Total bladder and posterior urethral reconstruction: salvage technique for defunctionalized bladder with recalcitrant posterior urethral stenosis

Devastated Bladder Outlet in Pelvic Cancer Survivors: Issues on Surgical Reconstruction and Quality of Life

Bladder outlet obstruction following treatment of pelvic cancer, predominantly prostate cancer, occurs in 1-8% of patients. The high incidence of prostate cancer combined with the long-life expectancy after treatment has increased concerns with cancer survivorship care. However, despite increased oncological cure rates, these adverse events do occur, compromising patients' quality of life. Non-traumatic obstruction of the posterior urethra and bladder neck include membranous and prostatic urethral stenosis and bladder neck stenosis (also known as contracture). The devastated bladder outlet can result from benign conditions, such as neurogenic dysfunction, trauma, iatrogenic causes, or more frequently from complications of oncologic treatment, such as prostate, bladder and rectum. Most posterior urethral stenoses may respond to endoluminal treatments such as dilatation, direct vision internal urethrotomy, and occasionally urethral stents. Although surgical reconstruction offers the best chance of durable success, these reconstructive options are fraught with severe complications and, therefore, are far from being ideal. In patients with prior RT, failed reconstruction, densely fibrotic and/or necrotic and calcified posterior urethra, refractory incontinence or severe comorbidities, reconstruction may not be either feasible or recommended. In these cases, urinary diversion with or without cystectomy is usually required. This review aims to discuss the diagnostic evaluation and treatment options for patients with bladder outlet obstruction with a special emphasis on patients unsuitable for reconstruction of the posterior urethra and requiring urinary diversion.

The Use of BT-ESD Technology under General Intravenous Anesthesia in the Treatment of Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and the Effect of PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway on Tumor Recurrence

Objective. The objective is to investigate the effect of minimally invasive treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) by transurethral endoscopic submucosal dissection of bladder tumor (BT-ESD) under general intravenous anesthesia and the expression of Akt in NMIBC and to study the effect of upregulation of intracellular phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) on tumor recurrence. Method. 130 patients with NMIBC were selected as the research subjects, including 101 males and 29 females. The patients were divided into transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) group, BT-ESD learning group A (early 20 cases of chief surgeon), and BT-ESD learning group B (follow-up cases of the chief surgeon). The general information (male and female prevalence ratio and average age), operation duration, postoperative bladder irrigation duration, postoperative indwelling catheter time, postoperative hospitalization time, and postoperative complications were compared among the patients in all groups. The normal bladder tissues and pathological tissues of NMIBC patients were stained by immunohistochemistry. Results. No significant difference is identified in age among the three groups ( $P>0.05$ ), but there are significant differences in the operation duration, postoperative bladder irrigation time, postoperative indwelling catheter time, and postoperative hospital stay ( $P>0.05$ ). At the same time, compared with BT-ESD group A and BT-ESD group B, the number of postoperative complications in TURBT group is statistically different ( $P<0.05$ ). Akt has a strong positive expression in the nucleus of patients, which indicates that Akt activated by cellular PI3K will form the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and reduce the recurrence rate of bladder tumor.

[Management of vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis after radical prostatectomy]

Vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis is a relatively uncommon problem after radical prostatectomy, but it could become recurrent and difficult to treat. Risk factors are known, and they can help to decrease the incidence. When discussing the therapeutic plan, we must consider the stenosis risk, and also the urinary continence after the prostatectomy. Many treatment schedules are proposed, some of them with low available evidence, limited to case series with different number of patient and follow-up length, or reviews on the subject. Endoscopic options are the commonest, obtaining different success rates depending on the incision, resection or vaporization of the tissue. They could also benefit from the use of adjuvant local injections of drugs regulating tissue growth. Recurrent or obliterated cases could require surgical reconstruction using perineal, abdominal or combined approaches, or even suprapubic urinary diversions.

Posterior urethral stenosis after prostate cancer treatment: contemporary options for definitive management

Posterior urethral stenosis (PUS) is an uncommon but challenging problem following prostate cancer therapy. A review of the recent literature on the prevalence of PUS and treatment modalities used in the last decade was performed. A summative narrative of current accepted techniques in management of PUS is presented, and supplement with our own experience and algorithms.

Nontraumatic posterior urethral stenosis

INTRODUCTION

Posterior urethral stenoses and contractures are complications after treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), localised prostate cancer (PCa), and orthotopic neobladder formation, compromising prognosis and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To identify factors related to aetiology, prevention and treatment of non-traumatic posterior urethral stenosis and contractures.

ACQUISITION OF EVIDENCE

Review of the published evidence related to posterior urethral stenosis and contractures after PCa treatment, BPH therapies and orthotopic neobladder formation. PubMed database search with English and Spanish papers considered. Cohort studies, case series, prospective and retrospective studies and review papers were included.

SYNTHESIS OF EVIDENCE

Posterior urethral stenoses and contractures are common, leading to significant morbidity. A worsening on voiding quality should rise some concerns. Careful surgical and/or radiotherapic techniques prevent their development. Endoscopic therapies are the initial approach, with complex urethroplasties often required. Subsequent urinary incontinence, the most important sequelae, may need artificial sphincters.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-traumatic posterior urethral stenoses could be important complications, potentially compromising the outcomes of initial therapy. They could require complex surgeries leading to urinary incontinence.