The Virtue quadratic male sling for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: 3-Year outcome measurements and a predictive model of surgical outcome from a European prospective observational study

AIMS

This prospective multicenter observational study evaluated postprostatectomy incontinence treatment outcomes with Virtue male sling at 12 and 36 months.

METHODS

Objective assessment was based on a 24-h pad weight test with improvement defined by a decrease >50% and cure by less than 1.3 g. Subjective assessment was based on the patient global impression of improvement and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-urinary incontinence-short form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaires. Subgroups were analyzed by baseline severity of incontinence on a 24-h-pad test, body mass index (BMI), and pads usage. Factors associated with treatment response were assessed using logistic regression at Months 36. Complications were reported.

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 117 men. Objective and subjective improvement were achieved in 54% and 35% and 51% and 34% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Twenty-one percent and 19% were considered cured, respectively, at 12 and 36 months. No differences per baseline incontinence severity, BMI and pads usage were found at 36 months. Mean ICIQ-UI-SF score decreased from 15 to 9. Predictive factors were BMI, postvoid residual urine, number of nighttime urination, and ICIQ total score. Seven Clavien-Dindo Grade III (5.1%) including four Virtue sling revisions were reported. The most frequent Grade II complications were overactive bladder symptoms and pain reported in 10.3% and 2.9%, respectively. No complications required explantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Virtue male sling is safe and effective in males with mild to severe postprostatectomy urinary incontinence over 36 months. Virtue could be considered an interesting option for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence with positive results over time even in patients with high BMI. The predictive model should be validated by further studies.

Insights into the Management of Overactive Bladder with Transdermal Oxybutynin: A Practical Review

Overactive bladder (OAB), clinically defined as urinary urgency, with or without incontinence, generally accompanied by an increase in urinary frequency and nocturia, after any local disease or metabolic disorder that would explain these symptoms have been ruled out, is a highly prevalent condition that affects millions of men and women worldwide. Not only can the symptoms of OAB be very bothersome, but OAB can have significant detrimental effects on many aspects of individuals' lives, representing a particularly impactful health burden to quality of life and productivity. Besides a wide range of conservative treatments, the clinical efficacy of which remains an open issue, antimuscarinics are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for this condition but anticholinergic troublesome side effects like dry mouth, and the patient's perception of lack of efficacy and poor adherence, are common reasons of abandonment of treatment. An alternative to oral administration treatment, with a lower incidence of dry mouth and other anticholinergic adverse effects, might be attractive to patients and a real treatment option for physicians. Delivery of oxybutynin directly through the skin with oxybutynin transdermal (OXY-TDS) avoids the first-pass hepatic metabolism that occurs with orally administered oxybutynin and prevents the appearance of anticholinergic adverse events. OXY-TDS being equally effective than oral treatment improves adherence, persistence, and patient satisfaction. The aim of this review is to focus on evidence available of the use of OXY-TDS in the management of patients with OAB, and to help clinicians in the challenges involved in the treatment options for patients with this condition.

[Management of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.]

 To report the recommendations of an expert panel to reorganize Neurourology units and to prioritize examinations and both conservative and surgical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-systematic review of the literature and national experts' opinion summarizing the recommendations in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. A modified nominal group technique was used due to extraordinary meeting and mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Neurourological patients have special physiological and pathological characteristics that make them more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. For prioritization purposes, they encompass in Functional Urology patients and their management is considered non-urgentor delayable with no specific deadline of recovery from normality. However, it is important to identify individual situations jeopardising the upper urinary tract, urinary retention or predisposing to urinary infections/sepsis. A classification is provided prioritizing conservative/outpatient management and the surgical treatment of the events occurring in neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In neurourological patients we can find exceptional clinical situations in which a delayed treatment could develop irreversible changes in the upper urinary tract, advocating a more urgent treatment inspecific scenarios.

[Tolerability, persistence and satisfaction. Retrospective cohort study in patients with overactive bladder syndrome treated with transdermal Oxybutynin under Standard ClinicAl pRactice. OSCAR Study.]

OBJECTIVES

To determine the tolerability, persistenceand satisfaction of patients with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) treated with transdermal oxybutynin (OXY-TDS).

METHODS

Observational, retrospective, multicenter study, in patients with OAB who had started treatment with OXY-TDS at least 12 months before their inclusion. Tolerability was evaluated by number, severity criteria, resolution type of adverse reactions, and cognitive function with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), at 1 year of treatment. The patients who remained under treatment during the observation period were considered persistent. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using an ad hoc questionnaire.

RESULTS

The clinical history of 105 patients was evaluated. 92.4% were women. The mean age of all the patients was 59.4 ± 11.8 years. After 12 months of treatment, dry mouth was present in 5.7% of patients and 27.6% had mild or moderate adverse reactions in the area of application. The persistence in treatment was 55.2%. The use of the OXY-TDS was considered comfortable or very comfortable by 92.9% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The study performed in patients with OAB shows that OXY-TDS provides low incidence of systemic adverse effects, including dry mouth, high persistence, improved adherence rates and high satisfaction of patients after one year of treatment.

Transumbilical single port surgery with conventional laparoscopic instruments in horseshoe kidney

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic surgery is following a natural course as it decreases surgical aggression on the abdominal wall without undermining the curative and functional results. Although it is still being developed, single port surgery has meant an advance in this sense.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We present the first single port laparoscopic pyelolithectomy surgery in horseshoe kidney, using conventional rigid instruments. The case of an 18-year old patient with BMI of 19 in whom the imaging tests (urogram and computed tomography) showed a horseshoe kidney with left coralliform lithiasis and discrete calyceal ectasia is presented. The lithiasis was extracted using umbilical access with single port device and conventional rigid instruments.

RESULTS

The surgery was performed without complications. Surgery time was 110 minutes and bleeding 50 cc. On incision of the urinary system, there was purulent urine extravasation that conditioned fever of 38 °C in the post-operatory period. During the intervention, a double J stent was placed via percutaneous approach. The patient was discharged on the third day of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Single port laparoscopic access for pyelolithectomy surgery in horseshoe kidney is a reasonable alterative. The use of conventional rigid instruments facilitates the performance of this surgery with good triangulation, without conflict regarding hands and safety for the patient.