Resident Impact on Patient & Surgeon Satisfaction and Outcomes: Evidence for Health System Support for Urology Education.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of resident involvement on patient and physician satisfaction, we evaluated the outcomes from a private urology group both prior to and after initiation of resident coverage. METHODS: Urologic procedures completed by attending surgeons without residents from October 2010 to December 2011 were compared to the same surgeons working with residents from January 2012 to March 2013. Surgical case times, postoperative complications, readmission rate, length of stay, Press-Ganey consumer assessments, resident and physician self-report of training quality and quality of life were collected. RESULTS: 3316 operative and nonoperative cases were measured.Total 1565 were in preresident periods and 1751 were in postresident periods. With resident coverage, there was an increase in OR times. There was no difference in complications for surgical and nonsurgical cases (P = .2269 and P = 1.000, respectively). There was a statistically significant improvement of readmission rate in nonsurgical patients with resident coverage (P = .0344). Patients' satisfaction scores were higher in every category and they more often reported that they "always" received quality care (78.6 % vs 82.5%) with resident coverage. Resident and faculty perceptions of training, patient care, and satisfaction increased with resident coverage. CONCLUSION: Resident coverage of a private practice urology group resulted in no difference in surgical complications and improvement in readmission rates in nonsurgical patients. It resulted in longer OR times but greater satisfaction of faculty, residents and most important, patients. Our data demonstrate the beneficial effect of resident participation in patient care and provides further justification of residency financial support.

Comparison of running and interrupted vesicourethral anastomoses in a porcine model.

PURPOSE: To compare running and interrupted suturing techniques for porcine vesicourethral anastomosis with regard to procedure time, histopathologic effects, and leakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve domestic pigs were randomized to a running (N = 6) or an interrupted (N = 6) vesicourethral anastomosis with polyglycolic acid sutures. In each case, the bladder was drained for 7 days. A cystogram was performed immediately after completion of each anastomosis and on postoperative days 7 and 30. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 30, and the area of the anastomosis was excised en bloc for histopathologic evaluation. RESULTS: All procedures were completed laparoscopically. The mean operative time for continuous and interrupted suturing were 27.5 and 36.8 minutes, respectively (P = 0.3324). A significant learning curve was noted for both anastomoses, with operative times decreasing with experience in both groups. There was no difference in anastomotic leakage. Histopathology examination revealed more muscle-layer fibrosis in the interrupted- suture group than in the continuous-suture group, with a mean score of 2.17 and 1.67, respectively (P = 0.0325). CONCLUSIONS: Both continuous and interrupted vesicourethral anastomoses are feasible. In this in-vivo porcine comparison, there was no difference with respect to procedure time or anastomotic leakage. However, histopathologic grading demonstrated greater muscle fibrosis in the interrupted-suture group.

Comparison of optical resolution with digital and standard fiberoptic cystoscopes in an in vitro model.

OBJECTIVES: To compare two different distal sensor flexible endoscopes with standard fiberoptic cystoscopes for optical resolution. Distal video sensor flexible endoscopy may represent the cusp of a new endoscopic revolution. METHODS: Twenty-three participants evaluated the optical resolution capabilities of six flexible cystoscopes. The two presently available distal sensor flexible cystoscopes, ACMI DCN-2010 digital flexible cystoscope and Olympus CYF-V EndoEYE flexible video cystoscope, were compared with the four leading fiberoptic cystoscopes, ACMI ACN-2 fiberoptic cystoscope, Olympus CYF-4 Cystofiberscope, Karl Storz 11272CU1 Flexible Cystoscope, and Richard Wolf Flexible Fibre Urethro-Cystoscope, in an in vitro model. The participants recorded the numerical digits they were able to visualize through five solutions with progressively increasing concentrations of hematoxylin dye (C1 to C5). The cystoscopic images were viewed on a 13-in. medical grade Olympus monitor with an Olympus Visera camera system. RESULTS: No differences were detected among the cystoscopes at the lowest concentrations of hematoxylin dye (C1 and C2). At C3 to C5, the mean percentage of visualized numbers for the ACMI and Olympus distal sensor flexible cystoscopes was significantly greater than for all fiberoptic cystoscopes (P <0.01). At the highest concentration (C5), the ACMI distal sensor cystoscope performed significantly better than did the Olympus distal sensor flexible cystoscopes (P <0.01), although at all other concentrations, the two digital video cystoscopes performed equivalently. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this in vitro study suggest that cystoscopes with distal sensor technology improve visibility in a simulated challenging working environment compared with fiberoptic cystoscopes.

Development of exophytic tumor model for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: technique and initial experience.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and test a porcine model to help teach the techniques needed to perform laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN), which is a technically challenging procedure with necessary reconstructive skills that are difficult to transfer. METHODS: A tumor model was created by unilateral subcapsular percutaneous injection of liquid plastic (Smooth-Cast 320) in five pig kidneys. Five Washington University urologists performed LPN and assessed the efficacy of the tumor model. Subsequently, the tumor model was evaluated as a tool for teaching LPN during the Washington University Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Urologic Oncology Course. Twenty-eight participants performed unilateral porcine LPN with the tumor model. Questionnaires were used to assess the utility of this tumor model. RESULTS: Unilateral tumors were successfully created in five pigs and remained intact during all LPN procedures. Visually, the tumors appeared as white exophytic masses. Ultrasonography revealed a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic lesion and a mean diameter of 2.02 cm. The mean operative time was 32.4 minutes. In subsequent testing, 24 (86%) of the 28 participants returned the questionnaire, and 96% responded that the tumor model had enhanced their LPN learning experience. Seven course participants (29%) reported problems with hemostasis, ultrasonography, or laparoscopic instrumentation. Two tumor model-related complications occurred. During the initial evaluation, one pig experienced a fatal pulmonary embolism of the plastic. During the course, a second animal experienced extravasation of the solution into the renal collecting system. CONCLUSIONS: For surgical education purposes, the Smooth-Cast model is an effective surgical tool for LPN. Most of the surgeons in this evaluation believed the model enhanced their learning experience.

Prospective randomized comparison of 2 ureteral access sheaths during flexible retrograde ureteroscopy.

PURPOSE: While the use of ureteral access sheaths facilitates flexible ureteroscopy, buckling or kinking of the device may preclude its successful application. We evaluate the ability of 2 hydrophilic coated ureteral access sheaths to obtain and maintain access to the upper collecting system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 flexible ureteroscopy procedures were randomized to use of the 12/15Fr Applied Access Forte XE (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, California) or the 12/14Fr Cook Flexor (Cook Urological, Spencer, Indiana) access sheaths. Device failure was defined as buckling of the sheath that prevented adequate placement, kinking of the sheath after removal of the obturator or difficulty in passing instruments through the sheath. The ease of placement, instrument passage and stone extraction was scored from poor (1) to excellent (4). Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: No patient required ureteral balloon dilation. There was no significant difference between the groups in regard to preoperative stenting (34% and 31%, p = 1.00) or rigid ureteroscopy before sheath placement (32% and 25%, p = 0.751). The device failure rate was 44% for the Applied sheath and 0% for the Cook sheath (p <0.001). Failures with the Applied sheath included buckling (25%), kinking (25%) and difficulty passing instruments (13%). The Cook sheath was rated superior with regard to ease of placement (3.89 vs 3.00, p = 0.001), ease of instrument passage (3.97 vs 3.29, p = 0.001) and ease of stone extraction (3.74 vs 3.00, p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the Cook Flexor sheath was superior with regard to overall failure and ease of use.