Laser access and utilization preferences for pediatric ureteroscopy: A survey of the Societies of Pediatric Urology.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
We sought to evaluate laser access and practice variability for pediatric ureteroscopy (URS) across the Societies of Pediatric Urology (SPU) to identify opportunities and barriers for future technology promulgation and evidence dissemination.Methods
A 25-question survey was sent electronically to members of the SPU. The questionnaire assessed surgeon and hospital characteristics, treatment preferences based on an index case, and information about available laser units. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed to assess patterns of care and laser accessibility across the SPU.Results
A total of 105 of 711 (15%) recipients responded. Seventy-seven respondents (73%) reported laser ownership, which was associated with greater after-hours laser access (87% vs. 13%, p<0.01). Fifty-eight individuals provided additional laser specifications, of whom 21 (36%) used a high-powered laser unit (>60 W). Standard-power lasers were used more frequently in free-standing children's hospitals, as compared to those working within a larger hospital complex (75% vs. 50%, p=0.049). Variation existed in treatment preferences with respect to dusting (33, 34%), fragmentation (18, 19%), or a hybrid approach (46 respondents, 48%). Stone clearance was the most important consideration irrespective of treatment choice.Conclusions
Variability in surgical preferences and accessibility to laser units exist across pediatric urologists who perform URS. Laser ownership and access to newer technologies vary across practices and may influence treatment options. Understanding access to laser technology will be important when considering opportunities for surgical optimization to improve patient outcomes through future studies.
SUBMITTER: Yong R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8923890 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Laser access and utilization preferences for pediatric ureteroscopy: A survey of the Societies of Pediatric Urology.
Yong Ray R Tasian Gregory E GE Kraft Kate H KH Roberts William W WW Maxwell Adam A Ellison Jonathan S JS
Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada 20220301 3
<h4>Introduction</h4>We sought to evaluate laser access and practice variability for pediatric ureteroscopy (URS) across the Societies of Pediatric Urology (SPU) to identify opportunities and barriers for future technology promulgation and evidence dissemination.<h4>Methods</h4>A 25-question survey was sent electronically to members of the SPU. The questionnaire assessed surgeon and hospital characteristics, treatment preferences based on an index case, and information about available laser unit ...[more]
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Project description:ObjectiveMinimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are anecdotally reported to be increasingly used, but little objective data supports this. Our objective was to assess trends in MIS utilization across various procedures in pediatric urology and to compare postoperative complication rates between MIS and open procedures.MethodsWe analyzed the 1998-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. We identified children (<18 years old) undergoing open and MIS inpatient procedures and any in-hospital post-operative complications that occurred during that postoperative hospitalization. We utilized propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression to adjust for confounding factors.ResultsWe identified 163,838 weighted encounters in the "overall cohort," 70,273 of which were at centers performing more than five MIS procedures over the years studied. Use of MIS techniques increased significantly over time for several procedures, most prominently for nephrectomy (Fig.). The overall rate of complications was lower in patients undergoing MIS compared with open surgery (6% vs. 11%, p < 0.001). Specialized centers had a significantly lower overall rate of complications than unspecialized centers (9% vs. 12%, p < 0.001). Within specialized centers, MIS had lower complication rates than open procedures (7% vs. 9%, p < 0.001); this finding was consistent even after adjusting for other factors (OR 0.71, p = 0.02).DiscussionLimitations include that these data may not be generalizable to encounters not in the sample pool. As a large, retrospective, administrative database, NIS may be affected by miscoding bias - rendering our analysis sensitive to the accuracy of procedure coding in NIS. Although the accuracy level of NIS is high for an administrative database, it is possible at least some portion of our cohort may be incorrectly coded. Further, the NSQIP complications we identified may represent associated comorbidities and not true postoperative complications, as NIS does not provide temporal relationships between different diagnosis codes. Despite these limitations, we note that the NIS database is rigorously monitored and audited for coding accuracy and, therefore, represents a reasonably reliable panorama of the characteristics of an inpatient surgical cohort. However, it is important to note that the choice of operative modality is, undoubtedly, multifactorial and patient/setting-specific.ConclusionsThere is increasing use of MIS for pediatric urology procedures, although utilization rates vary among procedures. MIS was associated with a lower postoperative complication rate than for open procedures. Higher-volume MIS centers have a lower complication rate than lower-volume centers.
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Project description:Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation was started in 1972 as an eight bedded department of genitourinary surgery in a government hospital by its pioneer and present director Syed Adib ul Hassan Rizvi. Responding to the socioeconomic dynamics and the needs of the patient population the facility grew into the largest tertiary care Urology, Nephrology, and Transplant center of south Asia. One of the salient components has been the evolution of the Department of Pediatric Urology, which in itself has shown a tremendous growth into an internationally recognized center for pediatric urology services taking care of all aspects including center of excellence for pediatric stone disease. The guiding mission of this institute remains to provide free medical services at zero cost without any discrimination to all who come to its doorstep and matching with high standard of care without compromising their dignity and self-respect. This institute highlights the fact that lack of resources is no excuse and is a role model for developing countries, where national and international support, motivation, and cooperation can offer more advanced and better quality medical services to our children.
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Project description:Current organizational guidelines regarding use of antibiotics during urinary tract catheterization are based on limited evidence and are not directly applicable to the pediatric urology population. We seek to improve understanding of this population by first evaluating current practices. This study aims to investigate practice patterns and attitudes of pediatric urologists regarding the use of antibiotics in the setting of urinary tract catheterization.An online survey was sent to members of the Society for Pediatric Urology. Questionnaire sections included demographics, general questions about antibiotic use with catheterization, and specific clinical scenarios. Descriptive statistics were used, and chi-square analysis was performed to examine associations between demographics and specific responses.Of 448 pediatric urologists surveyed, 154 (34%) responded to the survey. A majority of surveyed urologists (78%) prescribe daily prophylactic antibiotics with a hypospadias stent in place, but extensive variation in use of antibiotics was reported with other catheters and tubes. Extensive variation in practice patterns was also reported for three case scenarios regarding antibiotic prophylaxis with catheterization. Urologists >?50 years of age and fellowship-trained urologists were more likely to prescribe antibiotics for hypospadias stents (p = 0.02, p = 0.03), but no other significant associations between demographic characteristics and antibiotic use were found.There is substantial variation in practice patterns among surveyed pediatric urologists regarding prophylactic antibiotic use with urinary catheterization. This variation, combined with a lack of objective data and increasing pressure to decrease infectious complications and combat antibiotic resistance, highlights the need for development of management guidelines for this unique population.
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