A machine learning approach using stone volume to predict stone-free status at ureteroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: To develop a predictive model incorporating stone volume along with other clinical and radiological factors to predict stone-free (SF) status at ureteroscopy (URS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing URS for kidney stone disease at our institution from 2012 to 2021. SF status was defined as stone fragments < 2 mm at the end of the procedure confirmed endoscopically and no evidence of stone fragments > 2 mm at XR KUB or US KUB at 3 months follow up. We specifically included all non-SF patients to optimise our algorithm for identifying instances with residual stone burden. SF patients were also randomly sampled over the same time period to ensure a more balanced dataset for ML prediction. Stone volumes were measured using preprocedural CT and combined with 19 other clinical and radiological factors. A bagged trees machine learning model with cross-validation was used for this analysis. RESULTS: 330 patients were included (SF: n = 276, not SF: n = 54, mean age 59.5 ± 16.1 years). A fivefold cross validated RUSboosted trees model has an accuracy of 74.5% and AUC of 0.82. The model sensitivity and specificity were 75% and 72.2% respectively. Variable importance analysis identified total stone volume (17.7% of total importance), operation time (14.3%), age (12.9%) and stone composition (10.9%) as important factors in predicting non-SF patients. Single and cumulative stone size which are commonly used in current practice to guide management, only represented 9.4% and 4.7% of total importance, respectively. CONCLUSION: Machine learning can be used to predict patients that will be SF at the time of URS. Total stone volume appears to be more important than stone size in predicting SF status. Our findings could be used to optimise patient counselling and highlight an increasing role of stone volume to guide endourological practice and future guidelines.

The Effect of Protective Coil Embolization of Penile Anastomoses during Prostatic Artery Embolization on Erectile Function: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

PURPOSE: To explore whether coil embolization of penile collateral arteries to prevent nontarget embolization during prostatic artery embolization (PAE) negatively affects erectile function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on a prospectively maintained multicenter PAE database on all patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (January 2014 to July 2016). International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores were collected at baseline and within 12 months after the procedure. A logistic regression and nearest neighbor propensity-matched analysis (matched for age, baseline IIEF-5 scores, and use of 5α-reductase inhibitors) and paired t test were used to evaluate for differential impact on IIEF-5 scores between the group of patients who underwent (unilateral) penile collateral coil embolization and a matched control group of patients who did not. RESULTS: Of a total of 216 patients, 26 underwent coil protection of an accessory pudendal vessel/penile collateral. After exclusions, 22 propensity-matched pairs were identified. The mean IIEF-5 score at baseline for the coil-embolized group was 14.8 ± 8.3 (out of a possible score of 30) and that for the matched control group was 14.0 ± 7.8. At the 12-month follow-up after the procedure, the mean follow-up IIEF-5 score was 15.5 ± 8.0 for the coil-embolized group and 14.2 ± 8.2 for the matched control group. The change in IIEF-5 scores after PAE was not significantly different between the 2 groups (0.66 ± 3.8 vs 0.20 ± 2.0; P = .64; 95% CI, -1.53 to 2.44). CONCLUSIONS: When penile collateral arteries were identified, protective coil embolization of penile collateral/accessory pudendal vessels during PAE was unlikely to affect erectile function negatively.

Proactive inhibition is marked by differences in the pattern of motor cortex activity during movement preparation and execution.

Successful human behavior relies on the ability to flexibly alter movements depending on the context in which they are made. One such context-dependent modulation is proactive inhibition, a type of behavioral inhibition used when anticipating the need to stop or change movements. We investigated how the motor cortex might prepare and execute movements made under different contexts. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in different coil orientations [postero-anterior (PA) and antero-posterior (AP) flowing currents] and pulse widths (120 and 30 µs) to probe the excitability of different inputs to corticospinal neurons while participants performed two reaction time tasks: a simple reaction time task and a stop-signal task requiring proactive inhibition. We took inspiration from state space models to assess whether the pattern of motor cortex activity changed due to proactive inhibition (PA and AP neuronal circuits represent the x and y axes of a state space upon which motor cortex activity unfolds during motor preparation and execution). We found that the rise in motor cortex excitability was delayed when proactive inhibition was required. State space visualizations showed altered patterns of motor cortex activity (combined PA120 and AP30 activity) during proactive inhibition, despite adjusting for reaction time. Overall, we show that the pattern of neural activity generated by the motor cortex during movement preparation and execution is dependent upon the context under which the movement is to be made.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using directional TMS, we find that the human motor cortex flexibly changes its pattern of neural activity depending on the context in which a movement is due to be made. Interestingly, this occurs despite adjusting for reaction time. We also show that state space and dynamical systems models of movement can be noninvasively visualized in humans using TMS, thereby offering a novel method to study these powerful models in humans.

Emergency upper urinary tract decompression: double-J stent or nephrostomy? A European YAU/ESUT/EULIS/BSIR survey among urologists and radiologists.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the decompression of the pelvicalyceal system between urologists and radiologists. METHODS: A survey was distributed to urologists and to radiologists comparing double-J stent (DJS), percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) and primary ureteroscopy (URS) for three clinical scenarios (1-febrile hydronephrosis; 2-obstruction and persistent pain; 3-obstruction and anuria) before and after reading literature The survey included perception on radiation dose, cost and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Response rate was 40% (366/915). 93% of radiologists believe that DJS offers a better QOL compared to 70.6% of urologists (p = 0.006). 28.4% of urologists consider PN to be more expensive compared to 8.9% of radiologists (p = 0.006). 75% of radiologists believe that radiation exposure is higher with DJS as opposed to 33.9% of urologists. There was not a difference in the decompression preference in the first scenario. After reading the literature, 28.6% of radiologists changed their opinion compared to 5.2% of urologists (p < 0.001). The change favored DJS. In the second scenario, responders preferred equally DJS and they did not change their opinion. In the third scenario, 41% of radiologists chose PN as opposed to 12.6% of urologists (p < 0.001). After reading the literature, 17.9% of radiologists changed their opinion compared to 17.9% of urologists (p < 0.001), in favor of DJS. Although the majority of urologists (63.4%) consistently perform primary URS, only 3, 37 and 21% preferred it for the first, second and third scenarios, respectively. CONCLUSION: The decision on the type of drainage of a stone-obstructing hydronephrosis should be individualized.

Impaired automatic but intact volitional inhibition in primary tic disorders.

The defining character of tics is that they can be transiently suppressed by volitional effort of will, and at a behavioural level this has led to the concept that tics result from a failure of inhibition. However, this logic conflates the mechanism responsible for the production of tics with that used in suppressing them. Volitional inhibition of motor output could be increased to prevent the tic from reaching the threshold for expression, although this has been extensively investigated with conflicting results. Alternatively, automatic inhibition could prevent the initial excitation of the striatal tic focus-a hypothesis we have previously introduced. To reconcile these competing hypotheses, we examined different types of motor inhibition in a group of 19 patients with primary tic disorders and 15 healthy volunteers. We probed proactive and reactive inhibition using the conditional stop-signal task, and applied transcranial magnetic stimulation to the motor cortex, to assess movement preparation and execution. We assessed automatic motor inhibition with the masked priming task. We found that volitional movement preparation, execution and inhibition (proactive and reactive) were not impaired in tic disorders. We speculate that these mechanisms are recruited during volitional tic suppression, and that they prevent expression of the tic by inhibiting the nascent excitation released by the tic generator. In contrast, automatic inhibition was abnormal/impaired in patients with tic disorders. In the masked priming task, positive and negative compatibility effects were found for healthy controls, whereas patients with tics exhibited strong positive compatibility effects, but no negative compatibility effect indicative of impaired automatic inhibition. Patients also made more errors on the masked priming task than healthy control subjects and the types of errors were consistent with impaired automatic inhibition. Errors associated with impaired automatic inhibition were positively correlated with tic severity. We conclude that voluntary movement preparation/generation and volitional inhibition are normal in tic disorders, whereas automatic inhibition is impaired-a deficit that correlated with tic severity and thus may constitute a potential mechanism by which tics are generated.

Outcomes of Renal Tumors Treated by Image-Guided Percutaneous Cryoablation: Immediate and 3- and 5-Year Outcomes at a Regional Center.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and 3- and 5-year outcomes of patients with clinical stage T1 (cT1) biopsy-proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated by image-guided percutaneous cryoablation at a regional interventional oncology center. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A prospectively maintained local interventional radiology database identified patients with cT1 RCC lesions that were treated by percutaneous cryoablation. Technical success, procedural complications (graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification system), and the residual unablated tumor rate were collated. Local tumor progression-free survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS. A total of 180 patients with 185 separate cT1 RCC lesions were identified. Mean patient age was 68.4 years (range, 34.1-88.9 years) and 52 patients (28.9%) were women. There were 168 (90.8%) and 17 (9.2%) cT1a and cT1b lesions, respectively, with a mean lesion size of 28.5 mm (range, 11-58 mm). Technical success was achieved in 183 of 185 (98.9%) patients. The major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade III) was 2.2% (four out of 185). Residual unablated tumor on the first follow-up scan was identified in four of 183 tumors (2.2%). Estimated local tumor progression-free survival at 3 and 5 years was 98.3% and 94.9%, respectively. No distant metastases or deaths attributable to RCC occurred. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before the procedure was 72.4 ± 18.5 (SD) mL/min/1.73 m2 and this was not statistically significantly different after the procedure (69.7 ± 18.8 mL/min/1.73 m2), at 1 year (70.7 ± 16.4 mL/min/1.73 m2), or at 2 years (69.8 ± 18.9 mL/min/1.73 m2) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION. These data add to the accumulating evidence that image-guided cryoablation is an efficacious treatment for selected cT1 RCC with a low complication rate and ro bust 3- and 5-year outcomes.

Efficacy and safety of prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia: an observational study and propensity-matched comparison with transurethral resection of the prostate (the UK-ROPE study).

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of prostate artery embolization (PAE) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to conduct an indirect comparison of PAE with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: As a joint initiative between the British Society of Interventional Radiologists, the British Association of Urological Surgeons and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, we conducted the UK Register of Prostate Embolization (UK-ROPE) study, which recruited 305 patients across 17 UK urological/interventional radiology centres, 216 of whom underwent PAE and 89 of whom underwent TURP. The primary outcomes were International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improvement in the PAE group at 12 months post-procedure, and complication data post-PAE. We also aimed to compare IPSS score improvements between the PAE and TURP groups, using non-inferiority analysis on propensity-score-matched patient pairs. The clinical results and urological measurements were performed at clinical sites. IPSS and other questionnaire-based results were mailed by patients directly to the trial unit managing the study. All data were uploaded centrally to the UK-ROPE study database. RESULTS: The results showed that PAE was clinically effective, producing a median 10-point IPSS improvement from baseline at 12 months post-procedure. PAE did not appear to be as effective as TURP, which produced a median 15-point IPSS score improvement at 12 months post-procedure. These findings are further supported by the propensity score analysis, in which we formed 65 closely matched pairs of patients who underwent PAE and patients who underwent TURP. In terms of IPSS and quality-of-life (QoL) improvement, there was no evidence of PAE being non-inferior to TURP. Patients in the PAE group had a statistically significant improvement in maximum urinary flow rate and prostate volume reduction at 12 months post-procedure. PAE had a reoperation rate of 5% before 12 months and 15% after 12 months (20% total rate), and a low complication rate. Of 216 patients, one had sepsis, one required a blood transfusion, four had local arterial dissection and four had a groin haematoma. Two patients had non-target embolization that presented as self-limiting penile ulcers. Additional patient-reported outcomes, pain levels and return to normal activities were very encouraging for PAE. Seventy-one percent of PAE cases were performed as outpatient or day cases. In contrast, 80% of TURP cases required at least 1 night of hospital stay, and the majority required 2 nights. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that PAE provides a clinically and statistically significant improvement in symptoms and QoL, although some of these improvements were greater in the TURP arm. The safety profile and quicker return to normal activities may be seen as highly beneficial by patients considering PAE as an alternative treatment to TURP, with the concomitant advantages of reduced length of hospital stay and need for admission after PAE. PAE is an advanced embolization technique demanding a high level of expertise, and should be performed by experienced interventional radiologists who have been trained and proctored appropriately. The use of cone-beam computed tomography is encouraged to improve operator confidence and minimize non-target embolizations. The place of PAE in the care pathway is between that of drugs and surgery, allowing the clinician to tailor treatment to individual patients' symptoms, requirements and anatomical variation.

Is use of laser really essential for release of tongue-tie?

Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is a congenital condition characterized by a short, thickened, or abnormally tight lingual frenulum. This anomaly can cause a varying degree of reduced tongue mobility and has been associated with functional limitations including breastfeeding difficulties, atypical swallowing habits, speech articulation problems, mechanical problems such as inability to clean the oral cavity, and psychosocial stress. In this article, we report a 50-year-old female patient with tongue-tie having difficulty in speech and maintenance of oral hygiene due to high attachment of lingual frenum. The patient was managed by frenectomy by conventional method (scalpel and blade) under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure without any complications. She later required speech therapy lessons for improvement of speech.

Retrospective review of image quality of CT in polytrauma patients: comparison of patients scanned using a scoop stretcher and without a scoop stretcher.

Increasingly pre-hospital trauma management involves transfer of patients using a scoop stretcher; a number of computed tomography (CT) compatible scoops have recently appeared on the market. We sought to evaluate any differences in image quality in polytrauma patients scanned in a scoop stretcher. CT studies of 234 consecutive patients presenting between December 2011 and August 2012 at our regional level 1 tertiary trauma centre were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were allocated into two groups: those scanned with a scoop stretcher and without. CTs were reviewed by a consultant radiologist and two senior radiology trainees and graded separately for quality/artefact. A scale of 1-5 was employed: 1-uninterpretable, 2-borderline image quality, 3-acceptable, 4-good, 5-excellent. A total of 128 (54.7 %) patients were scanned in a scoop stretcher and 106 (45.3 %) were scanned without, 183 males and 51 females (average age, 46 (16-94) years; SD, 20). The average quality grading for the patients scanned in the scoop was 4.64 compared to 4.68 in those without the scoop. There was no significant grading difference between the groups, consultant (p = 0.096) and trainees (p = 0.782). No artefacts were attributable to the scoop stretcher 0/128 (0 %). Following our experience, the use of scoop stretchers is recommended for efficient, safe and practical management of trauma patients and in terms of imaging, with no detrimental effect on image quality.

Quality of life after melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion (M-PHP) for liver metastases from ocular melanoma (mUM) improves survival. Importantly, this benefit must be carefully balanced with changes in a patient's quality of life (QoL). This study examines the QoL changes post-M-PHP. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the change in QoL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) with mUM patients receiving M-PHP ( n  = 20). The FACT-G scores, which comprise physical (PWB), social (SWB), emotional (EWB) and functional (FWB) wellbeing were measured pre-procedure and at day 1, day of discharge (mean = 2.4 days), 7, 14 and 28 days after M-PHP therapy. Wilcoxon signed-rank test gauged QoL domain changes. RESULTS: Baseline FACT-G median (IQR) scores were 101.8 (21.8). QoL scoring significantly decreased immediately after the procedure [day 1; 85 (27.5); P  = 0.002] and gradually improved over time. By day 28, QoL almost returned to pre-procedure levels [100.3 (13.8); P  = 0.31]. Subscore analysis revealed that the initial drop in QoL at day 1 post-procedure was attributable to the PWB (28 vs. 24; P  = 0.001) and FWB domains (26 vs. 18.5; P  < 0.001). By day 28 there was a statistically significant improvement in EWB ( P  = 0.01). CONCLUSION: QoL following M-PHP decreases immediately after therapy and is not significantly different from baseline by the day of discharge. By day 28 there is improved emotional well-being. This study could help to optimize the time between treatment cycles when combined with toxicity data and blood count recovery.

Cardiovascular Comorbidities Do Not Impact Prostate Artery Embolisation (PAE) Outcomes: Retrospective Analysis of the National UK-ROPE Registry.

PURPOSE: Prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is a key treatment for the management of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Common cardiovascular risk factors might be associated with suboptimal outcomes and thus influence patient treatment selection. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cardiovascular comorbidities affect PAE outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective subset analysis of the UK Registry of Prostate Artery Embolisation (UK-ROPE) database was performed with patients who had a full documented past medical histories including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes and smoking status as well as international prostate symptom score (IPSS) at baseline and at 12 months. Multiple regression was performed to assess for any significant predictors. RESULTS: Comorbidity data were available for 100/216 patients (mean age 65.8 ± 6.4 years), baseline IPSS 20.9 ± 7.0). Regression analysis revealed that the presence of hypertension (53.7% IPSS reduction vs. absence 51.4%, p = 0.94), diabetes (52.6% vs. absence 52.1%, p = 0.6), CAD (59.2% vs. absence 51.4%, p = 0.95), no comorbidities (49.8% vs. any comorbidity present 55.3%, p = 0.66), smoking status (non-smoker, 52.6%, current smoker, 61.5%, ex-smoker, 49.8%, p > 0.05), age (p = 0.52) and baseline Qmax (p = 0.41) did not significantly impact IPSS reduction at 12 months post-PAE. Baseline prostate volume significantly influenced IPSS reduction (≥ 80 cc prostates, 58.9% vs. < 80 cc prostates 43.2%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of cardiovascular comorbidities/smoking history does not appear to significantly impact PAE symptom score outcomes at 12 months post procedure. Our findings suggest that if the prostatic artery can be accessed, then clinical success is comparable to those without cardiovascular comorbidities.

Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap--still a workhorse for maxillofacial reconstruction in developing countries.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the utility of the pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap for head, face, and neck (HFN) reconstruction in the Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hospital records of 496 patients in whom the PMMC flap was used (saving the deltopectoral flap) for reconstruction of HFN defects from January 1991 to December 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. All the patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months, and the utility of the PMMC flap was evaluated for HFN reconstruction. RESULTS: Of the 496 patients, complications developed in 84 patients. The complications included complete flap failure in 12, partial skin paddle loss in 24, wound infection in 12, peripheral wound dehiscence in 16, plate exposure in 12, and donor site morbidity such as infection and a decrease in function in 8. CONCLUSIONS: The PMMC flap or its modification was used in 496 cases of reconstruction after resection surgery for malignancy of the HFN region with minimal morbidity and 1 death. This technique is a useful alternative in places with a high incidence of HFN malignancies and microsurgical free tissue transfer is not possible or as a salvage procedure in selected large, full-thickness, oral cavity lesions. In our 19-year experience, the final functional and cosmetic results were satisfactory with this sturdy flap.

Role of Phytotherapy in the Management of BPH: A Summary of the Literature.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) describes the non-malignant enlargement of the prostate. It is both common and growing in incidence. Treatment is multimodal, involving conservative, medical, and surgical interventions. This review aims to examine the evidence base for phytotherapies, specifically analyzing their role in treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) attributable to BPH. A literature search was completed, specifically looking for randomized control trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews involving phytotherapy treating BPH. Specific emphasis was placed on exploring substance origin, the proposed mechanism of action, evidence of efficacy, and the side-effect profile. Several phytotherapeutic agents were evaluated. These included serenoa repens, cucurbita pepo, and pygeum Africanum, among others. For most of the reviewed substances, only modest effectiveness was reported. Generally, though, all treatments were tolerated well with minimal side effects. None of the treatments discussed in this paper form part of the recommended treatment algorithm in either European or American guidelines. We, therefore, conclude that phytotherapies, in the treatment of LUTS attributable to BPH, do provide a convenient option for patients, with minimal side effects. At present, however, the evidence for the usage of phytotherapy in BPH is inconclusive, with some agents having more backing than others. This remains an expansive field of urology whereby there is still more research to be done.

Liver resection for metastatic uveal melanoma: experience from a supra-regional centre and review of literature.

Management of liver metastases from uveal melanoma (LMUM) requires multimodal approach. This study describes evolution of liver resection for LMUM, reviewing current literature and institutional outcomes. Records of patients referred to the Melanoma Multi-Disciplinary Team between February 2005 and August 2018 were reviewed. All publications describing surgery for LMUM were identified from PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Thirty-one of 147 patients with LMUM underwent laparoscopic liver biopsy, and 29 (14 females) had liver resections. Nineteen liver resections were performed locally [7 major (≥3 seg), 14 laparoscopic] without major complications or mortality. Overall survival positively correlated with the time from uveal melanoma to LMUM (Spearman's rho rs = 0.859, P < 0.0001). Overall and recurrence-free survivals were comparable following R1 or R0 resections (OS 25 vs. 28 months, P = 0.404; RFS 13 vs. 6 months, P = 0.596). R1 resection cohort had longer lead-time (median 100 vs. 24 months, P = 0.0408). Eleven publications describing liver resection for LMUM were identified and included in the narrative review. Surgery for LMUM is safe and complements multidisciplinary management. Despite heterogeneity in literature, time from diagnosis of uveal melanoma to LMUM remains a key factor affecting survival after liver resection.

Laparoscopic Right Hemihepatectomy after Future Liver Remnant Modulation: A Single Surgeon's Experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy (L-RHH) is still considered a technically complex procedure, which should only be performed by experienced surgeons in specialized centers. Future liver remnant modulation (FLRM) strategies, including portal vein embolization (PVE), and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), might increase the surgical difficulty of L-RHH, due to the distortion of hepatic anatomy, periportal inflammation, and fibrosis. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of L-RHH after FLRM, when compared with ex novo L-RHH. METHODS: All consecutive right hemihepatectomies performed by a single surgeon in the period between October 2007 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes of L-RHH after FLRM and ex novo L-RHH were compared. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 33 underwent FLRM. Patients undergoing FLRM prior to L-RHH were most often male (93.9% vs. 42.3%, p < 0.001), had an ASA-score >2 (45.5% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.006), and underwent a two-stage hepatectomy (45.5% vs. 3.8% p < 0.001). L-RHH after FLRM was associated with longer operative time (median 360 vs. 300 min, p = 0.008) and Pringle duration (31 vs. 24 min, p = 0.011). Intraoperative blood loss, unfavorable intraoperative incidents, and conversion rates were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in length of hospital stay and 30-day overall and severe morbidity rates. Radical resection margin (R0) and textbook outcome rates were equal. One patient who underwent an extended RHH in the FLRM group deceased within 90 days of surgery, due to post-hepatectomy liver failure. CONCLUSION: L-RHH after FLRM is more technically complex than L-RHH ex novo, as objectified by longer operative time and Pringle duration. Nevertheless, this procedure appears safe and feasible in experienced hands.

The impact on Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), uterine fibroid size and uterine artery patency following Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) with a resorbable embolic agent.

The effect of Uterine Fibroid Embolization on fertility and ovarian reserve remains uncertain. We assessed the impact of a new resorbable, spherical particle (Gelbead) on concentration of Anti-Mullerian (AMH) hormone, fibroid volume and uterine artery patency. This prospective cohort study recruited consecutive patients from July 2017 to June 2018. Serum AMH, fibroid and uterine volume, UFS-QOL (uterine fibroid score-quality of life) scores were measured prior to and at 1 month and/or 3 months post embolization. Twenty-four participants were enrolled (median age 44 years, uterine volume 484 cm3, initial dominant fibroid volume 167 cm3). One patient was lost to follow-up. AMH (median ± SD) immediately prior to embolization was 3.2 ± 13.7 pmol/L. At 1-month postembolization, AMH was 4.1 ± 8.6 pmol/L and at 3 months 4.4 ± 8.6 pmol/L. We found no significant difference in AMH levels between baseline and at 1 month (p = 0.58) or baseline and 3 months (p = 0.17). The median dominant uterine fibroid volume decreased (167 to 64 cm3, p < 0.001). At 3 months post-embolization, 17/23 patients had patent uterine arteries bilaterally (73.9%). UFE with Gel-bead did not significantly affect AMH at 3 months post embolization, whilst maintaining a high rate of uterine artery patency.

Comprehensive Review on Current Controversies and Debate in Prostate Artery Embolization.

Prostate artery embolization is emerging as one of the most effective therapies amidst a new era of mini- mally invasive benign prostate hyperplasia treatment and technology. However, several current controver- sies remain unanswered which could impact the widespread adoption of this novel and unique transarterial(rather than transurethral) intervention. This is reflected in the differences between the UK (NICE), European (EAU), and American (AUA) guidelines, the latter of which only recommends the use of prostate arteryembolization in a clinical trial setting. The main issues include questions over the duration of symptom response, cost-effectiveness, mechanism of action, patient selection, and other procedural technical consid- erations. These factors are the most pressing faced by proponents of prostate artery embolization, and we seek to highlight why their resolution is important to ensure men with benign prostate hyperplasia seeking a minimally invasive solution are optimally informed and most effectively managed.

Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion of melphalan for metastatic uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma, the most common primary ocular malignancy in adults, carries a poor prognosis: 50% of patients develop the metastatic disease with a 10-25% 1-year survival and no established standard of care treatment. Prior studies of melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion (M-PHP) have shown promise in metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) patients with liver predominant disease but are limited by small sample sizes. We contribute our findings on the safety and efficacy of the procedure in the largest sample population to date. A retrospective analysis of outcome and safety data for all mUM patients receiving M-PHP was performed. Tumour response and treatment toxicity were evaluated using RECIST 1.1 and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.03, respectively. 250 M-PHP procedures were performed in 81 patients (median of three per patient). The analysis demonstrated a hepatic disease control rate of 88.9% (72/81), a hepatic response rate of 66.7% (54/81), and an overall response rate of 60.5% (49/81). After a median follow-up of 12.9 months, median overall progression-free (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) were 8.4 and 14.9 months, respectively. There were no fatal treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Forty-three grade 3 (29) or 4 (14) TRAE occurred in 23 (27.7%) patients with a significant reduction in such events between procedures performed in 2016-2020 vs. 2012-2016 (0.17 vs. 0.90 per patient, P < 0.001). M-PHP provides excellent response rates and PFS compared with other available treatments, with decreasing side effect profile with experience. Combination therapy with systemic agents may be viable to further advance OS.

10-year experience of Paediatric varicocele embolization in a tertiary centre with long-term follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric varicocele embolization has many benefits over surgical ligation, but lacks published long-term data. We investigated technical and clinical outcomes in this under reported patient group. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate technical success, complications and recurrence rates following varicocele embolization in paediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre retrospective review of procedural data and electronic notes of consecutive patients referred for varicocele embolization over a 10-year period was performed (February 2010-March 2020). The primary outcomes were technical success and clinical efficacy (lack of symptom recurrence). Secondary outcomes included complications, testicular vein size reduction and procedural parameters including radiation exposure. Chi-square analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical success. Follow-up involved outpatient clinical assessment and telephone interview. RESULTS: 40 patients (median age 15) were referred for left-sided symptomatic varicocele. Technical embolization success was achieved in 36/40 patients (90%), with 4 procedures abandoned (inaccessible vein). Embolization technique was platinum-based coils ± sclerosant. There were no immediate or long-term procedural complications. 32/36 patients completed short term follow-up at a median interval of 2.8 months. 30/32 (93.78%) experienced early clinical success. We found a significant reduction in peritesticular vein size following embolization (pre-3.70 vs post-2.56 mm, p = 0.00017) and a significant relationship between varicocele grade and early clinical success (χ2 = 4.2, p = 0.04), but not pre-treatment peritesticular vein size (χ2 = 0.02, p = 0.88). 33/36 patients completed long-term follow-up (median 4.2 years, range 0.36-9.9 years) producing a late clinical success rate of 93.9% (31/33). No post procedural complications including hydroceles were identified. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates technical success, matching rates described in adult patients which is reassuring and in support of embolization in the younger patient cohort. More importantly, the overall clinical success rate is comparable with previous embolization studies. Reassuringly, all symptom recurrences occurred early in follow-up, and there is a cogent argument for a single follow-up appointment at this juncture. Our long-term average follow-up duration, primarily gained via telephone interview, exceeds other studies. Although our study has the longest follow-up for varicocele embolization in children, it is limited by a few patients being lost to early and long-term follow-up. This is a recognised issue faced by studies attempting to follow-up benign conditions with a high clinical success rate. CONCLUSION: Paediatric varicocele embolization is a successful alternative to surgical ligation, with no complications and good clinical outcomes over a long-term follow-up.