Implementation of electronic messaging protocol for pediatric urology preoperative scheduling: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Preparing patients for surgery is a task healthcare organizations strive to optimize. Electronic messaging (EM) provides an opportunity for streamlining components of this arduous process. Our study aims to evaluate our early experience in utilizing EM to provide preoperative information to pediatric urology patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of EM in preparing patients for pediatric urologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This study compared a 6-week pilot program of EM (Figure 1) with traditional nurse phone calls (NPC) in preoperative instruction of pediatric urology patients. The same preoperative instructional information was provided via either source. Data collected included time and resources used by the healthcare system and patient/parent satisfaction. RESULTS: The EM group included 98 patients, while the NPC group included 212 patients. Case cancellation rate between the two cohorts was similar, with a 6.67% cancellation rate in the EM cohort and a 10.55% cancellation rate in the NPC cohort (z = -1.137, p = 0.25). There were 4 EM-related operating room delays with an average case delay of 31.5 min (5-60 min). Twenty-four (24%) EM patients/families required secondary phone calls, while 106 (50%) NPC required a follow up phone call (p < 0.01). 94% of EM participants recommended EM for future perioperative instructions. Accounting for the average case volume within our entire children's hospital, the average total daily cost for EM is $5.96/day, as compared to an average total cost of $87.78/day to perform NPC. This represents an estimated cost savings of $81.82 per day or $21,273.20 per year, based upon average total case volume at our institution. DISCUSSION: In our initial experience, EM effectively communicates the necessary preoperative information to patients and/or families undergoing pediatric urology surgery. Our results demonstrate low case cancellation and delay rates and high patient/family satisfaction. Also demonstrated was the cost savings by replacing the NPC with EM. A great benefit of EM was the increased time it provided for nurses to perform other patient care duties, which is important given our current nationwide nursing shortage. Limitations of the study included a narrow scope assessing only pediatric urology patients as well as a short study period. Further studies will further define and refine the role of perioperative EM. CONCLUSION: Changing to an EM system for preoperative instructions in the pediatric urology population met with a high degree of patient satisfaction and decreased costs for healthcare systems without increasing case delay or cancellation rates.

A systematic approach for successful repair of radiated and non-radiated ureteral injuries.

BACKGROUND: Successful ureteral reconstruction is challenging, particularly in radiated fields. We characterize and directly compare surgical outcomes in modern cohorts of radiated and non-radiated patients undergoing ureteral reconstruction utilizing a systematic approach to pre-operative assessment. We hypothesize that radiated patients will undergo more complex ureteral reconstructions and experience higher rates of surgical failure and complications compared to nonradiated patients. METHODS: Consecutive cases of ureteral reconstruction for acquired ureteral injury performed by a single surgeon from 2010-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data were collected including pre-operative bladder capacity, ureteral injury characteristics, and surgical technique. Ileal ureter and autotransplantation were classified as "complex" ureteral repairs, and surgical success was defined as freedom from surgical revision of the ureteral anastomosis and/or ureteral stenting. RESULTS: There were 47 ureteral reconstructions performed including 17 (36%) radiated patients. Radiated patients had lower pre-operative bladder capacity and were more likely to undergo complex repairs compared to non-radiated patients (35% vs. 7%, P=0.01). Overall surgical success was high (98%) and similar between radiated (94%) and non-radiated groups (100%) at median follow up of 30 months. Clavien grade 3-4 complications occurred in 18% of radiated and 10% of non-radiated patients (P=0.48). CONCLUSIONS: Careful pre-operative evaluation and appropriate selection of surgical technique facilitates high and similar success of ureteral reconstruction in radiated and non-radiated patients. Complex ureteral repairs were more common in radiated patients, however the majority of radiated ureteral injuries (65%) were reconstructed without tissue transfer. Radiated patients had lower pre-operative bladder capacities, but similar surgical morbidity, renal function, and persistent urge incontinence compared to non-radiated patients.

Prospective Comparison of Opioid vs Nonopioid Pain Regimen After Ureteroscopy.

Objective: We wanted to evaluate two new treatment phases within our practice, including a nonopioid pathway, to determine the effect on opioid usage, health care utilization, and pain following ureteroscopy. Methods: Patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy were enrolled in a study utilizing text messaging to evaluate postoperative pain and opioid usage. Our historical postoperative pain regimen included #30 oxycodone. Patients in the N15 cohort were given improved counseling, preanesthesia acetaminophen, and #15 oxycodone. With further experience, narcotics were removed entirely from our postoperative care plan (N0) and replaced with a nonopioid multimodal regimen. Results: There were 61 and 58 patients in cohorts N15 and N0, respectively, with no difference in demographics, stone, or procedure details between each cohort. No difference in pain scores was detected between the N15 and N0 cohorts (p = 0.14). The median time to pain resolution was postoperative day (POD) 4 for cohort N15 and POD 3 for cohort N0 (p = 0.06). In the N0 cohort, nine patients required postoperative narcotics (15.5%; average of 2.4 pills/patient). There was no significant difference in emergency department visits, phone calls, or clinic visits (p = 0.17) between each cohort. Conclusions: Patients undergoing ureteroscopy have adequate postoperative pain control with a nonopioid treatment regimen, although some patients will still ultimately require narcotics.

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Surgical Castration in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Their Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitudes and education regarding surgical castration in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for metastatic prostate cancer (mCaP). METHODS: We identified 142 patients receiving ADT for mCaP at our institution without prior orchiectomy who were then sent 2 surveys via mail: (1) A questionnaire to assess knowledge and understanding of ADT treatment alternatives and (2) the functional assessment of cancer therapy - prostate (FACT-P) questionnaire which determines health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Two cohorts were created based on the answer to "would you be interested in surgical orchiectomy?" and demographic, CaP and HRQOL were compared between the surgical castration yes (SC+) and surgical castration no (SC-) cohorts. A second analysis identified predictors of worse HRQOL. RESULTS: Of 68 (47.9%) patients that responded to the survey, only 39 (59.1%) recalled a discussion regarding treatment alternatives to ADT and only 22 (33.3%) recalled a discussion regarding orchiectomy. There were 24 (40.0%) patients that stated interest in undergoing orchiectomy (SC+) as an alternative to ADT with the only independent risk factor being "…bother from the number of clinical appointments required for ADT…" Patients most bothered by side effects and cosmetic changes associated with ADT reported lower HRQOL scores on the FACT-P. CONCLUSIONS: Few men on ADT knew about surgical alternatives, implying that educational deficits may be a significant factor in the decline in the utilization of orchiectomy. Changes in healthcare economics, utilization and delivery brought on by a global pandemic should warrant a fresh look at the use of surgical castration.