Novel insight into the correlation between hernia orifice of cystocele and lower urinary tract function: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that women with significant pelvic organ prolapse (POP), particularly of the anterior vaginal wall, may have voiding dysfunction (VD). Although the VD mechanism due to cystocele is not fully understood, different vaginal compartments have rarely been closely examined. This study attempted to further elucidate the correlation between POP and VD through a new subgroup classification using cystoscopy. METHODS: This study reviewed clinical records of 49 women who underwent cystocele repair. All patients were scheduled for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, preoperatively underwent uroflowmetry and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) measurement, and completed pelvic floor function questionnaires. Bladder examination by cystoscopy was additionally performed using the lithotomy position with the Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: Subjects were divided into four groups according to hernia orifice presence determined by cystoscopy, which included the trigone type, posterior wall type, trigone and urethra type, and trigone and posterior wall type. The posterior wall type had statistically higher PVR values versus the trigone and posterior wall type (P = 0.013). The posterior wall type had statistically lower values for average urine flow rate versus the urethra and trigone type (P = 0.020). There were no significant differences noted in the pelvic floor function questionnaires among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: A new bladder defect classification based upon hernia orifice location was associated with lower urinary tract function. Posterior wall hernia presence caused significant voiding function deterioration. This new subgroup classification, which can more clearly identify and indicate bladder function, is also comparable among patients.

Two-step technique of early adrenal artery ligation in open adrenalectomy of giant right adrenal pheochromocytomas: Three case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical manipulation of a pheochromocytoma carries the risk of releasing catecholamines into bloodstream leading to severe intraoperative hypertension. CASE PRESENTATION: We present three patients with right adrenal pheochromocytoma over 10 cm diameter: a 40-year-old woman, 63-year-old man, and 66-year-old woman. They were diagnosed by 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and received preoperative antihypertensive treatment with 16 mg/day of doxazosin. Open adrenalectomy was performed with early right adrenal artery ligation between the inferior vena cava and ventral aorta (Step 1) as well as between the tumor and upper pole of the right kidney (Step 2). There was no severe intraoperative hypertension, and no recurrence was observed over 33 months, postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Early adrenal artery ligation may stop tumor blood supply and significantly reduce the catecholamine release. Our technique was thought to be safe and useful for preventing severe intraoperative hypertension in giant right adrenal pheochromocytoma.

Laparoscopic-assisted surgery for liposarcoma of the spermatic cord extending to the retroperitoneal cavity through the internal inguinal ring.

INTRODUCTION: Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord is a rare disease, reportedly treated with radical high orchiectomy. However, laparoscopic-assisted surgery for spermatic cord liposarcoma extending to the retroperitoneal cavity through the internal inguinal ring has not yet been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old man had a spermatic cord tumor that extended to the retroperitoneal cavity through the internal inguinal ring and invaded the abdominal wall muscles. We performed laparoscopic-assisted surgery and successfully separated the tumor from the contiguous organs and vessels. The tumor was resected en bloc with abdominal wall muscles, and a muscular defect was repaired with a left tensor fascia lata muscle flap. Pathological analysis revealed a well-differentiated liposarcoma with negative surgical margins. There was no recurrence at 1 year post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted surgery is a feasible and minimally invasive procedure for treating liposarcoma of the spermatic cord extending to the retroperitoneal cavity through the internal inguinal ring.