Orchidopexy for bilateral undescended testes: A multicentre study on its effects on fertility and comparison of two fixation techniques.

To evaluate fertility potential after orchidopexy for bilateral undescended testis and compare two surgical fixation techniques for effect on fertility. Men older than 22 years who had either tunica albuginea orchidopexy (TAO) or "no-touch" technique (NTO) in childhood for bilateral undescended testis (BUDT) were selected. Participants filled out a questionnaire followed by physical examination, had testicular ultrasound, blood sample and semen analysis. Statistical testing was performed using general linear modelling. Sixty-seven out of 166 individuals responded. Forty-nine completed the questionnaire, and nine (18.3%) reported having fathered children. Thirty-six showed up for further examination, 26 had TAO and 10 NTO. Impaired hormonal spermatogenesis regulation (34.6% vs. 20%), higher subfertility rate (46% vs. 20%) and lower means of motile spermatozoa (58.1 × 106 spz vs. 177.9 × 106 spz) were observed in the TAO versus the NTO group; none of these were statistically significant. Four (15.4%) of the TAO and two (20%) of the NTO group have azoospermia. Although the operation technique did not have a significant impact on fertility, unfavourable outcomes were more common after surgery involving the tunica albuginea of the testis. Larger sample sizes are needed to ascertain whether the trends favouring the NTO technique are of any significance.

Behavioral effects of long-term antimuscarinic use in patients with spinal dysraphism: a case control study.

PURPOSE: We explored possible associations between long-term antimuscarinic use and behavioral problems in children with spinal dysraphism and neurogenic bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with open and closed spinal dysraphism were recruited from 2 pediatric hospitals, 1 in Amsterdam and 1 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. At the Amsterdam facility antimuscarinics were prescribed in selected patients with detrusor overactivity. At the Utrecht facility antimuscarinics were prescribed from birth onward in patients with spinal dysraphism beginning in the early 1990s. Parents of study participants were asked to fill out a Child Behavior Checklist. Demographics, data on level and type(s) of lesion, and presence of hydrocephalus with a drain (and, if applicable, number of drain revisions) were retrieved for each patient. Cases and controls (8 boys and 8 girls per group) were matched on a 1-to-1 basis. RESULTS: Data on 32 children were analyzed. Median age was 10.6 years in cases and 10.5 years in controls (p=0.877). In each group 9 of 16 patients had hydrocephalus with a drain. No significant difference in Child Behavior Checklist scores for total problems was found between cases and controls (median 52.0 vs 59.5, p=0.39). No differences were found between the groups on any subdomain of the Child Behavior Checklist. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in behavior were found between children with spinal dysraphism with and without long-term use of antimuscarinics.

Urinary considerations for adult patients with spinal dysraphism.

The incidence of newborns with spinal dysraphism is diminishing worldwide, although survival of individuals with this condition into adulthood continues to improve. The number of adults with spinal dysraphism will, therefore, increase in the coming years, which will pose new challenges in patient management. Urological manifestations of spinal dysraphism can include increased risks of urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, urinary calculi, sexual dysfunction, end-stage renal disease and iatrogenic metabolic disturbances; however, the severity and incidence of these symptoms varies substantially between patients. Owing to the presence of multiple comorbidities, treatment and follow-up protocols often have to be adapted to best suit the needs of specific patients. Authors describe bladder and kidney function and long-term complications of treatments initiated in childhood, as well as the potential for improvements in quality of life through better follow-up schedules and future developments.