Continued use of scrotal ultrasounds for the workup of undescended testes: Confirmation bias and inaccuracies.

AIM: Scrotal ultrasounds are utilised in some primary care settings for suspected cryptorchidism, despite inaccuracies. We aim to identify the correlation between ultrasound and primary care provider (PCP) findings of undescended testicles (UDTs) as a potential source of confirmation bias. METHODS: Males referred for suspected UDT by PCPs who underwent scrotal ultrasound and paediatric urologist examination from 2014 to 2019 were included. Correlation between PCP and ultrasound findings and diagnostic accuracy were evaluated. Logistic regression was utilised to determine associations between patient factors and UDT misdiagnosis. RESULTS: Out of 145 testes, ultrasound corroborated PCPs' UDT diagnoses 87.6% of the time, 49.6% of which were confirmed as UDT by paediatric urologists. Ultrasound had a false positivity rate of 81.0% and specificity of 19.0%. Ultrasound versus paediatric urologist findings regarding testicle location were significantly different (P < 0.0001). Patients aged ≥8 years old had 5.2 times greater odds of being misdiagnosed with UDT than patients <8 years old (95% confidence interval: 1.6-16.7; P < 0.002) by PCP and ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Scrotal ultrasound highly corroborated PCPs' UDT diagnoses. Older patients were more likely to be misdiagnosed with UDT by PCP and ultrasound. As ultrasounds rarely refute PCP examinations for suspected UDTs and are highly inaccurate, confirmation bias may explain the use of ultrasound in the workup of UDT.

Persistent Anhydramnios and Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction in a Patient With a Vesicoamniotic Shunt.

Persistent anhydramnios after placement of a vesicoamniotic shunt is a rare but potentially serious concern in a patient in utero. We present the case a male fetus who at 32-week gestation had bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, a distended bladder, and anhydramnios. A vesicoamniotic shunt was placed, but the anhydramnios persisted. Postnatally, the child was found to have a migrated shunt, left grade V vesicoureteral reflux and posterior urethral valves. He underwent a posterior urethral valves ablation and removal of the migrated shunt. The patient is now 2 years old and is doing well with no urinary tract infections or renal deterioration.

Association between severity of prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis and receipt of surgical intervention postnatally among patients seen at a fetal-maternal center.

BACKGROUND: Hydronephrosis (HN) is the most common abnormality detected on prenatal ultrasound. This study sought to stratify outcomes of patients by severity of prenatal HN with postnatal outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients referred to a tertiary care fetal-maternal clinic with diagnosis of prenatal HN from 2004 to 2019. HN severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Data were analyzed to determine the association between HN severity and surgical intervention. Decision for surgery was based on factors including history of multiple urinary tract infections, evidence of renal scarring, and/or reduced renal function. Surgery-free survival time was represented by the Kaplan-Meier method, and hazard ratios were calculated using the log-rank test. RESULTS: 131 kidneys among 101 infants were prenatally diagnosed with hydronephrosis; 35.9% had mild HN, 29.0% had moderate HN, and 35.1% had severe HN. 8.5% of patients with mild HN, 26.3% of patients with moderate HN, and 65.2% of patients with severe HN required surgery. Patients with severe HN were 12.2 (95% CI 6.1-24.4; p < 0.001) times more likely to undergo surgery for HN than patients with mild HN and 2.9 (95% CI 1.5-5.3; p = 0.003) times more likely to undergo surgery than patients with moderate HN. Patients with moderate HN were 4.3 times more likely to require surgery than patients with mild HN (95% CI 1.5-12.9; p = 0.01). Median age at surgery was 11.8 months among patients with mild HN (IQR 11.7-14.1 months), 6.6 months among patients with moderate HN (IQR 4.2-16.4 months), and 5.4 months among patients with severe HN (3.7-12.4 months). CONCLUSION: Among this cohort of referrals from a fetal-maternal clinic, severity of HN correlated with increased likelihood of surgical intervention. Continued assessment of patients with prenatal HN should be evaluated to best determine the role of the pediatric urologist in cases of prenatal HN.

Robotic adrenalectomy in the pediatric population: initial experience case series from a tertiary center.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic resection is the most well described minimally-invasive approach for adrenalectomy. While it allows for improved cosmesis, faster recovery and decreased length of hospital stay compared with the open approach, instrument articulation limitations can hamper surgical dexterity in pediatric patients. Use of robotic assistance can greatly enhance operative field visualization and instrument control, and is in the early stages of adoption in academic centers for pediatric populations. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a single-institution series of pediatric adrenalectomy cases. The da Vinci Xi surgical system was used to perform adrenalectomies on three consecutive patients (ages, 2-13 years) at our center. Final pathology revealed ganglioneuroblastoma (n = 2) and pheochromocytoma (n = 1). Median operating time was 244 min (range, 244-265 min); median blood loss was estimated at 100 ml (range, 15-175 ml). Specimens were delivered intact and all margins were negative. Median post-operative hospital stay was 2 days (range, 1-6 days). All patients remain disease-free at median follow-up of 19 months (range, 12-30 months). CONCLUSION: Our experience continues to evolve, and suggests that robotic surgery is safe, feasible and oncologically effective for resection of adrenal masses in well-selected pediatric patients.

A noncovalent, fluoroalkyl coating monomer for phosphonate-covered nanoparticles.

Gadolinium-containing phosphonate-coated gold nanoparticles were prepared and then non-covalently coated with an amphiphilic fluorous monomer. The monomer spontaneously self-assembles into a non-covalent monolayer shell around the particle. The binding of the shell utilizes a guanidinium-phosphonate interaction analogous to the one exploited by the Wender molecular transporter system. Particle-shell binding was characterized by a 27% decrease in 19F T1 of the fluorous shell upon exposure to the paramagnetic gadolinium in the particle and a corresponding increase in hydrodynamic diameter from 3 nm to 4 nm. Interestingly, a much smaller modulation of 19F T1 is observed when the shell monomer is treated with a phosphonate-free particle. By contrast, the phosphonate-free particle is a much more relaxive 1H T1 agent for water. Together, these observations show that the fluoroalkylguanidinium shell binds selectively to the phosphonate-covered particle. The system's relaxivity and selectivity give it potential for use in 19F based nanotheranostic agents.

10-Shogaol, an antioxidant from Zingiber officinale for skin cell proliferation and migration enhancer.

In this work, one of Zingiber officinale components, 10-shogaol, was tested with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, metal chelating ability, and reducing power to show antioxidant activity. 10-Shogaol promoted human normal epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts cell growths. 10-Shogaol enhanced growth factor production in transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), platelet derived growth factor-αß (PDGF-αß) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) of both cells. In the in vitro wound healing assay for 12 or 24 h, with 10-shogaol, the fibroblasts and keratinocytes migrated more rapidly than the vehicle control group. Thus, this study substantiates the target compound, 10-shogaol, as an antioxidant for human skin cell growth and a migration enhancer with potential to be a novel wound repair agent.

Early comparison of nephrectomy options in children (open, transperitoneal laparoscopic, laparo-endoscopic single site (LESS), and robotic surgery).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative parameters of paediatric patients who underwent nephrectomy via laparo-endoscopic single site (LESS) surgery (also known as single incision laparoscopic surgery or SILS) with those who underwent nephrectomy via conventional laparoscopy (LAP), robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RALN), and open surgery (OPEN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 69 paediatric patients at a single institution who underwent nephrectomies for non-functioning kidneys in 72 renal units (39 OPEN, 11 LAP, 11 RALN and 11 LESS) were reviewed for patient demographics and perioperative clinical parameters. RESULTS: The minimally invasive modalities in children, including LESS nephrectomy, were associated with shorter lengths of hospital stay (P < 0.001) and decreased postoperative pain medication usage (P < 0.001) than with open surgery. Similar surgical times were noted with LESS and the other minimally invasive modalities (LAP and RALN) (P= 0.056). However, the minimally invasive modalities (LESS, LAP and RALN) were associated with slightly longer surgical times when compared with open surgery (P < 0.001), which may, in part, be secondary to learning curve factors. No differences were noted among the minimally invasive modalities for postoperative pain medication usage (P= 0.354) and length of hospital stay (P= 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive modalities for nephrectomy in children, including LESS nephrectomy, are associated with shorter lengths of hospital stay and decreased postoperative pain medication use when compared with open surgery. LESS nephrectomy in children is associated with similar surgical times, lengths of hospital stay and postoperative pain medication use as the other minimally invasive modalities (LAP and RALN). Slightly longer surgical times are noted with the minimally invasive modalities, including LESS nephrectomy, when compared with open surgery, which may, in part, be secondary to learning curve factors.

Human capital gains associated with robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children compared to open pyeloplasty.

PURPOSE: Robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty is an emerging, minimally invasive alternative to open pyeloplasty in children for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The procedure is associated with smaller incisions and shorter hospital stays. To our knowledge previous outcome analyses have not included human capital calculations, especially regarding loss of parental workdays. We compared perioperative factors in patients who underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic and open pyeloplasty at a single institution, especially in regard to human capital changes, in an institutional cost analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 patients 2 years old or older from a single institution underwent robotic assisted (37) or open (7) pyeloplasty from 2008 to 2010. We retrospectively reviewed the charts to collect demographic and perioperative data. The human capital approach was used to calculate parental productivity losses. RESULTS: Patients who underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty had a significantly shorter average hospital length of stay (1.6 vs 2.8 days, p <0.05). This correlated with an average savings of lost parental wages of $90.01 and hospitalization expenses of $612.80 per patient when excluding amortized robot costs. However, cost savings were not achieved by varying length of stay when amortized costs were included. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children is associated with human capital gains, eg decreased lost parental wages, and lower hospitalization expenses. Future comparative outcome analyses in children should include financial factors such as human capital loss, which can be especially important for families with young children.

Calcineurin mediates bladder wall remodeling secondary to partial outlet obstruction.

We hypothesized that the calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) pathway is activated following partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO), which would allow for pharmacologic treatment to prevent the ensuing bladder wall hypertrophy. Using a model of pBOO in male mice, we were able to demonstrate increased nuclear importation of the transcription factors NFAT and myocyte enhanching factor 2 both of which are under control of calcineurin in both the whole bladder wall as well as the urothelium. We further confirmed that this pathway was activated using transgenic mice containing an NFAT-luciferase reporter construct. Mice were randomized following pBOO to treatment with or without cyclosporine A (CsA), a known inhibitor of calcineurin. The bladder-to-body mass ratio (mg bladder wt/g body wt) of 0.95 ± 0.03 in shams increased to 3.1 ± 0.35 following pBOO, and it dropped back to 1.7 ± 0.22 in the CsA+ group (P < 0.001). Luciferase values (RLU) of 1,130 ± 133 in shams increased to 2,010 ± 474 following pBOO and were suppressed to 562 ± 177 in the CsA+ group (P < 0.05). The myosin heavy chain mRNA (A/B) isoform ratio of 0.07 ± 0.03 in shams increased to 1.04 ± 0.19 following pBOO but it diminished to 0.24 ± 0.1 in the CsA+ group (P < 0.001). In vitro whole organ physiology studies demonstrated improved responses in those bladders from mice treated with CsA. The mRNAs for all four known calcineurin-responsive NFAT isoforms are expressed in the bladder wall, although NFATc(3) and NFATc(4) predominate. Both NFATc3 and NFATc4 are expressed in urothelial as well as smooth muscle cells. We conclude that pBOO activates the calcineurin-NFAT pathway and that CsA treatment decreased bladder hypertrophy, shifted the pattern of myosin isoform mRNA expression back toward that seen in normal controls, and resulted in improved in vitro whole organ performance.

Laparoendoscopic single-site nephrectomy in pediatric patients: initial clinical series of infants to adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To present our initial clinical series of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) nephrectomy using an umbilical incision in children ranging from infants to adolescents. Laparoscopic surgery in pediatric urology is increasingly being performed for many intra-abdominal ablative procedures, such as nephrectomy for poorly functioning kidneys. We have previously reported our initial experience with LESS surgery in the adult population. METHODS: A total of 11 pediatric patients (age range 0.1-16.2 years, mean 5.7) underwent LESS nephrectomy using an umbilical incision. The perioperative clinical parameters were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The 11 LESS pediatric nephrectomies were technically successful without conversion to conventional laparoscopy or open surgery. An accessory port was used in 5 of the cases early in the clinical series. Of the 11 patients, 2 were infants, aged 39 days and 3.5 months. The mean operative time was 139 minutes (range 85-205), and the mean hospital stay was 1.5 days (range 1.0-2.1). Complications included delayed hydrocele formation in 2 male patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that LESS nephrectomy using a single umbilical incision in pediatric patients is technically feasible with good outcomes. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the expected benefits of this novel technique. Also, miniaturization of currently available equipment is needed to adapt to the small working spaces available in the pediatric patient.

Pediatric robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of urachal cyst and bladder cuff.

Urachal cysts are the most common urachal anomaly in the pediatric population. There is an increasing body of literature documenting successful management of urachal cysts using laparoscopic techniques. There may be an advantage, however, with the use of robot-assisted laparoscopy for reconstructive cases. We describe the techniques used for robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of a urachal cyst and bladder cuff with bladder repair in a female child. This approach is a safe and effective option for the minimally invasive management of pediatric urachal cysts.

Asynchronous bilateral renal venous thrombosis with subsequent development of cystic kidneys.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss a case of asynchronous bilateral renal venous thrombosis with a review of current literature. CASE: A premature fraternal twin male was delivered via Cesarean section to a mother with a history of pre-eclampsia. He was initially diagnosed with a left renal venous thrombosis (RVT) but subsequently developed right RVT. Only intravenous fluids and supportive care were provided. Anticoagulation was withheld because of MRI findings of multiple areas of intracerebral bleeding. His serum creatinine concentration stabilized at 0.7 mg/dL, but follow-up renal ultrasound studies showed bilateral anechoic corticomedullary cysts. He also developed hypertension. DISCUSSION: Renal venous thrombosis usually occurs in neonates. Multiple clinical conditions are associated with RVT, two of which exist in this case. Recent work has focused on genetic prothrombotic risk factors, one of which our patient exhibits. Controversy exists over management, i.e. whether or not to initiate anticoagulation or antithrombotic therapy to decrease the development of renal atrophy, renal failure and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual case of asynchronous bilateral renal venous thrombosis recovered in the short term without antithrombotic therapy. Substantial insult early in life is reflected in the progressive worsening of his renal function, ultrasound findings and hypertension, highlighting the need for long-term vigilant observation of these patients.

Laparoscopic renal denervation and nephropexy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease related pain in adolescents.

PURPOSE: We present our initial experience with laparoscopic renal denervation and nephropexy for ADPKD related pain in the adolescent population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients 15 to 19 years old previously diagnosed with ADPKD presented with chronic pain refractory to narcotic analgesics. These 4 patients underwent laparoscopic renal denervation of 5 kidneys. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 136 minutes and mean hospital stay was 2.75 days. All patients were pain-free at discharge home and remained pain-free at a mean followup of 11.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that laparoscopic renal denervation plus nephropexy is a promising option for uncontrolled ADPKD related pain in the adolescent population.

Urethral foreign body management: a case report.

The management of urethral foreign bodies may require the use of various surgical techniques in a urologist's armamentarium. We report a unique case of a urethral foreign body requiring percutaneous and endoscopic techniques for removal.