Publications by authors named "Sandra Elmer"

Article Synopsis
  • Urinary incontinence, particularly stress urinary incontinence (SUI), is a common issue in primary care that can greatly impact a patient's daily life and requires effective assessment and management by healthcare providers.
  • The diagnosis of SUI is typically based on the patient's medical history and specific physical exams, with pelvic floor physiotherapy and lifestyle changes as primary treatment options.
  • For more severe cases, surgical solutions like urethral bulking agents and different types of slings are available, with synthetic mid-urethral slings remaining a popular choice for treating SUI in women.
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Purpose: In this review, we explore the evidence behind mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgery, review the rising reports of complications and the subsequent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and society statements, and evaluate risk perception and communication with patients, doctors, governing bodies, manufacturers and insurance companies. Our aim was to explore the pitfalls in communication that may be contributing to the decline in MUS use, and develop strategies to make MUS surgery safer.

Methods: We searched the English language literature using PubMed for articles related to the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), MUS, safety and monitoring of transvaginal mesh (TVM), and reviewed all online FDA publications and international position statements regarding MUS for SUI.

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A 74-year-old man developed the rare complication of an abdominal wall metastasis following open nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). This occurred in the setting of synchronous contralateral ureteric and metachronous colorectal carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated loss of the mutS homolog 6 (MSH6) mismatch repair (MMR) protein in the metastatic abdominal wall and colonic lesions, which in conjunction with meeting the Amsterdam II criteria, is strongly suggestive of Lynch syndrome (LS).

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Management of intractable haematuria and obstructive urosepsis from upper tract urothelial carcinoma can be problematic in patients not suitable for surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Interventional radiology techniques provide alternative approaches in this setting, such as complete kidney embolization to cease urine output, percutaneous nephrostomy, antegrade injection of sclerotherapy agents and sterilisation of the upper collecting system. Related approaches have been successfully employed to sclerose renal cysts, lymphoceles, chyluria and intractable lower tract haemorrhage.

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Background: Autotransplant has been practiced for decades but is regaining popularity in the nephron-sparing era. Initially for benign disease, autotransplantation has a select role in malignant processes that warrants new techniques and ideas to ensure patient safety. We review the use of ex vivo uretero-pyeloscopy and frozen section to ensure kidneys may be utilized in a patient with suspected malignancy.

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