Periappendicitis presenting as left renal colic.

Periappendicitis, a variant of appendicitis, is histologically diagnosed in only about 5% of appendices removed for presumptive acute appendicitis. We herein describe a boy with periappendicitis whose clinical presentation was that of left renal colic and partial left midureteral obstruction. Appendicitis not infrequently simulates right ureteral colic. However, to our knowledge appendiceal inflammation never has been reported to stimulate left ureteral colic. Also, complications of appendicitis are known to cause right ureteral obstruction (rarely bilateral) but have not been reported to cause solitary left ureteral obstruction. We found no previously reported case of solitary left ureteral obstruction from appendiceal inflammation or of periappendicitis causing a serious urologic complication.

Suprapubic suspension of Kaufman urinary incontinence prosthesis: new technique.

Many operative procedures have been devised to treat postprostatectomy urinary incontinence. The most widely employed technique today is implantation of the Kaufman urinary incontinence prosthesis. This device maintains continence by passive compression of the bulbous urethra. Unfortunately, it is associated with a 39-per cent failure rate. We have modified Kaufman's operative technique by suspending the posterior straps of the device to the anterior rectus fascia. Passive urethral compression is thus augmented by partial transmission of increases in intra-abdominal pressure. This article describes the details of the surgical procedure and the results in 3 cases.

Urodynamic evaluation of patients with continent urinary diversion using cecal reservoir and intussuscepted ileocecal valve.

Patients requiring bladder removal for malignant disease have undergone continent urinary diversion employing the ileocecal segment, using the cecum to construct a reservoir and an intussuscepted ileocecal valve as the continence mechanism. Five of these patients have been studied urodynamically and radiographically in the postoperative period. Incontinence was found to be minimal and related only to a prolonged catheterization interval. Passive filling pressure and peristaltic pressure remained low in all patients and was lower than the nipple valve pressure in 4 of 5 patients. A transient increase in reservoir pressure at capacity with peristalsis exceeded the nipple peristaltic pressure in 1 patient and was associated with a small volume of incontinence. This resolved with a shortened catheterization interval. Reflux was not found in any subject studied. These studies indicate that the cecal segment can be used to construct a continent urinary reservoir that provides satisfactory function for the patient while maintaining an acceptable pressure volume relationship.

Clinical evaluation of new urodynamic catheter.

A commercially available triple lumen urodynamic catheter has been utilized for urodynamic recordings in more than 650 patients. The recordings have been highly accurate and reproducible, and we recommend this catheter for those who perform liquid perfusion urodynamic studies.

Spinal hematoma compressing cauda equina.

Epidural and subdural spinal hematomas are unusual complications of diagnostic lumbar punctures. A renal allograft recipient on anticoagulant therapy underwent lumbar puncture. Urinary retention and evidence of an S2, S3, and S4 neurologic deficit developed subsequently. A myelogram showed a defect of the posterior lumbosacral spinal canal. Urodynamic investigation demonstrated normal sympathetic innervation of the proximal urethra and impaired parasympathetic and pudendal innervation of the detrusor and external urethral sphincter, respectively.

Urodynamic evaluation of patients with spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis, which may be congenital/developmental or acquired in origin, is a narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canals, or intervertebral foramina. Compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots may lead to structural neuronal damage, neuronal ischemia or edema, and axonal transport block. The most frequent symptom in patients with spinal stenosis is back pain and some have classic neurogenic claudication. We have performed urodynamic evaluations in 2 patients with combined cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis. A girl with achondroplastic dwarfism had urgency incontinence and detrusor hyperreflexia. An adult man with acquired degenerative spinal stenosis had difficulty voiding and findings compatible with the cauda equina syndrome.

Submucosal fibromatosis: prostatism in a young boy?

A seven-year-old boy was seen with a urodynamically significant, obstructing, posterior urethral mass. It was believed to represent either a fibromuscular prostatic enlargement or a nonpedunculated congenital polyp. The differential diagnosis is discussed. Transurethral resection of the mass resulted in decreased voiding pressure and relief of symptoms.

Large perirenal hematoma after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

We report a case of a large perirenal hematoma following extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) that resulted in compromised renal blood flow and function and necessitated open surgical drainage. Caution is advised and close follow-up recommended in patients who have taken aspirin-containing compounds, are elderly, have hypertension, or exhibit a significant drop in hematocrit following ESWL.

Chronic vasculitis causing unilateral ureteral stenosis.

We report a case of chronic vasculitis causing unilateral ureteral stenosis as an isolated phenomenon in an otherwise healthy forty-three-year-old man. Other causes of chronic vasculitis and ureteral stenosis are reviewed.

Segmental renal artery emboli treated with low-dose intra-arterial streptokinase.

Herein we describe a sixty-one-year-old man with unilateral segmental renal artery emboli treated with renal intra-arterial streptokinase infusion. The initial infusion rate was 9,000 units/hr. which was decreased to 5,000 units/hr. over the next six hours. Periodic arteriography demonstrated progressive lysis and virtual complete resolution after fifty-two hours of infusion. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) six weeks later showed almost complete return of functional compared with IVP obtained six years earlier. We have demonstrated successful clot lysis at an infusion rate of 5,000 units/hr., compared with reported rates of 25,000 units/hr. and without the frequently utilized initial large intravenous bolus. Such low-dose streptokinase infusion should, theoretically, limit the incidence of recognized dose-related complications and permit its use in clinical settings where higher dosages are contraindicated. Intra-arterial streptokinase therapy seems particularly suitable for the high surgical risk patient and in arterial lesions not amenable to surgery. The availability of this potentially efficacious therapy suggests that aggressive diagnostic studies be pursued early in patients suspected of having an acute renal arterial embolus.

Perirenal malignant Schwannoma presenting as renal cell carcinoma.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of a fifty-six-year-old male with microscopic hematuria led to radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Histologic examination by light and electronmicroscopy was most compatible with malignant schwannoma. The tumor was close to the kidney without actual renal involvement. This case is of interest for both its rarity and its unusual presentation.

Antibody-coated bacteria in urine of patients with ileal conduit urinary diversion.

The antibody-coated bacteria (ACB) test is a helpful adjunct for differentiating pyelonephritis from cystitis in the intact urinary tract, particularly in female patients. This test was used in patients with ileal conduits and infected urine in an attempt to determine whether bacilluria was of renal or conduit origin. Every patient with infected conduit urine had a positive ACB test even though no patient had clinical stigmas of acute pyelonephritis. In patients with ileal conduits, the ACB test cannot be used alone as an indicator that bacilluria is a cause of symptoms or renal damage.

Management of penile incarceration.

A case of penile incarceration is presented. Two steel bushings compromising the penile vascular supply in a young man were removed with the aid of a carbide disk dental drill. Management of this case is described, and guidelines for managing similar cases of penile incarceration are discussed.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome complicating percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.

In an otherwise healthy thirty-six-year-old man adult respiratory distress syndrome developed following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Absorption of a large volume of irrigating solution occurred during the procedure and resulted in respiratory compromise, neither of which was appreciated intraoperatively. Close intraoperative monitoring of irrigation fluid input and output is necessary, and if a significant discrepancy develops, we believe the procedure should be terminated and diuresis instituted. In a difficult procedure, consideration should be given to establishing a maximum operating time and shortened if patient risk factors so warrant.

Vena cava tumor thrombus from renal cell carcinoma arising from adrenal vein.

Renal cell carcinoma is a highly vascular tumor with the propensity to propagate along venous channels. Vena cava tumor thrombi are reported to occur in approximately 4-10 per cent of cases and requires modification of the standard radical nephrectomy. We report the first 3 cases of vena caval tumor thrombus emanating not from the renal vein, but from the adrenal vein. The recognition of this occurrence is essential in order to avert an intraoperative catastrophe.

Urinary undiversion in patients with myelodysplasia and neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Report of a workshop.

This workshop was conducted in an attempt to analyze critically the role of reconstruction of the myelodysplastic patient who had undergone urinary diversion and to develop guidelines for selecting those patients in whom urinary undiversion might be undertaken safely. The collective experience initially seems to be acceptable; however, the authors emphasize the gravity of the decision and the complexity of the evaluation which must be undertaken prior to embarking on such reconstructive surgery. Contrary to some reports, we believe that the defunctionalized bladder frequently can be evaluated. Further, many of the contraindications to urinary undiversion have been identified and several of the hazards involved therein can be avoided. We believe that the neurogenic bladder is no longer an absolute contraindication to undiversion. Our experience suggests that undiversion is a reasonable surgical treatment in select patient with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. But, the decision to remove a satisfactorily functioning conduit must not be undertaken lightly. Patients should be selected only after a thorough, detailed, and properly conducted evaluation. A protocol has been developed which will hopefully assist in this evaluation. Perhaps additional shared experience will further refine and delineate the circumstances appropriate for reconstruction of these patients.

The incontinent myelodysplastic patient.

Urinary incontinence is a socially devastating aspect of the lives of many myelodysplastic children. Incontinence results from abnormal bladder storage function, urethral sphincteric incompetence, or both. Unfortunately, the vesicourethral dysfunction in an individual patient cannot be discerned from the level of the vertebral defect or the coexisting neurologic deficits. Therefore, thorough urodynamic assessment is required to identify altered physiology precisely and to guide rational treatment. Our therapeutic armamentarium includes external devices, intermittent self-catheterization, pharmacologic therapy, prosthetics, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, and innovative surgical procedures. Comprehensive evaluation, thoughtful tailoring of therapy to the individual patient, and a commitment by the urologist to indefinite follow-up will enable most patients to attain social continence while preserving renal function.

Sertoli cell tumor (gonadal stromal tumor) in an infant.

An 8-mo-old boy had an orchiectomy for a Sertoli cell tumor. Malignancy was suspected histologically. He underwent a retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and no nodes contained metastases. The histologic criteria for malignancy in Sertoli cell tumors are controversial. Individual case reports of patients with these tumors are encouraged to help establish their natural history and optimum management.

Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis of the abdominal wall in pediatric patients.

Soft tissue infections of the abdominal wall in 14 children were classified as cellulitis (8), necrotizing fasciitis (5), or myositis/myonecrosis (1). These 3 categories were characterized by increasing anatomic depth of infection, clinical severity, and need for more radical surgical treatment. Ten of the 14 children were neonates. The most frequent associations were omphalitis (5), necrotizing enterocolitis (4), and urachal anomalies (3). The severest infections were usually polymicrobial and contained both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Important clinical findings in children with necrotizing fasciitis and myositis/myonecrosis were tachycardia, systemic toxicity, severe edema, and, in older children, pain out of proportion to the apparent degree of infection. None of the children had fever or crepitation of the wound. An ominous sign, indicative of the need for immediate, radical debridement was the appearance of a patch of dusky or gangrenous skin. There were two deaths associated with delayed diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. One child did not receive radical debridement, and the other received it too late to be of benefit. Although these infections are rare in children, their lethal potential and early diagnostic signs must be recognized.

Female smokers have increased postoperative narcotic requirements.

This study investigated the influence of tobacco use on postoperative narcotic requirements of female patients following pelvic surgery. The history of tobacco use was taken by telephone survey, and the amount of postoperative narcotic used was obtained from a retrospective review of the patients' hospital charts. Postoperative narcotic use for patients who never smoked was 10.9 mg/12 hr (n = 83, S.E. = 0.5), for former smokers was 13.0 mg/12 hr (n = 33, S.E. = 0.8) and for current smokers was 13.1 mg/12 hr (n = 53, S.E. = 0.7). Patients who never smoked used significantly less narcotic than former smokers (p = .02) or current smokers (p = .007). There was no difference between current and former smokers. Patients who have smoked required more narcotic for postoperative pain control. This effect was equally strong for former as for current smokers.