Short-term outcome analysis of total pelvic reconstruction with mesh: the vaginal approach.

Purpose: We describe our experience with transvaginal total pelvic reconstruction using a mesh with 4-point fixation for patients with genitourinary prolapse with or without stress urinary incontinence.

Materials And Methods: A total of 29 consecutive patients who underwent sacrospinous fixation using mesh material since March 1999 for genitourinary prolapse were analyzed retrospectively. In all patients defect specific repair was done, including hysterectomy (in 13).

11-year outcome analysis of endourethral prosthesis for the treatment of recurrent bulbar urethral stricture.

Purpose: In a North American multicenter trial of endourethral prosthesis for the treatment of recurrent bulbar urethral stricture we reported 2-year followup results for patients treated with the UroLume endoprosthesis (American Medical Systems, Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota) between 1989 and 1996. From that same study we report long-term effectiveness and safety results on 24 of 179 patients, all of whom have completed 11 years of followup.

Broad based tension-free synthetic sling for stress urinary incontinence: 5-year outcome.

Purpose: The use of nonabsorbable synthetic material has been questioned due to reports of erosion and infection. We present the 5-year followup outcome of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treated using polypropylene mesh as a pubovaginal sling.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 58 consecutive patients who underwent pubovaginal sling procedures using polypropylene mesh since April 1996 for types II and III SUI at our institution.

False fracture of the penis.

Penile fracture is an uncommon, but well-described, entity that requires emergent treatment. The classic, "text-book" history, a blow to the erect penis accompanied by a "snap," pain, and immediate detumescence, is not universally present. We report 2 cases of "false" penile fracture, a condition that closely mimics "true" penile fracture.

Electrical prostate morcellator: an alternative to manual morcellation for laparoscopic nephrectomy specimens? An in vitro study.

Objectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of morcellation with the electrical prostate morcellator (EPM) or manual morcellation of the kidney, using an internal view within the morcellation sac.

Methods: Thirty porcine kidneys, mean renal mass 174.5 g, were divided into three groups of 10.

Experience with urethral stent explantation.

Purpose: We examined the timing, causes and results of the explantation of UroLume (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota) urethral stents.

Materials And Methods: The North American Study Group enrolled 465 patients in a trial of UroLume stent placement, including 69 (14.8% of the series) who required removal of a total of 73 stents (15.