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Objective: To determine which factors are associated with higher costs of urethroplasty procedure and whether these factors have been increasing over time. Identification of determinants of extreme costs may help reduce cost while maintaining quality.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the 2001-2010 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). The HCUP-NIS captures hospital charges which we converted to cost using the HCUP cost-to-charge ratio. Log cost linear regression with sensitivity analysis was used to determine variables associated with increased costs. Extreme cost was defined as the top 20th percentile of expenditure, analyzed with logistic regression, and expressed as odds ratios (OR).Results: A total of 2298 urethroplasties were recorded in NIS over the study period. The median (interquartile range) calculated cost was $7321 ($5677-$10,000). Patients with multiple comorbid conditions were associated with extreme costs [OR 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-2.04, P = .02] compared with patients with no comorbid disease. Inpatient complications raised the odds of extreme costs (OR 3.2, CI 2.14-4.75, P <.001). Graft urethroplasties were associated with extreme costs (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.2-2.64, P = .005). Variations in patient age, race, hospital region, bed size, teaching status, payor type, and volume of urethroplasty cases were not associated with extremes of cost.Conclusion: Cost variation for perioperative inpatient urethroplasty procedures is dependent on preoperative patient comorbidities, postoperative complications, and surgical complexity related to graft usage. Procedural cost and cost variation are critical for understanding which aspects of care have the greatest impact on cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the correlation between the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Visual Prostate Symptom Score (VPSS), a visual assessment of urinary stream, frequency, nocturia, and quality of life using pictograms, in a health safety net population. Methods Men presenting to San Francisco General Hospital with lower urinary tract symptoms completed the IPSS and the VPSS without and then with assistance. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and the Spearman rank correlation. Results One hundred twenty-one patients were enrolled between December 2013 and May 2014 with a mean age of 54 years. There were statistically significant correlations between total VPSS and total IPSS (ρ = 0.71; P <.001) and for frequency (ρ = 0.47; P <.001), nocturia (ρ = 0.69; P <.001), force of stream (ρ = 0.65; P <.001), and quality of life (ρ = 0.69; P <.001). In addition, there were statistically significant correlations between total VPSS and both VPSS quality of life (ρ = 0.69; P <.001) and Q max (ρ = −0.473; P = .006). The mean absolute disagreement for participants who took the IPSS independently vs with assistance was greater than for those who took the VPSS independently vs assistance for all symptoms: frequency (0.64 vs 0.3, respectively; P <.001), weak stream (0.82 vs 0.14, respectively; P <.001), nocturia (0.38 vs 0.23, respectively; P = .023), and quality of life (0.63 vs 0.32, respectively; P = .005). Conclusion Many men altered their IPSS responses when they received assistance. There was significantly less alteration in responses using the VPSS, suggesting that the VPSS is useful in determining lower urinary tract symptoms, particularly in patients with limited education and literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine national urethroplasty trends based on type of surgery and patient and hospital characteristics. We hypothesized that the number of complex urethroplasty procedures performed has increased over time and may be associated with increased periprocedure complications. Methods The National Inpatient Sample from years 2000 to 2010 was queried for patients with urethroplasty-associated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. We analyzed trends in urethroplasty procedures, patient demographics, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics. We evaluated the relationship between patient demographics and comorbid disease, length of hospital stay, hospital charges, and inpatient complications. Results During the study period, an estimated 13,700 men (95% confidence interval, 9507-17,894) underwent urethroplasty nationally. Excision with primary anastomosis, buccal graft, and other graft or flap urethroplasty comprised 80.3%, 14.3%, and 5.4%, respectively. Buccal mucosa graft procedures increased over time ( P = .03). Only 1.6% of hospitals have ≥20 urethroplasties performed annually. Urethroplasty type and urethroplasty volume were not associated with immediate complication rates. Hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, and obesity were the most common comorbidities in urethroplasty patients. Complications during urethroplasty hospitalization occurred in 6.6% of men, with surgical or wound complications being the most common (5.2%). Postoperative mortality was exceedingly rare. Older patients, African Americans, and patients with increased comorbidities were more likely to have complications. Conclusion An increasing number of buccal mucosa graft urethroplasties occurred over time. Urethroplasty patients have low immediate perioperative morbidity (6.6%) and mortality (0.07%). Patients who are older, African American, or have more comorbid conditions have greater risk for complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buccal mucosal graft represents the gold standard graft material for urethroplasty because of its thick epithelium and a thin lamina propria for maximal graft uptake. There is an ongoing debate whether to close the buccal graft donor site. We show a unique look at buccal donor site healing through serial pictures over a 100-day period. In this patient, the anterior half of the buccal donor site was closed at the time of harvest, allowing real-time observation of wound healing from both the closed and open aspects of the wound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine patient outcomes across a range of pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) severity. PFUI is a devastating consequence of a pelvic fracture. No study has stratified PFUI outcomes based on severity of the urethral distraction injury.Methods: Adult male patients with blunt-trauma-related PFUI were followed prospectively for a minimum of six months at 27 US medical centers from 2015-2020. Patients underwent retrograde cystourethroscopy and retrograde urethrography to determine injury severity and were categorized into three groups: (1) major urethral distraction, (2) minor urethral distraction, and (3) partial urethral injury. Major distraction vs minor distraction was determined by the ability to pass a cystoscope retrograde into the bladder. Simple statistics summarized differences between groups. Multi-variable analyses determined odds ratios for obstruction and urethroplasty controlling for urethral injury type, age, and Injury Severity Score.Results: There were 99 patients included, 72(72%) patients had major, 13(13%) had minor, and 14(14%) had partial urethral injuries. The rate of urethral obstruction differed in patients with major (95.8%), minor (84.6%), and partial injuries (50%) (P < 0.001). Urethroplasty was performed in 90% of major, 66.7% of minor, and 35.7% of partial injuries (P < 0.001).Conclusion: In PFUI, a spectrum of severity exists that influences outcomes. While major and minor distraction injuries are associated with a higher risk of developing urethral obstruction and need for urethroplasty, up to 50% of partial PFUI will result in obstruction, and as such need to be closely followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report our successful outcomes of genital split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in covering major skin loss and providing good functional and cosmetic outcomes.Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all adult urology patients who underwent STSG at our institution from 1998 to 2014. Patients had a wide range of disease etiologies, including tissue loss (eg post-Fournier's gangrene), lymphedema, buried penis, foreign body injection, and tumors.Results: A total of 54 patients were identified with the following breakdown of etiology: 13 patients with tissue loss (eg post-Fournier's gangrene), 13 with lymphedema, 12 with buried penis, 8 with foreign body injection, 4 with hidradenitis suppurativa, and 4 with tumors. Fifty-two out of 54 patients had more than 90% graft take, with maintained or improved erection, normal voiding, good cosmetic outcome as judged by the patient and the examining surgeon, and normal mobility. One patient died at 3 months due to cardiovascular cause, and 1 patient had a poor take of the graft.Conclusion: We show the wide variety of indications for STSG use, the ease of the technique, and its successful outcomes. We believe this procedure should be offered to patients as a first-line treatment and also as a last resort when other more conservative approaches fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To characterize demographic, disease, and cancer outcomes of men on active surveillance (AS) at a safety-net hospital and characterize those who were lost to follow-up (LTFU).Methods: From January 2004 to November 2014, 104 men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) were followed with AS at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG). Criteria for AS have evolved over time; however, patients with diagnostic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) 10ng/mL or less, clinical stage T1/2, biopsy Gleason score 3 + 3 or 3 + 4, 33% or fewer positive cores, and 50% or less tumor in any single core were potentially eligible for AS. Men were longitudinally followed with a PSA or digital rectal examination or both every 3 to 6 months, and repeat prostate biopsy every 1 to 2 years. Clinical staging and grading were based on a physical examination and at least a 12-core biopsy, respectively. LTFU was defined as failure to successfully contact patients with 3 phone calls or any urology visit recorded within 18 months from a prior visit or biopsy. A secondary chart review was performed using the electronic medical record at ZSFG as well as EPIC Systems CareEverywhere which allows access to select non-ZSFG institutions to confirm that patients were truly LTFU.Results: Among the 104 men on AS at ZSFG, the median age at diagnosis of PCa was 61.5 years (range: 44-81). The median follow-up period was 29 months (range: 0-186 months) during which 18 (17.3%) men were LTFU and 48 (46%) remained on surveillance. Men underwent a median of 7 (1-21) serum PSA measurements and an average of 2 prostate biopsies (1-5). In total, 22 (20.6%) men had definitive treatment with the median time from diagnosis to active treatment being 26 (range: 2-87) months. Radiation therapy was more common than radical prostatectomy (12.5% vs. 7.7%). There was 1 PCa-related death and 3 noncancer deaths. Initial adherence to AS was poor; however, men committed to AS initially were ultimately more compliant over time.Conclusion: AS for low-risk PCa is challenging among a vulnerable population receiving care in a safety-net hospital, as rates of LTFU were high. Our findings suggest the need for AS support programs to improve adherence and follow-up among vulnerable and underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]