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Howard Goldman

Publications and source records attributed to Howard Goldman.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Complications and troubleshooting of two-stage sacral neuromodulation therapy: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: With the increasing use of sacral neuromodulation therapy, urologists are faced with postimplantation challenges. The purpose of this study was to identify these events and their causes and management in our large single-institution experience. METHODS: From July 2002 to September 2004, all patients who underwent sacral neuromodulation therapy for refractory bladder conditions were identified. Their medical records were retrospectively evaluated for history, operative intervention, and programming visits. Events after implantation of the implantable pulse generator (IPG) unit were noted. The evaluation, troubleshooting, management, and resolution of events at the last follow-up visit were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 214 patients underwent sacral neuromodulation therapy at our institution. The mean patient age was 53.5 +/- 15.4 years. Of the 214 patients, 161 underwent IPG implantation during a mean follow-up period of 16 months (range 5 to 30). The second-stage explantation and revision rate was 10.5% and 16.1%, respectively. The indications for explantation were infection (8 of 17) and failure to maintain a response (9 of 17). Revisions were done for decreases in response with abnormal (12 of 26) or normal (5 of 26) impedance measurements, IPG site discomfort (4 of 26), draining sinus at the IPG site (4 of 26), and lead migration (1 of 26). Equalization of impedance measurements was the most commonly observed impedance abnormality. These were managed by drying fluid from the connection in 4 patients and lead change in the rest. CONCLUSIONS: After IPG implantation, a decline in response may occur. Although some were explanted, most were revised, with most of the revisions functional on follow-up. Familiarity with impedance evaluation and development of algorithms for postimplant management are essential for troubleshooting and maintenance of the device.

Electric Stimulation Therapy↗
PubMed2006

Spontaneous intrapartum vesicouterine fistula.

BACKGROUND: Vesicouterine fistulae as an obstetrical complication have been reported only in women with a history of cesarean. We present a patient with no such history who developed a vesicouterine fistula after vaginal delivery. CASE: A 43-year-old gravida 5 at term with no history of cesarean presented in the latent phase of labor. Gross hematuria was noted intrapartum, and a foley catheter was placed. A cystogram showed an extraperitoneal bladder perforation. The patient had urinary incontinence despite Foley catheter drainage. The diagnosis of vesicouterine fistula was made by cystoscopy and fistulogram. The patient had a successful repair at 3 months. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of a vesicouterine fistula developing during a pregnancy with no previous cesarean. Accurate diagnosis is essential because surgical repair has an excellent outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The impact of parity on major depression treatment quality in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program after parity implementation.

BACKGROUND: Since the 1990s, parity laws have been implemented to reduce inequities in mental health coverage compared with that for general medical conditions. It is unclear if parity under managed care is associated with improvements in mental health treatment quality. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent but often undetected and undertreated and thus could potentially benefit from parity implementation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the association between parity implementation and changes in MDD treatment quality in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. METHODS: We conducted retrospective analyses of insurance claims data. Logistic regression models estimated quality changes for MDD-diagnosed enrollees from pre- to postparity. SUBJECTS: Subjects included MDD-diagnosed FEHB insured enrollees, aged 18-64, across multiple states and 6 FEHB plans before (1999-2000) and after (2001-2002) parity implementation. MEASURES: Measures included receipt of any antidepressant or psychotherapy within a given calendar year of diagnosis; receipt of appropriate psychotherapy frequency/intensity and duration; and pharmacotherapy duration during acute-phase treatment episodes. RESULTS: Postparity, several plans improved significantly in the likelihood of receiving antidepressant medication. In the acute-phase episodes, the greatest improvement was seen in the likelihood of follow up >or=4 months. Few or no other changes were observed in the acute-phase treatment intensity or duration quality measures. CONCLUSIONS: Parity under managed care was associated with modest improvements. The observed improvements were consistent with secular trends in MDD treatment. Whereas mental health parity is an important policy goal, these results highlight its limitations: improving the financing of care may not be sufficient to improve quality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Management of ureteral injuries associated with vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.

Due to the anatomic proximity of the urinary and genital tracts, iatrogenic ureteral injury during pelvic organ prolapse repairs is a serious complication that we have managed in increasing number at our institution. However, few centers have reported on their experience with ureteric injuries associated with gynecologic reconstructive surgery. These ureteral injuries may lead to much morbidity, in particular the formation of ureterovaginal fistula, and the potential loss of renal function especially when diagnosed postoperatively. It is necessary, therefore, for surgeons to have a thorough knowledge of ureteral anatomy and to take precautions to prevent such injuries. The purpose of this article is to review this pertinent anatomy and the key principles of management of ureteric complications of transvaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. The present study illustrates the application of our treatment algorithm based on the time of presentation and the patient condition.

Female↗
PubMed2005

Urologic applications of botox.

Botulinum toxin (BTX), a neurotoxin produced by the gram-positive, rod-shaped anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum, was isolated in 1897 by Belgian scientist Professor Pierre Emile van Ermengem. BTX acts by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. As a result of this chemodenervation, a temporary flaccid paralysis ensues. Different medical disciplines have taken advantage of this temporary paralysis to treat muscular hypercontraction. BTX was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1989 for use in patients with strabismus and blepharospasm. Since then, BTX has been used to treat a number of different neuromuscular disorders. Although not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, BTX has been used successfully in urology to treat neurogenic and non-neurogenic detrusor overactivity, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, motor and sensory urge, and chronic pain syndromes.

Botulinum Toxins, Type A↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics of high staff intensive Medicare psychiatric inpatients.

Previous analyses of the costs of Medicare psychiatric inpatients have been limited by the use of claims and provider cost reports that fail to quantify differences in patient characteristics and routine costs. This article uses new primary data from 66 psychiatric inpatient units in 40 facilities nationwide to measure the times staff spend in therapeutic and other activities caring for Medicare patients. Patient days are divided into two groups of very high and low staff intensity and patient characteristics compared in each group. Results identify key patient characteristics associated with high staffing days, including old age, dementia and cognitive impairment, severe psychiatric diagnosis, deficits in activities of daily living (ADLs), and assaultive or agitated behaviors. Policy implications and suggested enhancements are made with regard to the proposed CMS case-mix classification system based on claims data alone.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Return to work and claim duration for workers with long-term mental disabilities: impacts of mental health coverage, fringe benefits, and disability management.

This paper examines the relationship of mental health benefits provided by 116 employers, to return to work and duration of disability claims for 407 of their employees who were on long-term disability (LTD) leave for mental disorders. Mental health benefits data were coded from summary plan description booklets provided by employers. Information on other fringe benefits and employers' disability management practices were obtained from a survey of the employers. Relationships between mental health benefit features, other fringe benefit and disability management factors, and our outcomes were estimated via logistic regression and survival analysis. Results indicated that three mental health benefit plan features were negatively related to the return-to-work probability:(1) a high deductible (> $600), (2) longer preexisting condition exclusion periods, and (3) having a carve-out. This suggests that cost saved by access restrictions may be partially offset by higher turnover costs for employees with disabilities due to mental disorders. Carve-outs were also predictive of shorter claims duration.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Clinical predictors of androgen-independent prostate cancer and survival in the prostate-specific antigen era.

OBJECTIVES: To further characterize and identify novel predictors of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) and survival in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. METHODS: A total of 184 consecutive patients with prostate cancer receiving chronic androgen suppression were assessed for the development of AIPC and overall survival. RESULTS: The median time to development of AIPC was 44 months (Stage M+ = 24 months; Stage M0 = 63 months, P = 0.000001). The 10-year overall survival rate for Stage M0 or M+ disease was 89% and 55%, respectively. AIPC developed significantly more commonly in patients with a higher nadir PSA level (greater than 1 ng/dL), a longer time to reach nadir PSA (greater than 3 months), a larger body mass index (greater than 27 kg/m2), greater pretherapy PSA level, and when evidence of metastatic disease was identified (logistic regression analysis). Overall survival was significantly associated with advanced stage (skeletal metastases), pretreatment PSA level, and history of skeletal fracture (multivariate Cox regression analysis). CONCLUSIONS: In the PSA era, longer intervals of androgen suppression therapy in nonmetastatic, biochemically recurrent prostate cancer have translated into a change in the duration of androgen-dependent prostate cancer. Although the duration of androgen dependence remains variable, prolonged--possibly "curative"--control exists in a subset of patients. Obese men developed AIPC significantly sooner than did slender men. A skeletal fracture was a significant negative predictor of overall survival. These observations form the basis for nomogram predictions of AIPC in the PSA era.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Successful program maintenance when federal demonstration dollars stop: the ACCESS program for homeless mentally ill persons.

A major issue that has long dogged federal human services demonstration programs is the perception that when federal dollars end, the programs end-regardless of any proven successes. Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Supports (ACCESS) was a 5-year federal demonstration project to foster partnerships between service providers for homeless people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders; and to identify effective, replicable systems integration strategies. After federal funding ended, research teams visited the ACCESS sites to determine which project elements remained and which strategies were used by the sites to continue ACCESS. This article describes ACCESS services and systems integration activities retained by the sites, new funding streams, and strategies used to obtain continued funding.

Community Mental Health Services↗