Reduction and standardization of surgical instruments in pediatric inguinal hernia repair.

AIM: To standardize and reduce surgical instrumentation by >25% within a 9-month period for pediatric inguinal hernia repair (PIHR), using "improvement science" methodology. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated instruments used for PIHR in 56 consecutive cases by individual surgeons across two separate subspecialties, pediatric surgery (S) and pediatric urology (U), to measure actual number of instruments used compared with existing practice based on preference cards. Based on this evaluation, a single preference card was developed using only instruments that had been used in >50% of all cases. A subsequent series of 52 cases was analyzed to assess whether the new tray contained the ideal instrumentation. Cycle time (CT), to sterilize and package the instruments, and weights of the trays were measured before and after the intervention. A survey of operating room (OR) nurses and U and S surgeons was conducted before and after the introduction of the standardized tray to assess the impact and perception of standardization. RESULTS: Prior to creating the standardized tray, a U PIHR tray contained 96 instruments with a weight of 13.5 lbs, while the S set contained 51, weighing 11.2 lbs. The final standardized set comprised 28 instruments and weighed 7.8 lbs. Of 52 PIHRs performed after standardization, in three (6%) instances additional instruments were requested. CT was reduced from 11 to 8 min (U and S respectively) to <5 min for the single tray. Nurses and surgeons reported that quality, safety, and efficiency were improved, and that efforts should continue to standardize instrumentation for other common surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of surgical equipment can be employed across disciplines with the potential to reduce costs and positively impact quality, safety, and efficiencies.

Prolonged urinary retention can and does occur after any type of ureteral reimplantantion.

OBJECTIVE: Transient urinary retention has been recognized as a complication of bilateral ureteroneocystostomy (UNC), when performed extravesically. The objective of this study was to review a collective surgeons' experiences of unilateral extra- and unilateral and/or bilateral intra-vesical ureteral reimplanation, where urinary retention greater than 6 weeks, or what we have termed, "prolonged urinary retention" (PUR), occurred. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts to identify PUR after any open or robotic reimplant, other than bilateral extravesical, between 1998 and 2015 as reported by five surgeons. RESULTS: During the review period, ten cases were documented where PUR was encountered. Bilateral Cohen reimplants (5), unilateral extravesical open reimplant with ureteral tapering (3), unilateral Cohen reimplant (1) and unilateral extravesical robotic reimplant with tapering (1) were associated with PUR. Younger males predominated (70%). The mean age at operation of the patients was 3.1 years. Eventually 7/10 patients were able to void normally, with periods ranging from 6 weeks to 8 years. The remaining three patients are still unable to void more than 5 years after UNC. A majority of the samples (6/10) were suspected to have bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD), but neurologically all were normal. CONCLUSION: PUR can occur as a potential complication following any type of UNC and is associated with the risk of significant morbidity, including permanent urinary retention. Patients and caregivers should be counseled accordingly.

Outcomes of seromuscular bladder augmentation versus standard ileocystoplasty: A single institution experience over 14 years.

INTRODUCTION: Ileocystoplasty is the standard technique used for bladder augmentation, and has been used widely for decades. However, it is known to be associated with complications such as stone formation, mucus production, metabolic acidosis, urinary tract infections, intestinal obstruction, and a long-term risk of bladder cancer. Seromuscular bladder augmentation (SMBA) is an alternative to the standard ileocystoplasty, and has been associated with a lower incidence of bladder stones. Few reports have been published on intermediate outcomes of SMBA. Herein, we report long-term outcomes of SMBA from a single institution compared with standard ileocystoplasty. METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent bladder augmentation at our institution over a 14-year period was performed. The status of patients after SMBA (10 patients) was compared according to age, sex, and diagnosis with patients who underwent traditional ileocystoplasty (30 patients). Parameters such as demographic information, pre- and postoperative bladder capacity as assessed by urodynamic studies, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder calculi, incontinence, need for secondary surgical procedures, and spontaneous bladder perforation were compared in the two groups. All the patients were on a clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) regimen. RESULTS: Over the study period, 10 patients underwent SMBA and 30 patients (according to age, sex, and diagnosis) underwent standard ileocystoplasty; the average age at surgery was 10.3 and 10 years respectively, with a mean follow up of 6.7 years in the SMBA group and 6 years in the ileocystoplasty group. There were no statistically significant differences in the rate of UTIs, urinary incontinence, subsequent surgery, or spontaneous bladder perforation. The mean bladder capacity increased significantly for both groups as assessed by pre- and postoperative urodynamic studies, although the difference in the rate of bladder calculi between the two groups (0 [0%] vs. 8 [27%], p = 0.06) did not reach statistical significance (Table). CONCLUSIONS: SMBA is safe and efficacious and may result in a lower rate of stone formation than standard ileocystoscopy. SMBA should be considered as a viable alternative to standard ileocystoplasty.

Ureteroureterostomy: An Alternative to Ureteroneocystostomy in Select Cases of Pediatric Renal Transplantation.

PURPOSE: Ureteroneocystostomy is the standard mode of establishing urinary drainage in renal transplantation. However, donor-to-recipient ureteroureterostomy may be considered in the presence of a challenging bladder or an augmented bladder, or when the donor ureter might be compromised or is too short. This approach also preserves a nonrefluxing system with an orthotopic ureteral orifice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all pediatric renal transplantations in which ureteroureterostomy was performed at a single tertiary care pediatric center over the 12-year period from 2004 to 2015. Ureteroureterostomy was performed in end-to-side fashion from donor-to-recipient ureter. Patients with a history of symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux were excluded from ureteroureterostomy. Parameters were reviewed, including age, gender, source of renal transplantation (deceased or living donor), indications for ureteroureterostomy and complications. RESULTS: Primary ureteroureterostomy was performed at 23 of the 213 renal transplantations (10.8%). At transplantation mean ± SD age was 11.7 ± 4.9 years and mean weight was 33.5 ± 18.9 kg. Two secondary ureteroureterostomies were done to salvage the ureter due to complications after ureteroneocystostomy. Of the patients 60% and 40% underwent ureteroureterostomy during deceased and living donor renal transplantation, respectively. The most common indications included a challenging small bladder due to anuria, a valve bladder and a neurogenic augmented bladder. Two urinary leaks (8%) occurred and no allografts were lost. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroureterostomy is a safe alternative to standard ureteroneocystostomy in renal transplantation. Ureteroureterostomy should be considered a primary option in certain complex situations and secondarily as a salvage procedure when ureteral problems develop after ureteroneocystostomy in patients who undergo renal transplantation.