Assessment of clinical prognosis improvement in children with concomitant anterior and posterior urethral valves: A case series report.

BACKGROUND: Concomitant anterior urethral valves (AUVs) and posterior urethral valves (PUVs) is an extremely rare congenital urologic anomaly, which may be easily overlooked in the clinic. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prognosis of children with concomitant PUVs and AUVs. METHODS: The clinical data of inpatients with concomitant AUVs and PUVs in our hospital were collected from January 1983 to June 2022. The clinical manifestations, auxiliary inspection, and treatment were described in detail. RESULTS: In total, 6 cases of concomitant AUVs and PUVs in boys were found in our hospital, with ages ranging from 3 months to 9 years; the main clinical manifestation was abnormal urination. Four patients exhibited concomitant AUVs and PUVs preoperatively and underwent simultaneous anterior and posterior urethral valvotomy. Follow-up studies showed that 3 patients' clinical symptoms substantially improved with well-maintained renal function. One patient died of renal failure. In the other 2 patients, PUVs were initially identified and excised, but their clinical symptoms did not show substantial improvement. Following voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), the AUVs were found and obstructions were then completely relieved. However, 2 patients died of renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: If urinary symptoms cannot be substantially relieved after posterior urethral valvotomy, VCUG and cystoscopy should be repeated to shorten the interval between anterior and posterior urethral valvotomies to improve patient prognosis.

Small ruminant urinary obstruction: decision trees for treatment.

Urolithiasis is the most common cause of urinary tract disease in small ruminants and has significant economic and production impacts worldwide. Urolithiasis is multifactorial in origin and generally begins with the formation of cystoliths followed by urethral obstruction. The condition is most common in males. Clinical signs are variable depending on the severity of the obstruction. Uroliths can be calcium, struvite, or silicate based; however, struvite and amorphous magnesium calcium phosphate are the most common urolith types observed in small ruminants. Although urethral process (vermiform appendage) amputation is widely considered the first line of treatment, reobstruction is common within the first 36 hours. Surgical interventions such as temporary tube cystostomy, perineal urethrostomy (PU), modified proximal perineal urethrostomy, vesico-preputial anastomosis (VPA), and urinary bladder marsupialization (BM) are reported to carry an improved prognosis for long-term survival. PU carries a lower proportion of long-term success (> 12-month survival time) when compared with VPA and BM. Stoma stricture and urine scald are the most commonly observed surgical complications. Currently, the literature provides minimal direction for clinician decision-making in managing these cases while accounting for patient history, client financial ability, composition of calculi, and potential treatment complications. Small ruminant urinary obstructions are challenging and complicated conditions to treat, due to their multifactorial etiology, ruminant urogenital anatomy, and the variety of imperfect treatment options available. The purpose of this article this article is to provide veterinary practitioners with decision trees to guide management and treatment of urolithiasis in small ruminants.

Assessment of prostatic obstruction: A cuff may be enough.

AIMS: To investigate the use of an inflatable perile cuff to obstruct flow progressively during voiding in order to provide a noninvasive measure of bladder pressure. METHODS: In this study, we explain the observed relationship of flow rate with applied cuff pressure by analogy with a simple physical model. The model comprised a fixed-pressure reservoir (simulating the bladder), a collapsible tube around which a fixed pressure could be applied (simulating the prostatic urethra), connected by rigid conduit to a further collapsible tube around which pressure could be applied (simulating the penile urethra and cuff). Flow was progressively obstructed by incremental increase of pressure applied to the "penile urethra," with the experiment being repeated for a range of fixed pressures applied to the "prostatic urethra." RESULTS: The model reproduced the typical pressure/flow curves recorded during voiding by using penile cuff inflation in normal and obstructed men. CONCLUSIONS: Our data led us to hypothesise that the relationship between cuff pressure and flow rate can be used to deduce bladder pressure during voiding, prostatic opening pressure, and urethral diameter at the flow-controlling zone, three indicators of lower urinary tract function. These measurements may add to the accuracy of diagnosis and quality of care for a large number of men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

The valuation of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for use in economic evaluations.

OBJECTIVE: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO) cause a reduction in quality of life, but the magnitude of that reduction cannot be estimated empirically. This is because survey instruments currently available merely sum the symptoms found, but do not value their impact on quality of life. It is therefore difficult to determine whether the effects of treatments for LUTS suggestive of BPO justify the costs. This complicates economic evaluations. METHODS: We valued the impact on quality of life of patients with LUTS suggestive of BPO, by valuing health states defined by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) using the time trade-off (TTO). TTO values ranged from 1.0 for perfect health to 0.0 for the value of death, and can be used to calculate Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), the preferred outcome measure in health economics. RESULTS: We reduced the number of health states defined by the IPSS using factor analysis. The resulting nine health states were valued by a representative sample of the general public (N=170) using TTO. The worst IPSS health state was valued at 0.87. CONCLUSION: The values for health states defined by the IPSS revealed that LUTS suggestive of BPO has a mild impact on quality of life. The valuation of the IPSS facilitates economic evaluations of treatments for LUTS suggestive of BPO, because QALYs (the preferred outcome measure in health economics) can be determined empirically.

Lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction--Triumph: health-economical analysis.

Given the ageing of western populations, the cost burden associated with the treatment of LUTS suggestive of BPO will increase substantially over the next few decades. Therefore, from the economic perspective, the primary objective of the Triumph project is the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of treatment options for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), formerly referred to as symptomtic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in medical practice in initially six European countries. All modalities of LUTS treatment used in these countries will be considered. The effectiveness and costs associated with these treatments will be assessed in each country. Data will be gathered from observed medical practice rather than in the setting of a trial. Country-specific aspects will be studied and the outcome of country-specific policies can be predicted. Patient quality of life will also be measured using the I-PSS score as a basis. A number of treatment scenarios will be assessed in terms of both their costs and long-term effects, using a computer simulation. These economic analyses will provide greatly improved insight into the most cost-effective treatments for LUTS suggestive of BPO.

Cryosurgery for recurrent prostate cancer following radiation therapy.

Patients with prostate cancer are commonly treated medically or undergo radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is usually selected for patients with local or regional disease and patients for whom traditional surgery has failed. The local recurrence of cancer in patients treated with radiation therapy presents a difficult challenge regarding the selection of further treatment options. A commonly applied treatment is salvage prostatectomy, but it can be difficult and complicated, with positive surgical margins occurring in as many as 50 percent of patients and with significant postoperative morbidity. Hormonal therapy, which is not curative, has served as an alternative to surgery in patients who have failed to respond to radiation therapy. Cryosurgery, the destruction of diseased tissue by freezing, is increasingly used both as a first-line therapy and as a second-line therapy (salvage therapy) in patients for whom radiation therapy has failed. Recent reports suggest that cryosurgery may be a useful alternative procedure for treating some of these patients with recurrent cancers. Outcomes of cryosurgery are improving through better instrumentation, surgical technique, and experience. The available data suggest that some patients with radioresistant cancer appear to benefit from the use of cryosurgery as a salvage therapy. Use of this technique has resulted in biochemical disease-free survival for varying periods of some patients who had recurrent prostate carcinoma following radiation therapy; however, morbidity remains high and relatively few patients have had adequate followup. Salvage cryosurgery prospective clinical trials are warranted and would help determine long-term survival benefits and make possible the comparison of cryotherapy patient survival rates with those of untreated biopsy-positive patients.

Assessment of encrustation behaviour on urinary tract biomaterials.

The effective clinical use of biomaterials within the urinary tract is often hindered by the associated problems of bacterial biofilm formation and encrustation which may cause obstruction or blockage of urethral catheters and ureteral stents. Methods for assessing encrustation formation on these devices are reviewed and novel urinary tract biomaterials which may be more effective at resisting encrustation are discussed.

Intraprostatic metal stents (Prostakath and Urospiral): more than 6 years' clinical experience with 110 patients.

We reviewed the long-term results of two different intraprostatic metal stents. Patients (N = 110) with either benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic cancer were included in a prospective study and treated by the insertion of one of two intraprostatic stents (Prostakath or Urospiral). The mean follow-up was 53 (range 36-80) months. Subjective and objective symptoms and signs were evaluated at each follow-up visit. The different complications and overall success rates were compared for the two intraurethral spirals. When considering both patient satisfaction and device functionality, the overall success rate was 65%. Stent migration, incrustation, failure to void, and clinical infections were the most common complications. Of 41 cases of late complications, removal of the stents was required in 35 patients. No difference in the rate of late complications was noted for the two stents. Intraurethral stents are well-tolerated by patients. The relatively low cost of spirals and the fact that they may be left in situ for long periods renders them highly cost efficient. There is a need for continued close follow-up when the stent is left in situ for prolonged periods. There was no significant difference between the two metal stents despite their different coating.

International prostate symptom score and quality of life assessment versus urodynamic parameters in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms.

In 207 men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia the international prostate symptom score and score on quality of life were collected. Cystometric tests with pressure-flow studies were performed in these patients with special attention to the assessment of obstruction grade. Of the men 24% appeared not to have obstruction. A significant correlation was found between size of the prostate and grade of obstruction. No correlation was found between obstruction grade, and any symptom score or quality of life score, while symptom score and quality of life correlated well. In 41 patients the outcome of laser prostatectomy was evaluated 6 months after the procedure. Mean symptom score decreased from 19.1 to 5.4 and mean quality of life score decreased from 3.7 to 1.3 in the 31 obstruction patients, compared to decreases of 19.6 to 10.1 and 3.6 to 2.6, respectively, in 10 without obstruction. The improvement in the obstruction patients was significantly better but nonobstruction patients will benefit from prostatectomy as well.

Effect of naftopidil on urethral obstruction in benign prostatic hyperplasia: assessment by urodynamic studies.

Thirty-two patients with voiding dysfunction attributable to symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with naftopidil, an alpha 1-blocker, at doses of 25-75 mg/day for 4-6 weeks. The efficacy of the drug was assessed from the changes in urinary symptoms and urodynamic data. Total symptom scores were significantly reduced after treatment (P < 0.001). Average flow rate and maximum flow rate were significantly increased (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and residual urine volume, residual urine rate (ratio of residual urine volume/sum of voided volume and residual urine volume), and maximum urethral closure pressure were significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively) reduced, and at bladder capacity, the first desire to void was significantly (P < 0.05) increased. The pressure/flow study demonstrated no changes in intravesical pressure at maximum flow, but a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in minimum urethral resistance. A mild side effect (dizziness) was noted in one patient (3.3%), which soon disappeared after the dose was decreased. The efficacy was good or excellent in 21 of 30 patients (70.0%). The drug was evaluated to be promising in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

A new patient weighted symptom score system (DAN-PSS-1). Clinical assessment of indications and outcomes of transurethral prostatectomy for uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia.

A patient weighted symptom score system, the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS-1), including a disease specific self administered quality of life questionnaire, is presented. The model was evaluated pre- and postoperatively in 29 patients apparently suffering from uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia. The score system is based on the severity of 12 symptoms related to bladder storage and voiding function, and three questions related to sexual function (symptom score). For each of these parameters the patient must also evaluate its influence on his daily life (bother score). In the 29 patients with uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) bother scores exceeded symptom scores for the irritative symptoms but not for the obstructive symptoms, and surprisingly the symptom score was less improved than the bother score 6 months after transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). Furthermore the postvoiding dribble was worsened after the operation. We find that this model, DAN-PSS-1, assists in creating a solid base for the indication for and the evaluation of treatment of uncomplicated BPH.

The clinical assessment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common pathologic condition to afflict the aging male and the second most common cause of surgical intervention in men older than 60 years of age. Unfortunately, many men currently undergo prostatectomy without rigorous evaluation of their condition in terms of either transition zone hyperplasia or the extent to which this is causing bladder outflow obstruction. METHODS: In this review, the importance of symptoms and symptom scoring systems associated with bladder outflow obstruction due to BPH were considered as well as the use of prostate specific antigen (PBS), uroflowometry, and abdominal and transrectal ultrasound studies in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing surgical or non-surgical treatment for BPH should be studied by means of a formal symptom score, as well as repeated uroflowometry and abdominal ultrasound. PSA determination should also be made and those patients with values above 4 mg/ml should undergo transrectal ultrasound study and biopsy. Patients with values greater than 10 mg/ml should be considered for systematic biopsy whatever this reveals. MRI, with or without the new endorectal coil, is a promising tool for evaluation of the prostate, but more in a research than routine clinical context.

Urethral valves--treatment, results and urodynamic assessment.

Posterior urethral valves is an uncommon condition, but it poses many diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Long term follow up of these patients revealed that the majority of these boys have long term problems. In depth assessment of 10 boys with this problem revealed that their upper urinary tracts remained stable whereas urodynamic studies showed gross micturition abnormalities. Most methods of assessing the urinary tracts in these boys are invasive (eg. Intravenous urography, micturating cystography) and may indeed show no change in upper tract radiology despite marked abnormalities of micturition detected by urodynamics and which may require further investigation and treatment. We therefore recommend regular urodynamic assessment of these boys as it is accurate and initially non-invasive. Those boys with a detectable abnormality can progress to further studies.

Assessment of prostatism: role of intravenous urography.

A prospective study of 502 patients referred for assessment of symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction was performed to determine the value of routine intravenous urography (IVU). The purpose was to establish the rate at which significant occult abnormality in the upper urinary tract is detected with IVU alone; to determine to what extent these abnormalities can be predicted from routine clinical and laboratory evaluation, thus allowing better patient selection for IVU; and to recommend alternative imaging modalities. History, physical examination, and routine laboratory studies constituted the preliminary examination. Abnormalities were found in 23% of patients but significant conditions in only 10%. Occult significant abnormalities that would have been missed without IVU occurred in only 1.5% of patients. Most of these could be detected on an abdominal radiograph. Only one malignancy would have been missed without routine IVU. The authors conclude that IVU in the assessment of prostatism should be limited to patients with positive findings in the clinical work-up. An abdominal radiograph is recommended in the others. Significant cost savings can thus be achieved.

The assessment of prostatic obstruction from urodynamic measurements and from residual urine.

One hundred and seventeen males over the age of 55 were investigated for possible prostatic obstruction. About half of the cases in this series could have been objectively classified as unobstructed or obstructed from the maximum flow rate alone. In about two-thirds of the cases obstruction could be satisfactorily assessed from the maximum flow rate together with the detrusor pressure at maximum flow. It was not helpful to combine these 2 measurements into a single urethral resistance factor. In the remaining one-third of the cases, obstruction could be objectively assessed only from a plot of detrusor pressure against flow rate throughout micturition. In many of these cases both the pressure and the flow rate were low and the main peculiarity was that the contractile power of the bladder was weak. Residual urine is a sign of an abnormality of bladder function rather than the direct result of urethral obstruction.