Open versus Minimally Invasive Nephroureterectomy: Contemporary Analysis from a Wide National Population-Based Database.

BACKGROUND: It is generally perceived that minimally invasive nephroureterectomy (MINU), especially in the form of robotic-assisted laparoscopy, is gaining an increasing role in many institutions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate contemporary trends in the adoption of MINU in the United States compared with open nephroureterectomy (ONU). METHODS: Patients who underwent ONU or MINU between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed using PearlDiver Mariner, an all-payer insurance claims database. International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify the type of surgical procedure, patients' characteristics, social determinants of health (SDOH), and perioperative complications. The primary objective assessed different trends and costs in NU adoption, while secondary objectives analyzed factors influencing the postoperative complications, including SDOH. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 15,240 patients underwent ONU (n = 7675) and MINU (n = 7565). Utilization of ONU declined over the study period, whereas that of MINU increased from 29 to 72% (p = 0.01). The 60-day postoperative complication rate was 23% for ONU and 19% for MINU (p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, ONU showed a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.48). Approximately 5% and 9% of patients reported at least one SDOH at baseline for both ONU and MINU (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary trend analysis of a large national dataset confirms that there has been a significant shift towards MINU, which is gradually replacing ONU. A minimally invasive approach is associated with lower risk of complications. SDOH are non-clinical factors that currently do not have an impact on the outcomes of nephroureterectomy.

Trends and Costs of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Kidney Cancer in the US: A Population-based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze temporal trends and costs associated with the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for kidney cancer in the US over the past decade. To examine the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on perioperative outcomes. METHODS: The PearlDiver Mariner, a national database of insurance billing records, was queried for this retrospective observational cohort analysis. The MIS population was identified and stratified according to treatment modality, using International Classification of Diseases and current procedural terminology codes. SDOH were assessed using International Classification of Diseases codes. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the overall number of renal MIS and Cochran-Armitage tests to compare the utilization of different treatment modalities, over the study period. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified predictors of perioperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 80,821 MIS for kidney cancer were included. Minimally invasive partial nephrectomy adoption as a fraction of total MIS increased significantly (slope of regression line, reg. = 0.026, P <.001). Minimally invasive radical nephrectomy ($26.9k ± 40.9k) and renal ablation ($18.9k ± 31.6k) were the most expensive and cheapest procedures, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of number of complications (P = .06) and presence of SDOH (P = .07) among the treatment groups. At multivariable analysis, patients with SDOH undergoing minimally invasive radical nephrectomy had higher odds of perioperative complications, while renal ablation had a significantly lower probability of perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: This study describes the current management of kidney cancer in the US, offering a socioeconomic perspective on the impact of this disease in everyday clinical practice.

Minimally Invasive Radical Nephroureterectomy: 5-Year Update of Techniques and Outcomes.

The gold standard treatment for non-metastatic upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is represented by radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). The choice of surgical technique in performing UTUC surgery continues to depend on several factors, including the location and extent of the tumor, the patient's overall health, and very importantly, the surgeon's skill, experience, and preference. Although open and laparoscopic approaches are well-established treatments, evidence regarding robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy (RANU) is growing. Aim of our study was to perform a critical review on the evidence of the last 5 years regarding surgical techniques and outcomes of minimally invasive RNU, mostly focusing on RANU. Reported oncological and function outcomes suggest that minimally invasive RNU is safe and effective, showing similar survival rates compared to the open approach.

Utility of Neonatal Findings in Early Diagnosis of a Case of Haberland Syndrome.

Haberland syndrome or encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) is a rare, congenital syndrome characterized by lipomas and noncancerous tumors of the scalp, skin, and eyes, in addition to intellectual disability, early onset seizures, and ectomesodermal dysgenesis. The diagnosis of ECCL is classically made by clinical presentation, imaging, and histopathological findings, but due to the spectrum of clinical presentation and symptom severity, diagnosis is often delayed until adolescence or adulthood. Here we present a newborn male infant, one of the earliest case diagnoses to our knowledge, with a unique constellation of physical exam and neuroimaging findings consistent with this diagnosis. We aim to address important neonatal findings to aid in early detection and diagnosis of this unique disease, which is thought to improve clinical outcomes and patient quality of life.

Association Between Mental Health Conditions and Postoperative Complications After Gender-Affirming Surgery.

This cohort study assesses whether postoperative complications are associated with having been diagnosed with a mental health condition in patients who have undergone gender-affirming surgery.

Disparities in patient and system factors explain racial/ethnic disparities in delayed time to treatment in muscle invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Treatment delays in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) have been shown to be associated with worse outcomes. While every attempt is made to provide adequate treatment expeditiously, Black and Hispanic patients often experience delays at a higher rate than their White counterparts. This study aims to quantify the mechanisms that contribute to this disparity in treatment delay. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical T-stages II-IVa MIBC patients who underwent surgical resection from 2004 to 2017 in the National Cancer Database. A causal inference mediation analysis using the counterfactual framework was implemented to estimate the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in patient and system factors explain the racial/ethnic disparities in time to treatment. Mediators included income, education, comorbidities, insurance, and hospital type. RESULTS: Among 22,864 patients who met inclusion criteria, 7%, 3%, 2% were of Black, Hispanic, and Other race/ethnicity, respectively. In multivariable models, compared to White patients, Black, and Hispanic patients were associated with 26% (odds ratio = 1.26, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.42) and 29% (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.55) increased odds of having a treatment delay relative to White patients. Mediation analyses suggested that 49% and 26% the treatment delay among Black and Hispanic patients, respectively, could be removed if an intervention equalized the distribution of academic treatment, education, and insurance status to that of White patients. Treatment at an academic hospital and education were the mediators that explained the largest portion of the racial/ethnic disparity in treatment delay. CONCLUSION: Black and Hispanic MIBC patients experience treatment delays when compared to White patients. Intervening upon patient and system factors could reduce substantial treatment delays. Future research is needed to identify other causes of disparities in treatment delays and may help population health initiatives to address racial/ethnic disparities in clinical settings.