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ObjectiveTo determine patient outcomes across a range of pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) severity. PFUI is a devastating consequence of a pelvic fracture. No study has stratified PFUI outcomes based on severity of the urethral distraction injury.MethodsAdult male patients with blunt-trauma-related PFUI were followed prospectively for a minimum of six months at 27 US medical centers from 2015-2020. Patients underwent retrograde cystourethroscopy and retrograde urethrography to determine injury severity and were categorized into three groups: (1) major urethral distraction, (2) minor urethral distraction, and (3) partial urethral injury. Major distraction vs minor distraction was determined by the ability to pass a cystoscope retrograde into the bladder. Simple statistics summarized differences between groups. Multi-variable analyses determined odds ratios for obstruction and urethroplasty controlling for urethral injury type, age, and Injury Severity Score.ResultsThere were 99 patients included, 72(72%) patients had major, 13(13%) had minor, and 14(14%) had partial urethral injuries. The rate of urethral obstruction differed in patients with major (95.8%), minor (84.6%), and partial injuries (50%) (P < 0.001). Urethroplasty was performed in 90% of major, 66.7% of minor, and 35.7% of partial injuries (P < 0.001).ConclusionIn PFUI, a spectrum of severity exists that influences outcomes. While major and minor distraction injuries are associated with a higher risk of developing urethral obstruction and need for urethroplasty, up to 50% of partial PFUI will result in obstruction, and as such need to be closely followed.

Ultrasound's versatility and ease of use has expanded its application in many clinical settings. Technological advancements with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) have allowed high quality imaging similar to CT or MRI with lower risk of contrast toxicity and radiation exposure. In this review article we examine the development of CEUS and its vast applications in the field of urology.A PubMed literature search was performed using keywords: contrast enhanced ultrasound, prostate cancer, renal cancer, and multiparametric ultrasound.The development of CEUS has improved transrectal ultrasound imaging with increased detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Further enhancements of CEUS such as subharmonic imaging (SHI), flash replenishment imaging (FRI) and contrast ultrasound dispersion imaging (CUDI) allow improved PCa diagnosis. CEUS has also emerged as an important tool in characterizing suspicious renal mass without compromising renal function with contrast imaging.CEUS has modernized imaging and diagnosis of prostate and renal cancer. Future advancements and utilization of CEUS will allow its expansion into other urological subspecialties.

BackgroundPelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) occurs in up to 10% of pelvic fractures. There is mixed evidence supporting early endoscopic urethral realignment (EUR) over suprapubic tube (SPT) placement and delayed urethroplasty. Some studies show decreased urethral obstruction with EUR, while others show few differences. We hypothesized that EUR would reduce the rate of urethral obstruction after PFUI.MethodsTwenty-six US medical centers contributed patients following either an EUR or SPT protocol from 2015 to 2020. If retrograde cystoscopic catheter placement failed, patients were included and underwent either EUR or SPT placement based on their institution's assigned treatment arm. Endoscopic urethral realignment involved simultaneous antegrade/retrograde cystoscopy to place a catheter across the urethral injury. The primary endpoint was development of urethral obstruction. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the relationship between PFUI management and development of urethral obstruction.ResultsThere were 106 patients with PFUI; 69 (65%) had complete urethral disruption and failure of catheter placement with retrograde cystoscopy. Of the 69 patients, there were 37 (54%) and 32 (46%) in the EUR and SPT arms, respectively. Mean age was 37.0 years (SD, 16.3 years) years, and mean follow-up was 463 days (SD, 280 days) from injury. In the EUR arm, 36 patients (97%) developed urethral obstruction compared with 30 patients (94%) in the SPT arm ( p = 0.471). Urethroplasty was performed in 31 (87%) and 29 patients (91%) in the EUR and SPT arms, respectively ( p = 0.784).ConclusionIn this prospective multi-institutional study of PFUI, EUR was not associated with a lower rate of urethral obstruction or need for urethroplasty when compared with SPT placement. Given the potential risk of EUR worsening injuries, clinicians should consider SPT placement as initial treatment for PFUI when simple retrograde cystoscopy is not successful in placement of a urethral catheter.Level of evidenceTherapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Background Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an emerging technology that may allow for more sensitive and sophisticated microbial testing of the microbiota of penile prostheses (PP). Aim To describe the microorganism profiles of PP explanted for infection, erosion, and mechanical malfunction using NGS. Methods All patients who underwent PP removal by two physicians at two institutions were identified. Differences in alpha diversity (ie, number of species detected, species diversity across samples) and microbiome compositional profiles (Bray-Curtis community dissimilarities) across samples were assessed using ANOVA and PERMANOVA, respectively. Outcomes Number of species detected, species diversity across samples, and microbiome compositional profiles. Results A total of 83 patients who underwent device removal for infection (n = 8, 10%), erosion (n = 5, 6%), and mechanical malfunction (n = 70, 84%) were included. When considering all devices, 56% (n = 48) of NGS and 29% (n = 24) of standard cultures resulted positive for presence of microorganisms. Culture only detected the most abundant NGS species in 62.5% (n = 5) of infected devices. Species richness and microbiome compositional profiles varied by surgical indication, but not by age, race, diabetes status, or implant duration. Most frequent organisms by surgical indication were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (infection), Staphylococcus epidermidis (erosion), and Escherichia coli (mechanical malfunction). The highest relative abundance organisms were P aeruginosa (infection), Corynebacterium jeikeium (erosion), and E coli (mechanical malfunction). Clinical Implications Identifying microbiome profiles of PP removed for infection, erosion, and mechanical malfunction may guide the selection of peri-operative antibiotics and PP antibiotic coatings or hydrophilic dip solutions for each individual scenario. Strengths and Limitations While this is the first study to utilize next-generation sequencing to evaluate penile prosthesis biofilm, the clinical significance of these findings has yet to be determined. A prospective, randomized trial aimed at evaluating the clinical significance of NGS in patients with PP infection is currently underway. Conclusion NGS testing identified distinct microbiome profiles of PP removed for infection, erosion, and mechanical malfunction.

Traditional culture is the current standard-of-care to determine therapeutic antibiotics for patients suffering from penile prostheses (PP) infections. However, approximately 50% of PPs removed for infection are culture negative. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) compares DNA sequences to reference sequences with known microbial taxonomies to identify isolates and report relative abundances. We aim to compare the ability for standard culture and NGS techniques to identify microorganisms and biofilm composition on PPs.Ninety-one PPs explanted for mechanical malfunction were included in this study. Devices removed for infection or erosion were excluded. During revision surgery, two specimens were collected and sent for culture testing at institutional laboratory and for NGS testing (MicroGenDx, Lubbock, TX, USA). Species' relative abundances, sample diversity and richness, and compositional differences among samples were analyzed.NGS had a higher rate of microbial detection (n = 72, 79.1%) compared to culture results (n = 3, 3.3%). Some of the bacteria identified using both methods were known prosthetic infectious pathogens, with NGS producing more isolates (mean: 11) than culture (mean: 1). Escherichia coli was the most abundant and most frequently occurring bacteria detected on NGS. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were the most common bacteria detected on traditional culture.NGS appears to be beneficial in its thorough analysis of PP biofilm composition when compared to culture methods. We hope that further research will be able to demonstrate a clinical benefit of NGS in characterizing distinct microbiomes and biofilms of infected PP, which can aid in tailoring antimicrobial therapy and improving patient outcomes.

Pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) occurs in up to 10% of pelvic fractures. There is mixed evidence supporting early endoscopic urethral realignment (EUR) over suprapubic tube (SPT) placement and delayed urethroplasty. Some studies show decreased urethral obstruction with EUR, while others show few differences. We hypothesized that EUR would reduce the rate of urethral obstruction after PFUI.Twenty-six US medical centers contributed patients following either an EUR or SPT protocol from 2015-2020. If retrograde cystoscopic catheter placement failed, patients were included and underwent either EUR or SPT placement based on their institution's assigned treatment arm. EUR involved simultaneous antegrade/retrograde cystoscopy to place a catheter across the urethral injury. The primary endpoint was development of urethral obstruction. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the relationship between PFUI management and development of urethral obstruction.There were 106 patients with PFUI; 69(65%) had complete urethral disruption and failure of catheter placement with retrograde cystoscopy. Of the 69 patients, there were 37(54%) and 32(46%) in the EUR and SPT arms, respectively. Mean age was 37.0 (SD = 16.3) years and mean follow-up was 463(SD = 280) days from injury. In the EUR arm, 36(97%) patients developed urethral obstruction compared to 30(94%) patients in the SPT arm (p = 0.471). Urethroplasty was performed in 31(87%) and 29(91%) patients in the EUR and SPT arms, respectively (p = 0.784).In this prospective multi-institutional study of PFUI, EUR was not associated with a lower rate of urethral obstruction or need for urethroplasty when compared to SPT placement. Given the potential risk of EUR worsening injuries, clinicians should consider SPT placement as initial treatment for PFUI when simple retrograde cystoscopy is not successful in placement of a urethral catheter.Level II, This is a Care Management Study.

To review and report data on transformation to urethral carcinoma after urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease. Primary urethral carcinoma is a rare entity, and guidelines lack high quality data from which to cite. Urethroplasty is a highly effective treatment for urethral stricture disease, though in rare cases complications may include development of urethral carcinoma.A systematic PubMed search was performed to identify all articles describing patients with urethral carcinoma after urethroplasty. Data were collected on the following parameters: patient age and sex, indication for urethroplasty, presentation of cancer, imaging, pathology, presence of metastasis, intervention, and outcome.The final cohort included fourteen patients, 13 from previously published cases and one from our institution. The median patient age at presentation was 60, most had endoscopic management prior to urethroplasty, and the majority presented with decreased urinary stream. All patients developed squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra. Patients underwent radical resection, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, often in combination. A majority of patients had died at the time of case report.Development of urethral squamous cell carcinoma, particularly after urethroplasty, is a rarely encountered process. Patients and urologists must have a high index of suspicion and investigate symptoms such as fistula or lower urinary tract symptoms, even if these occur many months or even years after buccal mucosa graft . By compiling previously reported cases and adding an additional case to the literature, we hope that familiarity with this entity will lead to earlier recognition and diagnosis of disease.

Penile prosthesis (PP) is a gold standard for treatment of erectile dysfunction given its reliability and efficacy. Infection remains the most feared complication of prosthetic surgery, which usually results in device removal, and places a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. While biofilms have shown to support the persistence of microorganisms, the degree by which this matrix is truly pathogenic remains unknown given its high prevalence even in asymptomatic patients. We aim to review and summarize the current literature pertaining to biofilm formation in the setting of PP surgeries in clinically infected and non-infected cases.Searches were performed in the MEDLINE online database through PubMed using a combination of keywords "penile prosthetic" OR "penile prosthesis" OR "penile implant" AND "biofilm" OR "revision" OR "removal" OR "infection" OR "explant". Eleven articles met inclusion criteria. There were only three studies that explicitly listed the number of biofilms identified in their cohort, but we also included eight articles that mentioned swabbing and culturing of any bacterial biofilm during revision procedures for both clinically infected and non-infected implants.Infected PP yielded a 11-100% rate of biofilm presence, while non-infected PP yielded a 3-70% rate of biofilm presence. Time to reoperation from initial PP placement were also largely variable, ranging from 2 weeks to over 2 years. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (i.e.,Since the advent of PP surgery, diabetes control, revision washout protocols and antibiotic-impregnated devices have led to an overall decrease in biofilm formation and infectious complications. There is an overall paradigm shift in microbial profiles with more virulent organisms, such as

Prior studies evaluating the efficacy of penile prostheses (PP) and intracavernosal injections (ICI) have focused predominantly on sexual function, not psychosocial health. We utilized the freelisting technique and the Self-Esteem and Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire to evaluate the impact of PP and ICI treatments on psychosocial functioning.IRB-approval was obtained to perform an evaluation of patients who underwent PP or ICI treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Using a modified freelisting approach, participants were asked to give three one-word responses to questions about sexual function and relationships. Participants also completed the SEAR questionnaire and results were calculated based on the previously described formulas.Fifty patients agreed to participate in the study (25 ICI, 25 PP). In the freelisting portion of the study, PP patients had more positive responses than ICI patients in 2 out of 3 questions. The freelisting study also identified important areas of concern for ED patients such as self-esteem, confidence, and treatment reliability. PP patients reported numerically higher SEAR total scores than ICI patients (63.9 vs. 53.9, p = 0.12), especially in confidence with duration of (p = 0.003), satisfaction with sexual performance (p = 0.06), and confidence with sexual performance (p = 0.02). SEAR confidence domain (p = 0.83), self-esteem subscale (p = 0.68), and overall relationship sub-scales (p = 0.90) were similar between PP and ICI patients.PP appears to have a stronger psychosocial impact compared to ICI; however, both PP and ICI patients continue to struggle with self-esteem, confidence, and treatment reliability. Further patient counseling before and after treatment may help to address these concerns and improve patient satisfaction.

To evaluate whether volumetric measurements of segmental vascular injuries (SVIs) based on computed tomography (CT) imaging obtained during an initial trauma survey correlate with future nuclear medicine (NM) split renal function. A retrospective review was performed of renal trauma patients treated at a level 1 trauma center between 2008 and 2015. Patients with unilateral SVIs on initial CT imaging with follow-up NM renal scans were evaluated. CT-based split renal function was calculated by assessing the ratio of ipsilateral uninjured kidney volume to bilateral total uninjured kidney volume by two separate radiologists. Eight patients with unilateral SVIs on initial CT trauma evaluation underwent follow-up NM renal scans at a mean of 4 months (range 2–6) after injury. Mean NM split renal function of the injured kidney was 43% (range 22–57). Based on the CT volumetric measurements of the affected kidney, mean percent injured was 23% (range 7–62) with a calculated mean split renal function of 44% (range 23–60). Calculated mean CT split function correlated with NM split function (R = 0.89). Intraclass correlation measuring inter-rater reliability for CT volumetric measurements was 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.72–0.99). Volumetric measurements based on CT imaging obtained during the initial trauma evaluation correlated with future NM split renal function after SVIs with high inter-rater reliability. This method utilizes pre-existing imaging and avoids additional radiation exposure, work burden, and financial cost from a NM scan. Further evaluation is required to assess feasibility with more complex injuries.

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare and lethal intraepithelial malignancy that remains poorly understood. No standardized guidelines or consensus statements exist with regards to the diagnostic evaluation, therapeutic approaches and follow-up management. Complete surgical excision with negative margins has been accepted as the mainstay of treatment for EMPD to decrease the risk of local recurrence and to maximize durable cure. Non-invasive therapies, such as laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy and topical chemotherapy have been utilized, but are best reserved for non-surgical candidates. While the debate on the surgical approach between wide local excision (WLE) and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) continues, several studies have demonstrated the ability of WLE to be performed safely and effectively and to yield equally satisfactory outcomes with similar rates of recurrence to MMS. Patients undergoing surgical excision often require complex closures with skin grafting or local flaps to close genital defects. We aim to provide an up-to-date review of the current knowledge of EMPD. In addition to discussing the clinical presentation and prognostic outcomes, we focus and elaborate on the diagnostic approaches and treatment alternatives available. This information may serve as a primer for the urologist who may be called upon to treat this malignancy primarily or to provide wound coverage secondarily.

Introduction:Transgender patients face significant barriers to care, including providers who lack compassion, comfort and knowledge. We assessed the preparedness of an outpatient urology cl...

IntroductionMedical providers may not be familiar with the genitourinary and sexual symptoms of transgender and non-binary (TGNB) individuals. This lack of familiarity may hinder a provider's ability to address these issues as patients may hesitate to report symptoms due to fear of stigma, misgendering, and being treated disrespectfully.AimTo describe the array of genitourinary and sexual symptoms in transfeminine individuals.MethodsUpon institutional review board approval, researchers used semi-structured interviews with 25 transfeminine individuals assigned male at birth to explore urinary and sexual symptoms on a sample of convenience. Participants were recruited and interviews were conducted until saturation was achieved. Two research assistants independently coded all de-identified transcripts and resolved discrepancies.OutcomesThematic codes pertaining to genitourinary and sexual symptoms were defined and assessed in this study.ResultsSome genitourinary symptoms unrelated to hormone therapy or genital gender-affirming surgery (GGAS) included frequency, urgency, nocturia, and incontinence, while those attributed to GGAS included slow stream, spraying, and retention. Sexual symptoms unrelated to hormone therapy or GGAS included sexually transmitted infections, erectile dysfunction, and low libido. Sexual symptoms related to GGAS included delayed ejaculation, penile pain, scar tissue pain, and pain with receptive vaginal penetration.Clinical ImplicationsIncreased provider awareness of and accountability for the treatment of genital and sexual symptoms of transfeminine individuals.Strengths and LimitationsOpen-ended questions were used to generate a range of responses and perspectives through conversation instead of quantifiable data. Findings are not applicable to all TGNB people since participants were limited to transfeminine adults assigned male at birth only. Recruitment was limited by the sensitive nature of the topic and hard-to-reach populations and relied on convenience through flyers and a chain-referral sampling approach.ConclusionTransfeminine individuals experience a wide array of genitourinary and sexual symptoms both similar and different to their cis gender counterparts.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Previous studies have used traditional culture methods to identify bacterial species present during revision penile prostheses (PP) surgery. Next-generation sequencing (N...

Urologists will benefit from an imaging modality which can assess intra and extraluminal characteristics of urethral strictures. We conducted a prospective pilot study evaluating the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear wave elastography for the evaluation of bulbar urethral stricture disease.Patients with a single, bulbar urethral stricture were prospectively recruited. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear wave elastography were performed at the time of surgical repair and at 4 months' followup using an Aplio i800 scanner (Canon Medical Systems, Tustin, California) with an i8CX1 transducer. Sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microsphere ultrasound contrast (Lumason®, Bracco Imaging, Princeton, New Jersey) was injected retrograde through the urethra. Stiffness of the corpus spongiosum was measured at and adjacent to the stricture site. Stricture lengths based on retrograde urethrogram, grayscale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were correlated with measured intraoperative stricture length.Thirty men were enrolled. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (RThis pilot study demonstrates the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear wave elastography to become safe, accurate, and potentially efficacious modalities for assessing bulbar urethral strictures and spongiofibrosis.

BACKGROUND Bladder injuries often occur in the setting of polytrauma, and if severe, may require open surgical repairs. We assess the role of urologists and general surgeons (GS) in the open surgical management of bladder injuries and their outcomes in a traumatic setting. METHODS Patients who underwent open bladder injury repair secondary to trauma from 2000 to 2017 by urology or GS were identified in the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database by International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev.-Clinical Modification procedure codes (57.19-57.93). Patient demographics, initial trauma assessment, length of hospital stay, associated complications, and mortality were evaluated. Urology management of a bladder injury was defined by documentation of a urologist in the operating room or urological consultation during the hospital stay. GS management was defined by documented bladder repair without urology involvement as described previously. RESULTS Of 624,504 patients in the database, 701 met inclusion criteria (419 managed by urology, 282 by GS). The most commonly performed procedure was suturing of bladder lacerations (80.5%). On univariate analysis, GS was more likely to manage patients with penetrating injuries and those who required exploratory laparotomy less than 2 hours upon arrival. Urology was more likely to manage patients with concomitant pelvic fractures and higher Injury Severity Score (ISS). On multivariate analysis, higher ISS was predictive of urology management (odds ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.87, p = 0.008), while patients who required urgent exploratory laparotomy was predictive of GS management (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.55, p < 0.001). Patients with concomitant pelvic fractures (n = 318) were also more likely to have higher ISS (p < 0.001) and were more likely to be managed by urology (odds ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.30, p = 0.046). Mortality, length of hospital stay, and complication rates were not significantly different between the two specialties and among individual procedures. CONCLUSION Our study describes the landscape of traumatic bladder repairs between urology and GS. GS may maintain similar patient outcomes when managing select cases of traumatic bladder injuries in the absence of urologists. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, level IV.

Objective To describe our surgical experience for the treatment and management of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD). Methods Our surgical approach involves excising a 2-cm margin of normal appearing skin around the EMPD-suspicious lesion. Prior to excision, the tissue is oriented and demarcated into predefined segments in coordination with a pathologist. Frozen sections are performed when necessary to guide additional excision. Xenograft or wet-to-dry dressings are applied depending on size and location of the wound while the specimen is expeditiously reviewed over the following 24-48 hours. If positive margins remain, further excision of the corresponding skin segment is performed. Delayed complex wound closure +/− split thickness skin grafting is performed once negative margins are confirmed. Results Ten EMPD patients were referred to two academic centers between 2014 and 2018. Two patients had positive lymph nodes at diagnosis and underwent palliative surgery and died within 12 and 29 months. The remaining 8 patients underwent a median of 1 surgery (range 0-3) with referring providers before undergoing a median of 3 surgeries (range 2-5) at our institutions to achieve negative surgical margins and wound reconstruction (7 split thickness skin grafts, 1 secondary closure). At mean follow-up of 15 months, 1 patient recurred, required further excision, and remains disease free. Conclusion EMPD is a rare malignancy with poorly described treatment methodologies. Due to its multifocal distribution and asymmetric spread, obtaining negative margins can be challenging. Our systematic approach to obtaining wide margins and documenting excised skin has enabled us to achieve negative margins for this challenging malignancy.

Author(s): Chung, Paul H; Vanni, Alex J; Breyer, Benjamin N; Erickson, Bradley A; Myers, Jeremy B; Alsikafi, Nejd; Buckley, Jill; Elliott, Sean P; Zhao, Lee C; Voelzke, Bryan B; Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS) | Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare the utility of generic health quality of life (QOL) and condition specific indicators as patient reported outcomes measures for urethral stricture surgery.Materials and methodsPatient data were obtained from the Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons collaborative database. Patients who underwent any successful urethroplasty and completed both pre- and postoperative generic and condition-specific questionnaires were included.ResultsA total of 201 patients met inclusion criteria. Urethral-stricture specific measures improved after surgery: mean LUTS score (13.1-4.0, pl0.05), Peeling curve (3.1-1.7, p l 0.05), and overall interference of urinary symptoms on life (3.0-1.6, p l 0.05). Mean overall health status visual analog scale (74.2-80.0, p l 0.05) and generic health QOL EQ-5D index scores (0.90-0.95, p l 0.05) also improved; however, individual EQ-5D measures assessing mobility, self-care, and activity level did not change. EQ-5D measures for pain/discomfort (1.48-1.23, p l 0.05) and anxiety/depression (1.33-1.21, p l 0.05) improved, but not to the same extent as stricture-specific measures. More patients reported improvement in condition-specific urethra/penis pain and bladder pain compared to improvement in generic EQ-5D pain/discomfort (p l 0.001).ConclusionGeneric health QOL indicators are less meaningful in the assessment of urethral stricture surgery and should be replaced with condition-specific outcomes measures. It is important to ensure that appropriate condition-specific outcomes measures are utilized as patient reported outcomes measures become more prevalent in medicine and potentially become utilized to evaluate surgeon outcomes and determine surgeon reimbursement.

OBJECTIVE To examine trends in the financial relationship between biomedical companies and leaders in urologic education during the first 3 full calendar years since implementation of the Sunshine Act. METHODS All accredited American Urological Association (AUA) residency programs were identified using the AUA website. Urology program directors and department chairs of the affiliated institutions were identified using residency program or urology department websites. Urology journal editors who practice in the United States were identified using the SCImago Journal & Country Rank website. All identified individuals were categorized by urologic subspecialty and AUA region based on information stated on their corresponding websites. Payment data for each individual from 2014 to 2016 was accessed using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments website, and statistical analyses were performed to elucidate trends based on leadership position, urologic specialty, AUA region, payment type, and overall payments over time. RESULTS Out of the 239 urologists identified, 85%, 78%, and 91% received some sort of payment in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Department chairs accepted payments more readily than program directors and journal editors in all years. Average total payments for all urologists increased yearly, with mean general payments trending down and mean research payments trending up. CONCLUSION The Sunshine Act was passed in part to promote transparency of the physician-industry relationship. Though the proportion of urologic leaders accepting payments between 2014 and 2016 did not change significantly, increased public scrutiny could have contributed to the decrease in yearly general payments and the increase in yearly research payments.

Utilizing a physician-reported survey, we assessed general surgeons (GS) comfort level in the management of bladder trauma, from a GS and urologist's perspective.Online questionnaires were distributed electronically to physicians of the American College of Surgeons and American Urological Association. This survey queried demographic data, clinical factors that may influence urology consultations, and bladder injury scenarios of varying severities. Two questions were presented for each scenario, the first querying GS comfort level in bladder trauma management, the second assessing the likelihood of obtaining urology consultations in such scenarios. Responses were graded on a Likert scale.Overall, 108 (51%) GS and 104 (49%) urologists responded. When compared to managing Grade I injuries, the comfort level of GS decreased as the severity of bladder trauma increased, while the likelihood of obtaining a urology consultation increased. While the perceived comfort of GS by urologists decreased from 84% to 5% for Grade I to Grade V injuries, GS reported a significantly higher comfort level (Grade I: 92%, p = 0.09; Grade V: 31%, p0.001). Majority of GS indicated that preoperative diagnosis on imaging (56%), intraoperative diagnosis (62%), and timing of patient presentation (76%), did not affect their decision to consult urology for assistance in bladder trauma (p0.001).GS-reported comfort levels for bladder trauma management remains higher than urology-perceived comfort levels. Contrary to urologists' perception, most peri-injury factors did not affect GS decision to consult urology for bladder trauma. We hope this study can foster discussion and improve interdisciplinary collaboration in bladder trauma management.

Infection of artificial urinary sphincters or inflatable penile prostheses is one of the most devastating complications after prosthetic surgery and can have a significant impact on a quality of life. Patients undergoing revision surgery with or without device replacement may have increased risk for infection when compared to initial primary surgery. As such, surgeons may utilize traditional culture results to direct antimicrobial therapy for these patients. Unfortunately, culture results can be inconclusive in up to one-third of the time even in the setting of active device infection. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA is an emerging technology capable of sequencing entire bacterial genomes and has the potential to identify microbial composition in explanted devices. Herein, we describe our institutional experience on NGS utilization in patients with genitourinary prostheses. We also highlight our methods and techniques to inform readers on the potential practices that can enhance the utility and diagnostic yield of this new and upcoming technology.

The implantation of penile protheses for the surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction has risen in popularity over the past several decades. Considerable advances have been made in surgical protocol and device design, specifically targeting infection prevention. Despite these efforts, device infection remains a critical problem, which causes significant physical and emotional burden to the patient. The aim of this review is to broaden the discussion of best practices by not only examining practices in urology, but additionally delving into the field of orthopaedic surgery to identify techniques and approaches that may be applied to penile prothesis surgery.

Objective To describe perspectives and experiences related to urology care-seeking of transgender and non-binary (TGNB) individuals assigned male at birth. Materials and Methods This HIPAA-compliant study was IRB approved and followed Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) guidelines. Through semistructured interviews, perspectives, and experiences of individuals related to urology care-seeking were explored. Open-ended questions were designed to elicit a range of responses rather than quantifiable data. Thematic codes were developed and explicitly defined. Codes pertaining to patient experiences were assessed and described. Results Twenty-five TGNB individuals assigned male at birth were interviewed. Participants reported an array of factors that informed and inhibited care-seeking, factors that framed individual urologic care experiences, and their overall impression of the healthcare system's ability to effectively and respectfully serve the TGNB population. Specifically, participants reported that prior negative healthcare experiences dissuaded them from seeking care such as feeling discriminated against and having a lack of trust in providers. Additionally, participants reported feeling a need and responsibility to “educate” providers on both their medical needs and psychosocial experiences. Participants were also unclear how best to identify “trans-friendly” urologists who are culturally competent and have appropriate medical knowledge. Conclusion TGNB individuals face significant barriers to care for unique healthcare needs. TGNB participants described care avoidance and reported experiences of healthcare discrimination. These data highlight the importance for urologists to understand the perspectives and historical experiences of these individuals who may seek urological care.

Peyronie's disease is a common, benign condition characterized by an acquired penile abnormality due to fibrosis of the tunica albuginea. This may lead to penile curvature, deformity, discomfort, pain, and erectile dysfunction, resulting in emotional and psychosocial effects on patients. Therefore, it is important for urologists to thoroughly evaluate the extent of the patient's bother and discuss treatment goals, therapeutic options, and expectations.We provide a review of the current landscape for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of Peyronie's disease, including oral, topical, intralesional, external energy, and surgical therapies.The hallmark of managing Peyronie's disease is attentive patient counseling. Patients may be hesitant to discuss their symptoms unless inquired directly and may not be aware that treatments exist. It is not uncommon for Peyronie's disease to be diagnosed incidentally during a routine or unrelated healthcare visit, with reported rates of incidental diagnosis as high as 16%. Treatment options are stratified by disease phase which is defined by whether symptoms (e.g. penile deformity and discomfort) are actively changing or have stabilized. Conservative therapy is the most common recommendation during the active phase with more invasive treatments reserved for the passive phase. Conservative therapy may include oral or topical medication, intralesional injection, and external energy therapy. These treatments may also have a role in improving symptoms during the passive phase prior to undergoing more definitive surgical treatment. Surgical interventions include tunical plication, plaque incision or excision with or without grafting, and penile prosthesis implantation. Despite the variety of treatment options available to patients, each has a distinct efficacy and adverse effect profile, warranting thorough discussion to meet patients' goals and manage expectations.Peyronie's disease is a common condition that is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Patients with Peyronie's disease will benefit from a comprehensive evaluation and in-depth counseling so that they may become familiar with the natural disease course and have appropriate expectations of each treatment option.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:The ability to identify and quantitate peri-urethral fibrosis is limited prior to urethral stricture surgery. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a quantitative and reproduc...

Objective To present our updated experience and discuss potential benefits of early endoscopic realignment (EER) for patients with pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUIs). Methods A retrospective review of patients treated with EER after blunt PFUIs was performed. EER was performed with a retrograde or a combined antegrade or retrograde approach with a cystoscope. Treatment success was defined as no secondary procedure or the ability to pass a cystoscope across the area of injury or surgical anastomosis. Results Thirty-two patients (mean age 38 years, range 17-73) underwent EER between 2004 and 2016 with a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 1-102). Median time to realignment was 2 days (range 0-6) and was performed concomitantly with another surgical service in 72% of cases. Median operative time for EER was 38 minutes (range 8-100). Using an intent-to-treat analysis, 29 patients (91%) failed EER. Nine patients underwent a subsequent endoscopic procedure with 22% success rate. Excision and primary anastomotic urethroplasty was performed in 24 patients as a primary or secondary treatment with 96% success rate. Conclusion Our overall success rate for EER was 9%, but did not hinder subsequent urethroplasty success. The decision for performing EER should not be based on success alone. Secondary benefits of EER exist and may assist with the multidisciplinary care of a patient with complex trauma. The management of PFUI is challenging and these patients should be referred to tertiary centers.

Objective To illustrate the heterogeneous care delivered to patients with extramammary Paget disease (EMPD), a rare and lethal malignancy with poorly described treatment methodologies, by characterizing the clinical and pathologic characteristics of an international patient support group. Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained to develop and distribute a nonvalidated survey to patients from an international, online EMPD support group. The survey was developed to capture patient clinical and pathologic details and was distributed between January 2017 and February 2017. Results Forty-two patients completed the survey. At a mean age of 64 years, patients most commonly developed rash, pruritus, or erythema in the genital and perianal regions. Patients presented to their primary care physician, gynecologist, or dermatologist and were initially treated with topical agents for benign diagnoses. After failing conservative treatments, patients underwent biopsy by a dermatologist or gynecologist and were diagnosed with EMPD on average 21 months after the onset of symptoms. Wide local and Mohs excisions were the most frequently administered treatments with positive margins reported in 43% of patients. Fewer patients underwent noninvasive treatment with imiquimod cream and radiation. In total, 29% of patients developed regional recurrence and distant disease. There was wide variation regarding medical specialties involved, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and clinical follow-up. Conclusion This study provides a novel view of the varied clinical and pathologic details from patients treated across varying institutions and medical specialties. This study will hopefully educate providers of the overall disease process of EMPD and encourage the development of standardized treatment recommendations.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Prescription opioids are a mainstay of postoperative pain management. We outlined the course and severity of postoperative pain in patients undergoing urethroplasty and ...