Anna Zampini

Is There an Association Between Polypropylene Midurethral Slings and Malignancy

OBJECTIVE To examine any association between polypropylene mesh used in midurethral slings and malignancy in humans. Macroporous, monofilament polypropylene midurethral slings have been established as a safe and effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence. However, despite long-term studies supporting the efficacy and safety of midurethral slings, there have been concerns regarding the general risks of using mesh in transvaginal surgery. In addition, concerns have recently been raised about synthetic midurethral slings and a possible link with malignancy. Therefore, the goal of this work was to further assess any association between polypropylene mesh slings and malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS All sling procedures performed at our institution from 2004 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. From within this group, the International Classification of Disease codes for urethral cancer, vaginal cancer, and bladder cancer were reviewed. RESULTS From 2004-2013, 2545 procedures were performed. Of these, 2361 (96.3%) underwent polypropylene midurethral sling placement. Average follow-up after sling placement was 42.0 ± 38.6 months, with follow-up extending up to 122.3 months. The rate of bladder cancer after the sling procedure was 1 of 2361 (0.0%), with the same rate of vaginal cancer. No sarcomas were noted. CONCLUSION Overall, the rate of malignancy after polypropylene mesh midurethral sling placement in our series was 0.0% (2 of 2361). With a mean follow-up of almost 4 years and follow-up extending up to a maximum of 122.3 months, our series does not support any association between the polypropylene mesh used for midurethral slings and the development of malignancy in humans.

Intermediate-Term Outcomes for Men with Very Low/Low and Intermediate/High Risk Prostate Cancer Managed by Active Surveillance

Purpose: We compare intermediate term clinical outcomes among men with favorable risk and intermediate/high risk prostate cancer managed by active surveillance. Materials and Methods: A total of 635 men with localized prostate cancer have been on active surveillance since 2002 at a high volume academic hospital in the United States. Median followup is 50.5 months (IQR 31.1–80.3). Time to event analysis was performed for our clinical end points. Results: Of the cohort 117 men (18.4%) had intermediate/high risk disease. Overall 5 and 10‐year all cause survival was 98% and 94%, respectively. Cumulative metastasis‐free survival at 5 and 10 years was 99% and 98%, respectively. To date no cancer specific deaths had been observed. Overall freedom from intervention was 61% and 49% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Overall cumulative freedom from failure of active surveillance, defined as metastasis or biochemical failure after local therapy with curative intent, was 97% and 91% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Of the men 21 (9.9%) experienced biochemical failure after deferred treatment and the 5‐year progression‐free probability was 92%. Compared to men with favorable risk disease those with intermediate/high risk cancer experienced no difference in metastases, surveillance failure or curative intervention. However, patients at higher risk were at significantly increased risk for all cause mortality, likely reflecting patient selection factors. These conclusions may be limited by the small number of events and the duration of our study. Conclusions: Patients with localized prostate cancer who are on active surveillance demonstrated a low rate of active surveillance failure, prostate cancer specific mortality and metastases regardless of baseline risk.

Digital Identity: Develop One Before You're Given One

n this online age, actively developing and maintaining a digital identity is increasingly important. As Ipatients rely on the Internet searches to find information about their health and health care providers, the initial results of these searches are often third party sites that automatically create profiles for physicians, populating them with materials that can be posted anonymously and without validation. The physician who maintains a digital identity will have some of these rating site hits displaced by self-controlled online profiles containing authentic and objective information. A digital identify is the all encompassing online presence of an individual that includes social media, professional profiles, and other discoverable content. A number of venues exist for creating and maintaining online profiles, Web pages, institutional or group sites, and even listings of academic work. Although creating profiles on each and every Web site would be an exhaustive endeavor, developing an accurate, professional, and easily discoverable digital identity by starting with a few sites and interlinking them is quick and feasible.

Reduction in Opioid Prescribing Using a Post-operative Pain Management Protocol Following Scrotal and SubInguinal Surgery

Introduction: Excess prescribing of opioid pain medication increases medical costs and the potential for abuse by patients and others. We sought to improve our understanding of postoperative pain and opioid use after scrotal and subinguinal urological surgery to develop a protocol for pain management. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed opioid prescribing and usage in 20 patients undergoing scrotal or subinguinal surgery. Collected data were used to develop a standardized postoperative protocol. This protocol included enhanced pain management education and limiting outpatient opioid prescriptions. Outcomes analysis was then performed for 60 consecutive patients via questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and ANOVA. Linear regression was performed comparing age and narcotic use. Results: Comparison of preprotocol and postprotocol implementation opioid prescriptions and consumption showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of tablets prescribed but no difference in opioid usage. Preprotocol and postprotocol opioid prescription usage was 20 and 10 tablets, respectively, while median usage was 3.5 and 3 tablets, respectively. Conclusions: Evaluation of postoperative pain management revealed excessive prescribing of opioid medications compared to actual usage. Our protocol resulted in a significant decrease in opioid prescribing without compromising management of postoperative pain. Adjunct treatments for pain, including scrotal support, ice packs, elevation and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, may improve postoperative pain control without increasing opioid usage. The combination of enhanced patient education and reduced opioid prescribing may result in decreased opioid use, opioid abuse and medication costs.

Robotic Salvage Pyeloplasty with Buccal Mucosal Onlay Graft: Video Demonstration of Technique and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE To present the use of buccal mucosal graft (BMG) in a salvage robotic laparoscopic pyeloplasty as an alternative in the management of a recurrent ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. METHODS We present 2 patients with a recurrent UPJ obstruction who had previously undergone 2 prior open or robotic pyleoplasties, followed by endoscopic management. Preoperative imaging was obtained before surgical repair. The UPJ was incised and the incision extended to reveal margins of a healthy normal-caliber ureteral tissue. Single BMGs were harvested from the inner cheek of each patient. The grafts were of sufficient caliber and size to cover the entire defect as an onlay graft, and to maintain a tension-free and watertight anastomosis. RESULTS The operative time was between 188 and 284 minutes. The estimated blood loss was 25-50 mL. The hospital stay was 2 days for each patient. Foley catheters were removed before discharge and the Jackson-Pratt drains were removed in the immediate postoperative period. The ureteral stents were removed at 6 and 9 weeks, with retrograde pyelograms confirming patency at the UPJ. Lasix renograms were obtained after 4 months and either demonstrated a resolution or were equivocal for obstruction, with a preservation of renal function. Both patients have been without complication since the stent removal. CONCLUSION Robotic pyeloplasty with BMG is an alternative in the management of recurrent UPJ obstructions. Short-term follow-up has demonstrated that it is an effective and attractive approach compared with more extensive and invasive surgeries such as a renal autotransplant and an ileal ureter.

Prognostic Significance of a Negative Confirmatory Biopsy on Reclassification Among Men on Active Surveillance

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between absence of disease on confirmatory biopsy and risk of pathologic reclassification in men on active surveillance (AS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Men with grade groups 1 and 2 disease on AS between 2002 and 2015 were identified who received a confirmatory biopsy within 1 year of diagnosis and ≥3 biopsies overall. The primary outcomes were pathologic reclassification by grade (any increase in primary Gleason pattern or Gleason score) or volume (>33% of sampled cores involved or increase in the number of cores with >50% involvement). The effect of a negative confirmatory biopsy survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS Out of 635 men, 224 met inclusion criteria (median follow-up: 55.8 months). A total of 111 men (49.6%) had a negative confirmatory biopsy. Decreased grade reclassification (69.7% vs 83.9%; P = .01) and volume reclassification (66.3% vs 87.4%; P = .004) was seen at 5 years for men with a negative confirmatory biopsy compared with those with a positive biopsy. On adjusted analysis, a negative confirmatory biopsy was associated with a decreased risk of grade reclassification (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.94; P = .03) and volume reclassification (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.61; P = .0006) at a median of 4.7 years. CONCLUSION Absence of cancer on the confirmatory biopsy is associated with a significant decrease in rate of grade and volume reclassification among men on AS. This information may be used to better counsel men on AS.

PD03-10 COMPARATIVE URINARY METABOLOMICS REVEAL DISTINCT PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH URINARY STONE DISEASE

Source of Funding: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Nos. 16K15692, 16K11022, 16K20153, 16K11053, 16K11054, 16K11055, 15K20104, and 15K10626), the 1st research grant from the Japanese Society on Urolithiasis Research, the 8th Young Researcher Promotion Grant of the Japanese Urological Association, a research grant from the Mitsui Life Social Welfare Foundation and Aichi Health Promotion Foundation, a medical research grant from the Takeda Science Foundation, and the Medical Research Encouragement Prize from The Japan Medical Association.

MP24-05 THE URINE AND STONE MICROBIOME IN KIDNEY STONE PATIENTS

RESULTS: At 4 weeks post-transplant there was a 58% decrease in urinary calcium (p<0.001), an 18% decrease in urinary oxalate (p<0.01), a 0.7 unit pH increase (p<0.001), and 29% increase in GI alkali absorption (p<0.04) (Figure 1). There was also a 56% and 44% decrease in Slc26a3 protein expression in the cecum and ileum of the transplanted mice (p<0.01), respectively. Slc26a6 protein expression increased 162% in the cecum and decreased by 46% in the ileum of the transplanted compared to germ-free mice (p<0.01). Age matched control germ free mice showed none of these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of a GMB via fecal transplant to a germ free mouse leads to dramatic changes in urinary calcium and oxalate. Moreover, changes in urinary chemistry seen after fecal transplant were accompanied by significantly altered expression of intestinal transporters responsible for calcium and oxalate homeostasis. These results demonstrate for the first time that the GMB can modulate urinary parameters that are important determinants for USD.

Impact of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors on Disease Reclassification among Men on Active Surveillance for Localized Prostate Cancer with Favorable Features

Purpose: We determined the effect of 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitors on disease reclassification in men with prostate cancer optimally selected for active surveillance. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective review we identified 635 patients on active surveillance between 2002 and 2015. Patients with favorable cancer features on repeat biopsy, defined as absent Gleason upgrading, were included in the cohort. Patients were stratified by those who did or did not receive finasteride or dutasteride within 1 year of diagnosis. The primary end point was grade reclassification, defined as any increase in Gleason score or predominant Gleason pattern on subsequent biopsy. This was assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: At diagnosis 371 patients met study inclusion criteria, of whom 70 (19%) were started on 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitors within 12 months. Median time on active surveillance was 53 vs 35 months in men on vs not on 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitors (p <0.01). Men on 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitors received them for a median of 23 months (IQR 6–37). On actuarial analysis there was no significant difference in grade reclassification for 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitor use in patients overall or in the very low/low risk subset. The overall percent of patients who experienced grade reclassification was similar at 13% vs 14% (p = 0.75). After adjusting for baseline clinicopathological features 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitors were not significantly associated with grade reclassification (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.31–1.80, p = 0.62). Furthermore, no difference in adverse features on radical prostatectomy specimens was observed in treated patients (p = 0.36). Conclusions: Among our cohort of men on active surveillance 5&agr;‐reductase inhibitor use was not associated with a significant difference in grade reclassification with time.

V10-05 ROBOTIC SALVAGE PYELOPLASTY WITH BUCCAL MUCOSAL ONLAY GRAFT – A SIMPLIFIED TECHNIQUE

ureterolysis/omental wrap procedure for presumed retroperitoneal fibrosis after failed medical management. Fibrosis was isolated to the region of a tortuous left iliac artery, which was likely due to trauma from a prior femoral artery catheterization during a cardiac procedure. The ureter was freed of fibrotic attachments and covered with an omental wrap. The patient did well for 1 year, but eventually developed recurrent ureteral obstruction with a 6cm mid/upper ureteral stricture requiring nephrostomy drainage and stent. He elected to undergo BMG ureteroplasty. For both robotic procedures, the patient was positioned in modified lateral decubitus lithotomy position with ports similar to a pyeloplasty. For the ureteroplasty, the mouth was prepped separately for BMG harvest. Ureteroscopy and near-infrared fluorescence were used to define the proximal and distal extent of the stricture. The stricture was measured and the BMG was harvested accordingly. A ureterotomy was made along the length of the stricture over the ureteroscopy. The BMG was sewn to the ureteral edges as an onlay patch. Ureteroscopy was used to confirm patency and a stent was placed. An omental wrap was sutured over the ureter and BMG for blood supply. RESULTS: The patient underwent an uncomplicated ureterolysis procedure with an EBL of 75cc, OR time of 280 minutes, and a hospital stay of 3 days. He is doing well with followup <1 year with no complications or evidence of obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a case of robotic ureterolysis followed by robotic BMG ureteroplasty in the same patient. Robotic BMG ureteroplasty is an option for patients with long ureteral strictures with proximal extent, and is an alternative to autotransplantation or ileal ureter.