Water vapor therapy (Rezum) for lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia: early results from the first Italian multicentric study.

PURPOSE: Rezum is the latest developed minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We aimed to carefully assess the functional outcomes of patients treated with Rezum for BPH. METHODS: We prospectively followed 135 consecutive patients treated by Rezum at 5 institutions from June 2019 to August 2020. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Short Form (OAB-q SF) score, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and questions 9 and 10 to assess ejaculatory dysfunction were recorded. Election criteria were age > 18, no prior prostate interventions, IPSS ≥ 13, post-void residual ≤ 250 mL, prostate volume between 30 and 120 cc. RESULTS: The median operative time was 10.5 (IQR 8.7-15) min. All patients were dismissed few hours after surgery with indwelling urinary catheter that was removed after a median of 7 (IQR 7-10) days. A significantly decrease of IPSS from baseline at first (p = 0.001) and third (p < 0.0001) month after surgery was reported. No difference was reported in terms of ICIQ-UI SF score postoperatively. A mild reduction of the OAB-q SF score was reported at 1 month from surgery (p = 0.06) that turned significant at 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001). A slight but statistically significant increase of the IIEF-5 score was reported from baseline at 6 months (p = 0.04). Postoperatively, patients reported a significantly decrease of ejaculatory dysfunction after alpha-blocker interruption. CONCLUSION: Rezum treatment is a feasible minimally invasive option for patients with BPH symptoms and showed optimal early functional outcomes.

Cognitive features and surgical outcome of patients with long-term epilepsy-associated tumors (LEATs) within the temporal lobe.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate cognitive and epilepsy-related features in 166 surgically treated patients with epilepsy with long-term epilepsy-associated tumors (LEATs) located in the temporal lobe. METHOD: Pre- and postsurgical cognitive as well as the one-year seizure outcome of adult patients with histopathologically confirmed LEATs (28 grade-I dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNET), 95 grade-I gangliogliomas (GG), 24 grade-I pilocytic astrocytomas (PA), 9 grade-II pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), 10 grade-II diffuse astrocytoma (DA)) who underwent epilepsy surgery in Bonn/Germany between 1988 and 2012 were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, tumor groups differed in regard to age at epilepsy onset and location within the temporal lobe. Postoperative seizure freedom was achieved most frequently (>77.8%) in DNET, GG, and DA, less often in PXA (62.5%) and the least in PA (56.5%). Preoperative memory was impaired in 67.1% of all patients, executive functions in 44.7%, and language in 45.5%. Patients with PA displayed the poorest cognitive performance. Individual significant memory decline that was observed in 27.1% of all patients was predicted by left-sided surgery, a mesial pathology, and extended hippocampal resection. Executive functions depended on antiepileptic drug (AED) load and remained stable (72.0%) or even improved (21.6%) after surgery. Language functions were unchanged in 89.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with LEATs in the temporal lobe frequently show cognitive impairments. Predictors for pre- and postoperative cognition mostly correspond to what is known for temporal lobe epilepsy and resections in general. However, different tumor types appear to be associated with different cognitive and seizure outcomes with astrocytoma as the least benefitted group.

Autoestima en estudiantes de medicina de la universidad nacional de Asunción, Paraguay / Self-esteem in medical students of the national university of Asunción, Paraguay

Introducción: Autoestima puede ser definida como el desarrollo de la convicción de que uno es competente para vivir y merece la felicidad, es por tanto capaz de enfrentar la vida con confianza, benevolencia y optimismo lo cual ayuda a alcanzar las metas. Materiales y método: Fue un estudio observacional descriptivo con corte transverso con muestreo no probabilístico de casos consecutivos que se realizó de mayo a junio del 2016 a estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Se incluyó a todos los estudiantes que aceptaron participar voluntariamente. Resultados: Se incluyó a 75 sujetos. 60% fue del sexo femenino con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 28 años y una media de 22±2 años. El 48% presenta autoestima elevada, el 18,7% autoestima baja y el 33,3% autoestima baja. Discusión: La prevalencia de autoestima baja en nuestro estudio fue mayor a la encontrada en una población similar donde el 24,5% mostraba puntajes acordes a baja autoestima en contraste con el 33,3% de nuestro estudio. Estos resultados pueden ser explicados por las altas prevalencias de ansiedad, depresión, estresores psicosociales y estrés académico propios de esta población.

Introduction: Self-esteem can be defined as the development of the conviction that one is competent to live and deserves happiness, it is therefore able to face life with confidence, benevolence and optimism which helps to achieve the goals. Methods: It was a descriptive study with transverse cutting non-probability sampling of consecutive cases was conducted from May to June 2016 to medical students at the National University of Asuncion. All students who agreed to participate were included voluntarily. Results: We included 75 subjects. 60% were female with aged between 18 and 28 years and a mean of 22 ± 2 years. 48% have high self-esteem, 18.7% low self-esteem and 33.3% low self-esteem. Discussion: The prevalence of low self-esteem in our study was higher than that found in a similar population where 24.5% had low self-esteem scores chords in contrast to 33.3% of our study. These results can be explained by the high prevalence of anxiety, depression, psychosocial stressors and academic stress of this population.

Current use of imaging and electromagnetic source localization procedures in epilepsy surgery centers across Europe.

OBJECTIVE: In 2014 the European Union-funded E-PILEPSY project was launched to improve awareness of, and accessibility to, epilepsy surgery across Europe. We aimed to investigate the current use of neuroimaging, electromagnetic source localization, and imaging postprocessing procedures in participating centers. METHODS: A survey on the clinical use of imaging, electromagnetic source localization, and postprocessing methods in epilepsy surgery candidates was distributed among the 25 centers of the consortium. A descriptive analysis was performed, and results were compared to existing guidelines and recommendations. RESULTS: Response rate was 96%. Standard epilepsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols are acquired at 3 Tesla by 15 centers and at 1.5 Tesla by 9 centers. Three centers perform 3T MRI only if indicated. Twenty-six different MRI sequences were reported. Six centers follow all guideline-recommended MRI sequences with the proposed slice orientation and slice thickness or voxel size. Additional sequences are used by 22 centers. MRI postprocessing methods are used in 16 centers. Interictal positron emission tomography (PET) is available in 22 centers; all using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Seventeen centers perform PET postprocessing. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is used by 19 centers, of which 15 perform postprocessing. Four centers perform neither PET nor SPECT in children. Seven centers apply magnetoencephalography (MEG) source localization, and nine apply electroencephalography (EEG) source localization. Fourteen combinations of inverse methods and volume conduction models are used. SIGNIFICANCE: We report a large variation in the presurgical diagnostic workup among epilepsy surgery centers across Europe. This diversity underscores the need for high-quality systematic reviews, evidence-based recommendations, and harmonization of available diagnostic presurgical methods.

Neuropsychological outcome after epilepsy surgery in patients with bilateral Ammon's horn sclerosis.

OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the objective and subjective neuropsychological outcome after epilepsy surgery in patients with bilateral Ammon's horn sclerosis (AHS). METHODS: Memory and executive functions were evaluated at baseline and at follow-up in 11 surgically treated patients and compared with 8 pharmacologically treated patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and bilateral AHS. The median follow-up duration was 16 months in the surgically treated patients and 80.5 months in the pharmacologically treated group. Subjective outcome was evaluated by questionnaires and included mood, quality of life, subjective memory, and activities of daily living. RESULTS: At the follow-up assessment, 82% of the surgically treated patients as opposed to 0% of the nonsurgery patients were seizure free. In the surgical group, nonverbal memory performance did not change significantly in any patient after surgery, but there was a floor effect in 55% of the surgical patients. Regarding verbal memory, 9% of the surgical patients improved while 73% declined, despite severe impairments already evident at baseline. In the nonsurgery control group, 13% of the patients declined in nonverbal memory (floor effect in 63%) and 25% declined in verbal memory (floor effect in 25%) at follow-up. None of the controls improved at follow-up. Executive functions remained unchanged on an impaired level in both groups. At follow-up, the patient groups did not differ significantly with respect to mood, quality of life, subjective memory, or activities of daily living. However, in most aspects, surgically treated patients reported a slightly better subjective outcome than pharmacologically treated patients and a significantly improved quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that beyond benefits concerning seizure control, surgically treated patients with bilateral AHS, despite already poor baseline performance, are still at risk for severe postoperative decline in memory. In the light of predominantly minor benefits on a subjective level, the findings put the overall outcome of epilepsy surgery in bilateral AHS patients into perspective.

Autoimmune liver diseases in a paediatric population with coeliac disease - a 10-year single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease (CD) can be associated with liver disease. Gluten-free diet (GFD) normalizes cryptogenic forms, but most likely not autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). For this condition, immunosuppressants represent the treatment. However, when these are stopped, AIH generally relapses. AIM: To determine in CD children liver test abnormality frequency, the effect of GFD alone, or plus prolonged immunosuppressants on AIH course. METHODS: Coeliac disease patients with abnormal transaminases were selected; if transaminases <5 x UNL (upper normal limits), GFD alone was administered; if >5 x UNL, liver examinations and biopsy were performed. In AIH, immunosuppressants were administered (5 years). Treatment was stopped only if patients remained in remission during the entire maintenance period and normalized liver histology. RESULTS: A total of 140 out of 350 CD children had hypertransaminaemia: 133 cryptogenic disease, 7 AIH. GFD normalized only cryptogenic hepatitis. During treatment, all AIH persistently normalized clinical and biochemical parameters; after withdrawal, six patients maintained a sustained remission (follow-up range: 12-63 months), while one relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: In CD children with AIH, only GFD plus immunosuppressants determines a high remission rate. When clinical remission is reached, a prolonged immunosuppressive regimen induces a high sustained remission rate after treatment withdrawal, indicating that this regimen may prevent early relapse.

Differences in the outcome of surgically placed long-term central venous catheters in neonates: neck vs groin placement.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Long-term tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) are frequently used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies. They are placed either in the neck or groin based primarily upon the surgeon's preference. There is meager published information available about the relative risks of these lines. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of all the tunneled central venous catheters placed in NICU babies at a children's hospital over a nearly 5-year period. Single lumen Broviac catheters were used in all cases. RESULTS: A total of 137 catheters were placed in 126 patients. There were 88 neck lines and 49 groin lines. Age, gestational maturity, and body weight were significantly lower for babies who underwent groin line placement. There was no significant difference in the number of days the catheters were live between the 2 groups. Total complication rates and catheter infection rates were significantly higher with neck lines. The accidental removal rate was higher with neck lines but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Broviac catheters placed in the groin of NICU babies are associated with significantly fewer complications compared with those placed in the neck.

Hemispherectomy procedures in children: haematological issues.

OBJECTS: In literature, excessive perioperative haemorrhage and related haemodynamic instability have been described as major risk factors in hemispherectomy. In this report we analyse the impact of neurosurgical operation on both the haematological and coagulative patterns of these children, especially focusing on younger patients. METHODS: From 1993 to 2003, 18 consecutive children suffering from intractable epilepsia and treated by hemispherectomy were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Catholic University Medical School, Policlinico Gemelli, Rome. Eight children had an entire hemisphere removed (anatomical hemispherectomy), whereas the remaining 10 underwent disconnective procedures (functional hemispherectomy) or cerebral cortex ablations (e.g. hemicorticectomy). Eleven out of these 18 children underwent hemispherectomy because of hemimegalencephaly (HME): their mean age was 14.5 months (range 3-56 months); non-HME patients underwent surgery for epileptogenic lesions involving the cerebral hemisphere to a great extent or diffusely. Data have been compared with an historical cohort of 13 children operated on before 1992 at the same institution comparable for age, aetiology of epilepsy and the modalities of surgical operation. CONCLUSIONS: Blood losses and haemotransfusions showed a profound influence on the haematologic/coagulative status of the children operated upon. A strict correlation was demonstrated between estimated red cell volume (ERCV) loss and haemostatic impairment in this series. Recent surgical techniques appear to reduce blood losses and related haemocoagulative risks even in younger patients.

Ropivacaine 3.75 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, or 7.5 mg/ml for cervical plexus block during carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of 225 mg (7.5 mg/mL), 150 mg (5 mg/mL), and 112.5 mg (3.75 mg/mL) ropivacaine on quality of cervical plexus block during carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: Patients (n = 93) scheduled for carotid endarterectomy were randomized to receive a cervical plexus block with deep infiltration of 10 mL and superficial infiltration of 20-mL volumes of ropivacaine 7.5, 5.0, or 3.75 mg/mL. Pain, coughing, hemodynamic consequences of the block, postoperative visual analog scores, and pain satisfaction index were recorded. If necessary, anesthesia supplements with aliquots of 3 mL lidocaine 1% were given during surgery. RESULTS: Incidences of coughing and hoarseness were similar in all groups. More local anesthetic infiltrations were required in the ropivacaine 3.75-mg/mL and 5-mg/mL groups. Postoperatively, no intragroup differences were observed. A trend toward better pain satisfaction was observed in the ropivacaine 7.5-mg/mL group. CONCLUSION: The best quality of cervical plexus block associated with the smallest incidence of pain for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy was obtained with 30 mL of 225 mg and 150 mg of ropivacaine, respectively.

[Sedation in pediatric digestive endoscopy]. / Sedazione in endoscopia digestiva pediatrica.

Sedation for children doing diagnostic or operative pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy (PE) procedures is performed differently over the world and no consensus is yet agreed on the best paediatric endoscopy sedation (PES). Some centres do not use any sedation, especially in infants, most centre use some form of sedation: conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anaesthesia. We review sedation drugs and describe our centre protocol on 188 consecutive PE: oral premedication with flunitrazepam (0.05 mg/kg/dose) at least 30 min before procedure, petidine (1 mg/kg) followed by increasing boluses of midazolam (0.05 mg/kg up to a maximal 0.2 mg/kg or 5 mg) were given i.v. to obtain a conscious sedation. All PE could be performed and ended safely, PES resulted satisfactory in approximately 65% of patient having conscious sedation. SaO2 < 90% was observed in 2% of cases, one child had a respiratory depression after PE that resolved with flumanezil. Endoscopy and sedation was always performed by the PE team in the immediate vicinity of anaesthesiologists at work. PE can be safely performed with conscious sedation. Basic and advanced resuscitation skills are needed for the PE team who wish to perform both endoscopic and sedation procedures.

Preemptive analgesia with tramadol and fentanyl in pediatric neurosurgery.

Preemptive analgesia is based on administration of an analgesic before a painful stimulus generates, so as to prevent the subsequent rebound mechanism. Tissue injury results in disruption of the processing mechanisms of noxious stimuli afferent to the CNS (central nervous system) by way of an increase of inputs in the spinal cord. These reactions may be reduced by the administration of opioids. Few studies on preemptive analgesia with opioids in children are available, and none of them is concerned with pediatric neurosurgery. Tramadol and fentanyl are synthetic opioids which are relatively new and act through the activation of pain-inhibitory mechanisms. We conducted a randomized, prospective trial on the preemptive effects in children of these two analgesic drugs, administered according to three different protocols: tramadol as a bolus (1 mg/kg); tramadol by continuous infusion (150 microg/kg per h); fentanyl by continuous infusion (2 microg/kg per h). In all, 42 children undergoing major neurosurgical operations were enrolled in the study, 14 in each treatment group. Each treatment was started at the induction of general anesthesia and continued throughout the entire duration of the operation. The postoperative pain evaluation was conducted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the end of the surgical operations and involved comparison of any changes in behavioral (AFS scale and CHEOPS score) and hemodynamic (heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, O(2) and CO(2) partial pressure) parameters. Only 2 children, both in group A, needed further drug administration postoperatively. No significant side effects were noticed in any of the three groups, except that in group A there was a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting. Tramadol efficacy seems to be better when it is administered in continuous infusion; this treatment modality also leads to fewer adverse effects. Fentanyl, in contrast, proved to be superior to tramadol in the treatment of postoperative pain. In conclusion, preemptive analgesia is a valid technique for the treatment of acute pain in children undergoing major neurosurgical operations.

"No allogeneic blood transfusion" protocol for the surgical correction of craniosynostoses. II. Clinical application.

The authors describe the results obtained in 13 consecutive cases of craniosynostosis operated on according to a protocol devised at avoiding allogeneic blood transfusion. The protocol is based on pre- and postoperative treatment with erythropoietin, preoperative autologous blood donation, preoperative normovolemic hemodilution and intraoperative blood salvage. Nine subjects were affected by simple forms of craniosynostosis, whereas the remaining 4 presented with oxycephaly or craniofacial syndromes. Five of the 13 children were under 7 months and a further 3, under 10 months of age at the time of the surgical operation. Seven children weighed less than 10 kg. Allogeneic blood transfusion was avoided in 11 of the 13 children considered. Two failures - defined as the necessity to reinfuse the patient with an allogeneic blood transfusion - were recorded, 1 of them resulting from an unexpected hemorrhage during surgery. The results obtained indicate that this protocol designed to avoid allogeneic blood transfusion can be safely applied in the great majority of children with craniosynostosis, even when the surgical correction is carried out early in life.

"No allogeneic blood transfusion" protocol for the surgical correction of craniosynostoses. I. Rationale.

Improved anesthesiological and surgical care has resulted in a progressively declining need for allogeneic blood transfusion. In infants with craniosynostosis, however, allogeneic blood transfusion is still performed as a routine procedure. In the present paper, the authors describe a protocol they have devised with the aim of limiting or even avoiding allogeneic blood transfusion even in very young patients, consequently avoiding the risks of infective or immunologic reactions associated with the procedure. The protocol is based on stimulation of the hematopoietic system with erythropoietin, selection of an appropriate age for operation when a favorable balance between fetal and adult-type hemoglobin is established (that is after 4-6 months), preoperative preparation of the autologous blood supply, and intraoperative blood salvage.

Hepatitis C virus RNA and long-term response to recombinant interferon-alpha 2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The effectiveness of recombinant interferon-alpha 2b (rIFN-alpha 2b) in eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA from serum has not been completely assessed. We studied 39 patients with compensated chronic hepatitis C diagnosed by liver biopsy and positive HCV RNA measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Group I consisted of 26 patients treated with 3 MU of rIFN-alpha 2b for 6 months; group II, 13 control patients observed for six months; and group III, 12 out of 13 patients from group II who subsequently received 5 MU of rIFN-alpha 2b for 6 months. In group I, 11 out of 23 (47.8%) patients who completed treatment had an immediate response and five (21.7%) had a sustained response to therapy six months after treatment. No response was observed in patients from group II. In group III, 7 out of 12 (58.3%) patients who completed treatment had an immediate response and none had a sustained response. Considering all patients who completed rIFN-alpha 2b treatment, HCV RNA remained positive at the end of therapy in three of five sustained responders (60%), six of 13 patients who relapsed (46.1%), and in all nonresponders (100%). HCV RNA was positive 6 months after therapy in four (80%), 13 (100%), and 17 (100%) patients respectively. All patients with a sustained response had normal aminotransferase levels 18 months after therapy. We conclude that in chronic hepatitis C rIFN-alpha 2b causes a significant immediate response but this is not sustained, only 2.8% of treated patients had a sustained loss of HCV RNA. Normal aminotransferase persist in the long term, despite persistence of HCV RNA.

A simple cryo-technique for the treatment of cutaneous soft fibromas.

OBJECTIVE: We propose a simple cryo-technique for the treatment of cutaneous soft fibromas. METHODS: This method, useful for fibromas larger than 4-5 mm in diameter, allows the freezing of the only soft fibroma without affecting the surrounding skin. RESULTS: The technique shows the following advantages: it is simple to perform, it avoids local anesthesia, and it can be used in pacemaker holders. CONCLUSION: The cosmetic results are very good.

Eficacia terapeutica del acido ursodesoxicolico (AUDC) en litiasis vesicular persistente (LV) y barro biliar persistente (BBP): resultados preliminares de una experiencia multicentrica / Therapeutic efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in persisten vesicular lithiasis and persistent biliary sludge: preliminary results of a multicenter experience

A fin de valorar la actividad litolítica y tolerancia del AUDC en LV y BBP a través de un estudio terapéutico de fase IV, prospectivo y multicéntrico fueron seleccionados los que reunieron estos criterios de inclusión: cálculos radiolúcidos; no mayores de 20 mm y vesícula funcionante o bien, los que padecían BBP definido como la persistencia del barro biliar en 2 ecografías sucesivas a lo largo de 90 días. En ausencia de colecistopatia severa, los admitidos recibieron 600 mgs de AUDC en tres dosis posprandiales, durante 6 meses. Los controles al tratamiento fueron ecografías, basal, a los 90 y 180 días respectivamente; evaluados clínica mensual y colecistografia pre y post-tratamiento. De 110 pacientes seleccionados 19 (17 por ciento) desertaron por motivos extramédicos y 91 (83 por ciento) concluyeron el período de seguimiento, documentandose que al cabo de 6 meses el 50 por ciento (46/91) presentó una respuesta completa (RC) al tratamiento ("vesícula normal"); el 43 por ciento (36/91) redujeron significativamente el tamaño de los cálculos (respuesta parcial, RP) y en el 5,4 por ciento (6/91) fracasó el tratamiento (demonstrándose en los 6 alto contenido cálcio por examen físico-quimico o tomográfico). Se se discrimina según el tipo de litiasis, la RC fue del 100 por ciento (22/22) en BBP; del 71,4 por ciento (10/14) en microlitiasis y del 25 por ciento (14/55) en macrolitiasis. Efectos indeseables fueron: acidez en el 7,7 por ciento 7/91); diarrea en el 1,1 por ciento (1/91) y pancreatitis aguda en el 1,1 por ciento (1/91), debiendo discutirse se esta, fue un efecto por la terapéutica o una complicación de la enfermedad causal. El AUDC fue una alternativa terapéutica eficaz con mínima morbilidad en el 100 por ciento de los pacientes con BBP y suprimió la microlitiasis en el 71,4 por ciento de los casos. Mientras que en las macrolitiasis se debe insistir en los signos de respuesta terapéutica en al valoración previa con densitometría tomográfica del cálculo. La litiasis vesicular presenta alta prevalencia en la población general (10), existiendo en la actualidad numerosas posibilidades terapéuticas (8), una de ellas, los ácidos biliares, constituyen una, carente de mortalidad y con muy baja morbilidad: el 1,2 por ciento de los tratados en esta experiencia con AUDC presentó diarrea autolimitada y acidez neutralizable con alcalinos; cifras extrapolables a la frecuencia de estos efectos en distintas poblaciones. Uno de los enfermos con mcirolitiasis padeció una pancreatitis aguda, a los 45 días de recibir AUDC; debiendo plantearse si esta fue una complicación como clásicamente está descripto en este tipo de litiasis (12) o bien, hoy se sabe el AUDC es un potente hidrocolerético natural, ya demostrado en animales de experimentación (11) y tal vez, al producir este fenómeno de "lavado biliar" podría excepcionalmente arrastrar microcálculos y poner en marcha el gatillo duodeno pancreático