ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the gold standard for severe male stress urinary incontinence, though evaluations of specific predictors for device outcomes are sparse. We sought to compare outcomes between primary and revision AUS surgery for non-infectious failures. METHODS: We identified 2045 consecutive AUS surgeries at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) from 1983 to 2013. Of these, 1079 were primary AUS implantations and 281 were initial revision surgeries, which comprised our study group. Device survival rates, including overall and specific rates for device infection/erosion, urethral atrophy and mechanical failure, were compared between primary AUS placements versus revision surgeries. Patient follow-up was obtained through office examination, written correspondence, or telephone correspondence. RESULTS: During the study period, 1079 (79.3%) patients had a primary AUS placement and 281 (20.7%) patients underwent a first revision surgery for mechanical failure or urethral atrophy. Patients undergoing revision surgery were found to have adverse 1- and 5-year AUS device survival on Kaplan-Meier analysis, 90% vs. 85% and 74% vs. 61%, respectively (p<0.001). Specifically, revision surgery was associated with a significantly increased cumulative incidence of explantation for device infection/urethral erosion (4.2% vs. 7.5% at 1 year; p=0.02), with similar rates of repeat surgery for mechanical failure (p=0.43) and urethral atrophy (p=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a significantly higher rate of overall device failure following revision AUS surgery, which is likely secondary to an increased rate of infection/urethral erosion events.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for large stone burden can be problematic in patients with significant risk of bleeding complications, specifically thrombocytopenia. This report demonstrates effective correction of two patients' thrombocytopenia, subsequently leading to removal of large stone burden through PCNL. CASE PRESENTATION: We present two Middle Eastern patients who presented with medical histories significant for thrombocytopenia, secondary to splenomegaly and hepatic vein thrombosis, and large volume nephrolithiasis. Patient 1 is a 65-year-old female with a right 5 cm stone and a platelet count of 34,000. Patient 2 is a 45-year-old female with a 3 cm left staghorn stone and a platelet count of 44,000. After consultation with hematology, both underwent therapy with prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin without improvement in their platelet count. They then received 3 µg/kg/dose of romiplostim weekly that improved their platelet counts to 133,000 and 195,000 in 2 weeks, respectively. Patient 1's PCNL was completed in a single-stage procedure with stone-free status shown on CT postoperative day 1. Patient 2 underwent PCNL and a secondary ureteroscopy for residual stone fragments on postoperative day 2. Both patients experienced no complication during the procedure, hospital stay, or postoperative course. Both continued romiplostim for 20 days postoperatively with platelet levels returning to their baseline range after 1 month. CONCLUSION: In the appropriately selected patient, romiplostim can correct thrombocytopenia enough to safely and effectively perform PCNL in patients with underlying hematologic disorders. Close coordination between urology and hematology is imperative to ensure an effective outcome in this challenging patient population.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the use of lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph-node biopsy (SLNB) for the management of children with melanoma and sarcomas. We report the experience of two children's hospitals that utilize this technique to identify sentinel lymph nodes for lymph-node biopsy and dissection. METHODS: We identified 56 patients (median age 10.8 years) who underwent 58 lymphoscintigraphy procedures. There were 33 patients with melanoma and melanocytic lesions, and 23 with sarcomas. RESULTS: Of 58 lymphoscintigraphy procedures, sentinel lymph nodes were identified in 52 (90% success rate). Using the combination of intraoperative blue dye injection and lymphoscintigraphy, the success rate was 95% (55/58). Metastatic disease was found in 14 sentinel lymph nodes (13 patients with melanoma and melanocytic lesions, and 1 patient with rhabdomyosarcoma). CONCLUSION: We have found that lymphoscintigraphy with SLNB is an effective method to identify patients who may benefit from more extensive lymph-node dissection and to identify those patients who are unlikely to benefit from further lymph-node exploration.
