Vasovasostomía: Nuestra experiencia

OBJECTIVES

From August 1997 to December 2004 we performed 47 vasovasostomies for vasectomy reversal in the same number of patients. Only 42 patients are available for follow-up, with a mean follow-up of at least six months. Mean age is 40.7 years for the patients and 30.8 for the couples.

METHODS

The two-layer technique was applied under microscope magnification in the first 22 patients; single layer technique was performed in the others.

RESULTS

Overall spermatozoid potency rate was 71.42%, and pregnancy rate was 32.45%. Surgical technique did not have influence on results.

CONCLUSIONS

Better prognosis is expected in young men; the longer the interval between vasectomy and reversal, the lower the potency rate. Regarding pregnancy rate, it is not influenced by delay of reversal.

[Surgical details and complications from retransplantation into the iliac fossa for third and fourth kidney transplants]

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the surgical aspects and complications from retransplantation into the iliac fossa for third and fourth kidney transplants.

METHODS

Retrospective study of the 34 third and 5 fourth transplants performed in our department. We analyze patient's characteristics, surgical aspects and complications, and graft outcomes.

RESULTS

Mean patient age was 41.6 years. 67% of the first and second transplants had been lost to vascular problems (19%) or chronic rejection (48%). Average time from last transplant in the retransplanted iliac fossa was 9 years (3 days-17 years). There were not significant differences between the groups of first and second transplant and third and fourth in cold ischemia time, number of mismatches, and number of days on hemodialysis after transplantation; there were significant differences in receptor age, number of transfusions, maximum and current antibodies and donor age, all of which were higher in third and fourth transplants. The graft was basically implanted in the right iliac fossa (71%) through a lumbar-iliac iterative incision; vascular anastomosis were equally made to the common and external iliac vessels; ureteral reimplant was performed following an extravesical technique; simultaneous transplant nephrectomy of the previous graft was performed in 33% of the cases. 59% of the cases had immediate diuresis and 49% did not require dialysis within the first 7 postransplant days. Surgical complications were mainly vascular: 4 cases of hemorrhage, 3 venous thrombosis and 2 arterial thrombosis. There were also 4 cases of lymphocele, 1 perirenal hematoma, and 1 enterocutaneous fistula with an abscess of the surgical bed. There were no urologic complications in the series. Globally, there was 1 death (2.5%) secondary to hemorrhage and another 6 grafts (15%) were lost to complications, 5 vascular thrombosis and 1 after surgical bed abscess. 1, 3, 5, and ten-year actuarial graft survival were 65%, 52%, 40% and 28% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Retransplantation into the iliac fossa for third and fourth transplants is associated with a small increase in the number of surgical complications, mainly vascular complications.

[Treatment of urinary stress incontinence using suburethral implantation of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). 4 years' experience]

OBJECTIVES

To analyze our results in terms of continence and complications of treatment of urinary incontinence with TVT during the 4 first years.

METHODS

72 patients underwent surgery for urinary incontinence between 1999 and 2002. Chart review was performed for medical history, physical examination, urodynamic tests, surgical procedure, intraoperative and postoperative complications, objective and subjective results.

RESULTS

62 patients were diagnosed of genuine stress urinary incontinence and 10 patients of mixed urinary incontinence. 14 patients had grade 3 cystocele, 12 of them underwent associated colporrhaphy. Operations were performed under local anaesthesia in 1 patient, spinal anaesthesia in 41 and general anaesthesia in 30. Mean operation time was 32 minutes, 66 minutes when colporrhaphy was associated, and previous surgery did not increase the surgical difficulty. 6 patients (8.3%) suffered bladder perforation which was identified during cystoscopy, but only required reposition of the tape without affecting patients' outcomes; 1 patient had a pelvic hematoma that evolved without sequel; 16 patients (22.22%) had urinary retention which spontaneously resolved between 2 and 60 days, except one case that required section of the mesh. 8 patients (11.11%) developed de novo bladder instability; there were 2 cases of late mesh perforation into urethra or bladder, which were solved by endoscopic mesh section; 3 patients had voiding discomfort and 1 chronic perineum pain. 70 patients (97.3%) achieved continence under stress; nevertheless only 57 patients (79.17%) were satisfied with their outcomes. Main causes for dissatisfaction were failure, de novo instability, persistence of urgency in cases of mixed incontinence, and voiding discomfort. Previous surgery and performance of associated procedures did not influence outcomes, although they were associated with longer operation times and higher incidence of urinary retention. Patients with Valsalva's leak point pressure < 60 H2O cm had slightly worse outcomes (63.5% satisfaction).

CONCLUSIONS

TVT is an easy to learn and easy to perform technique, with few complications and good results.