Health Informatics

Suprapubic Catheter; What to consider?

2009-09-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

The catheters for urinary problems have been used for ages. They have come a long way from being stiff hollow tubes or bamboo reeds to modern day soft less irritating means to achieve short term urinary drainage or long term urinary diversion or control.
The catheters can either be introduced into the bladder from
urethral opening
or
Through the abdomen (Suprapubic catheter)
The catheter placement can be short-term as part of managing any medical or surgical condition or it can be long term when it is difficult for the patient and carer to manage the urinary continence related issues or if the patient cannot pass urine normally.
The catheter cannot be left in indefinitely and regular catheter changes are needed.
The bladder normally is sterile (free of bacteria) reservoir and gets colonised by bacteria once catheterised.

Various other issues with long term catheter are as below

Bacteriuria (100% cases) & UTI (10% cases)
• Haematuria (30% cases)
• Blocking (48% cases)
• Bypassing (37% cases)
• Expulsion (3% cases)
• Equipment failure
• Bladder stones (45% cases)
• Discomfort & Pain
• Urethral & bladder neck trauma
• Cancer EAU UTI guidelines say “patients with UC in place for ≥5 years
should be screened annually for bladder cancer”

Catheter care:

• Smallest catheter inserted aseptically with lubricating gel to minimize trauma.
• Silicon catheters least inflammatory & prone to encrustation.
• Closed gravity drainage system emptied 8 hourly.
• Urine output 100ml/hr
• Frequency of change depends on pt - No consensus
• Infection control principles.
• Prophylactic antibiotics for the routine catheter change are not
necessary (Polastri 1990).
• If bypassing, use smallest possible balloon + antimuscarinics (tablets to calm the bladder0.
• If blocking – treat UTI, acidify urine if good UO.
• Citric acid bladder washouts widely used, no good evidence

Interstitial cystitis

2009-07-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Introduction

a treatable but essentially incurable condition occurring in the absence of any known etiology
encompasses a major portion of the "painful bladder" disease complex, which includes a large group of patients with bladder and/or urethral and/or pelvic pain, irritative voiding symptoms (urgency, frequency, nocturia, dysuria), and sterile urine cultures
occurring predominantly in women (10:1), there are striking similarities between IC and the newly coined chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men, a poorly understood symptom complex that was formerly referred to as "nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia
IC is truly a diagnosis of exclusion . It may have multiple causes and represent a final common reaction of the bladder to different types of insult.

Historical perspective

Skene (1887) used the term to describe an inflammation that has "destroyed the mucous membrane partly or wholly and extended to the muscular parietes”
Early in the 20th century, at a New England section meeting of the American Urological Association, Guy Hunner reported on eight women with a history of suprapubic pain, frequency, nocturia, and urgency lasting an average of 17 years. He drew attention to the disease, and the red, bleeding areas he described on the bladder wall came to have the pseudonym "Hunner's ulcer."
Hand (1949) wrote the first comprehensive paper about the disease, seminal
reviewing 223 cases.
three grades of disease, with grade 3 matching the small-capacity, scarred bladder described by Hunner.
Sixty-nine percent of patients were grade 1 and only 13% were grade 3
Messing and Stamey (1978) discussed the "early diagnosis" of IC
They turned attention from looking for an ulcer to make the diagnosis to the concepts that
symptoms and glomerulations found with the patient under anesthesia were the disease hallmarks and the diagnosis was primarily one of exclusion

Diagnostic criteria

NIDDK research criteria too stringent. Thus, IC remains a clinical syndrome defined by chronic symptoms of urgency, frequency, and/or pain in the absence of any other reasonable causation

Epidemiology

In 1987, there were 43,500 (perhaps up to 90,000) diagnosed cases of IC in the United States, approximately twice the prevalence in Finland found by Oravisto 12 years earlier. Median age of onset is 40 years.
No reports have ever documented a relationship to suggest that IC is a premalignant lesion
A large-scale survey of 6783 individuals, diagnosed by their physicians as having IC, studied the incidence of associated disease in this population
Allergies were the most common disorder, with 41% diagnosed with allergies and 45% with allergic symptoms
30% had a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome
Fibromyalgia is overrepresented in the IC population
Inflammatory bowel disease was found in over 7% of the IC population (100X that in gen population)
Sjögren's syndrome

Aetiology
Infection
Mast cell involvement
Increased mucosal permeability
Neurogenic mechanisms
Hypoxia, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Urine abnormalities
Autoimmunity/inflammation
IC is a multifactorial syndrome
Elbadawi and Light (1996) have suggested such a pathogenesis based on a potentially self-perpetuating process of neurogenic inflammation that can trigger a biologically potent cascade of events, including a leaky urothelium and mast cell activation

Epithelial permeability: KCl
Potentially strong evidence for a population with mucosal leak has been reported by Parsons (1994) who showed that KCl provoked 4.5% of normals and 70% of IC patients. Intravesical administration of KCl has since been proposed as a diagnostic test for IC (Parsons et al, 1998).
KCl: Normal bladder epithelium is not absolutely tight, and there is always some leak, however small. The findings of pain with KCl may be due to a hypersensitivity of the sensory nerves in this condition, rather than to pathologic epithelial permeability, at least in some patients

Pathology
One can have pathology consistent with the diagnosis of IC, but there is no microscopic picture pathognomonic of this syndrome
Attempts to definitively diagnose IC by electron microscopy have also been very unsuccessful
The role of histopathology in the diagnosis of IC is primarily one of excluding other possible diagnoses
Johansson and Fall (1990) looked at 64 patients with ulcerative disease and 44 with nonulcerative IC.
Ulcerative group: mucosal ulceration and hemorrhage, granulation tissue, intense inflammatory infiltrate, elevated mast cell counts, and perineural infiltrates.
The nonulcer group had a relatively unaltered mucosa with a sparse inflammatory response, the main feature being multiple, small, mucosal ruptures and suburothelial hemorrhages that were noted in a high proportion of patients.
Because these specimens were almost all taken immediately after hydrodistention, how much of the admittedly minimal findings in the nonulcer group were purely iatrogenic is a matter of speculation
pathologically, the two types of IC may be completely separate entities
mast cell counts per se have no place in the differential diagnosis of this clinical syndrome.
Diagnosis
Frequency and pelvic pain of long duration unrelated to other known causes establish a working diagnosis
One must rule out
infection
carcinoma
eosinophilic cystitis
malakoplakia
schistosomiasis
scleroderma
detrusor endometriosis
Various gynecologic problems even when not directly involving the bladder like pelvic endometriosis, vulvodynia, pelvic infection, urogenital atrophy, and leiomyoma can mimic the pain of IC
Reports of successful treatment of IC symptoms by laparoscopic adhesiolysis or urethral diverticulum excision give credence to the fact that IC is a diagnosis of exclusion. Many drugs, including cyclophosphamide, NSAIDs, and allopurinol, have caused a nonbacterial cystitis that resolves with drug withdrawal

Cystoscopy (under anaesthesia with hydrodistention)
Pain on bladder filling which reproduces the patient's symptoms is very suggestive of IC, allows for sufficient distention of the bladder to afford visualization of either glomerulations or Hunner's ulcers. Glomerulations are not specific for IC and only when seen in conjunction with the clinical criteria of pain and frequency can the finding of glomerulations be viewed as significant. Bladder biopsy is indicated only if necessary to rule out other disorders that might be suggested by the cystoscopic appearance

Treatment:
Treatments are empirical, symptoms can be controlled with one of a variety of treatments in majority, and there is little evidence that treatment does more than improve symptoms, rather than cure the condition.
There is a 50% incidence of temporary remission unrelated to therapy, with a mean duration of 8 months

Hydrodistension
Hydrodistention of the bladder with the patient under anesthesia, although technically a surgical treatment, is frequently the first therapeutic modality employed, often as a part of the diagnostic evaluation
A therapeutic hydraulic distention for 8 minutes after inspection of bladder for glomerulations and ulceration.
Therapeutic responses in patients with a bladder capacity under anesthesia of less than 600 ml showed 26% with an excellent and 29% with a fair result compared with 12% excellent and 43% fair in patients with larger bladder capacities (Hanno and Wein, 1991). Most improvements lasted less than 6 months. A capacity under anesthesia of under 200 ml would not bode well for the likelihood of success of medical therapy.
Reassure patient that disease not life threatening
Explain chronicity of disease and that treatments may not be successful
Empower patients (self help groups, pamphlets)
Lifestyle measures (stress reduction, exercise)

Dietary restrictions
Unsupported by any literature. Many patients find avoiding certain foods helpful (caffeine, alcohol, urine acidifying beverages such as cranberry juice)
Timed voiding/bladder drill
Biofeedback to help relax pelvic floor

Tricyclics
Amitriptyline has become a staple of oral treatment for IC.
The tricyclics possess varying degrees of at least three major pharmacologic actions:
They have central and peripheral anticholinergic actions at some but not all sites
they block the active transport system in the presynaptic nerve ending that is responsible for the re-uptake of the released amine neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline,
they are sedatives, an action that occurs presumably on a central basis but perhaps is related to their antihistaminic properties
Hanno and Wein (1987) first reported a therapeutic response to amitriptyline in one of their patients concurrently being treated for depression

Antihistamines
The use of antihistamines goes back to the late 1950s and stems from work by Simmons
Theoharides (1994) have been the major modern proponents of antihistamine therapy and have shown 30% improvement in symptoms.

Sodium Pentosanpolysulfate (PPS)
Parsons' suggestion that a defect in the GAG layer contributes to the
pathogenesis of IC
synthetic sulfated polysaccharide (PPS) (Elmiron), a heparin analogue available in an oral formulation, 3% to 6% of which is excreted into the urine
100mg tds

Analgesics
The long-term, appropriate use of pain medications forms an integral part of the treatment of a chronic pain condition like IC
Most patients can be helped markedly with medical pain management using pain medications commonly employed for chronic neuropathic pain syndromes including antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and opioids
nonopioid analgesics including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and even antispasmodic agents have a place in therapy
the use of long-term opioid therapy in the rare patient who has failed all forms of conservative therapy can be considered
Intravesical Therapy
Intravesical lavage with one of variety of preparations has remained a mainstay of treatment in the therapeutic armamentarium of IC
oldest of the intravesical therapies is silver nitrate (Mercier 1855)
DeJuana and Everett (1977) had a 50% response rate in 102 patients.
Clorpactin WCS-90 (O’Connor 1955) their success rate was 72% with an average 6-month duration of response (Messing and Stamey 1978)

DMSO
A mainstay of the intravesical treatment of IC is the instillation of DMSO
DMSO is a product of the wood pulp industry and a derivative of lignin
freely miscible with water, lipids, and organic agents.
Pharmacologic properties include membrane penetration, enhanced drug absorption, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, collagen dissolution, muscle relaxation, and mast cell histamine release.Stewart and associates (1968) were responsible for popularizing intravesical DMSO for IC.
Heparin has also been used, and Parsons advocates the use of 40,000 units of heparin in 20 ml sterile water, self-administered by the patient daily and held for 30 to 60 minutes. Reasonable improvement after 6 months
PPS, another GAG analogue, has been shown to have a modest benefit
Trials with hyaluronic acid have shown response rates of 30 to 70%
Intravesical BCG first reported by Zeidman 1994 showing a 60% response rate compared with a 27% placebo response (Peters et al, 1997)
Well tolerated
It is unclear how BCG achieved this result, but immunologic and/or anti-inflammatory mechanisms have been postulated (Peters et al, 1999).
A small Swedish study failed to substantiate BCG efficacy (Haghsheno et al, 2000; Peeker et al, 2000).

Other intravesical agents
Other possible treatements intravesically include oxybutinin, capsaicin.
TENS has been shown to be helpful. Fall (1980:14 women treated successfully with long-term intravaginal stimulation or TENS)
Sacral neuromodulation of S3 may prove to be effective.

Surgery
The surgical therapy of IC is an option after all trials of conservative treatment have failed
IC is a nonmalignant process with a temporary spontaneous remission rate of 50% that does not directly result in mortality
Transurethral resection of Hunner's ulcer, as initially reported by Kerr (1971), can provide symptomatic relief.
Disappearance of pain and decreased frequency in 21/30 pts (Fall 1985)
Similar results have been attained with the Nd:YAG laser
Extreme caution required
Substitution cystoplasty
Urinary diversion
Substitution cystoplasty

Supratrigonal cystectomy and the formation of an enterovesical anastomosis with bowel segments has been a popular surgical procedure for intractable IC (Worth and Turner-Warwick, 1972)
Flood (1995) reviewed 122 augmentation procedures, 21 of which were done for IC.
Patients with IC had the poorest results of any group, with only 10 having an "excellent" outcome
Webster and Maggio (1989) reviewed their data in 19 patients, and concluded that only patients with a bladder capacity less than 350 ml under anesthesia should undergo substitution cystoplasty
Some advocate diversion and/or total cystourethrectomy if the trigone is "affected" by IC (on biopsy, although biopsy findings are not pathognomonic, and IC tends to affect the whole of the bladder)
There has been a controversy over whether the IC process can occur in a transposed bowel patch. Urinary diversion with or without cystourethrectomy is the ultimate surgical answer to the dilemma of IC. Cystourethrectomy is certainly indicated in patients who not only have failed all other therapies but also have demonstrated chronicity such that remission is considered extremely unlikely.

Risks of failure peculiar to IC include both the development of phantom pain in the pelvis that persists despite the fact that the stimulus that initially activated the nociceptive neurons (diseased bladder) has been removed. Despite all of the problems, many patients will do well after major surgery, and quality of life can measurably improve. The surgical route needs to be persued with extreme amount caution and patient motivation has to be taken into account.

Vasectomy: What's worth knowing?

2009-06-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

64 000 per yr in UK

Irreversible
Consider alternatives

Complications

EARLY
-Bleeding 3.6% (Philp)
-Bruising
-Wound D/C 1% (Philp)
-Wound infection 4%(Randall)
-Haematoma 1%
-Failure 0.36 (Philp) - 0.6% (early recanalisation, duplication, wrong structure)

LATE

-Chronic scrotal pain 13-16%
16% 1 yr, 13% 10 yrs
severe in 5%
(Stepping Hill: 460 pts in each group)
NB. Some evidence less if testicular end left open: (6% vs 2%, Moss, 1992, Contraception)

-Sperm granuloma 15-40%

-Non motile sperm (2-30%) 'special clearance' after 7mths/25 ejaculates <10000 NMS/ml
2% in Philp series from Oxford. 150 pts given special clearance, but only 51 followed up. 50/51 azoospermic, but no pregnancies attributable to vasectomy failure

-Failure 1/2500 Philp (recanalisation)

-CaP, testicular ca, IHD...no evidence in large trials

Need 2 clear SA before using as sole form of contraception at 12 &14 weeks OR 1 at 16 weeks
45% do not submit any samples (Chwala Urology 2004)
20 ejaculations probably needed (this is recommended in third world)
93% azoospermic by 20 weeks

SA Technique
Masturbation into a non-toxic container after 48hr abstinence; maintained at body temperature
Examine within 4hr
Assess within 1hr for persistent non-motile sperms
Germ cells, epithelial cells & leucocytes often seen in semen up to 16 weeks after vasectomy
Store between 20 & 40 °C and await liquefaction (within 4 hours)
Count 10 µl in a 20 µm chamber to allow sperm movement
Phase-contrast microscopy
If no sperms seen, centrifuge @ 3000g for 15 min and re-suspend in 100 µl autologous seminal plasma

Sivardeen, Annals RCS Eng 2001
75% of UK urologists send vas for histology.
95% request at least 2 semen samples.

Philp BJU 1984, from Oxford
16000 pts
1970-1983
Most diathermy, no fascial interposition
Vas not routinely sent
Semen analysis 4 and 41/2 months
Special clearance given if 2 consecutive semen analyses of under 10000 semen/ml, non motile, and >7 months post vasectomy. 2.2% in series
800 men sent questionnaire: 67% response rate
7.7% sought post op advice for pain
3.6% for bleeding
1% scrotal haematoma
Early failure 0.43%
12/69: vas not tied
57/69: early recanalisations (0.36%), 0.51% following ligation, and 0.28% after diathermy
6 late recanalisations (1 in 2000)
Failures lower in more experienced surgeons

Davies, Cranston et al, BJUI 1990, Oxford

6000pts
1980-85
2.5% men given special clearance (151)
Criteria as above
Follow up semen analysis after 3 yrs in 50
49/50 azoospermic, no attributable pregnancies

Vasectomy Reversal
1-3 per 1000 vasectomised men will request reversal (Swingl and Guess)
Testic biopsies show normal spermatogenesis up to 10yrs post vasectomy

NB Rx post vasectomy epididymal pain
Good prognostic indicators
· <8yrs since vasectomy
· Partner <40yo
· Fluid from epididymal end at time of reversal
Vasovasostomy/epididymovasostomy
2 layers
Use magnification - microscope a little better
Alternatives - ICSI, DI, Adoption

Physiology of Sperm production and Erection

2009-06-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Spermatogenesis

• germinal cells divide to become spermatogonia which divide to become spermatocytes
• Type A spermatocytes undergo meiosis to become secondary spermatocytes
• spermatocytes divide and give rise to mature cell lines (spermatids)
• spermatids (haploid) undergo a transformation into a spermatozoa
• There are six stages of seminiferous epithelium development
• 16 days required for a mature sperm to develop from early spermatogonia
• 72 days until ejaculation
• 1 spermatogonium becomes 215 spermatids

• testosterone and FSH are the hormones that are directed at the seminiferous tubule epithelium
• LH effects spermatogenesis indirectly in that it stimulates endogenous testosterone production
• The physical proximity of the Leydig cells to the seminiferous tubules and the elaboration by the Sertoli cells of androgen-binding protein, cause a high level of testosterone to be maintained in the microenvironment of the developing spermatozoa (i.e. 50X peripheral levels)

Epididymis: involved with maturation, storage and transport of spermatozoa.
• Testicular spermatozoa are non-motile
• Spermatozoa gain progressive motility and fertilizing ability after passing through the epididymis
• The epididymis consists of a fragile single convoluted tubule that is 5-6 meters in length. The epididymis is divided into the head, body, and tail
• Although epididymal transport time varies with age and sexual activity, the estimated transit time is four days.
• In epididymis, sperm develops the increased capacity for progressive motility and also acquire the ability to penetrate oocytes during fertilization
• The epididymis also serves as a reservoir or storage area for sperm

• The extragonadal sperm reservoir
• Is 440 million spermatozoa
• more than 50% of these are located in the tail of the epididymis.
• The sperm that are stored in the tail of the epididymis enter the vas deferens which is a muscular duct 30-35 cm in length
• The contents of the vas are propelled by peristaltic motion into the ejaculatory duct
• Sperm are then transported to the outside of the male reproductive tract by emission and ejaculation.

Erection:

Parasympathetic stimulation leads to penile erection (Eckhard, 1863, in the dog)
Sympathetic pathways important for detumescence and play a role in psychogenic erections (via inhibition of these pathways)

Reflex erection: afferent stimulation via S2-4, with efferent impulses via the same level sacral roots
Psychogenic erections: due to audiovisual, olfactory stimuli, or fantasy, and require the long tracts to be intact.

Afferent impulses via the dorsal penile nerves through pudendal nerves to dorsal roots of S2-4.
Upwards transmission via spinothalamic tracts to the thalamus and sensory cortex

Coordinated in medial pre-optic nucleus, contiguous with the hypothalamus

Efferent impulses via the medial forebrain bundle to the spinal cord. Parasympathetic fibres pass in intermediate lateral bundle and outflow through S2-4 in preganglionic pelvic nerves (nervi erigentes) to the pelvic plexus and then to the erectile tissue via the cavernous nerves

Sympathetic outflow from the spinal cord leads to flaccidity. Coordination in medial pre-optic nucleus, with outflow via T11-L4 via the hypogastric plexus, and thence to the pelvic plexus

Following spinal cord injuries higher than T9, erections can occur due to the reflex arc, and with lower lesions erections may occur as a result of efferent impulses through the thoracic sympathetic outflows, even though sympathetic stimulation normally leads to flaccidity (this is via a negative effect on the sympathetic outflow).

LMN pts unable to obtain a reflex erection, but 25% can get psychogenic erections

6 phases of erection (FFTFRD):
1: flaccid
contracted smooth muscle
2: filling
relaxation of arterial and cavernosal smooth muscle
3: tumescence
continued inflow
4: Full erection
compression of subtunical venous plexuses
decreased venous outflow via emissary veins
5: rigid erection
contraction of ischiocavernosus smooth muscle
6: detumescence
sympathetic stimulation and relaxation of ischiocavernosus smooth muscle
release of NA leads to stimulation of a1 receptors, an increase in intracellular calcium and contraction of cavernous smooth muscle

Ejaculation

Emission: sympathetic control (T10-L2)
Secretions from the seminal vesicles and prostate are deposited into the posterior urethra via contraction of epididymes and vasa and seminal vesicles
Bladder neck closure occurs under sympathetic nervous control.
Ejaculation: parasympathetic control (S2-4): the bladder neck tightens and the external sphincter relaxes with the semen being propelled through the urethra via rhythmic contractions of the perineal and bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles.

The seminal vesicles provide 65% of volume fructose, prostaglandins and coagulating substrates.
A recognized function of the seminal plasma is its buffering effect on the acidic vaginal environment.
The coagulum formed by the ejaculated semen liquefies within 20 to 30 minutes as a result of prostatic proteolytic enzymes.
The prostate (30% volume) also adds zinc, phospholipids, spermine, and phosphatase to the seminal fluid.
The first portion of the ejaculate characteristically contains most of the spermatozoa and most of the prostatic secretions, while the second portion is composed primarily of seminal vesicle secretions and fewer spermatozoa.

What is Prostate?

2009-06-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

The Prostate Gland and BPH. Basic Science

Function

Secretory
Produces 30% of the volume of seminal fluid
Provides nutrients for sperm
Proteases such as PSA (chymotrypsin) maintain semen fluidity by acting as an anticoagulant
Neutralises acidity of vagina
Antibiotic function of some secretions from the central zone.

Muscular pump
Smooth muscle surrounding the glands forces ejection of prostatic fluid to mix into seminal fluid during ejaculation

Development

Wk 7 male and female identical.
Mullerian ducts degenerate in male
Wolffian ducts differentiate - ejaculatory ducts, SV, vas and central zone of prostate
Wk 10-15 prostate derived from urogenital sinus (UGS) (peripheral zone)
Prostatic utricle is remnant of Mullerian or paramesonephric duct
3rd trimester gland quiescent till puberty

Structure

70% glandular / 30% fibromuscular

Zonal anatomy (McNeal 1968)

TZ - 5-10% glandular tissue

CZ - 25% glandular tissue structurally / immunohistochemically distinct from other zones.

Possibly originated from Wolffian duct

PZ - 70% glandular tissue

Derived from urogenital sinus

Transition zone BPH, 20% cancers
Central zone, 1-5% cancers
Peripheral Zone, 70% cancers

Blood supply: Inferior vesical and middle rectal arteries - branches of internal iliac artery
Venous drainage:
Prostatic venous plexus - sides & base of prostate
Located between capsule + fascial sheath
Drain to internal iliac veins
Communicate with vesical venous plexus, vertebral venous plexus

Innervation

Via cavernosal nerves which follow arterial supply
Parasympathetic fibres arise from pelvic splanchnic nerves S2, S3, & S4, promote secretions
Sympathetic fibres derived from inferior hypogastric plexuses, contraction of SM of capsule & stroma

Sphincters:

Rhabdosphincter (distal sphincter/urethral sphincter mechanism)
Three components: smooth muscle, then striated muscle, then periurethral component of levator ani (pubourethral sling)
Under conscious control
Signet ring shaped, deficient posteriorly

Bladder Neck
Both sexes, at bladder neck, cholinergic innervation, continence mechanism

Preprostatic sphincter
Males, supraverumontanal, adrenergic innervation, genital sphincter
Separate from rhabodosphincter
Smooth mucle, not under conscious control

Lymphatic drainage:
Lymph vessels terminate mainly in internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes
Some travel to external iliac lymph nodes & presacral nodes

Seminal vesicle
Pear shaped structure, 5cm long
Lies between fundus of bladder and rectum / (ureter enters bladder medial to tip of SV)
Provide majority of volume of seminal fluid, does not store sperm
Join vas deferens to form ejaculatory duct, opens posterior wall of prostatic urethra
Blood supply - sup / inf vesical arteries

Ejaculation
Emission of semen into urethra: peristalsis of vas / seminal vesicles, contraction of smooth muscle in prostate - sympathetic
Ejaculation clonic spasm bulbospongiosus muscles – parasympathetic
Sequence:
Bladder neck tightens
Emission of vasal ampullary sperm
Contraction of bulbospongiosus
Contraction of prostatic smooth muscle
Urethral sphincter mechanism overcome
Further contraction of prostate and seminal vesicle contraction

Seminal plasma

2ml seminal vesicle secretion, 0.5ml prostatic secretion, 0.1ml Cowper’s glands and glands of Littré

Role of seminal plasma
Optimise fertilisation
(ejaculated sperm v aspirated sperm)
protective effect
enhance motility and survival directly
Protective effect on urinary tract
biological esp. Zn, spermine, Ig
mechanical washing
Lubrication

Prostatic secretions

o Proteins: Acid phosphatase, PSA, Leucine aminopeptidase, Diamine oxidase, Β Glucuronidase, Plasminogen activator, Complement C3 and C4, transferrin, transferritin, Growth factors, annexin 1

o Non-proteins: Citrate (240-1300x conc elsewhere), Spermine, Spermidine, Putrescine, Zinc (high concentrations), Myoinositol, Cholesterol

o Functions: zinc for the structure of sperm chromatin and antibacterial. PSA for semen liquefaction. Cholesterol may stabilize sperm against temperature and environmental shock Citrate is important for electrochemical neutrality in combination with zinc and polyamines

Fructose

§ From seminal vesicles
§ Patients with congenital absence of seminal vesicles don’t have fructose in ejaculate [Barak 1994]
§ Concentration has some androgenic regulation but also depends on nutritional status and frequency of ejaculation
§ Provides anaerobic and aerobic energy source for sperm
§ Indirectly linked to forward sperm motility through prostasome function [Fabiani et al 1995]

Prostaglandins

§ Seminal vesicles are richest source in body (originally thought to be from prostate – hence the name) many types
§ Very potent pharmacological actions
§ Erection, ejaculation, sperm motility and transport
§ Effects on cervical mucus and vaginal secretions

Cell biology

Cellular organization is of a complex ductal system of epithelial cells embedded in a
stromal matrix

Epithelial: Exocrine and neuroendocrine cells
3 types: basal, luminal and neuroendocrine
Have different functions but are believed to originate from a common progenitor stem cell
Separated from stromal cells by the basement membrane
DHT formed mainly in these cells, and DHT then diffuses to stroma (where there are most of the androgen receptors)
Stromal nuclei produce growth factors, which then drive epithelial cells

Stroma: smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts
Has most of the androgen receptors
DHT diffuses from stromal cells, which produce growth factors, and these factors then work in an autocrine and paracrine fashion, stimulating epithelial cells

Cell type Function
Basal cells Proliferation
Luminal cells Secretion of prostatic fluid
Neuroendocrine Unknown - control growth and secretion?

Fibroblast Secrete growth factors (androgen dep)
Smooth muscle Contraction to eject prostatic fluid

Cellular organisation in the glandular prostate

Epithelial Cells

Neuroendocrine
Morphologically found in two forms
Open ended flask shaped cells with long extension towards the glandular lumen.
Closed cells without dendrite luminal extensions but with occasional horizontal processes.
Prostate has largest number of NE cells of any urogenital organ.
Function: Unknown but may play a role in the regulation of the normal growth and gland development (paracrine and autocrine) and may be important in the development of disease.

Basal cells
Spindle shaped, lying parallel to the basement membrane
Cigar shaped nuclei and high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio
81% of all proliferation occurs in the basal layer
Ratio of basal cells to luminal is 1:3 in normal and BPH tissue and 1:6 in hyperplastic situations
Major function: Proliferation
Includes stem cells

Luminal cells
Tall, columnar cells high in cytoplasm
Secretory cells contributing to the seminal fluid
PSA - Prostate specific antigen
PAP - Prostatic acid phosphatase
Only 1/10 the proliferative index of basal cells
Function - secretory - androgen dependent, as is survival
These cells most abundantly express the adrenoreceptor in BPH, cf basal cells

Cytokeratins:
Prostate: K5/14 basal cells and K8/18 in luminal cells

Stromal cells

Smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts
Little information about stromal cell types
Fibroblasts appear to initiate glandular growth and then differentiate into smooth muscle cells.
In cancer loss of muscle and gain of fibroblasts is associated with increased epithelial cell division
In culture a cell type called myofibroblasts appears and this may be an intermediate cell type
Both cell types express andrenoreceptors in BPH
98% of all α-adrenoreceptors in the prostate (90% α1 (60% α1a), 10% α2)

Stromal epithelial interaction theory

Interation between the stroma and the epithelium is important in growth and maintenance of the prostate
Reischauer suggested this first in 1925, and the theory was adopted by Cunha (1973)
Cunha showed that murine embryonic prostatic stroma could induce adult bladder epithelial cells to replicate and form prostate like glandular structures from the bladder cells. This effect does not occur in castrated animals, thus indicating the importance of androgens.
This interaction is thought to be the driving factor in the development of BPH, with androgens stimulating the local production of growth factors. These factors are responsible for the abnormal proliferation of the prostatic stroma and the appearance of micronodules and macronodules

Other Theories for BPH development

Embryonic reawakening: McNeal suggests that the initial abnormality in nodule genesis is a spontaneous reversion of a clone of stromal cells to the embryonic state

Oestrogen hypothesis: oestradiol modulates the action of androgens by altering the sensitivity of the prostate to androgens. A small increase in oestradiol concs results in an increased number of androgen receptors and prostate size. A large increase in oestradiol has the opposite effect. With aging, the oestrogen to androgen ratio increases, and these changes mimic those seen in BPH. Glandular BPH has been induced in castrated dogs by oestrogen and androgen administration (Walsh and Wilson, 1976)

Stem cell hypothesis: Isaacs and Coffey 1989. Number of stem cells, which is the rate limiting factor in prostate growth, slowly increases over time.

Growth Factors

FGF
IGF
TGFα all stimulatory (TGFα accounts for 20% of stimulatory factors)
EGF

TGFβ inhibitory

They all regulate the epithelial and mesenchymal interactions responsible for prostate development.
TGFβ inhibits prostate epithelial growth, but stimulates prostatic mesenchymal cells.

Following androgen withdrawal, there is decreased production of EGF, IGF and FGF, and an increase in expression of TGFβ1 and 2 receptors. This leads to prostatic involution.

Growth Factors in BPH:

bFGF stromal/epithelial autocrine/paracrine stimulatory
KGF stromal paracrine stimulatory
TGFβ1 stromal autocrine/paracrine inhibitory
TGFβ2 epithelial autocrine/paracrine inhibitory
IGF stromal paracrine stimulatory

In BPH there is no change in EGF, a large increase in FGF2, and keratinocyte growth factor and IGF appear.

Apoptosis and programmed cell death

Apoptosis is important in the development of BPH.
Activation of endonucleases occurs relatively early in the apoptotic pathway. This results from the hydrolysis of DNA, and the endonucleases are Ca2+/Mg2+ dependent.
Prostate stroma expresses α1a receptors, and pts treated with terazosin and doxasosin show induction of apoptosis, without affecting proliferation. Apoptitic index is higher in pts treated with an α blocker and proscar. Expression of TGFβ1 is increased with all therapies. However, α blocker treatment is not associated with a decrease in size of the prostate clinically.

BPH
LUTS
Urodynamic obstruction
BPE

LUTS, anatomical hyperplasia and urodynamic obstruction are interrelated.
Some pts have all three.
However, a large number have anatomical hyperplasia and urodynamic obstruction without LUTS.
Other have LUTS and urodynamic obstruction without anatomical hyperplasia, such as with bladder neck obstruction or a urethral stricture.
The last group have anatomical hyperplasia and symptoms of LUTS without urodynamic obstruction, and such pts may have a slow stream when voiding, but this is due to detrusor failure.

Anatomical hyperplasia
BPH consists of a mixture of glandular tissue and stromal components developing in a nodular fashion.
Glandular tissue that participates in BPH nodule formation is derived exclusively from branches of the few small ducts that join the urethra at or near its point of angulation at the base of the veru.
Nodules develop either in TZ or in periurethral stroma
Very different histologically: periurethral nodules are purely stromal in character or show only a few small glands. (TZ nodules are a proliferation of glandular (epithelial) tissue with a reduction in the relative amount of stroma ? correct)
In BPH stromal to glandular (epithelial) tissue is 5:1, while normally it is 2:1 in normal prostates
BPH has been described as primarily a stromal process
Causes obstruction in 2 ways
Static obstruction from increased tissue mass
Dynamic obstruction from contraction of the bladder neck, prostatic fibromuscular stroma and capsule
This sympathetic mediated obstruction may be responsible for upto 40% of bladder outflow obstruction

Natural History and Epidemiology

Initial development of BPH starts age 25-30 yrs, with a prevalence of 10% in that age range (data from autopsies involving 1075 prostates, Berry et al, J Urol 1984)
6th decade prevalence is >50%
by age 85, 90% affected
Data from Berry showed normal prostates weigh 20 +/- 6g in men 20-30 yrs, and remains constant throughout life
In pts with LUTS aged 60-80 yrs average weight is 40-50g

Risk factors and androgens

Age
Functioning testes leading to production of testosterone
BPH develops when test levels are on the decline
Role of androgens likely to be facilitative rather than causative

Intracellular androgens:
Testosterone metabolized to DHT, by 5 alpha reductase
Types 1 5a red (skin and liver) and type 2 (intraprostatic)
DHT: testosterone in prostate is 5:1
Both DHT and test bind to androgen receptors, DHT > testosterone, leading to greater subsequent intracellular changes of DNA activation and mRNA production
Males with 5a reductase def have no prostates

Androgen control:

Gene encoding 5a red enzyme type 1 found on Chr 5: expressed in nongenital skin and liver (inhibited by dutasteride)
Gene encoding 5a red enzyme type 2 found on Chr 2: expressed in prostate (stroma and basal epithelial cells) and genital skin (inhibited by finasteride and dutasteride)

Lasers and Stents for the enlarged prostate

2009-06-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

Lasers and stents

Lasers

•Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emmision of Radiation
•Flash-lamp with high intensity light bombards resonator cavity with photons
•Electrons excited, decay with emission of photon
•Cascade effect
•Photons leave resonator cavity as coherent laser beam

Principles

•Coherence, collimation and monochromaticity

•Differ with respect to wavelengths, power and mode of emission (pulsed or continuous)

Mechanism of Action
•Heat treatment
o 45-50ºC Desiccation
o 50-100°C Coagulation
o >100°C Carbonisation and Vapourisation
•Effect dependent on power of laser and length of time applied
•NB. Can be used if anti-coagulated or coagulation disorder

Laser types

•Nd:YAG (neodymium, yttrium, aluminium, garnet)
o 1064 nm wavelength
o absorption length in tissue of 0.5 to 1.75 cm, giving it excellent haemostatic properties
o VLAP uses the NF-YAG laser in a non contact mode using a side firing laser
o Contact laser ablation (CLAP) uses NDYAG via a sapphire tipped fibre. Direct contact between laser fibre and tissue causes tissue vaporisation at the point of contact
o CLAP and VLAP show similar improvements at 2 years in flow rates and SS, but at 4 yrs CLAP has a 23% reop rate. CLAP harder to learn, and has been abandoned

•KTP:YAG
o Beam from Nd-YAG passed through a potassium titanyl phosphate crystal (KTP) which doubled the frequency and halves the wavelength (532 nm)
o Good incisional and vaporization properties, with tissue penetration depth of 3mm
o Causes vaporization of tissue, and can result in an immediate TURP like channel

•Ho:YAG
o Wavelength of 2140 nm
o Penetration depth of only 0.4mm, with excellent incisional and haemostatic properties
o Laser ablation of prostate involves vaporization of prostate tissue using a side firing fibre
o Laser resection of the prostate divides the lobes into fragements small enough to irrigate from the bladder
o Laser enucleation of the prostate, whole lobes cut away, and then morcellated for removal

•Diode
o Wavelength of 830 nm
o Used for interestitial laser coagulation
o Coagulation necrosis occurs via a fibre inserted directly into interstitium of prostate
o Usually needs spinal or GA

Methods

Side-firing
TRUS guided Laser induced Prostatectomy (TULIP)
Visual laser ablation of the Prostate (VLAP)
Interstitial Laser Coagulation (ILC)
Ho laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP)

TULIP

‘Blind’
Side-firing Nd:YAG
Useless
Abandonded

Visual laser ablation of the Prostate (VLAP)

Mixture of coagulative necrosis and vapourisation
Nd:YAG laser(1064nm) at 40-90W for 60s
Quadrant / Sextant spot application technique via cystoscope
Tissue sloughs away
Results
85% have ³ 50% improvement in SS or Qmax
Significant reduction in BOO (80-95%)
No irrigation required
Best if gland < 50-60g
Not suitable if UTI / bacterial prostatitis
Complications
Prolonged catheterisation (3-4 weeks) & dysuria
Serious complications in 12%
Impotence 0%
Incontinence 0%
Urethral stricture 2%
Bladder neck contracture 4%
Ret ejaculation 22%
Retreatment rate 2%/year (Costello) – 8%/year (Puppo)

Interstitial Laser Coagulation (ILC)

Coagulation necrosis used to reduce prostate volume
Secondary atrophy & regression of prostate rather than sloughing
Nd:YAG or diode laser
Fibres placed into prostate tissue cystoscopically
1-2 fibres per 5-10ml prostate volume
Results and complications
Similar improvement in LUTS & BOO to TURP at 1 year follow-up (Muschter)
8% ILC subsequently required TURP
Mean catheterisation – 18 days
Complications
Ret ejaculation 12%
Stricture 5%
Impotence 0%
Incontinence 0%
Retreatment 3%/year for first year rising to 10%/year subsequently

Ho laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP)

Pulsed solid-state laser, l = 2140nm
Ho:YAG l is strongly absorbed by water
Zone of coagulative necrosis, 3-4mm, is adequate for haemostasis
Peak power causes intense vapourisation and precise cutting
550mm end-firing quartz fibre via continous flow resectoscope with normal saline irrigant
80W Ho:YAG laser
Results
Gilling et al (J Urol 1999; 162: 1640) Prospective RCT, TURP v’s HoLRP with 1 year follow-up
Similar improvements in SS, Qmax and PdetQmax
Complications
Dysuria 10%
Impotence 0%
Ret ejaculation 75-80%
4 yr follow up: J Urol 2004. Similar outcome to TURP with less morbidity

Stents

10-15% BPH patients unfit for surgery
AUA guidelines: only for use in unfit pts
A number of small studies using prostatic stents in unfit men with retention
Various materials used
Metallic alloys, bioresorbable, polyurethane, thermosensitive
Urolume
Self-expanding superalloy wire
Placed cystoscopically or US guided
Over a few weeks to a few months they become covered with normal transitional epithelium

Urolume North American Clinical Trial
13% required stent removal
Side effects
Urgency (67%), dysuria (50%), perineal pain (50%), persistent retention (10%), incontinence (<1%), haematuria, encrustation, occlusion,
TITAN Stent
Seamless titanium tubing
Expanded with non-compliant balloon
Placed cystoscopically with iv sedation & prostate block
Results inferior to Urolume

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Urodynamics

2009-06-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Facts:

BOO is present in 90% of men with larger prostates
(>80 ml), in those with small volumes (<40>15 ml/s only about 1/3 [3]. These data indicate that urine flow studies are not sufficient for the definitive
diagnosis of BOO (Abrams, BJUI 1995)

Obstructed patients do not always fare well with TURP (success rate: 79–93%) and conversely, unobstructed men do not always fail with success rates of 55–78% (Homma, BJUI 2001)

The EAU guidelines.

Who should have UDx prior to TURP?
(i) previous unsuccessful invasive treatment of LUTS;
(ii) elderly men (>80 years);
(iii) younger men (e.g. <50 years);
(iv) post-void residual volume >300 ml;
(v) suspicion
of neurogenic bladder dysfunction;
(vi) previous radical pelvic surgery

Previous unsuccessful invasive treatment

Nitti et al. have performed urodynamics studies in 50 consecutive patients referred because of persistent LUTS after prostatectomy. In this series, 62% of these men were urodynamically unobstructed, 22% were in the equivocal zone and only 16% were urodynamically obstructed; detrusor instability was present in 54%. Symptoms were unreliable in predicting urodynamic findings. These data clearly demonstrate that another deobstructing procedure (i.e. 2nd TURP) is unlikely solve the problem in this group of patients. Only pQs (urodynamics) can guide the appropriate treatment in these patients (Nitti, J Urol 1997)

Elderly patients

For two reasons, geriatric patients (>80 years) should undergo pQs prior prostatectomy. First of all, because morbidity of prostatectomy in this high age group is increased. Secondly, and equally important, is the fact that the ageing urinary bladder reveals a number of age related urodynamics changes in men [17,18]. Among these is a decrease of Qmax, an increase of post-void residual volume, a decline in bladder capacity and of bladder compliance. As a consequence
the percentage of patients without BOO despite a reduced Qmax of 10–15 ml/s and an interrnational Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) exceeding 7 increases substantially in men older than 70 years and particularly above 80 years (Fig. 3) [17,18]. This observation is a strong argument for routine pQs in this high age group. The real predictive value of urodynamics on the outcome after surgery is also questionable. In a recent paper, van Venrooij (J Urol 2002) showed that in 32 unobstructed or equivocal patients, there was a 40% increase in mean effective capacity of the bladder after surgery which was correlated with the improvement
of symptoms. Furthermore, 50% of unstable bladders became stable after surgery, and this could not be predicted from urodynamics. Numerous studies show that more than 50% of
patients who would have been eliminated from surgery, according to PFS, are, in fact, improved after surgery.
This confirms that all symptoms in the presence of BPH do not correspond to obstruction, and that the latter may have different profiles on PFS. Patients with a weak detrusor should not be systematically eliminated from surgery. We should consider that the weaker the detrusor contraction is, the more important is the impact of an increase of urethral resistance. In such
patients, the relief of any degree of obstruction should improve micturition. There is an inherent limitation of PFS in detecting obstruction, when obstruction and a weak detrusor coexist, and a low detrusor pressure does not necessarily contraindicate prostatectomy. Operate on those who suffer failure with their conservative management. Some patients could benefit from minimally invasive therapies, but it has not yet been proven that urodynamics is able to differentiate
indications.

Urodynamics and success with TURP: Does obstruction make any difference to outcome.

No says Hakenberg et al: BJUI 2003

Variable
N
Age (yrs)
IPSS change
QOL

(improvements)
Pre Post
Ag Number

<15>40
46
72.5
9.5
5 1

AG# = Pdet at Qmax – 2(Qmax). >40 is obstrcucted, <20 is unobstructed, 20-40 equivocal

Outcome of TURP in pts with High Pressure Chronic Retention (Styles and Neal, J Urol 1991)
68 men with bladder outflow obstruction and chronic retention (residual urine greater than 300 ml.) Postoperatively, upper tract dilatation (present in 28 men preoperatively) resolved in all but 2 men and serum creatinine levels improved significantly. Irritative and obstructive symptom scores improved postoperatively (p less than 0.00006), although 17% of the men still had significant symptoms. Residual urine volumes decreased and flow rates improved (p less than 0.00006) 32% of the men still had a residual urine of greater than 200 ml.

Types of Penil prosthesis

2009-06-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

1-Soft
2-Semi-rigid
3-Bendable metallic core
4-Interlocking segments
5-Inflatable- 1,2 & 3 part

1 Soft
Subrini
SSDA, Virilis
Rarely used in UK
Peyronnie's surgery
Augments natural erection by providing core bulk

2 Semi-rigid
Cheap
Simple
Reliable: No moving parts
Hard to conceal, ‘bendability’
Limited width
Erosion

Mentor Accuform
9.5 mm, 14-23 cm
11 mm, 16-25 cm
13 mm, 18-27 cm (hard to bend)
Bendability ~ 90 degrees
RTE 0-1 cm

AMS
600 series
9.5 mm & 11.5 mm width

650 series
11 mm & 13 mm width
Tip extenders, both ends
length 12-20 cm
Bendability ~110 degrees

AMS
Dura II
Interlocking PTFE segments with steel spring
10,12 mm
13 cm + tip extenders both ends
Bendability ~150 degrees

Inflatable

Concealment
‘Natural’
Rigidity
Expensive
Infection
Mechanical failure
Manual dexterity

Inflatable – 2 piece
AMS Ambicor
Combined cylinders + reservoir
Pump
limited fluid volume

Mentor Mark II

Inflatable-3 piece

AMS 700CX, CXM, CXR
Triple layer
Expands in width
Smallest 12 cm
AMS Ultrex
Expands in length and width
Antibiotic coating (inhibiZone)
Rifampicin & Minocycline

Inflatable-3 piece

Mentor Alpha 1, Titan & narrowbase
Smallest 10cm
Expands girth++
Oval
Bioflex
Lockout valve
Hydrophilic antibiotic adsorbant surface

Bladder cancer and BCG Immunotherapy

2009-06-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin
First used 1921

Morales et. Al. 1976 (successful treatment in 7 of 9 patients of recurrent Ta and T1 tumours)
Live attenuated M.Bovis. (Freeze dried vaccine)

All derived from Pasteur Institute strain.
Connaught 81 mg or 180 * 10 8 CFU
Tice 12.5 mg or 2-8 *10 8 CFU
Pasteur
Frappier
Tokyo

Indications:
Mulitiple G2 pT1
G3 pTa / pT1, CIS

I am a lower pole calculus of 2 cm. My preferred treatment is:

2009-06-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Percutaneous nephrolothotomy

Why?

Lower pole study group (Albala, Clayman and et al, J Urol 2001):

122 pts, lower pole stone and symptoms, under 3cm, randomised to PCNL vs SWL, stratified by stone size

CLEARANCE RATES

LOWER Pole stone PCNL ESWL
1cm 100% 63%
1-2cm 92% 23% (but 56% by Lingman)

>2cm 85% 14%

SWL: stent for size >2.5 cm
PCNL: single stage procedure, used flexible endoscopy and fragmentation with laser, uss, lithoclast
Outcome: fragmentation to fragments less than 3mm
Clearance rate 11-20mm stones 23% vs 92% for SWL vs PCNL, 14% vs 100% for stones 21-30mm

No effect found from lower pole calyx anatomical factors
(cf Elbahnasy, where infundibulopelvic angle under 90°, length over 30mm and width <5mm all associated with poor clearance rates of stones using SWL)

Cost effectiveness to be stone free
Stones 11-19mm SWL 133% more than PCNL
Stones >20mm cost of SWL 411% greater than PCNL
No statistical difference in morbidity

Lower pole study group 2:
Ureteroscopy versus PCNL
1-2.5 cm lower pole stone
31% stone free in urs versus 76% for pcnl
Stone Ureteroscopy PCNL
1-2.5 31% 76%

Ureteroscopy versus ESWL for stone < 1cm (pearl, lower pole study 3 ) no diff between urs and eswl. (35% versus 50% statistically not significant) (Pearl Jurol 2005)

Stone Ureteroscopy ESWL
<1 cm 35% 50%

stones <10mm URS vs SWL, stones 11-25mm URS vs PCNL
• Why?
o Stone free rates 11-20mm 71%, >20mm 65% with URS (Grasso, 1999)
o All stones greater than 2cm clearance rate of 91% after second look procedure in pts with renal stones who were poor PCNL candidates (Grasso, J Urol 1998)

Male urethral Trauma

2009-06-01T04:29:00.000-07:00

The important factors that need to be considered in the management of the Ijury in the Immediate settings include:
Mechanism of injury
Has the patient voided? Haematuria? Increase in swelling after voiding? (extravasation)

Examination
Signs of shock?
Perineum – extent of haematoma. Confined to perineum/penile shaft then Buck’s fascia intact. If more extensive then suggests rupture of Bucks fascia and will be confined by Colles fascia
Blood at urethral meatus?–present in 75% of anterior urethral trauma
PR – prostate should feel normal
Is bladder distended?

Investigation
Usual trauma investigations including bloods.

Injury may be contusion or laceration of the urethra.
Urethrography – if urethra intact this is a contusion injuries and the haematoma usually resolves without complication. May wish to prescribe analgesia and antibiotics as prone to infection. Patient should be encouraged to void.

If laceration then needs catheter either single attempt urethrally or through the abdomen- probably best done under GA in child.
Laceration injuries may allow extravasation of urine which can extend along penile shaft, and up abdo wall, extension limited by Colles fascia. This may become infected and require draiage.

Will need further assessment of urethra with urethrogram (up and down) in 4/52.
Most common problem is stricture formation at site of injury. The majority of which do not require surgical intervention.
Those that do require surgical intervention should have delayed repair >3/12 after injury.
Options include simple debridement and anastomosis if short stricture (<1cm). Longer strictures will require grafts or flaps to bridge deficiency.

What is urethrogram?
12/14ch catheter in fossa navicularis ( in the penile opening). 2mls in balloon to occlude urethra. 20 mls of undiluted contrast injected slowly and films taken at 30 degree oblique angle.

BCG in my bladder!

2008-07-24T14:00:00.001-07:00

BCG is a vaccine developed to combat the tuberculosis epidemic. The anti cancer potential of tuberculosis was known before the development of BCG. It had been seen in autopsy studies that people who had suffered from tuberculosis had lower incidence of having a cancer of the affected organ than the ones who did not. BCG was initially tried to treat skin cancers ( melanomas) with variable success. Later it was shown that BCG could protect against bladder cancer recurrence and progression (worsening aggressive nature). The BCG is put into the bladder and has to be retained there for 2 hours. The aim is to stimulate the immune system to reject the cancer. The standard practice is to use an induction course followed by a maintenance course. The induction course involves six cessions of BCG instillation at weekly interval followed by a telescopic examination usually about 3 months after the last dose to evaluate the response. This is followed by the maintenance schedule.
There are different maintenance schedules being used in different hospitals due to lack of consensus in this regards. There is a strong consensus that maintenance therapy following is more effective than induction therapy of BCG alone.
It is common for patients to experience burning sensation during voiding with an element of urgency to pass urine. Quite a few other side effects are possible with BCG use in bladder cancer and due to this reason it recommended for aggressive bladder cancers.

Urinary incontinence in women

2008-05-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

The complaint of urinary incontinence in adult women can most commonly is either due to wekness of the sphinctor mechanism to keep her dry leading to leakage whenever the abdominal pressure rises like coughing sneezing jumping (Stress incontinence) or due to a bladder which contracts and pushes urine out when it should be holding it in, patient usually finds it difficult to hold whenever she gets this urge to pass urine (urgency to urinate)and cannot make it to the toilet in time (urge incontinence).
There can be quite a few other causes for urinary leakage but most common complaints fall in the above two groups.
The treatment is dictated by the type of incontinence.
With Stress Incontinence the target is to support the and strengthen the muscles that support the urethra and the pelvic organs including the bladder vagina uterus and rectum. treatment methods availible range from pelvic muscle strengthening exercises, abdominal operations to reposition prolapsing pelvic organs and vaginal operations to suuport the organs and to provide extra suppoert to urethra.
For Urge incontinence the aim to calm the bladder to damp down these uncontrolled bladder contractions. Bladder retraining tablets to controll the bladder and operations to paralyse the muscle (botox injection in bladder) or by cutting the nerve supply to bladder or by removing muscle layer partially from the bladder or by putting a piece of bowel in the bladder.

Can teblets controll my waterworks?

2008-04-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

The urinary symptoms can simply considered to be of two types i.e. due to obstruction to the urine flow due to enlarged prostate (Hesitancy to start urine flow, weak flow and sense of incomplete emptying)and iritative symptoms due to incomplete emptying or premeture bladder contrations (frequent passing of urine, urgency to pass urine)
The drugs which have been used to controll the prostate related symptoms are of three types, the Alpha Blockers relax the bladder neck and thus reduce the resistance offered by the urethra to the urine flow, they donot effect the prostate size so with time as the prostate grows their effectiveness might go down. The Alpha reductase inhibitors can reduce the prostate volume if teken over an extended period of time. Both of these groups of drugs are focusing on the prostate, trying to reduce the resistance to urine flow by an enlarged or obstructing prostate. The Anti cholinergic medicines act on the bladder bladder, allowing it to hold a larger volume for longer period of time.

Viagra ‘The Miracle drug’

2008-03-24T03:10:00.000-07:00

The Phosphodiesterase group of medicines (Viagra, Levitra, Cialis etc.) are a major step forward in the management of this important quality of life issue. These medicines are commonly associated with minor side-effects like, nasal stuffiness, facial flushing, heart burn. People with heart problems should have a frank discussion with their doctor before trying the medicine.
There is evidence that if the first dose doesn’t work still the subsequent dose might, so no need to despair!
It is becoming more and more recognised that a proportion of aging population has low testosterone levels, which are also contributing to the erectile dysfunction and improving the testosterone levels can improve their wellbeing and also increase chances of effectiveness of the Phosphodiesterase group (Viagra, Levitra, Cialis etc.).

Male infirtility

2008-03-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

Irrespective of gender the dream of having one's own children is shared by many. The first test test usually requested by GP for male fertility evaluation is Semen Analysis ( examination under microscope of material ejaculated from the penis). The aim is to basically see whether the semen has sperms (besides some other features to ascertain the health of the semen).
If there are no sperms in the semen then either testis are not producing any sperms or the conduction mechanism i.e. the tube from testicles to the urethra is blocked.
The 'testicular biopsy' is commonly used operation to differentiate between the two. If facilities are availible then cryopreservation can be performed at the same time.
In case of obstruction being the cause of absence of sperms, srgical procedure to bipass the operation or direct retrieval of sperms from the testis through a variety of techniques is possible.
In patients with testicular biopsy failing to show any sperms, multiple biopsies might identify an island of sperm genesis.

kidney stones, the boulder in water

2008-03-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones are a common urological problem encountered. the kidney stones can lead to a rather interesting course of complete silence with sudden symptoms usually severe excruciating pain (thought to be more severe than child berth!), nausea and vomiting. The kidney stones can pass spontaneously from kidney into the bladder leading resolution of pain but there is an inverse relation between the stone size and it's chance of being passed spontaneously.
the stone formation in the kidneys is a complex process and in simplest terms it can be due to increased concentration of constituents to an extent where they start sedimenting thus laying the foundation of stone formation or the constituent cannot be dissolved in the urine due to any reason and settles down. some stones can be seen on x-ray while other can't.
ways to treat the stones can be divided to non oprative and operative means.

Waterworks and the enlarged prostate

2008-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

As the hair turn grey the water works can also become an issue. many a people consider prostate enlargement to be the cause. Prostate gland sits at the opening of the bladder and encircles the urethra. the prostatic enlargement can lead to compression of urethra thus compelling the bladder to work harder to push the urine through the tube ( urethra). with time due to slowly increasing obstruction the bladder becomes thicker with increase in its muscle bulk but there is a limit to the extent of force the muscles can generate and then there is the stage of progressive failure of bladder to empty completely and ultimately the bladder can fail completely perform the function of emptying itself (urinary retention needing a catheter in the bladder.
The treatment of urinary symptoms is directed at sorting the patient complaints to prevent a negative impact on one's quality of life. Not every patient with prostate enlargement will have urinary problems and vice versa.
The treatment of urinary symptoms due prostate can vary from just reassurance to tablets or even an Operation.

Erectile dysfunction: the surgical solution

2008-03-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

Erectile dysfunction is a major male quality of life issue. the surgical solution of erectile dysfunction is either semi-rigid or inflatable penile prosthesis. It has to be appriciated that the prosthesis which ever type it may be, only provides mechanical means to have penetrative intercourse. the sensations might not be the same as it used to be with spontaneous or sexually stimulated erection. there is usually some loss of length. better understanding of the device that is to be implanted with reasonable expections of the outcome improve the overall satisfaction with this intervention

Bladder Cancer

2008-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

the management of bladder cancer can be considered a real success story with so much finances being invested in the early detection efforts (hemeturia clinics) within the NHS, but are we really treating the disease the properway? though our main effort is to conserve the organs (i.e. the kidney and the bladder) but the approach being persued to controll the disease i.e. telescopic removal of the tumour through the urethra is less than ideal. we are actually many a times removing the tumour in piecemeal fashion raising the possibility of tumour cells being ejected into the bladder and then implanting at other sites in the bladder causing recurrence of disease at some other site in the bladder which can be considered as a failed operation in terms of acieving a cure though I must confess that tumour development can be a field change i.e. the lining of the bladder becoming unstable and producing tumours at various sites simultaniously or sequentially. a standard procedure capable of completely excising the tumours with a clear margin i.e. removing intact tumour is yet to be develped.

Prostate Cancer

2008-02-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

The trend towards preventive medicine has led to an emphasis on screening programs. The prostate cancer screening is still a controversial issue with no strong evidence to point to any advantage in persuing this course but the GPs are routinely performing the PSA screening (blood test) in men above fifty years of age. if the PSA is raised then the person goes through the anxiety and tension involved in the process of further investigation. if the prostate biopsy is negative, that by no means is the end of the process and the person has to remain on the razor edge going through the regular PSA evaluation. Newer developments like PCA3 test (urine test) doesnot help for it only gives an indication of probability of cancer i.e. the result interpretation soesnot give a black and white answer whether to do a biopsy or not. various nomograms which again try to use various resk factors to predict the probability of having prostate cancer, this once again only generates a figure the clinician and the patient being left with the responcibility to decide whether to do a biopsy or not knowing that what ever these clinical exams blood test urine test or nomograms might indicate, there will always be a small but significant possibility of missing a patient with significant cancer

Medicine and information

2008-01-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

The field of medicine has been a witness to phenomenal advancements. The interesting fact is that the pace of research and development has widened the gap between the health care providers and the recepient i.e. the patient. A patient with symptoms or complaints comes to doctor to seek a solution a remedy and also reassurance. The doctor's main focus usually is to establish a diagnosis and then institute specific treatment, often it involves more than simple tests requiring a trip to the hospitalor referral to specialist department or clinic. Till the time the results are on the table to be discussed the patient and the relatives can be exposed to lots of anxiety and apprihension. the change of perception from being gods dictating the investigations or the treatment to being a businessman selling one's perception of the cause of problem/ symptoms, proposing the investigations or the management should inturn help in taking the barriers down and also would make health professionals more accessable.