Implementation and Validation of an Automated, Longitudinal Robotic Surgical Evaluation and Feedback Program at a High-volume Center and Impact on Training.

Background: Surgical education lacks a standardized, proficiency-based approach to evaluation and feedback. Objective: To assess the implementation and reception (ie, feasibility) of an automated, standardized, longitudinal surgical skill assessment and feedback system, and identify baseline trainee (resident and fellow) characteristics associated with achieving proficiency in robotic surgery while learning robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Design setting and participants: A quality improvement study assessing a pilot of a surgical experience tracking program was conducted over 1 yr. Participants were six fellows, eight residents, and nine attending surgeons at a tertiary cancer center. Intervention: Trainees underwent baseline self-assessment. After each surgery, an evaluation was completed independently by the trainee and attending surgeons. Performance was rated on a five-point anchored Likert scale (trainees were considered "proficient" when attending surgeons' rating was ≥4). Technical skills were assessed using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) and Prostatectomy Assessment and Competency Evaluation (PACE). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Program success and utility were assessed by evaluating completion rates, evaluation completion times, and concordance rates between attending and trainee surgeons, and exit surveys. Baseline characteristics were assessed to determine associations with achieving proficiency. Results and limitations: Completion rates for trainees and attending surgeons were 72% and 77%, respectively. Fellows performed more steps/cases than residents (median [interquartile range]: 5 [3-7] and 3 [2-4], respectively; p < 0.01). Prior completion of robotics or laparoscopic skill courses and surgical experience measures were associated with achieving proficiency in multiple surgical steps and GEARS domains. Interclass correlation coefficients on individual components were 0.27-0.47 on GEARS domains. Conclusions: An automated surgical experience tracker with structured, longitudinal evaluation and feedback can be implemented with good participation and minimal participant time commitment, and can guide curricular development in a proficiency-based education program by identifying modifiable factors associated with proficiency, individualizing education, and identifying improvement areas within the education program. Patient summary: An automated, standardized, longitudinal surgical skill assessment and feedback system can be implemented successfully in surgical education settings and used to inform education plans and predict trainee proficiency.

Should Transperineal Prostate Biopsy Be the Standard of Care?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of transperineal prostate biopsy (TP-bx) to evaluate its potential role as the standard of care for prostate biopsy. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies have suggested no difference in prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate between TP-bx and transrectal biopsy (TR-bx) but have suggested potentially increased detection of anterior prostate tumors. Advances in anesthetic technique have obviated the need for sedation thus allowing TP-bx to become an office-based procedure, which in turn can decrease the overall cost of TP-bx. Furthermore, given the low rate of infectious complications after TP-bx, some have foregone peri-procedural antibiotics without a change in the rate of infectious complications. Recent procedural advances have made TP-bx a tolerable, office-based procedure. Given the similar diagnostic performance and the benefits for the patient and community, TP-bx should become the standard of care for prostate biopsy for most patients. Future efforts should address the barriers for more universal adoption.

Prostate Cancer Screening for Gay Men in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate trends of prostate-cancer (PCa) screening in gay and bisexual men and assess the association of sexual orientation with PCa screening in the United States of America. METHODS: Data for men ≥40 years-old with no history of PCa were collected from the National Health Interview Survey for the years 2013, 2015, and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to determine the associations between sexual orientation and PCa screening and the discussion of advantages and disadvantages prior to PCa screening. RESULTS: Gay men screened for prostate cancer were younger than their straight counterparts with a median age (IQR) of 58 years (52-66) vs 64 years (56-71). Gay men were more likely to have undergone a screening PSA test (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.20-2.02) and discuss the advantages of PSA testing with the physician prior to the test (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.22-2.21) when compared to straight men. In yearly analysis, gay men were more likely to have undergone screening in 2013 (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.01-2.68) and 2015 (OR 1.95, 95 CI% 1.30-2.91), however, there was no difference when compared to straight men in 2018 (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.85-2.04). CONCLUSION: Gay men were screened for PCa at a younger age comparted to straight men. They were also more likely to have undergone PCa cancer screening than straight men between 2013 and 2018. Further study is needed to better understand the role of sexual orientation in PCa screening and management.

Comparative Effectiveness and Tolerability of Transperineal MRI-Targeted Prostate Biopsy under Local versus Sedation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prostate cancer diagnostic yield, complications, and costs of transperineal prostate biopsies when performed with local anesthesia versus sedation. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for men undergoing transperineal MRI-targeted biopsy at the outpatient clinic and tertiary hospital of a single center between October 2017 to February 2020. These data included demographic, procedural, and pathologic variables and complications. Time-driven activity-based costing was performed to compare procedural costs. RESULTS: 126 men were included. Age, BMI and PSA were similar for local (n = 45) vs sedation (n = 81), all P>0.05. Detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC) on combined systematic and targeted biopsy was similar for local vs sedation (24% vs 36%; P = 0.2). Local had lower detection on targeted biopsies alone (8.9% vs 25%; P = 0.03). However, fewer targeted cores were obtained per region of interest with local vs sedation (median 3 vs 4 cores; P<0.01). For local vs sedation, the complication rate was 2.6% and 6.1% (P = 0.6). The median visual analog pain score for local vs sedation was 3/10 vs 0/10 (P<0.01). The mean procedure time for local vs sedation was 22.5 vs 17.5 minutes (48.3 minutes when including anesthesia time). Time-driven activity-based costs for local vs sedation were $961.64 vs $2208.16 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Transperineal biopsy with local anesthesia is safe with comparable outcomes to sedation. While the number of cores taken differed, there was no statistical difference in the detection of clinically significant cancer.

Microwave ablation of cT1a renal cell carcinoma: oncologic and functional outcomes at a single center.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous ablation is an established alternative to surgical intervention for small renal masses. Radiofrequency and cryoablation have been studied extensively in the literature. To date, series assessing the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) are limited. We present a cohort of 110 renal tumors treated with MWA. METHODS: A review of the medical record between January 2015 and July 2019 was performed, retrospectively identifying 101 patients (110 tumors). All ablations were performed by a single board-certified urologist/interventional radiologist. Demographic information, intraoperative, postoperative, and follow-up surveillance data were recorded. RESULTS: Median (IQR) age was 69.7 years (60.8-77.0); 27 (24%) were female. Median (IQR) BMI was 27.0 (25.1-30.2) and Charleston Comorbidity Index was 5.0 (4.0-6.0). 82 tumors were biopsy-confirmed renal cell carcinoma/oncocytic neoplasms. Median (IQR) tumor size was 2.0 cm (1.5-2.6). Median (IQR) RENAL nephrometry score was 6.0 (5.0-8.0). Technical success was achieved in all patients and all but one patient were discharged on the same day. Median (IQR) eGFR at baseline and 1 year were 71.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 (56.5-82) and 63.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 (54.0-78.2); the difference was -5.3 (p = 0.12). Two Clavien-Dindo type-I complications, one type-II complication, and one type-III complication were experienced in this cohort. Median radiographic follow-up was 376.5 days with 2 tumors (2.4% of RCC/oncocytic neoplasms) having recurred to date. CONCLUSIONS: MWA is a safe and efficacious treatment option for small renal masses with minimal adverse events and low rates of recurrence in this cohort of 101 patients. Continued follow-up is needed to assess long-term outcomes.

Presentation and resolution of gender dysphoria as a positive symptom in a young schizophrenic man who presented with self-emasculation: Frontiers of bioethics, psychiatry, and microsurgical genital reconstruction.

Gender dysphoria can present as a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Completion of gender affirmation surgeries should not occur as a result of male genital self-mutilation via a deferral of emergent surgical reconstruction. Instead, gender affirmation should be considered after a full workup and assessment for resolution of any acute psychosis.

Management of the Small Renal Mass: a 2020 Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Small renal masses (≤ cT1a, less than 4 cm) are a subset of renal tumors with low malignant and metastatic potential but increasing incidence given increased use of cross-sectional imaging. Here, we review the diagnostic and treatment options available for the lesions. RECENT FINDINGS: While the low metastatic potential of SRMs has been known, recent studies show that 30% of SRMs removed surgically are benign. Renal biopsy is a tool that can be implemented to help with diagnosis before treatment (options of which include active surveillance, ablation, and surgery). Active surveillance might be associated with worse cancer-specific survival but all interventional methods appear to fare similarly. Advancements have also been made in percutaneous ablation techniques, and they now are included on multiple guideline statements. Active surveillance, surgery (PN and RN), and thermal ablation are all treatment options for SRMs with similar outcomes but varying side effects.

Utility of dynamic MRA in the evaluation of male erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) in evaluating penile vasculature in patients with clinically suspected vascular anomalies contributing to their erectile dysfunction correlating with penile doppler ultrasound (PDUS) findings and clinical outcomes after surgical intervention. METHODS: Men (n = 26) with signs of early vascular shunting on PDUS underwent time-resolved, contrast-enhanced (0.1 mMol/kg gadobutrol at 1 ml/s followed by saline flush) 3-dimensional spoiled gradient echo T1-weighted MRA sequence performed over 3 min with 4.6 s frame rate after intracavernosal injection of an erectogenic agent. Additional T1- and T2-weighted sequences were performed for anatomic co-localization and tissue characterization. MRA images were evaluated for early filling of draining veins as well as arteriovenous malformations and fistulas and correlated with findings at surgery. RESULTS: 29 MRA examinations on 26 patients (mean age 39 years) demonstrated abnormal early venous drainage (n = 22) as well as diminutive/delayed cavernosal enhancement (n = 3), incomplete tumescence (n = 2), and combined arterial inflow/venous outflow disease (n = 1). The MRA had a concordance of 85.2% at determining the presence, or lack thereof of a shunt/AVM when compared to PDUS. CONCLUSIONS: Time-resolved MRA allows for both temporal and spatial resolution with visualization of both arterial and venous abnormalities which may be suggested with a screening PDUS examination. This technique allows us to provide detailed anatomic information prior to any surgical intervention.