Sexual, bladder and bowel function following different minimally invasive techniques of radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: Despite the establishment of radical surgery for therapy of cervical cancer, data on quality of life and patient-reported outcomes are scarce. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate bladder, bowel and sexual function in women who underwent minimally invasive surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: From 2007-2013, 261 women underwent laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH = 45), vaginally assisted laparoscopic or robotic radical hysterectomy (VALRRH = 61) or laparoscopic total mesometrial resection (TMMR = 25) and 131 of them completed the validated German version of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (PFQ). Results were compared with controls recruited from gynecological clinics (n = 24) and with urogynecological patients (n = 63). RESULTS: Groups were similar regarding age, BMI and parity. The TMMR group had significantly shorter median follow-up (16 months versus 70 and 36 months). Postoperatively, deterioration of bladder function was reported by 70%, 57% and 44% in the LARVH, VARRVH and TMMR groups, respectively (p = 0.734). Bowel function was significantly worse after TMMR with a higher deterioration rate in 72 versus 43% (LARVH) and 47% (VARRVH) with a correspondingly higher bowel dysfunction score of 2.9 versus 1.5 and 1.8, respectively and 1.8 in urogynaecological patients. Sexual dysfunction was common in all surgical groups. 38% considered their vagina too short which was significantly associated with deep dyspareunia. Compared with controls, surgical groups had significantly increased PFQ scores. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor dysfunction commonly deteriorates and negatively impacts on quality of life after minimally invasive radical hysterectomy, especially bowel function after TMMR. Pelvic floor symptoms should routinely be addressed pre- and postoperatively.

Bladder lesions as incidental findings during transurethral resection of the prostate: prevalence, diagnosis, and pathological findings.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of bladder lesions diagnosed during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), to identify the associated risk factors, and to correlate the macroscopic descriptions with the pathological findings. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective case series conducted at a hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. We reviewed the medical and surgical records of patients who underwent TURP between January 2012 and December 2017. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 513 patients, with a mean age of 70.8 years. Bladder lesions were identified during TURP in 109 (21.2%) of the patients, and 90 of those lesions were submitted for pathological examination. The most common macroscopic finding was bullous edema, which was seen in 57 (63.3%) of the 90 lesions examined. The pathological analysis revealed chronic cystitis in 61 lesions (67.8%) and malignant lesions in 16 (17.8%). Of the 57 lesions described as bullous edema, 5 (8.8%) were found to be malignant. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the bladder mucosa appear to be more common among elderly patients who use an indwelling urinary catheter for a prolonged period and among patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. In addition, the risk of a bladder lesion being malignant is apparently higher in current and former smokers than in never smokers. Our findings suggest that at-risk patients should undergo biopsy or resection of incidental bladder lesions even if those lesions seem to be benign, due to the low level of agreement between the visual analysis and the pathological examination.

Urinary biomarkers of inflammation and tissue remodeling may predict bladder dysfunction in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of urinary biomarkers of inflammation and tissue remodeling in patients with BPH undergoing surgery and evaluate the association of biomarkers with postoperative urodynamic outcomes MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed urine samples from 71 patients treated with TURP from 2011 to 2017. Urinary levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), matrix-metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nerve growth factor (NGF) and monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (by commercial ELISA kit) were measured, adjusted by urinary creatinine (Cr) and analyzed according to patients clinical and urodynamic characteristics (baseline and 12-month postoperative urodynamic) RESULTS: MMP-1/Cr levels were significantly higher among subjects with higher detrusor pressure on preoprative urodynamic. MCP-1/Cr levels were significantly higher amongs subjects with preoperative DO. Preoperative levels of NGF/Cr (0.13 vs 0.08, p = 0.005) and MMP-1/Cr (0.11 vs 0.04, p = 0.021) were predictors of persistent DO 12 months after surgery. The following factors were shown to be useful for predicting the persistence of DO in the postoperative period: NGF/Cr, with an AUC of 0.77 (95% CI 0.62-0.92) (p = 0.006), and MMP-1/Cr, with an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.88) (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: MMP-1/Cr was associated with higher detrusor pressure and MCP-1/CR with DO. NGF/Cr and MMP-1/Cr were shown to be predictors of persistent postoperative DO.

Menopausal symptoms appear before the menopause and persist 5 years beyond: a detailed analysis of a multinational study.

OBJECTIVE: Few Latin American studies have described menopausal symptoms in detail by means of a standardized assessment tool. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and their impact over quality of life among mid-aged Latin American women. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 8373 otherwise healthy women aged 40-59 years from 12 Latin American countries were asked to fill out the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a questionnaire containing personal sociodemographic data. Menopause status (pre-, peri- and postmenopausal) was defined according to the criteria of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop. RESULTS: Of all the studied women, 90.9% had at least one menopausal symptom (complaint) that they rated. Muscle and joint discomfort, physical and mental exhaustion and depressive mood were highly prevalent and rated as severe-very severe (scores of 3 and 4), at a higher rate than vasomotor symptoms (15.6%, 13.8% and 13.7% vs. 9.6%, respectively). Of premenopausal women (40-44 years), 77.0% reported at least one rated complaint, with 12.9% displaying MRS scores defined as severe (> 16). The latter rate increased to 26.4% in perimenopausal, 31.6% in early postmenopausal and 29.9% among late postmenopausal women. As measured with the MRS, the presence of hot flushes increased the risk of impairment of overall quality of life in both premenopausal (odds ratio 12.67; 95% confidence interval 9.53-16.83) and peri/postmenopausal women (odds ratio 9.37; 95% confidence interval 7.85-11.19). CONCLUSION: In this large, mid-aged, female Latin American series, muscle/joint discomfort and psychological symptoms were the most prevalent and severely rated menopausal symptoms. The symptoms appear early in the premenopause, significantly impair quality of life and persist 5 years beyond the menopause.

Evaluation of the incidence of bladder perforation after transurethral bladder tumor resection in a residency setting.

PURPOSE: To evaluate prospectively the actual bladder perforation incidence during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURB) performed by residents and to identify possible predisposing factors to such condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with bladder tumor were submitted to TURB in our academic institution in April 2006, and were prospectively studied. Procedures were all done by senior residents under an attending direct supervision. All patients had a cystograms performed after the procedure by the injection of 400 mL of saline-diluted contrast solution with low-pressure infusion through the Foley catheter. The cystograms were evaluated blindly by a single radiologist. All patients were examined by cystoscopy and/or CT every 3 months for the first 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: The cystogram showed contrast leaking compatible with bladder perforation in 17 (50%) cases. None of the perforations were recognized intraoperatively by the surgeon. All perforations were extraperitoneal and managed conservatively. There was no significant correlation between the incidence of bladder perforation and the patient age (p = 0.508), the tumor stage (p = 0.998), the tumor grade (p = 0.833), the number of lesions (p = 0.394), and the tumor size (p = 0.651). The only factor that had impact on the development of bladder perforation was tumor localization at the bottom of the bladder (p = 0.035; OR, 6750; 95% CI, 1.14, 39.8). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic perforations of the bladder wall occur very frequently after a TURB procedure performed by residents in training and, most of the time, are not noticed by the surgeon. Localization of the tumor at bladder dome was the only factor that negatively influenced perforation rates.

Voiding dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease: impact of neurological impairment and clinical parameters.

AIMS: We assessed the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their association with different clinical parameters. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 110 patients (84 men), with a mean age of 61.8 +/- 9.6 years. Mean duration of the disease was 12.3 +/- 7.2 years. Neurological impairment was assessed by the Hoehn-Yahr and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating scales. LUTS were assessed by the International Continence Society questionnaire. We evaluated the impact of age, PD duration, neurological impairment, gender, and use of anti-Parkinsonian drugs on the voiding function. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, voiding dysfunction increased with the neurological impairment, but not with patient's age or disease duration. Quality of life (QOL) was affected by the severity of LUTS, and the symptoms with the worst impact were frequency and nocturia. Sixty-three (57.2%) patients were symptomatic. They did not differ with the asymptomatic as to age and disease duration, but had more severe neurological impairment. No impact on LUTS was associated with the use of levodopa, anticholinergics, and dopamine receptor agonists. Men and women were similarly affected by urinary symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of the neurological disease is the only predictive factor for the occurrence of voiding dysfunction, which affects men and women alike.

Species of Gorgoderina (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) in Rana vaillanti and Rana cf. forreri (Anura: Ranidae) from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, including a description of a new species.

Gorgoderina parvicava, G. diaster, and G. megacetabularis n. sp. are reported inhabiting the urinary bladders of Rana vaillanti and R. cf. forreri from northwestern Costa Rica. Gorgoderina megacetabularis n. sp. differs from all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: small body size (2.78-3.17, mean 2.92 mm), sucker ratio (1:3.1-3.7), and by the presence of 2 compact, oval, unlobed vitelline masses. Redescription of G. diaster including previously undescribed details on the reproductive apparatus and morphometric data is provided. This is the first record of the 3 species of Gorgoderina in Costa Rica and is the first record of G. diaster in R. vaillanti and R. cf. forreri.

Síndrome da bexiga hiperativa e qualidade de vida / Overactive bladder syndrome and quality of life

A Síndrome da bexiga hiperativa é enfermidade com alta prevalência, que afeta milhões de pessoas no mundo, sendo de fundamental importância o reconhecimento e a padronização de seus conceitos e sintomas pela Sociedade Internacional de Continência. A afecção compromete diversos aspectos nas atividades diárias, cujo impacto pode ser avaliado por instrumentos subjetivos como os questionários genéricos e específicos para avaliar a qualidade de vida

[Prevalence and clinical-urodynamic characteristics of vesical voiding dysfunction in two urodynamic centres]. / Prevalencia de disfunción de vaciado vesical y hallazgos clínico-urodinámicos en dos unidades uroginecológicas.

BACKGROUND: It has been estimated in English medical reports, that the frequency of vesical voiding dysfunction in urogynecological patients is around of 22-24%; however in our country it does not have any published epidemiological study about this problem. OBJECTIVE: To detect the prevalence of vesical voiding dysfunction in our urodynamic unities and describe the clinical and urodynamic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive and retrospective study in which were revised the clinical reports of 300 female patients, that were sent to some of our urodynamic units because they were suffering of lower urinary tract symptoms. Assessment variables included: Patient clinical history, physical examination, urinalysis, urine culture, urethral calibration, Q tip test, urethrocistoscopy, uroflowmetry, multichannel cystometry, electromyography and pressure voiding study. The diagnosis criterion was based in the concept that Blaivas established for vesical voiding dysfunction in women. RESULTS: The diagnosis of vesical voiding dysfunction was established in 72 cases of the total 300 patients analyzed. The most frequent symptom was the irritative vesical type (frequency/urgency), following of weak stream. Some grade of pelvic organ prolapse was detected in 84.8% of cases. Uroflowmetry was normal in 50% of the cases; nevertheless in the morphologic aspect were observed profile signs suggestive of distal vesical obstruction in 75%, and detrusor hypoactivity in 25% of the total of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of obstruction in our casuistic was similar to the other authors. The obtained results permit us to confirm that the vesical voiding dysfunction in the urogynecological Mexican patients is a frequent problem in the urogynecological patient; however the diagnostic is complex and require a carefully correlation as clinical as urodynamical aspects in addition to endoscopic and image studies.

Disfunción vesical en cirugía pélvica por cáncer del recto: análisis de 60 pacientes consecutivos / Bladder dysfunction in pelvic surgery by rectal cancer: analysis of 60 consecutive patients

Se revisa en forma retrospectiva la incidencia y magnitud de la disfunción vesical (DV) luego de cirugía pélvica por un cáncer del recto. En un período de 60 meses se intervinieron 60 pacientes en forma consecutiva, 36 hombres y 24 mujeres con un promedio de edad de 65 años, el 55 por ciento de ellos con una o más condiciones co-mórbidas teóricamente relacionadas con la DV. Se efectuaron 53 intervenciones con conservación de esfínter y 7 amputaciones (RAP). En 20 pacientes sometidos a una resección anterior ultrabaja o una RAP la incidencia de DV fue de 45 por ciento comparado con 10 por ciento (4/40) en resecciones más altas (p=0,008). En 17 pacientes (28 por ciento) se registró una complicación mayor que prolonga la estadía hospitalaria, de los cuales 13 presentan una DV y 8 una infección del tracto urinario (ITU). El retiro de la sonda uretrovesical (SUV) se indicó en promedio a los 6,9 días (extremos 2-20) y ocurrió antes de los 5 días en el 27 por ciento sin casos de DV. Fue necesario reinstalar la SUV en 10 pacientes, mayoritariamente en los pacientes que presentan una complicación mayor (p=0,034). El promedio de hospitalización fue de 15 días (extremos 5-56). Dos pacientes se dan de alta con SUV y otros 2 requieren de cateterismo intermitente por período prolongado, lo que eleva la cifra de vejiga neurogénica al 6,7 por ciento. En el análisis multivariado de regresión logística la altura de la resección y la presencia de una complicación mayor mantienen su significación estadística como variables independientes (p=0,019 y 0,003, respectivamente). El género, las enfermedades asociadas y el estadio de la enfermedad no resultaron predictivos de una DV postoperatoria. La ITU, globalmente presente en el 20 por ciento de los casos, es una complicación que se asocia frecuentemente con la DV pero no es obligatoria. La baja adherencia al protocolo de los 7 días utilizado como estándar en el manejo de la SUV en cirugía pélvica implica una revaluación de dicho criterio a la luz de los factores predictivos de DV señalados.