The Journal of urology
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The Journal of urology · Aug 1998
Comparative StudyDetrusor contraction duration as a urodynamic parameter of bladder outlet obstruction for evaluating men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
Recent studies suggest that detrusor contraction duration increases with bladder outlet obstruction and correlates with the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index. Since the detrusor contraction duration may also depend on detrusor contractility and bladder volume, its use alone in characterizing bladder outlet obstruction is debatable. Therefore, we studied the relationship between detrusor contraction duration and bladder outlet obstruction, bladder capacity, detrusor contractility and symptoms to determine whether detrusor contraction duration is a useful parameter for characterizing bladder outlet obstruction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. ⋯ Our study showed that detrusor contraction duration cannot distinguish patients with from those without bladder outlet obstruction, and it does not correlate with the severity of symptoms. Since our results also showed that detrusor contraction duration depends on several factors related to detrusor and outlet function, it cannot be used as a reliable parameter to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction.
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The Journal of urology · Aug 1998
Laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma: adrenalectomy, partial resection, excision of paragangliomas.
Surgical treatment of pheochromocytoma includes adrenalectomy, adrenal sparing surgery and excision of extraadrenal paragangliomas. We report our experience using laparoscopy for these procedures. ⋯ In experienced hands, laparoscopic surgery for solitary and multiple pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma is feasible and safe, and does not increase the specific risks associated with pheochromocytoma surgery.
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The Journal of urology · Aug 1998
Comparative StudyNovel staging tool for localized prostate cancer: a pilot study using genetic adaptive neural networks.
An estimated $1.5 billion is spent annually for direct medical expenses and an additional $2.5 billion for indirect costs for the management of prostate cancer. Today there are several procedures for staging prostate cancer, including lymph node dissection. Despite these procedures, the accuracy of predicting extracapsular disease remains low (range 37 to 63, mean 45%). Use of multiple staging procedures adds significantly to the costs of managing prostate cancer. Recently artificial intelligence based neural networks have become available for medical applications. Unlike traditional statistical methods, these networks do not assume linearity or homogeneity of variance and, thus, they are more accurate for clinical data. We applied this concept to staging localized prostate cancer and devised an algorithm that can be used for prostate cancer staging. ⋯ Our study suggests that neural networks may be useful as an initial staging tool for detection of extracapsular extension in patients with clinically organ confined prostate cancer. These networks preclude unnecessary staging tests for 63% of patients with clinically organ confined prostate cancer.
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The Journal of urology · Jul 1998
Use of the perineal and perineal-abdominal (transpubic) approach for delayed management of pelvic fracture urethral obliterative strictures in children: long-term outcome.
The results of 2 surgical approaches to restore urethral continuity in children with pelvic fracture urethral obliterative strictures were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Children with urethral distraction injuries associated with pelvic fracture require perineal-transpubic exposure when urethral obliterations of 3 cm. or greater develop or local complications are present in the affected area, making it impossible to create a tension-free, spatulated epithelium-to-epithelium anastomosis to restore urethral continuity via the perineal route. This study also supports previous reports that suggest a relationship of urinary incontinence and associated bladder neck injury with severe pelvic fracture rather than with delayed urethral repair.