Pseudodistal ureteral stone resulting from calcified Deflux implantation.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common clinical problem affecting 1% of pediatric patients. Subureteral endoscopic injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Deflux) is a minimally invasive treatment option for VUR that is rapidly gaining popularity. Histologic studies have demonstrated that in a minority of patients, the Deflux injection site can be associated with microcalcification. We report the case of a 12-year-old girl with a history of VUR who had previously been treated with Deflux and presented with abdominal pain and was noted to have a small hyperdense mass in the bladder wall on imaging. The presumptive diagnosis of a distal ureteral stone was ultimately ruled out by cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography, which revealed that the lesion seen on imaging represented the intramural Deflux deposit. This is the second reported case in which a calcified Deflux implant was mistaken for a distal ureteral stone in a patient presenting with abdominal pain.

A new computer enhanced visual learning method to train urology residents in pediatric orchiopexy: a prototype for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education documentation.

PURPOSE: Residency programs must continue to restructure teaching and assessment of surgical skills to improve the documentation of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies. To improve teaching and documenting resident performance we developed a computer enhanced visual learning method that includes a curriculum and administrative reports. The curriculum consists of 1) study of a step-by-step surgical tutorial of computer enhanced visuals that show specific surgical skills, 2) a checklist tool to objectively assess resident performance and 3) a log of postoperative feedback that is used to structure deliberate practice. All elements of the method are repeated with each case performed. We used the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education index case of orchiopexy to pilot this project. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All urology residents who trained at our institution from January 2006 to October 2007 performed orchiopexy using the computer enhanced visual learning method. The computer enhanced visual learning tutorial for orchiopexy consisted of customized computer visuals that demonstrate 11 steps or skills involved in routine inguinal orchiopexy, eg ligate hernia. The attending urologist rated resident competence with each skill using a 5-point Likert scale and provided specific feedback to the resident suggesting ways to improve performance. These ratings were weighted by case difficulty. The computer enhanced visual learning weighted score at entry into the clinical rotation was compared to the best performance during the rotation in each resident. RESULTS: Seven attending surgeons and 24 urology residents (resident training postgraduate years 1 to 8) performed a total of 166 orchiopexies. Overall the residents at each postgraduate year performed an average of 7 cases each with complexity ratings that were not significantly different among postgraduate year groups (average 2.4, 1-way ANOVA p not significant). The 7 attending surgeons did not differ significantly in assessment of skill performance or case difficulty (1-way ANOVA p not significant). Of the 24 residents 23 (96%) showed improvement in computer enhanced visual learning score/skill performance. In the entire group the average computer enhanced visual learning weighted score increased more than 50% from entry to best performance (137 to 234 orchiopexy units, paired t test p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Computer enhanced visual learning is a novel method that enhances resident learning by breaking a core procedure into discrete steps and providing a platform for constructive feedback. Computer enhanced visual learning, which is a checklist tool, complies with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education documentation requirements. Computer enhanced visual learning has wide applicability among surgical specialties.

A review of pediatric glans malformations: a handy clinical reference.

PURPOSE: Lesions of the pediatric glans penis are an uncommon but important aspect of pediatric urological care. We reviewed the available literature on this topic and did not identify a comprehensive reference resource. We compiled our multi-institutional experience with such conditions to prepare a handy clinical reference source. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diversity of pediatric glans penis lesions was documented by searching the English and nonEnglish literature as well as the archives at our institutions. Cases were included in the study if the patient(s) identified were younger than 18 years at initial presentation or documented to have first had a glans penis lesion when younger than 18 years. Hypospadiac-epispadiac anomalies of the glans were excluded. RESULTS: From our institutions we identified 6 new cases of various pediatric glans lesions. Altogether the literature describes 137 distinct nondiphallia glans lesions and more than 100 cases of diphallia, including glans duplication. The nondiphallia reports consist of a total of 61 cystic lesions (44%), 33 vascular malformations (24%), 20 dermatological lesions (15%), 20 infectious lesions (15%) and 3 neurogenic lesions (2%). We did not identify a compact resource to compare these anomalies. Visual comparison permits structuring a differential diagnosis and determining urological treatment, which is typically excisional biopsy, laser treatment, sclerotherapy or topical steroid administration. CONCLUSIONS: We present a visual reference of varied lesions of the pediatric glans penis, including 6 new cases, with urological significance. These lesions are always benign but they typically require surgical excision for a definitive pathological diagnosis.

Incidence based fetal urological counseling using the virtual pediatric urology registry: importance of insignificant fetal pyelectasis (sonographically evident renal pelvis).

PURPOSE: Since 1985, counseling for fetal renal pelvic dilatation has been done to determine whether there is need for newborn urological evaluation. This is likely if the anteroposterior width of the renal pelvis exceeds categorical cutoffs, ie 4 mm or greater before gestational age 33 weeks, or 7 mm or greater after 33 weeks. Cases below these categorical cutoffs are deemed not to merit newborn testing. We examined our fetal registry to determine the incidence of urological pathology in cases deemed not to merit newborn testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 1980, we have prospectively input fetal ultrasound and postnatal followup data into customized Virtual Pediatric Urology Registry software. The Virtual Pediatric Urology Registry compares index case findings against those archived in the registry and then outputs the incidence of newborn diagnoses. Diagnoses are grouped as having limited or extensive urological care. RESULTS: The Virtual Pediatric Urology Registry has 1,128 cases registered and data on 2,292 fetal ultrasound studies that were done between gestational ages 12 and 43 weeks (average +/- SD 29.3 +/- 7). There are measurements of anteroposterior pelvic width for 1,712 cases. Pediatric data include ultrasound for 2,596 cases, diuretic renal scan for 449 and voiding cystourethrogram for 574. Surgery was done for renal/bladder obstruction or vesicoureteral reflux in 358 cases (32%). Mean followup was 9.8 months old (range 1 day to 14 years). Of the total of 1,128 fetal cases 148 (13%) showed anteroposterior pelvic width below categorical cutoffs, so that they were deemed not to merit newborn testing. However, the Virtual Pediatric Urology Registry incidence based method identified that extensive urological care extended to 30 of these 148 cases (20%). There were 31 cases identified at less than gestational age 33 weeks, which showed newborn urological pathology in 11 (35%), including hydronephrosis in 4, surgery in 3, vesicoureteral reflux in 2, solitary kidney in 1 and death in 1. There were 117 cases identified at gestational age 33 weeks or greater, which showed newborn urological pathology in 19 (16%), including vesicoureteral reflux in 8, hydronephrosis in 7 and surgery in 4. CONCLUSIONS: We found that about 13% of cases of fetal renal pelvic dilatation were insignificant because the measurement was below currently accepted cutoffs that merit postnatal followup. However, 20% of these cases in fact showed extensive urological care needs. The Virtual Pediatric Urology Registry provides an array of likely newborn diagnoses in neonates. Counseling by the incidence based method is more effective than by the current cutoff method.

Continent urinary diversion: 10-year experience of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago.

PURPOSE: To review long-term functional results, complications, and patient satisfaction in patients with a continent catheterizable urinary diversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review and telephone satisfaction interviews were conducted. Bladder dysfunction was attributed to neurogenic bladder (n = 48: 23 spinal cord injury, 18 myelomeningocele, 4 sacral agenesis, 3 cerebral palsy), bladder exstrophy (n = 2), posterior urethral valves (n = 1), and other (n = 3). Patients underwent continent urinary diversion with either the Mitrofanoff principle (appendicovesicostomy, n = 47) or a Monti tube (ileovesicostomy, n = 8). Outcomes were assessed by chart review. Patient satisfaction was assessed by telephone interview and scored from 1 to 10 on a Likert-type scale. RESULTS: Between 1992 and 2003, 54 continent urinary diversions were performed on 17 boys and 37 girls. Mean age was 15.3 years (range, 7-21 years). An umbilical stoma was created in all patients. Seventy-three percent (40/54) and 47% (26/54) underwent concomitant bladder augmentation and urethral sling procedure, respectively. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years (range, 3 months to 10 years). Ninety-five percent (51/54) of patients were continent, and 5% (3/54) were incontinent from the umbilical stoma after one operation. All were compliant with intermittent catheterization. Complications included bladder calculi (15%; 8/54), stomal stenosis (9%; 5/54), stomal bleeding (5%; 3/54), small bowel obstruction (2%; 1/54), and superficial wound dehiscence (2%; 1/54). Seventy-three percent (40/54) of patients were available for telephone interview. Of these, 90% (36/40) reported satisfaction, and 10% (4/40) reported dissatisfaction; 93% (37/40) reported that they would recommend the procedure to others, whereas 7% (3/40) would not. CONCLUSION: In our series, continent urinary diversion with the Mitrofanoff principle or Monti tube is associated with high continence, compliance, and satisfaction rates and a low complication rate. An umbilical stoma was achievable in all patients. Our 10-year experience is consistent with other reported series and underscores the successful long-term outcome and durability of continent urinary diversions.