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Introduction: To assess the current diagnostic, treatment, and documentation strategies for bladder cancer (BC) in German-speaking countries., Materials and Methods: A 14-item web-based survey was distributed among members of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Associations of Urology, addressing physicians who perform cystoscopies and transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURB)., Results: The survey was responded to by 308 of 5,564 urologists with a mean age of 49.5 years (response rate: 5.5%). The majority of participants (57.3%) practice in an outpatient setting. White light cystoscopy only is used by 60.2%, with additional photodynamic diagnosis and narrow band imaging by 36.8 and 12.5%, respectively. Endoscopic findings are documented in written form by 93.5%, followed by image capture (33.7%) and a central data archive (20.8%). Inpatient hospital urologists document cystoscopic findings by freehand drawing (21.4 vs. 11.4%, p = 0.017), and with a fixed bladder scheme (31.3 vs. 7.4%, <0.05) significantly more frequently. Cystoscopic findings are mainly conveyed to other health professionals in written form (77.4%), and significantly more often by inpatient urologists (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Significant differences exist in the approach to documenting and communicating cystoscopic BC findings. Accurate graphic documentation of lesions, visualization of the mucosa's totality, and meticulous consultation of previous surgical reports require improvements to reduce recurrence and progression rates., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Laser vaporisation of the prostate has had a considerable impact in recent years. In an attempt to achieve tissue vaporisation with bipolar high-frequency generators, plasma vaporisation was recently introduced., Objective: To provide the first clinical information on bipolar plasma vaporisation of the prostate for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO)., Design, Setting, and Participants: Thirty patients were included in this prospective bicentre study., Intervention: All patients underwent bipolar plasma vaporisation with a novel electrode (Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH, Hamburg, Germany)., Measurements: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), bother score, maximum flow rate (Q(max)), and postvoid residual were evaluated at baseline and at the time of discharge as well as at 1, 3, and 6 mo after the intervention., Results and Limitations: Mean preoperative prostate volume was 59±32 ml (range: 30-170), and mean operating time was 61±26 min (range: 20-140). Besides one reoperation (conventional transurethral prostatectomy) due to persistent obstruction, no major complication occurred intra- or postoperatively and no blood transfusion was required. Catheterisation time averaged 41±35 h (range: 18-192). Transient mild to moderate dysuria was noted in four patients (13%). At 1, 3, and 6 mo, Q(max) increased from 6.6±2.7 ml/s preoperative to 17.3±4.7 ml/s (p<0.01), 18.5±4.6 ml/s (p<0.01), and 18.1±5.0 ml/s (p<0.01), respectively. The IPSS decreased from 20.8±3.6 to 10.4±3.5 (p<0.01), 8.2±2.9 (p<0.01), and 8.1±3.1 (p<0.01), respectively. These data represent a small nonrandomised study cohort with limited follow-up., Conclusions: Our initial experience indicates that bipolar plasma vaporisation might be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with LUTS due to BOO. To define the potential role of this novel technique, randomised trials with longer follow-up are mandatory., (Copyright © 2009 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)