Objectives: To present our experience in the management of bladder neck contracture with concomitant post prostatectomy incontinence and to provide our recommendations based on the updated literature. Materials and Methods: Between Jan 2010 and June 2015, 37 patients from our cohort of 341 patients with post prostatectomy incontinence were evaluated. Patient data were retrospectively collected. Patients with bladder neck contracture confirmed on flexible cystoscopy underwent subsequent rigid cystoscopy and deep endoscopic bladder neck incision (BNI). A follow up flexible cystoscopy would be performed 3 months later. If there was no recurrence of the bladder neck contracture, an artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) or a male sling was recommended. Results: The mean age of patients was 68 years (range 59-77) and the mean BMI was 31 (range 21-41) kg/m2. Twenty-five (67.7%) patients had open prostatectomy and 12 (32.4%) patients had laparoscopic prostatectomy. Fourteen patients (37.8%) underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-four (64.8%) patients had one BNI procedure, 8 (21.6%) patients had two procedures and 5 (13.5%) patients had more than 2 procedures. Twenty-one (91.3%) patients had AUS implantation and 2 (8.7%) patients had male sling placement. Besides, 85.7% of AUS and 50% of male sling patients managed to achieve successful outcomes with a mean follow up period of 13.1 months ( range 2-33 months). Conclusion: Initial management with aggressive BNI followed by implantation of an AUS or male sling when bladder neck is stable is essential to achieve a satisfactory urinary continence outcome.
Our aim is to report our preliminary experience of a proctor-based team approach in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Data was collected between December 2008 and February 2012. RALP was performed on 100 consecutive patients with prostate cancer by a team of five urologists proctored by two fellowship-trained surgeons from a single hospital. Clinical and pathological data of these patients were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 66 years (range 48-76). Clinical stages were 82 % cT1c, 3 % cT1b, 13 % cT2a and 2 % cT3a disease. Preoperative mean prostate-specific antigen level was 11.33 ng/ml (SD 10.47). Mean operative time was 342 min and mean blood loss was 717 ml (SD 988). Mean hospital stay and duration of the indwelling catheter were 3.2 days (SD 1.8) and 12.6 days (SD 8.5), respectively. Pathological staging showed 65 patients with pT2a (65 %) disease and 33 patients with pT3a (33 %) disease. Thirty-five patients (35 %) had positive surgical margins. Eighteen patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Overall postoperative complication rate was 14 %. There were six Clavien grade 1 complications, seven Clavien grade 2 complications and one Clavien grade 3 complication. At mean follow-up of 36 months, 100 % of patients remained free of biochemical recurrence with continence at 70 %. Our proctor-based team approach will continue to improve each surgeon's technical competency. He or she will continue to improve and gradually move on to achieving his or her outcomes learning curve.
Introduction: This paper reviews the epidemiology, aetiology and management of upper limb ischaemia in a series of 8 patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and the review of the pertinent literature.
Materials and Methods: Details of patients admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) due to critical ischaemia of the upper limbs were obtained from admission summaries through the Computerised Patient Support System (CPSS) and operative notes through LOTUS.
Results: There were 8 patients who presented with upper limb ischaemia excluding trauma and iatrogenic causes over the last 4 years. All patients underwent embolectomy. One patient had an amputation post-embolectomy. Our short-term results were encouraging with 7 patients who were well enough to be discharged. One patient had a massive brainstem stroke and was discharged home for comfort care at the request of the family.
Conclusion: Careful physical examination and history taking, prompt recognition of upper limb ischaemia and active approach to management in the form of embolectomy are crucial in obtaining a good outcome and reducing the risk of late disabling effects.
Key words: Angiogram, Anticoagulation, Duplex scan, Embolectomy
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