Efficacy and safety of an alternative onabotulinumtoxinA injection paradigm for refractory overactive bladder

AIMS

In studies utilizing a 20-injection-site paradigm of onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), some patients performed clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). An alternative injection paradigm of fewer injections targeting the lower bladder may reduce the need for CIC by maintaining upper bladder function. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of an unapproved alternative 10-injection-site paradigm targeting the lower bladder.

METHODS

In this phase 4, double-blind, parallel-group study, patients with OAB and urinary incontinence (UI) for ≥6 months with ≥3 episodes of urinary urgency incontinence (no more than 1 UI-free day) and ≥8 micturitions per day over 3 days during screening were randomized 2:1 to onabotulinumtoxinA 100 U or placebo injected at 10 sites in the lower bladder.

RESULTS

Of 120 patients, 78 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 39 in the placebo group had efficacy assessments. In the double-blind phase, mean change from baseline at week 12 in daily frequency of UI episodes was greater with onabotulinumtoxinA (-2.9) versus placebo (-0.3) (least squares mean difference [LSMD]: -2.99, p < 0.0001). Achievement of 100% (odds ratio [OR]: 6.15 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.75-50.37]), ≥75% (OR: 7.25 [2.00-26.29]), and ≥50% improvement (OR: 4.79 [1.87-12.28]) from baseline in UI episodes was greater with onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo. Reductions from baseline in the daily average number of micturitions (LSMD: -2.24, p < 0.0001), nocturia (LSMD: -0.71, p = 0.0004), and urgency (LSMD: -2.56, p < 0.0001) were greater with onabotulinumtoxinA than with placebo. Treatment benefit was improved or greatly improved in the onabotulinumtoxinA group (74.0% of patients) versus placebo (17.6%) (OR: 13.03 [95% CI: 3.23-52.57]). Mean change from baseline in Incontinence Quality of Life score was greater with onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo (LSMD: 24.2, p = 0.0012). Two of 78 (2.6%) patients in the onabotulinumtoxinA group used CIC during the double-blind period; no females used CIC during the double-blind period. Commonly reported adverse events (≥5%) were urinary tract infection (UTI), dysuria, and productive cough for both groups; rate of UTI was higher with onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo.

CONCLUSION

In patients treated with onabotulinumtoxinA for OAB with UI, an unapproved alternative injection paradigm targeting the lower bladder demonstrated efficacy over placebo, with a low incidence of CIC.

Study design of a phase 4, real-world study (COMPOSUR) to evaluate vibegron in patients with overactive bladder

BACKGROUND

Overactive bladder (OAB) is defined as urinary urgency accompanied by frequency and nocturia, with or without urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Vibegron, a selective β3-adrenergic receptor agonist approved in the US in December 2020, demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms of OAB and was safe and well tolerated in the 12-week EMPOWUR trial and its 40-week, double-blind extension trial. The goal of the COMPOSUR study is to evaluate vibegron in a real-world setting to assess patient treatment satisfaction, tolerability, safety, duration of treatment, and persistence.

METHODS

This is a 12-month, prospective, observational, real-world study, with an optional 12-month extension to 24 months, in the US assessing adults ≥ 18 years old starting a new course of vibegron. Patients must be previously diagnosed with OAB with or without UUI, symptomatic for ≥ 3 months before enrollment, and receive prior treatment with an anticholinergic, with mirabegron, or with a combination of an anticholinergic and mirabegron. Enrollment is performed by the investigator following exclusion and inclusion criteria guided by US product labeling, reinforcing a real-world approach. Patients complete the OAB Satisfaction with Treatment Questionnaire (OAB-SAT-q) monthly and the OAB Questionnaire short form (OAB-q-SF) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:US) at baseline and monthly for 12 months. Patients are followed up via phone call, in-person visits, or telehealth (ie, virtual) visits. The primary endpoint is patient treatment satisfaction as determined by the OAB-SAT-q satisfaction domain score. Secondary endpoints include percent positive responses to individual OAB-SAT-q questions, additional OAB-SAT-q domain scores, and safety. Exploratory endpoints include adherence and persistence.

DISCUSSION

OAB leads to a significant decrease in quality of life, as well as impairment of work activities and productivity. Persistence with OAB treatments can be challenging, often due to lack of efficacy and adverse effects. COMPOSUR is the first study to provide long-term, prospective, pragmatic treatment data for vibegron in the US and the resultant effect on quality of life among patients with OAB in a real-world clinical setting. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05067478; registered: October 5, 2021.

Neuro-Urology: Call for Universal, Resource-Independent Guidance

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), the abnormal function of the lower urinary tract in the context of neurological pathology, has been the subject of multiple efforts worldwide for the development of clinical practice guidelines. These guidelines are based on the same body of evidence, and are therefore subject to the same gaps. For example, sexual and bowel dysfunction in the context of NLUTD, optimal renal function assessment in those who are non-ambulatory or with low muscle mass, optimal upper tract surveillance timing, and modification of diagnostic and treatment modalities for low-resource nations and communities are inadequately addressed. In addition, many aspects of the conclusions and final recommendations of the guidelines are similar. This duplicative work represents a large expenditure of time and effort, which we believe could be focused instead on evidence gaps. Here, we call for a global unified approach to create a single, resource-independent, comprehensive guidance on NLUTD, neurogenic sexual, and neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Targeted research addressing the evidence gaps should be called for and pursued. This will allow for focus to shift to filling the gaps in the evidence for future guidelines.

An Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Vibegron in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder

Pharmacologic treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), which is characterized by bothersome symptoms such as urgency and urge urinary incontinence (UUI), includes anticholinergics and β₃-adrenergic receptor agonists. Anticholinergics are associated with adverse effects including dry mouth, constipation, cognitive impairment, and increased risk of dementia. Therefore, the drug class of β₃-adrenergic receptor agonists may represent an effective, safe treatment option. Vibegron, a β₃-adrenergic receptor agonist, was approved for use in Japan (2018) and the United States (2020). Over the past 3 years, 2 phase 3 trials (EMPOWUR, EMPOWUR extension) have been conducted with once-daily vibegron 75 mg for the treatment of OAB, and additional secondary and subgroup analyses have detailed the efficacy and safety of vibegron. In the international phase 3 EMPOWUR trial, treatment with vibegron was associated with significant improvements compared with placebo in efficacy outcomes of micturition frequency, UUI episodes, urgency episodes, and volume voided as early as week 2 that were sustained throughout the 12-week trial. The 40-week EMPOWUR extension study, following the 12-week treatment period, demonstrated sustained efficacy in patients receiving vibegron for 52 weeks. Treatment with vibegron was also associated with improvements in patient-reported measures of quality of life. Across studies, vibegron was generally safe and well tolerated. A separate, dedicated ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study showed that treatment with vibegron was not associated with clinically meaningful effects on blood pressure or heart rate. Across all studies, vibegron was efficacious, safe, and well tolerated and thus represents a valuable treatment option for patients with OAB. Here, nearly 1 year after US approval, we review the published data on efficacy and safety of vibegron 75 mg for the treatment of OAB.

Efficacy of Vibegron and Mirabegron for Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Literature Review and Indirect Treatment Comparison

Background

In the absence of head-to-head trials, we performed an indirect treatment comparison of the β₃-adrenergic agonists vibegron and mirabegron in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for articles related to phase 3, double-blind, controlled trials of vibegron 75 mg and mirabegron 25/50 mg in patients with OAB. Efficacy outcomes included change from baseline at weeks 4, 12, and 52 in mean daily number of total urinary incontinence episodes and micturitions and mean volume voided/micturition. Effect size was computed as placebo-subtracted change from baseline (weeks 4, 12) or active control (tolterodine)-subtracted change from baseline (week 52) for each treatment group. Adverse events (AEs) are presented descriptively.

Results

After removal of duplicates, 49 records were identified, and after screening 9 met inclusion criteria for analysis. Vibegron showed significantly greater reduction in mean daily number of total incontinence episodes than mirabegron 25 mg at week 4, mirabegron 50 mg (weeks 4, 52), and tolterodine (weeks 4, 12) (P < 0.05, each) and significantly greater improvement in volume voided versus mirabegron 25 mg (week 12), mirabegron 50 mg (weeks 12, 52), and tolterodine (week 4) (P < 0.05, each). Confidence intervals of point estimates overlapped zero for all other comparisons of vibegron and mirabegron (25 or 50 mg) or tolterodine, indicating no significant differences between treatments for these time/endpoints. Urinary tract infection, hypertension, and dry mouth were the most commonly occurring AEs for vibegron, mirabegron, and tolterodine, respectively, in the short-term trials; hypertension was the most commonly occurring AE with all three treatments in the long-term trials.

Conclusions

Vibegron was associated with significant improvement in total incontinence episodes versus mirabegron at 4 and 52 weeks and volume voided at 12 and 52 weeks. Improvement in micturitions was similar between vibegron and mirabegron or tolterodine. Incidence of AEs was generally comparable between vibegron and mirabegron.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-021-01902-8.

Pulse article: survey of neurogenic bladder management in spinal cord injury patients around the world

STUDY DESIGN

Online survey distributed to healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in care of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).

OBJECTIVES

Identify and bring awareness to the variation of neurogenic bladder management in around the world.

SETTING

International online questionnaire.

METHODS

A 32-question survey was drafted and circulated among a global network of SCI experts for review. The survey was disseminated to healthcare professionals involved in the care of NLUTD in SCI patients via social media, grassroots methods, and international societies. The survey was available for 6 weeks and respondents answered questions regarding SCI population demographics, access to care, common neurogenic bladder management, diagnostic and imaging methods, complications, and follow up.

RESULTS

A total of 296 healthcare professionals, 132 from North America, 87 from Europe, 27 from Asia, 24 from Australia, 14 from South America, and 6 from Africa, responded to the survey. Global concurrence was noted among management method for patients without adequate hand function, first-line treatment for neurogenic detrusor overactivity, and common complications. Continents highly differed in responses regarding management method for patients with adequate hand function, frequency of patients reusing catheters, timing of urodynamics, and duration of antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this international survey demonstrate the variability and uniqueness in neurogenic bladder management in SCI patients around the world. Increased international discourse and education will improve global communication and transparency with the efforts of reducing discrepancies in care.

A Primary Care Provider's Guide to Management of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction and Urinary Tract Infection After Spinal Cord Injury

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), previously termed neurogenic bladder dysfunction, is a common secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). It is associated with significant morbidity, reduced quality of life, increased health care costs, and mortality. Primary care providers (PCPs) play an important role in optimizing urohealth over the life span. This article will review NLUTD in SCI, its complication, surveillance, and management. PCPs should be aware of SCI-related NLUTD, its complications, management, and surveillance recommendations, and when to refer to a specialist.

Biologic Grafts for Use in Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery: a Contemporary Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition and there is a plethora of surgical techniques available to address this problem. We present a review of biologic grafts, including the latest literature to help guide a surgeon's choice on the type of biologic materials to augment repairs.

RECENT FINDINGS

Since the 2019 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on mesh, including xenograft, there is a sparsity of biologic graft products available for POP repairs. This has led to a significant decrease in surgical application. Surgeons must be familiar with the biochemical properties, processing, and clinical application of biologic grafts prior to use. They should also be familiar with alternative operative techniques that utilize autografts, although there is limited outcome data on these techniques. With heightened awareness of mesh and its complications, biologic grafts have made a resurgence. Surgeons must be well versed on their available options. Current literature is limited, and studies have not demonstrated superiority of biologic graft over native tissue repairs for prolapse. Nevertheless, there is a role for these types of biologic graft material in specific patient populations. Future studies are warranted.

Recommendations for evaluation of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury and/or disease

Objective: To provide an overview of clinical assessments and diagnostic tools, self-report measures (SRMs) and data sets used in neurogenic bladder and bowel (NBB) dysfunction and recommendations for their use with persons with spinal cord injury /disease (SCI/D).Methods: Experts in SCI/D conducted literature reviews, compiled a list of NBB related assessments and measures, reviewed their psychometric properties, discussed their use in SCI/D and issued recommendations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Common Data Elements (CDEs) guidelines.Results: Clinical assessments included 15 objective tests and diagnostic tools for neurogenic bladder and 12 for neurogenic bowel. Following a two-phase evaluation, eight SRMs were selected for final review with the Qualiveen and Short-Form (SF) Qualiveen and the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBDS) being recommended as supplemental, highly-recommended due to their strong psychometrics and extensive use in SCI/D. Two datasets and other SRM measures were recommended as supplemental.Conclusion: There is no one single measure that can be used to assess NBB dysfunction across all clinical research studies. Clinical and diagnostic tools are here recommended based on specific medical needs of the person with SCI/D. Following the CDE for SCI studies guidelines, we recommend both the SF-Qualiveen for bladder and the NBDS for bowel as relatively short measures with strong psychometrics. Other measures are also recommended. A combination of assessment tools (objective and subjective) to be used jointly across the spectrum of care seems critical to best capture changes related to NBB and develop better treatments.

New Technologies and Applications in Sacral Neuromodulation: An Update

Recently rechargeable devices have been introduced for sacral neuromodulation (SNM) with conditional safety for full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently a recharge-free SNM device represents the standard implant; however, it is only approved for MRI head scans. As further new technologies with broader MRI capabilities are emerging, the advantages as well as disadvantages of both rechargeable versus recharge-free devices will be briefly discussed in this commentary from the perspective of patients, healthcare professionals, and providers.

Translating promising strategies for bowel and bladder management in spinal cord injury

Loss of control over voiding following spinal cord injury (SCI) impacts autonomy, participation and dignity, and can cause life-threatening complications. The importance of SCI bowel and bladder dysfunction warrants significantly more attention from researchers in the field. To address this gap, key SCI clinicians, researchers, government and private funding organizations met to share knowledge and examine emerging approaches. This report reviews recommendations from this effort to identify and prioritize near-term treatment, investigational and translational approaches to addressing the pressing needs of people with SCI.

Optical Clearing of Vaginal Tissues in Cadavers

A nonsurgical laser procedure is being developed for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Previous studies in porcine vaginal tissues, ex vivo, as well as computer simulations, showed the feasibility of using near-infrared laser energy delivered through a transvaginal contact cooling probe to thermally remodel endopelvic fascia, while preserving the vaginal wall from thermal damage. This study explores optical properties of vaginal tissue in cadavers as an intermediate step towards future pre-clinical and clinical studies. Optical clearing of tissue using glycerol resulted in a 15-17% increase in optical transmission after 11 min at room temperature (and a calculated 32.5% increase at body temperature). Subsurface thermal lesions were created using power of 4.6 - 6.4 W, 5.2-mm spot, and 30 s irradiation time, resulting in partial preservation of vaginal wall to 0.8 - 1.1 mm depth.

Best practice policy statement on urodynamic antibiotic prophylaxis in the non-index patient

AIMS

Antibiotic prophylaxis before urodynamic testing (UDS) is widely utilized to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI) with only limited guidance. The Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) convened a Best Practice Policy Panel to formulate recommendations on the urodynamic antibiotic prophylaxis in the non-index patient.

METHODS

Recommendations are based on a literature review and the Panel's expert opinion, with all recommendations graded using the Oxford grading system.

RESULTS

All patients should be screened for symptoms of UTI and undergo dipstick urinalysis. If the clinician suspects a UTI, the UDS should be postponed until it has been treated. The first choice for prophylaxis is a single oral dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole before UDS, with alternative antibiotics chosen in case of allergy or intolerance. Individuals who do NOT require routine antibiotic prophylaxis include those without known relevant genitourinary anomalies, diabetics, those with prior genitourinary surgery, a history of recurrent UTI, post-menopausal women, recently hospitalized patients, patients with cardiac valvular disease, nutritional deficiencies or obesity. Identified risk factors that increase the potential for UTI following UDS and for which the panel recommends peri-procedure antibiotics include: known relevant neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, elevated PVR, asymptomatic bacteriuria, immunosuppression, age over 70, and patients with any indwelling catheter, external urinary collection device, or performing intermittent catheterization. Patients with orthopedic implants have a separate risk stratification.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations can assist urodynamic providers in the appropriate use of antibiotics for UDS testing. Clinical judgment of the provider must always be considered.

Computer simulations of thermal tissue remodeling during transvaginal and transurethral laser treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A non-surgical method is being developed for treating female stress urinary incontinence by laser thermal remodeling of subsurface tissues with applied surface tissue cooling. Computer simulations of light transport, heat transfer, and thermal damage in tissue were performed, comparing transvaginal and transurethral approaches.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations provided spatial distributions of absorbed photons in the tissue layers (vaginal wall, endopelvic fascia, and urethral wall). Optical properties (n,μa ,μs ,g) were assigned to each tissue at λ = 1064 nm. A 5-mm-diameter laser beam and incident power of 5 W for 15 seconds was used, based on previous experiments. MC output was converted into absorbed energy, serving as input for finite element heat transfer simulations of tissue temperatures over time. Convective heat transfer was simulated with contact probe cooling temperature set at 0°C. Variables used for thermal simulations (κ,c,ρ) were assigned to each tissue layer. MATLAB code was used for Arrhenius integral thermal damage calculations. A temperature matrix was constructed from ANSYS output, and finite sum was incorporated to approximate Arrhenius integral calculations. Tissue damage properties (Ea ,A) were used to compute Arrhenius sums.

RESULTS

For the transvaginal approach, 37% of energy was absorbed in the endopelvic fascia target layer with 0.8% deposited beyond it. Peak temperature was 71°C, the treatment zone was 0.8-mm-diameter, and 2.4 mm of the 2.7-mm-thick vaginal wall was preserved. For transurethral approach, 18% energy was absorbed in endopelvic fascia with 0.3% deposited beyond the layer. Peak temperature was 80°C, treatment zone was 2.0-mm-diameter, and 0.6 mm of 2.4-mm-thick urethral wall was preserved.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer simulations suggest that transvaginal approach is more feasible than transurethral approach. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:198-205, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Optical clearing of vaginal tissues, ex vivo, for minimally invasive laser treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

Near-infrared laser energy in conjunction with applied tissue cooling is being investigated for thermal remodeling of the endopelvic fascia during minimally invasive treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Previous computer simulations of light transport, heat transfer, and tissue thermal damage have shown that a transvaginal approach is more feasible than a transurethral approach. However, results were suboptimal, and some undesirable thermal insult to the vaginal wall was still predicted. This study uses experiments and computer simulations to explore whether application of an optical clearing agent (OCA) can further improve optical penetration depth and completely preserve the vaginal wall during subsurface treatment of the endopelvic fascia. Several different mixtures of OCA’s were tested, and 100% glycerol was found to be the optimal agent. Optical transmission studies, optical coherence tomography, reflection spectroscopy, and computer simulations [including Monte Carlo (MC) light transport, heat transfer, and Arrhenius integral model of thermal damage] using glycerol were performed. The OCA produced a 61% increase in optical transmission through porcine vaginal wall at 37°C after 30 min. The MC model showed improved energy deposition in endopelvic fascia using glycerol. Without OCA, 62%, 37%, and 1% of energy was deposited in vaginal wall, endopelvic fascia, and urethral wall, respectively, compared with 50%, 49%, and 1% using OCA. Use of OCA also resulted in 0.5-mm increase in treatment depth, allowing potential thermal tissue remodeling at a depth of 3 mm with complete preservation of the vaginal wall.

Sacral neuromodulation in overactive bladder: a review and current perspectives

Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence currently affect a substantial portion of the population, especially as age increases. Sacral neuromodulation has become a popular option for refractory OAB symptoms over the past 2 decades. Studies have demonstrated that it is an effective treatment for OAB and urge incontinence as indicated by decreased number of voids, increased bladder capacity, and fewer leakage events. In addition, the effects have proved to be durable to multiple years following implantation. These benefits come at the expense of a high rate of adverse events, although with comparable long-term cost-effectiveness to botulinum toxin A. We aimed to review the literature that demonstrates that sacral neuromodulation continues to be an efficacious treatment for refractory OAB wet and dry patients, with continuously expanding indications.

Laser Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Optical, Thermal, and Tissue Damage Simulations

Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by laser thermal remodeling of subsurface tissues is studied. Light transport, heat transfer, and thermal damage simulations were performed for transvaginal and transurethral methods. Monte Carlo (MC) provided absorbed photon distributions in tissue layers (vaginal wall, endopelvic fascia, urethral wall). Optical properties (n,μ_a,μ_s,g) were assigned to each tissue at λ=1064 nm. A 5-mm-diameter laser beam and power of 5 W for 15 s was used, based on previous experiments. MC output was converted into absorbed energy, serving as input for ANSYS finite element heat transfer simulations of tissue temperatures over time. Convective heat transfer was simulated with contact cooling probe set at 0 °C. Thermal properties (κ,c,ρ) were assigned to each tissue layer. MATLAB code was used for Arrhenius integral thermal damage calculations. A temperature matrix was constructed from ANSYS output, and finite sum was incorporated to approximate Arrhenius integral calculations. Tissue damage properties (E_a,A) were used to compute Arrhenius sums. For the transvaginal approach, 37% of energy was absorbed in endopelvic fascia layer with 0.8% deposited beyond it. Peak temperature was 71°C, treatment zone was 0.8-mm-diameter, and almost all of 2.7-mm-thick vaginal wall was preserved. For transurethral approach, 18% energy was absorbed in endopelvic fascia with 0.3% deposited beyond it. Peak temperature was 80°C, treatment zone was 2.0-mm-diameter, and only 0.6 mm of 2.4-mm-thick urethral wall was preserved. A transvaginal approach is more feasible than transurethral approach for laser treatment of SUI.

Use of best-worst scaling to assess patient perceptions of treatments for refractory overactive bladder

AIMS

Refractory overactive bladder (OAB) treatments, including sacral neuromodulation (SNM), onabotulinumtoxin A (OnabotA), and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), differ considerably. Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) was used to assess patient preferences for these treatments.

METHODS

A cross-sectional Web survey, based on findings from qualitative interviews with 23 OAB patients and 7 clinical experts, was conducted with idiopathic OAB patients in the US and UK. The BWS exercise involved prioritizing subsets of 13 attributes across 13 choice tasks, where patients identified the attribute they considered as best and as worst in each task. Attribute BWS scores, ranging from -1.0 (worst) to 1.0 (best) were calculated based on the rates that each attribute was chosen. Attitudes toward the attributes also were assessed via like/dislike Likert scales, and questions regarding the percentage likelihood (0-100%) of trying each treatment, based on standardized treatment descriptions.

RESULTS

The sample included 245 patients (118 US, 127 UK); 79% female, mean age 50 ± 7.8 years. All 13 attribute BWS scores were significantly positive or negative. "Lasting improvement" (0.82), "minimal side effects" (0.67), and "sends signals between bladder and brain" (0.35)' were rated most favorably, and "complications with implant" (-0.65), and "be willing to self-catheterize" (-0.53) were rated worst. All but one of the attribute BWS scores were significantly correlated with the respective like/dislike scores and the percentage likelihood estimates for trying one of the three treatments.

CONCLUSION

BWS was successful in assessing the magnitude of patient preferences for key attributes associated with substantially different refractory OAB therapies. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:1028-1033, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The evaluation and management of refractory neurogenic overactive bladder

Patients with neurologic disease commonly develop overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of urgency, frequency, and/or urge incontinence that remain bothersome despite oral pharmacologic therapy. Management of refractory OAB in the neurogenic population is a complex issue with no uniform treatment strategy. When treatment fails or patients generally are dissatisfied with the adverse effects of oral therapy, available options include sacral neuromodulation, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), botulinum toxin injections, and lower urinary tract reconstruction such as augmentation cystoplasty. A thorough knowledge and understanding of available and emerging treatment options for neurogenic detrusor overactivity is paramount to assisting clinicians in choosing an appropriate treatment. This article reviews the non-pharmacologic treatment options for neurogenic OAB, mainly botulinum toxin, neuromodulation, and lower urinary tract reconstruction, and discusses important relevant studies.

Two-year evaluation of the MiniArc in obese versus non-obese patients for treatment of stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVES

Obesity is a well-established risk factor of stress urinary incontinence, which affects up to 35% of adult women worldwide. We evaluated whether there is a difference in outcomes with MiniArc sling for treatment of stress incontinence in obese women versus non-obese women at 24 months.

METHODS

A 2-year subanalysis of obese (body mass index >30 kg/m(2) ) versus non-obese patients enrolled into a multicenter, prospective study evaluating the effectiveness of MiniArc sling was carried out. Qualitative (Urogenital Distress Inventory 6 and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire 7) and quantitative measurements, including the cough stress test, were carried out. Secondary outcome measures included procedure time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, perioperative complications, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale and adverse events.

RESULTS

Of 188 patients, 62 were obese. The mean procedure time, blood loss and length of stay were no different between groups. Obese patients reported significantly more pain immediately postoperatively (2 vs 1, Wong-Baker, P = 0.042), but there was no difference at postoperative day 7. There was no difference in objective cure using the cough stress test (81% obese vs 86% non-obese; P = 0.449). Urogenital Distress Inventory 6 and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire 7 median scores showed no difference between groups in improvement (P = 0.126 and P = 0.087, respectively). No serious device-related complications were reported in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

The MiniArc sling represents a safe and effective treatment option for both obese and non-obese patients with stress incontinence. Comparable outcomes at 2 years can be obtained in terms of cure rates using the cough stress test or questionnaires, as well as complication rates.

Miniarc single-incision sling for treatment of stress urinary incontinence: 2-year clinical outcomes

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We report 2-year data on the effectiveness and safety of the MiniArc single-incision sling in women with stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

This multi-center, prospective, single-arm, industry-sponsored study measured the effectiveness of the MiniArc sling via quantitative (cough stress test and 1-h pad weight test) and qualitative (Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form) measurements. The objective efficacy rate was defined as the number of patients with a negative cough stress test or 1-h pad weight test ≤ 1 g at 2 years. The subjective efficacy rate was determined by patient responses to the UDI-6 question # 3, "Do you experience, and if so, how much are you bothered by urine leakage related to physical activity, coughing, or sneezing?" Secondary objectives were to evaluate procedural variables of implantation and long-term safety.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty women with a mean age of 51.1 years were implanted in the study. Mean procedure time, blood loss, and length of stay were 11.0 min, 41.7 mL and 9.5 h respectively. At 2 years, 142 patients were available for analysis. The objective efficacy rates for the cough stress test (CST) and pad weight test (PWT) were 84.5 % and 80.1 % respectively and the subjective efficacy rate was 92.9 %. Median Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form scores showed statistically significant improvement (p < .001). The most common adverse events included UTI (4.8 %), constipation (3.7 %), and temporary urinary retention (3.2 %).

CONCLUSION

MiniArc is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of SUI in women with follow-up through 2 years.

Retropubic and transobturator slings: still useful or should all patients be treated with mini-slings?

Traditional retropubic and transobturator midurethral slings are reliable, safe, and effective treatments for stress urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, they also are associated with rare but severe complications, such as bladder or bowel perforation, vascular injury, nerve damage, and/or groin muscle pain that can occur with the blind passage of trocars. To maintain efficacy and patient satisfaction while avoiding such complications, minimally invasive mini-slings have been developed. These smaller mini-slings can be placed through a single vaginal incision at the level of the midurethra without trocars. Mini-slings often are performed as an outpatient surgery, with minimal morbidity, pain, and quick patient recovery. With continued refinement and surgeon experience, mini-slings potentially may be performed safely in the office setting under local anesthesia while maintaining the efficacy of traditional slings.

Electrical stimulation of the urethra evokes bladder contractions and emptying in spinal cord injury men: case studies

OBJECTIVE

Electrical stimulation of the urethra can evoke bladder contractions in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The objective of this study was to determine whether electrical stimulation of the urethra could evoke bladder contractions that empty the bladder.

METHODS

The first patient was a 45-year-old man with a T6 ASIA A SCI secondary to a gunshot wound 15 years prior. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a T2 ASIA A SCI secondary to a fall from scaffolding 2 years prior. Both patients demonstrated neurogenic detrusor overactivity on urodynamics and managed their bladder with clean intermittent catheterization and oxybutynin medication. Following informed consent, each patient discontinued oxybutynin 2 days prior to urodynamic testing. Urodynamics were performed with a custom 12 French balloon catheter mounted with ring-shaped electrodes (3 mm) positioned in the prostatic urethra. After filling the bladder to approximately three-fourth of capacity at a rate of 25 ml/minute, the urethra was stimulated with a range of parameters to determine whether electrical stimulation could evoke a bladder contraction and empty the bladder.

RESULTS

Electrical stimulation of the prostatic urethra evoked bladder contractions (peak detrusor pressures of 60-80 cm H(2)O) that emptied the bladder in both subjects. In the first subject, stimulation (9-12 mA, 20 Hz) emptied 64-75%, leaving post-void residual volumes (PVRs) of 41-20 ml. In the second subject, stimulation (20 mA, 20 Hz) emptied 68-77%, leaving PVRs of 56-45 ml.

CONCLUSION

Urethral stimulation evoked bladder emptying in persons with SCI.

Postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction: the role of penile rehabilitation

Radical prostatectomy has become the gold standard for the treatment of prostate cancer in patients who have a longer than 10-year life expectancy. Surgical treatment has led to severe quality-of-life issues in these patients, especially urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED). This article reviews the etiology and pathophysiology of postprostatectomy ED, and current management strategies for these patients.

Prospective evaluation of a single incision sling for stress urinary incontinence

PURPOSE

We report 12-month outcomes of the MiniArc single incision sling for stress urinary incontinence in women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a multicenter, prospective, single arm institutional review board/ethics committee approved study evaluating the effectiveness of the MiniArc sling after implantation via qualitative (Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form) and quantitative (1-hour pad weight test and cough stress test) measurements. Secondary outcome measures included procedural variables (procedure time and estimated blood loss), length of stay, perioperative complications, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale and adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 188 women with a mean age of 51.1 +/- 10.6 years (median 50.4, range 25.9 to 79.6) were enrolled in the study. At 1 year 157 patients were available for analysis. Mean procedure time, estimated blood loss and length of hospital stay were 11.0 +/- 6.7 minutes (median 10, range 2 to 55), 41.7 +/- 47.0 ml (median 25, range 0 to 250) and 9.5 +/- 14.1 hours (median 3.2, range 0.5 to 77.2), respectively. At discharge from hospital the mean Wong-Baker pain score was 1.3 +/- 2.0 (range 0.0 to 10.0). Of the patients 90.6% had a negative cough stress test and 84.5% had a 1-hour pad weight test less than 1 gm at 12 months. Median Urogenital Distress Inventory-Short Form and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form scores showed a statistically significant decrease (p <0.001). Adverse events included urinary tract infection (4.3%), constipation (3.7%), temporary urinary retention (3.2%), dyspareunia (2.1%) and vaginal extrusion (1.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The MiniArc single incision sling is a safe and effective first line surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. It demonstrated excellent patient tolerability with minimal pain, early return to normal activity and low morbidity. In addition to sustained efficacy outcomes at 12 months patients treated with the MiniArc experienced a significant improvement in quality of life.

Electrical stimulation of the urethra evokes bladder contractions in a woman with spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE

Electrical stimulation of pudendal urethral afferents generates coordinated micturition in animals and bladder contractions in men after spinal cord injury (SCI), but there is no evidence of an analogous excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in women. The objective of this study was to determine whether electrical stimulation of the urethra could evoke bladder contractions in a woman with SCI.

CASE REPORT

A 38-year-old woman with a C6 ASIA A SCI who managed her bladder with clean intermittent catheterization and oxybutynin demonstrated neurogenic detrusor overactivity on urodynamics. Oxybutynin was discontinued 2 days prior to urodynamic testing with a custom 12F balloon catheter mounted with ring-shaped electrodes located in the bladder neck, mid urethra, and distal urethra. The inflated balloon was placed against the bladder neck to stabilize the catheter electrodes in place along the urethra. However, the balloon limited emptying during contractions. Urodynamics were performed at a filling rate of 25 mL/minute until a distention-evoked bladder contraction was observed. The urethra was stimulated over a range of bladder volumes and stimulus parameters to determine whether electrical stimulation could evoke a bladder contraction.

FINDINGS

Electrical stimulation via urethral electrodes evoked bladder contractions that were dependent on bladder volume (>70% capacity) and the intensity of stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of an excitatory urethra-spinal-bladder reflex in a woman with SCI. Future studies will determine whether this reflex can produce bladder emptying.

A comparative review of oxybutynin chloride formulations: pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy in overactive bladder

Antimuscarinic agents remain the mainstay of treatment of overactive bladder. However, the utility of some of these agents is limited due to tolerability concerns, multiple daily dosage regimens, lack of formulary coverage, and high cost. This can lead to problems with long-term compliance and may preclude optimal management. Oxybutynin has been the most widely prescribed antimuscarinic agent for more than 30 years. To meet the needs of tolerability and compliance, oxybutynin has evolved from an immediate-release pill to a once-daily oral dose and is now available as a topical gel. This review compares the various oxybutynin formulations in terms of pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability issues.

Overactive bladder: pharmacologic treatments in the neurogenic population

Patients with neurologic disease commonly develop overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of urgency, frequency, and/or urge incontinence. Although treatment for idiopathic OAB has been extensively studied, therapy for those individuals with neurogenic-mediated OAB has not been thoroughly evaluated. Included in the present article is a description of micturition neurophysiology and a neurourologic evaluation scheme. The pharmacologic treatment options for neurogenic OAB, mainly antimuscarinics and chemical denervation, are reviewed and important studies are discussed. Management of OAB in the neurogenic population is a complex issue with no uniform treatment strategy, and individualized treatment with first-line pharmacologic therapy is often recommended.

Multi-Centre Study of Intraurethral Valve-Pump Catheter in Women with a Hypocontractile or Acontractile Bladder

OBJECTIVES

To compare the safety, effectiveness and patient satisfaction of an intraurethral valve-pump catheter (In-Flow) versus the current standard of care, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), for females with hypocontractile or acontractile bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a multi-centre, prospective, single-arm crossover study. Eligible patients underwent a 1-week In-Flow tolerability trial. Successful patients then continued through an 8-week baseline phase using CIC, followed by a 16-week In-Flow treatment phase, and a final 4-week treatment withdrawal phase. Outcome measures included post-void residual (PVR), Wagner incontinence-specific quality of life (I-QOL), rate of urinary tract infection and adverse events. At study completion, open enrollment was offered.

RESULTS

A total of 273 women with a mean age of 48.9 years using CIC entered the study in 18 centres under either the original (n=88) or revised protocols (n=185). The revised protocol included the addition of a 1-week tolerability trial. The reasons for the large early withdrawal of subjects (169/273) were mainly related to initial discomfort and leakage. A total of 77 patients completed the In-Flow treatment phase. PVR was comparable during baseline CIC phase and In-Flow treatment phase (20.3 ml vs. 16.1 ml), with significantly improved quality of life (QOL; mean improvement of I-QOL score +25.9; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The In-Flow catheter appears to be a viable alternative to CIC. A subgroup of patients, mainly those unsatisfied with the currently available treatments, was more likely to tolerate In-Flow catheters, and they may achieve enhanced independence and QOL.

Treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency using autologous ear chondrocytes as a bulking agent

Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) is frequently treated with collagen bulking at the bladder neck. The standard material used, Contigen, biodegrades over 3-19 months requiring repeated injections to maintain efficacy. The study objective was to evaluate use of autologous ear chondrocytes for treatment of ISD. Women with documented ISD had harvest of auricular cartilage. Chondrocytes were isolated from the cartilage and expanded in culture and formulated with calcium alginate to form an injectable gel. Thirty-two patients received a single outpatient injection just distal to the bladder neck. Outcome measures included voiding diary, quality-of-life scores, incontinence severity grading, and pad weight testing. Incontinence grading indicated 16 patients dry, and 10 improved at 12 months for a total of 26 of 32 (81.3%) dry and improved after one treatment. Only four patients had a 12-month pad weight test over 2.2 g. Quality-of-life scores improved significantly after treatment. There was a decrease in incontinence impact scores in all categories. The urogenital distress inventory declined for all categories except bladder emptying and lower abdominal pain. Endoscopic treatment of ISD with autologous chondrocytes is safe, effective, and durable with 50 % of patients dry 12 months after one injection. Twenty-six of 32 patients dry or improved at 3 months after the injection maintained the effect at the 12-month visit.

Treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency using autologous ear chondrocytes as a bulking agent

Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) is frequently treated with collagen bulking at the bladder neck. The standard material used, Contigen, biodegrades over 3-19 months requiring repeated injections to maintain efficacy. The study objective was to evaluate use of autologous ear chondrocytes for treatment of ISD. Women with documented ISD had harvest of auricular cartilage. Chondrocytes were isolated from the cartilage and expanded in culture and formulated with calcium alginate to form an injectable gel. Thirty-two patients received a single outpatient injection just distal to the bladder neck. Outcome measures included voiding diary, quality-of-life scores, incontinence severity grading, and pad weight testing. Incontinence grading indicated 16 patients dry, and 10 improved at 12 months for a total of 26 of 32 (81.3%) dry and improved after one treatment. Only four patients had a 12-month pad weight test over 2.2 g. Quality-of-life scores improved significantly after treatment. There was a decrease in incontinence impact scores in all categories. The urogenital distress inventory declined for all categories except bladder emptying and lower abdominal pain. Endoscopic treatment of ISD with autologous chondrocytes is safe, effective, and durable with 50 % of patients dry 12 months after one injection. Twenty-six of 32 patients dry or improved at 3 months after the injection maintained the effect at the 12-month visit.

Nonpulsatile arterial waveforms: observations during graded testicular torsion in rats

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

We tested whether testicular torsion could completely damp distal arterial pulsatility, resulting in venous-appearing arterial waveforms.

METHODS

Progressively increasing testicular torsion was unilaterally produced in five rats. Doppler waveforms of the testicular artery distal to the torsion were obtained as soon as possible after each level of torsion until a complete absence of pulsatility was noted.

RESULTS

One animal was not studied further after the first 180 degrees of torsion occluded flow. In three of the remaining four animals, the testicular artery resistive index (RI) at baseline (0.51, 0.58, 0.64) was within the range of the normal human intratesticular RI and decreased with increasing torsion, culminating in nonpulsatile, venous-appearing waveforms at high degrees of torsion.

CONCLUSIONS

Testicular torsion can completely damp arterial pulsatility, resulting in nonpulsatile, venous-appearing arterial Doppler waveforms.

Outcome analysis of bilateral Cohen cross-trigonal ureteroneocystostomy

OBJECTIVES

The perioperative and long-term outcomes of children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) treated by cross-trigonal ureteroneocystostomy were ascertained.

METHODS

One hundred ten consecutive children with VUR who underwent bilateral cross-trigonal ureteroneocystostomy were studied retrospectively. Nineteen children with neurovesical dysfunction or megaureters requiring tapered reimplants were excluded. Outcome parameters of the remaining 91 children consisted of operative time, length of hospitalization, days of Foley catheter drainage perioperative complications, correction of reflux, subsequent morbidity, and parental satisfaction.

RESULTS

Of 182 renal units, 11 (6%) had grade 0 VUR, 18 (10%) had grade I, 43 (24%) had grade II, 59 (32%) had grade III, 36 (20%) had grade IV, and 15 (8%) had grade V reflux. The mean operative and hospitalization times were 180 minutes and 5.6 days, respectively. No postoperative complications occurred. Three children were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 88 children had an extended mean follow-up in excess of 3 years. Voiding cystourethrogram documented a 98.3% (173 of 176 renal units) success rate. Sixteen children (18%) experienced nonfebrile clinically symptomatic cystitis episodes and 3 children (3%) experienced one febrile episode each. Telephone parental survey of overall surgical experience revealed a 94% very satisfied, 2% satisfied, and 3% dissatisified rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Cross-trigonal ureteroneocystostomy is a safe and effective technique that is virtually complication free and has high parental satisfaction. The results of this study provide a baseline for comparison of non-operative treatment of reflux as well as laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques.

Endoscopic injection of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency in women

OBJECTIVES

To determine the clinical efficacy, safety, and durability of endoscopically injected glutaraldehyde cross-linked (GAX) collagen for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) in women.

METHODS

Forty-two women with a mean age of 64 years (range, 28 to 88) underwent injection of GAX collagen for ISD. Collagen was injected via a transurethral or periurethral approach. Treatment outcome was based on the change in stress leak point pressures (SLPP) and individual incontinence grades before and after collagen injection.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up of 46 months (range, 10 to 66), 83% were cured (n = 17), greatly improved (n = 5), or improved (n = 13), and 17% were unchanged (n = 3) or worse (n = 4). The median number of treatments was 2 (range, 1 to 8). The 22 women greatly improved or cured required a mean of 2.4 collagen injection treatments, whereas the 20 women who were improved, unchanged, or worse had a mean of 4.1 treatments (P = 0.009). The mean amount of collagen injected per patient was 28.3 cc (range, 2.5 to 85). The group of women who were greatly improved or cured had a mean of 17.5 cc of collagen injected, whereas those who were improved, unchanged, or worse had a mean of 39.5 cc injected (P = 0.002). Mean pretreatment SLPPs of women improved, greatly improved, or cured versus the women unchanged or worse were not significantly different (P = 0.015). The 35 women who were improved or cured had a significant increase in mean SLPP of 65.4 cm H2O (P = 0.001) compared to a mean change in SLPP of 14.7 cm H2O in those women who were unchanged or worse (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

GAX collagen injection for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence secondary to ISD appears to be safe, effective, and durable; hence, it should be considered the treatment of choice in appropriately selected female patients.

Perinephric urinoma secondary to neurogenic bladder in myelodysplasia

We report on a girl with infected perinephric urinoma and myelodysplasia who presented with a febrile urinary tract infection. A complex perinephric fluid collection with internal echoes was found on renal ultrasound, necessitating placement of a percutaneous drainage tube. Initial urodynamic testing after treatment of the infection revealed a noncompliant bladder with an elevated detrusor leak point pressure. Neurovesical dysfunction with elevated leak point pressure is believed to be the cause of urinoma. Clinical presentation, treatment and pathophysiology of this entity are discussed.

Outcome analysis of 42 cases of renal angiomyolipoma

Angiomyolipomas were found in 42 kidneys in 23 female and 8 male patients at our medical center. Angiomyolipoma was diagnosed by computerized tomography (CT) alone in 55% of the cases, and by a combination of ultrasound and CT in 36%. Nine of 11 patients with bilateral angiomyolipoma had associated tuberous sclerosis. Treatment consisted of observation in 22 patients, selective arterial embolization in 6, partial nephrectomy in 6 and nephrectomy in 8. A total of 17 patients who were observed had tumors smaller than 4 cm. and 4 h had angiomyolipoma of 4 to 10 cm. With a mean followup of 3.8 years, no observation patient had subsequent renal hemorrhage and only 1 (tumor larger than 10 cm.) had radiographic progression. Despite progression, the latter patient remained asymptomatic for 18 years. Selective arterial embolization (3 tumors 4 to 10 cm. and 3 larger than 10 cm.) resulted in preservation of renal function at a mean of 1 year. All patients treated with partial nephrectomy (6 tumors 4 to 10 cm.) maintained stable renal function without recurrence during a mean 4.7-year followup. Similarly, all individuals who underwent nephrectomy (4 tumors smaller than 4 cm., 3 tumors 4 to 10 cm. and 1 tumor larger than 10 cm.) have stable renal function. We recommend renal conservation for patients with renal angiomyolipoma using a strategy of observation for small asymptomatic tumors, partial nephrectomy for moderate size tumors and selective arterial embolization of large tumors not amenable to partial nephrectomy.

Early clinical experience with adult bladder auto-augmentation

Five patients 18 to 73 years old underwent auto-augmentation for a small capacity, poorly compliant bladder. The mean operative time and hospital stay were 106 minutes and 6 days, respectively. No postoperative complications occurred. Followup ranged from 12 to 82 weeks. Bladder capacity increased from 75 to 310 cc or 40 to 310%. Compliance also improved in all patients. Three patients had reflux preoperatively, which resolved in 1 and improved in 2. Of 4 patients who were incontinent preoperatively 3 became continent postoperatively and extended the interval between catheterizations. Upper tract function has remained stable. No patient required enterocystoplasty to control bladder pressures.

Incontinent ileo-vesicostomy urinary diversion in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction

The combination of high spinal cord injury and neurovesical dysfunction can present formidable problems in urological management. The lack of upper extremity function often prevents intermittent catheterization and leads to alternative methods. A total of 23 patients underwent incontinent ileo-vesicostomy in an effort to gain a low pressure bladder and control of urinary soiling: 17 had been previously treated by catheter drainage, 9 had bladder and/or renal calculi, 9 experienced recurrent sepsis, and 7 had urethrocutaneous fistula and total urinary incontinence. Most patients had poorly compliant bladder dysfunction associated in 9 cases with poor urethral continence function. At a mean followup of 45 months (range 3 to 240 months) 22 of 23 patients had a low pressure reservoir with low pressure degrees of urine into a collection device. Complications included stomal stenosis in 3 patients and poor drainage across the ileovesical junction requiring revision in 2. One of these patients ultimately underwent ileal loop diversion. Upper tract function improved or remained stable in all patients.

Vesicopyeloplasty in renal transplant patients: a 20-year followup

Loss of a ureter in a renal transplant patient often results in transplant nephrectomy. In 1973 we used vesicopyelostomy with the bladder directly sutured to the renal pelvis as a method of reconstruction in 2 renal transplant patients following ureteral loss. These patients have been followed for more than 20 years and both renal allografts have functioned well. The status of these patients and a review of the literature on vesicopyelostomy are presented.

Conservative management of a seminal vesicle abscess

A pure seminal vesicle abscess is a rare condition. We report case 7 in the literature and to our knowledge the first patient who has been managed successfully by noninvasive, conservative antibiotic treatment alone. All previously reported cases of seminal vesicle abscesses have been managed with invasive therapy. In 5 cases the seminal vesicle abscess was incised and drained surgically, while in 1 the abscess was drained percutaneously. We describe a patient with a seminal vesicle abscess, review the literature and recommend a more conservative method of management.