Best Practice Statement on Urologic Procedures and Antimicrobial Prophylaxis.

PURPOSE: The primary rationale for antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) is to decrease the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) and other preventable periprocedural infections, with the secondary goal of reducing antibiotic overuse. This Best Practice Statement (BPS) updates the prior American Urological Association (AUA) BPS and creates a comprehensive and user-friendly reference for clinicians caring for adult patients who are undergoing urologic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recommendations are based on a review of English language peer-reviewed literature from 2006 through October 2018 and were made by consensus by a multidisciplinary panel. The search parameters included timing, re-dosing, and duration of AP across urologic procedures where there was the possibility of SSI. Excluded from the search were the management of infections outside the genitourinary (GU) tract and pediatric procedures. RESULTS: Single-dose AP is recommended for most urologic cases and antimicrobials should only be used when medically necessary, for the shortest duration possible, and not beyond case completion. Surgeons are the most accurate discerners of an SSI, and should use standard definitions to make better calculations of patient risk. The risk classification developed is dependent on the likelihood of developing SSI, and not the associated consequences of SSI. CONCLUSIONS: The AUA developed a multi-disciplinary BPS to guide clinicians on the proper usage of AP across urologic procedures and wound classifications. It is recommended that the lowest dose of antimicrobials be administered to decrease the risk of infection and to minimize the risk of drug-resistant organisms.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Overactive Bladder (Non-Neurogenic) in Adults: AUA/SUFU Guideline Amendment 2019.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this guideline is to provide a clinical framework for the diagnosis and treatment of non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB). MATERIALS & METHODS: The primary source of evidence for the original version of this guideline was the systematic review and data extraction conducted as part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 187 titled Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Women (2009). That report was supplemented with additional searches capturing literature published through December 2011. Following initial publication, this guideline underwent amendment in 2014 and 2018. The current document reflects relevant literature published through October 2018. RESULTS: When sufficient evidence existed, the body of evidence for a particular treatment was assigned a strength rating of A (high), B (moderate), or C (low). Such statements are provided as Standards, Recommendations, or Options. In instances of insufficient evidence, additional guidance information is provided as Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence-based statements are provided for diagnosis and overall management of OAB, as well as for the various treatments. Diagnosis and treatment methodologies can be expected to change as the evidence base grows and as new treatment strategies become obtainable.

Can Urodynamic Parameters Predict Sling Revision for Voiding Dysfunction in Women Undergoing Synthetic Midurethral Sling Placement?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the utility of urodynamic studies performed before primary midurethral sling placement for stress urinary incontinence in predicting the need for subsequent sling release for voiding dysfunction. METHODS: The health records of women managed with primary synthetic midurethral sling placement at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2012, were reviewed. The primary outcome was surgical sling release for postoperative voiding dysfunction (ie, prolonged retention, elevated postvoid residual volumes with new voiding symptoms, or de novo onset or worsening of overactive bladder symptoms). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between potential clinical risk factors and the primary outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 1629 women underwent primary synthetic midurethral sling placement during the study time frame, including 1081 patients (66%) who underwent a preoperative multichannel urodynamic evaluation. A sling release for voiding dysfunction was performed for 51 patients (3.1%) at a median of 1.9 months postoperatively (interquartile range, 1.3-9.3 months). Patients undergoing sling release were significantly more likely to have had retropubic sling placement (P = 0.003) and concomitant prolapse surgery (P = 0.005). On univariate analysis, no urodynamic parameters were associated with the risk of sling release; evaluated parameters included peak flow rate (P = 0.20), postvoid residual volume (P = 0.37), voiding without detrusor contraction (P = 0.96), and detrusor pressure at maximal flow (P = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Sling release for voiding dysfunction was rare in our cohort. No urodynamic parameters were associated with the risk of sling release.

Surgical Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: AUA Guideline.

PURPOSE: Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common in men and can have negative effects on quality of life (QoL). It is the hope that this Guideline becomes a reference on the effective evidence-based surgical management of LUTS/BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evidence team searched Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) database to identify studies indexed between January 2007 and September 2017. When sufficient evidence existed, the body of evidence was assigned a strength rating of A (high), B (moderate), or C (low) for support of Strong, Moderate, or Conditional Recommendations. In the absence of sufficient evidence, additional information is provided as Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions (table 1 in supplementary unabridged guideline, http://jurology.com/). RESULTS: This Guideline provides updated, evidence-based recommendations regarding management of LUTS/BPH utilizing surgery and minimally invasive surgical therapies; additional statements are made regarding diagnostic and pre-operative tests. Clinical statements are made in comparison to what is generally accepted as the gold standard (i.e. transurethral resection of the prostate [TURP]-monopolar and/or bipolar). This guideline is designed to be used in conjunction with the associated treatment algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and the severity of LUTS increases as men age and is an important diagnosis in the healthcare of patients and the welfare of society. This document will undergo additional literature reviews and updating as the knowledge regarding current treatments and future surgical options continues to expand.

Autologous rectus fascia sling placement in the management of female stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Autologous pubovaginal sling placement remains a treatment option in index patients, given high, long-term success rates. This video reviews the technical considerations for performing an autologous rectus fascia sling. METHODS: The patient is a 47-year-old woman with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) refractory to conservative management. First, a 10-cm rectus fascial segment is harvested and prepped with placement of nonabsorbable stay sutures for later sling passage. Then, an inverted U-shaped incision is made in the anterior vaginal wall based on the bladder neck, and perforation of the endopelvic fascia is performed. Following passage of the sling in the retropubic space, it is secured to periurethral tissue. Cystoscopy is then used to evaluate for bladder perforation and to confirm sling tensioning. RESULTS: The patient was discharged on the same day of surgery with a suprapubic tube in place, which was removed on postoperative day 7 after passing a capping trial. At 6 weeks' follow-up, the patient had complete resolution of SUI, with no de novo urgency symptoms, and could empty her bladder to completion. CONCLUSION: Autologous pubovaginal sling placement remains an effective treatment option for the management of female SUI. This video highlights important technical considerations for this procedure.

Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency: AUA Guideline.

PURPOSE: There has been a marked increase in testosterone prescriptions in the past decade resulting in a growing need to give practicing clinicians proper guidance on the evaluation and management of the testosterone deficient patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review utilized research from the Mayo Clinic Evidence Based Practice Center and additional supplementation by the authors. Evidence-based statements were based on body of evidence strength Grade A, B, or C and were designated as Strong, Moderate, and Conditional Recommendations with additional statements presented in the form of Clinical Principles or Expert Opinions (table 1 in supplementary unabridged guideline, http://jurology.com/). RESULTS: This guideline was developed by a multi-disciplinary panel to inform clinicians on the proper assessment of patients with testosterone deficiency and the safe and effective management of men on testosterone therapy. Additional statements were developed to guide the clinician on the appropriate care of patients who are at risk for or have cardiovascular disease or prostate cancer as well as patients who are interested in preserving fertility. CONCLUSIONS: The care of testosterone deficient patients should focus on accurate assessment of total testosterone levels, symptoms, and signs as well as proper on-treatment monitoring to ensure therapeutic testosterone levels are reached and symptoms are ameliorated. Future longitudinal observational studies and clinical trials of significant duration in this space will improve diagnostic techniques and treatment of men with testosterone deficiency as well as provide more data on the adverse events that may be associated with testosterone therapy.

An Organization Model to Assist Individual Physicians, Scientists, and Senior Health Care Administrators With Personal and Professional Needs.

Working as a physician, scientist, or senior health care administrator is a demanding career. Studies have demonstrated that burnout and other forms of distress are common among individuals in these professions, with potentially substantive personal and professional consequences. In addition to system-level interventions to promote well-being globally, health care organizations must provide robust support systems to assist individuals in distress. Here, we describe the 15-year experience of the Mayo Clinic Office of Staff Services (OSS) providing peer support to physicians, scientists, and senior administrators at one center. Resources for financial planning (retirement, tax services, college savings for children) and peer support to assist those experiencing distress are intentionally combined in the OSS to normalize the use of the Office and reduce the stigma associated with accessing peer support. The Office is heavily used, with approximately 75% of physicians, scientists, and senior administrators accessing the financial counseling and 5% to 7% accessing the peer support resources annually. Several critical structural characteristics of the OSS are specifically designed to minimize potential stigma and reduce barriers to seeking help. These aspects are described here with the hope that they may be informative to other medical practices considering how to create low-barrier access to help individuals deal with personal and professional challenges. We also detail the results of a recent pilot study designed to extend the activity of the OSS beyond the reactive provision of peer support to those seeking help by including regular, proactive check-ups for staff covering a range of topics intended to promote personal and professional well-being.

AUA White Paper on Nonneurogenic Chronic Urinary Retention: Consensus Definition, Treatment Algorithm, and Outcome End Points.

PURPOSE: The AUA (American Urological Association) QIPS (Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) committee created a white paper on the diagnosis and management of nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recommendations for the white paper were based on a review of the literature and consensus expert opinion from the workgroup. RESULTS: The workgroup defined nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention as an elevated post-void residual of greater than 300 mL that persisted for at least 6 months and documented on 2 or more separate occasions. It is proposed that chronic urinary retention should be categorized by risk (high vs low) and symptomatology (symptomatic versus asymptomatic). High risk chronic urinary retention was defined as hydronephrosis on imaging, stage 3 chronic kidney disease or recurrent culture proven urinary tract infection or urosepsis. Symptomatic chronic urinary retention was defined as subjectively moderate to severe urinary symptoms impacting quality of life and/or a recent history of catheterization. A treatment algorithm was developed predicated on stratifying patients with chronic urinary retention first by risk and then by symptoms. The proposed 4 primary outcomes that should be assessed to determine effectiveness of retention treatment are 1) symptom improvement, 2) risk reduction, 3) successful trial of voiding without catheterization, and 4) stability of symptoms and risk over time. CONCLUSIONS: Defining and categorizing nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention, creating a treatment algorithm and proposing treatment end points will hopefully spur comparative research that will ultimately lead to a better understanding of this challenging condition.

Use of the American Urological Association Clinical Practice Guidelines: Data from the AUA Census.

INTRODUCTION: Through systematic data review and expert consensus, the AUA (American Urological Association) produces clinical practice guidelines that serve to provide evidence-based guidance with an explicit clinical scope and purpose. In this study we determined whether urologists use clinical practice guidelines when making clinical decisions, and whether demographic factors are associated with not using the guidelines or with a lack of guideline awareness. METHODS: We examined the 2014 AUA Census. Our outcome was a question regarding whether the participant used AUA clinical practice guidelines in clinical decision making. We performed comparative statistical analyses, stratifying our outcome by demographic and practice specific variables. RESULTS: A total of 2,204 urologists completed the census, representing 18.9% of practicing urologists in the United States. Median age was 53 years and 91.1% were male. The majority of urologists used clinical practice guidelines (94.8%) in clinical decision making. Clinical practice guidelines had the lowest use among urologists 65 years old or older (89.2%), those in solo practice (88.3%) and pediatric specialists (87.9%). Based on a multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors associated with not using clinical practice guidelines included increasing age, metropolitan practice setting and solo practice. Gender, AUA section, level of rurality and fellowship training were not statistically associated with clinical practice guideline use. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of urologists (approximately 95%) use AUA clinical practice guidelines to inform clinical decisions. Our findings support the importance of clinical practice guidelines and highlight potential opportunities for better targeted outreach to improve clinical practice guideline use among practicing urologists.

Outcomes of Surgical Management in Patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence and/or Neovesicovaginal Fistula after Orthotopic Neobladder Diversion.

PURPOSE: To our knowledge there are no guidelines for the evaluation and management of incontinence in women with an orthotopic neobladder. We propose a treatment algorithm based on our experience with treating this patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified women in whom orthotopic neobladder diversion and surgery for incontinence were performed from January 1, 1995 to January 1, 2014. Charts were reviewed for management, outcomes and complications within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: At this institution 12 women with orthotopic neobladder diversion were treated with surgery for incontinence between 1995 and 2014. Six women (50%) had an undiagnosed neovesicovaginal fistula, of whom 3 (50%) underwent successful fistula repair. A total of 12 bulking agent injections were performed in 6 women (50%). The outcomes were continued dryness after 1 injection (8%), transient improvement after 9 (75%), immediate failure after 1 (8%) and secondary fistula development after 1 (8%). Four transobturator slings and 4 pubovaginal slings were placed in a total of 6 patients (50%), of whom 1 (17%) was dry and 1 (17%) was improved. At a median followup of 22.9 months (IQR 11.1-46.4) 6 women (50%) were dry or improved and 6 (50%) had no improvement in leakage. Of the 6 (50%) women who were dry or improved 2 (17%) achieved planned intermittent catheterization after surgery and 2 (17%) underwent ileal conduit conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Bulking agents have low long-term efficacy and carry the risk of fistula formation. The efficacy of tension-free sling placement is low and continence requires an obstructing sling. Counseling should include acceptance of multiple procedures, which may be necessary to achieve continence, and consideration of conduit diversion.

Women in Urology Residency, 1978-2013: A Critical Look at Gender Representation in Our Specialty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes over time in female representation among urology residents compared to those within other specialties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urology match data were obtained from the American Urological Association from 1996 to 2015. Trends in match rates of male and female urology applicants were assessed. Data for gender representation among residencies were extracted from reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association from 1978 to 2013. We compared the annual percentage of women among urology residents vs residents of other specialties over time. RESULTS: Mean number of male vs female urology applicants per year was 285.0 ± 27.1 vs 76.5 ± 21.8 (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean successful match rate of male vs female applicants (68.2% vs 66.6%, P = .36). From 1978 to 2013, the proportion of female residents across all specialties rose from 15.4% to 46.1%, whereas female residents in urology rose from 0.9% to 23.8%. Between 2009 and 2013, obstetrics and gynecology and orthopedics had the highest and lowest average proportion of women, respectively (80.7% and 13.5%). The largest growth occurred in urology among all other specialties (P < .001), with an 11-fold increase seen during the study period. CONCLUSION: Male and female applicants to urology residency have similar match rates. Although urology demonstrated the greatest fold-increase in proportion of women among all specialties during the study period, women have remained a minority among urology residents. Gender representation within urology is a reflection of many factors and demonstrates a need for further improvement.

AUA White Paper on the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Medication related problems are common but may be preventable outcomes of prescribing choices. Risks associated with medications in the older adult population are greater due to changes in physiological function with age or disease. Older adults and those with significant comorbidities are often excluded from the clinical trials used to develop medications. In 2012 the American Geriatrics Society published the most recent update of the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. Several medications included in sections of the Beers Criteria are frequently used in clinical urology, including nitrofurantoin, alpha-1 blocker medications, and antimuscarinic anticholinergic medications for the treatment of urge incontinence and overactive bladder. We describe the challenges and considerations that are useful in prescribing medications for geriatric patients. METHODS: A literature review was performed targeting publications from 2003 to 2013 on the topics of the Beers Criteria, potentially inappropriate medications and specific urological medications included in the current version of the Beers Criteria. An expert panel was convened to evaluate this information and create this white paper with the purpose of educating the urological community on these issues. RESULTS: The rationale for the creation and implementation of the Beers Criteria and its implications for urological practice are reviewed. Careful examination of the Beers Criteria can help clinicians avoid potentially inappropriate prescribing choices for their geriatric patients. We also identified that the HEDIS® high risk medications list of potentially inappropriate medications has been implemented as a negative quality indicator, even though this was not an original purpose of the Beers Criteria. In other words, decisions of denial of coverage and/or requirements for preauthorization are being made using the Beers Criteria as justification by third party payers and other entities. CONCLUSIONS: The Beers Criteria were developed to improve prescribing practices for older adult patients to reduce or avoid potential risks and complications. We encourage clinicians to educate themselves about the Beers Criteria recommendations and associated initiatives that are aimed at improving the care of older adult patients. Urologists should have a key role in the development, evaluation, implementation and analysis of practice measures and the resulting policies.