Long-term effects of combination treatment comprising low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy and tadalafil for patients with erectile dysfunction: a retrospective study

This study retrospectively examined the effects of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy and tadalafil on erectile dysfunction patients. 116 patients got low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy twice weekly for 3 weeks, 5 mg of tadalafil daily for 3 weeks, and adjuvant therapy for 6 months. Group A (1 year), Group B (2 years), Group C (3 years), and Group D (4+ years) were treated patients' follow-up groups. The patients' International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores were gathered at the start of treatment via face-to-face interviews and at the end of follow-ups by telephone conversations. IIEF-5 scores and the minimal clinically significant differences were the main outcomes. Mean follow-up length, age, and IIEF-5 scores of the patients were 2 ± 1.16 years, 47.34 ± 12.65 years, and 12.09 ± 3.66 points, respectively. Compared to baseline, treatment increased the median IIEF-5 scores of patients in groups A, B, C, and D by 7 [3-12], 6 [0-8], 7 [1-9], and 6.5 [2.5-10] points, respectively (p = 0.001). 71%, 63%, 65.8%, and 65% of treated patients in groups A, B, C, and D met the minimal clinically significant differences criteria (n = 77). Mild disease patients were 9.14 times more likely to respond to treatment than severe illness patients (OR, 9.14; 95% CI, 1.28-65.46; P = 0.02). Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy and 5 mg of tadalafil can treat erectile dysfunction for up to 4 years with sustained outcomes. This treatment is optimal for mild illnesses.

The effects of laparoscopic urologic surgery on cardiac functions: A pulse wave velocity study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of laparoscopic urologic surgery on cardiac functions by the parameter pulse wave velocity (PWV), a noninvasive method.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between July 2012 and February 2013, a total of 47 patients were included in this prospective controlled study. Patients who have been scheduled for laparoscopic surgery (LS) (n=30) and open surgery (n=17) were enrolled in the study. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative cardiovascular parameters were measured by a PWV instrument, and the results were compared between laparoscopic (L) group and open (C) group.

RESULTS

In the L group, compared to preoperative values, perioperative systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, and mean arterial pressure increased considerably, by 2.6%, 7.9%, and 4.7%, respectively. This was in contrary to reductions in these parameters by 9.5%, 5.7%, and 10%, respectively, in the C group. For the L group, cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) were increased in the perioperative period and decreased in the postoperative period. For the C group, there were no changes in measurements of perioperative and postoperative CO and CI. However, these changes in CO and CI were not significantly different between the L and C groups. Postoperative large artery elasticity index decreased in both groups. However, these changes did not represent significant difference between groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared to open surgery, LS may cause increases in perioperative blood pressures. In addition, increased blood pressures may last even on the first postoperative day. These effects may be more important for patients with high cardiovascular risk.

The Predictive Role of Abdominal Fat Parameters and Stone Density on SWL Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to detect the role of radiological abdominal fat parameters by tomography and stone density by plain X-ray on extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) stone-free rate.

METHODS

The patients who had undergone SWL for a single opaque renal stone < 2 cm in diameter and proximal ureteric stone < 1 cm in diameter were collected retrospectively. The characteristics of patients and stones were recorded. The stone attitude, HU, abdominal fat parameters, paraperirenal fat area, perirenal infiltration and severity of hydronephrosis with pre-treatment Non- Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) and stone density with radiography were evaluated by a radiologist. Four weeks after the last SWL; all patients were evaluated by plain X-ray and categorized as Stone Free (SF) and Residual Fragment (RF) group.

RESULTS

51 patients with renal stones and 88 patients with proximal ureteral stones were included in the study. 24 (47%) and 63 (71%) patients were classified as SFfor renal and ureteral stones respectively. Only stone size was an independent predictor for stone-free rates after SWL for renal and proximal ureteral stones on multivariate analysis. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for renal calculi revealed that creatinine level, stone size, stone attitude, Houns-Field Unit (HU) and Skin-to-Stone Distance (SSD) were the predictive factors for the SWL outcome (p< 0.05). The ROC curve for ureteral calculi demonstrated that HU, stone size and attitude were the predictive factors (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

All abdominal fat parameters and the stone density were not related to SWL failure. A large follow-up with more patients is essential to confirm the role of radiological parameters on the outcome of SWL.

YouTube as a source of premature ejaculation

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the quality of information in You Tube videos pertaining to premature ejaculation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search for "premature ejaculation" (PE) was performed on You Tube in August 2018. Two senior urologist viewers watched and categorized each video for their sources, suggestions and information contents (excellent, fair or poor).

RESULTS

Of the three hundred videos viewed on You Tube, 155 videos were included and analyzed. Mean video length (mean±standard deviation) was 3.08±2.02min. The information content was excellent only in 17 (10.9%) of all videos while for a majority of them it was poor (57.4% n=89). Fair videos constituted 31.7% (n=49) of the videos. There was no relation between the trustworthiness of the videos' contents and either their viewings or ratings (p=0.561, p=0.0966, respectively). Videos uploaded by health professionals were more reliable than those uploaded by laypersons (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that although some videos, especially those uploaded by healthcare professionals, are useful; the majority of them have misleading information. Therefore, they are not a reliable source of PE information for patients. It is incumbent on urologists to counsel patients for other available useful internet information sources on PE.

Unfavorable anatomical factors influencing the success of retrograde intrarenal surgery for lower pole renal calculi

PURPOSE

To determine the unfavorable factors, related to lower pole anatomical characteristics (LPACs), influencing the success of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for lower pole renal calculi (LPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the data of 36 patients who underwent RIRS for LPC between October 2012 and October 2013. The infundibulopelvic angle (IPA), infundibular length (IL) and infundibular width (IW) were measured on preoperative intravenous urographies. On follow-up stone-free status was defined as complete clearance at the first month kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray and computed tomography if necessary.

RESULTS

The median stone size was 10 mm (range, 5-35). The stone-free rates according to LPACs at the first month follow-up were 100% (n = 17), 57.9% (n = 11), 90% (n = 18), 62.5% (n = 10), 90.5% (n = 19) and 60% (n = 9) for patients with IPA ≥ 70°, IPA < 70º, IL < 3 cm, IL ≥ 3 cm, IW ≥ 5 mm and IW < 5 mm, respectively. While IPA and IW were associated with success of RIRS for LPC in multivariate analysis (P = .003 and P = .046, respectively), only IW was found to be a significant factor after applying multivariate analysis (P = .05).

CONCLUSION

The results of our study demonstrated that only IW had a significant effect on the success rate of RIRS for LPC.

Comparison of patient satisfaction rates for the malleable and two piece-inflatable penile prostheses

OBJECTIVE

To compare patient/partner satisfaction with AMS 600-650 and AMS Ambicore penile implants (American Medical Systems, Minneapolis, USA) in patients with erectile dysfunction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The modified Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaires at six months after implantation of 46 patients who underwent AMS 600-650 (n=23) or Ambicore placement (n=23) between 1/1/2008 and 1/1/2013 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The percentages of patients with AMS 600-650 who reported to be satisfied, very satisfied and neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their prostheses were 34.78% (n=8), 30.43% (n=7) and 34.78% (n=8), respectively. For patients with AMS Ambicore, these percentages were 73.91% (n=17), 13.04% (n=3) and 13.04% (n=3), respectively. These overall satisfaction rates were significantly different between patients with AMS 600-650 and Ambicore (p=0.013). For patients with AMS 600-650, the percentages of patients who reported to be very likely, neither likely nor unlikely, or very unlikely to continue using their prosthesis were 30.43% (n=7), 34.78% (n=8), and 34.78% (n=8) while for patients with AMS Ambicore, these percentages were 65.21%, 21.33%, and 13.04%, respectively. These percentages were different between patients with AMS 600-650 and Ambicore (p=0.018).

CONCLUSION

The two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis was found to be more successful in overall satisfaction and more likely for continued use when compared to the malleable penile prosthesis.