Outcomes of endoscopic incision for the treatment of ureterocele in children at a single institution.

PURPOSE: We assessed outcomes in children with ureterocele after transurethral incision at our institution between 2001 and 2014, focusing on end points of vesicoureteral reflux, improvement of hydronephrosis and need for second surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed chart reviews of 83 patients, collecting information including age at transurethral incision, gender, renal anatomy, ureterocele location, indication for transurethral incision, and preincision and postincision vesicoureteral reflux and hydronephrosis status. Patients were divided into those with single system and duplex system ureteroceles, and intravesical and extravesical location for analysis. Statistical evaluations were performed with the Wilcoxon rank test and Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Transurethral incision was performed at a mean age of 34.2 months in patients with single system ureterocele and 8.9 months in those with duplex system ureterocele (p <0.0001). Cure rates (improvement of hydronephrosis and absence of vesicoureteral reflux) were 55.6% in patients with single system ureterocele and 14.9% in those with duplex system ureterocele (p = 0.0031). Rates of de novo reflux into the ureterocele moiety were 27.8% for patients with single system ureterocele and 56.2% for those with duplex system ureterocele (p = 0.0773). Patients with single system ureterocele required significantly fewer second surgeries (3.8%) than those with duplex system ureterocele (73.7%, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with single system ureterocele may benefit from endoscopic incision. Transurethral incision was definitive in all such patients except 1 in our study. Although most patients with duplex system ureterocele will need a second operation, transurethral incision remains of value in this population in instances of sepsis or bladder outlet obstruction, or to facilitate planned reconstruction when the child is older.

Global evaluative assessment of robotic skills: validation of a clinical assessment tool to measure robotic surgical skills.

PURPOSE: We developed and validated a standardized assessment tool for robotic surgical skills, and report its usefulness, reliability and construct validity in a clinical setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills is a tool developed by deconstructing the fundamental elements of robotic surgical procedures in consultation with expert robotic surgeons. Surgical performance was assessed during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy on a 5-point anchored Likert scale across 6 domains. An overall performance score was derived by summing the ratings in each domain. Expert surgeons and postgraduate year 4 to 6 urology residents were evaluated to determine construct validity. Assessments were completed by the attending surgeon, a trained observer and the operator. RESULTS: A total of 29 evaluations of 25 trainees and 4 attending surgeons were completed. Experts scored significantly higher on the assessment than novice operators (p = 0.004). Postgraduate year 4 and 5 residents scored significantly lower than the expert group (p <0.05) while no difference was observed between mean performance scores of postgraduate year 6 trainees and attending surgeons (p >0.05). The internal consistency of the assessment tool was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.90 to 0.93). The overall assessment score ICC among raters was 0.80 (95% CI 0.65-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills is simple to administer and able to differentiate levels of robotic surgical expertise. This standardized assessment tool shows excellent consistency, reliability and validity. Further study is warranted to evaluate its usefulness for surgical education and the establishment of competency in robotic surgery.

Pretreatment semen parameters in men with cancer.

PURPOSE: Whether the presence or specific type of cancer significantly affects semen quality is controversial. We evaluated the semen parameters and associated malignancies of men with cancer who cryopreserved sperm at our institution before undergoing therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the database from our cryopreservation laboratory during a 5-year period. Office charts of 409 of 1,409 patients were available for review. Age at banking, semen volume, sperm density, percent motile sperm and type of cancer were recorded. Semen parameters were compared to values for fertile and subfertile men established by the National Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network as well as from a large local pre-vasectomy cohort to consider geographic variations. RESULTS: A total of 717 semen samples from 409 men included 45% with testicular cancer, 10% with Hodgkin's lymphoma, 7% with nonHodgkin's lymphoma, 6% with sarcoma, 6% with prostate cancer, 5% with leukemia, 3% with gastrointestinal cancer and 2% with central nervous system tumors. Of these men 16% had unspecified or other rare malignancies. Mean patient age was 29.9 years (range 11.9 to 87.7), mean semen volume was 2.8 ml (range 0.1 to 15.0), mean sperm density was 47.4 x 10(6)/ml (range 0.1 to 320) and mean sperm motility was 50.0% (range 1% to 90%). For men with testicular cancer sperm density and motility were in the intermediate range. Parameters for men with all other malignancies were in the fertile range for density and intermediate range for motility. CONCLUSIONS: Men with most types of cancer have pretreatment semen parameters in the fertile range for density and in the intermediate range for motility. However, men with testicular cancer statistically have lower semen quality compared to those with other malignancies. These findings further highlight the importance of pretreatment fertility preservation in this patient population before undergoing gonadotoxic treatments.

A Case of Obstructed Hemivagina with Ectopic Ureter Leading to Severe Hydrocolpos and Contralateral Renal Outflow Tract Obstruction in a Neonate.

BACKGROUND: Renal and Müllerian anomalies are frequently associated. Young age at presentation can present challenges in diagnosis and management. We report a case with an unusual presentation and management of this association in the neonatal period. CASE: A 2-day-old girl had hydronephrosis with a large pelvic fluid collection. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis demonstrated right hydronephrosis and uterine didelphys with an obstructed left hemivagina with hydrocolpos. A tube vaginostomy was used to decompress the vagina. Fluid was consistent with urine from an ectopic ureteral implantation from a dysgenetic left kidney, which was removed. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: For obstructed hemivagina in a newborn, expanding fluid collections may be addressed with a drain to avoid mass effect and to aid in the diagnosis. Resection of the vaginal obstruction is performed when the patient is older. A nonfunctional kidney can be removed to eliminate fluid accumulation in the obstructed space.