Longitudinal Changes in Quality of Life After Ureteroscopy for Nephrolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess alterations in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with nephrolithiasis, given the limited prospective data on patient reported outcomes following surgical intervention with ureteroscopy. METHODS: Adults with either a renal or ureteral calculus who underwent ureteroscopy (URS) were recruited prospectively from 2017-2020. Participants completed the PROMIS-29 profile which measures the dimensions of physical function, fatigue, pain interference, depressive symptoms, anxiety, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and sleep disturbance at enrollment, 1-, 6-, and 12-months. Scores are reported as T-scores (normalized to US-population) and were compared at each time point against the mean for the US-population (50) using one-sample Welch's t'test and between each pairwise time point comparison using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: At enrollment, a total of 69 participants completed the PROMIS-29 survey. As compared to the US-population mean, participants at enrollment had significantly different scores in physical function, fatigue, pain interference, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep disturbance (all P<.05), but not ability to participate in social roles and activities. In pairwise comparisons, improvement was only observed from enrollment to 1-month in pain interference (P<.01) and fatigue (P = .03). However, there was improvement at a longer interval from enrollment to 12-months in all dimensions (pairwise comparisons, all P<.05) except depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The PROMIS-29 profile is responsive to changes in HRQOL for patients with nephrolithiasis undergoing URS, with improvement of PROMIS scores up to 12-months. This information can be utilized for patient counseling to guide expectations during the recovery period.

Urinary Diversion: Core Curriculum 2021.

Urinary diversion after cystectomy has been a historical standard for the treatment of numerous benign and malignant diseases of the bladder. Since the first published description in the early 1900s, improvements in surgical technique and a better understanding of the metabolic sequelae postoperatively have greatly enhanced patient outcomes. Both continent and incontinent diversions are available to patients after cystectomy. In appropriately selected patients, orthotopic neobladder reconstruction can offer preservation of body image and continence, and continent cutaneous diversions represent a reasonable alternative. Conduit diversion, which remains the most commonly performed diversion technique, is ideal for patients who would benefit from a less morbid surgical procedure that negates the need for self-catheterization. This installment of the Core Curriculum in Nephrology outlines numerous aspects of urinary diversion, in which a multidisciplinary approach to postoperative management at the intersection of nephrology and urology is required to effectively optimize patient outcomes. This article includes a discussion of the various reconstructive options after cystectomy as well as a comprehensive review of frequently encountered short-term and long-term metabolic abnormalities associated with altered electrolyte and acid-base homeostasis.

Associations between Hospital Volume and Outcomes of Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has become the predominant surgical modality to manage localized prostate cancer in the U.S. However, there are few studies focusing on the associations between hospital volume and outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified robot-assisted radical prostatectomies for clinically localized (cT1-2N0M0) prostate cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 in the National Cancer Database. We categorized annual average hospital robot-assisted radical prostatectomy volume into very low, low, medium, high and very high by most closely sorting the final included patients into 5 equal-sized groups (quintiles). Outcomes included 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, conversion (to open), prolonged length of stay (more than 2 days), 30-day (unplanned) readmission, positive surgical margin and lymph node dissection rates. RESULTS: A total of 114,957 patients were included in the study, and hospital volume was categorized into very low (3 to 45 cases per year), low (46 to 72), medium (73 to 113), high (114 to 218) and very high (219 or more). Overall 30-day mortality (0.12%), 90-day mortality (0.16%) and conversion rates (0.65%) were low. Multivariable logistic regressions showed that compared with the very low volume group, higher hospital volume was associated with lower odds of conversion to open surgery (OR 0.23, p <0.001 for very high), prolonged length of stay (OR 0.25, p <0.001 for very high), 30-day readmission (OR 0.53, p <0.001 for very high) and positive surgical margins (OR 0.61, p <0.001 for very high). Higher hospital volume was also associated with higher odds of lymph node dissection in the intermediate/high risk cohort (OR 3.23, p <0.001 for very high). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at higher volume hospitals are likely to have improved perioperative and superior oncologic outcomes compared to lower volume hospitals.

National trends and disparities of minimally invasive surgery for localized renal cancer, 2010 to 2015.

PURPOSE: To investigate national utilization trends of minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy (PN) and minimally-invasive radical nephrectomy (RN), and to identify disparities in the usage of these techniques across different sociodemographic subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing partial or RN for cT1N0M0 renal cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Main outcomes of interest were the utilizations of minimally-invasive (robotic and laparoscopic) PN and RN. RESULTS: A total of 46,346 and 37,712 subjects who underwent PN and RN, respectively, were analyzed. During the study interval, increased utilization of robotic surgery paralleled the decreased utilization of open surgery. Robotic PN increased from 35.2% to 63.7% and robotic RN increased from 10.3% to 26.3%. The utilization of laparoscopic surgery was decreasing for PN but stable for RN through the study period. In the PN cohort, multivariable logistic regression showed non-Hispanic black (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90 [95% CI, 0.84-0.96]) and Hispanic (OR = 0.91 [0.84-0.99]) subjects were associated with less utilization of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) (vs. non-Hispanic white). Younger (18-64 years) Medicare (OR = 0.83 [0.77-0.90]), Medicaid (OR = 0.80 [0.74-0.87]), and uninsured (OR = 0.55 [0.49-0.62]) were also associated with less utilization of MIS (vs. private insurance). Compared with low socioeconomic status (SES), upper middle (OR = 1.14 [1.07-1.21]) and high (OR = 1.24 [1.16-1.33]) SES were associated with higher utilization of MIS. Similar demographic, insurance, and SES-related disparities were identified in the RN cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of MIS for localized renal cancer has increased significantly and was mainly attributed to increased usage of robotic surgery. Racial/ethnic, insurance, and SES related disparities in MIS utilization were identified. Our findings demonstrate a targetable subgroup of patients who do not have the same access to advances in surgical technology.

Obesity and 30-Day Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between obesity and postoperative outcomes following minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) and minimally invasive radical nephrectomy (MIRN). METHODS: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database, we identified adult patients who underwent either MIPN or MIRN from 2012 to 2016. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) according the World Health Organization classification of obesity (nonobese [BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m2], class I obesity [BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2], class II obesity [BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2], and class III obesity [BMI≥40 kg/m2]). Multivariable logistic regressions alternately including obesity class, comorbidity score, and both were used to evaluate the association among these variables with post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 21,334 patients (MIPN=10,444, MIRN=10,890) were included. When only obesity class or comorbidity score was included in our multivariable logistic regression model, both variables were associated with increased odds of overall 30-day complications. However, when both class or comorbidity were included in the model, comorbidity but not obesity was found to be associated with increased postoperative complications. Obesity was also not found to be associated with unplanned readmission. However, obesity was independently associated with prolonged operative time and discharge to continued care in the full model. CONCLUSION: This NSQIP study suggests that BMI does not independently predict the likelihood of overall complications or readmission within 30 days, and should not be considered a major barrier for MIPN or MIRN. Instead, obesity should be taken into consideration with other comorbidities when risk-stratifying patients prior to minimally invasive nephrectomy.