Association of physical therapy techniques can improve pain and urinary symptoms outcomes in women with bladder pain syndrome. A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify the effects of biofeedback (BF) and manual therapy (MT) associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or postural exercises (PE) in the treatment of bladder pain syndrome (BPS) in women regarding pain and urinary symptoms. Materials and Methods: a parallel-randomized controlled trial was conducted in BPS patients diagnosed according to NIH clinical criteria. Two specialized physiotherapists applied demographic and validated questionnaires of perineal and suprapubic pain (VAS), urinary symptoms and problems (ICSI and ICPI) and sexual function (FSFI) and a physical assessment was made to identify myofascial trigger points. Thirty-one women, mean age 51.8 ± 10.9 were randomized in three groups of treatment consisting of ten weekly sessions of BF and MT (Conventional group); BF, MT, and TENS (TENS group); and BF, MT, and PE (Postural group). Results: Postural group improved perineal and suprapubic pain after treatment (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively), and the suprapubic pain improvement remained persistent at 3 months of follow up (p=0.001). Postural group improved urinary symptoms and problems after treatment (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively) and during follow up (p<0.001 and p=0.001). Conclusions: Biofeedback and manual therapy associated with postural exercises showed a significant improvement in perineal and suprapubic pain and urinary symptoms after treatment and during follow-up. Both results suggest a possible role for the use of this physiotherapy technique to treat BPS patients. Longer follow-up and a larger number of patients are necessary to confirm these conclusions.

Association of physical therapy techniques can improve pain and urinary symptoms outcomes in women with bladder pain syndrome. A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: to verify the effects of biofeedback (BF) and manual therapy (MT) associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or postural exercises (PE) in the treatment of bladder pain syndrome (BPS) in women regarding pain and urinary symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a parallel-randomized controlled trial was conducted in BPS patients diagnosed according to NIH clinical criteria. Two specialized physiotherapists applied demographic and validated questionnaires of perineal and suprapubic pain (VAS), urinary symptoms and problems (ICSI and ICPI) and sexual function (FSFI) and a physical assessment was made to identify myofascial trigger points. Thirty-one women, mean age 51.8 ± 10.9 were randomized in three groups of treatment consisting of ten weekly sessions of BF and MT (Conventional group); BF, MT, and TENS (TENS group); and BF, MT, and PE (Postural group). RESULTS: Postural group improved perineal and suprapubic pain after treatment (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively), and the suprapubic pain improvement remained persistent at 3 months of follow up (p=0.001). Postural group improved urinary symptoms and problems after treatment (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively) and during follow up (p<0.001 and p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback and manual therapy associated with postural exercises showed a significant improvement in perineal and suprapubic pain and urinary symptoms after treatment and during follow-up. Both results suggest a possible role for the use of this physiotherapy technique to treat BPS patients. Longer follow-up and a larger number of patients are necessary to confirm these conclusions.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the neurogenic bladder symptom score questionnaire for brazilian portuguese

ABSTRACT Objective: To cross-culturally adapt and check for the reliability and validity of the neurogenic bladder symptom score questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese, in patients with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was culturally adapted according to international guidelines. The Brazilian version was applied in patients diagnosed with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, twice in a range of 7 to 14 days. Psychometric properties were tested such as content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Results: Sixty-eight patients participated in the study. Good internal consistency of the Portuguese version was observed, with Cronbach α of 0.81. The test-retest reliability was also high, with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.86 [0.76 - 0.92] (p<0.0001). In the construct validity, the Pearson Correlation revealed a moderate correlation between the Portuguese version of the NBSS and the Qualiveen-SF questionnaire (r = 0.66 [0.40-0.82]; p <0.0001). Conclusions: The process of cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the NBSS questionnaire for the Brazilian Portuguese in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction was concluded.

Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition diagnosed based on the presence of symptoms, such as suprapubic/ pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in association with urgency and increased urinary frequency. Confusable diseases must be excluded. However, there is no objective test or marker to establish the presence of the disease. Diagnosis and patient management is often difficult, given the poor understanding of IC pathogenesis and its unknown etiology and genetics. As an attempt to find biomarkers related to IC, we assessed the association between 20 selected single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) with IC and pain severity. OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of SNPs in IC patients' blood samples and correlate them with the disease and chronic pain condition. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. We selected 34 female patients with IC diagnosed according to NIDDK criteria and 23 patients in the control group (previously healthy women with only stress urinary incontinence). IC patients were allocated into two groups according to reported chronic pain severity. We selected the following SNPs for analysis: rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896, rs1800471, rs1800629, rs361525, rs1800497, rs6311, rs6277, rs6276, rs6313, rs2835859, rs11127292, rs2243248, rs6887695, rs3212227, rs1799971, rs12579350, rs3813034, and rs6746030. Genotyping was performed by real-time PCR (q-PCR). RESULTS: The polymorphic allele of SNP rs11127292 exhibited a higher frequency in subjects with IC than in controls (p:0.01). The polymorphic allele of SNP rs6311 was more frequent in patients with severe pain (p:0.03). The frequency of the wild-type allele of SNP rs1799971 was higher in patients with mild to moderate pain (p:0.04). CONCLUSION: The results indicated differences in SNP frequency among subjects, suggesting that SNPs could serve either as a marker of IC or as a marker of pain severity in IC patients. The study showed promising results regarding IC and polymorphism associations. These associations have not been previously reported.

Surgical treatment of post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence in adult men: Report from the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence.

AIMS: To report the recommendations of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI) on post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. METHODS: The 6th ICI committee on surgical treatment of urinary incontinence in men assessed and reviewed the outcomes of surgical therapy and updated the prior recommendations published in 2013. Articles from peer-reviewed journals, abstracts from scientific meetings, and literature searches by hand and electronically formed the basis of this review. The resulting guidelines were presented at the 2016 ICI meeting in Tokyo, Japan. RESULTS: Voiding diary and pad tests are valuable for assessing quantity of leakage. Cystoscopy and/or urodynamics may be useful in guiding therapy depending on the type of incontinence and presumed etiology. Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS) is the preferred treatment for men with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after RP. Male slings are an acceptable approach for men with mild to moderate SUI. Much discussion centers on the definition of moderate SUI. Injectable agents have a poor success rate in men with SUI. Options for recurrent SUI due to urethral atrophy after AUS implantation include changing the pressure balloon, downsizing the cuff and increasing the amount of fluid in the system. Infection and/or erosion demand surgical removal or revision of all or part of the prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are several series reporting the outcomes of different surgical interventions for PPUI, there is still a need for prospective randomized clinical trials. Recommendations for future research include standardized workup and outcome measures, and complete reporting of adverse events at long-term.

Scaffolds for Pelvic Floor Prolapse: Logical Pathways.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has borrowed principles of treatment from hernia repair and in the last two decades we saw reinforcement materials to treat POP with good outcomes in terms of anatomy but with alarming complication rates. Polypropylene meshes to specifically treat POP have been withdrawn from market by manufactures and a blank space was left to be filled with new materials. Macroporous monofilament meshes are ideal candidates and electrospinning emerged as a reliable method capable of delivering production reproducibility and customization. In this review, we point out some pathways that seem logical to be followed but have been only researched in last couple of years.

Update on complications of synthetic suburethral slings

ABSTRACT Synthetic suburethral slings have become the most widely used technique for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Despite its high success rates, significant complications have been reported including bleeding, urethral or bladder injury, urethral or bladder mesh erosion, intestinal perforation, vaginal extrusion of mesh, urinary tract infection, pain, urinary urgency and bladder outlet obstruction. Recent warnings from important regulatory agencies worldwide concerning safety issues of the use of mesh for urogynecological reconstruction have had a strong impact on patients as well as surgeons and manufacturers. In this paper, we reviewed the literature regarding surgical morbidity associated with synthetic suburethral slings.

Traditional suburethral sling operations for urinary incontinence in women.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence constitutes a significant health and economic burden to society. Traditional suburethral slings are one of the surgical operations used to treat women with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of traditional suburethral slings on stress or mixed incontinence in comparison with other management options. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register (searched 3 June 2010) and the reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised trials that included traditional suburethral slings for the treatment of stress or mixed urinary incontinence. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least three reviewers independently extracted data from included trials onto a standard form and assessed trial methodological quality. The data abstracted were relevant to predetermined outcome measures. Where appropriate, we calculated a summary statistic: a relative risk for dichotomous data and a weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: We included 26 trials involving 2284 women. The quality of evidence was moderate for most trials and there was generally short follow-up ranging from 6 to 24 months.One medium-sized trial compared traditional suburethral sling operations with oxybutynin in the treatment of women with mixed urinary incontinence. Surgery appeared to be more effective than drugs in treating participant-reported incontinence (n = 75, risk ratio (RR) 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08 to 0.43).One trial found that traditional slings were more effective than transurethral injectable treatment (RR for clinician-assessed incontinence within a year 0.21, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.21)Seven trials compared slings with open abdominal retropubic colposuspension. Participant-reported incontinence was lower with the slings after one year (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.90), but not when assessed by clinicians. Colposuspension, however, was associated with fewer peri-operative complications, shorter duration of use of indwelling catheter and less long-term voiding dysfunction. One study showed there was a 20% lower risk of bladder perforation with the sling procedure but a 50% increase in urinary tract infection with the sling procedure compared with colposuspension. Fewer women developed prolapse after slings (compared with after colposuspension) in two small trials but this did not reach statistical significance.Twelve trials addressed the comparison between traditional sling operations and minimally invasive sling operations. These seemed to be equally effective in the short term (RR for incontinence within first year 0.97, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.20) but minimally invasive slings had a shorter operating time, fewer peri-operative complications (other than bladder perforation) and some evidence of less post-operative voiding dysfunction and detrusor symptoms.Six trials compared one type of traditional sling with another. Materials included porcine dermis, lyophilised dura mater, fascia lata, vaginal wall, autologous dermis and rectus fascia. Participant-reported improvement rates within the first year favoured the traditional autologous material rectus fascia over other biological materials (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.98). There were more complications with the use of non-absorbable Gore-Tex in one trial.Data for comparison of bladder neck needle suspension with suburethral slings were inconclusive because they came from a single trial with a small specialised population.No trials compared traditional suburethral slings with anterior repair, laparoscopic retropubic colposuspension or artificial sphincters. Most trials did not distinguish between women having surgery for primary or recurrent incontinence when reporting participant characteristics.For most of the comparisons, clinically important differences could not be ruled out. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Traditional slings seem to be as effective as minimally invasive slings, but had higher rates of adverse effects. This should be interpreted with some caution however, as the quality of evidence for the studies was variable, follow-up short and populations small, particularly for identifying complication rates. Tradional sling procedures appeared to confer a similar cure rate in comparison to open retropubic colposuspension, but the long-term adverse event profile is still unclear. A brief economic commentary (BEC) identified two studies suggesting that traditional slings may be more cost-effective compared with collagen injection but not cost-effective when compared with minimally invasive sling operations. Reliable evidence to clarify whether or not traditional suburethral slings may be better or worse than other surgical or conservative management options is lacking.

Increased detrusor collagen is associated with detrusor overactivity and decreased bladder compliance in men with benign prostatic obstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between detrusor collagen content and urodynamic parameters in men with benign prostatic obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients undergoing open prostatectomy for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were evaluated. Urodynamic tests were performed in all patients. BOO and detrusor contractility were assessed with the BOO index (BOOI) and the bladder contractility index (BCI), respectively. A bladder fragment was obtained during prostatectomy. Eight cadaveric organ donors composed the control group. Bladder sections were stained with picrosirius red and hematoxylin-eosin. The collagen to smooth muscle ratio (C/M) in the detrusor was measured and its relationship with urodynamic parameters was investigated. RESULTS: Seven (36.8%) patients were operated on due to lower urinary tract symptoms and 12 (63.2%) had urinary retention. The mean prostate volume was 128.6 cm3 ± 32.3 cm3, the mean BOOI was 76.4 ± 33.0, and the mean BCI was 116.1 ± 33.7. The mean C/M in BPH patients and controls were 0.43 ± 0.13 and 0.33 ± 0.09, respectively (P = 0.042). A negative correlation was shown between C/M and bladder compliance (r = -0.488, P = 0.043). The C/M was increased in BPH patients with detrusor overactivity (DO) compared to those without DO (0.490 ± 0.110 and 0.360 ± 0.130, respectively; P = 0.030) and also in patients with urinary retention (P = 0.002). No correlation was shown between C/M and maximum cystometric capacity, BOOI, or BCI. CONCLUSION: Men with BOO/BPH have increased detrusor collagen content which is associated with decreased bladder compliance, detrusor overactivity, and urinary retention.

Update on complications of synthetic suburethral slings.

Synthetic suburethral slings have become the most widely used technique for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Despite its high success rates, significant complications have been reported including bleeding, urethral or bladder injury, urethral or bladder mesh erosion, intestinal perforation, vaginal extrusion of mesh, urinary tract infection, pain, urinary urgency and bladder outlet obstruction. Recent warnings from important regulatory agencies worldwide concerning safety issues of the use of mesh for urogynecological reconstruction have had a strong impact on patients as well as surgeons and manufacturers. In this paper, we reviewed the literature regarding surgical morbidity associated with synthetic suburethral slings.

Periurethral muscle-derived mononuclear cell injection improves urethral sphincter restoration in rats.

AIMS: Investigate the effect of a novel cell-based therapy with skeletal muscle-derived mononuclear cells (SMDMCs) in a rat model of stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: Male Wistar-Kyoto rats' hind limb muscles were enzymatically dissociated, and SMDMCs were isolated without needing expansion. The cell population was characterized. Twenty female rats underwent urethrolysis. One week later, 10 rats received periurethral injection of 106 cells (SMDMC group), and 10 rats received saline injections (Saline group). Ten rats underwent sham surgery (Sham group). Four weeks after injection, animals were euthanized and the urethra was removed. The incorporation of SMDMCs in the female urethra was evaluated with fluorescence in situ hybridization for the detection of Y-chromosomes. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry for actin and myosin were performed. The muscle/connective tissue, actin and myosin ratios were calculated. Morphological evaluation of the urethral diameters and fractional areas of the lumen, mucosa, and muscular layer was performed. RESULTS: SMDMCs population was consistent with the presence of muscle cells, muscle satellite cells, perivascular cells, muscle progenitor cells, and endothelial cells. SMDMCs were incorporated into the urethra. A significant decrease in the muscle/connective tissue ratio was observed in the Saline group compared with the SMDMC and Sham groups. The proportions of actin and myosin were significantly decreased in the Saline group. No differences were observed in the morphometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: SDMSC were incorporated into the rat urethra and promoted histological recovery of the damaged urethral sphincter, resulting in decreased connective tissue deposition and increased muscle content.

Congenital genitourinary abnormalities in children with Williams-Beuren syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a gene deletion on chromosome 7q11.23. Patients with WBS usually show a group of features such as developmental delay, cardiovascular anomalies, mental retardation, and characteristic facial appearance. Abdominal wall defects, external genitalia anomalies, and structural abnormalities of the urinary tract have been scarcely evaluated and were the focus of our study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 41 boys and 38 girls with WBS, with a mean age of 8.8 ± 4.1 (range 3-19 years). All patients were examined for the evaluation of inguinal and umbilical hernias and genital anomalies. All patients were offered a radiological evaluation, including urinary tract ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram, and dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy (DMSA scan). RESULTS: Of the 41 boys, 30 (73.1%) had abnormalities on physical examination, including bilateral undescended testis in 13 (31.7%), retractile testis in four (9.7%), hypospadias in four (9.7%), and unilateral cryptorchidism in three (7.3%) patients. Of the 38 female subjects, 17 (44.7%) had at least one abnormality, including umbilical hernia in 11 (28.9%), unilateral inguinal hernia in four (10.5%), and bilateral inguinal hernia in three (7.8%) patients. Uroradiological abnormalities were found in 41 patients (51.9%). On sonography, six (7.6%) patients had unilateral hydronephrosis, three (3.8%) had a duplicated collecting system, and two (2.5%) had kidney stones. On DMSA, performed in 36 patients, four (11.1%) had unilateral renal scarring and two (5.5%) had bilateral renal scarring. Cystourethrography was obtained from 56 patients, of whom 27 (48.2%) had bladder diverticulum, 18 (32.1%) had bladder wall trabeculation, and three (5.3%) had vesicoureteral reflux. We found no association of urological abnormalities with cardiovascular defects. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with WBS have a high prevalence of abdominal wall, external genitalia, and urological abnormalities, emphasizing the importance of proper physical examination and radiological investigation in this population.

Evaluation of the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in patients with interstitial cystis.

INTRODUCTION: Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) pathogenesis is not fully known, but evidence shows that glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of bladder urothelium can participate in its genesis. The loss of these compounds facilitates the contact of urine compounds with deeper portions of bladder wall triggering an inflammatory process. We investigated GAG in urine and tissue of PBS/IC and pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients to better understand its metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue and urine of 11 patients with PBS/IC according to NIDDK criteria were compared to 11 SUI patients. Tissue samples were analyzed by histological, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence methods. Statistical analysis were performed using t Student test and Anova, considering significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: PBS/IC patients had lower concentration of GAG in urine when compared to SUI (respectively 0.45 ± 0.11 x 0.62 ± 0.13 mg/mg creatinine, p < 0.05). However, there was no reduction of the content of GAG in the urothelium of both groups. Immunofluorescence showed that PBS/IC patients had a stronger staining of TGF-beta, decorin (a proteoglycan of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate), fibronectin and hyaluronic acid. CONCLUSION: the results suggest that GAG may be related to the ongoing process of inflammation and remodeling of the dysfunctional urothelium that is present in the PBS/IC.

Evaluation of the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in patients with interstitial cystis

Introduction: Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) pathogenesis is not fully known, but evidence shows that glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of bladder urothelium can participate in its genesis. The loss of these compounds facilitates the contact of urine compounds with deeper portions of bladder wall triggering an inflammatory process. We investigated GAG in urine and tissue of PBS/IC and pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients to better understand its metabolism. Materials and Methods: Tissue and urine of 11 patients with PBS/IC according to NIDDK criteria were compared to 11 SUI patients. Tissue samples were analyzed by histological, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence methods. Statistical analysis were performed using t Student test and Anova, considering significant when p < 0.05. Results: PBS/IC patients had lower concentration of GAG in urine when compared to SUI (respectively 0.45 ± 0.11 x 0.62 ± 0.13 mg/mg creatinine, p < 0.05). However, there was no reduction of the content of GAG in the urothelium of both groups. Immunofluorescence showed that PBS/IC patients had a stronger staining of TGF-beta, decorin (a proteoglycan of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate), fibronectin and hyaluronic acid. Conclusion: the results suggest that GAG may be related to the ongoing process of inflammation and remodeling of the dysfunctional urothelium that is present in the PBS/IC. .

Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women in a Sao Paulo Quaternary Care Hospital: Bacterial Spectrum and Susceptibility Patterns.

Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women are very common. Regular analysis of bacterial flora is important to formulate updated guidelines. The objective of this study is to determine and compare the microbiology of UTIs and their susceptibility patterns in a quaternary care hospital. In a seven-year review, the urine culture results of 480 female patients with uncomplicated UTIs were analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis and treatment characteristics: Group 1, cystitis at outpatient basis; group 2, cystitis at the Emergency Unit; and group 3, pyelonephritis. Group 1 included older patients, with a higher incidence of concomitant diabetes mellitus and recurrent UTIs. E. coli was the most common pathogen, responsible for 75.1% of cases, mainly for pyelonephritis (87.3%). Of the oral antimicrobials tested for cystitis, amoxicillin/clavulanate and nitrofurantoin had the highest susceptibility profiles (84.4% and 87.3%, respectively). For E. coli only, their susceptibility profiles were as high as 90.8% and 97.4%, respectively. For pyelonephritis treatment, fluoroquinoles had a susceptibility profile <90%, while ceftriaxone and gentamicin had susceptibility >90%. Uncomplicated UTI treatment is becoming more challenging because the susceptibility profiles of oral antimicrobials are increasingly resistant. In our environment, cystitis can still be managed with nitrofurantoin. Uncomplicated pyelonephritis should be managed with ceftriaxone or gentamicin.

Neurological status predicts response to alpha-blockers in men with voiding dysfunction and Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate predictors of the response to doxazosin, a selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, when used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: In a prospective study, 33 consecutive men (mean age 59.2±7.0 years) with Parkinson's disease and lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated. Neurological dysfunction was assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Urological assessment was performed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with 4 mg/day of extended-release doxazosin, including symptom evaluation with the International Continence Society male short-form questionnaire, an assessment of the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on quality of life and urodynamics. Clinical and urodynamic predictors of response were specifically evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the score at baseline, the total International Continence Society male short-form score was reduced after doxazosin administration, from 17.4±7.5 to 11.1±6.9 (p<0.001). The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on quality of life was also significantly reduced, from 1.8±1.1 to 1.0±1.0 (p<0.001) and the maximum urinary flow varied from 9.3±4.4 to 11.2±4.6 ml/s (p = 0.025). The severity of neurological impairment ...

Can the learning of laparoscopic skills be quantified by the measurements of skill parameters performed in a virtual reality simulator?

PURPOSE: To ensure patient safety and surgical efficiency, much emphasis has been placed on the training of laparoscopic skills using virtual reality simulators. The purpose of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic skills can be objectively quantified by measuring specific skill parameters during training in a virtual reality surgical simulator (VRSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten medical students (with no laparoscopic experience) and ten urology residents (PGY3-5 with limited laparoscopic experience) were recruited to participate in a ten-week training course in basic laparoscopic skills (camera, cutting, peg transfer and clipping skills) on a VRSS. Data were collected from the training sessions. The time that individuals took to complete each task and the errors that they made were analyzed independently. RESULTS: The mean time that individuals took to complete tasks was significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05), with the residents being faster than the medical students. The residents' group also completed the tasks with fewer errors. The majority of the subjects in both groups exhibited a significant improvement in their task completion time and error rate. CONCLUSION: The findings in this study demonstrate that laparoscopic skills can be objectively measured in a VRSS based on quantified skill parameters, including the time spent to complete skill tasks and the associated error rate. We conclude that a VRSS is a feasible tool for training and assessing basic laparoscopic skills.

Can the learning of laparoscopic skills be quantified by the measurements of skill parameters performed in a virtual reality simulator?

Purpose To ensure patient safety and surgical efficiency, much emphasis has been placed on the training of laparoscopic skills using virtual reality simulators. The purpose of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic skills can be objectively quantified by measuring specific skill parameters during training in a virtual reality surgical simulator (VRSS). Materials and Methods Ten medical students (with no laparoscopic experience) and ten urology residents (PGY3-5 with limited laparoscopic experience) were recruited to participate in a ten-week training course in basic laparoscopic skills (camera, cutting, peg transfer and clipping skills) on a VRSS. Data were collected from the training sessions. The time that individuals took to complete each task and the errors that they made were analyzed independently. Results The mean time that individuals took to complete tasks was significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05), with the residents being faster than the medical students. The residents' group also completed the tasks with fewer errors. The majority of the subjects in both groups exhibited a significant improvement in their task completion time and error rate. Conclusion The findings in this study demonstrate that laparoscopic skills can be objectively measured in a VRSS based on quantified skill parameters, including the time spent to complete skill tasks and the associated error rate. We conclude that a VRSS is a feasible tool for training and assessing basic laparoscopic skills. .

Endovascular repair of a nearly fatal iliac artery injury after endoureterotomy.

Endourological methods are attractive procedures for the treatment of ureterointestinal stenosis. However, serious complications may occur. This article reports the case of an endovascular repair of a nearly fatal ruptured common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm after endoureterotomy. A 62-year-old man submitted to bilateral ureteroileostomy developed left ureteroileal anastomosis stricture. Endourological treatment with the Acucise® cutting balloon was performed and 4 days after the procedure the patient presented with massive bleeding through the ileal stoma and hypovolemic shock. Arteriography identified the source of bleeding as a pseudoaneurysm of the left common iliac artery. Repair with an endovascular graft stopped the bleeding immediately. Endovascular treatment of vascular injury after endoureterotomy should be considered.

Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis in the treatment of duplex system.

PURPOSE: Duplex system is one of the most common anomalies of upper urinary tract. Anatomical and clinical presentation determine its treatment. Usually, the upper moiety has a poor function and requires resection, but when it is not significantly impaired, preservation is recommended. Laparoscopic reconstruction with upper pole preservation is presented as an alternative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four female patients with duplex system, one presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection and the others with urinary incontinence associated to infrasphincteric ectopic ureter, were treated. Surgical procedure envolved a laparoscopic ureteropyeloanastomosis of the upper pole ureter to the pelvis of the lower moiety, with prior insertion of a double J stent. RESULTS: Surgical time varied from 120 to 150 minutes, with minimal blood loss in all cases. Follow-up varied from 15 to 30 months, with resolution of the clinical symptoms and preservation of the upper moiety function. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ureteropyeloanatomosis is a feasible and safe minimally invasive option in the treatment of duplex system.