Frequency volume charts in the assessment and evaluation of treatment: how should we use them?

Frequency volume charts are an essential adjunct to both the assessment of patients at presentation and the evaluation of new treatments for filling and voiding dysfunction. Since 24 hour frequency can be altered significantly by fluid intake and insensible fluid loss. We critically evaluated the usefulness of the different parameters measured on a frequency/volume chart (FVC) to determine which provided the most reliable information. Sixty-three patients were asked to complete 2 FVCs over 3 or more days with at least one week between the two measurements. Fifty-one patients completed the diaries and the changes in mean voided volume and urinary frequency were analyzed. Eight patients had significant differences in their mean voided volume or their 24 hour frequency, 2 patients had a significant difference in both mean voided volume and 24 hour frequency. There was an excellent correlation for both the mean voided volume (r = 0.86) and the 24 hour frequency (r = 0.9). The individual variation, using repeated measures analysis, was greater for the 24 hour frequency. There is natural variation of 24 hour frequency between diaries that may invalidate apparently successful treatment outcomes. We recommend the use of the mean voided volume as part of the evaluation of new treatments in chronic voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Effect of methoxamine on maximum urethral pressure in women with genuine stress incontinence: a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential role for a selective alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design was employed. Half log incremental doses of intravenous methoxamine or placebo (saline) were administered to a group of women with genuine stress incontinence while measuring maximum urethral pressure (MUP), blood pressure, heart rate, and symptomatic side effects. Methoxamine evoked non-significant increases in MUP and diastolic blood pressure but caused a significant rise in systolic blood pressure and significant fall in heart rate at maximum dosage. Systemic side effects including piloerection, headache, and cold extremities were experienced in all subjects. The results indicate that the clinical usefulness of direct, peripherally acting sub-type-selective alpha1-adrenoceptor agonists in the medical treatment of stress incontinence may be limited by associated piloerection and cardiovascular side effects.

Randomised prospective trial of contact laser prostatectomy (CLAP) versus visual laser coagulation of the prostate (VLAP) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term efficacy and complications of visual laser coagulation/ ablation, VLAP (side-firing fibre) and direct contact laser ablation, CLAP (sapphire-tipped fibre) of the prostate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with clinical BPH, obstructed at voiding cystometry, were recruited and randomised to undergo either CLAP (21 patients) or VLAP (17 patients). At baseline, 1, 6, 12 and 24 months, patients underwent clinical evaluation, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, post-void residual urine volume, and pressure/flow urodynamics. RESULTS: The mean operating time for CLAP was 37.7 min and 24.5 min for VLAP. There was minimal morbidity with only 5 men requiring bladder irrigation after CLAP, 1 of whom had a blood transfusion. No patient required irrigation after VLAP. The mean catheterisation time after CLAP was 4.5 days (range 1-31 days) and 13.2 days (range 7-70 days) after VLAP. IPSS and Qmax improved significantly and maintained at 2 years. After CLAP, the IPSS decreased from 20.9 to 13.5 at 2 years while Qmax rose from 10 to 15.5 ml/s at 2 years. After VLAP, the IPSS decreased from 21.8 to 13.3 at 2 years while Qmax rose from 10 to 15. 9 ml/s. There was no difference between CLAP and VLAP. Pressure/flow urodynamics at 6 months showed reduced bladder outflow obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: CLAP and VLAP offer the same improvement in flow rates and symptoms at 2years. Both procedures lead to minimal morbidity, but the excellent haemostasis that is achieved at VLAP makes it of more use in treating patients at high risk of haemorrhage after surgery.

A pilot study for a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of surgical treatments of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the numbers of men in outpatients and subsequently undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) who were referred during 1993-94 and 1996-97, thereby assessing the feasibility of a subsequent study of treatment efficacy in men with bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia, prospectively randomized to the surgical treatment options, i.e. TURP, laser ablation of the prostate, transurethral needle ablation and T3 thermotherapy, to investigate treatment outcome, cost-efficacy and cost-benefit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients considered and consenting for prostate surgery were reviewed prospectively with a view to inclusion in the proposed trial. The diagnosis was based on two estimates of flow rate from voids of >150 mL and from symptoms assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score. All patients had TURP explained by a urological surgeon and nursing staff, and subsequently had further consultation with research staff. RESULTS: Patients seen in clinic as new referrals increased by 11% between the periods assessed, although the numbers undergoing TURP decreased by 19%. Of the 383 patients screened, who were on the waiting list for TURP, only 13 elected to enter the trial. Of the 383 men, 267 (67%) ultimately had prostate surgery, with 39 (10%) electing to continue with watchful waiting and 34 (9%) continuing with pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Although more men with benign prostatic disease and lower urinary tract symptoms are being seen in clinics, the reduced proportion of patients continuing to surgical intervention will lead to increasing difficulty in carrying out randomized controlled clinical trials assessing surgical options. With ever more therapeutic options available, patients find it difficult to make decisions in both the clinical situation and when asked to enter a trial. Fully informed decisions by both the surgeon and the patient will only be possible when objective data are available from trials that investigate outcome, cost-efficacy and cost-benefit. This study suggests that when presented with more information and counselling, fewer men decide to undergo prostate surgery for symptomatic BPH.

Surgery for detrusor overactivity.

Intractable detrusor overactivity can result in considerable morbidity and, in the case of neurogenic bladder dysfunction, can put the upper tracts at risk. Once conservative treatments have been exhausted the aim of surgery is to increase functional bladder capacity and decrease the maximal detrusor pressure at this capacity. The mainstay of contemporary therapy has been augmentation cystoplasty; the different techniques and recent literature are reviewed herein. Bladder autoaugmentation is compared and contrasted with augmentation cystoplasty and its role is discussed, as is the less invasive technique of sacral neuromodulation with reference to their role within the range of surgical treatments for detrusor activity.

Carcinoma of the sigmoid colon presenting as a scrotal swelling.

A case of adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon, presenting as a testicular mass, is described. At sigmoid colectomy widespread metastases were found and only palliative care could be offered thereafter. The incidence and age of such a presentation and manner of spread of the occult primary are discussed.