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Biomedical subjects

R Perez-Marrero

Publications and source records attributed to R Perez-Marrero.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Balloon expanded titanium prostatic urethral stent.

A new balloon expanded titanium prostatic urethral stent has been devised for the treatment of outflow obstruction. This stent is inserted under endoscopic guidance and endourethral anesthesia. We have treated 9 male patients in urinary retention with a mean follow-up of eighteen months. Six of our 9 patients had a good and prolonged response to stenting. Complications were minimal and the procedure was well tolerated. We believe that the balloon expandable titanium stent is a viable alternative for the treatment of urinary retention particularly in the very ill patient.

Aged

Prolongation of response to DMSO by heparin maintenance.

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is an effective treatment of symptomatic patients with detrusor mastocytosis but it is associated with frequent relapses. A group of patients (N = 25) followed for twelve months showed a relapse rate of 59 percent. Our experience with a combination of DMSO and heparin has suggested that the relapse rate may be lower. Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan that may afford protection to the urothelium and may reduce the relapse rate. It is better tolerated than DMSO or a combination of DMSO and heparin and does not produce garlic halitus. It is not associated with coagulation anomalies when administered intravesically. To determine whether or not maintenance therapy with intravesical heparin may reduce relapses we have treated a similar cohort of 25 patients with monthly instillations of 10,000 IU of heparin over a twelve-month period. Both groups were comparable in age, duration of symptoms, severity of symptoms, and response to DMSO. At twelve months only 20 percent of the heparin-treated group had relapsed versus 52 percent of the control group. Furthermore 6 patients (24%) in the follow-up group failed to respond to retreatment with DMSO while all of the heparin maintenance group continued to respond to one or more treatments with DMSO. Thus, it seems that heparin maintenance produces a significant reduction in the relapse rate of patients who respond to DMSO and reduces the number of patients requiring alternative therapy.

Administration, Intravesical

A controlled study of dimethyl sulfoxide in interstitial cystitis.

To evaluate the effectiveness of dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of patients with biopsies suggestive of interstitial cystitis, 33 patients underwent a controlled crossover trial. Patients were allocated randomly to receive 50 per cent dimethyl sulfoxide or placebo (saline). The medication was administered intravesically every 2 weeks for 2 sessions of 4 treatments each. Response was assessed urodynamically and symptomatically. Thirty women and 3 men (mean age 48 years and mean duration of symptoms 5.5 years) were entered into the study. No significant side effects to dimethyl sulfoxide were noted. When assessed subjectively, 53 per cent of dimethyl sulfoxide treated patients were markedly improved compared to 18 per cent of the placebo treated patients. Of the dimethyl sulfoxide group 93 per cent had objective improvement versus 35 per cent of the placebo group. Thus, dimethyl sulfoxide proved to be superior to placebo in the objective and subjective improvement of patients with interstitial cystitis.

Administration, Intravesical

Increased mast cells of the bladder in suspected cases of interstitial cystitis: a possible disease marker.

Mast cells reportedly have been increased in the detrusor muscle bundles of the bladder in patients with interstitial cystitis. In 30 patients with suspected interstitial cystitis quantification of mast cells within the muscularis and submucosa was done. The results were compared to those obtained from a variety of normal bladder specimens removed surgically (16 specimens) and at autopsy (15), and from bladders with a variety of miscellaneous inflammatory conditions (20). In patients with suspected interstitial cystitis the number of mast cells was increased significantly (p less than 0.001) compared to the 3 control groups. This finding suggests that quantification of mast cells in the muscularis may be a useful marker in the histopathological evaluation of bladder biopsies in patients with suspected interstitial cystitis.

Adult

Urodynamic studies in interstitial cystitis.

Urodynamics, although not diagnostic of IC, are useful in the differential diagnosis of painful voiding disorders and provide a convenient way to quantitate response to therapy. They may prove useful as prognostic indicators of response to treatment and are of value in those patients in whom surgery is considered. Our studies suggest that IC is a progressive disease if not treated and that early diagnosis may improve response to treatment. Although similar information can be gathered by other means, we find urodynamics reliable, reproducible, and quantifiable and a valuable tool in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with IC.

Cystitis

Extension of carcinoma of prostate along perineal needle biopsy tract.

Malignant seeding on the needle tract of a perineal prostatic biopsy is a rare complication. A review of the literature revealed only 7 cases. Herein another case is reported. Our patient, like all other cases reported, suffered from high-grade, high-stage disease and the perineal extension did not upstage his disease. We believe that perineal seeding is a reflection of the malignant potential of the prostatic malignancy and in no way detracts from the usefulness of this tool in the diagnosis and staging of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma

Clean intermittent catheterization in myelomeningocele children less than 3 years old.

Clean intermittent catheterization was instituted in 34 myelodysplastic children in an attempt to improve upper urinary tract changes, reflux, recurrent urinary tract infections or inefficient bladder evacuation. Compliance was excellent and no serious complications were encountered. Upper tract changes and reflux responded favorably to the procedure and the incidence of urinary tract infections decreased. The use of clean intermittent catheterization even in neonates is feasible and safe, and produces excellent preservation of urinary tract integrity.

Child, Preschool