Technical aspects of botulinum toxin type A injection in the bladder to treat urinary incontinence: reviewing the procedure.

AIMS: Standardise the injection technique with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT A) in the bladder of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) [idiopathic overactive bladder (iOAB) or neurogenic overactive bladder (nOAB) with urinary incontinence], using a literature review and a survey of an International expert panel. METHODS: PubMed literature searches of BoNT A in adults with iOAB/nOAB together with a survey of 13 experts from 10 countries. RESULTS: Data from 21 articles and completed questionnaires were collated. The procedure can be carried out in an out-/inpatient setting. Dose used in clinical studies vs. clinical practice was 300 and 200 U for nOAB and 200 and 100 U for iOAB. Recent studies have also demonstrated that there are no clinically relevant benefits between 100 and 150 U in iOAB or between 300 and 200 U in nOAB, though adverse effects are increased with higher doses. Usually, 30 sites for nOAB (range: 6.7-10 U/ml) and 20-30 sites for iOAB (range: 5-10 U/ml) are injected in clinical studies vs. 20-30 sites of 1 ml/injection for 200 U in nOAB and 10-20 sites of 0.5-1 ml/injection for 100 U in iOAB in clinical practice. BoNT A is usually injected directly into the detrusor, sparing the trigone. Flexible or rigid cystoscopes are used. The needle should be typically 22-27 gauge and 4 mm in length and should have a stopper to avoid any leakage or perforation of the bladder wall while ensuring a targeted injection. CONCLUSION: Based on the literature and survey analysis, recommendations are proposed for the standardisation of the injection procedure.

Quantitative assessment of a new preparatory tool for board certification in urology.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the performance of candidates in a Canadian national mock-examination for final-year urology residents with respect to North American speciality examinations in urology. METHODS: In 1997 the Queen's Urology Examination Skills Training Program (QUEST) was established as an annual national mock examination for final-year Canadian urology residents. It consists of a short answer question component and an objective structured clinical examination. During the 5-year period (1997-2001), 91 final-year residents from all 11 Canadian urology residency-training programmes participated in QUEST and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certifying examinations (RCPSCE); 43 (47%) of candidates also attempted the American Board of Urology part 1 qualifying examinations (ABU 1). Performance on QUEST was correlated with the RCPSCE and ABU 1 in a blinded fashion after submitting QUEST scores to governing bodies. Thresholds were determined to help to predict a candidate's performance on the RCPSCE and ABU 1, based on QUEST scores. RESULTS: There was a moderately close correlation between overall QUEST and RCPSCE performance (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and a moderate correlation between overall QUEST and ABU 1 performance (r = 0.42, P = 0.005). For the following QUEST scores, the probability of success on the RCPSCE was: < 65%, 67% pass; 66-75%, 80% pass; > 75%, 100% pass (P = 0.002). For ABU 1, QUEST overall score of 80% gave a 69% probability of scoring > or = 70% on ABU 1 (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: QUEST is a moderate predictor of performance on speciality examinations in urology. We consider that the time, effort and expense to maintain QUEST are justified.

The American Urological Association In-Service Examination: performance correlates with Canadian and American specialty examinations.

PURPOSE: To our knowledge literature that correlates American Urological Association In-Service Examination (AUA ISE) scores with performance on final specialty examinations is lacking. We report an analysis of Canadian resident performance on the AUA ISE in relation to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Certifying Examinations in Urology (RCPSCE) and the American Board of Urology Qualifying Examination Part 1 (ABU 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 5-year period 1997 to 2001 AUA ISE scores were analyzed from 91 final year residents attempting the RCPSCE and a subset of 43 of the 91 (47%) attempting ABU 1. Blinded correlation of scores on the AUA ISE with RCPSCE and ABU 1 was performed. RESULTS: Final year postgraduate year (PGY 5) AUA ISE results correlated strongly with the RCPSCE (r = 0.68, p <0.001) and ABU 1 (r = 0.600, p <0.001). PGY 4 and PGY 3 scores showed a statistically significant correlation, while PGY 2 performance did not meet statistical significance. For the RCPSCE a cutoff point could be determined for pass/failure, namely an AUA ISE raw score of 43% to 55% equaled a 75% pass, a score of 55% to 70% equaled a 88% pass and greater than 70% resulted in a 100% pass. The probability of scoring 70% or greater on ABU 1 as a best guess estimate of successful certification could also be predicted based on AUA ISE raw scores. CONCLUSIONS: The AUA ISE is a good predictor of performance on Canadian and American specialty examinations with the strongest correlation in the final year of residency.

Severe blunt renal trauma: a 7-year retrospective review from a provincial trauma centre.

BACKGROUND: Renal trauma is reported in 3% of trauma patients. The majority (>90%) are due to blunt mechanisms of injury. Minor renal injuries pose few management difficulties and the majority are managed expectantly. More serious injuries are potentially life threatening and have been historically managed by operative intervention with repair of the injured kidney when possible. More recently, there has been a trend towards non-operative management of all solid intra-abdominal organ injury including renal trauma. The purpose of this study was to review a 7-year experience in renal trauma at a provincial trauma centre and to define management practices along with patient and organ outcomes in severe renal injury. METHODS: The BC Trauma Registry was reviewed for all admissions from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1998 to identify patients with renal injury. Patient charts were reviewed to determine sex, age, mechanism of injury, vitals, imaging, associated injuries, and management and outcomes. Renal injuries were graded according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grading System. RESULTS: During the study period 16 250 consecutive trauma cases were seen at Vancouver General Hospital. Of these cases, 227 (1.4%) patients sustained renal injuries: blunt in 93.4% and penetrating in 6.6%. Among patients with blunt renal trauma, 18.3% were grade III, IV, or V injuries. In this population, nearly 80% had associated trauma and also 80% had gross hematuria. Management was conservative in 87.5% of grade III and 77.7% of grade IV; however, 90.9% of grade V injuries went immediately to the OR. Nephrectomy rates were: 12.5% (III), 16.6% (IV), and 90.9% (V) with an overall exploration rate of 7.1% for all blunt renal trauma. Blunt renal trauma patients experienced few genitourinary complications. Overall, 3 patients of 40 with grade III, IV or V injuries died due to cardiac arrest in the emergency room. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt renal trauma managed conservatively is associated with few complications in the hemodynamically stable patient. Grade V injuries still result in a nephrectomy rate of 90.9% with hemodynamic instability the indication in 100% of patients.