The ball's in your court: Trends, causes, outcomes, and costs of patient transfer for pediatric testicular torsion.

BACKGROUND: The transfer of pediatric patients with testicular torsion from community hospitals to pediatric centers can be a time and resource-intensive step toward emergent surgical intervention. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe trends of patient transfer in our state and compare clinical outcomes and health system costs between patients transferred and treated primarily at a pediatric center. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study compared patients aged 1-18 years who presented directly to a pediatric center to those transferred for acute testicular torsion from 2018 to 2023. Exclusion criteria included age <1 year, non-urgent surgery, and admission from clinic. Patient age, BMI, Tanner stage, ASA class, insurance coverage, and presentation time were covariates. Group characteristics and times from symptom onset to initial ED presentation to surgery were compared via two-sided Student's t-tests. Clinical outcomes (orchiectomy, testicular atrophy) were compared via Fisher's exact tests. Costs from transferring hospitals were estimated from costs at our institution, and medical transport costs were extrapolated from contract prices between transport agencies and the pediatric center to compare total episode-of-care cost. RESULTS: A total of 133 cases (37 primaries, 96 transfers) met inclusion criteria. Transfers increased over the study period (67%-75%). There were no significant differences in age, Tanner stage, ASA score, BMI, or time of day of presentation between groups. Median transfer distance was 12 miles (IQR 7-22) and time was 1 h (IQR 1-2). More than half of cases (53%) were transferred due to hospital policy regarding surgical treatment of minors, and 25% due to lack of urology coverage. Time from initial ED site to OR was nearly doubled for the transfer group (median 4.5 vs 2.5 h, p = 0.02). Despite a higher rate of orchiectomy in the primary group (43 vs 22%, p = 0.01), this difference was not significant after stratification by symptom duration. The estimated average cost of care for patients transferred was twice that of primary patients ($15,082 vs $6898). DISCUSSION: Transfer of pediatric patients in our state for testicular torsion has increased in recent years. Hospital policies and local urology coverage are primary drivers of patient transfer which nearly doubled time to surgical intervention and more than doubled cost of care. Clinical outcomes were driven by delayed presentation. CONCLUSION: Transfer of pediatric patients for testicular torsion nearly doubles time to surgical intervention and more than doubles cost of care. Restrictive hospital policies and gaps in rural hospital urology coverage present opportunities to improve the quality and efficiency of care for these children.

Testicular torsion is overrepresented among malpractice cases for gonadal torsion.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVE: Ovarian and testicular torsion are comparable surgical emergencies that may result in organ loss and, as such, have high litigious potential. We sought to describe the relative frequency and outcome of malpractice litigation between cases of ovarian and testicular torsion. METHODS: Searches were completed in the Westlaw Jury Verdicts & Settlements and Lexis Cases databases using the following search terms: "(ovarian or ovary)/5 torsion" and "(testicular or testicle)/5 torsion". Cases were excluded if they were not directly related to torsion or were not malpractice claims. Cases were reviewed for year, jurisdiction, age of plaintiff, verdict, appeal status, contention, damages, and alleged time delay to appropriate care. RESULTS: The legal databases contained 155 malpractice cases related to testicular torsion and 4 cases related to ovarian torsion. Two of three ovarian torsion cases and 52% of testicular torsion cases with available rulings were in favor of the defense. The median age of plaintiffs in testicular torsion cases was 14, and 75% were minors. Median delay in care for testicular cases was 3 days, and median damages awarded to plaintiffs was $250,000 ($12,000-8.5 million). No data regarding age, delay in care, or damages were available for ovarian torsion cases. CONCLUSIONS: Among malpractice cases related to gonadal torsion, testicular torsion is vastly overrepresented despite literature demonstrating longer delays in care and greater likelihood of gonadal loss in ovarian torsion during the study period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Use of gestational surrogates for women with Eisenmenger syndrome: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective: Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is regarded as a contraindication to pregnancy, with therapeutic abortion recommended in the event of unintended pregnancy. However, women with ES continue to desire and attempt pregnancy despite grave risks to their own health. This study compares the costs and outcomes of pregnancy in women with ES to the use of gestational surrogates in their pregnancies.Study design: A decision-analytic model was built using TreeAge software that compared use of gestational surrogates and pregnancy in women with ES. Maternal death and neonatal outcomes including intrauterine fetal demise, preterm birth, cerebral palsy, and death were assessed. All probabilities and costs were derived from the literature. Utilities were discounted at a rate of 3% across the expected lifespan to generate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the model given changes in baseline assumptions.Results: In a theoretical cohort of 1000 women with ES, pregnancy would result in 360 maternal deaths, 100 stillbirths, 477 preterm births, and 157 neonatal deaths . In these highly desired pregnancies, use of gestational surrogates would prevent 99 and 98% of maternal and neonatal death, respectively. Cases and costs of preterm birth and associated cerebral palsy are also significantly reduced. Use of a gestational surrogate would save $518,255 per woman with a gain of 6.77 QALYs, a dominant strategy. The approach is cost-effective up to a cost of surrogacy of $1.2 million and even if the surrogate achieves pregnancy only 30% of the time.Conclusions: The use of surrogate mothers for those with ES is cost-effective and results in significantly improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. These benefits are robust in the face of high surrogacy costs largely due to the marked reduction in maternal mortality and preterm birth. These findings should be used to underscore the importance of broadening health care financing for medically-indicated assisted reproduction.

Metoidioplasty With Urethral Lengthening: A Stepwise Approach.

BACKGROUND: Metoidioplasty is a gender-affirming surgical option for individuals who desire masculine genitalia while preserving erogenous sensation and avoiding the morbidity of phalloplasty. Concurrent urethral lengthening offers patients the potential to stand to urinate. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an adaptation of the Belgrade technique of gender-affirming metoidioplasty and describe outcomes. METHODS: We identified 33 patients of which 12 underwent simple metoidioplasty and 21 underwent metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening between 2016 and 2020. Prior to surgery, all patients underwent at least 1 year of testosterone therapy to maximize clitoral growth. The clitoris is degloved and the superficial suspensory ligament divided to maximize phallic length. Labia minora flaps are developed and the urethral plate is divided to allow for maximal ventral extension. The resultant urethral defect is bridged with a buccal mucosa graft. To construct the ventral aspect of the urethra, an anterior vaginal wall flap and labia minora flap are sutured to the urethral plate and tubularized over a 16 Fr catheter. The medial aspect of the contralateral labia minora is de-epithelialized and overlaps the urethra, serving as ventral skin coverage for the phallic shaft. Bilateral labia majora flaps are then rotated anteriorly and superiorly to create a neoscrotum using the Ghent technique. RESULTS: For metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening, the median operative time was 408 minutes, estimated blood loss 400 mL, and length of stay 3 days. Of the 21 patients, 10 (47%) elected to undergo second stage scrotoplasty, 7 (33%) underwent testicular implant placement, and 2 (9%) required revision urethroplasty. Of the 10 patients (48%) who experienced postoperative complications, 7 were Clavien-Dindo grade I-II. There were no fistulae at a median follow-up time of 5.5 months (range 1-27.2). CONCLUSION: We provide a stepwise approach to metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening using a modified Belgrade technique, which was associated with a low rate of urethral complications.

Volumetric and acetabular changes in the bony pelvis associated with primary closure of classic bladder exstrophy.

INTRODUCTION: Repair of classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is known to alter dimensions of the bony pelvic ring. Pelvic volume and acetabular configuration are additional metrics which merit analysis in the reconstruction process. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow for precise elucidation of such anatomy in pediatric patients, providing enhanced knowledge of how primary reconstruction may impact factors in pelvic health. METHODS: An IRB-approved exstrophy-epispadias database of 1337 patients was reviewed for patients with CBE who had pelvic MRI performed before and after repair. Pelvic MRIs were analyzed by a pediatric radiologist, and three-dimensional volumetric renderings of the true pelvis were calculated. Pre- and post-closure imaging were compared, in addition to imaging from age-matched controls without pelvic pathology. Cartilaginous acetabular index and version angles were also calculated and compared between groups. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with post-closure imaging, 14 of whom also had pre-closure imaging, and 23 control patients (ages 0-365 days) were included. The median ages at pre- and post-closure scan were 2 and 178 days, respectively. Osteotomy was performed in 6 (33%) of the closures. The median segmented pelvic volumes were 89 cm3 in the pre-closure group, 105 cm3 in the post-closure group, and 72 cm3 in the control group. At a given age, patients with CBE pre-closure had the largest pelvic volume, and those without bladder exstrophy demonstrated the smallest pelvic volumes (Summary Figure). CBE patients' pelvic volumes were overall lower following repair, relative to age (p = 0.007). Cartilaginous acetabular version angle increased following closure, with acetabular orientation converting from retroversion to anteversion in all cases. However, only acetabular version angles were significantly different between groups. DISCUSSION: This study found that pelvic volume significantly decreased relative to age following primary repair of CBE, but that it did not correct to control levels. Similarly, acetabular retroversion that is naturally seen in exstrophy patients was converted to anteversion post-closure but did not become completely normal. Knowledge of these persistent anatomical anomalies may be useful in treatment of future concerns related to exstrophy, such as continence achievement, pelvic organ prolapse, and potential gait disturbances. Lack of significant differences between study groups regarding acetabular index angles can give assurance to providers that hip dysplasia is neither a natural concern nor iatrogenically inflicted through reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The primary closure of exstrophy results in pelvic volumes and anteverted acetabula that more closely resemble those without bladder exstrophy, compared to pre-closure findings.

Obstetric outcomes of pregnancy complicated by urolithiasis: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the association between urolithiasis during pregnancy and obstetric outcomes outside the context of urological intervention. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton, non-anomalous gestations delivered at 23-42 weeks in California from 2007 to 2011. Maternal outcomes (preterm delivery [early (<32 weeks) and late (<37 weeks)], preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean deliveries, urinary tract infection [UTI] at delivery, chorioamnionitis, endomyometritis, and maternal sepsis) and newborn outcomes (seizure, respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia, jaundice, and neonatal abstinence syndrome [NAS]) were compared using χ2-tests and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2,013,767 pregnancies met inclusion criteria, of which 5,734 (0.28%) were complicated by urolithiasis. Stone disease during pregnancy was associated with 30% greater odds of each early (aOR 1.30; 95% CI 1.19-1.43) and late (aOR 1.29; 95% CI 1.18-1.41) preterm delivery. Cesarean delivery, UTI at delivery, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and sepsis were all significantly positively associated with urolithiasis. Odds of NAS (aOR 2.11; 95% CI 1.27-3.51) and jaundice were significantly greater in the neonates of stone-forming patients (aOR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.16). CONCLUSIONS: Urolithiasis during pregnancy was associated with 30% greater odds of preterm delivery and increased risk of myriad metabolic, hypertensive, and infectious disorders of gestation. Neonates born to stone-forming patients were more than twice as likely to develop neonatal abstinence syndrome but did not have significantly greater odds of complications of prematurity.

Patterns of Industry Payments to Urologists From 2014-2018.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patterns of financial transaction between industry and urologists in the first 5 years of reporting in the Open Payments Program (OPP) by comparing transactions over time, between academic and nonacademic urologists, and by provider characteristics among academic urologists. METHODS: The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services OPP database was queried for General Payments to urologists from 2014-2018. Faculty at ACGME-accredited urology training programs were identified and characterized via publicly available websites. Industry transfers were analyzed by year, practice setting (academic vs nonacademic), provider characteristics, and AUA section. Payment nature and individual corporate contributions were also summarized. RESULTS: A total of 12,521 urologists - representing 75% of the urology workforce in any given year - received $168 million from industry over the study period. There was no significant trend in payments by year (P = .162). Urologists received a median of $1602 over the study period, though 14% received >$10,000. Payment varied significantly by practice setting (P <.001), with nonacademic urologists receiving more but smaller payments than academic urologists. Among academic urologists, gender (P <.001), department chair status (P <.001), fellowship training (P <.001), and subspecialty (P <.001) were significantly associated with amount of payment from industry. Annual payments from industry varied significantly by AUA section. CONCLUSION: Reporting of physician-industry transactions has not led to a sustained decline in transactions with urologists. Significant differences in industry interaction exist between academic and nonacademic urologists, and values transferred to academic urologists varied by gender, chair status, subspecialty, and AUA section.

Cost-Effectiveness of Urolithiasis Management in Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis complicating pregnancy presents a challenge for urology and obstetric teams. The management options of ureteral stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy and ureteroscopy vary significantly with regard to efficacy, complications, impact on quality of life and costs. This analytic model compares these factors to determine an optimal strategy per gestational age at presentation. METHODS: A decision analytic model was built that compared stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy and ureteroscopy. Outcomes included treatment failure, need for re-treatment and complications stratified by severity. Probabilities and utilities were derived from the literature and costs were derived from institutional charge data. The time horizon was 1 year with disutilities limited to gestation length or recovery time for treatment or complication. Multivariate sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo analysis were performed to evaluate model robustness. RESULTS: In a simulated cohort of 1,000 pregnant women with urolithiasis ureteroscopy would yield 960 quality adjusted life years, compared to 870 with stenting and 880 with percutaneous nephrostomy. Treatment via stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy would fail more than twice as often as ureteroscopy and more than half of patients would require subsequent definitive management. In this cohort ureteroscopy would save $38.8 million compared to stenting and $17.6 million compared to percutaneous nephrostomy. Given its lower costs and improved outcomes, ureteroscopy was the dominant strategy across all gestational ages and remained dominant in all sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of gestational age, ureteroscopy was a cost-effective strategy to manage urolithiasis compared to stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy. This result was robust against substantial changes in model parameters.

Safety and effectiveness of zero antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for outpatient cystourethroscopy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine compliance and clinical outcomes after implementation of a zero antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for outpatient cystoscopy in an academic centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent diagnostic cystoscopy in the year preceding and year following protocol implementation were evaluated for urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis within 30 days of cystoscopy. Variables compared between groups included age, sex, smoking history, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) diagnosis, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, catheter use (indwelling, suprapubic, or intermittent), and previous lower urinary tract reconstruction (augmentation cystoplasty or neobladder). UTI was defined using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program definition. Rates were compared between groups, and statistical analyses were performed using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests and multivariable logistic regression, with significance defined as α < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 941 patients were included in the analysis (72% men), 513 before protocol initiation, and 427 after. Groups were similar with regard to demographic variables and potential risk factors for infection. After protocol implementation, there was a significant reduction in patients receiving procedural antimicrobial prophylaxis (30% vs 15%; P < 0.001). The incidence of UTI after cystoscopy was slightly higher in the post-protocol group (2.9-3.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant (chi-squared = 0.56, P = 0.45). The incidence of UTI did not significantly differ with procedural antibiotic prophylaxis or with other antibiotic use at time of cystoscopy. Five out of a total of 31 UTIs (16%) over the study period resulted in fever, and four (13%) resulted in urosepsis. The probability of neither complication differed significantly between pre- and post-protocol groups. The only significant patient-level predictor of post-cystoscopy UTI was catheter use (odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.06). CONCLUSION: Protocol implementation led to a significant decrease in procedural antimicrobial prophylaxis, indicating protocols may be effective tools in promoting antibiotic stewardship. UTI incidence did not change significantly under the protocol, and antibiotic prophylaxis did not decrease infection rate. Our results support catheter use as a risk factor for post-cystoscopy infection, but other patient variables, including those present in the American Urological Association Best Practice statement, were not predictive. In total, this analysis suggests that decreasing antibiotic prophylaxis for cystourethroscopy is safe and can be effective in the outpatient setting.

Pathologists' Perspectives on Disclosing Harmful Pathology Error.

CONTEXT: - Medical errors are unfortunately common. The US Institute of Medicine proposed guidelines for mitigating and disclosing errors. Implementing these recommendations in pathology will require a better understanding of how errors occur in pathology, the relationship between pathologists and treating clinicians in reducing error, and pathologists' experiences with and attitudes toward disclosure of medical error. OBJECTIVE: - To understand pathologists' attitudes toward disclosing pathology error to treating clinicians and patients. DESIGN: - We conducted 5 structured focus groups in Washington State and Missouri with 45 pathologists in academic and community practice. Participants were questioned about pathology errors, how clinicians respond to pathology errors, and what roles pathologists should play in error disclosure to patients. RESULTS: - These pathologists believe that neither treating physicians nor patients understand the subtleties and limitations of pathologic diagnoses, which complicates discussions about pathology errors. Pathologists' lack of confidence in communication skills and fear of being misrepresented or misunderstood are major barriers to their participation in disclosure discussions. Pathologists see potential for their future involvement in disclosing error to patients, but at present advocate reliance on treating clinicians to disclose pathology errors to patients. Most group members believed that going forward pathologists should offer to participate more actively in error disclosure to patients. CONCLUSIONS: - Pathologists lack confidence in error disclosure communication skills with both treating physicians and patients. Improved communication between pathologists and treating physicians could enhance transparency and promote disclosure of pathology errors. Consensus guidelines for best practices in pathology error disclosure may be useful.