Pilot study to assess the feasibility of self-administered, low-dose methoxyflurane for cystoscopic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Methoxyflurane (MEOF) (Penthrox™) is an inhaled, self-administered, non-opioid analgesic approved by Health Canada for the short-term relief of moderate to severe acute pain associated with trauma or interventional medical procedures. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of using MEOF as an anesthetic agent in 11 patients undergoing outpatient cystoscopic procedures. METHODS: The average duration of the procedure was 24 (range 20-35) minutes and this included 10 minutes of administration time of the drug and five minutes of wait time before the procedure. The average monitoring time from start to end of the procedure was 23 (range 20-35) minutes and this included 15 minutes of monitoring post-procedure. On a scale of 0-10, patients on average rated the pain 4/10 (standard deviation [SD] 2.6). RESULTS: Global performance was on average 3/4 (SD 1.3) for the patients and 3/4 (SD 1.1) for the operator. Of the 11 patients, four reported adverse events; two experienced euphoria, one experienced dizziness, and one was unable to tolerate the medication. Two patients noted their adverse events to be of moderate intensity, while the other two were of mild intensity. None of the adverse events was deemed serious. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in this pilot study provide proof of principle for the design of a randomized control trial to evaluate MEOF as an anesthetic in an outpatient cystoscopic procedural setting. As more urologic procedures are being performed in an outpatient setting, this may offer significant clinical benefit.

Prevalence and repair patterns of vesicovaginal fistula: a large retrospective population-based cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: Vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) have a significant negative impact on quality of life, with failed surgical repair resulting in ongoing morbidity. Our aim was to characterize the rate of VVF repair and repair failures over time, and to identify predictors of repair failure. METHODS: We completed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent VVF repair in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 and older between 2005 and 2018. Risk factors for repair failure were identified using multivariable cox proportional hazard analysis; interrupted time series analysis was used to determine change in VVF repair rate over time. RESULTS: 814 patients underwent VVF repair. Of these, 117 required a second repair (14%). Mean age at surgery was 52 years (SD 15). Most patients had undergone prior gynecological surgery (68%), and 76% were due to iatrogenic injury. Most repairs were performed by urologists (60%). Predictors of VVF re-repair included iatrogenic injury etiology (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.45, p = 0.009), and endoscopic repair (HR 6.1, 95% CI 3.1-11.1, p < 0.05,); protective factors included combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.009), and surgeon years in practice (21 + years-HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9, p = 0.005). Age adjusted annual rate of VVF repair (ranging from 0.8 to 1.58 per 100,000 women) and re-repair did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS: VVF repair and re-repair rates remained constant between 2005 and 2018. Iatrogenic injury and endoscopic repair predicted repair failure; combined intra-abdominal/trans-vaginal repair, and surgeon years in practice were protective. This suggests surgeon experience may protect against VVF repair failure.

Safety and efficacy of an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron compared with an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and overactive bladder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

AIM: Antimuscarinics and the ß3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, are commonly used for treating patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and α1 -adrenoreceptor antagonists (α1 -blockers) are the main pharmacological agents used for treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As these conditions commonly occur together, the aim of this systematic review was to identify publications that compared the use of an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron with an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. A meta-analysis was subsequently conducted to explore the safety and efficacy of these combinations. METHODS: Included records had to be from a parallel-group, randomized clinical trial that was ≥8 weeks in duration. Participants were male with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. The indirect analyses that were identified compared an α1 -blocker plus OAB agent with an α1 -blocker plus placebo. The PubMed/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, the Excerpta Medica Database, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry were searched for relevant records up until March 5, 2020. Safety outcomes included incidences of overall treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and urinary retention, postvoid residual volume, and maximum urinary flow (Qmax ). Primary efficacy outcomes were micturitions/day, incontinence episodes/day, and urgency episodes/day, and secondary outcomes were Overactive Bladder Symptom Score and International Prostate Symptom Score. A Bayesian network meta-analysis approach was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1039 records identified, 24 were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the α1 -blocker plus mirabegron and α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic groups in terms of the comparisons identified for all the safety and efficacy analyses conducted. Numerically superior results were frequently observed for the α1 -blocker plus mirabegron group compared with the α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic group for the safety parameters, including TEAEs, urinary retention, and Qmax . For some of the efficacy parameters, most notably micturitions/day, numerically superior results were noted for the α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic group. Inconsistency in reporting and study variability were noted in the included records, which hindered data interpretation. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron and an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic have similar safety and efficacy profiles in male patients with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. Patients may, therefore, benefit from the use of either combination within the clinical setting.

The Use of Metformin in Overactive Bladder: A Retrospective Nested Case-control, Population-based Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if metformin use is associated with a lower rate of overactive bladder (OAB) medication use. Metformin facilitates the proliferation and migration of stem cells, which have been shown to improve bladder overactivity in animal models. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective nested case-control cohort study using population-based health-care administrative databases. Our cohort included patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) ≥69years. Cases received a prescription for an OAB medication, matched with up to 4 controls based on age, sex, and DM2 diagnosis date. Exposure was a new prescription for metformin prior to receiving an OAB medication. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Sensitivity analysis was done to assess the relationship between cumulative days' supply of metformin and use of OAB medications. RESULTS: Within our cohort of 2,233,084 patients with DM2, there were 16,549 case subjects who received a prescription for an OAB medication, and 64,171 matched controls. We found a positive association between OAB medication use and metformin use (adjusted odds ratios=1.07, 95% CI=1.03-1.12). Summed days' supply of metformin was also associated with OAB medication use, except when summed metformin days was >2220. CONCLUSION: Older patients with DM2 exposed to metformin had a slightly higher rate of OAB medication use, until 2220+ days' metformin supply, whereafter no association was found. This suggests no protective role for metformin in the prevention of OAB in this patient population.

Treatment Patterns in Men Prescribed Benign Prostatic Obstruction or Overactive Bladder Medications in Canada: A Retrospective Population-based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize first therapeutic change and healthcare resource utilization in older men initiating an overactive bladder (OAB) or benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) medication. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using health administrative data from ICES in Ontario, Canada (from April 01, 2010 to December 31, 2018) was conducted in men aged ≥66 years with ≥1 OAB (ß3 agonist, antimuscarinic) or BPO (α-blocker, 5-α-reductase inhibitor) prescription and ≥1-year postindex data (index=first observed dispensation). EXCLUSIONS: prescriptions for these drugs ≤1 year preindex, a related procedure ≤5 years. Patients were grouped by condition based on index prescription. Treatment changes in relation to OAB and BPO were characterized by type. Costs and healthcare resource utilization pre- and post-index were compared. RESULTS: Age, geographic region, and income were similar between groups. The most common initial treatments were antimuscarinics (78.1%) in the OAB group and alpha-blockers (86.4%) in the BPO group. The OAB group was more likely to experience a therapeutic change and had a shorter time to first change in therapy (78 [30,231] vs 104 [30,350] days) and higher mean healthcare costs both pre- ($12,354 vs $11,497) and postindex ($14,423 vs $12,852). The most common first therapeutic change in both groups was discontinuing treatment (OAB: 75.6%; BPO: 69.9%). CONCLUSION: Men initiating OAB medications changed therapy sooner than those initiating BPO medications. Most discontinued first-line therapy without initiating further treatment, suggesting unmet need in this population.

Predicting Mirabegron Treatment Response in Patients with Overactive Bladder: A Post Hoc Analysis of Data from Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Many patients discontinue overactive bladder (OAB) treatment because of unmet treatment expectations and/or tolerability issues. OBJECTIVE: To develop a model for predicting the individual treatment response to mirabegron using patient baseline characteristics. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a post hoc analysis of data from eight global phase 2/3, double-blind, randomized, placebo- or active-controlled trials of mirabegron in adult patients with OAB. INTERVENTION: Mirabegron 50 mg once-daily monotherapy for ≥12 wk. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary efficacy outcomes were the change in the mean number of micturitions and the number of incontinence episodes/24 h after 12 wk of treatment. Secondary efficacy outcomes were the change in the mean number of urgency episodes/24 h and the change in Symptom Bother score after 12 wk of treatment. Baseline demographic characteristics, OAB-related characteristics, and intrinsic and extrinsic factor variables were used to create multivariable linear regression models to predict the primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Data for 3627 patients were included. The predicted effect of mirabegron 50 mg was an average of 2.5 fewer micturition episodes/24 h (95% confidence interval -2.85 to -2.14) and 0.81 fewer incontinence episodes/24 h (95% confidence interval -1.15 to -0.46) from baseline to week 12. A higher number of urgency episodes was predictive of a larger reduction in micturition episodes; body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, OAB symptoms for ≥12 mo, and incontinence at baseline were predictive of a smaller reduction. Mixed stress/urgency incontinence and more than five urgency episodes per day were predictive of greater reductions in incontinence episodes. Reductions in urgency episodes and Symptom Bother score were also predicted with mirabegron. Limitations include the exclusion of placebo groups from the analysis and the use of clinical trial rather than real-world data. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the predictive models provide new insights into the effects of modifiable factors (such as BMI) and nonmodifiable factors on treatment outcomes with mirabegron 50 mg. PATIENT SUMMARY: This study aimed to identify factors that could predict how patients with overactive bladder respond to mirabegron treatment to help doctors effectively treat this condition. Mirabegron treatment was associated with a lower number of urinations and occurrences of urinary incontinence per day. Factors associated with worse responses to the medication included being obese.

Healthcare utilization during transition to adult care in patients with spina bifida A population-based, longitudinal study in Ontario, Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with spina bifida (SB) may experience negative health outcomes because of an informal transition from pediatric to adult care that results in using the emergency room (ER ) for non-acute health problems. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all people with SB in Ontario, Canada turning 18 years old between 2002 and 2011. These patients were followed for five years before and after age 18. Primary outcome was the annual rate of ER visits. Secondary outcomes included rates of hospitalization, surgery, primary care, and specialist outpatient care. We estimated the association between age and primary and secondary outcomes using negative binomial growth curve models, adjusting for patient-level baseline covariates. RESULTS: Among the 1215 individuals with SB, there was no trend of ER visits seen with increasing age (relative risk [RR ] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-1.02); however, there was a significant increase in the rate of ER visits associated with turning 18 years (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27). Turning 18 years old was also associated with a decreased rate of hospital admissions (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.95) and no change in surgeries (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-1.02). Visits to primary care physicians remained stable over the same period (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90-1.01), while visits to SB-focused specialists decreased after age 18 (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SB, the rate of ER visits increased significantly at 18 years old, while hospital admissions and specialist physician visits decreased at the same time. Models of transitional care can aim to reduce non-urgent ER visits and facilitate regular specialist care.

Prevalence and Natural History of Non-metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and natural history of nmCRPC prior to the adoption of novel androgen receptor axis-targeting therapies(ARAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of men with nmCRPC in Ontario, Canada between January 2007-March 2018. Patients with prostate cancer, castrate level of testosterone(<1.7nmol/L) and a PSA>2.0ng/mL with a subsequent rise>25% from the nadir, and without metastasis were included. Annual prevalence of nmCRPC was calculated. Crude time from nmCRPC to metastasis and all-cause death are presented as medians with interquartile range(IQR). Predictors of time from nmCRPC to death were compared using univariable and multivariable cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: We identified 2045 patients with nmCRPC. Median age was 79(IQR:72-84). 984 patients(48.1%) received upfront hormonal therapy while 583(28.5%) received initial radiotherapy and 478(23.4%) underwent radical prostatectomy. Median time from primary treatment to nmCRPC was 6 years(IQR:3-10). The average annual prevalence of nmCRPC was 8% among men receiving ADT. Crude median time from nmCRPC to death was 37.6 months(IQR:22.1-55.4). Median time from nmCRPC to metastasis and metastasis to death was 20.0 and 8.3 months, respectively. Patients who had primary surgery experienced longer crude survival. Older patients, patients who had a higher PSA at nmCRPC, and patients with grade group 4 to 5 disease had a shorter time from nmCRPC to death. CONCLUSION: This is the largest population-level analysis of the prevalence and natural history of nmCRPC. The current study can be used as a historical cohort to compare how novel imaging modalities and ARAT impact prevalence and disease trajectory over time.

NIRS: Past, Present, and Future in Functional Urology.

Purpose of Review: Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive optical technique that uses near infrared light to detect the oxygenation status and hemodynamics of various organs. This article reviews the use of NIRS for the non-invasive assessment of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Applications include assessment of bladder outlet obstruction, overactive and underactive bladder, neurogenic LUTD, pediatric LUTD, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, and pelvic floor dysfunction. In addition, the article describes how NIRS is elucidating more about the brain-bladder connection. Technological advancements enabling these applications are also discussed. Recent Findings: While evidence exists for the application of NIRS throughout a wide range of LUTD, most of these studies are limited by small sample sizes without matched controls. Investigators have experienced problems with reproducibility and motion artifacts contaminating the data. The literature is also becoming dated with use of older technology. Summary: NIRS holds potential for the non-invasive acquisition of urodynamic information over time scales and activities not previously accessible, but it is not yet ready for use in routine clinical practice. Advances in wearable technology will address some of the current limitations of NIRS, but to realize its full potential, larger scale validation studies will be required. Moreover, multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, scientists, engineers, and patient advocates will be critical to further optimize these systems.

A plain language summary of the likelihood of symptom relief for patients taking fesoterodine for overactive bladder.

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: This is a summary of a study originally published in Neurourology and Urodynamics. Overactive bladder is a medical condition that causes an urgent need to urinate, which can cause accidental urination. Fesoterodine is a medication used to treat overactive bladder. Because we don't know how likely it is that an individual patient will achieve a level of improvement in their overactive bladder symptoms, researchers analyzed results of 6 studies of patients with overactive bladder who were treated with fesoterodine. WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?: Although complete resolution of all symptoms was rare with fesoterodine treatment, a resolution of accidental urination was more common, which is the most important treatment goal for many patients. After taking fesoterodine, episodes of accidental urination were more likely to be reduced or completely absent than episodes of an urgent need to urinate. WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY MEAN?: These results can help patients with overactive bladder understand their own chances of treatment success with fesoterodine and can help doctors support their patients on what to expect regarding their specific symptoms and concerns. ▪Toviaz (fesoterodine) is approved to treat the condition that is discussed in this summary. Approval varies from country to country; please check with your local health provider for more details. ▪This summary reports the combined results of 6 studies. The results of individual studies may vary from the combined study results presented here. Individuals should make treatment decisions based on all available evidence. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT number: NCT01302054, NCT01302067, NCT00444925, NCT00611026, NCT00220363, and NCT00138723.

Efficacy and Safety of AbobotulinumtoxinA in Patients with Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity Incontinence Performing Regular Clean Intermittent Catheterization: Pooled Results from Two Phase 3 Randomized Studies (CONTENT1 and CONTENT2).

BACKGROUND: For patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence (NDOI), treatment with oral medications is often unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) for NDOI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Two randomized, double-blind phase 3 studies (CONTENT1, NCT02660138; CONTENT2, NCT02660359) enrolled patients with NDOI who were regularly performing clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and were inadequately managed with oral therapy. Pooled results from the first placebo-controlled treatment cycle are reported. INTERVENTION: Patients received injections of aboBoNT-A 600 U (n = 162) or 800 U (n = 161) or placebo (n = 162) into the detrusor muscle. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was the mean change from baseline in NDOI episodes per week at week 6. Secondary endpoints reported are the proportion of patients with no NDOI episodes, the volume per void, urodynamic parameters, and quality of life (QoL). Safety was also assessed. Statistical analyses were conducted for the pooled study populations (each aboBoNT-A dose vs placebo). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: At week 6, NDOI episodes per week were significantly reduced in each aboBoNT-A group versus placebo (both p < 0.001) and the volume per void had significantly increased. Approximately one-third of patients in each aboBoNT-A dose group reported no NDOI episodes versus 3% of patients in the placebo group. Reductions in urinary incontinence (UI) were reflected in significantly greater improvements in UI-related QoL in the aboBoNT-A groups versus placebo. Urodynamic parameters (bladder capacity and detrusor pressure) were significantly improved with each aboBoNT-A dose versus placebo. Each aboBoNT-A dose was well tolerated. Symptomatic urinary tract infection was the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse event, with incidence comparable across the aboBoNT-A and placebo groups. The studies were terminated prematurely owing to slow recruitment and were not designed for statistical comparison between the two aboBoNT-A doses. CONCLUSIONS: Intradetrusor aboBoNT-A is an effective treatment and alternative option for patients with NDOI who have an inadequate response to oral anticholinergics and are already performing CIC. PATIENT SUMMARY: In patients with bladder muscle overactivity caused by neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury) and resulting in urinary incontinence, abobotulinumtoxinA injections improved their symptoms and bladder function, with no unexpected effects.

Hemi-Kock Continent Stoma With Augmentation Cystoplasty: Modifications and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes and impact of surgical modifications on the need for secondary surgery of the Hemi-Kock continent catheterizable stoma, comprising a detubularized ileal segment with an attached stapled ileoileal intussusception of the catheterizable channel, in patients with complex lower urinary tract disorders. The technique may be used for augmentation in patients with reduced bladder capacity who require a continent catheterizable channel. Compared to the flap and ileocecal valve procedures, the hemi-Kock technique has not been widely adopted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case series including all patients who underwent a hemi-Kock catheterizable channel with cystoplasty from a single institution. Surgical technique and modifications in valve construction and tapering of the catheterizable limb are described. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients, with a median age of 38 years (range 18-72), underwent the procedure. At a mean of 10.4 years, 98 patients (90%) reported that they were managing with clean intermittent catheterization ± pads; 11 (10%) were failures. A total of 70 (64.2%) patients underwent secondary interventions with >60% performed endoscopically or under local anesthesia, mainly for bladder stones. Fourteen patients (12.8%) required valve revisions. However, the rate decreased from 18.2% (8/44) to 9.3% (6/65) following incorporation of the surgical modifications. CONCLUSION: We present the largest cohort to date of patients managed with a Hemi-Kock catheterizable channel and cystoplasty. Valve revision rate improved with surgical modifications. We demonstrate long-term durability and maintenance of stomal catheterization in the vast majority of patients.

Receipt of Overactive Bladder Drugs and Incident Dementia: A Population-based Case-control Study.

BACKGROUND: The differential risk of incident dementia associated with receiving various overactive bladder (OAB) drugs is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association of antimuscarinic OAB drug (exposure), compared with a ß-3 agonist (mirabegron), and incident dementia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based nested case-control study was conducted in patients treated with OAB medications in Ontario, Canada. A total of 11 392 patients aged ≥66 yr with a new diagnosis of dementia between 2010 and 2017, and 29 881 age- and sex-matched controls without dementia were included in the study. INTERVENTION: Receipt of an antimuscarinic OAB drug or receipt of mirabegron, within the previous 6-12 mo. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Cases developed dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Controls were derived from the general population and matched to cases based on important baseline characteristics. Odds ratios (ORs) for incident dementia, adjusted for demographic and health-related characteristics, were determined. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Patients receiving solifenacin (OR 1.24; 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.43) and darifenacin (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.08-1.56) in the prior 6 mo had increased odds of incident dementia compared with those receiving mirabegron. In the 6 mo to 1 yr prior to diagnosis, receipt of solifenacin (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.11-1.60), darifenacin (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.19-1.86), tolterodine (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.45), and fesoterodine (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14-1.71) was associated with increased odds of incident dementia compared with receipt of mirabegron. No effect was seen with oxybutynin or trospium. Limitations included misclassification of the outcome and residual confounding associated with the use of health administrative databases. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults receiving solifenacin and darifenacin in the 6 mo prior to diagnosis, and those receiving solifenacin, darifenacin, tolterodine, or fesoterodine in the year prior to diagnosis, have increased odds of incident dementia, compared with those receiving mirabegron. Oxybutynin and trospium were not associated with dementia, likely due to a protopathic bias. Careful drug selection is warranted when treating patients with OAB. PATIENT SUMMARY: In a large Canadian cohort of patients who developed dementia after starting an overactive bladder (OAB) medication, those taking some anticholinergic medications for OAB have an increased risk of dementia compared with those taking mirabegron.

A Retrospective Look at Term Outcomes After Definitive Surgical Repair for Traumatic Pelvic Fracture Urethral Injuries - Does Initial Management Make a Difference?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term outcomes of initial management of pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) in a large cohort of trauma patients undergoing urethral reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 119 patients underwent urethral reconstruction by a single surgeon for PFUI at our center between 1998-2018. We compared initial PFUI management - primary realignment vs suprapubic tube (SPT) insertion alone. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to assess the association between primary intervention and the risk of having a complication. RESULTS: PFUI was initially managed with primary realignment (57%) or SPT alone (43%). Ultimately, all patients underwent a primary perineal urethral anastomosis after a median of 7 months (IQR: 5-14). Overall, 27 patients (23%) had 1 or more long-term complications after a median 25 months (IQR:7-66), including urethral stricture, de novo erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence. On multivariable analysis, initial PFUI management did not predict for complications. CONCLUSION: No difference was found in long-term outcomes after urethral reconstruction when comparing initial PFUI management of primary realignment vs SPT insertion.

Morbidity and predictors of delayed recognition of iatrogenic ureteric injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Although intraoperative iatrogenic ureteric injuries (IUI) are rare, significant consequences can occur if they are unrecognized at the time. The focus of our study is to characterize the associated morbidity and identify predictors of delayed recognition of IUI. METHODS: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Research Ethics Board approved the study. Patients with a diagnosis of IUI between 2002 and 2020 were identified through an institutional electronic medical record system. Data pertaining to the demographic characteristics, diagnosis, and management of IUI, as well as overall outcomes were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 103 patients identified, 83% were female, 52% had previous abdominal surgery, and 18% had previous radiation. The median age was 67 (range 21-88) years. Twenty percent were not recognized at the time of surgery. Although delayed recognition was not a significant predictor for poor outcome after subsequent repair (i.e., hydronephrosis, ureteric stricture/obstruction), it was associated with substantial morbidity to the patient (i.e., additional procedures) and increased cost to the healthcare system (i.e., longer hospital stay, re-admission to hospital). Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery had an 11 times more likely chance of having an unrecognized IUI as compared to those who underwent open surgery (odds ratio 11.515, p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed recognition of IUI may be associated with considerable adverse effects. In this retrospective case series, we identified laparoscopic surgery as a significant predictor for delayed recognition of IUI. This information underscores the need for future studies to facilitate intraoperative identification of ureteric injuries, particularly during laparoscopic procedures.

Association between chronic bladder catheterisation and bladder cancer incidence and mortality: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk of bladder cancer and bladder cancer mortality among patients with chronic bladder catheterisation (indwelling or intermittent) to patients from the general population. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Population-based study in Ontario, Canada between 2003 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients 18-90 years of age with chronic bladder catheterisation were hard matched to patients from the general population without a history of bladder catheterisation. INTERVENTIONS: The presence of a chronic catheter was defined as a minimum of two physician encounters for bladder catheterisation, suprapubic tube insertion or home care for catheter care separated by at least 28 days. Urinary tract infection (UTI) rates were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bladder cancer and bladder cancer-specific mortality after a 1-year lag period were compared between groups. RESULTS: We identified 36 903 patients with chronic catheterisation matched to 110 709 patients without a history of catheterisation. Patients were followed for a median of 8.8 years (IQR: 5.2-11.9 years). The median age was 62 years (IQR: 50-71) and 52% were female. More patients in the catheter group developed bladder cancer (393 (1.1%) vs 304 (0.3%),p<0.001). There were 106 (0.3%) bladder cancer deaths in the catheter group and 59 (0.1%) in the comparison group (p<0.001). Chronic catheterisation (adjusted subdistribution HR (sdHR)=4.80, 95% CI: 4.26 to 5.42,p<0.001) and the number of UTIs (adjusted sdHR=1.04 per UTI, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.05,p<0.001) were independent predictors of bladder cancer. The relative rate of bladder cancer-specific death was more than eightfold higher among patients with chronic catheterisation (adjusted sdHR=8.68, 95% CI: 6.97 to 10.81,p<0.001). Subgroup analysis among patients with neurogenic bladder and bladder calculi similarly revealed an increased risk of bladder cancer diagnosis and mortality. Bladder cancer risk was highest among patients in the two longest catheter duration quintiles (2.9-5.9 and 5.9-15.5 years). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantify the increase in bladder cancer incidence and mortality in a large, diverse cohort of patients with chronic indwelling or intermittent bladder catheterisation. The risk was highest among patients with a chronic catheter beyond 2.9 years.

Management of high-grade renal traumas with collecting system injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 50% of all high-grade renal traumas (HGRT, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [AAST] grade 4/5) have associated collecting system injuries. Although most of these collecting system injuries will heal spontaneously, approximately 20-30% of these injuries are managed with ureteric stents. The objective of the study was to review the management of HGRT with collecting system injuries in a level 1 trauma center. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of trauma patients with HGRT and collecting system injuries from 1998-2019. RESULTS: We identified 147 patients with HGRT. Of the 105 patients who had trauma computed tomography (CT) imaging within 24 hours, 46 were found to have collecting system injuries. Seven of these patients underwent intervention based on initial CT findings; the remaining 39 patients with urinary extravasation were conservatively managed. Of the 37 patients who underwent reimaging, 22 (59%) demonstrated a stable or resolving collection and 15 (41%) demonstrated continued urinary extravasation. Resolution of extravasation on subsequent imaging was observed in 10 of those patients, while five patients (14%) required intervention (four stents, one percutaneous drain) for symptoms/signs of urinary extravasation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, most patients with HGRT and collecting system injuries did not require intervention unless the patient became symptomatic. The majority of collecting system injuries resolved with no intervention. This study underscores the need for future prospective trials to investigate the necessity of intervening in HGRT collecting system injuries and, secondarily, the need for routine re-imaging in these asymptomatic patients.