PURPOSE: Due to their high success rate, sling operations have recently been widely performed for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) associated with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) and urethral hypermobility. Despite the encouraging short-term results of the sling surgery using anterior vaginal wall, the long-term results have been shown not to be as good as those in short-term studies. This study was designed to investigate the long term results of a Raz's anterior vaginal wall sling (AVWS), and to determine factors contributing to patients' satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An outcome-based study was conducted on 77 patients who had undergone an AVWS performed by the same surgeon. Patients were preoperatively evaluated for their history, by physical examination, standardized symptom questionnaires and urodynamic studies. Patients with a follow-up of at least 1-year were assessed by the parameters of voiding symptoms and subjective satisfaction from the postoperative questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 62 patients (81%) available for long term follow-up, 43 (69.4%) were currently satisfied with the urinary status, 35 (56.5%) were dry all the time, 12 (19.4%) were occasionally wet, but the severity had improved, 15 (24.1%) had not improved or had worsened. A review of the charts of the 15 failures revealed all of them were postoperatively urgent. Late complications occurred in 4 patients; 1 had recurrent cystocele and 3 had dyspareunia. De novo urge incontinence occurred in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The stress incontinence was cured, or improved, in 75.8% of the patients after a follow-up of at least 1-year. The satisfaction of patients was closely associated with the presence, or resolution, of postoperative urgency or urge incontinence.
Cystocele ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urodynamics

A 25-year-old male patient was received emergency operation, open reduction and tenorrhaphy owing to degloving injury on the dorsum of his left hand, under axillary brachial plexus block using a transarterial approach. Following operation, he revealed the signs and symptoms of brachial plexus injury such as weakness, sensory deficit and tingling sensation on his left forearm and hand. The finding on electromyography (EMG), performed on the 16th postoperative day (POD), was indicative of left incomplete brachial plexus injury, mainly in medial cord and ulnar nerve, and partially median and radial nerve at/above the axillary level. The signs and symptoms were improved slightly on POD 8 and a lot on POD 23. The complete recovery of symptoms and regeneration of injured nerve on EMG were confirmed 3 months following operation. In this case, the causative factors of brachial plexus injury were suggested in stretching of the brachial plexus due to improper positioning of injured arm during or after operation, combined with or without injury due to nerve block or tourniquet compression.
Adult ; Arm ; Brachial Plexus* ; Electromyography ; Emergencies ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Block ; Radial Nerve ; Regeneration ; Sensation ; Tourniquets ; Ulnar Nerve

Spontaneous intra-abdominal hemorrhage from uterine leiomyomas is rarely encountered. We present a case of a 46-year-old who presented to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain as same as that has experienced for 5-6 times. On examination, the abdomen was diffusely tender, with rebound tenderness in the suprapubic area and in both iliac fossae. Pregnancy test was negative. She had an acute abdomen, dizziness, decreasing hematocrit, and a pelvic mass with free fluid in the pelvic cavity. On transvaginal sonography, 6.3 x 6.1 cm sized hyperechoic mass was visible beside the uterus and CDS. This mass had an ill-defined margin. Large amount of fluid was visible in the CDS and uterovesical pouch. Hemoperitoneum was confirmed by culdocentesis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed a mass with cystic components, diffusely heterogeneous signal intensity and T1 high signal intensity in the left superolateral aspect of uterus. An moderate amount of fluid was found in the pelvic cavity. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy. A ruptured, pedunculated, cystic degenerated uterine myoma with active bleeding was found, as well as approximately a liter of free, blood-stained peritoneal fluid and blood-clots. Myomectomy was performed, followed by evacuation of the fluid and clots. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. In conclusion, preoperative diagnosis of a perforated, uterine fibroid with spontaneous intra-abdominal hemorrhage is difficult; exploratory laparotomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic in this rare, life-threatening condition.
Abdomen ; Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain ; Ascitic Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Tests ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: Human adipose tissue is routinely discarded as medical waste. However, this tissue may have valuable clinical applications since methods have been devised to effectively isolate adipose-derived extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors (GFs), and stem cells. In this review, we analyze the literature that devised these methods and then suggest an optimal method based on their characterization results. METHODS: Methods that we analyze in this article include: extraction of adipose tissue, decellularization, confirmation of decellularization, identification of residual active ingredients (ECM, GFs, and cells), removal of immunogens, and comparing structural/physiological/biochemical characteristics of active ingredients. RESULTS: Human adipose ECMs are composed of collagen type I–VII, laminin, fibronectin, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG). GFs immobilized in GAG include basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-b1), insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4), nerve growth factor (NGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and epithermal growth factor (EGF). Stem cells in the stromal-vascular fraction display mesenchymal markers, self-renewal gene expression, and multi-differentiation potential. CONCLUSION: Depending on the preparation method, the volume, biological activity, and physical properties of ECM, GFs, and adipose tissue-derived cells can vary. Thus, the optimal preparation method is dependent on the intended application of the adipose tissue-derived products.
Adipose Tissue ; Collagen ; Elastin ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Laminin ; Medical Waste ; Methods ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Stem Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A