Cost-effectiveness of overactive bladder treatments from a US commercial and payer perspective.

Aim: The cost-effectiveness of treatment options (anticholinergics, ß3-adrenoceptor agonists, onabotulinumtoxinA, sacral nerve stimulation and percutaneous tibial stimulation [the latter two including new rechargeable neurostimulators]) for the management of overactive bladder (OAB) were compared with best supportive care (BSC) using a previously published Markov model. Materials & methods: Cost-effectiveness was evaluated over a 15-year time horizon, and sensitivity analyses were performed using 2- and 5-year horizons. Discontinuation rates, resource utilization, and costs were derived from published sources. Results: Using Medicare and commercial costs over a 15-year time period, onabotulinumtoxinA 100U had incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) gained of $39,591/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and $42,255/QALY, respectively, versus BSC, which were the lowest ICERs of all assessed treatments. The sensitivity analyses at 2- and 5-year horizons also showed onabotulinumtoxinA to be the most cost-effective of all assessed treatments versus BSC. Conclusion: OnabotulinumtoxinA 100U is currently the most cost-effective treatment for OAB.

Anatomical and manometric comparison of perineal and transscrotal approaches to artificial urinary sphincter placement.

PURPOSE: We compared cuff sites and assessed anatomical and manometric differences between the transscrotal and perineal approaches to artificial urinary sphincter placement in fresh male cadavers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Artificial urinary sphincter implantation using perineal and transscrotal incisions was performed in 15 fresh male cadavers. The artificial urinary sphincter cuffs were placed as proximal as possible using each approach. After measuring urethral circumference at each cuff site, an appropriately sized cuff was placed at each location. The 61 to 70 cm H(2)O pressure reservoir and control pump were then connected to the cuffs. Retrograde leak point pressure was assessed sequentially across each cuff. The paired t test was used to compare urethral circumference and retrograde leak point pressure between the 2 approaches. RESULTS: Mean urethral circumference using the perineal and transscrotal approaches was 5.38 (range 3.2 to 7.5) and 3.81 cm (range 3 to 4.5), respectively (p <0.0001, 95% CI of difference 0.99-2.13). Mean retrograde leak point pressure using the perineal and transscrotal approaches was 90.1 and 64.9 cm H(2)O, respectively (p = 0.0002, 95% CI of difference 13.7-33.5). On visual inspection of cuff sites, the perineal approach was more proximal on the urethra than the transscrotal approach. CONCLUSIONS: While the transscrotal approach to artificial urinary sphincter placement has the advantage of technical ease, the anatomical and manometric findings of this cadaver study suggest that the perineal approach offers a more proximal cuff location, more robust urethral size and more effective urethral coaptation than the transscrotal approach.

Complete androgen insensitivity: the role of the surgeon.

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective series of the surgical management of complete androgen insensitivity at a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 16 patients 4 to 63 years old with complete androgen insensitivity were extracted from an institutionally approved database. We determined whether each patient underwent vaginoplasty, age at vaginoplasty, vaginal depth before vaginoplasty, age at gonadectomy and whether the patient was sexually active. These data were pooled with those from a prior study at our institution to yield a total of 29 patients. RESULTS: All patients had undergone gonadectomy with no evidence of malignancy in any pathology specimens. Of the 27 patients in whom the date of surgery was known 20 underwent surgery in late adolescence/adulthood, while 7 had the testes removed in childhood. Of the 29 patients 11 (38%) have undergone vaginal reconstruction. Average vaginal depth in postpubertal patients without reconstruction was 6.6 cm (range 1.5 to 10). Preoperative vaginal depth in patients with was between 2 and 4 cm. Ten postpubertal patients have undergone vaginoplasty and 7 (70%) are sexually active. Of the postpubertal patients 15 have not undergone vaginoplasty, of whom 12 (80%) are sexually active. CONCLUSIONS: A delayed approach to gonadectomy and vaginal reconstruction respects patient autonomy and allows a more mature patient to handle the psychological and physical trauma of surgery and rehabilitation. Since we recognize the small number of patients in this series, strict guidelines cannot be proposed.

Presentation and management of a patient with subcutaneous metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: A 60-year-old female with a 6-month history of muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder presented with an enlarging subcutaneous lesion involving her right flank. She had previously undergone radical cystectomy, bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and ileal orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. INVESTIGATIONS: Axial fused fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, fine needle aspiration with direct ultrasound guidance, excisional biopsy and immunohistochemistry. DIAGNOSIS: Subcutaneous and liver metastases of transitional cell carcinoma. MANAGEMENT: Wide local excision of the subcutaneous lesion followed by combination gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy. Gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15, and cisplatin was administered at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) on day 1; the schedule was repeated every 28 days for three cycles.

An initial evaluation of pelvic floor function and quality of life of bladder exstrophy patients after ureterosigmoidostomy.

Classic bladder exstrophy is characterized by displaced pelvic floor musculature and significant skeletal and genitourinary defects. A paucity of data exist evaluating long-term pelvic floor function in exstrophy patients after ureterosigmoidostomy. This study is an initial attempt to evaluate the prevalence of urofecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and overall quality of life in patients who have had ureterosigmoidostomies. Fifty-two individuals who underwent ureterosigmoidostomy between 1937 and 1990 were identified through the Ureterosigmoidostomy Association and the Johns Hopkins bladder exstrophy database and mailed questionnaires approved by the Institutional Review Board (Johns Hopkins). Data were analyzed with SigmaStat 3.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Eighty-three percent of the subjects responded, with a mean age of 44.4 years (range, 14-73 years) and mean of 40.9 years (range, 14-65 years) after ureterosigmoidostomy. Prevalence of daily urinary and fecal incontinence was 48% (n = 20) and 26% (n = 11), respectively, whereas the prevalence of weekly combined urofecal incontinence was 63% (n = 27). The incidence of pelvic organ prolapse in this cohort was 48% (n = 20). In these patients, a significant risk of urofecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse exists. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to understand the role of pelvic floor musculature in this complex birth defect.

Simultaneous repair of sigmoid colon conduit fistula and neovagina construction in a patient with bladder exstrophy.

Recurrent urogynecologic complications in women with bladder exstrophy are common and complex given the congenital abnormalities of the bony, connective tissue, and muscular support of the pelvic floor, as well as the length and axis of the vagina. Management of these issues is challenging and often requires unique surgical strategies. We present the case of a distinct, individualized surgical approach to management of several complicated urogynecologic issues in a woman with bladder exstrophy who desired surgical correction of a non-healing fistula, pelvic organ prolapse, and a short vagina.

Can ischemic preconditioning ameliorate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in a single-kidney porcine model?

PURPOSE: Ischemic preconditioning (IP) refers to the phenomenon of a brief ischemia-reperfusion event providing resistance to injury from subsequent ischemic periods. We sought to determine the effect of a specific preconditioning regimen on ischemia-reperfusion renal injury in a single-kidney porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immediately following right laparoscopic nephrectomy, 12 female pigs had complete left hilar dissections and 1 of 2 interventions: (1) 60 minutes of complete WI (WI; n = 6) or (2) 10 minutes of IP followed by 60 minutes of complete WI (IP; n = 6). IP consisted of 5 minutes of clamping followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion. Serum creatinine (sCr) was obtained preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, 6, 9, and 14. Mean sCr was compared by group. The left kidney was harvested on POD 14 for blinded histologic review. RESULTS: Mean sCr values were significantly increased at all time points in the WI and IP groups compared with baseline. Peak postoperative sCr was noted on POD 1 in both groups after which there was a downward trend. The WI and IP groups had similar mean sCr values at all time points. The study groups were histologically indistinguishable with no difference in the degree of tissue injury. CONCLUSIONS: A simple intervention which successfully prevents renal warm-ischemic damage would expand the number of surgeons and patients who benefit from laparoscopic NSS. There is no evidence that this preconditioning regimen ameliorated the ischemia-reperfusion injury. Endeavors are ongoing to determine if alternative preconditioning regimens may be beneficial.