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Biomedical subjects

G W Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to G W Kaplan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urethral healing in rabbits.

We studied urethral healing in New Zealand white rabbits by histological examination after insult (urethral catheter) or injury (urethrotomy) specifically for acute and chronic inflammation, fibrosis, fistulas, squamous metaplasia, foreign body giant cells and urethral dilatation. Urethral catheterization resulted in increased inflammation and fibrosis compared to noncatheterized animals. Skin closure techniques and materials resulted in an inflammatory response that may extend to and involve the urethra. Minor differences in suture size were not an important variable but the persistence of suture material may have a role in the degree of inflammation and the formation of foreign body giant cells. Transepithelial closure techniques drag epithelial cells into subcutaneous tissues and may predispose to fistula formation.

Animals

Ischemic necrosis: a hypothesis to explain the pathogenesis of spontaneously ruptured enterocystoplasty.

Spontaneous enterocystoplasty rupture represents a devastating and potentially fatal late complication. Previously proposed mechanisms of rupture include catheter trauma, chronic infection, avulsion of adhesions between the bowel patch and peritoneum, and chronic overdistension with elevated intravesical pressures. We have witnessed this complication 4 times in 3 patients 5 weeks to 46 months postoperatively. Tissue specimens from 3 episodes in 2 patients with detubularized sigmoid enterocystoplasties were available for histological examination. All patients had a neurogenic bladder from myelomeningocele, all had an AMS800 artificial urinary sphincter and all had a documented history of chronic distension from inadequate emptying of the augmented bladder. At exploration, all of the ruptures were found within the bowel segment near the bladder apex in an area remote from the anastomotic line. In each case tissue specimens from the rupture site showed marked vascular congestion, intramural hemorrhage, abundant hemosiderin laden macrophages, myofiber atrophy and intravascular thrombi. These features are interpreted to reflect the sequelae of vascular compromise and ischemia. We propose that enterocystoplasty rupture results from ischemia, possibly due to chronic overdistension and subsequent vascular compromise. This mechanism may account for many of the previously reported cases of enterocystoplasty rupture.

Child

Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder in children.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder occurs rarely during the first two decades of life. The malignancy is usually low grade and noninvasive, with a low recurrence rate. Transurethral resection or fulguration is the treatment of choice, and the prognosis is favorable. We present 4 patients, aged two to eighteen years, with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and review the literature.

Adolescent

Microvascular autotransplantation of the intra-abdominal testis.

The operative management of intra-abdominal testes is controversial, largely because there is no method of orchiopexy that can reliably produce good results. We report our results on the use of microvascular autotransplantation of intra-abdominal testes. We performed 12 autotransplants in 10 boys ranging in age from 10 months to 14 years (median age 30 months). In each instance the testis had been localized previously by laparoscopy or it was known to be intra-abdominal and was believed to be grossly normal in appearance. The vascular anastomoses of the spermatic to the inferior epigastric vessels were performed by an experienced microvascular surgeon using 10-zero nylon suture and 40 times magnification. Biopsies were taken at operation in 9 patients. Followup of 6 to 30 months is available in 7 patients and all 8 testes are palpably normal and in good scrotal position. This approach is feasible even in small children and the results seem to be superior to the expected results reported with division of the spermatic vessels.

Adolescent

Diagnostic pneumoperitoneum for the detection of the clinically occult contralateral hernia in children.

The detection and management of occult contralateral hernia in children who present with a clinically evident unilateral hernia have evoked controversy. Routine use of herniography, intraoperative probing of the contralateral inguinal area and routine or selective exploration of the contralateral groin all have their advocates and detractors. During the last 5 years we have used intraoperative pneumoperitoneum and we report our experience in 64 patients 3 months to 9 years old. A retrospective analysis of the data revealed that pneumoperitoneum was negative in demonstrating a contralateral inguinal hernia in 59 of 64 patients (92%). Contralateral exploration was not performed in patients in whom pneumoperitoneum was negative. All 5 patients who tested positive had an indirect inguinal hernia upon contralateral exploration and all 5 were less than 3 years old. Patients who had a negative pneumoperitoneum were followed for up to 5 years and only 1 (1.8%) false negative examination was discovered. Pneumoperitoneum is a safe, effective means to evaluate the contralateral groin for occult hernia at the time of unilateral hernia repair in children.

Child

Fascia lata and early spica casting as adjuncts in closure of bladder exstrophy.

Correction of the skeletal defect seen in the exstrophy complex consists of reconstitution of the pelvic ring. Long-term success depends upon the formation of a fibrous union between the pubes. When this union does not occur diastasis of the pubis results. Long-term urological success appears to be related to adequate pubic approximation. We used fascia lata to construct an anterior pelvic ligament between the pubic bones in 7 patients. In the 6 patients for whom followup is available the fascia lata has persisted and appears to be viable histologically on biopsy specimens obtained at a subsequent operation. Because the fascia lata holds the pubis together so well we have been able to cease Bryant's traction in children by 2 weeks and place them into a cast. This has resulted in early discharge from the hospital in all patients. For these reasons we believe that fascia lata is a useful adjunct in the armamentarium of materials used to reapproximate the pubis.

Bladder Exstrophy

Etiology, diagnosis, and management of urethral strictures in children.

Urethral strictures in children, like those in adults, are problems whose management embodies all that is basic to urology. It is helpful to think of strictures according to etiology: congenital, infectious-inflammatory, and traumatic (iatrogenic and noniatrogenic). The treatment options are diversion (nearly always temporary), manipulation, and repair. The authors also review their research on urethral healing.

Child

Follow-up of infants with obstructive uropathy detected in utero and treated surgically postnatally.

Thirty-four infants with obstructive uropathy detected by prenatal ultrasonography at 34 +/- 0.56 weeks (SE) had surgery during the first 2 years of life. The growth and renal function of the 25 children after being followed for over 1 year are described. Twelve children had unilateral disease, and 13 had bilateral disease. All 12 children with unilateral disease grew at or above the fifth percentile and had normal renal function (glomerular filtration rate, 101 +/- 7 mL/min/1.73 m2). Thirteen children with bilateral disease were followed for 26.1 +/- 3.4 months. Growth was good: 10 of the 13 grew at or above the fifth percentile. The serum creatinine was 0.7 +/- 0.2 mg/dL, and the glomerular filtration rate was 91 +/- 10 mL/min/1.73 m2. One child required chronic dialysis. The prenatal diagnosis of urinary tract anomalies followed by early intervention may improve the long-term outcome of children with obstructive uropathy.

Child, Preschool

Ectopic ureteroceles: surgical management with preservation of continence--review of 60 cases.

During the last 19 years we treated 60 children with ectopic ureteroceles. There was a 4 to 1 female-to-male predominance. Of the patients 47 per cent presented before age 6 months, 66 per cent were diagnosed after a urinary tract infection and 6 were identified antenatally. Based upon a review of the literature and our data, we believe that "total correction" (a single operation designed to correct abnormalities of the upper and lower urinary tract) is superior in most instances to an approach in which just the upper urinary tract pathological condition is treated. Only 4 (14 per cent) of 28 patients in whom "total correction" was used required a second operation (all because of persistent reflux) while 14 of 19 patients (74 per cent) treated with an upper urinary tract procedure intended as definitive therapy have either undergone further surgery or have a residual abnormality that may require further surgery. Marsupialization rather than enucleation of the ectopic ureterocele is effective and safe, risking neither injury to the bladder neck or sphincteric mechanism nor resulting in a vesicovaginal fistula.

Child

Modified meatal advancement and glanuloplasty (Arap hypospadias repair): experience in 31 patients.

We used the Arap hypospadias repair in 31 patients with distal hypospadias with considerable success, achieving an excellent result in 93 per cent of our patients. Improved cosmesis, extension of the scope of the problems that can be addressed with this repair (including treatment of a distal urethrocutaneous fistula) and the ease with which the Arap procedure can be performed are the advantages that this operation has over other 1-stage distal hypospadias repairs.

Child

Experience with the Kropp anti-incontinence procedure.

The experience of 2 surgeons working independently at separate institutions is reported to demonstrate the use of the Kropp urethral lengthening and implantation procedure. This experience includes 18 patients between 6 and 19 years old (median age 11.6 years) with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. The etiology of the neuropathic bladder was myelodysplasia in 16 patients and sacral agenesis in 2. There were 10 boys and 8 girls. All patients had failed trials of clean intermittent catheterization with adjunctive pharmacological manipulation. Incontinence was a significant social problem. Of the 18 patients 2 had undergone prior urinary diversion and the Kropp procedure was used as part of undiversion. One patient had had 2 previous failed attempts at continence using an artificial urinary sphincter. Augmentation cystoplasty was an adjunctive maneuver in 14 patients; ileum was used in 8, sigmoid in 4 and the ileocecum in 2 (both of whom had been diverted previously). The bladder capacity in the 4 patients in whom augmentation was not performed ranged from 200 to 450 ml. Of the 18 patients 17 achieved a good result and 14 were considered to have achieved an excellent result. The 1 failure is the patient who previously had failed to gain control with an artificial sphincter. Of the 4 patients who did not undergo bladder augmentation 3 required adjunctive anticholinergics to achieve continence.

Adolescent

Urethral strictures after hypospadias repair.

Over a 16 years period, we have treated 34 cases of urethral stricture after hypospadias repair. Seventeen patients were successfully treated with one procedure, while 16 patients required two or more procedures; one patient was lost to follow-up. Eighteen patients who presented with symptoms attributable to their stricture within 3 months of their original operation for hypospadias were designated as having early strictures. Those strictures presenting later than 3 months were termed late strictures. Manipulative therapy (dilation, direct vision internal urethrotomy) was successful in 46% of early strictures, but in only 16% of late strictures. Open surgical procedures were employed primarily in some cases or after failed manipulation in others and were successful in 82% of cases. All 4 failures of open procedures were salvaged with manipulative therapy. We conclude that treatment of post hypospadias repair urethral strictures should initially be manipulative. Open surgical repair will usually be successful but should be reserved for difficult strictures, late strictures, or failures of manipulation.

Adolescent

Follow-up of infants with bilateral renal disease detected in utero. Growth and renal function.

We studied 69 infants who had urinary tract abnormalities detected by antenatal ultrasound examination. There were 21 intrauterine or immediate neonatal deaths; in all 21 infants, severe bilateral renal disease incompatible with life was found at autopsy. Six of the live-born infants with abnormal results of antenatal ultrasound examinations had a normal urinary tract after birth. Of the remaining 42 infants, the prenatal diagnosis was confirmed with renal ultrasound and other studies during the first week of life. Twenty-one of 42 infants had bilateral renal disease. We obtained follow-up data on 19 of 21 of these infants. Twelve of 19 had obstructive uropathy that was treated surgically. After one to 51 (mean, 18) months of follow-up, renal function varied. Ten of 19 patients had a calculated glomerular filtration rate greater than or equal to 79 mL/min/1.73 m2. One infant required long-term ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Renal function (glomerular filtration rate, 74 +/- 5 mL/min/1.73 m2) and growth (height percentile, 41 +/- 8) were unexpectedly good considering the severity of the urinary tract abnormalities. Prenatal detection of bilateral renal disease followed by careful medical and surgical management results in a favorable outcome with good growth and renal function.

Adolescent

Prepubertal yolk sac testicular tumors--report of the testicular tumor registry.

In 1980 the Section on Urology of the American Academy of Pediatrics established a registry of prepubertal testicular tumors. A total of 181 yolk sac tumors has been reported to the registry. Complete followup is available for 154 of these 181 patients. Most of the patients presented with low stage disease. Radical orchiectomy without adjunctive retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy was sufficient therapy for most stage 1 cancer patients. alpha-Fetoprotein is a reliable marker for this tumor. Chest x-rays and abdominal computerized tomography are reliable for staging. When metastases appeared they did so within 14 months of presentation so that 2 years of followup after any evidence of disease seems to be adequate. Approximately two-thirds of the patients with metastases were salvaged by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or an operation.

Child

Spontaneous bladder rupture following enterocystoplasty.

We treated 2 male patients with spontaneous bladder rupture following enterocystoplasty. Both adolescents had neurogenic bladders that were managed with enterocystoplasty and an artificial urinary sphincter. With prompt aggressive therapy including intravenous antibiotics, laparotomy and closure of the perforation serious sequelae were averted. Cystography failed to demonstrate the lesion in either case. The failure of cystography to diagnose these ruptures is especially disturbing. These patients demonstrate that in augmented bladders a high index of suspicion may be necessary to diagnose ruptures clinically. Early diagnosis is critical so that aggressive therapy may be instituted.

Adolescent

Detection of testicular torsion by magnetic resonance imaging in a rat model.

Testicular torsion is one of the most common pediatric urological emergencies. Incorrect or delayed diagnosis contributes significantly to morbidity. We previously have shown that magnetic resonance displays scrotal contents with great detail using hydrogen concentration weighted and T2 weighted images. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either unilateral 720-degree testicular torsion or a sham procedure. Magnetic resonance images were obtained at intervals with a 3 or 5-inch surface coil. Scans after surgical torsion showed a characteristic spiral distortion of the fascial planes of the spermatic cord, not seen in the sham animals, as well as a decrease in testicular size with prolonged torsion.

Animals

Post-hypospadias repair urethral strictures: a review of 30 cases.

During a 16-year period we treated 30 patients with urethral stricture after hypospadias repair. Of the patients 16 were treated successfully with 1 procedure, while 13 required 2 or more procedures and 1 was lost to followup. A good result was achieved in 83 per cent of the patients. Fourteen patients who presented with symptoms attributable to the stricture within 3 months of the original operation for hypospadias were designated as having early strictures. Those with strictures presenting later than 3 months were considered to have late strictures. Manipulative therapy (dilation and direct vision internal urethrotomy) was successful in 55 per cent of the early strictures but in only 16 per cent of the late strictures. An open operation was performed primarily in some cases or after failed manipulation in others and it was successful in 79 per cent. All 4 failures of open procedures were salvaged with manipulative therapy. We conclude that treatment of post-hypospadias repair urethral strictures initially should be manipulative. Open repair usually will be successful but should be reserved for difficult strictures, late strictures or failures of manipulation.

Adolescent

Repair of proximal hypospadias using a preputial free graft for neourethral construction and a preputial pedicle flap for ventral skin coverage.

A total of 21 patients with proximal hypospadias underwent repair with a preputial free graft for neourethral construction and a preputial pedicle flap for ventral skin coverage. Only 1 patient had a stricture and a fistula. The other 20 repairs were completely successful. These results seem to be superior to those of other reports.

Adolescent