Feasibility of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) implementation in Pediatric Urology: Pilot-phase outcomes of a prospective, multi-center study.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a fundamental shift in perioperative care that has consistently demonstrated an improved outcome for a wide variety of surgeries in adults but has only limited evidence in the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the success with and barriers to implementation of ERAS in a prospective, multi-center study on patients undergoing complex lower urinary tract reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Centers were directed to implement an ERAS protocol using a multidisciplinary team and quality improvement methodologies. Providers completed pre- and post-pilot surveys. An audit committee met after enrolling the first 5 patients at each center. Pilot-phase outcomes included enrollment of ≥2 patients in the first 6 months of enrollment, completion of 90 days of follow-up, identification of barriers to implementation, and protocol adherence. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled across 8 centers. The median age at surgery was 10.3 years (IQR 6.4-12.5). Sixty five percent had a diagnosis of myelomeningocele, and 33 % had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. A bladder augmentation was performed in 70 %, Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy in 52 %, Monti ileovesicostomy in 15 %, and antegrade continence enema channel in 38 %. The most commonly perceived barriers to implementation on the pre-pilot survey were "difficulty initiating and maintaining compliance with care pathway" in 51 % followed by a "lack of time, money, or clinical resources" in 36 %. The pre-pilot study experience, implementation, and pilot-phase outcomes are provided in the Table. All primary and secondary outcomes were achieved. DISCUSSION: The findings of the present study were similar to several small comparative studies with regard to the importance of a multidisciplinary team, strong leadership, and continuous audit for successful implementation of ERAS. Similar barriers were also encountered to other studies, which primarily related to a lack of administrative support, leadership, and buy-in from other services. The limitations of the present study included a relatively small heterogeneous cohort and absence of a comparative group, which will be addressed in the larger exploratory phase of the trial. The findings may also not be generaziable due to the need for sustainable processes that were unique to each center as well as an absence of adequate volume or resources at smaller centers. CONCLUSIONS: ERAS was successfully implemented for complex lower urinary tract reconstruction across 8 centers through a multidisciplinary team, structured approach based on the local context, and focus on a continuous audit.

Bladder Recurrence of Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney Seven Years After Initial Presentation.

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is the second most common pediatric renal malignancy after Wilms tumor. CCSK has the potential to metastasize to distant sites and was historically known as the bone metastasizing renal tumor. We report an exceedingly rare case of a bladder recurrence of CCSK. Our patient presented with gross hematuria 7 years after initial complete response. He was found to have a large sessile bladder tumor and underwent a partial cystectomy with right pelvic lymph node dissection. Final pathology was metastatic CCSK.

Long-term efficacy and durability of botulinum-A toxin for refractory dysfunctional voiding in children.

PURPOSE: We evaluated our long-term experience with intrasphincteric botulinum toxin A injection in children with dysfunctional voiding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 through July 2012 we saw 2,172 neurologically normal children due to dysfunctional voiding. Of patients who presented to these visits we retrospectively identified the charts of 12 with dysfunctional voiding (8 females) in whom urotherapy and medical management failed and who underwent botulinum toxin A injection to the external urinary sphincter. Mean patient age at surgery was 10.5 years (range 4 to 19). Average followup was 45 months (range 20 to 71). Preoperatively and postoperatively all children were evaluated with history and physical examination, voiding diary, renal and pelvic ultrasound with post-void residual volume measurement and uroflowmetry. RESULTS: Eight of the 12 children (67%) experienced significant improvement in voiding parameters. Before vs after treatment mean ± SD post-void residual urine volume was 115 ± 83 vs 57 ± 61 ml (p = 0.016) and the mean maximum flow rate was 11.8 ± 8.1 vs 20.4 ± 7.9 ml per second. Half of the cohort required a second injection an average of 15 months later. Three of the 4 patients who failed to show improvement had neuropsychiatric problems and 1 had evidence of bladder underactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate reasonable efficacy and durability of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin A injection in children with refractory dysfunctional voiding. Neuropsychiatric issues appear to negatively influence the success rate. Long-term followup is vital to identify patients in whom repeat injection may be necessary.

Psychosocial comorbidities and obesity are associated with lower urinary tract symptoms in children with voiding dysfunction.

PURPOSE: There is emerging awareness of comorbid psychosocial characteristics in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction. To explore the prevalence of these comorbidities and their relationship to lower urinary tract symptoms, we examined the psychosocial comorbidities and body mass index of children with lower urinary tract dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data on all new patients 6 to 17 years old with nonneurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction who presented to a single nurse practitioner in 2011. Parents completed a 21-question lower urinary tract symptom score based on a validated questionnaire and a psychosocial questionnaire that screened for stressful life events and psychological diagnoses. We examined the correlation of body mass index percentile and psychosocial comorbidities with lower urinary tract symptom score. RESULTS: Of the 358 patients 28.5% were obese, 31.8% had a recent life stressor and 22.9% had a comorbid psychiatric disorder. Younger age correlated with a higher lower urinary tract symptom score (r = -0.34, p <0.0001). Children with a recent life stressor (p = 0.049), psychiatric disorder (p = 0.0026) or the 2 comorbidities (p = 0.039) had a significantly higher lower urinary tract symptom score than children without comorbidities. Underweight and obese children had a significantly higher lower urinary tract symptom score than healthy weight and overweight children (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Almost a third of the patients in our study were obese. More than 40% of the children had a psychiatric disorder and/or recent life stressor. Younger age, an underweight or obese body mass index and a recent stressful life event or psychiatric disorder correlated with a higher lower urinary tract symptom score. This study supports previous recommendations to screen for psychosocial comorbidities and obesity during the evaluation of pediatric lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Endopyelotomy for pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction: a review of our 25-year experience.

PURPOSE: We elucidate the role of endopyelotomy as a primary and secondary intervention for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 79 pediatric patients who underwent endopyelotomy for ureteropelvic junction obstruction between 1986 and 2011. Eleven patients were lost to followup and were excluded from analysis. Patient demographics, operative information, complications and success rates were reviewed for the remaining 68 patients. Treatment success was defined as the absence of symptom recurrence and improved radiographic features on ultrasound, computerized tomography, diuretic renogram or excretory urogram at most recent followup. RESULTS: Primary endopyelotomy data were analyzed in 37 patients with a median age of 11.1 years. The success rate was 65% at a median followup of 34 months (range 1.5 to 242). Treatment failure occurred in 13 patients with a median time to failure of 8 months (range 1.5 to 131). There were 8 cases of failure during 12 months of surgery. Secondary endopyelotomy data were analyzed in 31 patients with a median age of 6.5 years. The success rate was 94% at a median followup of 61 months (range 1 to 204). Treatment failure occurred in 2 patients at 1 and 6 months. Approximately two-thirds of all procedures used an antegrade approach. CONCLUSIONS: Primary endopyelotomy is significantly less successful than pyeloplasty in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in pediatric patients. However, secondary endopyelotomy following failed pyeloplasty represents a viable alternative to redo pyeloplasty.

The efficacy of oral midazolam for decreasing anxiety in children undergoing voiding cystourethrogram: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study.

PURPOSE: Voiding cystourethrogram is an invasive test that evokes anxiety. Our primary aim was to determine whether midazolam is beneficial in decreasing anxiety in children who undergo voiding cystourethrogram. Secondary aims were an examination of parent anxiety, health care professional perceptions and post-procedure behavioral outcomes in children after voiding cystourethrogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 children were randomized to placebo or oral midazolam before voiding cystourethrogram in double-blind fashion. The Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate child behavior before and during voiding cystourethrogram, and the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire was used to investigate any short-term and intermediate-term behavioral outcomes. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to evaluate parent personal anxiety during voiding cystourethrogram. A separate questionnaire was administered to radiology staff. Statistical analysis included the 2-sample t and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: There was no difference in Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale scores in children randomized to midazolam or placebo. There was also no significant difference in parent anxiety. Radiology care providers identified no reliable benefit when blinded to sedation vs placebo. We did not note any post-procedural behavior issues after voiding cystourethrogram at up to 6 months of followup. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam may not significantly help with child or parent anxiety during voiding cystourethrogram. No reliable benefit was noted according to radiology health care provider perception and there was no significant post-procedural behavior benefit. Midazolam may not provide a significant benefit in decreasing anxiety during voiding cystourethrogram.

A review: the application of minimally invasive surgery to pediatric urology: lower urinary tract reconstructive procedures.

This paper is one-half of a 2 part review on minimally-invasive procedures in pediatric urology. This article focuses on lower tract procedures, including ureteroureterostomy, anti-reflux surgeries, creation of continent catheterizable channels, and augmentation cystoplasty. We note important articles on pure laparoscopic as well as robotic-assisted laparoscopic lower urinary tract surgeries, concentrating on their techniques and outcomes.

A review: the application of minimally invasive surgery to pediatric urology: upper urinary tract procedures.

This paper is one-half of a 2 part review on minimally-invasive procedures in pediatric urology. This article focuses on upper tract procedures, including complete nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, and ureterocalicostomy. We note important articles on pure laparoscopic as well as robotic-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract surgeries, concentrating on their techniques and outcomes.