When virtual becomes reality: short term impressions of a two-week virtual urology sub-internship program.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical student education and posed a unique challenge for educators, especially for surgical clerkships. In response to COVID-19 rotation restrictions, we implemented a virtual urologic surgery sub-internship program and evaluated medical student impressions of the experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-week urology curriculum was created with content delivered by interactive videoconferencing. The curriculum included synchronous and individual learning with live patient clinical experiences in the outpatient clinic and operating room, lectures, departmental conferences, a suture lab, self-reflective writing exercises, and an oral presentation. Student impressions were assessed with an exit survey. Descriptive statistics were utilized to evaluate the 5-point Likert scale responses. RESULTS: A total of 40 students applied, and 18 were selected for 1 of 5 two-week rotation blocks. All students successfully passed the rotation. Of the 18 students who participated, 16 (88.9%) completed the exit survey. The overall experience was rated as "strongly positive" by 14 of 16 (87.5%) students. The learning experience was rated as 4.75 (0.45) (average (SD)). The rotation positively impacted our virtual students' plan to apply to this residency program (mean 4.81 (0.54)). All students reported they would recommend this rotation to a fellow student, and feedback regarding the self-reflection activities was positive. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully implemented a two-week virtual urology sub-internship rotation with a wide variety of clinical and educational experiences. The rotation was well received by our medical students. This is a unique experience in urology that can easily be implemented by other surgical sub-specialty programs in the future.

Utilization of MOSES Modulated Pulse Mode Results in Improved Efficiency in Holmium:YAG Laser Ablation of the Prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if MOSES technology improves efficiency and short-term outcomes in holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP). METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent HoLAP between August 2016 and November 2019 was conducted. All procedures before and after the implementation of MOSES technology at our institution were evaluated. Preoperative patient characteristics and intraoperative data were collected. Postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, and postvoid residual measurements at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively were analyzed. RESULTS: This cohort included 65 males who underwent HoLAP, 32 without and 33 with MOSES. Patients in the MOSES group were slightly older, but no other differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups. Ablation time was similar at 49.6 ± 26.1 minutes without and 40.7 ± 41.2 minutes with MOSES (P = .38). However, HoLAP with MOSES had significantly higher ablation efficiency (0.59 ± 0.24 g/min without vs 0.86 0.5 g/min with MOSES, P = .01). On multivariable regression modeling, HoLAP without MOSES added 12 minutes to operating time (estimate 12.3, standard error 3.44, P < .01) after controlling for prostate size and laser energy usage. Duration of catheterization, urinary incontinence and need for reoperation within 3 months were similar. There were no differences between groups in International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, or postvoid residual at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Utilization of MOSES technology resulted in improved efficiency in HoLAP, translating into time savings in the operating room. Postoperative outcomes out to 3 months were similar among patients who underwent the procedure utilizing either laser pulse mode. Further studies are needed to investigate long-term outcomes as the use of MOSES is likely to become more commonly utilized.

Stone size on endoscopic view as a predictor of successful stone retrieval during flexible ureteroscopy: an in vitro analysis.

PURPOSE: Basketing plays an important role during flexible ureteroscopy, but it can be time-consuming, especially when fragments are too large to pass through the ureteral access sheath. We aim to present the optimal on-screen, endoscopic stone size that predicts successful basketing through various access sheaths. METHODS: A tipless basket, individually extended to 5 mm from multiple ureteroscopes: (Flex-Xc, Karl Storz; Flex-X2s, Karl Storz; LithoVue, Boston Scientific; or URF-P6R, Olympus) and via differently sized access sheaths (10-12 Fr through 13-15 Fr), was used in retrieval attempts of various artificial stone sizes (2 mm through 5 mm). A relative endoscopic stone size was recorded as the stone's maximum diameter on endoscopic view compared to the total image diameter. RESULTS: Basketing of stones up to 2.5 mm, yielding relative endoscopic stone sizes of 0.38 (Flex-Xc), 0.30 (Flex-X2s), 0.32 (LithoVue), and 0.34 (URF-P6R), was successful using all access sheaths. Only the 12-14 Fr and greater sheaths allowed for successful basketing of 3 mm stones. Larger stones did not successfully pass through any of the access sheaths. CONCLUSION: Successful stone retrieval can be predicted by estimating the stone's size on screen, which is influenced by the type of flexible ureteroscope and access sheath. In our testing, stones of approximately one-third of the screen size passed successfully in all cases.

Perception, knowledge, and interest of urologic surgery: a medical student survey.

BACKGROUND: Although only a limited number of medical schools require a formal educational rotation in urologic surgery, urology as a medical specialty continues to attract a large number of students into the match each year. The purpose of this study was to describe medical student awareness, perception, and knowledge of urology, to determine factors influencing students' consideration of urology as a career, and to determine if prior urology clerkship experience is associated with differences in these variables. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, medical students were electronically surveyed in 07/2016. Self-reported and question-based knowledge of urology were determined. A total of 25 factors were assessed with a five-point Likert scale to determine their influence on students' consideration of urology as a career. Data analysis was performed using R. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 114 students (13.5% of all medical students). A total of 11(9.65%)students had previously participated in a urology clerkship. All students reported awareness of urology; however, only 74 students (64.9%) correctly identified the training pathway and job duties of urologists. Self-perceived knowledge of urology was poor but improved with increased medical school training. Question-based assessment also demonstrated increased knowledge with advanced medical school training (27% per year; p < 0.01). Prior urology clerkship experience appeared to be associated with increased urologic knowledge; however, this was confounded by year in medical school training. When assessing factors impacting students' consideration of a career in urology, 'combination of medicine and surgery' was the most positively influential and 'competitiveness of the specialty' was the most negatively influential. CONCLUSIONS: Although medical students are aware of urology as a specialty, they perceive their knowledge of urology as poor. However, knowledge of urology increases throughout medical school training. Multiple factors influence students' consideration of urology as a career choice. Additional studies are needed to further explore how participation in a formal urology experience alters students' perceptions and influences their consideration of urology as a career choice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Association of bowel habits with lower urinary tract symptoms in men: findings from the 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PURPOSE: We examine the association between self-reported lower urinary tract symptoms and bowel habits in men in a large, cross-sectional, population based cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 3,077 men participating in the 2005-2006 or 2007-2008 cycles of the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) who were 40 years old or older and without a history of prostate cancer. Men were considered to have lower urinary tract symptoms if they reported nocturia, urinary hesitancy and/or incomplete bladder emptying. Bowel habits were characterized by frequency of bowel movements per week and stool consistency based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Weighted associations between bowel habits and lower urinary tract symptoms were determined using univariate and multivariate techniques, adjusting for age, race, body mass index, diabetes, alcohol intake, activity level and smoking. RESULTS: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms was 37%, with 4% reporting all 3 symptoms. Reporting 3 or fewer bowel movements per week was associated with nocturia (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.21-2.30), incomplete bladder emptying (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.06-4.31) and urinary hesitancy (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.06-4.02). Reporting more than 10 bowel movements per week was associated with nocturia only (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01-1.55). Hard (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.31-2.37) and loose (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01-1.55) stool consistency increased the odds of reporting nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: Lower urinary tract symptoms in the adult male were independently associated with low stool frequency, hard stool type and loose stool type. These data suggest causality or a common pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms and abnormalities of bowel habits.