Transperineal sector prostate biopsies: a local anesthetic outpatient technique.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our technique and determine the feasibility and tolerability of transperineal template prostate (TP) biopsies under local anesthesia (LA). METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients underwent TP biopsies under LA for investigation of an elevated prostate-specific antigen level or risk stratification as part of our active surveillance protocol. Tolerability was evaluated with a visual analog scale assessing probe discomfort, LA infiltration, and the biopsy procurement. Patients were also asked if they would have the procedure again, and in those who had undergone previous transrectal biopsies, how the TP technique compared. Pathologic data, clinical outcomes, and complications were recorded at 2 weeks. RESULTS: Mean age was 62.8 years (standard deviation [SD], 6.34 years) and the mean prostate-specific antigen level was 8.49 ng/mL (SD, 6.36 ng/mL). Mean prostate volume was 48.2 mL (SD, 19.4 mL). Mean visual analog scale scores for discomfort caused by the ultrasound probe, LA injections, and biopsies were 3.08 (SD, 1.64), 3.29 (SD, 1.13), and 2.88 (SD, 1.28), respectively. Thirty-four of 50 men (68%) had positive histology, 26 men had Gleason score≤3+4, 5 men had Gleason score≥4+3, and 3 had recurrent adenocarcinoma after radiotherapy. There were 2 complications: 1 Clavien score 1 and 1 Clavien score 3a. CONCLUSION: LA TP biopsies are well tolerated, acceptable, and feasible when carried out within an outpatient setting.

Charlson scores based on ICD-10 administrative data were valid in assessing comorbidity in patients undergoing urological cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adjustment for comorbidity is an essential component of any observational study comparing outcomes. We evaluated the validity of the Charlson comorbidity score based on ICD-10 codes in patients undergoing urological cancer surgery within an English administrative database. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Patients who underwent radical urological cancer surgery between 1998 and 2002 in the English National Health Service were identified from the Hospital Episode Statistics database (N = 20,138). ICD-9-CM codes defining comorbid diseases according to the Deyo and Dartmouth-Manitoba adaptations of the Charlson comorbidity score were translated into ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: Charlson scores derived by the ICD-10 translation of the Deyo and Dartmouth-Manitoba adaptations were identical in 16,623 patients (83%; kappa = .63). For both adaptations, ICD-10 scores increased with age, were higher in patients admitted on an emergency basis, and predicted short-term outcome. Addition of either the ICD-10 Charlson Deyo or Dartmouth-Manitoba score to risk models containing age and sex to predict in-hospital mortality resulted in a better model fit but only in small improvements of the predictive power. CONCLUSION: The ICD-10 translations of the Deyo and Dartmouth-Manitoba adaptations performed similarly in risk models predicting hospital mortality following urological cancer surgery. Adjustment for comorbidity over and above age and sex alone does not seem to provide a large improvement.

A description of radical nephrectomy practice and outcomes in England: 1995-2002.

OBJECTIVES: To describe national trends in the practice of radical nephrectomy (RN) in England between 1995 and 2002. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics database of the Department of Health in England between 1995/1996 and 2001/2002. Patients were included in the study if an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis code (ICD-10) for malignant neoplasm of the kidney, renal pelvis or ureter, and an operative procedure code (OPCS-4) describing total or partial excision of the kidney by either a laparoscopic or open approach, were present in any of the diagnosis or operative procedure fields. Overall, 17 308 patients were included. RESULTS: Patient age and the proportion who were men did not change over the study period. The proportion of patients admitted as an emergency decreased from 14.0% to 7.5% over this period (P < 0.001). The mean waiting duration increased by almost 6 days (P < 0.001) and length of stay by approximately 1 day, from 11.7 days in 1995 to 10.8 days in 2001 (P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality decreased from 2% to 1.5% (P = 0.134). In-hospital mortality and length of stay were higher in older patients and in those admitted as an emergency. Women had a longer stay than men (11.5 vs 11.1 days), but in-hospital mortality was higher in men (2.3% vs 1.6%). The national number of RNs per year increased by approximately 20%, from 2254 in 1995 to 2671 in 2001. Over the same period the mean annual hospital volume of RN increased by approximately 40%, from 17 in 1995 to 24 in 2001. The annual number of laparoscopic RNs nationally increased from seven in 1995 to 84 in 2002. CONCLUSIONS: The annual number of RNs in England increased by almost a fifth and this was accompanied by an increase in annual hospital volume of about two-fifths. There was a large proportional increase in the number of laparoscopic RNs. Emergency admission rates and length of stay decreased but this was not accompanied by a significant change in in-hospital mortality rate.

Changes in patient characteristics and outcomes for radical cystectomy in England.

OBJECTIVES: To describe temporal changes in patient characteristics and outcomes for radical cystectomy (RC) in England between 1995 and 2002, using routinely collected administrative data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics database of the Department of Health in England, describing all patients recorded as having undergone RC between 1995/1996 and 2001/2002; 8228 patients were included. RESULTS: Of the patients who had undergone RC, two-thirds were > or = 65 years old and 75.6% were men. From 1995/1996 to 2001/2002 the annual number of RCs increased from 1013 to 1254, the proportion of patients admitted as an emergency decreased from 6.5% to 4.9%, the mean length of hospital stay decreased from 20.7 days to 18.7 days, and in-hospital mortality rates fell from 5.3% to 3.6%. The length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality rates were higher in older patients, in female patients, and in those admitted as an emergency. CONCLUSIONS: There was no sign of centralization of RCs over the study period, as the 25% increase in annual hospital volume was accompanied by a similar increase in the annual number of RCs. Length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality rates have decreased.

An analysis of the Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

BACKGROUND: The Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England commenced in 1993 with the aim of exposing selected surgical trainees to research techniques and methodology, with the hope of having an impact on surgical research and increasing the cadre of young surgeons who might decide to pursue an academic career in surgery. Over 11 million pounds sterling (approximately US 20 million dollars) has been invested in 264 fellowships. The College wished to evaluate the impact of the Scheme on the careers of research fellows, surgical research, and patient care. As the 10th anniversary of the Scheme approached. STUDY DESIGN: Two-hundred and sixty research fellows whose current addresses were available were sent a questionnaire. Two-hundred and thirty-eight (91.5%) responded. RESULTS: Three-quarters of the research fellows conducted laboratory-based research, with most of the remainder conducting patient-based clinical research. One-third of the fellows who have reached consultant status have an academic component to their post. The total number of publications based on fellowship projects was 531, with a median impact factor of 3.5. Almost all fellows had been awarded a higher degree or were working toward this. Half of the fellows received subsequent funding for research, mostly awarded by national or international funding bodies. CONCLUSIONS: The Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England has successfully supported many trainee surgeons in the initial phase of their research career. It has helped surgical research by increasing the pool of surgeons willing to embark on an academic career. Indirectly, patient care has benefited by promoting an evidence-based culture among young surgeons. Such schemes are relevant to surgical training programs elsewhere if more young surgeons are to be attracted into academic surgery.

Threshold volumes for urological cancer surgery: a survey of UK urologists.

OBJECTIVE: To determine minimum threshold levels of activity set by surgeons for urological cancer surgery, and to relate threshold levels to stated current procedural volume. METHODS: In all, 307 consultant urological surgeons were sent a questionnaire asking them to state for four urological cancer operations of different complexity their current procedural volume; whether minimum volume thresholds per surgeon should be implemented; and if so, the level of such thresholds; 212 (69%) replied. RESULTS: For all four procedures >/= 75% of surgeons advocated the setting of a minimum volume threshold. Overall, surgeons set the highest thresholds for radical prostatectomy and the lowest for radical cystectomy with continent diversion. There was no significant association between either the principle of supporting minimum volume thresholds or the level of such a threshold and the number of years worked as a consultant surgeon. The level of surgeon-derived minimum thresholds increased with increasing surgeon procedural volume. CONCLUSION: Most surgeons supported the principle of setting minimum volume thresholds. These thresholds appear to be influenced by current procedural volume and by procedural complexity. By setting thresholds greater than their current volume, some surgeons implicitly indicate that their current volume is insufficient to maintain their surgical competency.

A systematic review and critique of the literature relating hospital or surgeon volume to health outcomes for 3 urological cancer procedures.

PURPOSE: We performed a systematic review and critique of the literature of the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and health outcomes in patients undergoing radical surgery for cancer of the bladder, kidney or prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched to identify studies that describe the relationship between hospital or surgeon volume and health outcomes. RESULTS: All included studies were performed in North America. A total of 12 studies were found that related hospital volume to outcomes. For radical prostatectomy and cystectomy all 8 included studies showed improvement in at least 1 outcome measure with increasing volume and never deterioration. For nephrectomy the 4 included studies produced conflicting results. Four studies were found that related surgeon volume to outcomes. All radical prostatectomy and cystectomy studies showed that some outcomes were better with higher surgeon volume and never deterioration. We did not find any studies of the effect of surgeon volume on outcomes after nephrectomy. The 3 studies of the combined effect of hospital and surgeon volume on outcomes after radical prostatectomy or cystectomy suggest that high volume hospitals have better outcomes, in part because of the effect of surgeon volume and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes after radical prostatectomy and cystectomy are on average likely to be better if these procedures are performed by and at high volume providers. For radical nephrectomy the evidence is unclear. The impact of volume based policies (increasing volume to improve outcomes) depends on the extent to which "practice makes perfect" explains the observed results. Further studies should explicitly address selective referral and confounding as alternative explanations. Longitudinal studies should be performed to evaluate the impact of volume based policies.