Serge Carrier

Purpose Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is recognized as a gold standard treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), providing durable improvements in quality of life and symptomatology. However, a subset of patients continues to experience suboptimal voiding outcomes postoperatively. This study aims to identify preoperative predictors of poor voiding patterns, as objectively measured by maximum urinary flow rate (Q-max), following HoLEP. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 1121 patients who underwent HoLEP at McGill University Health Centre from January 2006 to December 2022. Inclusion required a minimum one-month follow-up with documented Q-max. Data collected included demographics, preoperative parameters (IPSS, PSA, prostate volume), operative details, and postoperative outcomes. Poor voiding was defined as a Q-max < 15 ml/sec at one month postoperatively. Bilateral stepwise regression identified candidate predictors, which were further evaluated using logistic regression. Results The cohort had a mean age of 70.7 years (SD 8.3), mean prostate volume of 98.3 mL, and mean PSA of 6.7 ng/dL (SD 9.1). Preoperative medical therapy included alpha blockers (63.6%) and combination therapy (33%). Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age (OR = 1.01 per year; 95% CI, 1.00–1.01; p = 0.017), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03–1.62; p = 0.028), and preoperative combination BPH therapy (OR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02–1.34; p = 0.023) were independently associated with poor postoperative Q-max, whereas increased enucleated tissue weight was protective (OR = 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996–0.999; p = 0.005). Conclusions Advanced age, diabetes mellitus, and combination BPH therapy independently predict suboptimal voiding after HoLEP, highlighting the need for tailored preoperative evaluation and management strategies.

As the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) increases, the demand for surgical interventions that optimize patient outcomes while minimizing complications grows. This systematic review compares the efficacy, efficiency, and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) with robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP), providing insights for evidence-based surgical decision-making in BPH treatment. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, the study protocol was registered with Prospero [CRD42024509627]. Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL up to February 1, 2024, to include studies that compare HoLEP and RASP in patients with BPH. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. HoLEP and RASP demonstrated equivalent effectiveness in treating BPH, as shown by similar functional outcomes such as maximum urinary flow rate and postvoid residual volume. However, HoLEP outperformed RASP in several operational efficiency metrics, reducing operative time by 49.48 minutes, hospitalization duration by 1.5 days, and catheterization period by 3.8 days. HoLEP also significantly reduced the risk of blood transfusions by 75%. Patients undergoing RASP were 1.87 times more at risk for grade 2 complications and 3.41 times more at risk for developing grade 3 or above complications. HoLEP and RASP are effective for managing BPH. HoLEP shows advantages in recovery metrics and lower blood transfusion rates, while RASP benefits from ease of implementation in robotic-equipped facilities. Optimizing surgical outcomes will depend on reducing disparities in technique adoption, improving surgical training, and aligning with evidence-based guidelines.

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a prevalent disease that could be responsible of severe intractable hematuria requiring invasive surgical management. Case presentation: We report three high-risk cases presented with intractable hematuria of prostatic origin with high medical co-morbidities treated safely and effectively by prostatic artery embolization with favorable outcomes. Conclusions: In non-surgical, anticoagulated patients, prostatic artery embolization represents a safe and effective intervention for the treatment of intractable hematuria related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Introduction: Penile compression using a tourniquet is common with several materials and designs that have been previously described. The objective of the tourniquet is to induce an artificial erection through corporal occlusion for intra-operative penile curvature assessment or to obtain a clear visible bloodless surgical field. Objective: We sought to describe our novel step-by-step technique of applying penile tourniquet using silicone Penrose drain tube designed as a strap by creating a small hole on the side of the tube to obtain a loop at the base of the penis Conclusions: This novel technique is simple, effective and requires no additional materials nor special equipment, and facilitates the application and release of a tourniquet during penile surgery.

Purpose: To address the pattern of urodynamic findings in diabetic patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), comparing short-standing and long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 50 patients pre- senting with LUTS and a concurrent diagnosis of T2DM, between February 2016 and May 2018. Patients were classified and evaluated according to the duration of diabetes into two groups: short-standing DM (< 15 years, n = 31), and long-standing DM (≥ 15 years, n = 19) groups. The impact of LUTS and quality of life were assessed in female patients using ICIQ-FLUTS and male patients using ICIQ-MLUTS. Results: A total of 50 patients were included in the study. The mean duration of T2DM was 10 ± 0.7 years. The mean age was 56.3 ± 1.2 years, and the mean HbA1c was 7.5 ± 1.2%. Urodynamic evaluation detected significantly higher detrusor overactivity (DO) and increased bladder sensation with the short-standing DM group (35.5 vs. 15.8%, p = 0.01 and 32.3 vs. 5.3%, p = 0.01, respectively). Comparatively, weak, or absent detrusor contractility were more frequent in patients with long-standing DM (52% and 26% respectively p = 0.01). As expected, overflow incontinence and straining during voiding were significantly higher in the long-standing DM group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). Surprisingly, there was no significant correlation between patients presenting with urgency in their voiding diary (subjective) and urodynamic detection of DO (p = 0.07). Conclusions: There are different patterns in urodynamic charac- terizations of T2DM. Patients with short-standing DM present more commonly with storage symptoms and detrusor overactivity on urodynamics. Contrastingly, patients with long-standing DM present more frequently with voiding symptoms and detrusor underactivity on urodynamics. Thus, screening for an underactive bladder is advisable in patients with long-standing T2DM.

Introduction: Siliconoma represents an inflammatory tissue response to extravasated silicone. Penile enhancing silicone injections have been described for over 50 years. Most of the publications report complications including negative effects on penile appearance and function which require corrective procedures. Penile circumferential skin and siliconoma excision with skin grafting has been described in multiple case reports and series as an effective and feasible option to remove the silicone and achieve good esthetic results. Methods: We describe a simple and feasible single stage proce-dure removing the siliconoma with adjacent non-viable skin while preserving 50% of healthy penile skin and resurfacing the defect with a split-thickness skin graft to treat a long-term com-plication of penile silicone injection associated with recurrent infections and a chronic skin ulceration. Conclusion: Partial excision of the affected penile skin and sili-conoma with defect resurfacing with a split-thickness skin graft is a feasible with good functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Objective: To quantify the predictors for the ancillary treatments after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for renal and upper ureteral stones. Materials and methods: From January 2014 to January 2017, patients undergoing SWL using an electromagnetic lithotripter machine (Compact Delta; Dornier MedTech GmbH, Wessling, Germany) for renal and upper ureteral stones ≤ 20 mm were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent CT urography prior to SWL. The cohort was subdivided into three groups according to stone attenuation values in Hounsfield Units (HU). Group I; HU < 500 (n = 20), group II; HU 500-1000 (n = 51) and group III; HU ≥ 1000 (n = 180). The parameters included for multivariate analysis were stone size, location, multiplicity, stone attenuation value, number of shocks and stone clearance rate by 3 months. The ancillary treatments were ureteroscopy (URS), ureteral stenting and hospital readmission for pain or fever. Results: A total of 251 patients were included in the study. The overall SWL success rate was 92.4%. Mean stone size was 10.9 ± 2.1, 11.6 ± 3 and 11.4 ± 3.6 mm and mean stone attenuation values were 364 ± 125, 811 ± 154 and 1285 ± 171 HU for groups I, II and III respectively. The stone clearance rates by 3 months were 96%, 92% and 88.4% for groups I, II and III respectively. On subgroup analysis, group III required ancillary treatments in 70% of patients whereas group I, II, did not require any ancillary treatments. On multivariate analysis, stone multiplicity, stone location (lower calyceal stones) and HU were independent significant predictors for the need for ancillary treatments after SWL (p values < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with stone attenuation value (HU) > 1000, multiple stones and/or lower calyceal stones have higher risk to necessitate ancillary treatments after SWL. These patients would likely benefit from upfront endoscopic lithotripsy for treating symptomatic renal or upper ureteral stones.

Purpose:The Optilume® Drug Coated Balloon (DCB) is a urethral dilation balloon with a paclitaxel coating that combines mechanical dilation for immediate symptomatic relief with local drug delivery ...

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Peyronie's Disease (PD) are debilitating medical conditions affecting patients' quality of life (QoL). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are one of the various emerging approaches proposed to treat these medical conditions. To describe the evidence of the potential role of PRP injections in ED and PD. The authors conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA statement using the following databases in November 2019: The National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Ovid Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, and Embase classic. The search was performed using keywords drawn from studies on the use of PRP in ED and PD in clinical and preclinical studies. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria for review, including 12 studies on the use of PRP in humans and 6 on the use of PRP in rats. Ten studies reported on the efficacy of PRP in ED exclusively, 7 in PD exclusively and one in both conditions. In humans, 6 and 3 studies showed promising results in PD and ED, respectively. No major complications were noted. Unwanted minor side effects were noted by studies reporting on PD, including mild penile bruising, ecchymosis, hematomas as well as transient hypotension noted in 2 out of 90 patients. PRP injections for the treatment of ED may be promising, but no recommendation can be made because of scarce evidence. Safety and effectiveness of this therapy in the treatment of ED and PD require further preclinical and clinical studies with standardized protocols to gain an adequate insight into its potential implications. Patients should be offered to be part of such trials to better understand PRP potential. MH Alkandari, N Touma, S Carrier, Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Erectile Dysfunction and Peyronie's Disease: A Systematic Review of Evidence. Sex Med Rev 2021;XX:XXX-XXX.