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Sacral nerve modulation (SNM) is an established treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence in patients for whom conservative management has failed.This study assessed the outcome and cost analysis of SNM compared to alternative medical and surgical treatments.Clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness analyses were performed in parallel with a prospective, multicenter cohort study that included 369 consecutive patients with urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence. The duration of follow-up was 24 months, and costs were estimated from the national health perspective. Cost-effectiveness outcomes were expressed as incremental costs per 50% of improved severity scores (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio).The SNM significantly improved the continence status (P0.005) and quality of life (P0.05) of patients with urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence compared to alternative treatments. The average cost of SNM for urge urinary incontinence was ∈8525 (95% confidence interval, ∈6686-∈10,364; P = 0.001) more for the first 2 years compared to alternative treatments. The corresponding increase in cost for subjects with fecal incontinence was ∈6581 (95% confidence interval, ∈2077-∈11,084; P = 0.006). When an improvement of more than 50% in the continence severity score was used as the unit of effectiveness, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for SNM was ∈94,204 and ∈185,160 at 24 months of follow-up for urinary and fecal incontinence, respectively.The SNM is a cost-effective treatment for urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence.

The preparation for phaeochromocytoma surgery is a matter of debate. Pre-operative blockade of alpha-1 receptors is increasingly employed in an attempt to reduce the risk of hypertensive episodes, especially during manipulation of the tumour. In this study, we compared the interest of an almost complete blockade of these receptors by high doses of urapidil in comparison with that of moderate doses of this drug. The study was conducted in two consecutive series of 18 patients, the first treated by a moderate dose, and the second by the highest dose tolerated by the patient. The two groups were comparable in other respects. All patients were operated under laparoscopy by the same surgeon and managed by the same anaesthetist using the same protocol. The number of hypertensive peaks was significantly reduced using the high dose of urapidil, with no more hypotensive episodes after tumour removal in this group. The area under the curve of norepinephrine levels as a function of time was significantly larger with the high doses of urapidil, arguing in favour of a more complete blockade of alpha-1 receptors. Our findings indicate the value of aggressive blockade of alpha-1 receptors in preparation for surgery of phaeochromocytoma.

To study the oncologic and functional results of HIFU as a first-line treatment for localized prostate cancer.Enrolment of patients between 2006 and 2011 for the first treatment against localized prostate cancer with HIFU (Integrated Imaging(®), EDAP-TMS, Vaulx-en-Velin, France). The biochemical recurrence-free survival was calculated by using the Phoenix criterion (PSAnadir+2 ng/mL). The functional complications were assessed clinically and through standardised questionnaires.The condition of 191 patients was assessed at a mean follow-up of 55.5 ± 22.7 months. In 10,1% of the treatments, an incident during the medical procedure was observed with the volume of the prostate (P=0.026) as risk factor. The overall survival, the survival and the metastatic free survival rate were respectively 89.5%, 98.4% and 97.4%. The biochemical free survival rate for 5 years was 87.5%, 69% and 39% respectively for the low, medium and high-risk groups of d'Amico classification. Eighty-six percent of the patients with a PSA nadir ≤ 0.3 ng/mL were relapse free at 5 years. Whereas only 48% of the patients with a nadir0.3 ng/mL did not. Only 17.8% of the patients had a rescue treatment with an average delay of 31.1 months. The urinary and sexual impairment was significant but 78.1% of the patients were dry at the end of the study. The most common complication found in 18.3% of the patients was the prostatic obstruction.The oncologic and functional results of the HIFU seem similar to the other first-line treatments results and reveal that the HIFU is a therapeutic option for the treatment of prostate cancer in men over 70 years.5.

Sacral nerve stimulation (NMS) is a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of urinary functional disorders as diverse as overactive bladder (OAB), urinary retention or pelvic pain syndromes. With the increasing use of NMS, we must deal with the postoperative management of this therapy.We report the results, postoperative adverse events and their management in our center.This is a retrospective single-center single-operator study of 93 patients who were tested for NMS between January 2005 and December 2013.Of the 93 patients, 78 had a definitive implantation of the device for OAB (n=44), urinary retention (n=11), pain, interstitial cystitis (n=12), bladder hyperactivity and pain (n=8) or dysuria (n=3). The average follow-up was 38.86 months (2.06 to 88.3±28.9). Among patients with OAB, 75% had a clinical improvement greater than or equal to 50%, 11.3% were considered as cured. Among patients with urinary retention, 63.5% were improved. Painful patients were improved for 58.3% of them, 2 were considered as cured. We reported 3 early postoperative complications (2 local infections, 1 hematoma), and adverse events in 49 patients (multiple visits for parameter settings, revision of the device [n=38], explantation [n=14]).Our results confirm the long-term effectiveness of NMS for the treatment of refractory overactive bladder, urinary retention, chronic pelvic pain, vesico-uretral dyssynergies. Studies are still needed to improve the selection of ideal candidates, identify prognostic factors and reduce the rate of complications and revisions.4.

To evaluate the feasibility of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a day case surgery.Observational prospective study including 30 consecutive patients after exclusion of unstable diseases and anticoagulant therapy. Patients were discharged before 8PM and the urinary catheter was removed at home the next morning. The monitoring included a phone call after 24hours and clinical evaluations after 1 and 3month follow-up. Clinical data were prospectively collected and complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.The mean age of the study population was 63.8, prostate volume was 75.3cc, maximum urinary flow rate was 9.5mL/s, and IPSS was 22.9. The conversion rate to conventional hospitalization was 3.3%. After 3months follow-up, readmission and reoperation rates were respectively 16.6% and 3.3%. The overall complication rate was 66% (Clavien I=57.7%, II=38.5%, III=3.8%). The satisfaction rate was 100% (score=9.2/10). The mean prostate volume at 3months follow-up was 23.3cc, maximum urinary flow was 25.6mL/s, and IPSS was 4.7.This study confirmed the feasibility of HoLEP as a day case surgery for selected patients. Conversion rate to conventional hospitalization and complications of grade2 were less than 5% while the satisfaction rate was high.3.

To estimate in the medium term, the efficiency and morbidity of Advance(®) for the treatment of postoperative urinary incontinence for male, and determine predictive preoperative factors of success or failure.Retrospective multicentric clinical study of patients presenting a postoperative urinary incontinence and treated by Advance(®) suburethral sling. The importance of the preoperative incontinence was classified in three groups: light (pad-test50 g/day or 1 pad/day), moderated (pad-test between 50 and 100 g/day or 2 or 3 pads/day), severe (pad-test100 g/day or3 pads/day). The functional results were classified in 4 categories: continence and improvement, defining the criterion of success and unchanged situation and deteriorated situation defining the criterion of failure.Sixty-six patients were included from 2008 till 2013. The radical prostatectomy was responsible in 85.5% of the cases. The incontinence was light, moderated and severe for respectively 43.4%, 35.6% and 21% of the patients. After treatment, 39.4% of the patients were continent and 78.9% in situation of success. The rate of success decreased with the severity of the incontinence (respectively 94%, 74% and 56%). For 9 patients, implantation of artificial urinary sphincter was performed without operative difficulties. Complications were urine retention (n=4), hematoma (n=3) and scrotal pains persistent more than one postoperative month (n=11).Advance(®) suburethral sling is a technique in which the efficiency decreases with the severity of the incontinence, but which does not seem to prevent from implanting artificial urinary sphincter. Its main problem is the apparition of scrotal pain.

Objectives : The aim of this study is to compare the initial experience at two different urologic centers of the 20 first laparoscopic nephrectomies performed either by transperitoneal laparoscopy (10 cases) in one center or by retroperitoneal laparoscopy (lumboscopy, 10 cases) in the other center. Methods: 5 males and 15 females with a mean age of 36 years (range 3-74) were operated on the right side in 8 cases and on the left side in 12 cases. Nephrectomies were indicated in 18 cases for benign renal disease, and in 2 cases for ureteric tumor (1 patient in each group). The techniques of these two approaches are described. Results : The mean operating time was shorter with lumboscopy (173 min) than with laparoscopy (210 min), probably due to the direct approach to the renal compartment without intraperitoneal dissection with lumboscopy. There were no severe intraoperative or postoperative complications, but one hematoma of the renal area in the laparoscopic group. The mean postoperative hospital stay was identical following lumboscopy and laparoscopy (4.3 and 4.2 days, respectively). Conclusion : These two approaches can be used to perform nephrectomy. In this initial experience, the results appear to be equivalent in terms of morbidity and postoperative hospital stay, but the operating time appears to be shorter with lumboscopy. Larger studies comparing respective nephrectomy conversion rates would provide other arguments in favor of one or other of these techniques.

To assess the effectiveness and tolerance of the metallic stent Memokath® 051 in the management of patients with chronic ureteral stricture treated by JJ stenting.A prospective observational study included 16 patients with chronic ureteral stricture managed with JJ stents. They were all treated with Memokath® 051 metallic stents. The primary endpoint was the medium durability of the stent. Adverse events and complications were prospectively collected. The evolution of the irritative urinary symptoms and lumbar pain after stent insertion were also assessed.Sixteen patients (mean age: 62, standard deviation: 11,4) had a total of 20 stents inserted. It was technically impossible to insert the stent in two patients and one stent was removed one day after insertion. The medium durability of the stents was 13 months (standard deviation: 10,9). Eight stents (40%) were still functioning at the end of the study. Complications were: six migrations (30%) and four obstructions (20%) of the stents. Thirteen of the 14 patients with a Memokath® stent experienced significant improvement of their JJ stent-related symptoms.The Memokath® 051 stent was an interesting alternative to JJ stents in the management of chronic ureteral strictures. Their tolerance was good and complications were easily managed without threatening the urologic prognosis of the patients. Larger studies are required to identify the risk factors of complications and the best indications for stent insertion.

Compare, in a retrospective study, the indications, the efficiency and the morbidity of the flexible ureteroscopy (URS) and the mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-perc) for the treatment of the renal lithiasis less or equal to 2 cm.One hundred and forty-four operated patients: 101 by "mini-perc" and 43 by URS. Pre-, per- and post-operative data prospectively entered in a computerized database.URS and "mini-perc" groups were comparable in terms of age (49.2±14 years versus 51.7±16 years; P=0.37) and of size of the lithiasis (8.5±3.2 mm versus 8.9±2.7 mm, P=0.4). However, the number of lithiasis was more important in URS group (2.7±141.6 versus 1.3±0.38; P0.05). The operating time was 59±32.6 min in URS and 48±28.3 min "mini-perc" group (P=0.05). The peroperating complication rate was 2% for URS (a false passage during the introduction of the access girdle) and null in the "mini-perc" group. The hospitalization was 1.49±11.4 days after URS and of 4.1±1.2 days after "mini-perc" (P0.05). The duration of ureter drainage by stent was respectively 13.8±11.5 and 2.6±1.2 days (P0.05). One month later, the treatment was effective in 88% of cases in the URS group whereas 93% in "mini-perc" group (P=0.17). Six patients (14%) need complementary treatment for residual lithiasis in the URS group and four (3.9%) in the "mini-perc" group.The "mini-perc" and the URS are two effective techniques for the treatment of the renal lithiasies less or equal to 2 cm. For the two groups, the complication rates were low and the length of hospital stay was short.

To analyse current practice patterns and to evaluate (long-term) effectiveness and adverse events of sacral neuromodulation with InterStim™ Therapy based on data collected in a national register and to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the register.This is a French multicenter prospective observational trial including patients with a permanent implant (2003-2009). Voiding diary variables and patient satisfaction were analysed based on last follow-up visit since implantation.One thousand four hundred and eighteen patients (median age: 63 years, 1206 females) were included in the database (median follow-up: 12 months). One thousand and eighty-nine patients had non-neurological disease. The principal diagnosis was overactive bladder syndrome ([OAB], n=1170) and retention (n=151). Implantation occurred in 1358 patients; 1172 patients had greater than or equal to one registered follow-up. Clinical improvement of greater than or equal to 50% was seen in 447/527 patients with OAB at 12 months follow-up (median number of voids per 24 hours decreased from 15 at baseline to 8 at 12 months) and in 42/54 of patients with retention (median number of catheterization per 24 hours dropped from 5 at baseline to 0 at 12 months). Clinical improvement remained relatively stable up to 60 months. Median patient satisfaction with treatment was between 60 and 80%. Five hundred and twenty-four patients had at least one adverse event; loss of efficacy (n=244) occurred most frequently.In this large database sacral neuromodulation with InterStim™ Therapy seems to be an effective treatment through routine practice in the long-term (up to 60 months) for patients refractory to medical treatment.

Total prostatectomy (TP) is one of the referential treatments of localized cancer of the prostate gland. Urethrovesical anastomosis and urinary catheterization may be sources of strong contractions of the detrusor muscle responsible for intense pain which is added to parietal pain. This study evaluates the efficiency of oxybutynin in the treatment of this postoperative pain (POP).Forty-five patients due to benefit from a TP by laparotomy were included in this prospective study. A urinary catheter was put in place during the operation. Patients were randomly split into two groups in the postoperative care room. Group P (n = 23) received a placebo in tablet form and group O (n = 22) received 5mg of oxybutynin in sublingual form. The POP was evaluated every 2 hours using the Visual Analogue pain Scale (VAS 0:10).The accumulated dose of tramadol after 8 hours was 110.8 mg in group P and 39.7 mg in group O (p0.05). For group P, 15/23 of the patients (65%) were in pain versus 4/22 (18%) in group O. The VAS scores of group P were higher (4.1 +/- 1) than those of group O (1.2 +/- 0.9). For group P, when the PCA dose of tramadol was inefficient, a tablet of oxybutynin 5 mg brought the VAS scores down to the same level of those of group O within 2 hours. No side effects linked to the antimuscarinic action were observed.Oxybutynin given in sublingual form reduced, at postoperative stage, the frequency and intensity of pain linked to the bladder wound and to the catheter after TP. Its use for the POP of the bladder section reduced the consumption of postoperative analgesia.

Bladder diverticulectomy is classically performed by open surgery (extravesical, intravesical, or combined) or, less frequently, by an endoscopic approach for small diverticula. We used a celioscopic approach to diverticulectomy in order to assess its feasibility and the operative and postoperative complications.Five patients aged 55 to 76 years (mean 64.2 years) were treated by celioscopy between October 1999 and October 2001. All the diverticula had occurred as a result of infravesical obstruction by benign prostatic hyperplasia, which was treated at the same time by endoscopic resection of the prostate. An ipsilateral ureteral catheter was inserted during endoscopy. After creation of an umbilical minilaparotomy with the patient in the dorsal decubitus position, a 10-mm optical trocar was inserted, then two 5-mm trocars into the right and left iliac fossae, and a 10-mm subpubic trocar. Diverticular dissection was performed with a peritoneal approach in order to free the diverticular neck. After resection, the neck was closed in two planes by interrupted absorbable sutures, and a tightness test was performed.The average operating time was 160 minutes (range 120-230 minutes), and the average blood loss was 150 mL (range 80-200 mL). There was no conversion to open surgery. The probe was removed on day 5 (range 3-7 days). No complication occurred, and the mean hospital stay was 5 days (range 4-6 days) with resumption of satisfactory micturation.This technique is a promising alternative to classical surgery, as it is less aggressive and uses a smaller incision. Operative bleeding is minimal, and the technique is reproducible in experienced hands. However, the indications are limited with regard to the associated pathologies (size of the prostate in the present cases), the morphology, the site of the diverticulum, and the surgical history of the patient.

Background. Laparoscopic surgery for phaeochromocytoma can cause excessive catecholamine release with severe hypertension and sinus tachycardia. I.V. calcium antagonists may be used to prevent increases in blood pressure during phaeochromocytoma resection. We investigated the effects of perioperative a1 adrenergic block with urapidil on intraoperative haemodynamic events. The aim was to block the a1 adrenergic receptors before any acute catecholamine release, to prevent any severe rise in blood pressure. Methods. Eighteen patients with a phaeochromocytoma received a continuous i.v. infusion of urapidil 10‐15 mg h ‐1 for 3 days before surgery and until the adrenal gland had been removed. Plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured before surgery, after induction of anaesthesia, at the end of pneumoperitoneal insufflation, during gland manipulation, after gland resection, and in the recovery room after extubation. Arterial pressure was recorded concomitantly. Hypertensive events were treated with boluses of nicardipine with or without esmolol. Results. All patients had the adrenal tumour removed without any severe rise in blood pressure or other complication. Creation of a pneumoperitoneum and adrenal gland manipulation induced significant catecholamine release associated with hypertension in 6 and 12 patients, respectively. No correlation was found between hypertensive events and plasma catecholamine levels suggesting a1 receptor block with urapidil is efficacious. Conclusions. Perioperative a1 block using i.v. urapidil is a safe and efficient alternative during surgical management of phaeochromocytoma. Br J Anaesth 2004; 92: 512‐17

To investigate the effects of coeliosurgery by catecholamine assays and the use of urapidil in the management of phaeochromocytoma.Prospective cohort study.Nine consecutive patients from April 1997 to April 2001.Urapidil (250 mg.j-1) was administered by continuous intravenous infusion three days before surgery and continued throughout anaesthesia. Plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured before surgery, after induction of anaesthesia, during insufflation, after adrenalectomy and in the recovery room. Haemodynamic disorders were treated by nicardipine +/- esmolol bolus doses.Creation of pneumoperitoneum and adrenal gland manipulations resulted in significant catecholamine releases associated with hypertension in five and eight patients respectively. Preventive urapidil use enabled easy control of blood pressure variations by additive antihypertensive drugs.Perioperative alpha 1 blockade by urapidil enables an effective and easy control of acute preoperative haemodynamic changes.

To evaluate the haemorrhagic complications of PCNL, to analyse their management and to identify predisposing factors.Out of a series of 772 cases of PCNL, 18 patients developed severe haemorrhage requiring a haemostatis procedure (2.3%): 13 males and 5 females with a mean age of 57 years (38-79), and one case on a solitary kidney. The mean time to onset of haemorrhage was 18 days (--48 days).Three nephrectomies for haemostatis were performed at the beginning of our experience. Renal arteriography was performed in 15 patients and was abnormal in 13 patients, showing 3 arteriovenous fistulas, 8 false aneurysms, 3 arteriolar injuries. All these vascular abnormalities were successfully treated by highly selective embolization. In 2 cases, arteriography was normal with a spontaneously favourable course. Comparison of the 2 groups of PCNL, with haemorrhage versus without haemorrhage, failed to demonstrate any risk factors.Severe haemorrhage following PCNL is a rare complication, but impossible to predict. Selective embolization allows control of bleeding and currently constitutes the treatment of choice.

The authors present a retrospective analysis of 30 cases of renal cancer with vena cava thrombus with a sufficient follow-up to allow analysis of the long-term prognosis. Only three patients are still alive with a follow-up of 12, 34 and 57 months. The actuarial survival for the overall population was 55%, 37% and 22% at 1, 2 and 3 years respectively. Three essential factors influenced the prognosis of these patients: the presence of distant metastases, lymph node invasion and the highest cephalic level of extension of the thrombus. Renal cancer with vena cava thrombus without metastases and without lymph node involvement has a good prognosis (100% 2-year survival), but is very rare (4 out of 30 cases), so that renal cancer with vena cava thrombus must be considered to be a serious disease (3 survivors out of 30).

The authors report 3 cases of ilio-ureteric fistulae following aorto-iliac reconstructive surgery. They also review 6 similar cases published in the worldwide literature. All of these cases have in common the appearance of a uretero-arterial fistula several years after the vascular operation on the iliac artery. The postoperative course of iliac thromboendarterectomy appears to be principally responsible, as in the 3 cases presented here, resulting in a pseudoaneurysm over the arteriotomy closure, especially as a patch angioplasty had been performed. This complication is exceptional. The diagnosis must be suspected in the case of profuse haematuria and a suggestive history and should be confirmed, when possible, by intravenous urography, retrograde ureteropyelography, arteriography, or even computed tomography. Treatment is complex and consists of a vascular and urological procedure depending on the degree of urgency and the possibilities of reconstruction.

17 patients with upper urinary tract tumours were investigated by endoscopy. 3 patients (Group I) with fibrous or fibroepithelial polyps were treated via a retrograde approach and did not develop any recurrences. 2 patients (Group II) developed unexplained haematuria: the diagnosis of high-grade carcinoma was confirmed by endoscopy and they were treated by nephroureterectomy. 12 patients (Group III) with low grade non-invasive urothelial carcinoma, in whom radical surgical was not indicated, were treated conservatively via the percutaneous (13 tumours) or retrograde (1 tumour) endoscopic approach. The local recurrence rate was 33% (4 out of 12 tumours) for a mean follow-up of 22 months. The recurrences were treated by repeated endoscopy in 3 patients, and by nephroureterectomy in 1 patient. Endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract tumours should be reserved for benign tumours and selected cases of low-grade, non-invasive urothelial carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of Cefamandole and Ceftriaxone in short-term antibioprophylaxis after transurethral prostatectomy. Ceftriaxone reduces significatively postoperative febrile reactions, although no difference is seen between the 2 regimens: 27% in group Cefamandole versus 18% in group Ceftriaxone. Postoperative urinary tract infections do not depend neither on time resection nor on weight of resected tissues. Bladder catheter removal should be treated by short-term antibiotics in order to further reduce postoperative infections.

In presenting five new cases of renal adenomas the authors describe the general nature of these rare tumours. If the small adenoma corresponding to microscopic forms is frequent, the large adenoma is rare and always solitary. Haematuria and pain are the most common signs. The classic criterion of non-malignancy in a solid tumour measuring less than 3 cm has no diagnostic value. From a review of the lieterature on the subject, the authors demonstrate the angio-architecture corresponding to the different types of adenoma: the tubular adenoma which is hypervascularised and well circumscribed; the papillary adenoma, often cortical, hypovascular or avascular with bordering arcade; the alveolar adenoma; the mixed forms. They stress the difficulty of radiological diagnosis and the frequency of transitional forms with cancer. The place of angiography is in the pre-operative diagnostic assessment and in defining localised anomalies in angio-architecture which can guide histological examination in the search for neoplastic foci.

The authors present two well documented cases of extensive acquired stenosis of the infra-pelvic upper urinary tract following percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This type of complication appears to be exceptional as, by combining the series of two centres, it represents only two cases out of more than five hundred cases treated. The delay in appearance is of the order of six months. The more or less complex nature of the procedure does not appear to be responsible. It is difficult to determine the exact mechanism fo this complication: several hypotheses are proposed. A few rare cases have been reported in the literature without raising any particular attention. These complications required difficult reconstructive surgery with a good result in both cases. Although these complications seem to be difficult to prevent, they should be systematically detected by ultrasonography at two months and at six months to avoid delay in the diagnosis of functional renal exclusion.

Lack of reliability of lymphography and morbidity associated with lymphadenectomy lead authors to use lymph node puncture-cytology in assessment of the state of the pelvic nodes in evaluating carcinomas of the bladder and prostate. 38 patients were thus investigated (21 CA prostate and 17 bladder tumours). In 83% of cases the material collected was uninterpretable. Proof of a lymph node metastasis was obtained in 15 cases. 23 cases were further evaluated at surgery, confirming the absence of false positives. 3 false negatives would raise the question of the limitations of the method. The absence of complications would appear to justify this harmless method, with the potential of increasing its reliability by puncture of the majority of opacified nodes regardless of their radiological appearance.

In the light of their experience with 16 cases seen over 5 years, the authors analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic tools for assessment of the vena cava thrombi that complicate 5 to 10% of renal carcinomas. Cavography still plays a central part in the detection of vena cava lesions. Localization of the upper extremity of the thrombus is needed to decide upon the operative technique and can be achieved by free flow inferior cavography for free floating thrombi; for complete thrombi, the two most informative procedures appear to be echocardiography (to evaluate the right atrium and intrathoracic inferior vena cava) and inferior cavography by the superior route; it seems that computed tomography provides no additional information in the assessment of extensive spread to the inferior vena cava. 14 patients were treated surgically: the surgical approach is dictated by the location of the thrombus and should allow control of the vena cava proximal to the thrombi. Two patients with a thrombus that extended into the right atrium had surgery using extracorporeal circulation; because this method is especially safe, extension of its indications to retrohepatic thrombi may be justified. The absence of operative mortality and comparison of results to those previously reported in the literature confirm the value of surgical treatment of vena cava lesions, especially if there is no lymph node involvement.

Cutaneous transureterostomy was performed in 14 patients, this bypass procedure being necessary in 9 cases for neoplasm (7 after total cystectomy) and in 5 patients for non-neoplastic lesions. The simplicity of this method is emphasized, particularly when compared with Bricker's operation, beneficial effects with respect to the comfort of the patient being similar. However, at least one ureter must be dilated: one failure of treatment was due to narrow ureters and a repeat operation was necessary to exteriorize each ureter on to the skin. The essential problem concerns the skin stoma, if an apparatus is to be fitted without a catheter. In 8 of 12 patients the cutaneous ureterostomy remained patent without artificial assistance. Two operated cases required ureteral catheters, while two others had prosthetic replacement of the foot of the ureterostomy in Y. One patient died after cystectomy for cancer. A new cutaneous and aponeurotic reconstructive mode appears capable of guaranteeing more consistent results.

This study compares a short antibioprophylaxis of 24 hours to a single injection treatment by cefamandole in endoscopic resection of the prostate. 122 patients were separated in two groups by randomisation. 61 patients received 1.5 g of cefamandole at induction of anaesthesia and 750 mg every six hours during 24 hours after surgery. The other 61 patients received a single injection of 1.5 g of cefamandole at the induction of anaesthesia. Both series were comparable in age, prostatic pathology, time of resection, weight to the resected prostate, the day of removal of the urinary catheter, the day of departure. In the first group, we found eight obvious infections and 10 occult infections with positive urinary microscopic examination; and in the second group, we found 11 obvious ans 4 occult infections with positive urinary microscopic examination. In both infected groups, we found mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both treatments were equally well accepted. The authors prefer the single injection treatment because of the low cost and absence of statistically significant differences between the two treatments.

Seventy-two patients with strictures of the urethra were treated by endoscopic urethrotomy over a period of 2 years, the strictures being of iatrogenic origin in 37.5% and of undetermined etiology in 22% Important features of this series were the advanced age of the patients (57% between 60 and 80 years) and the iatrogenic nature of the lesion in many cases. Strictures were perineobulbar in 36 cases, of the anterior urethra in 13, multiple or extending in 6, and of the membranous urethra in 17 cases. Retromeatal and cervical strictures were not included. Urethrotomy (at 12 o'clock) was followed by insertion of a urethral catheter retained for 5 days. Complications included one case of severe infection and 2 cases of epididymo-orchitis. Follow-up has been for from 6 to 36 months. Good results were obtained in 41 cases (57%), with absence of dysuria and lack of the need for dilatation. Results were moderate in 9 cases (12.5%), with functional improvement but altered flow and the need for less than 2 dilatations per year. Treatment was a failure in 23 cases (32%), the condition remaining unaltered and requiring either multiple dilatations or a repeat urethrotomy. Overall therapeutic efficacy was 70%, the poorest results being observed in extensive or membranous urethra strictures.

Bone pains observed in patients undergoing estrogen therapy, and presenting with osteoblastic metastases from prostatic cancer are usually related to unsuccessful treatment. In some patients, these pains may result from osteomalacia--ie incomplete mineralization of the new bone--because of the drainage of calcium by the osteoblastic metastases. A clinical, biological and histomorphometric study of bone specimens without decalcification was conducted in ten patients with osteoblastic disease secondary to prostatic carcinoma, who were under estrogen therapy, and for whom a change of therapy was contemplated. The study reports three cases of osteomalacia. Their bone pains were more intense, more diffuse and more permanent than those registered by patients without osteomalacia. All three had had previous fractures of the neck of the femur and a low urinary and serum calcium and phosphorus content. The discovery of osteomalacia by histomorphometric study is important because it allows effective, etiological treatment of the bone pains in these patients.

The authors report a case of appendiculoplasty of the right ureter within the context of the course of a bilateral tumour of the excretory tract necessitating conservative surgery with a single remaining kidney. The result is good at three years. The literature is reviewed, there being 13 published cases. Of the 10 cases with a follow-up of more than 1 year, there were only 5 good results and stenosis may develop several years after the reconstructive procedure.

Modern endourology procedures were used for the percutaneous conservative treatment of four tumors of the upper urinary tract in three patients, including one with a bilateral tumor, one with a single kidney and one with an abnormal contralateral kidney. No evidence of malignancy was found on the urogram, CT scan or urinary cytology; pathologic studies showed superficial low-grade lesions. Treatment was performed using a through an Amplatz sheath. Local chemotherapy with mitomycin was given postoperatively in one patient. After six months to two years follow up, no renal or vesical recurrences have been observed. With reference to this small number of cases, the usefulness of endoscopic surgery for treating tumors of the upper urinary tract is discussed. If such a procedure is feasible, patients should be carefully selected according to local conditions, tumor grade and feasibility of monitoring.

A double-blind prospective trial investigated effects of Nicergoline on micturitional disorders in 60 selected patients with dysuria in the absence of prostate hypertrophy and neurologic disease. Results evaluated from 29 men treated with the product and 25 receiving placebo, taking into account functional improvement and urinary output variations, showed a statistically significant improvement in patients in the Nicergoline group.

The main point of this study resides in comparing the efficiency and the disadvantages of using cefazoline and cotrimoxazole in the prevention of post-surgery infections of the low urinary tract. 91 patients who were about to undergo urologic surgery were divided in three groups for randomisation. 31 patients received 500 mg of intramuscular cefazoline every eight hours, the day before surgery, the day of surgery and five days following surgery. 30 others received 800 mg of intramuscular sulfametoxazole and 160 mg of trimetoprime every 12 hours during the same lapse of time. The third group of 30 patients did not receive any antibiotics. Age, sex, clinical pathology needing surgery and indwelling catheter were the same in the three groups. The group treated by cefazoline, presented 5 post surgery infections among which 3 transitory fevers and 2 isolated bacteriurias. In the group treated by cotrimoxazole, there were 7 post surgery infections among which 3 fevers and 4 isolated bacteriurias. Tolerance in both cases was similar. In the control group, there were 19 post-surgery infections with 2 cases of sepsis, 14 transitory fevers and 3 isolated bacteriurias. These results show the importance of antibiotic prophylaxy in urologic surgery of the low genital tract whether the patient has a urethral catheter or not and whatever the type of urologic surgery. But, there is no significant difference between cefazoline and cotrimoxazole.

A report of two cases of aorto-caval and ilio-caval A.V. fistulas, where the authors examine the mechanisms for anuria. The renal venous hypertension, which is due to the arteriovenous shunt, seems to be a determining factor in the occurrence of this unveiling complication, as shown by the roentgenological findings.

Based on four new cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis, the authors review a total or 59 interpretable cases of this rare disease reported in the literature. The general features of this condition are as follows: diabetic women are most frequently affected, the clinical context is generally very serious, the diagnosis is based on X-ray findings, radiating or crescent-shaped radiolucent gas images are observed with a non-functioning kidney on intravenous pyelography. CT scan was performed in two cases and confirmed the presence of air in the renal parenchyma and provided a better evaluation of the extension into the perirenal space. The only effective treatment is nephrectomy which has been able to improve the prognosis of this very serious disease, especially as the characteristic necrosis observed on histology leaves no hope of functional recovery.

The results of systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in 25 cases of early stage prostatic cancer treated by radiotherapy are presented. The relationship between the frequency of the metastatic lymph nodes and the staging and grading of the primary tumor is stressed; the prognostic interest of lymphadenectomy is underlined. From a therapeutic point of view, local radium therapy is associated with external cobalt therapy allowing the administration of 7,000--8,000 rad without severe complication. The results are satisfactory after a 36-month follow-up.

In a series of 118 patients treated by percutaneous nephrolithotomy over a period of 18 months, 12 had staghorn calculi and 4 only one kidney. Punctures were made into the inferior calyx in 94% of cases. Two-plane control was by two brilliance amplifiers. The calculus had to be fragmented before removal in 53 patients. The nephrostomy catheter was left in situ for 3 days, 5 patients requiring a second operation. Results showed successful removal of calculi in 90% of cases, failure of puncture in 1.6%, the impossibility of removing calculi in 3.2% and the presence of residual calculi in 5.6%. Perforated colons in two patients healed spontaneously, two cases of secondary hemorrhage were treated by embolization and there was one death (a patient in a debilitated condition). Increasing experience in the use of the method and a more selective choice of patients should dramatically reduce the incidence of complications.

The authors report two cases of spontaneous regression of pulmonary metastases from hypernephroma; this is an exceptional event that occurs in 0.8% of metastasized renal carcinomas; spontaneous regression in all cancers as a group occurs in 0.0014% of cases. The theories postulated up till now to explain this phenomenon are unconvincing. The authors suggest the possibility of tumorous emboli: this event, that occurs mainly in those carcinomas with a propensity for extension to veins, such as renal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, hepatoma and liver metastases, does not necessarily give rise to a metastasis. The evidence that leads to advocate nephrectomy in metastasized renal carcinoma are recalled and discussed.