Failed Primary Bladder Exstrophy Closure with Osteotomy: Multivariable Analysis of a 25-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: Successful primary bladder exstrophy closure provides the best opportunity for patients to achieve a functional closure and urinary continence regardless of the method of repair. Use of osteotomy during initial closure has significantly improved success rates. However, failures can still occur. We identify factors that contribute to a failed primary exstrophy closure with osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed a prospectively maintained institutional database for classic bladder exstrophy cases primarily closed with osteotomy at our institution or referred after primary closure between 1990 and 2015. Data were collected regarding patient gender, closure, osteotomy, immobilization, orthopedics and perioperative pain control. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine predictors of failure. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall failure rate was 30% (13% from our institution and 87% from referrals). On multivariable analysis use of Buck traction (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.60, p = 0.011) and immobilization time greater than 4 weeks (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04-0.86, p = 0.031) had significantly lower odds of failure. Osteotomy performed by general orthopedic surgeons had significantly higher odds of failure (OR 23.47, 95% CI 1.45-379.19, p = 0.027). Type of osteotomy and use of epidural anesthesia did not significantly impact failure rates. CONCLUSIONS: Proper immobilization with modified Buck traction and external fixation, immobilization time greater than 4 weeks and undergoing osteotomy performed by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon are crucial factors for successful primary closure with osteotomy.

Long-term sexual health outcomes in men with classic bladder exstrophy.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the long-term sexual health outcomes and relationships in men born with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospectively maintained institutional database comprising 1248 patients with exstrophy-epispadias was used. Men aged ≥18 years with CBE were included in the study. A 42-question survey was designed using a combination of demographic information and previously validated questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 215 men met the inclusion criteria, of whom 113 (53%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 32 years. Ninety-six (85%) of the respondents had been sexually active in their lifetime, and 66 of these (58%) were moderately to very satisfied with their sex life. The average Sexual Health Inventory for Men score was 19.8. All aspects of assessment using the Penile Perception Score questionnaire were on average between 'very dissatisfied' and 'satisfied'. Thirty-two respondents (28%) had attempted to conceive with their partner. Twenty-three (20%) were successful in conceiving, while 31 (27%) reported a confirmed fertility problem. A total of 31 respondents (27%) reported undergoing a semen analysis or post-ejaculatory urine analysis. Of these, only four respondents reported azoospermia. CONCLUSION: Patients with CBE have many of the same sexual and relationship successes and concerns as the general population. This is invaluable information to give to both the parents of boys with CBE, and to the boys themselves as they transition to adulthood.

Oncological control associated with surgical resection of isolated retroperitoneal lymph node recurrence of renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of patients after surgical resection of isolated retroperitoneal lymph node (RPLN) recurrence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using a multicentre international cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 50 patients were identified who underwent resection of isolated RPLN recurrence of RCC at four institutions after nephrectomy for pTany Nany M0 disease. Progression-free (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association of clinicopathological characteristics with disease progression. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range, IQR) age at resection was 57.0 (50.0-62.5) years. The median (IQR) time to RPLN recurrence after nephrectomy was 12.6 (6.9-39.5) months, with no significant difference in median time to RPLN recurrence between patients with N+ disease at nephrectomy (10.7 [6.5-24.6] months) and those with Nx/pN0 disease at nephrectomy (13.7 [8.7-44.2] months) (P = 0.66). The median (IQR) size of the RPLN recurrence before resection was 2.6 (1.9-5) cm. The most common site for RPLN recurrence was within the interaortocaval region (34%). The median (IQR) follow-up after RPLN resection for patients alive at last follow-up was 28.0 (13.7-51.2) months. During follow-up, 26 patients developed RCC recurrence, at a median (IQR) of 9.9 (4.0-18.5) months after RPLN resection. Of those who developed a secondary recurrence, disease was again isolated to the retroperitoneum in seven patients. In all, 11 patients subsequently died, including 10 who died from disease. The median PFS after RPLN resection was 19.5 months, with a 3- and 5-year PFS of 40.5% and 35.4%, respectively. We also found that RPLN recurrence at ≤12 months after nephrectomy was associated with a significantly inferior median PFS (12.3 months) compared with RPLN recurrence at >12 months after nephrectomy (47.6 months; P = 0.003). Moreover, on multivariate analysis, a shorter time to recurrence remained associated with a significantly increased risk for subsequent disease progression (hazard ratio 3.51; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of isolated RPLN recurrence from RCC may result in durable cancer control in appropriately selected patients. Recurrence at ≤12 months after nephrectomy was associated with a significantly increased risk of progression after resection, underscoring the importance of this variable for risk stratification. Thus, we recommend that, in the setting of isolated RPLN recurrence of RCC (in patients without precluding comorbidities), careful consideration with the patients and medical oncology colleagues be undertaken about the relative and individualised benefits of surgical resection, systemic therapy, and surveillance.

Wire in the hole: a case series of eroded intrapubic wire sutures causing genitourinary complications in the bladder exstrophy complex.

Bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy are rare congenital defects of the genitourinary tract that require complex surgical reconstruction. Malrotation of the bony pelvis causes a characteristic diastasis of the pubic symphysis, which is surgically reduced at the time of initial bladder closure. For a successful primary closure without tension such that the bladder can be placed deep within the pelvis, pelvic osteotomy is often used. However, alternative techniques have been utilized to bring the pubic rami into apposition. The authors present four bladder/cloacal exstrophy patients in which an intrapubic wire was used for pubic apposition, resulting in significant genitourinary complications.

Application of Tunica Vaginalis Flap for Epispadias Repair in the Epispadias-Exstrophy Complex.

OBJECTIVE: To describe long-term outcomes and experience with the tunica vaginalis flap (TVF) as a tissue augment for complex epispadias repair. METHODS: A prospectively maintained institutional database was reviewed for patients who underwent epispadias repair with TVF from 2010 to 2021. Evaluation of patient characteristics between those who developed dehiscence or UCF and those who did not was performed via Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 47 male patients were identified, of whom, 1 (2.1%) had cloacal exstrophy, 38 (80.9%) had classic bladder exstrophy or a variant, and 8 (17.0%) had epispadias as their primary exstrophy-epispadias complex diagnosis. The median age at epispadias repair was 13 months (IQR 11 - 19). The overall rate of fistula or dehiscence development was 19.1% (9 patients), of whom, 7 developed urethrocutaneous fistulae, 1 dehiscence, and 1 both. Notably, 0 of the 5 patients who had undergone prior epispadias repair and 0 of the 8 patients with a diagnosis of isolated epispadias developed a UCF or dehiscence after repair with TVF. Differences in age at repair, primary EEC diagnosis, prior epispadias repair, pre-repair testosterone, fibrin sealant utilization, closure layers, stent removal time, and bladder capacity at repair were not statistically significant (P>.05) CONCLUSION: Our expanded evaluation indicates that utilization of the tunica vaginalis as an adjunct to epispadias repair may provide durable protection against fistula development in EEC patients who have undergone prior epispadias repair and in primary repair of patients with isolated epispadias.

Urologic trauma from vaginal dilation for congenital vaginal stenosis: A newly-described and challenging complication.

Vaginal dilation is first line therapy for vaginal agenesis. No major urologic complications have even been described. We present the management and successful outcome of immediate repair for urethral trauma in a patient with history of congenital anomalies managed with vaginal dilation. Proper exposure is difficult, but urologic repair can be achieved with or without concomitant vaginal repair.

Cystectomy in the Pediatric Exstrophy Population: Indications and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term outcomes and indications for cystectomy in patients with bladder exstrophy. Although rare, cystectomy is the final surgical alternative to bladder repair among these patients with a poor quality bladder template. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of 1298 patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex was reviewed for patients who underwent cystectomy between 1970 and 2015 at the authors' institution. Demographic data, indication for cystectomy, surgical history, postoperative outcomes, and continence status were collected. RESULTS: Eighteen (6 male; 12 female) patients with exstrophy (15 classic bladder exstrophy; 2 bladder exstrophy variants; 1 cloacal exstrophy) underwent cystectomy at a median age of 3.8 years. Six patients (33.3%) underwent primary cystectomy without attempted bladder closure. Eight patients (44.4%) had a history of failed primary closure with loss of capacity or inadequate growth after closure. Four patients (22.2%) had successful primary closure but underwent cystectomy secondary to poor bladder compliance with declining renal function or poor bladder growth or quality. Urinary diversion included 6 cutaneous ureterostomies, 4 bowel conduits (1 ileal; 3 colon), 6 continent urinary diversions with ileosigmoid reservoir, and 1 ureterosigmoidostomy. Of 8 patients who underwent a continence procedure, all were dry at a median of 25.3 months after cystectomy. CONCLUSION: Cystectomy was most commonly indicated in intrinsically diseased bladder templates that remained too small despite permitting time for interval growth. These bladders often were of poor quality and compliance and did not reduce into the pelvis on examination. It was, however, possible to achieve urinary continence in these patients with cystectomy and urinary diversion.

Combined Bladder Neck Reconstruction and Continent Stoma Creation as a Suitable Alternative for Continence in Bladder Exstrophy: A Preliminary Report.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of concomitant bladder neck reconstruction (BNR) and creation of a continent stoma (CS) in patients who are not quite eligible for BNR but still strongly desire volitional voiding. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed an institutional database of patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex who underwent BNR-CS between 2000 and 2015. Indications for a BNR-CS, perioperative outcomes, and continence status were evaluated. Method of voiding and continence status were analyzed for patients with greater than 6 months of follow-up after the BNR-CS. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex (15 male and 9 female) underwent BNR-CS at a median age of 8.9 years (range 5.4-17.4). This included 18 patients with classic bladder exstrophy, 5 with epispadias, and 1 with a cloacal exstrophy variant. There were 5 surgical complications (20.1%) following the BNR-CS, including 3 febrile urinary tract infections, 1 superficial wound infection, and 1 urethrocutaneous fistula. The median follow-up time from the time of BNR-CS was 1.1 years (range 0.1-14.1). Seventeen of 24 patients (71%) had a follow-up greater than 6 months and were evaluated for continence. Twelve patients (71%) were completely dry for intervals greater than 3 hours following BNR-CS. Five (29%) did not achieve continence with BNR-CS. Of those 5 patients, 3 (60%) underwent subsequent bladder neck transection. CONCLUSION: Combined BNR and CS is a suitable alternative to achieve urinary continence in patients who are not ideal candidates for BNR alone. This approach can offer a select group of patients the opportunity for volitional voiding.

Sexual Function and Quality of Life Before and After Penile Prosthesis Implantation Following Radial Forearm Flap Phalloplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To provide sexual function and quality of life outcomes in patients with severe penile deficiency who underwent radial forearm flap phalloplasty with and without penile prosthesis implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with history of severe penile deficiency who underwent microsurgical radial forearm flap phalloplasty with and without penile prosthesis implantation between 2007 and 2014 were identified. They completed a set of web-based validated questionnaires including the International Index of Erectile Function, the Pediatric Penile Perception Score, the Sexual Quality of Life for Men, and several items addressing general quality of life. Outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Nine of the 12 identified patients who had prosthesis after phalloplasty and 4 out of the 7 phalloplasty-only patients completed the survey, resulting in an overall response rate of 68%. Among the phalloplasty-prosthesis patients, 66% reported current sexual activity and 78% reported regular masturbation, whereas 1 of the 4 phalloplasty-only patients reported both. Prosthesis patients scored notably higher in all domains of the International Index of Erectile Function except for sexual desire. In contrast, they demonstrated similar scores of penile perception, as well as general and sexual quality of life. CONCLUSION: Among patients who have undergone flap phalloplasty, the subsequent placement of penile prosthesis appears to effectively allow for both intercourse and masturbation, resulting in measurable improvements in orgasmic function, intercourse satisfaction, and overall sexual satisfaction. Despite these important benefits, prosthesis placement does not appear to result in improvements in penile perception scores, or general or sexual quality of life.

Repair of Vesicocutaneous and Urethrocutaneous Fistulae with Rectus Muscle Flap in a Bladder Exstrophy Patient.

Urinary continence can be achieved in up to 90% of patients with bladder exstrophy. However, select patients remain incontinent despite modern reconstruction. Repeat operations for continence combined with the congenital pelvic abnormalities of exstrophy put patients at risk for urinary fistula formation. We report the use of a rectus muscle flap in the repair of two concomitant vesicocutaneous and urethrocutaneous fistulae in a patient with classic bladder exstrophy.

Patient-Reported Impact of Pelvic Organ Prolapse on Continence and Sexual Function in Women With Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize long-term urogynecologic issues of women with a history of bladder exstrophy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and to assess the impact of POP repair on continence and sexual function. DESIGN: Patient demographics and surgical history related to exstrophy and POP were collected through chart review. Patient perceptions regarding sexual function, urinary continence, and quality of life were assessed through Web-based administration of validated questionnaires: International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form and POP-Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire. SETTING: Maryland, United States. PARTICIPANTS: Review of a single-institution exstrophy-epispadias complex database resulted in 25 adult female patients with a history of POP treated at the authors' institution. Eleven patients participated and were included in the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urinary continence and sexual function. RESULTS: All participants underwent surgical repair for prolapse, with 7 (63.6%) experiencing unsuccessful initial repair and subsequent recurrence. Median total number of POP repairs was 2.5 (1-4). After correction of POP, patients reported a median improvement in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form scores of 11 (21 to -1) of 21 and in POP-Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire scores of 9.5 (6.5-33.0) of 48.0. With regard to urinary continence, 6 (54.5%) patients presently reported no incontinence, 3 (27.3%) reported mild incontinence, and 2 (18.2%) reported continuous incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic organ prolapse poses significant reductions in quality of life for women born with exstrophy, with effects on urinary continence and sexual function. Identification and correction of prolapse seems to result in notable improvements in the lives of these patients.

Duplicated Renal Collecting System With Ectopic Ureter in Female Bladder Exstrophy: A Case Report.

Bladder exstrophy is a rare major birth defect which requires specialized surgical care. Associated genitourinary tract anomalies are extremely rare in this population, yet significantly impact surgical planning and outcomes. In this case, a full-term newborn girl with a prenatal diagnosis of classic bladder exstrophy was found to have a complete duplicated left collecting system with an ectopic ureter inserted to urethral plate. The patient underwent modern staged repair of exstrophy with bilateral anterior innominate osteotomies and concomitant ureteral reimplantation-the first reported case of ureteral reimplantation at the time of initial closure in a newborn.

Newborn exstrophy closure without osteotomy: Is there a role?

INTRODUCTION: Recent articles document successful classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) closure without osteotomy. Still, many patients require osteotomy if they have a large bladder template and pubic diastasis, or non-malleable pelvis. OBJECTIVE: To understand the indications and outcomes of bladder closure with and without pelvic osteotomy in patients younger than 1 month of age. METHODS: An institutional database of 1217 exstrophy-epispadias patients was reviewed for CBE patients closed at the authors' institution within the first month of life. Patient demographics, closure history, pubic diastasis distance, bladder capacity, and outcomes were recorded and compared using chi-square tests between osteotomy and non-osteotomy patients. Failure was defined as bladder dehiscence, prolapse, vesicocutaneous fistula, or bladder outlet obstruction requiring reoperation. Bladder capacity >100 mL was deemed sufficient for bladder neck reconstruction (BNR). RESULTS: One hundred CBE patients were included for analysis: 38 closed with osteotomy (26 male, 12 female), and 62 closed without osteotomy (42 male, 20 female). There were four failed closures in the osteotomy group (2 dehiscence, 2 prolapse) and four failed closures in the non-osteotomy group (2 dehiscence, 2 prolapse). This corresponded to statistically equivalent rates of failure between the osteotomy and non-osteotomy groups (10.5% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.466). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups' ability to achieve bladder capacity sufficient for BNR (82% vs. 71%, p = 0.234). DISCUSSION: A successful primary bladder closure, regardless of the use of osteotomy, has been shown to be the single most important predictor of eventual continence. Because of the complexity of exstrophy manifestations, a multidisciplinary team approach is of the utmost importance. Based on our institutional experience, closure without osteotomy is considered when patients are <72 h of life, have a pubic diastasis <4 cm, malleable pelvis, and pubic apposition without difficulty. Rates of successful closure and attaining sufficient capacity for BNR were both statistically equivalent across groups. This retrospective study is limited by selection bias and the significant difference in follow-up time between groups. Nevertheless, as a high-volume exstrophy center this study draws from one of the largest cohorts available. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the type of closure undertaken, there clearly is a role for newborn CBE closure without pelvic osteotomy in patients considered suitable for closure by both the pediatric urologist and orthopedic consultant. However, if there is any doubt concerning pubic diastasis width, pelvic malleability, or ease of pubic apposition, an osteotomy is highly recommended.

Predictors of Postoperative Complications in Patients Who Undergo Radical Nephrectomy and IVC Thrombectomy: A Large Contemporary Tertiary Center Analysis.

UNLABELLED: In an analysis of a large single-institution experience in the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus, the authors present the effect of RCC characteristics on survival, and aim to identify potential preoperative variables predictive of intraoperative complexity with regard to estimated blood loss, transfusion volume, surgical time, length of stay, and postoperative complication rates. Age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, preoperative calcium, preoperative creatinine, and IVC wall invasion were significantly related to complication rates. INTRODUCTION: Preoperative laboratory values are commonly used as markers of health and potential disease burden, however, their effect on perioperative complexity has not previously been assessed. The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus characteristics on cancer-specific survival (CSS), and identify potential preoperative variables predictive of intraoperative complexity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective chart review we identified 144 patients who underwent nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the effect of disease characteristics on CSS and postoperative complications. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between preoperative laboratory values and intraoperative complexity characterized by estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion volume (TV), operative time, and length of hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: Analysis of intraoperative complexity revealed a significant correlation between preoperative creatinine (Cr) and EBL (P = .022), TV (P = .041), and LOS (P = .005), and preoperative hemoglobin (Hgb) was associated with increased EBL (P < .001) and TV (P < .001). Multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between overall complication rates and preoperative calcium (Ca; P = .012), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P = .003), and IVC wall invasion (P = .005), and a significant association between major complications and preoperative Ca (P = .011), preoperative Cr (P = .041), age (P = .050), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; P = .002). CONCLUSION: With regard to intraoperative complexity and postoperative complications, preoperative Cr and Hgb were significantly associated with increased EBL, TV, and LOS, and ASA score, preoperative Ca, preoperative Cr, IVC wall invasion, age, and CCI were found to have significant relationships with complication rates.

Continence in the cloacal exstrophy patient: What does it cost?

BACKGROUND: Surgical advancements have made cloacal exstrophy (CE) a survivable condition, though management remains complex. Urologic, orthopedic, colorectal and gynecologic interventions are not standardized, and the cost of this care is high. While the importance of a successful primary closure in terms of outcomes is known, the economic consequences of failure remain uncharacterized. METHODS: A prospectively maintained institutional database of epispadias-exstrophy complex patients was reviewed for continent CE patients. Hospital charges for all inpatient admissions prior to achieving urinary continence were inflation-adjusted to year 2013 values using Consumer Price Index for medical care published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Records for which charge data were incomplete were completed by using single mean imputation, also inflation-adjusted. Descriptive data are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD). RESULTS: Of 102 CE patients, 35 had available hospital charge data: 15 who underwent successful primary closure at the authors' institution and 20 who presented after previously failed primary closures at referring institutions. The mean±SD hospital charges for primary closure in the success group were $136,201±$48,920. These patients then underwent subsequent additional surgeries that accrued charges of $59,549±$25,189 in order to achieve continence. Overall, successful primary closures accumulated hospital charges of $200,366±$40,071. In comparison, patients referred after prior failure required significantly more hospital admissions and additional charges of $207,674±$65,820 were required to achieve continence (p<0.001). Patients who failed primary closure are estimated to accumulate 70% more total health care charges compared to the group following successful primary closure. CONCLUSION: The cost of CE management until urinary continence is high, averaging more than $200,000 in inpatient hospital charges alone. Initial success is desirable from both an outcomes and economic perspective, as the cost of salvaging a failed primary closure at our institution is similar to the overall costs of a successful closure; this is in addition to the cost of any previous failed closures. Further studies will be required to determine the optimal timing of surgical management in terms of both patient outcomes and financial consequences.

Use of muscle pedicle flaps for failed bladder neck closure in the exstrophy spectrum.

PURPOSE: The authors have reviewed the use of muscle pedicle flaps for the treatment of failed bladder neck closure in exstrophy spectrum patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of all exstrophy spectrum patients who underwent continence procedures with the use of muscle pedicle flaps at our institution during the last 15 years was performed. Patient characteristics, surgical history, and outcomes, including complications, continence, morbidity, and infection, were assessed. The authors utilized muscle pedicle flaps in eight exstrophy patients, including four patients with classic bladder exstrophy and four patients with cloacal exstrophy. Seven of eight patients had failed at least one prior bladder neck closure, and they had undergone a median of three prior urologic procedures. To achieve continence, five rectus muscle flaps and three gracilis muscle flaps were utilized in combination with bladder neck closure. RESULTS: There were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications. All patients were initially continent, and after a median follow-up of 18.7 months seven of eight patients were continent. One patient required continent urinary stoma revision and one patient developed perineal incontinence after perineal trauma. No patients required revision of, or additional, continence procedures at the bladder neck. DISCUSSION: The use of pedicle muscle flaps appears to be a safe and feasible option for exstrophy spectrum patients with failed bladder neck closure. Although achieving continence can be difficult in this population, use of muscle flaps and bladder neck closure is a viable and effective option in this challenging subset of patients.

The Tunica Vaginalis Flap as an Adjunct to Epispadias Repair: A Preliminary Report.

OBJECTIVE: To report our preliminary institutional experience of incorporating a tunica vaginalis flap (TVF) as an adjunct into primary or secondary epispadias repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospectively maintained institutionally approved database of exstrophy-epispadias complex patients was used to identify and retrospectively review male patients who underwent epispadias repair from September 2010 to October 2014 at the authors' institution. Patients who underwent epispadias repair with TVF were identified and their clinical outcomes were measured. RESULTS: A total of 49 male patients were identified as meeting inclusion criteria, of which 15 (2 isolated epispadias, 13 classic bladder exstrophy) underwent epispadias repair incorporating a TVF. Median age at time of repair was 12 months (interquartile range [IQR] 10-15.5). A median of 4 layers (IQR 4-5) was incorporated into each repair closure, applying EVICEL Fibrin Sealant as an additional layer in all patients. All patients received preoperative testosterone injection therapy of 2 mg/kg 5 and 2 weeks before surgery for penile growth. There were no intraoperative complications. Median follow-up of 19 months (IQR 12-23) revealed 5 patients who underwent epispadias revision, 3 (20%) of which developed a urethrocutaneous fistula. All patients had a successful repair without recurrence. CONCLUSION: The authors have found the utilization of a TVF with epispadias repairs to be beneficial but no better than the repair with our routine soft-tissue coverage in primary epispadias repair. However, in patients presenting with complex anatomy and limited tissue reserves, a TVF is an important adjunct to epispadias repair and/or revision and may lead to improved outcomes.

Excision and Patch Grafting of a Lateral Peyronie's Plaque-Utilizing a Longitudinal "Window" Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a debilitating disorder in which collagen deposition, fibrosis, and plaques in the tunica albuginea result in penile curvature, shortening, and pain. For severe curvatures requiring plaque incision or excision with grafting (PIEG), a subcoronal circumcising incision with penile degloving has historically been used. AIMS: The aim of this study was to report our unique approach to PIEG via a longitudinal "window" incision for the correction of PD, minimizing the surgical manipulation and dissection accompanying the traditional circumcising incisional approach that may lead to increased postoperative edema, pain, and prolonged healing time. METHODS: A patient presented with a stable, painless, 90-degree midshaft leftward curvature causing penetration difficulties and painful intercourse for his partner. His Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score was 23. The patient opted for surgical correction with plaque excision and grafting via a 4-cm longitudinal incision overlying the point of maximal curvature along the left lateral penile shaft. This direct access to the left corpus cavernosum and plaque, along with dissecting skin, dartos, and Buck's fascia, created a window with sufficient exposure for excision and patch grafting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were objective data and subjective data in men undergoing PIEG via lateral longitudinal "window" incision for PD repair. RESULTS: The plaque was excised and a porcine small intestinal submucosa graft was sewn in. Intraoperative artificial tumescence at the end of surgery revealed complete correction of the curvature. The patient experienced painless rigid erections by postoperative day three with minimal penile edema. By postoperative week four, he could successfully partake in coitus. His SHIM score remained unchanged. At maximum follow-up 6 months postoperatively, he still endorsed excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes with spontaneous unassisted erections and no recurrence of his curvature. CONCLUSION: A lateral longitudinal incision for PIEG is a feasible technique and may reduce the postoperative morbidity and dissection required with traditional circumcising incision with penile degloving. Larger comparative studies are necessary for further evaluation.

An extramedullary plasmacytoma in the testicle: A case report and review of the literature.

We present a rare case of testicular extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) in a 43-year-old man with multiple myeloma and diffuse systemic involvement refractory to chemotherapy. Multiple myeloma is typically found within the bone marrow and rarely involves other organs and sites. EMPs are most frequently associated with the head and neck region, but in rare cases testicular involvement have been seen. These mimic other causes of testicular swelling and therefore require a full diagnostic workup and management similar to that of any scrotal pathology. Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the treatment of choice with the addition of adjunct or salvage radiation therapy if necessary. The prognosis with these lesions is poor and in cases of primary testicular plasmacytoma, progression to multiple myeloma is likely.