial urinary sphincter was implanted. A complementary surgical procedure was required in 11 patients and 10 have been included in the program of intermittent catheterization. Few complications have been observed. CONCLUSION: The implantation of an artificial sphincter can enhance the quality of life of incontinent patients that meet the appropriate clinical and urodynamic criteria.

Management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to myelomeningocele.

We investigated 55 children, aged from 24 months to 14 years with neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to myelomeningocele, by serial urodynamic. They were serially evaluation over 2-5 years. Management consisted of drug therapy together with intermittent vesical catheterization in different combinations on the basis of initial urodynamic assessment. In 5 children with a hypotonic sphincter, it was necessary to implant an artificial sphincter. With this regimen control or frank improvement of micturition was achieved in 53 patients, urodynamic function became normal or improved in 54, and recurrent urinary tract infections persisted only in 5 patients. In the light of these results, we believe that treatment of the neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele should be determined by initial urodynamic evaluation.

[Treatment of neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele based on the urodynamic status with intermittent catheterization associated with drugs. Preliminary results]. / Tratamiento de la vejiga neurogénica secundaria a mielomeningocele basado en el estado urodinámico con sondaje intermitente asociado a fármacos. Resultados preliminares.

The follow-up of 36 children with neurogenic urinary bladder, aged from 3.5 months to 12 years is reported. The were serially evaluated with tonometry of detrusor muscle and urethral sphincter. Management consisted in drugs (anticholinergics, alpha-adrenergic agonists and antagonists) associated with intermittent vesical catheterization in different combinations determined by starting urodynamic measurements. With this treatment control of micturition or frank improvement was reached in 91.6% of patients, urodynamic explorations normalized or improved in 94.3% and recurrent urinary infections persisted only in 13.8%. At the view of these results authors believe that treatment of neurogenic bladder secondary to myelodysplasia must be closely dependent on previous urodynamic evaluation.