Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

E D Kursh

Publications and source records attributed to E D Kursh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Twelve-month comparison of two treatments for erectile dysfunction: self-injection versus external vacuum devices.

This study directly compared two nonsurgical treatments for erectile dysfunction, self-injection of papaverine/phentolamine and external vacuum devices, in terms of usage rates, effectiveness, side effects, dropout rates, and impact on patient sexual and psychologic functioning. Both alternatives were regularly, successfully, and safely used by patients, though dropout rates were higher for self-injection. Both produced erections of improved quality, and effected sustained improvements in frequency of intercourse, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction. Spontaneous erections also improved with both treatments. General psychiatric symptomatology was decreased, and anxiety was improved. There were no differences between the two treatments in sexual or psychologic impact. Relative contraindications and esthetic considerations are presented.

Coitus

Treatment of osseous metastases secondary to renal cell carcinoma.

Osseous metastases occur in 25 to 50% of the patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 14 patients who underwent 20 palliative orthopedic procedures for treatment of bony metastases secondary to renal cell carcinoma. Of the patients 6 presented after nephrectomy (group 1) and 8 presented initially with osseous metastases (group 2). Only 1 of the group 2 patients underwent adjunctive nephrectomy. Overall, 5 of 14 patients (36%) presented with fracture and 9 of 14 (64%) presented with impending fracture. Five patients required multiple procedures. A total of 7 lesions had been previously treated with external radiation. Of the 20 orthopedic procedures 17 (85%) resulted in significant functional improvement and 18 (90%) resulted in significant relief of pain. There were 4 major complications in the series, including 2 culminating in amputation. Average survival after palliative orthopedic procedures was 22 months (range 7 to 64 months) with a 1-year survival rate of 58%. Orthopedic palliation of osseous metastases from renal cell carcinoma is effective, and our experience indicates that the majority of renal cancer patients with bone metastases will survive long enough to benefit from palliative orthopedic procedures.

Adult

Delayed spontaneous rupture of an ileocolonic neobladder.

A case of delayed spontaneous rupture of an ileocolonic neobladder and subsequent peritonitis 4 years after the initial operation is reported. Many of the features of this case are similar to those noted in recent reports of spontaneous rupture of an augmented bladder and it is postulated that the etiology is the same.

Colon

Through the eyes of women: the sexual and psychological responses of women to their partner's treatment with self-injection or external vacuum therapy.

We prospectively delineated and contrasted the sexual, marital and psychological responses of women to their partner's use of 2 treatments for erectile dysfunction: 1) self-injection of papaverine and phentolamine, and 2) vacuum tumescence therapy. The women were assessed at 5 points during a 12-month period with psychometric questionnaires and clinical interviews. Statistical analysis indicated that the women responded equally well to both treatments. They demonstrated significant increases in frequency of intercourse, sexual arousal, coital orgasm and sexual satisfaction. No significant changes were noted on the psychometric questionnaires. The women reported feeling more at ease in their relationships and characterized sex as more leisurely, relaxed and assured. Negative responses focused on the lack of spontaneity and hesitation about initiating sex. Self-injection and vacuum pump therapy restore potency in men and secondarily facilitate improved sexual function in women.

Coitus

A dynamic dual isotope radionuclear method of quantifying penile blood flow.

A new radionuclear method of quantifying arterial and venous blood flow of the penis is described. The technique is based on the simultaneous recording of the change in blood volume and venous outflow in the flaccid and erect states, which is produced pharmacologically. The change in penile blood volume is determined by measuring the change in the technetium-labeled red blood cell activity with time. Venous outflow is recorded with a xenon washout technique. The isotope data are used to compute arterial and venous flows with a complex computerized mathematical formula. Three basic blood flow patterns have been noted that distinguish normal patients from those with arterial insufficiency and venous leakage. The study is relatively easy and noninvasive to perform, and it appears to quantify penile blood flow accurately.

Adult

Partial cystectomy.

Partial cystectomy remains an uncommonly performed procedure in the urologist's armamentarium. Historically, it has had a limited role in the treatment of bladder cancer because of the variable reported success rate and because of the high success rate of local endoscopic excision. When patients with muscle-invasive lesions are appropriately selected, 5-year survival rates following partial cystectomy approximate those of radical cystectomy in the treatment of transitional-cell carcinoma while preserving a physiologically functioning bladder. Therefore, not only does partial cystectomy represent a valuable treatment option, but it appears to be the procedure of choice for local muscle-invasive transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder when careful selection criteria are utilized. Future studies are needed to define its precise role in affording bladder preservation when used in association with adjuvant chemotherapy. Partial cystectomy also remains a surgical option for a variety of less common benign and malignant lesions of the bladder.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell

Factors influencing the outcome of a no incision endoscopic urethropexy.

A urethropexy without incision has been used in 108 women with a minimum of one year follow-up evaluation. Most of the patients (81 percent) experienced postoperative urinary retention, with the mean period of retention being 22 days. The cure rate was 81.5 percent. The technique was successful in women with grade I stress urinary incontinence (97 percent), but not as effective in women with high grade stress incontinence (45.5 percent in women with grade III stress urinary incontinence). The success rate, therefore, correlated significantly with the grade of incontinence (p less than 0.001). It is noteworthy that there were no failures in 36 women who were premenopausal and the cure rate of 72 percent in the postmenopausal group represented a significant reduction (p less than 0.001). The approach without incision is often effective in patients who have failed previous anti-incontinence procedures, with a cure rate of 82 percent in 22 women in this category, but most patients with a successful outcome in the more complex instances of stress urinary incontinence were also noted to be premenopausal. These data suggest that the success of the repair is dependent on the strength and integrity of the vaginal mucosa. When using the no incision technique, it is advisable to avoid the use of foreign body material in the suprapubic stab sites because of the high incidence of infection and tender nodules.

Adult

A dual-radioisotope technique for the evaluation of penile blood flow during tumescence.

A technique is described for concomitant study of both arterial and venous penile blood flow during tumescence. Dual-isotope acquisition is started after labeling red cells in vivo with 99mTc. Xenon-133 in saline is then injected into the corpus cavernosum followed with vasoactive drugs to induce an erection. The resulting xenon and technetium time-activity curves are inputs for a one-compartment model. In 14 subjects, the average peak arterial flow rate (PAF) for normal males was calculated as 13.0 +/- 1.28 ml/min (avg +/- s.d.) compared to 16.1 +/- 5.14 and 5.02 +/- 1.78 ml/min for patients with venous leak (VL) or arterial insufficiency (AI), respectively. Peak venous flows (PVF) were 4.25 +/- 1.17, 12.1 +/- 3.75, and 3.78 +/- 1.00 ml/min for normal, VL and AL respectively. Al patients have significantly lower PAF than normal (p = 0.002) or VL patients (p = 0.018), and VL patients had significantly higher PVF than normal (p = 0.012) or Al (p = 0.018). The technique may be helpful in the study of impotence.

Adult

Evolution of endoscopic urethropexy: seven-year experience with various techniques.

The surgical techniques for correction of stress urinary incontinence continues to evolve particularly those utilizing the endoscopic approach. Various forms of endoscopic urethropexy have been performed in 142 women with a minimum of one-year follow-up. The cure rate for the entire series was 94 percent. In the last two years the no-incision technique was used whenever feasible (31 patients) with an identical cure rate of 94 percent. Varying degrees of urinary retention occurred in 58 percent and was even more prevalent following the no-incision technique (68%). Owing to the high incidence of urinary retention a punch suprapubic cystostomy is now used in most patients. We conclude that endoscopic urethropexy is an effective means of correcting stress urinary incontinence. The no-incision technique is associated with even less morbidity and a reduction in hospital stay without compromising the outcome.

Adult

External vacuum devices in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: a one-year study of sexual and psychosocial impact.

This prospective study assessed the sexual and psychosocial effects of 12 months' use of an external vacuum device in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Results showed that the external vacuum device produced erections sufficient for intercourse in 87% of the men in our sample. The dropout rate was only 20% over the 12-month period. Use of the external vacuum device was associated with improvements in men's and their partners' sexual functioning. These improvements included erections of better quality, increased partner arousal, and increased frequency of orgasm and sexual satisfaction for men and women. The external vacuum device was also associated with decreases in general psychiatric symptomatology for men. Similar improvements in psychological functioning were not found for partners. Side effects and factors in patient and partner acceptance of the external vacuum device are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological

Sexual, psychological, and marital impact of self-injection of papaverine and phentolamine: a long-term prospective study.

This prospective study assessed the long-term effects of self-injection of papaverine hydrochloride and phentolamine mesylate along several critical domains for 42 men and 26 partners. Over the course of one year, men were, on average, injecting themselves five times monthly, with 84% of these injections producing satisfactory erections. Treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in quality of erection, sexual satisfaction, frequency of intercourse, and coital orgasm. The women also demonstrated significant improvement in sexual satisfaction, arousal, frequency of intercourse, and coital orgasm. Decreases in general psychiatric symptomatology were apparent for men but not for partners. The dropout rate was 57%. The common side effects of treatment were development of fibrotic nodules (26%), abnormal liver function values (30%), and bruising (19%). We conclude that self-injection should be considered among the accepted treatments for erectile dysfunction. It does appear to enhance the sexual lives of men and women when the treatment is efficacious and the couple is motivated to utilize it.

Adaptation, Psychological

Treating erectile dysfunction with external vacuum devices: impact upon sexual, psychological and marital functioning.

We evaluated prospectively the medical, sexual and psychosocial outcome of external vacuum devices in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. A total of 29 men regularly used such a device for 6 months and reported statistically significant improvements in erectile quality, frequency of intercourse attempts, frequency of orgasm and sexual satisfaction, as well as decreased psychiatric symptomatology, increased self-esteem and a trend toward improved marital satisfaction. Of the partners 18 reported improved sexual functioning, including increased frequency of orgasm, decreased masturbation and greater sexual satisfaction, with no changes in psychosocial parameters. The vacuum device was effective in producing erections in 89% of the men. Dropout, only 19% within 6 months, was primarily due to insufficient or pivoting erections and bruising. The most frequent adverse effects were blocked ejaculation and physical discomfort. Vacuum devices appear to provide a safe, effective, inexpensive, noninvasive treatment for erectile failure that enjoys high patient and partner acceptance.

Adult

Side effects of self-administration of intracavernous papaverine and phentolamine for the treatment of impotence.

Beginning October 1985, 111 men agreed to enter a prospective study of the side effects of low dose papaverine/phentolamine therapy. A total of 46 men dropped out, 30 during the initial phase. The percentage of men with painless nodules almost consistently doubled from one followup examination to the next: 8 per cent at 1 month, 17 per cent at 3 months, 32 per cent at 6 months and 57 per cent at 12 months. The average injection frequency of those with nodules was 2 1/2 times higher than those without nodules. Of the men 41 per cent required an increased dose of medications during followup, and 40 per cent of 50 men had at least 1 abnormality of liver function, most of these involving mild to moderate elevations of alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. Priapism was not encountered during self-injection but it did occur twice in 329 physician-administered injections. Careful regular monitoring of patients should continue as some patients enter the second year of treatment.

Adult

Self-injection of papaverine and phentolamine in the treatment of psychogenic impotence.

This study prospectively assessed the use, effectiveness, and sexual and psychosocial impact of self-injection treatment in 15 men with psychogenic impotence. Sixty percent dropped out of self-injection treatment by 6 months. Those who remained used self-injections about four times monthly with a 94% success rate. Frequency of intercourse and sexual satisfaction increased. Anxiety decreased, and trends toward improvement in depression and self-esteem were evident. Qualitative data indicated that performance anxiety was not alleviated, dependence upon injections for intercourse remained, symptom substitution did not occur, and capacity for intimacy was not improved.

Erectile Dysfunction

Alternative method of nerve-sparing when performing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

An alternative method of preserving the pelvic parasympathetic nerve plexus and potency when performing a radical retropubic prostatectomy is described. The prostate is removed in an antegrade manner as opposed to the classic retrograde approach with a current potency rate of 60 percent. The advantages of this technique are ease of defining the lateral vascular pedicles and late transection of the dorsal vein complex to minimize bleeding early in the procedure.

Erectile Dysfunction

Injection therapy for impotence.

Injection of vasoactive drugs is an effective form of treatment for selected patients with impotence from virtually all causes. The two most commonly employed drugs in the United States are either papaverine alone or various combinations of papaverine and phentolamine. Patients with organic and mixed impotence are best suited for injection treatment, but selected patients with psychogenic impotence also benefit from therapy. After the patient is selected for injection therapy, he undergoes a series of trial injections in the physician's office. The incidence of priapism will be minimized if the initially administered doses are low and the patient is titrated to an appropriate dose level. Uncontrolled trials have revealed that injection treatment produces a satisfactory erection in 65 to 100 per cent of patients for a follow-up period of as long as 2 years with minimal side effects, but the dropout rate is high. If priapism does occur, it almost always responds readily to treatment with aspiration, low doses of an alpha-adrenergic agent, or both. The other common side effects are bruising or ecchymosis and nodule formation at the injection site. This latter complication has not been noted to cause significant abnormal penile curavature necessitating cessation of the program.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Prevention of the development of a vesicovaginal fistula.

The cause of vesicovaginal fistulas after hysterectomy is not clearly understood. In an attempt to determine its cause, the records of 12 patients who had vesicovaginal fistula develop (after total abdominal hysterectomy) were compared with 12 consecutive patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy without fistula formation. Most of the patients who had vesicovaginal fistulas develop had excessive postoperative abdominal pain, distension or paralytic ileus, or both. Hematuria and symptoms of irritability of the bladder were also noted in the fistula group and prolonged postoperative fever and increased white blood cell count occurred more often. In contrast, the postoperative course was uncomplicated in the nonfistula group. The clinical course observed in many of the patients with vesicovaginal fistulas suggests that the patients had an unrecognized injury to the bladder resulting in urinary extravasation. It is postulated that the fistula develops when the urinoma drains into the vaginal cuff which is dependent and usually not closed. It may be possible to abort the development of many vesicovaginal fistulas by early recognition and treatment of an unsuspected bladder injury. It is suggested that patients with severe abdominal pain, distension, paralytic ileus, hematuria or symptoms of severe irritability of the bladder after abdominal hysterectomy be investigated early for a possible bladder injury.

Adult