Determining the variables associated to clean intermittent self-catheterization adherence rate: one-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To determine adherence rate and variables associate with patients' adherence to Clean Intermittent Self Catheterization (CISC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients referred to CISC training program between July 2006 and May 2008, were prospectively evaluated with urodynamic, 3 days bladder diary (BD) and WHOQoL-brief questionnaire. After training to perform CISC, patients were evaluated at 2 weeks, monthly for 6 months and at 12 months with clinical visits and BD. Patients were considered adherent if they were performing at least 80% of the initial recommendation. RESULTS: Sixty patients (50.4 ± 19.9 years old) were trained to perform CISC (21 female and 39 male). Out of them, 30 (50%) had neurogenic and 30 (50%) had a non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. The adherence rate at 6 and 12 months was 61.7%, 58%, respectively. Patients < 40 years old had adherence rate of 86%. Women and neurogenic patients had higher adherence rate than their counterparts (p = 0.024 and p = 0.016, respectively). In the WHOQoL-brief, patients that adhere to the program had a significant higher score on psychological and social relationships domains. There was not difference in pre and post training WHOQoL-brief scores. Educational background, marriage status, detrusor leak point pressure, Bladder Capacity, number of leakage episodes did not play a role on the adherence rate. CONCLUSION: Patients in CISC program present a reasonable adherence after one year. Women, neurogenic voiding dysfunction and patients under 40 years old were significantly more adherents. The psychological and social relationship status seems to positively interfere on adherence. CISC did not affect patient's QoL evaluated by WHOQoL-brief.

Do we need new surgical techniques to repair vesico-vaginal fistulas?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The urogenital fistula is a devastating condition for women. Despite advances in medical care, the vesicovaginal fistula continues to be a distressful problem. Complex vesicovaginal fistulae repair may need tissue interposition. It can be achieved by vaginal or abdominal approach and depends on the surgeon's experience and local factors like size, location, and previous radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that using traditional approaches is possible and reasonable to treat any sort of vesicovaginal fistula. METHODS: Between January 2004 and August 2007, we treated 23 patients with complex urogenital fistulae. Of those with concomitant ureteral fistula requiring re-implantation or bladder augmentation, the vaginal approach was the first choice in 17 and abdominal approach in six. Patients were clinically evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks postoperatively, then every 3 months in the first year. RESULTS: Seventeen women were treated by vaginal approach and six patients were treated by abdominal approach. Hysterectomy was the major etiology (73.9%). Ten patients (43.5%) had at least one previous abdominal surgery for fistulae repair without success before. In those patients with abdominal approach, the hospitalization was longer than vaginal approach (80.5+/-6 h versus 48+/-3 h). In both, there were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications; 13% developed urgency and 4% developed stress urinary incontinence. No patients have recurrence of fistulae (success rate 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Complex vesicovaginal fistulas are a big challenge for the urologist, and there is no gold standard surgical approach. The majority of complex vaginal fistula can be successfully managed by vaginal repair. As the vaginal approach is a minimally invasive procedure with low costs, easy learning curve, and high cure rates, new approaches must be carefully evaluated before being suggested as an alternative.

Determining the variables associated to clean intermittent self-catheterization adherence rate: one-year follow-up study

PURPOSE: To determine adherence rate and variables associate with patients' adherence to Clean Intermittent Self Catheterization (CISC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients refereed to CISC training program between July 2006 and May 2008, were prospectively evaluated with urodynamic, 3 days bladder diary (BD) and WHOQoL-bref questionnaire. After training to perform CISC, patients were evaluated at 2 weeks, monthly for 6 months and at 12 months with clinical visits and BD. Patients were considered adherent if they were performing at least 80 percent of the initial recommendation. RESULTS: Sixty patients (50.4 ± 19.9 years old) were trained to perform CISC (21 female and 39 male). Out of them, 30 (50 percent) had neurogenic and 30 (50 percent) had a non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. The adherence rate at 6 and 12 months was 61.7 percent, 58 percent, respectively. Patients < 40 years old had adherence rate of 86 percent. Women and neurogenic patients had higher adherence rate than their counterparts (p = 0.024 and p = 0.016, respectively). In the WHOQoL-bref, patients that adhere to the program had a significant higher score on psychological and social relationships domains. There was not difference in pre and post training WHOQoL-bref scores. Educational background, marriage status, detrusor leak point pressure, Bladder Capacity, number of leakage episodes did not play a role on the adherence rate. CONCLUSION: Patients in CISC program present a reasonable adherence after one year. Women, neurogenic voiding dysfunction and patients under 40 years old were significantly more adherents. The psychological and social relationship status seems to positively interfere on adherence. CISC did not affect patient's QoL evaluated by WHOQoL-bref.