Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Montagnino.
The LoFric catheter is a hydrophilic, nonlatex plastic catheter for use in adults and children. Immersing the catheter in water produces a slippery, protective coating on the catheter. This protective coating prevents trauma to the mucosal surface. Because of its slippery surface even patients who have difficulty using a conventional catheter are usually able to use a LoFric catheter.
PURPOSE: We explored the psychological adjustment of children with bladder or cloacal exstrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 29 subjects with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 7.8 +/- 3.97 years using age appropriate standard psychological instruments. Psychological adjustment scores in the exstrophy group were compared to the norms of the various instruments. Subjects were divided into dichotomous groups according to several medical and demographic factors. For each factor the differences between the means of the 2 groups on the outcome variables were calculated using a t test. RESULTS: Children with exstrophy perceived their appearance more positively than the norm. Older children performed more poorly than younger children in adaptive behavior, specifically in skills related to functioning in school. Children who achieved continence after age 4 years were more likely to have problems with acting out behavior. There were no differences in adjustment in boys versus girls, bladder versus cloacal exstrophy, type of continence strategy or gender reassignment versus no reassignment. CONCLUSIONS: Children with exstrophy did not have clinical psychopathology. Differences existed in adaptive and acting out behavior rather than depression or anxiety, suggesting that improved outcomes may be achieved through a focus on normal adaptation rather than on potential psychological distress.
Posterior urethral valves are a congenital defect affecting the prostatic urethra. They may be the most common cause of obstructive uropathy leading to childhood renal failure. Patients exhibit a broad spectrum of symptomatology and pathology that are determined by the degree and duration of obstruction, the presence or absence of urinary infection, and the extent of renal dysplasia. With early detection and proper treatment, which may include renal transplantation, the outlook for these children has improved significantly.