Characterization and treatment of enuresis in overactive bladder patients

OBJECTIVE

To define the types of overactive bladder (OAB) patient enuresis and study daytime bladder treatment response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, multi-center study of OAB patients with enuresis treated with anticholinergics or neuromodulation over 3 months from 2019 to 2021 was carried out. Variables achieved from the voiding calendar and PLUTSS (Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Score System), as well as enuresis-related variables, were collected. Two study groups were created -primary enuresis (PE) and secondary enuresis (SE). Partial enuretic response (PER) was defined as a >  50% reduction in baseline enuresis, and complete enuretic response (CER) as a 100% reduction. A multivariate analysis was eventually conducted to detect CER independent predictive factors.

RESULTS

152 OAB patients were included. 109 of them (71.7%) had enuresis -29 (26.7%) SE and 80 (73.3%) PE. PLUTSS score was higher in PE patients than in SE patients (20.8 vs. 17.2; p= 0.001). PER and CER were significantly higher in the SE group (55.2% vs. 15%; p= 0.000 in PER, and 48.3% vs. 5%; p= 0.000 in CER). In the multivariate analysis, SE patients demonstrated to have a 50-fold increased probability of responding to daytime bladder treatment than PE patients (OR: 49.79; 95%CI: 6.73-36.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Most OAB children have PE and not SE, which explains why enuresis does not typically respond to daytime bladder treatment. Characterizing the type of enuresis in OAB children is important to adequately approach treatment.

Pop-off mechanisms as protective factors against chronic renal disease in children with posterior urethral valves

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether pop-off mechanisms act as protective factors against chronic or end-stage renal disease in patients with posterior urethral valves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients with posterior urethral valves treated at a tertiary care children's hospital was carried out. Demographic, clinical, analytical, and radiological variables were collected. Considered as pop-off mechanisms were: unilateral high-grade vesicoureteral reflux with ipsilateral renal dysplasia and without involvement of the contralateral kidney, urinoma, prenatal urinary ascites, large bladder diverticulum, and persistent urachus. Multiple logistic regression and multivariate Cox regression were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

70 patients undergoing posterior urethral valve surgery in our institution from 2010 to August 2020 were included. 14 (20%) had pop-off mechanisms and 56 (80%) did not. Pop-off mechanisms protected against developing chronic renal disease (0% vs. 27%; p = 0.03) and could protect against the need for renal replacement therapy (0% vs. 9%; p = 0.58). Nadir creatinine values (mg/dl) were predictors for the development of chronic renal disease (0.37 vs. 0.53; p < 0.0001) and the need for renal replacement therapy (0.38 vs. 1.21; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pop-off mechanisms act as a protective factor against chronic renal disease in patients with posterior urethral valves. Nadir creatinine is a predictor of chronic renal disease and the need for renal replacement therapy. A larger sample size is needed to determine whether pop-off mechanisms protect against the need for renal replacement therapy.

Advantages of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment

INTRODUCTION

Classic treatment of pilonidal sinus is associated with a high rate of complications and a long and painful postoperative period requiring daily wound care, with a decrease in patients' quality of life. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and advantages of the endoscopic technique vs. conventional surgery of pilonidal sinus in the pediatric population.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was carried out in pediatric patients undergoing pilonidal sinus surgery at a single institution in 2019. Excision and healing by secondary intention (EHSI), excision and primary closure (EPC), and Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment (PEPSiT) were compared. The surgical technique chosen was surgeon-dependent.

RESULTS

49 patients were studied - 14 undergoing PEPSiT, 23 undergoing EHSI, and 12 undergoing EPC. Full healing process was faster in PEPSiT than in EHSI (11 weeks earlier; 95% CI: 6.2-15.9; p < 0.001). Pain on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and need for analgesics were less in the PEPSiT group (p = 0.001). Mean time to return to normal life was shorter with PEPSiT - 78 days earlier than EHSI (95% CI: 42.2-114.9; p < 0.001) and 39 days earlier than EPC (95% CI: -2.5-81.4; p = 0.06). No complications were recorded with PEPSiT, whereas complication rate with EHSI was 69.6%, and complication rate with EPC was 58.3% (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment is effective, with a short and painless postoperative period, and easy wound care. It allows for an early return to normal life without restrictions.

[Single-repair for primary proximal hypospadias. Lessons learned after 196 primary repairs]

PURPOSE

Proximal, scrotal and perineal hypospadias challenge the surgeon. After 40 years devoted to hypospadias surgery, the senior author summarizes her experience, share her tricks and shows that almost any hypospadias can be fully repaired in one surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective review and discussions of a large series of consecutive proximal hypospadias treated in one surgery by the same team from 1999 to 2016.

RESULTS

196 patients were operated. 68% of all patients were successfully repaired after the surgery. All hypospadias were treated using one of the following techniques: onlay double flap, tubularized preputial flap or mucosal grafts (only until 2005). Urethrocutaneous fistula was present in 25% of cases, but only 13% of patients needed other further surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous incisions design is fundamental in hypospadias repair. When the incisions follow the natural folds that appear in penile and scrotal skin, it's possible to obtain optimal flaps for both urethroplasty and skin coverage (even avoiding the need for mucosal grafts). Consequently, almost all kinds of hypospadias can be repaired in one surgery with very good long-term results.