The Impact of Holistic Review of Urology Residency Applications on Selection for Interview During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of a holistic review of urology residency applications on interview selection at our institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In the 2019-2020 cycle, applicants were filtered by a Step 1 score of 230 and whether they applied from selected east coast medical schools. For the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 cycles, we implemented a scoring system which focused on desirable attributes based on our program training needs and resources. We compared applicant and interviewee demographics and United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores using descriptive statistics and 1-way analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: A total of 282, 300, and 367 students applied to our residency program with 50, 45, and 52 selected for interviews during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 cycles, respectively. Compared to 2019-2020, the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 interviewee cohorts comprised of more non-tri-state applicants (36%, 55.6%, and 46.2%, respectively). Underrepresented minority representation increased for the 2020-2021 interviewee cohort; however, this was not observed in 2021-2022 (16%, 24.4%, 15.4%, respectively). Additionally, USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores were similar between interviewee cohorts in 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, respectively (Step 1: 244.2 ± 8.8, 242 ± 12.1, 242.8 ± 12.4, P = .624) (Step 2: 249.1 ± 11.5, 251.5 ± 10.5, 254.4 ± 10.8, P = .143). CONCLUSION: Utilizing a comprehensive review resulted in a geographically diverse interview pool and no significant difference in academic performance among interviewees. Holistic review provides an alternative, balanced evaluation of residency applicants which may increase diversity in urology.

SARS-CoV-2 During Abdominal Operations: Are Surgeons at Risk?

BACKGROUND: The safety of surgery in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients remains unclear. On the basis of data from other viral diseases, it has been assumed that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential risk of transmission during surgery. The presence of the virus within the peritoneal fluid and the peritoneal tissues is not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study including adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent surgery at a single institution. Using specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was determined in abdominal fluid samples. RESULTS: Six patients with COVID-19 underwent abdominal surgery. Five patients were asymptomatic, and 1 had severe disease. SARS-CoV-2 was tested in 20 different samples, all of which resulted negative. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 was not found in the peritoneal cavity of 6 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The risk of transmissibility of COVID-19 during surgery is still unclear.

3D Printing, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality for the Assessment and Management of Kidney and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, augmented reality, and virtual reality technologies have an increasing presence in the management of prostate and kidney cancer. To assess the utility of 3D printing, augmented reality, and virtual reality for (1) quantitative outcomes, (2) surgical planning, (3) intraoperative guidance, (4) training and simulation, and (5) patient education for patients with kidney and prostate cancer a systematic literature review was performed. Existing evidence demonstrates improvement in clinical outcomes, surgical planning and intra-operative guidance, as well as training. Future studies are needed to assess the impact of 3D technologies on long-term patient-related outcomes.