Surgical correction of Peyronie's disease via tunica albuginea plication: long-term follow-up.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is an acquired connective tissue disorder of the tunica albuginea with fibrosis and inflammation that lead to palpable plaques formation, penile curvature, and pain during erection. Patients report negative effects on main domains such as physical appearance and self-image, sexual function, and performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate plication of the albuginea outcomes after a long-term follow-up period. Between 1998 and 2006, a total of 204 patients with PD underwent surgical correction with albuginea plication technique. We obtained complete long-term follow-up data in 187 cases. The follow-up data included evaluation of curvature correction, penile shortening, sexual function, complications, and patient satisfaction. After a mean follow-up of 141 months, the most common postoperative complications were: loss of length (150 patients had a minimal penile shortening ≤1.5 cm, 37 patient between 1.5, and 3 cm, none >3 cm), recurrent or residual penile curvature (15 patients, without impairing sexual intercourse), erectile dysfunction (15 patients had IIEF-5 < 10 at 5 years of follow-up vs. 28 patients at 10 years), change in penile sensation (37 patients experienced paresthesia of the glans 1 year after surgery, 28 at 5 years, and 15 at 10 years); painful or palpable suture knots (in 20 cases) spontaneously healed in 3 months. Overall, 77% of the patients and partners were completely satisfied, 14% partially satisfied, and 9% unsatisfied. Plication procedure is safe and simple to be performed compared with the classical Nesbit's procedure. It has a shorter surgical time, lower costs, and could be successfully performed by less experienced surgeons too. It has a minimal risk of de novo erectile dysfunction, injury to the dorsal neurovascular bundle. Results are good in terms of patient satisfaction according to anatomical outcome and functional correction.

Does site of specimen extraction affect incisional hernia rate after robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy?

BACKGROUND: Robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) spread in the last decade as a minimally invasive alternative to open radical prostatectomy for men with localized prostate cancer. It is associated with excellent surgical, functional and oncological results with less postoperative pain and shorter convalescence. Anyway, the development of an incisional hernia (IH), may negate known benefits as it can lead not only to bothersome symptoms but also to severe complications, such as bowel obstruction, strangulation and perforation. Port-site or extraction site hernias, whose incidence rate is underdiagnosed, have become more commonly after minimally invasive surgery; but IH rate after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has not been well characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of extraction-site location (vertical supra-umbilical incision versus an off-midline incision) on incisional hernia rates in robotic prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included in the study 800 patients undergone RALP, 400 with a supra-umbilical incision for specimen extraction and 400 with off-midline incision. All were followed up for at least 3 years. The main study end point was IH occurrence at the extraction site (midline versus off-midline). RESULTS: IH rate for the entire series was 4.75%, in particular 5% for the midline group and 4.5% for the off-midline group. The hernias were diagnosed at a mean of 20.2 and 18.2 months after surgery, respectively in the two groups. There was no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics; anyway larger prostate weight, wound infection and history of prior cholecystectomy were associated with higher proportion of IH. CONCLUSION: Extraction site hernias are a rare but a potentially serious complication following RALP. In our series, the midline extraction doesn't result in a significantly higher IH rate in comparison with the off-midline extraction site.

Thulium laser enucleation (ThuLEP) versus transurethral resection of the prostate in saline (TURis): A randomized prospective trial to compare intra and early postoperative outcomes. / Enucleación con láser de tulio (ThuLEP) frente a resección transuretral de la próstata en solución salina (TURis): un ensayo prospectivo aleatorizado para comparar resultados intra y postoperatorios tempranos.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical intra and early postoperative outcomes between thulium laser transurethral enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) and transurethral bipolar resection of the prostate (TURis) for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a prospective randomized trial. METHODS: The study randomized 208 consecutive patients with BPH to ThuLEP (n=102) or TURis (n=106). For all patients were evaluated preoperatively with regards to blood loss, catheterization time, irrigation volume, hospital stay and operative time. At 3 months after surgery they were also evaluated by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). RESULTS: The patients in each study arm each showed no significant difference in preoperative parameters. Compared with TURIS, ThuLEP had same operative time (53.69±31.44 vs 61.66±18.70minutes, P=.123) but resulted in less hemoglobin decrease (0.45 vs 2.83g/dL, P=.005). ThuLEP also needed less catheterization time (1.3 vs 4.8 days, P=.011), irrigation volume (29.4 vs 69.2 L, P=.002), and hospital stay (1.7 vs 5.2 days, P=.016). During the 3 months of follow-up, the procedures did not demonstrate a significant difference in Qmax, IPSS, PVR, and QOLS. CONCLUSION: ThuLEP and TURis both relieve lower urinary tract symptoms equally, with high efficacy and safety. ThuLEP was statistically superior to TURis in blood loss, catheterization time, irrigation volume, and hospital stay. However, procedures did not differ significantly in Qmax, IPSS, PVR, and QOLS through 3 months of follow-up.

[Urinary diversion using a Maizels catheter (K.I.S.S.S.) in pyeloplasty]. / Derivazione urinaria mediante catetere di Maizels (K.I.S.S.S.) nelle giuntoplastiche.

The increasing interest and progress showed by the surgical treatment of the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, have evidenced some problems that have not completely solved. Problem in which there is division in opinion concerns the role of splinting with or without nephrostomy in pyeloplasty. A strong impulse for proximal urinary diversion after pyeloplasty derived from data provided by Caine and Hermann (1), who have demonstrated in cineradiographic studies that the normal ureteral peristalsis did not return for about 3 weeks after anastomosis. The authors, who use systematically urinary diversion in pyeloplasty, emphasize the usefulness of the Kidney Internal Stent Splint Set (K.I.S.S.S.). This device developed by Max Maizels, From Children's Memorial Hospital Chicago USA, is employed after pyeloplasty, when kidney drainage is mandatory for the success of the procedure. The set contains: sof-flex stent, 55 cm. long: closed segment 25 cm. long, with 12 cm. malleable tapered positioning stylet; "cut-out" segment 30 cm. long. Silicone retention disc with pull-tie; Luer-lock adapter; 10 Fr. polyvinylchloride connecting tube 30 cm long. Introduction with the malleable stylet is the same as a nephrostomy interoperatively placed. The closed portion of the stent is sutured with adsorbable suture to the renal capsule and is performed as a nephrostomy drainage catheter. The "cut-out" portion is advanced interoperatively into the ureter. The K.I.S.S.S. explains essentially a twofold function: first to defend the neo-anastomosis, secondly like a nephrostomy drainage.

[The anterior approach after Chute, Baron and Olsson in renal pathology: the authors' own experience]. / Abordaje anterior según Chute, Baron y Olsson en patología renal: experiencia personal.

The authors describe their experience of 79 operations using the Chevron anterior transperitoneal approach in the treatment of 71 renal tumors and 8 cases of renal trauma. This approach respects the physiology of the respiratory system, has a low morbidity and mortality, in the post-operative period the need for anesthesia is moderate and hospitalization is shorter. The authors underscore the following advantages of the Chute-Baron-Olsson technique: it is easy to perform and can be easily extended, dehiscence and laparoceles are uncommon (only 2 of 79 patients). Furthermore, the Chevron partial or total approach in tumors and renal trauma permits exposure of an excellent inframesocolic and supramesocolic field and perfect control of the important elements of the renal vasculature.

[Ectopic adrenal cortex tissue in the spermatic cord: clinico-surgical implications]. / Tejido córticosuprarrenal ectópico en el cordón espermático: implicaciones clínico-quirúrgicas.

Ectopic corticoadrenal tissue is not a very uncommon finding during orchiopexy in children. The causes can be found in the period of organ development and gonadal migration (spermatic cord). From 1986 to 1990, we have performed 88 orchiopexy procedures in the Urology Service of "San Antonio Abad de Gallarate" Hospital. Only one case (1.13%) of juxta-funicular corticoadrenal ectopia has been observed. The aim of the present study is to determine the correct surgical approach to this incidental finding during surgery of the inguinal canal in pediatric patients.