Prospective assessment of urinary and bowel symptoms, and sexual function between laparoscopic assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy and radical hysterectomy

ObjectiveRadical trachelectomy is a valid alternative to radical hysterectomy in women with a desire to retain their fertility. Data regarding the oncological outcomes of radical trachelectomy are comparable with those of radical hysterectomy but information regarding urinary and sexual function is limited. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate and compare quality of life, urinary and bowel symptoms, and sexual dysfunction between patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy versus radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.MethodsPatients who underwent laparoscopic assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy or radical hysterectomy along with sentinel or systemic pelvic lymphadenectomy were included between May 2015 and January 2017. Patients were asked to complete a validated questionnaire (German pelvic symptom questionnaire) on bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual function, and total pelvic score, at least 48 hours before surgery and 6 months after surgery.ResultsA total of 51 patients were included. Of these, 26 patients (50.9%) underwent laparoscopic assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy and 25 (49.1%) underwent radical hysterectomy. No patient was converted to laparotomy. The majority of patients (76%) were diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2018) stage 1B1 disease, with squamous cell carcinoma (54%) and grade II tumors (52%). Four patients (7.8 %) experienced perioperative complications (two grade II and two grade III complications according to the Clavien–Dindo classification). In the preoperative evaluation, the median scores for the four items of the questionnaire (bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual items) and total pelvic score were comparable between the two groups. The mean scores for radical hysterectomy and radical trachelectomy at the beginning of the study for bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual function were 0.93 versus 0.71, 0.71 versus 1.01, 0.12 versus 0.1, and 1.06 versus 1.0, respectively. On preoperative testing, the median scores for all four items of the questionnaire (pbladder=0.821, pbowel=0.126, pprolapse=0.449, psexual=0.965) and the total pelvic score (p=0.756) were comparable between the two groups. The radical hysterectomy group had worse total pelvic scores at the 6 month postoperative survey compared with baseline (p=0.03). There was no difference in bladder (p=0.07) or bowel symptoms (p=0.07) in the radical hysterectomy group comparing baseline with the 6 month assessment. Women undergoing radical hysterectomy experienced more urinary morbidity than women undergoing vaginal trachelectomy at 6 weeks (p=0.025). However, the mean bladder and pelvic scores in the 6 month control were comparable between patients who had and those who had not experienced urinary morbidity (pbladder=0.127, ptotal pelvic score=0.480).ConclusionPatients undergoing laparoscopic assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy had similar pelvic scores in both the preoperative and postoperative periods. However, patients undergoing radical hysterectomy showed worse total pelvic scores on the postoperative assessment compared with the baseline evaluation. Urinary dysfunction in the early postoperative phase was more common in the radical hysterectomy group than in trachelectomy group.

Risk of urinary morbidity associated with photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in prostate cancer patients undergoing a combined radiotherapy regimen consisting of dynamic adaptive radiotherapy (DART) and brachytherapy boost.

231 Background: Recent studies have shown PVPs to be associated with diminished perioperative and postoperative complications compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This is the first study to evaluate the timing of PVP intervention and post-treatment morbidity related to a combined regimen of DART and Pd-103 brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer. Methods: Between 12/05 and 04/20, 51 consecutive patients underwent Greenlight Laser (GLL) or Olympus Plasma Button (OPB) PVP after DART (median dose: 45 Gy) and before Pd-103 brachytherapy (median dose: 90 Gy). 27 patients received GLL PVP and 24 patients received OPB PVP. Peripheral seed loading designs were utilized to achieve optimal urethral sparing. The time from DART to PVP ranged from 1 to 81 days (median: 18 days). For 12 patients, the interval between DART and PVP was ≤7 days. The time from PVP to seed implant ranged from 0 to 55 days (median: 18 days). For 13 patients, the interval between PVP and implant was ≤7 days. American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores were compiled prior to PVP and on the last post-brachytherapy follow-up. Post-implant follow-up ranged from 6 months to 15 years (median: 6.4 years). Results: No patient experienced post-implant urinary retention or incontinence. Morbidity was limited to RTOG grade 1-2 symptoms, with the exception of one patient who experienced protracted dysuria, which was identified to be secondary to a pre-existing prostate anomaly (steep urethral curvature). Only that patient required dilation for urethral stricture. AUA scores improved or remained the same in 43 of 51 patients. Only 1 patient of the remaining 8 experienced an increase in AUA > 8 points. Conclusions: In our experience, there have been remarkably few adverse urinary sequelae following Pd-103 implantation in patients with prior PVP and DART. In contrast to TURPs, PVPs are safe even with short intervals between DART and brachytherapy. Based upon these results, pre-implant PVP is preferred, rather than PVPs or TURPs in the post-implant setting.

Dynamics of paediatric urogenital schistosome infection, morbidity and treatment: a longitudinal study among preschool children in Zimbabwe

BackgroundRecent research has shown that in schistosome-endemic areas preschool-aged children (PSAC), that is, ≤5 years, are at risk of infection. However, there exists a knowledge gap on the dynamics of infection and morbidity in this age group. In this study, we determined the incidence and dynamics of the first urogenital schistosome infections, morbidity and treatment in PSAC.MethodsChildren (6 months to 5 years) were recruited and followed up for 12 months. Baseline demographics, anthropometric and parasitology data were collected from 1502 children. Urinary morbidity was assessed by haematuria and growth-related morbidity was assessed using standard WHO anthropometric indices. Children negative for Schistosoma haematobium infection were followed up quarterly to determine infection and morbidity incidence.ResultsAt baseline, the prevalence of S haematobium infection and microhaematuria was 8.5% and 8.6%, respectively. Based on different anthropometric indices, 2.2%–8.2% of children were malnourished, 10.1% underweight and 18.0% stunted. The fraction of morbidity attributable to schistosome infection was 92% for microhaematuria, 38% for stunting and malnutrition at 9%–34%, depending on indices used. S haematobium-positive children were at greater odds of presenting with microhaematuria (adjusted OR (AOR)=25.6; 95% CI 14.5 to 45.1) and stunting (AOR=1.7; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.7). Annual incidence of S haematobium infection and microhaematuria was 17.4% and 20.4%, respectively. Microhaematuria occurred within 3 months of first infection and resolved in a significant number of children, 12 weeks post-praziquantel treatment, from 42.3% to 10.3%; P<0.001.ConclusionWe demonstrated for the first time the incidence of schistosome infection in PSAC, along with microhaematuria, which appears within 3 months of first infection and resolves after praziquantel treatment. A proportion of stunting and malnutrition is attributable to S haematobium infection. The study adds scientific evidence to the calls for inclusion of PSAC in schistosome control programmes.