Artificial Intelligence for Urology Research: The Holy Grail of Data Science or Pandora's Box of Misinformation?

Introduction: Artificial intelligence tools such as the large language models (LLMs) Bard and ChatGPT have generated significant research interest. Utilization of these LLMs to study the epidemiology of a target population could benefit urologists. We investigated whether Bard and ChatGPT can perform a large-scale calculation of the incidence and prevalence of kidney stone disease. Materials and Methods: We obtained reference values from two published studies, which used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database to calculate the prevalence and incidence of kidney stone disease. We then tested the capability of Bard and ChatGPT to perform similar calculations using two different methods. First, we instructed the LLMs to access the data sets and independently perform the calculation. Second, we instructed the interfaces to generate a customized computer code, which could perform the calculation on downloaded data sets. Results: While ChatGPT denied the ability to access and perform calculations on the NHANES database, Bard intermittently claimed the ability to do so. Bard provided either accurate results or inaccurate and inconsistent results. For example, Bard's "calculations" for the incidence of kidney stones from 2015 to 2018 were 2.1% (95% CI 1.5-2.7), 1.75% (95% CI 1.6-1.9), and 0.8% (95% CI 0.7-0.9), while the published number was 2.1% (95% CI 1.5-2.7). Bard provided discrete mathematical details of its calculations, however, when prompted further, admitted to having obtained the numbers from online sources, including our chosen reference articles, rather than from a de novo calculation. Both LLMs were able to produce a code (Python) to use on the downloaded NHANES data sets, however, these would not readily execute. Conclusions: ChatGPT and Bard are currently incapable of performing epidemiologic calculations and lack transparency and accountability. Caution should be used, particularly with Bard, as claims of its capabilities were convincingly misleading, and results were inconsistent.

Treatment of bilateral encrusted ureteral stents, large volume renal stones, and ureteral stricture in a complex pediatric patient: a surgical video and case review.

Myotonic dystrophy is a debilitating genetic disease that carries a predilection for a variety of comorbidities. Kidney stone disease in this population can present a variety of unique challenges related to patient age, comorbidities, and social factors. We present a video review case of a 13-year-old girl with myotonic dystrophy who was treated surgically for large bilateral stone burden, bilateral retained ureteral stents with nephrostomy tubes, and right ureteral stricture. The patient had multiple prior urologic procedures and recurrent admissions for infection prior to presentation. Preoperative planning included non-contrast CT imaging, admission to an intensive care unit, and multidisciplinary discussion of treatment and goals. Through combined antegrade and retrograde approaches, the patient's stone burden was cleared, right ureteral stricture was treated, and all tubes were able to be removed in two major procedures and one minor cystoscopy with stent removal under anesthesia. Early referral to tertiary care centers and involvement of multiple specialist teams may help reduce perioperative risk and minimize the number of surgeries. Additionally, patients at high anesthesia risk may benefit from concurrent percutaneous nephrolithotomy with endopyelotomy.

Drivers of calcium oxalate stone formation in the octogenarian population.

INTRODUCTION: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines suggest metabolic testing via 24-h urine studies in high-risk, interested first-time stone formers, and recurrent stone formers. If metabolic testing is not available or otherwise not feasible, clinicians may need to utilize empiric therapy. Debility and social barriers, particularly in the elderly population, may limit the practicality of metabolic testing, and therefore, empiric therapy is of particular importance. The aim of this study is to identify whether unique urinary metabolic abnormality profiles exist for octogenarians with calcium oxalate kidney stones, as this may guide empiric stone prevention therapy more precisely in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with calcium oxalate stones from a single academic kidney stone center in New York, NY, were retrospectively identified in our prospectively managed database. Patient data, including demographic, clinical information, and baseline 24-h urine studies, were collected before initiating any treatment. Subjects were stratified by age (≤ 40, 41-59, 60-79, and ≥ 80 years) to compare the metabolic urinary abnormality profiles between octogenarians and other age groups. Subgroup analyses were also performed to compare results by gender and by the presence of underlying kidney dysfunction. Comparative statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and t-tests where appropriate. RESULTS: Hypocitraturia, low urine pH, and low urine volume were most common in older patients, particularly in octogenarians. Hypercalciuria, hypernatriuria, and hyperuricosuria were more apparent in younger groups. CONCLUSION: With increasing age, hypocitraturia, low urine pH, and low urine volume were more prevalent on 24-h urine metabolic testing. We hypothesize increased comorbidity, including medical renal disease, polypharmacy, and dehydration are possible factors contributing to this unique profile. We suggest that empiric therapy targeted towards this profile is important in very elderly stone formers in whom 24-h urine testing may not be possible. Increased hydration, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and low-dose alkali therapy are easy measures to accomplish this.

Opioid-free percutaneous nephrolithotomy: an initial experience.

INTRODUCTION: The opioid epidemic in the United States is an ongoing public health crisis that is in part fueled by excessive prescribing by physicians. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a procedure that conventionally involves opioid prescriptions for adequate post-operative pain control. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a non-opioid pain regimen by evaluating post-operative outcomes in PCNL patients discharged without opioids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a quality improvement measure to reduce opioid consumption our department began routinely prescribing oral ketorolac instead of oxycodone-acetaminophen for pain control after PCNL. We retrospectively compared patients undergoing PCNL who had received ketorolac prescriptions (NSAID) to those who received oxycodone-acetaminophen prescriptions (NARC). Demographic, operative, and post-operative factors were obtained and compared in both groups. Peri-operative factors and demographics were compared using either Chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney U tests. Surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups using Chi-squared tests and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether ketorolac use was an independent predictor of post-surgical pain-related encounters. Primary outcome was unplanned pain-related healthcare encounters inclusive of office phone calls, unscheduled office visits, and emergency department (ED) visits. Secondary outcome measures were non-pain-related healthcare encounters, hospital readmissions, pain-related rescue medications prescribed, and post-op complications. RESULTS: There were similar demographics and peri-operative characteristics amongst patients in both cohorts. There was no significant difference identified between NSAID and NARC regarding unplanned pain-related encounters (8/70, 11.4% vs. 10/70, 14.3%, p = 0.614). However, NARC experienced more unplanned phone calls (42, 60% vs. 24, 34.3%, p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed only prior stone surgery was predictive of pain-related encounters after PCNL (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Our results show that there were no significant differences in pain-related encounters between those who received ketorolac and oxycodone-acetaminophen following PCNL. A non-opioid pathway may mitigate the potential risk associated with opioid prescription without compromising analgesia. Prospective comparative studies are warranted to confirm feasibility.

The implications of baseline bone-health assessment at initiation of androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess bone-density testing (BDT) use amongst prostate cancer survivors receiving androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and downstream implications for osteoporosis and fracture diagnoses, as well as pharmacological osteoporosis treatment in a national integrated delivery system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified 17 017 men with prostate cancer who received any ADT between 2005 and 2014 using the Veterans Health Administration cancer registry and administrative data. We identified claims for BDT within a 3-year period of ADT initiation. We then used multivariable regression to examine the association between BDT use and incident osteoporosis, fracture, and use of pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: We found that a minority of patients received BDT (n = 2 502, 15%); however, the rate of testing increased to >20% by the end of the study period. Men receiving BDT were older at diagnosis and had higher-risk prostate cancer (both P < 0.001). Osteoporosis and fracture diagnoses, use of vitamin D ± calcium, and bisphosphonates were all more common in men who received BDT. After adjustment, BDT, and to a lesser degree ≥2 years of ADT, were both independently associated with incident osteoporosis, fracture, and osteoporosis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: BDT is rare amongst patients with prostate cancer treated with ADT in this integrated delivery system. However, BDT was associated with substantially increased treatment of osteoporosis indicating an underappreciated burden of osteoporosis amongst prostate cancer survivors initiating ADT. Optimising BDT use and osteoporosis management in this at-risk population appears warranted.