Penile Fracture at the Department of Urology and Andrology, University Hospital, Brazzaville

Objective: The objectives of this study, was to analyze epidemiological diagnosis, therapeutic option and evolutionary aspects. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study regarding clinical data of nine penile fracture patients who have been admitted in the department of urology (university hospital, Brazzaville) from January 2006 to December 2018. The study parameters were: epidemiological, diagnosis, operative details, outcomes after treatment, and sexual disorders. Results: The mean age was 46.3 ± 14 years, ranged from 25 to 73 years. The etiology of penile fracture was coitus in 5 cases, masturbation in 3 cases and rolling of the penis on the bed in one case. 8 patients were managed surgically. The complications noticed in the postoperative period and during the follow-up visits were penile curvature in 2 cases, and erectyl dysfunction in 2 cases. Conclusion: The diagnosis of penile fracture remains clinic. Immediate surgical management is necessary for good functional result.

Endoscopic Internal Urethrotomy in the Treatment of Male Urethral Stenosis in the Urology-Andrology Department of KARA Teaching Hospital (Togo)

Introduction: Endoscopic internal urethrotomy (EIU) is a method for stricture opening using transurethral incision by direct visualisation of the urethral channel, resulting in a widening of the urinary canal with the aim of improving the quality of bladder emptying. The aim of the study was to evaluate the indication and results of EIU in the treatment of stenosis of the male urethra in the Urology-Andrology Department of Kara Teaching Hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with retrospective data collection in the Urology-Andrology department of Kara Teaching Hospital. It involved 21 records of patients with urethral stenosis treated by endoscopic internal urethrotomy (EIU) in the said department during the period from January 2021 to September 2023. The following variables were evaluated: age, circumstance of discovery, site, length, number, etiology of the urethral stenosis and evolution of the patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was 59.2 ± 11.7 years. Infectious etiology of stenosis was predominant with 10 patients (47.6%) followed by trauma with 5 cases (23.8%). The bulbar urethra was the most frequently observed site, with 11 cases (52.4%). The length was mostly less than 2 cm in 12 patients (57.1%). Stenosis was unique in 14 patients (66.7%). The mean postoperative follow-up time was 3.2 months. The result was immediately better in 11 patients (52.4%) and it was poor in 8 patients (38.1%) who required maintenance dilation sessions.

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Male Infertility in Patients Consulting at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital

Introduction: About 10 to 15% of couples in the world and 20 to 30% in Cameroon consult for infertility problems. Infertility is of male origin in 40% of cases. Our objective was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical aspects of male infertility in our setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, with retrospective data collection from the files of patients received for male infertility, over 5 years and 6 months (from January 1st, 2016 to April 30th, 2021) at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Phone calls were made to patients with incomplete records for completion following a verbal consent. Data reported on data collection forms were entered into a data entry form designed on CSPro software version 7.2. The database was later exported for descriptive statistics using the IBM SPSS software version 23. Qualitative variables were summarized in frequencies and percentages while quantitative variables were summarized in means with their standard deviations for normally distributed data, or medians and interquartile ranges otherwise. Results: Out of 110 patients whose records were analyzed, the median age was 37.0 years, with an interquartile range of 8.3, with 55.5% in the age group 30 to 39 years. Of these 95 (86.4%) were married, 58 (52.7%) were from the West region, 76 (69.1%) were employed. Past history was dominated by mumps 40 (36.4%), varicocele surgery 25 (22.7%), alcoholism 87 (79.1%) and smoking 15 (13.6%). A disorder of spermatogenesis was found in all our patients: 37 (33.6%) azoospermia, 27 (24.6%) asthenospermia and 26 (23.7%) oligospermia patients. Paraclinical evidence of chlamydia and gonococcal infections were found respectively in 38 (34.5%) and 14 (12.7%) patients, varicocele and testicular dystrophy respectively in 95 (86.4%) and 38 (34.5%) patients. Infertility was primary in 67 (60.9%) patients. Conclusion: Most patients with infertility were in their thirties, had risky social habits and comorbidities. An early start of health promotion activities, comorbidities prevention and early detection of spermogram abnormalities would make it possible to reduce the frequency of male infertility.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor: A systematic review of simulator-based training courses and curricula

Objective:Transurethral resection of bladder tumor is one of the most common everyday urological procedures.This kind of surgery demands a set of skills that need training and experience.In this review,we aimed to investigate the current literature to find out if simulators,phantoms,and other training models could be used as a tool for teaching urologists.Methods:A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the recommendations of the European Association of Urology guidelines for conducting systematic reviews.Fifteen out of 932 studies met our inclusion criteria and are presented in the current review.Results:The UroTrainer(Karl Storz GmbH,Tuttlingen,Germany),a virtual reality training simulator,achieved positive feedback and an excellent face and construct validity by the participants.The inspection of bladder mucosa,blood loss,tumor resection,and procedural time was improved after the training,especially for inexperienced urologists and medical students.The construct validity of UroSim®(VirtaMed,Zurich,Switzerland)was established.SIMBLA simulator(Samed GmbH,Dresden,Germany)was found to be a realistic and useful tool by experts and urologists with intermediate experience.The test objective competency model based on SIMBLA simulator could be used for evaluating urologists.The porcine model of the Asian Urological Surgery Training and Education Group also received positive feedback by the participants that tried it.The Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning Initiative Project had an extraordinary face and content validity,and 60%of participants would like to use the simulators in the future.The 5-day multimodal training curriculum“Boot Camp”in the United Kingdom achieved an increase of the level of confidence of the participants that lasted months after the project.Conclusion:Simulators and courses or curricula based on a simulator training could be a valuable learning tool for any surgeon,and there is no doubt that they should be a part of every urologist's technical education.

Meiotic transcriptional reprogramming mediated by cell-cell communications in humans and mice revealed by scATACseq and scRNA-seq

Meiosis is a highly complex process significantly influenced by transcriptional regulation.However,studies on the mechanisms that govern transcriptomic changes during meiosis,especially in prophase I,are limited.Here,we performed single-cell ATAC-seq of human testis tissues and observed reprogramming during the transition from zygotene to pachytene spermatocytes.This event,conserved in mice,involved the deactivation of genes associated with meiosis after reprogramming and the activation of those related to spermatogenesis before their functional onset.Furthermore,we identified 282 transcriptional regulators(TRs)that underwent activation or deactivation subsequent to this process.Evidence suggested that physical contact signals from Sertoli cells may regulate these TRs in spermatocytes,while secreted ENHO signals may alter metabolic patterns in these cells.Our results further indicated that defective transcriptional reprogramming may be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia(NOA).This study revealed the importance of both physical contact and secreted signals between Sertoli cells and germ cells in meiotic progression.

Treatment of Kidney Stones by Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Evaluation of the Results of the First Series of Our Experience in the Urology Department of the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital in Dakar

The principle of PCNL is the extraction through a nephrostomy channel of kidney stones which are defined as the presence of crystalline concretions in the kidneys. Objectives: The objective of this work was to study the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical aspects of patients with renal lithiasis treated by PCNL and on the other hand the different technical aspects of PCNL. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study, conducted in the urology department of HOGIP, covering the period from January 2015 to January 2019. We studied the demographic and clinical aspects of patients presenting renal lithiasis;we also studied the technical aspects and treatment outcomes. Statistical significance was set for α = 0.05. Results: Our series covered 82 PCNLs performed during the study period. The average age was 45.95 years, the age group [40 - 49 years] was more affected. Our study involved 44 men and 38 women, a sex ratio of 1.15. At the clinic, atypical lumbar pain was more frequent in 45.83% of cases. On URO-CT, the calculations were located more at the pyelic level (31.2%) and lower caliceal (27.2%). The size of stones measured between 15 and 20 mm in 30.52%. The stone density was between 500 and 1000 HU in 47.54% of cases. Intraoperatively, the patients were placed in lateral decubitus in 41.46% of cases. Only one access to the kidney was necessary in 87.8% of cases. The lithoclast was used in 65.85% of cases. The overall success rate (stone free) in our series was 96%. The majority of cases, 41.44%, drainage were done by natural means (totally tubeless). The average duration was 92 minutes. The complications encountered in our experience concerned 10 cases, a rate of 12.19%. Conclusion: Urinary lithiasis is more and more frequent in our regions. The development of Endo-urology offers several therapeutic options. Thus, PCNL occupies an important place in the management of kidney stones.

Surgical Treatment of the Upper Urinary Tract Lithiasis at the Urology Department of the Hopital General Idrissa Pouye

Upper urinary tract lithiasis is a condition characterized by the presence of stones which is a stony concretion of crystallized substances in the kidney and/or ureter. Objective: The objective of this work is to study the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of upper urinary tract stones on the one hand, then to compare the different types of surgical treatments and their results. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective and descriptive study focusing on the surgical management of upper urinary tract stones, between January 2017 and December 2020, at the Urology department of the Hopital General Idrissa Pouye. Results: During the study period, 7.59% of surgical interventions performed were related to the treatment of upper urinary tract stones. Average age was 45.20 ± 16.4 years, the age group [41 - 60] years was more affected with 42.68%. A history of urolithiasis was present in 25.52% of cases. Lower back pain was present in 97.48% of cases. On URO-CT scan, the stone was located more at the level of the ureter (49.57%). The size between 10 to 15 mm was more frequent (30.96%) and the density greater than 1000 HU was more frequent (33.47%). The most used therapeutic procedure was ureteroscopy (52.08%), followed by PCNL (40.83%) and open surgery (7.08%). The success rate (stone free) was 93.68% for the URS, 89.36% for the PCNL. The length of hospital stay for open surgery was 6.76 ± 4.25, for PCNL 2.62 ± 2 days and for URS 1.75 ± 1.62 days. Postoperative complications were present in 23.52% for open surgery, 11.22% for PCNL and 8% for URS. Conclusion: Urolithiasis is constantly growing in our regions. Effective endourological treatment is increasingly replacing open surgery. However, global access to these new techniques in our regions is slow to be effective.

Urological Emergencies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects

Introduction: Urological emergencies play a significant role in the medical and surgical activity of a urology department. The objective of this study was to determine the hospital prevalence of urological emergencies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (CHUB), identify the different pathologies requiring urgent care, and list the various therapeutic methods. Patients and methods: A retrospective study of patients admitted to the medical and surgical emergencies department of CHUB over a 5-year period. Patient records admitted and treated for a urological emergency were included. The variables studied were the frequency of urological emergencies, patient age at admission, gender, nature of the emergency, and various therapeutic options. Results: Urological emergencies accounted for 4.3% of all medical and surgical emergencies. The mean age was 57 ± 28 years with a range of 3 to 93 years. The male-to-female ratio was 7.1. The most common conditions were urinary retention (54.67%), hematuria (17.20%), and renal colic (8.13%). Therapeutically, surgical urinary drainage was dominated by cystostomy. Conclusion: Urological emergencies are infrequent at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Their management is often delayed.

Clinical Presentation, Therapeutic Aspects and Results of Urogental Prolapse in Yaounde

Introduction: Urogenital prolapse is the descent of one or more elements of the abdominal-pelvic contents into the vaginal cavity. The anterior, middle and posterior anatomical compartments may be involved giving rise to several types of genital prolapse. However, there are various therapeutic modalities ranging from observational procedures to surgery. In Yaounde, urogenital prolapse appears to be a rare clinical entity, and its treatment has not been clearly stated. There is limited data about this subject in our context. Our aim was to study the clinical and therapeutic aspects of urogenital prolapse in Yaounde. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection at the Yaounde Gynaecological Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH) and the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH) over a period of 05 months (from February 2022 to June 2022). All women aged ≥30 years and all women with documented urogenital prolapse admitted to the maternity and urology departments of these two health facilities were included. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) software version 23.0 and the data were reported as mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 50 patients were recruited;the mean age was 45.8 ± 17 years. The age range was from 21 to 72 years. Majority of the patients were aged more than 55 years (32%). Most of the patients attended primary education (48%). Forty percent of the patients were housewives. The majority of the patients were from West Cameroon (26%). The most common reason for consultation was pelvic heaviness (54%). The most prevalent clinical sign was cystocele (56%), followed by hysterocele (54%). According to the Baden Walker classification, one-third of the patients were classified as first degree (36%). More than half (58%) of patients had the condition located at the first stage. Surgery was performed in 68% of cases while 48% received medical treatment. The average length of inpatient stay was 7.9 ± 3.7 days and the average length of transurethral catheterization was 3.02 ± 2.9 days. Most patients had a good short-term outcome, and the main postoperative complications were infection (8.8%) and hemorrhage (5.9%). Conclusion: Urogenital prolapse is a rare condition in our population. Diagnosis is essentially clinical. Cystocele and hysterocele are the predominant clinical forms. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Outcomes are satisfactory.

Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: The results of a Delphi consensus project

Objective: To evaluate transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) with Echolaser® (Echolaser® TPLA, Elesta S.p.A., Calenzano, Italy) as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) using the Delphi consensus method.Methods: Italian and international experts on BPH and PCa participated in a collaborative consensus project. During two rounds, they expressed their opinions on Echolaser® TPLA for the treatment of BPH and PCa answering online questionnaires on indications, methodology, and potential complications of this technology. Level of agreement or disagreement to reach consensus was set at 75%. If the consensus was not achieved, questions were modified after each round. A final round was performed during an online meeting, in which results were discussed and finalized.Results: Thirty-two out of forty invited experts participated and consensus was reached on all topics. Agreement was achieved on recommending Echolaser® TPLA as a treatment of BPH in patients with ample range of prostate volume, from <40 mL (80%) to >80 mL (80%), comorbidities (100%), antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment (96%), indwelling catheter (77%), and strong will of preserving ejaculatory function (100%). Majority of respondents agreed that Echolaser® TPLA is a potential option for the treatment of localized PCa (78%) and recommended it for low-risk PCa (90%). During the final round, experts concluded that it can be used for intermediate-risk PCa and it should be proposed as an effective alternative to radical prostatectomy for patients with strong will of avoiding urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Almost all participants agreed that the transperineal approach of this organ-sparing technique is safer than transrectal and transurethral approaches typical of other techniques (97% of agreement among experts). Pre-procedural assessment, technical aspects, post-procedural catheterization, pharmacological therapy, and expected outcomes were discussed, leading to statements and recommendations.Conclusion: Echolaser® TPLA is a safe and effective procedure that treats BPH and localized PCa with satisfactory functional and sexual outcomes.

Robotic approach with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in adult Wilms’ tumor: A feasibility study report and a systematic review of the literature

Objective:The incidence of Wilms’tumor(WT)among adult individuals accounts for less than 1%of kidney cancer cases,with a prognosis usually less favorable when compared to younger individuals and an overall survival rate of 70%for the adult patients versus 90%for the pediatric cases.The diagnosis and treatment of WT are complex in the preoperative setting;neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)or robotic surgery has rarely been described.This study aimed to review the literature of robotic surgery in WT and report the first adult WT management using both NAC and robotic strategy.Methods:We reported a case of WT managed in a multidisciplinary setting.Furthermore,according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations,a systematic review of the literature until August 2020 of WT treated with a robotic approach was carried out.Results:A 33-year-old female had a diagnosis of WT.She was scheduled to NAC,and according to the clinical and radiological response to a robotic radical nephrectomy with aortic lymph nodes dissection,she was managed with no intraoperative rupture,a favorable surgical outcome,and a follow-up of 25 months,which did not show any recurrence.The systematic review identified a total number of 230 cases of minimally invasive surgery reported in the literature for WT.Of these,approximately 15 patients were carried out using robotic surgery in adolescents while none in adults.Moreover,NAC has not been administered before minimally invasive surgery in adults up until now.Conclusion:WT is a rare condition in adults with only a few cases treated with either NAC or minimally invasive approach so far.The advantage of NAC followed by the robotic approach could lead to favorable outcomes in this complex scenario.Notwithstanding,additional cases of adult WT need to be identified and investigated to improve the oncological outcome.

Comparison of Transrectal Prostate Digital and Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsies in 400 Men in a Low-and-Middle Income Country

Background: The diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) relies on clinical assessment with digital rectal examination, serum PSA and histological examination. Limitations in our technical facilities, high financial cost of ultrasound-guided biopsy often prevent us from implementing the guidelines on the practice of prostate biopsy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective and cross-sectional descriptive study comparing digital-guided and ultrasound-guided transrectal prostate biopsy of 400 patients over a period of 12 years in the Yaounde Central Hospital. We reviewed files of patients who underwent digital and ultrasound guided biopsy procedures. Data was analyzed using EPI info 7.0. Parametric variables were reported as means and standard deviations and percentages and counts were used to report categorical variables. Results: Out of the 400 patients, 292 digital-guided transrectal biopsies (73%) and 108 ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsies (27%) were performed in patients who were suspected of having prostate cancer (PCa). Patients were aged between 39 to 90 years. Both procedures were effective in identifying prostate cancer. Gleason score between 2 to 10 detected prostate adenocarcinoma for 301 patients (75.2%). The complications included anal pain, rectal bleeding, hematuria and urinary tract infections, with an occurrence rate similar for both ultrasound-guided (2.25%) and digitally-guided techniques (2.5%). Seven patients (1.75%) required hospitalization for management of complications. The mortality rate was null. Conclusion: Both techniques are effective in detecting PCa with the similar complication rates. Digital-guided trans-rectal prostate biopsy still has its place in a resource-limited setting like ours.

Testicular Burkitt’s Lymphoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Burkitt’s lymphoma of the testis (TBL) is a rare and extremely aggressive malignant usually diagnosed in front of a testicular mass. We describe an interesting single case of TBL managed by a combined multimodal approach with a review of the literature. Case Report: A patient aged 69-year-old male, newly hypertensive, who presented with a twelve-month history of right testis progressive painful scrotal swelling, which worsens following a motorbike accident. Clinical examination revealed a large tender mass in an erythematous right scrotal bursa. A scrotal ultrasound showed a right heterogenous intra-testicular mass. The patient underwent unilateral (right) radical orchiectomy. Histopathological examination revealed presence of monomorphic lymphoid cells, with moderate to increased size, dissociated inconstantly by macrophages consistent with a Burkitt’s-like non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After surgery, the patient was transferred to oncologist for adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: A testicular mass is a usual circumstance for the discovery of a primary tumour of the testicle. Burkitt’s testicular lymphoma is a rare tumour whose diagnosis is based on histological findings. There are non-consensual etiological or predisposing factors. The treatment depends imperatively on the stage of the disease. Therapeutic modalities relay on in surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiation therapy but the accurate procedures are not standardized.

The optimal stent pusher position to achieve successful ureteral stent insertion under fluoroscopic guidance

Objective: To examine factors to predict the optimal stent pusher position when inserting ureteral stents under fluoroscopy.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 327 patients who underwent ureteral stent insertion. We considered the pubic bone as a useful anatomical landmark to insert ureteral stents under fluoroscopic guidance. Thus, we categorized patients into three groups (proximal, middle, and distal groups) according to the position of the radiopaque tip of the push catheter when inserting the ureteral stent. Success was defined as a completely curled ureteral stent tail. We compared stent insertion success rates among the three groups. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting stent insertion success.Results: In men, 36 (63.2%) cases were deemed successful in the proximal group compared with 40 (80.0%) cases in the middle group and 12 (20.7%) cases in the distal group (p<0.001). In women, 26 (45.6%) cases were deemed successful in the proximal group compared with 54 (98.2%) cases in the middle group and 38 (76.0%) cases in the distal group (p<0.001). With the multivariate analysis, the stent pusher position was the most significant factor influencing successful stent insertion (men: odds ratio 6.00, 95% confidence interval 2.66-13.51, p<0.001;women: odds ratio 37.80, 95% confidence interval 4.94-289.22, p<0.001).Conclusion: The position of the stent pusher affects stent insertion success. The middle of the pubic symphysis is the optimal position for the radiopaque tip of the pusher when inserting ureteral stents under fluoroscopic guidance.

Nephroblastoma in Adults about a Clinical Case

Nephroblastoma is the most common malignant renal tumor in children and is related to an abnormal proliferation of cells resembling those of the embryonic kidney (metanephroma), hence the terminology;embryonal tumor. These are tumors that remain and remain unstudied in Mali because they are common in adults in our context. Its annual incidence is estimated at approximately 1/10,000 births. Nephroblastoma is a rare or even exceptional tumor in adults. The clinical manifestation was a large swelling of the right hypochondrium;abdominal pain for a year;unquantified fever, hypertension, initial hematuria associated with burning during urination and anemia. The main clinical manifestation remained fever and abdominal pain. This renal tumor posed a diagnostic problem which was previously labeled as a mesenteric tumor in our general surgery department. The diagnosis was made by imaging: CT and magnetic resonance imaging. The treatment is multidisciplinary and combines chemotherapy, surgery with or without radiotherapy. The prognosis is poor due to late diagnosis and less effectiveness of chemotherapy compared to the child. Survival did not exceed a year and a half because the renal tumor in our patient was surgically overcome. We report a case of nephroblastoma in an 86-year-old patient with unfavorable histology (hematogenous metastases), operated on in the general surgery department and whose postoperative course was simple and who was referred to oncology for treatment.

Management of Testicular Cancers in Brazzaville

Introduction: Testicular cancer accounts for 5% of urological tumors, predominantly affecting young men. The aim of our study was to report the diagnostic and evolutionary aspects of testicular cancer cases treated in our center. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study conducted over a 15-year period involving 12 patients treated for testicular cancer at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Results: The median age was 31 years (range 11 to 49 years), with a median consultation delay of 10.6 months (range 3 to 27 months). Scrotal mass was the most common reason for consultation. Cancer was bilateral in two patients. Two patients were admitted with metastatic disease. Histopathological examination favored germ cell tumors in 7 cases, two cases of non-Hodgkin’s malignant lymphoma, and one case of epididymo-testicular adenocarcinoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in complete remission in patients with germ cell tumors. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not effective in patients admitted with advanced-stage disease. Conclusion: Testicular cancer is a rare condition that is curable in the majority of cases, but its management is often complicated in our setting due to delayed diagnosis caused by taboos surrounding genital organ pathologies.

Klingsor Syndrome: An Observation in a Patient with Schizophrenia

Background: Klingsor syndrome refers to genital self-mutilation in man following delusional religious beliefs. Later, Schweitzer proposed expanding the term to include all psychotic disorders, drug and alcohol abuse. Apart from the noted hemorrhagic emergency and difficult surgical operation, there is a psychosocial impact, sexual and urinary complications (stenosis, urethral fistula) which make this pathology complex. Aim: The Aim of this study is to describe the clinical case of Klingsor syndrome and evaluate its management in light of the literature. Case Presentation: We report a rare case of genital self-mutilation in a 35-year-old man, non-compliant schizophrenic, received 04 days after the trauma and whose treatment consisted of remodeling of the penis stump and follow-up by psychiatrists. Conclusion: Klingsor syndrome is a rare but serious phenomenon. Its management remains complex, but it must be early and multidisciplinary.

Evaluation of the Quality of Micturition in Patients Who Underwent Anastomotic Urethroplasty at the Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon

Introduction: Radiological investigation which is the gold standard to perform following anastomotic urethroplasty in order to evaluate the quality of micturition is costly. In our context, due to financial limitations, reconstructive urologists prefer to use the uroflowmetry in order to assess the micturition post-surgery. Therefore, the objective of the study was to assess the quality of micturition using the uroflowmetry after anastomotic urethroplasty. Methodology: We conducted an 11-year retrospective review (1st January 2006-31st December 2017) and a cross-sectional descriptive observational study for a period of 8 months (November 2017-June 2018) at the Urology and Andrology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH) of patients who were diagnosed with urethral stenosis and underwent an anastomotic urethroplasty at the YCH. We excluded patients who had incomplete files, patients lost to follow-up and did not do pre-operative uroflowmetry. Quality of micturition was evaluated using a uroflowmetry. Data was analyzed using EPI info 7.0. Parametric variables were reported as means and standard deviations and percentages and counts were used to report categorical variables. Results: We had a sample of 60 patients. The mean age was 42 ± 5 years with extremes ranging from 20 to 76 years. Twenty-seven (27) patients, or 45%, had no post-operative complications, and those who did had a urinary tract infection (26.70%). In our series, we had 82% excellent results (patient satisfied with his urination with bell-shaped urinary stream and urinary flow greater than or equal to 15 ml/sec);15% good results (patient with moderate dysuria with average urinary stream and urinary flow between 10 and 14.9 ml/sec) and 3% poor results (severe dysuria with urinary flow less than 10 ml/sec, urinary retention or urinary incontinence). Based on these results we can say that the success rate in our series was 97%. 96.70% of patients were satisfied against 3.3% who were not. Conclusion: Anastomotic urethroplasty is the gold standard for the treatment of short urethral strictures. The results are good in the immediate and long term post-operative period. The use of the uroflowmetry as a screening tool for evaluating the quality of micturition after urethroplasty is effective.

Corporoplasty with small soft axial prostheses （VIRILIS ） and bovine pericardial graft （HYDRIX） in Peyronie＇s disease

The surgical techniques used by Austoni and Egydio in the treatment of Peyronie＇s disease are based on geometric principles. The aim of this paper is to report our multicentric experience and technical changes to Austoni＇s original technique, focusing on several tips and tricks to make this technique easy to perform, even by less experienced practitioners. We performed operations in three different Italian institutions. We implanted a small soft Virilis I~ axial prostheses （Ф 7 Fr.）, using a bovine pericardium collagen matrix patch （Hydrix） to cover the defect in the tunica albuginea. Sixty patients with a mean age of 58 years （range 44-76 years） underwent surgery between September 2005 and January 2010. After surgery, mean lengthening of the shaft was 2 cm （range 1.2-2.3 cm） with complete correction of penile recurvatum. Thirty-nine patients resumed sexual activity 60 days later, 14 after 90 days and 7 after 120 days. The international index of erectile function （IIEF） score was 15.5 before surgery and it improved to 23 at 12 and 24 months after surgery. Furthermore, the visual analogue scale （VAS） showed good results in terms of the recovery of natural sexual intercourse （over 80% of couples） and of the original length and girth of the penis. The soft implant we used takes advantage of erection that occurs spontaneously, using the residual erection of the spared cavernous tissue. The method is easy to learn and reproducible, and the use of pericardium speeds up the operation, while also covering large defects of the tunica albuginea that result from complex recurvatum.

Effects of epidermal growth factor on sperm content and motility of rats with surgically induced varicoceles

Aim： To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor （EGF） on the sperm content and motility of the varicocelized rats. Methods： Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the varicocele, the varicocele repair, the varicocele with EGF and the varicocele repair with EGF groups, whereas the control group only received a sham induction of varicocele. Surgical repair of varicocele was performed 4 months later in the varicocele repair and varicocele repair with EGF groups. EGF administration was performed daily by s.c. injection in the varicocele with EGF and varicocele repair with EGF groups at the dose of 10 μg/（kg·day） from the next day of the second surgery. One month later, all animals were killed and bilateral cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were evaluated. Results： The mean sperm count and percentage of motile spermatozoa were significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele with EGF group than in the varicocele group （P 〈 0.05）. They were also significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele repair with EGF group than in the varicocele repair and the varicocele with EGF groups （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： EGF can improve bilateral epididymal sperm content and motility of the rat with surgically induced varicocele. The administration of EGF in combination with surgical repair is more effective than surgical repair or EGF administration alone. EGF might be useful for the treatment of infertility induced by varicocele.