Pilot study to assess the feasibility of self-administered, low-dose methoxyflurane for cystoscopic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Methoxyflurane (MEOF) (Penthrox™) is an inhaled, self-administered, non-opioid analgesic approved by Health Canada for the short-term relief of moderate to severe acute pain associated with trauma or interventional medical procedures. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of using MEOF as an anesthetic agent in 11 patients undergoing outpatient cystoscopic procedures. METHODS: The average duration of the procedure was 24 (range 20-35) minutes and this included 10 minutes of administration time of the drug and five minutes of wait time before the procedure. The average monitoring time from start to end of the procedure was 23 (range 20-35) minutes and this included 15 minutes of monitoring post-procedure. On a scale of 0-10, patients on average rated the pain 4/10 (standard deviation [SD] 2.6). RESULTS: Global performance was on average 3/4 (SD 1.3) for the patients and 3/4 (SD 1.1) for the operator. Of the 11 patients, four reported adverse events; two experienced euphoria, one experienced dizziness, and one was unable to tolerate the medication. Two patients noted their adverse events to be of moderate intensity, while the other two were of mild intensity. None of the adverse events was deemed serious. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in this pilot study provide proof of principle for the design of a randomized control trial to evaluate MEOF as an anesthetic in an outpatient cystoscopic procedural setting. As more urologic procedures are being performed in an outpatient setting, this may offer significant clinical benefit.

Prevalence and repair patterns of vesicovaginal fistula: a large retrospective population-based cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: Vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) have a significant negative impact on quality of life, with failed surgical repair resulting in ongoing morbidity. Our aim was to characterize the rate of VVF repair and repair failures over time, and to identify predictors of repair failure. METHODS: We completed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent VVF repair in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 and older between 2005 and 2018. Risk factors for repair failure were identified using multivariable cox proportional hazard analysis; interrupted time series analysis was used to determine change in VVF repair rate over time. RESULTS: 814 patients underwent VVF repair. Of these, 117 required a second repair (14%). Mean age at surgery was 52 years (SD 15). Most patients had undergone prior gynecological surgery (68%), and 76% were due to iatrogenic injury. Most repairs were performed by urologists (60%). Predictors of VVF re-repair included iatrogenic injury etiology (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.45, p = 0.009), and endoscopic repair (HR 6.1, 95% CI 3.1-11.1, p < 0.05,); protective factors included combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.009), and surgeon years in practice (21 + years-HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9, p = 0.005). Age adjusted annual rate of VVF repair (ranging from 0.8 to 1.58 per 100,000 women) and re-repair did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS: VVF repair and re-repair rates remained constant between 2005 and 2018. Iatrogenic injury and endoscopic repair predicted repair failure; combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair, and surgeon years in practice were protective. This suggests surgeon experience may protect against VVF repair failure.

Morbidity and predictors of delayed recognition of iatrogenic ureteric injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Although intraoperative iatrogenic ureteric injuries (IUI) are rare, significant consequences can occur if they are unrecognized at the time. The focus of our study is to characterize the associated morbidity and identify predictors of delayed recognition of IUI. METHODS: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Research Ethics Board approved the study. Patients with a diagnosis of IUI between 2002 and 2020 were identified through an institutional electronic medical record system. Data pertaining to the demographic characteristics, diagnosis, and management of IUI, as well as overall outcomes were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 103 patients identified, 83% were female, 52% had previous abdominal surgery, and 18% had previous radiation. The median age was 67 (range 21-88) years. Twenty percent were not recognized at the time of surgery. Although delayed recognition was not a significant predictor for poor outcome after subsequent repair (i.e., hydronephrosis, ureteric stricture/obstruction), it was associated with substantial morbidity to the patient (i.e., additional procedures) and increased cost to the healthcare system (i.e., longer hospital stay, re-admission to hospital). Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery had an 11 times more likely chance of having an unrecognized IUI as compared to those who underwent open surgery (odds ratio 11.515, p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed recognition of IUI may be associated with considerable adverse effects. In this retrospective case series, we identified laparoscopic surgery as a significant predictor for delayed recognition of IUI. This information underscores the need for future studies to facilitate intraoperative identification of ureteric injuries, particularly during laparoscopic procedures.

Management of high-grade renal traumas with collecting system injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 50% of all high-grade renal traumas (HGRT, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [AAST] grade 4/5) have associated collecting system injuries. Although most of these collecting system injuries will heal spontaneously, approximately 20-30% of these injuries are managed with ureteric stents. The objective of the study was to review the management of HGRT with collecting system injuries in a level 1 trauma center. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of trauma patients with HGRT and collecting system injuries from 1998-2019. RESULTS: We identified 147 patients with HGRT. Of the 105 patients who had trauma computed tomography (CT) imaging within 24 hours, 46 were found to have collecting system injuries. Seven of these patients underwent intervention based on initial CT findings; the remaining 39 patients with urinary extravasation were conservatively managed. Of the 37 patients who underwent reimaging, 22 (59%) demonstrated a stable or resolving collection and 15 (41%) demonstrated continued urinary extravasation. Resolution of extravasation on subsequent imaging was observed in 10 of those patients, while five patients (14%) required intervention (four stents, one percutaneous drain) for symptoms/signs of urinary extravasation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, most patients with HGRT and collecting system injuries did not require intervention unless the patient became symptomatic. The majority of collecting system injuries resolved with no intervention. This study underscores the need for future prospective trials to investigate the necessity of intervening in HGRT collecting system injuries and, secondarily, the need for routine re-imaging in these asymptomatic patients.

Urethrovaginal fistula repair with or without concurrent fascial sling placement: A retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to review outcomes of urethrovaginal fistula (UVF) repair, with or without concurrent fascial sling placement. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with UVF at our center from 1988-2017 were included in this study. Patient charts were reviewed from a prospectively kept fistula database, and patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were described. Descriptive statistics were applied to compare complication rates between patients with or without fascial sling placement at the time of UVF repair. RESULTS: A total of 41 cases of UVF were identified, all of which underwent surgical repair. Median age at diagnosis was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR] 35-62). All patients had undergone pelvic surgery. UVF etiology was secondary to stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery in 17 patients (41%) and urethral diverticulum repair in seven patients (17%). The most common presenting symptom was continuous incontinence in 19 patients (46%). Nineteen patients had a fascial sling placed at the time of surgery (46%), with no significant difference in complication rates (26% vs. 23%, p=0.79). Two patients had Clavien-Dindo grade I complications (5%) and one had a grade III complication (2%). Four patients had long-term complications (10%), including urinary retention, chronic pain, and urethral stricture. Two patients had UVF recurrence (5%). Median followup after surgery was 21 months (IQR 4-72). CONCLUSIONS: UVF should be suspected in patients with continuous incontinence following a surgical procedure. Most UVF surgical repairs are successful and can be done with concurrent placement of a fascial sling.

Triamcinolone acetonide injections for the treatment of recalcitrant post-radical prostatectomy vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis: A retrospective look at efficacy and safety.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the success of bladder neck injections of triamcinolone at the time of transurethral bladder neck incision (BNI) for prevention of recurrent vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) following prostate cancer treatment. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study examining patients with recurrent VUAS post-radical prostatectomy (RP) ± radiation treated with triamcinolone injections at the time of BNI. VUAS was diagnosed by symptoms followed by cystoscopy or urethrography. The outpatient procedures were done under general anesthesia. Cold knife incisions were made at the three, nine, and 12 o'clock BN positions, followed by triamcinolone injections (4 mg/mL) into the three and nine o'clock incision sites. Treatment outcomes were determined with cystoscopy. RESULTS: Eighteen men underwent 25 procedures over a four-year period. Median age at diagnosis of VUAS was 65 (interquartile range [IQR] 61-68); median time to VUAS from RP was eight months (IQR 5-12). Fourteen patients (78%) had radiation treatment. The cohort had 128 unsuccessful VUAS treatments, with a median of five failed treatments per patient (IQR 3-10). Failed treatments included BN dilation, BNI, BN injection of mitomycin C, and urethral stent placement. Success rate after a mean of 16.3 months (standard deviation [SD] 8.1) from the time of triamcinolone injection was 83% (15/18). Six patients went on to have successful incontinence surgery. Five patients (28%) had treatment complications (bleeding, urinary tract infection, pain, and urinary extravasation). The three non-responders are stable and awaiting re-treatment with triamcinolone injection. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone bladder neck injections for post-RP VUAS are a useful and safe treatment for recurrent stenosis.