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Background: In the context of blunt abdominal trauma, injuries to the urinary tracts often occur, especially in polytrauma patients. Urotrauma is rarely immediately life-threatening but can lead to serious complications and chronic functional limitations during treatment. Therefore early urological involvement is crucial for adequate interdisciplinary treatment., Methods: The most important facts for the clinical routine on the consultant urological management of urogenital injuries in blunt abdominal trauma are discussed according to the European "EAU guidelines on Urological Trauma" and the German "S3 guidelines on Polytrauma/Treatment of Severely Injured Patients" as well as the relevant literature., Results: Urinary tract injuries can occur even with an initially inconspicuous status and always require explicit exclusion diagnostics by means of contrast medium tomography of the entire urinary tract and, if necessary, by means of urographic and endoscopic examinations. The most common urological intervention is catheterization of the urinary tract which is often required. Less common is urological surgery, which should be coordinated interdisciplinarily with visceral and trauma surgery. More than 90% of vitally threatening kidney injuries (usually up to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grades 4-5) are now treated by interventional radiology., Conclusion: Due to possible complex injury patterns in blunt abdominal trauma, these patients should ideally be directed to (certified) trauma centers with subspecialized or maximum care from the departments of visceral and vascular surgery, trauma surgery, interventional radiology and urology., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Surgical intervention in children with VUR is rarely indicated in the first year of life. Early surgical intervention is primarily required for male infants with a high-grade reflux, renal impairment due to reflux nephropathy, infravesical obstruction and breakthrough infections like pyelonephritis or urosepsis. Besides the recommended circumcision, this is usually limited to endoscopic infravesical disobstruction of posterior urethral valves, prolapsing ureteroceles or secondary bladder neck obstructions. Concomitant endoscopic reflux therapy with bulking agents such as hyaluronic acid/dextranomer should be regarded as a downstaging of the VUR; the decision should be made on an individual basis. Urinary diversion, e. g. vesicostomy or ureterocutaneostomy, is only required in exceptional cases., Competing Interests: Der Autor gibt an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Within the S3 Guideline Project of the European Association of Urology (EAU) an expert committee was set up to develop guidelines for the appropriate management of genitourinary trauma. These European guidelines were accepted in principle as national guidelines by the German Urological Society. Therefore, they also became the basis of the contribution of the German Urological Society to the S3 Guideline Project "Polytrauma" of the German Society for Trauma Surgery., Method: For the guideline "management of genitourinary trauma" all the requirements for classification as S3 guidelines were full-filled. The guideline itself was developed in accordance with the principles of "evidence-based medicine". A systematic analysis of literature published between 1966 and 2004 was carried out. The articles retrieved were assessed in respect of study design and clinical relevance and classified following the scheme of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford., Conclusion: In suspected renal injuries the hemodynamic situation of the patient is the benchmark for the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. The diagnostic gold standard for the assessment of haemodynamically stable patients is CT scanning. Uncontrolled haemodynamic instability is an indication for immediate explorative laparotomy. Partial ureteral tears are managed by stenting; complete tears by immediate surgical repair. Pelvic fractures are often associated with bladder ruptures. Extraperitoneal bladder ruptures, identified by retrograde cystography, are in most cases safely managed by simple catheter drainage. Intraperitoneal ruptures require surgical intervention. Blood at the meatus may suggest a urethral lesion-blind urethral catheterization should not be attempted. Suprapubic cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty are recommended.

Fetal surgery is a newly evolving multidisciplinary medical field, being performed in specialized centers. It deals with the treatment of selected fetuses with congenital anomalies that cause high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the surgical treatment is to avoid the development of progressive and eventually irreversible damage at birth. Examples of entities treated are obstructive uropathy leading to renal insufficiency, lung hypoplasia in severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia, severe congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung, and sacrococcygeal teratoma. This review describes principles of fetal surgery, physiopathologic processes of some of the anomalies treated in this way, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Recently published results are presented and discussed.

High-resolution sonography provides the opportunity for prenatal detection of fetal anomalies of the urinary tract. In view of various options of prenatal urinary diversion to alleviate obstruction, it has become a scientific goal to measure fetal renal function and to determine the prognosis of urinary tract malformations. The article outlines the accumulated knowledge of the development of fetal renal function and the diagnostic possibilities offered by sonography and by laboratory test with focus on the chemistry of the amniotic fluid. Taking into consideration the high risks of prenatal intervention, these findings are discussed as to their relevance for the clinical management of pregnancies complicated by fetal urinary tract abnormalities. Lastly, criteria are proposed for the decision making in clinical practice.

As urinary tract obstruction in children may impair renal function, the early detection and evaluation of the degree of obstruction using adequate diagnostic tools is necessary for the choice of the optimal therapeutic procedure. This study describes diagnostic and therapeutic standards in relation to the quality of management of pediatric hydronephrosis in Germany in the first 6 months of the year 2000. In our study 407 of 711 (57.2%) children with a hydronephrotic condition were detected by routine ultrasound. This, and the fact that 25% of the patients, who were prenatally detected, had a diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux, underlines the importance of this routine procedure. Our study illustrates the panel of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used in the management of pediatric hydronephrosis in Germany.

Patients and Methods: We have studied mid-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) during general anaesthesia with sufentanil in ten patients scheduled for elective major urological surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with sufentanil 2-3 micrograms/kg; for maintenance of anaesthesia a further bolus of sufentanil (1-2 micrograms/kg) 10 min before the start of surgery (skin incision) was given. MLAEP were recorded before and 10 min after the last sufentanil bolus on the vertex (positive) and mastoids on both sides (negative). Latencies of the peaks V, Na, Pa, Nb, and Pl (ms) and amplitudes Na/Pa, Pa/Nb, and Nb/Pl (microV) were measured., Results: In the awake state, MLAEP had high peak-to-peak amplitudes and a periodic wave form. During general anaesthesia with sufentanil the brainstem response V was stable. There was a marked increase in latency and a decrease in the amplitude of Nb and Pl. In contrast, for the early cortical potentials Na and Pa only small increases in latencies and decreases in amplitudes were observed. Na and Pa showed a similar pattern to that in awake patients., Conclusions: There is no substantial difference of sufentanil's effect on MLAEP compared with the opioids alfentanil, fentanyl, and morphine. Because Na, Pa, and Nb are generated in the primary auditory cortex of the temporal lobe, it must be concluded that during general anaesthesia with sufentanil primary cortical processing of auditory stimuli may be preserved.

During the period January 1983 to December 1993 malformations of the urinary tract were suspected in 166 cases prenatally and confirmed after birth. Boys dominated (72% of cases); in 66% of the cases the malformation was unilateral. The most frequent diagnosis was ureteropelvic obstruction in 74 infants (45%). 73 out of 166 infants (44%) required surgical intervention. Altogether 124 operations were performed (68% temporary diversions; 32% definitive corrections). The high number of required interventions already during the first month of life highlights the importance of prenatal screening for the early detection of urinary tract malformations, especially obstructive uropathy and multicystic-dysplastic kidney. On the other hand, vesicouretal reflux is usually detected only postnatally on investigation of a urinary tract infection.

We report two cases of compartment syndrome of the lower leg that occurred in male patients aged 62 and 57 years, respectively, after 10 and 12-h urological surgery in the lithotomy position. During sedation and mechanical ventilation creatine kinase (CK) activity of more than 8,000 U/l was found in both patients. After extubation, clinical symptoms of the compartment syndrome were found. On the 1st day after surgery patient 2 underwent fasciotomy of both lower legs (Fig. 2). No lasting neurologic defects were observed. Patient 1 was treated by fasciotomy on the 4th postoperative day after paresis of the peroneal nerve had developed in the left lower leg. This paresis had shown no tendency to regression when the patient left hospital. On phlebography, both patients showed blockage of the deep lower leg veins up to the knee. DISCUSSION. The compartment syndrome is a rare but serious complication resulting from prolonged surgery in the lithotomy position. Symptoms are neuromuscular lesions of the affected limb. Severe complications of the compartment syndrome are acute renal failure resulting from myoglobin residues in the tubules, electrolyte disturbances, and disorders of acid-base balance. A decrease in perfusion due to the elevated position of the legs, on the one hand, and the impeded venous back-flow due to the positioning on the other are discussed. While positioning the legs, it is important to ensure that the lower legs are lifted only slightly above left atrial level. When rehabdomyolysis occurs, serum CK activity increases. CK values of over 2,000 U/l after surgery may be considered a warning sign in ventilated and sedated patients, in whom early clinical symptoms of the compartment syndrome such as pain and paresthesias cannot be ascertained. Frequent and regular checks of these parameters starting shortly after surgery are recommended. A thorough examination of the lower legs and, if necessary, measurement of the tissue pressure in the compartment should follow. The deep veins of the legs should be checked by phlebography. In cases of verified compartment syndrome, early fasciotomy is the best choice of therapy, because neuromuscular defects are known to be irreversible after 12 to 24 h. Enforced diuresis is recommended in order to avoid renal complications.

In the transplant centre in Erlangen-Nuremberg, 1242 patients underwent renal transplantation between 1966 and 1993. In 4.5% of cases (56 patients) the renal end stage disease had been caused by severe abnormalities or functional disturbance of the lower urinary tract. Despite long-standing defunctionalization, urinary diversions and multiple operative procedures, it was possible to use the original bladder for ureterocystoneostomy in all patients. Only 1 patient needed an enterocystoplasty after transplantation. Altogether 72 transplantations have been performed in 56 patients ranging from 10.2 to 62.7 years of age. At follow up, 40 patients (71%) had a functioning graft with a mean serum creatinine level of 1.5 mg%. The 5-year transplant survival rate is 57.3%. Our results suggest that carefully planned renal transplantation in urological patients has results comparable to those obtained in other, non-risk, kidney transplant recipients. The methods of bladder reconstruction and augmentation, intermittent self-catheterization as well as anticholinergics and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis combine to make the ileal or colonic conduits needed earlier unnecessary.

Between 1984 and 1991, antenatal ultrasound scanning detected urinary tract malformations in 126 infants, who were investigated and treated postnatally in the childrens' hospital of the Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster. 10 out of 126 children with urogenital changes, died in the first hours after birth, due to pulmonary hypoplasia (Potter's sequence), 1 further infant died later after cardiac operation, and another died of megacystic-megaureter-hypoperistaltic-syndrome. In the first months after birth 71 (61%) of 116 infants underwent urological surgery; 12/116 infants (10.3%) had severe bilateral kidney changes, some of them with severe deficiency of amniotic fluid before birth. 6/116 infants (5.2%) had chronic renal insufficiency, 2 of them will have to be dialyzed in early childhood and longterm, 14 patients (12%) are threatened by chronic renal failure. 14 patients (12%) developed severe arterial hypertension, all had to be treated with antihypertensive drugs, in 5 of them hypertension subsided after unilateral nephrectomy, another five had transient hypertension, but four require continued medical treatment. We describe the prenatal ultrasound findings, compared them with diagnosis after birth, illustrate diagnostics, plans of therapy, urological surgical interventions and nephrological consequences. Benefits and limitations of antenatal ultrasonography for the detection of urinary tract malformations and the treatment of those malformations before and after birth are discussed. In utero diagnosis of severe urinary tract abnormalities allows treatment of these infants immediately after birth, furthermore the prevention of severe infections, additional damage of renal tissue, and early diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension and metabolic imbalances caused by chronic renal insufficiency in early childhood.

Urinary tract malformations are recognized already prenatally to an increasing extent, but the indications for, and the time of surgical intervention are still a matter of debate. The present study is an analysis of the data collected over an 80-month period of 76 patients whose urinary tract malformation was suspected prenatally and confirmed after birth. Patients with lethal malformations whose disease led to abortion or intrauterine death were excluded. Ureteropelvic junction obstruction was present in 47% of the patients and obstructive uropathy accounted for 67% of all malformations. In contrast, vesicoureteric reflux was found only in eight patients. Thirty seven infants (49%) required surgical intervention and 61% of all operations were performed during the first month of life. 57% of these early interventions were temporary diversions. The indication for surgical treatment was based on sonographic and radiological assessment of the malformation and on the results of functional assessment. In many instances surgery was delayed until indicated on the basis of the findings of the follow-up studies. All reconstruction operations were successful. Prenatal diagnosis benefitted most children, especially those with the most severe malformations. No patient died as a result of the renal condition and the prognosis is grave in only one child, who is likely to go into terminal renal failure in childhood.

The highest incidence of defective wound healing in all surgical disciplines is observed after urological operations. Wound infections occur in more than 8% of all urological patients. Defective wound healing appears in about 17% of unselected nephrectomy cases, rising to 50% when pyonephrosis is present. Simple adenomectomy is associated with wound infection rates of between 8 and 12% in preoperatively uninfected patients and up to 50% in patients with preoperative bacteriuria. Numerous factors may influence wound healing, e.g. age, obesity, cachexia, chronic infectious and non-infectious diseases, anaemia, thrombopathy, faulty asepsis and antisepsis, preoperative showering and shaving, skin preparation, hand degerming, skin draping, duration of hospitalization, traumatic operative technique, suture material, diathermy, timing and length of operation, duration of hospitalization, and antibiotic regimen. Strict attention has to be paid to these factors if the incidence of postoperative wound infection is to be kept within reasonable limits.

In 58 patients subjected to urological surgery a statistically significant correlation was found between the repolarization disorder of ischaemic origin on the ECG and the changes in the alpha-HBDH/LDH ratio. After extensive interventions and particularly in aged subjects, the level of the LDH iso-enzyme of myocardial origin may rise without myocardial infarction. The rise is due to myocardial ischaemia, as proved by the ECG.

From 1965 to 1981, 9 out of 346 patients treated by chronic hemodialysis or kidney transplants had tumours of the lower urinary tract. All the tumour patients belonged to the analgesic abusers group (n = 87). The frequency of urinary tract tumours in this analgesic abusers group does not differ from the frequency in analgesic abusers in general (about 10%). In the 9 analgesic abusers a total of 18 urothelial tumours were recorded: 4 tumours of the renal pelvis, 3 of the ureter and 8 tumours of the urinary bladder. One female patient had a tumour of the urethra. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems are discussed on the basis of two case histories. Our experience in recent years is summarized in a program for tumour-screening, diagnosis and therapy for analgesic abusers treated by dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Bactericidal concentrations of gentamicin can be attained by implanting at the site of the infection pellet chains of gentamicin-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) that permit the protracted release of the antibiotic for several weeks. Satisfactory healing of the wound was achieved in two cases of extensively infected soft-tissue wounds in the region of the urinary tract after temporary implantation of gentamicin-PMMA chains.

Eleven patients were given morphine 5 mg via an epidural catheter to provide analgesia after urologic surgery. Morphine levels were determined in serum and urine by radioimmunoassay. Cardiovascular reactions (heart rate, blood pressure) and arterial pO2 were recorded. Analgesia ensued very rapidly and lasted 29 hours on the average. For 4 hours after epidural administration, the serum morphine levels were within the range required for analgesia after intravenous injection. Side effects on the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system were not observed. Epidural morphine application is recommended as a good method for postoperative analgesia.

The final diagnosis of a retroperitoneal abscess is made, on the average, 3--17 weeks after the first appearance of uncertain clinical symptoms. The accuracy of sonography for the recognition of postoperative complications such as hematoma, urine extravasation, abscesses or lymphoceles is 78--86%. In addition to computer tomography, sonography is the only diagnostic method available for early recognition of retroperitoneal processes. Ultrasonically guided puncture is used to confirm the diagnosis. If left in place, the puncture serves simultaneously as a urinary extravasation drainage.

This work encompasses a 20-year period, during which a urologist spent an important part of his time in a children's hospital, because of his conviction that attemps at effective treatment of urinary passage anomalies in childhood have a chance only when treatment is begun as early as possible. A report is presented on 101 children with bilateral, severe urinary passage anomalies, who were operated on in the first year of life, with the goal of early, total correction. The following experiences are of general significance: 1. The earlier the symptoms -- in 90% of cases, pyuria -- the more severe are the findings. -- 2. Males are primarily affected, here at a ratio of 7:3. As a result, pyuria in infants must be explained urologically, particularly when it occurs in males. -- This report is a plea for early, total correction and against periodic urinary drainage. Results show a 50% decrease in infections, flow disturbances, and biochemical changes, as well as a postoperative burst of growth also in 50% of cases. Cinematographic examinations show normal peristalsis even after skeletization and drastic reduction of a megaureter. The mortality was 9%, in the first year of life, 6%. Surprisingly, the result was not influenced by the presence or absence of reflux, but rather by stigmas and inferior development. Reflux had probably already played its fateful part in this severe bilateral disease, so that antireflux plastic surgery loses its prophylactic value. Compared with reports of experiences with periodic urinary drainage, our aim is to disprove the argument that, in difficult cases, total correction is dangerous: on the contrary, our results are better and coincide with the experiences of Hendren. Although Bischoff did not live to see the results of this work, in retrospect, our results bear out his pioneering concepts and ideas.

Prolonged leakage of urine and infection are the most troublesome complications following surgical exposure of the lumen of the urinary tract. The available methods of wound and urinary drainage are discussed. Careful attention should be paid to the material from which the drain is manufactured, because of long periods of drainage in a closed system.