Flexible ureteroscopy in extreme elderly patients (80 years of age and older) is feasible and safe.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of RIRS in patients ≥ 80 years to a younger population. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the data from patients ≥ 80 years of age undergoing RIRS with the data of a group of patients from 18 and < 80 years. Perioperative outcomes, complications and emergency department visits were compared between two groups. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 44 (27-79) and 81 years-old (80-94), for younger and elderly group, respectively. Elderly patients had higher ASA scores (≥ 3) (28.6% vs 75.8%; p = 0.0001) and Charlson comorbidity index (1.99 vs 7.86; p = 0.0001), more diabetes (p = 0.006) and respiratory comorbidities (p = 0.002). No statistical difference was found between two groups in stone size (p = 0.614) and number (p = 0.152). Operative time (74.48 vs 102.96 min; p = 0.0001) and duration of hospitalisation (1.7 vs 2.9 days; p = 0.001) were longer for the elderly. Intraoperative complication rate did not show differences between the two groups (p = 0.166). Postoperative complications rates were similar between the cohorts (7.7% vs 9.5%; p = 0.682). The success rates were 67.5% in the younger group and 71.4% in the elderly group (p = 0.584). No difference was seen in stone recurrence (p = 0.73). A higher rate of visits to the emergency department was found in younger cohort (23.6% vs 11.6%; p = 0.046), mostly duo to stent-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher rate of comorbidity in the elderly group, RIRS was a safe procedure with similar complication rate and outcomes at an expense of higher operative time and hospital stay.

Influence of the diagnostic protocol and age on the prostate cancer incidence rate in Castilla y León according to the national registry 2010.

OBJECTIVE: Cross-sectional descriptive observational study of incidence and association, to determine whether the higher incidence of prostate cancer in Castilla y León (with respect to the national rate) could be due to modifiable factors. LOCATION: University Hospital Río Hortega. PARTICIPANTS: New prostate cancer diagnoses. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Incidence rate (IR). Age, family history, symptoms, comorbidity, rectal examination, ultrasound volume (cc), PSA (ng/mL), cylinders, volume cylinder ratio, Gleason, TNM and D'Amico groups. RESULTS: Castilla y León showed the highest prostate cancer IR in Spain (141.1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year), with a peak of early incidence (65-74 years) and significant differences in < 64 and 65-74 years. Age at diagnosis was the lowest (Castilla y León, 66.9 ±7.1 vs. Spain, 69.1 ±â€¯8.2 years; P < .001). No differences: family history, symptoms, comorbidity and PSA. The number of cylinders was 10.7 ±â€¯1.8. In multivariate analysis (AUC = 0.801; P < .001), they were more frequent in Castilla y León: grade i rectal examination, non-palpable rectal examination, Gleason < 6, stage T2c and the volume cylinder ratio < 6 (only in < 64 years: OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.2-22-22.3; P = .027). In Spanish regions, volume cylinder ratio showed inverse correlation with IR in < 74 years, while age showed positive correlation in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The higher prostate cancer IR in Castilla y León in 2010 was not associated to an older population. However, the biopsy technique influenced IR, as more cylinders were obtained in younger subjects, without conditioning overdiagnosis.

The impact of time from biopsy to radical prostatectomy on Gleason score undergrading and other related factors. / Impacto del tiempo desde la biopsia a la prostatectomía radical en la infragradación del grado de Gleason y análisis de factores relacionados.

INTRODUCTION: Gleason score biopsy undergrading (GSBU) can have an impact on the management and prognosis of patients with prostate cancer. We analyze the possible impact of time and other clinical and analytical factors in the appearance of GSBU in our series. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Ambispective, multicenter study of 1955 patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2005 and 2018. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing are reported by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Mean age 63.69 (44-80) years, median PSA 8.70 ng / ml (1.23-99). GSBU was observed in 34.7% of the entire cohort. In 72.8% of the cases, the GSBU occurred in one consecutive Gleason score, with the progression from 3 + 3 to 3 + 4 being the most frequent (289 patients, 47.6%). Performing radical prostatectomy 90-180 days before or after the biopsy does not have an impact on its undergrading in any of the groups. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, the presence of tumor or pathological rectal examination in both lobes, the tumor load ≥50% of cylinders and a DPSA ≥0.20, showed independent discriminative capacity to select patients who presented GSBU. CONCLUSIONS: The time from biopsy to radical prostatectomy did not show impact on GSBU. The number of affected cylinders, bilateral tumor and DPSA are easily accessible parameters that can help us select patients with greater probability of presenting GSBU.

[Comparison between Valdivia position and prone position in percutaneous nephrolithotomy]. / Comparacin entre la posición de Valdivia y la posición prona en la nefrolitectomía percutánea (NLP).

INTRODUCTION: Although the supine position created by Dr. Valdivia two decades ago to perform the procedure known as percutaneous nephrolitectomy (PNL) presents advantages against the prone position in some aspects concerning anesthesia and surgical ergonomy, its use has failed to spread widely among the urology community due to certain technical difficulties, a lower rate of calculi clearing and a higher rate of complications, in spite of the fact that the scarce comparative studies do not show enough data to support this opinion. The present study compares both positions considering the technical difficulties encountered, their effectiveness and their results and complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of 50 patients that underwent PCNL by prone position is compared retrospectively with another series of 54 patients that underwent consecutively PCNL by prone position. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia, the inferior calyx approach was the one used the most over the supracostal approach, and the sole tract over the multi-tract approach was predominant. Dilatation of the nephrostomy tract was done, in most of the cases, with a high-pressure balloon catheter. The stone surface treated was 399.93+/-58.2 mm2 for the supine group, and 416.36+/-46.54 mm2 for the prone one (p=0.456). The management of the stones was carried out by ultrasonic or ballistic fragmentation, and a small group of patients underwent direct stone removal. RESULTS: As far as demographic parameters and operative variables such as number of tracts performed, calyx election, type of tract dilatation and kind of energy used for fragmentation, both groups were homogeneous. In 3 cases of each group there was a failure to access the kidney. The rate of failure was 6%, and 5.56%, for the supine and prone groups, respectively (p=0.716). Average operating time was 74.55+/-25.54 and 91.82+/-24.82 minutes, respectively, p=0.123. A postoperative x-ray showed a stone-free rate of 76% for the supine group and 74% for the prone group, p=0.308. ESWL was the supplementary treatment for 12% of the patients in the supine group, and for 12.96% of the patients in the prone group p= 0.478, and a second procedure was performed on 4 (8%) patients in the supine group and on 3 (5.56%) in the prone one, p=0.697. Hospital stay was the same for both groups (5.89+/-4.7 for the supine group, and 5.5+/-4.09 for the prone one, p=0.694). As far as analgesia required, 6.89+/-4.87 was administered for the supine against 6.18+/-4.09 for the prone, p=0.580. The complications rate was very low for both groups and also very similar; one of the patients in the supine group suffered a lesion to the colon. CONCLUSION: Valdivia position is as feasible as the prone position for PCNL. Success rates, as far as stone clearing, and complications are similar for both positions.

Actual incidence of prostate cancer in healthcare areas of the autonomous community of Castilla-Leon during 2014. CAPCYL registry data. / Incidencia real de cáncer de próstata en las áreas sanitarias de la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León durante el año 2014. Datos del registro CAPCYL.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the actual incidence of prostate cancer (PC) in the healthcare areas of Castilla-Leon in 2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre study was conducted with the participation of 7 of the 9 healthcare areas of Castilla-Leon. We collected retrospective data that included 87.8% of the target population (men diagnosed with PC with histopathological confirmation in 2014). We calculated the raw and age-adjusted incidence rates based on the direct method and consulted the community and national epidemiological data in the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 1198 new cases of PC were diagnosed, with a raw incidence rate in the community of 109.54 cases per 100,000 men. The adjusted rates for the Spanish and European populations were 115.41 and 110.07, respectively. The age group with the highest diagnostic concentration was the 60-70-year group, with 41.97% of the diagnoses. The group with the highest incidence was the 70-80-year group, with 438.87 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. There were differences in the raw and age-adjusted incidence rates and in the age at diagnosis among the various included healthcare areas. CONCLUSIONS: The community raw incidence rate was higher than most existing data. We observed significant differences among the various geographical areas, which could be explained mainly by the age distribution and the opportunistic screening policies for each area.

Small-calibre percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SC-PCNL). Therapeutic decision algorithm. / Nefrolitectomía percutánea de calibre reducido (NLP-CR). Algoritmo de decisión terapéutica.

INTRODUCTION: The progressive reduction in the calibre of the tract in percutaneous kidney surgery to the point of miniaturisation has expanded its use to smaller stones that until now have been treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). OBJECTIVE: To provide an update on the various techniques of small-calibre nephrolithotomy (SC-PCNL) analyse their efficacy, safety and indications and determine their degree of implantation at this time. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a review in PubMed of Spanish and English medical literature on the various techniques of SC-PCNL. RESULTS: The use of SC-PCNL has reduced the morbidity associated with standard PCNL, particularly bleeding, and has enabled tubeless nephrolithotomy with greater safety. There are various techniques with blurred terminology (Miniperc, Microperc, Mini-microperc, Ultraminiperc), which differ in terms of gauge employed and in certain technical aspects that require their indications be specified. Currently, SC-PCNL competes with techniques that are less invasive than standard PCNL such as ESWL and the RIRS in treating small stones, but the role of SC-PCNL is still not sufficiently understood and continues to be the subject of debate. CONCLUSIONS: The indications for PCNL are expanding to small stone sizes due to the miniaturisation of the technique. PCNL competes in this field with ESWL and RIRS. Larder studies are needed to establish the specific indications for PCNL in treating nephrolithiasis.

[Endopyelotomy. A definitive alternative to pyeloplasty?]. / Endopielotomía. Alternativa definitiva a la pieloplastia?

Endopyelotomy is a minimally invasive surgical alternative to the classic open surgery in the treatment of stenosis of the pyelo-ureteral attachment with similar success rates. This paper presents the results from 38 endopyelotomies performed between February 1989 and December 1993 in equal number of patients, 36 of them using percutaneous approach, 29 through the medium calix and 7 through the lower calix. Acucise's catheter was used in both cases. With the total of 38 endopyelotomies performed the complications and results obtained are presented as well as the results assessed by clinical, radiological and renographic criteria. The overall rate of success for endopyelotomy was 77.8%. When only improvement of urographic signs was evaluated, the success rate was lower (66.7%). In 4 clinically asymptomatic patients who showed no radiological improvement, a good response to diuretic therapy was seen in the renogram which was shown to be a basic test in the diagnosis, evaluation of results and follow-up of these patients. It is concluded that currently, endopyelotomy represents a choice technique in the treatment of stenosis of the pyelo-ureteral attachment with a low rate of intraoperative complications (3.4%). Also, it must be established that failure of this minimally invasive technique does not condition any added surgical difficulties to perform pyeloplasty.

[Effects of chronic alcohol drinking on rat's prostate. Experimental study]. / Efectos de la ingesta crónica de alcohol sobre la próstata de la rata. Estudio experimental.

OBJECTIVE: We have studies both the morphologic and morphometric modifications that the alcohol induces in subjected rats to chronic intake of alcohol and to evaluate the reversibility of this alterations after suppressing the ingesta of alcohol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The animals underwent diverse outlines of chronic intake of alcohol and diverse morphometric parameters of the prostate were valued at the level of optic microscopy. RESULTS: Two morphologic prostatic patterns was observed according to the studied group of animals (experimental or control). It seems to be that the dose of alcohol was the factor that more it influenced in the morphometric variations of the cells.

[Agenesis of vas deferens and cystic fibrosis]. / Agenesia de conductos deferentes y fibrosis quística.

Congenital bilateral absence of vasa deferens appears in 6% of obstructive azoospermia, and 60-70% of these patients also have cystic fibrosis mutations. Unilateral aplasia or agenesia of vasa deferens occurs in less than 1% male individuals and some studies have found that up to 43% cases show mutations in the cystic fibrosis gen. We contribute four case reports of bilateral agenesia who were seen for infertility, all of which showed presence of mutation. In none of the two cases of unilateral agenesia, who consulted for vasectomy, a mutation in the cystic fibrosis gen was found. Patients with bilateral agenesia and their partners should be screened for cystic fibrosis, prior to spermatic microaspiration and assisted fecundation.

[Permanent endoprostatic prostheses in patient with obstruction caused by benign hyperplasia of the prostate]. / Prótesis endoprostáticas permanentes en pacientes con obstrucción por hiperplasia benigna de próstata.

Presentation of the results obtained using the intraprostatic prosthesis UroLume in 78 patients wit BPH obstruction, 69 of which presented high surgical risk (ASA IV). Mean age was 79.8 years (r: 62-93). All patients carried urethral catheters, except 4 (5.1%) who had a provisional metal coil that required replacement. Prosthesis were implanted successfully in 72 cases (93.3%). The most significant exclusion criterion was an excessive length of prostate urethra. Mean follow-up was 15.3 months (r: 3-38). Mean maximum flow at 1 year after implant was 12.7 mL/sec; mean symptoms score (I-PSS score) was 6.2 points and in most prosthesis, epithelization had taken place. Three patients required implant of another prosthesis, either during the same surgical procedure (1 case) or later due to retention or dysuria (2 cases). Due to acute urine retention (AUR) during the immediate postoperative, resection of the middle lobe was performed in one case while a second case required late resection of intraluminal hyperplastic tissue. Three patients (4.1%) had haematuria that forced hospital admission some months after the implant, and three cases (4.1%) required removal of the prosthesis; at patient's request (1 case), due to calcification (1 case) and for stress incontinence (1 case). After a follow-up of over three years, it can be concluded that the UroLume prosthesis is an effective alternative to TUR in patients at high surgical risk.

[Polypoid cystitis in pregnant diabetic]. / Cistitis polipoidea en diabética embarazada.

Presentation of one case of a diabetic patient, who after 8 weeks pregnancy presented polypoid cystitis, with no prior background of vesical catheterism. The rarity of the case, as well as the clinical and pathoanatomical characteristic are commented.

Predicting results of daily-practice cystoscopies.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to elaborate a predictive model of bladder cancer, in an unselected clinical population submitted to cystoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited consecutive patients that underwent cystoscopy due to suspicion of bladder cancer or surveillance of a previously diagnosed bladder cancer. Urine cytology and a BTA-stat® (BTA) test were carried out for all patients. To avoid an assessment bias, the BTA-tests, cytologies and cystoscopies were conducted in a blinded fashion. We used logistic regression to predict cystoscopy results from cytology, BTA-test and clinical variables. RESULTS: From August 2011 to July 2012, we recruited 244 patients and 237 were valid for analysis. Newly diagnosed and surveillance cases were 13% and 87% respectively. Cytology and BTA-test sensitivities were 57.9% (CI 95: 42.2-72.1) and 63.2% (CI 95: 47.3-76.6) with specificities of 84.4% (CI 95: 78.7-88.8) and 82.9% (CI 95: 77.1-87.5). The predictive model included the BTA-test, cytology, time since previous tumour, and treatment with mitomicin or BGC during the last three months. The model predictive accuracy (AUC) was .85 (.78-.92), and dropped to 0.79 when excluding the BTA-test (P=.026). For the surveillance of bladder cancer, a 10% threshold on the model predicted probabilities resulted in an overall negative predictive value of 95.7%, and 95.0% in low grade tumours. CONCLUSION: In a cost containment environment, our prediction model could be used to space out cystoscopies in patients with previous, low grade tumours, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in the healthcare system.

Analysis of the factors affecting blood loss in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a registry of the Spanish Association of Urology in the supine position.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the minimally invasive procedure of choice for removing renal stones larger than 2 cm. This study has aimed to identify the different variables that might influence decrease of hemoglobin during the surgery performed in supine position. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, observational study of supine PCNL, based on the Spanish Association of Urology database, was analyzed. The different preoperative and postoperative factors that might affect the decrease of hemoglobin were assessed: demographics and anthropometric data, comorbidities, size and location of the stones, anatomical variants and technical aspects of the procedure. RESULTS: From September 2008 to December 2012, 397 supine PCNL procedures performed in 15 Spanish centers were registered. Mean hemoglobin decrease was 2.3±1.5 g/dl and overall blood transfusion rate was 5.5%. No statistically significant differences were found between genders, body mass index (BMI) and age in terms of blood loss. There were also no differences between patients with cardiovascular, hypertensive, diabetic and anticoagulant treatment background. Blood loss was not significantly influenced by stone size and location. Technical aspects of the procedure as operative time (> 120 min ≤), access to the pelvi-caliceal system (ultrasound, fluoroscopy), percutaneous tract dilation technique (Alken, balloon or Amplatz) or placement of nephrostomy (tube versus tubeless) were not associated with differences in pre-op/post-op hemoglobin. Only multiple percutaneous tracts (≥2) and middle calix access were statistically significantly (P=.03 and P=.01) related with less blood loss. CONCLUSIONS: PCNL in supine position is a minimally invasive procedure for removal of large (≥2 cm) and multiple renal stones, with a low incidence of blood loss and minimal transfusion rate. Multiple percutaneous tracts and middle calix puncture were the only statistically significant variables associated with decrease in hemoglobin levels.

[Consensus on the clinical impact of the new scientific evidence available on benign prostatic hyperplasia]. / Consenso sobre el impacto clínico de la nueva evidencia científica disponible sobre hiperplasia benigna prostática.

OBJECTIVES: To study the technical opinion of an expert panel and reach a consensus of professional criterion in relation to the most recent scientific evidence in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in the scopes of diagnosis, progression criteria, medical treatment and surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematized review of the literature of the last 10 years in BPH by means of a scientific committee and elaboration of a 64-question questionnaire divided into three strategic areas: 1.- Diagnosis and stratification of the patients with BPH considering the progression risk factors. 2.-Novelties in the medical treatment and 3.- New contributions in the surgical and minimally invasive treatment in BPH. A panel of 50 urologists standing out for their knowledge in BPH distributed throughout the national geographic area was chosen, establishing the Delphi methodology for the study through the application of two successive online surveys. RESULTS: The 50 experts consulted completed the two groups of the questionnaire. In the first, a consensus of criterion was observed in 50 out of the 64 questions analyzed, achieving a consensus in 59/65 (92.5%) in the second round, which included aspects of morbidity of the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), diagnostic tests necessary in the initial evaluation of the specialist, stratification of the patients in relation to the risk of progression, strategies of step-by-step medical therapy and combination in patients with risk of Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) or surgery and of the indications of surgical therapy and the role of new less invasive treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In a condition of the high prevalence of BPH, in which we have seen important changes in its entire spectrum in recent years, the obtaining of an elevated consensus to which a large number of reference specialists in this condition have contributed will be of great importance for the usual clinical management of this disease.

[Serous renal cysts: translumbar percutaneous resection]. / Quistes serosos renales: resección percutánea translumbar.

Twelve patients with giant renal serous cyst located superiorly, inferiorly or in the central zone underwent percutaneous resection. The symptoms that had prompted the operative procedure disappeared immediately post-operatively in all patients. To evaluate the efficacy of resection, a CT scan was obtained pre-operatively and at 3 months post-operatively. All 9 patients in whom complete removal of the cyst wall had been achieved revealed a completely normal renal morphology on the post-operative scan with no evidence of cyst. In the remaining 3 patients in whom the cyst could only be partially resected, the postoperative scan revealed residual cystic cavity, although its size had markedly diminished. The technique utilized and the maneuvers that permit removal of the cyst wall without risk are described. The indications and the therapeutic alternatives are discussed.

[Intermittent testicular torsion]. / Torsión testicular intermitente.

OBJECTIVES: The present study focuses attention on intermittent testicular torsion, a well-differentiated but underdiagnosed entity. METHODS: Four cases of intermittent testicular torsion are described. The presence of recurrent acute testicular pain that remits spontaneously or following self-manipulation and the horizontal of the testis (bell clapper) are sufficient to make the diagnosis. RESULTS: All four cases underwent bilateral orchipexy with excellent results. At years' follow-up all patients remain asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent testicular torsion must be considered appropriately since these patients comprise the largest group at high risk for developing acute testicular torsion. Bilateral orchidopexy will ensure the viability of the testis with 100% good results.

[Why is intussusception an antireflux mechanism?]. / Por qué la intususcepción como mecanismo antirreflujo?

One of the aims of bladder substitution or augmentation using the intestine is to preserve renal function. If reflux impairs renal function, an antireflux mechanism should be attempted. Direct ureteroileal reimplantation with spatulation of the ureter is safer and carries a lower risk of stenosis. The antireflux mechanism is created by ileoileal or ileocecal intussusception without involvement of the ureter. Thus we can diminish the risk of stenosis and reflux at the same time.