Kelly L. Kantartzis

Cost analysis when open surgeons perform minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Background and Objective: The costs to perform a hysterectomy are widely variable. Our objective was to determine hysterectomy costs by route and whether traditionally open surgeons lower costs when performing laparoscopy versus robotics. Methods: Hysterectomy costs including subcategories were collected from 2011 to 2013. Costs were skewed, so 2 statistical transformations were performed. Costs were compared by surgeon classification (open, laparoscopic, or robotic) and surgery route. Results: A total of 4,871 hysterectomies were performed: 34.2% open, 50.7% laparoscopic, and 15.1% robotic. Laparoscopic hysterectomy had the lowest total costs (P < .001). By cost subcategory, laparoscopic hysterectomy was lower than robotic hysterectomy in 6 and higher in 1. When performing robotic hysterectomy, open and robotic surgeon costs were similar. With laparoscopic hysterectomy, open surgeons had higher costs than laparoscopic surgeons for 1 of 2 statistical transformations (P = .007). Open surgeons had lower costs performing laparoscopic hysterectomy than robotic hysterectomy with robotic maintenance and depreciation included (P < .001) but similar costs if these variables were excluded. Conclusion: Although laparoscopic hysterectomy had lowest costs overall, robotics may be no more costly than laparoscopic hysterectomy when performed by surgeons who predominantly perform open hysterectomy.

Menstrual suppression in the adolescent.

Menstrual suppression, the use of contraceptive methods to eliminate or decrease the frequency of menses, is often prescribed for adolescents to treat menstrual disorders or to accommodate patient preference. For young women using hormonal contraceptives, there is no medical indication for menstruation to occur monthly, and various hormonal contraceptives can be used to decrease the frequency of menstruation with different side effect profiles and rates of amenorrhea. This article reviews the different modalities for menstrual suppression, common conditions in adolescents which may improve with menstrual suppression, and strategies for managing common side effects.

Sacral neuromodulation and intravesical botulinum toxin for refractory overactive bladder.

Purpose of review To provide an overview of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and intravesical botulinum toxin (BTX) injections in the treatment of refractory overactive bladder (OAB) and urge urinary incontinence. Recent findings SNM has been a successful treatment option for OAB for over a decade with efficacy rates reported between 50 and 90%. Recently, intravesical BTX has been studied as a less invasive but more transient option with similar efficacy rates. Side-effect profiles differ greatly between the treatments, with elevated postvoid residuals and urinary tract infections most commonly occurring after botulinum injection and pain or device revision or removal occurring with SNM. Recent studies have tried to elucidate the optimal dosing regimen for BTX and patient variables predicting success for both therapies in order to improve outcomes while reducing adverse events. Summary Both intravesical BTX and SNM have been shown to be effective treatment options for OAB. Further research is needed to determine equivalence or if one therapy is superior and to identify the ideal patient population for each therapy.

Predictors of postoperative acute urinary retention in women undergoing minimally invasive sacral colpopexy.

Objectives Our aim was to determine predictors of acute urinary retention in women undergoing laparoscopic and robotic sacral colpopexy. Methods Records from all minimally invasive sacral colpopexies performed from 2009 to 2012 were reviewed. All women had a retrograde fill voiding trial (RGVT) on postoperative day 1, except in cases of intraoperative bladder injury or chronic urinary retention. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and surgical factors were compared between women who did and did not pass the RGVT. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of postoperative voiding dysfunction. Results Three hundred two subjects met the inclusion criteria, but 12 were excluded because of planned prolonged catheterization. Of the remaining 290 subjects, 211 (72.8%) passed the RGVT. The mean (SD) for the duration of urinary retention in those who failed was 3.7 (4.2) days. The mean (SD) for age was 58.5 (8.6) years, and the median preoperative prolapse was Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification stage III (76.1% with ≥ stage III) with mean Ba = +2.3. There were no significant independent risk factors identified on multivariable logistic regression to predict RGVT failure, with only concurrent midurethral sling approaching significance (6.1% vs 12.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.93–5.45; P = 0.07). Conclusions No significant predictors of acute urinary retention were identified among women undergoing minimally invasive sacral colpopexy. In contrast to published analyses of vaginal prolapse repairs, large preoperative cystocele and concurrent midurethral sling were not significantly associated with retention. Given the inability to predict who will have postoperative urinary retention, all patients should be counseled about the potential need for catheterization.

The use of mechanical bowel preparation in laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a decision analysis

OBJECTIVE The use of mechanical bowel preparation prior to laparoscopy is common in gynecology, but its use may affect the rates of perioperative events and complications. Our objective was to compare different mechanical bowel preparations using decision analysis techniques to determine the optimal preparation prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery. STUDY DESIGN A decision analysis was constructed modeling perioperative outcomes with the following mechanical bowel preparations: magnesium citrate, sodium phosphate, polyethylene glycol, enema, and no bowel preparation. Comparisons were made using published utility values. Secondary analyses included the percentages that had 1 or more preoperative events and 1 or more intra- or postoperative complications. RESULTS Overall, the highest utility values were for no bowel preparation (0.98) and magnesium citrate (0.97), whereas the other values were as follows: enema (0.95), sodium phosphate (0.94), and polyethylene glycol (0.91). The difference between no bowel preparation and magnesium citrate was less than the published minimally important differences for utilities, so there is likely no real difference between these strategies. The probability of having at least 1 preoperative event was lowest for no bowel preparation (1%), whereas the probability of having at least 1 intra- or postoperative complication was lowest with magnesium citrate (8%). CONCLUSION The highest utilities were seen with no bowel preparation, but the absolute difference between no bowel preparation and magnesium citrate was less than the minimally important difference. With similar overall utilities, our model raises questions as to whether mechanical bowel preparation is a necessary step prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery. However, if a surgeon prefers a bowel preparation, magnesium citrate is the preferred option.

Cost-effectiveness of test phase implantation strategies for InterStim® sacral neuromodulation.

Objective Sacral neuromodulation with InterStim® can be performed with staged implants or peripheral nerve evaluation followed by a combined stage I/II procedure. In both, unilateral or bilateral leads can be placed for the testing phase. Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of these strategies in patients with refractory overactive bladder. Methods A cost-effectiveness model compared 6 strategies, namely, unilateral and bilateral testing for both stage I and peripheral nerve evaluation, combined stage I/II, and no treatment. Costs were derived from a societal perspective using Medicare physician fee schedules and published studies. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were assigned using utility values. Results were reported using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Model robustness was assessed using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Monte Carlo analysis sampled statistical distributions for each variable to examine the effects of varying all values simultaneously. Results No InterStim® treatment was the least expensive but also the least effective option. Unilateral and bilateral stage I were the only cost-effective options with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of

Adoption of robotic sacrocolpopexy at an academic institution.

3533 and

Stem Cell Therapy for Female Urinary Incontinence

7600, respectively. Because bilateral stage I was more effective, it is preferred. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed bilateral stage I was most likely to be cost-effective at willingness-to-pay thresholds greater than

Apical support at the time of hysterectomy for uterovaginal prolapse

6000 per QALY. At lower thresholds, no treatment was more economically acceptable. Conclusions Bilateral and unilateral stage I lead placement were the only cost-effective strategies. Bilateral stage I was preferred due to greater effectiveness. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, bilateral stage I was the most likely cost-effective strategy at all willingness-to-pay thresholds greater than

The effect of age on complications in women undergoing minimally invasive sacral colpopexy

6000 per QALY confirming model robustness.