KTP laser nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: comparison of ultrasonic and cold scissor dissection on cavernous nerve function.

PURPOSE: Energy sources used during nerve sparing radical prostatectomy are known to compromise cavernous nerve function. Lasers offer the potential for accurate dissection while minimizing collateral injury to delicate neural structures. We evaluated cavernous nerve function following KTP laser dissection and compared outcomes to those of ultrasonic shears and cold scissor dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic unilateral neurovascular bundle mobilization was performed in 36 survival dogs using a KTP laser, ultrasonic shears and an athermal technique with cold scissors and clips in 12 each. Peak intracavernous pressure upon cavernous nerve stimulation, expressed as a percent of mean arterial pressure, was measured acutely and at 1 month. Thermal spread from the KTP laser and ultrasonic shears was assessed histologically ex vivo in harvested peritoneum. RESULTS: Median peak intracavernous pressure as a percent of mean arterial pressure was similar immediately and 1 month after laser and athermal dissection, and significantly decreased after dissection with ultrasonic shears. Acute peak intracavernous pressure as a percent of mean arterial pressure was 53%, 96% and 98% for ultrasonic shears, laser and the athermal technique, respectively (laser vs athermal p = 0.51, ultrasonic shears vs laser p <0.001 and ultrasonic shears vs athermal p <0.001). Chronic peak intracavernous pressure as a percent of mean arterial pressure was 56%, 98% and 100% for ultrasonic shears, laser and the athermal technique, respectively (laser vs athermal p = 0.38, ultrasonic shears vs laser p = 0.016 and ultrasonic shears vs athermal p = 0.013). The median depth of acute laser injury was 600 microm compared to 1.2 mm for ultrasonic shear dissection and 450 microm crush injury due to the athermal technique. Thermography revealed less collateral thermal spread from the laser than from the ultrasonic shears (median greater than 60C thermal spread 1.07 vs 6.42 mm, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The KTP laser was comparable to the athermal technique and superior to the ultrasonic shears for preserving cavernous nerve function.

[Testicular toxoplasmosis: a rare case of a testicular mass]. / Toxoplasmosis testicular: un caso raro de masa testicular.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan infecting birds and mammals. Acute infection is asymptomatic in immune competent people. For immune deficient patients (acquired immune deficiency syndrome, lymphoma patients or those under steroids to prevent organ transplantation rejection) infection may be lethal. We describe an uncommon case of testicular toxoplasmosis in patient under steroids after organ transplantation with no positive serum test for HIV and/or systemic toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis testicular: un caso raro de masa testicular / Testicular toxoplasmosis: a rare case of mass testicular

El Toxoplasma gondii es un protozoario intracelular que infecta aves y mamíferos. La infección aguda es asintomática en pacientes inmunocompetentes. En pacientes con deficiencia inmunológica (síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida, linfomas o pacientes sometidos a terapia con corticoides para prevención derechazo de transplante de órganos) la infección puede ser fatal. Nosotros describimos un caso poco común de toxoplasmosis testicular en paciente sometido a transplante renal hace 6 años con serología negativa para el virus VIH y sin toxoplasmosis sistémica (AU)

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan infecting birds and mammals. Acute infection is asymptomatic in immune competent people. For immune deficient patients (acquired immune deficiency syndrome, lymphoma patients or those under steroids to prevent organ transplantation rejection) infection may be lethal. We describe an uncommon case of testicular toxoplasmosis in patient under steroids after organ transplantation with no positive serum test for HIV and/or systemic toxoplasmosis (AU)

Orthotopic ileal neobladder: the influence of reservoir volume and configuration on urinary continence and emptying properties.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the volume and configuration of the neobladder on urinary continence and reservoir emptying in orthotopic urinary reservoirs using intestinal segments for bladder replacement after radical cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients who had had a radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction with an orthotopic ileal neobladder were followed for > or = 1 year; 27 (group 1) had the ileal neobladder created with a shorter intestinal segment (40 cm) in an elongated shape ('J'), and 32 (group 2) had their reservoir made more spherical with a longer ileal loop (60-65 cm). The rates of urinary continence, enuresis, neobladder capacity and postvoid residual urine were evaluated first at 3-6 months and again 1 year after surgery in both groups. RESULTS: At 3-6 months after surgery urinary incontinence and enuresis were more common in group 1, but at 1 year had the same frequency in both groups, at respectively 11% and 44% in group 1, and 13% and 47% in group 2 (P > 0.05). The neobladder capacity and postvoid residual urine were significantly higher in group 2, at > 600 mL and > 100 mL, respectively, in 14% and 14% of the patients in group 1 and 57% and 52% of those in group 2 (P < 0.05). Urinary retention requiring intermittent catheterization did not occur in group 1 but did in 19% of group 2. CONCLUSION: The orthotopic spherical ileal neobladder with a large initial volume is apparently not associated with better continence rates and is prone to developing progressive enlargement, which can lead to neobladder atony and progressive emptying failure, increasing the chance of complete urinary retention.