Br J Urol

Piroxicam fast-dissolving dosage form vs diclofenac sodium in the treatment of acute renal colic: a double-blind controlled trial.

Supervia A. Pedro-Botet J. Nogues X. Echarte JL. Minguez S. Iglesias ML. Gelabert A.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital del Mar, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible therapeutic effect of 40 mg sublingual piroxicam (fast-dissolving dosage form, FDDF) compared with intramuscular 75 mg diclofenac, as a reference drug, on acute renal colic in a randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were assigned to one of two treatment groups; one received an intramuscular injection with 0.2 mL distilled water and two sublingual tablets of 20 mg piroxicam FDDF, and the other received an intramuscular injection with 75 mg diclofenac sodium and two sublingual tablets of placebo. Pain intensity was evaluated by the patient using a visual analogue scale and by the observers. Vital signs at baseline and 30 min after the administration of the study drugs were also recorded. RESULTS: The overall efficacy of the treatment was 81%; nine patients in the piroxicam and six in the diclofenac group (no significant difference) required rescue treatment. Compared with baseline levels, the pain relief was significant (P < 0.001) at 30 min in both groups. Twenty-two patients in the piroxicam and 25 in the diclofenac group attained complete pain relief at 30 min, as evaluated by the observer (no significant difference). Both treatments were similarly effective in decreasing vital signs, mainly systolic blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates. However, when the percentage change was compared between the groups, piroxicam significantly decreased the respiratory rate (P < 0.03). CONCLUSION: Piroxicam FDDF is as effective as parenteral diclofenac in emergency renal colic treatment. Furthermore, its ease of self-administration increases patient compliance and potential use in general practice.

Urological complications of bladder-drained pancreatic allografts.

Year 1998
Del Pizzo JJ. Jacobs SC. Bartlett ST. Sklar GN.
Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the spectrum of urological complications associated with bladder drainage of pancreatic allografts. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between July 1991 and October 1996, 140 consecutive bladder-drained pancreatic allografts were performed and were reviewed retrospectively to determine the spectrum of post-operative urological complications. Ninety-five patients (68%) underwent simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, 35 (25%) had the pancreas transplanted after the kidney, while 10 (7%) had a pancreas transplant alone. The mean follow-up was 35 months. RESULTS: Seventy patients (50%) had urological complications necessitating intervention: 17 (12%) had retained foreign bodies, bladder tumours occurred in three, 14 had bladder calculi and 15 (11%) had cystoscopic evidence of duodenitis. One patient developed an arteriovenous fistula and one had a necrotic duodenal allograft. Reflux pancreatitis occurred in six patients. Other complications included urethral stricture (three), urethral erosion (three), epididymitis (three), acute prostatitis (one) and prostatic abscess (one). One patient developed a urethrocutaneous fistula and another developed a vesicocutaneous fistula. In the series, 30 of the 140 patients (21%) required eventual conversion to enteric drainage of their allograft as definitive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic transplantation with bladder drainage is associated with a wide range of significant urological problems. Although appropriate treatment can resolve most of the complications, this often entails additional operative intervention, which may increase the long-term morbidity or jeopardize graft function. As a result of the severity of these urological complications, some centres use primary enteric drainage as the method of choice for pancreatic transplantation.

Bowel motility after enterocystoplasty.

Year 1998
Wood GA. Heathcote PS. Nicol DL.
Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the distension of bowel-augmented bladders during filling and urine storage stimulates gastrointestinal peristalsis, resulting in diarrhoea and increased bowel frequency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five patients with symptomatic diarrhoea occurring after enterocystoplasty were studied; all had undergone bladder augmentation using ileum or colon at least 6 months previously. Using bowel frequency charts and colonic transit-time studies, their bowel function was assessed over 6 days while patients self-catheterized 4-hourly. This was repeated when the patient's bladders were decompressed with an indwelling catheter, and the results before and after bladder decompression compared. RESULTS: One patient showed a significant increase in colonic transit time, from 44.4 to 57.6 h, a decrease in the percentage of liquid motions from 50% to 42.8% and a corresponding small decrease in bowel frequency with bladder decompression. One patient reported an increase in liquid stools, but there was a minor decrease in colonic transit time. The remaining three patients showed no improvement with bladder decompression. When data were combined and analysed using Student's paired t-test, there were no significant changes in colonic transit time, bowel frequency and diarrhoea stools with bladder decompression. CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating bladder distension and hence distension of the incorporated bowel segment in reconstructed bladders has no impact on bowel motility.

Colorectal dysfunction and faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida.

Year 1998
Ponticelli A. Iacobelli BD. Silveri M. Broggi G. Rivosecchi M. De Gennaro M.
Paediatric Surgery Division, Spina Bifida Centre, Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital, Palidoro, Rome, Italy.
OBJECTIVES: To quantify colorectal neurogenic dysfunction in children with spina bifida and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of appropriate rehabilitation performed by the coloproctologist in the spina bifida team. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The bowel function of 73 patients with congenital (67) and acquired (six) spinal lesions (age 7-25 years) was evaluated by one physician. Evacuation habit was classified as full bowel control, mild and severe constipation or incontinence. Fifty-two children had mild or severe incontinence or constipation, 22 of whom were treated by the coloproctologist using biofeedback or conventional therapy; 30 were not treated. The outcome was compared between the groups RESULTS: Bowel constipation remained stable in 90% and was complicated in 10% of the untreated patients, while it ameliorated in 59% of patients who received specialist treatment. CONCLUSION: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction needs specialist management to achieve better results, using the concept of controlled incontinence. There was no significant difference between conventional therapy and biofeedback methods.