Fahad Alyami

Utility and cost-effectiveness of uroflowmetry in a busy pediatric urology practice.

INTRODUCTION Uroflowmetry (UF) is frequently employed in daily pediatric urology practice for diagnostic and follow-up purposes. We assess the utility and cost-effectiveness of UF in the management of patients seen at a tertiary care centre. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive patients who had a UF between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010. We collected data on demographics, diagnosis, UF parameters and the impact of the UF on management. The impact on management was defined as indication for surgery, introduction of new medications and bladder retraining based on clinical and UF findings. RESULTS In total, 524 patients were included in the study. In 63 (12%) patients, UF was performed as part of the evaluation at the first clinic appointment. The most common diagnoses were voiding dysfunction (VD) 41%, hypospadias 26%, vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) 16%, monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NE) 8%, posterior urethral valves 5% and meatal stenosis (MS) 4%. In the VD group, UF contributed to a management decision in 25.2% of patients. In the MS group, surgical intervention was based on symptoms and supported by the UF in 41% of patients; in the PUV group, 50% of patients demonstrated high (>20 cc) post-void residual, which aided in management decisions. In contrast, there were virtually no changes in management supported by the UF in the NE, VUR and hypospadias groups. Overall, UF parameters had a direct influence in the management decisions in only 67 (12.8%) patients. Nonetheless, a repeat test was ordered for 44.5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS In an era of financial restraints and in a busy tertiary pediatric urology practice, judicious use of UF for specific indications may translate into a more cost-effective use of time and resources. As expected, patients with VD were the ones that benefited most from the test, as did patients with symptomatic MS and PUV.

Computed tomography angiogram: Accuracy in renal surgery

Objectives:  To determine the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography angiogram (CTA) in detecting number and location of renal arteries and veins as well as crossing vessels causing uretero‐pelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), and to determine if this can be used in decision‐making algorithms for treatment of UPJO.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for >4 cm renal masses

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is frequently used to manage cT1a renal masses. While data on safety and long-term oncological outcomes of LPN for T1a tumours are widely available, it is limited for >T1a lesions. We report our experience with LPN for >4 cm renal masses from a Canadian tertiary centre. METHODS Between January 2003 and July 2011, 52 consecutive LPN for >4 cm renal masses were performed. Demographic, pathological and clinical data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS The mean patient age was 60 years (62% male). Median tumour size was 4.8 (range: 4.2-11) cm. The median surgical time was 145 minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 100 mL. The median warm ischemia time was 24 minutes. Four (7.7%) cases required conversion to open surgery. One case was converted to total nephrectomy for clinical and pathological evidence of T3 disease. The surgical margin was positive in 1 case (1.9%). Four (7.7%) patients developed a urine leak postoperatively; 3 of them managed with a ureteric stent. Four (7.7%) patients developed postoperative bleeding requiring selective angioembolization. The median hospital stay was 4 days. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate and mean arterial blood pressure (p = 0.5, p = 0.1, respectively). CONCLUSION This series demonstrates that LPN although technically challenging has acceptable short-term surgical outcomes. Long-term assessment of oncological outcomes is required. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy >4 cm renal tumours should not be considered a standard of care, but excellent results can be achieved in well-selected patients and in experienced hands with no impact in renal function or blood pressure.

Is an overnight stay after percutaneous nephrolithotomy safe

Abstract Objectives:To establish a clinical care pathway that plans for hospital discharge the day after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of this pathway, and to identify factors associated with a postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) of >1 day. PCNL is the treatment of choice for patients with large kidney stones and those in whom extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy has failed, and the mean LOS is typically 2–5 days. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 109 patients (mean age 57.4 years; 58 men, 53%) who had PCNL between 2006 and 2009. All had nephrostomy tubes placed after surgery. The patients’ demographics, LOS, incidence of complications, clinical outcomes, stone-free rates, number of early postoperative emergency-room visits, need for subsequent admission and/or other procedures, were noted and analysed. The modified Clavien classification was used to describe the postoperative complications. Bivariate analyses were used to test for associations between LOS and other variables. Results: The mean (range) stone size was 2.2 (0.9–5.9) cm, and the mean (SEM) LOS was 1.7 (0.13) days. Of the 109 patients, 20% had a LOS of >1 day for surgical, 3% for medical and 5% for social reasons. The stone-free rate was 89%. There was no difference in the number of subsequent hospital visits or ancillary procedures for patients discharged after one or more postoperative nights. No variables were associated with a longer LOS. Conclusions: An overnight hospital stay after PCNL is safe and represents an effective strategy for improved bed use in selected patients. A longer LOS was not affected by patient age or body mass index, stone size or operative time. We continue to use our clinical care pathway, as supported by these data.

Biofeedback as single first-line treatment for non-neuropathic dysfunctional voiding children with diurnal enuresis

INTRODUCTION Non-neurogenic dysfunctional voiding (NDV) accounts for a significant portion of pediatric urology outpatient clinic visits. Biofeedback (BF) is a promising, non-invasive modality for treating children with DV and daytime wetting. Our objective was to investigate BFs efficacy as a single first-line treatment for children with NDV and diurnal enuresis. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted with a total of 61 consecutive patient records from January 2009 to March 2016. All children with NDV who had BF as first-line treatment were included. Full urological histories, physical examinations, dysfunctional voiding symptom score (DVSS), urine analysis, ultrasound (US), and uroflowmetry (UFM), and electromyogram (EMG) were performed and recorded for all patients before and after finishing the last BF cycle. The patients satisfaction scale was also obtained. RESULTS The mean age was 10±2.6 years. Most patients (80.3%) were females. The presenting symptoms were diurnal enuresis, urinary tract infections, and voiding discomfort in 52 (85.2%), 16 (26.2%), and 38 (62.3%) patients, respectively. Six months after the last BF cycle, there was a statistically significant objective improvement in US and UFM+EMG findings with the disappearance of EMG signals in 40 of 61 (65.5%) patients. There was also a significant subjective symptomatic improvement, as the mean DVSS had decreased from 14 to 7.9 (p=0.003). Forty-seven patients (77%) were satisfied, while only eight (13.1%) were not. CONCLUSIONS BF is considered a potentially effective, single first-line treatment modality for children with DV and diurnal enuresis. Long-term outcome assessments are needed to assess the childrens compliance and symptom recurrence.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the testis: A case report and review of the literature

This is a case of a 68-year-old male who presented with a chief compliant of a testicular mass, which was discovered to be a meta-static lesion of undiagnosed renal cell carcinoma. A computed tomography scan revealed a large right renal mass and multiple pulmonary metastasis. Shortly after diagnosis, the patient was initiated on systemic therapy and received a cytoreductive nephrectomy. We discuss the details of this case as well as a pertinent review of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the testes.

Routine histopathological examination of the foreskin after circumcision for clinically suspected lichen sclerosus in children: Is it a waste of resources?

INTRODUCTION Circumcision is one of the most widely performed procedures in the world. One of the indications for circumcision is lichen sclerosis (LS). The natural history of LS in children is not as well-documented as in adult patients. Surgeons use the appearance of the foreskin or meatus to predict the diagnosis of LS. Indeed, if the diagnosis of LS is made in childhood, does it change management in the long-term? Pathological analysis of the excised foreskin is routinely done if there is suspicion of LS. Our aim is to assess the concordance between the clinical and pathological diagnosis of suspected LS and to assess the need for sending the foreskin for pathological examination. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of 64 of 420 boys who underwent circumcision in a tertiary childrens hospital from June 2005 to June 2014, and who had their foreskin sent for pathology due to the clinical suspicion of LS. Demographics, presenting symptoms, presumed clinical diagnosis, pathological findings, and followup data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Over the review period, 64 patients underwent circumcision for presumed LS. The mean age of the children was 9.7 years (range 3-16.5). All the children who had circumcision for presumed LS diagnosis were symptomatic. LS was confirmed in 47 of 64 foreskins (73.5%). Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) was clinically suspected in 40 (85%) of the 47 patients. The mean followup was 10 months (range 1-15), with seven recurrences (15%) during that period. The recurrences required revision surgery in two patients and five were managed with steroids only. CONCLUSIONS In our series, the clinical diagnosis correlated with the pathological diagnosis in most cases. A clinical suspicion of LS without routine foreskin pathological assessment will reduces the overall cost to the healthcare system. Appropriate counselling of the patient/parents and their primary caregiver is imperative, as recurrence is common.

Single penile incision for combined hypospadias and inguinal surgery: A comparative study

INTRODUCTION We sought to compare the surgical outcomes of hypospadias repair with correction of inguinal pathology using a single penile incision vs. conventional approach using two incisions. METHODS This is a retrospective study that reviewed all patients who underwent concurrent surgical repair for both hypospadias and inguinal pathologies between January 2003 and November 2015. Patients were classified into Group A, conventional (inguinal or scrotal and penile incision) approach; or Group B, single penile incision approach. Baseline characteristics, including age, degree of hypospadias, type and laterality of inguinal pathology, operative time, and surgical outcomes, were collected. Between groups, variable comparisons were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-Test and Fisher-exact test. Statistical significant set at <0.05. RESULTS Seventy-six patients (Group A: 40; Group B: 36) were eligible for study. Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable, with no significant statistical difference. Overall mean operative time for Group A was 139.3 ± 56.2 minutes, while Group B was 107.8 ± 46.7 minutes (Z=2.6; U=470.5; p=0.009). Two patients in Group A and two patients in Group B had testicular ascension, all of which also had hypospadias-related complications (p=1.0). Hypospadias-related complications in Group A included seven urethrocutaneous fistulae and two repair dehiscence. Eight urethrocutaneous fistulae, one urethral stricture, and two repair dehiscence occurred in Group B (p=0.448). Surgical outcome appearance in both groups were comparable, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.466). CONCLUSIONS Single penile incision for both hypospadias repair and correction of inguinal pathology is a feasible technique and comparable to the conventional approach, with similar surgical outcomes and shorter overall operative time.

Incarcerated inguinal hernia in infancy associated with testicular infarction: Case report and review of the literature.

One of the most common urgent urologic problems seen in young patients in the emergency department is the acute scrotum. Testicular infarction from an incarcerated inguinal hernia is an unusual presentation and often not considered in the initial evaluation. We present an interesting case of a 28-day-old boy who presented with an acute scrotum and was found to have a testicular infarction and an incarcerated inguinal hernia. The management of similar cases in young males may vary depending on which surgical service is consulted initially and a scrotal ultrasound should be done without any delay.