Results of bladder neck reconstruction using bladder flaps in complex female urethral defects.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Female urethral defects are rare, congenital defects being more uncommon than acquired, and difficult to manage. Most female urethral defects are associated with incontinence or acute urinary retention. There is a lack of standard protocol-based management of female urethral defects because of limited experience. In this study, we describe our results of using anterior or posterior bladder wall flaps in the management of a variety of female urethral defects. METHODS: We reviewed the case records of 22 patients who had undergone either anterior or posterior bladder wall-based flap procedures for complex urethral defects at our institute. Patients were assessed by taking a comprehensive history including aetiological factors and details of prior surgical intervention, thorough physical and pelvic examination, cysto-urethroscopy and relevant imaging. These factors, along with availability and status of tissue available for reconstruction affected the selection of procedure for reconstruction. RESULTS: Out of 22 patients, anterior and posterior bladder flaps were used in 16 and 6 patients respectively. A total of 18 patients became socially dry and 15 achieved complete continence after removal of the catheter and were voiding satisfactorily, whereas the remaining 4 patients had incontinence postoperatively. An additional 3 out of 18 patients had minimal stress incontinence requiring conservative treatment and 2 patients developed voiding difficulty requiring self-calibration. CONCLUSIONS: Female urethral defects with bladder neck involvement are complex and challenging to manage. Bladder wall-based flaps offer a good chance of successful repair of these complex urethral defects.

Using the Modified Clavien Grading System to Classify Complications of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

PURPOSE: A modified Clavien classification system has been proposed to grade perioperative complications. We share our experience in grading the complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), according to this new classification. METHODS: A total of 809 PNLs performed between 2010 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The modified Clavien classification system, which classifies the perioperative complications into 5 grades, was applied. Grade wise comparison of complications between the patients with simple and complex calculi was done. We also carried out a univariate analysis of different predictors of complications after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 253 perioperative complications were observed in 237 (29.29%) patients. Most complications were related to bleeding and urinary leakage. Patients with complex calculi had significantly more number of complications across all Clavien groups. In a univariate analysis, positive preoperative urine culture and multiple access for stone clearance were identified to be the independent predictors of complications. CONCLUSION: The modified Clavien system is a simplistic grading system for classification of postoperative complications. However, it suffers from various shortcomings. Therefore, till the proposition of a more comprehensive classification system, the modified Clavien system is useful for reporting the complications and short-term outcomes of PNL.

Does preoperative urodynamic testing improve surgical outcomes in patients undergoing the transobturator tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence? A prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: Urodynamic studies are commonly performed as part of the preoperative work-up of patients undergoing surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We aimed to assess the extent to which these urodynamic parameters influence patient selection and postoperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients presenting with SUI were randomly assigned to two groups: one undergoing office evaluation only and the other with a preoperative urodynamic work-up. Patients with unfavorable urodynamic parameters (detrusor overactivity [DO] and/or Valsalva leak point pressure [VLPP]<60 cm H2O and/or maximum urethral closure pressure [MUCP]<20 cm H2O) were excluded from the urodynamic testing group. All patients in both groups underwent the transobturator midurethral sling procedure. Evaluation for treatment success (reductions in urogenital distress inventory and incontinence impact questionnaire scoring along with absent positive stress test) was done at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were evaluated. After 12 patients with any one or more of the abnormal urodynamic parameters were excluded, 30 patients were finally recruited in each of the "urodynamic testing" and "office evaluation only" groups. At both the 6- and the 12-month follow-ups, treatment outcomes (reduction in scores and positive provocative stress test) were significantly better in the urodynamic testing group than in the office evaluation only group (p-values significant for all outcomes). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed statistically significantly better treatment outcomes in the urodynamic group (after excluding those with poor prognostic indicators such as DO, low VLPP, and MUCP) than in the office evaluation only group. We recommend exploiting the prognostic value of these urodynamic parameters for patient counseling and treatment decisions.

Neo-bladder vaginal fistula: an unusual complication after orthotopic urinary diversion.

Development of neo-bladder vaginal fistula is not an unknown complication after cystectomy and orthotopic urinary diversion in females. Compared to native bladder, the wall of the neo-bladder is much thinner that may render it vulnerable to fistulization. Injury to the vagina during cystectomy is the most important predisposing factor. Herein, we present a case of neo-bladder vaginal fistula and discuss the potential surgical and clinical factors contributing to its occurrence as well as the treatment options available.

Renal transplantation using live donors with vascular anomalies: a salvageable surgical challenge.

Renal transplantation is an established mode of management for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In India, majority of the patients with ESRD depend upon live donors for renal transplantation and renal vascular anomalies are commonly seen in these potential donors. We present our experience in renal transplantation using donors with vascular anomalies. During the period between 2001 and 2004, we performed 36 live related donor renal transplantations. All study patients had only one donor each, with compatible blood group. Ten of the donors had vascular anomalies. Three had bilateral double arteries, one had double left and single right renal artery, one had bilateral triple arteries, one had triple arteries on left and double arteries on right side, of which one had early branching, two had bilateral early branching of arteries, and two other cases had double renal veins. Open donor nephrectomy was performed in all the cases. End-to-side anastomosis with external iliac vein and artery of the recipient was performed by the parachuting technique. Eight kidneys had immediate diuresis after transplantation. In two kidneys, diuresis started 2-3 hours after administration of 120 mg of furosemide. All patients had serum creatinine ranging between 0.9 and 1.8 mg/dl by the 10th post-operative day. Follow-up of these cases have varied from one month to two years. In the current scenario, multiple arteries in the donor are no longer considered relative contraindications for renal transplantation. With good surgical skill and experience in bench surgery, all such donors can be accepted. Use of external iliac artery for anastomosis with the technique of parachuting makes the procedure easy and safe.

Prediction of biochemical failure in localized carcinoma of prostate after radical prostatectomy by neuro-fuzzy.

OBJECTIVE: To predict biochemical failure in localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy using preoperative variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients of early carcinoma of prostate underwent open retropubic radical prostatectomy from June 2002 to June 2006. Preoperative variables included age, family history, digital rectal examination, serum prostatic specific antigen (S. PSA), prostate biopsy Gleason score, MRI of pelvis variables like periprostatic extension, seminal vesical invasion, weight of gland and pathological stage. With application of neuro-fuzzy, these variables were fed into system as input and output, that is S. PSA at six months (predicted value) was calculated. Neuro-fuzzy system is a system to combine fuzzy system with learning techniques derived from neural networks. Here, we applied Takagi Sugeno Kang model (TSK) due to its close solution to our aim. All the patients were followed up for a minimum of six months. At six month S. PSA of all patients was done (observed value). Predicted and observed values were compared. RESULT: Predicted and observed values were plotted on 1:1 slop line. Coefficient of correlation was 0.9935. CONCLUSION: Coefficient of correlation is close to one. It indicates that the neuro-fuzzy is accurate in predicting biochemical failure in localized carcinoma of prostate after radical prostatectomy.

Bladder mucosal autografts for repair of vesicovaginal fistula.

Twenty-two women with primary and secondary (five patients) vesicovaginal fistula attending a tertiary level urological unit in India were treated by repair of the fistula using bladder mucosal autografts. The fistula was approached transabdominally or via a combined abdominal and vaginal approach (for those involving the trigone). After closure of the vaginal layer, bladder mucosa was harvested from the dome of the bladder and laid over the fistula with sutures at each corner to fix it in place. Patients were catheterised for 12-14 days. At follow up after 3 to 12 months, 20 out of 22 patients were continent, with no other symptoms. The two failures had undergone two previous repairs each. This series is the first from India, and demonstrates the efficacy of bladder mucosal autografts for managing large fistulae, those where a previous repair has failed and fistulae adjacent to the ureteric orifice without the need for uretero-neocystostomy.