Neck Contracture Research Articles

Incorporating intra-lesional injection of mitomycin C in the management algorithm for bladder neck contractures and vesicourethral anastomotic strictures

Objective: This study aims to describe the experience of a single-surgeon series with the use of intra-lesional mitomycin C (MMC) in the treatment of bladder neck contracture (BNC) and vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS). Patients and methods: From July 2014 to January 2019, patients who underwent bladder neck incision (BNI) and intra-lesional MMC injection performed by a single surgeon were included in this retrospective study. Clinico-pathological data were extracted from medical records. The primary outcome was recurrence rate following BNI and MMC injection. Results: Ten patients were included in the study. The median age was 68 years. The cause of BNC or VUAS was secondary to radical prostatectomy in eight patients and to endoscopic prostatectomy in two patients. The median follow-up was 16.4 months. The success rate was 70% after first treatment with BNI and MMC injection, and 80% after repeated treatment. There were no serious adverse events or complications related to the MMC injection. Conclusion: BNI and intra-lesional MMC injection is a minimally invasive treatment for refractory bladder neck contractures with a good success rate and minimal risk of side effects when a low dose of MMC is used. Further prospective multicentre study is warranted. Level of evidence: Level 4.

The Effect of Radiation Therapy on the Efficacy of Internal Urethrotomy With Intralesional Mitomycin C for Recurrent Vesicourethral Anastomotic Stenoses and Bladder Neck Contractures: A Multi-Institutional Experience

To assess the efficacy, effect of radiotherapy, and complications of direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) and intralesional mitomycin C (MMC) for recurrent bladder neck contracture/vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (BNC/VUAS). Patients who underwent DVIU with intralesional MMC for recurrent BNC/VUAS between 2007 and 2019 at 2 institutions were included. Cold knife incisions were performed in a reproducible fashion followed by injection of 0.3-0.4 mg/mL MMC at each incision site. Those with evidence of complete urethral obliteration, stenosis of the entire posterior urethra, or <3 months follow-up were excluded. Success was defined as the ability to pass a 17-French cystoscope postoperatively without the need for catheterization or additional procedures. Eighty-six patients were analyzed over a median follow-up of 21.1 months. Around 91% had at least 1 prior DVIU, 56% had at least 1 prior dilation, and 44% presented with an indwelling catheter or performed intermittent catheterization. Success was achieved in 65% after 1 procedure, an additional 18% after 2 procedures, and another 7% after 3 or more procedures (90% overall success rate). Nonradiated patients showed a higher overall success rate compared to radiated patients (94% vs 76%, P=0.04). Of the 9 cystoscopic failures, 5 were asymptomatic and pursued observation. Only 2 (5%) patients with a history of catheterization required this postoperatively. Two patients underwent subsequent urinary diversion surgery. No long-term complications were seen. DVIU with low-dose MMC remains a safe and effective BNC/VUAS treatment. A patent bladder neck was achieved in >90% of nonradiated patients and >75% of radiated patients.

CHEMODNERVATION FOR CERVICAL DYSTONIA: A CLINICAL REVIEW

Cervical dystonia (CD) is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary contractions of neck muscles that result in patterned movements and abnormal postures of the head and neck that have a directional quality. CD is the most common form of dystonia presenting to the movement disorders clinic. Botulinum toxin is an effective treatment for cervical dystonia. It has become the first-line treatment for cervical dystonia with a satisfactory relief of symptoms reported in more than 80% of the cases. Multiple small and large scale studies proven that fact and provided Class-A evidence for the benefit. However, 20% of the patients discontinue treatment due to adverse effects, treatment failure and other reasons. With the proper knowledge of toxins and the anatomy of the neck, much better results can be achieved with fewer and self-limiting adverse effects as compared to other modalities. However, the expert consensus recommendations are lacking to guide clinicians for optimal use of botulinum toxin for cervical dystonias. This paper discusses the different available treatments, botulinum injection techniques and the adverse effects involved with the procedure.

Subcutaneous Ports for Chronic Nerve Cuff and Intramuscular Electrode Stimulation in Animal Models.

Tracking recovery after nerve injury may require many intermittent assessments over long periods, preferably with non- or minimally invasive methods. We developed subcutaneous electrical connection ports (ECPs) for repeated connection to nerve cuff or intramuscular electrodes via transdermal needles and evaluated them during studies of laryngeal reinnervation. Animal experiment. Laboratory. ECPs were designed and 3-dimensionally printed for connection to bipolar electrodes with biocompatible polymers. Dual compartments filled with conductive silicone capped with nonconductive silicone were used to make the connections between electrode leads and transdermally inserted needles. Ten dogs (19-29 kg) were implanted with 22 ECPs. In 7 dogs, 11 electrodes were placed on recurrent laryngeal nerves proximal to transection and suture repair to track laryngeal reinnervation. In 6 dogs, 8 spinal accessory nerve cuff electrodes were used to stimulate neck muscle contraction. In 2 dogs, 3 electrodes were implanted in the thyroarytenoid muscle. Stimulation thresholds, electromyography, and videolaryngoscopic imaging were obtained in 156 tests over survival periods up to 32 months. Stimulation data provided information about ECP performance. ECPs added negligible resistance to electrodes (mean ± SD, 2.14 ± 0.9 Ω). Despite some electrode leads breaking distally, ECPs were reliable and well tolerated at implant sites and enabled periodic assessment of nerve and muscle function over the time course of laryngeal reinnervation. Histology showed ECP encapsulation as thin layers of connective tissue and minimal acute inflammation. Custom ECPs are easily fabricated and cause little tissue reaction over months to years of subcutaneous implantation, facilitating long-term physiologic studies.

Bladder Neck Resection Combined with Ten Point Intralesional Mitomycin C Injection in Management of Refractory Bladder Neck Contracture in Post TURP Status: A Single-Center, 2-Year Experience.

PurposeBladder neck contracture is an annoying problem for patients as well as urologists. Recurrence still remains a common problem associated with significant morbidity. This study evaluated the efficacy and side effects of mitomycin C (MMC) which has anti-fibroblast as well as anti-collagen properties in the deterrence of bladder neck contracture (BNC) recurrence after transurethral bladder neck resection (TUBNR).Materials and MethodsTen patients between March 2017 and April 2018 with extremely persistent BNCs who underwent multiple failed endoscopic procedures (≥3 times) were evaluated by using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPPS), uroflowmetry, quality of life (QOL) and post void residual urine (PVR) preoperatively. All patients underwent transurethral bladder neck resection (TUBNR) followed by ten-point intraoperative MMC injection, not exceeding a total dose of 2 mg (0.2 mg/mL), which was given circumferentially at the resected site, using Williams cystoscopic needle. Patients were reviewed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postoperatively.ResultsThe procedure was done on a day care basis. The recurrence period prior to our treatment was 3.2 ± 1.3 months. The follow-up was for 24 months. Overall 80% (8 of 10) of patients demonstrated resolution of BNCs as well as sufficient flow rate which was evaluated by uroflowmetry, PVR, IPPS and QoL postoperatively. One patient had detrusor underactivity. Relapse was seen in two patients. None of the patients experienced any significant adverse effects related to MMC.ConclusionIntraoperative ten-site injection of MMC after TUBNR can be regarded as a safe and efficient technique with no serious adverse event.

Supraclavicular artery flaps for head and neck reconstruction: a prospective study

Reconstruction of defects of the head and neck remains a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. This is due to the complex anatomy of the region as well as the age and comorbidities of the patients, which prevent the use of free tissue transfer as the primary tool of reconstruction. The supraclavicular artery (SCA) island flap is a well vascularised tissue and provides a thin and pliable skin for cutaneous and mucosal defects of the head and neck region. Here, we had done this flap for eight patients with no major complications and hence, we concur that it is a safe, reliable and versatile reconstructive option for these defects. The study period was from January 2015 to June 2016 where we operated on 8 patients, 5 for post burn contracture neck and 3 for post oncologic resection. The flap was used as a pedicled fascio-cutaneous and was based on the transverse supraclavicular artery. Eight cases underwent supraclavicular artery flap of which 5 were males and 3 females. Mean defect size was 15×10 cm. All the donor sites were closed with a split skin graft. One patient had distal necrosis which was managed with debridement and secondary suturing. The supraclavicular artery flap is a thin, versatile, reliable and easy to harvest flap for reconstructing head and neck defects, with good cosmetic and functional outcome.

NOVEL TECHNIQUES FOR DIFFICULT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN VARIOUS CLINICAL SCENARIOS: CASE SERIES AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Difficult airway management has till date been the most fearsome and challenging part of any anaesthetic management. Meticulous planning is always done prior to anaesthetic induction of such patients with multiple back up plans and rescue strategy. Significant advancements in terms of clinical protocols, techniques, and devices / gadgets in this field have led to decreased incidence of airway related complications. We hereby present a case series of 3 clinical cases with different airway scenarios; 1) Patient with huge goiter, who was intubated with the help of an indigenously developed fish mouth valve device, 2) a temporomandibular joint ankylosis case, managed with awake fibreoptic guided intubation 3) Patient with post burn contracture of face and neck, in which fibreoptic intubation was performed after partial release of scar under tumescent anaesthesia. Extensive preoperative airway evaluation and preparation to handle any emergency by multiple backup plans always helps in smooth sailing through these difficult clinical scenarios

Efficacy of Needle Electrode Three-Point Method on Bladder Neck Contracture After Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

Introduction: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease among the elderly, which is the major cause of lower urinary tract symptoms. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is widely used for the treatment of BPH. However, complications of urethral stricture and bladder neck contracture (BNC) occur postoperation that causes poor quality of life in patients. Reported incidence of BNC ranges from 0.3% to 9.6%.1,2 Bladder neck incision, laser vaporization, and balloon dilatation are applied for the treatment of BNC with overall high recurrence rates. In recent years, new techniques such as T-plasty, a modified YV-plasty, and robot-assisted laparoscopic Y-V plasty were performed in the treatment of BNC and achieved satisfactory outcomes with success rate of 83.3%–90%.3,4 However, these techniques are complicated and difficult for the primary urologists to master. This video shows a transurethral approach by using a needle electrode to incise the pathway from the bladder outlet to the proximal verumontanum at 5, 7, and 12 o'clock positions, respectively, the depth of the incision should reach the adipose layer. Materials and Methods: From February 2015 to August 2019, the bladder necks from 48 patients with BNC after TURP were incised by the needle electrode at the 5, 7, and 12 o'clock positions, which extended the incision from the bladder outlet to the proximal verumontanum until exposure of the adipose layer. During the whole procedure in the treatment of BNC including cut of the residual prostate scar tissue, three-point incision by the needle electrode was the most important for the treatment of BNC, which could be against the formation of fibrous rings and prevent the recurrence of BNC. Patient's preoperation properties, peri- and postsurgical data, such as time of operative, postsurgical bladder irrigation, catheter duration, and hospital stay, as well as data of the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual (PVR), were recorded 1 and 6 months after surgery. Results: All 48 cases of BNC were effectively treated in (49.6 ± 14.4) minutes with (15.1 ± 4.6) hours for postoperative bladder irrigation. The urethral catheter was withdrawn at (5.6 ± 2.4) days post-treatment. Only one case had dysuria after postoperative catheter removal, the other 47 cases on re-examination after 1 and 6 months showed that IPSS and PVR were significantly decreased, but Qmax was increased when compared with preoperation (p < 0.001). Importantly, there were no significantly different outcomes between 1 and 6 months postoperation (p > 0.05). Strikingly, 20 cases followed up 6–24 months, mean of 12 months, had no urinary incontinence, retrograde ejaculation, and recurrence of BNC. Conclusions: Transurethral incision of bladder neck by the three-point method using the needle electrode for the treatment of BNC is mini-invasive, safe, effective, and reliable and may be implemented in the clinical setting. No competing financial interests exist. Runtime of video: 6 mins 53 secs

Comparison between a transurethral prostate split and transurethral prostate resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment in a small prostate volume: a prospective controlled study.

BackgroundTransurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was considered the golden standard to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for decades. However, TURP was associated with low efficiency to alleviate the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and a significantly higher risk of bladder neck contracture (BNC) for patients with small-volume BPH. Our study aims to compare the therapeutic effect of a transurethral split of the prostate (TUSP) with TURP for patients with small-volume BPH (<30 mL).MethodsIn this study, 101 small-volume BPH patients were randomly divided into two groups (TUSP and TURP group). The patient’s baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were recorded. The follow-up was done at six months, one year and two years after surgical treatment.ResultsNo significant differences were observed between the two groups for the baseline characteristics, including age, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, concurrent disease, post-void residual (PVR), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), international prostate symptoms score (IPSS), and quality of life (QoL) score. The operative time and hemoglobin decrease were significantly lower in the TUSP group compared to the TURP group. However, no significant differences were observed between both groups for catheterization time, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence of transurethral resection syndrome (TURS). However, of the late complications, the incidence of BNC in the TUSP group was significantly lower than the TURP group. No significant differences were found between both groups for other complications, including postoperative bleeding, micturition urgency, micturition frequency, micturition pain, urinary tract infection, recatheterization, transient incontinence, and continuous incontinence. Follow-up results showed that the IPSS of the TUSP group was significantly lower than the TURP group, while the Qmax of the TUSP group was significantly higher than the TURP group.ConclusionsThis study shows that TUSP may be an efficient and safe treatment for small-volume BPH (<30 mL) with a lower incidence of postoperative BNC and better longtime clinical outcomes than TURP. It suggested that TUSP could be an ideal treatment choice for small-volume BPH.

Urethra Sparing Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy: Modified Madigan Technique

Introduction and Objectives: Bladder neck contracture and sexual dysfunction are associated with transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Removing the obstruc...

Cohort study of high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of localised prostate cancer treatment: Medium-term results from a single centre.

We report medium-term results in men receiving primary whole-gland HIFU (WG-HIFU) and following salvage treatment. One hundred and twenty-eight patients in a single hospital were enrolled. The enrolled patients were treated with WG-HIFU for primary localized prostate cancer. Salvage treatment include androgen deprivation therapy, secondary HIFU and salvage radiation therapy. Our primary outcomes were biochemical recurrence-free survival, salvage treatment-free survival, and metastasis-free survival. Secondary outcomes included urinary incontinence, de novo erectile dysfunction, acute epididymitis, bladder neck contracture, and urethral stricture. The 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rates were 85.7%, 82.7%, and 45.2% for D'Amico low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed high risk group is the only predictor of significant shorter biochemical recurrence free survival, salvage treatment free survival, and metastasis free survival. Of 38 patients receiving salvage treatment after biochemical recurrence, 29 (76.3%) became free from biochemical recurrence. Rates of the adverse events of urinary incontinence, acute epididymitis, bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture, and de novo erectile dysfunction were 2.3%, 10.9%, 20.3%, 65.6%, respectively. In conclusion, WG-HIFU is an effective treatment option for localised prostate cancer, especially in D'Amico low- and intermediate-risk cases. The success rate of salvage treatment with radiation therapy and secondary HIFU for biochemical recurrence was acceptable. Fewer adverse events were caused by HIFU, especially incontinence and erectile dysfunction, than by radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.

Modified cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopic Y-V plasty for recalcitrant bladder neck contracture

Background and aim Recalcitrant bladder neck contracture (BNC) is a common complication after transurethral resection of the prostate. Our aim was to show the outcomes of a modified cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopic Y-V plasty for BNC treatments. Material and methods We retrospectively evaluated a series of 27 patients who underwent a modified cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopic Y-V plasty for recalcitrant BNC from January 2017 to September 2019. Urinary flow rate, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) and bladder urethral examination by cystoscopy were performed preoperatively and postoperatively, respectively. Results All patients underwent the procedure successfully and no serious complication occurred. The median surgery time was 68.6 min without massive bleeding. The median follow-up time was 14.2 months and no patients had urinary incontinence. The maximum urine flow rate 3 months after surgery was significantly higher than prior to surgery (17.7 ± 2.1 ml/s vs. 8.2 ± 1.2 ml/s, p < 0.05). The IPSS was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative score (5.7 ± 2.3 vs. 19.2 ± 1.4, p < 0.05). The cystoscopy showed a wide bladder neck and the survival bladder flap in prostate urethral 3 months postoperatively in 92.6% (25/27) patients. Conclusions The modified cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopic Y-V plasty is a feasible and effective technique for recalcitrant BNC treatment.

Ten-year Follow-up Results After Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

BackgroundScarce data are available about long-term follow-up (FU) in men undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of being symptomatic at 10-yr FU after HoLEP. Design, setting, and participantsPerioperative data from 125 patients submitted to HoLEP in 2007–2010 by a single, highly experienced surgeon were analyzed. Patients were assessed by International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and uroflowmetry at 6-mo and 10-yr FU. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisLogistic regression models tested the association between clinically significant predictors and the risk of being symptomatic at long-term FU (defined as IPSS≥8 and/or peak flow rate [PFR]<15ml/s and/or postvoid residual volume [PVR]>20ml, need for symptomatic medical treatment, or redo surgery). Results and limitationsAt surgery, median (interquartile range) age was 66 years (61, 69), prostate volume was 78ml (56, 105), and PFR was 9ml/s (7, 12). All patients showed favorable outcomes (ie, IPSS and uroflowmetry parameters) 6 months after surgery. At median 126-month FU, PFR was 16ml/s (13, 23), PVR was 10ml (5, 15), total IPSS was 5 (1–7), and PSA was 0.7 ng/ml (0.4, 1.3). Of all, 32 patients (26%) were symptomatic at long-term FU, seven (5.7%) reported urinary incontinence, and six (4.7%) underwent redo surgery throughout the FU period due to either bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture. Older patients at surgery (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.22; p=0.006) and patients who never recovered full continence postoperatively (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.01–0.27; p=0.001) were at a higher risk of being symptomatic at very long-term FU, after adjusting for baseline clinical characteristics. ConclusionsHoLEP ensures a durable relief of urinary symptoms in almost 75% of patients up to 10 years after surgery. Older patients and those who do not recover from incontinence after surgery should be counseled carefully regarding a higher risk of symptom recurrence at long-term assessment. Patient summaryConsistent symptom relief is preserved even 10 years after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate in almost 75% of patients. Older age and incomplete continence recovery after surgery were the two most relevant risk factors for being symptomatic at long-term follow-up.Postoperative functional outcomes are kept in three out of four patients at 10-yr follow-up after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. Conversely, the older the patient at surgery and the presence of incomplete continence recovery throughout the postoperative period, the greater the probability of being symptomatic at long-term follow-up.

Intralesional steroid injection combined with bladder neck incision is efficacious in the treatment of recurrent bladder neck contracture.

Bladder neck contracture (BNC) is a well-recognized complication following radical prostatectomy (RP). This problem may recur after failing initial endoscopic management. This study evaluated the efficacy of intralesional steroid injection combined with bladder neck incision (BNI) for recurrent BNC following RP. Between November 2011 and March 2018, data from all men who underwent BNI and intralesional steroid injection for recurrent BNC from a single regional center were collected. BNC was diagnosed endoscopically and identified as recurrent if having previously failed endoscopic management with BNI alone. Follow up was initially performed at 3 months with an International Prostate Symptom Score and urinary flow rate. Patients were noted to be recurrence-free when discharged from follow up or after having undergone a continence procedure indicating stability of the contracture. Thirty patients underwent BNI and intralesional steroid injection for recurrent BNC over the study period. All patients had received prior endoscopic incision of BNC without lasting success. Seventy percent (21/30) of patients were recurrence-free post-procedure, and this increased to 83.3% (25/30) after a repeat procedure in four patients. All five patients who had previous salvage radiotherapy had their recurrent BNC successfully managed with one BNI and intralesional steroid injection. The mean follow up was 33.4 months (range 7-75). There were no adverse events recorded. BNI combined with injection of intralesional steroids is a simple, cost-effective intervention which requires no specialist equipment/skills outside the realm of a general urologist. It is safe and has an excellent success rate.

MONOPOLAR VERSUS BIPOLAR TRANSURETHRAL ENUCLEATION OF THE PROSTATE FOR LARGE VOLUME BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Background: The choice of treatment modality in patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most discussed issues in urology. In recent years, the surgical treatment of prostates of large sizes by means of enucleation has become increasingly popular. The emergence of special loops to perform bipolar and monopolar enucleation using standard equipment for TURP has opened up new possibilities for the treatment of patients by transurethral monopolar enucleation.Aim of the Work: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Monopolar versus Bipolar Transurethral Enucleation of the Prostatefor Large volume Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Patients and Methods: 40 patients with BPH were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 underwent Monopolar Transurethral Enucleation of the Prostate (M-TUEP) (n=20), and Group 2 underwent Bipolar Transurethral Enucleation of the Prostate (B-TUEP) (n=20). Operation time, incidence of hyponatremia,estimated blood loss by drop of haemoglobin, improvement of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QoL) score, Uroflowmetry (Qmax and Qave), Post Voiding Residual Urine (PVR) and Prostate volume and other complications ( as reintervention for clots and bleeding control, recatheterization, UTI, incidence of TUR syndrome, incidence of infarction, incontinence, bladder neck contracture and urethral stricture) were compared. Results: Operation was successfully performed in all 40 cases, and no open surgery was converted in any case or blood transfusion was needed. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups in operative time, postoperative haemoglobin and serum sodium levels decline, or improvement in postoperative IPSS, QoL score, Qmax, Qave, Prostate volume and PVR. All patients were followed up to 6 months postoperatively, and no complications occurred except one patient in Group 1 (5% of Group 1 and 2.5 % of the whole study) developed Urethral stricture. Conclusion: M-TUEP was shown to be a safe and highly effective technique for relief of Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO). The clinical efficacy of M-TUEP is sustainable for up to 6 months of follow-up. Our single-center results show that M-TUEP has the same efficacy as B-TUEP for the surgical treatment of symptomatic BPH, so M-TUEP can replace B-TUEP with the same efficacy and comparable safety.

The Use of Collagen-Glycosaminoglycan Biodegradable Matrix (Integra®) in the Management of Neck Postburn Hypertrophic Scars and Contractures

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is a chain-like disaccharide that is linked to a polypeptide core to connect two collagen fibrils/fibers and provide the intermolecular force in a Collagen-GAG matrix which can be a valuable treatment of post-burn contractures and hypertrophic scars, which remain a challenge to reconstructive surgery. The face and neck contractures are the most difficult sites to treat. This article is meant to discuss our clinical experience in using collagen-glycosaminoglycan biodegradable matrix (Integra® Integra Lifesciences Corporation, Plainsboro, NJ, USA) to reconstruct defects created by excision of contracted areas from the neck and lower face areas. Between 2009 and 2011, we had 11 patients that underwent Integra reconstructive procedures. The mean follow-up period was 18 months. For all the patients, the intake of the Integra dermal regeneration template was 100%, even if one patient developed a minor infection treated with appropriate antibiotics. The patients are very satisfied with the result. A minor problem was a small difference in skin color, but this inconvenience was compensated by good skin elasticity.

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Irrigation "Bag Squeeze" to Manage Pain for Patients Undergoing Flexible Cystoscopy.

We determined if the "bag squeeze" technique decreases pain during flexible cystoscopy in men. This single center, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial recruited 200 consenting participants who were ambulatory, outpatient males who had undergone prior cystoscopy and were not expected to require any secondary procedures. Men with prior urethral stricture or bladder neck contracture were excluded from study. Once eligibility was assessed and consent obtained, participants were randomized to undergo cystoscopy with the bag squeeze (group A) or the sham bag squeeze procedure (group B). Following cystoscopy, participants completed a pain questionnaire (visual analogue scale). Differences in mean pain score between groups were evaluated using Students' t-test with a 2-sided alpha of 0.05. A total of 200 patients were randomized and underwent flexible cystoscopy. Ten participants were ineligible because they required secondary procedures. Among the 190 eligible patients 97 were randomized to bag squeeze (group A) and 93 to sham bag squeeze (group B) with mean pain scores of 1.91 and 3.39, respectively (p <0.005). This study demonstrated a clinically meaningful decrease in pain for men undergoing flexible cystoscopy when the irrigation bag squeeze technique was used vs placebo bag squeeze. Accordingly, this useful, simple and free method to improve patient comfort during flexible cystoscopy should be adopted by clinicians.

Management of highly recurrent bladder neck contractures via transurethral resection combined with intra- and post-operative triamcinolone acetonide injections.

To present our preliminary experience in managing patients with highly recurrent bladder neck contractures (BNCs) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Between February 2015 and March 2018, 28 patients with highly recurrent BNCs who had failed multiple prior to endoscopic treatments were managed with transurethral resection and intra- and post-operative triamcinolone acetonide injections. The scar tissue was resected to the circular fiber at the bladder neck, and triamcinolone acetonide (2mL, 40mg/mL) was injected at the incision sites (8 points) using a cystoscopic injection needle. The cystoscopy-guided injections were repeated every four weeks for total three times after surgery. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12months after surgery, and in July-August 2019. The recurrent interval before the treatments was 2.2 ± 1.2months, without any BNC recurrence in the first 12weeks after transurethral resection. The urinary flow rate increased significantly and was maintained during the follow-up period. Adequate voiding function was reported in 25 of 28 patients at a median follow-up of 2.8 (1.7, 3.9) years. One of the three patients with decreased urinary flow rate had underactive detrusor and no BNC recurrence. The complications were mild and tolerable. Transurethral resection of the scar tissue combined with intra- and post-operative triamcinolone acetonide injections resulted in a success rate of 92.9% in patients with highly recurrent BNC following TURP. It is a simple, safe, and effective treatment for highly recurrent BNCs.

The Relationship of Ultrasound Measurements of Muscle Deformation With Torque and Electromyography During Isometric Contractions of the Cervical Extensor Muscles

ObjectivesSpeckle tracking analysis (STA) of ultrasound (US) images quantifies the longitudinal deformation of a region of muscle tissue to provide a mechanical measure of muscle activity. As the validity and reliability of this method has not yet been adequately assessed, the aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of STA in the dorsal neck muscles during isometric neck extension contractions. MethodsTwenty volunteers performed 3 repetitions of isometric neck extension in a dynamometer at 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal voluntary torque while US and surface electromyography (EMG) data were recorded. Speckle tracking analysis was then used to calculate measurements of muscle deformation. The relationship among torque, muscle deformation (separate for each muscle and summed), and EMG was evaluated using linear regressions and Spearman's correlation coefficients. The reliability of EMG and muscle deformation was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). ResultsMuscle deformation in 4 of the 5 muscles when examined separately and collectively was significantly related to torque (P < .05); however, the relationship was weak (r2 = 0.03-0.18). In contrast, a strong linear relationship was observed between torque and EMG (P < .001, r2 = 0.83). Poor to moderate reliability of muscle deformation measures (ICC: 0.02-0.69) was found compared with EMG, which was highly reliable (ICC: 0.67-0.90). ConclusionThese results suggest that the validity of US STA measurements for isometric contractions of the dorsal neck muscles is questionable. Further investigation into this method is required before it can be used as a tool to measure muscle activity.

Endoscopic Management of Urethral Stricture Disease and Bladder Neck Contractures.

This section aims to review general principles of endoscopic management of urethral stricture disease and posterior urethral stenosis, with a special focus on the indications for treatment and technical aspects of urethral dilation and internal incision.