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M C Truss

Publications and source records attributed to M C Truss.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Based on knowledge of intracellular signal propagation in cavernous smooth muscle tone regulation and the development of new and selective pharmacological agents, selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors were recently introduced for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. By molecular biological methods, PDE isoenzymes III, IV and V were characterized in the human cavernous smooth muscles. In functional organ bath studies using precontracted human cavernous tissue strips, PDE III and V inhibitors showed the most pronounced relaxant responses. In clinical studies, the use of the orally active PDE V inhibitor sildenafil induced a pronounced and significant erectogenic effect in patients with both predominantly psychogenic and organogenic etiology of erectile dysfunction. The first promising clinical data on the use of an orally active PDE inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction are well supported by consistent basic science findings. Further research will possibly allow to identify diagnostic tools for erectile dysfunction and for even more selective drugs in its therapy.

Journal Article↗

Oral phentolamine as treatment for erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE: For most patients with erectile dysfunction oral agents are a preferred treatment option. Oral or buccal phentolamine has been shown to produce full erections in impotent subsets of study populations. We evaluate the efficacy of oral phentolamine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a comprehensive evaluation 44 patients with recent onset (less than 3 years) of erectile dysfunction and a high likelihood of organogenic etiology underwent a prospective, double-blind and placebo controlled trial with oral phentolamine after placebo. RESULTS: After placebo 4 of the 44 patients who reported full erections were excluded from study. Of the 40 patients in the double-blind phase full erections were achieved by 2 of 10 with placebo, and 3 of 10 with 20 mg., 5 of 10 with 40 mg. and 4 of 10 with 60 mg. phentolamine. There were no serious complications observed during the study, and only a single minor side effect occurred in 1 patient after 60 mg. phentolamine. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that oral phentolamine may be of benefit for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Further studies are required to corroborate our findings.

Administration, Oral↗

The effect of the specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on human and rabbit cavernous tissue in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: Phosphodiesterases (PDE) are key enzymes in the regulation of the smooth muscle tone. Experimental studies showed PDE III and V-isoenzymes to play an important role in the smooth muscle tone regulation of corpus cavernosum. Recently, a specific PDE III-inhibitor (milrinone) and a PDE V-inhibitor (sildenafil) were introduced in clinical studies. An experimental study was done to examine a potential role of PDE-inhibitors in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the organ bath, strips from human and rabbit corpus cavernosum were precontracted and increasing doses of PDE inhibitors were added. In patients with erectile dysfunction as well as in rabbits, intracavernous injections of milrinone were done. RESULTS: PDE-inhibitors dose-dependently relaxed human and rabbit corpus cavernosum strips. In the precontracted human cavernous tissue, milrinone and sildenafil were equally potent and efficacious in vitro. In the rabbit, milrinone induced slight tumescence but dramatic circulatory side effects. In patients, penile tumescences as well as full erections were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Milrinone strongly relaxes human cavernous smooth muscle cells but it exhibits low relaxant effects in the rabbit cavernous tissue. In human tissue, sildenafil was equieffective with milrinone in vitro. In vivo, milrinone induced a good erectile response in humans but a poor erectile effect in rabbits. Our results support a possible potential for selective PDE-III and -V inhibitors in the treatment of impotence and give further evidence that the rabbit is an animal model of limited value to study the effects of drugs on cavernous smooth muscle tone regulation in vivo.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of various spasmolytic drugs on isolated human and porcine detrusor smooth muscle.

The spasmolytic activity of flavoxate (CAS 15301-69-6), anticholinergic agents oxybutynin (CAS 5633-20-5), and trospium chloride (CAS 10405-02-4), drugs commonly utilized in the therapy of hyperactive bladder, and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors papaverine (CAS 58-74-2) and vinpocetine (CAS 42971-09-5) on muscarinic contractions of detrusor smooth muscle strips isolated from human and porcine urinary bladder was studied in vitro using the organ bath technique. Trospium chloride was most effective in relaxing contractions elicited by muscarinic stimulation, while flavoxate was significantly less effective than all other drugs tested. The relaxing potency of oxybutynin was greater than those of PDE-inhibitors papaverine and vinpocetine but 3,000 fold less significant than those of trospium chloride. The effects of the individual drugs on muscarinic tension of both human and porcine detrusor muscle strips were nearly equal. The present results suggest that the pig might be an appropriate animal model for the study of effects of spasmolytic substances on the contractility of urinary bladder smooth muscle in vitro.

Animals↗

Intracavernous pharmacotherapy.

Intracavernous application of vasoactive substances not only has enhanced our understanding of penile hemodynamics, the physiology of penile erection, and the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction but also has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction in the last 15 years. Virag was the first to report on the erectile effect of papaverine in humans, and Brindley later reported the effect of intracavernous application of alpha-receptor-blocking agents on cavernous tissue. These reports led to numerous basic and clinical investigations and ultimately established a new treatment alternative for patients with erectile dysfunction that is now considered to be the treatment of choice for most patients. Changes in penile hemodynamics include the relaxation of cavernous smooth musculature and arteries, which leads to an increase in arterial blood flow and a restriction of venous outflow through a compression of subtunical veins. These hemodynamic changes are the prerequisite for the induction and maintenance of penile erection. With the intracavernous application of vasoactive substances it was possible to influence penile hemodynamics at a local level and to induce an erection despite alterations in the nervous system, penile arterial blood flow, cavernous musculature, or neurotransmitter status. In addition, the local application of pharmacologically active substances directly to the end organ enabled the achievement of high local drug concentrations without severe systemic side effects. The commonly used substances are papaverine the combination of papaverine and phentolamine, and prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil). In addition to these established substances, several other regimens, such as linsidomine (SIN-1), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), moxisylyte, and various triple- or quadruple-drug mixtures have been described. In addition, several other compounds as well as different routes of administration are on the horizon and may prove to be effective in the future diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Animals↗

[Dorsal ligation of the penile vein--prognostic factors and long-term outcome].

Poor longterm success has been reported for penile vein ligation the last few years. Therefore, we decided to re-investigate our group of 147 patients who were operated on between 1987 and 1996. All patients showed a negative response to intracavernous injection therapy at the time of diagnosis and revealed a maintenance flow > 15 ml/min, as well as a pathological venous flow with pharmacocavernosometry or pharmacocavernosography. These patients underwent ligation of all superficial dorsal veins and resection of the deep dorsal vein of the penis. An up-to-date record of the success of the operation was kept either by a renewed clinical visit or by a standardized telephone interview or questionnaire. A total of 126 patients were available here for long-term follow-up. We divided the findings into three groups: complete spontaneous erection, postoperative response to cavernous autoinjection therapy and no changes in erectile competency postoperatively. The short-term success rate for these groups after 1-3 months was an outcome of 31 (24.6%), 25 (19.8%) and 70 (55.6%) patients; 86% of the cases whose results deteriorated after the initial operation success rate had this happen within the first postoperative year (p < or = 0.001). Favorable prognostic factors were preoperative erectile dysfunction of < or = 7 years, a normal CC-EMG and a maintenance flow of < or = 45 ml/min. If all three parameters were present, the long-term success rate (spontaneous erection plus response to intracavernous injection) of 30% of all patients was found to rise to 67% in this selected group of patients (p < or = 0.001). This study reveals that long-term success for unselected patients undergoing penile venous surgery is disappointing; however, careful selection of patients by certain prognostic factors can improve long-term results.

Adult↗

Long-term results following dorsal penile vein ligation in 126 patients with veno-occlusive dysfunction.

One hundred and forty-seven patients who had dorsal penile vein ligation (DPVL) between 1987 and 1996 were re-investigated either during clinical consultation or by standardised telephone interview respectively questionnaire. One hundred and twenty-six patients were available for long-term follow-up. Postoperative outcome was classified into complete spontaneous erection, postoperative response to pharmacotherapy or no satisfactory improvement. The short-term success after 1-3 months according to this classification was 31 (24.6%), 25 (19.8%) and 70 (55.6%). These results were found to have deteriorated on long-term observation; with only 14 (11.2%), 24 (19.0%) and 88 (69.8%) respectively. Positive prognostic factors were preoperative duration of erectile dysfunction of < or = 7 y, a normal CC-EMG and a maintenance flow of < or = 45 ml/min. With all three parameters present, longterm success (spontaneous erection plus responder to intracavernous injection) rose from 30 to 67% in this selected group (P < or = 0.001). Our study shows that long-term success for unselected patients undergoing DPVL is disappointing; however, careful patient selection significantly improves long-term results.

Electromyography↗

[Pharmacological therapy in erectile dysfunction--current standards and new viewpoint].

Intracavernous pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction has been established for over 10 years, with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) being the standard substance with the lowest rate of side effects. Recent investigations deal with the identification of intracellular mechanisms of smooth muscle relaxation in cavernous tissue as the most important aspect of penile erection. Nitric oxide and specific phosphodiesterase-isoenzymes seem to play a central role. This resulted in clinical studies with the intracavernous injected nitric oxide-donor linsidomine (SIN 1) and the orally given phosphodiesterase-inhibitor sildenafil. Furthermore new ways of pharmaco-application are tested, e.g. transdermal treatment with nitroglycerin, minoxidil or papaverine, as well as intraurethral injection of prostaglandin E1.

Alprostadil↗

Corpus cavernosum electromyography: technique and clinical implications.

Recently, corpus cavernosum EMG (CC-EMG) has been introduced into the diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction. It has been demonstrated that CC-EMG may be a valuable tool in the evaluation of the integrity of the autonomic innervation of the corpus cavernosum. The interpretation and comparison of the recorded data still remains problematic due to a lack of standardization of recording procedures, technical equipment and of data analysis software. The assessment of recorded data was originally performed visually and nonquantitatively, however, more recently, computer-aided analysis of digitized measurements has proved to be more objective, less time-consuming and more reliable. Future efforts should be aimed at creating larger databases and differentiating between the various sources of lesions within the autonomic neural network of the corpus cavernosum.

Electromyography↗

Effects of various phosphodiesterase-inhibitors, forskolin, and sodium nitroprusside on porcine detrusor smooth muscle tonic responses to muscarinergic stimulation and cyclic nucleotide levels in vitro.

The cyclic nucleotides cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are second messengers involved in the regulation of contractility in various smooth muscle organs including detrusor smooth muscle. They are synthesized by activation of adenylate and guanylate cyclases, respectively, and inactivated by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). In order to delineate the intracellular regulation of porcine detrusor contractility by cyclic nucleotides and phosphodiesterases, functional organ bath studies and determinations of intracellular cyclic nucleotide contents were performed after incubation of porcine detrusor strips with forskolin (adenylate cyclase activator), sodium nitroprusside (guanylate cyclase activator), and various phosphodiesterase-inhibitors. Significant relaxant responses were achieved only by forskolin, the nonspecific phosphodiesterase-inhibitor papaverine, and the phosphodiesterase 1-inhibitor vinpocetine (62.4 +/- 5.6%, 73 +/- 4.3%, and 53 +/- 7.9%, respectively). Sodium nitroprusside and the selective PDE-inhibitors milrinone, rolipram, zaprinast, and dipyridamole were significantly less efficacious (26.9 +/- 3.9%, 15.5 +/- 3.8%, 15.3 +/- 3.0%, 13 +/- 4.0%, and 13.2 +/- 2.1%, respectively). Forskolin, papaverine, and vinpocetine elevated intracellular cAMP concentrations (7.3-, 1.9-, and 1.7-fold increase at 100 microM, respectively), whereas the other substances failed to enhance cAMP levels. cGMP levels were only increased by sodium nitroprusside (7.8-fold). The adenylate cyclase-cAMP system seems to be the more important signal transduction system involved in the relaxation of carbachol induced smooth muscle tone of the porcine detrusor. The role of the guanylate cyclase-cGMP system is less clear. In addition, the calcium/calmodulin-stimulated PDE I seems to be of major functional importance in regulating cAMP hydrolysis in the porcine detrusor smooth muscle in vitro.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The role of paclitaxel in chemosensitive urological malignancies: current strategies in bladder cancer and testicular germ-cell tumors.

Recent results demonstrate an emerging role for paclitaxel in patients with urothelial-tract cancer and in patients with testicular cancer. Yielding response rates in the range of 40-50% as a single agent, paclitaxel is one of the most active drugs in metastatic bladder cancer. Ongoing trials of paclitaxel combination chemotherapy with cisplatin or cisplatin and ifosfamide demonstrate substantial objective remission rates above 70% and, in addition, a high range of complete responses. Thus, paclitaxel appears to be an important drug when used as part of first-line combination chemotherapy for metastatic bladder cancer. Ongoing clinical trials focus on the combination of paclitaxel with cisplatin, ifosfamide, gemcytabine, and carboplatin. Furthermore, paclitaxel administration has been demonstrated to be easily applicable to patients with reduced renal function, requiring no dose reduction and producing no increase in toxicity. Future strategies will have to compare the most active paclitaxel combination regimen with first-line MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin) chemotherapy. Finally, the role of paclitaxel combination regimens needs to be explored in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting in patients with bladder cancer. In testicular cancer, paclitaxel has initially been tested in patients with cisplatin-refractory disease. Among 4 consecutive trials involving a total of 83 patients a response rate of 26% has been observed using dose schedules varying from 3-h to 24-h infusions and doses ranging from 175 to 250 mg/m2. The major toxicities of paclitaxel include neutropenia, neurotoxicity, and fatigue syndrome. Currently, combinations of paclitaxel with cisplatin +/- ifosfamide are used as first- or second-line salvage therapy in patients with relapsed metastatic testicular cancer. The German Testicular Cancer Study Group uses a paclitaxel (Taxol, ifosfamide, cisplatin; TIP) combination regimen as salvage treatment. Following the TIP regimen and the application of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are harvested and the patients subsequently receive high-dose chemotherapy with PBSC rescue. Since only a few drugs have demonstrated substantial activity in cisplatin-refractory disease, paclitaxel will be used in early salvage strategies and, possibly, as first-line chemotherapy as a part of platinum-based combination regimens in patients with testicular cancer. Further trials confirming the important role of paclitaxel in this highly curable malignancy and a thorough investigation of its acute and long-term toxicity will be the future tasks.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

The renal paracrine peptide system--possible urologic implications of urodilatin.

Cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic peptide (CDD/ ANP) is a hormone system of great clinical importance. The prohormone CDD/ANP-1-126 is a peptide synthesized in the heart and cleaved during exocytosis into the circulating form CDD/ANP-99-126. Urodilatin (CDD/ ANP-95-126) is a homologue natriuretic peptide that differs from CDD/ANP-99-126 by four amino acids. Whereas CDD/ANP-99-126 circulates in blood plasma and is not excreted into the urine, urodilatin is detected only in urine. Urodilatin exerts its renal effects in a paracrine fashion. After its secretion from cells in the distal tubule, it interacts with luminally located receptors in the collecting duct, resulting in increased diuresis and natriuresis. Results suggest that urodilatin plays an important role in the physiologic regulation of fluid-balance and sodium homeostasis. Pharmacology studies reveal significant differences when urodilatin and CDD/ANP-99-126 are given intravenously, showing that stronger diuresis and natriuresis are induced by urodilatin as compared with those induced by CDD/ANP-99-126. Clinical studies indicate the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of urodilatin in patients suffering from acute renal failure following heart and liver transplantation. A significant reduction in requirements for hemodialysis/hemofiltration can be achieved using urodilatin. Postobstructive diuresis and natriuresis is probably due to a defective urinary concentrating mechanism and is usually resistant to treatment with antidiuretic hormone. The distal tubule and collecting duct have often been considered to be the site of altered sodium and water excretion following relief of obstruction. Since circulating CDD/ANP-99-126 levels are markedly elevated during obstruction and decrease upon relief of the obstruction, natriuretic peptides may play an important role in this clinical feature. On the basis of recent findings attributing an important role in sodium homeostasis to urodilatin in contrast to CDD/ANP-99-126, future studies have to clarify whether urodilatin, not CDD/ANP-99-126, might be responsible for the altered renal sodium excretion observed in postobstructive diuresis. In the past decade a considerable amount of research has led to the identification and characterization of hormones of the natriuretic peptide family [13]. These peptides are involved in the regulation of salt and water homeostasis. The prototype of the natriuretic hormones is cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic peptide (CDD/ANP), or A-type natriuretic peptide. CDD/ANP is primarily produced in the heart [6]. It is synthesized as a precursor molecule, CDD/ ANP-1-126, in specific granules in atrial myoendocrine cells [15]. The prohormone, upon appropriate stimuli for release, is cleaved into the C-terminus CDD/ANP-99-126 and excreted into the circulation via exocytosis [16]. Further members of the natriuretic peptide family are brain natriuretic peptide (BNP, or B-type natriuretic peptide) [45] and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) [46]. All the members of this family share many common features, including tissue distribution of gene expression, biosynthetic pathways, and pharmacologic effects in target organs [13,26]. The main biologic effects of these hormones are natriuresis, diuresis, and vasodilation [5, 6, 14, 22], but these vary among the individual peptides. Natriuretic effects such as increased glomerular filtration, inhibition of aldosterone production, and secretion result from direct inhibition of sodium absorption in the collecting duct. Urodilatin (INN: Ularitide) is a member of the natriuretic peptide family, discovered in 1988 by Schulz-Knappe et al. [43]. This hormone is presumably synthesized in the kidney and exerts potential paracrine renal effects [17]. Results of clinical phase I-II trials suggest a potent therapeutic effect of urodilatin in the treatment of acute renal failure in patients following organ transplantation [4, 27, 33].

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes in the human detrusor smooth muscle. I. Identification and characterization.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are key enzymes involved in the regulation of intracellular cyclic nucleotide metabolism. The aim of the present study was to identify and to characterize the PDE isoenzymes present in the human detrusor smooth muscle. Human detrusor PDE isoenzymes were separated by Q-Sepharose anion exchange and calmodulin-agarose affinity chromatography and characterized upon their kinetic characteristics and their sensitivity to allosteric modulators and inhibitors. All five presently known PDE isoenzyme families were identified: one high-affinity, low-Km calcium/calmodulin-stimulated PDE I with a slight preference for cGMP over cAMP, one cGMP-stimulated PDE II, one cGMP-inhibited PDE III, one cAMP-specific PDE IV and one cGMP-specific PDE IV. All five known PDE isoenzyme families exist in human detrusor smooth musculature. The kinetic characteristics, together with functional in vitro studies, suggest that the PDE I may be of importance in the intracellular regulation of the human detrusor smooth muscle tone.

Anion Exchange Resins↗

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes in the human detrusor smooth muscle. II. Effect of various PDE inhibitors on smooth muscle tone and cyclic nucleotide levels in vitro.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate intracellular cyclic nucleotide metabolism and, thus, contraction and relaxation of smooth musculature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional effects of isoenzyme-selective inhibitors and their effects on cyclic nucleotide levels in the human detrusor smooth muscle. In addition, the functional relevance of the cAMP versus the cGMP pathways in the regulation of the detrusor smooth muscle tone was assessed. Relaxant responses to various PDE inhibitors, forskolin and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were investigated in vitro using a standard organ bath setup. Cyclic nucleotide levels were measured after incubation with the same substances using cAMP and cGMP radioimmunoassays (RIAs). Significant relaxant responses were only induced by non-selective PDE inhibition, the PDE I inhibitor vinpocetine and the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. Relaxant responses to these substances were paralleled by increases in cyclic nucleotide levels. Our data suggest that the cAMP pathway and calcium/calmodulin-stimulated PDE (PDE I) may be of functional importance in the regulation of the human detrusor smooth muscle tone in vitro.

Cyclic AMP↗

A possible role for nitric oxide in the regulation of human ureteral smooth muscle tone in vitro.

There is ample evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is an important neurotransmitter in many tissues of the urogenital tract. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible role of NO in ureteral relaxation. Human ureteral rings were mounted in organ bath chambers and precontracted in KCl. Increasing doses of the NO donor linsidomine (SIN-1) were added with and without prior blockade of the NO/cGMP pathway by methylene blue and protein kinase (PK) inhibitors Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS and RP-8-CPT-cAMPS. Electrical filed stimulation (EFS) was done before and after incubation with L-NOARG (NG-nitro-L-arginine) and TTX (tetratodoxin). For detection of neuronal NO synthase (NOS), ureters were stained immunohistochemically. Ureteral strips were dose dependently relaxed by SIN-1; preincubation with methylene blue and protein kinase G inhibitor significantly reduced the SIN-1-induced relaxations. No effects of L-NOARG and TTX on EFS-induced tone alterations were found. NOS-positive neuronal axons and nerve-ending-like structures were found in the muscular layers. Our in vitro findings suggest that ureteral relaxation may involve the NO pathway.

Cyclic GMP↗

Prostate-specific antigen density--a reliable parameter for the detection of prostate cancer?

We compared the prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) in clinically and surgically staged patients with specimen-confined prostate cancer (n = 57) and in patients with benign hyperplasia (n = 69), who underwent transvesical adenomectomy. The PSAD was calculated from the preoperative PSA level and the specimen volume. The prostate volume was determined by dividing the prostate weight by the specific gravity of the tissue. The mean tissue values used for PSAD calculation were 51.9 g in men with prostate cancer (PCA) and 62.9 g in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The PSAD values showed significant differences (BPH 0.19 versus PCA 0.37, P = 0.029). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the best cutoff value to be 0.15, with the sensitivity being 58%; the specificity, 51% and the positive predictive value of PCA, 49%. At a serum PSA level below 10ng/ml, the best cutoff value was 0.1 and the positive predictive value was 51%. The PSAD results we calculated from an accurate prostate volume (surgical estimate) show that PSAD is not a significant predictor of prostate cancer.

Aged↗

Denovo urothelial carcinoma of the upper and lower urinary tract in kidney--transplant patients with end-stage analgesic nephropathy.

Patients with end-stage analgesic nephropathy bear a higher risk for urothelial cancer than do patients with other renal diseases. In a retrospective study in patients with analgesic nephropathy and kidney transplants we analyzed the prevalence and clinical course of de novo urothelial cancer. Diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy was based on the patients' history and clinical data. Only patients under cyclosporine treatment were included. Between 1968 and 1993, 2,371 kidney transplants were performed on 2,072 patients in the Department of Abdominal and Transplant Surgery. The prevalence of analgesic nephropathy was 3.1%. Of 65 patients with analgesic nephropathy and kidney transplants, 10 (15.4%) developed urothelial carcinoma; 10.8%, bladder cancer; and 9.1%, renal pelvic cancer. The mean age at diagnosis was 56.1 years. Urothelial cancer occurred on average at 33.6 months posttransplantation. On average, 6 of 10 patients with urothelial cancer died of the disease at 16.9 months after the diagnosis. All patients with urothelial bladder cancer had a muscle-infiltrating tumor of moderate or high grade. Since urothelial renal pelvic cancer occurred in 9.1% of our patients with analgesic nephropathy and urological screening is insufficient in patients on dialysis, we suggest that prophylactic nephroureterectomy be performed on one side before transplantation and on the contralateral side at 3-6 months after transplantation. An aggressive approach is indicated in patients with urothelial cancer of the bladder.

Analgesics↗

Renal-cell carcinoma with intracaval neoplastic extension: stratification and surgical technique.

Surgical removal continues to be the mainstay in the treatment of renal-cell carcinoma with neoplastic venous extension. The steady improvement of surgical and anesthesiological techniques and the introduction of complete circulatory arrest has dramatically improved the morbidity even of patients with extensive thrombi. If ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT) scanning suggests the presence of a venous extension in a patient with renal-cell carcinoma, cavography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transesophageal color-coded ultrasound, and echocardiography may be needed to resolve the questions of cranial extension and vascular wall infiltration. Surgical stratification and, thus, classification of the venous extension depend on the potential need for complete circulatory arrest. Surgical removal is done en bloc for smaller venous extensions and in a two-step procedure (radical nephrectomy followed by thrombectomy) for more extensive thrombi. In patients with infiltration of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava, the hepatic veins or atrium, pending thrombotic embolism, or large masses of suprahepatic thrombotic material, the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and complete circulatory arrest is recommended.

Aged↗