Salvage Ultrasound-guided Targeted Cryoablation of The Perispermatic Cord For Persistent Chronic Scrotal Content Pain After Microsurgical Denervation Of The Spermatic Cord.

OBJECTIVE: To assesses the efficacy of ultrasound-guided targeted cryoablation (UTC) of the perispermatic cord as a salvage treatment for patients who failed microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord. METHODS: Retrospective review of 279 cases (221 patients: 58 bilateral) undergoing UTC between November 2012 and July 2016, performed by 2 fellowship trained microsurgeons. UTC was performed using a 16-gauge cryo needle (Endocare, HealthTronics, Austin, TX). Branches of the genitofemoral, ilioinguinal, and inferior hypogastric nerves were cryoablated medial and lateral to the spermatic cord at the level of the external inguinal ring. Level of pain was measured preoperatively and postoperatively using the visual analog scale and Pain Index Questionnaire-6 (QualityMetric Inc., Lincoln, RI). RESULTS: Median age was 43 years, operative duration 20 minutes, and postoperative follow-up 36 months (24-60). Subjective visual analog scale outcomes: 75% significant reduction in ain (11% complete resolution and 64% ≥50% reduction in pain). Objective Pain Index Questionnaire-6 outcomes: 53% significant reduction at 1 month (279 cases), 55% at 3 month (279 cases), 60% at 6 month (279 cases), 63% at 1 year (279 cases), 65% at 2 years (275 cases), 64% at 3 years (232 cases), 59% at 4 years (128 cases) and 64% at 5 years (53 cases) post-op. COMPLICATIONS: 2 wound infections, 4 penile pain cases (resolved in a few months). CONCLUSION: UTC of the perispermatic cord is a safe potential treatment option for the salvage management of persistent chronic scrotal pain in patients who have failed microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord.

Development of a clinically relevant symptom index to assess patients with chronic orchialgia/chronic scrotal content pain.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop a candidate symptom index for men with an established diagnosis of chronic orchialgia. METHODS: Based on interviews with patients and providers, we developed a 70-item questionnaire that focused on seven areas of orchialgia symptoms: pain, location, urinary symptoms, sexual dysfunction, medical history and quality of life (QOL) impact. The questionnaire was completed by patients at two medical centers. Cluster analysis was performed with the software package R (3.2.1). RESULTS: A total of 113 men completed the survey. Median symptom duration was 12 months (range, 3-336 months). Outside the testicle, pain was felt in the spermatic cord (66%), groin (66%), penis (24%), suprapubic region (38%), flank (31%), thigh (32%), abdomen (36%) and perineum (35%). Bother scores were high only for testicle and spermatic cord pain. Urinary frequency was common (54%) but not bothersome. Sexual dysfunction was common: 55% had erectile dysfunction, 56% had decreased libido and 39% had painful ejaculation with high bother for all. By cluster analysis, QOL parameters clustered tightly with minimal pain level, pain at night, burning pain, distribution to spermatic cord and groin, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. CONCLUSIONS: Men with chronic orchialgia have a high incidence of associated symptoms. Most bothersome symptoms with highest QOL impact include burning pain, pain at night, radiation to groin and spermatic cord, erectile dysfunction and low libido. Based on these findings, we have created a candidate orchialgia symptom index with domains of pain, sexual symptoms and QOL that will undergo prospective validation.

Targeted Robotic Assisted Microsurgical Denervation of the Spermatic Cord for the Treatment of Chronic Orchialgia or Groin Pain: A Single Center, Large Series Review.

PURPOSE: Microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord is a treatment option for chronic orchialgia refractory to conservative treatment. A recent study showed specific nerve fibers as the possible cause of chronic orchialgia. Our goal was to present the outcomes of ligation of these nerves using a technique of targeted robotic assisted microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 772 patients who underwent targeted robotic assisted microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord from October 2007 to July 2016. Selection criteria were chronic testicular pain more than 3 months in duration, failed conservative treatments, negative neurological and urological workup, and temporary resolution of pain with a local anesthetic spermatic cord block. Targeted robotic assisted microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord was performed. Pain was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using a subjective visual analog scale and objectively with the standardized and validated PIQ-6 (Pain Impact Questionnaire-6) score. RESULTS: Followup data were available on 860 cases. During a median followup of 24 months (range 1 to 70) 718 cases (83%) showed a significant reduction in pain and 142 (17%) had no change in pain by subjective visual analog scale scoring. Of cases with a significant reduction in pain 426 (49%) had complete resolution and 292 (34%) had a 50% or greater reduction. Objective PIQ-6 analysis showed a significant reduction in pain in 67% of patients 6 months postoperatively, in 68% at 1 year, in 77% at 2 years, in 86% at 3 years and in 83% at 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted robotic assisted microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord is an effective, minimally invasive approach with potential long-term durability in patients with refractory chronic orchialgia.

Chronic orchialgia: Review of treatments old and new.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic orchialgia is historically and currently a challenging disease to treat. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for physicians. Conservative therapy has served as the first line of treatment. For those who fail conservative therapy, surgical intervention may be required. We aim to provide a review of currently available surgical options and novel surgical treatment options. METHODS: A review of current literature was performed using PubMed. Literature discussing treatment options for chronic orchialgia were identified. The following search terms were used to identify literature that was relevant to this review: Chronic orchialgia, testicular pain, scrotal content pain, and microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord (MDSC). RESULTS: The incidence of chronic orchialgia has been increasing over time. In the USA, it affects up to 100,000 men per year due to varying etiologies. The etiology of chronic orchialgia can be a confounding problem. Conservative therapy should be viewed as the first line therapy. Studies have reported poor success rates. Current surgical options for those who fail conservative options include varicocelectomy, MDSC, epididymectomy, and orchiectomy. Novel treatment options include microcryoablation of the peri-spermatic cord, botox injection, and amniofix injection. CONCLUSION: Chronic orchialgia has been and will continue to be a challenging disease to treat due to its multiple etiologies and variable treatment outcomes. Further studies are needed to better understand the problem. Treatment options for patients with chronic orchialgia are improving. Additional studies are warranted to better understand the long-term durability of this treatment options.

Does the mechanism of injury in pediatric blunt trauma patients correlate with the severity of genitourinary organ injury?

INTRODUCTION: Blunt abdominal trauma can result in injury to genitourinary (GU) organs. Children may be more susceptible to some GU injuries due to anatomic differences compared to adults. Mechanism of injury (MOI) has been thought to relate to both the likelihood and severity of GU injury in children, although this has not definitively been proven. Our purpose was to determine if MOI has any correlation to the severity of GU injury in children treated at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed records of all pediatric blunt trauma patients presenting to our institution from January 2005-December 2010 using the LeBonheur Children's Hospital Trauma Registry. All patients with GU injuries were included in this study. Data collected included demographic information, MOI, type and grade of GU injury, associated injuries, and clinical outcome. Continuous variables were tested with ANOVA and categorical variables were tested with chi-square test. RESULTS: Records of 5151 children with blunt trauma were reviewed; 76 patients were found to have GU organ injury. There were 47 males (61.8%) and 29 females (38.2%). Categories of MOI included motor vehicle accident, sports injury, bicycle accident, all-terrain vehicle accident (ATV), pedestrian struck accident, falls, and animal injury. MOI did not have any statistically significant association with the severity of GU organ injury (p = 0.5159). In addition, there was no association between MOI and either gender or side of injury. There was a statistically significant association between MOI and patient age (p = 0.04); older pediatric patients were more likely to experience GU injury due to sports injury and ATV accidents, where as younger patients were more likely to experience GU injury due to pedestrian struck, bicycle accidents or animal bite. CONCLUSIONS: Although specific MOI would seem to relate to presence and severity of injury in children, MOI alone does not correlate with the severity of GU organ injury in our pediatric trauma population. Age of pediatric patients is associated with the type of MOI that results in GU organ injury. The possibility of GU injury should be considered in all symptomatic pediatric patients with clinically significant blunt trauma regardless of the exact MOI.

Carcinosarcoma of the ureter with a small cell component: report of a rare pathologic entity and potential for diagnostic error on biopsy.

Carcinosarcomas of the ureter are rare biphasic neoplasms, composed of both malignant epithelial (carcinomatous) and malignant mesenchymal (sarcomatous) components. Carcinosarcomas of the urinary tract are exceedingly rare. We report a unique case of a carcinosarcoma of the ureter with a chondrosarcoma and small cell tumor component arising in a 68-year-old male who presented with microscopic hematuria. CT intravenous pyelogram revealed right-sided hydroureter and hydronephrosis with thickening and narrowing of the right ureter. The patient underwent robot-assisted ureterectomy with bladder cuff excision and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient is disease-free at 32 months after treatment. We provide a brief synoptic review of carcinosarcoma of the ureter and bladder with utilization of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains and potential diagnostic pitfalls.

National trends in hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheter complications, 2001-2010.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate national trends in hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheters complications from 2001 to 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Healthcare Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was analyzed for this study. We examine hospitalization rates, patient demographics, hospital stays, insurance provider, hospital type, geographic location, and septicemia rates of patients hospitalized for indwelling urinary catheter complications from 2001 to 2010. RESULTS: Hospitalization from indwelling urinary catheters almost quadrupled from 11,742 in 2001 to 40,429 in 2010. The increases have been due to patients who are older and predominantly male compared to all hospitalization. The "national bill" increased from $213 million to $1.3 billion (a factor of 6) after adjusting for inflation. Most patients had urinary tract infections, 77 % in 2001 and 87 % in 2010. Septicemia in indwelling urinary catheter hospitalization patients has increased from 21 % in 2001 to 40 % in 2010. In 2010, secondary diseases associated with hospitalization due to indwelling urinary catheters included urinary tract infections (86.5 %), adverse effects of medical care (61.9 %), bacterial infection (48.6 %), and septicemia (40.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization due to indwelling urinary catheter complications has almost quadrupled from 11,742 in 2001 to 40,429 in 2010, and the majority of patients had urinary tract infections. Septicemia is of particular concern since rates have almost doubled (from 21 to 40 % over the period) in these patients. The specific medical indication for urinary catheters used postoperatively should be scrutinized, and the duration of placement should be minimized to reduce future complication rates.

Direct-to-consumer advertising for urological pharmaceuticals: a cross-sectional analysis of print media.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs that are relevant to urological conditions. Evidence suggests that DTCA of prescription drugs increase pharmaceutical sales. Concern about such advertising methods has recently increased owing to the market withdrawal of heavily marketed drugs that were found to have serious health risks. METHODS: Three consecutive issues of 26 popular magazines during a 3-month period were screened for urology-related DTCA. Advertisements were abstracted using a standardized evaluation form that was pilot-tested in a separate sample of nonurological advertisements. Variables analyzed included the type of advertisement, claims of effectiveness, references of research studies, inducements, and use of tables, figures, and pictures. RESULTS: We identified 8 unique DTCA in 4 different magazines (Ladies Home Journal, Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated, and Good Housekeeping). All advertisements were disease-specific and targeted patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia-related symptoms (n = 3), incontinence (n = 3), or erectile dysfunction (n = 2). The median number of claims made per DTCA was 3 (range, 2-6). None of the claims made were supported by research data, as presented in tables or figures, or referenced peer-reviewed publications. The most common types of appeals addressed symptom control (8/8), lifestyle improvement (7/8), effectiveness (4/8), and dependability (3/8), while none addressed drug safety. CONCLUSIONS: DTCA of prescription drugs for urological conditions are found in select journals and focus on few highly prevalent conditions. None of the advertisement claims identified in this study were supported by research data. There seems to be significant room for improvement in the quality of information provided by urological advertisements.