[Behavioral group-based therapy improves quality of life in men recovering from radical prostatectomy]. / Terapia grupal de comportamiento mejora la calidad de vida en hombres post prostatectomía radical.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy of 24-week, group-based, behavioral therapy in improving quality of life (QoL) among men treated for localized prostate carcinoma (PC) by means of radical prostatectomy (RP) who presented treatment-related dysfunctions: urinary incontinence (UI) and erectile dysfunction (ED). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty men were assigned to 24-week behavioral group therapy. The intervention was designed to improve QoL by helping participants to identify and effectively manage stressful experiences. It focused on treatment-related sequelae from PC. Differences in variables were compared between the beginning and end of the study by means of Student's t test for paired samples. Multiple analysis was carried out by stepwise multiple linear regression following bivariate Pearson's correlation analysis. This was achieved for all predictors (i.e. general health perception, ED and UI impact) and relevant covariates (i.e. age, work/retirement status, alcohol addiction, attitude towards cancer and surgery, sexual satisfaction, and future plans). RESULTS: In all patients the time elapsed from surgery to attending the behavioral group therapy exceeded 24 months. There was no significant correlation between this time and the predictor variables. General health perception scores decreased by the end of the study (p = 0.000), as did the UI impact score (p = 0.023), thus denoting improvement in both factors. The difference in UI impact scores correlated negatively and significantly with both age (p = 0.04) and work/retirement (p = 0.05). Multiple stepwise regression showed that age was the most important variable (r2 = 26.0%). Considering age and work/retirement simultaneously, there was an increase of 10.3% (r2 = 36.3%). ED increased by the end of the study (p = 0.000), and the difference between the ED scores correlated positively and significantly with sexual satisfaction alone (p = 0.029), which signifies that previous sexual satisfaction had a positive influence over erectile dysfunction (r2 = 15.8%). CONCLUSION: 24-week behavioral group therapy was effective in improving the perceived QoL among men treated for PC. There were changes associated with the therapy, particularly the improvement in UI and ED.

[Transvaginal urethrolysis for urethral obstruction after anti-incontinence surgery]. / Uretrolisis transvaginal tras cirugía correctora de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo.

PURPOSE: To analyse the success of transvaginal urethrolysis in resolving voiding dysfunction in patients following an anti-incontinence procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 20 patients who had undergone transvaginal urethrolysis for urethral obstruction following an anti-incontinence procedure. Preoperatively, a history was taken, pelvic examination and urodynamic were done. Mean patient age was 48 years, and the median time between the anti-incontinence procedure and the urethrolysis was nine months. Four patients had urinary retention and had irritative voiding symptoms. Previous surgery included pubovaginal sling in eleven patients, retropubic urethropexy in three and bladder neck suspension in six cases. Mean length of follow up after urethrolysis was 14 months. The urodynamic study demonstrated voiding flow rate of 9.9 ml/s and detrusor pressures at maximum flow of 48cmH20. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients 14 (70%) had relief of symptoms after a single urethrolysis, while two patients underwent a second transvaginal urethrolysis, with placement of a Martius flap between the urethra and the symphysis. There was no correlation between preoperative parameters examined and the outcome from urethrolysis. CONCLUSION: Our data support transvaginal urethrolysis for the treatment of urethral obstruction after anti-incontinence surgery. It is effective and minimally invasive technique with good results that should be considered if voiding dysfunction does not resolve spontaneously.

[Female urethral obstruction and bladder neck stenosis - fact or myth - how to proceed]. / Die Harnröhrenenge und Blasenhalsstenose der Frau - Fakt oder Mythos - Was ist zu tun?

The female urethra is probably the most neglected organ in women. Female urethral stricture and primary bladder neck obstruction are rare clinical entities. Traditional and new surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of female urethral stricture. However, they are based on limited data. There is no consensus on best management. The techniques of urethroplasty all have a higher mean success rate (80-94%) than urethral dilatation (< 50%), albeit with shorter mean follow-up. Urethroplasty performed by experienced surgeons appears to be a feasible option in women who have failed urethral dilatation, although there is a lack of high-level evidence to recommend one technique over another.Primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) is a condition in which the bladder neck fails to open adequately during voiding. This leads to increased striated sphincter activity or obstruction of urinary flow without another anatomic cause being present, for example an obstruction caused by genitourinary prolapse in women. Watchful waiting, pharmacotherapy and surgical intervention are possible treatments.

[SAFYRE. A new concept for adjustable minimally invasive sling for female urinary stress incontinence]. / SAFYRE. Un nuevo concepto de cabestrillo ajustable mínimamente invasivo para la incontinencia urinaria por estrés femenina.

INTRODUCTION: SAFYRE is a new readjustable and minimally invasive sling for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Attempts to restore the normal suburethral hammock using an anatomical approach have been made in recent years. The authors report their experience with this device, which associates the efficacy of slings with readjustability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients with clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of SUI underwent SAFYRE sling procedure. The age range was from 40 to 71, mean age 63 years. Seventy-five patients (75%) presented previous failed anti-incontinence procedures. Physical clinical examination, stress test, pad use and a urodynamic study were performed before the surgery. All the patients presented symptoms of SUI and 30% also reported mild urgency. RESULTS: The average follow up period was 14 months (12-30 months). The mean operative time was of 25 minutes. Dystopia repair was performed whenever necessary, during the same procedure. The average hospital stay was 24 hours. In 3% of the implants, bladder perforation occurred. During the postoperative period, 26 patients developed urgency symptoms. During that follow up period, 92% were found to be continent, 3% reported an improvement and 5% were dissatisfied. CONCLUSION: SAFYRE is a safe and quick procedure that allows for postoperative readjustment. This technique may be an attractive alternative if the good result obtained so far proves to be long lasting.

Prevalence and correlates of stress urinary incontinence during pregnancy: a survey at UNICAMP Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. In total, 340 patients attending the Antenatal Clinic at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) were interviewed. Overall, 170 women (50%) presented SUI. Stress urinary incontinence did not correlate to either body mass index (BMI) or race. There was no correlation between parity and SUI, but when considering distinct types of effort, urine leakage on coughing (P = 0.0478) and laughing (P = 0.0046) were highly more frequent in multiparous women. One hundred eleven women had had only vaginal deliveries and 68 delivered by cesarean section. There was no difference between the two groups concerning incontinence, but multiparous women (> or = 4) who delivered exclusively vaginally demonstrated 2.0 times more chances to leak urine when compared to nulliparous women. This fact strongly suggests parity to be more relevant than delivery route as a risk factor to stress urinary incontinence. Nulliparous women presented with a high percentage (45.5%) of the symptom, emphasizing the elevated risk of SUI during first pregnancy.