Predictors of urethral stricture recurrence after endoscopic urethrotomy. / Factores predictivos de recidiva de estenosis uretral tras uretrotomía endoscópica.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical-demographic variables of the series and the predictors of urethral stricture recurrence after endoscopic urethrotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 67 patients who underwent Sachse endoscopic urethrotomy between June 2006 and September 2014. Those patients who had previously undergone endoscopic urethrotomy or urethroplasty were excluded. The other patients who presented urethral stricture were included. We analysed age, weight, smoking habit, and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the number, location, length and aetiology of the strictures, previous urethrotomies, vesical catheter duration and postsurgical dilatations. A univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test or Fisher's test and logistic regression to identify the variables related to recurrence. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of the patients had a relapse. The majority of the patients were older than 60 years (56.7%), obese (74.6%), nonsmokers (88%) and had no cardiovascular factors (56.7%). The majority of the strictures were single (94%), <1cm (82%), bulbar urethral (64.2%), iatrogenic (67.2%) and with no prior urethrotomy (89.6%). The majority of the patients carried a vesical catheter for <15 days (85.1%) and did not undergo postsurgical dilatation (65.7%). Only the length of the stricture was an independent risk factor for recurrence (P=.025; relative risk, 5.7; 95% CI 1.21-26.41). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of urethral strictures through endoscopic urethrotomy, a stricture length >1cm is the only factor that predicts an increase in the risk of recurrence. We found no clinical or demographic factors that caused an increase in the incidence of recurrence. Similarly, technical factors such as increasing the bladder catheterisation time and urethral dilatations did not change the course of the disease. Their routine use is therefore unnecessary.

[Prognostic factors of spontaneous expulsion in ureteral lithiasis]. / Factores predictivos para la expulsión de la litiasis ureteral.

UNLABELLED: Medical treatment, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscopy are therapeutic options for ureteral stones. EWSL and endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones have a high success rate. However it has surgical as well as anaesthetic risks. For many patients, a medicinal treatment without invasive procedures is an option. Watchful waiting does not always result in stone clearance and may be associated with recurrent renal colic. The study of the prognostic factors for expulsion and the medical therapy will help us to select candidates for medical expulsive treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of the stones and the medication administered (alpha blockers, NSAIDs or a combination of both) as predictors of spontaneous passage of the stone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 260 patients with 278 ureteral stones was conducted. Primary endpoint was stone expulsion. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted testing the effect of stone location, size and composition, and medication (alpha-blockers, NSAIDs, or combination) on stone clearance. RESULTS: 34,2% of the stones studied were spontaneously eliminated. Stone location (pelvic ureter, OR=1.823, p=0.013), size (>5 mm, OR=3.37, p>0.02), and medication (combination of alpha blockers and NSAIDs, OR=8.70, >0.001) were predictors of spontaneous clearance. Multivariate analysis confirmed size (p=0.006) and medication (p>0.001) as independent predictive factors.The use of the combination of NSAIDs and alpha-blockers versus observation multiplied times 8.21 (95%CI 3.37-20.01) the possibilities of spontaneous expulsion. CONCLUSIONS: Size of stone and medication were confirmed as independent factors for spontaneous expulsion of ureteral stones.

Factores predictivos para la expulsión de la litiasis ureteral / Prognostic factors of spontaneous expulsion in ureteral lithiasis

El tratamiento médico, la litotricia y la ureteroscopia son opciones terapéuticas para el tratamiento de la litiasis ureteral. La ureteroscopia y la litotricia son altamente resolutivas, si bien no están exentas de riesgos quirúrgicos y anestésicos. El tratamiento médico expulsivo es menos efectivo pero carece de esos riesgos. La selección de enfermos para el tratamiento médico debe ser cuidadosa, atendiendo a factores como el tamaño, la composición y la localización de la litiasis. Objetivos: Analizar retrospectivamente el papel de las características litiásicas y de la medicación (alfabloqueantes, antiinflamatorios no esteroideos [AINE] o la combinación de ambos) como factores predictivos de la expulsión de cálculos ureterales. Material y métodos: Para el estudio se encontraron disponibles 278 litiasis ureterales correspondientes a 260 enfermos. La variable principal del estudio fue el «resultado clínico» (expulsión o persistencia de la litiasis). Se analizaron la influencia de la localización, el tamaño, la composición y la medicación administrada (alfabloqueantes, AINE o la combinación de ambos) con el test de la chi cuadrado. A continuación, se llevó a cabo un análisis multivariante con un modelo de regresión logística para estudiar la influencia de cada una de las variables en presencia del resto de las covariables. Resultados: Se produjo la expulsión del 34,2% de las litiasis. La localización (uréter pelviano, odds ratio [OR]= 1,823; p=0,02), el tamaño (<5mm, OR=3,37; p<0,001) y la medicación administrada (combinación de alfabloqueantes y AINE, OR=8,70; p<0,001) resultaron factores predictivos para la expulsión. El análisis multivariante confirmó al tamaño (p=0,006) y a la medicación (p<0,001) como factores predictivos independientes. El tratamiento con una combinación de AINE y alfabloqueantes multiplica por 8,21 (intervalo de confianza del 95%: 3,37–20,01) las posibilidades de expulsión en comparación con la mera actitud expectante. Conclusiones: El tamaño del cálculo y la medicación son factores predictivos independientes para la expulsión de la litiasis ureteral (AU)

Medical treatment, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscopy are therapeutic options for ureteral stones. EWSL and endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones have a high success rate. However it has surgical as well as anaesthetic risks. For many patients, a medicinal treatment without invasive procedures is an option. Watchful waiting does not always result in stone clearance and may be associated with recurrent renal colic. The study of the prognostic factors for expulsion and the medical therapy will help us to select candidates for medical expulsive treatment. Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of the stones and the medication administered (alpha blockers, NSAIDs or a combination of both) as predictors of spontaneous passage of the stone. Material and methods: A retrospective observational study of 260 patients with 278 ureteral stones was conducted. Primary endpoint was stone expulsion. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted testing the effect of stone location, size and composition, and medication (alpha-blockers, NSAIDs, or combination) on stone clearance. Results: 34,2% of the stones studied were spontaneously eliminated. Stone location (pelvic ureter, OR= 1,823, p=0,013), size (<5mm, OR=3,37, p<0,02), and medication (combination of alpha blockers and NSAIDs, OR= 8,70, p<0.001) were predictors of spontaneous clearance. Multivariate analysis confirmed size (p=0,006) and medication (p<0,001) as independent predictive factors. The use of the combination of NSAIDs and alpha-blockers versus observation multiplied times 8,21 (95% CI 3.37–20,01) the possibilities of spontaneous expulsion. Conclusions: Size of stone and medication were confirmed as independent factors for spontaneous expulsion of ureteral stones (AU)