A prospective evaluation of high- and low-power holmium laser settings for transurethral lithotripsy in the management of adults with large bladder calculi.

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of high-power (100 W) vs low-power (20 W) laser settings for transurethral laser lithotripsy in the management large vesical calculi (> 4 cm). METHODS: All patients with vesical calculi > 4 cm in the maximum dimension and scheduled for transurethral holmium laser lithotripsy were invited to participate in the study. Every alternate patient was treated with either the low- or high-power laser settings. We used a continuous irrigation resectoscope with laser bridge or a laser working element (Karl Storz) for laser lithotripsy of bladder stones. We compared the operative time, intra-operative/post-operative complications (up to 1 year), and stone-free rates between the treatment groups using IBM SPSS Statistics 24 software. Comparisons between treatment groups for continuous variables were assessed using the Welch test, while categorical variables were compared with either the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Twenty patients with ten in each cohort were recruited. Preoperative data and mean bladder stone size were comparable in both groups. The duration of surgery was significantly reduced from 70.80 ± 25.28 min in low-power cohort to 40.90 ± 15.01 min in the high-power group (p = 0.005). There were no significant intra-operative complications in either group. All patients were stone-free following the procedure. CONCLUSION: High-power laser setting of up to 100 W results in a significant reduction in duration of surgery without any increase in the complication rate for treatment of large bladder stones.

YouTube videos provide low-quality educational content about rotator cuff disease.

BACKGROUND: YouTube has become a popular source of healthcare information in orthopedic surgery. Although quality-based studies of YouTube content have been performed for information concerning many orthopedic pathologies, the quality and accuracy of information on the rotator cuff have yet to be evaluated. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the reliability and educational content of YouTube videos concerning the rotator cuff. METHODS: YouTube was queried for the term "rotator cuff." The first 50 videos from this search were evaluated. Video reliability was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (range, 0-5). Educational content was assessed using the global quality score (GQS; range, 0-4) and the rotator cuff-specific score (RCSS; range, 0-22). RESULTS: The mean number of views was 317,500.7±538,585.3. The mean JAMA, GQS, and RCSS scores were 2.7±2.0, 3.7±1.0, and 5.6±3.6, respectively. Non-surgical intervention content was independently associated with a lower GQS (ß=-2.19, p=0.019). Disease-specific video content (ß=4.01, p=0.045) was the only independent predictor of RCSS. CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality and educational content of YouTube videos concerned with the rotator cuff were low. Physicians should caution patients in using such videos as resources for decision-making and should counsel them appropriately.

Fibromuscular dysplasia with unilateral renal agenesis.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is predominantly diagnosed in women and is a congenital malformation damaging the arterial cell walls of numerous arteries, most prominently impacting the renal arteries. Although previously believed to be a disease of young women, older patients have been shown to make up a large percentage of this patient population as well. FMD is underdiagnosed, and the misdiagnosis of this disease has life-threatening consequences. Here, we present the case of a 24-year-old woman with hypertension who did not receive adequate workup until her symptoms were unrelenting. Her hypertension was presumed to be a result of her generalised anxiety disorder. However, once she began to experience vision changes and significant headaches, further workup ensued. This case exemplifies the importance of performing a thorough evaluation of all patients that present with hypertension of unknown origin, especially young women. To decrease the risk of permanent consequences such as strokes, renal failure and even death, the correct diagnosis of FMD is vital.

Device profile of the Ambicor two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis for treatment of erectile dysfunction: overview of its safety and efficacy.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common forms of male sexual dysfunction worldwide. Over the past several decades, the inflatable penile prosthesis has emerged as the gold standard surgical treatment for refractory erectile dysfunction. The vast majority of current penile implants are three-piece inflatable penile prostheses. However, the design of the two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis offers certain advantages for both the patient and surgeon, and may be the preferred penile implant for certain patient populations.Areas covered: The Ambicor two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (Men's Health Division, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) was introduced in 1994 by American Medical Systems (Minnetonka, MN, USA, now a subsidiary of Boston Scientific) and received further design improvements in 1998 to address early mechanical issues with the device. Currently, the Ambicor is the only two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis available in the United States. This review article aims to provide an overview of the Ambicor device and summarize the best available clinical data regarding outcomes and safety.Expert opinion: While two-piece devices account for a small minority of current penile implants, the Ambicor should be considered a safe, reliable, and effective option for appropriately selected patients with the advantage of avoiding blind reservoir placement.

Characterizing the Epidemiology and Provider Landscape of Male Infertility Care in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiology of male factor infertility and identify which types of providers are treating infertile men in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was queried between 2006 and 2016 for all ambulatory care visits. Men with a diagnosis of infertility were identified by international classification of disease coding. Comorbidities, demographic and visit information were abstracted from the patients' medical record by a combination of trained surveyors and physicians. The survey data was weighted to create nationally representative estimates, and a combination of Chi-squared and Student's t-tests were utilized to determine significance. RESULT(S): Among the 8.7 billion patient visits between 2006 and 2016, there were 3,422,000 male encounters with a diagnosis of male factor infertility. The most common provider type for male factor infertility encounters was urology (42.12%) followed by primary care (39.79%), gynecology (7.05%) and all other provider types (11.01%). A significant number of men seen for infertility had comorbidities such as cancer (115,000 men, 3.36%) diabetes (267,000 men, 7.81%), depression (301,000 men, 8.8%), and active tobacco use (857,000 men, 30.3%). CONCLUSION: In a nationally representative sample, more than 50% of ambulatory care visits for male factor infertility were not seen by urologists. These men also had a significant number of comorbidities for a relatively young cohort, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary care for men with a diagnosis of infertility.

Risk Factors Associated With Development of Urinary Retention Following Posterior Lumbar Spinal Fusion: Special Attention to the Use of Glycopyrrolate in Anesthesia Reversal.

STUDY DESIGN: The study is designed as a retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors of postoperative urinary retention in spine surgery patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Postoperative urinary retention is a common complication in patients undergoing operative procedures requiring anesthesia. Current studies have shown significant risk factors for postoperative urinary retention, but most are nonmodifiable and subsequently of limited usefulness in preventing this complication. Several new studies have shown possible modifiable risk factors, but current data are inconsistent in terms of their statistical significance. METHODS: A total of 814 consecutive patients who underwent open posterior lumbar laminectomy and fusion were included in the retrospective cohort study. Pre, intra-, and postoperative characteristics were collected in all patients to identify risk factors for postoperative urinary retention. RESULTS: Glycopyrrolate use (odds ratio [OR] 2.60; P = 0.001), decreased body mass index (OR 0.96; P = 0.018), previous diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia (OR 3.34; P ≤ 0.001), and postoperative urinary tract infection (OR 5.60, P = 0.005) were associated with postoperative urinary retention. Previous history of lumbar spine surgery (OR 0.55; P = 0.019) was associated with decreased rates of postoperative urinary retention. CONCLUSION: Glycopyrrolate use, benign prostate hyperplasia, and postoperative urinary tract infection were independent risk factors for postoperative urinary retention. The use of glycopyrrolate is a potentially modifiable risk factor for postoperative urinary retention.Level of Evidence: 3.

Cervical Spine Endplate Abnormalities and Association With Pain, Disability, and Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study with prospectively-collected data. OBJECTIVE: To determine how type, location, and size of endplate lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be associated with symptoms and clinical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Structural endplate abnormalities are important, yet understudied, phenomena in the cervical spine. ACDF is a common surgical treatment for degenerative disc disease; however, adjacent segment degeneration/disease (ASD) may develop. METHODS: Assessed the imaging, symptoms and clinical outcomes of 861 patients who underwent ACDF at a single center. MRI and plain radiographs of the cervical spine were evaluated. Endplate abnormalities on MRI were identified and stratified by type (atypical, typical), location, relation to operative levels, presence at the adjacent level, and size. These strata were assessed for association with presenting symptoms, patient-reported, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Of 861 patients (mean follow-up: 17.4 months), 57.3% had evidence of endplate abnormalities, 39.0% had typical abnormalities, while 18.2% had atypical abnormalities. Patients with any endplate abnormality had greater odds of myelopathy irrespective of location or size, while sensory deficits were associated with atypical lesions (P = 0.016). Typical and atypical abnormalities demonstrated differences in patient-reported outcomes based on location relative to the fused segment. Typical variants were not associated with adverse surgical outcomes, while atypical lesions were associated with ASD (irrespective of size/location; P = 0.004) and reoperations, when a large abnormality was present at the proximal adjacent level (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to examine endplate abnormalities on MRI of the cervical spine, demonstrating distinct risk profiles for symptoms, patient-reported, and surgical outcomes after ACDF. Patients with typical lesions reported worsening postoperative pain/disability, while those with atypical abnormalities experienced greater rates of ASD and reoperation. This highlights the relevance of a degenerative spine phenotypic assessment, and suggests endplate abnormalities may prognosticate clinical outcomes after surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Effects of Chest Physical Therapy in Patients with Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria.

Antibiotic therapy against non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is prolonged and can be associated with toxicity. We sought to evaluate whether chest physical therapy (PT) was associated with clinical improvement in patients with NTM not receiving anti-mycobacterial pharmacotherapy. A retrospective review of 77 subjects that were followed from June 2006 to September 2014 was performed. Baseline time point was defined as the first positive sputum culture for NTM; symptoms, pulmonary function, and radiology reports were studied. Subjects were followed for up to 24 months and results analyzed at specified time points. Half of the subjects received chest PT at baseline. Cough improved at 12 (p = 0.001) and 24 months (p = 0.003) in the overall cohort when compared with baseline, despite lack of NTM antibiotic treatment. Cough decreased at 6 (p = 0.01), 9 (p = 0.02), 12 (p = 0.02) and 24 months (p = 0.002) in subjects that received chest PT. Sputum production also improved at 24 months in the overall cohort (p = 0.01). There was an increase in the percent change of total lung capacity in subjects that received chest PT (p = 0.005). Select patients with NTM may have clinical improvement with chest PT, without being subjected to prolonged antibiotic therapy. Future studies are warranted to prospectively evaluate outcomes in the setting of non-pharmacologic treatment and aid with the decision of antibiotic initiation.