A pilot study assessing the efficacy of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of low anterior resection syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Low anterior resection for rectal cancer often results in severe bowel dysfunction, specifically low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), with symptoms such as incontinence, urgency, and frequent bowel movements. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) resulted in a high rate of success in patients with fecal incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with PTNS in LARS and to identify predictors of the outcome of the technique. METHODS: The study was conducted from May 2012 to April 2015 at the Alvaro Cunqueiro Hospital, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Spain. Ten patients with LARS were recruited consecutively. All patients underwent 2 sessions per week (30 min each one) for 6 weeks. Patients were followed for 3 weeks, and those who had a significant clinical improvement were recruited to a second phase of PTNS. Some patients presenting with relapse during follow-up underwent an additional phase of PTNS. Outcome measures included Wexner scores, quality of life scores, and urgency of defecation. RESULTS: Three patients did not complete the treatment due to poor response in the first phase. Incontinence was reduced in the remaining seven of ten patients. The median Wexner score at initial patient evaluation was 14 (IQR 10.75-18.5), which decreased to 10 (IQR 6.5-18) after treatment (p = 0.034). A statistically significant improvement was demonstrated in quality of life scale, lifestyle, depression, and daily defecation urgency (p < 0.05). LARS Score improvement was observed in five patients (50%) with a total resolution of LARS in 2 (20%). CONCLUSIONS: PTNS is an ambulatory treatment that could play an important role in the context of a multimodal treatment approach in patients with LARS. It could be a first-line treatment to identify non-responders to conservative management who need different and more invasive treatments.

Genetic diversity, structure and individual assignment of Casta Navarra cattle: a well-differentiated fighting bull population.

The Casta Navarra lineage was one of the populations used to establish the fighting bull (FB) breed, and it has also been reproductively isolated from the others FBs. A total of 1284 individuals from two generations of 16 Casta Navarra herds were sampled to analyse their diversity, their genetic structure and the ability of 28 microsatellite markers to assign individuals to closely related populations. These animals were compared with closely related phylogenetic (FB) or geographical (Pirenaica and Monchina) populations. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis showed that 82% of the loci had a significant heterozygote deficit as a consequence of the Wahlund effect. The average proportion of genetic variation explained by farm differences was 9% by Wright's FST index. A phylogenetic tree constructed with a neighbour-joining method based on Reynolds genetic distances and a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo clustering approach revealed clear differences between farm groups that generally corresponded to historical information and could unambiguously differentiate Casta Navarra cattle from the other populations. The percentage of animals correctly assigned to the Casta Navarra population was 91.78% for a q threshold of >0.9. Admixture was only detected in 4.45% (q < 0.8) of the cattle. These results are relevant for the maintenance and development of diversity and conservation in the Casta Navarra population.

Analysis of preoperative and postoperative expectations of penile implant candidates. / Evaluación de las expectativas preoperatorias y postoperatorias del candidato a prótesis peneana. Estudios de satisfacción.

Penile prosthesis implantation is a good option for the treatment of refractory erectile dysfunction. However, the patient's expectations, among other factors, condition his satisfaction after surgery. This review article aims to present the scientific evidence available concerning patient satisfaction with penile prosthesis surgery.

Complex Peyronie's disease cases: surgery with or without penile prosthesis placement. / Casos complejos. Enfermedad de Peyronie: cirugía sin/con implante de prótesis de pene.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with Peyronie's disease presenting difficulty in penetration or erectile dysfunction without adequate response to therapy. Several techniques have been described, and urologists must be aware of their possible complications and sequelae in order to offer the patient the best possible alternative. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three complex cases of patients with Peyronie's disease are presented. The first case exposes a complication after penile plication for the treatment of a major dorsal curve. The second case refers to difficult anal penetration secondary to a problem of erection direction after plaque incision surgery with oral mucosa grafting. The last case is a patient with a late post-operative complication of a three-piece prosthesis placement with plaque incision and equine collagen patch. RESULTS: Surgical options for each case are detailed and discussed. After patients were informed, the decision was taken in a consensual manner. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for Peyronie's disease requires the urologist's consideration of the functional, aesthetic and psychological spheres. A systematic approach to all of these avoids complications, sequels and improves results.

[Pneumopericardium caused by gastropericardial fistula]. / Neumopericardio por fístula gastropericárdica.

This is the case of a 56-year-old male who presented at our Emergency Room complaining of severe epigastric pain that radiated towards the left shoulder and neck. Pneumopericardium was diagnosed with plain chest X-rays, which indicated a gastropericardial fistula. A contrast X-ray film was taken using a water-soluble contrast. A full gastrectomy was performed with esophagojejunostomy reconstruction and pericardial drainage, which resulted in a favourable patient outcome.

[Perforation after colonoscopy: our 16-year experience]. / Perforación tras colonoscopia: experiencia en 16 años.

OBJECTIVE: the aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of colon perforations from diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies, and to assess their management in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: perforations resulting from colonoscopy in our hospital were reviewed for the period January, 1991 to December, 2006. The study analyzed: purpose of procedure, lesion mechanisms, clinical and radiological presentations, delays in diagnosis, patient status, therapeutic handling, and outcome. RESULT: fifteen perforations (0.09%) (9 males and 6 females) out of a total of 16,285 colonoscopies carried out were seen to have taken place during the study period. Nine of these occurred after diagnostic colonoscopies, and 6 occurred after therapeutic endoscopies. Around 60% of perforations were detected by the endoscopist while carrying out the procedure (88.6% during diagnostic endoscopy, and 16.6% during therapeutic endoscopy). In 73.7% of cases abdominal pain and distension were the most frequent symptoms; extraluminal gas was seen in 100% of cases with imaging techniques. Delayed diagnosis (> 24 hours) occurred in 40% of patients (range: 1-6 days). Twelve patients were operated upon (80%), of whom 4 were ASA II and 8 were ASA III/IV. Postoperative morbidity was 44.44%, and mortality was 25%. The outcome of patients receiving conservative treatment was found to be satisfactory. CONCLUSION: perforation of the colon during colonoscopy is a rare complication with serious -even lethal- consequences. Conservative treatment can be provided for selected cases under strict clinical control. Type of surgery will depend on the lesion location and size, concomitant colon pathology, and degree of fecal contamination. Mortality seems to be related to general status rather than the surgical technique used.

Business cards at the bedside.

A three-inch business card may seem like a minor tool in a nurse's pocket. But it can be a powerful means of developing respect for the profession inside and outside the hospital.