Senior medical student opinions regarding the ideal urology interview day.

INTRODUCTION: Applicant interviews for urology residency positions are a stressful and costly process for students, faculty, and staff. We conducted a prospective survey to better determine what urology applicants perceive as an ideal interview process to gain sufficient knowledge about a training program. METHODS: A questionnaire was anonymously completed by all urology residency applicants interviewing at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 2007 to 2013. Questionnaire subject headings included "ideal interview format," "factors contributing to understanding the residency program," and "factors contributing to final rank list order." RESULTS: Questionnaires were distributed to and completed by 221 senior medical students applying for a urology residency position. Most respondents (>80%) reported they would prefer to partake in 5 to 7 faculty interviews in an office setting with the total interview process spanning half to three-fourths of the workday. Spending time with current residents was considered the most valuable tool to acquire knowledge about a residency program. The most important criteria when ranking a program were resident satisfaction, resident operative experience, and perceived strength of faculty. CONCLUSIONS: Academic urology programs may wish to consider applicant ideals when organizing residency interviews. Interaction with current residents appears to be the most valuable resource allowing applicants to garner knowledge about a urology training program.

Preoperative Valsalva voiding increases the risk of urinary retention after midurethral sling placement.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A subset of neurologically normal females void by efficient Valsalva, not detrusor contraction. We determined the incidence of urinary retention following midurethral sling (MUS) placement in women that void by detrusor contraction versus Valsalva. METHODS: Review of patients undergoing MUS insertion between 2002 and 2009 for urodynamic stress incontinence was performed. Women with concomitant pelvic surgery, previous incontinence surgery, or preoperative incomplete bladder emptying were excluded. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on preoperative urodynamic findings--those that voided with a detrusor contraction >10 cm of water and those that voided by Valsalva. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients were available for analysis. The postoperative urinary retention rate was 22% and 5% in the Valsalva and non-Valsalva groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Mean retention duration was 3 weeks for each cohort (range 1-6). CONCLUSIONS: Women voiding by Valsalva are at increased risk of urinary retention following MUS placement.