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Biomedical subjects

P T Nieh

Publications and source records attributed to P T Nieh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Retroperitoneoscopic technique for treating symptomatic caliceal diverticula.

Calculous disease in a caliceal diverticulum is a rare entity. The standard treatment currently is endoscopic surgery with marsupialization or fulguration or both with dilatation of the neck of the diverticulum. We present the fifth reported case of retroperitoneoscopic management of a caliceal diverticulum in a patient with a long history of flank pain and suggest that this treatment offers a stone-free rate comparable to that of open surgery with less morbidity than is associated with endoscopic treatments.

Adult↗

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibody indium 111-labeled CYT-356 localizes extraprostatic recurrent carcinoma after prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The sites of recurrent carcinoma of the prostate were localized with radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, and these sites were correlated with the response of patients treated with pelvic radiation after prostatectomy. METHODS: Radionuclide scans were performed with indium 111-labeled CYT-356, a monoclonal antibody that binds to prostate epithelial cells, in 48 men diagnosed with recurrent carcinoma detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening after radical retropubic prostatectomy. RESULTS: In 48 patients with recurrent carcinoma detected by PSA screening following radical retropubic prostatectomy, 73% had monoclonal antibody activity beyond the prostatic fossa, and only 3 patients (6%) had activity in the prostatic fossa alone; 65% had monoclonal antibody activity in pelvic lymph nodes despite the fact that lymph node dissections were pathologically negative at the time of prostatectomy in 90% of the patients; and 23% of patients had monoclonal antibody activity in abdominal and extrapelvic retroperitoneal nodes. Of 48 patients, 13 underwent external beam radiation therapy after monoclonal antibody scans. Six patients had scans showing activity beyond the field of radiation, and radiation therapy failed in 4 of these patients. Seven patients had scans with no activity beyond the field of radiation therapy, and radiation therapy failed in only 2 of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The scans frequently show monoclonal antibody uptake in pelvic, abdominal, and extrapelvic retroperitoneal sites beyond the region of limited obturator node dissections and may account for the understaging and subsequent failure of radical prostatectomy in some patients. The monoclonal antibody scan seems to be a good predictor of which patients will respond to radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy, but because these patients often have nodal activity beyond the radiated field, this initial response may not be curative.

Adult↗

The Kock pouch urinary reservoir.

The use of detubularized ileum for the Kock pouch produced a low pressure, high capacity system superior to large bowel segments that provided excellent continence and protection of the upper urinary tracts. The early enthusiasm was tempered, however, by the technically demanding aspects of the construction of the nipple valves, the early and late complications, and occasional catheterization problems. With simple modifications in the fixation of the intussuscepted nipples, limiting use of staples and mesh collars, and tapering of the stoma, much of those problems have been resolved. The nipple valve is reliable and superior to the tunneled implant for the dilated ureter. With more widespread indications for continent neobladders, the hemi-Kock reservoir remains one of the most dependable and stable neobladders.

Female↗

Prostate specific antigen decreases after withdrawal of antiandrogen therapy with bicalutamide or flutamide in patients receiving combined androgen blockade.

PURPOSE: We determined whether decreases in prostate specific antigen (PSA) would occur after withdrawal of double-blinded antiandrogen therapy with flutamide or bicalutamide for clinical progression or increasing PSA concentration in patients receiving combined androgen blockade for advanced prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PSA concentrations were determined weekly for at least 6 weeks and then every other week for 6 weeks in 22 patients with stage D2 prostate cancer. All patients were withdrawn from antiandrogen therapy (8 flutamide and 14 bicalutamide) due to progression or an increasing PSA concentration. Objective response was evaluated before antiandrogen withdrawal and at week 12. RESULTS: In 4 of 8 patients (50%) withdrawn from flutamide and 4 of 14 (29%) withdrawn from bicalutamide serum PSA concentrations decreased by 50% or more. PSA responses after withdrawal of flutamide therapy occurred within the first few days, whereas those after withdrawal of bicalutamide therapy occurred within 4 to 8 weeks. Of 4 patients assessed for objective response 2 had stable disease and 2 had progression. A PSA response was observed in the 2 patients with stable disease but not the 2 with progression. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with stage D2 prostate cancer and disease progression or an increasing PSA concentration, withdrawal of antiandrogen therapy with bicalutamide or flutamide may result in a PSA response. The time to PSA response is longer with bicalutamide than with flutamide. The clinical significance of the antiandrogen withdrawal phenomenon is unknown.

Aged↗

Withdrawal phenomenon with the antiandrogen casodex.

Total androgen blockade with castration and antiandrogens has become the primary therapy in metastatic prostate carcinoma. Several reports have been published on the flutamide withdrawal syndrome with a favorable response in patients with progression of disease after lengthy remission while taking combined hormone therapy. The experience with withdrawal of the experimental nonsteroidal antiandrogen casodex in 3 patients is reported. All patients received casodex monotherapy initially, then luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues were added on progression of disease (bone scan and prostate specific antigen [PSA]) and eventually casodex was withdrawn on further progression of disease (PSA and bone scan). Two patients had declines in PSA levels of 42% and 75% sustained for 3 to 6 months, and 1 patient had a stable condition for 2 months. These responses were similar to those of withdrawal of flutamide, which were limited to patients who had received combination therapy at the onset of treatment. Thus, the observations in this report would suggest that the initial and sustained exposure to an antiandrogen is the more important factor in the withdrawal phenomenon rather than the low androgen environment alone that occurs with initial luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue monotherapy, orchiectomy or combination luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue and antiandrogen.

Aged↗

Laparoscopic marsupialization of massive renal cyst.

Laparoscopic approaches to urological problems continue to increase. We describe laparoscopic marsupialization and fulguration of a symptomatic giant renal cyst. Transient obstruction at the marsupialized window illustrated the importance of using omental or epiploic fat to maintain patency. Complete resolution of the cyst and hydronephrosis ensued.

Drainage↗

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in combination with transurethral surgery for management of large bladder calculi and moderate outlet obstruction.

In 5 men evaluated for symptoms of obstructive voiding flexible cystoscopy revealed large or multiple bladder calculi along with small to moderate prostatic enlargement. All patients had successful localization and fragmentation of calculi with the Dornier HM3 lithotriptor. Of these patients 4 underwent transurethral resection or incision of the prostate under the same epidural anesthesia for moderate prostatic obstruction without complication and 1 subsequently required suprapubic prostatectomy of a gland with a large middle lobe that made a transurethral operation difficult. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy should be considered for the primary management of large or hard bladder calculi and it is of particular value in combination with a transurethral operation for patients with small to moderate prostatic obstruction.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Retrograde nephrostolithotomy in management of complex renal calculi.

From October 1986 to July 1990 we evaluated 22 patients with complex renal calculi in 25 kidneys for initial therapy using retrograde percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. In 3 patients we could not attain renal access in a retrograde fashion. In the remaining patients residual fragments after percutaneous nephrostolithotomy were treated with a combination of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), chemolysis and retrieval of small calculi with a flexible nephroscope. Successful treatments were achieved in 6 of the 22 kidneys (27%) using percutaneous nephrostolithotomy alone and in 17 (77%) using all modalities. Retrograde and antegrade percutaneous nephrostolithotomy in conjunction with ESWL, chemolysis and flexible nephroscopy in the treatment of patients with complex calculi yield comparable success rates. However, retrograde percutaneous nephrostolithotomy can be performed without the aid of an interventional radiologist and it provides easy access to the nondilated collecting system.

Adult↗

Resection of atriocaval adrenal carcinoma using hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex may occasionally extend through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium without actually invading the vascular endothelium. Surgical resection may result in excellent palliation and the potential for prolonged survival when no other signs of advanced disease are present. Extrapolating from our experience with renal cell carcinoma extending to the right atrium, we resected a similar adrenocortical carcinoma using hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Brain metastases from transitional cell carcinoma.

We report 2 cases of transitional cell carcinoma, each with a single metastasis to the brain. Both patients underwent craniotomy with resection of the metastatic deposit and adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy. One patient died 4 months later of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, while the other patient survived 1 year with no evidence of intracranial disease at autopsy despite widespread metastatic involvement of other organs.

Aged↗

Use of reversed nephroureteral stent as suprapubic cystoureteral catheter.

By the reversal of the existing nephroureteral stent system a vesicoureteral stent exiting through the suprapubic site is created. The major advantages of this system include avoidance of side holes along the stent, avoidance of a urethral catheter, ease of access for contrast medium studies to monitor healing, comfort and ease of removal. The major application of the system would be for lower ureteral surgery. Development of a 5F catheter with a shorter kidney-to-bladder length would permit use of this system in children.

Adult↗

Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin by poorly differentiated transitional cell tumors of the urinary tract.

We performed a 5-year histopathological review of 41 consecutive cases of transitional cell carcinoma. Of these cases 8 were positive for human chorionic gonadotropin immunoperoxidase tissue staining. All tumors were grade III and stages ranged from A to D. Three patients presented with gynecomastia as the clinical manifestation of elevated serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin. These findings document the association of this phenomenon with lesions of an aggressive nature. As with the loss of cell surface antigens, the appearance of human chorionic gonadotropin within the tumor cells may be further evidence of dedifferentiation. Human chorionic gonadotropin production may be a potential marker to gauge tumor response to chemotherapy and, perhaps, a predictor of future aggressiveness and over-all progression.

Adult↗

Further experience with staged ureterocolocolostomy urinary diversion.

Disenchantment with the long-term results with ureterosigmoidostomy and ileal loop urinary diversion led to increased use of the nonrefluxing colon conduit. In 1978, we reported our initial experience with 3 adult patients in whom such a diversion was initially performed followed by conversion with an end-to-side colocolostomy achieving a staged nonrefluxing ureterocolocolostomy. We believed that a staged procedure would allow decompression of the upper urinary tract away from the fecal stream, that one could confirm the adequacy of the nonrefluxing tunnels prior to exposure to the fecal stream, and that this might have a lower instance of electrolyte problems and pyelonephritis. Further follow-up on these original 3 patients as well as our experiences with two others, as reported here has somewhat tempered our initial enthusiasm.

Adult↗

Dissolution of uric acid calculi with intravenous 1/6 molar lactate.

The use of intravenous 1/6 molar sodium lactate for dissolution of uric acid calculi is reported in 4 patients. All presented with a urine pH of 5. The calculi were located in the proximal ureter in 2 patients and in the renal pelvis in the other 2 patients. After infusion of 1/6 molar lactate, rapid alkalinization of the urine to pH 8 was achieved and maintained. The mean time required for dissolution of the calculi was 6.2 days precluding the need for surgical intervention. The mechanism of action of lactate is oxidative conversion to bicarbonate, providing a sustained alkaline urine. While our patients experienced no metabolic complications, one should monitor serum electrolytes, blood pressure, and fluid balance, particularly in cardiac-compromised patients.

Aged↗

Endoscopic vesicourethropexy. Experience and complications.

Thirty-one patients with stress urinary incontinence were treated with the optical vesicourethropexy. Of these patients, 70.9 per cent had previous pelvic or vaginal operations, of which 59 per cent also had failed stress incontinence procedures. In 90 per cent of the cases, cure or improvement was obtained. However, the procedure is not free of complications (38%). Aside from the problems reported by others, vaginal bleeding or discomfort due to erosion of the mucosa by the Dacron pledget was observed. We also had a case complicated by an obstruction of the small bowel secondary to fixation of a jejunal loop to the retropubic area. We believe that excellent results may be obtained with this technique in patients with previous pelvic surgery or concomitant medical problems. Remarks in the evaluation of these patients and technical aspects of the procedure are presented.

Adult↗