Objectives: We report on the long-term functional results of the orthotopic Y-ileal neobladder and compare the outcome of the antireflux technique for ureteral implantation versus direct anastomosis. Patients and Methods: Between 1990 and 2002, 120 patients underwent cystoprostatectomy and orthotopic Y-shaped ileal neobladder for invasive bladder carcinoma. The direct Nesbit technique for ureteral reimplantation was applied in 58 patients (group 1) and in 62 patients the ureters were reimplanted using the Le Duc antirefluxing technique (group 2). The mean follow-up period was 72 months (range, 36-144 months). Results: Of 62 patients who underwent the Le Duc technique, six (9.7%) had unilateral uretero-ileal anastomotic stricture and four (6.5%) had reflux. Of 58 patients who underwent direct anastomosis, six (10.3%) patients had unilateral reflux, four of them had dilated ureters preoperatively and no patient had uretero-ileal anastomotic stricture. The incidence of stricture formation in the Le Duc technique is significantly higher than direct anastomosis (P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of reflux in both groups. However, the incidence of reflux in preoperatively dilated ureters was significantly higher in direct ureteral anastomosis than Le Duc technique (40% in group 1 vs 16.7% in group 2; P = 0.045). The incidence of stone formation, azotemia, pyelonephritis and bacteriuria was comparable in both groups. The urodynamic findings showed a mean increase in the neobladder capacity at 6 and 18 months after surgery by 340 and 560 mL, respectively. The mean of the maximum pressure was 22 Ϯ 10 cm H2O, 18 months after surgery. Daytime and nighttime continence was good or satisfactory in 93.3% and 85.5% of the patients, respectively, after 3 years of follow-up. Conclusions: The functional and voiding results of a Y-shaped neobladder pouch using 40 cm of ileum are similar to the more sophisticated larger pouches. Direct uretero-ileal anastomosis in orthotopic bladder replacement is more reasonable than the Le Duc antireflux technique in non-dilated ureters. The benefit of the antireflux technique has been overestimated despite of the frequency of stricture formation.

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> To compare the efficacy and safety of silodosin versus tamsulosin as medical expulsive therapy for stones of lower-third ureter in children. <b><i>Patients and Methods:</i></b> This prospective single-blind placebo-controlled randomized study included 167 pediatric patients who presented with distal ureteric stone (DUS) less than 1 cm. Patients were randomized into 3 groups; group I received silodosin 4 mg once daily, and group II received tamsulosin 0.4 mg while those in group III had placebo. The side effects of the used drugs, both rate and time of stone expulsion, and number of pain episodes were compared among the study groups for a maximum of 4 weeks. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Follow-up data of our patients after treatment revealed that the stone expulsion rate was significantly higher and the time to stone expulsion was significantly shorter in group I (89.3%, 12.4 ± 2.3 days) and group II (74.5%, 16.2 ± 4.2 days) compared to group III (51.8%, 21.2 ± 5.6). However, a statistically significant difference between silodosin and tamsulosin groups in favor of the former one was reported regarding the 2 studied items. Meanwhile, pain episodes requiring analgesia were statistically fewer in group I and II in contrast to placebo group. Adverse events were comparable among all groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Silodosin provides significantly better stone expulsion rate and shorter expulsion time than tamsulosin for treatment of DUS. Both medications showed good safety profiles in children. However, further studies are required on a larger scale to confirm our results. Assessment of drug safety on younger age-group is still needed.

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of symptomatic and ‘silent’ obstruction after ureteroscopic procedures.Patients and methodsIn all, 1980 patients underwent ureteroscopy for ureteric calculi in two large centres. The methods of disintegration, auxiliary procedures used and type of stenting were considered. Intraoperative complications, in addition to the size and site of the stone, were assessed in relation to postoperative obstruction. The mean (range) follow-up was 42 (12–68) months, with patients assessed after 3–6 months and yearly thereafter. The postoperative evaluation included an assessment of pain, renal ultrasonography, a plain abdominal film, intravenous urography, and a diuretic renal scan in some cases to confirm obstruction.ResultsThe success rate of stone removal was 98.5%. The failures were related to the size of the stone (>2 cm; P < 0.001). In eight patients there was a ureteric perforation, and six of these developed a ureteric stricture. A stricture also occurred in 12 patients (0.6%) during the follow-up; these included nine of 204 with stones of >2 cm (4.4%), compared to three (0.17%) of 1746 patients with stones of <2 cm (P < 0.001). Fourteen patients presented with pain (0.7%), and five had no obstruction, while in nine (0.46%) the pain was associated with obstruction. There was silent obstruction in three cases (0.15%). The negative and positive predictive values for pain were 99.8% and 64.3%, respectively.ConclusionsRadiographic surveillance for stricture formation and obstruction is mandatory in patients who are symptomatic after ureteroscopy, and for up to 18 months in patients with intraoperative complications or with a stone of >2 cm in the proximal ureter.

Aim:We evaluated the possibility that patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) might have similar histological and physiological bladder changes as that documented in patients with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC). Methods: Thirty-five known patients of CP/CPPS according to the clinical criteria of National Institutes of Health (NIH) were evaluated. The severity of the symptoms was evaluated according the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. All patients underwent a potassium sensitivity test (PST) and bladder cystoscopy. Bladder biopsy was obtained from 17 patients with prostatitis and four control patients. Results: Urinary symptoms were present in 31 (88.6%) patients. Pelvic pain was reported in all patients. PST was positive in 26 (84%) of 31 patients that presented with urinary symptoms in its filling phase. In the voiding phase, 10 (28.5%) patients experienced urethral pain. Of these patients, five had negative filling PST. There were only two (5.7%) patients that had negative PST in both of its phases for an overall positive PST rate of 94.3%. The severity of PST was not correlated with the total symptom score (P = 0.37). However, patients with severe urinary symptoms were more likely to score higher grades with PST (P = 0.01). Of the 17 patients who underwent bladder biopsy, a significant increase in the number of mast cells (MC) was present in 11 (64.7%) patients. Glomerulations with bladder cystoscopy was observed in 24 (68.6%) patients. Conclusions:The data of the present study support the opinion that PBS/IC is under-diagnosed in male patients that present with urgency, frequency and/or pain. In some patients diagnosed as CP/CPPS, the symptoms might be related to bladder dysfunction rather than prostatic inflammation.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long-term results after managing intraoperative and late-diagnosed cases of iatrogenic ureteric injury (IUI), treated endoscopically or by open surgery.Patients and methodsPatients immediately diagnosed with IUI were managed under the same anaesthetic, while those referred late had a radiological assessment of the site of injury, and endoscopic management. Open surgical procedures were used only for the failed cases with previous diversion.ResultsIn all, 98 patients who were followed had IUI after gynaecological, abdominopelvic and ureteroscopic procedures in 60.2%, 14.3% and 25.5%, respectively. The 27 patients diagnosed during surgery were managed immediately, while in the late-referred 71 patients ureteroscopic ureteric realignment with stenting was successful in 26 (36.6%). Complex open reconstruction with re-implantation or ureteric substitution, using bladder-tube or intestinal-loop procedures, was used in 27 (60%), 16 (35.5%) and two (4.5%) patients of the late group, respectively. A long-term radiological follow-up with a mean (range) of 46.6 (24.5–144) months showed recurrent obstruction in 16 (16.3%) patients managed endoscopically and reflux in six (8.3%) patients. Three renal units only (3%) were lost in the late-presenting patients.ConclusionPatients managed immediately had better long-term results. More than a third of the late-diagnosed patients were successfully managed endoscopically with minimal morbidity. Open reconstruction by an experienced urologist who can perform a complex substitutional procedure was mandatory to preserve renal units in the long-term.