Percutaneous ethanol injection of the prostate as minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) consisting of percutaneous ethanol injection inside the prostate under ultrasound surveillance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Transperineal ethanol injection into the prostate was performed in 8 patients who were affected by obstructive BPH according to AUA symptom score, impaired urinary flow, and volume of postvoiding residual urine. Injections were performed under transrectal ultrasound surveillance at four sites of the prostate for an overall amount of 6 ml of ethanol per patient. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 69.7 years (range 57-83). No major intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. The median symptom score decreased from 21+/-5.2 (range 14-28) to 10+/-4.4 (range 1-14) at 3 months postoperatively (p<0.0001). The median peak flow rate increased significantly from 11 ml/s (range 7-17) before the procedure to 16 ml/s (range 12-20) after it (p<0.001). The median volume of post-voiding residual urine dropped from 130 ml (range 36-200) before treatment to 27 ml (range 11-42) after it (p<0.01). The same parameters were assessed at 6 months without significant differences. A mild side effect was observed in 1 patient who reported severe urge incontinence and moderate perineal pain the first month after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy of the prostate is a safe, easy and minimally invasive procedure for treating BPH, especially when there is an high operative risk.

Sclerotherapy of hemangioma of the glans penis.

Penile hemangiomas are very rare, small lesions. Possible therapies include surgical excision, electrofulguration, cryotherapy, and sclerotherapy. We describe an extremely rare case of a large hemangioma of the glans that was treated by means of repeated injections of 2% polidocanol under local anesthesia (5% lidocaine-prilocaine cream). No complications were observed after the operation, and a satisfactory aesthetic result was obtained. No relapse was noted 18 months after the treatment. A therapeutic reference standard for the treatment of penile hemangiomas is still lacking because of the rarity of the disease. Sclerotherapy proved to be an effective, low-cost, and easy-to-perform procedure. Moreover, it is repeatable in case of failure.

Saphenous vein harvesting by 'stripping' technique and 'W'-shaped patch covering after plaque incision in treatment of Peyronie's disease.

Harvesting of the saphenous vein tract by means of leg stripping is proposed in the treatment of Peyronie's disease. The technique of W-shaped saphenous vein after plaque incision to correct severe penile deformity associated with Peyronie's disease is described. Graft material was obtained from the lower saphenous vein by means of distal 'leg short stripping' technique. The size and number of tunical incisions depended on the size of the plaque. A 15 cm venous segment is generally sufficient to cover the defect. The venous segment used was W-shaped, assembled with 6/0 polydioxanone (PDS) uninterrupted sutures and then sutured to the albuginea defect. In our preliminary series of eight patients, penile shortening and erectile dysfunction is absent. Complete correction of penile deformity was achieved in seven patients (87.5%). One patient had minimal residual curvature (<20 degrees ) which did not result in difficulty with intromission. Saphenous harvesting by the stripping technique is not an invasive procedure and is quick and simple to perform. The W-shaped assembling technique is safe because the piece of saphena is kept intact and may be suited properly to the albuginea defect.

[Termino-terminal urethroplasty using microsurgical technique in the treatment of bulbar urethral stenosis: evaluation of long-term results and preservation of potency]. / L'uretroplastica termino-terminale con tecnica microchirurgica nel trattamento delle stenosi dell'uretra bulbare: valutazione dei risultati a lungo termine e conservazione della potenza sessuale.

The Authors report their experience, at long term, on the use of overlap anastomosis sec. Turner Warwick's technique for the treatment of posterior urethral strictures. 12 patients, from 17 to 58 years, were observed. Minimum follow-up was 43.3 months. All patients performed, pre and post-operatively, a retrograde cystogram, an uroflowmetry, a questionnaire to evaluate sexual potency by IIEF and AUA score, and some cases underwent also a cystoscopy post-operatively. Results demonstrated the effectiveness of technique five years later too, which is the period with the greater incidence of recurrences.