[Ureterocutaneous fistula after nephrectomy: two cases]. / Fístula ureterocutánea tras nefrectomía: aportación de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

The ureteral fistulas are related to the gynecological surgery, digestive surgery and reconstructive urologic surgery of the upper urinary tract. Fistulas are described ureterovaginal, ureteroduodenal, ureterocolonic, ureteropleural, ureterovascular, etc. However, the ureterocutaneous fistulas of the ureteral stump after nephrectomy are a very unusual entity. We report two cases as well as their resolution by means of surgery.

[Long-term results of end-to-end urethroplasty]. / Resultado a largo plazo de la uretroplastia término-terminal.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated long term results of end-to-end urethroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 40 patients with bulbar urethral stricture of diverse origin: iatrogenic 40%, traumatic 15%, infectious 2% and unknown 40%. In 17 cases internal urethrotomy was made previously. The radiological study with retrograde and voiding cystogram revealed a bulbar location in all cases and a length inferior to 1 cm in 13 cases, between 1-2 cm in 26 cases and 2-3 cm in 1 case. The maximum flow rate varied between 3-13 ml/s. The absence of bacteriuria was valued by means of preoperating culture. The average time of pursuit was 45 months (12-142 months). The stricture was considered resolute when not appear compatible radiological or functional finds of failure. RESULTS: In 37 cases (92%) the results were satisfactory, without secondary surgical procedure. After surgery maximum flow-rate varied between 18-45 ml/s. In two patients with failure, internal urethrotomy was decisive. In this case the stricture origin was traumatic. The third patient with failure was finally chosen to make new end-to-end urethroplasty, with good later result. CONCLUSIONS: End-to-end urethroplasty is a highly decisive technique for bulbar urethral stricture. The preoperating diagnosis is based on the radiological study (retrograde and voiding cystogram). The postoperating control must be based on clinic and uroflow study. Traumatic stricture repair showed worse results. In cases of failure, internal urethrotomy allows to complement successful results of end-to-end urethroplasty.

[Survival prognostic factors valuation on a series of 202 patients with surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma]. / Valoración de factores pronósticos de la supervivencia en una serie de 202 pacientes intervenidos por carcinoma de células renales.

OBJECTIVES: To describe renal cell carcinoma prognostic factors and set up the relationship with survival rates in this neoplasm. Likewise we show epidemiologic, clinical, diagnosis and therapeutic facts. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We review 202 patients underwent surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma and the following features were recorded: gender, age and presenting symptoms, especially incidentally discovered tumors; tumor-related factors like TNM tumor stage, tumor grade and venous involvement: therapy-related recorded were surgical techniques and cytokine-based therapy. RESULTS: 60% of the patients showed organ-confined disease, 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma presented with nodal positive disease and 7% with systemic metastases. 42% of patients presenting incidental tumor, with survival rates substantially better than that for symptomatic patients. 42% of patients with nodal positive disease presented systemic metastases at diagnosis, and 30% at surveillance. Systemic metastases presented a particularly poor prognosis for patients with renal cell carcinoma, with 12-months survival rates that 0%. Patients with cytokine-related therapy for metastatic disease presented 24-months survival rates that 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Renal cell carcinoma remains a major source of mortality, basically at advanced disease (nodal positive disease or systemic disease), without a clear improvement of survival rates despite the newer therapy modalities.

[Urologic findings in pseudoxanthoma elasticum: report one case]. / Manifestaciones urológicas del pseudoxantoma elástico: a propósito de un caso.

CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old woman presented with retinal angioid streaks and yellowish streak skin abnormalities in neck and axillary folds. Skin biopsy showed bluish-gray tangled masses of calcified elastic fibers in the mid- to lower dermis suggestive of Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). She consulted in Urology Department for lower urinary tract infection. Renal ultrasonography revealed multiple highly reflective foci in the corticomedullary junction. COMMENT: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a rare genetic disorder characterised by fragmentation and calcification of elastic fibers in the skin and media of arteries. Frequent manifestations include hypertension, angina pectoris, transient cerebral ischemic attacks, intermittent claudication, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, retinal angioid streaks and thickened skin. A characteristic appearance of highly reflective foci in the renal parenchyma have been reported in patients with PXE, but it's not specific for this syndrome. However, the presence of this structural pattern in a young patient with dermatological abnormalities should lead to the consideration of PXE in the differential diagnosis list. Besides ultrasonography findings, only a ureteral disruption case in a patient underwent ureteroscopic manipulation has been described to our knowledge. In our case, the true significance of these disease in recurrent urinary tract infection is uncertain.

[The Burch technique in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Assessment of results and analysis of failure causes]. / Técnica de Burch en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo femenina. Valoración de los resultados y análisis de las causas de los fracasos.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with the Burch procedure in the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence (USI) and the assessment of the causes of failure with this technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1987 to june 1997 this technique was applied to 157 patients with USI. The mean age of these women was 54.2 years (30-76) and the mean follow-up was 50.24 months. Physical examination, urethral profile and the severity of the USI were not considered in the indication of the procedure. RESULTS: After three months, we had total continence or improvement in 80.7%. This rate decreased to 76% after one year. From the second year it was 70%, maintained to fifth year. Considering the severity of incontinence, in patients with mild-moderate grade, we obtained good outcomes after 5 years in 87%. If there was associated detrusor alterations, the rate decreased to 51.8%, and with a bad urethral profile, decreased to 42.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The Burch procedure is useful in the treatment of USI but requires a good selection of the patients.

[Ureterohydronephrosis secondary to a cyst of retroperitoneal mesentery]. / Ureterohidronefrosis secundaria a quiste de mesenterio retroperitoneal.

Retroperitoneal primary cysts are rare clinical entities. A contribution is made of one case presenting this condition with repercussion on the excretory route. Ultrasound and computerized axial tomography studies suggest the diagnosis but this is confirmed through laparotomy. Choice treatment is enucleation, typically easy because of the minimal adherence to surrounding structures. Recurrence is rare and malignancy practically non-existent.