A global, propensity-score matched analysis of patients receiving inflatable penile prostheses and the risk of complications, infections, and re-interventions.

Background: Over 25,000 men undergo inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement yearly to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Although various comorbidities are hypothesized risk factors for complications, this remains incompletely understood. Our objective was to utilize multi-institutional data to characterize risk for reintervention, complications, and infections in patients with common suspected risk factors undergoing IPP placement. Methods: We queried the TriNetX database for adult men who underwent IPP placement from 2003-2023 utilizing Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. We examined the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), nicotine use, radiation therapy (RT), radical prostatectomy (RP), and urethral surgery [urethroplasty, artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), male urethral sling (MS)] on clinical outcomes defined by International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Our primary outcome was need for reintervention based on CPT codes. Secondary outcomes included overall rates of complication and infection utilizing ICD-10 codes. Analytics were performed using TriNetX to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival. We evaluated outcomes overall and for each individual comparison cohort using the remaining demographic variables to perform propensity score matching (PSM). Results: In a total of 11,026 patients there was an overall 13.5% risk of undergoing at least one reintervention, with some undergoing multiple based on CPT codes. KM analysis showed a median IPP survival of 18.2 years and a projected 10- and 20-year survival probability at 70.6% and 48.4% respectively. Overall complication rate was 19.3% with a 5.2% rate of infection based on ICD codes. Patients with history of urethral surgery were at higher risk of both IPP complication and re-intervention. When further analyzing type of re-intervention, patients with a history of smoking, prior RP, and prior AUS/MS placement had higher rates of device removal. Patients with a history of diabetes were less likely to undergo IPP replacement at the time of explant. There were no identified risk factors for IPP infection. Conclusions: This is the largest cohort of patients ever evaluated and can help guide patient selection and counseling. There was a higher rate of IPP complications than previously reported, but this may be due to different reporting parameters. History of prior urethral surgery conferred a higher risk of complications and re-intervention. These results can help guide patient selection and counseling.

Demonstrating the Non-inferiority of a Plastic Surgery Microscopic Technique for Hepatic Artery Anastomosis in Pediatric Liver Transplant: A Single-Institution Study.

INTRODUCTION: Before advancements in liver transplantation, conditions such as acute liver failure, decompensated liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma were associated with poor prognosis. Orthotopic liver transplantation has since emerged as a curative treatment. Despite its benefits, liver transplantation can lead to complications, including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), which is especially significant in pediatric patients. This study evaluates the utility of microsurgical anastomosis by plastic surgeons in reducing postoperative HAT compared to standard loupe-assisted anastomosis performed by transplant surgeons. METHODS: This retrospective chart review included pediatric patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at a single institution between September 2015 and September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving standard loupe-assisted anastomosis by transplant surgeons (n = 28) and the other receiving microsurgical anastomosis by plastic surgeons (n = 22). The primary outcomes measured were the rates of HAT. Secondary outcomes included graft survival, patient survival, postoperative hospital stay, resistive indices, bleeding, biliary complications, venous complications, transplant rejection, and reoperation rates. RESULTS: In 50 pediatric patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, we compared outcomes between standard anastomosis (n = 28) and microscope-assisted anastomosis (n = 22). Demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. Hemorrhage occurred significantly more frequently in the standard anastomosis group (35.7%) compared to the microscope-assisted group (9.1%), with a p-value of 0.045. Other complications, including HAT (28.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.306), biliary leak (14.3% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.302), and organ rejection (21.4% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.713), did not differ significantly between the groups. Additionally, survival rates were comparable, with 71% in the standard group and 86% in the microscope group (p = 0.306). These findings suggest that while microscope-assisted anastomosis may reduce the risk of hemorrhage, other outcomes remain similar between the techniques. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that microsurgical anastomosis techniques performed by plastic surgeons are non-inferior to standard loupe-assisted techniques in pediatric liver transplantation and may decrease the rate of postoperative hemorrhage. Microsurgical anastomosis is a viable alternative to standard loupe-assisted techniques in pediatric hepatic artery transplants. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize surgical techniques.

Bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion during hypothermic circulatory arrest before sternal reentry for aortic pseudoaneurysm repair.

Sternal reentry for repair of aortic pseudoaneurysms poses a unique technical challenge to prevent exsanguination. Initiation of peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest prior to reentry are the cornerstones of a successful surgical approach. Adjunctive bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion increases safe arrest time and reduces neurologic morbidity. Herein, we describe our safe reentry technique for aortic pseudoaneurysm repair in two patients.

Evaluating the management trends for priapism and assessing the risk of priapism after in-office intracavernosal injections: a cross-sectional analysis.

We describe the management trends of patients suffering from any priapism and evaluate the risks of developing priapism after intracavernosal injections (ICI) performed in office. We queried TriNetX for two separate male adult cohorts - those presenting with any priapism based on International Classification of Disease code, N48.3 (priapism) and those who underwent ICI in office based on Current Procedural Terminology code, 54235 (injection of corpora cavernosa with pharmacologic agent[s]). We evaluated treatment options for these patients after any priapism and described demographic risks for developing priapism after ICI performed in office. There were 17,545 priapism encounters and 26,104 usages of ICI in the office. Most common treatment for any priapism was corporal irrigation/injection of medications (11.3%). Patients presenting with priapism after ICI were younger (age > 65 years, OR 0.44 [95% CI 0.38-0.51], p < 0.01) and had a higher prevalence of mood disorders (20% vs 14%), behavioral disorders (7% vs 2%) and sickle cell disease (6% vs <1%). They were less likely to have diabetes (14% vs 22%), hypertension (33% vs 40%), prostate cancer (13% vs 25%) or have taken sildenafil or tadalafil (29-30% vs 35-38%). For patients administering ICI, proper screening and counseling of priapism is important to reduce complications.

Oxycodone prescription after inflatable penile prosthesis has risks of persistent use: a TriNetX analysis.

We sought to evaluate the impact of Oxycodone prescriptions on short-term patient outcomes and long-term Oxycodone use following inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement. We queried the TriNetX research database for all adult patients undergoing IPP. Cohorts included opioid naïve patients prescribed postoperative Oxycodone against propensity score-matched patients without a prescription. We compared return visits to the emergency department (ED) within 14 and 90 days of surgery, a diagnosis of opioid abuse or dependence disorder 6 months or later after surgery and persistent Oxycodone use 9-15 months after surgery. After matching, there were 2433 patients in each group. There was an increase in 90-day ED visits based on receipt of Oxycodone (6.8% of patients vs 5.0%, risk ratio (RR) 1.4 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.1, 1.7]). Groups had similar 14-day ED visits (3.7% of patients vs 2.9%, RR 1.3, 95% CI [0.95, 1.7]). Patients prescribed Oxycodone (5.1% of patients vs 2.7%, RR 1.9, 95% CI [1.4, 2.6]) were more likely to have persistent Oxycodone use at 9-15 months. There were low instances of diagnosis of opioid dependence or abuse for both groups limiting comparison. Oxycodone prescription after IPP has risks of persistent use and withholding Oxycodone does not appear to increase postoperative healthcare utilization.

A global, propensity-score matched analysis of patients receiving artificial urinary sphincters and the risk of complications, infections, and re-interventions.

Background: Artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) are the gold standard treatment for patients with stress urinary incontinence. However, risk factors for implant infection, complication, or re-intervention (removal, repair, replacement) are incompletely understood. We sought to understand the impact of various patient factors on the risk of device failure by leveraging a large, multi-national research database. Methods: We queried the TriNetX database for all adult patients undergoing AUS. We evaluated the impact of age, body mass index, race, ethnicity, diabetes (DM), smoking history, history of radiation therapy (RT), history of radical prostatectomy (RP) and history of urethroplasty on select clinical outcomes. Our primary outcome was the need for re-intervention defined by current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. Secondary outcomes included overall device complication rate and infection rate defined by international classification of diseases (ICD) codes. Analytics were performed on TriNetX which calculated risk ratios (RR) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival. We evaluated our outcomes first on the entire population and then repeated analyses for each individual comparison cohort using the remaining demographic variables to perform propensity score matching (PSM). Results: The overall rates of AUS re-intervention, complication and infection were 23.4%, 24.1% and 6.4%, respectively. KM analysis showed median AUS survival (no need for re-intervention) at 10.6 years and projected 20-year survival probability at 31.3%. Patients with a history of smoking or urethroplasty were at higher risk of AUS complication and re-intervention. Patients with DM or a history of RT were at higher risk of AUS infection. Patients with a history of RT were at higher risk of AUS complication. All risk factors besides race showed a difference in device removal itself. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this represents the largest series to follow patients with an AUS. About one-quarter of AUS patients needed re-intervention. Multiple demographics place patients at increased risk of re-intervention, infection, or complication. These results can help guide patient selection and counseling with the goal of reducing complications.

Do Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Urologic Implant Reintervention?

OBJECTIVE: To understand whether patients taking sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) would be at a similar risk of genitourinary device infection or failure as patients not taking these medications. METHODS: We queried the TriNetX database for all adult male patients undergoing artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) or inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) and compared patients taking SGLT2i against those not. Cohorts and outcomes were defined using current procedural terminology and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. We used Age, body mass index, diabetes, smoking history and history of prostatectomy to generate propensity score matching. Our primary outcome was need for reintervention after implantation based on current procedural terminology codes. Secondary outcomes included infection rate and overall complication rate based on ICD-10 codes. Analytics were performed via TriNetX which calculated risk ratios. RESULTS: Analyses were run on November 28, 2022. After propensity score matching, there were 319 and 83 patients in each IPP and AUS cohort and comorbidity profiles were similar. Patients with an IPP on an SGLT2i were at a lower risk of overall complication (10.6% vs 16.1%, RR 0.66, P = .049). There was similar rates for AUS and risk of complication and for either implant on risk of infection or reintervention. CONCLUSION: Patients taking SGLT2is may be safely offered urologic implants. Patients taking an SGLT2 had a lower risk of complication for IPP, and there were similar rates of infection and reintervention for both IPP and AUS.

Towards a medical school curriculum for uncertainty in clinical practice.

Uncertainty abounds in the clinical environment. Medical students, however, are not explicitly prepared for situations of uncertainty in clinical practice, which can cause anxiety and impact well-being. To address this gap, we sought to capture how students felt in various clinical scenarios and identify programs they found helpful as they worked through uncertainty in their clerkships to better inform curriculum that prepares them to acknowledge and navigate this uncertainty. This is an observational cross-sectional study of third-year medical students surveyed at the end of core clerkships. The survey consisted of the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). Items asked students to rate preparedness, confidence, and comfort with uncertainty in clinical practice. Items on curricular programs asked students to identify training that prepared them for uncertainty in clerkships, and examined correlations with specific clinical practice uncertainty domains (CPUDs). Spearman's rank-order correlation, Chi-Square, and ANOVA were used to analyze quantitative data. Open responses were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's Framework. Response rate was 98.9% (287/290). GSE was inversely correlated with IUS (p < 0.001). GSE was positively correlated with all CPUDs (p < 0.005). IUS had an inverse correlation with all CPUDs (p < 0.005). Pedagogies with statistically-significant relationships with preparing students for uncertainty, communicating and building relationships with patients during times of uncertainty, and overall well-being included: team debriefs, role plays, case- and team-based learning, story slams, and sharing narratives with peers and faculty (p < 0.05). Qualitatively, students appreciated storytelling, role-modeling of communication strategies, debriefing, and simulations. Strategically immersing specific educational formats into formal curriculum may help cultivate skills needed to prepare students for uncertainty. Clinical debriefs, interprofessional role plays, simulations, communications skills training, instructor emotional vulnerability, storytelling, and peer-to-peer conversations may have the most impact. Further study is required to evaluate their longitudinal impact.

Nonoperative Management of Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Synostosis after Tibial Intramedullary Nailing.

We report the case of a 28-year-old male semiprofessional basketball player who presented to an outside hospital with nonhealing stress fractures for which he underwent tibial intramedullary nailing (IMN). Two weeks after surgery, he developed pain proximal and lateral to the knee. As he returned to play, the pain worsened with jumping and lateral movement and improved with rest. He presented to our hospital one year after the operation with the same unresolved pain. Imaging one year after the surgery revealed proximal tibiofibular joint (TFJ) synostosis aligned with the drill path. Literature review showed that rare noncongenital cases of proximal TFJ synostosis cases were most often treated nonoperatively. However, two cases involved the removal of excessively protruding screws and two cases involved bone resection that resolved painful disruption of other joints, such as the ankle. The current patient had proper implant positioning and no other impacted joints, so he was managed without operative intervention. By the final 16-month postoperative follow-up, his symptoms had resolved completely. Although an unusual occurrence with limited data, we recommend nonoperative management for proximal TFJ synostosis caused by tibial nailing if implants are properly positioned and no other joints are affected.