Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of anastomotic stricture (AS) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) performed by one experienced surgeon, and to identify factors predisposing to its formation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 708 men were prospectively monitored for the development of AS after RRP. Potential risk factors for AS were analysed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, Gleason score, nerve-sparing status, intraoperative blood loss, degree of extravasation on initial cystography, or duration of the indwelling urinary catheter between men who developed AS and men who did not. The mean postoperative blood loss was significantly higher in men who developed AS. The incidence of AS was also significantly higher in men whose bladder necks were reconstructed more narrowly. CONCLUSION: The amount of bleeding and the calibre of the reconstructed bladder neck were significantly associated with AS formation after RRP. The development of a haematoma from bleeding might explain the increased likelihood of AS. The mechanism of AS formation is unrelated to the degree of urinary extravasation on cystography, providing that a urinary catheter is left indwelling until extravasation resolves

PURPOSE: We determined if the degree of postoperative bleeding predicts the extent of urinary extravasation on initial postoperative cystogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2000 to June 2004, 879 men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy performed by a single surgeon. Of these men 97% underwent the initial postoperative cystogram 3 to 8 days following radical prostatectomy. Postoperative bleeding was expressed as the absolute change in hematocrit between hematocrit values measured immediately upon arrival into the recovery room and hospital discharge. Three hematocrit points were added to the change in postoperative hematocrit for every unit of blood transfused postoperatively. The relationship between the change in postoperative hematocrit and the extent of extravasation was examined. RESULTS: None, mild, moderate and marked extravasation was observed on the initial cystogram in 82.7%, 7.9%, 8.8% and 0.6% of cases, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between changes in postoperative hematocrit and the extent of extravasation on initial cystography (p <0.001). Postoperative changes in absolute hematocrit points of less than 2, 2 to 6 and greater than 6 identified clinically meaningful risk groups for urinary extravasation. The degree of extravasation was not significantly related to risk of anastomotic stricture or urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of postoperative bleeding predicts the extent of urinary extravasation on initial cystography. It may be a useful measurement for identifying men who can safely undergo early catheter removal without cystography

Alpha-blockers have been evaluated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for 30 years, from early trials with the nonselective alpha-inhibitor phenoxybenzamine to short-acting (prazosin) then long-acting (terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin) selective alpha(1)-antagonists. All of the alpha-blockers evaluated have demonstrated comparable effectiveness, and the evolution of alpha-blocker therapy for BPH has therefore focused primarily on improving convenience and tolerability. Although all of the long-acting alpha(1)-blockers are well tolerated, only tamsulosin and alfuzosin SR are administered without the requirement for dose titration. Alfuzosin has the additional advantage over tamsulosin of a lower incidence of ejaculatory dysfunction. Studies of subtype-selective alpha(1)-antagonists have not demonstrated superior efficacy or improved tolerability over the existing long-acting alpha(1)-blockers

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a rare clinical entity; signs and symptoms include pain, hematuria, and shock. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage can be caused by tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma; polyarteritis nodosa; and nephritis. The least common cause is segmental arterial mediolysis. Although computed tomography is used for the diagnosis of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage, it can miss segmental arterial mediolysis as the cause of the hemorrhage. The diagnosis of segmental arterial mediolysis as a cause of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage requires angiography, with pathologic confirmation for a definitive diagnosis

Medical therapy is the preferred first-line approach in the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The magnitude of the improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms observed in response to combination therapy (alpha-blocker plus 5-alpha reductase inhibitors) does not approach that achieved with prostatectomy. Various drugs have been under consideration, including BXL628, lonidamine, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, all of which have had unacceptable side effects. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix is associated with dose-dependent symptom improvement and reduction of prostate volume. Elucidating the mechanism for cetrorelix-mediated improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms will likely contribute to unraveling the pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms in men

OBJECTIVES: To compare the postoperative and quality-of-life outcomes for men experiencing major bleeding after radical retropubic prostatectomy that was managed with reoperation or observation. METHODS: A total of 916 men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy by a single surgeon between October 2000 and August 2004. Of the 916 men, 15 (1.6%) experienced major bleeding, defined as the transfusion of 3 U or more of allogeneic blood within the first 36 hours after radical prostatectomy. The outcomes were compared between the 5 men undergoing reoperation (group 1) and the 10 men whose bleeding was managed with observation (group 2). RESULTS: The mean total number of allogeneic blood units transfused was significantly greater in group 1 (7.4 U) than in group 2 (4.1 U; P = 0.002). Group 1 also experienced a significantly longer hospital stay (4.6 versus 2.6 days). Those men undergoing reoperation had a significantly lower probability of moderate to severe extravasation on initial cystogram compared with group 2 (0% versus 70%). In addition, the urinary catheter was indwelling for a shorter interval (9.6 versus 23.5 days). We also found a suggestion of better continence in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Reoperation for major bleeding after radical retropubic prostatectomy facilitates both healing of the vesicourethral anastomosis and removal of the urinary catheter