Wire-reinforced ureteral stents to rescue from nephrostomy tube in extrinsic ureteral obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Ureteral obstruction due to extrinsic compression is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Management options for this condition include renal drainage with percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) or internal ureteral stent placement. A significant portion of patients will have disease progression leading to internal stent obstruction which is almost uniformly managed with PCN. We evaluated a novel, wire-reinforced internal ureteral stent as an alternative to PCN in those patients who fail initial internal ureteral stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with extrinsic ureteral obstruction that failed conventional plastic internal ureteral stent placement and ultimately underwent placement of wire-reinforced internal ureteral stents (Scaffold) at the University of Michigan Health System between 2006-2011. Outcomes assessed included time to Scaffold stent failure and failure free time with Scaffold stent in place. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients were identified with extrinsic ureteral obstruction that failed initial conventional ureteral stenting and had a Scaffold stent placed. Scaffold stents ultimately failed in 3 out of 8 patients. Mean time to Scaffold stent failure was 197 days (range 20-536). In the remaining 5 patients, mean failure-free time with Scaffold stents in place was 277 days (range 18-774). CONCLUSION: Scaffold stent placement is a viable alternative to PCN in those patients with extrinsic ureteral obstruction who fail conventional internal ureteral stent placement.

Expulsive therapy versus early endoscopic stone removal in patients with acute renal colic: a comparison of indirect costs.

PURPOSE: While medical expulsive therapy is associated with lower health care expenditures compared to early endoscopic stone removal in patients with renal colic, little is known about the effect of medical expulsive therapy on indirect costs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a previously validated claims based algorithm we identified a cohort of patients with acute renal colic. After determining the up-front treatment type (ie an initial course of medical expulsive therapy vs early endoscopic stone removal) we compared differences in rates of short-term disability filing. We used propensity score matching to account for differences between treatment groups such that patients treated with medical expulsive therapy vs early endoscopic stone removal were similar with regard to measured characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 257 (35.8%) and 461 (64.2%) patients were treated with medical expulsive therapy or early endoscopic stone removal, respectively. There were no differences between treatment groups after propensity score matching. In the matched cohort the patients treated with medical expulsive therapy had a 6% predicted probability of filing a claim for short-term disability compared to 16.5% in the early endoscopic stone removal cohort (p <0.0001). Among the patients who filed for short-term disability those prescribed medical expulsive therapy had on average 1 fewer day of disability than those treated surgically (0.9 vs 1.8 days, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An initial trial of medical expulsive therapy is associated with significantly lower indirect costs to the patient compared to early endoscopic stone removal. These findings have implications for providers when counseling patients with acute renal colic.

Open surgical partial nephrectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

We aimed to determine the ability of partial nephrectomy to prevent end-stage renal disease and tumor recurrence or progression in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Retrospectively, eight patients undergoing partial nephrectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma were identified and their medical records reviewed. All patients had imperative indications for nephron sparing, and diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma not adequately amenable to endoscopic management. Although three patients suffered acute tubular necrosis, only one required postoperative hemodialysis. During the follow-up period 25% (2/8) developed end-stage renal disease, including the one patient who had received postoperative hemodialysis. Recurrences occurred in five of seven patients with adequate oncological surveillance. Recurrences were successfully treated endoscopically in 80% (4/5) patients, and one patient had metastases. Of the eight patients, four have died. Death occurred 4 months, 1 year, 1.2 years and 3.5 years after partial nephrectomy. Of these patients, one succumbed to metastatic disease; the exact cause of death is unknown in the other three, but there was no documentation of metastatic cancer. The mean duration of follow up in the remaining four patients, all without evidence of metastatic urothelial cancer, is 71 months (range 22-108 months). In summary, partial nephrectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma in patients with imperative indications averts end-stage renal disease in most patients, and appears to be associated with acceptable disease-specific survival. Partial nephrectomy is a sparingly used option in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma refractory to endoscopic management who have imperative indications for nephron sparing.

Risk factors for delayed hematuria following photoselective vaporization of the prostate.

PURPOSE: Photoselective vaporization of the prostate has become an increasingly popular option for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, delayed bleeding has been raised as a potential issue as more cases are performed. We characterize delayed bleeding after photoselective vaporization of the prostate and identify associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We defined delayed gross hematuria as any complaint of hematuria following hospital discharge, and further stratified it as delayed gross hematuria requiring emergency department evaluation, hospital admission, continuous bladder irrigation, transfusions or reoperation. We performed an explicit chart review of 290 patients who underwent photoselective vaporization of the prostate at a single center from 2002 through 2009. Exposures of interest included age, prostate volume, followup duration, operative factors (watts/joules), and use of oral anticoagulation therapy or 5α-reductase inhibitors. RESULTS: Delayed gross hematuria occurred in 33.8% of patients during an average followup of 33 months. For 8.5% of patients the bleeding was severe enough to prompt presentation to the emergency department. For 4.8% of patients hospitalization was required and for 4.5% reoperation was required. Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of bleeding increased with prostate size (OR 1.08, 1.03-1.14), longer followup (OR 1.35, 1.12-1.62) and anticoagulant use (OR 3.35, 1.43-7.83), and decreased with increasing age (OR 0.71, 0.51-0.98) and use of a 5α-reductase inhibitor (OR 0.41, 0.24-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed hematuria occurs commonly after photoselective vaporization of the prostate but severe hematuria is rare. Larger prostate size, longer followup and use of anticoagulation were associated with a higher risk of delayed gross hematuria while preoperative 5α-reductase inhibitor use and older age were protective.

Rural For-Profit Hospitals Are Associated With Higher Commercial Prices for 3 Common Urological Procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Rural patients lack access to urological services, and high local prices may dissuade underinsured patients from surgery. We sought to describe commercially insured prices for 3 urological procedures at rural vs metropolitan and for-profit vs nonprofit hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of commercially insured prices from the Turquoise Health Transparency data set was performed for ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, and transurethral resection of prostate. Hospital characteristics were linked using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System. Linear modeling analyzed median hospital price and its association with hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 1,532 hospitals reported urological prices in Turquoise. Median prices for each procedure were higher at rural for-profits (ureteroscopy $16,522, transurethral resection of bladder tumor $5,393, transurethral resection of prostate $9,999) vs rural nonprofits (ureteroscopy $4,512, transurethral resection of bladder tumor $2,788, transurethral resection of prostate $3,881) and metropolitan for-profits (ureteroscopy $5,411, transurethral resection of bladder tumor $3,420, transurethral resection of prostate $4,874). Rural for-profit status was independently associated with 160% higher price for ureteroscopy (relative cost ratio 2.60, P < .001), 50% higher for transurethral resection of bladder tumor (relative cost ratio 1.50, P = .002), and 113% higher for transurethral resection of prostate (relative cost ratio 2.13, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Prices are higher for 3 common urological surgeries at rural for-profit hospitals. Differential pricing may contribute to disparities for underinsured rural residents who lack access to nonprofit facilities. Interventions that facilitate transportation and price shopping may improve access to affordable urological care.

Association of Rural Hospital for-Profit Status With Higher Publicly Reported Prices for the Components of Inpatient Hematuria Evaluation Among Commercially Insured Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Rural patients have limited access to urological care and are vulnerable to high local prices. Little is known about price variation for urological conditions. We aimed to compare reported commercial prices for the components of inpatient hematuria evaluation between for-profit vs not-for-profit and rural vs metropolitan hospitals. METHODS: We abstracted commercial prices for the components of intermediate- and high-risk hematuria evaluation from a price transparency data set. We compared hospital characteristics between those that do and do not report prices for a hematuria evaluation using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System. Generalized linear modelling evaluated the association between hospital ownership and rural/metropolitan status with prices of intermediate- and high-risk evaluations. RESULTS: Of all hospitals, 17% of for-profits and 22% of not-for-profits report prices for hematuria evaluation. For intermediate-risk, median price at rural for-profit hospitals was $6,393 (interquartile range [IQR] $2,357-$9,295) compared to $1,482 (IQR $906-$2,348) at rural not-for-profits and $2,645 (IQR $1,491-$4,863) at metropolitan for-profits. For high-risk, rural for-profit hospitals' median price was $11,151 (IQR $5,826-$14,366) vs $3,431 (IQR $2,474-$5,156) at rural not-for-profits and $4,188 (IQR $1,973-$8,663) at metropolitan for-profits. Rural for-profit status was associated with an additional higher price for intermediate- (relative cost ratio 1.62, 95% CI 1.16-2.28, P = .005) and high-risk evaluations (relative cost ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.15-1.97, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Rural for-profit hospitals report high prices for components of inpatient hematuria evaluation. Patients should be aware of prices at these facilities. These differences may dissuade patients from undergoing evaluation and lead to disparities.

Escherichia coli global gene expression in urine from women with urinary tract infection.

Murine models of urinary tract infection (UTI) have provided substantial data identifying uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) virulence factors and assessing their expression in vivo. However, it is unclear how gene expression in these animal models compares to UPEC gene expression during UTI in humans. To address this, we used a UPEC strain CFT073-specific microarray to measure global gene expression in eight E. coli isolates monitored directly from the urine of eight women presenting at a clinic with bacteriuria. The resulting gene expression profiles were compared to those of the same E. coli isolates cultured statically to exponential phase in pooled, sterilized human urine ex vivo. Known fitness factors, including iron acquisition and peptide transport systems, were highly expressed during human UTI and support a model in which UPEC replicates rapidly in vivo. While these findings were often consistent with previous data obtained from the murine UTI model, host-specific differences were observed. Most strikingly, expression of type 1 fimbrial genes, which are among the most highly expressed genes during murine experimental UTI and encode an essential virulence factor for this experimental model, was undetectable in six of the eight E. coli strains from women with UTI. Despite the lack of type 1 fimbrial expression in the urine samples, these E. coli isolates were generally capable of expressing type 1 fimbriae in vitro and highly upregulated fimA upon experimental murine infection. The findings presented here provide insight into the metabolic and pathogenic profile of UPEC in urine from women with UTI and represent the first transcriptome analysis for any pathogenic E. coli during a naturally occurring infection in humans.

Prospective tracking of pediatric urology consults: knowing is half the battle.

PURPOSE: The planned clinical activity of pediatric urologists has been well described. However, little is known about nonscheduled work (eg consultation requests). We describe the unplanned clinical activity of pediatric urologists at a high volume academic medical center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data regarding inpatient, operating room and emergency department pediatric urology consults were prospectively entered into an internal database. Consults from July 2008 through June 2010 underwent retrospective chart abstraction to identify reasons for consultation. Bivariate and multivariate statistics were used to evaluate 1) temporal trends in unplanned clinical activity, and 2) patient and service specific factors associated with whether a consult was billable (ie seen by attending physician within 24 hours). RESULTS: During the study period 665 pediatric consults were obtained. Mean ± SD patient age was 8.4 ± 7.7 years. Nearly all consults were seen at the emergency department (51%) or the inpatient wards (47%). The most common primary diagnoses were infection, obstruction/hydronephrosis and neurogenic bladder. The number of consults per month decreased during the course of the academic year (r(2) = 0.1422). Nearly three fourths of consults were eligible for billing. The factors associated with consult eligibility for billing included specific attending physician (p = 0.03), location (p <0.0001) and house officer experience (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: At our academic pediatric hospital we averaged nearly 1 unplanned pediatric urology consult per day. Several service specific factors (unrelated to patient diagnosis or acuity) were associated with whether the consult had the potential to generate revenue. Unplanned clinical activity is an important factor to consider when planning departmental funding, staffing and training.

Immediate unplanned hospital admission after outpatient ureteroscopy for stone disease.

PURPOSE: Medicare recently changed reimbursement for ureteroscopy, encouraging migration to ambulatory surgical centers. To our knowledge the risk of immediate unplanned hospital admission, which may discourage ureteroscopy at ambulatory surgical centers, is unknown. We determined the rate of immediate unplanned hospital admission, identified factors associated with admission and developed a risk stratification tool to assist with location selection for outpatient ureteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,798 consecutive outpatient ureteroscopic procedures for urolithiasis performed from 1998 to 2008 at our institution. Patients requiring immediate hospital admission were matched 1 to 3 by provider, gender and date with controls who did not require admission. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, stone history and burden, and operative technique were assessed for impact on admission by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A scoring system was developed and estimated admission rates were calculated. RESULTS: There were 70 immediate unplanned admissions (3.9%). Based on multivariate analysis the factors associated with unplanned admission were any previous admission related to stones (p <0.001), history of psychiatric illness (p = 0.016) and bilateral procedure (p = 0.019). Patients with distal ureteral stones were less likely to require admission (p = 0.026). One point was added for each positive factor and 1 was subtracted for a distal ureteral stone. A risk factor score of 2 or greater in 9% of the cohort was associated with an estimated 20.0% admission rate while lower scores in 91% of the cohort were associated with a 2.9% admission rate. CONCLUSIONS: Readily identifiable factors can stratify the risk of unplanned hospital admission and help guide the selection of the most appropriate facility for outpatient ureteroscopy.

Multi-institutional assessment of ureteroscopic laser papillotomy for chronic flank pain associated with papillary calcifications.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the long-term safety, efficacy and durability of ureteroscopic laser papillotomy for chronic flank pain associated with renal papillary calcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent ureteroscopic laser papillotomy in the absence of free urinary calculi at our institutions from 1998 through 2008. Success was defined as patient report of significant pain relief. The duration of response was considered the time from papillotomy to repeat papillotomy in the same renal unit, patient report of recurrent pain or final followup. RESULTS: Ureteroscopic Ho:YAG laser papillotomy was done a total of 176 times in 65 patients, including 147 unilateral and 29 bilateral procedures. Of the patients 39 underwent multiple procedures (2 to 12). Symptomatic followup was available in 50 patients (146 procedures) during a mean of 38 months. Significantly less pain was reported after 121 procedures (83%). The mean duration of response per procedure was 26 months and 30 patients (60%) had a mean remission duration of greater than 1 year. Postoperatively hospital admission was required after 14 procedures (8%). There was no significant change in the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate during a mean 41.3-month followup. Seven of the 65 patients (11%) had hypertension before papillotomy. In 3 of the 49 patients (6.1%) with adequate followup new hypertension developed during a mean of 38 months. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopic laser papillotomy is safe and effective. In patients with papillary calcifications and characteristic chronic, noncolicky pain this procedure provides significant, moderately durable symptom relief.

The LEGO™ Exercise: An Assessment of Core Competencies in Urology Residency Interviews.

BACKGROUND: In competitive residency specialties such as Urology, it has become increasingly challenging to differentiate similarly qualified applicants. Residency interviews are utilized to rank applicants, yet they are often biased and do not explicitly address ACGME core competencies. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized a team-based exercise in the urology residency interview centered on building LEGOs assesses core competences. DESIGN: From 2014-2017, students interviewing for urology residency at two institutions participated in a LEGO™ building activity. Applicants were assigned to "architect"- describing how to construct a structure - or "builder" - constructing the same structure with pieces-using only verbal cues to assemble the structure. Participants were graded using a rubric assessing competencies of interpersonal communication, problem-based learning, professionalism, and manual dexterity (indicator of procedural skill). The total minimum score was 16 and maximum was 80. SETTING: The study took place at two tertiary referral centers: University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, MI, and University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 176 applicants participated, comprised of applicants interviewing for urology residency at two institutions during the study timeframe. RESULTS: For architects and builders, there was a maximum score of 80, and minimum of 34 and 32, respectively. Both distributions show a right shift with mean scores of 64.3 and 65.9, and median scores of 69 and 65.5. Successful pairs excelled with consistent nomenclature and clear directionality. Ineffective pairs miscommunicated with false affirmations, inconsistent nomenclature, and lack of patience. CONCLUSIONS: The LEGO™ exercise allowed for standardized assessment of applicants based on ACGME core competencies. The rubric identified poor performers who do not rise to the challenge of a team-based task.

Medical expulsive therapy for ureteral calculi in the real world: targeted education increases use and improves patient outcome.

PURPOSE: In controlled trials medical expulsive therapy has improved outcomes in patients with ureteral stones but its real-world use and effectiveness outside a clinical trial have not been thoroughly examined. We studied the impact of targeted education of emergency department physicians about medical expulsive therapy and analyzed its impact on patient outcomes and cost. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2006 emergency department physicians at our institution were formally educated about medical expulsive therapy. Retrospective emergency department data were collected on patients with ureteral stones from 2003 and 2005 (before educational intervention), and 2007 (after intervention). Cost and 90-day post-emergency department event data were gathered from a health maintenance organization owned and operated by our medical center. Medical expulsive therapy prescribing trends, adverse outcome (repeat emergency department visit, hospital admission or surgery) and total cost related to ureteral calculus diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 166 health maintenance organization patients with ureteral calculi who met all study requirements 97 (58.4%) were prescribed medical expulsive therapy and 53 (31.9%) filled the medical expulsive therapy prescription, while 113 did not. Analysis revealed a 2-fold increase in medical expulsive therapy prescribing and a 4-fold increase in prescribing alpha-blockers in each time increment. Bivariate analysis showed that the frequency of adverse outcomes was lower in the medical expulsive therapy group (37.7% vs 53.1%) and medical expulsive therapy was associated with a lower mean total cost per patient ($1,805 vs $2,372). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted educational intervention can increase the use of preferred medical expulsive therapy (alpha-blockers) in the emergency department. Medical expulsive therapy decreases the incidence of adverse events by 29% and decreases the total cost associated with ureteral stones by 24%.

Long-term outcomes of nephroureterectomy versus endoscopic management for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We compared outcomes in patients treated with nephroureterectomy vs nephron sparing endoscopic surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated at our institution for upper tract urothelial carcinoma from 1996 to 2004 were monitored for upper tract and bladder recurrence, metastasis, and cancer specific and overall survival. Outcomes were compared between treatment groups by univariate and multivariate analyses based on pertinent pathological and demographic variables. RESULTS: Of 96 renal units 62 underwent immediate nephroureterectomy and 34 were managed endoscopically. Median followup in all survivors was 77 months. Overall nephroureterectomy and endoscopy complication rates were 29% and 9.3%, respectively. In patients with low grade tumors the 5-year metastasis-free survival rate after nephroureterectomy and endoscopy was 88% and 94%. The corresponding 5-year cancer specific and overall survival rates were 89% vs 100% and 72% vs 75%, respectively. Of endoscopic cases 84% had at least 1 ipsilateral recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that only tumor grade was significantly associated with metastasis-free survival while grade and body mass index correlated with cancer specific survival, and Charlson Comorbidity index and grade impacted overall survival. Treatment group was not associated with survival outcome. CONCLUSIONS: When technically feasible and in select patients, endoscopic management provides cancer related and overall survival equivalent to that of nephroureterectomy in patients with low grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma at the cost of frequent re-treatments in many patients. Nephroureterectomy is standard treatment for high grade cancer when there is a normal contralateral kidney but endoscopy should be considered when there are imperative indications for nephron sparing.

Understanding the barriers to the dissemination of medical expulsive therapy.

PURPOSE: Increasing trial evidence suggests that a course of medical expulsive therapy is warranted for patients with ureteral stones who are amenable to conservative treatment, and that this efficacious process of care is underused. To better understand the barriers to the dissemination of medical expulsive therapy we analyzed health care claims of working age adults with urinary stone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using MarketScan® data (2002 to 2006) we identified patients with urinary stone disease who were treated in the emergency department. We characterized differences between patients who were prescribed medical expulsive therapy and those who were not. After assigning patients to their principal providers we determined how much of the variation in medical expulsive therapy prescribing rates was attributable to patient vs provider level factors. RESULTS: A total of 79,688 patients were seen for an acute stone episode. They received care from 12,328 providers. In general those patients prescribed medical expulsive therapy tended to be older (p<0.001) and were more likely male (p<0.001). A higher percentage of medical expulsive therapy recipients were salaried (p=0.003) and had full-time employment (p<0.001). Of the unexplained variation in medical expulsive therapy prescription 21% was accounted for by unmeasured provider factors and patient odds of receiving medical expulsive therapy were 5-fold higher if seen by a urologist (OR 4.94, 95% CI 2.96-8.28, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that the provider seen for an episode of renal colic substantially determines whether the patient will receive medical expulsive therapy. As such, an educational intervention directed toward emergency department physicians might hasten the uptake of medical expulsive therapy within the broader medical community.

Long-term durability of pubovaginal fascial slings in women who then become pregnant and deliver.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pubovaginal fascial slings are commonly performed after childbearing is completed. Limited data is available regarding women who become pregnant following a sling procedure. METHODS: Three hundred forty-one women of childbearing age underwent pubovaginal sling surgery at our institution from July 1993 to December 2005. All patients were sent a questionnaire regarding their incontinence and health status. RESULTS: Nine women who delivered following surgery were identified (seven vaginal and two cesarean sections). Overall, five remained dry, three had no change in continence, and one noted worsening incontinence. Four women completed questionnaires (two vaginal and two caesarean sections). One patient who delivered vaginally reported high symptom scores and dissatisfaction while the remaining three reported low symptom scores and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The pubovaginal fascial sling is a durable option for women with reproductive potential. Given our results, both vaginal delivery and cesarean section appear to be acceptable modes of delivery in this patient population.

Changing practice locations for upper urinary tract stone disease.

PURPOSE: Complex surgical procedures are migrating out of hospitals and into ambulatory surgery centers. We evaluated the extent to which surgery for urolithiasis could be a candidate for such migration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing stone surgery in Florida (107,417) between 1998 and 2004 were included in the study. Poisson models were fit to assess temporal changes in the setting (inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory surgery center) and type (open, percutaneous, extracorporeal, ureteroscopy and stenting) of stone surgery. For inpatient procedures secular trends in comorbidity burden (0 or 1 diagnoses vs 2 or more) and procedure acuity (elective vs emergency) were also assessed. Admission requirements and mortality rates were measured according to the surgery setting. RESULTS: Of the 107,417 discharges from 1998 to 2004 surgery rates per 100,000 increased from 35.5 to 38.2 for inpatients (p <0.05), 84.2 to 104.7 for hospital outpatients (p <0.01) and 9.4 to 26.9 for ambulatory surgery centers (p <0.01). For hospitalized patients routine admissions decreased (41.8% to 29.5%, p <0.01) and procedure acuity increased (16.8% to 28.2%, p <0.01). No deaths occurred at ambulatory surgery centers and the rate of admission to acute care hospitals was 2.5/100,000 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the safety and efficiency of ambulatory surgery centers hospital outpatient departments remain the preferred setting for urinary stone surgery. For patients requiring surgical intervention for urinary stone disease ambulatory surgery centers could be an underused resource.

Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser endoureterotomy for the treatment of transplant kidney ureteral strictures.

BACKGROUND: The management of ureteral strictures in transplanted kidney is challenging. Open surgical treatment is effective but entails significant convalescence. Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser endoureterotomy is useful for other types of ureteral obstruction, and we aimed to assess its long-term success for strictures of transplant kidney ureters. METHODS: We reviewed the course of 12 kidney transplant patients managed with Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy and/or percutaneous ureteroscopic balloon dilatation for ureterovesical anastomotic strictures or ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Success was defined as stable serum creatinine and no hydronephrosis on follow-up. RESULTS: Of the patients, nine had ureterovesical anastomotic strictures. Of the six treated with balloon dilatation and Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy, the success rate was 67% (58 months mean follow-up). Both strictures with failure were longer than 10 mm. Of the three patients treated with balloon dilatation only, there was success in only one (14 months follow-up) and both strictures with failure were shorter than 10 mm. There were three patients treated for ureteropelvic junction obstruction, one with balloon dilatation and two with balloon dilatation plus Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy, all successfully (57 months mean follow-up). Overall, of the eight strictures 10 mm or shorter, there was success rate in six (75%), with 52 months mean follow-up, including five of five (100%) treated with laser endoureterotomy and one of three (33%) treated with only balloon dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy should be a first line treatment for ureteral strictures of length 10 mm or shorter in kidney transplant patients.

Long-term durability and functional outcomes among patients with artificial urinary sphincters: a 10-year retrospective review from the University of Michigan.

PURPOSE: The artificial urinary sphincter continues to be one of the most effective and commonly used surgical treatments for severe urinary incontinence. The long-term durability and functional outcome remains unclear. This study sought to report the artificial urinary sphincter complication rates, associated risk factors with complications, and long-term quality of life and durability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single institution study reports the outcomes of 124 consecutive index cases of artificial urinary sphincter from 1996 to 2006 for complications (infection, erosion, and mechanical failure). Bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic models were used to identify patient and artificial urinary sphincter characteristics associated with complications. Functional outcomes and long-term durability were assessed using a cross sectional analysis of a validated health related quality of life survey and a product limit estimates, respectively. RESULTS: Among the 124 male patients median followup was 6.8 years. The overall complication rate for patients undergoing an artificial urinary sphincter was 37.0%, with mechanical failure the most common cause (29), followed by erosion (10) and then infection (7). Significant differences between complications and specific patient and artificial urinary sphincter characteristics risk factors were not found. Functional outcomes appeared stable with similar mild-moderate urinary incontinence severity and 0 to 1 daily pad use at intervals of 0 to 4 years, 4 to 8 years and more than 8 years. Long-term durability was notable with 36% having complications (requiring surgical revision or removal) within 10 years and most events occurring within the first 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term durability and functional outcomes are achievable for the AMS 800, but there are appreciable complication rates for erosion, mechanical failure and infection in the first 48 months from implantation.

Success of ureteral stents for intrinsic ureteral obstruction.

PURPOSE: Previous reports suggest a high success rate for retrograde ureteral stenting for intrinsic ureteral obstruction, but few preoperative predictors of success have been offered. We reviewed our experience to look for factors that suggest failure of stents for intrinsic ureteral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of retrograde ureteral stent placement for intrinsic ureteral obstruction without concurrent or intended definitive management of the obstruction. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients treated for intrinsic ureteral obstruction, representing 41 ureteral units (UUs), were monitored for an average of 25.5 months. The overall success rate was 88%. Of the successes, 13 UUs had definitive therapy to permanently remove the cause of obstruction, obstruction resolved in 12 UUs after stent placement, and 11 UUs were managed with indwelling stents. Therapy failed in five UUs, with a median time to failure of 1.9 months. Of the UUs in which failure occurred, three failures were caused by misdiagnosis; in the remaining two, the stent did not correct the obstruction. On univariate analysis, male sex (P = 0.006), increased creatinine level as a presenting symptom (P = 0.002), and more severe preoperative hydronephrosis (P = 0.042) were predictive of failure. Adverse events were low, with complications from stenting occurring on only four of 41 UUs. CONCLUSION: If initial stent placement was possible, intrinsic ureteral obstruction was managed successfully in 88% of patients. Given high success and minimal complications, retrograde placement of ureteral stents can be performed to treat patients with intrinsic ureteral obstruction. Treatment failure is more likely to occur in men and patients with severe hydronephrosis or an elevated creatinine level.