ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Reports of robot-assisted pyeloplasty have increased. However, it is unclear if this change is due to increased diagnosis of adult ureteropelvic junction obstruction, a shift in management based on presumed efficacy, a desire to maximize robot use or some combination thereof. Therefore, we acquired and analyzed data on a national scale to determine the incidence of interventions to correct ureteropelvic junction obstruction in adults and to characterize trends in procedure selection. METHODS: Patients older than 18 years with ICD-9 procedure codes 55.87 (pyeloplasty) and 55.11 (endopyelotomy) were included in the study, with attention to those designated laparoscopic robotic assistance (17.42). Data were collected for the period from January 2000 through December 2012, and weighted to a national average using Nationwide Inpatient Sample guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 47,992 pyeloplasties were identified. Pyeloplasty rates exhibited a significant increase during this period [F(1,11)=41.38, p <0.01] and endopyelotomy rates exhibited a significant decrease [F(1,11)=64.7, p <0.01]. A higher percentage of pyeloplasties were performed robotically in 2012 vs 2009 (54% vs 44%, p <0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of pyeloplasty appear to be increasing at the expense of endopyelotomy. The percentage of pyeloplasty cases performed robotically is increasing but it is unclear if this is due to superior results or a need for increased robot use.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We determined the incidence of NSQIP (National Surgical Quality Improvement Project) indexed complications by tumor size and investigated the related financial implications based on contemporary reimbursement schedules. METHODS: Transurethral bladder tumor resection procedures performed from 2010 to 2012 were identified and stratified by size specific CPT coding. Preoperative characteristics, surgical parameters and 30-day perioperative outcomes were compared using chi-square analysis and Student's t-test. Financial data for all inpatient transurethral bladder tumor resections performed during the most recent fiscal year at our institution were collected and analyzed, and a comparison was made using up-to-date Medicare reimbursement schedules. RESULTS: We identified 8,116 cases, including 3,533 coded as small (43.3%), 2,734 medium (33.5%) and 1,849 large (22.6%). Large resections required longer operative time (small-25.8 minutes, medium-33.0 minutes, large-49.0 minutes, p <0.01) and length of stay (small-0.67 days, medium-1.1 days, large-1.9 days, p <0.006), and had higher rates of transfusion (small-0.74%, medium-1.5%, large-3.7%, p <0.001), sepsis (small-0.23%, medium-0.44%, large-0.92%, p <0.05), renal insufficiency (small-0.17%, medium-0.15%, large-0.60%, p <0.01) and 30-day mortality (small-0.2%, medium-1%, large-1.8%, p <0.05) independent of preoperative parameters. Large resections were also associated with higher rates of 30-day readmission (small-4.3%, medium-6.3%, large-9.4%, p <0.001) and reoperation (small-2.1%, medium-2.7%, large-4.5%, p <0.001). Institutional data demonstrate that the most common Diagnosis Related Group classification results in an operating loss when treating Medicare beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Urologist selected coding directly correlates with NSQIP indexed postoperative complications. Many cases of transurethral bladder tumor resection with associated complications may result in financial loss for the performing institutions. Efforts to improve quality of care and reimbursement seem warranted.
