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Biomedical subjects

L Martínez-Piñeiro

Publications and source records attributed to L Martínez-Piñeiro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Evaluation and treatment of kidney penetrating wounds].

Penetrating lesions of the kidney are less frequent than closed wounds. However, their incidence has increased these past decades, in relation with the augmentation of urban violence. The main causes of penetrating wounds are knives and firearms, with a related rate of renal lesions more important in the second case. The treatment of renal traumas has evolved these past years. Previously, surgical investigations were systematically indicated in most cases, which was associated with an elevated number of nephrectomies. Today, the development of new diagnostic imaging techniques available in most emergency units allows in certain cases the replacement of therapy by a strict follow-up of the patient, the objective being to preserve the kidney. The principal diagnostic investigation is CT scanning with injection of a contrast product, which is useful to adequately classify renal lesions and to make decision regarding the best first-line therapeutic management. In case of penetrating lesion, the first step is the evaluation of the haemodynamic condition of the patient. In case of haemodynamic instability, immediate surgical investigation is necessary. Conversely, if the patient is stable, CT with delayed imaging must be carried out. For grade I and II renal lesions, therapeutic abstention is recommended. Grade III and IV lesions associated with other intraperitoneal lesions that require emergency laparotomy must be surgically investigated and in these cases, reconstructive surgery or nephrectomy must be considered. Most grade IV lesions associated with a lesion of the renal hilus and grade V lesions must be referred to surgery. Minor renal lesions may not be treated; such cases necessitate a follow-up of the patient that should include successive assessments of the haemoglobin and the haematocrite, together with CT and ultrasonographic investigations aimed at the follow-up of lesion evolution and detection of potential urinomas or prolonged bleedings. The progressive decrease of the haematocrite and arteriovenous fistulae must be treated first by an embolization. Untreated patients with persistent urinary fistulae will undergo, if necessary, ureteral catheterization and percutaneous drainage of the urinoma.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

[Psychological features and Doppler-Duplex in erectile disfunction].

OBJECTIVES: To establish a relationship between Doppler-Duplex colour ultrasound after prostaglandin intracorporeal injec tion and psychological features in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. METHODS: Forty two patients with erectile dysfunction were prospectively evaluated with Doppler-Duplex colour ultra sonography after intracavernosal injection of 20 micrograms of E1 prostaglandin. Dynamic vascular pattern were analyzed an penile tumescence were graded in poor, moderate or good (I, II, III). All of them completed the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction, International Exam of Personality Traits (IPDE) and the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90). RESULTS: 29 patients (69.05%) showed a normal ultrasonography response (Peak Systolic Velocity >30 cm/s; Telediastolic velocity negative or less than 5 cm/s and penile tumescence grade III) and were classified as good responders with probably psy chogenic erectile dysfunction. Patients who did not show these values were classified in the group of erectile dysfunction of vas cular origin. We found significative differences between the two groups in sex desire, tumescence and paranoid personality. Th more frequent personality features were paranoid and squizoid (excentric) and ananchastic and anxious (fearful ones). Somatization and obsessive-compulsive symptoms have been outlined over the rest. We have found that paranoid personality is sixteen times more frequent in patients with normal ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological features and dysfunctional personality traits accompany psychogenic and organic erectile dys function, thus it is thought that mixed aetiology coexist in this patients. Doppler-Dupplex Colour ultrasound is an usefu method to exclude organic vascular factors. On de basis of our article, is more common to find psychological discomfort an dysfunctional personality traits in patients with normal ultrasound, which may help in their diagnosis and treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Probability of prostate cancer as a function of the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen in patients with a non-suspicious rectal examination and total prostate-specific antigen of 4-10 ng/ml.

Our aim was to assess the usefulness of measuring the percentage of free prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum in relation to reducing the number of prostate biopsies in men with benign prostate examinations and serum PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. The percentage of free PSA (Immulite) in serum was analyzed prospectively in 500 men, all of whom underwent ultrasound-guided sextant prostate biopsies. Cancer was detected in 21.4% (107/500) of the patients. Using a free PSA cutoff of < or = 23% as a criterion for performing prostate biopsy would have detected 94.4% of cancers, avoided 18.8% of benign biopsies and yielded a positive predictive value of 25.3%. The percentage of free PSA increased with prostate volume. Mean total PSA and mean free percent PSA values increased as patient age increased, influencing the calculation of cutoff values, sensitivity and specificity. PSA density had a sensitivity and specificity not significantly different than the percentage of free PSA. Measurement of the percentage of free serum PSA improves the specificity of prostate cancer detection in patients with elevated total serum PSA levels and benign prostate examinations.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Long-term follow-up of a randomized prospective trial comparing a standard 81 mg dose of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin with a reduced dose of 27 mg in superficial bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of a three-fold reduced dose (RD, 27 mg) of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against the standard dose (81 mg) in patients with superficial bladder cancer, assessing recurrence, progression and differences in toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred patients with superficial bladder cancer (Ta, T1, Tis) were enrolled and randomly assigned to be treated after transurethral resection of all visible lesions with intravesical BCG Connaught strain (weekly x six and thereafter fortnightly x six) either with the standard or RD instillation. RESULTS: All but one of the 500 patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity (252 in the standard arm and 247 in the RD arm). The median follow-up was 69 months (maximum 104); 71 (28%) patients in the standard arm and 76 (31%) in the RD arm developed recurrences; the median time to recurrence has not yet been attained, but at 5 years the mean (sd) percentage of recurrence-free patients was 70.5 (3.12) and 70.4 (3.1) for the standard and RD arms, respectively. In patients presenting with multifocal tumours, the standard dose was more effective against recurrences than the RD (P=0.0151). In those with G3 and high-risk tumours overall, the superiority of the standard dose was marginal (P=0.060 and P=0.082). Twenty-nine (11.5%) tumours in the standard arm and 33 (13.3%) in the RD arm progressed to invasive disease; the median time to progression has not yet been attained, but the percentage of progression-free patients at 5 years was 88.8 (2.23) and 86.9 (2.31) for the standard and RD arms, respectively. The standard dose was more effective than the RD against progression only in patients with multifocal disease (P=0.048). Twelve (4.8%) cystectomies were performed in the standard and 15 (6.1%) in the RD arm. Currently, 106 (21.2%) patients have died, but only 38 (7.6%) from bladder cancer, i.e. 20 (7.9%) in the standard and 18 (7.5%) in RD arm. Overall the disease-specific death rate was lower for those patients who completed the scheduled treatment. The cause-specific survival at 5 years did not differ between the arms (P=0.76) but there was a trend toward better cause-specific survival for patients with multifocal tumours in the standard arm. Toxicity differed between the arms, significantly more patients having no toxicity in the RD arm, and fewer having delayed instillations or withdrawing. However, severe systemic toxicity occurred even in patients treated with the RD, in a similar proportion to those receiving the standard dose. CONCLUSION: Overall, the RD gave similar results for recurrence and progression but with significantly less toxicity. However, patients with multifocal tumours fared better with the standard dose and there was a trend towards better recurrence rates in patients with high-risk tumours. We recommend continuing to use the standard dose for high-risk tumours, while we consider the reduced dose safe and effective for intermediate-risk lesions and for maintenance schedules.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

[Conservative parenchymal surgery in kidney neoplasms].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze retrospectively a series of 60 nephron sparing surgeries (NSS) in patients presenting with renal masses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical histories of 59 patients undergoing NSS between january 1978 and december 1997 were reviewed. 40 were males, the mean age 54.4 years (range 17-77 years). 10 (17%) had bilateral synchronous tumors, 15 (25%) had a solitary kidney and 3 a renal insufficiency. In 25 patients NSS was obligatory, while in 34 it was elective. 30 (50%) of the renal masses had been diagnosed incidentally. Overall, 49 kidneys underwent an enucleation and 11 a partial nephrectomy. RESULTS: The histopathological exam revealed 43 (71.6%) renal cell carcinomas (RCC), 2 (3.4%) urothelial carcinomas, 6 (10.2%) oncocytomas, 7 (11.6%) angiomyolipomas and 2 (3.4%) multilocular cystic nephromas. Among the RCC, 8 had < or = 3 cm, 22 between 3.1-5 cm, 10 between 5.1-8 cm and 3 more than 8 cm. 31 (72.1%) were well encapsulated and only 2 (4.6%) invaded the nearby parenchyma. 7 (16.2%) were pT1, 34 (79%) pT2 and 2 (4.6%) pT3. 39 (90.3%) were G1 or G2, and only 4 (9.3%) were G3. Two patients (3.3%) died perioperatively, both from the obligatory group. 3 (6.8%) of the patients with malignant tumors progressed and died, all with CCR and from the obligatory surgery group. Another 3 patients of this group developed local recurrences, but were rescued with iterative surgery (conservative in 1); 2 of these patients had sporadic CCR, another a von Hippel Lindau disease. None of the 34 patients who underwent elective NSS progressed, nor recurred locally and all are alive and disease free; only 14 (56%) of the 25 patients operated on by necessity survived, although 6 of them died of causes not related with the kidney tumor. The cancer specific survival at 58.3 months of follow-up (range 5-187 months) is 86.8% for the whole series, 100% for the elective NSS group and 68.7% for the obligatory NSS group. 19 (31.6%) patients developed complications, 14 among the obligatory group; two died (hemorrhage and sepsis). 3 patients presented acute renal failure, but none required dialysis; presently 4 (6.7%) patients have poor renal function and 1 requires dialysis. CONCLUSION: NSS affords good control of renal carcinoma; in the cases operated on electively, the 100% cause specific survival yielded by NSS supports the use of conservative surgery in patients with well delimited tumors and normal contralateral kidney.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Determination of the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen helps to avoid unnecessary biopsies in men with normal rectal examinations and total prostate-specific antigen of 4-10 ng/ml.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of measuring the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in serum to reduce the number of prostate biopsies in men with serum PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml and benign prostate examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The percentage of free PSA (Immulite((R))) in serum was analyzed prospectively in 180 men with benign digital rectal examinations and total PSA serum levels of between 4 and 10 ng/ml. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided sextant prostatic biopsies. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated as well as the percent of patients in which biopsies could have been avoided for various cutoff values of the percentage of free PSA as an indicator for biopsy. Influence of age in the determination of cut points was evaluated. RESULTS: Cancer was detected in 22.2% (40/180) of the patients. Mean percentage of free PSA was 13.4% in patients with cancer and 18.9% in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (p = 0.001). Using a percentage of free PSA cutoff of 22% or less as a criterion for performing prostatic biopsy would have detected 95% of cancers, avoided 25% of benign biopsies and yielded a positive predictive value of 29% in patients who underwent biopsy. Mean percent of free PSA values increased as mean subject age increased, influencing the calculation of cut points, sensitivity and specificity. Leaving the cut point constant across all age groups will oblige older patients to undergo an increased number of unnecessary biopsies, although allowing for higher sensitivity in younger men. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of the percentage of free serum PSA improves specificity of prostate cancer detection in patients with elevated total serum PSA levels and benign prostate examinations. Subject age seemed to influence the determination of optimal cut points.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Prospective comparative study with intracavernous sodium nitroprusside and prostaglandin E1 in patients with erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of intracavernous administration of sodium nitroprusside and prostaglandin E1 to induce penile erection in men with erectile dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 patients with erectile dysfunction entered the study prospectively. As part of the diagnostic workup, each patient received an intracavernous injection of 20 microg prostaglandin E1 and a second injection of 600 microg sodium nitroprusside 1-7 days later. A tourniquet was placed at the base of the penis before each injection. The data recorded included time required to initiate tumescence, local and systemic side effects, objective and subjective quality of erections, duration of tumescence and patient satisfaction by means of a personal questionnaire. RESULTS: Prostaglandin E1 induced better overall responses than sodium nitroprusside, the difference being almost significant (p = 0.055). The overall duration of erections was also significantly longer with prostaglandin E1 (mean 81.3 min) than with sodium nitroprusside (mean 65.4 min; p < 0.04). 67% of the patients considered the erections induced with prostaglandin E1 to be of better quality than those with sodium nitroprusside, and only 11% stated that sodium nitroprusside was superior. Side effects were minimal with both drugs, the most frequent side effect being systemic hypotension, which was induced by sodium nitroprusside in 7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The moderate risk of systemic hypotension and the lower potency of sodium nitroprusside to induce erections compared to prostaglandin E1 rules out sodium nitroprusside as a routine alternative intracavernous drug in men with erectile dysfunction at the doses employed. Sodium nitroprusside, however, could be used in patients who have intolerance or penile pain with intracavernous prostaglandin E1.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Substitution urethroplasties with free graft buccal mucosa].

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with free graft buccal mucosa substitution urethroplasties. METHODS: Between June, 1992 and December, 1997, we performed 18 urethroplasties with buccal mucosa in 17 patients (double urethroplasty in the same stage in one): 8 for the repair of urethral strictures, 9 for the repair of hypospadias cripples and one for epispadias repair, in an exstrophic boy. Only 3 patients had not undergone previous reconstructive operations. The mean age was 26.2 years (range 10-69). In 8 cases we harvested the graft from the inner cheek and in another 8 cases from the inner lower lip; in two cases we combined mucosa from the cheek and from the lip. In 14 patients we managed to preserve the urethral roof and the buccal mucosa was grafted as an onlay patch; 4 patients underwent full circumference tube replacement. The median follow-up of the series was 17.8 months, ranging from 1 month to 5.5 years. RESULTS: In 15 out of 18 repairs (83.3%) the final outcome was satisfactory, while in three cases the graft failed and reoperation was necessary. In 10 of the 15 successful urethroplasties the end result was excellent: first intention healing no complications or sequelae; in the other 5, although the end result was good, fistulae requiring surgery for closure developed in 2 and meatal stenosis requiring autodilations in three patients. The best results were obtained in strictures of the bulbar urethra secondary to trauma with 100% success rate. In hypospadias the success rate was 77.7%. Onlay patch grafts never failed, with 10 out of 14 excellent results. Three out of 4 tubed grafts failed. CONCLUSIONS: At short and medium term, the free grafts of buccal mucosa yield results comparable to those of other epitheliums in use for urethral repair, thus increasing the choice of techniques at our disposal for one-stage repairs. We consider that it is best suited for long strictures of the bulbar urethra.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Topographical anatomy of the penile arteries.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of the penile arteries to anatomical landmarks and thus ease their identification, so avoiding injury during surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The penile arteries in 12 formalin-preserved adult male cadavers were dissected and the distances measured between the cavernosal arteries and both the endopelvic fascia and distal attachment of the crura to the ischial bones. The distance between the origins of both bulbar and cavernosal arteries, their length and the length of the cavernosal bodies and crural attachments were also measured. RESULTS: Several anatomical variations, e.g. accessory pudendal arteries, multiple cavernosal and bulbar arteries, irrigation of cavernosal bodies by contralateral branches, anastomosis of cavernosal arteries with accessory pudendal branches, dorsal artery or bulbar artery as main branches of accessory pudendal arteries, were observed in 13 of the 24 specimens. The mean distances between the anterior attachment of the crura to the ischial rami and the site on the tunica albuginea where the cavernosal arteries penetrated the cavernosal bodies were 1.26 cm on the right and 0.69 cm on the left. The corresponding measurements between the cavernosal arteries and the endopelvic fascia were 5.68 cm (right) and 4.85 cm (left). The mean extracavernosal lengths of the right and left cavernosal arteries were 2.47 and 2.2 cm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple anatomical variations of the arterial penile anatomy occur frequently. Surgery at the penile hilum may easily damage the cavernosal arteries, which lie medially to the dorsal nerves and arteries of the penis, have an extracavernosal length of about 2.3 cm and perforate the tunica albuginea about 1 cm distally to the anterior attachment of the crura to the ischial ramus.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

BCG update: intravesical therapy.

BCG is currently the most active immunotherapy agent for intravesical use and is considered the first-line treatment for patients with aggressive T1 G3 and Tis superficial tumors of the bladder. Its main drawback, toxicity, is being addressed by several prospective studies that try to find the lowest active dose and optimal schedule, as well as by studies investigating the efficacy of antigenic bacterial fractions, devoid of the toxicity of the living bacilli. Efforts to improve the efficacy by combination with chemotherapy and biomodulating natural remedies are also under way. In this review we discuss: (1) the indications, limits and contraindications of BCG; (2) the efficacy; (3) the strains; (4) route of administration; (5) dose; (6) schedule; (7) the problem of toxicity, and (8) how to improve BCG therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

[Prognostic value of lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The presence of lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer is considered to be a sign of poor prognosis. The present study was performed to analyze the influence of the number of positive lymph nodes on survival and the therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy in pN+patients. METHODS: From January, 1983 to January, 1993, 160 patients aged 39 to 77 years (mean 61.8) underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the bladder. The records of 122 patients were available for review. The UICC 1978 classification system was used. RESULTS: Cancer-specific mortality was 22.8% (16/70) for pNo patients, 44.4% (4/9) for pN1 patients and 88.9% (16/18) for pN2-4 patients. We obtained the following cancer-specific mortality by stratifying according to T category: 5.4% (2/37) for pNoT1-T3a, 42.4% (14/33) for pNoT3b-T4, 0% (0/2) for pNIT1-T3a, 57.1% (4/7) for pNIT3b-T4 and 88.9% (16/18) for pN2-4T3b-T4. CONCLUSION: The presence of only 1 positive regional lymph node (pN1) appears to worsen patient survival, particularly when the primary tumor is T3b or worse. In these cases cancer-specific mortality after patient discharge increased from 42% for the pNo patients to 57% for the pN1 patients (p > 0.05). Radical cystectomy was highly effective and curative in 95% of T1-T3apNo-1 patients (37/39). The presence of multiple positive lymph nodes carries a very poor prognosis, with 89% of the patients dying at a mean of 12 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Review of complications of urinary diversions performed during a 6-year period in the era of orthotopic neobladders].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the morbidity of different types of permanent urinary diversion. METHODS: We reviewed the postoperative and longterm complications observed in 85 patients who underwent permanent urinary diversion from December, 1986 to January, 1993: cutaneous ureterostomy (16 pts.), transintestinal incontinent cutaneous ureterostomy (41 pts.), orthotopic neobladder (27 pts.). All patients underwent radical cystectomy for bladder carcinoma. The surgical technique utilized for the construction of the orthotopic neobladders were as follows: Camey 1 (4 cases), Camey II (6 cases), Mainz (2 cases), Hautman (6 cases), detubularized sigmoid (6 cases). We also reviewed and used for comparison 18 augmentation cystoplasties that underwent simple subtotal cystectomy. Augmentation cystoplasty was performed with the sigmoid (n = 8), ileon (n = 5) and ileocecal segment (n = 4). RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative complications was similar for all types of urinary diversion (64.3% for cutaneous ureterostomy, 61% for transintestinal intermittent cutaneous ureterostomy, 59.3% for orthotopic neobladder), although patients with orthotopic neobladders required surgery more frequently (7.1% for cutaneous ureterostomy, 22% for transintestinal cutaneous ureterostomy, 41% for orthotopic neobladder). The incidence of postoperative complications was much lower in patients who underwent augmentation cystoplasty (complications 17.7%; none required surgery). The percentage of longterm complications was 71.4% for cutaneous ureterostomy, 74.2% for cutaneous transintestinal ureterostomy, 86.9% for orthotopic neobladders and 100% for augmentation cystoplasties. The patients who required surgery were 14.3%, 19.3%, 26% and 47%, respectively. Twelve out of 24 patients in whom metalic staples were employed for the construction of the neobladders and cystoplasties developed bladder stones; 78.3% of the patients with orthotopic neobladders showed perfect daytime continence, 65.2% night-time incontinence and 21.7% stress incontinence. The figures for augmentation cystoplasties were 94.1%, 5.9% and 5.9%; 4.3% of patients with orthotopic neobladders and 29.4% of patients with augmentation cystoplasties required self intermittent catheterization. Patients with larger neobladders showed best continence rates. Fifty-three ureters were reimplanted in the orthotopic neobladders of augmentation cystoplasties with the Le Duc technique; 17% developed ureteral stenosis and 15.1% vesicoureteral reflux. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo permanent urinary diversion have a far from negligible number of postoperative and long-term complications. Orthotopic intestinal neobladders have a slightly higher rate of serious complications than incontinent cutaneous diversions.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Excision and anastomotic repair for urethral stricture disease: experience with 150 cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the results of a series of end-to-end urethroplasties performed in our service from 1968 to 1995 and of the factors contributing to failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 150 men (mean age 35.9 years) with urethral stricture disease underwent excision of the stricture and end-to-end anastomosis; in 95 it was the first attempt at repair while in 55 it was a secondary attempt. Eighty-two patients (54.6%) had a trauma-related stricture; of them, 56 followed a pelvic ring fracture with posterior urethra distraction defect, 24 (16%) had inflammatory strictures, 26 (17.3%) iatrogenic, 9 (6%) congenital, and 9 (6%) of unknown etiology; 81 (54%) were located in the bulbous urethra, 9 (6%) in the penoscrotal junction and 2 (1.3%) in the penile urethra. Ninety-one (60.6%) of the strictures or obliterative defects measured between 1 and 3 cm, 42 (28%) less than 1 cm and only 16 (10.6%) more than 3 cm. A perineal approach was used in 138 of the cases, while combined abdominoperineal route was necessary in 12; of these, 5 were children. The follow-up has ranged from 6 to 168 months (mean 44.4). The results were classified as good, fair (some re-stricturing, not needing treatment) and poor (recurrence). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six (84%) good outcomes, 10 (6.6%) fair, 14 (9.3%) poor. The factors influencing success or failure were: (1) primary or secondary character of the operation; (2) etiology; (3) length, and (4) location. Postoperative early complications consisted of 2 wound infections and 2 hematomas; as late complications, 1 chordee, 2 incontinence, 7 erectile dysfunction (in previously potent patients). The 14 patients considered as failures were operated again, all successfully; in 4 of them, a repeat excision and end-to-end anastomosis was performed, elevating the final success rate of the series to 93.3%. CONCLUSION: Excision and anastomotic repair represent the optimal mode of stricture repair for single lesions located from the penoscrotal junction to the membranous part of the urethra.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1996

Endourological treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinomas: analysis of a series of 59 tumors.

PURPOSE: We analyzed a series of 59 reno-ureteral units with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated endourologically at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1980 and January 1995, 54 of 185 patients with a clinically diagnosed upper tract tumor were considered candidates for endourological treatment. Of the patients 14 had either bilateral disease or a solitary kidney. The primary approach was ureteroscopy in 39 reno-ureteral units and percutaneous nephroscopy in 20. Superficial stage pTa, T1 or Tis disease was noted in 48 cases, infiltrating stage pT2 cancer in 4 and inverted papilloma in 4, while the tumor was impossible to classify in 3. A total of 32 patients received adjuvant supplemental therapy. RESULTS: Ureteroscopy failed in 11 cases (28.2%), with salvage by nephroureterectomy in 6 and percutaneous nephroscopy in 5. Primary nephroscopy failed in 3 cases (15%) that were salvaged by open surgery. Two patients died of unrelated causes postoperatively and 14 (26%) had intraoperative or late complications that were treated conservatively in 12. After a mean followup of 30.6 months (range 2 to 119), 2 patients died of progressive upper tract tumor, 2 died of concurrent bladder cancer and 2 died of a second cancer. Of 42 upper tracts treated solely by endourological means 10 (23.8%) had recurrences, which were treated endourologically in 6. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and mitomycin C seemed to be effective at preventing recurrences, with recurrence rates of 12.5 and 14.2%, respectively, compared to 60% for thiotepa, and 40% for oral combination 5-fluorouracil and uracil. CONCLUSIONS: Endourological treatment of low grade, small, noninvasive tumors of the upper urinary tract is a feasible and safe alternative even in patients with a normal contralateral kidney.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[New features of pharmacologic treatment of erectile dysfunction].

OBJECTIVES: The present article summarizes the latest advancements in the physiology of erection, with special reference to the role of the adenylate and guanylate cyclase-nitric oxide system. METHODS/RESULTS: New aspects in the pharmacological intracavernous treatment of erectile dysfunction are discussed and new drugs in this field are analyzed, such as nitrovasodilators, calcium channel blocker, potassium channel openers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and the combination of adenylate cyclase stimulators. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of patients with erectile dysfunction depends on intracavernous injection of vasoactive drugs for erection. However, this route of administration is painful and causes anxiety in many cases. Other routes of administration (oral, topical or intraurethral) have yet to be developed, as well as drugs that can diminish penile venous blood outflow in cases with venous leakage, and can enhance arterial blood supply at the same time. The combination of phosphodiesterase inhibitors with adenylate and/or guanylate cyclase stimulators or potassium channel openers may further enhance the results achieved to date.

Erectile Dysfunction↗