Artificial urinary sphincter placement in compromised urethras and survival: a comparison of virgin, radiated and reoperative cases.

PURPOSE: Although long-term outcomes after initial placement of artificial urinary sphincters are established, limited data exist comparing sphincter survival in patients with compromised urethras (prior radiation, artificial urinary sphincter placement or urethroplasty). We evaluated artificial urinary sphincter failure in patients with compromised and noncompromised urethras. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 86 sphincters placed at a single institution between December 1997 and September 2012. We assessed patient demographic, comorbid disease and surgical characteristics. All nonfunctioning, eroded or infected devices were considered failures. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients reviewed 67 (78%) had compromised urethras and had higher failure rates than the noncompromised group (34% vs 21%, p=0.02). Compared to the noncompromised group, cases of prior radiation therapy (HR 4.78; 95% CI 1.27, 18.04), urethroplasty (HR 8.61; 95% CI 1.27, 58.51) and previous artificial urinary sphincter placement (HR 8.14; 95% CI 1.71, 38.82) had a significantly increased risk of failure. The risk of artificial urinary sphincter failure increased with more prior procedures. An increased risk of failure was observed after 3.5 cm cuff placement (HR 8.62; 95% CI 2.82, 26.36) but not transcorporal placement (HR 1.21; 95% CI 0.49, 2.99). CONCLUSIONS: Artificial urinary sphincter placement in patients with compromised urethras from prior artificial urinary sphincter placement, radiation or urethroplasty had a statistically significant higher risk of failure than placement in patients with noncompromised urethras. Urethral mobilization and transection performed during posterior urethroplasty surgeries likely compromise urethral blood supply, predisposing patients to failure. Patients with severely compromised urethras from multiple prior procedures may have improved outcomes with transcorporal cuff placement rather than a 3.5 cm cuff.

Selective angioembolization for traumatic renal injuries: a survey on clinician practice.

PURPOSE: A variety of clinical and imaging findings are used by clinicians to determine utility of renal angioembolization (AE) in managing renal trauma. Our purpose was to investigate specific criteria that clinicians who manage high-grade renal trauma (HGRT) utilize in decision-making for primary or delayed AE. METHODS: A total of 413 urologists and interventional radiologists (IRs) who practice at level 1 or 2 trauma centers within the United States were provided an original survey via email on experience and opinions regarding the utility of AE for HGRT. We described overall practice patterns and assessed differences by clinician type, using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 79 (20 %) clinicians completed the survey. All clinicians had AE capability for HGRT management. A higher proportion of IRs reported using AE for grade I-II (33 vs. 3 %, p = 0.002), grade III (65 vs. 26 %, p = 0.001), and penetrating injuries (83 vs. 58 %, p = 0.02). A greater proportion of urologists reported using AE for grade V injuries (81 vs. 56 %, p = 0.03). Clinicians most commonly cited computed tomography evidence of active arterial bleeding (97 %), or arteriovenous fistula/pseudoaneurysm (94 %) as indications for primary AE, and 62 % identified concurrent visceral injury as factor that would necessitate surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: In a survey of clinicians, we report that IRs and urologists utilize AE differently when managing HGRT, as a higher proportion of IRs use AE to manage lower grade as well as penetrating injuries. Validation studies are needed to establish algorithms to identify patients with HGRT who would benefit from selective renal AE.

Electronic Preconsultation as a Method of Quality Improvement for Urological Referrals.

INTRODUCTION: Preconsultation exchange is a method to promote expedited care among health care providers through communication between primary care providers and specialists before a clinic visit. We evaluated the efficacy of a preconsultation exchange in streamlining patient visits to the urology clinic with an emphasis on resource efficiency in a safety net hospital. METHODS: Between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 there were 1,705 electronic referrals to our urology department. A random sample of 500 referrals was selected for evaluation, of whom 487 patients met study inclusion criteria. Scheduling outcome and preconsultation exchange were evaluated for each chief complaint. RESULTS: Patients with operative or procedural chief complaints, or potential oncologic diagnoses were most likely to be scheduled directly to the urology clinic. Of the 487 patients 36 (7.4%) were treated for benign urological conditions by primary care providers and did not need to be seen in the urology clinic. For 13.5% of patients recommended laboratory and radiological tests were obtained before the initial urology clinic visit as a result of preconsultation exchange. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic preconsultation exchange served as a method of quality improvement by promoting urology clinic efficiency. Unnecessary appointments were limited and the completeness of appropriate laboratory and imaging studies at the initial visit was increased. Health care was streamlined by increased access to urological care and by management of benign urological conditions without a formal clinic visit in appropriate cases.

Current epidemiology of genitourinary trauma.

This article reviews recent publications evaluating the current epidemiology of urologic trauma. The authors briefly explain databases that have been recently used to study this patient population and then discuss each genitourinary organ individually, utilizing the most relevant and up-to-date information published for each one. The conclusion of the article briefly discusses possible future research and development areas pertaining to the topic.

No small slam: increasing incidents of genitourinary injury from toilets and toilet seats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of genitourinary (GU) injury from toilets that present to USA Emergency rooms (ERs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a stratified probability sample of hospital ER visits for USA consumer product-related injuries. NEISS was used to estimate total toilet- and toilet seat-related GU injury for the years 2002-2010, as well as to describe demographics and injury characteristics. Analyses were performed using strata, primary sampling units and sample weights to accommodate the complex sample survey design. Data are reported as national estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) provided. RESULTS: In all, 13 175 (95% CI 10 185-16 165) GU injuries related to toilets presented to ERs during 2002-2010. The most common mechanism involved crush from accidental fall of toilet seat, described in 9011 (68.4%, 95% CI 6907-11 115) cases. Most crush injuries were isolated to the penis (98.1%). Of crush injuries, 81.7% occurred in children aged 2-3 years and 99.3% occurred in the home. Crush injuries increased over the period 2002-2010 (P = 0.017) by ≈100 per year, ending with an estimated 1707 (95% CI 1011-2402) by 2010. Most patients who sustained toilet- and toilet seat-related GU injuries were treated in the ER and then discharged. CONCLUSION: While penile crush injury related to a toilet seat is an uncommon mechanism of urological injury in children, the number of incidents appears to be rising. These findings support educational efforts and interventions, such as exchange of heavy toilet seats with slow-close toilet seat technology.

The effect of the new 2010 World Health Organization criteria for semen analyses on male infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the effect of the new 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) semen analysis reference values on reclassifying previous semen analysis parameters and definition of patients with male factor infertility. DESIGN: A multi-institutional retrospective chart review. SETTING: University and private male infertility clinics. PATIENT(S): Men referred for infertility evaluation. INTERVENTION(S): Comparison of semen analysis values based on 2010 versus 1999 reference criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Quantification of the change based on individual sperm parameters and as a whole. RESULT(S): A total of 184 men had at least two semen analyses; 13 (7%), 17 (9.2%), 34 (18.4%), and 29 (15.7%) patients changed classification to being at or above the reference values by the 2010 criteria for semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, respectively. A total of 501 men had one semen analysis on file; 40 (7.9%), 31 (6.2%), 50 (9.9%), and 74 (19.3%) would change classification for volume, concentration, motility, and morphology, respectively. Overall, 103 patients (15.1%) who had one or more parameter below the reference value on the original analysis were converted to having all parameters at or above the 2010 reference values. CONCLUSION(S): The 2010 reference values result in some infertile men being reclassified as fertile if status is based on semen analysis alone. This may lead to fewer men being referred for proper infertility evaluation or treatment.