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Purpose: Mixed gonadal dysgenesis is a difference of sex development that is often confused with other conditions. Individuals have a 45,X/46,XY karyotype. Gonads are characterized by a streak gonad and a dysgenetic testis at varying levels of descent. Persistent Müllerian structures are typical (eg, hemi-uterus). There is significant phenotypic heterogeneity of the internal and external genitalia that, together with different interpretations of the definition, have contributed to a poor understanding of the condition among pediatric urologists. Mixed gonadal dysgenesis is one manifestation of the 45,X/46,XY karyotype. 45,X/46,XY mosaicism can also be associated with typical female or male external genitalia. This review aims to clarify the mixed gonadal dysgenesis definition and to provide urologists with diagnostic and management considerations for affected individuals., Materials and Methods: We searched 3 medical databases for articles related to mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Two hundred eighty-seven full-text abstracts and manuscripts were reviewed for content pertinent to: (1) clarifying the definition of mixed gonadal dysgenesis, and (2) describing the following related to the care of affected individuals: prenatal and neonatal evaluation and management, genital surgery, gonadal malignancy risk and management, fertility, gender dysphoria/incongruence, puberty and long-term outcomes, systemic comorbidities, and transitional care., Results: Fifty articles were included. Key points and implications for each of the above topics were summarized., Conclusions: Mixed gonadal dysgenesis exists on a wide phenotypic spectrum and management considerations reflect this heterogeneity. Care for individuals with mixed gonadal dysgenesis is complex, and decisions should be made in a multidisciplinary setting with psychological support.

Purpose: Our goal was to understand the general attitudes of pediatric urologists regarding the U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Children's Hospitals in Urology., Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey study distributed via email to active and candidate members of the Societies for Pediatric Urology from October 2022 to December 2022. This anonymous survey was iteratively developed to contain multiple choice questions gathering information on demographics, personal interaction with the rankings system, and about attitudes toward the rankings across various domains., Results: Of the 515 members surveyed, 264 pediatric urologists responded to the survey for a response rate of 51%. There was representation from all sections of the AUA and across all age categories and practice models. Overall, of the respondents, 71% disagreed that the rankings had led to improvements in care and 75% disagreed that programs were reporting their data honestly. Additionally, 71% believed the rankings are inaccurate in reflecting patient outcomes. The majority (86%) of respondents stated they would support organized efforts to withdraw from the rankings. This was significantly different by ranking cohort, with 78% from top 10 programs endorsing withdrawal vs 89% from those programs not in the top 10., Conclusions: Our survey found that most pediatric urologists would support efforts to withdraw from participating in the rankings and believe that programs are dishonest in reporting their data. The majority also do not believe a survey can adequately distinguish between programs. This highlights a clear need for a critical reevaluation of the rankings.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of young adult males with spina bifida (SB) on their fertility potential and parenthood., Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted between 2/2021 and 5/2021 with men ≥18 years of age with SB on perspectives on fertility potential and parenthood. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from a survey and chart review. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and assessed through conventional content analysis framework., Results: Of 30 eligible individuals approached, 20 agreed to participate. Median age was 22.5 years (range 18-29), and 80% had myelomeningocele. Most reported not being in a relationship (14/20, 70%), not being currently sexually active (13/20, 65%), and no participant reported a history of paternity. Many reported a desire for future fertility. Uncertainty and areas of concern were identified regarding their physiologic and psychosocial ability to be a parent. Perceived barriers to achieving parenthood included (1) uncertainty around fertility potential and the hereditary nature of SB; and (2) concerns with being a parent and raising a child. Facilitators to help overcome uncertainty, such as gaining knowledge on fertility testing options and understanding means of preventing neural tube defects, were identified. Participants expressed the importance of strong peer and family support to help overcome challenges related to parenthood., Conclusion: Men with SB are interested in future fertility, yet uncertainty exists around the physiologic and psychosocial ability to be a parent. Facilitators to help overcome uncertainty and concerns should be a focus of patient counseling around future fertility with young men with SB., 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.)

Purpose: We sought to assess associations between health-related quality of life (QOL), bladder-related QOL, bladder symptoms, and bladder catheterization route among adolescents and young adults with spina bifida., Materials and Methods: Clinical questionnaires administered to individuals ≥ 12 years old requiring catheterization between June 2019 to March 2020 in a spina bifida center were retrospectively analyzed. Questionnaires were completed in English or Spanish independently or with caregiver assistance. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics. Primary exposure was catheterization route (urethra or channel). Primary outcome was health-related QOL, measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Global Health 7 (PGH-7). Secondary outcomes were bladder-related QOL and bladder symptoms, measured by Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS). Nested, multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between catheterization route and questionnaire scores., Results: Of 162 patients requiring catheterization, 146 completed both the PGH-7 and NBSS and were included. Seventy-three percent were catheterized via urethra and 27% via channel. Median age was 17.5 years (range 12-31), 58% of patients were female, and 80% had myelomeningocele. Urinary incontinence was more common among those who catheterized via urethra (60%) compared to channel (33%). On adjusted analyses, catheterization route was not significantly associated with PGH-7 or NBSS bladder-related QOL scores. More bladder symptoms were associated with worse bladder-related QOL. Patients who catheterized via channel had fewer bladder symptoms than those who catheterized via urethra., Conclusions: Catheterization route was not significantly associated with QOL. Though catheterization via channel was associated with fewer bladder symptoms, only degree of current bladder symptoms was significantly associated with bladder-related QOL.

Background: Although multiple specialties perform neonatal circumcision (NC), overall NC proceduralist availability is limited. The approach to training new practitioners varies. This study aims to describe NC training experiences, current practices, and make suggestions for future improvements., Methods: Perinatal physicians across 11 hospitals in a large Midwestern United States city who perform NC or who conduct newborn examinations and provide circumcision counseling were recruited for semistructured interviews about NC care. Interviews were transcribed; training-related comments underwent inductive and deductive qualitative coding. Themes related to circumcision training and recommendations for improving the experience of future circumcision learners were summarized., Results: Twenty-three physicians (10 family medicine, 8 pediatrics, and 5 obstetrics; 78% currently perform circumcision) participated. All participants conducted newborn examinations and provided circumcision counseling, but only 21/23 were trained to perform circumcision. Several themes related to training emerged: (1) personal training experience, (2) training others to perform circumcision, and (3) current training needs and barriers. Most reported learning in residency by a "see one, do one, teach one" approach with minimal formal didactic or structured training. Compared with their personal experience, participants noted a shift toward more direct supervision and preprocedure preparation for current trainees. However, most reported that circumcision learning continues to be "hands-on." Participants desired a more structured approach for future trainees., Conclusions: Perinatal physicians noted a shift in the current NC training to a more hands-on approach than they experienced personally. Development of a structured NC curriculum was recommended to improve training., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Aim: To assess perspectives on clinical communication about sexual health in young adult males with spina bifida., Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between February and May 2021 with males at least 18 years of age with spina bifida to assess their perspectives and experiences of sexual health communication with clinicians. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from chart review and a survey of patients. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and conventional content analysis was used for transcript coding., Results: Twenty individuals participated with a median age of 22 years 6 months (range 18-29 years). Sixteen had myelomeningocele. Most identified as heterosexual (n = 17) and not sexually active (n = 13). Barriers and facilitators of successful interactions were identified. Barriers for participants included general discomfort with talking about sex and variability in individual preferences for how conversations occur. Facilitators included participants' comfort with their urologist and discussing sex in relation to disability. Suggestions for improving discussions included (1) notifying individuals that discussion about sex will occur before clinic visits; (2) creating space for discussions; (3) respecting individuals' readiness to discuss; and (4) making discussions disability specific., Interpretation: Young adult males with spina bifida are interested in discussing sexual health with their clinicians. Great variability exists about conversation preferences, emphasizing the need to individualize clinical communication about sex. Current health guidelines for males may not be in line with individuals' wishes., What This Paper Adds: Great variability exists in individual preference around sexual health communication. Patient-level barriers hinder successful conversations about sex. Individuals have great insight into how conversations about sex can be improved., (© 2023 The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.)

Purpose: Transitioning from pediatric to adult care is a critical juncture in the health of adolescents. Little is known about how best to optimize transition to adult care among transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) youth. While the Transition Readiness and Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) has been validated in other pediatric populations, it has not been studied in TGNB youth. Our aims were to pilot the use of the TRAQ for TGNB patients, describe transition readiness patterns, and identify factors associated with transition readiness., Methods: The TRAQ was introduced into routine clinical care for patients and their caregivers in a large, urban pediatric gender program in the spring of 2021. We performed a retrospective chart review comparing TRAQ responses based on demographic and clinical data., Results: We collected TRAQs from 153 adolescents (mean age: 19 years [standard deviation 2.36], range: 11-24). The TRAQ demonstrated good internal reliability with a Cronbach alpha of 0.926. Patients scored highest in the TRAQ subdomains of talking with providers and tracking health issues and lowest in the subdomains of managing medications and appointment keeping. Age and presenting to the appointment alone were associated with higher TRAQ scores., Discussion: We found that the TRAQ is internally reliable in a sample of TGNB youth. Factors associated with higher TRAQ scores and patterns identified in TRAQ score subdomains provide an insight into the needs of TGNB youth preparing to transition to adult gender-affirming care. Future research should focus on tracking transition readiness longitudinally, developing and evaluating interventions to improve transition readiness, and assessing post-transition outcomes., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To compare differences in bowel-specific quality of life (QOL), overall qQOL, and neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) severity by bowel management program in patients with spina bifida (SB)., Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients ≥12 years old at our multidisciplinary SB center who completed both a modified Peristeen NBD questionnaire (assessing bowel symptom severity and bowel-specific QOL) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Global Health questionnaire (assessing overall QOL). Nested, multivariable models were fit for associations between outcomes and bowel management program (enemas, conservative management, and none)., Results: A total of 173 patients, 56.1% female and 64.6% with myelomeningocele, were included in our analysis. Median age was 18.2 years old. Patients reported using enemas (n = 42), conservative management (n = 63), and no bowel program (n = 68). When adjusting for covariates, there was no significant association between bowel-specific QOL nor overall QOL across bowel management programs. However, the use of conservative management compared to enemas was associated with worse bowel symptoms severity (adjusted beta=2.58, 95%CI=[0.09,5.06]). Additionally, greater bowel symptom severity was significantly associated with lower overall QOL (adjusted beta=-0.33, 95%CI=[-0.57,-0.10])., Conclusion: NBD symptom severity in SB is more strongly associated with QOL than the individual bowel program being utilized. Our findings suggest that different degrees of NBD require different invasiveness of bowel programs, but it is the outcome of the bowel management program and not the specific program itself that is most associated with QOL., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest David Chu, research grant funded by the NIH/NIDDK (K23 DK125670), though the NIH/NIDDK did not have a role in design/conduct of this study. The other authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Over half of infant boys born in the United States undergo newborn circumcision. However, available data indicate that boys who are publicly insured, or Black/African American, have less access to desired newborn circumcision, thus concentrating riskier, more costly operative circumcision among these populations. This study ascertains perinatal physician perspectives about barriers and facilitators to providing newborn circumcisions, with a goal of informing future strategies to ensure more equitable access., Methods: Qualitative interviews about newborn circumcision care were conducted from April-June 2020 at eleven Chicago-Area hospitals. Physicians that provide perinatal care (pediatricians, family medicine physicians, and obstetricians) participated in qualitative interviews about newborn circumcision. Inductive and deductive qualitative coding was performed to identify themes related to barriers and facilitators of newborn circumcision care., Results: The 23 participating physicians (78% female, 74% white, median 16 years since medical school graduation [range 5-38 years], 52% hospital leadership role, 78% currently perform circumcisions) reported multiple barriers including difficulty with procedural logistics and inconsistent clinician availability and training; corresponding suggestions for operational improvements were also provided. Regarding newborn circumcision insurance coverage and reimbursement, physicians reported limited knowledge, but noted that some insurance reimbursement policies financially disincentivize clinicians and hospitals from offering inpatient newborn circumcision., Conclusions: Physicians identified logistical/operational, and reimbursement-related barriers to providing newborn circumcision for desirous families. Future studies and advocacy work should focus on developing clinical strategies and healthcare policies to ensure equitable access, and incentivize clinicians/hospitals to perform newborn circumcisions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: We evaluate the applicability of the International Index of Erectile Function in young men with spina bifida and identify spina bifida-specific sexual experiences not captured by this measure., Materials and Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted between February 2021 and May 2021 with men ≥18 years of age with spina bifida. The International Index of Erectile Function was completed by participants, and perspectives on its applicability were discussed. Participant experiences and perspectives around sexual health were discussed to identify aspects of the sexual experience not well captured by the International Index of Erectile Function. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from a patient survey and chart review. Conventional content analysis framework was used for transcript coding., Results: Of 30 eligible patients approached, 20 participated. Median age was 22.5 years (range 18-29), and 80% had myelomeningocele. Most identified as heterosexual (17/20, 85%), were not in a relationship (14/20, 70%), and were not currently sexually active (13/20, 65%). Some perceived the International Index of Erectile Function as applicable, while others reported it was not, as they do not define themselves as sexually active. Aspects of the sexual experience not captured by the International Index of Erectile Function included (1) lack of control over sexual function, (2) poor lower body sensation, (3) urinary incontinence, (4) spina bifida-specific physical limitations, and (5) psychosocial barriers. Participant suggestions for improving the International Index of Erectile Function to increase its applicability were identified., Conclusions: While many perceived the International Index of Erectile Function as applicable, the measure inadequately captures the diverse sexual experiences of young men with spina bifida. Disease-specific instruments to evaluate sexual health are needed in this population.

Objective: To explore private vs public pediatric circumcision insurance coverage and surgeon reimbursement., Methods: A telephone survey about circumcision coverage (Current Procedural Terminology codes: 54150, 54161) was conducted in October 2021 with insurance plan representatives from the 12 plans that comprised ≥1% of institutional pediatric urology visits to compare plan characteristics and coverage details. Circumcision billing data were collected at one pediatric hospital to assess surgeon reimbursement (insurance+patient payment) by plan type using bivariate statistics., Results: Ten plans (5 private and 5 public) responded (83.3% response rate). All except one public plan covered newborn circumcision. For non-newborn circumcisions, most public plans (80%) had unrestricted coverage, whereas all private plans required medical necessity. Median reimbursement for newborn circumcision (CPT: 54150) was $484 for private and $78 for public plans, P < .001 while median reimbursement for non-newborn circumcision (CPT: 54161) was $314 for private and $147 for public plans, P < .001., Conclusion: Private insurance plans reimburse significantly more than public plans for newborn circumcision. For non-newborn circumcision, private plans reimburse more than public but the coverage is more restricted, with a smaller differential between newborn and non-newborn circumcision. This coverage and reimbursement structure may indirectly encourage newborn circumcision for privately insured boys and non-newborn circumcision for publicly insured boys., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) and describe the short and long-term outcomes of pediatric RALP., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients ..±21 years old who underwent primary RALP from 7/2007 through 12/2019. Patients were excluded from postoperative analysis if follow-up data after stent removal was not available. The primary outcome was surgical success, defined as radiographic improvement of hydronephrosis without need for reoperation. Secondary outcomes were time to reoperation and 90-day complication rate., Results: A total of 356 patients underwent primary repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction during the study period; 29.ßpatients were limited to intraoperative data due to lack of follow-up imaging. Radiographic improvement at latest follow-up was seen in 308/327 (94.2%). Ten of 327 patients (3.1%) underwent reoperation: 7 were identified within 1 year of RALP and 3 were identified over 1 year after RALP. The median time to reoperation was 13.0 months (IQR 9.3-21.7). We defined long-term as>3 years after pyeloplasty. Over one-third (122/327, 37.3%) of the cohort had>3 years of follow-up, none of whom developed evidence of recurrent obstruction requiring reoperation beyond 3 years. Complications occurred within 90 days of surgery in 20/327 (6.1%)., Conclusion: This largest single-institution series confirms short- and long-term surgical effectiveness and safety of RALP. Our data also indicate that most patients who needed reoperation were identified within 1 year, and reoperation more than 3 years after RALP is rare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: While our institution has historically obtained a urine culture (UCx) from every child at the time of urodynamics (UDS), no consensus exists on UDS UCx utility, and practice varies widely. This study aims to prospectively study our symptomatic post-UDS UTI rate before and after implementing a targeted UCx protocol., Materials and Methods: A 2-part prospective study of patients undergoing UDS at one pediatric hospital was undertaken, divided into Phase 1 (7/2016-6/2017) with routine UCx at the time of UDS and Phase 2 (7/2019-6/2020) after implementation of a protocol limiting UCx at the time of UDS to only a targeted subset of patients. The primary outcome was symptomatic post-UDS UTI, defined as positive UCx ≥10ˆ4 CFU/mL and fever ≥38.5 °C or new urinary symptoms within seven days of UDS., Results: A total of 1,154 UDS were included: 553 in 483 unique patients during Phase 1 and 601 in 533 unique patients during Phase 2. Age, sex, race, ethnicity, and bladder management did not differ significantly between phases. All 553 UDS in Phase 1 had UCx at the time of UDS, compared to 34% (204/601) in Phase 2. The rate of positive UCx decreased from 39% in Phase 1-35% in Phase 2. Three patients developed symptomatic post-UDS UTI in each study period, resulting in a stable post-UDS UTI rate of 0.5% (3/553) in Phase 1 and 0.5% (3/601) in Phase 2. These patients varied in age, sex, UDS indication, and bladder management. Four of the six (67%) patients had positive UCx at the time of UDS, one had a negative UCx, and one had no UCx under the targeted UCx protocol. Predictors of symptomatic post-UDS UTI could not be evaluated., Discussion: In the largest prospective study to date, we found that symptomatic post-UDS UTI was <1% and that UCx at the time of UDS can safely be limited at our hospital. This reduction has important implications for cost containment and antibiotic stewardship. We will continue iterative modifications to our protocol, which may eventually include the elimination of UCx at the time of UDS in all groups., Conclusions: This 2-part prospective evaluation at one pediatric hospital determined that the symptomatic post-UDS UTI rate remained <1% with no identifiable predictors after limiting previously universal UCx at the time of UDS to only a targeted subset of patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Management of obstructing ureterocele often includes endoscopic transurethral incision (TUI) that can be challenging secondary to uncertainty in anatomic landmarks with risk of serious complications. To this end, we innovated a technique using predictable landmarks that begins endoscopic incision at the ureterocele orifice and extends retrograde proximal to the bladder neck (Figure)., Objective: With over 15 years of experience in performing this retrograde incision from orifice (RIO) technique, we aimed to examine post-operative outcomes and risk of surgical failure after RIO compared to traditional TUI techniques for ureteroceles. We hypothesized that clinical outcomes after RIO would be superior to traditional endoscopic approaches to decompression of obstructing ureterocele in infants., Study Design: A retrospective study of patients ≤12 months old who underwent TUI ureterocele at our institution between 2007 and -2021 was conducted. Pre-, intra- and post-operative characteristics were compared between patients who underwent RIO vs non-RIO TUI. Primary outcome was post-incision febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI). Secondary outcome was a composite failure measure of fUTI, secondary surgery, de novo bladder outlet obstruction, or vesicoureteral reflux. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to compare the time-to-event risk of primary and secondary outcomes between groups., Results: Ninety patients with 92 ureteroceles were included (49 RIO, 43 non-RIO). Median follow-up from TUI was 33 months. RIO had a shorter median operative duration (27 vs 35 min, p = 0.021). Primary and secondary outcomes were similar between groups (fUTI: 29% RIO vs 19% non-RIO, p = 0.27; composite failure 54% RIO vs 69% non-RIO, p = 0.15). In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, there was no significant difference in risk of fUTI (RIO aHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.38-2.54, p = 0.97) or composite failure (RIO aHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.45-1.44, p = 0.46) between TUI techniques., Discussion: RIO technique for TUI ureterocele is attractive in that it uses predictable anatomic landmarks making it simple to perform. In analyzing this 15-year institutional experience of TUI ureterocele, RIO showed similar success to non-RIO endoscopic incisions. This study is a retrospective, non-randomized, single-institutional study over 15 years and is therefore subject to change in surgeon practice over time and variable practices between providers., Conclusions: Given comparable success and durability over time to other TUI ureterocele techniques, and with the advantage of operator ease using consistent anatomic landmarks, RIO is a worthy option for endoscopic ureterocele decompression., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest None of the named authors have any conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: We sought to evaluate long-term surgical urinary and bowel management in cloacal exstrophy (CE) in a multi-institutional study., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of people with CE and covered variants managed at five participating institutions. Those with <1 year follow-up or born with variants without hindgut involvement were excluded. Primary outcomes were methods of urinary and bowel management. Urinary management included: voiding via urethra, clean intermittent catheterizations (CIC), incontinent diversion and incontinent in diaper. Bowel management included: intestinal diversion (colostomy/ileostomy) and pull-through (with/without MACE). We evaluated three age groups: children (<10 years), older children (10 to <18) and adults (≥18). We assessed if management varied by age, institution or time (born≤2000 vs. >2000)., Results: A total of 160 patients were included (40% male). Median follow-up was 15.2 years (36% children, 22% older children, 43% adults). While 42% of children were incontinent in diapers, 73% of older children and adults managed their bladder with CIC, followed by incontinent urinary diversion (21%) (p < 0.001, Table). CIC typically occurred after augmentation (88%) via a catheterizable channel (89%). Among older children and adults, 86% did not evacuate urine per urethra and 28% of adults had an incontinent urinary diversion. No child or adult voided per urethra. Age-adjusted odds of undergoing incontinent diversion was no different between institutions (p = 0.31) or based on birthyear (p = 0.08). Most patients (79%) had an intestinal diversion, irrespective of age (p = 0.99). Remaining patients had a pull-through, half with a MACE. The probability of undergoing bowel diversion varied significantly between institutions (range: 55-91%, p = 0.001), but not birth year (p = 0.85)., Summary: We believe this large long-term data presents a sobering but realistic view of outcomes in CE. A limitation is our data does not assess comorbidities or patient-reported outcomes. Rarity of volitional urethral voiding in CE forces the question of whether is a potentially unachievable goal. We advocate thoughtful surgical decision making and thorough counseling about appropriate expectations, distinguishing between volitional voiding and urinary and fecal dryness., Conclusions: In this long-term, multi-institutional study of patients with CE, 94% of older children and adults manage their bladder with incontinent diversion or CIC. Nearly 80% of patients, regardless of age, have an intestinal diversion. Given that no patients were dry and voided via urethra and 86% of older patients do not evacuate urine per urethra, these data bring into question what functional goals are achievable when performing reconstructive surgery for these patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest None of the contributing authors have any conflict of interest that could bias this work., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published guidelines regarding diagnosis and management of children 2-to-24-months-old with initial febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI). Available data were insufficient to determine whether evidence from studies of 2-to-24-month-olds applies to those <2-months-old, so they were excluded., Objective: This study aimed to 1) compare demographic, clinical, imaging and outcomes between patients <2-months-old and those 2-to-24-months-old hospitalized with fUTI, and 2) assess whether diagnostic and imaging recommendations of the AAP 2011 guidelines apply to those <2-months-old., Study Design: A cohort study of patients ≤24-months-old hospitalized at a children's hospital with fUTI from 2016 to 2018 was conducted. Data were collected via a prospectively generated electronic medical record note template, supplemented with retrospective chart review. Primary outcomes included differences in demographics, clinical presentation, urine culture results, and imaging utilization/results by age group. Secondary outcomes included surgical procedures, UTI recurrence, and 90-day all-cause readmissions and emergency department (ED) revisits. Univariate and bivariate statistics were utilized to compare age groups., Results: Overall, 137 patients were included (median age 70 days, 55.5% male [92.1% uncircumcised], 53.3% Hispanic/Latino, 89.8% 1st fUTI). There were no demographic differences between groups, except children <2-months-old were more frequently male (71.2 vs 43.6%, p = 0.002). The Summary Table compares clinical factors and imaging utilization by age. There were no differences in urinalysis or urine culture results between groups. Patients <2-months-old had shorter fever duration, lower maximum temperature, and lower white blood cell counts. Voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs) were recommended and obtained more frequently in patients <2-months-old, but there were no differences in renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS) or VCUG results between age groups. There were no differences in UTI recurrence (13.6% of <2-months-old vs 14.1% of 2-to-24-months-old, p = 1.00) or fUTI recurrence (13.6 vs 7.7%, p = 0.40) within 1 year, 90-day readmission (6.8 vs 6.4%, p = 1.00), or 90-day ED revisit (22.0 vs 20.5%, p = 1.00)., Discussion: There were minimal differences between the <2-months-old and 2-to-24-months-old age groups in demographics, laboratory (including microbial) or imaging results, or clinical outcomes. Patients <2-months-old were more frequently male and less ill. These data support applying urinalysis and urine culture diagnostic criteria, and universal RBUS, from the AAP guidelines to patients <2-months-old. Given utilization differences, applicability of VCUG guideline recommendations requires further clarification for patients <2-months-old., Conclusion: Laboratory testing and RBUS recommendations from the AAP guidelines may be safely applied to infants <2-months-old. Further studies are needed to clarify optimal VCUG recommendations., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Individuals with nephrolithiasis frequently present to the Emergency Department (ED). Safety and quality principles are often applied in pediatric EDs to children presenting with nephrolithiasis, such as limiting ionizing radiation exposure and opioid analgesics. However, it is unknown whether pediatric EDs apply these same principles to adult patients who present with nephrolithiasis. We hypothesized that adult patients would be associated with higher use of radiation-based imaging and opioid analgesics., Objective: To assess variations in diagnostic and treatment interventions and hospital utilization between pediatric and adult patients presenting to the pediatric ED with nephrolithiasis., Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, examining outcomes for pediatric (<18-years-old) versus adult (≥18-years-old) patients in 42 pediatric EDs from 2009 to 2020 using the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Patients with an ICD-9/10 principal diagnosis code of nephrolithiasis with no nephrolithiasis-related visits within the prior 6 months were included. Primary outcomes were imaging, medications, and surgical interventions. Secondary outcomes were hospital admissions, 90-day ED revisits, and 90-day readmissions. Generalized linear mixed models with random effects were used to adjust for confounding and clustering., Results: In total, 16,117 patients with 17,837 encounters were included. Most hospitals were academic (95.2%), and a plurality were located in the South (38.1%). Most patients were <18-years-old (84.4%, median (interquartile range): 15 (12-17)-years-old), female (57.9%), and White (76.3%), and 17.1% were Hispanic/Latino. Most had no complex chronic conditions (89.2%) and no chronic disease per pediatric medical complexity algorithm (51.5%). For the primary outcome, adults, relative to pediatric patients, who presented to the pediatric ED with nephrolithiasis had higher adjusted odds of receiving computerized tomography (CT) scans (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.43 [95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.29-1.59]) and opioid analgesics (OR 1.45 [95%CI 1.33-1.58]) (Summary Figure). Secondary outcomes showed that adults, relative to pediatric patients, had lower adjusted odds of hospital admissions, 90-day ED revisits, and 90-day readmissions., Discussion: Our results suggest that certain pediatric safety and quality principles, such as limiting ionizing radiation exposure and opioid analgesic prescriptions, are not being equally applied to pediatric and adult patients who present to pediatric EDs with nephrolithiasis. The mechanism of these findings remains to be elucidated., Conclusions: Variations in care for individuals with nephrolithiasis reflect an opportunity for quality improvement in pediatric EDs and inform work exploring optimal care pathways for all patients presenting to the pediatric ED with nephrolithiasis., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Gregory E. Tasian on the Scientific Advisory Board for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Dicerna Pharamaceuticals, and Novome Biotechnologies, none of which are related to this work. Jonathan S. Ellison is a consultant to Dicerna Pharmaceuticals and Alnylam Pharmaceutics, and contributes to UpToDate, none of which are related to this work., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if health literacy is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with spina bifida., Study Design: Between June 2019 and March 2020, the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Pediatric Global Health-7 (PGH-7), a measure of HRQOL, and the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool (BRIEF) were administered to patients ≥12 years old with a diagnosis of spina bifida seen in our multidisciplinary spina bifida center. Questionnaires were completed at scheduled clinic visits. The primary outcome was the PGH-7 normalized T-score. The primary exposure was the BRIEF score. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the medical record. Nested, multivariable linear regression models assessed the association between health literacy and the PGH-7 score., Results: Of 232 eligible patients who presented to clinic, 226 (97.4%) met inclusion criteria for this study. The median age was 17.0 years (range: 12-31). Most individuals were female (54.0%) and had myelomeningocele (61.5%). Inadequate, marginal, and adequate health literacy levels were reported by 35.0%, 28.3%, and 36.7% of individuals. In univariable analysis, higher health literacy levels were associated with higher PGH-7 scores. In nested, sequentially adjusted multivariable linear regression models, a higher health literacy level was associated with a stepwise increase in the PGH-7 score. In the fully adjusted model, adequate health literacy and marginal health literacy, compared with inadequate health literacy, were associated with increases in a PGH-7 score of 3.3 (95% CI: 0.2-6.3) and 1.1 (95% CI: -2.0 to 4.2), respectively., Conclusions: Health literacy was associated with HRQOL after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. Strategies incorporating health literacy are needed to improve HRQOL in AYAs with spina bifida., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Infertility is common among individuals with differences in sex development (DSD), and affected individuals and families desire fertility counseling. This survey sought to assess fertility knowledge and experiences with fertility counseling among DSD specialists for DSD conditions excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia., Design, Setting, Participants, and Measures: A survey was iteratively developed by members of the DSD-Translational Research Network (DSD-TRN) Fertility Preservation Workgroup and disseminated to 5 clinician groups: the DSD-TRN, the Society for Pediatric Psychology DSD Special Interest Group (SIG), the Pediatric Endocrine Society DSD-SIG, the Societies for Pediatric Urology, and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology., Results: Completed surveys (n = 110) were mostly from pediatric urology (40.3%), gynecology (25.4%), and endocrinology (20.9%) specialists. Most (73/108, 67.6%) respondents reported discussing fertility potential. Sixty-seven responded to questions regarding fertility potential. Many participants answered questions about the presence of a uterus in individuals with 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis and about the potential for viable oocytes in individuals with 46,XY partial gonadal dysgenesis incorrectly. Comments acknowledged the need for further education on fertility in individuals with DSD., Conclusions: Many DSD providers have some knowledge of fertility potential, but knowledge gaps remain. Experts expressed a desire for education and accessible resources to counsel effectively about fertility potential for individuals with DSD., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Patients with neurogenic urinary incontinence due to an incompetent outlet may be offered bladder neck reconstruction, but the quest for the perfect surgical-outlet procedure continues. Our aim was to characterize continence and complications after modified Mitchell urethral lengthening/bladder neck reconstruction (MMBNR) with sling and to introduce a modification of exposure that facilitates subsequent steps of MMBNR., Methods: A single-institution, retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent primary MMBNR between May 2011 and July 2019 was performed. Data on demographics, urodynamic testing, operative details, unanticipated events, continence, bladder changes, and additional procedures were collected. A 2013 modification that permits identification of the incompetent bladder neck prior to urethral unroofing was applied to the last 17 patients. The trigone and bladder neck are exposed via an oblique low anterolateral incision on the bladder. Ureteral reimplantation is not routinely performed. Focal incision of the endopelvic fascia after posterior plate creation limits breadth of blunt dissection for sling placement. Descriptive statistics were utilized., Results: A total of 25 patients (13 females) had MMBNR with sling at a median age of 10 years [interquartile range (IQR) 8-11]. Bladder augmentation was performed concurrently in 14/25 (56%) patients. At a median of 5.0 (IQR 3.9-7.5) years follow-up after MMBNR, 9/11 (82%) without bladder augmentation and 13/14 (93%) with bladder augmentation had no leakage per urethra during the day without further continence procedures. Of the three patients with persistent incontinence, two achieved continence with bladder wall Botox injection (overall continence 24/25, 96%). New and recurrent vesicoureteral reflux was noted in five patients and one patient, respectively. Two patients required subsequent bladder augmentation for pressures and one other will likely require it. None have required bladder neck closure or revision., Conclusion: MMBNR with sling provides promising continence per urethra in neurogenic bladder with low need for secondary continence procedures. Ongoing modifications may achieve elusive total continence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Bowen, Cheng, Hirsch, Huang, Meyer, Rosoklija, Chu and Yerkes.)

Objectives: Prenatal diagnoses of differences of sex development (DSD) are increasing due to availability of cell-free DNA screening (cell-free DNA screening (cfDNA)). This study explores first-hand experiences of parents whose children had prenatal findings of DSD., Methods: Eligible parents were identified through chart review at a pediatric center and interviewed about their prenatal evaluation, decision making, informational sources, and support systems. Interviews were coded using a combined inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Parents also completed quantitative measures of decisional regret., Results: Seventeen parents (13 mothers; 4 fathers) of 13 children (with 7 DSD diagnoses) were recruited. Four children had discordance between sex predicted by cfDNA versus prenatal ultrasound, and 2 had non-binary appearing (atypical) genitalia on prenatal ultrasound. Of these 6, 3 were not offered additional prenatal testing or counseling. Most parents described tension between obtaining support through disclosure of their child's diagnosis and preserving their child's autonomy/privacy, highlighting the need for mental health support., Conclusion: This is the first study to gather qualitative data from parents whose children had prenatal findings of DSD. We identified multiple targets for intervention to improve care for patients with DSD across the lifespan, including improvements in clinician education, pre- and post-test counseling, and patient education materials., (© 2022 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Deferring bladder augmentation (BA) may be desirable in a pediatric neurogenic bladder (NGB) with worsening compliance, but prior studies have questioned whether onabotulinum toxin A (BTX) demonstrates durable improvement in compliance. We present our overall experience with BTX and its role in mitigating the "at-risk" NGB, as determined by urodynamic characteristics., Methods: A retrospective single-institution review of all BTX procedures performed during January 2010 to October 2018 was conducted. Patients with <12 months follow-up after first BTX injection were excluded. Urodynamic studies (UDS) were reviewed to assign National Spina Bifida Patient Registry (NSBPR) as well as institutionally developed (LCH) risk classification groups. Patients were considered "at-risk" for BA if they had any of the following: NSBPR risk grade of intermediate or hostile; LCH risk grades indicating end-fill pressure >25 cmH 2 O or detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD); upper tract changes including new hydronephrosis; new or worsening vesicoureteral reflux; or other signs of a hostile urinary tract (i.e., febrile UTIs). UDS risk grades pre and post-first BTX injection were compared in this "at-risk" group, when available., Results: Thirty-nine patients underwent 162 injection procedures over a median follow-up of 65 months interquartile range (IQR 49-81). Median age at first BTX was 10 years and the median number of BTX injections per patient was 4 (IQR 2-7; range 1-12) with a median time of 6 months between injections (IQR 4-10). Twenty-six patients were deemed "at-risk" at the time of first BTX injection, and of those, 16 (61.5%) proceeded to BA at a median of 36 months (IQR 22.5-42). A small number (four) had BA due to upper tract changes or worsening pressures on BTX, while nine patients (five with CKD) proceeded to BA given a lack of sufficient improvement to consider BTX a long-term viable option. Post-first BTX UDS demonstrated downgrading of risk group in 38% and 63% using NSBPR and LCH classifications, respectively., Conclusions: Encouraging improvements in the urodynamic risk group were noted in some patients. With careful counseling and follow-up, BTX may safely extend the time to BA in some "at-risk" patients., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with differences of sex development (DSD) face many challenging healthcare decisions. Fertility preservation is an emerging but experimental option for AYA with DSD. Optimal counseling regarding future fertility options has not yet been defined for this population., Objective: To examine the fertility-related attitudes and experiences of AYA with DSD to inform future care needs., Study Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted from 2015 to 2018 with AYA with a DSD diagnosis who were seen in our multidisciplinary clinic. Topics covered included attitudes toward fertility and family building, fertility-related communication, and perspectives on fertility-related education and decision-making. Qualitative content analysis was performed using an inductive and deductive approach., Results: Eight AYA (median age 17 years, range 14-28) with various DSD diagnoses (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and 46, XY DSD unspecified) participated. AYA were open to many options related to family building and fertility preservation, desired full disclosure of information, and recognized the importance of an age-related progression to autonomy in decision-making. Spanning all topics, the following were salient: 1) diversity of attitudes and care preferences amongst participants, 2) evolution of these attitudes and preferences over time, and 3) an emphasis on individualization of education and care (Fig. 1)., Discussion: This qualitative study provided information on the fertility-related experiences and attitudes of AYA with DSD. Prior studies have shown a diversity of patient and parent preferences in many aspects of DSD research as well as low rates of fertility-related education and satisfaction therefrom. The knowledge gained from this study can be used to guide individualized and compassionate education and care surrounding the complex and evolving topic of fertility. This study is limited by interviews being conducted prior to the implementation of our DSD-specific gonadal tissue cryopreservation protocol. Despite this, the fertility-related patient experiences and attitudes prior to protocol implementation are important to present. The results from the preliminary analysis of these data were used to inform a new, ongoing qualitative study to explore the patient experience with fertility preservation in a more targeted fashion., Conclusions: The perspectives on fertility and related healthcare experiences of AYA with DSD demonstrated openness to many family-building options, a desire for full disclosure of information, care needs that evolved over time, and a recognition of the importance of eventual autonomy in decision-making. A flexible and individualized approach by the provider can optimize fertility-related healthcare experiences for AYA with DSD., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None of the named authors have any conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We systematically reviewed the variability in definitions of kidney abnormality (KA) outcomes in individuals with spina bifida (SB)., Materials and Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase™, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycInfo®, Web of Science™ and ClinicalTrials.gov for articles from time of database inception to September 2020. No language or patient age restrictions were applied. Primary research articles involving individuals with SB where KA was assessed as an outcome were included. Means of assessing KA and defining KA severity were abstracted., Results: Of 2,034 articles found, 274 were included in the review. Most articles were published after 1990 (63.5%) and included pediatric-only populations (0-18 years; 60.5%). KA outcomes were identified by imaging-based anatomical outcomes (84.7%), serum-based outcomes (44.9%), imaging-based functional outcomes (5.5%), urine-based outcomes (3.3%) and diagnoses of end-stage kidney disease (2.6%) or chronic kidney disease otherwise unspecified (1.8%). Hydronephrosis was the most commonly used specific outcome (64.6%, 177/274) with 19.8% (35/177) of articles defining hydronephrosis severity. Hydronephrosis was used more frequently in articles with pediatric-only populations. Creatinine and cystatin-C were used in 82.1% (101/123) and 17.9% (22/123) of articles reporting serum-based outcomes, respectively, with 32.7% and 50.0% of articles defining estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) severity. Serum-based outcomes were more common in articles including adults >18 years. Measured GFR was assessed in 9.9% (27/274) of articles, with 44.4% (12/27) of articles defining GFR severity., Conclusions: Significant variability exists in how authors define KA with few specifically defining KA severity. Consensus and consistency in defining KA outcomes are needed.

Background: Use of prophylactic antibiotics after stented hypospadias repair is very common, but most research has not identified any clinical benefits of this practice. Only one study has found that postoperative prophylaxis reduces symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Data from the same trial suggested that prophylaxis may also reduce urethroplasty complications. No studies on this subject have been placebo-controlled., Objective: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics on the incidence of infection or urethroplasty complications after stented repair of midshaft-to-distal hypospadias., Study Design: Boys were eligible for this multicenter trial if they had a primary, single-stage repair of mid-to-distal hypospadias with placement of an open-drainage urethral stent for an intended duration of 5-10 days. Participants were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or placebo twice daily for 10 days postoperatively. The primary outcome was a composite of symptomatic UTI, surgical site infection (SSI), and urethroplasty complications, including urethrocutaneous fistula, meatal stenosis, and dehiscence. Secondary outcomes included each component of the primary outcome as well as acute adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and C. difficile colitis., Results: Infection or urethroplasty complications occurred in 10 of 45 boys (22%) assigned to receive antibiotic prophylaxis as compared with 5 of 48 (10%) who received placebo (relative risk [RR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8 to 5.8; p = 0.16). There were no significant differences between groups in symptomatic UTIs, SSIs, or any urethroplasty complications. Mild ADRs occurred in 3 of 45 boys (7%) assigned to antibiotics as compared with 5 of 48 (10%) given placebo (RR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2 to 2.5; p = 0.72). There were no moderate-to-severe ADRs, and no patients developed C. difficile colitis., Conclusions: In this placebo-controlled trial of 93 patients, prophylactic antibiotics were not found to reduce infection or urethroplasty complications after stented mid-to-distal hypospadias repair. The study did not reach its desired sample size and was therefore underpowered to independently support a conclusion that prophylaxis is not beneficial. However, the result is consistent with most prior research on this subject., Gov Identifier: NCT02096159., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To characterize elective, post-neonatal operative circumcision at US children's hospitals, in the context of established sociodemographic disparities in access to neonatal circumcision., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of boys undergoing elective, operative circumcision at the 23 Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) hospitals who contributed data from 2004-2018. Boys > = 36 months' and those with congenital anomalies of the penis were excluded. Bivariate statistics were used to compare the circumcision cohort to a referent cohort of boys undergoing other ambulatory surgery or having an observational hospital stay., Results: The annual median number of operative circumcisions per hospital increased during the study (72 [IQR 54-162] to 136 [IQR 88-266], P = .003). Boys undergoing circumcision were mostly non-Hispanic White (46.7%) or non-Hispanic Black (30.9%), in the lowest income quartile (26.6%), from the Southern US (51.5%), and publicly-insured (60.5%). When compared to the reference cohort, boys undergoing circumcision were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black (30.9 vs 15.7%, P = .001) and publicly-insured (60.5 vs 45.9%, P = . 001)., Conclusion: The number of post-neonatal operative circumcisions performed at US children's hospitals nearly doubled from 2004 to 2018. Study findings suggest an emerging healthcare disparity, with non-Hispanic Black boys of lower socioeconomic status undergoing more post-neonatal operative circumcisions that are more expensive and higher risk., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) use in children has increased, though many centers still favor open pyeloplasty (OP) in infants. This study aims to compare safety and efficacy of RALP and OP in infants., Materials and Methods: A single-institution, retrospective cohort study of infants <1 year of age who underwent primary RALP or OP between January 2009 and June 2020 was performed. Primary outcomes were intraoperative and 30-day complications, postoperative radiographic improvement at last clinic visit, and operative failure leading to redo pyeloplasty. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for 30-day complications to adjust for demographic variation between groups. Survival analysis was performed to compare time to diagnosis of operative failure leading to redo pyeloplasty., Results: Among 204 patients, 121 underwent OP and 83 underwent RALP (74.5% male). RALP patients were older (median 7.2 vs 2.9 months, p <0.001) and larger (median 8.2 vs 5.9 kg, p <0.001) than OP patients. Radiographic improvement was seen in 91.1% of RALP patients and 88.8% of OP patients at last visit. Median (interquartile range) followup in months was 24.4 (10.8-50.3) for the full cohort. In adjusted analysis, the odds of a 30-day complication (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.08-2.00) was lower for RALP compared to OP, though not statistically significant . In survival analysis, there was no difference in time to diagnosis of operative failure and redo pyeloplasty between groups (p=0.65)., Conclusions: RALP is a safe and effective alternative to OP for infants, with comparable intraoperative and 30-day complications, radiographic improvement at last followup, and risk of pyeloplasty failure.

Over half of boys in the United States undergo circumcision, which has its greatest health benefits and lowest risks when performed during the newborn period under local anesthesia. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected delivery of patient care in many ways and likely also influenced the provision of newborn circumcisions. Prior to the pandemic, we planned to conduct a qualitative study to ascertain physician perspectives on providing newborn circumcision care. The interviews incidentally coincided with the onset of the pandemic and thus, pandemic-related changes emerged as a theme. We elected to analyze this theme in greater detail. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with perinatal physicians in a large urban city from 4/2020 to 7/2020. Physicians that perform or counsel regarding newborn circumcision and physicians with knowledge of or responsibility for hospital policies were eligible. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitative coding was performed. Twenty-three physicians from 11 local hospitals participated. Despite no specific COVID-19 related questions in the interview guide, nearly half of physicians identified that the pandemic affected delivery of newborn circumcision care with 8 pandemic-related sub-themes. The commonest sub-themes included COVID-19 related changes in: (1) workflow processes, (2) staffing and availability of circumcision proceduralists, and (3) procedural settings. In summary, this qualitative study revealed unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic-related changes with primarily adverse effects on the provision of desired newborn circumcisions. Some of these changes may become permanent resulting in broad implications for policy makers that will likely need to adapt and redesign the processes and systems for the delivery of newborn circumcision care., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Corona, Rosoklija, Walton, Matoka, Seager, Holl and Johnson.)

Objective: To evaluate if ultrasound during urodynamics (uUS) will show that traditional ultrasound (tUS) routinely underestimates the potential magnitude of upper tract dilation (UTD)., Methods: Prospective pilot study of 10 consecutive patients ≥ 5 years of age undergoing same day uUS and tUS. Using randomized images, the study pediatric radiologist determined anterior-posterior renal pelvic diameter (APD), bladder volume, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and UTD grades. A single pediatric urologist determined urodynamic bladder capacity and assigned either hostile, intermediate, abnormal but safe, or normal national spina bifida patient registry classification (NSBPR)., Results: Bladder volume on tUS was significantly smaller than final bladder volume on uUS (180 vs 363 ml: P<.001). On average, patient reported maximum catheterized/voided volumes were also 82 ml greater than final bladder capacity on uUS. UTD was upgraded in 25% of kidneys and APD increased by 0.6 cm on uUS over that seen on tUS (P=.001). Units with VUR had greater increases in APD (1.2 P=.007 vs. 0.3 cm P=0.06). Changes in APD stratified by NSBPR revealed average increases of up to 1.3 cm., Conclusion: Despite instructions to the contrary, patients come for tUS with a relatively empty bladder as compared to either their urodynamic or patient-reported capacity. This translates to a significant underestimation of UTD with tUS, most notably in those with VUR. Alternatives to traditional protocols include insisting patients wait until their bladder is truly full for tUS, retrograde filling their bladder, or performing uUS. Accurate assessment of UTD severity may help guide long term management., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Although enhanced recovery pathways (ERP) provide a safe and effective way to improve the recovery of children undergoing bladder reconstruction, ERPs have not been widely adopted in pediatric urology. We describe a quality improvement initiative and outcomes after implementing a 24-element ERP at a single, freestanding children's hospital., Study Design: Multiple stakeholder meetings were planned and executed, initially with pediatric practitioners with ERP experience to understand potential implementation barriers then with anesthesiologists, nurses, case managers, and other ancillary staff to draft our institution-specific ERP. A standardized order set was generated to improve ERP adherence. ERP adherence audits and cyclic performance evaluations held every 6-9 months facilitated continuous pathway refinement. Patient outcomes were compared with a pre-ERP historic cohort., Results: Time from initial ERP planning to first implementation was 7 months. ERP was implemented in twenty consecutive patients undergoing bladder reconstruction (median age 11.3 years, range 4.1-21.1) who were compared to twenty consecutive pre-ERP patients (median age 11.4 years, range 7.7-25.1). Median post-operative length of stay (LOS) significantly decreased from 9 days (range 2-31) pre-ERP to 4 days (range 3-29) post-ERP (p < 0.05). A median of 16 (range 12-19) of 24 institutional pathway elements were implemented for each patient. Balancing measures showed no significant increases in highest Clavien complication grade, readmission rate, or unplanned return to the operating room within 30 post-operative days., Discussion: Implementation of ERP is feasible but requires commitment from multi-disciplinary stakeholders. While we were unable to consistently achieve 80% of the elements, we successfully implemented the pathway and improved our patients' recovery processes (indirectly reflected by a decreased post-operative LOS) with adherence to a median of 67% of elements. Our implementation and effectiveness results are specific to our center and may not be generalizable. However, our experience may offer some insight for others interested in ERP implementation and encourage initiation of their own institutional pathways., Conclusion: Successful ERP implementation at our hospital for children undergoing bladder reconstruction was facilitated by open communication, early stakeholder involvement, and monitoring ERP adherence. ERP implementation significantly decreased LOS without increasing post-operative complications and readmissions (Summary figure)., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2021 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) urologic surgery is widely used in pediatric patients, though less commonly in infants. There are small series demonstrating safety and efficacy in infants, however, stratification by infant size has rarely been reported. Whether a cut-off weight, below which RAL surgery is not technically feasible, safe, or efficacious has not be determined., Objective: To assess safety and efficacy of RAL urologic procedures in infants <1 year of age, weighing ≤10 kg., Study Design: A single-institution retrospective cohort study of patients <1 year of age, and ≤10 kg undergoing RAL pyeloplasty (RALP) or RAL ipsilateral ureteroureterostomy (RALUU) between January 2011 and September 2020 was performed. Demographic, operative, and post-operative data were extracted from the medical record. Patients were stratified by post-hoc weight quartiles. Outcomes, including operative time, total OR time, estimated blood loss (EBL), post-operative length of stay (LOS), post-operative radiographic improvement, and 30-day complications were assessed by weight quartile for each procedure. The Kruskal-Wallis rank test was used to assess differences in continuous outcomes between weight quartiles and Pearson's Chi-squared test was used for categorical outcomes., Results: Of 696 RAL urologic surgeries performed, 101 met eligibility criteria. Median (IQR) age of patients was 7.2 (6.0-9.2) months with median weight of 8.0 (7.2-8.9) kg. The lowest weight was 5.5 kg. Procedures performed included 79 RALPs (78.2%), 22 RALUUs (21.8%). We identified 97 patients (94%) with post-operative imaging, with radiographic improvement in 92%. When stratified by weight quartile, there was no difference between groups in median operative time, total OR time, LOS, EBL, or post-operative radiographic improvement for both RALP and RALUU. Post-operative complications were assessed based on Clavien-Dindo classification with the majority of complications (9/12, 75%) in the >50th percentile weight groups., Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the largest published series of infant RAL urologic procedures, with similar rates of radiographic improvement and post-operative complications to prior published series. There are few prior series of RALP and RALUU in infants ≤10 kg, and we show comparable outcomes regardless of patient weight. Our study is limited by the inherent biases of retrospective studies., Conclusion: RAL urologic surgery is technically feasible, safe, and efficacious in infants ≤10 kg, without worse outcomes as weight decrease. A cut-off weight, below which RAL surgery should not be performed has yet to be identified., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest for all included authors., (Copyright © 2021 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We identified the incidence of acquired cryptorchidism among patients with proximal and mid shaft hypospadias, predictors of acquired cryptorchidism, and the prevalence of testis-epididymis nonfusion with ascended testes. We hypothesized that proximal hypospadias would be associated with higher incidence of acquired cryptorchidism than mid shaft hypospadias, and that ascended testes would exhibit increased prevalence of testis-epididymis nonfusion similar to anatomical findings in an undescended testis., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent primary proximal and mid shaft hypospadias repair from 2010 to 2016 was conducted. Clinical and operative notes were reviewed. Patients with congenitally undescended testes or differences of sex development were excluded., Results: A total of 175 patients were identified. Those with proximal hypospadias (14/104, 13%) were more likely than those with mid shaft hypospadias (1/71, 1%) to develop acquired cryptorchidism (p=0.04). Among proximal hypospadias patients, increased risk of acquired cryptorchidism was associated with pre-term birth (p <0.01) and penoscrotal transposition (p=0.01) but not with testis position on initial examination (p >0.99). In the 14 proximal hypospadias patients with acquired cryptorchidism, 21 ascended testes underwent orchiopexy. Operative notes adequately described testis-epididymis anatomy for 8/21 ascended testes. Testis-epididymis nonfusion was described in 6/8 ascended testes., Conclusions: Risk of acquired cryptorchidism is increased among patients with proximal hypospadias. Operative notes revealed a high rate of epididymal nonfusion with ascended testes, suggesting these testes morphologically resemble undescended testes. Close followup of testis position is needed in these patients, and the threshold to perform orchiopexy may need to be lower in select patients.

Background: A significant proportion of boys present to surgical specialists later in infancy/early childhood for elective operative circumcision despite the higher procedural risks. This study aims to assess physician perspectives on access to neonatal circumcision across the United States and identify potential reasons contributing to disparities in access., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was electronically distributed to physician members of the Societies for Pediatric Urology and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Hospital Medicine. Hospital characteristics and circumcision practices were assessed. Associations between NC availability and institutional characteristics were evaluated using chi-squared testing and multivariable logistic regression. Qualitative analyses of free-text comments were performed., Results: A total of 367 physicians responded (129 urologists [41%], 188 pediatric hospitalists [59%]). Neonatal circumcision was available at 86% of hospitals represented. On univariate and multivariate analysis, the 50 hospitals that did not offer neonatal circumcision were more likely to be located in the Western region (odds ratio [OR] = 8.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1-25 vs. Midwest) and in an urban area (OR = 4.2; 95% CI 1.6-10 vs. suburban/rural) compared with hospitals that offered neonatal circumcision. Most common reasons for lack of availability included not a birth hospital (N = 22, 47%), lack of insurance coverage (N = 8, 17%), and low insurance reimbursement (N = 7, 15%). Institutional, regional, or provider availability (68%), insurance/payment (12.4%), and ethics (12.4%) were common themes in the qualitative comments., Conclusions: Overall availability of neonatal circumcision varied based on hospital characteristics, including geography. Information from this survey will inform development of interventions designed to offer neonatal circumcision equitably and comprehensively., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Importance: Health literacy has been shown to play an important role in transitions of care in adult populations, with low health literacy associated with adverse health outcomes. The role of health literacy in the transition from pediatric to adult care has been less well studied. Among adolescents and young adults with spina bifida, high rates of unsuccessful transition have been shown, but how patient health literacy affects transition readiness remains unknown., Objective: To determine whether health literacy is associated with transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with spina bifida., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study involved collection of patient-reported questionnaires between June 2019 and March 2020 at a multidisciplinary spina bifida center at a single, free-standing children's hospital. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from medical record review. Patients were aged 12 years or older with a diagnosis of spina bifida (myelomeningocele and nonmyelomeningocele) whose primary language was English or Spanish. Data analysis was performed from October 2020 to March 2021., Exposures: Health literacy as assessed by the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was total Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) score, normalized into units of SD. Nested, multivariable linear regression models assessed the association between health literacy and TRAQ scores., Results: The TRAQ and Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool were completed by 200 individuals (median [range] age, 17.0 [12.0-31.0] years; 104 female participants [52.0%]). Most of the patients were younger than 18 years (110 participants [55.0%]) and White (136 participants [68.0%]) and had myelomeningocele (125 participants [62.5%]). The mean (SD) TRAQ score was 3.3 (1.1). Sixty-six participants (33.0%) reported inadequate health literacy, 60 participants (30.0%) reported marginal health literacy, and 74 participants (37.0%) reported adequate health literacy. In univariable analysis, health literacy, age, type of spina bifida, level of education, self-administration vs completion of the questionnaires with assistance, ambulatory status, and urinary incontinence were associated with total TRAQ score. In all nested, sequentially adjusted, multivariable models, higher health literacy remained a significant, stepwise, independent variable associated with higher TRAQ score. In the fully adjusted model, having adequate compared with inadequate health literacy was associated with an increase in normalized TRAQ score of 0.49 SD (95% CI, 0.19-0.79)., Conclusions and Relevance: Patient-reported transition readiness is associated with health literacy, even after adjustment for education level and other demographic and clinical factors. Developing and implementing health literacy-sensitive care programs during the transition process may improve patient transition readiness.

Introduction: Enhanced Recovery Pathways (ERPs), also known as ERAS® pathways, are standardized pathways composed of 21-24 perioperative elements designed to improve post-surgical recovery. ERP has been shown to be safe and effective in children undergoing bladder reconstruction but has not been widely utilized., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess utilization of ERPs in pediatric urology and identify barriers to establishing these standardized pathways., Study Design: Pediatric urologists who were members of the Societies for Pediatric Urology (SPU) were surveyed regarding their familiarity with standardized ERPs, current use of ERP elements, and encountered or perceived barriers to standardized ERP implementation. Willingness to implement ERP elements in a child undergoing bladder reconstruction was assessed with a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive analysis was performed; Fisher's exact test was performed to assess associations between respondent demographics and ERP familiarity., Results: Of 714 distributed surveys, 113 (16%) valid responses were collected. 69% of respondents were male, 58% practiced at academic institutions, and 57% performed 1-5 bladder reconstructions a year. 61% were somewhat familiar or not familiar with standardized ERP. While 54% currently utilize individual ERP elements, only 20% have standardized pathways. Out of 24 possible ERP elements, a median of 15 elements (range 0-24) were implemented by the respondents whether they reported they were implementing ERP elements or had standardized pathways in place. 15 of 24 ERP elements were found to be nearly universally acceptable, with greater than 90% of respondents being somewhat or very willing to implement them in the presented case scenario (Summary Figure). 62% and 56% of those who currently implement ERP elements and experienced barriers noted lack of administrative/leadership support and inability to achieve consensus among pediatric colleagues, respectively, as common barriers in standardization. For those who have not attempted standardization, the most common perceived barrier was pathway unfamiliarity (48%)., Discussion: Over half of respondents were not familiar with enhanced recovery pathways but were willing to implement a majority of the pathway elements, suggesting potential for ERP standardization in pediatric urology. Buy-in from colleagues and leadership would be necessary to overcome perceived barriers of standardized pathway development., Conclusion: Administrative support and more widespread knowledge of ERP amongst pediatric urologists are necessary to facilitate further implementation in children undergoing bladder reconstruction., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Proximal hypospadias repair remains challenging. Our approach to the first stage of two-stage proximal hypospadias repairs has evolved from using Byars' flaps to preputial inlay grafts in anatomically suitable cases and pedicled preputial flaps in more complex repairs. We reviewed our outcomes, hypothesizing that inlay grafts and pedicled preputial flaps were associated with lower complication risks than Byars' flaps., Study Design: A single institution, retrospective, cohort study of consecutive two-stage, primary, proximal hypospadias repairs performed from 2007 to 2017 was conducted. Patients with <6 months follow-up and incomplete operative reports were excluded. Risk of complications (fistula, dehiscence, diverticulum, meatal stenosis, stricture) were evaluated following urethroplasty and stratified by first-stage repair technique. As technique refinements have been made since 2012, comparisons between two temporal subgroups (those who underwent repair in 2007-2012 and in 2013-2017) were made., Results: 78 of 127 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall complication rate was 47% (Summary Table). Median follow-up was 25.4 months (range 6.4-128.5 months) after urethroplasty. Pedicled preputial flaps (hazards ratio [HR] 0.30; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.14-0.65) and inlay grafts (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.11-0.95) were associated with lower complication risks compared to Byars' flaps (Summary Table). Median time to complication was significantly shorter for Byars' flaps (5.7 months) than for inlay grafts (40.6 months) and pedicled preputial flaps (79.2 months) by Kaplan Meier analysis. Temporal subgroup comparisons showed that overall complication rates decreased from 70% to 31% (p = 0.001), but differences in complication rates by first-stage technique were not statistically significant., Discussion: In our cohort, repairs with Byars' flaps had the highest complication rate, which is consistent with our observations that urethras tubularized from Byars' flaps lack appropriate backing and are hypermobile and irregular. To overcome these shortcomings, modifications were made to our approach to two-stage proximal hypospadias repairs with the use of inlay grafts and pedicled preputial flaps quilted to the underlying corporal bodies to optimize the stability of the urethral plate. Our preliminary results are promising., Conclusion: Approach to the first stage of two-stage repairs affects outcomes. Pedicled preputial flaps and inlay grafts were associated with lower complication risks than Byars' flaps. Refinement of technique and patient selection may have resulted in fewer complications in the short term. However, long-term follow-up is needed., (Copyright © 2020 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The Glans-Meatus-Shaft (GMS) Score is a pre-operative phenotypic scoring system used to assess hypospadias severity and risk for post-operative complications. The 'M' component is based on pre-operative meatal location, but meatal location sometimes changes after penile degloving, resulting in 'meatal mismatch.', Objective: To identify: 1) the incidence and clinical predictors of meatal mismatch, and 2) the association of meatal mismatch with post-operative urethrocutaneous fistula development., Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients who underwent primary hypospadias repair at a single center from 2011 to 2018. Meatal mismatch was defined as: upstaging (meatus moving more proximally after degloving), downstaging (moving more distally after degloving), or none. Covariates included: pre-degloving meatal location, chordee severity, penoscrotal anatomy, pre-operative testosterone, and number of stages for repair. To test the association between meatal mismatch and fistula development, we constructed two, nested, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models with and without meatal mismatch and compared them with the likelihood ratio test. A sensitivity analysis excluded patients with <6 months of follow-up., Results: Of 485 patients, 99 (20%) exhibited meatal mismatch, including 75 (15%) with upstaging and 24 (5%) patients with downstaging (Figure). Meatal mismatch was significantly associated with penoscrotal webbing, number of stages for repair, and pre-degloving meatal location, with downstaging being associated with more proximal meatal location. Over a median follow-up of 7.3 months (interquartile range 2.0-20.9), fistulae developed in 56 (12%) patients. On multivariable analysis, meatal upstaging was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of fistula development (Hazards Ratio [HR]: 3.04, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.44-6.45) compared to no mismatch. Meatal downstaging had similar risk of fistula development compared to no mismatch (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.29-3.35). Multi-stage compared to single-stage repair was associated with reduced risk of fistula development (HR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.66). The likelihood ratio test favored the model that included meatal mismatch. The sensitivity analysis showed similar findings., Discussion: Our short-term results suggest that meatal mismatch may be an important additional consideration to the GMS score as a tool to assess hypospadias severity, counsel families, and predict outcomes. Longer-term studies are needed to enhance the precision of risk stratification in hypospadias., Conclusions: Meatal mismatch occurred in 20% of patients undergoing hypospadias repair. Among this cohort, meatal upstaging was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of post-operative urethrocutaneous fistula development., (Copyright © 2020 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)