[Neurology and incontinence in the year 1999].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D De Ridder.
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We present a study on the clinical assessment of pelvic floor dysfunction in 30 female patients with proven multiple sclerosis (MS). A scoring system for pelvic floor muscle testing by digital vaginal palpation is proposed. The concept of pelvic floor spasticity in MS is introduced. The relationship of our findings with the neurological findings and urodynamic data is presented. Pelvic floor spasticity correlates well with the presence of detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia and with more severe spinal cord disease.
PURPOSE: We define the risk of bladder cancer in multiple sclerosis related to the use of indwelling catheters and cyclophosphamide administered as an immunomodulating agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 2,351 patients with multiple sclerosis referred to the National Center for Multiple Sclerosis. RESULTS: Of the 2,351 patients 2 women and 5 men (0.29%) had bladder cancer. Of the 850 chronically catheterized patients the incidence was 0.7%. One patient with cancer performed intermittent catheterization for a rate of 0.23% in this group. In a subgroup of 70 patients treated with cyclophosphamide 5 chronically catheterized patients (5.7%) had bladder cancer. Hematuria was the most common presenting symptom. These data were compared with those in the literature on bladder cancer in spinal cord injury. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a possible synergistic role of cyclophosphamide and chronic catheterization in the induction of secondary bladder cancer. Regular cystoscopy is warranted in these patients to allow early detection of bladder tumors. Nitric oxide metabolism may be an important factor in the carcinogenesis of this type of bladder cancer.
PURPOSE: We described the long-term outcome of intravesical capsaicin instillations in patients with urinary incontinence and compared its efficacy in 2 similar populations of patients with multiple sclerosis in a dual center study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 5 years 79 patients with intractable urinary incontinence have been treated with intravesical capsaicin. The majority of patients had spinal cord disease due to multiple sclerosis but 4 were neurologically normal. Cystometry was performed before and 4 to 6 weeks after intravesical instillation of 1 to 2 mmol./l. of capsaicin in 30% ethanol in saline. Instillations of vehicle (30% ethanol in saline) alone were carried out in 5 patients. RESULTS: In patients with phasic detrusor hyperreflexia complete continence was achieved in 44%, satisfactory improvement occurred in 36% and treatment failed in 20%. Clinical benefit from a single instillation lasted 3 to 6 months and was repeated in some patients with similar improvement. Capsaicin was ineffective in patients with poor bladder compliance and in neurologically normal patients with sensory urgency and detrusor instability. There was no clinical or urodynamic improvement in patients treated with vehicle alone. There have been no long-term complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that repeated instillations of intravesical capsaicin are effective in treatment of patients with detrusor hyperreflexia due to spinal cord disease and that effectiveness of the treatment persists at least 3 to 5 years.
The use of portable, patient controlled, ultrasound device for the measurement of the bladder volume (PCI 5000, Bladdermanager) in the management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis is presented. Twenty-three patients were transferred from time dependent intermittent catheterisation to volume dependent intermittent catheterisation using this device. Evaluation of the accuracy of the measurements showed an accuracy of 91.05%. The efficacy per catheterisation improved significantly from 260.8 cc +/- 154 cc to 297.5 cc +/- 138 cc. The frequency of incontinence measured during 48 h decreased on the entire group from 69 to 39. Six patients could delete one catheterisation a day. Functional Independence Measurements (FIM score) did not show an increase of the level of assistance needed, using this device.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibilities and limitations of an ethical and practical approach to terminal dehydration. We have argued that dehydration among terminally ill patients offers an important key to a better understanding of the dying process, and that the caregivers' reactions can lead to a deepening of holistic palliative care. This article makes clear that the moral question of terminal dehydration can only be treated by an interdisciplinary approach. Therefore, before studying the question of the most humane course possible, we must first understand the meaning of dehydration and its repercussions for the dying patient. Inspired by an attitude of respect for a good dying process, we have suggested that it is possible to put forward as a general guideline that medical therapy should be progressively reduced when it has been determined that a patient has reached the terminal stage, or is in an irreversible deteriorating process. We describe the critical somatic, social, psychological, moral and spiritual points, which make up an ethical approach to terminal dehydration (TD). In the total care of the irreversibly terminally ill patient, tolerating TD can be an expression of an authentic and caring involvement in the dying patient's welfare.
The rarefaction shock wave results in a liquid failure at the target/fluid interface. In the wake of the reflected ESWL-induced shock wave, a macroscopic cavity is generated in filtered water. The cavity implosion induces a large shock wave, divulging the bubble existence and lifetime. The existence of this shock wave is revealed by the diffraction of a He-Ne laser beam. The induced cavitation bubbles are registered by a camera, illuminated by an externally triggered stroboscope (exposure time 10 microseconds). The radius of the large cavity bubble, generated at the stone surface, is time dependent as theoretically predicted.
PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of neoadjuvant treatment before radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 130 patients with stages T2b and T3 prostate cancer was randomized in a multicenter study: 62 underwent immediate radical prostatectomy and 65 received 560 mg. estramustine phosphate daily for 6 weeks preoperatively. RESULTS: For clinical stage T2b tumors the neoadjuvant treatment resulted in a significant decrease in positive surgical margins compared to the nonpretreated group. This difference was not found for clinical stage T3 tumors. The impact on progression and survival still must be analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant treatment can be beneficial for clinical stage T2 prostate cancer. Optimal treatment for stage T3 tumors remains controversial.
In vitro extracoporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on different types of urinary calculi, in combination with microfocus x-ray and microphotography, illustrates the importance of the internal stone structure. Calculi with a rough surface layered structure (calcium oxalate monohydrate) and untextured calculi (cystine) are characterized by a low stone fragility, whereas coarse-grain calculi (calcium oxalate dihydrate, struvite), and calculi with a smooth surface layered structure (uric acid), are very fragile. Shell-like fragmentation in layered calculi, with smooth surface of the crystalline laminations, suggests that the stone matrix influenced the propagation of the shock wave energy inside the stone.
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127 patients with a clinical stage T2b and T3 prostate cancer were randomized in order to undergo either a radical prostatectomy alone or a radical prostatectomy after hormonal treatment (560 mg of estramustine phosphate daily for 6 weeks) in a prospective multi-center study. The clinical or radiological evaluation of an eventual downstaging being extremely difficult, the authors compared in the 2 groups the influence on the surgical act and the number of positive surgical margins at pathological examination of the resected specimen. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups concerning the surgery (duration of the procedure, blood transfusion, degree of difficulty). For clinical T2 prostate tumors the number of positive surgical margins was significantly lower in the group that had preoperative hormonal treatment. In the group with clinical T3 prostate cancer this difference was not found. The influence of positive margins on the later development of local or systemic recurrence and on survival still has to be awaited. At this moment one could conclude that only patients with a T2 prostate cancer benefit of a preoperative hormonal treatment.
Previous in vitro experiments demonstrated the reduced microhardness of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) calculi, relative to dry values, when saturated with an alkaline solution (pH = 9.5). Nineteen patients with a COM calculus in the distal ureter which had been resistant to prior extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in situ, were treated when the stone was surrounded by alkaline urine. The urine of 14 patients was alkalinized orally by administration of acetazolamine and citrate solution; in 5 other patients direct percutaneous irrigation of sodium bicarbonate via a nephrostomy tube was carried out. The urinary pH just before lithotripsy was greater than or equal to 9 in 17/19 patients. 4,000 shock waves, averaging 18.1 kV generated by the Siemens Lithostar, were delivered onto the calculus. No significant increase of comminution rate was apparent at radiographic control immediately after the treatment and only in half of the cases was evacuation obtained within 3 months.