Neurogenic bladder management and cutaneous non-continent ileal conduit.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective monocentric follow-up study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the results of cutaneous non-continent diversion for neurogenic bladder management. SETTINGS: Department of Urology (Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital), Department of Neurological Rehabilitation (Raymond Poincaré Hospital), Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, University Paris VI and V. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 33 consecutive patients (19 women, 14 men), operated between 1979 and 1999. Twenty-one patients had spinal cord injury (SCI), four had multiple sclerosis, three had various forms of myelitis and five had central neurological diseases. Diversion was indicated for upper urinary tract protection (17), perineal dryness (14) and/or functional or social reasons (20). Before the operation, 20 of the 33 patients (60.6%) presented urologic complications related to bladder management, including triggered micturition, indwelling catheter or intermittent catheterization: urethrocutaneous fistula (4), complicated enterocystoplasty (2), watering pot perineum and severe decubitus ulcerations (14). Ileal conduit (also named ileoureterostomy) was performed alone for 19 patients (57.6%), and in combination with simultaneous cystectomy in 14 patients. We reviewed patient outcome and early and late complications. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 48 months (1 to 20 years). All problems related to catheters or incontinence had resolved. There were no deaths or early re-operations. Twelve patients (12 out of 33, 36%) had one or more peri-operative complication, including ileus (1), uretero-ileal anastomosis leak (1) and sepsis (1). During follow-up, four of the 19 patients who did not undergo cystectomy developed pyocystitis (3 secondary cystectomies performed between 6 and 56 months). All patients achieved perineal dryness. CONCLUSIONS: The ileal conduit procedure is a safe and well-tolerated procedure in neurologically impaired patients. This procedure is suitable for most neurogenic patients with refractory lower urinary tract dysfunctions.

Anatomic and functional results of transperitoneal-transvesical vesicovaginal fistula repair.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the anatomic and functional results of transperitoneal-transvesical repair of simple and complex vesicovaginal fistulas (VVFs). METHODS: Between 1978 and 1995, 30 VVFs in 28 patients (mean age 44.6 years, range 21 to 80) were treated by way of a transperitoneal-transvesical approach. VVFs were secondary to hysterectomy in 67.8% of cases; 46.7% of VVFs were considered complex fistulas. Fifty percent of the VVFs were retrotrigonal and 40% were trigonal. A flap was interposed in 70% of cases. The vaginal fistula orifice was left open in 66% of cases, and 33% of VVFs required ureteral reimplantation. The mean duration of bladder drainage was 15.8 days (range 6 to 42), and the mean follow-up was 30 months (range 23 days to 14.6 years). The anatomic and functional results were evaluated by physical examination, cystoscopy, and a self-assessment questionnaire. Success was defined as the disappearance of the fistula. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 85% (24 of 28). The success rate was 87.5% for simple VVFs, 71% for complex VVFs, 93% for retrotrigonal VVFs, 66% for cervicotrigonal VVFs, and 80% for fistulas requiring ureteral reimplantation. Postoperative voiding disorders were reported in 38% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Transperitoneal-transvesical repair of simple and complex VVFs remains the reference treatment for a disease that has become rare in countries with a well-developed healthcare system, but that is disabling and poorly tolerated by patients after the treatment of another disease.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, a complication of the testicular cancer.

We report a case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis related to a testicular neoplasm. The syndrome is characterized by progressive amnesia and psychiatric disturbances resulting from an inflammatory reaction probably related to an immune response to the neuronal proteins expressed by tumors. It is usually associated with small cell lung cancer. In other cases, testicular cancer occurs more frequently than expected. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging may show increased signal intensity in the limbic cortex. Genitourinary examinations are sometimes inadequate. Testicular ultrasonography is recommended if no tumor is detected on the chest and abdominal computed tomography scan. The outcome of the treatment of the testicular cancer on the paraneoplastic syndrome is variable.

Feasibility of a temporary urethral stent through the striated sphincter in patients in the early phase (6 months) of spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a temporary urethral stent through the striated sphincter in patients in the early phase (before 6 months) of spinal cord injury (SCI) in a department of neurological rehabilitation. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive men with SCI with urinary retention within 6 months after SCI were prospectively treated. Thirteen patients were tetraplegic (C2 to C7) and 1 was paraplegic. All patients were managed with indwelling catheters (10) or intermittent catheterization (4). The Nissenkorn polyurethane urethral stent was inserted across the external sphincter under local anesthesia for an anticipated 4-month duration. RESULTS: No perioperative complications were encountered. Hospital mean stay at the urological department was 1.9 days (range 1-4 days). All patients had good emptying of the bladder (residual urine less than 100 ml) and were free of all types of catheterization. Five stents had to be repositioned in the first 2 weeks, 1 was removed for obstruction at 2.5 months. There was no lithiasis, no upper urinary tract alteration, no symptomatic infection nor local discomfort during follow-up. At a mean of 3.7 months after implantation, 10/14 (71.5%) patients chose sphincterotomy by permanent urethral stent and 4 had stent removal for learning of self-intermittent catheterization (3) and indwelling catheter (1). CONCLUSIONS: The temporary sphincter stent is a new, feasible and reversible technique to manage neuropathic bladder dysfunction in the early phase after SCI. A randomized study on intermittent catheterization should be conducted. It should consider patients' and nursing caregivers' evaluations.

Urodynamic monitoring during percutaneous sacral nerve neurostimulation in patients with neurogenic detrusor hyperreflexia.

The purpose of this study was to assess urodynamics parameter changes induced by acute sacral neurostimulation (SNS) in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with neurogenic detrusor hyperreflexia. Fourteen SCI patients with urge incontinence owing to a hyperreflexive bladder were prospectively evaluated. Neurostimulation was performed on the root that obtained the best motor response (10 Hz, 210 microseconds) and amplitude ranges of >0 to 10 V. The urodynamics study was done in the prone position. Four cystometries were recorded before (two), during (one), and 10 minutes after stimulation (one). Maximal bladder capacity (MBC) (volume to first leakage), bladder volume at first uninhibited contraction (BV(1stC)), and maximal detrusor pressure during uninhibited contractions (P(det)max) were compared. Left S3 foramen was the most commonly used (9/14). Mean amplitude of stimulation was 4.5 V (range, 0.5-8.5 V). Statistically significant differences (Mann-Whitney U-test) were found for MBC, BV(1stC), and P(det)max with mean variations of +206.8 mL (+107%, P < 0.001), +151.5 mL (+98%, P < 0.01), and -23.4 cm H2O (-27%, P < 0.05), respectively. Patient gender and SCI level did not reveal any difference. Patients who reached a MBC of up to 400 mL (+278.2 mL, +129%, n = 10) with SNS had statistically significant improvement of BV(1stC) (+210.2 mL, +125%, P < 0.01) and P(det)max (-33.3 cm H2O, -38%, P < 0.01). Acute temporary SNS in SCI patients has a profound effect on key urodynamics parameters. These neurologically impaired patients with detrusor hyperreflexia may be appropriate candidates for implantable SNS.

Long-term results of sacral nerve stimulation (S3) for the treatment of neurogenic refractory urge incontinence related to detrusor hyperreflexia.

PURPOSE: We assess clinical and urodynamic results of sacral nerve stimulation for patients with neurogenic (spinal cord diseases) urge incontinence and detrusor hyperreflexia resistant to parasympatholytic drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 1992, 9 women with a mean age of 42.6 years (range 26 to 53) were treated for refractory neurogenic urge incontinence with sacral nerve stimulation. Neurological spinal diseases included viral and vascular myelitis in 1 patient each, multiple sclerosis in 5 and traumatic spinal cord injury in 2. Mean time since neurological diagnosis was 12 years. All patients had incontinence with chronic pad use related to detrusor hyperreflexia. Intermittent self-catheterization for external detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was used by 5 patients. Social life was impaired and these patients were candidates for bladder augmentation. A sacral (S3) lead was surgically implanted and connected to a subcutaneous neurostimulator after a positive test stimulation trial. RESULTS: Mean followup was 43.6 months (range 7 to 72). All patients had clinically significant improvement of incontinence, and 5 were completely dry. Average number of voids per day decreased from 16.1 to 8.2. Urodynamic parameters at 6 months after implant improved significantly from baseline, including maximum bladder capacity from 244 to 377 ml. and volume at first uninhibited contraction from 214 to 340 ml. Maximum detrusor pressure at first uninhibited contraction increased in 3, stabilized in 2 and decreased in 4 patients. Urodynamic results returned to baseline when stimulation was inactivated. All patients subjectively reported improved visual analog scale results by at least 75% at last followup. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral nerve stimulation can be used as a reversible treatment option for refractory urge incontinence related to detrusor hyperreflexia in select patients with spinal lesions.

Long-term results of augmentation cystoplasty in spinal cord injury patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective monocentric follow-up study. OBJECTIVES: To assess long-term functional and urodynamic results of augmentation enterocystoplasty in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with detrusor hyperreflexia and reflex incontinence who failed to respond to conservative treatment. SETTINGS: Department of Urology (Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, Paris, France), Department of Neurological Rehabilitation (Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France), Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, University Paris VI and V, France. METHODS: Prospective study of 17 SCI patients (four above T6 level, nine between T6 and T12, and four below T12) with history of refractory urge incontinence to pharmacotherapy. Partial cystectomy (subtrigonal for 15) was performed with Hautmann enterocystoplasty (15) or detubularized clam cystoplasty (two). RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 6.3+/-3.8 years (range 1.25 - 10.5 years). Fifteen of 17 (88.5%) patients were completely continent under self clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) (mean 4.6/day, range 4 - 7). The remaining two patients with pudendal nerve denervation had persistent stress urinary incontinence. No operative complications were noted. Long-term complications included recurrent pyelonephritis for one patient. Maximal cystometric capacity increased from 174.1+/-103.9 to 508.1+/-215.8 ml (P<0.05). Maximal end filling pressure decreased from 65.5+/-50.2 to 18.3+/-7.9 cm H2O (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Urodynamic evaluation and clinical assessment demonstrate long-term success of augmentation enterocystoplasty in an homogeneous population (SCI) without delayed complications in SCI patients.

A urethral stent for the treatment of detrusor-striated sphincter dyssynergia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the technique, efficacy and complications of the Ultraflex urethral stent (Boston Scientific Corp., Boston, MA) for the treatment of detrusor-striated sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with DSD who had a Ultraflex stent placed in the membranous urethra were evaluated prospectively. DSD was caused by spinal cord injury in 30, multiple sclerosis in six and other neurological diseases in four. All patients were either tetraplegic or paraplegic and unable to use intermittent self-catheterization. Previous bladder management consisted of an indwelling catheter in 15 patients, chronic suprapubic catheters in two, intermittent catheterization in nine, and trigger reflex micturition in 14. The Ultraflex stent was placed under local anaesthesia. The stents were 50 mm long in 36 patients, 45 mm in two and 40 mm in two. The mean (SD) follow-up was 16.9 (13. 8) months. RESULTS: The mean (SD) residual urine decreased from 245. 9 (117) mL before stenting to 65.2 (19.3) mL at 12 months afterward (n = 19). One stent was removed at 13 months for chronic prostatic and urinary tract infection leading to autonomic dysreflexia. There was no stent stenosis and 17 of 18 stents had > 75% epithelial coverage at one year. None of the stents migrated. Seven patients underwent secondary bladder neck incision through the stent. The stent length was increased in four patients using a second overlapping distal stent, twice during the first procedure and twice within 6 months because the sphincter was inadequately covered. CONCLUSIONS: The Ultraflex stent achieved the expected results for a prosthetic sphincterotomy and appears to be an appropriate but less invasive treatment for DSD.

Principles of Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS) for the Treatment of Bladder and Urethral Sphincter Dysfunctions.

Objectives. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) is an exciting new treatment for refractory voiding disorders including urinary incontinence, retention, and voiding dysfunction. It is known that both voiding and continence reflex mechanisms are organized in the sacral spinal cord and that pathologic conditions can alter the balance between these two opposing mechanisms. Methods. The background and surgical technique of SNS will be presented. This will be followed by a discussion of hypotheses on how SNS works. Results. The beneficial effects of SNS are most reasonably attributed to activation of somatic afferent axons in the sacral spinal roots. This evoked afferent activity in turn modulates sensory processing and micturition reflex pathways in the spinal cord. Hyperactive voiding can be suppressed by direct inhibition of bladder preganglionic neurons as well as inhibition of interneuroneal transmission in the afferent limb of the micturition reflex. On the other hand, voiding in patients with urinary retention can be facilitated by inhibition of reflex pathways to the urethral outlet (guarding reflexes). Conclusions. SNS, a nonablative, minimally invasive technique for urologists, holds great promise for a large number of patients who suffer debilitating and refractory urinary symptoms.