Procalcitonin is a strong predictor of urine culture results in patients with obstructing ureteral stones: A prospective, pilot study.

PURPOSE: The appropriate management of infected obstructing ureteral calculi is prompt genitourinary decompression. Urine cultures are the gold standard for confirming infection but often take 24-48 h to result. Although white blood cell (WBC) count is an important diagnostic laboratory test, it is a nonspecific inflammatory marker. Similarly, urinalysis (UA) can be misleading in the setting of a contaminated sample, bladder colonization, or in cases of a completely obstructed the upper urinary tract. Procalcitonin (PCT) has shown promise in predicting the presence and degree of bacterial infections. In this proof-of-concept study, we explore whether PCT is effective at predicting concomitant infections in the setting of obstructing ureteral stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, single-institution observational pilot study examining adult patients who presented to the emergency room with acute obstructing ureterolithiasis. In total, 22 patients were enrolled. At the time of presentation, data obtained were vital signs, WBC count, PCT, UA, urine, and blood cultures. Fisher-exact two-tailed t-tests and receiver operating characteristic statistics with area under the curve (AUC) calculations were used to determine the correlation between urine culture results and PCT, WBC count, nitrite-positive UA, heart rate, and fever. RESULTS: In total, 5/22 patients had bacteria-positive urine cultures. PCT (P = 0.020) and nitrite-positive UA (0.024) were the only statistically significant predictors of urine culture results. In comparing the AUC, PCT (0.812) was strongly correlated with eventual urine culture results. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept pilot study gives encouraging results, in that PCT was a good predictor of positive cultures (P = 0.02, AUC 0.812). Given, the small sample size, one cannot directly compare PCT to other markers of infection. However, PCT shows promise in this arena and warrants future investigation.

Single center outcomes after reconstructive surgical correction of adult acquired buried penis: measurements of erectile function, depression, and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: Management of adult acquired buried penis is a troublesome situation for both patient and surgeon. The buried penis has been associated with significant erectile and voiding dysfunction, depression, and overall poor quality of life (QOL). AIM: To identify outcomes following reconstructive surgery with release of buried penis, escutcheonectomy, and circumcision with or without skin grafting. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 11 patients treated by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2011, patient ages were 44-69; complete data review was available on all 11. OUTCOME MEASURES: Validated European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 15 QOL, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) surveys assessed patient QOL, depression, and erectile function pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 48.8 (42.4-64.6). Mean operative time was 191 minutes (139-272). Mean length of stay was 2.1 days. Ten of 11 patients required phallic skin grafting. There was one perioperative complication resulting in respiratory failure and overnight stay in the intensive care unit. Wound complications were seen in 2/11 patients, and 1 needed surgical debridement for superficial wound infection. Skin graft take was seen in 100% of the patients. Ninety-one percent of patients noted significant improvement in voiding postoperatively. Ninety-one percent of patients reported significant erectile dysfunction preoperatively. Subsequently, IIEF scores improved post surgery by an average of 7.7 points. Clinical depression was noted to be present in 7/11 patients preoperatively and 2/11 postoperatively based on CES-D surveys. QOL improved significantly in 10/11 compared with preoperative baseline; however, many patients noted significant difficulties based on their weight and other comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Management of adult acquired buried penis is a challenging, yet correctable problem. In our series it appears that by using established surgical techniques we were able to achieve significant improvements in erectile function, QOL, and measures of depression.

Peyronie's disease plaque calcification--prevalence, time to identification, and development of a new grading classification.

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder of the penis in which a fibrous scar in the tunica albuginea can result in multiple penile deformities. AIM: The study aims to investigate the prevalence and time to identification of plaque calcification (PC) in our PD patient population and whether stratification of calcification based on severity seen on ultrasound would serve as a predictor of treatment progression to surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1,041 men presenting with PD from 1993 to 2009 was performed. Eight hundred thirty-four underwent penile duplex ultrasound. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PC was graded as: grade 1 (<0.3 cm), grade 2 (>0.3 cm, <1.5 cm), grade 3 (>1.5 cm; or ≥ 2 plaques >1.0 cm). A matched control group with noncalcified plaques (n = 236) was selected for comparison. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-four men (34%) were found to have PC noted on ultrasound, and 98 had fully documented dimensions of the PC. Forty-one percent were found to have grade 1, 28% grade 2, and 32% grade 3. When analyzed by grade and progression to surgery, 23% of grade 1, 32% of grade 2, and 55% of grade 3 patients had surgery. Those with grade 3 PC were more likely to undergo surgical intervention for PD (OR 2.28 95% CI 1.07-4.86) and more likely to undergo a grafting procedure than control patients (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Men with PC are not more likely to undergo surgery than those without PC (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.58-1.57). PC is not uncommon, as it was found in 34% of our cohort. PC does not appear to be an indication of mature or stable disease, as it was identified by ultrasound in 37% of patients less than 12 months after onset of symptoms. Men with grade 3 PC have an increased likelihood of progression to surgical intervention and a higher likelihood of undergoing a grafting procedure.

A retrospective comparative study of traction therapy vs. no traction following tunica albuginea plication or partial excision and grafting for Peyronie's disease: measured lengths and patient perceptions.

INTRODUCTION: Loss of penile length is a recognized and common consequence of Peyronie's disease (PD). Traction therapy (TT+) has been reported to decrease post-op length loss as well as increase stretched penile length (SPL) prior to surgery. AIM: The aim of this study was to study patient outcomes with penile length change and patient satisfaction after surgery following tunica albuginea plication (TAP) and partial plaque excision and grafting (PEG) with or without postoperative TT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed from our cohort of Peyronie's reconstructive surgery between 2007 and 2010. SPL was measured dorsally from pubis to corona and recorded at the initial office visit and then compared to most recent postoperative visit. Patients were then stratified by procedure and whether TT was used (TT+ and TT-; TAP N = 52 [27 TT+ and 25 TT-] and PEG N = 59 [36 TT+ and 23 TT-). Traction therapy was initiated for >2 hours a day for 3 months typically starting 3-4 weeks postoperatively. A non-validated mailed questionnaire assessed patient perceptions. RESULTS: Mean length change seen in TAP (TT+) was 0.85 cm (0.25-1.75) vs. -0.53 cm (-1.75 to 0.5) in TAP (TT-) (P < 0.001). The mean length change seen in PEG (TT+) was 1.48 cm (0-6) vs. PEG (TT-) 0.24 cm (-1 to 2.5 cm) (P < 0.001). Sixty-one percent of surveys were returned; 85% lost length prior to the initial office evaluation, with an average of -2.5 cm lost. Importantly, in those who used traction, there was no perceived length loss, 58% reported a mean erect length gain of 1.1 cm. However, only 54% of all patients were satisfied with their current erect length. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of length in men with PD remains a serious concern. It appears that postoperative TT can result in length preservation, and in many, a measured and perceived length gain following correction of the curvature.

Traction therapy for men with shortened penis prior to penile prosthesis implantation: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Loss of penile length after penile prosthesis implantation is one of the most common complaints. There is no recognized reliable technique to gain length once the device is placed. AIMS: This noncontrolled pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of external penile traction therapy in men with a shortened penis used before inflatable prosthesis implantation. METHODS: Ten men with drug refractory erectile dysfunction and a complaint of a shorter penis as a result of radical prostatectomy in four, prior prosthesis explantation in four, and Peyronie's disease in two were entered into this trial. External penile traction was applied for 2-4 hours daily for 2-4 months prior to prosthesis surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline stretched penile length (SPL) was compared with post-traction SPL and postimplant inflated erect length. A non-validated questionnaire assessed patient satisfaction. RESULTS: All men completed the protocol. Daily average device use was 2-4 hours and for up to 4 months. No man had measured or perceived length loss after inflatable penile prosthesis placement. Seventy percent had measured erect length gain compared with baseline pre-traction SPL up to 1.5 cm. There were no adverse events. CONCLUSION: External traction therapy appears to result in a preservation of penile length, as no man had measured or perceived length loss following prosthesis placement, but in fact, a small length gain was noted in 70% of the subjects with no adverse events. The protocol is tedious and requires compliance to be effective. External traction therapy prior to inflatable penile prosthesis placement appears to preserve and possibly result in increased post-prosthesis implant erect length.