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Purpose: Minimally invasive radical nephrectomy is often preferred for larger renal tumours not suitable for partial nephrectomy (1). When performed with a multiport robot, the procedure is routinely performed with a transperitoneal approach, with recent studies highlighting important factors for surgical outcomes, including predictive factors (2), segmental artery unclamping techniques (3), and comparisons of robotic techniques (4). This video shows that SP Robot-Assisted Radical Nephrectomy (RARN) via a lower anterior approach is valuable in challenging cases., Materials and Methods: We performed SP-RARN on two complex patients using a retroperitoneal lower anterior approach. The first patient, a 54-year-old female with a BMI of 36.8 kg/m², had a ventral hernia and bowel obstruction history, with a 9 cm right middle kidney mass. The second patient, a 58-year-old male with a BMI of 31.19 kg/m², had ESRD and was on peritoneal dialysis for 8 years, with a 3.4x3.7 cm mass in the right superior pole, suspected to be RCC. The surgical technique is detailed in the video., Results: Both procedures were successful, with operative times of 173 and 203 minutes and blood loss of 150 mL. No complications occurred. Patients were discharged after 31 and 38 hours, respectively. Histopathology confirmed RCC. At the 3-month follow-up, no complications or readmissions were reported. Second patient continued peritoneal dialysis without issues., Conclusion: Retroperitoneal SP-RARN via the lower anterior approach avoids the peritoneal cavity, making it suitable for certain patients. In these patients, more so than in others, this procedure is feasible, safe, and less morbid than the standard multiport approach., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Background: Socioeconomic determinants of health (SDOH) are often unvalued during surgery risk stratification; hence, they might be a major source of disparity that can jeopardize outcomes related to urological surgery. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of SDOH on postoperative outcomes following minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP)., Methods: Patients who underwent MIRP between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed by using PearlDiver-Mariner, an all-payer insurance claims database. International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify patient's characteristics, postoperative complications and SDOH. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression models., Results: Overall, 100,035 patients (mean age = 63.24 ± 7.07) underwent MIRP. The 60-day postoperative complication rate was 18%. Approximately 6% of patients reported at least one SDOH at baseline. SDOH were associated with higher odds of 60-day postoperative complications (OR:1.24, 95% CI:1.15-1.34), including urinary tract infection (OR:1.32, 95% CI:1.20-1.45) and acute kidney injury (OR:1.31, 95% CI:1.00-1.39). Postoperative urethral stricture (OR:1.37, 95% CI:0.92-1.98) did not reach statistical significance at multivariable analysis., Conclusions: Patients with SDOH have a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications following MIRP, especially urinary infection and acute kidney injury. These findings are multifactorial and should prompt identifying measures that might help prevent this large-scale phenomenon., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Our aim was to investigate the perception and future expectations of Single-Port (SP) surgery among urology trainees in the United States. A 34-item online survey was distributed to urological residency and fellowship programs across the US, covering demographic profiles, SP training opportunities, perceived educational impact, and future perspectives. Descriptive analysis and multivariable linear regression were used to assess predictors of SP adoption. 201 surveys were completed (28.6% completion rate). Among institutions with an SP platform, about 50% have used it regularly for over 2 years, though often in less than 50% of procedures. While robotic simulators are commonly available, only 17% offer both multi-port and SP simulators, and structured pre-clinical SP training is limited. Approximately 30% of respondents expressed concerns over limited hands-on experience and a steeper learning curve with SP. Around 40% felt that their robotic surgery exposure was negatively impacted by SP's introduction. SP surgery's benefits are seen mostly in the immediate post-operative period and a significant number of respondents foresee a major role for SP in urology. However, proficiency in SP surgery is not seen as crucial for career advancement or job opportunities. Academic job aspirations, SP platform availability, and SP surgery workload are predictors of future SP implementation. Trainees increasingly recognize the clinical benefits of SP procedures but express concerns about the potential negative impact on hands-on experience. Training programs should more systematically integrate SP technology into curricula. There is a correlation between training in high-volume SP centers and future SP adoption., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Importance: Evidence on prostate cancer (PCa) in transgender women is very limited; data are needed to reduce gender disparities in both PCa knowledge and health care., Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of PCa among transgender women in the US and assess the factors associated with PCa, and factors associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and bone metastases (BM) secondary to PCa in the transgender population., Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in October 2023, covering the period between 2011 and 2022 (12-year analysis). The study was based on a large, all-payer claims, deidentified, US database (PearlDiver Mariner). Transgender women who were identified as male before assignment of transsexual status codes were included. Patients with PCa were detected in the transgender women population., Main Outcomes and Measures: PCa diagnosis was selected as primary outcome; BCR and BM were chosen as secondary outcomes., Results: A total of 95 460 transgender women with a mean (SD) age of 52.5 (9.4) years were included. PCa was diagnosed in 589 individuals with a mean (SD) age of 66.8 (10.0) years (estimated prevalence, 0.62%; 95% CI, 0.54%-0.77%). Age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08-1.12; P < .001) and family history (adjusted OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.60-4.92; P < .001) were positively associated with PCa in transgender women. Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) was negatively associated with PCa in transgender women (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.56-0.89; P < .001) but positively associated with BCR (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.21-2.86; P < .001) and BM (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 1.50-9.99; P < .001) in the transgender population with PCa., Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that PCa appeared to be relatively uncommon in transgender women. GAHT may reduce the risk of PCa in transgender patients, but it may also increase the risk of BCR and BM in transgender women with PCa. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Background: Postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) is a feared complication of BPH surgery. Our study aims to investigate the incidence of UI among patients undergoing different procedures for BPH., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a large national database, containing patient records between 2011 and 2022. The most employed surgical procedures for BPH were considered, including TURP, Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP), Holmium/Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP/ThuLEP), Open Simple Prostatectomy (OSP), minimally invasive simple prostatectomy (Lap/Rob SP), Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP), Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL), Robotic Waterjet Treatment (RWT - Aquablation ® ), Water Vapor Thermal Therapy (WVTT - Rezum ® ) and Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE). Rates of any type of UI, including stress UI (SUI), urge UI (UUI) and mixed UI (MUI) were assessed. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify predictors of "persistent" postoperative UI, defined as the presence of an active UI diagnosis at 12 months post-surgery., Results: Among 274,808 patients who underwent BPH surgery, 11,017 (4.01%) experienced persistent UI. UUI rates varied between 0.62% (PAE) and 2.71% (PVP), SUI ranged from 0.04% (PAE) and 2.75% (Lap/Rob SP), while MUI between 0.11% (PAE) and 1.17% (HoLEP/ThuLEP). On multivariable analysis, HoLEP/ThuLEP (OR 1.612; 95% CI: 1.508-1.721; P<0.001), PVP (OR 1.164; 95% CI:1.122-1.208; P<0.001), Open SP (OR 1.424; 95% CI:1.241- 1.624; P<0.001), and Lap/Rob SP (OR 1.667; 95% CI:1.119-2.384; P<0.01) showed significant higher likelihood of UI compared to TURP. PUL (OR 0.604; 95% CI:0.566-0.644; P<0.001), WVTT (OR 0.661; 95% CI:0.579-0.752; P<0.001), RWT (OR 0.434; 95% CI:0.216-0.767; P<0.01), and PAE (OR 0.178; 95% CI:0.111-0.269; P<0.001) were associated with lower likelihood of UI., Conclusions: UI remains a concerning complication following BPH surgery, but it is an uncommon event affecting <5% of patients. Some differences in UI rates and risk might exist among various BPH procedures. These findings underscore the need for thorough patient selection and counseling.

Background: It is generally perceived that minimally invasive nephroureterectomy (MINU), especially in the form of robotic-assisted laparoscopy, is gaining an increasing role in many institutions., Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate contemporary trends in the adoption of MINU in the United States compared with open nephroureterectomy (ONU)., Methods: Patients who underwent ONU or MINU between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed using PearlDiver Mariner, an all-payer insurance claims database. International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify the type of surgical procedure, patients' characteristics, social determinants of health (SDOH), and perioperative complications. The primary objective assessed different trends and costs in NU adoption, while secondary objectives analyzed factors influencing the postoperative complications, including SDOH. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression models., Results: Overall, 15,240 patients underwent ONU (n = 7675) and MINU (n = 7565). Utilization of ONU declined over the study period, whereas that of MINU increased from 29 to 72% (p = 0.01). The 60-day postoperative complication rate was 23% for ONU and 19% for MINU (p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, ONU showed a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.48). Approximately 5% and 9% of patients reported at least one SDOH at baseline for both ONU and MINU (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Contemporary trend analysis of a large national dataset confirms that there has been a significant shift towards MINU, which is gradually replacing ONU. A minimally invasive approach is associated with lower risk of complications. SDOH are non-clinical factors that currently do not have an impact on the outcomes of nephroureterectomy., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare disease. HPV infection, smoking, phimosis, and lichen sclerosus represent well-known associated risk factors., Objectives: Primary aim of our study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of PeCa and to outline the adopted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Secondary aim is to investigate risk factors associated with aggressive disease and to identify the complications arising from its surgical treatment., Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the PearlDiver™ Mariner database, from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2021, identifying all patients diagnosed with PeCa and PeIN, evaluating comorbidities, risk factors, and social and economic conditions. We evaluated the imaging modalities employed for staging as well as the treatment strategies. Finally, we evaluated the most frequent complications associated with inguinal lymphadenectomy (ILND)., Results: During the study period, 17,494 patients were diagnosed with PeCa and 5,965 with penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN). US was the most frequently utilized imaging modality, followed by PET and PET/CT. Use of CT and MRI was around 5%. Surgical treatment was the predominant strategy, utilized in 31.3% of PeCa and 22.9% of PeIN. Wide Local Excision/Glansectomy emerged as the most common surgical procedures. MLR analysis identified smoking as a risk factor for metastatic PeCa (OR; 95% CI = 1.49; 1.379-1.609), HPV infections were associated with a 35% decrease in risk (OR; 95% CI = 0.65; 0.562-0.744) (all P < 0.001). Lichen sclerosus and phimosis were associated with a doubled risk of demolitive surgery. Approximately 40% of patients experienced complications associated with ILND., Conclusion: Despite advances in PeCa management, there's no significant move toward more conservative treatments. Surgical treatments are still marked by high rates of complications, potentially affect the sexual and psychosocial health of patients. These issues may foster a tendency toward avoidance behaviors, contributing to a delayed clinical presentation and treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the temporal trends and perioperative and long-term outcomes of living donor kidney nephrectomy in the United States., Methods: The PearlDiverTM Mariner database (Pearl-Diver Technologies, Colorado Springs, CO, USA) was used for our retrospective analysis. The data were identified using ICD-9/10 codes, as well as CPT codes. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using 2-sided tests. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of 5-year ESRD., Results: A total of 6333 patients were identified (median age 54, IQR 46-62 years) from 2010 to April 2022. A greater percentage of living donor nephrectomies were performed by general surgeons (56.1%), followed by transplant surgeons (16.5%) and urologists (14.7%). Unfortunately, physician specialty was not reported for the remaining patients. The MIS exceeded open surgery in each specialty group and inpatient setting. The significant predictors of ESRD were male, preoperative DM and hypertension, tobacco smoking, perioperative AKI and younger age at the time of kidney donation., Conclusion: MIS represents the main surgical approach for organ procurement. A meticulous selection process for donors and subsequent close monitoring are necessary to minimize the putative consequences of donor nephrectomy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate temporal trends and overall complication rates among open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN), including the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on postoperative outcomes. Methods: Patients who underwent OPN or MIPN between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed by using PearlDiver-Mariner, an all-payer insurance claims database. The International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify the type of surgical operation, patient's characteristics (age, sex, region, insurance plan), postoperative complications and SDOH, categorized in education, healthcare, environmental, social, and economic domains. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regression models. Results: Overall, 65,325 patients underwent OPN (n = 23,377) or MIPN (n = 41,948). OPN adoption declined over the study period, whereas that of MIPN increased from 24% to 34% ( p = 0.001). The 60-day postoperative complication rate was 15% for the open and 9% for the minimally invasive approach. Approximately 16% and 11% of patients reported at least one SDOH at baseline for OPN and MIPN, respectively. SDOH were associated with higher odds of postoperative complications (OPN = OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.25; MIPN = OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.18-1.46). The open approach showed a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.54-1.70) compared to the minimally invasive one. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that MIPN is gradually replacing OPN, which carries a higher risk of complications. SDOH are significant predictors of postoperative complications following PN, regardless of the approach.

Introduction and Objectives: Urethral stricture (US) is a well-known complication after surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This study aimed to evaluate the contemporary incidence of the US after different types of BPH surgery, to identify associated risk factors and to assess its management., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the PearlDiver™ Mariner database, containing de-identified patient records compiled between 2011 and 2022. Specific International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were employed to identify population characteristics and outcomes. All the most employed surgical procedures for BPH treatment were considered. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to evaluate factors associated with diagnosis of post-operative US., Results: Among 274,808 patients who underwent BPH surgery, 10,918 developed post-operative US (3.97%) within 12 months. Higher incidence of US was observed following TURP (4.48%), Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP) (3.67%), Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) (3.92%), HoLEP/ThuLEP (3.85%), and open Simple Prostatectomy (SP) (3.21%). Lower incidence rates were observed after laparoscopic\robot-assisted SP (1.76%), Aquablation (1.59%), Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL) (1.07%), Rezum (1.05%), and Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) (0.65%). Multivariable analysis showed that patients undergoing PUL, Rezum, Aquablation, PAE, and PVP were associated with a reduced likelihood of developing US compared to TURP. US required surgical treatment in 18.95% of patients, with direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) and urethroplasty performed in 14.55% and 4.50% of cases, respectively. Urethral dilatation (UD) in an outpatient setting was the primary management in most cases (76.7%)., Conclusions: The present analysis from a contemporary large dataset suggests that the incidence of US after BPH surgery is relatively low (<5%) and varies among procedures. Around 94% of US cases following BPH surgery are managed using minimally invasive treatment approaches such as UD and DVIU., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Priapism is a urological condition characterized by a persistent erection. The management varies based on its subclassifications. Despite established clinical guidelines for ischemic priapism, there is a lack of large-scale research focused on patient characteristics and management strategies., Objectives: To analyze the contemporary management of ischemic priapism in the US, exploring patient demographics and clinical characteristics, as well as predictors of erectile dysfunction (ED) and penile prosthesis implantation (PPI)., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the PearlDiver Mariner database, reviewing records from 2010-2021. Adult males diagnosed with ischemic priapism were included. Data analysis covered demographic, clinical variables, and management strategies. Predictors of de novo ED and PPI were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analysis., Results: Of 36,120 patients, most (93%) received only medical management, and a minority underwent surgical interventions (penile shunt surgery [PSS], PPI or both). Medical management was typically effective, as 67.08% of the patients in this group experienced only one episode of priapism. However, de novo ED occurred in 16.57% of these patients. The majority of patients undergoing PPI had an inflatable prosthesis (81%). Older age (odds ratio, OR 1.02), the presence of metabolic diseases (OR 1.39), neurogenic disorders (OR 1.72), solid pelvic malignancies (OR 1.09), and multiple episodes of priapism were identified as significant predictors of de novo ED (all p < 0.05). Similarly, age (OR 1.03), the presence of metabolic diseases (OR 1.23), solid pelvic malignancies (OR 1.99), and multiple episodes of priapism were associated with higher likelihood of PPI (all p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Most cases of ischemic priapism are managed with the medical therapy. Less than 3% of patients with ischemic priapism receive PPI, and when this occurs an inflatable prosthesis is favored. Age, specific comorbidities, and multiple episodes of priapism appear to be significant predictors of ED and PPI., (© 2024 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Introduction: Urachal carcinoma (UrC) is a rare, nonurothelial malignancy, comprising less than 1% of all bladder cancers. It usually affects males in their fifth to sixth decade and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage with metastasis. This study examines UrC population characteristics and management., Methods: We identified UrC patients from bladder biopsies or TURB in the PearlDiver Mariner database (2010-2022). Descriptive statistics detailed patient characteristics. Student's T-Tests compared ages for partial vs. radical cystectomy, and Fisher's exact test compared SDOH presence. Significance was set at P < .05. Analyses used R version 3.6.0 within PearlDiver's software., Results: Among 2475 UrC patients (mean age 69.2 ± 9.2 years, 73.1% men), most were in the south (36.5%), outpatient settings (84.5%), and privately insured (65.3%). A total of 418 (16.2%) had at least 1 SDOH. Imaging before diagnosis was used in 65.74% of patients, primarily ultrasound. Smoking was present in 54.5%, diabetes in 42.9%, and obesity in 25.2%. After diagnosis, 1246 (50.34%) had localized disease; 407 underwent radical cystectomy and 330 partial cystectomy. Patients undergoing radical cystectomy were older (66.74 ± 8.13 years) compared to those undergoing partial cystectomy (60.55 ± 12.92 years) (P < .001), with SDOH factors more prevalent in the partial cystectomy group (P = .03)., Conclusion: UrC is a rare, often advanced-stage cancer predominantly affecting older men. Our study shows a trend towards partial cystectomy for localized UrC. Further research is needed to personalize surgery and integrate multidisciplinary approaches for better outcomes., Competing Interests: Disclosure All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to this manuscript. The authors have no financial, personal, or other relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze temporal trends and costs associated with the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for kidney cancer in the US over the past decade. To examine the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on perioperative outcomes., Methods: The PearlDiver Mariner, a national database of insurance billing records, was queried for this retrospective observational cohort analysis. The MIS population was identified and stratified according to treatment modality, using International Classification of Diseases and current procedural terminology codes. SDOH were assessed using International Classification of Diseases codes. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the overall number of renal MIS and Cochran-Armitage tests to compare the utilization of different treatment modalities, over the study period. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified predictors of perioperative complications., Results: A total of 80,821 MIS for kidney cancer were included. Minimally invasive partial nephrectomy adoption as a fraction of total MIS increased significantly (slope of regression line, reg. = 0.026, P <.001). Minimally invasive radical nephrectomy ($26.9k ± 40.9k) and renal ablation ($18.9k ± 31.6k) were the most expensive and cheapest procedures, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of number of complications (P = .06) and presence of SDOH (P = .07) among the treatment groups. At multivariable analysis, patients with SDOH undergoing minimally invasive radical nephrectomy had higher odds of perioperative complications, while renal ablation had a significantly lower probability of perioperative complications., Conclusion: This study describes the current management of kidney cancer in the US, offering a socioeconomic perspective on the impact of this disease in everyday clinical practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: An increasing number of novel surgical treatments (NSTs) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have been proposed over time to achieve similar functional outcomes, but better perioperative and sexual outcomes than traditional procedures., Objective: To assess the trends in the utilization and costs of BPH surgical procedures over the past decade, and to analyze the need for surgical retreatment after each procedure., Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective observational population-based analysis was conducted using the PearlDiver Mariner (PearlDiver Technologies, Colorado Springs, CO, USA) database, including all-payer nationally available claims records collected from 2011 to 2022., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The number and type of BPH surgical procedures per year, costs associated with each BPH surgical treatment, incidence of BPH surgical retreatment rate, and time to BPH surgical retreatment were assessed. Negative binomial regression and Cochran-Armitage test were used for the temporal trend analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the predictors of BPH surgical retreatment., Results and Limitations: In the study period, 274 808 patients received surgical treatment for BPH. The most common procedure was transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; 71.7%). The overall utilization of BPH surgical treatment increased over the study period. Traditional surgery remained most performed for the entire period (87.8%), but a statistically significantly rising trend of NSTs was recorded. The mean reimbursements paid per procedure was 1.43 times higher (p < 0.001) for NSTs than for traditional procedures. The surgical retreatment rate was 9.4%. The mean time to surgical retreatment was 25.3 mo, with 85.5% of cases re-treated within 5 yr. At the multivariable analysis, transurethral incision of the prostate, photoselective vaporization of the prostate, prostatic urethral lift, convective water vapor energy, and prostatic artery embolization had a significantly greater likelihood of surgical retreatment than TURP. Holmium/thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP/ThuLEP), open simple prostatectomy (SP), and laparoscopic/robot-assisted SP were associated with a lower probability of resurgery than TURP, but a similar probability between these procedures. Retrospective design and a lack of relevant clinical data were the main limitations., Conclusions: Over the past decade, there has been a progressive increase in the adoption of NSTs. The rate of surgical retreatment appears <10%, with patients undergoing SP and HoLEP/ThuLEP experiencing a statistically significantly lower probability of surgical retreatment., Patient Summary: We investigated the trends, costs, and surgical retreatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. Transurethral resection of the prostate remains the most common procedure. Novel surgical treatments are associated with an upward trend, despite appearing more expensive overall. Retreatment is necessary in <10% of patients and generally within 5 yr., (Copyright © 2024 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

(1) Background: Prostate Cancer (PCa) may be incidentally diagnosed during the microscopic evaluation of resected tissue from BPH surgeries, characterizing the clinical condition known as incidental PCa (iPCa). This study aims to assess the prevalence of iPCa following BPH surgery to evaluate the associated surgical procedures and to scrutinize preoperative and postoperative management. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the PearlDiver™ Mariner database, containing patient records compiled between 2011 and 2021. International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were employed to identify the population and outcomes. Our primary objective was to assess the prevalence of iPCa, categorized by the type of procedures, and to evaluate the subsequent treatment strategies. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of prostate biopsy (PB) and prostate MRI on iPCa detection. (3) Results: The overall cohort, accounting for 231,626 patients who underwent BPH surgery, exhibited a 2.2% prevalence rate of iPCa. The highest rate was observed for TURP (2.32%), while the lowest was recorded for RASP (1.18%). Preoperative MRI and PB demonstrated opposing trends over the years. Of the 5090 patients identified with iPCa, nearly 68% did not receive active treatment. The most common treatments were RT and ADT; 34.6% underwent RT, 31.75% received ADT, and 21.75% were treated with RT+ADT. RP was administered to approximately 9% of patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed age and openSP as additional risk factors for iPCa. Conversely, PB and MRI before surgery were linked to a decreased risk. (4) Conclusions: The contemporary prevalence of iPCa after BPH surgery is <3%. The increase in the use of prostate MRI mirrors a decline in the PB biopsy prior to BPH surgery but without resulting in an increased detection rate of iPCa. In contemporary routine clinical practice, iPCa is mostly managed in a different way when compared to biopsy-detected PCa.

The Single-Port (SP) robotic system is increasingly being implemented in the United States, allowing for several minimally invasive urologic procedures to be performed. The present study aims to describe our single-center experience since the adoption of the SP platform. We retrospectively collected and analyzed consecutive SP cases performed at a major teaching hospital in the Midwest (Rush University Medical Center) from December 2020 to December 2023. Demographic variables were collected. Surgical and pathological outcomes were analyzed in the overall cohort and for each type of procedure. The study timeframe was divided into two periods to assess the evolution of SP technical features over time. In total, 160 procedures were performed, with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) being the most common (49.4%). Overall, 54.4% of the procedures were extraperitoneal, with a significantly higher adoption of this approach in the second half of the study period (30% vs 74.3%, p < 0.001). A "plus one" assistant port was adopted in 38.1% of cases, with a shift towards a "pure" single-port surgery in the most recent procedures (21.1% vs 76.7%, p < 0.001). The median LOS was 33.5 h (30-48), with a rate of any grade and CD ≥ 3 postoperative complications of 9.4% and 2.5%, respectively, and a 30-day readmission rate of 1.9%. SP robotic surgery can be safely and effectively implemented for various urologic procedures. With increasing experience, the SP platform allows shifting away from transperitoneal procedures, potentially minimizing postoperative pain, and shortening hospital stay and postoperative recovery., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction and Objectives: The aim of the study is to compare key outcomes of Single-Port (SP) and Multi-Port (MP) robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on our prospectively collected database of patients who underwent SP-RAPN or MP-RAPN at our institution from January 2021 to August 2023. To adjust for potential baseline pre-operative confounders, a 1:1 propensity-score matching analysis (PSMa) was performed. The primary endpoint was to compare perioperative outcomes between the two groups. The secondary endpoint was to compare the achievement of the "Trifecta" outcome (defined as negative surgical margins, absence of high-grade complications and change in eGFR values (ΔeGFR) < 10% at 6 months follow-up) in the matched cohort., Results: After PSMa, 30 SP cases were matched 1:1 to 30 MP cases. In the matched cohort, there were no significant differences between SP and MP approaches in operative time, estimated blood loss, ischemia time, transfusions rate, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and positive surgical margin rates. Patients who underwent SP-RAPN had a shorter median length of stay [25 (IQR:24.0-34.5) vs 34 (IQR:30.2-48.0) hours, p < 0.003]. The Trifecta outcome was achieved in 16 (57%) of SP patients and 17 (63%) of MP patients (p = 0.8)., Conclusions: SP-RAPN can be safely implemented in a Center with an established MP-RAPN program. Despite being early in the SP-RAPN experience, key surgical outcomes are not compromised. While offering comparable perioperative and short-term functional outcomes, SP-RAPN can translate into faster recovery and shorter LOS, paving the way for outpatient robotic surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have nothing to declare., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: We sought to analyze temporal trends in the utilization of minimally invasive vs open adrenalectomy in the United States; to assess costs, perioperative outcomes, and the determining factors influencing these variables., Methods: A retrospective analysis of claims data obtained from PearlDiver Mariner, a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant deidentified nationwide database of insurance billing records, was performed. Per-population utilization rates and trends were analyzed using negative binomial regression and trends tests respectively. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using 2-sided t tests and χ 2 tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of perioperative complication., Results: A total of 10,753 patients were identified (mean age 53.3 ± 16.1 years). Using the 2011 to 2014 time frame as reference, utilization of adrenalectomy decreased over time (incidence rate ratio for 2015-2018: 0.65 [95% CI 0.62-0.68, P < .001]; incidence rate ratio for 2019-2021: 0.39 [95% CI 0.37-0.41, P < .001]). Minimally invasive adrenalectomies increased significantly over time ( P < .001). A greater number of adrenalectomies were performed by general surgeons compared with urologists (70.4% vs 29.5%). Complications were not significantly predicted by any surgical specialty. Significant predictors for complication rates were Charlson comorbidity index > 1 (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.09-1.13), presence of social determinants of health (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.18-1.88) and open approach (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.34-1.77)., Conclusions: The number of adrenalectomies in the United States decreased over the past decade, with a shift towards minimally invasive approach. No difference in outcomes for general surgeons vs urologists can be observed. Social determinants of health are independent predictors of increased rate of complications.

Purpose: To describe the surgical techniques and to analyse the outcomes of single-port robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (SP RASP) procedure for the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)., Methods: Three databases (PubMed®, Web of Science™, and Scopus®) were queried to identify studies reporting on the technical aspects and outcomes of SP RASP. Different combinations of keywords were used, according to a free-text protocol, to identify retrospective and prospective studies, both comparative and non-comparative, systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) describing surgical techniques for SP RASP and the associated surgical and functional outcomes., Results: The transvesical approach represents the most common approach for SP RASP. A decrease in terms of estimated blood loss was observed when SP RASP was compared to open simple prostatectomy (OSP) and multi-port (MP) RASP. Furthermore, this technique allowed for a shorter length of hospital stay (LoS) and a lower post-operative complication rate, compared to OSP. Post-operative subjective and objective functional outcomes are satisfying and comparable to OSP and MP RASP., Conclusion: SP RASP represents a safe and feasible approach for the surgical management of BPH. It provides comparable surgical and functional outcomes to MP RASP, enabling for minimal invasiveness, enhanced recovery, and potential for improving patient care., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The treatment paradigm for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has shifted towards minimally invasive pyeloplasty. A comparison Single Port (SP) and Multi Port (MP) robot-assisted pyeloplasty (RAP) was performed., Methods: Data from consecutive patients undergoing SP RAP or MP RAP between January 2021 and September 2023 were collected and analysed. Co-primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), and narcotic dose. The choice of the robotic system depended on the surgeon's preference and availability of a specific robotic platform., Results: A total of 10 SP RAPs and 12 MP RAPs were identified. SP RAP patients were significantly younger [23 years (20-34)] than MP RAP [42 years (35.5-47.5), p < 0.01]. No difference in terms of OT (p = 0.6), LOS (p = 0.1), DVPRS (p = 0.2) and narcotic dose (p = 0.1) between the two groups was observed., Conclusions: SP RAP can be implemented without compromising surgical outcomes and potentially offering some clinical advantages., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Aim of our study was to review the current evidence on single port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP) and SP robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (SP-RASP) procedures., Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic search on multiple databases was conducted in July 2023. Studies were included if they assessed patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer or candidate for benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery (P) who underwent SP-RARP or SP-RASP, respectively, (I), compared or not with other surgical techniques (C), evaluating perioperative, oncological, or functional outcomes (O). Prospective and retrospective original articles were included (S). A meta-analysis of comparative studies between SP-RARP and MP-RARP was performed., Results: A total of 21 studies investigating 1400 patients were included in our systematic review, 18 were related to SP-RARP while 3 to SP-RASP. Only 8 comparative studies were eligible for meta-analysis. Mean follow-up was 8.1 (±5.8) months. Similar outcomes were observed for SP-RARP and MP-RARP in terms of operative time, catheterization time, pain score, complications rate, continence and potency rates, positive surgical margin, and biochemical recurrence. Length of hospital stay was shorter in the SP group after sensitivity analysis (WMD -0.58, 95% IC -1.17 to -0.9, p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis by extraperitoneal approach did not show any statistical difference, except for a lower positive margins rate in the SP extraperitoneal technique compared to MP-RARP. Overall, SP-RASP exhibited shorter hospital stay and lower rate of de novo urinary incontinence when compared to other techniques, while no differences were reported in terms of postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score, post void residual and maximum flow., Conclusions: Overall comparable oncological, functional, and perioperative outcomes can be achieved with SP platform. Subgroup analysis by different approaches did not reveal significant variations in outcomes. However, the retrospective nature of the studies, the limited follow-up, and the relatively small sample size of selected Centers may impact these results., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Purpose of Review: To systematically review the evidence on prostate cancer (PCa) in transgender women (TGW)., Recent Findings: A total of 25 studies were included. Fourteen articles were case reports or case series describing 21 TGW with PCa; 11 papers focused primarily on assessing the incidence or screening of PCa in TGW. The median (range) age of patients with PCa was 63 (45-78) years. Median (range) PSA at diagnosis was 7.5 (0.4-1710) ng/mL. Prostate biopsy detected ISUP 3-5 in 10 (67%) cases. T3-4 stages were described in 7 (64%) patients. Three (14.3%) cases of nodal involvement and 2 (9.5%) of metastases were reported at diagnosis. First-line therapy included radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy ± androgen deprivation therapy in 14 (74 %) subjects. Median (range) follow-up was 24 (2-120) months. A good response to first-line therapy was recorded in 8 (47.1%) cases. Median (range) incidence of PCa in TGW was 44.1 (4.34-140) cases per 100,000 person-years. PCa was significantly less frequent in TGW than in cisgender males (HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9). Risk of death after PCa diagnosis was significantly higher in TGW compared to cisgender males (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.06-3.45). TGW had lower lifetime PSA rates (48% vs. 64.6%, p = 0.048) than cisgender males. Few cases of PCa in TGW are currently reported. PCa seems significantly less frequent in TGW than in cisgender males; however, some data suggest a possible higher mortality in this cohort. TGW appear to have less access to PSA testing than cisgender men., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is a prevalent cause of hydronephrosis, especially in young patients. The treatment paradigm for this condition has shifted from open to minimally invasive pyeloplasty. In the present study we describe our initial single centre experience with single port (SP) robot-assisted pyeloplasty (RAP) via periumbilical incision., Material and Methods: With the patient in a 60-degree left flank position, the SP system is docked with the Access port (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, US) placed in a periumbilical 3 cm incision. Robotic instruments are deployed as follows: camera at 12 o'clock, bipolar grasper at 9 o'clock, scissors at 3 o'clock and Cadiere at 6 o'clock. After isolation and identification of the ureter and the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ), the ureter is transected at this level and then spatulated. Anastomosis is carried out by two hemicontinuous running sutures, over a JJ stent., Results: Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 8 SP RAP have been performed at our institution, with a median (interquartile range, IQR) of 23 years (20.5-36.5). Intraoperative outcomes showed a median (IQR) OT of 210.5 minutes (190-240.5) and a median (IQR) estimated blood loss (EBL) of 50 mL (22.5-50). No postoperative complications were encountered, with a median (IQR) length of stay (LOS) of 31 hours (28.5-34)., Conclusion: In the present study we evaluated the feasibility and safety of SP RAP. The observed outcomes and potential benefits, combined with the adaptability of the SP platform, hold promising implications for the application of SP system in pyeloplasty treatment., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Objective: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) has become widely used for treatment of renal cell carcinoma and it is expanding in the field of complex renal masses. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze outcomes of RAPN for completely endophytic renal masses, large tumors (cT2-T3), renal cell carcinoma in solitary kidney, recurrent tumors, completely endophytic and hilar masses, and simultaneous and multiple tumors., Methods: A comprehensive search in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed in December 2022 for English language papers. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the role of RAPN in the setting of each category of complex renal masses considered. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes., Results: After screening 1250 records, 43 full-text manuscripts were selected, comprising over 8500 patients. Twelve and thirteen studies reported data for endophytic and hilar renal masses, respectively. Five and three studies reported outcomes for cT2-T3 and solitary kidney patients, respectively. Four studies focused on redo-RAPN for recurrent tumors. Two studies investigated simultaneous bilateral renal masses and five reports focused on multiple tumor excision in ipsilateral kidney., Conclusion: Over the past decade, evidence supporting the use of RAPN for the most challenging nephron-sparing surgery indications has continuously grown. Although limitations remain including study design and lack of detailed long-term functional and oncological outcomes, the adoption of RAPN for the included advanced indications is associated with favorable surgical outcomes with good preservation of renal function without compromising the oncological result. Certainly, a higher likelihood of complication might be expected when facing extremely challenging cases. However, none of these indications should be considered per se an exclusion criterion for performing RAPN. Ultimately, a risk-adapted approach should be employed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 Editorial Office of Asian Journal of Urology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Current guidelines recommend simple prostatectomy or endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) as treatment of choice for bladder prostatic obstruction (BPO) caused by large prostate glands. We aimed to provide a wide-ranging analysis of the currently available evidence, comparing safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) versus open simple prostatectomy (OSP), laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (LSP), and laser EEP., Methods: A systematic search was performed across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for retrospective and prospective studies comparing RASP to OSP or LSP or laser EEP (HoLEP/ThuLEP). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) recommendations were followed to design the search strategies, selection criteria, and evidence report. A meta-analysis evaluated perioperative safety and effectiveness outcomes. The weighted mean difference and risk ratio were used to compare continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for RCT article assessing risk of bias., Results: 15 studies, including 6659 patients, were selected for meta-analysis: 13 observational studies, 1 non-randomized prospective study, and 1 randomized controlled trial. RASP was associated with statistically significant longer operative time (OT) and lower postoperative complication rate, length of stay (LOS), estimated blood loss (EBL), and transfusion rate (TR) compared to OSP. LSP showed longer LOS and lower postoperative SHIM score, with no difference in OT, EBL, and complications. Compared to laser EEP, RASP presented longer LOS and catheterization time and higher TR. ThuLEP presented shorter OT than RASP. No difference were found in functional outcomes between groups both subjectively (IPSS, QoL) and objectively (Qmax, PVR)., Conclusion: RASP has become a size-independent treatment for the management of BPO caused by a large prostate gland. It can duplicate the functional outcomes of OSP while offering a better safety profile. When compared to LSP, the latter still stands as a valid lower-cost option, but it requires solid laparoscopic skill sets and therefore it is unlikely to spread on larger scale. When compared to laser EEP, RASP offers a shorter learning curve, but it still suffers from longer catheterization time and LOS., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background and Objective: Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) represents the gold standard treatment for non-metastatic upper tract urothelial cancer. We sought to provide a comprehensive review of reported oncologic outcomes of the RNU procedure and of factors that might impact these outcomes., Methods: A non-systematic review of the literature was conducted by performing an electronic literature search using PubMed with "radical nephroureterectomy" and "oncologic outcomes" as free text search terms. Both original articles and systematic reviews were considered. Search was limited to articles in English that were published in the last 20 years., Key Content and Findings: Open and laparoscopic RNU offer comparable oncologic outcomes. In more recent years, the discussion has de facto shifted towards the "oncological safety" of robotic RNU, which also seems to offer comparable oncologic outcomes. Several studies have looked at the impact of different treatment-, patient- and tumor-related factors. Among treatment-related factors, attention has been given to diagnostic ureteroscopy and the risk of intravesical recurrence. Surgical wait time and perioperative blood transfusion have also been studied. Perioperative chemotherapy, specifically adjuvant therapy, was shown to improve survival. Among patient-related factors, baseline chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and systemic inflammation have gained recent attention. Some tumor related factors, such as stage, grade, location, and multifocality may negatively impact survival outcomes. Lymphovascular invasion and histologic variants are clinically significant pathological findings., Conclusions: RNU is a procedure with measured long-term oncologic outcomes. Minimally invasive techniques have gained an established role as they seem to offer comparable oncologic "safety", although special attention is needed in relation to the method of bladder cuff excision. Robotic RNU is gaining popularity, and while evidence remains limited, the current literature supports the oncologic safety of this procedure. Several factors, which can be categorized as treatment-related, patient-related, and tumor-related, might impact the oncologic outcomes of UTUC patients undergoing RNU. These factors can provide crucial information to stratify patients based on their relative risk of disease recurrence and mortality which may guide clinical decision-making., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-22-882/coif). The series “Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare., (2023 Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.)

Guidelines for the management of pyeloplasty failure remain elusive given the rarity of this condition and the difficulty of integrating and analyzing reported outcomes given the varying definition of failures. In this article, we aim to review the existing literature on risk factors that may influence the surgical outcomes of reconstructive pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Furthermore, we discuss management options and review success outcomes of treatment options for patients with pyeloplasty failure.

Objective: To provide an update on the web pages of academic Urology departments in the United States and to evaluate for consistency of information available to applicants., Materials and Methods: The American Urologic Association accredited listing of US urology residency programs was accessed in January 2018. One hundred and thirty-five urology residency program websites were then accessed and searched for the presence or absence of 44 criteria. Criteria were grouped into 7 categories: program overview and contact information, application information, program curriculum, current residents, alumni, faculty, and resident benefits. Programs were categorized based on US census bureau designated regions, program size, and by program ranking by the Doximity Urology Residency Program Navigator., Results: Out of 135, 134 (99%) of the AUA accredited listing of US urology residency programs had functional websites. The most commonly available information included clinical rotation sites (84%), resident curriculum (78%), number and names of current residents (76% and 77%, respectively), and faculty names and corresponding subspecialties (74% and 72%, respectively). These trends were similar across geographic regions. The top 20 residency programs on Doximity were more likely to list alumni names (70% vs 35%, P = .005), alumni fellowships (75% vs 30% P = .0003) and alumni jobs (75% vs 29%, P = .001) compared to all other residency programs., Conclusion: There is high variability regarding comprehensiveness of urology residency websites. An informative and well-constructed website has the potential to improve optics and marketability of a residency program. Top notch residency programs are more likely to display fellowship and faculty information, both desirable prospects after residency., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objective: Forniceal rupture due to obstructing ureterolithiasis (FROU) is a seldom encountered radiographic finding, but the impact of this diagnosis and influence on stone management has not been well studied in the literature. The purpose of the study is to examine stone characteristics and intervention patterns of patients with radiographic evidence of FROU. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients with radiographic evidence of FROU was compared with patients with obstructing ureteral stones without forniceal ruptures (noFROU). All patients presented to our Emergency Department from January 2015 until December 2018. Data analyzed included patient demographics, clinical presentation, stone characteristics, and management pattern. Primary outcome was need for hospital admission and surgical intervention. Results: Thirty-two patients with FROU (mean age = 45) were compared with 50 patients with noFROU (mean age = 57). Univariate analysis revealed that age, history of diabetes mellitus, history of hypertension, days of symptoms, degree of hydronephrosis, and degree of perinephric stranding were associated with forniceal rupture ( p  ≤ 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only degree of perinephric stranding remained significant ( p  ≤ 0.05). Average maximum axial stone diameter in the FROU group was 5.1 mm vs 4.7 mm in the noFROU group ( p  = 0.66). Overall, 68.8% of stones were located within the distal ureter in the FROU group vs 48.8% in the noFROU group ( p  = 0.09). There was no difference in hospital admission (FROU 37.5% vs noFROU 44%, p  = 0.56) and need for surgical intervention (FROU 50% vs noFROU 48%, p  = 0.86). There were no 30-day complications in patients with FROU. Conclusions: Ureteral stone location and size does not seem to impact the presence of FROU. FROU may be an alarming reported finding but its presence does not appear to impact clinical outcomes or affect urological management, including admission or need for urologic intervention.

Introduction: Radiation cystitis is associated with a significant burden to patients and the health care system. However, the regional burden of treatment and its associated costs remains poorly described. We assessed the health care costs and need for intervention among patients admitted to the hospital with radiation cystitis., Methods: Using data from the Ohio Hospital Association we identified patients admitted with a diagnosis of radiation cystitis from 2009 to 2013. The primary outcome was the adjusted inpatient cost (adjusted to 2013 U.S. dollars) associated with in-hospital treatment of radiation cystitis. Secondary outcomes included percentage of patients requiring endoscopic urological procedures, blood transfusions and nephrostomy tubes. We used a generalized estimating equation model to determine in-hospital costs. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with requiring an invasive procedure., Results: We identified 1,111 patients admitted to Ohio hospitals between 2009 and 2013 with a diagnosis of radiation cystitis. Mean patient age (±SD) was 73.9 (±12.5) years. Median length of stay was 4 days (IQR 3-8). The adjusted median cost of hospitalization per admission in 2013 for these patients was $7,151 (IQR $4,251-$16,569). Overall 28.9% of patients required blood transfusions, 34.4% required endourological procedures and 3.4% required nephrostomy tubes. The odds of undergoing an invasive procedure were associated with increasing length of stay, need for blood transfusion and male gender., Conclusions: This study is the first population based study to our knowledge to assess the treatment burden and health care costs from radiation cystitis. A diagnosis of radiation cystitis carries with it a significant economic and treatment associated burden.

Objective: To assess the national utilization of partial nephrectomy (PN) for T1a renal masses across different racial groups by hospital type. Although clinical guidelines recommend PN for small renal masses (SRMs), racial disparities persist in the use of PN. High-volume and academic hospitals have been associated with greater use of PN for SRMs. However, it is unknown whether racial disparities persist in the use of PN across different types of hospitals., Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients with localized T1a renal cancer (≤4 cm) from 1998 to 2011. The primary outcome was receipt of PN among patients surgically treated for SRMs. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess for racial differences in treatment with PN stratified by hospital characteristics., Results: Among 118,207 patients diagnosed with clinical T1a renal masses, 36.5% underwent PN (n = 43,134). Overall, a greater proportion of white patients underwent PN (37.3%) compared with African-American (32.4%) and Hispanic (33.7%) patients with SRMs (P <.001). When stratified by hospital type, disparities persisted in the use of PN; African-American patients had lower adjusted odds ratios for being treated with PN when treated at comprehensive community cancer (odds ratio: 0.90; P = .003) and academic (odds ratio: 0.65; P <.001) hospitals compared with white patients., Conclusions: In this population-based cohort, we found that racial disparities persist across all types of hospitals in the use of PN for SRMs. Further research is needed to identify, and target for intervention, the factors contributing to racial disparities in the surgical management of SRMs., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We assessed the relationship of surgical margins across different surgical approaches to partial nephrectomy in patients with clinical T1a renal cell carcinoma in a population based cohort., Materials and Methods: We used NCDB (National Cancer Database) to identify all patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for clinical T1a renal cell carcinoma (tumor size less than 4 cm) from 2010 to 2011. The primary outcome was surgical margin status in patients treated with partial nephrectomy by the open, laparoscopic or robotic approach. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify patient, hospital and surgical factors associated with positive surgical margins., Results: Partial nephrectomy was done in 11,587 patients, including open, laparoscopic and robotic nephrectomy in 5,094 (44%), 1,681 (14%) and 4,812 (42%), respectively. Mean±SD age was 56±12 years. Overall 806 patients (7%) had positive surgical margins. The positive surgical margin prevalence was 4.9%, 8.1% and 8.7% for the open, laparoscopic and robotic approaches, respectively (p<0.001). Laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy had a higher adjusted OR for positive surgical margins (OR 1.81 and 1.79, respectively, each p<0.001) than open nephrectomy. When stratified by hospital type, differences in positive surgical margin rates remained, such that patients treated at academic medical centers who underwent laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy had a higher adjusted OR (1.38, p=0.074 and 1.73, p<0.001, respectively) than patients treated with open partial nephrectomy., Conclusions: Laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy is associated with higher positive surgical margin rates compared to open partial nephrectomy for clinical T1a renal cell carcinoma. The effect of margin status on long-term oncologic outcomes in this context remains to be determined., (Copyright © 2015 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess national trends in the usage of local ablative therapy for small renal masses (SRMs) in a cohort of young patients. Ablation of SRMs has been shown to offer cancer control with limited follow-up. Although ablation is considered effective for patients with limited life expectancy, its use among younger patients may be considered controversial., Methods: We used the National Cancer Data Base to identify patients between the ages of 40 and 65 years who were diagnosed with SRMs from 2004 to 2011. The primary outcome was the use of local ablative therapy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify patient and hospital factors associated with ablation therapies in this cohort., Results: During the study period, we identified 49,441 patients with SRMs, of which 2789 (5.6%) were treated with ablative therapies. The proportion of patients undergoing ablation gradually rose from 2.2% in 2004 to 6.2% in 2011 (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, patients were more likely to receive local ablation at academic hospitals (odds ratio [OR]: 1.5; P < .001) compared with community hospitals, or primarily insured by Medicaid (OR: 1.4; P < .001) or Medicare (OR: 1.3; P < .001) compared with private insurance., Conclusion: The use of local ablative therapies is gradually rising but has so far been limited to a small fraction of young patients with SRMs. Patients treated at high-volume, academic hospitals or insured with Medicaid or Medicare were treated to a greater degree with ablation. These results have important implications for the adoption of ablation and the need for long-term surveillance., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess whether surgical approach and hospital characteristics independently determine the number of lymph nodes (LNs) removed from prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic LN dissection (PLND)., Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified all surgically treated patients diagnosed with pretreatment intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer from 2010 to 2011. The primary outcome was the number of LNs retrieved at the time of RP. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess for differences in the adjusted number of LNs retrieved after accounting for patient and hospital characteristics and surgical approach., Results: Overall, 35,876 patients were diagnosed with intermediate-risk (61.2%) and high-risk (38.8%) prostate cancer and underwent RP and PLND.On multivariate analysis, open RP and high-volume and academic hospitals were independently associated with greater LN counts compared with robotic-assisted RP and medium or low and community hospitals, respectively (all P <.001). After adjusting for patient and hospital variables, higher adjusted LN counts were observed for open RP compared with robotic-assisted RP (7.1 vs 6.1; P <.001). Adjusted counts were also higher for high-volume hospitals compared with medium- or low-volume hospitals (7.8 vs 5.9; P <.001), and academic compared with community hospitals (7.3 vs 5.6; P <.001)., Conclusion: Among patients with aggressive prostate cancer treated with RP and PLND, retrieval of LN counts varied by surgical approach and hospital characteristics., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To characterize traumatic injuries secondary to ureteral stent manipulation and analyze factors associated with their occurrence., Methods: We performed a comprehensive retrospective review of the literature and of our institutional records for occurrences of iatrogenic injury because of retrograde ureteral stent procedures., Results: Overall, 22 cases were identified, including 3 cases at our institution. Most injuries involved a major artery (52%) or vein (30%), with the remainder (17%) limited to the genitourinary tract. Associated factors included: hydronephrosis, pelvic malignancy, indwelling or chronic ureteral stents, chemoradiation, and urinary diversion., Conclusion: Ureteral stenting-induced trauma is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Recognition of the risk factors that predispose patients to iatrogenic stent trauma may help to prevent such injuries or, alternatively, it may facilitate their prompt diagnosis and treatment., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended against routine prostate cancer screening, stating that the risks of screening outweigh the benefits. We determined the impact of this recommendation on prostate cancer screening in a large health system., Materials and Methods: We obtained data on all screening prostate specific antigen tests performed at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and affiliated hospitals in northeastern Ohio from January 2008 to December 2012. We examined the total number of prostate specific antigen tests ordered with time and adjusted for patient volume by fitting a regression line. The overall trend was examined and stratified by location (urban, suburban or rural), patient age and provider type (primary care or urology)., Results: A total of 43,498 screening prostate specific antigen tests were performed from January 2008 to December 2012. Most tests were ordered by specialists in internal medicine (64.9%), followed by family medicine (23.7%), urology (6.1%) and hematology/oncology (1.3%). Prostate specific antigen screening increased with time until March 2009, when initial screening trials were published. Prostate specific antigen testing then decreased significantly and continued to decrease after the task force recommendations. Similar patterns were noted in almost all subgroups. The greatest decrease in screening was observed by urologists and in patients in the intermediate age group (50 to 59 years)., Conclusions: United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations appeared to have decreased prostate cancer screening. The greatest impact was seen for urologists and patients in the intermediate age group. Further study is needed to determine the long-term effects of these recommendations on the screening, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this prevalent malignancy., (Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To further evaluate the accuracy, safety, and impact of image-guided renal biopsies on clinical decision making and management of the indeterminate small renal masses., Methods: A total of 145 patients (males 99, females 46) with small renal masses suspicious for malignancy were evaluated during the study period. The patients' mean age was 67.2 (± 11.6) years. Computed tomography guided biopsies were carried out in all cases by an experienced interventional radiologist. An experienced genitourinary pathologist reviewed all pathological specimens. Patients' demographic characteristics, tumor histology and subsequent intervention, as well as periprocedural morbidities were recorded and analyzed., Results: A total of 145 renal biopsy procedures were carried out. The small renal masses mean size was 2.4 ± 1.1 cm. Biopsy was diagnostic in 126 (86.9%) cases and non-diagnostic in 19 (13.1%) cases. Of diagnostic biopsies, 107 (84.9%) were malignant, 84.1% of which were primary renal cell carcinoma. Histological subtyping and grading of tumor was possible in 100% and 52.2% of renal cell carcinomas, respectively. The major renal cell carcinoma subtype was clear cell (63.3%) followed by papillary (24.4%) and chromophobe (8.8%). Repeat biopsy was carried out in nine of 19 non-diagnostic cases, and diagnosis was possible in 66.7%. Sensitivity of percutaneous renal biopsy was 91%, and its accuracy was 85.5%. Overall, patients' age, sex, tumor size, and location were not related to non-diagnostic biopsy results and/or tumor pathology. No cases of hemorrhage, seeding of biopsy tract, infection or mortalities were observed., Conclusions: Our findings showed that image-guided biopsy of indeterminate small renal masses is safe and can provide the correct diagnosis with a high degree of accuracy. Thus, this procedure can play an important role in establishing a histopathological diagnosis before treatment of enhancing small renal masses with ablative technologies. Furthermore, repeat biopsy can alter the clinical management of non-diagnostic biopsies., (© 2012 The Japanese Urological Association.)

Purpose: Nuclear factor-κB activation is implicated in chronic inflammatory disorders and it is a key regulator of genes involved in the response to infection, inflammation and stress. Interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome are common inflammatory disorders of the bladder characterized by frequent urination and bladder pain. The role of nuclear factor-κB activation in bladder inflammation is not well defined., Materials and Methods: Female transgenic nuclear factor-κB-luciferase Tag mice (The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine) were used to perform serial, noninvasive in vivo and ex vivo molecular imaging of nuclear factor-κB activation in the whole body after administering arsenic trioxide (5 mg/kg), lipopolysaccharide (2 mg/kg) or cyclophosphamide (Sigma®) (200 mg/kg) to initiate acute transient bladder inflammation. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (Sigma) (10 mg/kg) was used to modulate cyclophosphamide induced nuclear factor-κB dependent luminescence in vivo., Results: Treatment of nuclear factor-κB-luciferase Tag mice with chemicals increased luminescence in a time and organ specific manner in vivo and ex vivo. The highest levels of bladder nuclear factor-κB dependent luminescence were observed 4 hours after cyclophosphamide administration. Pretreatment with dexamethasone 1 hour before cyclophosphamide injection significantly down-regulated cyclophosphamide induced bladder nuclear factor-κB dependent luminescence, ameliorated the grossly evident pathological features of acute inflammation and decreased cellular immunostaining for nuclear factor-κB in the bladder., Conclusions: Nuclear factor-κB activity may have an important role in the pathophysiology of bladder inflammation. Nuclear factor-κB-luciferase mice can serve as a useful model in which to screen potential candidate drugs for cystitis associated with aberrant nuclear factor-κB activity. Such screening may significantly aid the development of therapeutic strategies to manage inflammatory bladder disorders., (Copyright © 2012 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate whether the trend in patient selection or perioperative parameters were associated with treatment outcomes after percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) of renal masses., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed our urological oncology database and identified 52 patients treated for a total of 54 renal masses. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate whether the variables of age, gender, tumor size, number of probes used, total freezing time, preoperative creatinine, American Society of Anesthesia class, body mass index, or age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score had an impact on the outcomes of treatment failure or the complication rate., Results: During a mean follow-up of 21 months, recurrence-free, overall, and disease-specific (based on radiographic follow-up and biopsy) survival were 96.2%, 98.1% and 100%, respectively. The mean age-adjusted CCI score for patients with postoperative complications was 6.5, compared with a mean score of 3.0 in patients without postoperative complications (P = .02). The complication rate was also significantly higher when a greater number of cryoprobes were used during PCA (P < .005). None of the variables analyzed were predictive of treatment failure., Conclusions: Of the pre- and intraoperative variables studied, age-adjusted CCI score and number of cryoprobes used were the only variables with predictive value for outcomes in regard to treatment failure or complications. As investigators continue using cryoablation to treat renal masses, it is important to be able to completely and honestly counsel patients regarding the likelihood of complications and need for subsequent therapy in the setting of treatment failure., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To present the initial clinical experience in children undergoing unilateral and bilateral laparoendoscopic single-site nephrectomy., Patients and Methods: We reviewed our experience with pediatric patients who had undergone single-port nephrectomy (SPN) at our institution since August of 2009. Access was obtained by using the Hassan technique to place a 2-cm SILS™ Port (Covidien Surgical Devices, Norwalk, CT), which contains a gas insufflation channel and three individual cannulas that can readily accommodate laparoscopic instruments up to 12 mm in diameter. Nephrectomy was performed using a standard set of laparoscopic instruments and a rigid 5 mm 30 degree laparoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) with an end-on light source. Patient demographics, operative details, and postoperative treatment parameters were collected and recorded., Results: SPN was successfully performed in three consecutive pediatric patients (one female and two male patients: aged 11, 10, and 13 years, respectively) without placement of additional trocars or conversion to open surgery. The operative time for the unilateral SPN was 188 minutes, whereas bilateral SPNs required 214 and 300 minutes, respectively. Estimated blood loss for the unilateral and bilateral SPNs was 25, 20, and 30 mL; whereas patients were discharged on postoperative days 1, 3, and 12, respectively. The prolonged hospital stay was secondary to fever and pseudomembranous colitis in a patient with dialysis who also required a blood transfusion., Conclusions: Laparoendoscopic single-site simple nephrectomy is a technically demanding yet feasible procedure in children. Further studies are necessary to define the indications, advantages, and limitations of this technique as compared with standard laparoscopy.

Objectives: To describe 2 pure natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) techniques for partial cystectomy in a porcine model. NOTES is a new minimally invasive modality for performing abdominal surgery without transcutaneous incision., Methods: Transurethral-A rigid cystoscope is inserted into the porcine bladder with CO(2) insufflation. With an endoscopic loop device and a grasping device, the targeted area of the bladder is manipulated into the loop. The bladder segment is excised with electrocautery. Transgastric-A gastrotomy is made with a dual channel endoscope in the porcine stomach. The endoscope is inserted and pneumoperitoneum is established by insufflation through a channel. After identifying bladder, 2 endoscopic loops are placed at the intended area of resection. An incision is made between the loops to excise the specimen. In both cases, full-thickness specimen is removed en bloc with the scope and the defect is reapproximated with endoscopic clips., Results: Transurethral and transgastric NOTES approaches were achieved using standard endoscopic equipment in a porcine model. Transurethral NOTES partial cystectomy was successful in acute (n = 2) and chronic (n = 2) models. The transgastric NOTES approach was successfully performed in an acute animal., Conclusions: NOTES partial cystectomy could potentially reduce morbidity of conventional methods of partial cystectomy. Transurethral NOTES may be the least invasive method possible for partial cystectomy. Potential advantages of a transgastric NOTES approach include visualization of adjacent structures, access to sites difficult to reach transurethrally, and lymph node sampling. However, a gastrotomy could be a source of morbidity. Further investigation is required to assess safety, efficacy, and adequate bladder healing.