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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate two methods of measuring the prostate volume using transrectal ultrasonography. The measurements were performed in vivo at preplanning and again preoperatively in connection with brachytherapy. The accurate measurement of the prostate volume is important in a brachytherapy program for treatment planning. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent prospective determination of the prostate volume, by one physician, using transrectal ultrasonography. Volume calculations were made at the preplanning and preoperative settings, both by a hand-held rectal probe using the prolate ellipsoid formula and by a mounted probe in a stepping device using the planimetric method. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation between the preplanning and preoperative prostate volumes with the probe holder was less than 3% compared with the hand-held probe, which was greater than 10%. The difference between the median values at the preplanning and preoperative settings by serial planimetry was 2.5 cm(3) (range 0.2 to 9.4). The difference in the median volumes between the preplanning and preoperative ellipsoid calculations was 6.7 cm(3) (range 0.3 to 38.7). The difference between the median values with the ellipsoid volume was significant (P <0.001). The Pearson correlation coefficient for all values using the planimetric method was 0.92 versus 0.58 for the ellipsoid method. The correlation coefficient was significantly greater for the planimetric method (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these data, planimetric prostate volume determination, by a single ultrasonographer, is an accurate and reproducible method with applicability to a brachytherapy program.

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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate in a preliminary study the utility of biofeedback for the treatment of the daytime syndrome of urinary frequency and urgency of childhood, a benign, self-limited condition with symptoms that can last for months or years. Observation is a commonly recommended approach to this syndrome because medications and other forms of therapy are often not effective. METHODS: During a 2-year period, 89 children (34 boys and 55 girls) presented with this syndrome. Patient age ranged from 4 to 11 years, and duration of symptoms ranged from 1 to 38 months. All children were evaluated with a history, physical examination, urinalysis and culture, and renal and bladder ultrasound scanning. After the evaluation, the parents were offered either observation or surface patch electromyography biofeedback for the problem. RESULTS: Overall, 84 parents (94.3%) selected biofeedback for their child. After 1 month of biofeedback, 34.5% of children were able to achieve a 2 to 4-hour voiding interval. After 2 to 4 months of biofeedback, another 51.2% of patients experienced the same improvement. Overall, 85.7% of children who underwent biofeedback had symptom improvement. In 14.3% of children, no symptom improvement was noted after 4 months of biofeedback and these children were considered nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that biofeedback may be a treatment option for this disorder and warrants further investigation.

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Many types of acrosome induction tests require special equipment and reagents that are not available to most clinicians; thus, simpler tests seem desirable. A modified acrosome induction test has been developed that uses basic reagents and a light microscope, which are available in most office settings. A hypoosmotic swelling test and a double stain (Bismark brown and rose Bengal) were combined to evaluate the viable acrosome reaction (AR) among 74 infertile men and 42 control men. The study included 34 infertile males without varicoceles, 20 with nonrepaired varicoceles and 20 with repaired varicoceles. On each test day, a specimen from a fertile donor was run as a control. The spontaneous acrosome reaction was recorded in semen before and after capacitation. The final % viable acrosome reaction equaled the capacitated value minus the spontaneous value for whole semen. The mean % viable AR among the control specimens was 16% with no values less than 10%. This mean value for controls was significantly greater than the mean % viable AR in each patient group. There were no overlaps in the 95% confidence intervals. When the study group was stratified according to normal acrosome induction tests or >10% viable AR, 30 patients had a normal test and 44 had abnormal tests. Six patients with varicoceles and an abnormal acrosome induction test had a varicocelectomy, and 2 (33%) converted their acrosome induction test to normal after at least 6 months of follow-up. Nine patients had in vitro fertilization (IVF), 3 had a poor result, and all had an abnormal acrosome induction test. Six had a good result with IVF and all 6 had a normal acrosome induction test. Thus, the acrosome induction test described in this report may be performed in any office laboratory to detect subtle male factor problems. The results may be helpful for planning IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or varicocele surgery for infertile men.

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Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by mental retardation, self-mutilation, choreoathetosis, and hyperuricemia. The disease is caused by a mutation in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene and is transmitted as a sex-linked recessive disorder. Since hyperuricemia is the primary metabolic problem caused by a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase mutation, urologic evaluation and treatment is often necessary for children with this disease. We report a 3-year-old boy who presented with anuric renal failure secondary to bilateral obstructing uric acid calculi. The evaluation of T lymphocytes revealed a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase mutation consistent with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. The diagnosis and urologic management of this disorder is discussed.

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PURPOSE: Intraoperative sperm banking has been recommended during vasectomy reversal. These specimens are maintained as insurance for possible future intracytoplasmic sperm injection. We evaluated the fate of specimens collected intraoperatively from 48 vasectomy reversal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 75 men 48 (64.0%) agreed to intraoperative sperm banking during vasectomy reversal. A total of 135 vials of epididymal sperm, 81 vials of testicular tissue and 13 vials of vasal sperm were cryopreserved. RESULTS: Among couples who stored sperm 10 (20.8%) voluntarily discarded the specimens within 4 months of vasectomy reversal. Specimens from 31 couples (64.5%) remain in storage. Seven couples (14.6%) have used frozen sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In 3 of these couples the men were azoospermic after surgery, 2 men had 10,000 to 15,000 sperm per ml. in the ejaculate with limited motility and 2 had 1 to 2 million sperm per ml. with limited motility. The 7 women who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection ranged between 37 and 39 years old, which was older than the mean age of the remaining study group (32.7 years). With intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization was achieved in all cases and 20 of 47 eggs (42.5%) developed into embryos. Of 7 women 4 achieved biochemical pregnancies (57.1%) and 2 (28.6%) delivered newborns with epididymal sperm. Natural pregnancy occurred in 7 of 16 vasectomy reversal couples (43.7%) who were followed at least 18 months postoperatively but the time to pregnancy averaged 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreservation of sperm collected at vasectomy reversal is recommended for patients undergoing vasoepididymostomy or vasovasostomy. The couples who used the cryopreserved sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection included husbands whose postoperative ejaculate remained azoospermic or severely oligospermic and wives who were approaching 40 years old. Only a limited number of couples (14.6% of the study group) have used the cryopreserved sperm but the delivered newborn rate (28.6%) was comparable to other intracytoplasmic sperm injection data. The natural pregnancy rate after vasectomy reversal was 43.7% but the time to pregnancy after surgery was lengthy (average 1 year). These findings may be helpful for counseling couples who are planning vasectomy reversal surgery and may be considering intraoperative sperm banking.

PIP: This is a follow-up study on the cryopreserved sperm specimens acquired during vasectomy reversal. The sample was composed of 75 men from whom 48 (64%) agreed to intraoperative sperm banking during vasectomy reversal. A total of 135 vials of epididymal sperm, 81 vials of testicular tissues, and 13 vials of vassal sperm were cryopreserved. The result indicates that among the couples who stored sperm, 10 (20.8%) voluntarily discarded the specimens within 4 months of vasectomy reversal. Specimens from 31 couples (64.5%) remain in storage. 7 couples (14.6%) have used frozen sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In 3 of these couples, the men were azoospermazoic after surgery, 2 men had 10,000-15,000 sperm/ml in the ejaculate with limited motility, and 2 had 1-2 million sperm/ml with limited motility. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization was achieved in all cases and 20 of 47 eggs (42.5%) developed into embryos. Of the 7 women, 4 achieved biochemical pregnancies (57.1%) and 2 (28.6%) delivered newborns with epididymal sperm. Natural pregnancy occurred in 7 of 16 vasectomy reversal couples (43.7%), but the time to pregnancy ranged from 4-18 months with an average of 1 year. Therefore, intraoperative collection and cryopreservation of epididymal and testicular sperm are recommended during vasectomy reversal surgery.

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PURPOSE: The development of contralateral reflux after unilateral antireflux surgery has spawned interest and controversy regarding etiology and management issues. We evaluate our experience to understand better the issues surrounding contralateral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children seen in a 7-year period who underwent unilateral extravesical ureteral advancement performed by one of us (M. R. Z.) at our institution. RESULTS: A total of 43 children a mean of 50.5 months old underwent unilateral reimplantation. The male-to-female ratio was 12:31. In 12 children contralateral reflux had resolved preoperatively. Overall contralateral reflux developed in 5 patients (11.6%) after unilateral extravesical ureteral advancement. In 1 child in whom new onset contralateral reflux developed on 1 side reflux resolved by 10 months with observation. In 8 of the 12 children (66%) with a history of resolved contralateral reflux there was no recurrence. In 4 of the 12 children recurrent contralateral reflux completely resolved by 14 months postoperatively with only observation. In these 4 patients initial reflux had been grades II and IV in 2 each. To date all fully evaluable reflux in children with previous contralateral reflux recurred has resolved. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence of contralateral reflux after unilateral reimplantation that is expected in a small number of children resolves in the majority, if not in all, with conservative management. We believe that children should not be offered bilateral reimplantation for unilateral reflux and a history of resolved contralateral reflux. If contralateral reflux recurs, it will most likely resolve with time.

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PURPOSE: Epidermolysis bullosa is a devastating rare disorder that rarely presents with urological complications. We report our experience with and review the literature on this disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two brothers with epidermolysis bullosa presented to our center with severe dysuria and urinary tract obstruction caused by meatal stenosis. The obstruction was temporarily relieved by meatotomy but recurrent obstructive skin blistering with severe dysuria required ureterosigmoidostomy for palliation of symptoms. RESULTS: Both children tolerated ureterosigmoidostomy well with 1 requiring bicarbonate supplementation for metabolic acidosis. Ureterosigmoidostomy greatly improved quality of life, and both children have complete symptom relief. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermolysis bullosa is usually a severe illness associated with a poor prognosis. Crippling urological symptoms may develop due to recurrent skin blistering causing severe dysuria and secondary obstruction. Ureterosigmoidostomy, despite its complications, provides significant palliation for patients with recalcitrant symptoms.

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It has been a historical supposition that aortic surgery, even in an elective setting, has been associated with the transfusion of large amounts of blood products. We feel that this assumption is now dated, and in fact far fewer patients now receive allogenic blood products. To assess this assumption, we carried out a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent elective aortic surgery over an 18-month period from April 1994 to October 1995. Factors analyzed included type of procedure, blood loss, amount of Cell Saver blood replaced, need for autologous blood transfusion, and need for allogenic blood transfusion. Sixty-seven patients underwent elective aortic surgery with either an aortic tube graft (23), an aortobiiliac graft (25), or an aortobifemoral graft (19). The male:female ratio was 48:19, with a mean age of 67 years (range, 42-85 years). Mortality and morbidity were 4.4 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively. The average blood loss per patient was 770 cc. Cell saver was used in 65 patients, with the average amount of blood returned being 542 cc. Overall, 73 per cent of patients did not require allogenic blood transfusion, and 58 per cent did not need any type of transfusion. Of those who stored autologous blood prior to operation, none required allogenic blood perioperatively. With the new advances in autologous blood transfusion both by predeposit and salvage transfusion, we have greatly reduced the need for transfusion of allogenic blood products in patients undergoing major aortic surgery. This is reassuring, and although increasing short-term cost, will reduce the morbidity-infectious, noninfectious, and immunologic-associated in prior decades with allogenic blood transfusions. We strongly recommend the use of Cell Saver techniques, and also, where possible, patients should be encouraged to donate their own blood prior to major aortic procedures for future transfusion.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of video-urodynamic studies (VUDS) in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) and symptoms of voiding dysfunction (frequency, urgency, incontinence), to ascertain whether VUDS significantly assists in diagnosis and deciding treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a 16-month period, all children seen at our centre with a UTI in conjunction with previous symptoms suggestive of voiding dysfunction underwent free and pressure-flow VUDS. Forty-two children underwent VUDS and 38 (mean age 9 years, range 4-16, 15 male, 23 female) had sufficient information to be included in the study. RESULTS: All children had a prior history of voiding dysfunction (mean 55 months). Only five patients were found to have reflux and three of these had associated detrusor instability. In addition, 24 of 33 patients who did not have reflux had abnormalities on urodynamic study, the most common problem being detrusor instability in 17 of 24 patients. Other abnormalities included sphincter dyssynergia (five patients), poor bladder compliance (two) and hypersensitivity on bladder filling (three). CONCLUSION: VUDS can provide information about the aetiology of UTI and voiding dysfunction in children that cannot be obtained from any other source. The results of VUDS can be used to select specific treatments, to avoid inappropriate therapy and to identify children who may benefit from follow-up studies despite normal findings on voiding cystourethrography. From these results, we believe that VUDS should be considered for children with UTI and voiding dysfunction.

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Cardiac myxomas arising from the mitral valve are extremely rare. We describe the case of an asymptomatic 49-year-old woman who was found to have a 3.6 x 4.0-cm myxoma originating from the atrial side of the anterior mitral leaflet. The lesion was successfully treated by surgical excision and mitral valve replacement. A review of the literature regarding this rare lesion is presented.

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