Correction of a rare malformation of the penis in two boys with a single cavernous body and classical bladder extrophy

Bladder extrophy - is a difficult malformation for the treatment. Aplasia of one of the cavernous bodies of the penis is an extremely rare pathology. In the available literature, we did not meet reports of correction of bladder extrophy in children with a single cavernous body of the penis.From 1990 to 2020, 545 children (364 boys) with extrophy have been repair. Two (0.5 %) boys only had a classic bladder extrophy combined with the aplasia of one cavernous body. The first patient with classical extrophy and multiple malformations (fingers of the right hand, fingers of the right foot, aplasia of the left kidney, left cavernous body, left testicle and hypoplasia of the left half of the scrotum) the penis with the single cavernous body on the right was somewhat thinner, but formed anatomically correctly with the presence of a urethra and closed prepuce. The primary closure of the bladder was performed with bilateral iliac osteotomy and the joint of pelvic bones at the age of 1 year. The patient had the anatomically properly formed bladder sphincter and urethra, penile correction was not required. After the operation, urinary continence had been achieved.The second boy was with classical extrophy and epispadia of the single cavernous body, he was given stage treatment. At the age of 5 days (2004) the primary closure of the bladder and the connection of the pelvic bones were performed. At the age of 4 years (2008) the formation of the urethra was carried out, the correction of the dorsal deformation of the single cavernous body by excision of the chord and the application of multiple superficial cross-cutting on the tunica albuginea. Bladder neck plastic by Kelly technique in combination with bilateral osteotomy of pelvic bones was performed at the age of 7 years in (2011). The boy of 15 years (2019) had a bladder volume of 350-400 ml. Dry 4-5 hours. Urinate freely with a wide stream. Then a two-stage plastic of the distal urethra was performed. We used the Bracka technique with augmentation of the glans penis and implantation a free graft of the mucous lip. We achieved a good result.Using modern penile correction technologies help to socially adapt patients with rare and difficult malformations.

Topical corticosteroids with topical cyclosporine A versus topical corticosteroids alone for immunological corneal graft rejection

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of supplementing topical cyclosporine A (CsA) to topical corticosteroids (CS), in the prophylaxis and treatment of corneal graft rejection following penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Methods: Meta-analysis. Search was performed in PubMed, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, reference lists of articles and conference proceedings. Primary outcomes: 1-year rejection-free survival rate (prophylaxis); resolution rate of rejection episodes (treatment). Secondary outcomes: 6- and 24-month rejection-free graft survival rate, number of rejection episodes during follow-up, time-to-resolution of rejection episode, 12- and 24-months graft survival rate, adverse events. Subgroup analyses were planned for high-risk grafts; primary vs. secondary prophylaxis of graft rejection episodes; and CsA concentrations of 0.05%, 1%, and 2%. Results: Five studies of moderate methodological quality were included (one retrospective, four RCT), assessing 459 eyes (CS + CsA 226, CS 233). In the prophylaxis setting, supplemental CsA was associated with a higher rejection-free survival rate at 12-months (RR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.00–1.56, p = 0.05) and 24-months post-PK (RR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.15–2.11, p < 0.01), though no differences were found at the 6-months timepoint ( p = 0.93). This effect was mostly verified using CsA 2% in the high-risk subset of patients. In the treatment setting, no differences were found in the resolution rate of rejection episodes ( p = 0.23). No differences existed on drug-related adverse events. Conclusion: In the prophylaxis of rejection episodes post-PK, the combined regimen of CS + CsA was associated with a higher 1- and 2-year rejection-free graft survival rate. Subgroup analysis mostly supported the use of CsA 2% for high-risk grafts. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

Whatever happens, two mammary is better than one

It is well known that the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) should be the first conduit of choice. Similarly, especially in patients younger than 70 years, other conduits should be search among arterial grafts such as right internal mammary artery (RIMA) or radial artery (RA). If the RA can be harvested in the meanwhile of LIMA harvesting without time consuming, it is well established that former one has to be grafted only on presence of a good run-off. One of the main criticisms moved to the use of RIMA are linked to technical difficulties in its harvesting it. Edgar Aranda-Michel and coworkers tried to answer to the age-old question is “RIMA has to be used in situ or free-graft?” In a retrospective study on 667 patients (442 had free RIMA and 245 had free RIMA) that were also matched through propensity analysis (202 patients per group), they did not find any differences between the two groups in the major outcomes, including heart failure specific readmissions. This finding is consistent with the literature, hence the take-home message is whatever happens, two mammary is better than one.

Augmentation of the urethral plate in the glans penis area and the distal urethra – effective method of fistula correction in children with hypospadias

Background. Important causes of complications of hypospadias repair are the deficit of tissues for plastic surgery, grooveless and small size of glans, obliteration of the urethral platewith varying degrees of scarring. The coronal urethral fistula is the most common complication of urethroplasty. Surgeons continue to search for reliable methods of correction of complications.Materials and methods. Between 2011 and 2019, 85 children aged 2 and 17 years presented with coronal fistula of urethra after hypospadias repair. (TIP) Snodgrass – 78 (91.7 %) and Mathiue – 7 (8.2 %) procedures have been performed them earlier. In our clinic previously operated 28 (32 %) boys, primary surgery of the remaining 57 (67 %) was performed in other medical institutions.Results. All patients (85), conditionally, were divided into two groups. The first group included 39 children (45.8 %), with stitching a fistula, the second group consisted of 46 patients (54.1 %), with augmentation of the urethral plate of the glans and distal urethra with the implantation of a rectangular preputial or oral mucosa free graft. Recurrent urethral fistula after stitching was observed in 10 boys (25.6 %) of the first group, and only in 2 cases (4.3 %) in children with the augmentation of the urethral plate (p <0.05). The decrease of urine flow according to the data of uroflowmetry was observed in 15 patients (52 %) the first group, the children of the second group did not have a decrease in the flow of urine.Discussion. The shape, size of the glans and the condition of the urethral plate affect to the result of urethroplasty. The connection of the wings of the glans in accordance with normal anatomy, avoid obstruction in the distal part of urethra. A wide urethra in the glans and meatal area improves urine flow. Conclusion. The augmentation of the urethral plate of the penile glans and the distal urethra with the implantation of a wide rectangular free flap in to the meatus, in our opinion, an advantage over the implantation of diamond-shaped grafts using the GTIP or TIP graft technique.

Using the autologous innominate vein as a substitute for pulmonary arteries in a patient with pulmonary atresia and absent pulmonary arteries

Background Repair of the absence of the whole or major parts of pulmonary arteries is a challenge, and the choice of conduit material to reconstruct the pulmonary arteries is under dispute. We used the autologous innominate vein to construct pulmonary arteries. Case presentation l We present a novel technique using the autologous innominate vein as a free graft in a 6-month-old infant with pulmonary atresia and absence of central pulmonary arteries. Double ductus arteriosus were the only source of perfusion of the lungs. The innominate vein was substituted for the central pulmonary artery between the two lung hila. Total repair by using Contegra graft was performed 9 months later. The patient has been followed for 5 years. Conclusions The autologous innominate vein could be used as inter-hilar pulmonary arteries with no calcification and fibrosis in 5-year follow-up.