A complete urinalysis includes physical, chemical, and microscopic examinations. Midstream clean collection is acceptable in most situations, but the specimen should be examined within two hours of collection. Cloudy urine often is a result of precipitated phosphate crystals in alkaline urine, but pyuria also can be the cause. A strong odor may be the result of a concentrated specimen rather than a urinary tract infection. Dipstick urinalysis is convenient, but false-positive and false-negative results can occur. Specific gravity provides a reliable assessment of the patient's hydration status. Microhematuria has a range of causes, from benign to life threatening. Glomerular, renal, and urologic causes of microhematuria often can be differentiated by other elements of the urinalysis. Although transient proteinuria typically is a benign condition, persistent proteinuria requires further work-up. Uncomplicated urinary tract infections diagnosed by positive leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests can be treated without culture. (+info)
Minimally invasive surgery.
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In 1987 Mouret performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy, starting a revolution in surgery. For paediatricians it is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of what has occurred in this short period. The development of minimal access techniques represents the most significant change in surgical practice since the introduction of aseptic technique or safe anaesthesia. As with many innovations, rapid change, technical language, and the evangelism of pioneers has left confusion in its wake. (+info)
Variations among high volume surgeons in the rate of complications after radical prostatectomy: further evidence that technique matters.
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PURPOSE: A strong association between surgeon, hospital volume and postoperative morbidity of radical prostatectomy has been demonstrated. While better outcomes are associated with high volume surgeons, the degree of variation in outcomes among surgeons has not been fully examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a linked database from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries and federal Medicare claims data, we analyzed outcomes of consecutive patients treated with radical prostatectomy between 1992 and 1996. We focused on variations in several measures of morbidity (perioperative complications, late urinary complications and long-term incontinence) among patients of high volume surgeons, defined as those with 20 or more patients in the study period. After adjusting for hospital, surgeon volume and case mix, we examined the extent to which variations in the rates of adverse outcomes differed among surgeons for all 3 end points. RESULTS: Of the 999 surgeons 16% (159) performed 48.7% (5,238) of the 10,737 radical prostatectomies during the study. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.5%, the major postoperative complication rate was 28.6%, late urinary complications 25.2% (major events 16%) and long-term incontinence 6.7%. For all 3 morbidity outcomes the variation among surgeons in the rate of complications was significantly greater than that expected by chance (p =0.001 for each) after adjustment of covariates. Furthermore, surgeons with better (or worse) than average results with regard to 1 outcome were likely to have better (or worse, respectively) results with regard to the other 2 outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity end points that directly affect quality of life showed significant variability among high volume providers. Surgeons who performed well in 1 area (eg postoperative complications) performed well in others. These results further suggest that variations in surgical technique and postoperative care lead to variations in outcomes after radical prostatectomy, indicating that outcomes of this operation are sensitive to small differences in performance. (+info)
K(ATP) channel therapeutics at the bedside.
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The family of potassium channel openers regroups drugs that share the property of activating adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels, metabolic sensors responsible for adjusting membrane potential-dependent functions to match cellular energetic demands. K(ATP) channels, widely represented in metabolically-active tissue, are heteromultimers composed of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel pore and a regulatory sulfonylurea receptor subunit, the site of action of potassium channel opening drugs that promote channel activity by antagonizing ATP-induced pore inhibition. The activity of K(ATP) channels is critical in the cardiovascular adaptive response to stress, maintenance of neuronal electrical stability, and hormonal homeostasis. Thereby, K(ATP) channel openers have a unique therapeutic spectrum, ranging from applications in myopreservation and vasodilatation in patients with heart or vascular disease to potential clinical use as bronchodilators, bladder relaxants, islet cell protector, antiepileptics and promoters of hair growth. While the current experience in practice with potassium channel openers remains limited, multitude of ongoing investigations aims at defining the benefit of this emerging family of therapeutics in diverse disease conditions associated with metabolic distress. (+info)
Quinolone-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains from phylogenetic group B2 have fewer virulence factors than their susceptible counterparts.
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The prevalence of 31 virulence factors was analyzed among nalidixic acid-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli strains from phylogenetic group B2. Hemolysin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1, and S and F1C fimbriae genes were less prevalent among nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli strains. Quinolone resistance may be associated with a decrease in the presence of some virulence factors. (+info)
Resorbable extracellular matrix grafts in urologic reconstruction.
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PURPOSE: There is an increasingly large body of literature concerning tissue-engineering products that may be used in urology. Some of these are quite complex (such as multilayer patient-specific cell-seeded implants) yet the most simple and successful products to date are also the most uncomplicated: resorbable acellular extra-cellular matrices (ECMs) harvested from animals. ECMs have been used in a variety of difficult urologic reconstruction problems, and this review is intended to summarize this complex literature for the practicing urologist. METHODS: Medline search of related terms such as "SIS, small intestinal submucosa, ECM, extracellular matrix, acellular matrix and urologic reconstruction". Manuscripts missed in the initial search were taken from the bibliographies of the primary references. RESULTS: Full review of potential clinical uses of resorbable extra-cellular matrices in urologic reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the "state of the art" in tissue engineering solutions for urologic reconstruction means resorbable acellular xenograft matrices. They show promise when used as a pubovaginal sling or extra bolstering layers in ureteral or urethral repairs, although recent problems with inflammation following 8-ply pubovaginal sling use and failures after 1- and 4-ply SIS repair of Peyronie's disease underscore the need for research before wide adoption. Preliminary data is mixed concerning the potential for ECM urethral patch graft, and more data is needed before extended uses such as bladder augmentation and ureteral replacement are contemplated. The distant future of ECMs in urology likely will include cell-seeded grafts with the eventual hope of producing "off the shelf" replacement materials. Until that day arrives, ECMs only fulfill some of the requirements for the reconstructive urologist. (+info)
Ureteral stents: morbidity and impact on quality of life.
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BACKGROUND: Stents offer a simple and effective drainage method for the upper urinary tract. However, ureteral stents are associated with frequent side effects, including irritative voiding symptoms and hematuria. OBJECTIVES: To determine the side effects associated with ureteral stents and their impact on sexual function and quality of life. METHODS: Symptom questionnaires were administered to 135 consecutive patients with unilateral ureteral stents. The questionnaire addressed irritative voiding symptoms, flank pain, hematuria, fever, loss of labor days, anxiety, sleep impairment, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, dyspareunia, painful ejaculation, and a subjective overall impact on quality of life. The items were graded from 1 (minimal or no symptoms) to 5 (maximal symptoms). The patients were seen and questionnaires filled at 2 weekly intervals following stent insertion until stent extraction. Following removal of the stent, stent patency, impaction and migration rates were determined. Admissions to hospital and ancillary procedures to retreive stents were noted. RESULTS: The findings presented refer to questionnaire items scoring 3 or more. Dysuria, urinary frequency and urgency were reported by 40%, 50% and 55% of the patients, respectively. Flank pain, gross hematuria or fever was reported by 32%, 42% and 15% respectively. Among working patients, 45% lost at least 2 labor days during the first 14 days, and 32% were still absent from work by day 30. A total of 435 labor days were lost in the first month. Anxiety and sleep disturbance were reported by 24% and 20% respectively, and 45% of patients reported impairment in their quality of life. Decreased libido was reported by 45%, and sexual dysfunction by 42% of men and 86% of women. Stent removal necessitated ureteroscpoy in 14 patients (10.5%), due to upward migration in 11 (8.2%) and incrustration and impaction in 3. Spontaneous stent expulsion occurred in one patient. Forty-six stents (34%) were obstructed at the time of removal. Obstructed stents were associated with a longer mean dwell time as compared to the whole population, 75 versus 62 days respectively (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral stents are associated with frequent side effects and significant impact on patient quality of life. Our findings should be considered when deciding on ureteral stent insertion and dwell time. (+info)
Early diagnosis of the urofacial syndrome is essential to prevent irreversible renal failure.
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INTRODUCTION: The urofacial or Ochoa syndrome is a rare disease characterized by the presence of functional obstructive uropathy associated with peculiar facial features when patients attempt to smile or laugh. Unfortunately, many of these patients remain without proper diagnosis or adequate treatment due to lack of recognition of the disease. This can ultimately result in upper tract deterioration and eventual renal failure. We present our experience with this rare syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 3 patients who presented initially with acute renal failure, urinary tract infection (UTI) and severe dysfunctional elimination. All patients were thoroughly evaluated, including screening for spinal cord anomalies, and were subsequently diagnosed with urofacial syndrome. RESULTS: At the outset, the two older patients (aged 4 and 9 years) presented with the typical facial features when attempting to smile or laugh. One patient in the newborn period presented with urinary and fecal retention and septicemia and, to our knowledge, represents the youngest case of urofacial syndrome reported so far. All patients were evaluated with ultrasonography, renal scan, voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) and urodynamics. Findings included hydronephrosis and a thick-walled, trabeculated bladder with poor compliance and detrusor hypereflexia respectively in each patient. All were subsequently treated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), antibiotic prophylaxis and anticholinergic therapy. One patient required appendicovesicostomy for CIC due to discomfort secondary to a sensate urethra. CONCLUSIONS: Our series demonstrates that early recognition of this rare syndrome is necessary to adequately treat and prevent upper tract deterioration in these unique individuals. Although the urofacial is difficult to diagnose in infants, cognizance must be maintained in order to prevent severe subsequent sequalae. (+info)