[Emergencies in general practice, 3. Acute scrotum].
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OBJECTIVES: The initial encouraging results using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) induced fluorescence endoscopy (AFE) have promised a procedure with an outstanding sensitivity for the detection of early stage bladder cancer. Summarized here is our clinical experience and data comprising 1012 fluorescence endoscopies. METHODS: Two hours, 30 minutes before endoscopy, 1.5 g 5-ALA dissolved in 50 mL of 5.7% sodium monohydrogen phosphate was instilled in patients intravesically. Before AFE, all patients underwent white light endoscopy, and a bladder washing cytologic specimen was obtained. A special light source provided blue light (375 to 440 nm) for fluorescence excitation. Suspicious sites were identified by their red fluorescence contrasting against backscattered blue light when observed through the long pass filter (445 nm) integrated into the telescope eyepiece. RESULTS: Two thousand four hundred seventy-five specimens were obtained (2.4 biopsies per AFE). In 552 AFEs (54.5%), neoplastic urothelial lesions were detected, in 34.2% only because of their positive fluorescence; 38.7% of these additionally detected neoplastic foci had poorly differentiated histologic features. CONCLUSIONS: AFE has proved to be a clinically feasible procedure with an outstanding detection rate for flat, urothelial, high-risk lesions.
OBJECTIVES: To design an optical system for detecting autofluorescence (AF) of bladder tumors and to determine the success of reducing the false-positive rate of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy (AFE). AFE provides significantly higher sensitivity in detecting and localizing bladder carcinoma compared with white light endoscopy. The specificity of AFE is equivalent to white light endoscopy, mostly because of the false-positive fluorescence of chronic cystitis lesions. Laser-induced spectral autofluorescence detection is also an efficient method in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma. METHODS: Bladder tissue was excited to AF using the D-Light (375 to 440 nm) after regular AFE with detection of fluorescence-positive areas. The optical image was produced using a special RGB camera. Biopsies were taken from AFE-positive areas, the peritumoral edges, and normal bladder mucosa. The AF images of the suspicious areas were compared with the AFE images and the histologic results. RESULTS: A total of 43 biopsies were histologically examined (24 benign and 19 neoplastic). AF imaging showed contrast differences between papillary tumors, flat lesions, and normal mucosa. The combination of AFE with AF raised the specificity of AFE alone from 67% to 88%. CONCLUSIONS: AF imaging is possible. The value of the method in reducing the false-positive rate of the highly sensitive AFE needs to be validated with higher numbers. The combination of AF with AFE had a 20% higher specificity than AFE alone in our study.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a laparoscopic hydro-jet device can provide a safe and effective partial nephrectomy. Partial nephrectomy is still one of the most challenging operations in urologic laparoscopy. The control of hemorrhage is very difficult to achieve with laparoscopic techniques. In open surgery, hydro-jet resection is used to cut the renal parenchyma selectively, avoiding damage to the vascular structures or collecting system.Methods. Laparoscopic wedge, as well as pole, resections of the kidney were performed in 5 pigs under general anesthesia. After exposure of the kidney, the renal capsule was incised using electrocautery. The hydro-jet was then used to dissect the renal parenchyma. In pole resections, the collecting system and central vessels were divided using an Endo-GIA. Hemostasis was achieved by electrocoagulation or clips. The dissection time and intraoperative complications were evaluated.Results. The operations were performed successfully in all animals without temporary ischemia. The hydro-jet generator allowed precise and effective tissue dissection without significant hemorrhage. The parenchymal vessels were selectively coagulated. The collecting system and central vessels remained intact and could be divided after application of the Endo-GIA. The mean dissection time was 42 +/- 6 minutes for the wedge resections and 54 +/- 8 minutes for the pole resections. CONCLUSIONS: These experimental results demonstrate the suitability of hydro-jet dissection for safe laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without temporary ischemia and with reduction of the operative trauma to the kidney. On the basis of our own experiences with other techniques, including electrocautery and laser technology for partial nephrectomy, we conclude that laparoscopic hydro-jet resection represents an interesting alternative to other techniques.
BACKGROUND: It has been shown that immediate-type allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) affects predominantly health-care workers and infants with malformations requiring repeated medical procedures. Adult patients with multiple invasive procedures are not thought to be at an increased risk of NRL allergy. METHODS: A total of 325 consecutive adult inpatients (54.4+/-15.6 years; 219 men, 106 women) awaiting surgical or urologic procedures were assessed by questionnaire-based history (atopic diseases, number of previous standard operative or endoscopic procedures, intolerance to rubber products, and adverse reactions during medical care), by skin prick tests with different NRL test solutions, by measurement of NRL-specific IgE in the serum, and, if sensitization to NRL was found, by cutaneous challenge tests with NRL-containing material. Subjects were classified as sensitized to NRL if skin prick test reactions to NRL were positive or if NRL-specific IgE antibodies were found. NRL allergy was defined as NRL sensitization and immediate-type symptoms to NRL. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 325 (9.5%) subjects were found to be sensitized to NRL, 14/285 (4.9%) by skin prick testing and 23/323 (7.1%) by NRL-specific IgE antibodies in the serum. Four individuals (1.2%) were diagnosed as having clinically manifest NRL allergy, and another 27 (8.3%) were sensitized to NRL without symptoms to date. The frequency of previous invasive procedures was zero in eight patients, up to 10 in 245, 11-20 in 52, 21-30 in seven, and over 30 (up to 83) in 13 patients. No association was found between the number of invasive procedures and NRL sensitization without clinical symptoms. However, 3/4 patients with NRL allergy had undergone more than 30 interventions, and 1/4 had had 11 operations. Frequent invasive procedures (more than 10) were significantly associated with NRL allergy (P<0.001). Allergy or sensitization to NRL was associated with atopy (21/31 vs 87/294) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A remarkable percentage of unselected adult patients undergoing surgical procedures have allergy or sensitization to NRL. Repeated invasive treatment appears to be a risk factor for NRL allergy.
Although, total paracentesis associated with human albumin substitution has shown to be a rapid, effective and safe treatment of diuretic refractory ascites in advanced liver cirrhosis, it implies high costs and has a limited availability. Therefore an alternative procedure the reinfusion of concentrated ascites has gained popularity in recent years (Smart et al. 1990; Grazioto et al. 1997). It was the aim of the study to compare human albumin substitution vs. reinfusion of ascitic-ultrafiltrate after total paracentesis. 35 patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites received total paracentesis associated with either human albumin (5-8 g/l ascites) (= group A) or reinfusion of an ascitic-ultrafiltrate fluid by means of hemofiltration technique (= group B). The mean volume of ascites removed was 9.41 (2.1-20.0) in group A and 11.41 (6.5-21.0) in group B. No significant differences in serum electrolytes, liver and renal function, coagulation profiles and hormones of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system were observed during hospitalization. In both groups sodium excretion increased significantly. 43% of the patients in group B developed pyrexia and chill after reinfusion of the ascitic-ultrafiltrate fluid. In one patient an anaphylactic bronchospasm occurred requiring IUC-treatment. The treatment cost in case of human albumin were 326.-DM vs. 290.-DM for each patient treated with ascitic-ultrafiltrate fluid reinfusion. The probabilities of hospital readmission and survival were similar in both groups during follow-up. The results indicate that i.v. infusion of ascitic-ultrafiltrate fluid is as effective as total paracentesis and albumin infusion in case of diuretic refractory ascites. However, according to the costs of instruments and staff and due to the significant allergic reactions caused by ascitic fluid it cannot be considered as a real alternative to albumin substitution.
OBJECTIVES: Microsurgical ligation as well as antegrade sclerotherapy have been established in varicocele treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a combination of microsurgery and sclerotherapy can provide a safe and effective treatment of varicocele recurrence or persistence. METHODS: Nine patients with recurrent or persistent varicoceles were operated by means of the combination method. Under microscopic control varix veins were ligated selectively preserving lymphatics and arteries. Ectopic veins as a possible source for varicocele persistence or recurrence were also ligated. Finally, an intraoperative venography with subsequent sclerotherapy was performed through one of the dissected veins. RESULTS: Despite difficult anatomical situations after previous surgical interventions, the operations were performed successfully without any complications. Clinical controls showed varicocele disappearance without damage of the testis. No varicocele recurrence or persistence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This method combines the advantages of both methods. Precision of the microsurgical technique is combined with velocity of sclerotherapy. Thus, it may represent an interesting alternative to conventional operation methods especially in the treatment of recurrent or persistent varicoceles.
PURPOSE: 5-Aminolevulinic acid induced fluorescence endoscopy has outstanding sensitivity for detecting early stage bladder cancer. Nevertheless, a third of the lesions that show specific fluorescence are histologically benign. We decreased the false-positive rate of 5-aminolevulinic acid induced fluorescence endoscopy by incorporating protoporphyrin IX fluorescence quantification into the standard cystoscopy procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 25 cases (53 biopsies) of a history of or suspicion for bladder cancer 5-aminolevulinic acid induced fluorescence endoscopy and fluorescence image quantification were performed. For fluorescence image quantification images obtained with a target integrating color charge-coupled device camera were digitized and stored in a personal computer. Red-to-blue ratios were calculated from fluorescence positive lesions and results were correlated with hematoxylin and eosin histology. RESULTS: Malignant fluorescence positive lesions showed significantly stronger fluorescence intensity than fluorescing lesions with benign histology. A threshold was established that decreased the false-positive rate by 30% without affecting sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescence image quantification is a new endoscopic method for objectively selecting multicolor fluorescence bladder lesion images for biopsy. It has the potential of eliminating human error by different surgeons with variable experience in fluorescence endoscopy.
Multifocality and recurrence are clinically important features of urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Recent molecular genetic studies have suggested that multifocal urothelial carcinomas are monoclonally derived from an identical transformed progenitor cell. However, most of these studies investigated advanced and poorly differentiated tumors. The study presented focuses on early papillary tumors, including 52 superficial well-differentiated multifocal and recurrent bladder carcinomas from 10 patients. Microdissection separating urothelium from stromal cells was considered essential to obtain pure tumor cell populations. Genetic analysis was carried out by applying two different methods. Dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromeric probes for chromosomes 9 and 17 and gene-specific probes for chromosome loci 9q22, 9p21, and 17p13 was carried out in parallel to loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses applying 5 microsatellite markers on these chromosomes. Overall, deletions on chromosome 9p were found in 47 tumors (90%), at chromosome 9q in 36 tumors (69%) and at chromosome 17p in 3 tumors (6%). There was a very high correlation of the results between FISH and LOH analysis. Ten early superficial papillary tumors showed deletion of chromosome 9p without deletion of 9q, suggesting 9p deletions as a very early event in the development of papillary urothelial carcinoma. Although in four patients, all investigated tumors showed identical genetic alterations and one patient showed no genetic alterations at the loci investigated, in five patients, two or more clones with different deletions were found. In four of these patients, the results are compatible with clonal divergence and selection of different cell subpopulations derived from a common progenitor cell. However, in one patient different alleles in two markers at chromosome 9 were deleted, favoring an independent evolution of two recurring tumor cell clones. In summary, we could show that there is considerable genetic heterogeneity in early multifocal and recurring urothelial carcinoma and demonstrated the occurrence of two independent clones in at least one patient as an indicator of possible initial oligoclonality of bladder cancer.
Recurrent bladder cancer is due to tumor cell implantation, incomplete resection, and multicentric neoplastic changes throughout the bladder. The possibilities of 5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy (AFE), a highly sensitive method in detecting bladder cancer and laser energy as treatment to lower the recurrence rate in bladder cancer, are evaluated. After intravesical administration of AFE Protoporphyrin IX, a tumor-selective manner is excited by a xenon-arc lamp (wavelength 400 to 410 nm) to emit red fluorescence. Suspicious lesions can be detected by their red fluorescence and are electroresected or treated with laser energy. Complete resection or destruction of all tumors in the bladder is crucial to prevent recurrent and invasive growth of transitional cell carcinoma. AFE detects malignant lesions in the bladder with a sensitivity of 98% and Cis in 100%, respectively. Laser treatment of superficial bladder cancer lowers the local recurrence rate and reduces the risk of viable tumor cell implantation.
The use of a photodynamic fluorescence marker for diagnosis of tumors is an intriguing concept to improve thoroughness of surgical tumor resection. Complete surgical resection of multifocal bladder tumors and flat lesions as carcinoma in situ is known to be difficult, and thus a source of recurrencies. We report on the recent experience with the intravesical application of the photosensitizer prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which is a nontoxic physiological heme substrate. Initial results from fluorescence diagnosis using krypton laser light and recent results with a modified incoherent light source constantly showed a 25% increase in urothelial tumor detection compared with white light endoscopy. Because of the high sensitivity, the number of biopsies could be decreased constantly compared with routine random biopsies taken under white light endoscopy. The results show about 25% to 30% of cases with fluorescent lesions, which are histologically benign. 5-ALA is a promising tool for diagnosis of bladder cancer. The outcome of the initial study of 5-ALA in urology in Germany is positive and is continued by prospective multicenter clinical studies to prove the hypothesis of reduction of tumor recurrence with this method. 5-ALA-based fluorescence endoscopy is strongly recommended for further clinical testing.
PURPOSE: We determined whether neoplastic disease, which was missed under white light can be found during transurethral resection of bladder cancer by 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced porphyrin fluorescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy was carried out in 328 cases. A 3% 5-aminolevulinic acid solution was instilled intravesically in a mean time of 2.8 h before endoscopy. The fluorescence was excited by a special incoherent light source which provided blue light in addition to white light. RESULTS: In 82 (25%) cases additional neoplastic lesions were found only because of their red porphyrin fluorescence which was induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid. 31% of these neoplastic foci which were found in normal and nonspecific inflamed mucosa had a poorly differentiated histology. CONCLUSIONS: 5-Aminolevulinic acid facilitates detection of neoplastic disease during transurethral resection of bladder cancer and increases the accuracy of diagnosis.
The use of a photodynamic fluorescence marker for diagnosis of tumors is an intriguing concept to improve the thoroughness of surgical tumor resection. Complete surgical resection of multifocal bladder tumors and flat lesions such as carcinoma in situ is known to be difficult, and thus a source of recurrences. We report on the recent experience with the intravesical application of the photosensitizer prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which is a nontoxic physiological heme substrate. Initial results from fluorescence diagnosis using krypton laser light, and recent results with a modified incoherent light source constantly showed a 25% increase in urothelial tumor detection in comparison to white light endoscopy. Due to the high sensitivity, the number of biopsies could be decreased constantly in comparison to routine random biopsies taken under white light endoscopy. The results show about 25-30% of cases with fluorescent lesions which are histologically benign. 5-ALA is a promising tool for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The outcome of the admission study for 5-ALA in urology in Germany is positive, and is being continued by prospective multicenter clinical studies to prove the hypothesis of reduction of tumor recurrence with this method. 5-ALA-based fluorescence endoscopy is strongly recommended for further clinical testing.