Impact on Quality of Life of Laparoscopic Nerve-sparing Radical Treatment of Parametrial Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (Postoperative Pain Assessment and Functional Outcomes)

Objective: Complete eradication of parametrial nodules of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) is associated with a high risk of iatrogenic nerves damage and pelvic organs dysfunction. The aim of this study is to evaluate via validated questionnaires the effect of laparoscopic excision of parametrial DIE on quality of life as first outcome and on pain symptoms and post- operative voiding function (bladder and rectal) as secondary outcome.Study design: All patients undergoing laparoscopic excision of posterior or lateral parametrial DIE by a single expert surgeon between January 2013 and March 2017 were included in the study. A nerve-sparing approach was adopted in all patients. Quality of life (QoL) and Functional outcomes were evaluated using validated questionnaires (EHP-30 for the health profile, NBD score for intestinal function, ICIQ-FLUTS for urinary function), administered preoperatively and after surgery. Pain scores were collected before and after surgery using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Results: During the study period a total of fifty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-one patients agreed to fill out questionnaires for post-operative outcomes. EHP-30 scores had a significant improvement in all the domains analyzed even in the relationship with children and fertility module despite to the small number of patients answering those questions. No differences were found in terms of urinary function between pre and post-operative questionnaires (ICIQ-FLUTS). Bowel function improved in patients’ subjective perception. The NBD score showed that intestinal dysfunction related only to constipation and was reported as very minor by 76.4% of patients, minor by 11.8%, moderate by 5.9% by and severe by 5.95% of patients. Pain symptoms (VAS score) decreased significantly after surgery with the exception of chronic pelvic pain. (p value < 0,05). Conclusions: Laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical excision of parametrial DIE is safe and effective when performed by an expert surgical equipe. This approach can favorably impact on patients QoL. Moreover, it has proved to result in pain score and voiding function improvements.

Patient Reported Urinary Incontinence and Sexual Impotency Following Multimodality Radical Therapy for Prostate Cancer: An Untold Story of Compound Toxicity?

Purpose: To evaluate urinary continence and sexual potency following radical prostatectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy.Materials/Methods: Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) surveys of patients with localized prostate cancer treated with surgery followed by adjuvant/salvage pelvic radiotherapy (S+RT) were analyzed. A control cohort was primary radiotherapy (RT). Reverse "bifecta" was defined as a score less than 60 in both incontinence and sexual domains. Superior urinary function was defined as a score above 90. The clinically important difference was calculated using a distribution approach.Results: Surveys at least 1 year after treatment were available for 130 S+RT and 374 RT patients. For S+RT vs. RT, the mean urinary incontinence score was 68 [6.25 -100] versus 86.4 [CI-95 39.5-100] (p<0.001), confirming 6.5 points of clinically significant difference. The adjusted odds ratio for superior urinary function was 2.67 (1.7-4.1, p<0.001) for primary radiotherapy. The odds ratio of having both poor urinary and sexual performance (reverse " bifecta") was 0.29 in RT arm (0.14-0.58, p<0.001) when adjusted for age and Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) , group risk stratification, comorbidities and smoking status.Conclusion: In this cross sectional study, Surgery with adjuvant/salvage RT was associated with significantly worse patient reported urinary continence outcomes at 1-year post treatment, lower odds of achieving perfect urinary continence and a threefold risk of reverse ‘bifecta’ with inferior urinary continence and sexual performance. Longitudinal studies of evolving toxicity are required to validate these findings. Patients referred for surgery with a high probability of requiring adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy should be informed regarding the potential composite toxicity of both surgery and radiotherapy.

Loss of Awareness or Urinary Dysfunction? Investigating Amyloidosis and Urinary Physiology in a Transgenic Mouse

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating disorder primarily affecting older adults and is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the US. More than one in three AD patients experience AD-associated urinary dysfunction (ADUD), which directly contributes to their institutionalization. While ADUD has been clinically regarded as a result of poor cognitive control over urinary function, the physiology underlying loss of urinary control remains unknown. We hypothesize that amyloidosis in the CNS results in pathologic changes in urinary structure and function. Tg-APP/PS1DE9 mice were used before plaque deposition (4-6 months) and after plaque accumulation (8-10 months) and compared to WT littermates. Behavioral assays (open field testing and voiding spot assays) were performed to assess cortical function. Pressure-flow cystometry was conducted under urethane anesthesia to assess autonomic control of urinary function without cortical influence. Pharmacomyography of bladder strips was used to determine tissue-level changes in the absence of CNS input. In Tg-APP/PS1DE9 mice, plaque accumulation resulted in significant cystometric changes to voiding phase parameters, but not storage phase parameters. Pharmacologic studies showed decreased sensitivity to adrenergic stimulation without change in muscarinic sensitivity. Behavioral assays demonstrated significant differences between transgenic animals and WT in locomotion and voiding spot sizes. We interpret our data to support AD-related pathology of Aβ accumulation results in a distinct urinary phenotype in our model, analogous to the ADUD observed in AD patients. Establishing and verifying models of ADUD may improve the efficacy of treating ADUD and increase quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Intravaginal nonablative radiofrequency in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms: a single-arm pilot study

Background Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) involves vaginal dryness (VD), pain during sexual activity (SAPain), vaginal itching (VI), burning, pain, and symptoms in the urinary organs. Non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) is a type of current with electromagnetic waves with a thermal effect that generates an acute inflammatory process with consequent neocolagenesis and neoelastogenesis. We aimed to describe the clinical response to VD, SAPain, vaginal laxity (VL), VI, burning sensation, pain in the vaginal opening, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, cytological changes, and adverse effects of non-ablative RF in patients with GSM. Methods This single-arm pilot study included 11 women diagnosed with GSM with established menopause. Patients with hormone replacement initiation for six months, who used a pacemaker, or had metals in the pelvic region, were excluded. Subjective measures (numeric rating scale of symptoms, Vaginal Health Index-VHI) and objective measures (vaginal maturation index-VMI, vaginal pH, sexual function by the FSFI, and urinary function by the ICIQ-SF) were used. A Likert scale measures the degree of satisfaction with the treatment. Five sessions of monopolar non-ablative RF (41°C) were performed with an interval of one week between each application. The entire evaluation was performed before treatment (T0), one month (T1), and three months (T2) after treatment. Adverse effects were assessed during treatment and at T1 and T2. Results The symptoms and/or signs were reduced after treatment in most patients (T1/T2, respectively): VD 90.9%/81.8%, SAPain 83.3%/66.7, VL 100%/100%, VI 100%/100%, burning 75%/87.5%, pain 75%/75%, and VHI 90.9%/81.9%. Most patients did not show changes in VMI (54.5%) and pH (63.6%) at T1, but there was an improvement in VMI in most patients (54.5%) at T2. Nine patients were satisfied, and two were very satisfied at T1. The treatment was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were observed. There was an improvement in sexual function (72.7%) and urinary function (66.7% in T1 and 83.3% in T2). Conclusion Intravaginal RF reduced the clinical symptoms of GSM in most patients, especially during T1, and women reported satisfaction with treatment. The technique showed no adverse effects, and there were positive effects on sexual and urinary function. Trial registration This research was registered at clinicaltrial.gov (NCT03506594) and complete registration date was posted on April 24, 2018.

Psychosocial and Functional Predictors of Mental Disorder among Prostate Cancer Survivors: Informing Survivorship Care Programs with Evidence-Based Knowledge

Recent research has revealed that prostate cancer (PCa) survivors are facing a silent epidemic of mental disorder. These findings are not surprising when the side effects of highly effective current treatment modalities are considered. Here, we assess the association between urinary function and quality of life indicators to mental disorder among survivors of PCa. This is a cross sectional examination of an analytical sample of 362 men with a history of PCa residing in the Maritimes who took a survey assessing social, physical and health-related quality of life indicators between 2017 and 2021. Mental disorder was assessed using Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Predictor variables included emotional, functional, social/family and spiritual well-being, measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P), and urinary function was measured by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the contribution of predictors while controlling for age, income, survivorship time (months) since diagnosis, relationship status and treatment modality. Mental disorder was identified among 15.8% of PCa survivors in this sample. High emotional (aOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69–0.96) and spiritual well-being (aOR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81–0.96) were protective factors against mental disorder. Men who screened positive for moderate to severe urinary tract symptoms had three times higher odds (aOR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.10, 8.32) of screening positive for mental disorder. Men who were on active surveillance or radical prostatectomy with or without added treatment had higher (aOR = 5.87, 95% CI: 1.32–26.13 or aOR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.07–16.51, respectively) odds of screening positive for mental disorder compared to men who received radiation treatment with or without hormonal therapy for their PCa diagnosis. Unmet emotional and spiritual needs, increased urinary problems and some forms of treatment (e.g., active surveillance or surgery) were associated with mental disorder among PCa survivors. The development of survivorship care programs and support systems that focus on the long-term effects of PCa treatments and the consequences of unmet psychosocial needs of patients during the survivorship journey are critically needed.

Robotic versus transanal total mesorectal excision in sexual, anorectal, and urinary function: a multicenter, prospective, observational study

Purpose Improved long-term survival after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer highlights the importance of functional outcome. Urogenital and anorectal dysfunction is frequently reported after conventional LAR. Advanced minimally invasive techniques such as robotic (RoTME) and transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) might improve functional results by precisely dissecting and preserving autonomic nerves. We compared functional outcomes after RoTME or TaTME in a multicenter study. Methods One hundred twenty patients (55 RoTME/65 TaTME) were prospectively included in four participating centers. Anorectal (Wexner and low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) Score), urinary (International Consultation on Incontinence—Male/Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Score (ICIQ-MLUTS/ICIQ-FLUTS) and International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS)), and sexual (International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)) outcomes at 12 months after surgery were compared to preoperative scores. The response rate to the 1-year postoperative functional assessment by questionnaire was 79.5%. Results RoTME enabled better anorectal function compared to TaTME (LARS score 4.3 ± 2.2 vs. 9.8 ± 1.5, p = 0.038, respectively). TaTME proved superior at preserving male urinary function, while female urinary function was comparable in both groups, with only mild postoperative impairment (RoTME vs. TaTME, respectively: ICIQ-MLUTS 13.8 ± 4.9 vs. 1.8 ± 5.8, p = 0.038; ICIQ-FLUTS Incontinence Score − 0.3 ± 1.0 vs. − 0.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.844). Both techniques demonstrated comparable male (RoTME − 13.4 ± 2.7 vs. TaTME − 11.7 ± 3.4, p = 0.615) and female (RoTME 5.2 ± 4.6 vs. TaTME 10.5 ± 6.4, p = 0.254) sexual function. Conclusion After adjustment for risk factors, RoTME provided better anorectal functional results, whereas TaTME was better at preserving male urinary function. Overall, both techniques demonstrated only mild postoperative functional impairment.

A Forgotten Ureteral Stent: Potential Risks for the Urinary Function

A 32-year-old man presented with painless macrohaematuria. An endoscopic stone removal of the upper moiety of a left double kidney with ureter duplex was performed 4 years ago. The inserted ureteral catheter (DJ) was not removed although it was communicated to the patient and written in the discharge report. The DJ led to a large bladder stone, a total incrustation of the DJ, and a staghorn calculus of the upper moiety. Furthermore, renal function scintigraphy showed no clinically significant function of the upper moiety. Therefore, a heminephrectomy was performed with corresponding ureterectomy and sectio alta for bladder stone removal.

Prostate or Prostate Fossa Radiotherapy with or Without Dose-Escalated or Conventionally Dosed Pelvic Nodal Radiotherapy: Quality of Life Outcomes and Dosimetric Analysis

Background We measure the impact of pelvic lymph node radiotherapy (PLNRT) of two doses using conventional fractionation on long term quality of life (QOL) in prostate cancer. Methods Prostate cancer patients recorded baseline scores using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), prior to definitive or post-prostatectomy radiotherapy. If ENI was given, it was to 45 or 54 Gy. New scores were recorded 20–36 months after radiotherapy. Absolute change in each domain subscale and summary score was recorded as well as if this change met criteria for minimally important difference (MID), with separate multivariate analysis (MVA) for both measures. Subsequent dosimetric analysis was performed. Results Frequency of a MID decline was significantly greater in patients treated with ENI to 54 Gy for urinary function, incontinence, and overall. No urinary decline was correlated with PLNRT to 45 Gy. PLNRT to 54 Gy was significant for decline in urinary function, bother, irritative, incontinence, and overall score in one or both MVA models while 45 Gy was not. Postoperative status was significant for decline in urinary function, incontinence, and overall. Amongst postoperative patients, there was significantly greater decline in urinary function score in the salvage setting. Neither 54 nor 45 Gy significantly affected bowel subscale or overall score decline. Conclusions Using conventional fractionation, adding PLNRT to 54 Gy, but not 45 Gy, correlates with worse urinary QOL, with postoperative patients experiencing a steeper decline. PLNRT had no significant impact on bowel QOL with either dose.