Pediatric sacral nerve stimulator explanation due to complications or cure: a survival analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, there have been few treatment options for children with severe refractory bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD). Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) continues to show promising results in this challenging pediatric population with recalcitrant lower urinary tract symptoms. At the authors institution, they have begun offering explantation to those with persistent improvement after >6 months of having device turned off. The authors hypothesized that (1) SNM explantation for cure increases with extended follow-up and (2) those explanted for cure would have improved symptoms and quality of life when compared to those explanted for complication. MATERIALS & METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients aged <18 years who underwent SNM placements at their institution (2012-2017). They excluded those without the second stage procedure. Reasons for device explantation were categorized as cure (resolution of symptoms with the device turned off for at least 6 months) or a complication (e.g. infection, need for magnetic resonance imaging, or pain). Non-parametric tests and survival analysis were used for analysis to account for differential follow-up time. Of those explanted, surveys were electronically sent to assess BBD severity and overall quality of life. RESULTS: Of 67 children who underwent a first stage procedure, 62 (92.5%) underwent a second stage procedure. 61 met inclusion criteria (68.9% female, 29.5% with previous filum section, median age at implantation 10.3 years). During follow-up (median 2.3 years), 12 patients (19.7%) had the SNM exchanged/revised because of lead fracture/breakage and return of urinary symptoms. To date, 50 patients remain with their SNM implanted, and 11 have been explanted. Adjusting for follow-up time, the risk of explantation was 6.5% at 2 years (2.2% for cure, 4.3% for complications) (Figure 1). Explantation increased to 24.5% at 3 years (16.5% for cure, 8.0% for complications) and 40.4% at 4 years (32.4% for cure, 8.0% for complications). Questionnaires were collected on patients after explant (median 2.2 years), with improvement in those explanted for cure compared to complication (Figure 2). DISCUSSION: Sacral neuromodulation explantation for cure is a novel concept previously not described in the literature. Limitations of this study include the relatively small numbers and lack of objective data in the cohort that remains with SNM device implanted. CONCLUSION: Sacral neuromodulation is a safe, viable option for the pediatric patient with refractory bladder dysfunction. Furthermore, SNM explantation for cure is an option with increasing likelihood after 2 years.

Is surgical antibiotic prophylaxis necessary for pediatric orchiopexy?

INTRODUCTION: Surgeons frequently use surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP), despite limited evidence to support its efficacy. Potential adverse events associated with antibiotic use include allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis), Clostridium difficile infection, and selecting for resistant bacteria. Surgical site infections (SSI) are very rare in patients undergoing clean pediatric urologic procedures. Current guidelines are unclear about the efficacy of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of SSI in the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: It was hypothesized that children who received SAP prior to orchiopexy would have no reduction in surgical site infection (SSI) risk but an increased risk of antibiotic-associated adverse events. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all males aged between 30 days and 18 years who underwent an orchiopexy (ICD-9 CM 62.5) in an ambulatory or observation setting from 2004 to 2015 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. Inpatients and those with concomitant procedures were excluded. Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were used to determine the association between SAP and allergic reaction (defined as a charge for epinephrine or ICD-9 diagnosis code for allergic reaction on the date of surgery) and any of the following within 30 days: SSI, hospital readmission or any repeat hospital encounter. Mixed effects logistic regression was performed, controlling for age, race, and insurance, and clustering of similar practice patterns by hospital. RESULTS: A total of 71,767 patients were included: median age was 4.6 years, 61.4% were white, and 49.3% had public insurance; 33.5% received SAP. Of these participants, 996/71,767 (1.4%) had a perioperative allergic reaction and <0.1% were diagnosed with an SSI. On mixed effects logistic regression, those who received SAP had 1.2 times the odds of a perioperative allergic reaction compared with those who did not receive SAP (P = 0.005). Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis was not associated with decreased rates of SSI, lower hospital readmission, nor a lower chance of a repeat encounter within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing orchiopexy, it was found that SAP did not reduce the risk of postoperative SSI, readmissions, or hospital visits. Patients who received SAP had significantly increased odds of perioperative allergic reaction. This demonstrated that the risks of SAP outweigh the benefits in children undergoing orchiopexy.

Pre-operative risk factors for stomal stenosis with Malone antegrade continence enema procedures.

INTRODUCTION: The Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE) procedure remains an effective tool in providing independence to patients with refractory constipation. Appendiceal, ileal and colonic segments are all used depending upon the patient's individual anatomy and surgeon's preference. Unfortunately, MACE stomal stenosis (SS) remains a frustrating complication. It was hypothesized that SS is associated with the type of efferent limb used for MACE construction. OBJECTIVE: To perform a retrospective risk analysis of the pre-operative factors that correlated with postoperative stomal stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study reviewed 39 consecutive patients treated with MACE by a single surgeon at the present institution. Collected data included: the type of channel construction, stoma site, pre-operative body mass index (BMI) z-score, pre-operative diagnosis, and development of SS. Stomal stenosis was defined as a documented inability to catheterize, requirement of a Chait tube, or a subsequent stomal revision. An odds ratio (OR) analysis was performed to evaluate the association with the development of SS. RESULTS: Stomal stenosis developed in 19 patients (49%) with an average follow-up of 4.7 years. The majority of patients had a diagnosis of myelomeningocele (90%), and there was no significant difference in gender distribution (54% males, 46% females). The distribution types of MACE efferent limbs consisted of appendicocecostomy in 20 (51%), cecal-wall flap in 16 (41%) and ileocecostomy in three patients (8%). Neither type of efferent limb, nor stomal location were significant predictors of postoperative SS. Pre-operative obesity (BMI ≥95%), however, demonstrated a significant risk of SS compared to non-obese patients (OR 4.44, 95% CI 1.08-18.4, P = 0.04). DISCUSSION: This was a single-institution study of a relatively small number of patients. However, examining consecutive patients with a common surgeon can minimize technique variability. Also, the rates of stenosis in this cohort were higher than most. This may have been due to a more broad definition (unable to catheterize). These findings complement recent literature showing an increased complication rate for the obese pediatric patient. CONCLUSION: Stomal stenosis remains a frustrating complication following creation of the MACE stoma. In the present series, neither a cecal wall flap, nor the stomal site location contributed to SS. Obesity was the only identified statistically significant risk factor that led to SS.