Fournier’s Gangrene: A Review of Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) and Other Predictors of Mortality

Background: Fournier gangrene is an acute and rapidly progressive necrotizing fasciitis of the scrotum, perianal and perineal region of the body. It is a polymicrobial infection having an interplay of both anaerobic and aerobic orgasms in a soup of microbial disaster. Fournier’s gangrene was also initially thought to be an idiopathic condition but a lot of risk factors have been associated now with this condition, both systemic risk factors and local. Systemic risk factors include diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, cancers, chronic liver disease, chronic steroid use etc. The local risk factors include perineal injuries, watering can perineum, perianal abscess, chronic perineal itching etc. Purpose: The swiftly flourishing bacteria orgasms cause a similar disruptive event in the body of the patients both clinically and biochemically and these can be used to create a predictive score or index for patients in order to assess the disease severity and guide in the management and prognostication of this condition. Materials and Method: Urology ward record books, clinic record books and operating theater records were used to identify patients managed for Fournier gangrene in ATBUTH Bauchi. A retrospective study of the medical files of all the patients managed from January 2011 to January 2024 was done. Folders were retrieved and the medical records were reviewed. Results: Of the 50 patients reviewed, Male to female ratio is 24:1. The mean age is 56 years (2 weeks to 97 years). Mortality rate was 34%. There is a significant difference between delayed presentation/initial use of unorthodox treatment with mortality (p = 0.002). Of the 17 patients that died, 15 had FGSI > 9 and of the 33 patients that survived 29 had FGSI 9 is 88.2% while the mortality rate for those with FGSI Conclusion: knowledge of the predictors of its mortality is necessary in other to help stratify patients and ensure the best response by the caregivers. FGSI, delayed presentation/initial patronage of unorthodox care, and polymicrobial infection are important predictors of mortality in this condition.

The Role of Urine Investigations in Urology Practice

Urine examination is one of the important armamentarium in the practice of urology and it is a fundamental test that is usually carried out for urology patients, it can be as simple as dipstick analysis to a complex hormonal assays. Urine examination is done worldwide as an extension of physical examination which provides a lot of information about the pathology, and both physical and chemical analysis of urine are highly informative. There are several types of urine investigations, some of which include urinalysis, urine microscopy culture and sensitivity, urine microscopy for ova or cyst of parasites, urine cytology, urine tumour antigens assays, urine hormonal assays, urine toxicology, urine quantitative measurement and urine acid fast bacilli. Uses of urine examinations in urology could be diagnostic, such as renal function test, evaluation of heamaturia, stone diseases, urinary tract infections, urologic cancers and infertility or monitoring and for prognosis. Uses of urine investigations in practice of urology cannot be over emphasized as it has many revealing information of the physiology and pathology of urologic organs.

Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy in a Low-Middle Income Country: A 5-Year Review of a Single Institution;Operative Data, Oncologic Results and Morbidity

Introduction and Objective: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) is an alternative to open approach with lower morbidity and better oncologic outcome. We aim to share our experience on laparoscopic radical cystectomy and to evaluate our morbidity and oncological outcome in our settings. Methodology: An observational study in the Douala Medico-Surgical Urology Centre on 5 patients who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy with or without lymph node dissection and external urine diversion between April 2014 to July 2016 was conducted. The overall survival rate was subsequently estimated. Results: Four men and one woman underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy during the 5-year study period with a mean age of 54.5-year-old. Three patients were submitted to ileal conduits, one to neobladders, and one patient to uretero-cutaneostomies. The mean operative time was 300 ± 17 minutes and the mean length of hospital stay was 9 ± 3 days. Three patients had minor complications according to Clavien and Dindon Classification treated conservatively without need for further operation. Four patients had transitional cell carcinoma and one Squamous cell carcinoma types. Everyone had negative resection margin while only two had negative lymph node. The median survival years in our study was 2.5 years, the overall survival rates at 2 years were 60%, 40% at 3 years and 20 at 5years. 2 patients die after one year due to renal failure and intercurrent disease. Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy carried lower morbidity and cancerological outcome compare to open surgery making it a good alternative for bladder oncologic surgery.

Fournier’s Gangrene: 13-Year Experience in a Tertiary Center, North Eastern Nigeria

Background: Fournier’s gangrene is a fulminant infection of the genitourinary tract characterized by progressive necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the external genitalia. Initially mainly seen involving the scrotum of elderly men with different moods of occurrence each unpleasantly lethal. With varying types of presentation only one thing has remained constant;the poor prognosis of this condition. Purpose/Aim: Thus, it’s important to study the trends of the presentation of this condition laying emphasis on the challenges in the management of these patients;both the negative and positive prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: Urology ward record books, clinic record books and operating theater records were used to identify patients managed for Fournier gangrene in ATBUTH Bauchi. A retrospective study of the medical files of all the patients managed from January 2011 to January 2024 was done. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 29. Results: Data from 47 patients seen during the period of study were carefully collected and analyzed. The age range is 2 weeks to 97 years. There were two neonates, one at 2nd week of life and the other at 3rd week. Mortality rate is 36%. The average time duration before presentation for patients that died was two weeks, a minimum of 9 days prior to presentation and a maximum of 21 days, about 10 of which came in septic shock and the remaining presented with fever and very extensive necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum. All the patients that died had diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity except the neonate. All the patients that survived were much younger, all were below 60 years of age (2 weeks - 53 years). Conclusion: Here, we share our experience managing patients with Fournier’s gangrene in our facility in the past 13-year period from January 2011 to January 2024. .

Spectrum of Bladder Cancer Patients Morbidity and Mortality in a Tertiary Hospital of Northwestern Nigeria: A 7-Year Review

Background: Bladder cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in our institution due to the late presentation. Morbidity is defined as a development of complications that may lead to mortality. Uraemia is a common presentation that constitutes a management challenge in our patients. We study the spectrum of morbidity and mortality in bladder cancer patients in our institution. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with clinical, radiological, cytological and or histological features of bladder cancer that had a morbidity and or mortality managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto from January 2011 to December, 2017. Data were retrieved from patients’ case notes via a proforma and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version for windows. The results were presented in number percent, tables and chart. Results: There were morbidity and or mortality in 234 bladder cancer patients within the study period with a mean age of 48.4 ± 14.1 years and a range of 3 - 106 years. There were 219 males (91.5%) and 20 females (8.5%) with a male to female ratio of 11:1. There were haematuria and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in 230 patients (98.3%). There were necroturia ± weight loss and anorexia in 126 patients (53.8%). There was urinary tract infection (UTI) in 75 patients (32.1%), anaemia in 131 patients (56.0%) and uraemia in 161 patients (68.8%). Mortality was recorded in 84 patients (35.9%) which was due to uraemia in 52 patients (22.2%), urosepsis in 22 patients (9.4%) and anaemia in 8 patients (3.4%), intestinal obstruction and blood transfusion reaction in 1 patient each (0.4%). Conclusion: Anaemia, urosepsis and uraemia are the most common causes of morbidity and or mortality in bladder tumour patients in Sokoto. This poses great diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma to the urologist, patients and their relatives.

Open Prostatectomy in the Management of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in a Developing Economy

Background: Open prostatectomy (OP) is still relatively common in developing countries and remains a useful benchmark against which the minimal access surgical techniques are compared. This study aims to document the indications and outcomes of OP in a typical developing economy. Method: The records of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) who had OP in our university teaching hospital between July 2004 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Some analyzed parameters include the demographic characteristics, indications, pre-operative work-up, anaesthetic techniques, OP type, complications, histopathology results and follow-up duration. Results: A total of 247 cases were studied. Mean age was 67 years while the commonest surgery indication was recurrent acute urinary retention. Average prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 8.4 ng/ml while hypertension was the most common comorbidity (44.1%). Regional anaesthesia was mainly used (79.4%) while retropubic prostatectomy was the commonest OP type done (58.7%). The enucleated specimen weighed above 60 g in 91.9% of cases. All our patients were able to micturate spontaneously with urine stream above 20 mls/second on follow-up one week after discharge. Mean duration of hospital admission and follow-up were 7 days and 9 months respectively. Complications occurred in 90 patients (36.4%), of which surgical site infections were the commonest (9.8%). There was 0.4% mortality. Histopathology results showed BPH (95.5%), (incidental) prostate adenocarcinoma (2.4%) or prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (2.1%). Conclusion: OP remains an important therapeutic option for management of BPH in developing countries partly due to relatively large prostate size and presence of BPH complications from late presentationin many patients. The surgery is efficient and has relatively low morbidity and minimal mortality.

Surgical Complications and Evolution of Grafts in Children with Renal Transplantation at Cayetano Heredia National Hospital

Objective: This study aims to determine surgical complications and graft outcome in children undergoing renal transplantation at Cayetano Heredia National Hospital (CHNH). Materials and Methods: A case study series focused on the incidence of surgical complications and graft outcome in pediatric patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent renal transplant (RT) between December 2007 and March 2011. Results: The study described 29 pediatric transplant patients whose average age was 13.69 ± 3.38 (6.2-17.9) years. The etiology of end stage renal disease (ESRD) was renal hypoplasia in 12 patients (41.38%), primary glomerulopathy in 10 patients (34.48%), obstructive uropathy in 4 patients (13.79%), vasculitis in 2 patients (6.9%) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in 1 (3.45%) patient. There were 11 surgical complications (34.48%): 2 cases of arterial thrombosis, 3 cases of urinary fistula, 3 of lymphocele, 1 of venous thrombosis, urinoma and perineal collection. The follow-up time was 15.84 ± 12.19 months. Graft survival at 12, 24, and 40 months was 89.29%, 77.16% and 77.16%, respectively. Conclusion: Surgical complications and graft survival in pediatric renal transplantation in our series did not differ from other published series.

Fournier's Gangrene: Experience with Management of 46 Cases in a Tertiary Institution

Background: Fournier's gangrene is a rapidly spreading necrotizing gangrene affecting the perineum, Perianal and genital regions but remarkably sparing the testicles, bladder and rectum due to their separate blood supply which is directly from the aorta. The aim of this study is to share our experience with the management of 46 cases. Patients and method: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 46 patients admitted with Fournier's gangrene between April 2005 and December 2011 in the urology unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Data extracted from these include age, sex, hospital stay, premorbid diseases, mobility, mortality, laboratory investigations and treatments carried out. Results: Fourty six patients were admitted and managed for Fournier's gangrene during the study period. All the patients were male and mean age was 50 years (range 20 - 80 years). Five patients died (10.90%) mortality, 41 (89.10%) patients survived. The shortest hospital stay was 13 days and longest was 120 days. 45.7% of the patients had urethral stricture with watering can perineum as predisposing factor, 16 (34.80%) had diabetes mellitus, 7 (15.2%) had perineal injuries as the predisposing factors while 5 (10.90%) patients had uraemia and one patient (2.20%) each had bladder tumour and scrotal abscess as their predisposing factors, in 3 patients (6.50%) it was idiopathic. Only 34 (73.90%) patients had wound swab microscopy culture and sensitivity on admission. The culture grew Klebsiella spp. in 9 (26.50%), Staph aureus and E. coli in 5 (10.90%) of cases each, while Gram positive rod and Gram negative Cocci with 4 (11.80%) and 6 (17.60%) respectively. Conclusion: Fournier's gangrene which is a rapidly progressive, fulminant polymicrobial synergistic infection of the perineum and genitals, is now changing pattern. Extensive surgical debridement and broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics remain the mainstay of treatment.

A Rare Presentation of Partial Segmental Thrombosis of the Corpus Cavernosum Secondary to Sickle Cell Anemia

Background: Partial segmental thrombosis of the corpus cavernosum, known as partial priapism, is an uncommon urological condition which predominantly affects young men in which the proximal part of one corpus cavernosum is thrombosed. Many risk factors have been described in the literature, however, the exact etiology of penile thrombosis and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Several treatment options are available ranging from conservative medical treatment, surgical intervention, or simple follow-up observation without treatment. Aim: In this study, we describe a patient with sickle cell anemia who presented with pain and a perineal swelling that was eventually diagnosed as partial priapism utilizing MRI scan and was treated conservatively with a successful outcome. We then performed a literature search of similar cases highlighting incidence, risk factors and management of this rare presentation. Case Presentation: A 23-year-old male who is known with sickle cell anemia presented to casualty with a 1-day history of perineal pain of a sudden onset associated with perineal swelling and vomiting. Genitourinary exam findings confirmed the absence of classic priapism. Careful examination of his perineal area revealed the presence of a fixed, hard, and tender mass at the proximal part of the penis. It was not attached to the overlying skin and no enlarged pelvic lymph nodes were felt. Once stabilized, MRI of the pelvis was performed showing right intra-tunical corpus cavernosum features suggestive of hematoma in keeping with partial segmental thrombosis of the corpus cavernosum. Conservative treatment was initiated, and the patient was managed expectantly in which he improved gradually with eventual disappearance of the perineal mass. Conclusion: Partial segmental thrombosis of the corpus cavernosum is a rare urological condition. Pathogenesis and etiologies are poorly understood but risk factors have been advocated of which sickle cell anemia is one of them. MRI has a crucial role in the diagnosis under this condition. Conservative treatment appears to be a reliable initial therapeutic option.

Urgent Urologic Surgery in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Urgent urologic interventions create a challenging scenario when they occur in patients suffering from concurrent acute coronary syndrome. Herewith we report two patients with this scenario. Case 1, a male patient was admitted with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in which dual antiplatelet therapy was initiated. He developed symptomatic right obstructive uropathy. Case 2, a male patient developed non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and was commenced on dual antiplatelet therapy. Subsequently, he developed gross hematuria unresponsive to conservative measures. Urgent urological intervention was carried out while on aspirin in both cases with uneventful recovery. Upon coronary angiography, both cases were found to have multi-vessel disease requiring coronary artery by-pass graft later. Due to their concurrent urologic problems the patients described were not optimized fully to undergo coronary angiography. In close collaboration with cardiology, patients with acute coronary syndrome can be carefully selected to undergo urgent urologic interventions prior to coronary angiography/primary coronary intervention.

The Comparison of Acute Clinical Outcome between 30 and 40 Sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Management of Visible Hematuria from Radiation-Induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the most popular treatments for pelvic malignancy, which causes patients suffering from the adverse effect such as cystitis, hematuria, proctitis, hematochezia and distal ureteric stricture. The hematuria condition from radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is the most common adverse event suffering the patients, losing properties, wasting time, and deteriorating quality of life. One of the most effective treatments for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is the hyperbaric oxygen therapy with no necessity for patients to be hospitalized, no need of anesthesia use, and also non-invasion. However, it requires that patients spend 90 - 120 minutes a day for 40 days administered out-patient treatment session. The transportation cost as well as the accommodation one will greatly burden the self-pay health care patients. In addition, there is still no definite standardized number of HBOT treatment session assignment at present. Objectives: To compare the treatment outcome (bladder mucosal characteristics, red blood cells in urine) between 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT for treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Methods: Prospective cohort observational study of patients (n = 15) who were diagnosed with radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis that were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Somdechprapinklao Hospital between October 2020 and September 2021. We compared the parameter about hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell number in urine during the course of HBOT treatment every 10 sessions and cystoscopic finding severity as EORTC/RTOG classification for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in Table 1 before treatment, and after 30 and 40 sessions of treatment. Results: From 15 of treated patients, 93.3% of patients had evidence of posterior wall lesion. The mean duration from radiotherapy (radiation and brachytherapy) to the first episode gross hematuria is 112 months. This study shows no statistically different cystoscopic findings as EORTC/RTOG classification for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis after 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT (p = 0.653) and statistically significant improvement after the treatment of more than 30 sessions (p = 0.008). No relationship was found with the hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell number in urine during the course of HBOT. Conclusions: Radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis can be treated with HBOT. There is no different treatment outcome between 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT.

Male sexual dysfunction in Asia

Sex has always been a taboo subject in Asian society. However, over the past few years, awareness in the field of men＇s sexual health has improved, and interest in sexual health research has recently increased. The epidemiology and prevalence of erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and premature ejaculation in Asia are similar in the West. However, several issues are specific to Asian males, including culture and beliefs, awareness, compliance and the availability of traditional/complementary medicine. In Asia, sexual medicine is still in its infancy, and a concerted effort from the government, relevant societies, physicians and the media is required to propel sexual medicine to the forefront of health care.

Prostate Specific Antigen Screening among Men in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among Nigerian men. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is produced by the prostate gland and it is an important tumor marker in the screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer because the latter is often associated with elevated PSA levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile and PSA levels of men presenting for prostate cancer screening at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 103 patients who were seen between January 2014 and December 2015 and screened for prostate cancer using PSA assay. Data was extracted from folders of patients using a proforma and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21. Result: Out of the 103 clients studied, 67 (65%) were between the ages of 40 and 59 years. The mean age was 54.38 ± 12.5 years. Eighty-one (78.6%) of the study population had PSA levels 4 ng/ml and below, 5 (4.9%) had PSA levels of 4.1 - 10 ng/ml, while 17 (16.5%) had PSA levels > 10 ng/ml. The mean PSA was 4.75 ± 8.2 ng/ml. None of the patients with family history of cancer had PSA levels of >4 ng/ml. Those who were positive for HIV also had normal PSA results. Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that the prevalence of men with raised PSA (>4 ng/ml) was high (21.4%) especially in the 60 - 69 years age group. There is need to increase prostate cancer screening using PSA in our setting. The use of other parameters such as digital rectal examination, PSA density, PSA velocity and free PSA will be helpful to determine the need for histological diagnosis in these patients.

Metastatic Cervical and Supraclavicular Lymphadenopathy from Prostate Mimicking Lymphoma: A Case Series

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and the commonest cause of mortality in men. It is the commonest diagnosed cancer in African men. The earliest and common sites of metastasis are the axial skeleton and regional lymph nodes. Initial presentation of the metastatic disease with cervical or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy is rarely reported. We report 3 cases of metastatic cancer of the prostate presenting initially to physicians with huge cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes enlargement which on biopsy revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. On further evaluation, there were non-bothersome storage symptoms, elevated prostate specific antigen and abnormal digital rectal examination. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of hypoechoic nodules revealed high-grade adenocarcinoma of the prostate on histopathological examination. The cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy resolved after commencement of androgen deprivation therapy. We advocate for prostate cancer screening in African men above 50 years of age presenting with cervical or supraclavicular lymphadenopthy to primary care physicians even in the absence of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Survival following an impalement injury through the perineum in association with high voltage electrical burns: A case report

We reported a case of a 30-year-old man who reportedly sustained electrical burns and fell from a high voltage electric pole about 50 meter high onto a metal that caused impalement injury. In addition, he sustained full-thickness burns of the right upper limb (7%), the right hemithorax, the perineum (sparing the penis), the anterior abdominal wall and the lateral aspect of both thighs. There was 43% burned surface area in total. Radiographic examination revealed a slender curved object extending from his perineum into the pelvis. The management of this case was a challenging one which was described in this article.

Self-Genital Mutilation and Attempted Suicide by Cut Throat in the Same Patient at Presentation: A Rare Event

Genital self-mutilation is an uncommon event that is commonly associated with psychotic disorders. Such injuries have also been reported secondary to complex religious beliefs and delusions regarding sexual guilt. Even though few case reports of male genital self-mutilation are available in literature, it is?rareto have a combined self-genital mutilation and attempted suicide by cut throat occurring in the same patient at presentation. We presented the case of a 38-yr-old male who presented to the accident and emergency centre of a tertiary hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Urinary Retention in Adults Male Patients: Causes and Complications among Patients Managed in a Teaching Hospital in North Western Nigeria

Background: Urinary retention is one of the common urologic emergencies constituting a significant workload of urologists and non-urologists alike. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to identify the causes and complications associated with urinary retention in adult male patients at AKTH, Kano. Patients and Methods: It was a prospective hospital-based study of 110 consecutive adult male patients who presented to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano with urinary retention over 12 months. On presentation, a brief history was taken and rapid physical examination done;the urinary retention was relieved by urethral catheterization or suprapubic cystostomy. A detailed history and thorough physical examination findings were later obtained. Results: One hundred and ten patients were seen during the study period. There ages ranged from 17 to100 years with a mean of 56 ± 19.3 SD years. Patients within the age range 55 - 74 years accounted for the largest group, (25.5% + 23.6% = 49.1%). The most common cause of urinary retention in this study was benign prostatic hyperplasia (51.8% of the patients). This was followed by urethral stricture (20%), cancer of the prostate (7.3%), urethral injury (7.3%) and bladder tumour (6.4%). More than half of the patients (53.4%) presented with acute urinary retention, 30.5% presented with chronic urinary retention, and 16.1% were diagnosed to have acute-on-chronic urinary retention. The complications of urinary retention found were: urinary tract infection (in 24.5% of patients), renal impairment (14.5%), and anaemia (11.8%). Conclusion: Urinary retention is commoner among the middle aged and the elderly. Benign prostatic hyperplasia remains the leading cause of urinary retention. Acute urinary retention was the commonest type of urinary retention;however, complications due to the retention were associated with chronic and acute-on-chronic urinary retention.