Value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for local staging of invasive urinary bladder tumours.

BACKGROUND: Initial tumour staging in bladder cancer mainly relies on the histo-pathological outcome of the transurethral bladder tumour resection (TURBT) and imaging by means of a CT-scan (CT-intravenous urography; CT-IVU). The reported risk of understaging varies from 24-50%. To further improve the the evaluation of depth of invasion of the bladder tumour the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful. To substantiate the additional value of this imaging modality the present observational study was designed. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study to analyse bladder tumour staging with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in patients with a known bladder tumour, who are planned for radical cystectomy. STUDY POPULATION: Patients with an invasive bladder cancer who are planned for radical cystectomy. INTERVENTION: Patients were accrued during their visit to the outpatient department of urology. They underwent routine cystoscopy, laboratory tests (including serum Creatinin) and CT-IVU investigations and subsequently a mpMRI. MAIN STUDY PARAMETERS/ENDPOINTS: To demonstrate the value of mpMRI in the initial staging of bladder tumours using radiological bladder tumour stage (T-stage) based on mpMRI and pathological bladder tumour stage based on 'whole-mount' histo-pathology after radical cystectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-seven participants with known bladder tumours underwent mpMRI and subsequent cystectomy. After mpMRI 10 participants were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and 27 participants with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). In the 'whole-mount' pathology results 12 participants had NMIBC and 25 participants had MIBC. We found a sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 en 0.58 respectively, for the evaluation of MIBC. The positive and negative predictive value were 81% and 70% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI to differentiate between NMIBC and MIBC was 78%. CONCLUSIONS: We found a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 58% for mpMRI to discriminate NMIBC from MIBC.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Multiparametric MRI for Local Staging of Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for local staging of urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC), a systematic review was performed. Of 2369 records, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria (n=1724). We found a pooled sensitivity and specificity for differentiating between stages ≤T1 and ≥T2 of 0.92 (95% CI 0.88-0.95) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.78-0.94). mpMRI shows high sensitivity and specificity for the differentiation between non-muscle invasive and muscle invasive bladder cancer, but does not appear to be useful for staging per T-stage. It can be used for confirmation when muscle invasive disease is suspected at initial diagnosis.

Electroejaculation in patients with spinal cord injuries: A 21-year, single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate treatment results of electroejaculation in patients with spinal cord injuries and the additional value of repeated electroejaculation. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective chart analysis of all spinal cord injury patients treated with electroejaculation at University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands, from January 1994 to July 2015. Data were collected on the patients' demographics and medical history. We evaluated sperm quality according to World Health Organization standards, pregnancy and delivery rates. RESULTS: A total of 230 electroejaculation procedures were carried out in 47 patients. In 227 of 230 electroejaculations (98.7%), an ejaculate could be obtained. In 169 of 230 (73.5%) electroejaculation procedures, it was possible to yield semen containing progressively motile spermatozoa. In 18 of 47 (38.3%) patients, no semen of sufficient quality could be yielded during the first electroejaculation. Repeated electroejaculation resulted in ejaculates containing progressively motile spermatozoa in seven of 18 (38.9%) of these men. Procreation was attempted through in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in 17 couples; of these, 14 of 17 (82.4%) couples achieved pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of spinal cord injury patients treated with electroejaculation, it is possible to obtain semen that can be used for assisted reproductive technologies. Repeated electroejaculation should be considered when the first procedure fails.

Urinary considerations for adult patients with spinal dysraphism.

The incidence of newborns with spinal dysraphism is diminishing worldwide, although survival of individuals with this condition into adulthood continues to improve. The number of adults with spinal dysraphism will, therefore, increase in the coming years, which will pose new challenges in patient management. Urological manifestations of spinal dysraphism can include increased risks of urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, urinary calculi, sexual dysfunction, end-stage renal disease and iatrogenic metabolic disturbances; however, the severity and incidence of these symptoms varies substantially between patients. Owing to the presence of multiple comorbidities, treatment and follow-up protocols often have to be adapted to best suit the needs of specific patients. Authors describe bladder and kidney function and long-term complications of treatments initiated in childhood, as well as the potential for improvements in quality of life through better follow-up schedules and future developments.

Diagnostic accuracy of Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy and renal ultrasonography for detecting renal scarring and relative function in patients with spinal dysraphism.

AIMS: To study additional benefits of performing Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-99m-DMSA) scintigraphy as part of the follow-up of adults with spinal dysraphism (SD), compared with ultrasonography, with regard to finding renal scarring and difference in split renal function. METHODS: Between January 2011 and April 2013 every patient visiting our specialized outpatient clinic for adults with SD was invited to undergo both renal ultrasonography and Tc-99m-DMSA scintigraphy. Outcomes of both modalities were compared, with focus on renal scarring. The relation between renal scarring and hypertension was also assessed. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients (with 242 renal units) underwent both renal scintigraphy and ultrasonography. More scars were seen on DMSA scintigraphy than on ultrasonography: 45.9% vs. 10.3% of renal units; P < 0.001. Renal scarring seen on DMSA was associated with the presence of hypertension (P = 0.049) whereas scarring seen on ultrasonography was not (P = 0.10). If ultrasonography was difficult to interpret, many more scars were missed on ultrasonography (78.9%) compared with easily interpretable ultrasonographic images (30.6%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In adults with SD, ultrasonography is of value to diagnose dilatation and stones of the upper urinary tract; however, compared with DMSA renography, renal scars are often missed, especially when the ultrasound is difficult to interpret.

Electroejaculation in psychogenic anejaculation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of treatment with electroejaculation (EEJ), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) in patients with psychogenic anejaculation (PAE). DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral fertility center. PATIENT(S): Eleven male patients diagnosed with psychogenic anejaculation (PAE) were included. Median age at the time of first treatment with EEJ was 33.0 (interquartile range, 29.0-36.0) years. INTERVENTION(S): Electroejaculation, IUI, and IVF/ICSI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen analysis, fertilization rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and delivery rate. RESULT(S): A total of 60 EEJs were performed in 11 patients. Mean VCM (volume [mL] × concentration [sperm cells/mL] × percentage progressive motile cells) of the retrieved sperm of all EEJs was 17.5 × 10(6) (SD 16.5 × 10(6)). Yielded semen was used in a total of 26 ICSI procedures in seven couples. The fertilization rate was 65.6% (80 of 122). The ICSI cycles resulted in five pregnancies; of these, one resulted in a spontaneous abortion in the first trimester. Three couples were treated with 34 IUI cycles, which resulted in live births in four pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): Electroejaculation is a suitable and effective treatment that can be used in men with psychogenic anejaculation. The retrieved semen can be used successfully in assisted reproductive technology treatment. In this study EEJ resulted in pregnancies and the birth of eight healthy children.

Cross-sectional study of determinants of upper and lower urinary tract outcomes in adults with spinal dysraphism--new recommendations for urodynamic followup guidelines?

PURPOSE: Although annual urodynamic study is currently recommended for all adults with spinal dysraphism, this followup might be overly intensive. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study we examine which determinants of upper and lower urinary tract outcomes are associated with relevant urodynamic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients visiting our specialized outpatient clinic for adults with spinal dysraphism during a 26-month period underwent evaluation of the lower urinary tract by (video)urodynamic study. High end filling pressure (40 cm H2O or greater), poor compliance (less than 10 ml/cm H2O) and high detrusor leak point pressure (40 cm H2O or greater) were classified as relevant findings and together called unsafe bladder. Multivariable analysis was performed to reveal determinants of unsafe bladder (type of spinal dysraphism, being wheelchair bound, hydrocephalus, urological symptoms and renal dilatation) and diagnostic accuracy was calculated for the significant determinants. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients evaluated (median age 31.5 years) 120 underwent complete urodynamic study and were included in this study. In the multivariable model unsafe bladder was significantly associated with being wheelchair bound (OR 5.36, p=0.008). In patients without symptoms who were not wheelchair bound the negative predictive value of urodynamic study for finding an unsafe bladder was high (1.00). CONCLUSIONS: If an adult patient with spinal dysraphism is not wheelchair bound, unfavorable findings at urodynamic study are unlikely. If these patients are asymptomatic, these findings are even more unlikely. In these patients it is probably not necessary to perform urodynamic study as frequently as is currently recommended. Patients with an unsafe bladder need active surveillance and treatment when upper tract safety is threatened.

Medical and psychosocial problems in middle-aged spina bifida patients: survey among members of the Dutch patients' association.

PURPOSE: To identify physical, emotional and psychosocial issues in the older person with spina bifida (SB). METHOD: Members of the Dutch patients' association aged >25 years (n = 184) were asked to complete a questionnaire. This survey contained questions on physical and psychosocial complaints, as well as problems regarding social participation. RESULTS: A total of 61 people (33.2%) with a median age of 45 years (IQR 33.5-60.0) years responded. During the previous 5 years, 86.9% experienced new physical complaints, whereas only 13.1% remained free of new complaints. 50.8% of the persons had new bladder problems and 44.1% had bowel complaints. Older persons more often had physical complaints. New musculoskeletal problems occurred in 75.4%. Psychological problems were common (78.7%). Overall psychological problems were not associated with gender, hydrocephalus or age. Social participation was good, with 90.2% of persons taking part in some type of social activity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a majority of adult persons with SB reported newly arising physical and psychological problems during the previous 5 years. Given the large number and diversity of the newly emerging problems after adolescence, regular and multidisciplinary surveillance of adult persons with SB is recommended. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Adults with spina bifida often disappear from follow-up, or are forced to take care of their follow-up themselves. According to a survey carried out among adult SB-patients from the general community, these persons continued to struggle with many physical and psychosocial problems. Given the high number of psychosocial problems in this sample of patients, psychosocial counseling could be beneficial during follow-up. This paper adds to the body of evidence indicating that multidisciplinary follow-up for SB-patients could be beneficial, also when patients grow beyond the age of 18 years.

Spinal cord transection before scoliosis correction in myelomeningocele may improve bladder function.

AIMS: In patients with myelomeningocele (MMC) and coexistent scoliosis, a spinal cord transection (SC-transection) is sometimes performed before scoliosis correction to prevent traction on the myelum after stretching the spinal column. Performing a SC-transection may have positive effects on bladder function, especially in case of refractory detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. This study investigates the effects of SC-transection on lower and upper urinary tract outcomes. METHODS: All children with MMC who underwent scoliosis correction (1989-2009) were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were defined as those who underwent a SC-transection before scoliosis correction, whereas the control group comprised children who had a scoliosis correction alone. Urodynamic and clinical outcomes were examined. RESULTS: A total of 7 cases and 13 controls were identified. Postoperatively, compared to the control group, cases had relatively more often improvement of compliance (improvement in 6/7 vs. 9/13) and bladder capacity (improvement in 6/7 vs. 8/13). No effect of SC-transection was found on incontinence severity, clean intermittent catheterization frequency, use of antimuscarinic drugs, or signs of renal damage on ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: SC-transection before scoliosis correction in children with MMC without lower extremity function, may improve bladder function with respect to bladder compliance and bladder capacity. Changes in symptoms or renal ultrasound were not found. No harmful effects of SC-transection were found, indicating that this procedure can be performed safely with respect to bladder function in these patients. Whether or not SC-transection should be recommended during scoliosis correction in patients with MMC to improve bladder function requires further study.

Assessment of bladder and kidney functioning in adult spina bifida patients by Dutch urologists: a survey.

AIMS: To investigate how urologists generally perform the follow-up of adult spina bifida (SB) patients and to see to which extent recommendations from guidelines on neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction are followed. METHODS: A self-designed electronic multiple choice questionnaire was sent to all 365 urologists in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Overall 100 urologists (27.4%) responded, of which 96 (26.3%) responses were usable. Of 95 urologists, 18 (18.9%) saw no adult SB patients, 47 (49.5%) saw 1-5 patients/year, 15 (15.8%) saw 6-10, and 15 urologists (15.8%) saw >10 adult SB patients/year. Of 96 urologists, a specialized clinic for adult SB patients was present in only 11 (11.5%) cases. Ultrasonography was performed regularly (at least once every 1-5 years) by 68/74 (91.9%) urologists. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined at least every 5 years by 66/74 (89.1%) urologists. For determination of GFR, serum creatinine was most often used (94.5%). Renography and video-urodynamic investigations (UDS) were performed on a regular basis by 8.1% and 24.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In adult SB patients, the responding Dutch urologists regularly evaluate bladder and kidney function using GFR and ultrasonography, although less frequently than recommended by the guidelines. UDS is performed on indication only, which is not in accordance with the guidelines. Regular UDS might be valuable to detect risk factors for insidious renal damage. The role of renography, as well as the desirability of multidisciplinary teams, has yet to be determined.

Long-term adherence to antimuscarinic therapy in everyday practice: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Antimuscarinic drug treatment is known to have side effects and, consequently, poor adherence in therapeutic regimens. In this systematic review we study the long-term (greater than 6 months) adherence to antimuscarinic drugs in daily clinical practice, and identify factors contributing to poor adherence and persistence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A literature search was performed using PubMed® and Embase™ using synonyms for incontinence, overactive bladder and antimuscarinics combined with synonyms for medication adherence. We chose to include only pharmaceutical database studies (using prescription/insurance claim data) and patient self-report studies, using established pharmacoepidemiological parameters such as persistence rate and medication possession rate. RESULTS: A total of 1,245 titles were screened, of which 102 abstracts were assessed. Fourteen studies were ultimately included, comprising 190,279 unique patients (mean age 69.5 years). Regardless of which specific antimuscarinic drug is studied, persistence rates are usually poor. Considering all drugs together, median persistence rates were 12.0% to 39.4% (with an outlier of 75.5%) at 12 months, 8.0% to 15.0% at 18 months and 6.0% to 12.0% at 24 months. At 36 months persistence rates ranged from 0.0% (darifenacin) to 16.0% (trospium). Mean reported medication possession rates were also low, with a mean of 0.37 at 12 months. Risk factors for discontinuation were identified, with the most important being younger age group, use of oxybutynin and use of immediate release formulations. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in adherence and persistence with antimuscarinic medication should be an important goal in the development of new drugs for overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

Paucity of evidence for urinary tract outcomes in closed spinal dysraphism: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the long-term upper (UUT) and lower urinary tract (LUT) outcomes in patients with closed spinal dysraphism (CSD). CSD differs from open spinal dysraphism (OSD) by its long asymptomatic course and consequent later diagnosis. The outcome of UUT and LUT function in adults with CSD is relatively unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed following the standards of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. An extensive search was made of PubMed and EMBASE. Included were papers on adults with any form of primary CSD that described bladder and/or kidney function. Only English and Dutch language papers were included. Excluded were papers on patients aged <18 years and patients with secondary tethered cord following childhood OSD repair. International Continence Society terminology was used to describe LUT outcomes. RESULTS: Eventually, only seven studies (90 patients) were included and none of these described renal outcomes. Five of the seven papers were on outcomes after untethering surgery during adulthood. Urological complaints were present in 54/79 (68.4%) patients. Urodynamic studies (48 patients available) revealed detrusor underactivity in 46.5% of the evaluated cases, detrusor overactivity in 32.6% and normal findings in 16.3% of the studied patients. Symptomatic improvement after surgery for tethered cord occurred in 33.3-90.0%, depending on the subgroup studied. Urodynamic improvement rates ranged from 11.1% to 54.5% (but based on three studies with only 24 patients). Success of surgery depended on the time between onset of symptoms and operation, and (sometimes) type of lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Few data are available on long-term urological outcomes in adult patients with CSD. More extensive research on follow-up, including the functional status of the UUT, is recommended. Based upon the little evidence available, we think life-long follow-up (from birth into adulthood) of those with CSD and neurogenic bladder is advisable.

Behavioral effects of long-term antimuscarinic use in patients with spinal dysraphism: a case control study.

PURPOSE: We explored possible associations between long-term antimuscarinic use and behavioral problems in children with spinal dysraphism and neurogenic bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with open and closed spinal dysraphism were recruited from 2 pediatric hospitals, 1 in Amsterdam and 1 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. At the Amsterdam facility antimuscarinics were prescribed in selected patients with detrusor overactivity. At the Utrecht facility antimuscarinics were prescribed from birth onward in patients with spinal dysraphism beginning in the early 1990s. Parents of study participants were asked to fill out a Child Behavior Checklist. Demographics, data on level and type(s) of lesion, and presence of hydrocephalus with a drain (and, if applicable, number of drain revisions) were retrieved for each patient. Cases and controls (8 boys and 8 girls per group) were matched on a 1-to-1 basis. RESULTS: Data on 32 children were analyzed. Median age was 10.6 years in cases and 10.5 years in controls (p=0.877). In each group 9 of 16 patients had hydrocephalus with a drain. No significant difference in Child Behavior Checklist scores for total problems was found between cases and controls (median 52.0 vs 59.5, p=0.39). No differences were found between the groups on any subdomain of the Child Behavior Checklist. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in behavior were found between children with spinal dysraphism with and without long-term use of antimuscarinics.

Urolithiasis in adult spina bifida patients: study in 260 patients and discussion of the literature.

PURPOSE: To describe incidence and risk factors of urinary tract stones in adult spina bifida (SB) patients. Although spina bifida patients have an allegedly higher risk of urinary tract stones, only two small non-English case series are available and do not provide adequate epidemiological data and analyses on risk factors. METHODS: A total of 260 adult SB patients followed in our centre for 10 years were retrospectively analysed for stone disease. Both a univariate analysis (Fisher's exact, two-sided Student's t test) and a binary logistic regression analysis were performed to identify independent risk factors for stone disease. RESULTS: Of the 260 patients, 24 (9.2 %) were identified with a history of urolithiasis. Fourteen patients (5.4 %) had bladder stones in 26 episodes. Sixteen patients (6.2 %) had upper urinary tract stones: 14 kidney stones and two ureteral stones. Lifetime incidence of both bladder stones and upper tract stones was 2.25 per 1,000 patient-years. Recurrent urinary tract infections (OR 4.34, p = 0.013) and incorporation of bowel tissue into a continent reservoir (including enterocystoplasty) (OR 4.80, p = 0.012) were independent risk factors for bladder stone disease in a multivariate model. An indwelling catheter was an independent predictor for upper tract stones (OR 5.89, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Urolithiasis, especially in the bladder, is a frequent finding in patients with SB. Bladder stones occur about 10 times more often in SB patients than in the population. In patients without risk factors, frequent ultrasound of the urinary tract is not necessary for the sole detection of stones.

Enterocystoplasty vs detrusorectomy: outcome in the adult with spina bifida.

PURPOSE: Bladder augmentation by enterocystoplasty or detrusorectomy might prevent renal damage, help achieve dryness and decrease the need for antimuscarinics. We compared the long-term outcomes of enterocystoplasty and detrusorectomy in adults with spina bifida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study using the hospital electronic database was performed. We identified 47 patients with spina bifida (median age at followup 26.8 years) who underwent either enterocystoplasty or detrusorectomy between 1988 and 2004. Median followup was 13.1 years in the detrusorectomy group and 15.3 years in the enterocystoplasty group. RESULTS: In the detrusorectomy group 4 patients with treatment failure were identified. All 4 patients underwent secondary enterocystoplasty. No reoperation was necessary in the enterocystoplasty group. Preoperative bladder volume was approximately 100 ml higher in the detrusorectomy group (not significant). There was a significantly greater improvement of median bladder volume in the enterocystoplasty group (increase of 300 vs 77.5 ml, p = 0.006). No differences in continence rate, antimuscarinic use or condition of the upper tract were found. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of 47 patients long-term outcomes were good after enterocystoplasty and detrusorectomy, although bladder volume exhibited a greater increase in the enterocystoplasty group. No differences were observed among the other outcomes. If preoperative bladder volume is sufficient, detrusorectomy can be considered before enterocystoplasty is done.

Upper and lower urinary tract outcomes in adult myelomeningocele patients: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of sophisticated treatment of bladder dysfunction and hydrocephalus allows the majority of SB patients to survive into adulthood. However, no systematic review on urological outcome in adult SB patients is available and no follow-up schemes exist. OBJECTIVES: To systematically summarize the evidence on outcome of urinary tract functioning in adult SB patients. METHODS: A literature search in PubMed and Embase databases was done. Only papers published in the last 25 years describing patients with open SB with a mean age >18 years were included. We focused on finding differences in the treatment strategies, e.g., clean intermittent catheterization and antimuscarinic drugs versus early urinary diversion, with regard to long-term renal and bladder outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles and 5 meeting abstracts on urinary tract status of adult SB patients were found describing a total of 1564 patients with a mean age of 26.1 years (range 3-74 years, with a few patients <18 years). All were retrospective cohort studies with relatively small and heterogeneous samples with inconsistent reporting of outcome; this precluded the pooling of data and meta-analysis. Total continence was achieved in 449/1192 (37.7%; range 8-85%) patients. Neurological level of the lesion and hydrocephalus were associated with incontinence. Renal function was studied in 1128 adult patients. In 290/1128 (25.7%; range 3-81.8%) patients some degree of renal damage was found and end-stage renal disease was seen in 12/958 (1.3%) patients. Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergy and detrusor-overactivity acted as adverse prognostic factors for the development of renal damage. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should outline follow-up schedules for SB patients, which do not yet exist. Since renal and bladder deterioration continues beyond adolescence, follow-up of these individuals is needed. We recommend standardization in reporting the outcome of urinary tract function in adult SB patients.

Bladder carcinoma in a 31-year-old female spina bifida patient with an auto-augmented bladder.

We present the case of a 31-year-old spina bifida patient presenting with a poorly differentiated T3N1M0 bladder carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation in an auto-augmented bladder. She underwent a radical cystectomy and a bilateral lymph node dissection. However, only 10 months after the onset of her symptoms, she died after major lymphatic metastases had developed in the small pelvis. This case report is the first on an adult spina bifida patient developing bladder carcinoma after detrusorectomy. It shows that bladder cancer also occurs in patients who underwent detrusorectomy, despite the fact that the risk is supposedly lower than in patients who underwent enterocystoplasty. Moreover, tumour spread to adjacent organs could occur more rapidly in auto-augmented bladders because of the lack of muscle tissue. The latter could have serious implications on the prognosis of these patients.

Antegrade pressure measurement as a diagnostic tool in modern pediatric urology.

INTRODUCTION: The antegrade pressure measurement (APM) or perfusion pressure-flow test (Whitaker test) is a method of antegrade measurement of pressure in the upper urinary tract. In this study, we present the long-term follow-up results of APMs performed in our institution in the late 1980s and early 1990s to see whether the diagnostic decisions that were based on the outcomes of the test prove to be correct in the long term. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study by searching our hospital's electronic database. We found a total of 16 APMs performed between 1987 and 1995 (10 boys, six girls; mean age 61 months). RESULTS: In nine cases, action was undertaken immediately after the APM had been performed; in seven cases, this was a surgical procedure (re-implantation/re-calibration or pyeloplasty) after obstruction was demonstrated. In two cases (both postoperative after previous pyeloplasty), absence of obstruction was demonstrated and nephrostomy tubes were subsequently closed. In one case, this resulted in hydronephrosis that had to be treated with a new JJ stent. In all the seven cases in which no action was deemed necessary as a result of the outcome of the APM, long-term follow-up showed that intervention had indeed not been necessary. CONCLUSION: Although not often used anymore, the APM seems to be a safe and valuable diagnostic tool in the work up for possible urinary tract obstruction in children, especially in cases in which there is serious doubt concerning conservative watchful waiting.

Secondary endoscopic pyelotomy in children with failed pyeloplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the results of secondary endopyelotomies (SEP) that were performed in our center in children who had earlier failed pyeloplasty. METHODS: Eleven secondary endopyelotomies were done between 2005 and 2010 in 10 patients (5 boys and 5 girls, mean age 6.8 years), with a follow-up time of >6 months. The primary procedure was an open/laparoscopic pyeloplasty (n = 10) or a ureterocalicostomy (n = 1). In all cases, endopyelotomy was done by means of a monopolar electrocautery hook using the standard pediatric resectoscope. In 10 patients, SEP was done percutaneously, and in 1 patient it was done in a retrograde fashion. The mean operation time was 69 minutes. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 20 months, 70% of patients were free of complaints (n = 7), which was defined as a resolution of complaints, resolution of hydronephrosis, and improvement of renal wash-out curve and function. In 4 renal units, reintervention had to be considered; in one of these, a re-pyeloplasty has already been performed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.8 days. No intraoperative complications occurred. In 1 patient, postoperative leakage around the nephrostomy drain occurred but resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: SEP is a fairly safe method to treat recurrent ureteropelvic junction-stenosis after failed pyeloplasty in children. However, because it seems to be less affective than the open redo pyeloplasty, it cannot be considered as a gold standard procedure and as such should be thoroughly discussed with the patient and parents.