Biomedical subjects

Albaha Z Barqawi

Publications and source records attributed to Albaha Z Barqawi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Role of laparoscopy in patients with previous negative exploration for impalpable testis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of laparoscopy in the treatment of patients with previous negative inguinal exploration for impalpable undescended testes. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent laparoscopy after prior incomplete or "questionable" negative inguinal explorations for nonpalpable undescended testes. RESULTS: Twenty-seven males aged 1 to 22 years old, with 30 impalpable testes, underwent laparoscopy after prior negative open exploration. The operative notes were available for all patients. In 9 patients (33%), blind-ending spermatic vessels, vas deferens, and a closed ring were found. However, in the remaining 18 patients (67%), viable intra-abdominal or inguinal gonads (9 patients) and intra-abdominal remnants (9 patients) were identified. In 1 patient, seminoma of an intra-abdominal testis was present. CONCLUSIONS: When a patient is referred with an inconclusive previous open exploration for an impalpable gonad, laparoscopy has an important role in establishing or refuting the diagnosis of an absent testis. Moreover, therapeutic laparoscopy provides definitive options to standard open techniques when a viable testis or remnant is encountered. In this study, laparoscopy proved more accurate than open exploration with operative notes available defining the nature of the exploration.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Apoptosis: its importance in spermatogenic dysfunction.

Apoptosis, spontaneous programmed cell death, has recently generated great interest in several areas of investigation, including infertility. Selective sperm cell death also seems to be a component of normal spermatogenesis. A better understanding of this process may lead to the development of new strategies to treat intrinsic testicular failure.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2002

Surgical management of the neuropathic bladder.

In a simplified view, the "normal" bladder, through a multifaceted neuromuscular event, allows the basic functions of urinary storage and emptying. More specifically, the urinary bladder accommodates increasing urinary volume with little to no increase in vesicular pressure while maintaining continence. The normal act of emptying integrates the relaxation of the urinary sphincters (external and internal) with the subsequent bladder contraction to void to completion when full. There are a multitude of conditions, both congenital and acquired, that can affect the bladder's ability to perform these functions in a smooth and coordinated fashion. The most common causes of pediatric bladder dysfunction necessitating surgical intervention are those associated with spina bifida/myelodysplasia, posterior urethral valves, and bladder exstrophy. Over the last 2 decades, the evolution of complex reconstruction for lower urinary tract dysfunction has resulted in an improved quality of life for children afflicted with upper urinary tract changes or incontinence despite maximum utilization of nonoperative therapies. Because each patient represents a unique therapeutic entity, an individualized approach to each child is recommended.

Bladder Exstrophy↗

PubMed2002

A randomized outcomes trial of ureteral stents for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of solitary kidney or proximal ureteral stones.

PURPOSE: Routine use of ureteral stents before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of kidney stones between 10 and 20 mm. is controversial. We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial to evaluate the outcome of ureteral stents for treating solitary kidney stones between 10 and 20 mm. or solitary proximal ureteral stones less than 20 mm. with shock wave lithotripsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 97 patients who met the aforementioned criteria were randomized between March 1994 to July 1997 into group 1-no stent, group 2-a 4.7Fr multi-length stent and group 3-a 7Fr multi-length stent. The patients were treated with the Dornier HM3 lithotriptor (Dornier Medical Systems, Inc., Marietta, Georgia) and monitored for stone-free rate, number of days lost from work, number of patients requiring rehospitalization, emergency room visits, irritative voiding symptom score and pain symptom score. RESULTS: Objective outcome was obtained from 91 patients based on a followup of at least 3 months. The overall stone-free rate was 80%, with a re-treatment rate of 7%. The number of days lost from work was approximately 2, with no significant differences among individual groups or subgroups. The hospitalization rate and number of emergency room visits in group 1 (22%) were statistically higher compared to groups 2 (7%) and 3 (7%). The irritative voiding symptom score was statistically higher in the stented groups 2 and 3 compared to the nonstented group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Although ureteral stents are associated with more irritative symptoms, their use resulted in fewer hospital readmissions and emergency room visits compared to when no stent was used to treat solitary kidney stones of 10 to 20 mm. or solitary proximal ureteral stones less than 20 mm. Size 4.7Fr stents may be preferable over 7Fr stents when used in conjunction with shock wave lithotripsy.

Adult↗