An analysis of urodynamic parameters in diabetic and nondiabetic women.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is highly prevalent worldwide, with an estimated 536 million living with diabetes in 2021, and that number projected to increase to 783 million by 2045. Diabetic bladder dysfunction is thought to affect up to 60%-90% of individuals with diabetes and can significantly impact quality of life. Despite the prevalence of diabetic bladder dysfunction, the exact pathophysiological mechanism, and resulting clinical presentation, remains debated. Our objective was to compare urodynamic parameters between diabetic and nondiabetic women, assessing the impact of various markers of diabetes severity on bladder function. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on female patients aged 18 and above who underwent urodynamic studies at a single tertiary care university hospital system from 2014 to 2020. Patients were categorized based on diabetes status, and diabetes severity including duration of disease, hemoglobin A1c levels, insulin dependence, and markers of end-organ dysfunction. Urodynamic variables, including compliance, bladder voided efficiency, bladder contractility index, postvoid residual, maximum flow rate, capacity, voided volume, and detrusor overactivity, were assessed by two independent reviewers. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the impact of diabetes and diabetic severity on urodynamic parameters. RESULTS: A total of 652 female patients were included in the study, of which, 152 (23.3%) had diabetes, with an average duration of diagnosis of 82.3 months. Diabetic women were older and had higher body mass index compared to nondiabetic women. Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy were present in 18% and 54.6% of diabetic patients, respectively. Significant differences in urodynamic parameters were observed between diabetic and nondiabetic women, with diabetic women showing higher rates of detrusor overactivity (p = 0.01), particularly associated with increasing BMI (p = 0.03). However, classic markers of diabetes severity including duration, as well as markers of end-organ damage, showed mixed associations with urodynamic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the prevalence of diabetic bladder dysfunction and its impact on patient quality of life, the exact mechanisms and clinical presentation remain elusive. Our study highlights the significant differences in urodynamic parameters between diabetic and nondiabetic women, emphasizing the need for further research into the relationship between diabetes and diabetic bladder dysfunction.

Endometriosis of the appendix: prevalence, associated lesions, and proposal of pathogenetic hypotheses. A retrospective cohort study with prospectively collected data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of endometriosis of the appendix and the association with other pelvic localizations of the disease and to provide pathogenesis hypotheses. METHODS: Monocentric, observational, retrospective, cohort study. Patients undergoing laparoscopic endometriosis surgery in our tertiary referral center were consecutively enrolled. The prevalence of the different localizations of pelvic endometriosis including appendix involvement detected during surgery was collected. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of appendiceal endometriosis. Women with a history of appendectomy were excluded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Four hundred-sixty patients were included for data analysis. The prevalence of appendiceal endometriosis was 2.8%. In patients affected by endometriosis of the appendix, concomitant ovarian and/or bladder endometriosis were more frequently encountered, with prevalence of 53.9% (vs 21.0% in non-appendiceal endometriosis group, p = 0.005) and 38.4% (vs 11.4%, p = 0.003), respectively. Isolated ovarian endometriosis was significantly associated to appendiceal disease compared to isolated uterosacral ligament (USL) endometriosis or USL and ovarian endometriosis combined (46.2% vs 15.4% vs 7.7%, p < 0.001). Poisson regression analysis revealed a 4.1-fold and 4.4-fold higher risk of ovarian and bladder endometriosis, respectively, and a 0.1-fold risk of concomitant USL endometriosis in patients with appendiceal involvement. CONCLUSION: Involvement of the appendix is not uncommon among patients undergoing endometriosis surgery. Significant association was detected between appendiceal, ovarian, and bladder endometriosis that may be explained by disease dissemination coming from endometrioma fluid shedding. Given the prevalence of appendiceal involvement, counseling regarding the potential need for appendectomy during endometriosis surgery should be considered.

Bladder lesions as incidental findings during transurethral resection of the prostate: prevalence, diagnosis, and pathological findings.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of bladder lesions diagnosed during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), to identify the associated risk factors, and to correlate the macroscopic descriptions with the pathological findings. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective case series conducted at a hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. We reviewed the medical and surgical records of patients who underwent TURP between January 2012 and December 2017. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 513 patients, with a mean age of 70.8 years. Bladder lesions were identified during TURP in 109 (21.2%) of the patients, and 90 of those lesions were submitted for pathological examination. The most common macroscopic finding was bullous edema, which was seen in 57 (63.3%) of the 90 lesions examined. The pathological analysis revealed chronic cystitis in 61 lesions (67.8%) and malignant lesions in 16 (17.8%). Of the 57 lesions described as bullous edema, 5 (8.8%) were found to be malignant. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the bladder mucosa appear to be more common among elderly patients who use an indwelling urinary catheter for a prolonged period and among patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. In addition, the risk of a bladder lesion being malignant is apparently higher in current and former smokers than in never smokers. Our findings suggest that at-risk patients should undergo biopsy or resection of incidental bladder lesions even if those lesions seem to be benign, due to the low level of agreement between the visual analysis and the pathological examination.

Urinary bladder injury during cesarean delivery: risk factors and the role of retrograde bladder filling.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary bladder injury during cesarean delivery is an uncommon complication with substantial maternal morbidity. The aim of this study was to identify possible risk factors for bladder injury during cesarean delivery and to describe the role of retrograde bladder filling in the assessment of bladder wall integrity. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study at a large tertiary referral center. Women who underwent cesarean delivery between 2003 and 2017 were included. Women diagnosed with urinary bladder injury were compared to women who did not have such injuries. Data retrieved included demographic characteristics, general medical history, obstetric history and intra-partum and intra-operative data. Information regarding use of retrograde bladder filling intra-operatively was retrieved as well. RESULTS: During the study period, 21,177 cesarean deliveries were performed of which 68 (0.3%) cases of urinary bladder injury were identified. Two-thirds of injuries were located at the urinary bladder dome with the remaining third located at the posterior bladder wall. Most injuries were formed during uterine incision extension (60.0%) followed by peritoneal entry (22.0%). Following uni- and multivariate analyses, three parameters remained independent risk factors for bladder injury: urinary bladder adhesions, failed vacuum attempt prior to cesarean delivery and size of the uterine incision extension. In 15.4% of cases in which retrograde bladder filling was utilized following bladder repair, leakage of fluid was evident. CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder adhesions, failed vacuum attempt prior to cesarean delivery and size of uterine incision extension are independent risk factors for urinary bladder injury during cesarean delivery.

Analysis of risk factors of bladder neck contracture following transurethral surgery of prostate.

BACKGROUNDS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the perioperative parameters associated with bladder neck contracture (BNC) after transurethral surgery of the prostate and to compare the incidence of BNC after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or Thulium vaporesection (resection group) versus Thulium vapoenucleation or enucleation of the prostate (enucleation group). METHODS: Between March 2008 and March 2020, 2363 patients received TURP and 1656 patients received transurethral surgery of the prostate with Thulium laser (ThuP) at Mackay Memorial Hospital. A total of 62 patients developed BNC. These BNC patients were age-and operation-matched to 124 randomly sampled TURP/ThuP controls without BNC. A 1:1 propensity score matching model was used to evaluate the difference in incidence of BNC. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated that a greater proportion of BNC patients had history of cerebrovascular accidents (11/62 vs. 7/124, p = 0.009), coronary artery disease (14/48 vs. 16/108, p = 0.03), chronic kidney disease (14/62 vs. 11/124, p = 0.01), and two or more comorbidities (29/62 vs. 27/124, p = 0.001) compared with NBNC patients. Multivariate analysis showed that smaller prostate volume (OR 0.96 (0.94-0.99), p = 0.008) and recatherization (OR 5.6 (1.02-30.6), p = 0.047) were significantly associated with BNC. A ROC curve predicted that a prostate volume < 42.9 cm3 was associated with a notably higher rate of BNC. The propensity score matching model reported there was no difference in incidence between resection and enucleation groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that incidence of BNC was the same in different surgical techniques and that low prostate volume, recatherization and ≥ 2 comorbidities were positively correlated with the development of BNC after TURP or ThuP.

National survey of bladder endometriosis cases in Japan.

AIM: We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, operative or medical management, and postoperative recurrence of bladder endometriosis (BE). METHODS: We conducted a national survey to investigate BE cases from 2006 to 2016 in Japan. Histologically diagnosed cases were extracted and then investigated for the following factors: age at diagnosis, body mass index, symptoms, imaging modalities, surgical therapy, hormonal therapy, follow-up period, and postoperative recurrence. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients with pathologically benign BE were identified. Eighty patients underwent surgery, whereas nine did not. Moreover, 34 and 44 patients underwent transurethral resection (TUR) and partial cystectomy (PC), respectively. Cumulative recurrence rates were significantly higher with TUR than with PC (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate tended to be higher after laparoscopic PC (n = 24) than after open PC (n = 20), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.0879). Of the nine nonsurgical patients, eight received hormonal therapy and one did not. Efficacy rates of dienogest, GnRH agonist, and OC were 85.7%, 66.7%, and 66.7%, respectively. Of five patients with BE extending to the ureter or ureteral orifices, two underwent PC and ureteroneocystostomy and one underwent total nephroureterectomy due to renal function loss. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the postoperative recurrence of BE after TUR and PC. We found that cumulative recurrence rate is significantly lower after PC than after TUR. BE extending to the ureter or ureteral orifices is a very challenging condition. Further studies are required for the optimal management of BE.

A Nationwide Multi-Center Questionnaire Survey on the Real-World State and Issues Regarding Post-Stroke Complications in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Post-stroke complications affect stroke survivors across the world, although data on them are limited. We conducted a questionnaire survey to examine the real-world state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan, which represents a super-aged society. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2018, a nationwide multi-center questionnaire survey was conducted in the top 500 Japanese hospitals regarding the number of stroke patients treated. Three questionnaires regarding post-stroke complications were mailed to the doctors responsible for stroke management. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 251 hospitals (50.2%). The chief doctors responsible for stroke management answered the questionnaires. The number of stroke patients in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery was 338.3 ± 195.3 and 295.8 ± 121.8. Hospitals were classified using the categories secondary (n =142) and tertiary hospitals (n = 106); most hospitals were acute hospitals. Dementia was the most common complication (30.9%), followed by dysphagia (29.3%), and apathy (16.3%). Dementia was thought to be more common by neurologists than neurosurgeons, while apathy and bladder-rectal disorder were thought to be more common by neurosurgeons than neurologists (p = 0.001). The most difficult complication to treat was dysphagia (40.4%), followed by dementia (33.9%), epilepsy (4.1%), and fall (4.1%). Dementia was considered to lack clinical evidence regarding treatment (32.8%), followed by dysphagia (25.3%), and epilepsy (14.1%). Epilepsy was considered to lack clinical evidence among hospitals with a larger number of stroke cases (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This study revealed the current state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of post-stroke complications, although data on them remain unsatisfactory.

Vesicoureteral Injury during Benign Hysterectomy: Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery versus Laparotomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The findings of previous studies have been inconsistent as to whether benign hysterectomy via minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery increases the risk of vesicoureteral injury when compared with laparotomy. The objectives of our study were to (1) examine the rate of vesicoureteral injury on benign hysterectomy by the surgical approach and (2) compare the risk of vesicoureteral injury specifically between minimally invasive laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy on a populational level. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based observational study. SETTING: The National Inpatient Sample. PATIENTS: A total of 501 110 women who had undergone hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease between January 2012 and September 2015 were included as follows: total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH, n = 284 365 [56.7%]), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH, n = 60 410 [12.1%]), abdominal supracervical hysterectomy (Abd-SCH, n = 55 655 [11.1%]), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH, n = 45 620 [9.1%]), total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH, n = 34 865 [7.0%]), and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSC-SCH, n = 20 195 [4.0%]). INTERVENTIONS: A comprehensive risk assessment for vesicoureteral injury by hysterectomy mode was performed, adjusting for patient demographics and gynecologic disease types. Propensity score inverse probability of treatment weighing was used to compare (1) TLH versus TAH and (2) LSC-SCH versus Abd-SCH with generalized estimating equations. In a sensitivity analysis, gynecologic disease-specific injury risk and vaginal route-specific injury risk (LAVH vs TVH) were assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Vesicoureteral injury was reported in 1045 (0.21%) women overall. LAVH (0.28%) had the highest bladder injury rate, whereas LSC-SCH had the lowest (0.10%) (p <.001). TLH (0.13%) had the highest ureteral injury rate, whereas TAH had the lowest (0.04%) (p <.001). In propensity score inverse probability of treatment weighing models, compared with TAH, TLH was associated with an increased risk of ureteral injury (odds ratio [OR] 3.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-7.67, p <.001) but not bladder injury (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.57-1.90, p = .897). Risk of ureteral injury was particularly high when TLH was performed for endometriosis (OR 6.15, 95% CI 1.18-31.9, p = .031) or for uterine myoma (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.13-8.11, p <.001). In contrast, for supracervical or vaginal hysterectomy, minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches were not associated with an increased risk of vesicoureteral injury (LSC-SCH vs Abd-SCH: OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.19-1.98, p = .419; LAVH vs TVH: OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.63-2.33, p = .564). CONCLUSION: The risk of vesicoureteral injury on benign hysterectomy is low overall regardless of hysterotomy modalities but varies widely with the surgical approach. Compared with TAH, TLH may be associated with an increased risk of ureteral injury.

Course of Urological Problems in Children with Spinal Dysraphism: Long-Term Follow-Up Results.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the course of urinary problems in children with spinal dysraphism. METHODS: This multicenter study evaluated data on pediatric patients diagnosed with spinal dysraphism between 2010 and 2019. The neurological and urological conditions of the patients were examined retrospectively. This study focused on the course of urological problems. Urodynamic examinations including urodynamic bladder capacity, bladder pressure in maximal capacity, compliance, detrusor hyperactivity, uroflowmetry, and residual urine amount were evaluated. All patients underwent urinary system ultrasonography, urinalysis, hemogram and biochemical tests, and urodynamics at admission and follow-ups. RESULTS: A total 62 patients (35 males, 27 females) with a mean age of 7.50 ± 4.01 years and age range of 1-16 years were included in the study. Ultrasonographic evaluation revealed normal results in 32 patients and abnormal findings, including moderate-to-severe calyceal dilatation, parenchymal thinning, and residual urine, in 30 patients. At the time of diagnosis, culture-positive urinary tract infection was detected in 22 patients, and leukocyte and/or bacterial positivity was detected in 18 patients. The differences between bladder capacity, bladder pressure at maximal capacity, compliance, and detrusor hyperactivity at first admission and post-treatment were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Vesicoureteral reflux was also detected in 25 patients. Thirty patients underwent oral anticholinergic and antibiotic prophylaxis, while 17 additionally underwent clean intermittent catheterization. Five patients underwent intravesical Botox injection, clean intermittent catheterization, and medical treatment, and 10 patients underwent augmentation cystoplasty. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of urinary tract problems is high in patients with spinal dysraphism for whom early diagnosis is very important for both urologic and neurosurgical considerations. Early follow-up of urodynamics should be performed, and treatment should be carried out if necessary. Regular follow-up and appropriate treatment have positive effects on the quality of life of these patients and may also prevent the occurrence of severe renal dysfunction.

Toileting Behaviors of Women-What is Healthy?

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess toileting behaviors in community dwelling women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women 18 years old or older were recruited through a national registry of research volunteers. They were asked to complete validated questionnaires assessing urinary symptoms and toileting behaviors, specifically place preference for voiding, convenience voiding, delayed voiding, straining during voiding and position preference for voiding. The PPBC (patient perception of bladder condition) was administered to assess the participant impression of bladder health. Analyses were done to determine the prevalence of each toileting behavior reported to occur sometimes or more often as well as differences in toileting behaviors in women with vs without self-perceived bladder problems based on the PPBC response. RESULTS: The 6,695 women who completed the questionnaires were 18 to 89 years old (mean ± SD age 41.4 ± 15). Of the women 79.9% identified as white and 71.0% were college educated. Of the women 6,613 (98.8%) reported a place preference for voiding. The 3,552 women (53.1%) who reported a bladder problem were more likely to report convenience voiding, delayed voiding and strained voiding behaviors. While 6,657 women (99.4%) reported sitting to void at home only 5,108 (76.2%) reported sitting when using public toilets. CONCLUSIONS: Certain toileting behaviors, of which some may be considered unhealthy, were common in this sample of women and most were associated with a perception of bladder problems. Voiding positions other than sitting were frequently used when away from home. These data have important implications for defining bladder health and implementing behavior based interventions for women with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Laparoscopic Nerve-Sparing Radical Hysterectomy vs Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Efficacy and Bladder Dysfunction.

It is widely accepted that nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is associated with less postoperative morbidity compared with radical hysterectomy, whereas clinical safety is similar in the 2 procedures. However, there is insufficient evidence to compare these procedures performed via a laparoscopic approach. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to compare the clinical efficacy and the rate of bladder dysfunction, including urodynamic assessment, in laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LNSRH) and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). Thirty articles including a total of 2743 participants were analyzed. Operating times were shorter (MD, 29.88 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.92-47.83 minutes) and hospital stays were longer (MD, -1.56 days; 95% CI, -2.27 to -0.84 days) in the LRH group compared with the LNSRH group. In addition, blood loss and the number of resected lymph nodes were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, resected parametrium length (MD, -0.02 cm; 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.00 cm) and vaginal cuff width (MD, -0.06 cm; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.04) were smaller in the LNSRH group. Furthermore, LNSRH tended to result in more satisfactory micturition (odds ratio, 2.90; 95% CI, 2.01-4.19), shorter catheterization time (MD, -7.20 days; 95% CI, -8.10 to -6.29 days), and shorter recovery to normal postvoid residual urine time (MD, -7.71 days; 95% CI, -8.92 to -6.50 days). Other bladder dysfunction symptoms, including urinary retention, nocturia, dysuria, urinary incontinence, and frequency/urgency were more frequent in the LRH group. Furthermore, LNSRH achieved better results in urodynamic assessments (all p < .05). In conclusion, LNSRH was associated with lower rates of impaired bladder function and a shorter extent of resection compared with LRH. Clinical applications involving LNSRH should be explored with caution.

Clinical associations with telomere length in chronic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical factors associated with telomere length in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boston, MA. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-eight participants with chronic SCI provided blood samples for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and telomere length, completed respiratory health questionnaires, underwent dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess body fat, and completed spirometry. High-throughput real-time PCR assays were used to assess telomere length in leukocyte genomic DNA. Linear regression models were used to assess cross-sectional associations with telomere length. RESULTS: Telomere length was inversely related to age (p < 0.0001). In age-adjusted models, gender, race, injury duration, %-total and %-trunk fat, body mass index (BMI), %-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), chronic cough or phlegm, CRP, IL-6, wheeze, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), skin ulcer, urinary tract infection (UTI), or chest illness history were not significantly associated with telomere length. There was a suggestive age-adjusted association between persons with the most severe SCI (cervical motor complete and AIS C) and shorter telomere length (p = 0.055), an effect equivalent to ~8.4 years of premature aging. There were similar age-adjusted associations with telomere length between persons using a wheelchair (p = 0.059) and persons with chronic urinary catheter use (p = 0.082) compared to persons without these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that clinical characteristics such as decreased mobility and bladder dysfunction that are common in individuals with more severe SCI are associated with shorter telomere length.

An assessment of patient-reported long-term outcomes following surgery for cauda equina syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding long-term outcomes following surgery for cauda equina syndrome (CES) is scarce. In addition, these studies rely on patient descriptions of the presence or absence of symptoms, with no gradation of severity. This study aimed to assess long-term bladder, bowel, sexual and physical function using validated questionnaires in a CES cohort. METHODS: A pre-existing ethically approved database was used to identify patients who had undergone surgery for CES between August 2013 and November 2014. Patients were contacted over a 1-month period between August and September 2017 and completed validated questionnaires via telephone, assessing bladder (Urinary Symptom Profile), bowel (Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score), sexual dysfunction (Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale) and physical function (Physical Component Summary of SF-12 Questionnaire), with scores compared between those presenting with incomplete CES (CES-I) and CES with retention (CES-R). Patients were also asked which of their symptoms currently they would most value treatment for and what healthcare services they had accessed post-operatively. RESULTS: Forty-six of 77 patients (response rate 72%, inclusion rate 60%) with a mean age of 45 years (21-83) and mean time since admission of 43 months (range 36-60) took part in the follow-up study. The prevalence of bladder dysfunction was 76%, bowel dysfunction 13%, sexual dysfunction 39% and physical dysfunction 48%. Patients presenting with CES-R had significantly worse long-term outcomes in bladder (stream domain), bowel and sexual function in compared to those with CES-I. Pain was chosen as the symptom patients would most value treatment for by 57%, but only 7% reported post-operative pain management referral. CONCLUSIONS: With a mean follow-up time of 43 months, these findings confirm the high prevalence of long-term bladder, sexual and physical dysfunction in CES patients and that a diagnosis of CES-R confers poorer outcomes. This study provides useful, objective data to guide the expectations of patients and clinicians.

Cross-organ sensitization between the colon and bladder: to pee or not to pee?

Chronic abdominal and pelvic pain are common debilitating clinical conditions experienced by millions of patients around the globe. The origin of such pain commonly arises from the intestine and bladder, which share common primary roles (the collection, storage, and expulsion of waste). These visceral organs are located in close proximity to one another and also share common innervation from spinal afferent pathways. Chronic abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea are primary symptoms for patients with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Chronic pelvic pain and urinary urgency and frequency are primary symptoms experienced by patients with lower urinary tract disorders such as interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. It is becoming clear that these symptoms and clinical entities do not occur in isolation, with considerable overlap in symptom profiles across patient cohorts. Here we review recent clinical and experimental evidence documenting the existence of "cross-organ sensitization" between the colon and bladder. In such circumstances, colonic inflammation may result in profound changes to the sensory pathways innervating the bladder, resulting in severe bladder dysfunction.

Bladder Symptoms in Children With Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the review is to perform a systematic review of the literature examining the prevalence of bladder symptoms in children with functional constipation (FC) and to compare the prevalence of those symptoms between children with and without FC. METHODS: In this systematic review 4 databases were searched to July 2018. Studies investigating the prevalence of bladder symptoms in children aged 4 to 17 years with FC were included. There was no language restriction. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Clinical heterogeneity between studies was investigated. Prevalence rates of bladder symptoms in children with FC were calculated. Relative risks were calculated to compare the prevalence of bladder symptoms between children with and without FC. RESULTS: Among 23 studies of children with FC, 22 reported the prevalence bladder symptoms (12,281 children) and 7 reported the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) (687 children). The prevalence rates of single bladder symptoms, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and UTI varied between 2% to 47%, 37% to 64%, and 6% to 53%. The relative risks were 1.24 to 6.73 for 20 single bladder symptoms (12 studies) and 2.18 to 6.55 for UTI (2 studies). The 95% confidence intervals indicated significance in 14 of 20 single bladder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder symptoms seem common in children with FC, but the reported prevalence varies greatly. Children with FC are more likely to have bladder symptoms than children without FC. We recommend that clinicians be aware of concomitant bladder symptoms in children presenting with FC.

Omission of a Bladder Flap during Cesarean Birth in Primiparous Women.

AIMS: Creation of a bladder flap has traditionally been an integral surgical step of Cesarean birth, and the practicality of such a procedure to create a bladder flap is still highly debated. METHODS: A total of 208 patients undergoing a primary cesarean birth were randomized. Group 1 (bladder flap) had 101 patients and group 2 (omission of a bladder flap) had 100 patients. The primary outcome was the total operating time and secondary outcomes were postoperative urinary symptoms, bladder injury, postoperative urinary retention, and postoperative residual urine volume. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among groups in terms of mean total operating time and mean skin incision-to-delivery time. No bladder injury occurred in either group. Postoperative urine retention observed in the bladder flap group was 2%. The postoperative residual urine volume was significantly more in the bladder flap group compared to the non-bladder flap group (24.5 ± 2.8 vs. 16.2 ± 1.4 mL). The number of patients with dysuria was significantly higher in the bladder flap group (42 vs. 13%). CONCLUSIONS: The creation of a bladder flap during cesarean birth does not have an effect on intraoperative results and operation time, but it is associated with short-term urinary complaints, such as postoperative urinary retention and dysuria.

Survivorship after lower gastrointestinal cancer: Patient-reported outcomes and planning for care.

BACKGROUND: There is significant need for quality follow-up care to optimize long-term outcomes for the growing population of lower gastrointestinal (GI) cancer survivors. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide valuable information regarding late and long-term effects (LLTEs). METHODS: A convenience sample from 1129 colon, rectal, and anal cancer survivors (n = 792; 218, and 119, respectively) who participated in an Internet-based survivorship care plan (SCP) tool between May 2010 and October 2014 was used to examine patient-reported demographics, treatment, and toxicity data. Responses from a follow-up survey were reviewed. RESULTS: The median age of diagnosis was 51 years, and 81% of survivors were Caucasian. The most commonly reported LLTEs for all survivors were neuropathy, fatigue, cognitive changes, changes in GI function, urogenital and sexual dysfunction, and dermatologic effects. The prevalence of these effects varied with time since diagnosis, treatment modality, and treatment center. Individuals who had survived anal cancer reported a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction and radiation-induced dermatologic effects. Over 87% of users reported satisfaction levels of good to excellent using the SCP tool, and 69% reported that they intend to share the SCP with their health care team. CONCLUSIONS: For lower GI cancer survivors, it is feasible to obtain PROs from an Internet-based survivorship tool. Survivors report a wide spectrum of LLTEs, and these can be used to inform counseling at the time of diagnosis and to help anticipate and respond to disease-related and treatment-related sequelae during follow-up. The authors are among the first to report on PROs in anal cancer survivors. Further investigation on the impact of SCPs on health care communication and use is needed. Cancer 2017;123:1860-1868. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Underactive bladder, detrusor underactivity, definition, symptoms, epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, and risk factors.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Lower urinary tract symptoms are bothersome and significantly impair patient's quality of life. Incomplete bladder emptying affects both men and women, and has shown to increase in incidence with aging. Incomplete bladder emptying is consequent upon an inability of the detrusor muscle to adequately contract to completely empty the bladder, with or without an increased bladder outlet resistance; this can be defined urodynamically as detrusor underactivity (DUA). The symptom complex consequent upon DUA is referred to as underactive bladder (UAB). Although the occurrence of DUA increases with age, and is commonly encountered in clinical practice, it is a largely unrecognized and consequently under researched condition. RECENT FINDINGS: In this article, we will highlight the importance of DUA. We will review UAB as currently defined, the symptoms of DUA, its epidemiology, and etiopathogenesis, risk factors for developing DUA, and methods of diagnosis with an up-to-date review of the contemporary literature. SUMMARY: DUA and its associated symptoms and signs are still poorly recognized entities. Difficulty and confusion arise in properly diagnosing DUA, as at present it can only be accurately defined on the basis of pressure flow urodynamics. Current attention is focused on validating a satisfactory definition for the syndrome complex of UAB.

Are seasonal and income variations accountable for bowel and bladder dysfunction symptoms in children?

AIMS: Certain illnesses tend to occur more commonly at certain times of the year. It is also known that individuals of different socioeconomic groups have a predilection for physical ailments that in some cases may be related to poor access to healthcare or may be related to environmental or work related causes. We hypothesized that there may be a difference between patients from season to season and from different socioeconomic groups and their presenting lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: We reviewed our electronic medical record going back for 5 years, selecting out all patients who presented to all 10 of our offices in a wide geographic area that covers 22 million people of all races and income levels in the Tristate area of New York. RESULTS: We identified 13,346 patients, 6,010 males and 6,957 females, and 379 were excluded for not meeting age inclusion criteria. The descriptive statistics based on age, median income for both males and females can be found in Tables I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Of note, males were older than females at presentation (8.1 vs. 6.9 years) with no difference in median incomes between families. There were more UTIs in females and more dysuria complaints in males. Urinary incontinence also appeared to be more prevalent in females than males, while males had more issues with fecal soiling than the females. What was obvious was that urgency and frequency was positively correlated with high income groups. On the other hand urinary incontinence represented either by itself or combined with UUI was more prevalent in the high school group. Fecal soiling was also more prevalent in the high school group. UTIs were more prevalent in the high school group but surprisingly there was no difference in patients that were not able to empty their bladders. Conversely we found that constipation was more prevalent in the professional group than in the other groups which is the opposite of the FS findings. Lastly dysuria appeared to be more prevalent in the P group. CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that there are marked differences in the results between high school income and professional income groups in particular with the U and F, along with C which correlate with high income professionals' children. UUI, UI, UTI, along with FS are associated with high school income parents. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:148-154, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cardiovascular response during urodynamics in individuals with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES: To establish the frequency and severity of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) during urodynamics among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the possible effect of the number of years since SCI on the severity of AD. SETTING: SCI outpatient clinic. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of individuals with SCI who were seen at an outpatient clinic and could potentially develop an episode of AD (T6 and above). Data regarding age, gender, urodynamic examination, lower urinary tract function, cardiovascular parameters and SCI were collected. In addition, information on signs and symptoms of AD were retrieved. RESULTS: A total of 76 individuals with SCI were examined with blood pressure (BP) monitoring. The majority had cervical SCI (79%). The mean age was 47.8±13.9 years. The median duration after SCI was 51.5 months. During urodynamics, a total of 48 (63.2%) individuals showed an increase in systolic BP>20 mm Hg, meeting the criteria for AD. Indicators for higher incidences of AD were cervical SCI, being >2 years after SCI, the presence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) and low bladder compliance. AD was more severe in individuals with complete (American Spinal Cord Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) A) injuries, worse with greater time after SCI. CONCLUSION: Individuals with cervical SCI, DSD, poor bladder compliance or >2 years after SCI were associated with a higher possibility of developing AD during urodynamics. Furthermore, AD was more severe in complete (AIS A) individuals and was exacerbated with time after injury.