Is urinary tract screening necessary for patients with cerebral palsy?

Patients with cerebral palsy are prompted to seek urological evaluation when urinary tract infection, socially unacceptable incontinence or hematuria occurs. We attempted to determine the prevalence of urinary tract structural changes by prospectively screening on sonography the kidneys and bladder of 90 patients 1 to 25 years old (mean age 8 years) who had cerebral palsy with or without urological symptoms. Uncooperative patients or those who would require sedation were excluded. Of the patients 66 were incontinent and used diapers, 18 were completely dry and 6 had nocturnal enuresis with daytime dryness. Sonographic abnormalities were detected in 7 patients, including renal size discrepancy in 2 (1 with severe scoliosis and 1 with a history of renal artery thrombosis), mild to moderate hydronephrosis with thickened bladders suggestive of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in 3 and a nonvisualized kidney in 2. However, repeat sonography confirmed 2 normal kidneys in the latter patients. Thus, urinary tract abnormalities were detected unexpectedly in 2% of patients studied. This relatively low proportion suggests that routine urinary tract screening in cerebral palsy patients may not be warranted.

Urolume urethral wallstent in the treatment of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia

Neuropathic voiding dysfunction with detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) is a common complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis. Sphincterotomy has been recommended for treatment of DSD if the patient lacks the ability to do intermittent self catheterization. We report our preliminary results of the Urolume urethral wallstent for the treatment of DSD in 10 patients. The insertion technique proved simple, with a short hospital stay and low morbidity; however, its long term safety has not yet been established.

Transrectal ultrasound urodynamics

Seventy-seven male patients (34 with cervical spine injury, 32 with thoracic spine injury, 9 with lumbosacral spine injury, and 2 with multiple sclerosis) who were referred to our spinal cord injury unit for urologic evaluation had videourodynamic studies using transrectal ultrasound and fluoroscopy. All were studied twice in the same session: first with transrectal ultrasound urodynamics (TRUSU) and the second time with conventional fluoroscopic videourodynamics (VUD). The findings were compared. Efficacy of TRUSU: (1) clearly documented flow of fluid through bladder neck into posterior urethra before clinical leakage occurred per urethra; (2) allowed accurate placement of EMG needle electrodes in external urinary sphincter under visual guidance; (3) provided high-quality imaging of surrounding structures and allowed assessment of bladder neck, prostate, seminal vesicles, and posterior urethra; (4) eliminated radiation exposure to the patient and the examiner, with no time limit imposed on imaging so that repeat studies could be done to evaluate patients on new drug treatments or postoperatively at no increased risks; and (5) its availability to most urologists at their office at considerably less cost to set up than fluoroscopy. In our study TRUSU identified a hypoechoic lesion in the prostate of 1 patient and a tumor in the bladder neck of another patient. Fluoroscopic VUD identified 6 patients with bladder diverticula and 2 with grades 1 and 2 vesicoureteral reflux which TRUSU did not identify. Our experience indicates TRUSU is a valid and preferable alternative to fluoroscopic VUD for patients with spinal cord injury.

Magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots

Magnetic stimulation using an external surface coil induces an electrodynamic field that penetrates various tissues and stimulates peripheral nerves in a similar fashion to conventional electrical stimulation. An 83 mm magnetic surface coil was used to stimulate 11 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, during which time detrusor activity and evoked potentials of the striated urinary sphincter motor pathways were evaluated. All patients had urodynamic studies and conventional sacral evoked potentials prior to magnetic stimulation. The mean bladder capacity was 337 ml (range 109-590), mean leak point pressure was 50 cm H2O (range 10-80), and mean sacral reflex (afferent-efferent) latency was 37.9 ms (range 25.1-49.3). Eight patients had detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Magnetic stimulation over the sacral spine at different bladder volumes was performed. Detrusor and striated sphincter responses were recorded during stimulation. In all patients the technique was easy and the results were reproducible. The mean sacral motor pathway (efferent) latency was 27.9 ms (range 18.7-39.6). Using maximal stimulation, no detrusor response was recorded at bladder volumes < 200 ml. However, a detrusor response was recorded in 7 patients (> 10 cm H2O in 2, < 10 cm H2O in 5) when the bladder volume was > 200 ml. No complications were seen. Sacral evoked potential measurements assess the function and integrity of the sacral arc but it does not distinguish between afferent and efferent pathways. Magnetic stimulation is a safe and effective method to assess the integrity and function of the detrusor and striated sphincter motor (efferent) pathways. When combined with sacral evoked potential studies, the sensory (afferent) pathways can be evaluated indirectly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Levator hernia

We report a case of a hernia through the pelvic floor presenting as a paravaginal mass following a transvaginal fascial sling procedure. At exploration herniation through a defect in the pelvic floor was identified and repaired. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of levator hernia. The clinical and radiological findings and anatomy are presented, and treatment recommendations and etiology are discussed.