Intraoperative blood transfusion in pediatric patients undergoing renal transplant-Effect of renal graft size.

In pediatric RT, donor allograft size often exceeds the expected recipient norms, especially in younger recipients. An "oversize" graft might not only present a technical- and space-related challenge, but may possibly lead to increased demands in perioperative volume requirements due to the disparity between donor and recipient in renal blood flow. We evaluated transfusion practices at a single tertiary institution with special consideration of kidney graft size, hypothesizing that oversize graft kidneys might lead to a quantifiable increased need of blood transfusion in smaller recipients. Retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent pediatric RT from January 2004 to June 2014 at a tertiary pediatric centre was performed. Variables analyzed included patient age, weight, pre- and postoperative Hb concentration, graft size, EBL, amount of intraoperative blood transfusion, and preoperative use of erythropoietin. Based on graft size in relation to patient's age, a SMR and an OvR were identified. A subcohort of age-matched pairs was used to allow for comparison between groups. We calculated the expected procedure- and transfusion-induced changes in Hb and compared these changes to the observed difference in pre- vs postoperative Hb to assess the influence of graft size on transfusion requirements. RT was performed in 188 pediatric recipients during the study period. In the matched cohort, percentage of transfused patients during transplantation in the OvR group was more than double compared with SMR (89% vs 39%, P < .001); similarly, the median number of transfused PRBC units in OvR was 1, while the median of SMR did not receive transfusion (P < .001). The difference between expected (calculated) and observed change in Hb was significantly higher in OvR with a median of 1.9 g/dL compared with SMR with a median of 1.0 g/dL (P = .026). Correspondingly, the calculated median volume taken up by a regular size kidney was significantly higher with 213 mL compared with 313 mL (P = .031) taken up by an oversize graft kidney. Median estimated intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in OvR than in SMR (6.9 mL/kg, vs 5.3 mL/kg, respectively; P = .04). Median postoperative Hb was similar among groups (10.4 g/dL vs 10.6 g/dL for SMR vs OvR, respectively). Transplantation of an oversized kidney in pediatric RT recipients is associated with a quantifiable higher need for blood transfusion. This may be caused by a higher intraoperative EBL and/or greater blood volume sequestered by the larger renal allograft and requires further evaluation.

Contemporary Practice Patterns of Voiding Cystourethrography Use at a Large Tertiary Care Center in a Single Payer Health Care System.

PURPOSE: Voiding cystourethrogram involves radiation exposure and is invasive. Several guidelines, including the 2011 AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines, no longer recommend routine voiding cystourethrogram after the initial urinary tract infection in children. The recent trend in voiding cystourethrogram use remains largely unknown. We examined practice patterns of voiding cystourethrogram use and explored the impact of these guidelines in a single payer system in the past 8 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all voiding cystourethrograms performed at a large pediatric referral center between January 2008 and December 2015. Patients 2 to 24 months old who underwent an initial voiding cystourethrogram for the diagnosis of a urinary tract infection in the first 6 months of 2009 and 2014 were identified. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: During the study period 8,422 voiding cystourethrograms were performed and the annual number declined over time. In the pre-AAP and post-AAP cohorts 233 and 95 initial voiding cystourethrograms were performed, respectively. While there was no statistically significant difference in the vesicoureteral reflux detection rate between 2009 and 2014 (37.3% vs 43.0%, p = 0.45), there was a threefold increase in high grade vesicoureteral reflux in 2014 (2.6% vs 8.4%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A clear trend toward fewer voiding cystourethrograms was noted at our institution. This decrease started before 2011 and cannot be attributed to the AAP guidelines alone. While most detected vesicoureteral reflux remains low grade, there was a greater detection rate of high grade vesicoureteral reflux in 2014 compared to 2009. This may reflect a favorable impact of a more selective approach to obtaining voiding cystourethrograms.

Predicting Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Infants and Young Children at Diagnosis of Posterior Urethral Valves: Initial Ultrasound Kidney Characteristics and Validation of Parenchymal Area as Forecasters of Renal Reserve.

PURPOSE: There is paucity of validated objective early imaging markers to help predict future renal deterioration in infants with posterior urethral valves. We evaluated the prognostic value of total renal parenchymal area, renal echogenicity and corticomedullary differentiation regarding future development of chronic kidney disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed initial postnatal ultrasonographic images from serial posterior urethral valve cases seen at a single tertiary referral center using National Institutes of Health sponsored image processing software. Echogenicity and corticomedullary differentiation were objectively measured as ratios relative to the adjacent liver or spleen and between cortex and medulla. The primary study outcome, renal function at last followup, was dichotomized based on glomerular filtration rate and/or need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis or renal transplantation, stage 5 chronic kidney disease). RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were evaluated, of whom 16 had progression to stage 5 chronic kidney disease after a mean ± SD followup of 64.2 ± 38.9 months. Mean renal parenchymal area was 21.41 cm(2) in patients without and 16 cm(2) in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (p <0.001), and mean corticomedullary differentiation was 1.77 and 1.21, respectively (p <0.001). Bilateral echogenic kidneys were significantly associated with development of stage 5 chronic kidney disease (p = 0.004). The performance of corticomedullary differentiation in predicting stage 5 chronic kidney disease was statistically significant (AUROC 0.881, 95% CI 0.776-0.987, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of renal parenchyma quantity (total renal parenchymal area) and quality (corticomedullary differentiation and renal echogenicity) measured on initial postnatal ultrasound carry prognostic value in determining future risk of stage 5 chronic kidney disease in patients with posterior urethral valves. These data are promising for developing tools to risk stratify patients, counsel parents and customize monitoring protocols.

Intra-arterial nitroglycerin for intra-operative arterial vasospasm during pediatric renal transplantation.

Intra-operative arterial vasospasm during pediatric renal transplantation is an urgent clinical situation resulting in end-organ ischemia, associated changes in parenchymal turgor and color, diminished flow on ultrasound, and if left untreated, allograft loss. We hypothesized that intra-operative intra-arterial injection of nitroglycerin would reverse vasospasm and improve renal perfusion. A three-yr-old girl with end-stage renal disease due to autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis underwent deceased donor renal transplantation. After optimal immediate reperfusion and hemodynamic parameters, the kidney lost turgor and became mottled in appearance despite adequate hilar arterial and venous Doppler waveforms. Two aliquots of 40 µg (0.4 mL of a 100 µg/mL) nitroglycerin solution were injected directly into the renal artery 10 min apart. Nitroglycerin resulted in dramatic change in the consistency and appearance of the allograft. An improvement in renal blood flow was demonstrated by ultrasound after the second intra-arterial nitroglycerin injection with only a transient decrease in systemic arterial blood pressure. The child experienced normal allograft perfusion on serial postoperative ultrasounds, with a prompt decrease in serum creatinine and excellent diuresis. Intra-arterial nitroglycerin is a promising option for intra-operative arterial vasospasm during pediatric renal transplantation with objective improvement in blood flow and perfusion.

Can a prostate biopsy be safely deferred on PI-RADS 1,2 or 3 lesions seen on pre-biopsy mp-MRI?

Introduction: Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) is currently used to triage patients with suspected prostate cancer, before deciding on prostate biopsies. In our study, we evaluated normal and equivocal pre-biopsy mp-MRIs to see whether it is safe to avoid biopsy with such findings. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a district general hospital in the UK between August 2017 and July 2018. Patients with negative and equivocal prebiopsy mp-MRI with high clinical suspicion of cancer had proceeded to biopsy. MRI reports with prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) scores 1, 2, 3 and normal MRI were evaluated against the transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-PB) outcomes to demonstrate benign pathology, clinically insignificant or clinically significant cancer (csCa). CsCa was defined as Gleason score (GS) ≥3 + 4. Results: Out of 265 mp-MRIs studied, five (1.9%) were PI-RADS 1, 109 (41.1%) and 84 (31.7%) were PI-RADS 2 and 3 lesions respectively; 67 (25.3%) were reported as normal. Seventy-five (27.3%) patients did not have biopsies following their MRI and 73.3% (51/75) of them had benign feeling prostate. Negative MRIs (PI-RADS 1, 2 and normal MRI) showed 8.8% and PI-RADS 3 lesions demonstrated 11.9% csCa. Negative predictive value for normal MRI was 91.2%. Mean PSA density (PSAD) among the benign, GS 3 + 3 and csCa was 0.14, 0.16 and 0.27 ng/ml/ml respectively and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The average percentage of cancer found in GS 3 + 3 and csCa was 3.2% and 20.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Avoiding TRUS-PB following normal or equivocal mp-MRI should carefully be decided as 18.5% of cancer was demonstrated in this group and 9.8% of those who were diagnosed with cancer were csCa. PSAD and DRE findings provide additional information to help with this decision.

Randomized trial of prophylactic antibiotics vs. placebo after midshaft-to-distal hypospadias repair: the PROPHY Study.

BACKGROUND: Use of prophylactic antibiotics after stented hypospadias repair is very common, but most research has not identified any clinical benefits of this practice. Only one study has found that postoperative prophylaxis reduces symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Data from the same trial suggested that prophylaxis may also reduce urethroplasty complications. No studies on this subject have been placebo-controlled. OBJECTIVE: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics on the incidence of infection or urethroplasty complications after stented repair of midshaft-to-distal hypospadias. STUDY DESIGN: Boys were eligible for this multicenter trial if they had a primary, single-stage repair of mid-to-distal hypospadias with placement of an open-drainage urethral stent for an intended duration of 5-10 days. Participants were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or placebo twice daily for 10 days postoperatively. The primary outcome was a composite of symptomatic UTI, surgical site infection (SSI), and urethroplasty complications, including urethrocutaneous fistula, meatal stenosis, and dehiscence. Secondary outcomes included each component of the primary outcome as well as acute adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and C. difficile colitis. RESULTS: Infection or urethroplasty complications occurred in 10 of 45 boys (22%) assigned to receive antibiotic prophylaxis as compared with 5 of 48 (10%) who received placebo (relative risk [RR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8 to 5.8; p = 0.16). There were no significant differences between groups in symptomatic UTIs, SSIs, or any urethroplasty complications. Mild ADRs occurred in 3 of 45 boys (7%) assigned to antibiotics as compared with 5 of 48 (10%) given placebo (RR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2 to 2.5; p = 0.72). There were no moderate-to-severe ADRs, and no patients developed C. difficile colitis. CONCLUSIONS: In this placebo-controlled trial of 93 patients, prophylactic antibiotics were not found to reduce infection or urethroplasty complications after stented mid-to-distal hypospadias repair. The study did not reach its desired sample size and was therefore underpowered to independently support a conclusion that prophylaxis is not beneficial. However, the result is consistent with most prior research on this subject. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02096159.

Reduction and standardization of surgical instruments in pediatric inguinal hernia repair.

AIM: To standardize and reduce surgical instrumentation by >25% within a 9-month period for pediatric inguinal hernia repair (PIHR), using "improvement science" methodology. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated instruments used for PIHR in 56 consecutive cases by individual surgeons across two separate subspecialties, pediatric surgery (S) and pediatric urology (U), to measure actual number of instruments used compared with existing practice based on preference cards. Based on this evaluation, a single preference card was developed using only instruments that had been used in >50% of all cases. A subsequent series of 52 cases was analyzed to assess whether the new tray contained the ideal instrumentation. Cycle time (CT), to sterilize and package the instruments, and weights of the trays were measured before and after the intervention. A survey of operating room (OR) nurses and U and S surgeons was conducted before and after the introduction of the standardized tray to assess the impact and perception of standardization. RESULTS: Prior to creating the standardized tray, a U PIHR tray contained 96 instruments with a weight of 13.5 lbs, while the S set contained 51, weighing 11.2 lbs. The final standardized set comprised 28 instruments and weighed 7.8 lbs. Of 52 PIHRs performed after standardization, in three (6%) instances additional instruments were requested. CT was reduced from 11 to 8 min (U and S respectively) to <5 min for the single tray. Nurses and surgeons reported that quality, safety, and efficiency were improved, and that efforts should continue to standardize instrumentation for other common surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of surgical equipment can be employed across disciplines with the potential to reduce costs and positively impact quality, safety, and efficiencies.

Utilization of Postpenile Surgery Illustrated Healing Atlas: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the postpenile surgery illustrated healing atlas on caregivers' anxiety levels pre- and postoperatively, the frequency of family's postoperative communication with the urology care team, and the number of unplanned emergency room (ER) return for wound checks. METHODS: A prospective cohort enrolled children who underwent penile surgeries (distal hypospadias repair and phalloplasty) with no concomitant procedures from December 2016 to June 2017. A 6-item short-form Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to determine baseline and postoperative anxiety levels of the caregivers. Two groups were created: caregivers who did not view the illustrated atlas vs caregivers who were shown the atlas. Baseline characteristics and demographics were compared, along with caregiver's pre- to postoperative anxiety level difference, frequency of postoperative communication, and number of unplanned ER return for wound checks. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were enrolled with 27 families in each group. Baseline characteristics and demographics were comparable with no significant differences. The assessment of the pre- to postoperative anxiety levels in both groups showed no significant differences (median difference -5 [interquartile range -8 to -5] vs -5 [interquartile range -8 to -4], P = .94). Although no differences were noted for ER-return rates between the groups (18% vs 11.1%, P = .704), significantly less postoperative calls and e-mails were noted among families who received or viewed the postpenile surgery illustrated healing atlas (51.9% vs 11.1%, P = .003). CONCLUSION: The utilization of a postpenile surgery illustrated healing atlas as part of the postoperative support provided to families was able to decrease postoperative calls and e-mails.

A Practice Platform for Systematic Development of Microsurgical Instrument Technique.

Many surgical disciplines, particularly those specializing in the pediatric age group, use microsurgical instruments with the assistance of either optical loupe or microscope magnification to perform high precision surgical procedures. We developed a course consisting of two parts: Part 1 consists of low fidelity, inanimate exercises or training and practice platform, and part 2 employed a rat model. In this report, we describe and provide templates for the first part of the course, namely the practice platform as an integral set of six low-fidelity exercises, each focusing on a specific aspect of instrument handling required to master the later use of the instruments during actual microsurgery. This platform is made to systematically and efficiently improve the microsurgical skills of junior as well as advanced surgical trainees.

Outcomes of seromuscular bladder augmentation versus standard ileocystoplasty: A single institution experience over 14 years.

INTRODUCTION: Ileocystoplasty is the standard technique used for bladder augmentation, and has been used widely for decades. However, it is known to be associated with complications such as stone formation, mucus production, metabolic acidosis, urinary tract infections, intestinal obstruction, and a long-term risk of bladder cancer. Seromuscular bladder augmentation (SMBA) is an alternative to the standard ileocystoplasty, and has been associated with a lower incidence of bladder stones. Few reports have been published on intermediate outcomes of SMBA. Herein, we report long-term outcomes of SMBA from a single institution compared with standard ileocystoplasty. METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent bladder augmentation at our institution over a 14-year period was performed. The status of patients after SMBA (10 patients) was compared according to age, sex, and diagnosis with patients who underwent traditional ileocystoplasty (30 patients). Parameters such as demographic information, pre- and postoperative bladder capacity as assessed by urodynamic studies, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder calculi, incontinence, need for secondary surgical procedures, and spontaneous bladder perforation were compared in the two groups. All the patients were on a clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) regimen. RESULTS: Over the study period, 10 patients underwent SMBA and 30 patients (according to age, sex, and diagnosis) underwent standard ileocystoplasty; the average age at surgery was 10.3 and 10 years respectively, with a mean follow up of 6.7 years in the SMBA group and 6 years in the ileocystoplasty group. There were no statistically significant differences in the rate of UTIs, urinary incontinence, subsequent surgery, or spontaneous bladder perforation. The mean bladder capacity increased significantly for both groups as assessed by pre- and postoperative urodynamic studies, although the difference in the rate of bladder calculi between the two groups (0 [0%] vs. 8 [27%], p = 0.06) did not reach statistical significance (Table). CONCLUSIONS: SMBA is safe and efficacious and may result in a lower rate of stone formation than standard ileocystoscopy. SMBA should be considered as a viable alternative to standard ileocystoplasty.