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To analyze patients' views with regards to local consultations given by specialists in urology and to an offer of pre- and postoperative visits in the local general hospital with surgical interventions taking place at the university hospital.An opinion survey by mail questionnaire was carried out in all 473 patients who had had a consultation with a specialist in two local general hospitals between November 2009 and April 2010.Response rate was 74%. Mean patient age was 65.5 ± 12 years [range, 20-90]. The reason for the consultation was cancer-related in 31.2% of patients. The majority (89%) made the journey to hospital under their own steam and would have had to travel a 4 times greater distance if the consultation with the specialist had taken place at the university hospital. Overall, 54.6% of patients were willing to travel 20 km further to see a specialist and 76.5% were willing to travel 20 km further for a surgical intervention. Virtually all of the patients (99%) saw benefits to local consultations given by specialists. The offer of a consultation at the general hospital and intervention at the university hospital met with the approval of 60.8% patients and 56.3% had already experimented this offer.Local consultations by specialists might be an answer to demographic issues in France, that is, to the small number of urologists practicing in general hospitals.

Androgen deficiency of the aging male is a pathological syndrome and should not be viewed simply as a stage in physiological aging. It is often overlooked despite evidence for a deleterious impact on many physiological processes and on quality of life. Its identification should be part of the routine practice of physicians in charge of this population, in particular general practitioners and specialists treating associated comorbidities (e.g. metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders) or sexual dysfunction. The consultant urologist has a key role to play in prostate surveillance before and during treatment. Treatment is often simple with few side-effects. However, long-term benefits and side effects need to be investigated in prospective studies.

Intravesical instillations of BCG remains the gold standard for intermediate and high risk NMIBC management. Maintenance treatment is recommended, however, the frequency of side effects responsible for the discontinuation of maintenance therapy over four out of five patients before the third year suggest a reduction or even spacing instillations. The objective of the study URO-BCG-4 was the evaluation of a new maintenance schedule by intravesical instillations of BCG combined reduced dose (third dose) and a decrease number of instillations per cycle (two or three).Multicenter study of the French Association Oncologic Committee (12 university hospital centers), randomized, prospective, comparing reference diagram of BCG maintenance therapy one third of usual dose (group I) to a regimen combining third dose and decrease the number of instillations per cycle (two instead of three) (group II). We present the preliminary results at 1year of this Program of Clinical Research (CHU Rouen Promoter 2003-081).The rate of recurrence was respectively 9 and 7% (P=0.678) in groups I and II. The rate of tumor progression are 3 and 2.8% in groups I and II (P=1). Tolerance of intravesical instillations of BCG scored according to the WHO classification (Geneva 1979) was similar in the two groups.The decrease in the BCG dose (third dose) and the changes in the number and rate of instillations did not alter free tumor recurrence survival. The toxicity of intravesical instillations of BCG was identical in both groups. The use of the WHO classification has shown its limitations in the study of side effects of BCG as too complex and often not exhaustive. The rate of increase muscle was comparable in the two groups; however, a larger clinical experience is required.

In case of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, hormonal treatments are equally efficient. Early hormonal treatment after biochemical recurrence reduces specific mortality, local and metastatic progression. In locally advanced prostate cancer, adjuvant radiation therapy after biochemical recurrence reduces local and metastatic recurrence. Withdrawal of the steroid hormone should be the first maneuver after primary hormonal therapy failure. Second generation anti-androgens (abiraterone and MDV 3100) should be released soon. These new hormonal agents are in clinical trials and show promising activity in patients with CRPC.

Background Renal allograft vascular thrombosis is a complication that often results in graft loss. Since there are no guidelines on immediate postoperative thromboprophylaxis, we performed a telephone survey of clinical practice in all renal transplantation centers in France. Methods Each center considered 4 cases relating to renal transplant candidates on dialysis with an increasing risk of thrombosis: Case 1: patient with no identified risk factors; Case 2: patient with an earlier incidence of deep vein thrombosis; Case 3: patient with ischemic heart disease on antiplatelet therapy; Case 4: patient with atrial fibrillation taking a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with lupus nephritis syndrome. Results The treatments proposed by the centers (%) were: Case 1: No anticoagulation therapy (57.1%), calcium heparin at prophylactic doses (P-dose) (40%), or unfractionated heparin (UFH); (P-dose; 2.9%). Case 2: No anticoagulation therapy (34.3%), calcium heparin (P-dose; 51.4%), or UFH (P-dose; 5.7%). Case 3: (A) Interruption of aspirin (65.7%), and either no anticoagulation therapy (21.7%) or substitution of aspirin by calcium heparin (P-dose; 56.6%) or by UFH (P-dose; 8.7%). (B) No interruption of aspirin (34.3%), and either no additional prophylaxis (58.3%) or calcium heparin (P-dose; 33.3%). Case 4: Interruption of VKA (100%), and UFH at a curative dose (68.6%), UFH (P-dose; 14.3%), or calcium heparin (P-dose; 11.4%). Conclusions Practices varied widely in the absence of studies of sufficiently high power. There is a need for a preoperative classification of thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk among renal transplant candidates and for consensus guidelines.

To assess the impact of RP on patients' sexual desire and orgasm.Prospective, cross-sectional survey using a 16-item self-administered questionnaire. We assessed relevant domains of male sexual function (erectile function, sexual desire, and orgasm), psychological impact and treatment of ED.A total of 63 consecutive patients after RP were included (mean age: 63.9). Median time between questionnaire and RP was 26.8 months (range 6-67). After RP, 74.6 % of patients used ED treatments. Lower sexual desire and intercourse frequency were reported in respectively 52.4 and 79.4 %. Orgasm was modified in most patients: 39.7 % described loss of orgasm and 38.1 % reported decreased intensity. Involuntary loss of urine at orgasm (climacturia) was reported in 25.4 %. Negative psychological impact was reported in 68.3 % (loss of self-esteem, loss of masculinity, anxiety).RP adversely affected erectile and orgasmic functions but also sexual desire, self-esteem and masculinity despite treatments. Candidates for RP should be aware of ED but also of other postoperative sexual dysfunctions.

Graft thrombosis is a major complication of transplantation. However, there are no recommendation on immediate postoperative thromboprophylaxis after kidney transplantation. We recorded clinical practices in France.In 29 transplantation centres, four case studies were submitted to the medical kidney transplantation referent (compatible graft from cadaveric donor, without perioperative complication). N(o) 1: Man, 27-years-old, IgA glomerulonephritis, without history of hypercoagulability or cardiovascular risk factor. Hemodialysis since 12months. N(o) 2: Man, 53-years-old, with history of deep venous thrombosis after cholecystectomy 15years before. Membranous nephropathy. Hemodialysis since 10months. N(o) 3: Man, 58-years-old, with history of myocardial infarction. On aspirin therapy. Nephroangiosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Peritoneal dialysis since 6months. N(o) 4: Woman, 63-years-old. Atrial fibrillation on vitamin K antagonists therapy. Lupus nephritis without antiphospholipid syndrome. Hemodialysis since 12months.N(o) 1: No anticoagulation therapy (62%), calcium heparin at prophylactic doses (34.5%). N(o) 2: No anticoagulation therapy (38%), calcium heparin at prophylactic doses (44.8%). N(o) 3: 62% interrupted aspirin of whom 22% without any immediate anticoagulation and 55% replaced aspirin with calcium heparin at prophylactic doses. Thirty-eight percent carried on with aspirin of whom 63.6% without other prophylaxis and 27.3% in association with calcium heparin at prophylactic doses. N(o) 4: Unfractionned heparin at curative dose (62%), unfractionned heparin at prophylactic doses (17.2%), calcium heparin at prophylactic doses (13.8%).Postoperative anticoagulation after renal transplantation is established as a local dogma rather than evidence-based medicine. Guideline recommendations and standardized protocols for the use of anticoagulation after kidney transplantation should be developed.

This study was carried out to evaluate the ultrasonographic findings on patients with voiding disorders after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT).Fifty-four women had ultrasonographic evaluation 3 months after TVT procedure. The prolene tape position was evaluated with a complete sagittal view and the width of the tape and the distance between the bladder neck and the tape were measured. In the same time, patients completely cured by TVT (group 1), postoperative dysuria (group 2), de novo urge incontinence (group 3) and ineffective treatment were evaluated with a self-questionnaire and physical examination. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA test.The distance between the tape and the bladder neck shows a significant difference between group 1 and 2 (13.2 mm compared to 7.6 mm) and between group 1 and 3 (13.2 mm compared to 17.7 mm). The width of the tape is significantly different between group 1 and 2 (8.8 mm compared to 6.6 mm) and between group 1 and 3 (8.8 mm compared to 6.5 mm). The distance between the tape and the bladder neck in group 2, compared with group 3, is significantly shorter (7.6 mm compared to 17.7 mm). There is no difference between the width of the tape between groups 2 and 3 (6.6 mm compared to 6.5 mm).These results show a correlation between voiding disorders after TVT procedure and transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of the distance between the prolene tape and the bladder neck.

Endothelial P2y purinoceptor stimulation is known to induce vasodilatation mediated by NO release from endothelial cells. We examined the effect of a potent P2y agonist, adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADPbetaS), on human corporal cavernosal strips and its dependence on a functional endothelial lining.The preparations mounted in isometric conditions were precontracted by noradrenaline (NA) at a concentration of 0.1 microM. Increasing concentrations of ADPbetaS from 1 microM to 100 microM were added in the presence and absence of a functional endothelium or in the presence and absence of an NO synthase inhibitor and a selective P2y antagonist. Acetylcholine (Ach)-induced relaxation was used in each experiment for control.In human precontracted corporal cavernosal strips with a functional endothelium (relaxed by acetylcholine) ADPbetaS induces a dose-dependent relaxation with maximal relaxation of 45.5+/-5.0% and an EC50 of 11.7 microM. The relaxant effect of ADPbetaS was reduced by 77.1+/-7.0% by reactive blue 2 (20 microM)(a P2y antagonist). L-NAME (L-Nitro Arginin Methyl Ester), an NO synthase inhibitor (100 microM), reduced Ach- and ADPbetaS- induced relaxations by 86.59+/-3.24% and 86.83+/-0.5% respectively. Ach- and ADPbetaS- induced relaxations were significantly inhibited after dislodging of the endothelial lining of the corporal cavernosal strips, 90.11+/-6.2% and 87.1+/-5% respectively.Human corporal cavernosal strips can be relaxed by stimulation of P2y purinoceptors via NO release. This relaxation is an endothelium-dependent mechanism. Purines may be implicated in physiological erection in man.

The etiology of impotence in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is difficult to assess due to the possibility of normal nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) recording despite neurologic involvement. Sixteen patients with MS and impotence were studied with Rigiscan, cavernous artery doppler, neurophysiological tests and intracavernous injection of PGE1. When more restrictive criteria of normality than usual are used for Rigiscan (rigidityor = 80% and/or duration30 minutes), an inverse relationship between NPTR recording and sexuality score or PGE1 dose is reported. No significant difference is noted for neurophysiological tests. With such criteria, Rigiscan alone or combined with intracavernous PGE1 is a valuable means to differentiate neurogenic from psychogenic impotence in MS patients. Neurophysiological tests are of limited clinical value.

Androgen deprivation is currently the standard treatment for patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma. Few reliable prognostic markers are able to select, at diagnosis, patients who will respond favorably and durably to hormone ablation. Circulating polyamines, markers of cell proliferation that are elevated in prostate carcinoma, have been evaluated as a prognostic tool.Eighty-eight patients with untreated, M1 classified prostate carcinoma who received endocrine therapy between 1988 and 1993 were included in this study. Performance status, hemoglobin, alkaline phosphatases, prostate specific antigen, Gleason tumor grade, extent of disease by bone scan, and circulating erythrocyte spermidine and spermine were correlated with observed progression free and cause-specific survivals. Multiple correspondence analysis and ascending hierarchical classification were performed to determine significant pretreatment prognostic factors.Pretreatment performance status, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte spermine levels were correlated with progression, with hemoglobin and erythrocyte spermine level being the most significant independent variables (P0.00001 and P0.0001, respectively). With regard to cause specific survival, only hemoglobin and spermine erythrocyte levels were significant independent variables (P0.0001 and P0.0005, respectively). Patients with spermine levels of less than 9 nmol/8.10(9) had a statistically better outcome than patients with 9 nmol/8.10(9) or more erythrocytes. Erythrocyte spermine was the best sole determinant of progression. A test combining spermine with performance status or hemoglobin improved each variable's predictive values.Circulating erythrocyte spermine levels, extracted from a blood sample, can discriminate, at diagnosis, patients with hormone-refractory from those with hormone-responsive metastatic prostate carcinoma.

The NOVA apparatus is an electrohydraulic lithotriptor not yet available in France. The authors present an evaluation of the first 150 patients treated with this machine. 92.2% of the 185 stones treated were fragmented. 141 patients were reviewed at 1 month and, if necessary, 3 months after the first session; 4/24 patients and 1/3 patients were not reviewed after their second and third treatment session, respectively. Evaluation of the 177 sessions performed (16% of second sessions and 2% of third sessions), 69.11% of patients did not have any residual stones. The success rate was 52% for renal stones; 96% for stones of the lumbar ureter and 50% for pelvic stones. The morbidity was low (10% of renal colic, 5% of obstructive stone) but in combination with second treatment sessions, it generated a risk of being rehospitalised after the first session of 26%. When the procedures performed under anaesthesia before and after ECL (apart from repeated sessions) are added, the risk of this supplementary anaesthetic for a given patient is 18.66%. Lastly, the risk of undergoing another anaesthetic after the 1st ECL was 33%. These data indicate the limits of the "noninvasive" nature of a modern and effective lithotriptor.

Percutaneous endoscopic treatment of the kidney retains a place in the treatment of renal stones (percutaneous nephrolithotomy--PCNL) and ureteropelvic junction abnormalities (endopyeloplasty). It requires anaesthesia ensuring surgical comfort and safety for the patients despite changes in position and the prolonged ventral supine position. The operation carries certain iatrogenic risks related to caliceal irrigation in patients with more or less documented episodes of infection and carries risks of haemorrhage and effraction of adjacent organs. 282 patients treated by PCNL between 1984 and 1991 were reviewed in order to define the respective indications for general anaesthesia and peridural anaesthesia and to determine the modalities, to evaluate the risk and severity of absorption of irrigation fluid and to assess the risk of infection by defining the indications for prophylactic antibiotics. General anaesthesia, using etomidate and propofol via an infusion pump, ensures surgical comfort, anaesthetic safety and better control of intraoperative complications. The renewed interest in this technique must be counterbalanced by the growing incidence of anaphylactic reactions related to anaesthetic drugs. Operations lasting more than 2 hours, raised intracaliceal pressure, the initially exclusive use of glycine for irrigation induce haemodilution complications, possibly aggravated by glycine intoxication. Repeated surgery is preferable with the use of an Amplatz tube as often as possible and physiological saline, except when required by the operation. Patients with a history of urinary tract infection or infected stones should receive prolonged and effective antibiotics before, during and after the operation. Prophylactic antibiotics are reserved for those patients with no history of infection. These principles equally apply to percutaneous nephrolithotomy and endopyeloplasty.

Surgery is considered to be the reference treatment for obstructive benign prostatic hypertrophy (NPH). Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and suprapubic prostatectomy are the operations most frequently performed by urologists. However, little information is available concerning the long-term results of this surgery. In order to assess the long-term efficacy, we recalled 618 consecutive patients operated for benign prostatic hypertrophy between 1979 and 1982 (390 by TURP and 228 by suprapubic prostatectomy (SP). 167 patients were reviewed and investigated, 150 had died and 301 were lost to follow-up. Ten years after the operation, 85% of the patients reviewed had good or satisfactory micturition and 72% of them were satisfied, regardless of the technique used. In 80% of patients, no complementary procedure was required to ensure urinary comfort. However, the effects of this surgery on sexual function were considerable, as one half of patients reporting sexual intercourse before the operation reported a deterioration of sexual function after the operation. Lastly, long-term morbidity affected 10 to 41% of patients and 9 to 12% of them were reoperated. Although, overall, surgery gave excellent results at 10 years, 15% of patients did not derive any benefit from the procedure. It is therefore important, in the future, to more clearly define the indications for surgery and the place of noninvasive treatments. At the present time, young subjects wishing to preserve their sex life may benefit from noninvasive first-line treatments, provided their quality of life is sufficiently altered by the severity of the urinary symptoms.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has radically changed the treatment of renal stones. The indications for this technique have been modified by the development and refinement of extracorporeal lithotripsy (ECL). The authors present their experience of 390 PCNL performed between 1984 and 1991, for solitary stones in 75% of cases. There were only 11 cases of failed puncture (3.8%). The overall morbidity was 18% with only 4.4% of major complications, i.e. life threatening or requiring reoperation. There were two deaths (0.5%). Stones were completely eliminated in 80.25% of patients, after a second operation (PCNL or other technique) in 32 cases (11%). 45 staghorn calculi were treated with 11% of complications and a 51% complete cure rate. The mean hospital stay was 6 days (2 to 30). PCNL is a safe and reliable technique. Its indications have decreased (6.5% of our patients treated for renal stones), but it still retains a place in the therapeutic approach to patients with renal stones.

34 patients treated by endoscopic injection of Teflon for vesico-ureteric reflux were reviewed with a follow-up of 2 to 5 years. 45 of the 48 treated ureters showed no signs of reflux, i.e. 93.7% medium-term success rate. 3 cases of reflux recurred after two years and 2 of them were successfully reinjected. There were no upper urinary tract complications. Endoscopic injection of Teflon appears to be a reliable alternative to open surgery.

Puigvert's operation for male urinary incontinence was performed in 9 patients. In 8 cases the incontinence was secondary to prostate surgery. Results on continence were evaluated at follow-up during the immediate postoperative period and after 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months and two years. (Table: see text). Results indicate that this technique is simple and safe but unsatisfactory.

365 patients (mean age: 59 years) surviving isolated aortic valve replacement performed between 1971 and 1978 by means of a standard flat disk Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, underwent regular and complete follow-up (100% survival rate) representing 3,248 patient-years with a maximum follow-up of 15.4 years (mean: 8.9 years). All of these patients received anticoagulant treatment, which was considered to be well-controlled in 90.5% of cases. 121 secondary deaths (33.1%) were observed. Cardiac causes were the most frequent (35/121, i.e., 28.9%). Four deaths were directly related to the prosthesis (2 infections, 1 thrombosis, 1 dysfunction). Twenty deaths (16.5%) were related to cerebral vascular accidents and 2 (1.6%) to haemorrhagic complications. In 24 cases, the cause of death could not be determined (19.8%). Overall, 1 out of 5 deaths (21.4%) was directly or indirectly related to the prosthesis. The actuarial survival rate was 85.5% at 5 years and 67.9% at 10 years. Seventeen thromboembolic complications (7 lethal, 10 non-lethal) were observed and represented a linear incidence of 0.5% per patient-year. Fourty-one haemorrhagic complications were observed in 28 patients, i.e. a linear incidence of 1.26% per patient-year. Nine reoperations were necessary, responsible for 3 deaths. No cases of mechanical failure of the prosthesis were observed. All of the lethal and non lethal complications related to the prosthesis represented a linear incidence of 2.6% per patient-year. AT 5 and 10 years after the operation, 89.2% and 79.6% of the patients were free of any valve-related complications. The functional results was considered to be good or excellent in the very great majority of surviving patients (97.8%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)