Mesh versus non-mesh repair of groin hernias: a rapid review.

Background: Mesh is frequently utilized intraoperatively for the repair of groin hernias. However, patients may request non-mesh hernia repairs owing to adverse events reported in other mesh procedures. To inform surgical safety, this study aimed to compare postoperative complications between mesh and non-mesh groin hernia repairs and identify other operative and patient-related risk factors associated with poor postoperative outcomes.

Recurrent UTIs and cystitis symptoms in women.

Background: Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) and recurrent cystitis symptoms without infection occur commonly in women and present frequently in general practice.

Objective: The aim of this article is to provide a management approach to the assessment and treatment of recurrent cystitis symptoms in women with rUTIs as well as women who have negative urine cultures.

Discussion: Five common clinical scenarios are discussed with different approaches to treatment: true rUTIs with positive urine cultures, women with variable urine cultures (some positive and some negative), women with negative urine cultures who have pyuria +/- haematuria, women with completely normal urine cultures and women with ongoing symptoms after a definite UTI.

Urinary incontinence-procedural and surgical treatments for women.

Background: A range of surgical treatment options is available for women suffering from stress and urge urinary incontinence refractory to conservative and medical management.

Objective: This article discusses the indications for surgical treatments for stress and urge urinary incontinence in women; and the advantages, disadvantages and side effects of these treatments.

Discussion: Women who fail to respond to pelvic floor physiotherapy for stress urinary incontinence have available to them a range of variably invasive surgical treatment options including bio-injectable agents, sling surgery, colposuspension, and prostheses.

Urinary incontinence-assessment in women: stress, urge or both?

Background: The aims of assessing urinary incontinence in women are to define the diagnosis, exclude other pathology and guide management. Treatment can be initiated when urinary incontinence is categorised as stress, urge or mixed incontinence. Once conservative measures have been exhausted, the management of stress incontinence is largely surgical, while that of urge urinary incontinence is largely medical.

Urethral trauma in children.

We report our 12-year experience in the management of urethral injuries in nine children, six boys and three girls. The most common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accidents, followed by straddle injuries. All the injuries in boys involved the anterior urethra, and in girls the proximal or mid-urethra.