Adapting to the Educational Challenges of a Pandemic: Development of a Novel Virtual Urology Subinternship During the Time of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To design, implement, and evaluate learner attitudes of a virtual urologic surgery clinical rotation for medical students. METHODS: Ten senior medical students at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania were enrolled. Students were administered a precourse test on their perceived confidence of their urologic knowledge, confidence in identifying urologic conditions, comfort with performing urologic evaluations, and confidence placing consults for urologic issues. Students participated in a 2-week curriculum that included both asynchronous and synchronous content. Asynchronous content included prerecorded lectures, self-paced problem-based learning modules, directed reading and video content, and an online discussion board. Synchronous content included real-time videoconferences covering case discussions, simulated patient presentations, and critical literature reviews. At the conclusion of the course, students were administered the postcourse survey evaluating changes in their ability to identify and understand urologic conditions. RESULTS: The postcourse survey demonstrated this course significantly increases students' scores in: self-perceived urologic knowledge, confidence in naming urologic conditions, comfort with performing urologic evaluations, and confidence placing consults for urologic conditions (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Virtual medical student rotations are scalable and effective at delivering surgical material and can approximate the interpersonal teaching found in clinical learning environments. They may be a useful tool to supplement or augment clinical learning in select situations.

Concordance of confirmatory prostate biopsy in active surveillance with national guidelines: An analysis from the multi-institutional PURC cohort.

PURPOSE: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend confirmatory biopsy within 12 months of active surveillance (AS) enrollment. With <10 cores on initial biopsy, re-biopsy should occur within 6 months. Our objective was to determine if patients on AS within practices in the Pennsylvania Urologic Regional Collaborative (PURC) receive guideline concordant confirmatory biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within PURC, a prospective collaborative of diverse urology practices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we identified men enrolled in AS after first biopsy, analyzing time to re-biopsy and factors associated with various intervals of re-biopsy. RESULTS: In total, 1,047 patients were enrolled in AS for a minimum of 12 months after initial biopsy. Four hundred seventy-seven (45%) underwent second biopsy at 1 of the 9 PURC practices. The number of patients undergoing re-biopsy within 6 months, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, and >18 months was 71 (14%), 218 (45.7%), 134 (28%), and 54 (11%), respectively. Sixty percent underwent confirmatory biopsy within 12 months. On multivariate analysis, re-biopsy interval was associated with number of positive cores, perineural invasion, and practice ID (all P < 0.05). Adjusted multivariable regression did not identify factors predictive of re-biopsy interval. CONCLUSION: Of patients who underwent confirmatory biopsy at PURC practices, 60.5% were within 12 months per NCCN guidelines. This suggests area for improvement in guideline adherence after enrollment in AS. All practices that offer AS should periodically perform similar analyses to monitor their performance. In an era of value-based care, adherence to guideline based active surveillance practices may eventually comprise national quality metrics affecting provider reimbursement.

Suprapubic Versus Urethral Catheter for Urinary Drainage After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the evidence regarding the usage of suprapubic tube (SPT) versus indwelling urethral catheter (IUC) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). RECENT FINDINGS: Available data on the use of SPT for urinary drainage after RARP is somewhat limited mostly because of the variations of study designs and non-standardized outcomes. Although it may provide some mild benefit in terms of catheter-related pain and discomfort, the benefit seems not to be clinically significant. The evidence in the literature so far does not support routine usage of SPT as the primary urinary drainage method after RARP. Further higher-quality studies that can show clinically significant advantages over IUC are still needed to justify its usage.

Detection of renal artery pseudo-aneurysm six months after robotic assisted partial nephrectomy in a patient whose only complaint was flank pain.

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) is a potentially life-threatening complication after partial nephrectomy (PN). Studies suggests that most cases present within 15 days post operatively with one of three classic symptoms: gross hematuria, flank pain and/or anemia. However, there are a limited number of reports in the literature regarding delayed RAP (≥four months). To the best of our knowledge we report the first case of RAP six months following robotic-assisted PN.

Chylous ascites following a right robotic assissted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Chylous ascites (CA) is a known complication of retroperitoneal surgery. We are reporting the case of a 65-year-old male who underwent a robotic assisted laparoscopic (RAL) partial nephrectomy for a renal mass and subsequently developed CA. He was successfully treated with a low-fat diet and maintenance of a surgical drain. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of CA following right RAL partial nephrectomy. Current literature shows a significantly greater incidence of CA after left sided kidney surgery and with concurrent lymph node dissection. The majority of patients with this complication can be successfully managed without reoperation.

Ureteral Stent Discomfort and Its Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ureteral stent placement is a very common urologic procedure and a necessary component of many minimally invasive surgeries including ureteroscopy. Despite its widespread use, stent placement results in bothersome urinary symptoms and pain in approximately 80% of patients. This review discusses the proposed mechanisms underlying ureteral stent-related symptoms and current approaches to symptom management and the evidence to support them. RECENT FINDINGS: Though it has been extensively studied, the exact cause of stent-related symptoms remains unknown but is likely related to irritation of the bladder by the distal curl of the stent and reflux of urine through the stent up to the renal pelvis and transmission of high pressures associated with this. Recent research has focused on trying to modify stents including the creation of drug eluting stents as well as preventing symptoms with intravesical instillation of medications in the operative room at the time of placement. Some of these approaches show promise, but anticholinergic and alpha-blocking medications remain the only treatments for stent-related symptoms with reasonable evidence to support them. Current evidence suggests that a multimodal approach to stent-related symptoms and pain with alpha-blockers, anticholinergic medications, and anti-inflammatory and narcotic pain medications is likely the most effective. Further research is needed to better investigate many novel techniques for decreasing stent-related symptoms. This continues to be an important area of research given the need for ureteral stents in urology and the high prevalence of patient discomfort related to stent placement.

Role of Minimally Invasive (Micro and Ultra-mini) PCNL for Adult Urinary Stone Disease in the Modern Era: Evidence from a Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The role of PCNL and the expertise surrounding it has expanded in recent decades. Miniaturisation of equipment and instrument size has formed a part of this innovation. Although an increasing number of studies have been performed on miniaturised PCNL (Mi-PCNL) recently, a critical appraisal on these is lacking. We therefore conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of Mi-PCNL techniques (< 15 Fr). RECENT FINDINGS: A systematic review was conducted from 1990 to March 2017 on outcomes of Mi-PCNL [micro PCNL (m-PCNL) and ultra-mini PCNL (UMP)] in adult patients. Ten studies (three on m-PCNL and seven on UMP) were included in our study. Across the three studies, 118 patients (mean age 42.2 years, male to female ratio 1.3:1) underwent m-PCNL (4.8 Fr). For a mean stone size of 13.9 mm, a mean stone-free rate (SFR) was 89% and an overall complication rate was 15.2% [Clavien classification I (44%), II (28%), III (28%)], with no Clavien IV or V complications. Across the seven studies, 262 patients (mean age 49.4 years, male to female ratio 1.5:1) underwent UMP (13-14 Fr). For a mean stone size of 18.6 mm, a mean SFR was 88.3% and an overall complication rate was 6.2% [Clavien classification I (57%), II (36%), III (7%)], with no Clavien IV or V complications. While the transfusion rates for m-PCNL was 0.85%, only one case each in m-PCNL and UMP needed conversion to mini PCNL. Our review shows that for small- to medium-sized renal stones, Mi-PCNL can yield good stone-free rates whilst maintaining a low morbidity associated with it. There were no Clavien > III complications and no mortality with only one transfusion reported from this minimally invasive technique.

Predischarge Predictors of Readmissions and Postdischarge Complications in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has become the preferred surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the United States. Little is reported about the association between predischarge outcomes and postdischarge outcomes following RARP. The objective of this study was to explore the predischarge predictors of readmissions and postdischarge complications in RARP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to identify prostate cancer patients who underwent elective RARP from 2012 to 2014. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess potential predischarge predictors of readmissions and NSQIP-defined postdischarge complications within 30 days of RARP. To test the robustness of primary analysis, a secondary multivariable logistic regression was performed in the cohort of patients without any NSQIP-defined predischarge complications. RESULTS: A total of 9975 patients were included. The readmission rate in the cohort was 3.3% (n = 332), and 4.4% (n = 441) had at least one complication. Multivariable logistic regression showed that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3-4 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.62, p = 0.050), increasing operative time (OT, per minute) (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.000-1.003, p = 0.012), increasing length of hospital stay (LOS, per day) (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.23-1.49, p < 0.001), and predischarge complication (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.27-3.65, p = 0.004) were associated with readmission. Increasing OT (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001-1.004, p = 0.002) and increasing LOS (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02-1.30, p = 0.020) were associated with postdischarge complications. Logistic regression in patients without predischarge complications (n = 9804) confirmed that ASA score of 3-4 (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.07-1.75, p = 0.013), increasing OT (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.000-1.003, p = 0.022), and increasing LOS (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.21-1.49, p < 0.001) were associated with readmissions. Secondary analyses also confirmed that increasing OT (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001-1.004, p = 0.002) and increasing LOS (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.04-1.34, p = 0.011) were associated with postdischarge complications. CONCLUSIONS: Predischarge complications, OT, and LOS are associated with readmissions and postdischarge complications after RARP. It may be possible to identify patients at a higher risk of postdischarge adverse events to direct prevention interventions. Further prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

The Endoscopic Removal of Eroded Foreign Bodies in the Ureter.

A complication of using foreign materials in surgery is potential erosion into nearby tissues. The endoscopic removal of foreign bodies that have eroded into the urinary tract is a safe and minimally invasive option that has previously been described, most commonly in the bladder and urethra. We present the case of a patient who had a remote history of a pyeloplasty and was found to have different foreign bodies eroding into the ureter causing symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first case where a patient presented with two different types of ureteral foreign body erosions that were each effectively treated endoscopically.

Care of acute renal colic: a survey of emergency medicine physicians.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the contemporary practice patterns of academic emergency department (ED) providers in the United States for an episode of acute renal colic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 30-question survey was developed to assess ED providers' clinical decision making for an index patient with acute renal colic. The survey population was all attending and resident physicians affiliated with an American emergency medicine residency program with an institutional profile available on the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (156 programs; 95% of programs in the United States). The survey was conducted in October 2014. A response rate of 8.1% (289/3563) was achieved, which represented 29% (46/156) of the programs. RESULTS: Only 17% (53/289) of respondents were aware of the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines on the management and imaging of ureteral calculi. A clinical care pathway was uncommon amongst institutions (6/46; 13%), but desired by providers (193/289; 67%). A low dose non-contrast computed tomography (CT) would be the most preferred initial diagnostic imaging modality (139/289; 48%). Initial imaging choice was not influenced by respondent role, program, census region, practice environment, ED size, ED volume, presence of a clinical care pathway, or knowledge of the AUA guidelines (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional survey of academic emergency medicine providers, we demonstrated a lack of awareness of quality initiatives and uncommon use of clinical care pathways. We observed that diagnostic imaging modalities with reduced radiation were commonly preferred, and that imaging preference was not associated with several demographic or institutional characteristics.

Minimally Invasive Techniques for the Management of Adult UPJ Obstruction.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is a common congenital abnormality that often presents in adulthood. Open dismembered pyeloplasty was considered the gold standard for the management of this condition; however, recent advancements in laparoscopic and robotic surgery have dramatically shifted the landscape to more minimally invasive techniques. A literature search of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, pyeloplasty, endopyelotomy, laparoscopic pyeloplasty, robotic pyeloplasty, and microlaparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed. A focus was placed on literature published since 2013. Minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques have become the gold standard for the management of UPJO. With the rise of robotic pyeloplasty, open repairs are becoming less frequent, while endoscopic treatments have remained stable. Minimally invasive (robotic) techniques have become the gold standard for the management of UPJO. Newer, even less-invasive techniques are also showing promise, but technical challenges still exist.

Assessing the risk of incident hypertension and chronic kidney disease after exposure to shock wave lithotripsy and ureteroscopy.

In this study we sought to determine if among individuals with urolithiasis, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy are associated with a higher risk of incident arterial hypertension (HTN) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD). This was measured in a population-based retrospective study of 11,570 participants with incident urolithiasis and 127,464 without urolithiasis in The Health Improvement Network. Patients with pre-existing HTN and CKD were excluded. The study included 1319 and 919 urolithiasis patients with at least one SWL or URS procedure, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio for incident CKD stage 3-5 and HTN in separate analyses. Over a median of 3.7 and 4.1 years, 1423 and 595 of urolithiasis participants developed HTN and CKD, respectively. Urolithiasis was associated with a significant hazard ratio each for HTN of 1.42 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.51) and for CKD of 1.82 (1.67, 1.98). SWL was associated with a significant increased risk of HTN 1.34 (1.15, 1.57), while ureteroscopy was not. When further stratified as SWL to the kidney or ureter, only SWL to the kidney was significantly and independently associated with HTN 1.40 (1.19, 1.66). Neither SWL nor ureteroscopy was associated with incident CKD. Since urolithiasis itself was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.42 for HTN, an individual who undergoes SWL to the kidney can be expected to have a significantly increased hazard ratio for HTN of 1.96 (1.67, 2.29) compared with an individual without urolithiasis.

Heavy Cigarette Smoking and Aggressive Bladder Cancer at Initial Presentation.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the impact of smoking intensity on tumor characteristics at the time of initial bladder cancer diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our institution's prospective database of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer from 1987 to 2009. Only patients with urothelial cell carcinoma and recorded tobacco history were included. Patients were stratified by tobacco history into nonsmokers, light smokers (≤ 30 pack-years), and heavy smokers (> 30 pack-years). An additional analysis was performed looking at patients meeting National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLCST) criteria (55- to 74-year-old patients with ≥ 30 pack-years smoking history and < 15 years since smoking cessation). Clinicopathologic characteristics of the initial bladder tumor at time of diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 197 (26.6%) nonsmokers, 251 (33.9%) light smokers, and 292 (39.5%) heavy smokers. Males were more likely to be heavy smokers (44.5% vs 23.6%, P ≤ .01). Compared with nonsmokers and light smokers, the initial tumors in heavy smokers were more likely to be high grade with a more advanced clinical stage. Heavy smokers were more likely to present with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) at initial diagnosis. When compared to nonsmokers, the odds ratio for presenting with MIBC was 1.18 (95% confidence interval = 0.68-2.1) for light smokers and 1.38 (95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.8) for heavy smokers. Of 793 patients with adequate information for analysis, 184 (23.2%) met NLCST criteria. Those meeting NLCST criteria were most likely to be male, to present with gross hematuria, and to have initial tumors that were high grade and muscle invasive. NLCST criteria eligibility remained associated with MIBC on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Heavy smokers and patients meeting NLCST criteria are more likely to have high-grade tumors with detrusor muscle invasion at initial presentation.

Can robot-assisted radical prostatectomy be taught to chief residents and fellows without affecting operative outcomes?

PURPOSE: To determine whether robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) may be taught to chief residents and fellows without influencing operative outcomes. METHODS: Between August 2011 and June 2012, 388 patients underwent RARP by a single primary surgeon (DIL) at our institution. Our teaching algorithm divides RARP into five stages, and each trainee progresses through the stages in a sequential manner. Statistical analysis was conducted after grouping the cohort according to the surgeons operating the robotic console: attending only (n = 91), attending and fellow (n = 152), and attending and chief resident (n = 145). Approximately normal variables were compared utilizing one-way analysis of variance, and categorical variables were compared utilizing two-tailed χ(2) test; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean age (P = 0.590), body mass index (P = 0.339), preoperative SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) score (P = 0.084), preoperative AUASS (American Urologic Association Symptom Score) (P = 0.086), preoperative prostate-specific antigen (P = 0.258), clinical and pathological stage (P = 0.766 and P = 0.699, respectively), and preoperative and postoperative Gleason score (P = 0.775 and P = 0.870, respectively). Operative outcomes such as mean estimated blood loss (P = 0.807) and length of stay (P = 0.494) were similar. There was a difference in mean operative time (P < 0.001; attending only = 89.3 min, attending and fellow 125.4 min, and attending and chief resident 126.9 min). Functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively such as urinary continence rate (P = 0.977 and P = 0.720, respectively), and SHIM score (P = 0.661 and P = 0.890, respectively) were similar. The rate of positive surgical margins (P = 0.058) was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Training chief residents and fellows to perform RARP may be associated with increased operative times, but does not compromise short-term functional and oncological outcomes.

Intrarenal Splenosis Diagnosed in an Incidentally Found Left Renal Mass.

Intrarenal splenosis is very rare and its management is not well established. We present a patient in whom an enhancing left renal mass was incidentally detected on a Computerized tomographic (CT) scan, concerning for renal cell carcinoma. However, the lesion was determined to represent intrarenal splenosis, confirmed by Technetium-99m (99mTc) sulfur colloid scan and percutaneous biopsy, which revealed splenic tissue. This multimodal approach to diagnosis of an unusual condition spared the patient an invasive procedure.

The presence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia or atypia on prostate biopsy does not adversely affect prostatectomy outcomes for patients otherwise eligible for active surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the presence of concomitant high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) on biopsy increases the risk of occult adverse pathology in patients otherwise suitable for active surveillance (AS). METHODS: Patients with D'Amico low-risk prostate cancer on ≥ 10-core biopsy who underwent radical prostatectomy at our academic center were evaluated for eligibility for AS by either Epstein criteria or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria. Prostatectomy specimens of patients eligible for AS were compared to determine if the presence of clinical HGPIN or ASAP affected the primary outcomes of pathologic upstaging and Gleason score upgrading. RESULTS: Of 553 patients with low-risk prostate cancer, 400 patients (72.3%) met the MSKCC criteria, whereas only 170 patients (30.7%) met the Epstein criteria. HGPIN was present in approximately 32%, and ASAP in approximately 12%, of each AS cohort. On univariate and multivariate analyses, HGPIN and ASAP had no impact on the rate of upgrading and upstaging in either Epstein or MSKCC AS-eligible patients. Furthermore, the presence of HGPIN and ASAP had no impact on the 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: The presence of HGPIN or ASAP does not increase the risk of upgrading, upstaging, or adverse pathology at the time of prostatectomy for patients who meet the AS criteria. If otherwise suitable, HGPIN and ASAP should not impact the decision to choose AS. However, analysis of prospective AS trials is required to determine if HGPIN or ASAP impacts tumor progression once on AS.

A novel use of near-infrared fluorescence imaging during robotic surgery without contrast agents.

We describe a novel use of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging without contrast agents, like indocyanine green, to identify otherwise obscured intraluminal areas of interest during robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) surgery marked by the white light (WL) of endoscopic instruments. By filtering light wavelengths below near-infrared, NIRF imaging causes the WL of the endoscopes to illuminate green while allowing simultaneous vision of the surrounding tissues. With this visualization, intraoperative ureteroscopy was used to identify the extent of a ureteral stricture in a patient undergoing RAL partial ureterectomy. Cystoscopy was used to identify bladder diverticula and tumor locations in three patients undergoing RAL partial cystectomy with or without diverticulectomy and the ureteral orifice in another patient undergoing RAL nephroureterectomy. This technique enabled more precise identification of important areas and successful completion of RAL surgery in these five patients, which serves as proof of concept for broader applications in RAL surgery.