[Artificial urinary sphincter in women-too uncommon?] / Artifizieller Schließmuskel der Frau ­ zu selten?

The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is a well-known standard in the therapy of male incontinence, but not in females. This review highlights options, results, and a critical appraisal of the use of AUS in women.

[Side effects of erectile dysfunction drug treatment]. / Nebenwirkungen der medikamentösen Behandlung der erektilen Dysfunktion.

Due to the large number of drugs now available, the therapy of erectile dysfunction has changed profoundly in recent decades. The phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-i): sildenafil, taldalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil are EMA European Medicines Agency approved and show similar adverse events and success rates. The absolute contraindication is the simultaneous use of nitrates. Despite this wide variety of options, therapy of erectile dysfunction should be performed in an individually adapted manner. The exact patient's history, physical examination, collaboration of medical disciplines, and choice of therapy will offer every patient the possibility to achieve or regain a satisfying sexual life.

[Emergencies of the external genital area]. / Notfälle im Bereich des äußeren Genitale.

BACKGROUND: In addition to epididymitis and testicular torsion, emergencies of the external genital are rare. Rapid diagnosis and therapy are essential so that immediate therapy can be provided, which is important for survival (Fournier gangrene) of the patient or for the preservation of erectile function (priapism and penile fracture). A detailed patient history and clinical examination are generally sufficient for correct diagnosis. RESULTS: Under certain circumstances, it might be useful to perform ultrasound, computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging or retrograde urethrography. A urine analysis is obligatory. In case of penetrating injuries and genital trauma in females, additional imaging should be performed because these are often associated with concomitant injuries of the rectum, vagina, or bladder. Special cases are gunshot wounds, in which caliber and type of weapon play an important role for the degree of damage, and animal or human bites. For animal bites, the risk for rabies infection and in case of a human bite the risk for transmission of HIV and hepatitis should be taken into consideration and post-exposure prophylaxis should possibly be offered.

[Operative therapy of Pyronie's disease]. / Operative Therapie der Induratio penis plastica.

The operative therapy of Pyronie's disease (penile induration) follows a staged scheme. If the deviation is > 45° a complex operative treatment in the sense of plaque incision and excision with subsequent defect coverage is necessary. This operation should be carried out under optical magnification to safeguard the vessel-nerve bundle. Defect coverage can currently be carried out using a collagen fleece with excellent outcome but alternative patches are also still available. The focus in patient management is on a realistic preoperative estimation of the situation in order to avoid any unrealistic preconceptions and expectations by the patient.

[Diagnosis and management of priapism]. / Diagnostik und Therapie des Priapismus.

Priapism is defined as an erection for more than 4 h without sexual stimulation. The most common form with nearly 95% is the ischemic or low-flow form, which is very painful. The other 5% are comprised of nonischemic high-flow type usually caused by a blunt perineal trauma and the recurrent or intermittent so-called stuttering priapism. Anamnesis as well as physical and laboratory examination are important during the diagnostic workup. Patients who suffer from sickle cell anemia are predestined to develop priapism. Priapism constitutes a urological emergency because especially the low-flow type has to be treated immediately to prevent a long-lasting fibrosis of the corpus cavernosa and a consecutive erectile dysfunction. The first step is the puncture and aspiration of blood from the corpus cavernosa if necessary combined with the injection of α-agonists. In case detumescence is not achieved, an operative shunt should be placed after an MRI. If there is a complete fibrosis of the corpus cavernosa possibly combined with penis deviation the implantation of a penile prosthesis is an option. The therapy of high-flow priapism is not as urgent as that of low-flow priapism because there is no risk of ischemia. If conservative therapeutic options fail, the superselective embolization of the fistula is the treatment of choice. In recurrent or intermittent priapism, the goal is to avoid new episodes with drug treatment. Because of the low incidence of priapism, it is very difficult to recommend and favor one therapeutic procedure.

[Genetic aspects of erectile dysfunction]. / Genetische Aspekte der erektilen Dysfunktion.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder in man that influences the quality of life of the patient and his partner. Known risk factors for ED comprise diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension but also lifestyle modifications such as smoking, diminished physical activity as well as obesity. In this manuscript the current scientific literature about genetics and erectile dysfunction is reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search using the databank PubMed covering the topics genetics and erectile dysfunction was performed and relevant papers selected for presentation. RESULTS: Several aspects of genetics and ED are described in the current literature. Association studies of candidate polymorphisms and ED risk in comparison to healthy controls is a major area of research. Another topic is the genome-wide search for candidate polymorphisms with erectile dysfunction. The paper closes with the presentation of the pharmacogenomic analysis of treatment response to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. DISCUSSION: The heterogeneous results of genetic association studies are possibly due to small sample sizes of the study population and/or due to ethnic differences of the analyzed populations. This underlines the need for validation of this data in larger prospective multinational multicenter studies.

[Investigation of the use of triclosan in patients with indwelling catheters: a randomized, double blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical study]. / Überprüfung des Einsatzes von Triclosan bei Dauerkatheterträgern : Randomisierte, doppelblinde, multizentrische, placebokontrollierte Anwendungsstudie.

BACKGROUND: This article presents the first randomized, double blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, non-interventional trial with a medical product after approval by the ethical committee of the medical council of North-Rhine. The study investigated the use of the antimicrobial agent triclosan (Farco-fill® Protect) as a liquid for inflation of catheter balloons in patients with chronic indwelling catheters. PATIENTS AND OBJECTIVES: In this study 84 patients were investigated (43 in the treatment group and 41 in the placebo group) all with a suprapubic catheter and a positive history of catheter incrustation. The catheters were changed after 6 weeks and endpoints were the quantitative analysis of the incrustation, weight of the catheter, pain during catheter change and the number of urinary tract infections. The maintenance of the catheter was a secondary endpoint. RESULTS: The primary endpoint could not be reached because the study, which was initially planned with 70 patients in each arm, had to be terminated due to logistical and technical problems with the catheter weighing. The maintenance of the catheter as the most important clinical parameter showed statistically significant differences with a longer indwelling time in the triclosan group. Adverse events with respect to the product were not recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Using the antimicrobial solution triclosan as a fluid for inflation of catheter balloons led to a statistically significant extension in the catheter indwelling time. The reduction of pain during changing the catheter and the reduction of incrustation, although not statistically significant, led to an improvement in the quality of life of these patients.

[Seminal vesicle cystadenoma as the cause of a retrovesical tumor]. / Zystadenom der Samenblase als Ursache einer retrovesikalen Raumforderung.

Tumors of the seminal vesicle are rare. Malignant tumors are more common than benign tumors. A seminal vesicle cystadenoma is a rarity. We report on a 41-year-old man with the incidental finding of an asymptomatic retrovesical tumor. The tumor, the seminal vesicle, and the abdominal part of the ductus deferens were surgically removed. The operative access is variable and surgical treatment is the method of choice. The patient's prognosis is good and there are no signs of recurrence.

[Variocele in adolescents]. / Die Varikozele des jungen Erwachsenen.

Up to 20% of adolescents have a varicocele. Often a varicocele is an incidental finding during a physical examination. However, adolescents with a varicocele might suffer from pain or they may have noticed a difference in the volume of the testes. The diagnostic investigation of the ejaculate in adolescents is difficult because no age-dependent spermiogram standard values exist. Endocrinological tests are also difficult because of the physiological variability of testosterone and gonadotropins during adolescence. The difference in testes volume normalizes in half of the boys without any therapy during maturation. Most adolescents with a varicocele have a normal semen analysis. The sperm parameters are the most important factor for treatment decision making.If sperm concentration, motility, and morphology are normal, active surveillance with regular control examinations are recommended even if the volume of the testis is divergent. Pathologic sperm parameters should lead to an operative treatment. The microsurgical subinguinal technique is the method of choice due to the low complication and reoperation rates. The sperm concentration, morphology, and motility increase postoperatively as well as the volume of the testis. It is not clear whether the improved sperm parameters lead to improved spontaneous pregnancy rates later in life. Whether scrotal pain decreases after operative therapy is uncertain because of the subjectivity of pain.Until now there are only a few studies with small and very heterogeneous case numbers so that no clear recommendation for the treatment of a varicocele in adolescents can be made. The difficulty in the treatment decision-making is preventing reduced fertility, while avoiding overtreatment.

[An accessory spleen as a very rare entity causing a spermatic cord tumor]. / Nebenmilzen als seltene Ursache einer Raumforderung am Samenstrang.

An accessory spleen in the region of the spermatic cord is a very rare entity so that preoperative screening with splenic scintigraphy is not indicated. Sonographically there will always be the suspicion of a malignant tumor so operative exploration of the testes is the therapy of choice. However, it should always been borne in mind that such rare entities can occur in the region of the spermatic cord and if there is any doubt about the identity of the mass an intraoperative rapid section should be performed because in the case of an accessory spleen ablation of the testes is not necessary.

[Primary and secondary prevention of erectile dysfunction]. / Primäre und sekundäre Prävention der erektilen Dysfunktion.

Erectile dysfunction has an incidence of up to 75% in men aged 80, thus making primary prevention really important. Aetiologically multiple reasons are responsible for erectile dysfunction; therefore, recommendations for primary prevention contain different parts. The first one is to maintain a healthy arterial system and prevent atherosclerosis. Besides that diabetes, neurogenic disturbances or mental distress should be avoided. Physical activity, balanced nutrition, nonsmoking, unsaturated fatty acids and moderate alcohol consumption are preventive. Regular erections cause oxygenation of the cavernous body and prevent fibrosis which could lead to an insufficient occlusion of the cavernous veins. If the patient already suffers from coronary heart disease or diabetes, blood pressure, pulse, blood lipids and blood sugar should be as normal as possible. Erectile dysfunction might be the primary symptom of coronary heart disease; therefore, consideration should be given to a cardiac examination in the diagnostic setting.

[Testosterone substitution therapy in prostate cancer]. / Testosteronsubstitutionstherapie beim Prostatakarzinom.

After the fourth decade of life the total testosterone level in men decreases continually. If clinical symptoms, such as decreased libido or erectile dysfunction are combined with a decreased serum testosterone level this is known as late onset hypogonadism (LOH) or partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM). In such cases testosterone substitution therapy is indicated. One important question is how to treat patients suffering from LOH but also have prostate cancer which was treated curatively in the past? Only relatively little data are available with small numbers of patients which show that testosterone substitution therapy is possible without an increased risk of a relapse in cases of cured prostate cancer. If the patient was cured it does not matter if radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy was used. It is mandatory that patients are well-informed about substitution therapy and that regular surveillance and controls are carried out during the therapy. For patients who still have prostate cancer which has not yet been treated or not yet cured decisions on whether the benefit of the testosterone replacement is greater than the potential risk of a progress of the disease have to be made on an individual case-specific basis.

Genetic association study of the GNB3 C825T, the ACE I/D and the eNOS G894T polymorphisms and the risk to develop erectile dysfunction in a German ED population.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often associated with cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus. The genotypes in the GNB3 C825T, the ACE I/D and the eNOS G894T polymorphisms have been identified as genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disorders. The association between the genotypes in these polymorphisms and the risk to develop ED was analysed. In 455 German ED patients and 111 age-matched healthy controls genotyping in the candidate polymorphisms was performed after DNA extraction from whole blood. Association studies between the genotype distribution in the control group in comparison with the ED-group and age of onset of the disease as well as erectile response to intracorporal prostaglandin injection in dependence of candidate polymorphism genotype were performed using the SPSS-Software(R). Genotype distribution of the GNB3 C825T, the ACE I/D and the eNOS G894T polymorphisms was similar in the ED population and the healthy control group. The age of onset of the disease as well as the erectile response to intracorporal prostaglandin injection was independent of the genotypes in the three candidate polymorphisms. In contrast to the previous studies in this analysis, the risk to develop ED is not influenced by the genotypes in the GNB3 C825T, the ACE I/D and the eNOS G894T polymorphisms.