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A significant trend is occurring in the management of urethral stricture, with increased utilization of urethroplasty and decreased utilization of repeat endoscopic procedures, researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle report.

A study of kidney stone patients who were treated using ureteral access sheaths found no evidence of ureteral strictures an average of 4 years following ureteroscopy.

Results of a randomized controlled clinical trial provide a rationale for urologists to integrate behavioral treatments into their practice for managing men with lower urinary tract symptoms of overactive bladder, according to the study’s authors.

“If the long-term results prove to be as positive as the short-term results, then this could provide an intermediate option for patients with recurrent bulbar urethral strictures," says Sean P. Elliott, MD, MS.

A new tool for kidney stone ablation demonstrates strong potential to dust and fragment stones more quickly and efficiently than devices currently available in the United States. However, clinical studies must be performed before this technology can be used during lithotripsy nationally.

Two pharmaceuticals in late-stage development may offer new therapeutic options for patients with rare forms of hyperoxaluria.

“Although the raw number of augmentations and diversions have been relatively unchanged, the proportion of patients undergoing both surgeries declined while the proportion of patients undergoing Botox injections doubled over the past 5 years,” said Rita P. Jen, MD, MPH.

"This work is important to our field, because it represents an effort to personalize treatment approaches to particular patients’ needs," writes Brian R. Matlaga, MD, MPH.

Patients with kidney stones who rank their pain at the maximum level on a 100-point scale or whose number-one goal for treatment is to relieve pain are less likely to reach their treatment goals than other patients undergoing kidney stone treatment, a recent study found.

November 2019 proved to be a fruitful month for urology-specific FDA approvals, with the agency giving the green light to a new drug for complicated urinary tract infection, an implantable device for the treatment of overactive bladder/retention, and a digital product for strengthening of pelvic floor muscles and treatment of urinary incontinence in women.

It may be time to take a closer look at antibiotic prophylaxis prior to ureteral stent removal, according to new data reported at the AUA annual meeting in Chicago.

Selective bladder denervation, which targets the afferent nerves at the trigone only, appears to be an effective treatment for refractory overactive bladder patients, lasting up to 12 months regardless of whether the patient exhibits detrusor overactivity at baseline, according to a recent study from Canada.

The first long-term study of an implantable electrode for tibial stimulation to treat overactive bladder shows a sustained high responder rate and a clean safety profile, said Roger R. Dmochowski, MD, at the AUA annual meeting in Chicago.

Treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) improves OAB symptoms similarly in frail and nonfrail older patients with no difference in side effects, according to a multi-institutional study presented at the AUA annual meeting in Chicago.

A randomized trial found no difference between single-use polyvinylchloride (PVC) catheters and reused PVC catheters for patients with neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida.

"Patient perception is an important aspect of developing an effective treatment plan, and we should be able to arm patients with accurate data to help them make an informed decision," write Whitney Renee Smith, MD, and Gopal H. Badlani, MD.

In this interview, Sandip Vasavada, MD, discusses the rationale behind the recent amendment to the AUA/SUFU guideline for overactive bladder, the role of OAB drugs in the treatment of nocturia, and treatment of refractory OAB.

Patients with urologic conditions have easy access to stem cell therapy options offered by a spectrum of providers at locations that vary from strip mall clinics to academic centers. But while there’s hope that cell-based therapies might not only treat symptoms but also modify diseases, including erectile dysfunction, the scientific evidence to show therapies using any stem cells work and don’t cause harm is lacking.

As the number of patients who receive onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA [Botox]) injections for overactive bladder increases, so does the age of this population and their associated comorbidities. This raises the question: Is the use of onabotA in patients who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication safe?

"Clearly, we are overprescribing and in some cases very seriously overprescribing nationally-regardless of procedure," says study author Jennifer A. Robles, MD.

In this video, Sandip Vasavada, MD, of the Center for Female Urology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, explains how the recently updated AUA/SUFU clinical guideline for overactive bladder helps urologists treat the condition.

The AUA/CUA/SUFU guide focuses on a combination of symptoms and positive cultures.

Sacral neuromodulation placement in a single-stage procedure is likely to be less costly than a two-stage approach for most practitioners, according to the findings of a cost minimization analysis.

"Future research with urologist involvement, to isolate confounding factors and consider serum level variability and other hormone effects, will be useful," writes Priya Padmanabhan, MD, MPH.

A recent study shows older women with decreased levels of serum testosterone are more likely to experience incontinence, but this does not necessarily mean urologists should be giving testosterone to older women, a study author says.

Are dip tests needed for onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA [Botox]) bladder procedures when no symptoms of urinary tract infection are present? A recent study presented at the AUA annual meeting in Chicago suggests the answer may be no.

The prosthesis utilizes natural-feeling dual-layer silicone and includes a Nitinol core to optimize comfort, rigidity, and durability for effective penetration and concealment, according to Boston Scientific.

Consistent with Allena’s prior clinical experience, enteric hyperoxaluria patients treated with reloxaliase in Study 206 demonstrated a substantial treatment effect.

Earlier in 2019, the AUA and the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction published a joint guideline on the subject of incontinence after prostate treatment. In this interview, Jaspreet S. Sandhu, MD, a member of this guideline’s panel, explains the rationale behind the guideline and summarizes its key points.