Search

HINTERGRUND: Submakulare Blutungen stellen eine Komplikation choroidaler Neovaskularisationen bei altersbezogener Makuladegeneration (AMD) dar. Wir untersuchten den therapeutischen Effekt, einer kombinierten subretinalen Injektion von rekombinantem Gewebsplasminogenaktivator (rt-PA) und Gas, bezogen auf den Visusverlauf des Patienten bei subretinaler Blutung im Rahmen einer AMD. STUDIENDESIGN: Konsekutive, nichtrandomisierte Interventionsstudie. PATIENTEN: In die Studie wurden 28 Augen von 28 Patienten mit akuter submakularer Blutung, in Folge einer altersbedingten Makuladegeneration, eingeschlossen. METHODEN: Die Therapie bestand aus einer Pars plana Vitrektomie mit anschliesender subretinaler Injektion von rt-PA (10–30 µg), gefolgt von einer Netzhauttamponade mit Perfluorpropan. ERGEBNISSE: Bei 17 von 28 Augen (61%) konnte eine maximale Verbesserung der zentralen Sehscharfe von zwei oder mehr Visusstufen erreicht werden (p < 0,01). Von diesen erreichten 11 Augen (39%) einen besten Visus von 0,1 und groser. Am Ende der Nachbeobachtungszeit lag der Anteil, der Patienten mit einer Visussteigerung von zwei oder mehr Stufen, bei 39% (11 Patienten). Die Nachbeobachtungszeit lag zwischen 6 und 35 Monaten (Mittel: 14,5 Monate). Es wurden keine intraoperativen Komplikationen festgestellt. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Unsere Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass sich durch die subretinale Injektion von rt-PA und Gastamponade ein positiver therapeutischer Effekt, im Sinne einer Visusverbesserung bzw. Visusstabilisierung erzielen lasst. Den ausschlaggebenden Faktor fur den weiteren Visusverlauf stellt jedoch die zugrunde liegende AMD dar.

We present a new device, SPARC Sling System, designed for the placement of a pubo-urethral sling for the correction of female stress urinary incontinence due to urethral hypermobility. Twenty patients (medium age 53.4), affected by SUI resulting from urethral hypermobility (range of Q-tip test 30°-70°, VLPP > of 70 cmH2O and POP grade < II according to Baden and Walker classification) are underwent to this surgical procedure. 85% of them, after a medium follow-up of 10.5 months (range 3–21) show a complete correction of SUI. Three patients, in which SUI persists, refer a significant improvement of the incontinence. We think that the high rate of success (85%), the swiftness of the execution and the versatility of the SPARC Sling System put this surgical procedure between the mini-invasive selected methods to correct female stress urinary incontinence due to urethral hypermobility.

OBJECTIVES. To define the incidence rate of urinary tract infections (UTI) and the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis in postmenopausal female undergoing invasive urodynamics (IU). METHODS. 262 postmenopausal females underwent IU, being previously double-blindly randomized in 2 homogenous age-matched groups. Group 1 (130 patients) received oral antibiotic prophylaxis with a single 400 mg dose of norfloxacin. Group 2 (132 patients) was given placebo. The statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-Square test, in order to evaluate any difference between groups for UTI incidence rate. RESULTS. 54 patients out of 262 (20.6%) developed a UTI [24 out of 130 subjects who received antibiotic prophylaxis (18.4%), and 30 out of 132 subjects who received placebo (22.7%)]. As per the UTI incidence rate, no statically significant difference (p.05) was shown between patients receiving and those not receiving the antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS. The UTI incidence rate in postmenopausal women undergoing urodynamics is not affected by the administration of antibiotic prophylax.

We report four cases of vaginal recurrence after cystectomy for bladder cancer. Vaginal recurrences are relatively rare and patients who have undergone previous surgery and radiation to pelvic organs, or patients with tumour of the bladder neck and urethra appear to be at high risk. It is very important to know the predisposing factors in order to adopt appropriate surgical therapy.

Twelve patients were submitted to orthotopic ileal neobladder, performed using staplers. All patients underwent clinical and urodynamic evaluations at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery (mean follow-up 6 months). They reported complete daytime continence and 2 pts/4 night-time continence too. At one year, post-voiding volume was absent, mean neobladder capacity was 450 cc and mean pressure at maximum capacity was 30-40 cc. These preliminary results indicate that this technique guarantees low-pressure reservoir with good capacity and compliance.

We refer herein on a simple program of rehabilitation that may be a first approach the treatment of, U.S.I. In our urodynamic service, we treated 38 female patients, affected by this condition, aged between 37-73 years. The same procedure was applied to all the patients, consisting of 10 seances twice weekly, during which we subjected the patients to biofeedback and vaginal electrostimulation of 50 Hz frequency. The results after 3 months were: 38% restored to normal, 51% improved, 11% unchanged; after 1 year were: 27% restored to normal, 49% improved, the remaining unchanged. As a whole, perineal rehabilitation by this technique can be curative in selected cases and, should it be necessary, can be repeated; its advantages are simplicity, low cost and lack of collateral effects. Motivation and compliance on the part of the patients are, anyhow, the chief factor of success. Moreover, the procedure does not preclude alternative treatments. It is suitable to chose cases where surgery is not so, or else is ill-accepted or has failed.

Gonadal stromal tumor is a rare neoplasm of the testis. 10% of these tumors are malignant, but malignant histological criteria are not established. The principal therapy is orchidofuniculectomy while lynphadenectomy is for uncertain malignant neoplasm. Radiotherapy and antiblastic therapy sensitivity is poor.

Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish prostatic malacoplakia from carcinoma. Two cases of prostatic malacoplakia are described, highlighting the ultrasound aspects of the lesion.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is known by the tendency to avascularity shown by angiography. More uncommon is the cystic variant of papillary RCC called cystoadenocarcinoma. The majority of papillary tumors are in stage I. The survival for papillary RCC is significantly higher than that for non-papillary RCC. CT-scan MNR, although non diagnostic, enhance the suspicion of a heterologous process in so called “complicated cysts”. US-guided percutaneous needle aspiration may be helpful to diagnose these tumours. We report 2 cases of cystodenocarcinoma and our considerations.

Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) is still an unpleasant complication of female genital system surgery. We report the case of a 57-years-old woman undergone to neoadjuvant radiotherapy and afterwards abdomino-perineal resection who developed after one months a VVF.

To evaluate the efficacy of early enteral nutrition in management of patients operated by major urologic surgery and to demonstrate her advantages versus total parenteral nutrition.20 patients, operated by radical cystectomy and urinary diversion by ureteroileocutaneostomy, Padua ileal bladder or ureterosigmoidostomy are inserted in our study: 12 were treated by early enteral nutrition for 8 days and eight by total parenteral nutrition for the same period: in each group nutritional and immunological parameters at day -1, +3 and +7, the length of postoperatory stay, the incidence of complications, with particular respect for infections have been evaluated and correlated one to each other.We have no death in each group; in the first group no gastroenteric allergy to the nutrient, less incidence of venous catheter and surgical wound infections (respectively p0.01 and p0.005); we have no significant decrease of postoperatory stay length; the effective problem in this group was the incidence of diarrhea, that in one case have made necessary the suspension of enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition costs were about half of those of total parenteral nutrition.We believe that early enteral nutrition is an effective and safe nutrition method in patients operated by major urologic surgery: with this is possible a better nutrition, that reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, mainly infections, and maybe the length of postoperatory stay (our champion is too small for statistical evaluation), that may lead to a decrease in management costs of these patients.

We evaluated one-hundred and forty-six women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), mean age 61.5 years, with clinical examination, urodynamics and patient history, grading the subjective degree of SUI according to SEAPI QMM classification. SUI was grade 1 in 73 pts (mean LPP 107, 7 cmH2O, mean maximal urethral closure pressure 59, 13 cmH2O), grade 2 in 36 (mLPP 55, 4 cmH2O, mMUCP 50, 3 cmH2O), grade 3 in 37 (mLPP 32, 29 cmH2O, mMUCP 33, 76 cmH2O). There is statistically significant difference in mLPP (p = 0.001) and mMUCP (p = 0.02) among three groups. The grade of SUI increases as the likelihood that LPP will beor = 90 cmH2O oror = 60 cmH2O (72.2% of pts with grade 2 has a LPPor = 60 cmH2O, 100% of pts with grade 3 has a LPPor = 60 cmH2O). Women with severe leakage and/or predisposing factor (PF) to intrinsic sphincter deficiency are likely to have a low LPP: all patients with SUI grade 3 and PF have a LPPor = 60 cmH2O, 77% of pts with SUI grade 3 or PF has a LPPor = 60 cmH2O. Women with higher grades of leakage and PF are significantly more likely to have a very low LPP and intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

One-hundred and twenty-two women with USI have been evaluated with clinical examination and urodynamics and divided in two groups: only in 74 patients with urinary loss during the Valsalva manoeuvre, LPP was compared to MUCP by linear regression analysis and its ability (cut-off = 60 cmH2O) to predict a MUCPor = 20 cmH2O was tested. Weak correlations were observed between MUCP and LPP (r = 0.56). Fifty-two patients presented a LPPor = 60 cmH2O, in 6 of them MUCP wasor = 20 cmH2O; none with LPP60 cmH2O showed a MUCPor = 20 cmH2O. Median MUCP and intravesical pressures at the instant of leakage of patients with LPPor = 60 cmH2O were significantly different from those of patients with LPP60 cmH2O (p0.01). The specificity and positive predictive value of LPPor = 60 cmH2O for the detection of a "low pressure urethra" were respectively 32% and 11.5%, while sensibility and negative predictive value were 100%. LPP can not be regarded as a specific test for urethral sphincteric deficits. For its sensibility, it can be an useful screening tool for patients at high risk of type III urinary incontinence.

From February 1996 to March 1997, we have performed with the Vesica system the percutaneous bladder neck suspension in 13 pts (group 1) and the vaginal wall sling in 7 pts (group 2). After a mean follow-up of 12 months for group 1, 10 patients (76.9%) were "dry", 1 pt "improved" and 2 "failed"; in the group 2 (mean follow-up of 5 months) 6 pts/7 were "dry". Overall morbidity has been minimal. The percutaneous bladder neck suspension and the vaginal wall sling with Vesica system are minimally invasive surgical procedures for the urinary stress incontinence (hypermobility of bladder outlet and intrinsic sphincter deficiency).

Since the 1993, a series of 22 women with stress urinary incontinence underwent bladder neck suspension, according to Gittes (pubovaginal suspension). No patients had preoperative detrusor instability or intrinsic sphincter dysfunction; 14 pts had a significant cystocele (II-III degree). We followed up 20 pts at 6 months: 9 pts (45%) were cured, 3 were significantly improved and 8 were not improved. Disappearance or marked improvement of moderate or severe cystocele wasn't confirmed in all pts. No serious complications were recognized. We believe that this procedure is quick and easy to perform with low morbidity and is useful where the indication is correct: patients with stress incontinence without significant anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Twelve patients are submitted to orthotopic ileal neobladder, performed using staplers. The simplicity and speed of automatic stapling devices in the Rouxel-Coadou's surgical technique are reported. All patients underwent clinical and urodynamic evaluation at 3, 6, 12 months, after surgery (mean follow-up 6 months). They preferred complete daytime continence and 2 pts/4 night-time continence too. At one year, postvoid residual volume was absent, mean neobladder capacity was 450 ml and mean pressure at maximum capacity was 30-40 cm H2O. These preliminary results indicate that this technique guarantees a low-pressure reservoir with good capacity and compliance.

Fibroangiomatous polyps and its histological variants most often occur in the ureters of young adult. They may be multiple, and rarely occur in the renal pelvis. Microscopically, normal or hyperplastic urothelium cover loose, vascular, edematous, fibrous stroma that may be inflamed. Etiologic factors are unknown. Intermittent flank pain is the most common symptom; dysuria and hematuria occur less frequently. A case of fibroangiomatous polyps of the left ureter, in a 37-years old woman, is presented. We emphasize the endoscopic conservative treatment of this lesion as a valid alternative to the surgical approach; beside, it's important to obtain pre-operative histological finding, confirming the benign lesion.

Dynamic and static factors cause infravesical obstruction in men with BPH. The dynamic component is determined by alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated contractions of the prostate smooth muscle and bladder neck. Using alpha-receptor-blockers will relieve bladder outlet obstruction, improving urinary flow rates and obstructive and irritative symptoms as well as the physician's global assessment. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of alpha 1 blockers (terazosin and alfuzosin) in ambulatory patients (n = 20) with BPH. After 24 weeks of therapy, the peak flow rate increased 54% from a baseline average of 8.5 ml/s to 13.1 ml/s (p0.01). The mean flow rate increased 49%, from a baseline of 4.61 ml/s to 6.9 ml/s (p0.01); residual volume decreased 74% from 48.3 ml to 12.5 ml (p0.001). Mean systolic blood pressure decreased significantly (p0.05) from baseline, but this change wasn't clinically important. The clinical experience with alpha-blockers in BPH indicates that these drugs increase urinary flow rates, decrease obstructive and irritative symptoms, without serious side effects.

In urology, the use of angiographic wires (glidewires) allows the anterograde, retrograde and "mixed" approach in obstructive and not obstructive uropathies stenting. The Authors reported a case of oligoanuria in a patient with progressing prostatic cancer resolved with endoscopical recanalization and secondary indwelling double-J ureteral stenting.

The rules for a diagnostic approach to non-acute prostatitis, as applied during a one-year trial in this Division of Urology, are reviewed and their results on a clinical ground of 150 cases are discussed. In fact, this clinical conditions is apt to present often some problems, as far its cure is concerned, due to its variety of symptoms, and not seldom to un-correct previous therapeutic approach, for defect of a precise diagnostic appraisal.

Repetitive surgery on the upper urinary tract calls for extensive and sometimes difficult dissection, therapy exposes to the risk of vascular and nervous injury, as far as tissue trophism is concerned, moreover to secondary severe perivisceral fibrosis. The ureter is particularly liable to such early or late damages. The use of a self-retaining stent, even for a long period of time, and of a pedicle omental graft wrapping ensures a better recovery and the prevention of fistulae or strictures from secondary retroperitoneal fibrosis.

On the ground of the clinical experience of transurethral resection of the benign hypertrophy of the prostate performed in the Division of Urology during the last ten years, the technical aspects and problems of the procedure are discussed, chiefly the low-pressure irrigation of the operative field for the prevention of vesical damages and of the water-syndrome. The choice of the transurethral technique is dependent chiefly on the weight of the adenoma, on the duration of its removal and the related problems; it is also dependent on the availability of both proper instrumentation and operators. The lesser all-over surgical traumatism and blood loss, the precocious getting out of bed, the shortening of hospitalisation make T.U.R. particularly suitable for high risk patients. To conclude with, the clinical, personal and social advantages of this procedure depend on the correctness of its choice following the criteria which have been referred to.

A case is presented of uretero-vaginal fistula following hysterectomy for multiple fibromatosis. Duplicity of the left urinary tract, with caudal ectopy of ureteral opening of the branch draining the upper renal pole, could explain "a posteriori" some singularities of the clinical behaviour, i.e. combination of both controlled micturitions and continuous urinary loss "per vaginam" with seemingly normal urography. Postoperative chromocystoscopy afforded the correct diagnosis and surgical repair was followed by uneventful recovery. Preoperative assessment by urography and cystoscopy is therefore recommended prior to undertaking pelvic surgery, in order to promptly recognise complications to urinary tract, should they occur.

On the basis of to-day knowledge about metabolism and excretion of oxalic acid, the rationale of therapy of stone pathology is revieved. The problems of both primary and secondary oxaluria and of inhibiting factors of cristalisation are particolarly discussed.

Shortly after the acceptance of our review [1] an additional study on the use of valacyclovir in pregnant women with primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection to prevent vertical transmission has been published by De Santis et al [2]. The authors reported a case series of 12 pregnant women treated with off-label valacyclovir 8g per day following primary CMV infection in the first half of pregnancy and stopped in case of negative amniocentesis. The observed rate of positivity at amniocentesis was 17% (2 positive amniocentesis of 12 performed) compatible with a ≈50% reduction of vertical transmission when compared to the 30-35% rate reported in literature [3]. These results are consistent to those reported by Shahar-Nissan K et al in the preliminary report on their clinical placebo-controlled trial [4] and confirm that valacyclovir may reduce the rate of vertical transmission by the time of amniocentesis. However, among the 10 pregnant women with a negative amniocentesis described by De Santis, three delivered a congenitally infected newborn of which one developed moderate unilateral sensory neural loss at 18 months of age. Amongst these three women with negative amniocentesis who delivered a congenitally infected newborn, two presented a new CMV DNAemia after valacyclovir discontinuation. The authors interpret their finding as the result of an efficient control of viral replication and prevention of during the antiviral treatment, with subsequent resurgence of viral and vertical transmission. They suggested the need of controlled trial to evaluate valacyclovir treatment prolonged until the delivery regardless of amniocentesis results. However the possibility of false negative amniocentesis cannot be completely excluded. In particular the authors used 0.4mL of amniotic fluids to extract the CMV-DNA which is lower compared to those used in other reference laboratory (1mL) [5] and this could have affected the sensitivity of the test. In another recent paper (not captured by our review of literature since indexed with the keyword “citomegalovirus” unlike “cytomegalovirus”), De Santis et al described a case series on the use of high dose valacyclovir (8g/day) until delivery in confirmed fetal asymptomatic CMV infections [6]. Of the eleven in utero treated newborns, only one was symptomatic at birth and he developed profound bilateral hearing loss at six month requiring bilateral cochlear implant. Another developed a sensorineural hearing loss at 8 months of age. Surprisingly, three newborns had negative serology and virological tests at birth inducing authors to speculate that treatment can even allow viral clearance in case of low amniotic fluids viral load. To sum up, these two studies confirmed data from previous literature, namely the excellent maternal tolerance and the benefit of valacyclovir in reducing fetal CMV infections at time of amniocentesis [4] and the possible role of the drug in the in utero treatment of confirmed fetal infection [7]. We look forward to see the results of the still partially published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study [4], which will probably add further important information.

Background: Few studies have evaluated in pregnant women with HIV the prevalence of smoking and its associations with maternal and neonatal outcomes. Objectives: to assess the prevalence of smoking among women with HIV in early pregnancy and the association between smoking and pregnancy outcomes in this particular population. Methods: We used data from a multicenter observational study to define the prevalence of smoking in women with HIV in early pregnancy, and the role of smoking status and intensity as risk factors for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Main outcome measures were fetal growth restriction [FGR], preterm delivery [PD] and low birthweight [LB], evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The overall (2001-2018) prevalence of reported smoking (at least one cigarette/day) was 25.6% (792/3097), with a significant decrease in recent years (19.0% in 2013-2018). Women who smoked were less commonly African, had lower body mass index, older age, a longer history of HIV infection and higher CD4 counts. In univariate analyses, smokers were significantly more likely to have PD, LB, FGR and detectable HIV viral load at third trimester. Multivariable analyses confirmed for smokers a significantly higher risk of LB (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.69, 95%CI 1.22-2.34) and FGR (AOR 1.88, 95%CI 1.27-2.80), while the associations with detectable HIV and PD were not maintained. Conclusions: The common prevalence of smoking among pregnant women with HIV and its association with adverse outcomes indicates that smoking cessation programs in this population may have a significant impact on neonatal and maternal health.