Comparison of Cost and Perioperative Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Simple Prostatectomy and Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Introduction: Simple prostatectomy (SP) and laser enucleation of the prostate (LEP) are treatments for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with large glands (e.g., >80 g). The decision between the two operations is often dependent on surgeon preference/experience and equipment availability. As the use of minimally invasive techniques, such as robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy, has increased for the treatment of large gland BPH, studies comparing the outcomes and cost of these modalities in a contemporary cohort are lacking. Methods: All-payer data from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Databases from Florida, New York, California, and Maryland from 2016 to 2018 were used to identify adults who underwent SP or LEP for BPH. Patient demographics, facility characteristics, revisit rates, and cost of the index hospitalization were examined. Multivariable logistic and gamma generalized linear regression models were utilized to compare predictors of the operation performed, 30-day revisits, and index hospitalization cost among the two operations. Results: Of the 2032 patients in the cohort, 1067 (46.4%) underwent LEP and 965 (41.9%) underwent SP. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, SP patients were younger, had higher comorbidity scores, and were more likely to be uninsured compared with LEP patients. Thirty-day revisit rates among the operations were equivalent (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.63-1.27, p = 0.05). The mean adjusted cost of the index hospital stay for LEP was significantly greater than that of SP ($7291 vs $6442, p = 0.04). However, our sub-group analysis examining high-volume centers revealed no significant differences in cost ($6184 vs $5353, p = 0.1). Conclusions: Across the four states examined, SP and LEP were performed with comparable volume and had similar rates of 30-day revisits. The SP was less expensive than LEP overall; however, among high-volume facilities, the cost of both operations was reduced, such that they were equivalent.

Opioid-Free Discharge is Not Associated With Increased Unplanned Healthcare Encounters After Ureteroscopy: Results From a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient factors associated with post-ureteroscopy opioid prescriptions, provider-level variation in opioid prescribing, and the relationship between opioid-free discharges and ED visits. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study of adults age 18 years and older who underwent primary ureteroscopy for urinary stones from June 2016 to September 2019 within the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) Reducing Operative Complications from Kidney Stones (ROCKS) quality improvement initiative. Postoperative opioid prescription trends and variation among practices and surgeons were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models defined risk factors for receipt of opioid prescriptions. The association among opioid prescriptions and postoperative ED visits within 30 days of surgery was assessed among complete case and propensity matched cohorts, matched on all measured characteristics other than opioid receipt. RESULTS: 13,143 patients underwent ureteroscopy with 157 urologists across 28 practices. Post-ureteroscopy opioid prescriptions and ED visits declined (86% to 39%, P<.001; 10% to 6%, P<.001, respectively). Practice and surgeon-level opioid prescribing varied from 8% to 98%, and 0% to 98%, respectively. Patient-related factors associated with opioid receipt included male, younger age, and history of chronic pain. Procedure-related factors associated with opioid receipt included pre- and post-ureteroscopy ureteral stenting and access sheath use. An opioid-free discharge was not associated with increased odds of an ED visit (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.95, P=.014). CONCLUSIONS: There was no increase in ED utilization among those not prescribed an opioid after ureteroscopy, suggesting their routine use may not be necessary in this setting.

Utilization of Salvage Radiation Therapy for Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: For men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP), salvage radiation therapy (SRT), especially "early" SRT (PSA level ≤0.5 ng/mL), is a potentially curative option; however, its utilization is not well defined. We sought to determine factors associated with SRT utilization as well as variation in its administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing RP at 33 practices participating in the statewide Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative between 2012 and 2016 were prospectively followed. Eligible patients had at least 1 post-RP PSA level ≥0.1 ng/mL with ≥6 months of follow-up after the first detectable PSA level. Patients undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy were excluded. SRT utilization and clinical and pathologic patient characteristics were examined. RESULTS: Of 1010 eligible patients with a detectable PSA level, 29.5% underwent SRT. Of patients who received SRT, 46.9% either reached a PSA ≥0.2 ng/mL or were treated before reaching that PSA level. A total of 30.6% of patients had a PSA level ≥0.5 ng/mL without undergoing prior SRT; of this group, 42.1% later received SRT. After adjusting for patient and practice level factors, positive surgical margins, higher T stage, and higher grade group were all associated with receipt of SRT (P < .05). Even after adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, significant variation remained in the adjusted rate of SRT utilization across practices sites, ranging from 7% (95% confidence interval, 3%-17%) to 73% (95% confidence interval, 45%-90%, P < .001). Practices were grouped into tertiles based on SRT utilization, and those practices that used SRT more frequently overall were more likely to administer SRT across all patient-based predictors of SRT utilization. CONCLUSIONS: SRT utilization is low among men with a detectable post-RP PSA level, with significant variation in practice-level SRT utilization that cannot be explained by patient factors alone. Factors suggesting higher-risk disease were predictors of SRT administration. These data support the potential to expand the use of SRT, particularly among sites with low utilization.

Primary care focus and utilization in the Medicare shared savings program accountable care organizations.

BACKGROUND: Although Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are defined by the provision of primary care services, the relationship between the intensity of primary care and population-level utilization and costs of health care services has not been examined during early implementation of Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs. Our objective was to evaluate the association between primary care focus and healthcare utilization and spending in the first performance period of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we divided the 220 MSSP ACOs into quartiles of primary care focus based on the percentage of all ambulatory evaluation and management services delivered by a PCP (internist, family physician, or geriatrician). Using multivariable regression, we evaluated rates of utilization and spending during the initial performance period, adjusting for the percentage of non-white patients, region, number of months enrolled in the MSSP, number of beneficiary person years, percentage of dual eligible beneficiaries and percentage of beneficiaries over the age of 74. RESULTS: The proportion of ambulatory evaluation and management services delivered by a PCP ranged from <38% (lowest quartile, ACOs with least PCP focus) to >46% (highest quartile, ACOs with greatest PCP focus). ACOs in the highest quartile of PCP focus had higher adjusted rates of utilization of acute care hospital admissions (328 per 1000 person years vs 292 per 1000 person years, p = 0.01) and emergency department visits (756 vs 680 per 1000 person years, p = 0.02) compared with ACOs in the lowest quartile of PCP focus. ACOs in the highest quartile of PCP focus achieved no greater savings per beneficiary relative to their spending benchmarks ($142 above benchmark vs $87 below benchmark, p = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Primary care focus was not associated with increased savings or lower utilization of healthcare during the initial implementation of MSSP ACOs.

Variation in Guideline Concordant Active Surveillance Followup in Diverse Urology Practices.

PURPOSE: We examined the frequency of followup prostate specific antigen testing and prostate biopsy among men treated with active surveillance in the academic and community urology practices comprising MUSIC (Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MUSIC is a consortium of 42 practices that maintains a prospective clinical registry with validated clinical data on all patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at participating sites. We identified all patients in MUSIC practices who entered active surveillance and had at least 2 years of continuous followup. After determining the frequency of repeat prostate specific antigen testing and prostate biopsy, we calculated rates of concordance with NCCN Guidelines® recommendations (ie at least 3 prostate specific antigen tests and 1 surveillance biopsy) collaborative-wide and across individual practices. RESULTS: We identified 513 patients who entered active surveillance from January 2012 through September 2013 and had at least 2 years of followup. Among the 431 men (84%) who remained on active surveillance for 2 years 132 (30.6%) underwent followup surveillance testing at a frequency that was concordant with NCCN® (National Comprehensive Cancer Network®) recommendations. At the practice level, the median rate of guideline concordant followup was 26.5% (range 10% to 67.5%, p <0.001). Among patients with discordant followup, the absence of followup biopsy was common and not significantly different across practices (median rate 82.0%, p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Among diverse community and academic practices in Michigan, there is wide variation in the proportion of men on active surveillance who meet guideline recommendations for followup prostate specific antigen testing and repeat biopsy. These data highlight the need for standardized active surveillance pathways that emphasize the role of repeat surveillance biopsies.

Trends in Inpatient Urological Surgery Practice Patterns.

INTRODUCTION: As the nation's population ages and the number of practicing urologists per capita declines, characterization of practice patterns is essential to understand the current state of the urological workforce and anticipate future needs. Accordingly, we examined trends in adult inpatient urological surgery practice patterns over a five-year period. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2005 through 2009 to identify both surgeons and urological surgeries. We classified the latter into 1 of 7 clinical domains (Endourology & Stone Disease, Incontinence, Urogenital Reconstruction, Urologic Oncology, Benign Prostate, Renal Transplant, and Other Urological Procedures). For each urological surgeon, three parameters were determined for each year: 1) Case-diversity (the number of distinct urological clinical domains in which they performed ≥2 procedures/year); 2) Subspecialty (the predominant clinical domain of cases that each surgeon performed); and 3) Subspecialty-focus (the proportion of a surgeon's total urological cases/year that belonged to their assigned clinical domain). We examined trends in these metrics over a five-year period, and compared results between urban and rural practice settings. RESULTS: We analyzed data for 2,237 individual surgeons performing 144,138 inpatient surgeries. Over time, urologist's practice patterns evolved toward lower case-diversity (p<0.001) and greater subspecialty-focus (p<0.001). These trends were more pronounced for surgeons practicing in urban versus rural practice settings (p-values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: At a national level, urologists' inpatient surgical practice patterns are narrowing, with less case-diversity and higher subspecialty-focus. These trends are even more prominent among urologists in urban, compared with rural, practice settings.

Effect of delayed resection after initial surveillance and tumor growth rate on final surgical pathology in patients with small renal masses (SRMs).

OBJECTIVE: To understand potential harms associated with delaying resection of small renal masses (SRMs) in patients ultimately treated, and whether these patients have factors associated with adverse pathology. METHODS: Patients with SRMs (≤4cm) who underwent surgical resection at our institution (2009-2015) were classified as undergoing early resection or initial surveillance with delayed resection (defined by a time from presentation to intervention of at least 6mo). Demographic and clinical variables were compared among groups. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between delayed resection and adverse pathology (Fuhrman grade 3-4, papillary type 2, sarcomatoid histology, angiomyolipoma with epithelioid features, or stage≥pT3). For patients who underwent delayed intervention, we used similar methods to examine the association between SRM growth rate and adverse pathology. RESULTS: Overall, 401 (81%) and 94 (19%) patients underwent early and delayed resection, respectively. Median time to resection was 84 days (interquartile range: 59-121) and 386 days (interquartile range: 272-702) (P<0.001). Patients undergoing delayed resection were older (62 vs. 58y, P = 0.01) and had smaller masses (2.3 vs. 2.7cm, P<0.001) at initial presentation. Utilization of partial vs. radical nephrectomy was similar regardless of resection timing (P = 0.5). Delayed resection was not associated with adverse pathology (P = 0.8); however, male sex was independently associated with adverse pathology (odds ratio: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.4, P = 0.009). In patients on surveillance, increasing annual SRM growth rate was associated with adverse pathology (odds ratio: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.03-1.3mm/y, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed resection was not associated with adverse pathology. Patients on surveillance with increased SRM growth rates had a modest but significant increase in the risk of adverse pathology.

Early impact of Medicare accountable care organizations on cancer surgery outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Accountable care organizations (ACOs) were established to improve care and outcomes for beneficiaries requiring highly coordinated, complex care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between hospital ACO participation and the outcomes of major surgical oncology procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries older than 65 years who were undergoing a major surgical resection for colorectal, bladder, esophageal, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, lung, or prostate cancer from 2011 through 2013. A difference-in-differences analysis was implemented to compare the postimplementation period (January 2013 through December 2013) with the baseline period (January 2011 through December 2012) to assess the impact of hospital ACO participation on 30-day mortality, complications, readmissions, and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: Among 384,519 patients undergoing major cancer surgery at 106 ACO hospitals and 2561 control hospitals, this study found a 30-day mortality rate of 3.4%, a readmission rate of 12.5%, a complication rate of 43.8%, and a prolonged LOS rate of 10.0% in control hospitals and similar rates in ACO hospitals. Secular trends were noted, with reductions in perioperative adverse events in control hospitals between the baseline and postimplementation periods: mortality (percentage-point reduction, 0.1%; P = .19), readmissions (percentage-point reduction, 0.4%; P = .001), complications (percentage-point reduction, 1.0%; P < .001), and prolonged LOS (percentage-point reduction, 1.1%; P < .001). After accounting for these secular trends, this study identified no significant effect of hospital participation in an ACO on the frequency of perioperative outcomes (difference-in-differences estimator P values, .24-.72). CONCLUSIONS: Early hospital participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO program was not associated with greater reductions in adverse perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing major cancer surgery in comparison with control hospitals. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society. Cancer 2016;122:2739-2746. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Urologist Participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current role of urologists in Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and the organizational characteristics of ACOs with participating urologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 2012-2013 Medicare data and the National Provider Identifier Database, we classified each urologist in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as either an MSSP ACO participant or nonparticipating provider. We then examined the distribution of ACO-participating urologists across the U.S. and among the first 220 MSSP ACOs. We also compared the characteristics of ACOs with and without participating urologists. RESULTS: Among 11,084 identified urologists, 1118 (10%) were MSSP ACO participants. ACO-participating urologists practiced more frequently in the Northeast and Midwest (P < .001), and were more commonly female (10% vs 8%, P = .003). At an organizational level, only 110 (50%) of the initial MSSP ACOs included at least one urologist; among this group, the number of participating urologists ranged from 1 to 55. ACOs with one or more participating urologist were larger organizations, with respect to both the number of assigned beneficiaries and the number of providers per 1000 beneficiaries (P < .001 for each comparison). The patient populations served by ACOs with and without urologists were similar (P > .05 for each comparison). CONCLUSION: A modest percentage of urologists participate in MSSP ACOs, although many of these organizations still lack any formal involvement by urological surgeons. Without such participation, improving the coordination, quality, and cost of urologic care for Medicare beneficiaries may be more challenging.

Understanding pre-enrollment surgical outcomes for hospitals participating in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations.

BACKGROUND: To anticipate the effects of accountable care organizations (ACOs) on surgical care, we examined pre-enrollment utilization, outcomes, and costs of inpatient surgery among hospitals currently enrolled in Medicare ACOs vs nonenrolling facilities. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007 to 2011), we compared patient and hospital characteristics, distributions of surgical specialty care, and the most common inpatient surgeries performed between ACO-enrolling and nonenrolling hospitals before implementation of Medicare ACOs. We used multivariable regression to compare pre-enrollment inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs. RESULTS: Hospitals now participating in Medicare ACO programs were more frequently nonprofit (P < .001) and teaching institutions (P = .01) that performed more specialty procedures (P < .001). We observed no clinically meaningful pre-enrollment differences for inpatient mortality, prolonged length of stay, or costs for procedures performed at ACO-enrolling vs nonenrolling hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare ACO hospitals had pre-enrollment outcomes that were similar to nonparticipating facilities. Future studies will determine whether ACO participation yields differential changes in surgical quality or costs.

Understanding the Performance of Active Surveillance Selection Criteria in Diverse Urology Practices.

PURPOSE: We used data from MUSIC (Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative) to evaluate the performance of published selection criteria for active surveillance in diverse urology practice settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For several active surveillance guidelines we calculated the proportion of men meeting each set of selection criteria who actually entered active surveillance, defined as the sensitivity of the guideline. After identifying the most sensitive guideline for the entire cohort we compared demographic and tumor characteristics between patients who met this guideline and entered active surveillance, and those who received initial definitive therapy. RESULTS: Of 4,882 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer 18% underwent active surveillance. When applied to the entire cohort, the sensitivity of published guidelines ranged from 49% in Toronto to 62% at Johns Hopkins. At a practice level the sensitivity of Johns Hopkins criteria varied widely from 27% to 84% (p <0.001). Compared with men undergoing active surveillance, those meeting Johns Hopkins criteria who received definitive therapy were younger (p <0.001) and more likely to have a positive family history (p = 0.003), lower prostate specific antigen (p <0.001), a greater number of positive cores (2 vs 1) on biopsy (p <0.001) and a higher cancer volume in positive core(s) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of published active surveillance selection criteria varies widely across diverse urology practices. Among patients meeting the most stringent criteria those who received initial definitive therapy had characteristics suggesting greater cancer risk, underscoring the nuanced clinical factors that influence treatment decisions.

Improving the care of elderly adults undergoing surgery in Michigan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether failure to rescue, as a driver of mortality, can be used to identify which hospitals attenuate the specific risks inherent to elderly adults undergoing surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: State-wide surgical collaborative in Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults undergoing major general or vascular surgery between 2006 and 2011 (N = 24,216). MEASUREMENTS: Thirty-four hospitals were ranked according to risk-adjusted 30-day mortality and grouped into tertiles. Within each tertile, rates of major complications and failure to rescue were calculated, stratifying outcomes according to age (<75 vs ≥ 75). Next, differences in failure-to-rescue rates between age groups within each hospital were calculated. RESULTS: Failure-to-rescue rates were more than two times as high in elderly adults as in younger individuals in each tertile of hospital mortality (26.0% vs 10.3% at high-mortality hospitals, P < .001). Within hospitals, the average difference in failure-to-rescue rates was 12.5%. Nine centers performed better than expected, and three performed worse than expected, with the largest differences exceeding 25%. CONCLUSION: Although elderly adults experience higher failure-to-rescue rates, this does not account for hospitals' overall capacity to rescue individuals from complications. Comparing rates of younger and elderly adults within hospitals may identify centers where efforts toward complication rescue favor, or are customized for, elderly adults. These centers should be studied as part of the collaborative's effort to address the disparate outcomes that elderly adults in Michigan experience.

Synthesis and structural investigation of an "oxazinoquinolinespirohexadienone" that only exists as its long-wavelength ring-opened quinonimine isomer.

The spirocyclic oxazinoquinolinespirohexadienone (OSHD) "photochromes" are computationally predicted to be an attractive target as electron deficient analogues of the perimidinespirohexadienone (PSHD) photochromes, for eventual application as photochromic photooxidants. We have found the literature method for their preparation unsuitable and present an alternative synthesis. Unfortunately the product of this synthesis is the long wavelength (LW) ring-opened quinonimine isomer of the OSHD. We have found this isomer does not close to the spirocyclic short wavelength isomer (SW) upon prolonged standing in the dark, unlike other PSHD photochromes. The structure of this long wavelength isomer was found by NMR and X-ray crystallography to be exclusively the quinolinone (keto) tautomer, though experimental cyclic voltammetry supported by our computational methodology indicates that the quinolinol (enol) tautomer (not detected by other means) may be accessible through a fast equilibrium lying far toward the keto tautomer. Computations also support the relative stability order of keto LW over enol LW over SW.