Efficacy of shunt surgery for refractory low flow priapism: a report on the incidence of failed detumescence and erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: The reported success rate for surgical cavernosa-to-spongiosum shunts in patients with refractory low flow priapism is variable and yet it is reported to be as high as 100% in terms of achieving detumescence. The long-term potency rate after the introduction of the shunt procedure is also as high as 50%. We reviewed the efficacy of various shunts in terms of achieving detumescence and we clarified the rate of erectile dysfunction at long-term followup.

Laparoscopic variability of the internal inguinal ring: review of anatomical variation in children with and without a patent processus vaginalis.

Purpose: Diagnostic laparoscopy is routinely performed at our institution in children with a unilateral inguinal hernia to determine whether the contralateral processus vaginalis is patent. We reviewed the anatomical variability of the inguinal ring at laparoscopy in children with and without a hernia in various age groups.

Materials And Methods: Since 1992, we have performed diagnostic laparoscopy in more than 1,500 children with a known inguinal hernia.

Carcinoma in situ and tumor multifocality predict the risk of prostatic urethral involvement at radical cystectomy in men with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Purpose: Determining which patients are at risk for prostatic urethral involvement of urothelial carcinoma may alter assessment of the prostatic urethra before radical cystectomy and ultimately influence the choice of urinary diversion. We determined risk factors predictive of prostatic urethral involvement using preoperative bladder tumor characteristics in male patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy due to urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 192 consecutive radical cystectomy specimens from men with transitional cell carcinoma from June 1995 to June 2000.