Sexual Function in Renal Transplant Recipients with Internal versus External Iliac Artery Anastomosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: The choice between using the internal or external iliac arteries to supply a transplanted kidney poses a dilemma during renal transplantation. As the internal iliac artery branches to the genital tract, cutting it could potentially result in sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of these two surgical methods on sexual function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 122 sexually active male patients under the age of sixty were randomly divided into two groups: the internal iliac anastomosis group and the external iliac artery anastomosis group. Before surgery and one year after the procedure, patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function-15 questionnaire (IIEF- 15), and the difference in scores of each domain was measured. RESULTS: Statistically, kidney transplantation improved all domains of IIEF in both groups, except for erectile function in patients who underwent internal iliac artery anastomosis group. Additionally, there were significant differences between the two groups in the domains of erectile function (p-value=0.04) and overall satisfaction (p-value = 0.002), while other domains such as orgasmic function, sexual desire, and intercourse satisfaction did not show any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the choice between using the internal or external iliac artery for arterial anastomosis during kidney transplantation does not significantly impact graft function. However, it may negatively affect erectile function in patients who undergo internal iliac artery anastomosis.

Effects of probiotic supplementation on semen parameters after varicocelectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The use of probiotics in the treatment of infertility is a new area of research. In this study, our objective was to examine the efficacy of probiotic supplementation on semen parameters following varicocelectomy. Materials and Methods: We included infertile men in our study who were the candidates for subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy. After the surgical procedure, the patients were randomly assigned into two groups: 38 individuals received probiotic supplementation (FamiLact®), while 40 individuals received a placebo for 3 months. We compared the preoperative semen parameters with the postoperative parameters to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation. Results: A total of 78 patients were included in the study. The two groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, infertility period, and semen parameters at baseline (P > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found in sperm concentration (33.7 ± 22.5 vs. 21.1 ± 16.1 × 106/mL, P = 0.046), and the percentage of sperms with normal morphology (15.0 ± 8.9 vs. 12.0 ± 11.5, P = 0.016) at 3 months favoring the probiotic group. Although the probiotic group exhibited higher values for semen volume and sperm motility at 3 months, the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.897 and P = 0.177, respectively). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the short-term use of probiotics after varicocelectomy can provide additional benefits in improving semen parameters. Probiotic supplements are cost-effective and well tolerated, making them a suitable option for enhancing the outcomes of varicocelectomy.

Evaluation of the efficacy of oxidized cellulose (surgicel) in reducing blood loss in suprapubic simple open prostatectomy: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Simple open prostatectomy is still the treatment of choice for removing large prostates; however, peri-surgical bleeding accompanied by this technique has always been a challenge for urologist surgeons. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of surgicel on reducing bleeding in trans-vesical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: The present double-blinded clinical trial included 54 patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), divided into two groups of 27, and underwent trans-vesical prostatectomy. After removing the prostate, the prostate adenoma was weighed in the first group. Then, two surgicel were inserted into the prostate loge for prostate adenomas weighing 75 g or less. For larger prostates, another surgicel was inserted for each 25 g weight higher than the limit of 75 g. However, no Surgicel was inserted in the control group. Other steps of the procedure were the same in both groups. Moreover, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were assessed in both groups; preoperation, intra-operative, 24 h, and 48 h postoperative. In addition, all the fluid used for bladder irrigation was collected, and its hemoglobin level was assessed. Results: According to our results, no intergroup difference in hemoglobin level changes, hematocrit changes, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), postoperative hospital stay, and number of packed cells received. However, the postoperative blood loss in bladder lavage fluid was significantly higher in the control group (120.83 ± 46.66 g) as compared to the surgicel group (72.56 ± 32.53 g) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study concluded that using surgicel in trans-vesical prostatectomy could reduce postoperative bleeding without increasing the chance of postoperative complications.

Evaluating the effectiveness of tranexamic acid administration in reducing bleeding in benign prostate hyperplasia patients underwent open prostatectomy: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Background: Blood loss of postoperative after prostate surgery could be related with an increase in urinary fibrinolytic activity. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is both a potent inhibitor of plasminogen and urokinase activators and a low molecular weight substance that is excreted unchanged in the urinary tract and can be administered both orally and intravenously. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness TXA administration in reducing bleeding in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who underwent open prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients with BPH who underwent open prostatectomy. The first group received TXA (1 gr IV from during surgery to 48 h after surgery, 3 times/day). Twenty-four hours after surgery, the two groups were compared in terms of bleeding rate. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and platelet (Plt) counts were also assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Intervention and control groups were comparable in terms of basic and baseline values of variables at the beginning of the study (P > 0.05). The mean bleeding volume in TXA group was significantly lower than the control group 112.11 ± 53.5 and 190.00 ± 97.5 CC; P ≤ 0.001). Mean hospitalization (3.28±0.46 vs. 4.38 ± 0.95 days P < 0.001) and surgery duration (98.11 ± 37.11 vs. 128.00 ± 39.12 h; P = 0.001) were significantly lower in TXA group compared to control intervention. Conclusion: According to the findings of the current study, the administration of TXA led to reduce bleeding in BPH patients who underwent open prostatectomy. Furthermore, the mean Hb, HCT, levels were significantly affected by TXA. TXA treatment approach also can reduce the surgery and hospitalization time effectively. TXA approach is recommended as effective procedure in BPH patients who underwent open prostatectomy.

Triple-compartment strategy for abdominal sacral colpopexy using PVDF mesh: one-year report of anatomical and subjective outcomes.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Abdominal Sacral Colpopexy (ASC) is one of the best surgical methods to repair apical or uterine prolapse. We aimed to evaluate the short-term results of a triple-compartment open ASC strategy using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mesh in the treatment of patients with severe apical or uterine prolapse. METHODS: Women with high-grade uterine or apical prolapse with or without cysto-rectocele were prospectively enrolled in the study from April 2015 to June 2021. We performed all-compartment repair using a tailored PVDF mesh for ASC. We assessed the severity of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system at baseline and 12 months after the operation. The patients completed the International Continence Society Questionnaire Vaginal Symptom (ICIQ-VS) questionnaire at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Thirty-five women with a mean age of 59.8±10.0 years were included in the final analysis. Stage III and stage IV prolapse was evident in 12 and 25 patients, respectively. After 12 months, the median POP-Q stage was significantly lower compared to the baseline (4 vs 0, p=<0.0001). Vaginal symptoms score was also reduced significantly at 3-month (7.5±3.5), 6-month (7.3±3.6), and 12-month (7.2±3.1) compared to the baseline (39.5±6.7) (p values < 0.0001). We did not observe any mesh extrusion or high-grade complications. Six (16.7%) patients had cystocele recurrence during the 12-month follow-up, and two of them needed reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Our short-term follow-up showed that using an open ASC technique with PVDF mesh in treating high-grade apical or uterine prolapse is associated with a high rate of procedural success and low rates of complication.

Hypothyroidism is prevalent among adult women with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To define the prevalence of hypothyroidism in women with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to compare the severity of each symptom between patients with hypothyroidism and controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we screened all adult women who came to the urology clinic between March 2017 and September 2020, and enrolled patients with chronic LUTS in the study. We assessed thyroid function. We evaluated the severity of voiding and storage urinary symptoms by the International Prostate Symptom Score. We also assessed the severity of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). For between-group analysis, we selected age-matched cases and controls and compared them regarding the distribution and severity of urinary symptoms. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-five women with a mean age of 51.7 ± 14.0 years were included in the final analysis. Two hundred fifty-eight patients (35.6%) had hypothyroidism. Age-matched case and control groups consisting of 210 patients each were selected. There was no significant difference in the severity and distribution of voiding LUTS and UUI between the study groups (P values >0.05). The severity of storage symptoms was lower in patients with hypothyroidism (P = 0.04). Sixty-seven patients with hypothyroidism (31.9%) had SUI, which was significantly higher than controls (23.3%) (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: More than one-third of women with chronic LUTS have hypothyroidism which is much more frequent than in the general population. We also suggest a possible relationship between hypothyroidism and the severity of SUI and an inverse relationship between hypothyroidism and storage symptoms.

Transvaginal repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mesh: an alternative for previously restricted materials?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To study the mid-term safety and functional outcomes of transvaginal anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mesh (DynaMesh®-PR4) by the double trans-obturator technique (TOT). METHODS: Between 2015 and 2020, we prospectively included women with symptomatic high-stage anterior vaginal wall prolapse with or without uterine prolapse or stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in the study. The patients underwent transvaginal repair of the prolapse using PVDF mesh in two medical centers. We followed all patients for at least 12 months. We recorded the characteristics of vaginal and sexual symptoms, urinary incontinence, and prolapse stage pre- and postoperatively using International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, respectively. RESULTS: One hundred eight women were included in the final analysis with a mean follow-up time of 34.5 ± 18.6 months. The anatomical success was achieved in 103 (95.4%) patients. There was a significant improvement in patients' vaginal symptoms, urinary incontinence, and quality of life scores postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Only six patients (5.5%) had mesh extrusion, five of whom were managed successfully. The total rates of complications and de novo urinary symptoms were 21.3% and 7.4%, respectively. Significant pain was reported in 17 cases (15.7%). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that using PVDF mesh in the double TOT technique for anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair is a safe procedure with high anatomic and functional success rates and acceptable complication rates in mid-term follow-up.

Diagnostic yield of fusion magnetic resonance-guided prostate biopsy versus cognitive-guided biopsy in biopsy-naive patients: a head-to-head randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The combination of MRI-guided targeted biopsy (MRGB) with systematic biopsy (SB) provides the highest accuracy in detecting prostate cancer. There is a controversy over the superiority of fusion targeted biopsy (fus-MRGB) over cognitive targeted biopsy (cog-MRGB). The present head-to-head randomized controlled trial was performed to compare diagnostic yield of fus-MRGB in combination with SB with cog-MRGB in combination with SB. METHODS: Biopsy-naive patients with a prostate-specific antigen level between 2 and 10 ng/dL who were candidates for prostate biopsy were included in the study. Multiparametric MRI was performed on all patients and patients with suspicious lesions with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score of 3 or more were randomized into two groups. In the cog-MRGB group, a targeted cognitive biopsy was performed followed by a 12-core SB. Similarly, in the fus-MRGB group, first targeted fusion biopsy and then SBs were performed. The overall and clinically significant prostate cancer detection rates between the two study groups were compared by the Pearson χ2 test. McNemar test was used to compare detection rates yielded by SB and targeted biopsy in each study group. RESULTS: One-hundred men in the cog-MRGB group and 99 men in the fus-MRGB group were compared. The baseline characteristics of patients including age, PSA level, prostate volume, PSA density, and clinical stage were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). Both the overall and clinically significant prostate cancer detection rates in the fus-MRGB group (44.4% and 33.3%, respectively) were significantly higher than cog-MRGB group (31.0% and 19.0%, respectively) (p = 0.035 and p = 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of identifying overall and clinically significant prostate cancer by fus-MRGB in biopsy-naive patients with PSA levels between 2 and 10 ng/dL is significantly higher than cog-MRGB and if available, we recommend using fus-MRGB over cog-MRGB in these patients.

Electrocoagulation Accounts for a Significant Portion of Discrepancy Between Preoperative Ultrasonography Prostate Size Estimation and Resected Tissue Weight.

Background and Objectives: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered to be the gold standard surgical procedure for medium-sized prostates. However, there is a drastic difference between the weight of resected tissue reported by the pathologist and the sonographic estimate of prostate weight before the operation. The present study investigates the role of electrocoagulation in tissue loss during monopolar (M-) and bipolar (B-) TURP. Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, 33 prostate glands removed from patients by open suprapubic prostatectomy were roughly divided in half and the weight of each half was recorded precisely. One half of the specimen was resected using a monopolar resectoscope and the other half was resected by bipolar resectoscope in an out-of-body simulated condition. The weight of obtained chips was measured and the amount of lost tissue was calculated. Data from prostates with final pathologic diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in the analysis. The mean difference of prostate weight before and after out-of-body resection and also the proportion of tissue loss between M-TURP and B-TURP were compared using t-test. Results: Data from 62 prostate halves were included in the final analysis. The mean weight of samples after M-TURP was considerably lower than before resection (38.0 ± 6.9 and 48.7 ± 9.0, respectively, p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean weight of prostate samples after B-TURP was lower than the weight before resection (36.2 ± 7.3 and 48.4 ± 9.1, respectively, p < 0.001). However, the ratio of tissue loss in B-TURP (25.3% ± 2.5%) was significantly higher than in M-TURP (21.3% ± 3.7%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Prostate resection using electrocoagulation leads to a significant prostate tissue loss due to heat effect. Furthermore, tissue loss in B-TURP is slightly more than M-TURP.

Extensive Labial Adhesion Causing Voiding Urinary Symptoms in a Postmenopausal Woman: A Case Report.

Labial adhesion (LA) is a rare clinical entity in postmenopausal women. Estrogen deficiency and lack of sexual activity are probable contributing causes. Voiding dysfunction due to LA is even rarer in postmenopausal women, and only a few studies have previously reported such occurrence. A 62-year-old virgin postmenopausal woman presented to the Al-Zahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) with a 5-year history of voiding dysfunction and recurrent urinary tract infection. Despite multiple medical visits, no genital examination was ever performed by a medical practitioner, mainly due to the patient's refusal to be examined by a male physician. On physical examination, we observed extensive LA with only a small opening. Surgical separation of the labia was performed and subsequently, the urinary tract symptoms were completely resolved. Herein, we present a case of LA causing urinary problems in a virgin postmenopausal woman. The case underlines the importance of the genital examination of female patients with urinary tract symptoms.

Re-evaluation of the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid was reported to reduce bleeding in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). The current study was performed to re-evaluate the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid in reducing PCNL-related blood loss. METHODS: A total of 132 consecutive patients were randomized into two groups; the case group received 1 g of intravenous tranexamic acid before induction, followed by IV infusion of a fixed dose of 1 gr tranexamic acid at 8-hour intervals for the first 48 hours after the procedure, while the control group received normal saline as placebo. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were recorded. The collected data were then analyzed using χ2, t-test, and multivariate regression analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics software. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics of the two groups. Mean hemoglobin drop was 2.2±1.5 g/dL in tranexamic acid group and 2.4±1.5 g/dL in controls (P=0.312). The blood loss did not show significant difference between tranexamic acid and control groups (751±523 mL vs. 826±525 mL, P=0.416). Multivariate analysis has revealed that multiple access tracts is a risk factor for increased blood loss (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Tranexamic acid administration is not associated with significant reduction of PCNL-related blood loss. Our findings are unlike the results of few recent studies, thus warranting further investigations and new trials before the widespread use of this drug is considered safe in patients undergoing PCNL.

"The influence of orbital vector on involutional entropion and ectropion".

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of orbital vector and other biometric parameters (i.e. axial globe length, axial globe projection) on the development of involutional entropion or ectropion. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 167 eyes from 132 patients were included. Of these eyes, 128 had involutional entropion and 39 had involutional ectropion, all of lower lids. The axial globe projection was measured using Hertel exophthalmometry; axial globe length was assessed by A-mode ultrasound; and orbital vector was determined clinically. Patient-specific categorical variables and continuous variables were compared using the chi-square test and the two-sided t test, respectively. Correlations were derived using the Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The percentage of females was 59% and 33.3% in the entropion group and in the ectropion group, respectively. A significant association was found between the gender and type of eyelid malposition (p = 0.015). Exophthalmometry reading was greater in the ectropion group than in the entropion group (17.7 ± 2.5 versus 10.8 ± 3.7 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between axial globe length and exophthalmometry reading. Positive orbital vectors were observed in 87.5% of eyelids with involutional entropion. Negative orbital vectors were observed in 92.3% of eyelids with involutional ectropion (p < 0.001). Patients with negative orbital vectors showed greater axial globe projection than patients with positive orbital vectors (18.0 ± 2.1 versus 10.6 ± 3.5 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between orbital vector measurement and involutional entropion and ectropion. Measuring the orbital vector may help predict the development of these lid malpositions.

Multislice computed tomography in planning nephron-sparing surgery in a prospective study with 76 patients: comparison of radiological and histopathological findings in the infiltration of renal structures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) compared to histopathologic findings in tumor staging of renal cell carcinoma, with the focus on tumor stage, vein and artery infiltration, and infiltration of the renal pelvis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, a total of 76 consecutive patients with suspected renal cell carcinoma were preoperatively assessed for tumor staging using multidetector-row CT. Triphasic CT imaging (i.e., noncontrast, arterial, and parenchymal phase) was performed using multidetector-row CT with reconstructed slice thicknesses of 2 and 5 mm. Two blinded readers evaluated the CT scans independently; the results were then correlated with the histopathologic results. RESULTS: A total of 56 renal cell carcinomas were proven on histopathology. Readers 1 and 2 reached a sensitivity of 1.0 and 1.0 and a specificity of 0.41 and 0.42 for arterial infiltration, a sensitivity of 1.0 and 0.86 and a specificity of 0.58 and 0.5 for venous infiltration, and a sensitivity of 0.75 and 1.0 and a specificity of 0.5 and 0.44 for infiltration of the renal pelvis. The correlation between both readers was 0.7 for all modalities. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplanar reconstruction capability of multidetector-row CT allowed good sensitivity in predicting arterial infiltration. The lowest specificity was reached in excluding infiltration of the renal pelvis. Despite its high temporal and spatial resolution, the capacity of multidetector CT to predict intrarenal infiltrations is still limited.