Virtual consultation in paediatric urology during the COVID-19 pandemic: The effect of pathology on the outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual consultation (VC) has exponentially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons from using this modality during the pandemic will need to be appraised carefully before integrating it into the routine practice. Some paediatric urology patients can potentially be excellent candidates for routine VC. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the ability of clinicians to make management plans using VCs and identify accordingly the group of patients that can benefit from routine VC. Evaluate the routine use of VC without travel restrictions. METHODS: Designed in two phases. Phase 1, during the lockdown, prospective collection of data after the consultation assessing the clinician satisfaction in making a decision by VC. The results were then divided according to the patient pathology; internal organ pathology (IOP), functional urological pathology (FUP) or external organ pathology (EOP). Data was then analysed to demonstrate if different outcomes can be related to the pathology. Phase 2 after the ease of the lockdown to judge the lessons learnt looking at the same parameters in patients who are selected to receive VC and evaluate journey saved by the patients, measured in miles. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four consultations were assessed. One hundred and fourteen in phase 1 and 30 from phase 2. Mean age 7.2 years. In phase 1, 57% of patients were reviewed by consultants and 72% were followed up. Thirty-seven per cent had IOP, 24.5% FUP and 38.5% EOP. Clinicians were more likely to reach a decision with patients with IOP and FUP P < 0.0001 and 0.0024, respectively. Phase 2 demonstrated the change of practice where 93% of the patients were either IOP or FUP. An average of 27 miles per patient was saved on journeys. DISCUSSION: VC for paediatric urology patients was employed effectively to avoid hospital contact during the lockdown. From the lessons learnt that patients with IOP and FUP can continue to benefit from VC after the ease of lockdown without compromising the decision making. VC is a viable way to structure services in the future for selected paediatric urology conditions.

The acute scrotum in infancy: A retrospective regional study.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular torsion during infancy (<1 year) is known to be a rare event with relatively few studies on the subject in the published scientific literature. We reviewed the experience of infant scrotal exploration within a paediatric surgical network of four centres serving an approximate paediatric population of 1.8 million. AIM: To review current practice of scrotal explorations in infancy and explore areas for improvement. METHOD: Retrospective review of emergency operations for acute scrotum between January 2016 and December 2018. Data are presented as median (range) and compared using non-parametric tests. P < 0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: A total of 560 paediatric scrotal explorations were performed. Of these, 25 (4%) were under one year at the time of surgery, median 4 months (1 day-5 months) (Fig. 1). The most common diagnosis was "epididymitis" (11/25, 44%). Testicular torsion was found in 28% (7/25), increasing to 66% (4/6) in those under one month. Of those with confirmed testicular torsion, three (43%) underwent a primary orchiectomy with contralateral fixation and three (43%) detorsion and bilateral fixation, with all three cases found to have testicular atrophy at follow-up. The final case was of metachronous torsion, with the initial presentation not operated on and the subsequent presentation undergoing detorsion and fixation. This was the only case of testicular salvage in our series. There were no underlying urological issues in any patient and no reported complications or ongoing urological issues post-surgery. The rate of follow-up was 17/25 (68%). CONCLUSION: We present one of the only clinical series to focus on acute scrotum in the under one year old and not just the neonatal period. Testicular torsion remains a rare event in this age group but invariably leads to testicular loss.