Safety and efficacy of photoselective vaporization of the prostate using the 180-W GreenLight XPS laser system in patients taking oral anticoagulants.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 180-W GreenLight XPS laser system for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients taking oral anticoagulants. Methods All consecutive patients admitted for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia from November 2012 to October 2016 and who underwent photoselective vaporization of the prostate with the 180-W GreenLight XPS laser were included in the study. The perioperative outcomes examined were the operating time, laser time, energy usage, and duration of postoperative catheterization. Functional parameters (International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate, and post-void residual urine volume), prostate volume, and serum prostate-specific antigen concentration were examined at baseline and 3 months. Perioperative complications, if any, were noted. Results All functional parameters (International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate, and post-void residual urine volume) significantly improved from baseline to 3 months. A small number of patients experienced at least one minor adverse event. There was no difference in the rate of adverse events between patients who were and were not taking anticoagulants. Conclusions Photoselective vaporization with a 180-W laser is an efficacious and safe treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, even in patients taking anticoagulant medications.

Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate Using 120 W High Performance System: A Prospective Evaluation of Results Over 2 Years.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of photoselective vaporization of prostate using the 120 W High Performance System for management of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We prospectively obtained data from 229 patients between January 2009 and December 2012. We evaluated the serum prostate specific antigen level, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate volume; maximum urine flow rate (Qmax); and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) in the patients at presentation and on follow-up at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months. The mean duration of the surgery, energy used, hospital stay, and intra- and postoperative complications were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 71.2 ± 9.6 years, and the mean preoperative size of the prostate was 59.41 ± 28.1 mL. The mean duration of the surgery was 47.35 ± 16.14 min, and the mean energy use was 184.39 ± 101.3 kJ. The mean time to removal of the urinary catheter was 21.45 ± 11.06 h, while the mean duration of hospital stay was 24.82 ± 11.5 h. The IPSS declined and mean Qmax increased by over twofold within the first month. The PVR also declined significantly in all groups up to 6 months after the surgery and increased slightly thereafter. Urinary urgency and incontinence occurred in two patients, while four patients developed urinary strictures. Between 12 and 24 months after the surgery, four patients underwent repeat surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that photoselective vaporization is safe and effective for the management of BPH and resulted in few complications. It yielded improvements in all parameters that were sustained even up to 2 years after the surgery.

Safety, efficacy and outcomes of the new GreenLight XPS 180W laser system compared to the GreenLight HPS 120W system for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in a prospective nonrandomized single-centre study.

INTRODUCTION: We compare and evaluate the safety, efficacy, and short-term outcomes of the new GreenLight XPS 180W (GL-XPS) laser system with the former generation GreenLight HPS 120W (GL-HPS) system for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a prospective nonrandomized single-centre study. METHODS: From May 2012 to June 2013, 161 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH were included: 88 patients were treated with the GL-HPS system and 73 were treated with the GL-XPS system. The perioperative variables International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) were recorded at baseline, at one month and 6 months. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was assessed at baseline. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.2 years in the GL-HPS group and 68.6 years in the GL-XPS group. Prostate volumes were 62.3 mL and 61.3 mL, respectively. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvement in the IPSS, QOL, Qmax variables compared to baseline levels. There were no significant differences in improvement in IPSS and QOL between groups. However, both operating and catheterization times were shorter in patients in the GL-XPS group. The overall postoperative complication rate was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both GreenLight systems provide safe, effective tissue vaporization with significant clinical relief of BPH obstruction. The GL-XPS system appears more favourable with regard to reduced operating and hospitalization time, suggesting more cost-effective and efficient tissue removal.

Public awareness of testicular cancer and self-examination in Turkey: a multicenter study of Turkish Urooncology Society.

BACKGROUND: Testicular self-examination is the easiest and cheapest way to scan testicular cancer. However, the public awareness about testicular self-examination is very low. We aimed to investigate the public awareness of Turkish people about testicular cancer and testicular self-examination. METHODS: We performed a survey consisting of 10 questions concerning testicular cancer and testicular self-examination in 799 students in the first year of 12 different medical schools. Aiming for a common method of data collection, the questionnaires were administered to the students during a class just before the lesson started. The whole data from all of the centers were pooled in a common data-base file. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (11.1%) of the participants reported that they had knowledge about testicular cancer, but only 11 (1.4%) of them answered all the questions about testicular cancer correctly. Eight (1%) of the participants reported that they had been performing testicular self-examination routinely once a month. Four (0.5%) of them were both well informed about testicular cancer and had been performing testicular self-examination once a month as suggested. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that awareness on testicular cancer and testicular self-examination is very low and suggests a need for efforts in Turkey to increase public awareness and education.

A preoperative prognostic model predicting recurrence-free survival for patients with kidney cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a preoperative prognostic model in order to predict recurrence-free survival in patients with nonmetastatic kidney cancer. METHODS: A multi-institutional data base of 1889 patients who underwent surgical resection between 1987 and 2007 for kidney cancer was retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative variables were defined as age, gender, presentation, size, presence of radiological lymph nodes and clinical stage. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the variables were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A model was developed with preoperative variables as predictors of recurrence after nephrectomy. Internal validation was performed by Harrell's concordance index. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 23.6 months (1-222 months). During the follow-up, 258 patients (13.7%) developed cancer recurrence. The median follow-up for patients who did not develop recurrence was 25 months. The median time from surgery to recurrence was 13 months. The 5-year freedom from recurrence probability was 78.6%. All variables except age were associated with freedom from recurrence in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Age was marginally significant in the univariate analysis. All variables were included in the predictive model. The calculated c-index was 0.747. CONCLUSIONS: This preoperative model utilizes easy to obtain clinical variables and predicts the likelihood of development of recurrent disease in patients with kidney tumors.

Three different techniques for administering analgesia during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of three different analgesic techniques during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy, including (i) periprostatic blockage (PPB), (ii) intrarectal gel instillation, and (iii) sedoanalgesia were compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a period of five months, 100 consecutive men were enrolled in this study. A 10-point linear visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain scores during (VAS 1), immediately after (VAS 2) and one hour after (VAS 3) the needle biopsy procedure. The relationship between the level of pain, prostate volume, age and PSA was determined. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the four groups in terms of mean age and PSA values. The pain scores were significantly lower in sedoanalgesia and PPB groups (p = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was shown that patient comfort is better and it is possible to get decreased pain scores with PPB or sedoanalgesia. However, PPB is a preferable method in TRUS-guided prostate biopsy since it is much more practical in outpatient clinics.

Three different techniques for administering analgesia during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a comparative study

PURPOSE: The efficacy of three different analgesic techniques during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy, including (i) periprostatic blockage (PPB), (ii) intrarectal gel instillation, and (iii) sedoanalgesia were compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a period of five months, 100 consecutive men were enrolled in this study. A 10-point linear visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain scores during (VAS 1), immediately after (VAS 2) and one hour after (VAS 3) the needle biopsy procedure. The relationship between the level of pain, prostate volume, age and PSA was determined. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the four groups in terms of mean age and PSA values. The pain scores were significantly lower in sedoanalgesia and PPB groups (p = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was shown that patient comfort is better and it is possible to get decreased pain scores with PPB or sedoanalgesia. However, PPB is a preferable method in TRUS-guided prostate biopsy since it is much more practical in outpatient clinics.

Complications of pneumatic ureterolithotripsy in the early postoperative period.

PURPOSE: To document the perioperative and early postoperative complications of pneumatic ureterolithotripsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and December 2003, pneumatic ureterolithotripsy was performed in 665 male and 314 female patients for stones >0.5 cm. The age range was 9 months to 72 years (mean 41 years). Preoperatively, intravenous urography, urinalysis, and urine culture were done. Cefepime 1 g was given as prophylactic antimicrobial therapy 1 hour prior to surgery. A plain film of the urinary tract was taken immediately before the procedure. The operations were carried out with the patient under general anesthesia. Rigid ureteroscopes (6.9F ACMI "micro-6" or 8F-10F Storz) and the Vibrolith (Elmed, Ankara, Turkey) pneumatic lithotripter were used. The fragments were extracted with forceps or baskets. Urinalysis and culture as a routine postoperative evaluation and a plain film or ultrasonogram of the urinary tract when needed were done 1 week after the procedure. RESULTS: The stones were completely removed in 847 patients (86.5%); 783 (80%) of them went home on the day of surgery. A ureteral stent was needed in 401 patients (41.0%). Perioperative complications were migration of the stone into the kidney in 70 patients (7.2%), mucosal damage in 34 (3.5%), ureteral perforation in 17 (1.7%), ureteral avulsion in 4 (0.4%), and conversion to open surgery in 3 (0.2%). During the early postoperative period, flank pain (18.4%), pelvic discomfort (5.5%), macroscopic hematuria (7.3%), and urinary tract infection (5%) were recorded. CONCLUSION: Ureterolithotripsy by a pneumatic lithotripter is a minimally invasive, highly tolerable procedure with a low complication rate and short hospital stay when performed meticulously with appropriate instruments.

CA9 expression as a prognostic factor in renal clear cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether CA9 protein could be used as a prognostic tumor marker as well as a diagnostic biomarker in renal clear cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nephrectomy specimens from 92 patients were used in this study. 80 of these were renal cell carcinomas, 10 adenomas and 2 oncocytomas. Of the renal cell carcinomas, 67 were clear cell carcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis using CA9 monoclonal antibody (M75) was performed on paraffin-embedded specimens. CA9 staining was correlated with tumor stage, grade, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis and cumulative survival time. RESULTS: CA9 was present in 91.2% of clear cell carcinomas. Low staining was a poor prognostic factor, and conversely high staining a good prognostic one. CA9 expression was found to be the best prognostic factor when compared with T stage and grade. Even in low-grade and stage tumors, the presence of low expression correlated with lowered survival times. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our study, CA9 is a significant molecular marker in renal clear cell carcinomas. Decreased CA9 expression is independently associated with poor survival. CA9 can be used to predict clinical outcome and identify high-risk patients in need for adjuvant immunotherapy and CA9 targeted therapies.

Rigid ureteroscopy for the treatment of ureteral calculi in children.

PURPOSE: We assess the safety and efficacy of rigid ureteroscopy for the treatment of pediatric ureterolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 33 children with an average age of 7.4 years (range 9 months to 15 years) treated with rigid ureteroscopy between May 1995 and July 2003 were reviewed. In 35 ureteral units use of a rigid 6.9 to 10Fr ureteroscope was planned for treating stones at various levels of the ureter. Stones were located in the upper ureter in 6 cases, middle ureter in 3 and lower ureter in 26. Dilatation of the ureteral orifice was necessary in 11 cases. RESULTS: Stone size varied from 3 to 10 mm (mean 5.3). In 33 patients (94%) all stone fragments were removed successfully. Stones were fragmented with pneumatic lithotripsy in 20 cases and removed by forceps without fragmentation in 13. In 1 child an upper ureteral stone migrated up to the kidney during ureteroscopy but following extracorporeal shock lithotripsy therapy she was rendered stone-free. In another child it was not possible to remove the stone. In a 9-month-old female patient with bilateral stones it was not possible to enter the left ureter because of a tight orifice resistant to balloon dilation. At the end of the procedure a 3 or 4Fr ureteral or a 4.8Fr Double-J (Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York) stent was left in place for 3 days to 3 weeks in 12 cases. There were no cases of ureteral perforation. Of the patients 31 were followed for 1 to 36 months. No incidence of vesicoureteral reflux was detected in 9 who underwent postoperative cystography. CONCLUSIONS: After becoming experienced and meticulously working with finer instruments in adults, rigid ureteroscopy can be a safe and efficient treatment for ureteral stones in every location in children.

A rare retroperitoneal benign tumor. Castleman's disease.

A case of retroperitoneal Castleman's disease - a benign lymphoid tumor - is reported. The tumor is excised totally. A 34-month follow-up period is disease free and uneventful. The preoperative workup presented, its clinical behavior and management are discussed.