Rate of Postoperative Urinary Retention After Anterior Compartment Prolapse Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Early Versus Conventional Transurethral Catheter Removal

Purpose To compare the rate of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) after anterior prolapse surgery between early transurethral catheter removal (24 hours postoperatively) and our standard practice (on postoperative day 3)Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial among patients undergoing anterior compartment prolapse surgery between 2020 and 2021 at a university hospital. Women were randomized into two groups. After removal, if the second void residual urine volume exceeded 150 mL, POUR was diagnosed and intermittent catheterization was performed. The primary outcome was the POUR rate. The secondary outcomes included urinary tract infection, asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB), time to ambulation, time to spontaneous voiding, length of hospitalization, and patient satisfaction.Results Sixty-eight women were enrolled. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, anesthetic modalities, opioid use, and complications. The overall POUR rate was 29.4%. The POUR rate in the conventional group was 18.2% higher than that in the early-removal group; however, this was not statistically significant. (32.4% vs. 26.5%, RR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.39–1.72). There was no significant difference between groups for postoperative AB rate (14.7 vs. 0%, p=0.053). The early-removal group had shorter lengths of hospital stay (1 day vs. 3 days, p<0.001) and 3.8 hours earlier time to ambulation (p=0.2), without significant differences in postoperative patient satisfaction. Conclusion Among patients undergoing anterior compartment prolapse surgery, early catheter removal was comparable in POUR rate to conventional treatment, with shorter hospitalization. Therefore, early transurethral catheter removal is preferable following anterior compartment prolapse surgery. Clinical trial registration number thaiclinicaltrials.org, TCTR20210309003, 09 March 2021, retrospectively registered.

Correlation of Urine Loss after Catheter Removal and Early Continence in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

Background: To determine the correlation between urine loss in PAD-test after catheter removal, and early urinary continence (UC) in RP treated patients. Methods: Urine loss was measured by using a standardized, validated PAD-test within 24 h after removal of the transurethral catheter, and was grouped as a loss of <1, 1–10, 11–50, and >50 g of urine, respectively. Early UC (median: 3 months) was defined as the usage of no or one safety-pad. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression models tested the correlation between PAD-test results and early UC. Covariates consisted of age, BMI, nerve-sparing approach, prostate volume, and extraprostatic extension of tumor. Results: From 01/2018 to 03/2021, 100 patients undergoing RP with data available for a PAD-test and early UC were retrospectively identified. Ultimately, 24%, 47%, 15%, and 14% of patients had a loss of urine <1 g, 1–10 g, 11–50 g, and >50 g in PAD-test, respectively. Additionally, 59% of patients reported to be continent. In multivariable logistic regression models, urine loss in PAD-test predicted early UC (OR: 0.21 vs. 0.09 vs. 0.03; for urine loss 1–10 g vs. 11–50 g vs. >50 g, Ref: <1 g; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Urine loss after catheter removal strongly correlated with early continence as well as a severity in urinary incontinence.

β-Defensin 2, an Antimicrobial Peptide, as a Novel Biomarker for Ulcerative Interstitial Cystitis; Can β-Defensin 2 Suspect the Dysbiosis of Urine Microbiota?

As urine is not sterile, inflammatory reactions caused by dysbiosis of the urinary microbiota may induce interstitial cystitis. A study was conducted to determine whether β-defensin 2 (BD-2), a specific antimicrobial peptide in the bladder, could be used as a novel diagnostic marker for ulcerative interstitial cystitis (IC). Urine samples from three female groups were examined: healthy controls (n = 34, Control group), non-Hunner type IC (n = 40, NHIC group), and Hunner type IC (n = 68, HIC group). Urine samples were collected via a transurethral catheter and assayed for BD-2 levels using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Under general or regional anesthesia, cystoscopy with diagnostic and therapeutic hydrodistension was performed in NHIC and HIC groups patients. These patients underwent a biopsy of the bladders. Based on the urinary specimens from 142 patients, BD-2 expression was found to be 18-fold higher in patients with Hunner type IC than in patients with non-Hunner type IC. The enhanced secretion of BD-2 exhibited a strong correlation with increased mast cell counts associated with bladder IC pathology. Enhanced urinary secretion of the antimicrobial peptide BD-2 from Hunner type IC patients associated with clinical phenotypes and demonstrated relatively robust levels to be used as a potential biomarker. Moreover, the increased urinary level of BD-2 may suggest a new possibility of biomarkers caused by dysbiosis of the urinary microbiota in ulcerative IC.

Analgesic combination for robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy; transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block: Where and how?

<p class="abstract">One of the common arguments for advantages of minimally invasive surgery is reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery. Faster recovery is expected with less postoperative pain in robotic surgeries. Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy causes considerable discomfort, mainly during the first postoperative day. The discomfort originates from abdominal pain, bladder spasm and transurethral catheter irritation. We would like to share our experience on use of bilateral subcostal mid axillar TAP block and rectus sheath block for postoperative analgesia in five male patients who underwent robot assisted radical prostatectomy surgery. General anesthesia was performed with 2mg/kg propofol, 1 μg/kg fentanyl, 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium. Anesthesia was maintained by remifentanil infusion and 1 MAC desflurane. After the surgery, TAP block and rectus sheath block performed in supine position. Blocks were done under ultrasound guidance. After the block, patients were extubated. At the end of the surgery patients were administered 1g paracetamol and tramadol 50 mg intravenous. Patients had intravenous tramadol PCA (only bolus dose 10 mg). Rescue analgesia was planned as tramadol 50 mg boluses if VAS scores were above 4 in recovery unit. Neither patient required rescue analgesia nor PCA bolus doses in recovery unit. All patients were satisfied with the analgesia quality. TAP block and rectus sheet block is a very effective combination in robotic prostate surgeries. Perhaps the most important thing is the selection of the most effective analgesic method that contributes to the rapid recovery of the patient.</p>

Urinary Microbiome Characteristics in Female Patients with Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Recurrent Cystitis

Traditionally, the diagnostic mainstay of recurrent urinary tract infection has been urinary culture. However, the causative uropathogen of recurrent cystitis has not been well established. Urine DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) can provide additional information on these infections. Herein, we compared urine NGS results and urine cultures in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) and recurrent cystitis (RC), and evaluated the difference in microbiome patterns in the NGS results. Patients who underwent urine culture and NGS due to AUC or RC were retrospectively reviewed. All urine samples were collected via a transurethral catheter and studied utilizing a type of NGS called 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification and sequencing. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture (69.0% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). The detection rate of urine NGS was slightly lower in the RC group than in the AUC group (67.7% vs. 72.7%). Microbiome diversity was significantly higher in the RC group compared to the AUC group (p = 0.007), and the microbiome composition was significantly different between the AUC and RC groups. In the urine NGS results, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacteriaceae were found in the AUC group, and Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Rothia spp. were detected in the RC group. Urine NGS can significantly increase the diagnostic sensitivity compared to traditional urine culture methods, especially in RC patients. AUC and RC patients had significant differences in bacterial diversity and patterns. Therefore, recurrent cystitis might be approached from a different perspective.

Ambulatory Use of Handheld Point-of-Care Ultrasound (HH-POCUS) in Rural Brandenburg – A Pilot Study

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the use of handheld ultrasound devices (HHUS) for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to improve outpatient care in rural Brandenburg. Materials and Methods A group of general practitioners (n = 9), palliative care physicians (n = 6), emergency physicians (n = 4), and nurses from palliative care services (n = 5) participated in this study. Following a 3-hour workshop and 2 weeks of individual training, participants performed POCUS using HHUS (HH-POCUS). Indications, examination results, and resulting treatment changes (e. g., acute interventions, new medication) were documented in a standardized data entry form. Results 19 physicians with different ultrasound experience and 5 palliative care nurses attended the workshop program and took part in the study. Three of the participating physicians were out of training in ultrasound and received prolonged supervision. Among 427 HH-POCUS examinations, the FAST scan and kidney scan were performed most often. Pain and dyspnea were the most common indications for HH-POCUS. Among the examinations performed by physicians (n = 311), ascites was the most common pathology (27 % of cases). Using a simplified examination protocol, palliative care nurses diagnosed fluid collections, hydronephrosis and transurethral catheter position or urinary retention. In 80.4 % of physician-performed cases, HH-POCUS made a valuable impact on patient management. HH-POCUS contributed to treatment decisions in 49.5 % of cases, including a change of medication in 29.6 % and performance of therapeutic interventions in 19.9 %. Hospital admission or referral to an ambulatory specialist was initiated due to HH-POCUS findings in 17.7 % of patients. Conclusion HH-POCUS helped doctors in rural areas to optimize patient care through rapid on-site collection of therapeutically relevant findings. In addition, it was shown that specialized and motivated nurses can independently detect simple ultrasound findings and thus provide clinically relevant information to doctors.

Use of tissue plasminogen activator to alleviate postoperative subcutaneous ureteral bypass obstruction secondary to blood clot in seven cats

Case series summary Seven cats were found to have postoperative subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) occlusion secondary to blood clot formation. An increase in serum creatinine led to imaging and clot detection in all but one case. Alteplase, a tissue plasminogen activator, was infused into the SUB via the port in four cats, intravesicularly via a transurethral urinary catheter in one cat, and by both routes in two cats. Patency of the SUB was re-established in all cats within 2 days. No short- or long-term complications directly attributed to alteplase administration were observed. Relevance and novel information The results of this case series suggest that alteplase infusion via either the SUB port and/or a transurethral catheter should be considered prior to surgical intervention for the treatment of postoperative SUB occlusion secondary to a blood clot.