Do candidates for penile implant prefer their doctors or another implanted patient as their information source? Results of a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction incidence is about 19-26 cases for every 1000 men/year, requiring about 20,000 penile implants/year. There is high demand for information on the part of patients, however, there is a lack of evidence about the sources of information prior to penile implant and the figure of the Expert Patient (EP) has never been described in this area. AIMS: To evaluate the sources of information used by candidates for penile implant as well as to describe the role of the EP as an information source. METHODS: Pilot study of candidates for penile prosthesis. Patients already implanted attending for exchange or reallocation surgery were excluded. Each patient had an interview with an EP, and commercial documentation was given. Each source of information was evaluated in a face-to-face interview. SPSS™ version 20.0 was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The EP was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 questionnaire, and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction. Each source of information was evaluated by a non-validated 6-section questionnaire. RESULTS: Ten patients were included. Mean age was 60±10.3 years. Medical interview with the urologist resulted in a global value and truthfulness score of 9.2±.9 and 9.8±.4, respectively. Commercial information had a global score of 8.5±.9 and a truthfulness score of 8.6±.6, while the internet had 6.8±.8 points for global value and 7.2±1 for truthfulness. The global score of the EP was 8.7±1.2 points and their veracity scored 9.6±.5 points. CONCLUSIONS: The urologist remains the main source of information for patients with erectile dysfunction candidates for penile prosthesis implant. However, the EP is an alternative and could be a key pillar in presurgical counselling.

ANalogical UroFlowmetry (ANUF): Correspondence Between This New Visual Pictogram and Uroflowmetry in Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A new approach for the study of male micturition dynamics.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between a new visual tool (ANalogical UroFlowmetry (ANUF)) and uroflowmetry (UF) parameters when performed to assess male lower urinary tract symptoms (MLUTS). METHODS: We configured an original pictogram composed of 4 different urine streams. In the setting of a University Hospital based prospective study where 545 men were enrolled between September 2018 and January 2019. Variables collected were age, UF pattern, Qmax, average flow rate (Qave), voided volume, postvoid residual, and selected image. The Spearman's rank test, ANOVA, and Tukey test, as well as the lineal regression model were used. RESULTS: A total of 358 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 64.6 ± 12 years. Mean value and standard deviationfor the Qmax were 20.4 ± 10.5 mL/s for Image1; 15.5 ± 6.4 mL/s for Image2; 13.5 ± 6.0 mL/s for Image3 and 10.4 ± 5.4 mL/s for Image4. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between ANUF and Qmax (r = -0.317; P<.0001), and ANUF and Qave (r = -0.305; P<.0001). Qmax mean values among images were statistically different when compared in pairs, except Image1 and Image2 (P= .153). The confidence intervals calculated through the lineal regression model for the Qmax and each image were Image1) 17.8, confidence interval [CI] 95%: [14.9-21.5] mL/s; Image2) 14.3, CI 95%: [13.0-15.7] mL/s; Image3) 12.3, CI 95%: [11.5-13.1] mL/s and Image4) 9.1, CI 95%: [8.1-10.3] mL/s. CONCLUSION: According to our results, ANUF is a useful and inexpensive tool presenting a correlation with the Qmax as well a correspondence of each image with a range of Qmax and its mean value.

Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD): do genetic disorders modify assisted reproductive technologies outcomes? / Ausencia congénita bilateral del conducto deferente: ¿Modifican las alteraciones genéticas los resultados de las tecnicas de reproducción asistida?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of common Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene mutations, 5T polymorphism and presence of severe Cystic Fibrosis (CF) on fertility outcomes with Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) in patients presenting Congenital Bilateral Absence of Vas Deferens (CBAVD). METHODS: A comparative observational cohort study was performed from 2002 to 2018 with 51 patients with diagnosis of CBAVD. Presence of CFTR mutations and 5T, CF, pregnancy and newborn rates were analyzed. RESULTS: 80.4% percent had some mutation of CFTR gene being ΔF508 the most common (51%). The most frequently described genotype was the 7T/9T (31.4%) with the presence of 5T polymorphism in up to 25.5% of cases. Global newborn rates were 34% in the group using partner spermatozoa. When comparing 5T presence, we observed a decrease in newborn rates when carrying this mutation, without obtaining statistical significance (newborn rate: 5T/non-5T: 7.1/28%, p 0.45). No differences were found when comparing presence of severe CF, common CFTR gene mutations and ICSI-related parameters. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the presence of 5T polymporphism in CBAVD patients may add information when predicting the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar el impacto de las mutaciones del gen CFTR regulador de la conductancia transmembrana de la fibrosis quística, los polimorfismos 5T y la presencia de fibrosis quística (FQ) grave en los resultados de fertilidad de las técnicas de reproducción asistida en pacientes que presentan ausencia bilateral congénita de conductos deferentes.MÉTODOS: Estudio comparativo observacional de cohortes realizado desde 2002 hasta 2018 con 51 pacientes con el diagnóstico de ausencia bilateral congénita de conductos deferentes. Se analizaron la presencia de mutaciones del gen CFTR y 5T, fibrosis quística y tasas de embarazo y nacimientos. RESULTADOS: 80,4% tenían alguna mutación del CFTR siendo la ΔF508 la más frecuente (51%). El genotipo descrito con mayor frecuencia era 7T/9T (31,4%) con la presencia de polimorfismo 5T en hasta el 25,5% de los casos. Las tasas de nacimientos globales fueron del 34% en el grupo que utilizaba espermatozoides del marido. Cuando se compara la presencia de 5T, observamos una disminución en las tasas de nacimientos en los portadores de esta mutación, sin obtener significación estadística (Tasa de nacimientos 5T/no-5T: 7,1/28%, p=0,45). No se encontraron diferencias en la comparativa entre la presencia de FQ severa, mutaciones comunes del gen CFTR y los parámetros relacionados con la ICSI. CONCLUSIONES: El análisis de la presencia de polimorfismo 5T en los pacientes con ausencia bilateral congénita de conductos deferentes puede añadir información para la predicción de los resultados de las técnicas de reproducción asistida.

Clinical profile of motor neuron disease patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and neurogenic bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are frequent in motor neuron disease (MND) patients, but clinical factors related to them are unknown. We describe differences in LUTS among MND phenotypes and their relationship with other clinical characteristics, including prognosis. METHODS: For this study, we collected clinical data of a previously published cohort of patients diagnosed with classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (cALS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) or primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) with and without LUTS. Familial history was recorded and the C9ORF72 expansion was analysed in the entire cohort. Patients were followed-up for survival until August 2016. RESULTS: Fifty-five ALS patients (37 cALS, 10 PMA and 8 PLS) were recruited. Twenty-four reported LUTS and neurogenic bladder (NB) could be demonstrated in nine of them. LUTS were not influenced by age, phenotype, disability, cognitive or behavioural impairment, or disease progression, but female sex appeared to be a protective factor (OR=0.39, p=0.06). Neither family history nor the C9ORF72 expansion was linked to LUTS or NB. In the multivariate analysis, patients reporting LUTS early in the disease course tended to show poorer survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, LUTS appear to be more frequent in male MND patients, but are not related to age, clinical or genetic characteristics. When reported early, LUTS could be a sign of rapid disease spread and poor prognosis. Further prospective longitudinal and neuroimaging studies are warranted to confirm this hypothesis.

Urodynamic findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: Results from a pilot study.

AIMS: To determine lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) prevalence and urodynamic findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients treated in our hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional and descriptive study on a cohort of ALS patients. Validated questionnaires (ICIQ-SF, IPSS, and OAB-V8) were self-administered in order to evaluate the presence of LUTS. Symptoms were classified as clinically significant (csLUTS), if any of following scores, IPSS > 7, ICIQ-SF > 0, or OAB-V8 ≥ 8, were present. Urodynamic study was offered to csLUTS patients. Physical examination and prostate ultrasound were also performed. RESULTS: Fifty five of seventy nine (70%) ALS patients accepted to participate in the study. Only 24/55 (43.6%) patients met criteria for csLUTS and 13 patients reported urgency urinary incontinence (26.3%). Most of csLUTS patients complained of mixed symptoms (82.6%). QoL measured by IPSS was 2.1 ± 1.5, 20% scoring as mostly dissatisfied or unhappy. Average QoL ICIQ-SF scoring was 3.17 ± 3, 33% complained of moderate to severe bother. Ten of twenty four (41.7%) csLUTS patients consented to UDS. The most frequent finding was detrusor overactivity with obstruction due to non-relaxing external sphincter (five patients) or bladder neck (two patients). Two patients showed normal bladder filling but non-relaxing external sphincter during voiding. UDS was normal in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: In this small pilot study we found a high prevalence of csLUTS in ALS which are mainly related to a combination of voiding and storage symptoms. In most patients, symptoms are caused by overactive detrusor combined with non-relaxing sphincter. Severity of symptoms and impact in QoL is only moderate but in a subset of patients can be considerable. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:626-631, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Local Treatment of Penile Prosthesis Infection as Alternative to Immediate Salvage Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Penile prosthesis (PP) is the established treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who do not respond to phosphodiesterase inhibitors and intracavernosal injections. In general, these devices have been largely successful but there are not free of serious complication such as PP infection (PPI). PPI requires immediate surgical removal or salvage rescue of the PP. AIM: In this report, we present two clinical cases with inflatable PP (IPP) treated locally with antibiotic and high pressure irrigation and then avoid the PP removal or salvage rescue. METHODS: We present two patients with PPI in our institution and literature review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of the two cases. RESULTS: Patient A (A) was 44 years old and patient B (B) 51 years old presented PPI after three weeks (A) and eight weeks (B). Both patients were diabetic. Physical exploration revealed an open scrotal incision at its margin with a clear discharge. The rest of the incision and scrotum were clean and dry. They had not scrotum pain/tenderness or systemic/septic symptoms. The bacterial culture of the incisional drainage revealed a Staphylococcus aureus (A) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (B). In both cases, we performed an excision of the tissue around the pump with a high pressure pulsed irrigation (Interpulse; Stryker Corp, Kalamazoo, MI, USA). For the irrigation we used three different solutions that included povidone-iodine, antibiotics (gentamicin plus vancomicin), and hydrogen peroxyde. Finally, we performed a multilayered surgical closure with the use of aspirate drainage over 24 hours and intravenous antibiotics. The patients had a total resolution of its symptoms after 20 months (A) and 36 months (B), and the IPP worked properly. CONCLUSION: This treatment could be an option for to perform specific patients with local IPP infection without systemic symptoms instead of surgical removal.

Evaluation of Adult Acute Scrotum in the Emergency Room: Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, Management, and Costs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinic characteristics, diagnosis, management, and costs of the adult acute scrotum in the emergency room (ER). Acute scrotum is a syndrome characterized by intense, acute scrotal pain that may be accompanied by other symptoms. It is usual in children and commonly found as well in adults, with different causal pathologies between these groups. METHODS: Between November 2013 and September 2014, 669 cases of adult acute scrotum who presented to our ER were prospectively analyzed. Patients under 15 years of age were excluded. Patient age, reason for consultation, investigations performed, final diagnosis, management, and costs were evaluated. For the statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis U, and chi-square tests were used. RESULTS: A total of 669 cases of acute scrotum were analyzed. The mean age at presentation was 40.2 ± 17.3 years. The most presented diagnoses were orchiepididymitis (28.7%), epididymitis (28.4%), symptoms of uncertain etiology (25.1%), and orchitis (10.3%). Diagnostic tests were carried out in 57.8% of cases. Most cases were treated as outpatients (94.2%), with 5.83% admitted and 1% undergoing surgical treatment. Overall, 13.3% of patients represented to the ER. Abnormal results in blood and urine tests were more common among older patients and infectious pathologies. The average cost generated by an acute scrotum ER consult was 195.03€. CONCLUSION: Infectious pathologies are the most common causes of acute scrotum at ER. Abnormal blood and urine tests are unusual and are more common in older patients and infectious pathologies.

[Metastatic urinary bladder involvement in breast cancer]. / AFECTACIÓN VESICAL METASTÁSICA DEL CÁNCER DE MAMA.

OBJECTIVE: To contribute to the literature with three unusual cases of primary breast tumor with metastasis to the urinary bladder. METHODS: Presentation of the three clinical cases and bibliographic review. RESULTS: Three women, with an average age of 49.3 years, were diagnosed with invasive lobular breast carcinoma. Two of them suffered from hematuria after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The third patient was diagnosed incidentally after a routine CT scan. Upon diagnosis of the bladder metastases, they already had metastasis in other locations. The treatment of the three cases was palliative. The cause of death was due to additional pathologies. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of bladder metastases due to breast cancer is infrequent. The appearance of urinary tract symptoms in these patients requires a diagnostic study in order to rule out metastases.

Are urology residents ready to treat premature ejaculation after their training?

INTRODUCTION: The management of premature ejaculation (PE) among urology residents (URs) in the era of standard definition and new treatments is unknown. AIM: To determine how future urologists currently address PE and to review their adherence to guidelines. METHODS: A specifically designed survey on the preferred approaches to the treatment of PE was given to residents during the Eighth European Urology Education Programme. The results were tabled, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze differences in practice patterns. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The responses are compared with clinical guidelines and recommendations. RESULTS: A total of 360 URs attended the recommendation course, and 140 answered the survey (response rate: 38.8%). Seventeen (12.1%) of the respondents considered PE to be a very common sexual dysfunction, 62 (44.3%) considered PE to be frequent, 33 (23.6%) considered this condition uncommon, and 28 (20%) did not consider PE to be a dysfunction. Regarding incidents, 67 residents (47.9%) treated one patient per week. To assess PE, 132 (94.3%) used sexual history, 37 (26.4%) used physical examination, 38 (27.1%) used questionnaires, and 4 (2.9%) used laboratory testing. The preferred initial management strategy for PE was psychological/behavioral therapy for 65 (46.4%) residents. Topical anesthetic, andrological referral, and prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on demand were favored by 34 (24.3%), 19 (13.6%), and 8 (12.9%) of the respondents, respectively. Other options were psychiatric referral, which was preferred by two (1.4%) respondents, and prescription of daily SSRIs, which was preferred by two (1.4%) respondents. The preferred secondary treatment for patients who did not improve initially was prescription of SSRIs for on demand, which was 46 (32.9%) respondents. In cases where patients had concomitant erectile dysfunction (ED), 16 (11.4%) URs treated only the ED and 60 (42.9%) treated both conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of URs follow the established guidelines for diagnosis of PE, but not for treatment. The URs have an insufficient medical education in sexual medicine.

Usefulness of bladder-prostate ultrasound in the diagnosis of obstruction/hyperactivity in males with BPH.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of prostate ultrasound in the diagnosis of infravesical obstruction (IVO) and detrusor hyperactivity(DH). METHODS: Prospective study with 39 patients consulting for LUTS. Clinical history was compiled, IPSS was determined, a digital rectal exam was performed, abdominal ultrasound was used to calculate detrusor thickness/weight, prostate volume, and middle lobe length (MLL). Urodynamic study (UD) was performed with determination of the Abrams-Griffiths number and ICS nomogram. Mean values were compared with Mann-Whitney U-test, and ROC curves were plotted determining the cutoff points for optimum sensitivity/specificity. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.1 years (SD: 7.8), with a mean IPSS score of 14 (SD: 6). 53.8% of the patients presented IVO at UD evaluation, and 43.6% DH. The differences between free flowmetry Qmax(p=0.015) and MLL (p=0.003) between patients with and without IVO proved significant. The ROC curves yielded an AUC for middle lobe length of 0.772, with a maximum sensitivity and specificity cutoff point at 10.5 mm (sensitivity 90%, specificity 73%, PPV 76%, NPV 85%). There were no significant differences in any parameter between patients with and without DH. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound MLL measurement in patients with LUTS offers high sensitivity/specificity in diagnosing IVO, with a cutoff point of 10.5 mm. In our study it wasn't effective in the noninvasive diagnosis of DH.

Evaluation of a severity score to predict the prognosis of Fournier's gangrene.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity of a Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI), developed to assign a numerical score describing the severity of FG, and evaluate factors in the survival of patients with FG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients diagnosed with FG between 1994 and 2006. Data were collected on their medical history, which included vital signs (temperature, heart and respiratory rates) and metabolic variables (sodium, potassium, creatinine, bicarbonate levels, haematocrit, and white blood cell count). We computed a score relating to the severity of the disease at the time, and compared it to other features according to whether the patient survived or died. The different prognostic factors were assessed by univariate analysis with the Mann-Whitney U and Kendall A-B tests. RESULTS: Of the evaluated 51 inpatients, eight died (16%) and 43 survived (84%). The median (range) age was 63 (17-85) years and the median time from the onset of the symptoms until the admission to the emergency room was 7.8 (1-60) days. The mean hospital stay was 33 (2-90) days and 17 patients were admitted to the intensive-care unit for a mean of 4.5 days. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Body surfaces involved were the scrotum in five patients (10%), the penis and scrotum in 11 (22%), the scrotum and perineum in 30 (59%) and the abdominal wall in five (10%). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution in those who survived or died (P = 0.131). The median age of 60 (17-81) years in the survivors was significantly lower than that of 73.5 (50-85) years in those who died (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference (P = 0.06) between the number of repeated debridements in the survivors (3.23) and those who died (5.25). The mean (range) FGSI score for survivors was 6.7 (0-14), vs 8.7 (6-13) for those who died (P = 0.12). The only laboratory variables associated with death were serum bicarbonate (P = 0.04) and serum sodium (P = 0.02) levels. CONCLUSIONS: FG is an unpredictable disease process with wide variability in its presentation. In our experience, the FGSI gives no indication of the likelihood of survival, but the risk factors for predicting the severity of FG seem to be greater in older patients and those with high sodium and low bicarbonate levels.