[Functional retrourethral sling. A change of paradigm in the treatment of stress incontinence after radical prostatectomy]. / Die funktionelle retrourethrale Schlinge. Ein Paradigmenwechsel in der Therapie der Belastungsinkontinenz nach radikaler Prostatektomie.

The ever rising number of radical prostatectomies entails an increasing number of patients suffering from postoperative stress incontinence. Several minimally invasive techniques exist as surgical intervention options. All these procedures are based on an obstruction of the urethra. The functional retrourethral sling is a new and innovative sling suspension, which offers for the first time a non-obstructive functional therapeutic approach. The sling adjusts the changed anatomy after radical prostatectomy and exerts its effect by repositioning the lax and descended supporting structures of the sphincter in the former preoperative position. Thus continence can be achieved again. The success rate of this new technique is very good, yielding good results regarding both improving incontinence and continence rate. This new technique is secure and the results are reproducible.

[Causes and diagnosis of female urinary incontinence]. / Die wichtigsten Ursachen und wie Sie sie erkennen.

The primary cause of stress incontinence is birth traumata. However, obesity, asthma, chronic constipation or hard physical work can also overtax the pelvic floor and lead to injury of the connective tissue and a slackening of the ligamentous apparatus. Pelvic floor defects are initially diagnosed simply through a thorough urogynaecological examination. To predict the success of a surgical treatment, the functions can be tested by performing simulated operations.

[Conservative treatment of urinary incontinence]. / Was Sie konservativ anbieten können.

Urinary incontinence can be treated with medicinal products in addition to active pelvic floor muscle training and electrostimulation. A local hormone therapy should be first discussed with the gynaecologist. The active substance duloxetine has been used for a few years for treating stress incontinence. Several older and newer active substances are available for treating irritable bladder and stress incontinence.

[Surgical treatment of female urinary incontinence]. / Operative Therapie. Neue Spannung im kleinen Becken.

Through modern surgical procedures, a reconstruction approaching the physiological anatomical conditions can be achieved. According to the integral theory, the typical symptoms are assigned to an anterior, middle and posterior zone of damage. Surgical treatment of female urinary incontinence consists of refixation of the slackened supporting ligaments of the vagina, bladder and urethra. Furthermore, the slackening of the vaginal wall, which arose from the defects of the pelvic floor are corrected. With the aid of minimally invasive interventions usually using the vaginal approach, tapes and meshes are introduced that are also used to repair hernias.

[Diagnosing urinary incontinence in the elderly woman]. / Harninkontinenz bei der alteren Frau; Teil 1: Diagnostik. Welche Eingriffe können Sie lhrer Patientin zumuten?

The diagnostic work-up of the elderly incontinent woman should always be done on an individual basis. Temporary episodes of incontinence caused by the use of certain drugs or by difficulty in getting to a toilet can be identified by a stepwise diagnostic approach and easily dealt with, for example, by replacing the drug by another, or effecting changes in the environment that improve the patient's access to a toilet. A mandatory aspect of the systematic diagnostic work-up is an attempt to achieve a positive effect through the use, for example, of anticholinergics or local hormone replacement therapy, so as to spare the patient stressful examinations.

[The development of concepts of female (in)continence. Pathophysiology, diagnostics and surgical therapy]. / Fortentwickelte Konzepte zur weiblichen (In-)Kontinenz. Pathophysiologie, Diagnostik und operative Therapie.

The integral theory postulates that defect ligaments and fascias, which impair the supporting function of the vaginal wall, can cause stress urinary incontinence as well as urgency and voiding dysfunction. The anatomical and pathophysiologic basis for these dysfunctions are presented. Voiding dysfunctions can be treated by the substitution of defect structures using the principle of "restoration of structure leads to restoration of function". Essential elements of this therapeutic algorithm are suburethral vaginal slings (retropubic or transobturatoric), further a posterior sling, which runs through the fossa ischiorectalis and suspends the vaginal vault near the sacrospinal ligaments, thus reconstructing defect uterosacral ligaments. In cystoceles, lateral and medial defects can be restored by ventral meshes, which are fixed at the arcus tendineus fasciae pelvis by lateral transobturatoric slings. The use of polypropylene slings and meshes is well-founded because they are well tolerated in the tissues and through the development of scar tissue lead to neoligaments with long-lasting therapeutic effects.

Transurethral water-induced thermotherapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective multicenter clinical trial.

PURPOSE: We evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transurethral water-induced thermotherapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 125 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH were enrolled at 8 study centers. Pretreatment evaluation included determination of International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), peak urinary flow rate and quality of life score. Patients also completed a sexual function questionnaire. Patients were evaluated 3, 6 and 12 months after water-induced thermotherapy. RESULTS: Significant improvements in I-PSS, peak urinary flow rate and quality of life score were observed as early as 3 months after water-induced thermotherapy. At 12 months I-PSS had improved by a median of 12.5 (95% confidence interval 11.5 to 13.5) versus baseline, peak urinary flow rate by 6.4 ml. per second (5.6 to 7.5) and quality of life score by 2.5 (2.0 to 2.5). I-PSS, peak urinary flow rate and quality of life score improved by 50% or more at 12 months in 61.5%, 71.3% and 71.6% of patients, respectively. No adverse impact of water-induced thermotherapy on sexual function was noted, and preexisting discomfort during ejaculation and interference in sexual function due to lower urinary tract symptoms were significantly ameliorated after treatment. Serious adverse events were infrequent and manageable. CONCLUSIONS: Water-induced thermotherapy significantly alleviates lower urinary tract symptoms of BPH, increases peak urinary flow rate and enhances patient quality of life. This novel catheter based, minimally invasive treatment is easily administered in the outpatient setting. Water-induced thermotherapy holds promise as a useful and cost-effective option for the clinical management of BPH.