Pediatric Urologic Procedures Research Articles

Validation of antibiotic charges in administrative data for outpatient pediatric urologic procedures

The use of administrative health data for research has prompted questions about its validity for this purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the concordance of Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) perioperative antibiotic charges with the institution's medication administration data for males <10 years old and who underwent outpatient penile/inguinal procedures from July 2013 to March 2015. There was 93.9% positive and negative agreement between perioperative antibiotic charges versus administration. The sensitivity and specificity were 96.8% and 87.2%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 94.6% and 92.2%, respectively. This study indicated strong agreement between PHIS pharmacy charges and medication administration.

Variation in Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Outpatient Pediatric Urological Procedures at United States Children’s Hospitals

Guidelines recommend surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for clean-contaminated procedures but none for clean procedures. The purpose of this study was to describe variations in surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for outpatient urological procedures at United States children's hospitals. Using the PHIS (Pediatric Health Information System®) database we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients younger than 18 years who underwent clean and/or clean-contaminated outpatient urological procedures from 2012 to 2014. We excluded those with concurrent nonurological procedures or an abscess/infected wound. We compared perioperative antibiotic charges for clean vs clean-contaminated procedures using a multilevel logistic regression model with a random effect for hospital. We also examined whether hospitals that were guideline compliant for clean procedures, defined as no surgical antibiotic prophylaxis, were also compliant for clean-contaminated procedures using the Pearson correlation coefficient. We examined hospital level variation in antibiotic rates using the coefficient of variation. A total of 131,256 patients with a median age of 34 months at 39 hospitals met study inclusion criteria. Patients undergoing clean procedures were 14% less likely to receive guideline compliant surgical antibiotic prophylaxis than patients undergoing clean-contaminated procedures (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84-0.88, p <0.0001). Hospitals that used antibiotics appropriately for clean-contaminated procedures were more likely to use antibiotics inappropriately for clean procedures (r = 0.7, p = 0.01). Greater variation was seen for hospital level compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for clean-contaminated procedures (range 9.8% to 97.8%, coefficient of variation 0.36) than for clean procedures (range 35.0% to 98.2%, coefficient of variation 0.20). Hospitals that used surgical antibiotic prophylaxis appropriately for clean-contaminated procedures were likely to use surgical antibiotic prophylaxis inappropriately for clean procedures. More variation was seen in hospital level guideline compliance for clean-contaminated procedures.

Adverse events associated with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for outpatient circumcisions at US children's hospitals

Doctors often use surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) despite limited evidence to support its efficacy. We sought to determine the association between SAP in children undergoing circumcision and the rate of perioperative adverse events. We performed a retrospective study of males >30 days old and <18 years old who underwent circumcision from 2004 to 2014 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. We excluded inpatients and those with any concomitant procedures. We used chi-square or Fisher's exact test to determine the association between SAP and allergic reaction and any of the following within 30 days: penile reoperation, hospital visit, or surgical site infection (SSI). We performed mixed effects logistic regression controlling for age, race, insurance, and clustering of similar practice patterns by hospital. 84,226 patients were included: median age 2.2 years; 61.0% public insurance, 39.6% white. 8944 (10.6%) received SAP. On bivariate analysis, there were no associations between SAP and SSI (0.1% vs. 0.2%, p=0.5), penile reoperation (0.01% vs. 0.04%, p=0.4), or hospital visit (5.5% vs. 5.5%, p=0.8). Patients who received SAP were more likely to have a perioperative allergic reaction than those who did not (3.5% vs. 2.9%, p=0.0004). On multivariate analysis, those who received SAP had 1.5 times the odds of an allergic reaction (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.7; p<0.0001) and a hospital visit (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3; p=0.0021) compared with those who did not (Table). SAP did not decrease the risk of penile reoperation or SSI. Use of SAP was associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions and hospital visits. Strengths of the study include its large sample size, which enabled detection of rare outcomes with adequate statistical power and the generalizability of our findings to many patients and other types of procedures. Limitations include the lack of outpatient data and the possibility that we could have overestimated the incidence of allergic reactions by including patients who received epinephrine for some other reason. We found no compelling evidence to support the use of SAP in children undergoing circumcision and it was associated with an increased risk of allergic reaction and hospital visits. This study highlights the need for specialty-specific guidelines for pediatric urologic procedures regarding the use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and for vigilant monitoring of practice variation.

Port Site Local Anesthetic Infiltration Vs Single-dose Intrathecal Opioid Injection to Control Perioperative Pain in Children Undergoing Minimal Invasive Surgery: A Comparative Analysis

To compare the efficacy of the intrathecal opiate vs wound site local anesthetic infiltration for perioperative pain control during and after surgery in patients undergoing minimally invasive pediatric urologic procedures. Using an Institutional Review Board-approved registry database, we identified patients who underwent minimally invasive urologic procedures at our institution between 2009 and 2013. We collected all relevant preoperative variables and postoperative outcomes. Patients in intrathecal injection of opioids (ITO) group were matched with patients who received local anesthetic infiltration (LAI) based on age, diagnosis, and procedure. Perioperative analgesic requirements were converted to morphine equivalents standardized to body weight. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and parametric comparisons were completed to determine difference in morphine equivalents between the 2 groups. One hundred thirty children (78 girls and 52 boys) were included in our study. Sixty-six patients underwent ITO and 66 received LAI. Sixty-six patients underwent ureteral reimplantation, 60 underwent pyeloplasty, and 4 underwent nephrectomy. Ages ranged from 0.5 to 19.9 years. There was no significant difference in cumulative morphine equivalents or weight administered between the ITO and LAI groups for the total period of hospitalization (0.76 units vs 0.79 units, P > .05). Multivariate regression analysis predicted that older age corresponds to higher analgesic requirements. ITO does not impact total analgesic requirements during the hospital stay compared to LAI following minimally invasive surgery. Considering the potential complications of ITO, LAI may be the preferred modality for pain management for minimally invasive surgery in children.

Increased pediatric sub-specialization is associated with decreased surgical complication rates for inpatient pediatric urology procedures

Increased case volumes and training are associated with better surgical outcomes. However, the impact of pediatric urology sub-specialization on perioperative complication rates is unknown. To determine the presence and magnitude of difference in rates of common postoperative complications for elective pediatric urology procedures between specialization levels of urologic surgeons. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a nationally representative administrative database, was used. The NIS (1998-2009) was retrospectively reviewed for pediatric (≤18 years) admissions, using ICD-9-CM codes to identify urologic surgeries and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) inpatient postoperative complications. Degree of pediatric sub-specialization was calculated using a Pediatric Proportion Index (PPI), defined as the ratio of children to total patients operated on by each provider. The providers were grouped into PPI quartiles: Q1, 0-25% specialization; Q2, 25-50%; Q3, 50-75%; Q4, 75-100%. Weighted multivariate analysis was performed to test for associations between PPI and surgical complications. A total of 71,479 weighted inpatient admissions were identified. Patient age decreased with increasing specialization: Q1, 7.9 vs Q2, 4.8 vs Q3, 4.8 vs Q4, 4.6 years, P<0.01). Specialization was not associated with race (P>0.20), gender (P>0.50), or comorbidity scores (P=0.10). Mortality (1.5% vs 0.2% vs 0.3% vs 0.4%, P<0.01) and complication rates (15.5% vs 11.7% vs 9.6% vs 10.9%, P<0.0001) both decreased with increasing specialization. Patients treated by more highly specialized surgeons incurred slightly higher costs (Q2, +4%; Q3, +1%; Q4+2%) but experienced shorter length of hospital stay (Q2, -5%; Q3, -10%; Q4, -3%) compared with the least specialized providers. A greater proportion of patients treated by Q1 and Q3 specialized urologists had CCS ≥2 than those seen by Q2 or Q4 urologists (12.5% and 12.2%, respectively vs 8.4% and 10.9%, respectively, P=0.04). Adjusting for confounding effects, increased pediatric specialization was associated with decreased postoperative complications: Q2 OR 0.78, CI 0.58-1.05; Q3 OR 0.60, CI 0.44-0.84; Q4 OR 0.70, CI 0.58-0.84; P<0.01. Providers with proportionally higher volumes of pediatric patients achieved better postoperative outcomes than their less sub-specialized counterparts. This may have arisen from increased exposure to pediatric anatomy and physiology, and greater familiarity with pediatric techniques. The NIS admission-based retrospective design did not enable assessment of long-term outcomes, repeated admissions, or to track a particular patient across time. The study was similarly limited in evaluating the effect of pre-surgical referral patterns on patient distributions. Increased pediatric sub-specialization among urologists was associated with a decreased risk of mortality and surgical complications in children undergoing inpatient urologic procedures.

Robotic surgery and anesthesia for pediatric urologic procedures.

Minimally invasive approaches to pediatric surgery have become increasingly popular over the last 15 years. With the advent of robotically controlled instruments, common pediatric urologic surgeries such as pyeloplasty and ureteral reimplantation, which were previously technically challenging, are now commonly performed laparoscopically. It is important to recognize the unique physiologic considerations with this approach and how to provide safe and effective anesthesia for these procedures. Although there are multiple studies in the surgical literature describing robot-assisted laparoscopic approaches for pediatric urologic surgery, there are few articles that describe the anesthetic considerations for this type of surgery in children. As the first pediatric hospital in the USA to obtain a surgical robot in 2001, a consistent, collaborative approach has been developed to care for infants and children undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is increasingly utilized for common pediatric urologic surgeries. To provide safe and effective anesthesia for this type of surgery, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the multiple physiologic derangements that occur with robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in infants and children, the potential complications that can occur with this approach and have a consistent approach to the anesthetic management and postoperative pain control for these procedures.

Laparoendoscopic single site surgery in pediatric urology: does it require specialized tools?

ABSTRACTPurpose:To describe our experience utilizing Laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) surgery in pediatric urology.Materials and Methods:Retrospective chart review was performed on LESS urologic procedures from November 2009 through March 2013. A total of 44 patients underwent 54 procedures including: nephrectomy (23), orchiopexy (14), varicocelectomy (9), orchiectomy (2), urachal cyst excision (3), and antegrade continence enema (3) (ACE).Results:Median patient age was 6.9 years old. Estimated blood loss (EBL), ranged from less than 5cc to 47cc for a bilateral nephrectomy. Operative time varied from 56 mins for varicocelectomy to a median of 360 minutes for a bilateral nephroureterectomy. Incision length ranged between 2 and 2.5cm. In our initial experience we used a commercial port. However, as we progressed, we were able to perform the majority of our procedures via adjacent fascial punctures for instrumentation at the single incision site. One patient did require conversion to an open procedure as a result of bleeding. Three complications were noted (6.8%), with two Clavien Grade 3b complications. Two patients required additional procedures at 1-year follow-up.Conclusions:The use of LESS applies to many pediatric urologic procedures, ideally for ablative procedures or simple reconstructive efforts. The use of adjacent fascial puncture sites for instrumentation can obviate the need for a commercial port or multiple trocars.

MP34-20 OPEN VS. MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL APPROACHES: ASSOCIATED POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF PEDIATRIC UROLOGIC SURGERY IN THE UNITED STATES

You have accessJournal of UrologySurgical Technology & Simulation: Instrumentation & Technology III1 Apr 2016MP34-20 OPEN VS. MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL APPROACHES: ASSOCIATED POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF PEDIATRIC UROLOGIC SURGERY IN THE UNITED STATES Rohit Tejwani, Brian Young, Hsin-Hsiao Wang, Steven Wolf, John Wiener, and Jonathan Routh Rohit TejwaniRohit Tejwani More articles by this author , Brian YoungBrian Young More articles by this author , Hsin-Hsiao WangHsin-Hsiao Wang More articles by this author , Steven WolfSteven Wolf More articles by this author , John WienerJohn Wiener More articles by this author , and Jonathan RouthJonathan Routh More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.1578AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Advances in laparoscopic and robotic technology and a paradigm shift amongst providers and families favoring preferential use of less-invasive surgical approaches in children have resulted in a marked rise in the availability and use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in pediatric urology. Despite substantial differences in invasiveness, cost, and intra/post-operative characteristics, studies directly comparing MIS to open approaches in children are lacking, and the equivocality of outcomes between these modalities is unknown. We sought to compare post-operative complication rates between MIS and open pediatric urologic procedures using a validated nationwide dataset. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2012) for pediatric (≤18 years) admissions for MIS/open ureteral reimplant, ureterureterostomy, pyeloplasty, radical/partial nephrectomy, appendicovesicostomy, enterocystoplasty, and sling, as identified by ICD-9-CM codes. Admissions from centers performing ≤5 MIS procedures during the period queried were excluded to reduce bias and ensure subject comparability. Admission-associated in-hospital post-operative complications as defined by the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) were identified. Missing demographic values were replaced using multiple imputation. Wald chi-square test and ANOVA were used to compare discrete and continuous variables respectively, and Propensity Scores were used to match patients by surgery type. RESULTS A total of 14,631 encounters from 59 qualifying centers were identified. Patients undergoing MIS were more likely to be older (7.81 vs. 4.67; p<0.0001), male (52% vs. 43%; p=0.0026) and seen in an urban non-teaching setting (3.9% vs. 2.7%; p=0.02). MIS encounters were less likely to result in NSQIP-defined post-operative complications (7% vs. 9.1%; p=0.005). Adjusting for other covariates, patients who received MIS were 0.73 times as likely to experience a post-operative complication compared to open surgery (p=0.0302). A decrease in complication rates over time as hospitals became specialized (i.e. performed ≥5 MIS) was noted, though was not statistically significant (p=0.49). CONCLUSIONS Over a 14 year period, MIS was associated with a lower NSQIP-defined post-operative complication rate at centers that had performed ≥5 pediatric urologic MIS procedures, which may be reflective of improvements in technology and surgeon proficiency as MIS has become more common nationwide. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e479 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Rohit Tejwani More articles by this author Brian Young More articles by this author Hsin-Hsiao Wang More articles by this author Steven Wolf More articles by this author John Wiener More articles by this author Jonathan Routh More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Pediatric percutaneous urologic procedures in interventional radiology

Pediatric percutaneous urologic procedures in interventional radiology

Multi-institutional Experience in Laparoendoscopic Single-site Surgery (LESS): For Major Extirpative and Reconstructive Procedures in Pediatric Urology

To review peri-procedural outcomes from a large, multi-institutional series of pediatric urology patients treated with laparaendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) for major extirpative and reconstructive procedures. Consecutive LESS cases between January 2011 and May 2014 from three free-standing pediatric referral centers were reviewed. Data include age, sex, operative time, blood loss, length of stay, and complications according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification. Hasson technique was used for peritoneal entry, GelPOINT advanced access platform was inserted, and standard 5mm laparoscopic instruments were used. Fifty-nine patients (median age 5 years, 4 months-17 years) met inclusion criteria: 29 nephrectomies, 9 nephroureterectomies, 3 bilateral nephrectomies, 5 heminephrectomies, 5 renal cyst decortications, 3 bilateral gonadectomies, 2 Malone antegrade continence enema, 2 calyceal diverticulectomy, and 1 ovarian detorsion with cystectomy. Median operative times for each case type were comparable to published experiences with traditional laparoscopy. Overall mean and median length of stay was 36.2 hours and 1 day, respectively. There were two complications: port site hernia requiring surgical repair (Clavien IIIb) and a superficial port site infection that resolved with antibiotics (Clavien II). Cosmetic outcomes were subjectively well received by patients and their parents. Operative time was significantly shorter between the first half of the experience and the second half (102 vs 70 minutes, P < .05). LESS approach can be broadly applied across many major extirpative and reconstructive procedures within pediatric urology. Our series advances our field's utilization of this technique and its safety.

Ninety-day perioperative complications of pediatric robotic urological surgery: A multi-institutional study

Robotic technology is the newest tool in the armamentarium for minimally invasive surgery. Individual centers have reported on both the outcomes and complications associated with this technology, but the numbers in these studies remain small, and it has been difficult to extrapolate meaningful information. The intention was to evaluate a large cohort of pediatric robotic patients through a multi-center database in order to determine the frequency and types of complications associated with robotic surgery for pediatric reconstructive and ablative procedures in the United States. After institutional review board approvals at the participating centers, data were retrospectively collected (2007-2011) by each institute and entered into a RedCap(®) database. Available demographic and complication data that were assigned Clavien grading scores were analyzed. From a cohort of 858 patients (880 RAL procedures), Grade IIIa and Grade IIIb complications were seen in 41 (4.8%); and one patient (0.1%) had a grade IVa complication. Intraoperative visceral injuries secondary to robotic instrument exchange and traction injury were seen in four (0.5%) patients, with subsequent conversion to an open procedure. Grade I and II complications were seen in 59 (6.9%) and 70 (8.2%) patients, respectively; they were all managed conservatively. A total of 14 (1.6%) were converted to an open or pure laparoscopic procedure, of which, 12 (86%) were secondary to mechanical challenges. It is believed that this study represents the largest and most comprehensive description of pediatric RAL urological complications to date. The results demonstrate a 4.7% rate of Clavien Grade IIIa and Grade IIIb complications in a total of 880 cases. While small numbers make it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the most complex reconstructive cases (bladder diverticulectomy, bladder neck revision, etc.), the data on the more commonly performed procedures, such as the RAL pyeloplasty and ureteral reimplantation, are robust and more likely represent the true complication rate for these procedures when performed by highly experienced robotic surgeons. Pediatric robotic urologic procedures are technically feasible and safe. The overall 90-day complication rate is similar to reports of laparoscopic and open surgical procedures. n (%) Life threatening (IVa): 1 (0.1%) Requiring radiologic and or surgical intervention (IIIa and IIIb): 41 (4.8%) Secondary to robotic system: 4 (0.5%) Mechanical failure leading to conversion: 14 (1.6%).

Post-surgical infections and perioperative antibiotics usage in pediatric genitourinary procedures

Post-surgical infections (PSIs) are a source of preventable perioperative morbidity. No guidelines exist for the use of perioperative antibiotics in pediatric urologic procedures. This study reports the rate of PSIs in non-endoscopic pediatric genitourinary procedures at our institution. Secondary aims evaluate the association of PSI with other perioperative variables, including wound class (WC) and perioperative antibiotic administration. Data from consecutive non-endoscopic pediatric urologic procedures performed between August 2011 and April 2014 were examined retrospectively. The primary outcome was the rate of PSIs. PSIs were classified as superficial skin (SS) and deep/organ site (D/OS) according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and urinary tract infection (UTI). PSIs were further stratified by WC1 and WC2 and perioperative antibiotic usage. A relative risk and chi-square analysis compared PSI rates between WC1 and WC2 procedures. A total of 1185 unique patients with 1384 surgical sites were reviewed; 1192 surgical sites had follow-up for inclusion into the study. Ten total PSIs were identified, for an overall infection rate of 0.83%. Of these, six were SS, one was D/OS, and three were UTIs. The PSI rate for WC1 (885 sites) and WC2 (307 sites) procedures was 0.34% and 2.28%, respectively, p<0.01. Relative risk of infection in WC2 procedures was 6.7 (CI 1.75-25.85, p=0.0055). The rate of infections in WC1 procedures was similar between those receiving and not receiving perioperative antibiotics (0.35% vs. 0.33%). All WC2 procedures received antibiotics. Post-surgical infections are associated with significant perioperative morbidity. In some studies, PSI can double hospital costs, and contribute to hospital length of stay, admission to intensive care units, and impact patient mortality. Our study demonstrates that the rate of PSI in WC1 operations is low, irrespective of whether the patient received perioperative antibiotics (0.35%) or no antibiotics (0.33%). WC2 operations were the larger source of morbidity with an infection rate of 2.28% and a 6.7 fold higher increase in relative risk. WC1 procedures have a rate of infection around 0.3%, which is independent of the use of perioperative antibiotics. WC2 procedures have a higher rate of infection, with a relative risk of 6.7 for the development of PSI, and should be the target of guidelines for periprocedural prophylaxis.

Association of BMI and pediatric urologic postoperative events: Results from pediatric NSQIP

Elevated body mass index (BMI) is a well-known risk factor for perioperative complications in adults, but has not been investigated in children undergoing urologic procedures. Given the low rate of complications associated with urologic surgery, a large sample is required for their characterization, but BMI is frequently not available in administrative databases. Here we report results from the first nationally based, prospectively assembled cohort analyzed with respect to the association of BMI with 30-day postoperative events for pediatric urologic procedures. To determine the association of elevated BMI with overall 30-day postoperative events and wound complications in a large national sample of children undergoing urologic procedures. We queried the 2012 Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (NSQIP), defining obesity as a BMI above the 95th percentile and overweight above the 85th percentile, per CDC definitions. We used BMI <85th percentile as a referent group. Complications were collected within 30 days of the procedure. Comorbidity was classified on a linear scale using a validated pediatric-specific comorbidity score, and procedures were classified as genital, abdominal without bowel involvement, or abdominal with bowel involvement. Univariate and multivariate logistic models were used to test significance of associations. 2871 patients aged 2-18 years were analyzed. Of these, 420 (14.6%) were overweight and 440 (15.3%) were obese. A summary of 30-day events and complications is shown in the structured abstract table. On multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender, class of procedure, and comorbidity, BMI remained a significant risk factor for 30-day events when comparing BMI ≥85th percentile to BMI <85th percentile (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03-1.8, p=0.035). An exploratory subgroup analysis examining the rate of wound complications demonstrated an odds ratio of 2.36 (95% CI 1.28-4.35, p=0.006) for BMI >85th percentile on multivariate analysis. Overweight/obese status increased the odds of overall complications by 36%, and of wound complications by 140%. In adults there is a known profound effect of body composition on wound complications, but in children this association is less clear, and has not been studied in the pediatric urologic literature on a large scale. The mechanisms linking BMI to pediatric postoperative complications are unclear, but cytokine mechanisms or changes in the response to inflammation have been postulated. Limitations of this study include restriction to those urologic procedures included in ACS-NSQIPP and sorted into broad general categories. We did not control for secondary procedures. BMI/BMI percentile may not be appropriate measures of body composition in patients with atypical body habitus or proportions (e.g. myelomeningocele). BMI in the pediatric NSQIP urologic population was found to be associated with overall complication after adjustment for case type and preoperative comorbidity in a large national sample assembled for assessment of perioperative outcomes. An exploratory analysis uncovered more than two-fold increase in odds of wound complication in obese/overweight patients compared with a normal weight referent population. These results may be useful in preoperative counseling patients regarding perioperative risk.

30-Day morbidity after augmentation enterocystoplasty and appendicovesicostomy: A NSQIP pediatric analysis

Augmentation enterocystoplasty and appendicovesicostomy are complex pediatric urologic procedures. Although there is literature identifying long-term outcomes in these patients, the reporting of short-term postoperative outcomes has been limited by small numbers of cases and lack of prospective data collection. Here we report 30-day outcomes from the first nationally based, prospectively assembled cohort of pediatric patients undergoing these procedures. To determine 30-day complication, readmission and reoperation after augmentation enterocystoplasty and appendicovesicostomy in a large national sample of pediatric patients, and to explore the association between preoperative and intraoperative characteristics and occurrence of any 30-day event. We queried the 2012 and 2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database (ACS-NSQIPP) for all patients undergoing augmentation enterocystoplasty and/or appendicovesicostomy. Surgical risk score was classified on a linear scale using a validated pediatric-specific comorbidity score. Intraoperative characteristics and postoperative 30-day events were reported from prospectively collected data. A composite measure of complication, readmission and/or reoperation was used as primary outcome for the multivariate logistic regression. There were 461 patients included in the analysis: 245 had appendicovesicostomy, 97 had augmentation enterocystoplasty and 119 had both procedures. There were a total of 110 NSQIP complications seen in 87 patients. The most common complication was urinary tract infection (see Table for 30-day outcomes by patient). The composite measure of any 30-day event was seen in 27.8% of the cohort and this was associated with longer operative time, increased number of procedures done at time of primary surgical procedure and higher surgical risk score. The ACS-NSQIPP provides a tool to examine short-term outcomes for these complex urologic procedures that has not been possible before. Although ACS-NSQIP has been used extensively in the adult surgical literature to identify rates of complications, and to determine predictors of readmission and adverse events, its use in pediatric surgery is new. As in the adult literature, the goal is for standardization of practice and transparency in reporting outcomes that may lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality. In this cohort, any 30-day event is seen in almost 30% of the patients undergoing these urologic procedures. Operative time, number of concurrent procedures and higher surgical risk score all are associated with higher odds of the composite 30-day event of complication, readmission and/or reoperation. These data can be useful in counseling patients and families about expectations around surgery and in improving outcomes.

Perioperative effects of caudal and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for children undergoing urologic robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery

Regional anesthesia is often used in combination with general anesthesia for pediatric surgery, however, it is unknown if adjunctive regional blocks are beneficial to children undergoing urologic laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) procedures. To compare perioperative outcomes in children with adjunctive caudal blocks, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, or no regional anesthesia for common RAL surgical procedures in pediatric urology. Inclusion in this retrospective study was limited to children who underwent RAL renal or ureteral/bladder procedures and received a standardized regimen of scheduled intravenous ketorolac and oral acetaminophen for acute postoperative pain control, with opioids as needed (PRN). Perioperative outcomes were compared between patients with an adjunctive caudal block (n = 25), bilateral TAP blocks (n = 44), or no regional anesthesia (n = 51). Children with a preoperative caudal block received less intraoperative opioids than children with TAP blocks or no regional anesthesia (p < 0.001). This difference was observed both for renal procedures (p < 0.01) and ureteral/bladder procedures (p = 0.01). Patients with caudal blocks were also the least likely to require postoperative antiemetics (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between groups in postoperative opioid use, maximum pain scores within 6 and 24 hours postoperatively, or length of hospital stay (LOS). No complications attributable to regional blocks were identified by chart review. Use of adjunctive caudal blocks for pediatric RAL renal or ureteral/bladder surgical procedures may reduce need for alternate analgesic and/or anesthetic agents intraoperatively, as well as decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting. These findings may be related, since nausea and vomiting are common side effects of opioids and inhalational anesthetics. Consideration of the potential impact of caudal blocks on general anesthetic requirements is timely in light of concerns regarding the risk of anesthetic neurotoxicity in young patients. There was no evidence of improved postoperative pain control or shorter LOS for children who received regional anesthesia. It is unknown if regional blocks would have a greater impact in the absence of scheduled pain medications, which all patients in our study received. Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and moderate sample size. Future randomized controlled trials are necessary to provide a more definitive understanding of regional anesthesia's role in minimizing pediatric surgical and anesthetic morbidity. Administration of caudal blocks should be considered for children of suitable age undergoing RAL surgery involving either the upper or lower urinary tract.

Pediatric procedures in urology residency training: An analysis of the experience of Canadian urology residents

We sought to determine if the exposure to pediatric urologic procedures by graduates of Canadian urological programs is congruent with the objectives of training (OTR) put forward by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The Canadian T-Res (Resiliance Software Inc., Vancouver, BC) database for pediatric surgical procedures logged from 2003 to 2009 was interrogated. The number of cases logged for each of the A, B and C lists of procedures (least complex to most complex) as outlined in the RCPSC OTR in Urology were recorded for the 6 participating programs across the country. A total of 48 residents submitted data to T-Res from the 6 participating programs. Of the A-list procedures, Canadian urology residents (PGY 1-5) from the 6 participating programs participated in an annual average of 53 hypospadias repairs, 30 orchidopexies for inguinal testes, 26 circumcisions, 7 hernia/hydrocele repairs, 7 pyeloplasties, 7 ureteral reimplants, 6 endoscopic injections for vesicoureteral reflux, 3 meatoplasties/meatotomies, 1 transurethral incision of ureterocele, 2 endoscopic procedures for stone management, and 1 transurethral incision of ureterocele, during the years in question. Of the B-list procedures, residents participated in an annual average of 1 transurethral resection of a posterior urethral valve, 3 continent diversions, 2 augmentation cystoplasties and 1 vesicostomy. Of the data available for the C-list procedures, residents participated in an annual average of less than 1 exstrophy repair and less than 1 pediatric renal transplant. The RCPSC objectives set out by the specialty committee are a useful framework for guiding graduating residents on which procedures they might reasonably perform once they enter practice. Ongoing revisions to these objectives, which reflect changing trends in the management of core pediatric urology procedures, are supported by our study based on the number of cases in which residents participate. Improvements in the assessment of trainee surgical experience and competence, as it relates to the objectives of training in pediatric urology, are required as we migrate towards a competency-based model of postgraduate medical education.

Perioperative Skin Preparation

Liaison: Anthony T Tokarski BS Leaders: David Blaha MD (US), Michael A. Mont MD (US), Parag Sancheti MS, DNB, MCh (International) Delegates: Lyssette Cardona MD, MPH, MHA, AAHIVS, FIDSA, Gilberto Lara Cotacio MD, Mark Froimson MD, Bhaveen Kapadia MD, James Kuderna MD, PhD, Juan Carlos Lopez MD, Wadih Y Matar MD, MSc, FRCSC, Joseph McCarthy MD, Rhidian Morgan-Jones MB BCh, FRCS, Michael Patzakis MD, Ran Schwarzkopf MD, Gholam Hossain Shahcheraghi MD, Xifu Shang MD, Petri Virolainen MD, PhD, Montri D. Wongworawat MD, Adolph Yates Jr, MD

Pain Management Practice Patterns for Common Pediatric Urology Procedures

To characterize practice patterns among members of the Society for Pediatric Urology. A survey instrument assessing pain management was e-mailed to all members of the Society for Pediatric Urology. Five hundred fifteen invitations were sent, 134 were included, for a 26% response rate. Pain management strategies were assessed for 7 case scenarios. Surveys were included if the responder answered a minimum of 2 case scenarios. Question Pro survey engine was used to process the survey. Local/regional block was the most frequent intraoperative anesthesia (54%-90%). Epidural/caudal use varied from 19% to 42%. For postop opioids, a dichotomy exists between those without age restriction and those who wait until the patient is 6months old. Sixty three percent responded that ketorolac was prescribed only if the patient had normal renal function, 20% after confirmation of adequate urine output for bilateral procedures, 3% when postoperative creatinine was normal, and 14% did not use ketorolac at all. In regards to age limitations, most did not indicate a limit (53%), whereas a large number required the child to be older than 6months (26%). Regarding local blocks, most urologists perform the block themselves (61%) for simple/complex penile surgery or inguinal surgery. Of this group, only 33% actually bill for the administration of the block. After a caudal block, a minority (26%) of respondents require the patient to void before discharge for ambulatory procedures. There is no clear consensus in pain management for common pediatric urologic procedures. These disparities should be the aim of future studies.

Editorial Comment

It has been 10 years since the adoption of robotic technology for urologic surgery. The initial published reports consisted of case reports and uncontrolled case series. Now that it has been demonstrated that robotic surgery can be a valuable tool in pediatric reconstructive surgery, it is time for well-designed studies to look at outcomes. The study by Noh et al provides an excellent analysis of a single institution's experience using robotic technology for pediatric urologic surgery. Complications of Robotic Surgery in Pediatric Urology: A Single Institution ExperienceUrologyVol. 82Issue 4PreviewTo report our analysis of complications on pediatric robotic urologic procedures. Full-Text PDF

Competence in pediatric urology upon graduation from residency: perceptions of residents, program directors and pediatric urologists

We aimed to clarify the scope of pediatric urological procedures that Canadian urology residents are perceived to be competent to perform upon graduation. We conducted a survey from April 2005 to June 2006 of urology residency program directors (UPDs), senior urology residents (SURs) and Pediatric Urologists of Canada (PUC) members from all 12 Canadian training programs. Questions focused on which of 23 pediatric urological procedures the 3 study groups perceived urology residents would be competent to perform upon completion of residency without further fellowship training. Procedures were based on the "A," "B" and "C" lists of procedures (least complex to most complex) as outlined in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Objectives of Training in Urology. Response rates were 12/12 (100%), 41/53 (77%) and 17/23 (74%) for UPDs, SURs and PUC members, respectively. Average exposure to pediatric urology during residency was 5.4 (range 3-9) months and considered sufficient by 75% of UPDs and 69% of SURs, but only 41% of PUC members (p = 0.05). Overall, the 3 groups disagreed on the level of competence for performing level "A" and "B" procedures, with significant disagreement between PUC members and UPDs as well as SURs (p < 0.005). PUC members perceive Canadian urology residents' exposure to pediatric urology as insufficient and their competence for procedures of low to moderate complexity as inadequate. Further investigation regarding exposure to and competence in other emerging subspecialty spheres of urology may be warranted. Ongoing assessment of the objectives for training in pediatric urology is required.