Objectives: To summarize the lessons learnt after having performed more than 250 AdVance® sling procedures. Postprostatectomy incontinence is a depressing reality that is often underestimated by the prostate surgeon. The practiced gold standard for treating severe stress urinary incontinence has been the artificial urinary sphincter. No such consensus exists for mild to moderate incontinence. This paper is about an incontinence operation with the goal to support postprostatectomy sphincter laxity. Methods: The hypothesis of postprostatectomy sphincter laxity is new, as well as restoring continence by proximal relocation of the proximal corpus spongiosum. Abstracts dealing with these issues are summarized. Selected points of technique are highlighted, including modifications that have been made along the way. Lastly the first and last 20 patients treated in this series of 250 patients are compared in terms of operative indication, surgical technique and treatment outcome. Some definitions are added for clarity. Results: It could be demonstrated that the final position of the AdVance® sling is retroluminal, i.e. 5-10mm dorsal/ behind the lumen of the membranous urethra (=sphincteric urethra). Comparing the first 20 to the last 20, there were no treatment failures in the latter. A two year follow-up showed a continence rate of 65% in the first group, compared to a 85% continence rate in the second group taking into account the short median follow-up of 4.1.months in the latter. Tunneling the sling subcutaneously decreased postoperative loosening significantly. Conclusion: The AdVance® sling is a safe method of treating mild to moderate postprostatectomy incontinence, with no erosions in this series of patients. The hypothesis of sphincter laxity seems to play a definitive role in the pathophysiology of male incontinence. Correction of this urethral support descent or "prolapse" seems to be highly effective. Further studies are needed to accurately define the exaxt mechanism of action of the AdVance® sling.

Objetivo: Resumir las lecciones aprendidas despues de haber realizado más de 250 intervenciones de inserción de la malla AdVance®.La incontinencia después de la prostatectomía es una realidad deprimente, frecuentemente subestimada por el cirujano. El esfínter urinario artificial ha sido el "gold standard" en el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria severa. No existe un consenso similar para la incontinencia leve-moderada. Este artículo trata sobre una operación para la incontinencia con el objetivo de dar soporte a la laxitud del esfínter uretral después de la prostatectomía. Método: La hipótesis de la laxitud esfinteriana post-prostatectomía es nueva, así como la restauración de la continencia mediante la reubicación proximal del cuerpo esponjoso proximal. Resumimos los trabajos que tratan este tema. Destacamos puntos seleccionados de la técnica quirúrgica, incluyendo las modificaciones que se han introducido con la experiencia. Finalmente, comparamos los primeros y últimos 20 pacientes tratados en esta serie de 250 pacientes, analizando indicación quirúrgica, técnica quirúrgica y resultados del tratamiento. Añadimos algunas definiciones para aportar claridad. Resultados: Se pudo demostrar que la posición final del AdVance® es retroluminal, es decir 5-10 mm dorsal/detrás de la luz de la uretra membranosa (= uretra esfinteriana). Comparando los primeros y últimos 20 casos, en estos últimos no hay ningún fracaso del tratamiento. El seguimiento a dos años muestra una tasa de continencia del 65% en el primer grupo comparada con el 85% del segundo, teniendo en cuenta una mediana de tiempo de seguimiento corta en el segundo grupo, de 4,1 meses. La tunelización subcutánea del cabestrillo disminuyó significativamente el aflojamiento postoperatorio. Conclusiones: El cabestrillo AdVance® es un método seguro de tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria leve-moderada postprostatectomía, con ausencia de erosiones en esta serie. La hipótesis de la laxitud esfinteriana parece desempeñar un papel definitivo en la fisiopatología de la incontinencia masculina. La corrección de este descenso del soporte uretral o "prolapso" parece ser altamente eficaz. Son necesarios nuevos estudios para definir precisamente el mecanismo exacto de acción del cabestrillo AdVance®

Purpose: To compare the detection of urinary stones using standard gray scale ultrasound for diagnostic accuracy using the color Doppler "twinkling sign". Material and Methods: Our study population consisted of forty-one patients who demonstrated at least one urinary stone on unenhanced CT evaluation of the kidneys or ureters. Each patient was evaluated using gray scale ultrasound and color Doppler imaging by an observer who was blinded to the CT results. Results: Seventy-seven stones were present in 41 patients, including 47 intrarenal stones, 5 stones in the renal pelvis, 8 stones at the ureteropelvic junction, 5 ureteral stones and 12 stones at the ureterovesical junction. Based upon gray scale sonography the diagnosis of stone was made with confidence in 66% (51/77) of locations. Based upon Doppler sonography using the twinkling sign, the diagnosis of stone was made with confidence in 97% (75/77) of locations. Clustered ROC analysis demonstrated that the Doppler twinkling sign (Az = 0.99) was significantly better than conventional gray scale criteria (Az = 0.95) for the diagnosis of urinary stones (p = 0.005, two-sided test). Conclusions: The color Doppler twinkling sign improves the detection, confidence and overall accuracy of diagnosis for renal and ureteral stones with minimal loss of specificity.