Modified psoas hitch with Lich-Gregoir onlay technique for the reconstruction of lower ureter during gynecologic or obstetric operations.

AIMS: We retrospectively review patients who underwent ureteral implantation with a psoas hitch during obstetric or gynecologic operations and describe a new modification. METHODS: Between December 1997 and May 2005, 20 patients between 26 and 56 years underwent ureteral reimplantation by using the nonrefluxing, extravesical Lich-Gregoir onlay technique with psoas hitch at our institution by the same reconstructive surgery team. Additionally, we used a urethral catheter balloon as a landmark for the bladder mucosa and fixed the bladder to the psoas tendon by using the balloon. We performed 14 ureteral reimplantations during the surgery as intraoperative reconstruction. In 6 patients, delayed reconstruction of the ureter was performed a few days following the previous operation. RESULTS: For intraoperative and delayed reconstructions, the mean operation time for ureteral reimplantation was 24 and 75 min. We took out the urethral catheter on the second operative day and the anastomotic drain on the third. The average hospital stay was 5.7 days. No cases of chronic flank pain, recurrent pyelonephritis, persistent severe hydronephrosis or compromised renal function occurred. No patient required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Modified psoas hitch ureteral reimplantation is an effective and safe way of reconstruction for treating defects in ureteral length.

Laparoscopy-assisted tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in previously operated ectopic pelvic kidney with fragmented J-J stent.

Nephrolithiasis management within an ectopic kidney presents a challenge to the urologists. Several treatment modalities are possible in this group of patients. Although percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is an accepted treatment modality in anatomically normal kidneys, ectopic pelvic kidneys require a different and more complicated approach for PNL. We recently treated a 24-year-old patient with calculus and an encrusted J-J stent fragment in pelvic ectopic kidney with a previous history of open pyelolithotomy. Laparoscopy-assisted tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy was performed. The technique and the patient characteristics are reported.

Testosterone might cause relaxation of human corpus cavernosum by potassium channel opening action.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of testosterone on contractile tone of endothelium-denuded human corpus cavernosum strips. Human studies designed to examine a possible relaxant effect of testosterone on corpus cavernosal circulation are lacking. METHODS: Testosterone (0.1-300 microM) was added cumulatively to organ baths after precontraction of isolated human corpus cavernosum strips (n = 5) with KCl (45 mM). Testosterone-induced responses were tested in the presence of nonselective, large, conductance Ca(2+)-activated and voltage-sensitive K(+) channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium (1 mM), adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K(+) channel inhibitor glibenclamide (10 microM), voltage-dependent inward rectifier K(+) channel inhibitor barium chloride (30 microM) and voltage-sensitive K(+) channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). RESULTS: Testosterone (0.1-300 microM) produced relaxation in human corpus cavernosum (maximum relaxation 65.4% +/- 3.3% of KCl-induced contraction) that reached a maximum at a concentration of 300 microM. Testosterone-induced relaxation was significantly attenuated by glibenclamide, but it was not affected by the other K(+) channel inhibitors (tetraethylammonium, barium chloride, or 4-aminopyridine). CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone might induce relaxation in human isolated corpora cavernosa strips by activation of smooth muscle adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K(+) channels. This finding suggests that testosterone, in addition to its known endothelial action, might regulate erectile function locally by its action on the smooth muscle of the human corpus cavernosum.

Long-term outcome of scrotal incision orchiopexy for undescended testis.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a prospective study to evaluate the success of scrotal incision orchiopexy in children with a palpable undescended testis within the inguinal canal or beyond the external inguinal ring with or without inguinal hernia. METHODS: A total 204 scrotal orchiopexies were performed in 166 patients with a primary undescended testis. These children were followed up for an average of 29.4 months to document the testicular position and size. RESULTS: The scrotal orchiopexy technique was successful in 192 testes; the remaining 12 testes required conversion to traditional inguinal orchiopexy because of inadequate mobilization. Of 108 children (128 testes) in whom the testis was distal to the external inguinal ring, this technique was successful in 104 (124 testes). The success rate was 96.9% (124 testes of 128), and only 4 patients (four testes) required conversion to a traditional inguinal incision. The average operative time was 15 minutes in this group. In the other group with 58 children (76 testes) with a testicular location within the inguinal canal, conversion to the traditional inguinal orchiopexy was performed in 8 patients (eight testes). The success rate in this group was 89.5% (68 of 76 testes). The average operative time was 21 minutes in these patients, and follow-up ranged from 16 to 68 months (average 29.4). All testes were satisfactorily positioned in the scrotum, and no testicular atrophy developed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that scrotal orchiopexy is simple, safe, and effective in selected cases compared with the standard two-incision approach in the treatment of the palpable undescended testis.

A new antireflux technique: mucosal flap barrier.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the mucosal flap barrier (MFB) upon the incompetent ureteral orifice of an experimentally produced rabbit reflux model. The rabbit reflux model was done in the first stage of the study. This method is a new and original procedure which is different from Bischoff's and Witherington's osteoplasty techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed the mucosal flap procedure in eight 2-2.5 kg male New Zealand rabbits with experimentally produced refluxing ureters. The first stage of our study was to create refluxing ureters. Due to the upward and inward 'J' fishhook course of the intravesical ureter of rabbits, we performed two deep 12- and 4-o'clock incisions by suturing the edges of the intravesical ureter apart with catgut sutures. Additionally, to stop the tilting action of the trigonum during micturition, we performed two parallel incisions between the ureteral meatus. These parallel incisions were the authors' modifications for the rabbit reflux model and which gives long-lasting reflux for the rabbit. We checked the reflux at the end of the 3rd month and performed our new MFB antireflux procedure. This mucosal flap made a cover on the incompetent ureteral orifice. This technique is completely different from the osteoplasty techniques described by Bischoff and Witherington. RESULTS: Four months after the MFB application, we performed intravenous urography, cystometry and cinefluorography. There was no obstruction or reflux. Two rabbits were sacrificed at the 4th month. Both flaps were fully intact without any fixation at the medial side causing obstruction. At present, 3 rabbits are still alive. We did cinefluorography and cystometry at the 15th month and there was no obstruction or reflux. We are trying to keep them alive till the end of their natural lifespan. CONCLUSIONS: During the formation of the rabbit reflux model, we observed that spontaneous reflux even at high intravesical pressures did not have high percentages as previously mentioned in the literature. But it is possible and enough to produce an experimental reflux model by using meatotomy and interureteric incisions. Moreover, in rabbits with vesicoureteral regurgitation produced by ureteral meatotomy and interureteral incisions, reflux can be eliminated the MFB procedure. This method is an easy procedure for small bladders or dilated ureters after any kind of open reimplantation applications and it could be used by pneumovesical applications in the future.

The value of postoperative radiotherapy in renal cell carcinoma: a single-institution experience.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative irradiation in renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with localized renal cell carcinoma admitted to our hospital between 1986 and 1999 were evaluated. All patients were initially treated with radical nephrectomy. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 26 of 40 patients (65%). Fourteen patients (35%) received no adjuvant therapy. Median age was 55 years (range, 20-70 years). Twenty-four patients (60%) were men and 16 patients (40%) were women. Histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all of the patients. N+ disease was present in 3 patients (7%). Stage I and II disease was present in 25 patients (63%) and stage III and IV disease in 15 patients (37%). Two patients (5%) had T1a disease, 11 patients (27%) had T1b, 15 patients (38%) had T2, 11 patients (27%) had T3a and 1 (3%) patient had T3b. In the radiotherapy group, renal bed and regional lymphatic fields were irradiated with daily fractions of 180-200 cGy/fraction to a total dose of 46-50 Gy, using parallel opposing fields. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rates were 70% in the postoperative radiotherapy group and 20% in the no adjuvant treatment group, showing no significant difference (P = 0.1). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 66% in the radiotherapy group and 16% in the no treatment group, with a significant difference in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P = 0.045 and P = 0.0007, respectively). Stage III and IV disease, tumor size 27 cm, presence of distant metastasis and lactate dehydrogenase level > 450 U/L were found to be adverse prognostic factors for overall survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Analyzing the factors affecting disease-free survival, absence of postoperative radiotherapy and tumor size > or = 7 cm were found to be adverse prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Multi-institutional prospective randomized trials using modern radiotherapy techniques such as conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy are necessary to evaluate the real role of radiotherapy and its effect on survival in renal cell carcinoma, especially in selected patients with a high risk of local or regional failure.

Scrotal incision orchiopexy for undescended testis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate prospectively the success of scrotal incision orchiopexy (Bianchi technique) with or without inguinal hernia in patients with an undescended testis within the inguinal canal or beyond the external inguinal ring. METHODS: A total of 72 orchiopexies were performed in 56 patients with a primary undescended testis. The testicular position and size were assessed again at 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients had bilateral (n = 14), right (n = 26), and left (n = 18) primary undescended testes. Scrotal orchiopexy was attempted in 72 testes and was successful in 68; the remaining 4 patients required conversion to traditional inguinal orchiopexy because of inadequate mobilization. In 34 children (43 testes), the testis was distal to the external inguinal ring (group 1). Scrotal orchiopexy was performed successfully in 42 testes in this group, and only 1 patient required conversion to a traditional inguinal incision. The average operating time was 18 minutes. In 22 children (29 testes), the testis was located within the inguinal canal (group 2); 3 cases required conversion to traditional inguinal orchiopexy. The average operative time was 25 minutes in group 2. All patients had satisfactory scrotal placement with at least one follow-up examination. CONCLUSIONS: A scrotal incision for a palpable primary testis is well tolerated, cosmetically pleasing, and associated with a short operative time.