Complete Bladder Eversion after Colpocleisis.

BACKGROUND: Because complete urinary bladder eversion is rare, a medical dilemma exists on the optimal treatment approach. The most extensive cases of this disorder have required a laparotomy for definitive management. Our transvaginal approach in this case provides an additional surgical perspective, which could potentially guide clinical care for patients with this disorder. CASE: We cared for a 76-year-old multiparous, postmenopausal woman with transurethral bladder eversion following a Le Fort colpocleisis, who presented with vaginal pain, bleeding, and renal failure. We used a transvaginal surgical approach rather than laparotomy as a novel surgical approach for treatment of the bladder eversion, which resulted in improved symptoms and renal function. We describe our diagnostic and decision making approach used for the care of this unique patient. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal bladder neck closure and suprapubic catheter placement is an acceptable and less invasive alternative to the laparotomy with cystopexy for the surgical management of recurrent bladder eversion.

Lower urinary tract symptoms are associated with musculoskeletal pain among older men: Preliminary evidence for central sensitization as a mechanism?

AIMS: Features of central sensitization (CS) are present in almost all chronic pain conditions, including painful urinary conditions and back pain. Recently CS was proposed as a mechanism of nonpainful lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Using musculoskeletal pain as an indicator of CS, we investigated whether the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain is greater among community-dwelling men with moderate or severe LUTS compared to those with mild LUTS. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 5966 men ≥65 years who attended the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study baseline visit. LUTS were assessed with the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) and categorized as none/mild (0-7), moderate (8-19), or severe (≥20). Self-reported back, neck, hip, or knee pain within the 12 months before baseline was categorized as any pain and multilocation pain. We tested our hypothesis using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated from multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: The adjusted odds of any pain were higher among men with moderate (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.29-1.72) and severe LUTS (OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.28-2.40) compared to those with no/mild LUTS. The adjusted odds of pain at ≥ 2 locations were 69% higher among men with moderate (OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.45-196) and more than double among men with severe LUTS (OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.62-3.10) compared to men with no/mild LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal pain, especially at multiple locations, is associated with greater LUTS severity among older men. CS may represent a novel shared mechanism of pain and LUTS.

Media coverage of the 2019 United States Food and Drug Administration ordered withdrawal of vaginal mesh products for pelvic organ prolapse.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: On April 16, 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced a withdrawal on sales and distribution of transvaginal mesh products for pelvic organ prolapse. The aim of this study was to asses online user behavior on pelvic-mesh related articles after the withdrawal and to evaluate article accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used Google Trends© to identify the terms related to pelvic mesh that experienced increased activity after the FDA announcement. The terms were analyzed for worldwide social media engagement (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Reddit) between April 16-19, 2019. The top ten lay press articles shared for each term were evaluated. We also examined the top ten Google search results for each term on June 6, 2019, in the US to evaluate what information was available after peak interest subsided. RESULTS: During peak activity in April, 30 unique articles were identified after the FDA announcement. Two (6.7%) did not mention the April 2019 FDA announcement. Seven (23%) discussed mesh for stress urinary incontinence. After peak interest on June 6, 2019, Google identified 26 unique articles for the four terms. Seven (27%) did not mention the FDA announcement, and 3 (12%) mentioned mesh for incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Internet search patterns and social media behavior following the April 2019 ordered withdrawal on transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse reveal that some of the most disseminated information did not accurately or thoroughly distinguish the type of mesh discussed. This could lead to negative consequences for other mesh indications in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

Relative Value Units do Not Adequately Account for Operative Time of Urological Surgery.

PURPOSE: Physician work relative value units are determined based on operative time, technical skill, mental effort and stress. In theory, work relative value units should account for the operative time involved in a procedure, resulting in similar work relative value units per unit time for short and long procedures. We assessed whether operative time is adequately accounted for by the current work relative value units assignments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was reviewed from 2015 to 2017. The 50 most frequently coded urology CPT codes were included in the study. The primary variable was work relative value units per hour of operative time (work relative value units per hour). Linear regression analysis was used to assess the associations between work relative value units, operative time and the work relative value units per hour variable. RESULTS: A total of 105,931 cases were included in the study. Among the included urology CPTs the median work relative value units was 15.26, median operative time was 48 minutes and median work relative value units per hour was 11.2. CPTs with operative time less than 90 minutes had higher work relative value units per hour compared with longer procedures (12.2 vs 8.7, p <0.001). Univariable analysis revealed that each additional hour of operative time was associated with a decrease in work relative value units per hour by 1.32 (-0.022 per minute, 95% CI -0.037 - -0.001, p <0.001) and that work relative value units were not statistically associated with work relative value units per hour (-0.093, 95% CI -0.193 - 0.007, p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of large population, national level data suggests that the current work relative value units assignments do not proportionally compensate for longer operative times.

Treatment of urethral stricture disease in women: A multi-institutional collaborative project from the SUFU research network.

AIM: Female urethral stricture disease is rare and has several surgical approaches including endoscopic dilations (ENDO), urethroplasty with local vaginal tissue flap (ULT) or urethroplasty with free graft (UFG). This study aims to describe the contemporary management of female urethral stricture disease and to evaluate the outcomes of these three surgical approaches. METHODS: This is a multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study evaluating operative treatment for female urethral stricture. Surgeries were grouped into three categories: ENDO, ULT, and UFG. Time from surgery to stricture recurrence by surgery type was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier time to event analysis. To adjust for confounders, a Cox proportional hazard model was fit for time to stricture recurrence. RESULTS: Two-hundred and ten patients met the inclusion criteria across 23 sites. Overall, 64% (n = 115/180) of women remained recurrence free at median follow-up of 14.6 months (IQR, 3-37). In unadjusted analysis, recurrence-free rates differed between surgery categories with 68% ENDO, 77% UFG and 83% ULT patients being recurrence free at 12 months. In the Cox model, recurrence rates also differed between surgery categories; women undergoing ULT and UFG having had 66% and 49% less risk of recurrence, respectively, compared to those undergoing ENDO. When comparing ULT to UFG directly, there was no significant difference of recurrence. CONCLUSION: This retrospective multi-institutional study of female urethral stricture demonstrates that patients undergoing endoscopic management have a higher risk of recurrence compared to those undergoing either urethroplasty with local flap or free graft.

Implementing a patient safety culture survey to identify and target process improvements in academic ambulatory urology practices: a multi-institutional collaborative.

INTRODUCTION: A shared professional culture focused on patient safety is critical to delivering high-quality care. There is a need for objective metrics to help identify target areas for improvement in patient safety culture. The Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS) was developed and validated by the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to measure patient safety culture in the ambulatory setting. In this study we report on safety culture and practices in six academic urology clinics utilizing this validated questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SOPS was administered to all staff in ambulatory urology practices affiliated with participating centers. Percent positive responses were calculated for each of 10 validated composite domains and were compared between sites and respondent roles. Nonparametric statistical analyses were performed to identify differences between groups. RESULTS: The survey was administered to 185 staff members, with an overall response rate of 66%. Within each domain there was substantial variability between sites, with significant differences observed in staff training (p = 0.034), office processes/standardization (p = 0.008), patient care tracking (p = 0.047), communication about errors (p = 0.001), and organizational learning (p = 0.015). Similar variation was seen between respondent roles with significant differences for patient care tracking (p = 0.002) and communication about errors (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The SOPS is a clinically useful tool to identify issues impacting a practice's safety culture. Substantial variability was observed within each composite domain at the levels of practice site and respondent role. Comparing composite domain results between clinics will allow leadership to identify gaps and evaluate policies and resources of higher performing peer sites.

Safety and effectiveness of zero antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for outpatient cystourethroscopy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine compliance and clinical outcomes after implementation of a zero antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for outpatient cystoscopy in an academic centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent diagnostic cystoscopy in the year preceding and year following protocol implementation were evaluated for urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis within 30 days of cystoscopy. Variables compared between groups included age, sex, smoking history, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) diagnosis, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, catheter use (indwelling, suprapubic, or intermittent), and previous lower urinary tract reconstruction (augmentation cystoplasty or neobladder). UTI was defined using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program definition. Rates were compared between groups, and statistical analyses were performed using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests and multivariable logistic regression, with significance defined as α < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 941 patients were included in the analysis (72% men), 513 before protocol initiation, and 427 after. Groups were similar with regard to demographic variables and potential risk factors for infection. After protocol implementation, there was a significant reduction in patients receiving procedural antimicrobial prophylaxis (30% vs 15%; P < 0.001). The incidence of UTI after cystoscopy was slightly higher in the post-protocol group (2.9-3.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant (chi-squared = 0.56, P = 0.45). The incidence of UTI did not significantly differ with procedural antibiotic prophylaxis or with other antibiotic use at time of cystoscopy. Five out of a total of 31 UTIs (16%) over the study period resulted in fever, and four (13%) resulted in urosepsis. The probability of neither complication differed significantly between pre- and post-protocol groups. The only significant patient-level predictor of post-cystoscopy UTI was catheter use (odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.06). CONCLUSION: Protocol implementation led to a significant decrease in procedural antimicrobial prophylaxis, indicating protocols may be effective tools in promoting antibiotic stewardship. UTI incidence did not change significantly under the protocol, and antibiotic prophylaxis did not decrease infection rate. Our results support catheter use as a risk factor for post-cystoscopy infection, but other patient variables, including those present in the American Urological Association Best Practice statement, were not predictive. In total, this analysis suggests that decreasing antibiotic prophylaxis for cystourethroscopy is safe and can be effective in the outpatient setting.

Urinary symptoms after genital gender-affirming penile construction, urethral lengthening and vaginectomy.

Transgender and non-binary (TGNB) individuals are seeking penile reconstruction in greater numbers; many pursue urethral lengthening surgery with a goal of voiding while standing. Changes in urinary function and urologic complications-i.e., urethrocutaneous fistulae and urinary stricture-are common. Familiarity with presenting symptoms and management strategies for urinary complaints after genital gender-affirming surgery (GGAS) can improve patient counseling and outcomes. We will describe current gender-affirming penile construction options with urethral lengthening and review associated urinary complications that present as urinary incontinence. The incidence and impact of lower urinary tract symptoms after metoidioplasty and phalloplasty are poorly characterized due to limited post-operative follow-up. Post-phalloplasty, urethrocutaneous fistula is the most common urethral complication, ranging in incidence from 15-70%. Assessment of concomitant urethral stricture is necessary. No standard technique exists for management of these fistula or strictures. Metoidioplasty studies report lower rates of stricture and fistula, 2% and 9% respectively. Other common voiding complaints include dribbling, urethral diverticula and vaginal remnants. History and physical exam in the post-GGAS evaluation require understanding of prior surgeries and attempted reconstructive efforts; adjuncts to physical exam include uroflowmetry, retrograde urethrography, voiding cysto-urethrogram, cystoscopy, and MRI. Following gender-affirming penile construction, TGNB patients may experience a host of urinary symptoms and complications that impact quality of life. Due to anatomic differences, symptoms require tailored evaluation which can be done by urologists in an affirming environment.

Musculoskeletal Pain, a Possible Indicator of Central Sensitization, Is Positively Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Progression in Community-Dwelling Older Men.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain, a possible marker of central sensitization, is associated with higher prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among older men. We investigated whether musculoskeletal pain is associated with LUTS progression. METHODS: Participants were 5 569 men age ≥65 years enrolled in the prospective, multicenter Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study. Self-reported musculoskeletal pain within 12 months before baseline was categorized as any pain and multilocation pain. Pain interference within 4 weeks of baseline was assessed with the SF-12 questionnaire. LUTS were assessed repeatedly with the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI). Men with severe LUTS at baseline were excluded. LUTS progression was defined as the first occurrence of a ≥4-point AUA-SI increase during a 2-year follow-up interval. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable pooled logistic regression. RESULTS: LUTS progression was 37% higher among men with any musculoskeletal pain compared with men without pain (IRR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.54). Positive associations were also observed between LUTS progression and pain at 1 (IRR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.48) and ≥2 locations (IRR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.60). Compared with men without pain interference, men with quite a bit/extreme pain interference were most likely to experience LUTS progression (minimal interference IRR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.26; moderate interference IRR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.45; quite a bit/extreme interference IRR 1.47, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.71). CONCLUSIONS: Among men initially without severe LUTS, musculoskeletal pain is associated with an increased risk of LUTS progression. Studies using validated measures of central sensitization and LUTS progression among men are warranted.

Pudendal nerve stretch reduces external urethral sphincter activity in rats.

PURPOSE: Most animal models of stress urinary incontinence simulate maternal injuries of childbirth since delivery is a major risk factor but they do not reproduce the nerve stretch known to occur during human childbirth. We hypothesized that pudendal nerve stretch produces reversible dysfunction of the external urethral sphincter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female virgin Sprague-Dawley® rats were anesthetized with urethane. Bilateral pudendal nerve stretch or sham injury was performed for 5 minutes. External urethral sphincter electromyography and leak point pressure were recorded immediately before and after, and 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after pudendal nerve stretch. Post-pudendal nerve stretch results were compared to prestretch values and to values in sham injured animals. The pudendal nerves underwent qualitative histological assessment. The nucleus of Onuf was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction for ß-APP and c-Fos expression as markers of neuronal activity and injury. RESULTS: A total of 14 rats underwent bilateral pudendal nerve stretch (9) or sham injury (5). Each nerve was stretched a mean ± SEM of 74% ± 18% on the left side and 63% ± 13% on the right side. Electromyography amplitude decreased significantly immediately after stretch compared to before stretch and after sham injury (p = 0.003) but it recovered by 30 minutes after stretch. There was no significant change in leak point pressure at any time. Two hours after injury histology showed occasional neuronal degeneration. ß-APP and c-Fos expression was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Acute pudendal nerve stretch produces reversible electrophysiological dysfunction but without leak point pressure impairment. Pudendal nerve stretch shows promise in modeling injury. It should be tested as part of a multi-injury, chronic, physiological model of human childbirth injury.

Bladder augmentation and urinary diversion for neurogenic LUTS: current indications.

Augmentation cystoplasty and urinary diversion are no longer commonplace in the management of patients with neurogenic bladder, but remain an important surgical treatment for those with refractory LUTS who have failed neuromodulation and onabotulinum toxin treatment or who are not candidates for those treatments. Augmentation is an option in patients who can perform intermittent catheterization and is usually performed with ileum or large intestine. Some patients benefit from continent cutaneous catherizable channels. Supravesical urinary diversion may be necessary in more severe cases. Ileovesicostomies are being supplanted by indwelling suprapubic catheters, and when catheters fail conduits may be a better option. When feasible, the diverted bladder should be excised to avoid pyocystis.

Assessing Internet health information on female pelvic floor disorders.

PURPOSE: While health information on the Internet on female pelvic floor disorders is abundant, to our knowledge there has been no comprehensive evaluation of the quality of this material. We assessed health information on the Internet using Health on the Net Foundation principles as they pertain to female pelvic floor disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Web sites were searched using the key words urinary incontinence, vaginal, uterine or pelvic organ prolapse and overactive bladder. The first 150 websites identified for each female pelvic disorder were assessed for Health on the Net Foundation certification using an automated toolbar function. The specific sponsorship of each web site was also recorded. RESULTS: All searched domains for female pelvic floor disorders revealed that most websites were not certified. The certification rate for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and overactive bladder was 29%, 27% and 27%, respectively. Overall websites were sponsored by for profit commercial entities (44%), urologist/specialty societies (30%), government/educational organizations (16%), nonprofit organizations (9%) and law firms (1%). Nonprofit organizations (40%) and government/educational organization (38%) sponsored websites were more likely to be certified than those sponsored by commercial entities (25%) and urologist/specialty societies (23%) (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The Internet has become a heavily used resource for the distribution and acquisition of health information. Availability notwithstanding, certification and validation are lacking for most sites related to information on female pelvic floor disorders. As we move forward, improvement in the quality of information on the Internet is imperative along with proper guidance to patients using the Internet as a reference.

Outcomes of Transperineal Gender-Affirming Vaginectomy and Colpocleisis.

OBJECTIVES: There are multiple approaches to vaginectomy for the purpose of masculinizing gender-affirming genital surgery including mucosal fulguration and excision. The outcomes of the approaches are not well described. We aim to describe the surgical outcomes of gender-affirming vaginectomy and colpocleisis by complete mucosal excision. METHODS: We performed a case series study of 40 transmasculine patients who underwent gender-affirming vaginectomy and colpocleisis. Vaginectomy was performed by complete excision of the vaginal mucosa via a transperineal approach. We recorded perioperative outcomes and operative time. We performed a multivariate analysis to assess patient factors on operative outcomes. RESULTS: Forty vaginectomies were performed between September 2016 and April 2019, 27 (67.5%) in phalloplasty patients and 13 (32.5%) in metoidioplasty patients. Perioperative complications included 2 blood transfusions, 1 pelvic hematoma, and 1 Clostridium cifficile colitis. No urethral fistulae to the vaginal space, mucoceles, or visceral injures were seen with a median follow-up of 7.7 months. Operative time decreased significantly with later surgery year. CONCLUSIONS: This is a large series studying the outcomes of gender-affirming vaginectomy by complete mucosal excision approach in the literature. Perioperative complications were low. Operative time decreased overtime such that after approximately 20 cases, the procedure fairly consistently takes 2 to 2.5 hours to perform.

Post-Surgical Complications After Bladder Outlet Reducing Surgery: An Analysis of The FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database.

OBJECTIVE: To examine voluntary reports in the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database, categorize complications and assign device-related causality with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), prostatic urethral lift (PUL), and transurethral water vapor therapy (TWVT). METHODS: A review was performed using the terms "Urolift," "Rezum," and "transurethral resection of the prostate" between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2019. Duplicate and incomplete reports were excluded. The Gupta system was used to report complications and device related causality.1 Pearson's Chi-square analysis was performed to compare minor (Level 1) versus major (Levels 2-4) complications. RESULTS: A total of 548 events were examined. After removal of duplicates (n = 60), irrelevant reports (n=65), and incomplete information (n = 14), we included 409 events (74.6%). Of the 409 events, 214 were for TURP, 112 for TWVT, and 83 for PUL. In aggregate, 39.4% of events were minor/Level 1 (n=161/409). The proportion of subjects with Level 2-4 complications versus Level 1 complications was significantly higher for PUL than TURP or TWVT [X2 (2, N = 408) = 41.4023, P < .00001]. Device causality was attributable to device malfunction in 60.4% of cases (n=247/409). CONCLUSION: Device malfunction was noted in all groups and 39.4% of these were minor (Level 1). However, the majority of PUL reports noted a Level 3 or 4 complication (50.6%, 42/83), primarily bleeding related. Previous studies have not revealed significant risk of bleeding and suggests a discrepancy between study data and real-world experience that may alter patient counseling practices.

Metoidioplasty With Urethral Lengthening: A Stepwise Approach.

BACKGROUND: Metoidioplasty is a gender-affirming surgical option for individuals who desire masculine genitalia while preserving erogenous sensation and avoiding the morbidity of phalloplasty. Concurrent urethral lengthening offers patients the potential to stand to urinate. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an adaptation of the Belgrade technique of gender-affirming metoidioplasty and describe outcomes. METHODS: We identified 33 patients of which 12 underwent simple metoidioplasty and 21 underwent metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening between 2016 and 2020. Prior to surgery, all patients underwent at least 1 year of testosterone therapy to maximize clitoral growth. The clitoris is degloved and the superficial suspensory ligament divided to maximize phallic length. Labia minora flaps are developed and the urethral plate is divided to allow for maximal ventral extension. The resultant urethral defect is bridged with a buccal mucosa graft. To construct the ventral aspect of the urethra, an anterior vaginal wall flap and labia minora flap are sutured to the urethral plate and tubularized over a 16 Fr catheter. The medial aspect of the contralateral labia minora is de-epithelialized and overlaps the urethra, serving as ventral skin coverage for the phallic shaft. Bilateral labia majora flaps are then rotated anteriorly and superiorly to create a neoscrotum using the Ghent technique. RESULTS: For metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening, the median operative time was 408 minutes, estimated blood loss 400 mL, and length of stay 3 days. Of the 21 patients, 10 (47%) elected to undergo second stage scrotoplasty, 7 (33%) underwent testicular implant placement, and 2 (9%) required revision urethroplasty. Of the 10 patients (48%) who experienced postoperative complications, 7 were Clavien-Dindo grade I-II. There were no fistulae at a median follow-up time of 5.5 months (range 1-27.2). CONCLUSION: We provide a stepwise approach to metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening using a modified Belgrade technique, which was associated with a low rate of urethral complications.

Neurogenic aspects of stress urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Vaginal childbirth is a significant risk factor for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Women with SUI demonstrate dysfunction of the pelvic floor and pudendal nerve. Animal models of SUI have been developed to investigate its pathophysiology and for preclinical testing of potential treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: Vaginal distension, a method of simulating childbirth injury in animals, produces a reliable decrease in leak point pressure (LPP), a measure of urethral resistance to leakage and quantification of SUI severity in animals. In addition to ischemia and direct tissue damage, vaginal distension causes denervation of the external urethral sphincter (EUS). Pudendal nerve crush produces a similar decrease in LPP, whereas combined PNC and vaginal distension injury delays recovery of LPP compared with either single injury alone. Neurophysiologic studies have elucidated the results of each injury and their combination on pudendal nerve and EUS function. Urethrolysis, electrocautery, and pudendal nerve transection produce more durable functional impairment via both structural damage and denervation. Pubourethral ligament injury eliminates the structural support of the urethra, but its neurologic effects are unknown. SUMMARY: Animal models demonstrate a complex interplay between tissue damage and pudendal nerve dysfunction, and provide insight into the importance of neuroregeneration in the recovery of continence.

Overactive bladder after sling surgery.

Midurethral sling surgery has become the new gold standard for the management of stress urinary incontinence. A significant number of patients will have preoperative symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB), including urgency, frequency, nocturia, and/or urgency urinary incontinence; however, 5% to 25% of women will report persistent, worsening, or de novo OAB after sling surgery. Some cases of OAB after sling surgery are known complications that should be recognized promptly and corrected, including urinary tract infection, urinary tract foreign body, and bladder outlet obstruction. For the remainder, the diagnosis and management of idiopathic postoperative OAB can be complicated. Preoperative clinical and urodynamic factors, as well as the choice of sling, may be helpful in predicting these patients and counseling them appropriately. When standard conservative therapy for OAB fails, sling incision, sacral neuromodulation, and botulinum toxin may be useful adjuncts.

Ureteral clipping simplifies hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: We describe a technique of doubly clipping the distal ureter during hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) to prevent urine accumulation, thereby simplifying renal hilar division and potentially decreasing the graft warm ischemic time. METHODS: A technique of placing polymer-locking clips across the distal ureter prior to division was developed to prevent urine accumulation and the need for suctioning during critical hilar vessel division. RESULTS: We found that ureteral clipping and the elimination of urine accumulation simplified renal hilar division. Retrospective assessment of a series of 27 sequential HALDNs (15 without and 12 with clipping) demonstrated similar estimated blood loss, total operative and warm ischemic times (P 0.13 to 0.18). No adverse impact on graft viability or recipient outcome was observed. CONCLUSION: Distal ureter clipping to prevent urine accumulation around the renal hilum during HALDN is safe and helpful.

Transvaginal Repair of a Peritoneal-Vaginal Fistula.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic organ prolapse is an increasingly reported complication following anterior pelvic exenteration and usually consists of an anterior enterocele.1-4 We present the surgical management of a peritoneal-vaginal fistula in a woman who presented with an acute enterocele 16 months following vaginal sparing, robot-assisted laparoscopic anterior pelvic exenteration. METHODS: Our patient is an 85-year-old female with history of upper tract urothelial carcinoma who underwent a left nephroureterectomy in 2008, and vaginal sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic anterior pelvic exenteration for BCG-refractory carcinoma in situ of the bladder in August 2016. She presented in November 2017 with new onset vaginal bleeding and discharge. On physical examination, she had a dehisced vaginal cuff apex with a bulging enterocele. There were no signs of active evisceration or strangulation. The patient was no longer sexually active and desired surgical treatment. At the time of surgery, a mature peritoneal-vaginal fistula was identified, and the fistula and prolapse were surgically managed with colpectomy and colpocleisis. RESULTS: Intraoperatively found to have a partial vaginal cuff dehiscence covered with granulation tissue, resulting in a 5 mm peritoneal-vaginal fistula. The granulation-covered enterocele sac was trimmed, dissected free, closed, and reduced with serial purse-string sutures. In this fashion, the sutures were used to not only reduce the fistula, but to also perform a colpocleisis and colpectomy. The colpocleisis and colpectomy were performed due to lack of supportive apical vaginal structures and patient desire. The serial purse-string sutures not only provided additional apical support, but also reduced the likelihood of fistula recurrence by covering the peritoneum. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal peritoneal-vaginal fistula repair with serial purse-string sutures and partial colpectomy provides a technique for repair in patients who do not have supportive apical tissue following exenterative surgery. The ideal prevention of this problem at the time of cystectomy and management for when it occurs remains unclear.

Gender-affirming Vaginectomy-Transperineal Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Gender-affirming vaginectomy treats gender dysphoria associated with the presence of a vagina in transgender males.1,2 Prior reported approaches include transperineal vaginectomy, mucosal fulguration, and robotic-assisted. We present key steps in transperineal gender-affirming vaginectomy in a 39-year-old transgender male. METHODS: Informed consent for video recording was obtained. The patient underwent a first-stage phalloplasty 6 months prior. He was placed in high lithotomy Tredelenberg position. After Foley placement, an incision was made along the mucocutaneous junction laterally and posteriorly. The anterior sulci were incised and a transverse incision made anteriorly at the bladder neck. The vaginal mucosa was excised, except for the distal anterior vaginal wall mucosa which would be mobilized as a flap for urethral lengthening later. The paravaginal space was closed with a series of purse-string sutures starting at the apex. The anterior vaginal wall flap is mobilized with the base of the flap at the urethral meatus. Cystoscopy confirms ureteral patency and no lower urinary tract involvement. A suprapubic tube was placed. The procedure then proceeded with a second-stage phalloplasty that included urethral lengthening and scrotoplasty. RESULTS: The demonstrated procedure took 110 minutes and estimated blood loss was 75 mL. In our published series of 40 vaginectomies for 27 phalloplasties and 13 metoidioplasties, median operative time was 135 minutes and median estimated blood loss was 250cc.3 No complications related to the vaginectomy, including mucocele, fistulae to the vaginal space, or visceral injuries occurred. Peritoneal entry occurred in 44% of the cases and was closed primarily without further sequelae. Two patients required blood transfusion and 1 patient had C. difficile colitis. The anterior vaginal wall mucosa flap was incorporated in 83% of the time. CONCLUSION: Transperineal vaginectomy results in low periprocedural complications, takes approximately 2 hours after a learning curve. Detailed results from our series of these procedures have been previously reported.3.