The Transparency of Irrigation Fluids Used in Endoscopic Surgery.

PURPOSE: Transurethral surgery has been traditionally done using the nonelectrolyte, isotonic 1.5% glycine solution as irrigation fluid. The emergence of modern technologies, which can be applied with electrolyte solutions, such as bipolar resection and LASER evaporation, as well as the worry of transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome have driven urologists away from glycine toward the use of physiologic solution. Differences in the transparencies of these fluids have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ability to resolve two bars at 1 mm apart using a 30° cystoscope lens immersed in different solutions was studied. Physiologic solution, distilled water (DW), and 1.5% glycine solutions containing increasing concentrations of blood, from 0.5% to 2%, were tested. Solutions containing 2% blood were inspected with magnification and microscopy. RESULTS: One-millimeter resolution was reached in as much as 2% blood in 1.5% glycine solution and as much as 1% blood in DW, but in none of the blood-saline solutions. Magnified and microscopic views of 2% blood solutions showed an even distribution of red blood cells (RBCs) in physiologic solution, clumps of RBCs in 1.5% glycine, and an almost complete hemolysis in DW. CONCLUSIONS: Glycine solution increases the transparency compared to physiologic solution or DW owing to the clumping of RBCs. When the risk of TUR syndrome is low, as in resection of bladder tumors or small prostates, we propose that 1.5% glycine solution should be preferred over saline, owing to its improved visibility.

Application of continuous incisional infusion of local anesthetic after major pediatric urological surgery: prospective randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine efficacy of continuous incisional infusion of local anesthetic, ON-Q® pain relief system (Kimberly-Clark, Georgia), in improving postoperative pain, reducing narcotic requirement, and shortening recovery time after major pediatric urological surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective open-labeled randomized controlled trial comparing the ON-Q® pain relief system to standard of care pain management. Pain was assessed by nurses using the Visual Analog Scale or the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale depending on the child's age. Information regarding analgesic consumption and recovery parameters such as temperature, start of oral nutrition, and length of hospitalization were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Patient's demographic, clinical, and surgical characteristics were similar in both groups. The ON-Q® group experienced significantly lower scores of maximal daily pain episodes compared to the control on the day of surgery (1.9±1.8 vs. 4.2±2.2 p=0.009) and first postoperative day (2.28±3.2 vs. 5.47±2.45 p=0.004). Mean number of narcotic doses was significantly lower in treatment group compared to control [Total (2.21 vs. 4.6 p=0.02), POD0 (0.7 vs. 1.7 p=0.02) and POD1 (1.3 vs. 2.8 p=0.04)]. CONCLUSION: The ON-Q® system is a viable option for postoperative pain management in children undergoing urological surgeries. This technology significantly decreases the amount of maximal pain, and the need for systemic narcotic consumption.

EDTA-induced urothelial cell shedding for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer in the mouse.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intravesical EDTA instillation on the development of intravesically implanted tumor cells in normal mice. METHODS: The mouse bladder tumor (MBT-2) model was used in female C3H/eb mice to evaluate the amount of normal urothelial cell shedding, and the degree of tumor growth inhibition following intravesical EDTA instillation in comparison with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instillation. RESULTS: At 1 h after instillation, the number of urothelial cells aspirated was 500-1000 per PBS-treated mouse and 10,000-20,000 per EDTA-treated mouse (P < 0.00001). The bladder weight, which reflected the effect of the agent on the tumor, was similar in the untreated and PBS-treated mice (105.46 +/- 46 mg and 106.2 +/- 50 mg, respectively). It was significantly lower in the EDTA-treated mice (80.4 +/- 42 mg) (P = 0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: Intravesical administration of EDTA results in significant normal and neoplastic urothelial cell shedding. Intravesical irrigation with EDTA may prevent adherence of the malignant cells to the bladder wall following tumor resection.