Sarah C. Flury

Contemporary Surgical Trends in the Management of Upper Tract Calculi

PURPOSE Upper tract nephrolithiasis is a common surgical condition that is treated with multiple surgical techniques, including shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We analyzed case logs submitted to the ABU by candidates for initial certification and recertification to help elucidate the trends in management of upper tract urinary calculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS Annualized case logs from 2003 to 2012 were analyzed. We used logistic regression models to assess how surgeon specific attributes affected the way that upper tract stones were treated. Cases were identified by the CPT code of the corresponding procedure. RESULTS A total of 6,620 urologists in 3 certification groups recorded case logs, including 2,275 for initial certification, 2,381 for first recertification and 1,964 for second recertification. A total of 441,162 procedures were logged, of which 54.2% were ureteroscopy, 41.3% were shock wave lithotripsy and 4.5% were percutaneous nephrolithotomy. From 2003 to 2013 there was an increase in ureteroscopy from 40.9% to 59.6% and a corresponding decrease in shock wave lithotripsy from 54% to 36.3%. For new urologists ureteroscopy increased from 47.6% to 70.9% of all stones cases logged and for senior clinicians ureteroscopy increased from 40% to 55%. Endourologists performed a significantly higher proportion of percutaneous nephrolithotomies than nonendourologists (10.6% vs 3.69%, p <0.0001) and a significantly smaller proportion of shock wave lithotripsies (34.2% vs 42.2%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Junior and senior clinicians showed a dramatic adoption of endoscopic techniques. Treatment of upper tract calculi is an evolving field and provider specific attributes affect how these stones are treated.

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a technology-assisted psychosocial intervention for racially diverse men with advanced prostate cancer.

The utility of psychosocial interventions in reducing symptom burden and improving health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) for men with localized prostate cancer has been demonstrated. However, studies have yet to demonstrate the efficacy of interventions in advanced prostate cancer (APC). This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a technology‐assisted, 10‐week, group‐based psychosocial intervention for diverse men with APC.

National Practice Patterns of Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction with Penile Prosthesis Implantation

PURPOSE The increase in medical options to manage erectile dysfunction has changed how urologists approach erectile dysfunction. We reviewed contemporary trends in penile prosthesis implantation in the United States with an emphasis on practice patterns, demographics and temporal changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Annualized case log data of penile prosthesis surgeries from certifying and recertifying urologists from 2003 to 2012 were obtained from the American Board of Urology. CPT code 54400 was used to identify malleable prosthesis surgeries and CPT codes 54401 and 54405 were used to identify inflatable prosthesis surgeries. To evaluate the association between surgeon characteristics and practice patterns we used the chi-square test. RESULTS The surgical cohort included 6,615 urologists who placed a total of 9,558 penile prostheses during the study period. Only 23.9% of urologists reported performing a penile prosthesis operation. Of the prostheses 75% were placed by surgeons who completed 4 or fewer such operations per year. Of urologists who recorded logs 1.5% considered themselves to be specialists in andrology and yet they were responsible for a disproportionate 10% of all prostheses implanted (OR 5.9, p <0.0001). The proportion of inflatable penile prostheses compared to malleable prostheses increased twelvefold in 10 years. The number of logged prosthesis surgeries was skewed toward more implants placed by the most experienced urologists than by new urologists (OR 1.92, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Although specialists and high volume surgeons perform a disproportionate number of implant surgeries, low volume surgeons place most penile prostheses in the United States. Additional research is needed to determine best practices to achieve optimal patient outcomes in penile prosthesis surgery.

Patterns of Performance of Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissections by American Urologists: Most Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissections in the United States Are Performed by Low-volume Surgeons

OBJECTIVE To characterize the current patterns of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) performance among practicing US urologists. METHODS Six-month case log data of urologists certifying between 2003 and 2013 were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying both an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code for testis cancer and a Current Procedural Terminology code for RPLND were analyzed for surgeon-specific variables. RESULTS Among 8545 certifying urologists, 290 (3.4% of all) urologists logged 553 RPLNDs in the case log system with 21 (3.6%) performed laparoscopically. Median number of RPLNDs logged annually was 1 (range, 1-59; interquartile range, 1-1) with 3 urologists performing 23% of all RPLNDs. Seventy-five percent of urologists logged a single RPLND. Urologists who logged 2 RPLNDs in a year were in the top 25% of performers with over half (52%) of all RPLNDs performed by urologists who logged 1 or 2 RPLND. On univariate regression analysis, oncology specialization (odds ratio, 5.1 [95% confidence interval, 2.2-11.6; P = .0001]) and non-private practice type (odds ratio, 2.8 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-7.1; P = .03]) were predictive of top 10% (≥ 3 cases) surgeon RPLND volume. CONCLUSION Despite the critical importance of the surgical quality for outcomes of patients with testis cancer, the majority of surgeons performing RPLND are certifying for the first time and log only 1 RPLND.

Practice Patterns in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture Among American Urologists: A Paradigm Change?

OBJECTIVE To examine surgical case volume characteristics among certifying urologists associated with treatment of urethral stricture to compare practice patterns of recent graduates to recertifying attending urologists and trends over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six-month case log data of certifying and recertifying urologists (2003-2013) were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying a CPT code for urethral dilation, direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU), urethroplasty, and graft harvest in males ≥18 years were analyzed for surgeon-specific variables. RESULTS Among 6320 urologists logging at least one reconstructive urology procedure, 95,747 (86.2%) urethral dilations, 10,986 (10.0%) DVIU, and 4349 (3.9%) urethroplasties were identified, with 99 (0.9%) using graft and 405 (9.3%) staged procedures. Overall ratio of urethral dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty was 24.5:1. More recent log year and new certification correlated with a decrease in ratio of dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty, but stable use of graft. The ratio of dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty for new certification was much lower (7.9:1), compared to first (24.4:1), second (63.3:1), and third recertification cycles (99.5:1), wherein urethroplasty was increasingly rare. Newly certifying urologists performed urethroplasty 4.5 times more often than those recertifying. Academically affiliated urologists were 8 times more likely to perform urethroplasty. CONCLUSION Most urethral strictures are treated with dilation/DVIU, but a changing paradigm favoring urethroplasty is evident. Most urethroplasties are performed by a small number of urologists with high volume, academic affiliation, recent residency graduation, and residence in a state with a reconstructive urology fellowship.

Male Sling and Artificial Urethral Sphincter for Male Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Certifying American Urologists

OBJECTIVE To examine case volume characteristics among certifying urologists performing male sling and artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) procedures to evaluate practice patterns in male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS Six-month case log data of certifying urologists (2003-2013) were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying Current Procedural Terminology code for male sling, AUS, and removal or revision of either procedure in males ≥18 years were analyzed. RESULTS Among 1615 urologists (568 certifying and 1047 recertifying) logging at least 1 male incontinence procedure, 2109 (48% of all procedures) male sling and 2284 (52%) AUS cases were identified. The mean age of patients undergoing AUS was 74.9 years and the mean age of patients undergoing sling procedures was 67.3 years (P <.001). An increase in male incontinence procedures from 2003 to 2013 was demonstrated. The rate of male sling procedure increased from 32.7% of incontinence surgeries in 2004 to 45.5% in 2013 (P <.001). Academically affiliated urologists are 1.5 times more likely to perform AUS than male sling for SUI (P <.001). Median number of slings performed was 2 (range 1-40), with 32.7% placing slings exclusively. A small group of certifying urologists (3.4%) accounted for 22% of all male slings placed. This same cohort logged 10.2% of all AUS performed. Surgical management of male SUI varies widely across states (P <.001), with slings performed between 21% and 70% of the time. CONCLUSION Overall the number of male incontinence procedures has increased over time, with a growing proportion of male slings. Most slings and AUS cases are performed by a small number of high-volume surgeons.

Disparities in female urologic case distribution with new subspecialty certification and surgeon gender

To examine surgical case volume characteristics in certifying urologists associated with common female urologic procedures to evaluate the practice patterns, given the recent establishment of subspecialty certification in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) and changes in urologist gender composition.

Stool-based biomarkers of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC) is associated with significant morbidity, yet underlying mechanisms and diagnostic biomarkers remain unknown. Pelvic organs exhibit neural crosstalk by convergence of visceral sensory pathways, and rodent studies demonstrate distinct bacterial pain phenotypes, suggesting that the microbiome modulates pelvic pain in IC. Stool samples were obtained from female IC patients and healthy controls, and symptom severity was determined by questionnaire. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified by16S rDNA sequence analysis. Machine learning by Extended Random Forest (ERF) identified OTUs associated with symptom scores. Quantitative PCR of stool DNA with species-specific primer pairs demonstrated significantly reduced levels of E. sinensis, C. aerofaciens, F. prausnitzii, O. splanchnicus, and L. longoviformis in microbiota of IC patients. These species, deficient in IC pelvic pain (DIPP), were further evaluated by Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analyses, and DIPP species emerged as potential IC biomarkers. Stool metabolomic studies identified glyceraldehyde as significantly elevated in IC. Metabolomic pathway analysis identified lipid pathways, consistent with predicted metagenome functionality. Together, these findings suggest that DIPP species and metabolites may serve as candidates for novel IC biomarkers in stool. Functional changes in the IC microbiome may also serve as therapeutic targets for treating chronic pelvic pain.

Atypical small acinar proliferation: biopsy artefact or distinct pathological entity?

To determine if atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) represents minimally sampled prostate cancer not fully evaluated on a biopsy or a distinct pathological entity, by examining prostates removed at radical cystectomy, as a finding of ASAP of the prostate on needle‐core biopsy is closely associated with the detection of cancer on subsequent biopsy.

Prolapse repair with and without apical resuspension—Practice patterns among certifying American urologists

To examine surgeon characteristics in certifying urologists performing prolapse surgeries. Anterior compartment prolapse is often associated with apical prolapse, with high rates of recurrence when anterior repair is performed without apical resuspension.