Protocol for CAMUS Delphi Study: A Consensus on Comprehensive Reporting and Grading of Complications After Urological Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Reproducible assessment of postoperative complications is essential for reliable evaluation of quality of care to enable comparison between healthcare centres and ensure transparent patient counselling. Currently, significant discrepancies exist in complication reporting and grading due to heterogeneous definitions and methodologies. OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardised and reproducible assessment of perioperative complications and overall associated morbidity, to allow for the construction of a uniform language for complication reporting and grading. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The 12-part REDCap-based Delphi survey was developed in conjunction with methodologist review and experienced urologist opinion. International urologists, anaesthetists, and intensive care unit specialists will be included. A minimum sample size of 750 participants (500 urologists and 250 critical care specialities) is targeted. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The survey assesses participant demographics, opinion on complication reporting and the proposed Complications After Major & Minor Urological Surgery (CAMUS) reporting recommendations, grading of intervention events using the existing Clavien-Dindo classification and the proposed CAMUS classification, and rating of various clinical scenarios. Consensus will be defined as ≥75% majority agreement. If consensus is not reached, then subsequent Delphi rounds will be performed under steering committee guidance. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Twenty-one participants completed the draft survey. The median survey completion time was 128 min (interquartile range 88-135). The survey revealed that 90% of participants believe that the current complication classification systems are useful but inaccurate, while 100% of participants believe that there is a universal demand for reporting consensus. Several amendments were made following feedback. Limitations include complexity of the proposed supplemental grades and time to completion of the survey. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure comprehensive and comparable complication reporting and grading across centres worldwide, a conclusive uniform language for complication reporting must be created. We intend to address shortcomings of the current complication reporting and classification systems with a new CAMUS classification system developed through multidisciplinary expert consensus obtained through a Delphi survey. Ultimately, standardisation of urological complication reporting and grading may improve patient counselling and quality of care. PATIENT SUMMARY: The reporting and grading of operative complications that occur during or after an operation and associated costs provide a means to stratify quality of patient care. Current complication reporting and classification systems are not standardised and somewhat inaccurate, and thus significantly underestimate patient morbidity and surgical risk. This Delphi survey will provide the basis for the creation of a uniform complication reporting and grading system. Our new system may allow improved reporting and grading between centres, and ultimately improve patient counselling and care.

Renal outcome after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion performed with restrictive hydration and vasopressor administration in the frame of an enhanced recovery program: A follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a restrictive perioperative fluid management in the context of an enhanced recovery after surgery program for radical cystectomy and urinary diversion affects renal function, as fluid restriction and the use of vasopressors have been linked to impaired tissue perfusion, potentially resulting in renal dysfunction. METHODS: We followed 166 patients initially included in a randomized clinical trial and equally allocated to receive a continuous norepinephrine administration combined with 1ml/kg/h initially, and after cystectomy 3ml/kg/h crystalloid infusion (intervention group, n = 83), or a standard crystalloid infusion of 6ml/kg/h throughout surgery (control group, n = 83). All patients followed our institutional enhanced recovery after surgery program. We prospectively assessed renal function (plasma creatinine values and estimated glomerular filtration rate Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) postoperatively. Decreased renal function was defined as a decrease in glomerular filtration rate is greater than 20% compared to preoperative values. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in renal function between the groups postoperatively at any time point after discharge: diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.81 [95% CI: 1.48-5.36]; P = 0.002), preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR = 1.02 [95% CI: 1.00-1.03]; P = 0.007), and age (OR = 1.03 [95% CI: 11.00-1.06]; P = 0.038) were negative predictors for renal deterioration. CONCLUSION: Postoperative renal function evolution was similar in patients receiving restrictive hydration with norepinephrine administration when compared to liberal hydration intraoperatively, suggesting that there is no influence of fluid management and administration of vasopressors on mid-term renal function.