The Journal of urology
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The Journal of urology · Nov 2006
Medical malpractice in urology, 1985 to 2004: 469 consecutive cases closed with indemnity payment.
Malpractice premiums have increased by up to 57% for urologists in the last 3 years, for which the reasons are not clearly reported. We sought to better understand factors contributing to the current medical malpractice crisis in urology. ⋯ In the current study surgical procedures were the greatest generator of claims with the most common being oncological. Emerging and new technologies, eg laparoscopy and robotics, did not account for the increase in indemnity payments observed to date. Only further investigation will determine whether this is secondary to a lag time in the closure of suits related to these emerging technologies or to a lack of such suits. The actual number of claims closed with indemnity payment yearly remained relatively constant. However, the indemnity payment per claim far outpaced that expected for inflation. The observed increase in indemnity payment per claim would appear to be a significant contributing factor to the current malpractice crisis in urology.
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The Journal of urology · Nov 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyDaily intravesical instillation of 1 mg nociceptin/orphanin FQ for the control of neurogenic detrusor overactivity: a multicenter, placebo controlled, randomized exploratory study.
We studied the feasibility, safety and efficacy of daily intravesical instillation of 1 mg of the endogenous peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ in a selected group of patients who perform clean intermittent self-catheterization for neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence. ⋯ This study showed that intravesical nociceptin/orphanin FQ but not placebo inhibited the micturition reflex in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence, and demonstrated the clinical efficacy of nociceptin/orphanin FQ during 10 days of treatment. These findings support the use of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor agonists as an innovative therapeutic approach for controlling detrusor overactivity incontinence.
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The Journal of urology · Nov 2006
Clinical TrialDetection of pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer: comparison of [18F]fluorocholine positron emission tomography-computerized tomography and laparoscopic radioisotope guided sentinel lymph node dissection.
Accurate detection of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer has important implications for prognosis and approach to treatment. We investigated whether preoperative [18F]fluorocholine combined in-line positron emission tomography-computerized tomography and intraoperative laparoscopic radioisotope guided sentinel pelvic lymph node dissection can detect pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer as reliably as extended pelvic lymph node dissection. ⋯ Extended pelvic lymph node dissection reveals a higher number of lymph node metastases as described for obturator fossa dissection only. [18F]fluorocholine combined in-line positron emission tomography-computerized tomography is not useful in searching for occult lymph node metastases in clinically localized prostate cancer. Sentinel guided pelvic lymph node dissection allows the detection of even small lymph node metastases. The accuracy of sentinel pelvic lymph node dissection is comparable to that of extended pelvic lymph node dissection when the limitations of the method are taken into consideration.
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The Journal of urology · Nov 2006
Combined prostate brachytherapy and short-term androgen deprivation therapy as salvage therapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam irradiation.
We describe the treatment outcome in 17 patients who received combined salvage brachytherapy and short-term androgen deprivation therapy for local prostate cancer relapse after prior external beam irradiation. ⋯ Our series suggests that salvage brachytherapy and short-term androgen deprivation therapy can achieve biochemical control in select patients with local relapse after prior external beam irradiation. The major side effects are urinary complications, including grade 3 and 4 complications in 41% and 6% of cases, respectively.
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The Journal of urology · Nov 2006
The role of color Doppler ultrasound in prediction of the outcome of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy.
Overdiagnosis and undertreatment of varicocele may be responsible for the poor outcome of varicocelectomy. In this study we used color Doppler ultrasound for accurate diagnosis and grading of varicocele, and for predicting the outcome of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy. ⋯ Color Doppler ultrasound is a useful tool for accurate diagnosis and grading of varicocele, and for predicting the outcome of varicocelectomy. We recommend varicocelectomy in cases of testicular vein diameter greater than 2.5 mm and in cases of reflux detected at the veins at the lower pole of the testis.