Contemporary practice patterns associated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy among certifying urologists.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the treatment of choice for patients with complex stone burdens. We performed a study to assess the effect of urologist-specific parameters on the use of PCNL-both the access component of the procedure as well as the stone removal. We also examined trends in PCNL utilization over time. METHODS: We analyzed self-reported 6-month case logs submitted to The American Board of Urology (ABU) for urologists who certified or recertified between 2004 and 2013. Surgeons performing PCNL were identified by Current Procedural Terminology coding. Urologist-specific data, including fellowship training, practice type, and practice population, were used to further stratify this cohort. Trends were examined over the study period. RESULTS: A total of 7278 urologists submitted case logs to the ABU between 2004 and 2013. The median ages of the initial certification group, first recertification group, and second recertification group were 36.0, 43.7, and 53 years, respectively. A greater proportion of newly certified urologists performed PCNL (53%) compared with urologists in the first (41%) and second (29%) recertification groups; initially certified urologists were also more likely to be high volume (>10) PCNL surgeons. Urologists with fellowship training were more likely to use PCNL (66%) and be high-volume surgeons (26.4%). PCNL utilization increased significantly during the study period, with 1330 procedures performed in 2004 and 2888 procedures performed in 2012 (117% increase). CONCLUSIONS: Younger and fellowship-trained urologists are the primary users of PCNL; the majority of senior urologists do not perform this operation. Overall, the use of PCNL and urologist-directed access has increased in the previous decade.

Trends and outcomes of total and partial nephrectomy in children: a statewide analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To report trends in surgical approach and associations with outcomes in children undergoing extirpative renal surgery in the state of Maryland over a 12-year period. METHODS: The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) database was queried to identify children undergoing total or partial nephrectomy between 2000 and 2011. Demographic, clinical, hospital, and charge data were compared between children undergoing open and minimally invasive renal surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of prolonged length of hospital stay and 30-day readmission. Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify independent predictors of increased hospital charges. RESULTS: Of the 346 children undergoing extirpative renal surgery, 289 (83.5%) underwent total nephrectomy and 48 (13.9%) underwent minimally invasive surgery. Utilization of minimally invasive surgery for congenital urinary anomalies has steadily increased from 15% to 35% over the past decade. Children undergoing minimally invasive total nephrectomy were healthier, had shorter hospital stay, and were more likely to have surgery at a high-volume institution. No such differences were noted in patients undergoing open and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. On multivariable regression analyses, high patient complexity was the main predictor of increased length of stay (OR 16.02, 95% CI 7.06-36.31), 30-day readmission (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.38-6.70), and total hospital charge (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In Maryland hospitals, most extirpative renal surgeries in children are total nephrectomies performed using an open technique by high-volume surgeons. Although the overall proportion of minimally invasive surgeries has not increased over time, the utilization of MIS in congenital anomaly cases has. Patient complexity and not operative approach dictates postoperative morbidity and hospital charges.