[Psychopathologic risk assessment and self-esteem in patients undergoing hypospadias surgery]. / Valutazione del rischio psicopatologico e dell'autostima in pazienti operati per ipospadia.

AIMS: Although the long-term outcomes ofhypospadias surgery are considered important for psychosexual development, only a few attempts have been made to evaluate patient psico-pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 out 40 patients who received under sealed cover two envelopes--the first containing the assessment tools, the other empty and prepaid for the answer--joined the study. The results came from the analysis of anamnestic interview specially created in order to gather information on how to access to surgery and the degree of information that the parents had from the surgeon, from the analysis of the CBCL (Child Behavior CheckList 2001:4-16 years) and TMA (Multidimensional self-esteem Test: the Italian version of the MSCS Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale). Of the 20 patients recruited, 15, aged from 9 to 18 years (mean age 12.5), age at operation between 2 and 5 years (mean age 3.3 yrs), have returned the questionnaires correctly compiled. Patient data were compared with those of a control group not suffering from genital pathology. RESULTS: From the CBCL: the area of the identification of the problems showed no significant differences between the study group and the control. The area of competence, altered in both groups, did not show statistically significant differences. From the analysis of TMA: there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in sub-domains: Social, Competence, Affect, Family and Physical. Within the subdomain school the two groups differed significantly for low self-esteem in the group of surgical patients. CONCLUSION: The MST test indicate that hypospadias surgery does not change the global self-esteem but, surprisingly, at least in this patient population, only a lower self-esteem in school performance in the age group considered. This study may indicate the importance of psychological support during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

[Advantages of the anterior and mid-shaft hypospadias repair in the first year of life]. / Vantaggi del trattamento dell'ipospadia anteriore e medio peniena nel primo anno di vita.

PURPOSE: Only a few studies have been performed on the evaluation of complications strictly related to the age at operation of hypospadias repair. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of complications of surgical treatment of anterior and midshaft hypospadias in relation to the age at operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 108 patients from 2005 to 2011 were operated on by the same surgeon (AM) for anterior and mid-shaft hypospadias. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age: group A consisted of 48 patients who had undergone surgery before 12 months, group B consisted of 60 patients in whom surgery was performed after 12 months of age (2months -12 yrs). All patients were corrected with TIPU (Snodgrass technique). For the two groups was evaluated the rate ofperioperative complications (hematoma, edema, hemorrhage), suture dehiscence, fistula, stenosis. For the statistical analysis of complications was used the exact test of chi-square Fischer. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 36 months. Group A: 2/48 patients presented fistula after 2-6 weeks. Group B: 15/60 patients presented the following complications: 2 hematomas, 1 postoperative bleeding; 5 fistulas arising after 2-6 weeks, 3 minimal meatal regression; 4 thinning flow. The Fisher test was significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study confirm that patients with hypospadias, operated within the first years of life, have a statistically lower rate of complications than patients treated at later dates. Therefore, the age is believed to be a pivotal prognostic factor for the functional and aesthetic results.

[Laparoscopic treatment of UPJ obstruction in ectopic pelvic kidneys in children]. / Trattamento laparoscopico dell'Ostruzione del Giunto Pielo-Ureterale nei reni ectopici in età pediatrica.

AIMS: To assess the feasibility and safety of a laparoscopic approach to UPJ obstruction (UPJO) in ectopic pelvic kidneys. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective analysis we selected 14 children, aged 6 months to 17 years, 12 males, 2 females, who had been treated in our Department between January 2004 and June 2011. 9 patients presented ureteropelvic junction obstruction (in 3 cases pelvic stones coexisted) with normal/moderately reduced (> or = 25%) relative function at radionuclide scan (MAG3), 3 nonfunctioning kidneys associated or not to hypertension, 2 congenital hypo-dysplastic kidneys. The evaluation of each patient involved the medical history, ultrasound examination, VCUG, MAG3 diuresis renogram and MRI in some cases. Of the patients presenting UPJO, 5 underwent dismembered pyeloplasty with pyelolithotomy, if required, and 4 pelvic derotation with straightening of the uretero-pelvic junction. A previous cystoscopic placement of a Double J stent was utilized. This facilitated the identification and dissection around the pelvis. With the patient in Trendelenburg position we utilized an umbilical trocar and two trocar in the right and left iliac fossae; an additional trocar, when required, was inserted more cephalad on the midclavear line contralaterally to the lesion. The derotation of ureteropelvic junction was obtained by freeing the kidney's lower pole and by placing intraperitoneally the junction protected with a Double J stent. This was obtained by suturing the peritoneum behind the ureteropelvic junction resulting in a forward rotation of the major axis of the kidney and a straightening of the junction. The 5 patients presenting nonfunctioning ectopic kidneys underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy. While the removal of congenital hypoplasic kidneys resulted easy, the removal of nonfunctioning kidneys was more difficult due to their complex vascular situation and for the embryonic disposition. RESULTS: The operating time varied between 40 to 200 minutes. No patient required conversion to open surgery. The hypertension resolved after nephrectomy in all cases. 2 cases of dismembered pyeloplasty required a placement of Double J stent due the recurrence of symptoms and ! patient is waiting for redo operation. The pelvic derotation showed an improvement of diuretic MAG3 renogram and the function remained stable and patiens are symptoms-free. CONCLUSION: The UPJO in ectopic pelvic kidneys presents a large spectrum of presentation. The laparoscopic approach provides good surgical exposure, and operative times are acceptable compared to those of laparoscopic procedure in anatomically normal kidneys. It has also proved a very useful tool in the non-functioning kidney nephrectomy thank to the help of magnification in the identification of numerous aberrant vessels that are quite often found in the pelvic kidneys. The derotation of the pelvis seems a useful procedure in moderate obstruction even if a longer followup is needed.

Pneumovesicoscopic correction of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children. Our experience.

AIM: We report our experience with pneumovesicoscopic cross-trigonal ureteral reimplantation to correct primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 14 children (10 girls, 4 boys, aged 4 to 12 years) with persistent VUR ≥ grade III (5 bilateral, 19 refluxing ureters) underwent pneumovesicoscopic Cohen's cross-trigonal reimplantation. Under cystoscopic control, a first midline 5-mm trocar was introduced for a 0°\30° telescope at the dome of the bladder, and 2 left and right 3- or 5-mm trocars were inserted through the anterolateral wall. The ureter was freed by creating a sharp plane between the detrusor muscle and the ureteral wall. If necessary, the ureter was tailored outside the bladder. Submucosal tunnel(s) were prepared with the help of scissors and graspers. The detrusor at the site of the ureter mobilization was repaired and ureteroneocystomy was performed using 4-5 interrupted absorbable sutures. A 12-Ch Foley catheter was introduced at the site of the dome port. The urethral and suprapubic catheters were removed 2-3 days after the procedure and the patients were discharged on day 3. RESULTS: One boy developed mild suprapubic emphysema postoperatively. Mean operating time was 136 min (range 80-230 min). No patient required conversion to the open technique. Renal US, VCUG, and MAG3 radionuclide scans were obtained in all patients between 3-6 months postoperatively, and provided evidence of reflux resolution in 13 out of 14 patients. CONCLUSION: Our experience seems to confirm that pneumovesicoscopic cross-trigonal ureteral reimplantation can be performed safely and effectively.

Effectiveness of botulinum-A toxin for the treatment of refractory overactive bladder in children.

AIMS: We describe our experience with botulinum-A toxin (BTX-A) in children presenting idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB) refractory to anticholinergic drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 patients, aged 8-12 years, were treated over a 3-year period. BTX-A was administered at a dosage of 12.5 UI /kg body weight, without exceeding 200 UI, at 20 detrusor sites. To ensure a stable solution, each 100 UI of botulinum toxin was diluted with 5 cc saline solution just prior to performing the cystoscopy. RESULTS: No patient presented with severe systemic complications or urinary retention after injection therapy; 6 patients presented with slight hematuria for 2-3 days. The clinical results were as follows. At 6 months, 8/21 patients (38%) showed full response, 12/21 (57%) had a partial response after a 2 (nd) injection, and 1/21 (4.7%) showed no response after a 2 (nd) injection. At 12 months, 16 patients (76%) had a full response, 4 (19%) showed a partial response after a 3 (rd) injection, and 1 patient (4.7%) still had no response. At 18 months, 18 patients (85%) showed a full response, 2 patients (9.5%) had a partial response, 1 patient (4.7%) had no response. At the end of this study, 8/21 patients (38%) were symptom-free, after only one botulinum detrusor injection, 13/21 patients (61.9%) received a second botulinum injection because of recurrence of urinary incontinence 6-7 months after the initial treatment, and 4/21 patients (19%) received a third injection 12-14 months after the initial treatment, of whom 2 had a full response and 2 had a partial response. Patient no. 20 refused any further botulinum treatment after the 2 (nd) unsuccessful injection series. CONCLUSION: Intravesical BTX-A injection appears to be safe and useful in children presenting with idiopathic overactive drug-resistant bladder.