Current Urology Reports

The return of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to a detectable serum level (PSA recurrence) is usually the first sign of recurrent disease after radical prostatectomy. PSA recurrence generally occurs in men who are otherwise asymptomatic and may occur as late as 5 to 10 years after surgery. Men in this situation want to know what this means regarding the likelihood of clinical disease recurrence and, ultimately, survival. An evaluation for recurrent disease is warranted but generally does not reveal objective signs of clinical disease in the majority of men. Although select men may benefit from salvage local therapy, a PSA recurrence is most often an early sign of distant disease present since the time of surgery. The decision whether or not to initiate systemic therapy in these men is difficult and controversial. Fortunately, recent developments in determining the significance of a PSA recurrence may help the patient and his physician to make a more informed decision regarding treatment options.

The release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety communication on the use of transvaginal mesh (TVM) for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has resulted in changes in the pelvic reconstruction community. This monograph reviews the implications of the FDA statements over the last 18–24 months. Recent findings show that there have been significant developments in the areas of regulatory mandates, media and medico-legal activity, and statements from surgical societies. In summary, well-publicized communications from the FDA and major medical organizations are defining a change in the use of TVM for POP.

Varicocele may play a significant role in a subset of patients presenting with male factor infertility. Despite its relatively high prevalence amongst subfertile men, there has been controversy over the effectiveness of surgical treatments, patient selection, and when to administer treatment, particularly in the era of assisted reproductive technology. In line with earlier finding, recent evidence strongly suggests that varicocelectomy improves pregnancy rates and semen parameters. The currently available literature still does not clearly elucidate the answer to this question, due to flaws in retrospective study design. Patients undergoing subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy appear to have the highest pregnancy rates, and lowest complication rates, compared to other surgical approaches. Current research has given us a better understanding of the relationship between varicocele and infertility. Amongst men presenting with semen analysis abnormalities and varicoceles, including those patients presenting with non-obstructive azoospermia or couples with a significant male factor component failing previous attempts at in vitro fertilization, varicocelectomy may improve take home baby rates. More robust, prospective, controlled studies are needed to further clarify the population of subfertile men with varicocele most likely to benefit from varicocelectomy.

The presence of a sufficient amount of androgens is essential for adequate sexual function in men. Gonadal hormones profoundly affect cognitive functions and, therefore, are fundamental in maintaining sexual desire. The earliest manifestation of hypogonadism is diminished libido. Furthermore, androgens also act peripherally, maintaining the integrity of penile structures and facilitating the erectile mechanisms. Severe androgen deficiency results in anatomical and hemodynamic changes leading to erectile dysfunction that can be corrected with testosterone supplementation.

Transobturator tape midurethral sling is the latest method for treatment of female urinary incontinence. The authors describe their technique via an outside-in approach under local anesthetic to ensure proper tightening of the sling. Placement through the obturator foramen is straightforward and virtually eliminates risk of serious intraoperative major organ or vessel injury. Although outcome data lack the long-term follow-up of colposuspension and tension-free vaginal tape, similar short-term continence results are encouraging with less associated operative morbidity.

There are three technological parameters that play a key role on the performance of an ideal stent. These are its material, design and surface coating. This article highlights some fundamental developments that took place in these three areas of stent’s technology, in order to contribute to the identification of an ideal stent. In addition to technological developments concerning stent’s material, design and surface coating, the flow dynamic performance of stents has recently attracted increasing attention. Notably, it has been postulated that the local flow field in a stent is correlated with the deposition of crystals and microorganisms. These findings could potentially revolutionise future stent’s designs, and complement developments made on materials and coatings. The most relevant changes in materials, designs and surface coatings of ureteric stents are reviewed in this article. These are described in the context of a specific cause of stent’s failure they aim to address, with a particular focus on encrustation and biofilm formation.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a generalized term that refers to prolapse of any of the three vaginal compartments: anterior (cystocele), posterior (rectocele), and apical (uterine and vault prolapse). POP may affect up to 50% of parous women, and as a result, one in nine women will undergo at least one surgery for POP in her lifetime. Native tissue repair is the cornerstone of prolapse surgery, especially in light of the scrutiny placed on the use of mesh for prolapse. Refinements in the procedures over time have been based on both basic anatomy and fundamentals of surgery, as well as the ongoing acquisition of new knowledge through clinical studies.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-021-01058-6

Renal cortical tumors (RCT) are a family of neoplasms with diverse histology and metastatic potentials. Conventional clear cell tumors account for 54% of all RCT and 90% of those that metastasize. Liberal use of abdominal imaging detects 70% of RCT incidentally and at a small size (< 4 cm in diameter). Emerging evidence strongly favors partial nephrectomy (PN) as the primary treatment when technically possible for tumors 7 cm or smaller. This approach provides local tumor control equivalent to radical nephrectomy (RN) and prevents or delays chronic kidney disease (CKD) onset. CKD is present in 26% of apparently well patients with such small renal tumors and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hospitalization, and death. The likelihood of freedom from an estimated glomerular filtration rate lower than 45 mL/min/1.73m2, a level of significant CKD, is 95% after PN, but only 64% after RN. RN should be reserved for patients with massive renal tumors in whom PN is not an option. Increased training in PN and its wider application is essential.