Radiation Safety Education and Practices in Urology: A Review.

Introduction: Radiation safety education is important as fluoroscopy is commonly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation is associated with an increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects; therefore, it is essential that urologists and trainees are educated on the safe use of radiation. Unfortunately, radiation education and occupational safety is not standardized for this group and there are currently no review studies examining radiation safety for urologists in the clinical setting. This review aims at investigating the various levels of radiation safety education and practices used in urology. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant publications reporting on radiation knowledge and randomized controlled trials, non-randomized comparative studies, and observational studies were included. Reviews, abstracts, editorial comments, non-urologic studies, and incomplete articles were excluded. Results: Within these articles, there were 16 observational studies. Frequency of radiation exposure ranged from <1 × to >15 × /week. There were higher rates of adherence to use of lead aprons and thyroid shields than lead eyeglasses and gloves. Radiation safety education was infrequent. Radiation safety knowledge was especially low for the risks of radiation exposure. Most studies highlight the need for increased awareness and training on radiation safety for both urology trainees and consultants. Conclusions: Radiation safety education and practices are an important issue in urology. Improvements to education and compliance to radiation safety practices are critical to ensuring urologists and trainees use ionizing radiation in a safe and responsible manner.

Is a Course of Intermittent Self-dilatation with Topical Corticosteroids Superior at Stabilising Urethral Stricture Disease in Men and Improving Functional Outcomes over a Course of Intermittent Self-dilatation Alone? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: Intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) is a therapeutic strategy used to stabilise a urethral stricture and postpone or avoid further treatment. Adding corticosteroids to this mode of management might further enhance its outcomes by downregulation of collagen deposition and excessive scar tissue formation. Objective: To explore whether a course of ISD with topical corticosteroids is superior at stabilising urethral stricture disease in men and improving functional outcomes over a course of ISD alone. Evidence acquisition: This systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken by the European Association of Urology Urethral Strictures Guideline Panel according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (CRD42021256744). The primary benefit outcome was successful stabilisation of the urethral stricture. Treatment-related complications were the primary harm outcome. Evidence synthesis: In total, 978 records were screened for eligibility, ultimately leading to five included studies, all randomised controlled trials, comprising 250 patients, of whom 124 underwent a course of ISD with corticosteroids and 126 underwent a course of ISD alone, all after direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU). Successful stabilisation of the stricture was achieved in 77% and 64% of patients in the group with and without corticosteroids, respectively (p = 0.04). No extra complications related to the addition of corticosteroids to the ISD regimen were reported. The risk of bias of the included studies was generally unclear to high. Conclusions: Based on the currently available data, a course of ISD with topical corticosteroids appears to be safe and superior at stabilising a urethral stricture after DVIU in the short term to a course of ISD alone. However, given the unclear to high risk of bias in the included studies, further high-quality studies are needed to fully underpin this. Patient summary: This study shows that addition of topical corticosteroids to intermittent self-dilatation after direct vision internal urethrotomy can better stabilise the stricture in the short term.

X-ray therapy safety and awareness education for medical trainees and attending physicians.

INTRODUCTION: Medical imaging involving ionizing radiation is common in the clinical setting. Little is known about the level of radiation safety training for medical trainees and attending physicians. We sought to identify the level of radiation safety knowledge and training at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and attending physician level. METHODS: A 29-question survey was sent by email to two sites in Canada. We pooled the results of medical students, residents, and attending physicians. The primary outcome was to describe the amount of radiation safety training among these groups. The secondary outcomes were to describe the frequency of radiation exposure, level of radiation knowledge, and preferred training method for radiation safety. RESULTS: Of 115 surveys that were properly completed, 31 (26.9%) medical students, 17 (14.7%) residents, and 67 (58.3%) attending physicians responded. A greater number of medical students (41.9%) reported they had zero hours of training time for radiation safety compared to attending physicians (14.9%) (p<0.05). A higher number of attending physicians (47.8%) and residents (64.7%) participated in patient care involving fluoroscopy daily or at least several times per week compared to medical students (3.2%) (p<0.001). Attending physicians had the greatest number of correct responses to radiation safety questions. Online courses and workshops were the preferred training methods. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation safety training is an important component of medical education for medical trainees and attending physicians. Current radiation safety training requirements and procedures at various levels of medical training in Canada should be addressed. Implementing radiation safety education may improve adherence to the radiation safety principles.

Counseling for stress urinary incontinence in the era of adverse publicity around mesh usage: Results from a large-sample global survey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate doctors' opinions of the use of synthetic mesh for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the effect on patient's attitude following recent adverse publicity and legal findings. METHODS: Electronic survey approved by International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS), distributed to their members. RESULTS: A total of 593 respondents completed the survey. The preferred initial surgical treatment for SUI was retropubic midurethral sling (MUS) (62%), followed by trans-obturator MUS (19%), mini-slings (10%), and then bulking agents (5%). Despite prolongation of consultation, most respondents (87%) believed that clinicians should provide a patient information leaflet (PIL) for their patients. However, only 70% of respondents were doing this. Most participants would use either the IUGA PIL or their institution PIL (61%). Only 8% felt that patients have a positive preconception of synthetic mesh for SUI. Eighty-three per cent of respondents had not changed their recommendations for treatment and the consent process. A logistic regression model identified preferences of certain geographic areas as predictors of consenting practices. CONCLUSION: Despite the negative publicity and the current medicolegal litigation involving MUS for SUI treatment, the majority of respondents still prefer this as the initial surgical treatment. Most clinicians value PIL in the surgical consent process.

Alpha-Blocker Prescribing Trends for Ureteral Stones: A Single-Centre Study.

Purpose: Recommendations for alpha-blockers have shifted in the conservative management of ureteral stones. It is unknown whether real-life practices regarding alpha-blocker prescriptions reflect updates in evidence. This study aimed to characterise alpha-blocker prescriptions for conservatively managed ureteral stones and relate this to recent literature. Methods: This was a retrospective audit, 01/01/2014 to 01/01/2019, of emergency acute renal colic presentations. Patients were included if they had a confirmed ureteral stone and were conservatively managed. The rates of alpha-blocker prescriptions were analysed using interrupted time-series analyses. May 2015 was selected as the cut-point to analyse before and after trend lines. Results were stratified by stone size and location. Tamsulosin and prazosin prescriptions were also compared. Results: This study included 2163 presentations: 70.4% were stones ≤5 mm and 61.4% were proximal stones. Altogether, 24.7% of presentations were prescribed alpha-blockers. There was a fall in alpha-blocker prescription rates from before to after May 2015, regardless of stone size or location (p < 0.001). Since May 2015, however, there was a monthly rate increase of 0.5% for patients with stones >5mm. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant shift in rates of alpha-blocker prescriptions, possibly related to the influence of updates in available high-quality evidence.

Surgical mesh information on YouTubeTM: Evaluating the usage and reliability of videos for patient education.

INTRODUCTION: Patients in search of answers to health-related questions often seek out information on the internet. The current study aimed to evaluate the quality of videos on the topic of mesh pertaining to its use in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: A total of 100 videos on the topic of mesh on YouTubeTM were screened in this study. From that, a further 30 were selected for review. Five experts in the medical field reviewed each video anonymously, using two video assessment tools. Video characteristics were collected and evaluated. Videos were assessed based on a Global Assessment Score (GAS) and Patient Education Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT-A/V) scale for ease of patient access and comprehension. The overall correlation between raters and videos was also compared. RESULTS: The GAS and PEMAT-A/V ratings correlation across multiple raters demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability. We found that the overall GAS score and recommendation was substandard, and the median PEMAT-A/V understandability score was 70% (poorly understandable). Most videos contained some form of marketing, and a scarce number had reliable sources of information. Evidence of neutrality was low. CONCLUSIONS: Through the expert assessment of videos using quality assessment tools, this study demonstrated the overall variable quality of mesh videos on YouTubeTM and the need for further education regarding patient resources.

Urodynamic findings in patients with nocturia and their associations with patient characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: This study identified associations between lower urinary tract pathology confirmed on urodynamic testing, baseline characteristics, and symptoms for adults with nocturia. Nocturia frequency was examined for predictors. METHODS: This retrospective study from 2012-2019 analyzed adult patients with nocturia (waking to void ≥2x/night) referred for urodynamic testing (UDS). Data on baseline characteristics, symptoms, UDS parameters, and lower urinary tract pathology were recorded. Males and females were analyzed separately, and univariable analyses were conducted, stratified by lower urinary tract pathology. Multivariable regression models were fit. Nocturia frequency was analyzed for associations with clinical parameters. RESULTS: Altogether, 372 patients were included (159 men and 213 women). More men had detrusor overactivity (DO) (p<0.001) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) (p<0.001). DO was associated with storage symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 5.19, p<0.001), in addition to older age (p=0.009) and being male (p<0.001). Detrusor under-activity (DU) was associated with voiding symptoms (OR 1.92, p=0.004), older age (p<0.001), and being female (p=0.018). BOO was associated voiding symptoms (OR 2.09, p=0.023), younger age (p=0.018), and being male (p<0.001). The quantity of lower urinary tract symptoms was associated with DU and DO. Nocturia frequency was not associated with baseline variables or underlying pathologies. A substantial number of patients were diagnosed with DU alone (n=69, 18.7%) or associated with other diagnoses (n=108, 29.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Careful assessment of risk factors and symptoms may help identify underlying lower urinary tract pathology for adults with nocturia. DU is found in a significant proportion of patients with nocturia, a previously under-reported result.

An update on urethral diverticula: Results from a large case series.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe the presentation, investigations, and management of patients with urethral diverticula and to review the importance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and surgical management of urethral diverticula. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of female patients who underwent urethral diverticulectomies. This study was approved by the research ethics review board. Data was collected on patient demographics, presenting symptoms, investigations performed, operative technique, and minimum of two-year followup. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients were included in this study, with a median age of 43 years. Most patients (70%) presented with a palpable vaginal lump; 64% presented with either lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Patients underwent a preoperative MRI, which demonstrated that 59% of diverticula were distal and 53% were locally round. These imaging findings were consistent with the operative findings. MRI also demonstrated communication between the urethral diverticulum and the urethral lumen in 80% of cases, compared to only 47% endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: The most common presentation of a woman with a urethral diverticulum is with either a palpable vaginal lump, LUTS, or recurrent UTIs. A high index of suspicion is required. Pelvic MRI appears to be an ideal imaging modality for the diagnosis of urethral diverticulum. A preoperative MRI is important to exclude alternative pathologies, appropriately counsel the patient, and assist with the surgical planning.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Urethral Stricture Disease Part 3: Management of Strictures in Females and Transgender Patients.

CONTEXT: Urethral stricture management guidelines are an important tool for guiding evidence-based clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To present a summary of the 2021 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on management of urethral strictures in females and transgender patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The panel performed a literature review on these topics covering a time frame between 2008 and 2018 and used predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for study selection. Key papers beyond this time period could be included as per panel consensus. A strength rating for each recommendation was added based on the review of the available literature and after panel discussion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Management of urethral strictures in females and transgender patients has been described in a few case series in the literature. Endoluminal treatments can be used for short, nonobliterative strictures in the first line. Repetitive endoluminal treatments are not curative. Urethroplasty encompasses a multitude of techniques and adaptation of the technique to the local conditions of the stricture is crucial to obtain durable patency rates. CONCLUSIONS: Management of urethral strictures in females and transgender patients is complex and a multitude of techniques are available. Selection of the appropriate technique is crucial and these guidelines provide relevant recommendations. PATIENT SUMMARY: Although different techniques are available to manage narrowing of the urethra (called a stricture), not every technique is appropriate for every type of stricture. These guidelines, developed on the basis of an extensive literature review, aim to guide physicians in selecting the appropriate technique(s) to treat a specific type of urethral stricture in females and transgender patients. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Although different techniques are available to manage urethral strictures, not every technique is appropriate for every type of stricture. Management of urethral strictures in females and transgender patients is complex and a multitude of techniques are available. Selection of the appropriate technique is crucial and these guidelines provide relevant recommendations.

Women doctors in female urology: current status and implications for future workforce.

OBJECTIVE: To objectively determine the percentage of female trainees and consultants who are interested in their career being focussed on female urology (FU) in order to facilitate the improved planning for the future of this sub-specialty. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was an international cross-sectional study spanning 1 year, from December 2018 to December 2019. An anonymous, voluntary survey was generated using the online survey generator Survey monkey® . The survey was sent to urology consultants and trainees who were female from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. RESULTS: The total response rate to the survey was 61%. Up to 50% of female consultants and trainees selected a career in FU due to their gender, but up to 75% of respondents were also interested in FU of their own accord. Common concerns held by a majority of respondents included both the medical community's and the public's lack of awareness of FU as a component of urological expertise. Despite these concerns, most of the trainees were not concerned regarding their future work opportunities in FU, and many had intentions to pursue a fellowship in FU. CONCLUSION: Female urology is an increasingly popular sub-specialisation of urology, given the steady increase in the intake of female trainees. Similar trends were identified internationally. Urology training in this area will need to continue to increase the community's and the primary health care referrer's awareness in order to ensure the continued success and growth of the sub-specialty.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Urethral Stricture Disease (Part 1): Management of Male Urethral Stricture Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To present a summary of the 2021 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on management of male urethral stricture disease. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The panel performed a literature review on these topics covering a time frame between 2008 and 2018, and used predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for the literature to be selected. Key papers beyond this time period could be included as per panel consensus. A strength rating for each recommendation was added based on a review of the available literature and after panel discussion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Management of male urethral strictures has extensively been described in literature. Nevertheless, few well-designed studies providing high level of evidence are available. In well-resourced countries, iatrogenic injury to the urethra is one of the most common causes of strictures. Asymptomatic strictures do not always need active treatment. Endoluminal treatments can be used for short, nonobliterative strictures at the bulbar and posterior urethra as first-line treatment. Repetitive endoluminal treatments are not curative. Urethroplasty encompasses a multitude of techniques, and adaptation of the technique to the local conditions of the stricture is crucial to obtain durable patency rates. CONCLUSIONS: Management of male urethral strictures is complex, and a multitude of techniques are available. Selection of the appropriate technique is crucial, and these guidelines provide relevant recommendations. PATIENT SUMMARY: Injury to the urethra by medical interventions is one of the most common reasons of male urethral stricture disease in well-resourced countries. Although different techniques are available to manage urethral strictures, not every technique is appropriate for every type of stricture. These guidelines, developed based on an extensive literature review, aim to guide physicians in the selection of the appropriate technique(s) to treat a specific type of urethral stricture.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Urethral Stricture Disease (Part 2): Diagnosis, Perioperative Management, and Follow-up in Males.

CONTEXT: Urethral stricture management guidelines are an important tool for guiding evidence-based clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To present a summary of the 2021 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on diagnosis, classification, perioperative management, and follow-up of male urethral stricture disease. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The panel performed a literature review on the topics covering a time frame between 2008 and 2018, and using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for the literature. Key papers beyond this time period could be included if panel consensus was reached. A strength rating for each recommendation was added based on a review of the available literature after panel discussion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Routine diagnostic evaluation encompasses history, patient-reported outcome measures, examination, uroflowmetry, postvoid residual measurement, endoscopy, and urethrography. Ancillary techniques that provide a three-dimensional assessment and may demonstrate associated abnormalities include sonourethrography and magnetic resonance urethrogram, although these are not utilised routinely. The classification of strictures should include stricture location and calibre. Urethral rest after urethral manipulations is advised prior to offering urethroplasty. An assessment for urinary extravasation after urethroplasty is beneficial before catheter removal. The optimal time of catheterisation after urethrotomy is <72 h, but is unclear following urethroplasty and depends on various factors. Patients undergoing urethroplasty should be followed up for at least 1 yr. Objective and subjective outcomes should be assessed after urethral surgeries, including patient satisfaction and sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate diagnosis and categorisation is important in determining management. Adequate perioperative care and follow-up is essential for achieving successful outcomes. The EAU guidelines provide relevant evidence-based recommendations to optimise patient work-up and follow-up. PATIENT SUMMARY: Urethral strictures have to be assessed adequately before planning treatment. Before surgery, urethral rest and infection prevention are advised. After urethral surgery, x-ray dye tests are advised before removing catheters to ensure that healing has occurred. Routine follow-up is required, including patient-reported outcomes. These guidelines aim to guide doctors in the diagnosis, care, and follow-up of patients with urethral stricture.

Free Graft Augmentation Urethroplasty for Bulbar Urethral Strictures: Which Technique Is Best? A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Four techniques for graft placement in one-stage bulbar urethroplasty have been reported: dorsal onlay (DO), ventral onlay (VO), dorsolateral onlay (DLO), and dorsal inlay (DI). There is currently no systematic review in the literature comparing these techniques. OBJECTIVE: To assess if stricture recurrence and secondary outcomes vary between the four techniques and to assess if one technique is superior to any other. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Systematic Reviews-Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Cochrane HTA, DARE, HEED) databases and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for publications in English from 1996 onwards. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomised comparative studies (NRCSs), observational studies (cohort, case-control/comparative, single-arm), and case series with ≥20 adult male participants were included. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 41 studies were included involving 3683 patients from one RCT, four NRCSs, and 36 case series. Owing to the overall low quality of the evidence, a narrative synthesis was performed. CONCLUSIONS: No single technique appears to be superior to another for bulbar free graft urethroplasty. Both DO and VO are suitable for bulbar augmentation urethroplasty, with a ≤20% recurrence rate over medium-term follow-up. No recommendations can be made regarding DI or DLO techniques owing to the paucity of evidence. Secondary outcomes including sexual function, and complications are infrequently reported. Recurrence rates deteriorate in the long term for both DO and VO procedures. PATIENT SUMMARY: We reviewed the evidence for four different skin-graft techniques used to repair narrowing of a section of the urethra (bulbar urethra, under the scrotum and perineum) in men. Two of the techniques seem to give consistent results, with recurrence rates lower than 20%. Recurrence rates increase over time, so patients should continue to monitor their symptoms. There is poorer reporting of other outcomes such as sexual function, urinary symptoms, and complications, and it is possible that these occur more frequently than the current data suggest.

What a mesh! An Australian experience using national female continence surgery trends over 20 years.

PURPOSE: To review the evolution of female continence surgical practice in Australia over the last 20 years and observe whether vaginal mesh controversies impacted these trends. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2019, medicare benefit schedule codes for female continence procedures were identified and extracted for: mesh sling, fascial sling, bulking agent, female urethral prosthesis, colposuspension, and removal of sling. Population-adjusted incidences per 100,000 persons were calculated using publicly available demographic data. Three discrete phases were defined over the study time frame for analysis: 2000-2006; 2006-2017, and 2017-2019. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted to assess for impact on incidence at 2006 and 2017. RESULTS: There were 119,832 continence procedures performed in Australia from 2000 to 2019, with the mid-urethral sling (MUS) the most common (72%). The majority of mesh (n = 63,668, 73%) and fascial sling (n = 1864, 70%) procedures were in women aged < 65 years. Rates of mesh-related procedures steeply declined after 2017 (initial change: -21 cases per 100,000; subsequent rate change: -12 per 100,000, p < 0.001). Non-mesh related/bulking agents increased from + 0.34 during 2006-2017 to + 2.1 per 100,000 after 2017 (p < 0.001). No significant change in mesh extraction was observed over 2006-2017 (+ 0.06 per 100,000, p = 0.192). There was a significant increase in mesh extraction procedures after 2017 (0.83 per 100,000, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Worldwide, controversy surrounding vaginal mesh had a significant impact on Australian continence surgery trends. The most standout trends were observed after the 2017 Australian class-action lawsuit and Senate Inquiry.

Evaluation of pre-operative bladder contractility as a predictor of improved response rate to a staged trial of sacral neuromodulation in patients with detrusor underactivity.

PURPOSE: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is one of the few management options shown to improve outcomes in patients with detrusor underactivity (DU). This original research will investigate if preserved bladder contractility can predict a successful treatment with SNM. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients with DU, who had a staged SNM trial from January 2013 to December 2018, with a minimum of 12 months follow-up. The primary outcome was the success of stage 1 SNM trial. RESULTS: In total, 69 patients with DU were followed. The median age was 67 [interquartile range (IQR) 74-55], median baseline bladder contractility index (BCI) 18 (IQR 67-0), and median post-void residual 200 mL (IQR 300-130). There were 35 patients (51%) that responded to a SNM trial. At a median follow-up of 23 months (IQR 39-12), three were removed for poor efficacy. In patients with detrusor acontractility (DAC), six responded (33%), compared to 29 patients (57%) with BCI > 0. This was statistically significant, p value 0.03. Younger age was also a predictive factor for SNM response, p value 0.02. There were no differences noted in those with gender, neurogenic history, previous pelvic surgery, diabetes, or pre-operative voiding history. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that patients with preserved bladder contractility are more likely to respond to a trial of SNM compared with those that have DAC. Younger age was also predictive of SNM response. UDS is the only method to accurately identify DAC patients. This information will help in patient selection and pre-operative counselling.

Botox rechallenge-An additional tool in the management of an incompletely emptying bladder and inadequate overactive symptom control following sacral neuromodulation.

Two female patients aged 70 and 72 with video-urodynamics-confirmed detrusor overactivity and detrusor underactivity (DO-DU) were treated. Patients were refractory to medical therapies and had previously failed intravesical botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) at other centers secondary to urinary retention and difficulty with self-catheterization. Placement of an Interstim II device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) for sacral neuromodulation (SNM) as alternative third-line treatment partially improved overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms while significantly improving voiding symptoms. Postvoid residual (PVR) of patients improved from a median of 118 mL (110-125 mL) to 20 mL (18-26 mL) and 213 mL (195-230 mL) to 70 mL (60-73 mL), respectively. Addition of medical therapies post SNM failed to modify OAB symptoms further and a rechallenge with dose-reduced BoNT-A was undertaken.OAB symptoms were significantly improved by addition of BoNT-A, while urinary retention was avoided (median PVR post BoNT-A 38 mL [34-40 mL] and 185 mL [150-205 mL], respectively). Reduction in incontinence pad use as well as resolution of nighttime incontinence in both patients and daytime incontinence in one patient was achieved. DO-DU patients treated by SNM who have improved bladder emptying (PVR <100 mL) but incomplete resolution of OAB symptoms should be trialed on adjunct medical therapies to improve OAB symptoms. If OAB symptoms are still inadequately controlled, consideration of a rechallenge with BoNT-A, particularly with dose reduction, appears to be efficacious and avoids symptomatic retention in this challenging cohort.

Clinician training level impacts prescribing practices for the conservative management of acute renal colic: a contemporary update.

PURPOSE: Given the current and increasing awareness of the opioid crisis, this study aimed to characterise the types of analgesic prescription for conservatively managed renal colic. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) in 2014-2019. Patients were included if they had radiographically confirmed obstructing calculus, managed conservatively without intervention, and were given a prescription for analgesia on discharge. Patient demographics were recorded and analysed. Opioid, non-opioid, and alpha-blocker medications were compared according to patient and disease parameters, and clinician training. Oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) were used to compare prescribed quantities. Subgroup analyses of stone size and location were performed. RESULTS: Our analysis included 1761 patients with confirmed renal colic: median age of 50 years (16-96). Altogether, 88% of included patients were prescribed opioids on discharge, while only 68% were prescribed non-opioids (p < 0.001). Oxycodone immediate release was the most frequently prescribed analgesic. Logistic regression modelling controlling for patient and disease characteristics significantly predicted more non-opioid (p < 0.001) and alpha-blocker (p = 0.037) prescription with clinician training < 3 years. Linear regression modelling demonstrated that clinicians training < 3 years predicted lower OMEs per prescription compared to clinicians with ≥ 3 years of training (p = 0.001). Subgroup analyses supported similar predictions with training. CONCLUSIONS: Prescribing patterns are associated with different clinician experience levels. However, a substantial amount of opioids are still given overall on patient discharge regardless of the clinician experience. Educational interventions aimed at reducing the opioid prescription rate and quantities may be considered for clinicians of all training levels.

Single perineal incision for artificial urinary sphincter: analysis of technique, outcomes, and experience.

BACKGROUND: To describe a large series of male patients who underwent a minimally invasive single perineal incision artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement in patients with stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed with data collected from men undergoing AUS placement by a single high-volume surgeon over a 12-year period (2005 to 2017). Demographic and outcomes data related to AUS placement were recorded from electronic medical records, which included subjective histories and questionnaires. Institutional ethics approval was received. RESULTS: A total of 145 AUS were placed over the study period. Of these, 84 were performed through a single perineal incision for both device and reservoir placement. Almost all (n=81, 96%) reported pre-operative incontinence of more than 3 pads per day. Postoperatively, 75% were satisfied with their continence, with 21 (25%) complaining of recurrent incontinence. A total of 5 (6%) patients developed a post-operative infection, 10 (12%) had device erosion and 11 (13%) had device malfunction, but only 3 (4%) had reservoir dysfunction. A total of 24 (29%) patients required revision of their device at median of 20 months (IQR, 6-32.5 months). CONCLUSIONS: Single perineal incision is a feasible, safe, and potentially superior approach for AUS placement and warrants consideration as an accepted approach due to its more rapid surgical times, lower morbidity related to a single incision with minimal fascial defect, and favorable complication rates.

Partial vs. radical nephrectomy and the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular, and nephrological outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The study's objective was to examine the effects of renal-preservation surgery on long-term mortality, cardiovascular outcomes, and renal-related outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all partial (n=575) and radical nephrectomies (n=882) for tumors ≤7 cm in diameter between 2002 and 2010 across three academic centers in Ontario, Canada. We linked records from provincial databases to assess patient characteristics and outcomes (median seven years' followup using retrospective data). A weighted propensity score was used to reduce confounding. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization with major cardiovascular events, non-cancer related mortality, kidney cancer-related mortality, and dialysis. RESULTS: Mean one-year postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 71 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the partial group and 52 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the radical group. Partial nephrectomy was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in the first five years after surgery (hazard ratio [HR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-0.66), which did not extend beyond five years (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.68-1.49). Kidney cancer-related mortality was lower in the partial compared to the radical group for the first four years after surgery (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.72). There were no significant differences between the groups for cardiovascular outcomes or non-cancer related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Overall survival and cancer-specific survival was reduced in radical nephrectomy patients. However, despite reduced renal function in the radical nephrectomy group, non-cancer-related death, cardiovascular events, and dialysis were not significantly different between groups. Long-term benefits of partial nephrectomy may be less than previously believed.