Alethea Paradis

Determinants of fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonist misuse in opioid-dependent individuals.

Based on preclinical and clinical abuse liability assessments, fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonists (e.g., hydromorphone and morphine) should be the most misused opioids if accessibility in the real world were not an issue. Since the latter is seldom true, we postulated that there would be a significant mismatch between actual and predicted rates of misuse.

Characterizing Early Psychosocial Functioning of Parents of Children with Moderate to Severe Genital Ambiguity due to Disorders of Sex Development

PURPOSE We examined the psychosocial characteristics of parents of children with disorders of sex development at early presentation to a disorders of sex development clinic. Parental anxiety, depression, quality of life, illness uncertainty and posttraumatic stress symptoms were assessed. Additionally we evaluated the relationship of assigned child gender to parental outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 51 parents of children with ambiguous or atypical genitalia were recruited from 7 centers specializing in treatment of disorders of sex development. At initial assessment no child had undergone genitoplasty. Parents completed the Cosmetic Appearance Rating Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, SF-36, Parent Perception of Uncertainty Scale and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. RESULTS A large percentage of parents (54.5%) were dissatisfied with the genital appearance of their child, and a small but significant percentage reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, diminished quality of life, uncertainty and posttraumatic stress. Few gender differences emerged. CONCLUSIONS Although many parents function well, a subset experience significant psychological distress around the time of diagnosis of a disorder of sex development in their child. Early screening to assess the need for psychosocial interventions is warranted.

Changes in levels of parental distress after their child with atypical genitalia undergoes genitoplasty

BACKGROUND The birth of a child with a disorder of sex development (DSD) and atypical genitalia can be traumatizing and isolating for families. Parents of children with DSD are at risk for increased levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, illness uncertainty (IU), post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and impairments in quality of life (QOL). Our previous report indicated that although the majority of parents of children with atypical genitalia were coping well prior to the childs genitoplasty, approximately 25% of them reported experiencing some type of psychological distress. OBJECTIVE The current study sought to examine the trajectory of parental psychological distress prior to, and 6 months after their child underwent genitoplasty. METHODS Parents were recruited as part of an ongoing, prospective, multi-site study involving 10 pediatric hospitals with specialized care for children with atypical genitalia. Results from 49 parents (27 mothers, 22 fathers) of 28 children (17 female sex of rearing, 11 male sex of rearing) born with atypical genitalia (Prader rating of 3-5 in 46,XX DSD or by a Quigley rating of 3-6 in 46,XY DSD or 45,XO/46,XY) were included in the study. RESULTS There were no significant changes in level of depressive or anxious symptoms or quality of life between baseline and 6-month post-operative follow-up, although mothers continued to report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than fathers, and as a group, these parents reported lower QOL than published norms. The level of PTSS significantly decreased for all parents, suggesting that parents may have come through the acute stress phase associated with their childs diagnosis. Finally, while there were no significant changes in IU over the time period, the level of IU for parents of boys actually increased, while parents of girls reported no change (Figure). CONCLUSION Six months after their child has undergone genitoplasty, the majority of parents report minimal levels of psychological distress. However, a subset of these parents continue to experience significant distress related to their childs diagnosis. Specifically, parents of boys appear to be at increased risk for difficulties, which may be related to either the lack of clinical diagnosis for almost half of these children or the necessity of two-stage surgeries for the majority of them. We will continue collecting data on these families to better understand the trajectory of these adjustment variables.

Psychological Adjustment of Parents of Children Born with Atypical Genitalia 1 Year after Genitoplasty

Purpose: We examined the psychological adjustment of parents of children born with moderate to severe genital atypia 12 months after their child underwent genitoplasty. Materials and Methods: Parents were recruited longitudinally from a multicenter collaboration of 10 pediatric hospitals with specialty care for children with disorders/differences of sex development and/or congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Parents completed measures of depressive and anxious symptoms, illness uncertainty, quality of life, posttraumatic stress and decisional regret. Results: Compared to levels of distress at baseline (before genitoplasty) and 6 months after genitoplasty, data from 25 mothers and 20 fathers indicated significant improvements in all psychological distress variables. However, a subset of parents continued endorsing clinically relevant distress. Some level of decisional regret was endorsed by 28% of parents, although the specific decision that caused regret was not specified. Conclusions: Overall the majority of parents were coping well 1 year after their child underwent genitoplasty. Level of decisional regret was related to having a bachelors level of education, increased levels of illness uncertainty preoperatively and persistent illness uncertainty at 12 months after genitoplasty but was unrelated to postoperative complications.

Preliminary report: Surgical outcomes following genitoplasty in children with moderate to severe genital atypia

INTRODUCTION Prior studies of outcomes following genitoplasty have reported high rates of surgical complications among children with atypical genitalia. Few studies have prospectively assessed outcomes after contemporary surgical approaches. OBJECTIVE The current study reported the occurrence of early postoperative complications and of cosmetic outcomes (as rated by surgeons and parents) at 12 months following contemporary genitoplasty procedures in children born with atypical genitalia. STUDY DESIGN This 11-site, prospective study included children aged ≤2 years, with Prader 3-5 or Quigley 3-6 external genitalia, with no prior genitoplasty and non-urogenital malformations at the time of enrollment. Genital appearance was rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Paired t-tests evaluated differences in cosmesis ratings. RESULTS Out of 27 children, 10 were 46,XY patients with the following diagnoses: gonadal dysgenesis, PAIS or testosterone biosynthetic defect, severe hypospadias and microphallus, who were reared male. Sixteen 46,XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia patients were reared female and one child with sex chromosome mosaicism was reared male. Eleven children had masculinizing genitoplasty for penoscrotal or perineal hypospadias (one-stage, three; two-stage, eight). Among one-stage surgeries, one child had meatal stenosis (minor) and one developed both urinary retention (minor) and urethrocutaneous fistula (major) (Summary Figure). Among two-stage surgeries, three children developed a major complication: penoscrotal fistula, glans dehiscence or urethral dehiscence. Among 16 children who had feminizing genitoplasty, vaginoplasty was performed in all, clitoroplasty in nine, external genitoplasty in 13, urethroplasty in four, perineoplasty in five, and total urogenital sinus mobilization in two. Two children had minor complications: one had a UTI, and one had both a mucosal skin tag and vaginal mucosal polyp. Two additional children developed a major complication: vaginal stenosis. Cosmesis scores revealed sustained improvements from 6 months post-genitoplasty, as previously reported, with all scores reported as good or satisfied. DISCUSSION In these preliminary data from a multi-site, observational study, parents and surgeons were equally satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes 12 months after genitoplasty. A small number of patients had major complications in both feminizing and masculinizing surgeries; two-stage hypospadias repair had the most major complications. Long-term follow-up of patients at post-puberty will provide a better assessment of outcomes in this population. CONCLUSION In this cohort of children with moderate to severe atypical genitalia, preliminary data on both surgical and cosmetic outcomes were presented. Findings from this study, and from following these children in long-term studies, will help guide practitioners in their discussions with families about surgical management.

Unplanned 30-Day Encounters After Ureterorenoscopy for Urolithiasis

OBJECTIVE To identify avoidable predictors of postureteroscopy (URS) unplanned encounters and to minimize 30-day encounters. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed retrospective chart review and telephone surveys on patients who underwent URS for urolithiasis between January and June 2016. Univariate and multivariable analyses evaluated for potential predictors of unplanned encounters. RESULTS Of 157 patients, there were 44 (28.0%) unplanned patient-initiated clinical phone calls, 23 (14.6%) emergency department (ED) visits, and 8 (5.1%) readmissions, with pain being the most common complaint during the encounters. Factors associated with a higher rate of phone calls include first-time stone procedure (36.6% vs 20.9%, p = 0.029), outpatient status (30.3% vs 0%, p = 0.021), intraoperative stent placement (31.2% vs 0%, p = 0.006), and stent removal at home (58.8% vs 28.8%, p = 0.014). Factors associated with increased rate of ED visits were first-time stone procedure (22.5% vs 8.1%, p = 0.011) and ureteral access sheath (UAS) usage (29.6% vs 11.8%, p = 0.018). Factors associated with a higher rate of readmissions were lower body mass index (23.9 vs 29.7, p = 0.013), bilateral procedure (20.0% vs 2.9%, p = 0.010), and UAS usage (14.8% vs 3.1%, p = 0.032). Stone burden, operative time, Charlson comorbidity index, and preoperative urinary tract infection were not significantly associated with postoperative encounters. CONCLUSIONS Pain, first-time stone treatment, presence of a ureteral stent, outpatient status, bilateral procedures, and UAS usage were common reasons for postoperative encounters after URS. Appropriate perioperative patient education and counseling and adequate pain management may minimize these encounters and improve treatment quality and patient satisfaction.

Superior metastasis-free survival for patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy compared to radical prostatectomy: A propensity score-matched analysis

Purpose For high-risk prostate cancer (HR-PCa) in men with a life expectancy of at least 10 years, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends radiation therapy (RT) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with category 1 evidence or radical prostatectomy (RP) as an acceptable initial therapy. Randomized evidence regarding which therapy is optimal for disease control is lacking for men with HR-PCa. We performed a propensity-score-matched comparison of outcomes for men with localized HR-PCa treated with primary RT or RP. Methods and materials The medical records of patients with localized HR-PCa who were treated at our institution between 2002 and 2011 were reviewed. Patient and disease characteristics, treatment details, and outcomes were collected. A combination of nearest-neighbor propensity score matching on age, Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 comorbidity index, prostate-specific antigen, biopsy Gleason scores, and clinical T-stage as well as exact matching on prostate-specific antigen, biopsy Gleason scores, and clinical T-stage was performed. Outcomes were measured from diagnosis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare metastasis-free and overall survival. Results A total of 246 patients were identified with 62 propensity-score-matched pairs. ADT was administered to 6.5% and 80.6% of patients receiving RP and RT, respectively. Five-year rates of metastasis for RP and RT were 33% and 8.9%, respectively (P = .003). Overall survival was not different. Delay of salvage therapy was longer for patients undergoing primary RT (P < .001). Findings were similar when only those patients who did not receive ADT were compared. Conclusions At our institution, treatment with primary RT resulted in superior metastasis-free survival over RP. This was not accompanied by an improvement in OS.

Propensity score matched analysis of metastasis-free survival for patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy.

47 Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) category 1 recommendation for localized high risk prostate cancer (HR-PCa) is definitive radiation therapy (RT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Radical prostatectomy (RP) is also an accepted treatment for patients with localized HR-PCa. Here we report a propensity score-matched analysis of institutional outcomes for patients with HR-PCa treated with RP or RT. Methods: Medical records of patients with localized NCCN HR-PCa treated at our institution from 2002-2011 were reviewed. RT consisted of 73.8-77.4 Gray to the prostate and seminal vesicles; regional lymph nodes were treated for pre-treatment probability of involvement ≥15%. A combination of nearest neighbor propensity score matching on age, Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score [a validated comorbidity index], prostate specific antigen (PSA), biopsy Gleason, and clinical T-stage (cT) and exact matching on PSA, biopsy Gleason, and cT was performed. Multivariate cox-proportional hazard...