[Choice of medical treatment for renal colic: A survey of Chinese urologists]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the status quo of recognition and management of renal colic among urological surgeons in China.

METHODS

From November 2021 to March 2022, 725 urological surgeons in China were surveyed in the form of a questionnaire, including their province, hospital grade, professional title, the number of patients with renal colic treated per week, the preferred drugs and the cognition of the disease. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital, and all respondents completed informed consent online.

RESULTS

During November 2021 and March 2022, urological surgeons across China were surveyed in the form of a questionnaire, and the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were verified before the study was carried out. In the study, 720 valid questionnaires were collected (accounting for 99.31% of the total number), in which 42.4% of the doctors' preferred drugs were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and 40.0% of the doctors' preferred antispasmodic drugs. Opioids were the first choice of 11.0% of the physicians and other treatments were preferred by 6.6% of physicians. In addition, 61.1% of the doctors thought that the mechanism of renal colic was elevated prostaglandin, 32.2% thought it was ureteral spasm, 5.0% thought it was calculi irritation, and 1.7% thought the mechanism was unclear. The doctor of the cognition of the generation mechanism of renal colic pain had a significant influence on the preferred treatment option (χ2=54.399, P < 0.001) that the "elevated prostaglandins" doctor more often preferred NSAIDs than the doctor who thought cramps and ureter stones caused renal colic (51.6% vs. 28.0%, χ2=34.356, P < 0.001;51.6% vs. 19.4%, χ2=13.759, P < 0.001). In addition, hospital class, physician title, and the number of weekly consultations by physicians influenced the choice of medications for renal colic (P < 0.05), tertiary hospitals, middle and senior professional titles and weekly patients with renal colic > 8 cases generally preferred NSAIDs.

CONCLUSION

There are deficiencies in the cognition and drug treatment of renal colic among urological surgeons in China. The choice of the preferred drug was related to the doctor's cognition of the disease, the grade of the hospital, the doctor's professional title and the weekly treatment volume.

[Effects of delayed ureteral stents removal during the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life and psychological status of postoperative patients with urinary calculi]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impacts of delayed ureteral stent removal on the quality of life (QoL) and mental health of urinary calculi postoperative patients due to the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

The demographic and clinical data of patients with ureteral stent placement after urinary endoscopic lithotripsy and returned to Peking University People's Hospital for stent removal from December 2019 to June 2020 were collected. Ureteral stent symptoms questionnaire (USSQ) score and the outcome 20-item self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were collected to estimate the QoL and mental status. The USSQ consisted of 44 questions in 6 domains (including urinary symptom, physical pain, general health, work performance, sexual function, and ureteral stent related infection). For most questions in each domain, its score was a five-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 5, and a small proportion of questions was quantified by 1 to 4 or 1 to 7 scale. SAS and SDS both contained 20 questions used to assess a patient's level of anxiety and depression. Its scoring for each item was on a four-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 4. A total score (ranging from 20 to 80) was the main statistical indicator. The level of clinical anxiety and depression was quantified by using standard scores (total score multiplied by 1.25 to produce integers). And the multi-group structural equation model was constructed by analysis of moment structure (AMOS) analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 71 patients were enrolled for analysis. It was found that the median duration of ureteral stent time differed significantly between the control and delayed groups for 32 (30, 33) d and 94.5 (88, 103) d, respectively. The delayed group resulted in higher scores in the USSQ multidimensional, which included urinary symptoms, general health, work performance and ureteral stent related infections. Anxiety and depression were also significantly serious in the delayed group than in the control group. A longer indwelling time of a ureteral stent could exacerbate the effects of urinary symptoms and physical pain on work performance (P=0.029 < 0.05). Among them, the patients with severe urinary symptoms leading to poor work performance were most significantly affected by prolonged ureteral stent duration time (CR=2.619>1.96).

CONCLUSION

Patients with delayed ureteral stent removal due to the COVID-19 had resulted in worse QoL and mental status. Stents related symptoms are more severe in patients with higher anxiety and depression degree during COVID-19. To improve the QoL and mental health of patients after urinary calculi surgery during COVID-19, it is still not recommended to prolong the stent duration time or corresponding intervention measures should be taken.

[Initial clinical experience and follow-up outcomes of treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture with Allium coated metal ureteral stent]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the initial clinical experience and follow-up results of the treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy with Allium coated metal ureteral stent.

METHODS

From September 2018 to September 2019, 8 patients with ureteroileal anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy underwent Allium ureteral stent insertion in Peking University People's Hospital and People's Hospital of Daxing District. The preoperative renal pelvis width under ultrasound was collected to evaluate the postoperative hydronephrosis, creatinine and urea nitrogen (BUN) before and after surgery, perioperative infection, and stent-related complications. The serum creatinine and BUN, renal pelvis width under ultrasound, urography and abdominal plain film (KUB) were reviewed at the end of 1, 3, and 6 months and annually postoperatively to observe the stent position and morphology. The long-term stent patency rate, complication rate, renal function and hydronephrosis were followed up and analyzed. The t-test or rank-sum test was used to compare the measurement data of the matched sample from the preoperative to the last follow-up.

RESULTS

In the study, 6 cases (7 sides) were ureteral ileal conduit stricture, and 2 cases (3 sides) ureteral orthotopic neobladder stricture. Before surgery, 5 patients underwent long-term indwelling of a single J ureteral stent, with an average indwelling time of (20.6±8.8) months and an average replacement frequency of (3.6±1.3) months/time. The mean width of renal pelvis was (26.5±9.1) mm on preoperative renal ultrasonography. Among them, 6 patients were successfully indwelled with Allium coated metal ureteral stent by retrograde approach, and 2 patients by combination of double-endoscopy and ante-retrograde approach. No surgery-related complications during perioperative period were observed. The mean follow-up period was 9.8 months and Allium stent and ureter remained unobstructed in all the patients at the last follow-up without replacement or removal. Compared with preoperative data, the mean width of renal pelvis and mean blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the last follow-up period were significantly reduced [(26.5±9.1) mm vs. (13.4±2.5) mm, P=0.008; (11.6±2.3) mmol/L vs. (10.2±2.2) mmol/L, P=0.017], however, there were no significant differences in the average serum creatinine or hemoglobin (P>0.05). Ureteroileal anastomotic re-stricture and other stent-related complications were not observed in all the patients by antegrade urography.

CONCLUSION

Allium coated metal ureteral stent could be used for the treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture, which could maintain relatively long-term patency rate and protect renal function. The indwelling time was longer and it could improve quality of life of patients.

[Primary development of visual uroflow scale]

OBJECTIVE

To develop the visual uroflow scale (VUS), analyze the relationship of VUS score and index of free uroflowmetry, assess urination function preliminarily and improve the work efficiency in the clinic.

METHODS

Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) patients, who attended the Department of Urology in Peking University People's Hospital from March 2016 to March 2017, were assessed for their urination function according to the Visual Uroflow Scale without help from clinicians before undertaking a free uroflowmetry test. And afterwards, a free uroflowmetry was undertaken, and variables including maximal flow rate (Qmax), the average flow rate (Qave) and voiding volume (VV) was obtained. During the study, 124 cases were collected and 53 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the study cohort. The Spearman correlation analysis was used for analyzing the correlation of VUS scores with free uroflowmetry variables and age. The validity of VUS was evaluated.

RESULTS

Most of the patients could choose the very figure matched with self-condition by first instinct without any help from the clinician. The data were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. In the present study, voiding time was positively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient, 0.62, P < 0.05). In the present cohort, the patients chose the third and fourth figures to take longer time to urinate, implying worse LUTS situation. Flow time and VUS scores were positively correlated (correlation coefficient, 0.61, P < 0.05). The patients with higher VUS scores would spend more time on urinate, no matter how long urinary hesitation was. Both Qmax and Qave were negatively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient －0.54, －0.62, P < 0.05). The study illustrated that the VUS score suggested that the Qmax basically and further reflected the urination function. And its relationship to age revealed the decreased urination function of aging male, which had reached a consensus.

CONCLUSION

Development of VUS has helped the clinician assess the urination function preliminarily at the first time. Patients are assessed for a VUS score before getting surgery or receiving the drug for treatment, and can be re-assessed after. The VUS score can provide an objective quantitative basis to evaluate the treatment efficacy. In addition, considering that it is convenient, timesaving and easy to understand, the VUS is available for follow-up.

[Initial clinical experience and follow-up outcomes of treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture with Allium coated metal ureteral stent]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the initial clinical experience and follow-up results of the treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy with Allium coated metal ureteral stent.

METHODS

From September 2018 to September 2019, 8 patients with ureteroileal anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy underwent Allium ureteral stent insertion in Peking University People's Hospital and People's Hospital of Daxing District. The preoperative renal pelvis width under ultrasound was collected to evaluate the postoperative hydronephrosis, creatinine and urea nitrogen (BUN) before and after surgery, perioperative infection, and stent-related complications. The serum creatinine and BUN, renal pelvis width under ultrasound, urography and abdominal plain film (KUB) were reviewed at the end of 1, 3, and 6 months and annually postoperatively to observe the stent position and morphology. The long-term stent patency rate, complication rate, renal function and hydronephrosis were followed up and analyzed. The t-test or rank-sum test was used to compare the measurement data of the matched sample from the preoperative to the last follow-up.

RESULTS

In the study, 6 cases (7 sides) were ureteral ileal conduit stricture, and 2 cases (3 sides) ureteral orthotopic neobladder stricture. Before surgery, 5 patients underwent long-term indwelling of a single J ureteral stent, with an average indwelling time of (20.6±8.8) months and an average replacement frequency of (3.6±1.3) months/time. The mean width of renal pelvis was (26.5±9.1) mm on preoperative renal ultrasonography. Among them, 6 patients were successfully indwelled with Allium coated metal ureteral stent by retrograde approach, and 2 patients by combination of double-endoscopy and ante-retrograde approach. No surgery-related complications during perioperative period were observed. The mean follow-up period was 9.8 months and Allium stent and ureter remained unobstructed in all the patients at the last follow-up without replacement or removal. Compared with preoperative data, the mean width of renal pelvis and mean blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the last follow-up period were significantly reduced [(26.5±9.1) mm vs. (13.4±2.5) mm, P=0.008; (11.6±2.3) mmol/L vs. (10.2±2.2) mmol/L, P=0.017], however, there were no significant differences in the average serum creatinine or hemoglobin (P>0.05). Ureteroileal anastomotic re-stricture and other stent-related complications were not observed in all the patients by antegrade urography.

CONCLUSION

Allium coated metal ureteral stent could be used for the treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic stricture, which could maintain relatively long-term patency rate and protect renal function. The indwelling time was longer and it could improve quality of life of patients.

[Outcome of surgical management and pathogenesis of female primary bladder neck obstruction]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of transurethral resection of bladder neck on primary female bladder neck obstruction and to analyze the expression of three kinds of sex hormone receptor (SR) in female bladder neck tissues diagnosed as primary bladder neck obstruction by the immunochemistry and statistics.

METHODS

The clinical data of 40 female patients, admitted into Peking University People's Hospital for difficulty of voiding during Oct.2008 and Dec.2013 and eventually diagnosed as bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by urodynamics, were retrospectively reviewed. BOO was defined as a maximum flow rate (Q_max) less than 12 mL/s together with a detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (Pdet Q_max) more than 25 cmH₂O in urodynamic study in the absence of neurological disorders. Diagnosis was confirmed by the cystoscopy. Preoperative and postoperative AUASS scores were recorded and analyzed for observation of curative effects and complications. The immunochemical expression of SR of primary female bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) tissues and normal control was examined and applied to statistical analysis.

RESULTS

There were significant changes postoperatively in voiding scores, storage scores and total scores (P<0.001). Postoperatively, 1 patient newly presented with overactive bladder (OAB), 4 patients newly presented with hematuria, and 1 patient underwent cystostomy. The symptoms of urinary retention with overflow incontinence in 2 patients disappeared after the surgery, and 3 patients complicated with OAB complained without urgency. In addition, pre-hydronephrosis improved postoperatively in six patients. The subjective satisfactory rate to the surgery of TURBN was 77.5% (31/40). Sex hormone receptor, including androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), expressed in both bladder neck tissues of normal control and PBNO patients. In PBNO group, the expression of PR was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05), while the other 2 SRs expressed with no significantly statistical difference. PBNO patients were divided into 2 groups, according to their symptoms scores, and the expression of SRs showed no significant differences among the mild, moderate and severe groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The transurethral bladder neck resection is valid in treating with female PBNO patients, with rarely occurrence of complications. PR expressed less in the female bladder neck tissues, and is possibly correlated with the occurrence of female PBNO.

[Urodynamic classification of male patients with symptoms of overactive bladder and the outcome classification]

OBJECTIVE

To introduce a urodynamic classification of male patients with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) and discuss its clinical significance in practice.

METHODS

From January 2015 to January 2017, there were 181 male patients from Peking University People's Hospital who were diagnosed clinically with OAB and underwent preoperative urodynamic test. Finally 126 male patients were enrolled in the research. Male OAB patients could be stratified into four groups based on the chief complaints (whether or not presenting urgency) and the results of urodynamic test (whether or not presenting detrusor overactivity and the ability to stop the involuntary contraction). The contents of this follow-up study included the basic information, the preoperative and postoperative scores of the OAB symptom score (OABSS), the preoperative and postoperative scores of the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), and the amount of the concomitant diseases.

RESULTS

According to the classification, the amounts of the four types of OAB patients were 32 (25.40%) for type I, 27 (21.43%) for type II, 59 (46.83%) for type III, and 8 (6.35%) for type IV, respectively. The data of their heights showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). The ages, weights and the amount of the concomitant diseases of type IV were obviously higher than those of the other three types (P<0.05). And the ages, weights and the amount of the concomitant diseases of the other three types had shown no statistical significance (P>0.05). The improvement of the OABSS and IPSS scores of the type IV were obviously inferior to the other three types (P<0.05). The improvements of the OABSS and IPSS scores of type III were obviously higher than those of the other three (P<0.05). The discrepancy of the OABSS and IPSS scores of type I and type II had shown no statistical significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Type IV has the worst outcome and type III has the best among the four types of OAB. And this classification system will certainly have a profound significance in guiding and directing our clinical diagnosis and treatments, and evaluating the prognosis of the patients with OAB.

[Analysis of urodynamic study of female outpatients with lower urinary tract symptoms and follow-up of the patients with detrusor underactive]

OBJECTIVE

To find out the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and analyze the characteristics of the urodynamics diagnosis in female outpatients. To study the natural history of detrusor underactive (DU) by the followed up.

METHODS

A retrospective study of the female LUTS outpatients in Peking University People's Hospital from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2015 was performed. The basic information and the urodynamic results of a total of 656 female outpatients were collected. The distribution of storage symptoms, voiding symptoms, complications and urodynamic diagnosis were analyzed. The symptoms and urodynamic results were compared among the groups, which were divided according to age, urodynamic diagnosis and diabetes mellitus. A follow-up of 163 female DU outpatients was performed, including the treatments and the American Urological Association symptoms scores (AUAss).

RESULTS

Frequency (25.03%) is the most common symptom in female outpatients, followed by stress urinary incontinence (20.04%), urgency (19.97%), and difficulty of voiding (17.32%). Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) accounted for the first (36.04%) of the whole outpatients, followed by the DU (24.08%), and bladder outlet obstruction (17.58%). The patients aged 51-60 years occupied the peak of almost all the diagnosis. There was a higher proportion of the young female patients than that of the middle and old patients diagnosed with no abnormal after the urodynamic study. The first, strong, urge and maximum bladder capacity were significantly larger in DU patients with diabetes than without diabetes. Follow-up results of the DU patients showed there was no significantly difference of the AUAss scores in both the two groups before and after the follow-up, but the quality of life decreased significantly.

CONCLUSION

Female LUTS outpatients showed a main complaint of storage symptoms. SUI ranked the first in female patients with LUTS. With the increase of age, bladder sensation and detrusor function decrease. In elderly patients, DU became the first ranked disease instead of SUI. Diabetes can affect the sensory function of bladder in patients with DU, and then increase the difficulty of voiding. The patients with DU, absent from treatment, experienced a lower quality of life.

[Long-term follow-up of the efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape and trans-obturator tape for different types of stress urinary incontinence]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)and trans-obturator tape (TOT)for different types of female stress urinary incontinence (FSUI).

METHODS

The clinical data of all female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who underwent mid-urethral slings (MUS) in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2008 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, and all the patients were followed up. Based on the level of abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP), the patients with ALPP lower than or equal to 60 cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O=0.74 mmHg) were regarded as intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) type, and the patients with ALPP higher than 60 cmH₂O were regarded as non-ISD type. According to the degree of remission of leakage of urine by using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF), the surgical outcomes were divided into three categories: cured, improved or failed. The efficacy of TVT and TOT for different types of FSUI was evaluated by comparing the cure rate of TVT with the cure rate of TOT in ISD type and non-ISD type separately.

RESULTS

A total of 170 patients were included in this study. The patients were among 30-78 years, and the follow-up period were among 12-110 months. In the study, 117 patients belonged to non-ISD type. Of whom 30 underwent TVT with a cure rate of 86.7% (26/30), and the other 87 underwent TOT with a cure rate of 69.0% (60/87). The cure rate of TVT was higher than that of TOT in non-ISD type, however, Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference (χ²=3.589, P>0.05). In addition, 53 patients belonged to ISD type, of whom 16 underwent TVT with a cure rate of 87.5% (14/16), and the other 37 underwent TOT with a cure rate of 51.4% (19/37). The cure rate of TVT was higher than that of TOT in ISD type, and Chi-square test showed that the difference was statistically significant (χ²=6.212, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

For the treatment of FSUI, MUS can achieve satisfactory long-term efficacy. For non-ISD type, the cure rates of TVT and TOT are similar, while for ISD type, the cure rate of TVT is higher than that of TOT.

[Comparison of effectiveness and complications between two different methods of augmentation cystoplasty]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness and complications between enterocystoplasty and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cystoplasty through follow-ups of patients with augmentation cystoplasty in Peking University People's Hospital, offering alternative approach for future treatment.

METHODS

In this study, retrospective analyses were carried out in 10 patients who underwent enterocystoplasty or SIS cystoplasty in Peking University People's Hospital from November 2011 to December 2016. Clinical data were collected including medical history, surgical procedures, laboratory examinations and complications. And then regular follow-ups were developed. Ten patients were separated into groups of enterocystoplasty (n=6) and SIS cystoplasty (n=4), to compare their outcomes.

RESULTS

Ten patients all completed the follow-up interview. Five cases underwent augmentation cystoplasty with sigmoid colon, one with ileum and four with SIS cystoplasty successfully. The mean operative time was (302.0±66.6) min, and blood loss was (167.0±135.0) mL. The outcomes of the group of SIS cystoplasty were better in respects of the time of operation, intestinal function recovery, postoperative hospitalization duration and drainage removal. The average scores of American Urological Association symptom score (AUASS), overactive bladder syndrome score (OABSS), International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF), and O'Leary-Sant Questionnaire were all improved in two groups. Two cases carried clean intermittent self catheterazion and two used long-term indwelling catheter. There were three patients with dilations of renal pelvises and ureters consistently or during bladder was filling preoperatively, and the situations were not going bad after the operations. The short-term complications included two cases of postoperative infection, one case of mild intestinal obstruction and one case of metabolic acidosis. The long-term complications included one case of ureteroinstestinal anastomosis strictures, three of urinary tract infection and one of long-term metabolic acidosis.

CONCLUSION

Enterocystoplasty and SIS cystoplasty are both effective operations to improve symptoms and protect upper urinary function, with no severe complications. Cystoscopic results showed satisfactory mucosa regeneration after SIS cystoplaty in refractory interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. But the number of patients included were quite small and the follow-up period was not long enough. Prospective control study of larger number of patients with longer follow-ups are expected to find out the effectiveness and safety of SIS cystoplasty.