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The tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty or Snodgrass procedure has gained worldwide acceptance for distal hypospadias repair due to its low complication rate, good cosmetic result, and technical simplicity. As a result, several articles have been published concerning various aspects and subtle variations of this procedure. The aim of this review is to critically and systematically analyze the published complication rates of TIP repair for distal hypospadias in children. We also reviewed the surgical modifications that have been introduced to the original technique and discussed the potential impact on the final outcome of the Snodgrass procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male fetus at 20 weeks of gestation presented with severe bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and distended bladder due to a large ureterocele. A percutaneous ureterocele puncture at 21+3 weeks aimed to decompress the ureterocele, unclog the lower urinary tract, and prevent renal damage. Post-puncture, the ureterocele decompressed, with improved left hydronephrosis and a normal right kidney. Postnatal follow-up showed bilateral HUN improvement. At term, the baby was delivered without complications, but the ureterocele refilled, necessitating a postnatal transurethral incision. This case highlights the feasibility and benefits of prenatal ureterocele puncture for fetal ureteroceles, underscoring the need for close and long-term follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe and develop predictors for spontaneous resolution of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) from early ultrasound measures., Materials and Methods: Children referred to our institution between 2007 and 2023 for POM were reviewed. POM was defined as hydroureteronephrosis with ureteral dilation > 7 mm. We excluded patients with other etiologies for upper tract dilation. Resolution was defined as decrease in hydronephrosis to < 10 mm anteroposterior diameter (APD) or Society for Fetal Urology grade ≤ 2 or ≤ 7 mm in hydroureter. Patients were censored if they underwent surgical intervention or were lost to follow-up before documenting resolution. Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn to illustrate the cumulative resolution rate and determine univariate associations. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify significant predictors for early resolution, and Concordance Index (c-index) was calculated., Results: A total of 159 patients were included, with a median index age of 2 months and a median follow-up of 30 months. Of these, 89 patients reached spontaneous resolution during monitoring, and likelihood of surgical indication at 1 year from US was 30%. APD > 15 mm, high-grade hydronephrosis, ureteral dilation > 10 mm, and ureter tortuosity at presentation were associated with a lower likelihood of resolution for individual Kaplan-Meier curves. A Cox regression model trained on these predictors achieved an adjusted c-index of 0.68, and low APD remained associated with a higher likelihood of resolution., Conclusions: Early sonographic features in POM, specifically APD, are associated with the likelihood of spontaneous resolution. Patients with high-risk features at first ultrasound warrant closer follow-up.

Objective: Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is a chronic condition with a spectrum of outcomes. It is usually suspected prenatally based on ultrasound features (USFs). Given the unknown postnatal trajectory and the potential for significant morbidity and mortality, many families choose termination of pregnancy (TOP), often based on USFs alone. Herein, we sought to develop a tool that can be used to predict postnatal outcome based on combinations of USFs, which can aid prenatal counseling and parental decision-making., Methods: This was a retrospective study of cases with suspected fetal LUTO that were seen at a high-risk fetal center and a tertiary pediatric center in Canada. Data were collected on USFs, prenatal/postnatal death and postnatal need for transplantation and/or dialysis. USFs from pregnancies with a gestational age of 13-26 weeks on initial ultrasound at the high-risk fetal center that underwent TOP were collected and matched to fetuses with comparable prenatal USFs that were not terminated, which had a known postnatal outcome, to build a random forest model. The random forest model was fitted for each outcome (death, dialysis or transplantation) and tested for accuracy using leave-one-out cross-validation. Each predictor was assessed independently with combined importance when accounting for other predictors. The model was used to predict the most likely postnatal outcomes for cases of TOP had the pregnancy been continued., Results: USF data from 85 cases of TOP and 125 cases of expectantly managed pregnancy with prenatally suspected LUTO were retrieved. For expectantly managed cases, there was a median follow-up duration of 5.7 (interquartile range, 0.2-14.5) years among the liveborn infants. There were 14 prenatal and 22 postnatal deaths in the expectantly managed cohort. The random forest model demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for transplantation (77% accuracy, 50% sensitivity, 80% specificity), followed by death (72% accuracy, 83% sensitivity, 67% specificity) and dialysis (71% accuracy, 70% sensitivity, 71% specificity). For the TOP cohort, had the pregnancies been continued, the model predicted transplantation and dialysis in 21/85 (25%) and 37/85 (44%) cases, respectively; pre- or postnatal death was predicted in 69/85 (81%) cases., Conclusions: Our data suggest that it is possible to predict death and postnatal transplantation and/or dialysis from USFs in fetuses with suspected LUTO with acceptable accuracy. Predictive accuracy will improve with continued follow-up of more patients, enabling more personalized prenatal counseling and more informed decision-making for families. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: To compare postnatal outcomes of anterior urethral valves (AUV) and posterior urethral valves (PUV) patients to evaluate for potential differences between these conditions, given that AUV with or without concomitant PUV is a rare congenital anomaly leading to lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO)., Methods: We reviewed our LUTO database and included patients with AUV or concomitant AUV+PUV, managed at our institution between 2003 and 2023 matching them to comparable PUV cases. Assessed variables included prenatal diagnosis, gestational age (GA) at birth, initial management, kidney function, presence and degree of hydronephrosis (HN), and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT)., Results: The AUV ± PUV group (AUV: n = 11, concomitant PUV: n = 2) and PUV group (n = 26) had similar presenting ages and follow-up times (P >.05). Only 15.4% of AUV cases presented prenatally compared to 72.0% of PUV cases (P = .0016), leading to delayed postnatal management in AUV patients (P = .0260). Findings at presentation included UTI, weak stream or a palpable penile mass. PUV patients demonstrated significantly higher creatinine levels at the initial visit and at last follow-up (P = .0120 and P = .0302) than the AUV ± PUV group, with only 1 patient requiring RRT (P >.05). At the last follow-up, no patient in the AUV ± PUV group required clean intermittent catheterization compared to 37.5% in the PUV group (P = .0331) which also demonstrated more patients with persistent HN (P = .0039)., Conclusion: AUV with or without concomitant PUV is a rare finding that should be considered in patients presenting with weak stream, UTI, and penile swelling. Our data suggest potential differences in presentation and less severe postnatal outcomes in AUV compared to PUV patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bladder embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas (ERMS) are malignant soft tissue tumors that rarely present in the perinatal period. Herein, we report 2 cases that were diagnosed in the newborn period (one with concomitant posterior urethral valves [PUV]), managed with chemotherapy and surgical resection to minimize the need for radiation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods are increasingly being applied in pediatric urology across a growing number of settings, with more extensive databases and wider interest for use in clinical practice. More than 30 ML models have been published in the pediatric urology literature, but many lack items required by contemporary reporting frameworks to be high quality. For example, most studies lack multi-institution validation, validation over time, and validation within the clinical environment, resulting in a large discrepancy between the number of models developed versus the number of models deployed in a clinical setting, a phenomenon known as the AI chasm. Furthermore, pediatric urology is a unique subspecialty of urology with low frequency conditions and complex phenotypes where clinical management can rely on a lower quality of evidence., Objective: To establish the AI in PEDiatric UROlogy (AI-PEDURO) collaborative, which will carry out a living scoping review and create an online repository (www.aipeduro.com) for models in the field and facilitate an evidence synthesis of AI models in pediatric urology., Methods and Analysis: The scoping review will follow PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We will include ML models identified through standardized search methods of four databases, hand-search papers, and user-submitted models. Retrieved records will be included if they involve ML algorithms for prediction, classification, or risk stratification for pediatric urology conditions. The results will be tabulated and assessed for trends within the literature. Based on data availability, models will be divided into clinical disease sections (e.g. hydronephrosis, hypospadias, vesicoureteral reflux). A risk assessment will be performed using the APPRAISE-AI tool. The retrieved model cards (brief summary model characteristics in table form) will be uploaded to the online repository for open access to clinicians, patients, and data scientists, and will be linked to the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for each article., Discussion and Conclusion: We hope this living scoping review and online repository will offer a valuable reference for pediatric urologists to assess disease-specific ML models' scope, validity, and credibility to encourage opportunities for collaboration, external validation, clinical testing, and responsible deployment. In addition, the repository may aid in identifying areas in need of further research., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest STREAM-URO framework and APPRAISE-AI tool were developed across multiple institutions, with principal developers at the University of Toronto (AK, JCCK, LE, MR, AJL). There are no financial conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The complexities of modern medicine prompt a re-evaluation of traditional patient care models to enhance safety and quality. We implemented a one-year pilot Medical Pediatric Urology fellowship, jointly developed by Urology and Pediatric Hospital Medicine, where a pediatrician received postgraduate training in both specialties. This innovative program aimed to augment knowledge and expertise in non-surgical aspects of pediatric urology. Upon completion of the fellowship, the trained pediatrician assumed the role of medical pediatric urologist (MPU), integrating into both Pediatrics and Urology faculties. Unlike the traditional specialist consultation model, the MPU became integral member of the Urology Division, working full-time and sharing responsibilities for both inpatient and outpatient pediatric urology care at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Canada., Objective: This study aims to delineate the training curriculum, role, clinical outcomes, and educational impact of the MPU over eight years., Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes, including patient volumes seen annually by MPU, urologists, and nurse practitioners from 2021 to 2023. Clinic wait times and patient satisfaction were compared between MPU's community and tertiary hospital pediatric urology clinics. Educational impact was assessed through pediatric residents' ratings for the MPU as a clinical teacher during urology rotations using a Likert scale., Results: Integration of MPU led to the establishment of specialized clinics, including those for neurogenic bladder and posterior urethral valves. MPU accounted for approximately 34.7 % of all outpatient clinic visits. Subjective feedback highlighted enhanced quality of care with MPU co-management in the inpatient setting. Additionally, in a community-based medical urology clinic (CUC) staffed by the MPU and a pediatric urology nurse practitioner, patients experienced shorter wait times and higher satisfaction (53 ± 36 days and 194 ± 108 days) (p < 0.01), with 97 % vs. 91 % of families reported feeling highly satisfied with care (p < 0.01) compared with hospital clinics, respectively. The MPU received ratings of 4/5 or 5/5 as a clinical teacher from 81.82 % of pediatric residents., Discussion: Our novel co-management approach in pediatric urology integrates medical and surgical expertise. However, limitations include the retrospective design and single-center setting. Nonetheless, this framework presents a potential model for other surgical specialties, offering a unique practice niche for trainees interested in the medical management of surgical conditions., Conclusion: The medical pediatric urologist plays a pivotal role as an educator, hospitalist, and director of the outpatient clinic, effectively integrating medical and surgical expertise. The MPU model is promising for optimizing safety and quality of care in pediatric urology., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Antenatal hydronephrosis (HN) impacts up to 5% of pregnancies and requires close, frequent follow-up monitoring to determine who may benefit from surgical intervention. To create an automated HN Severity Index (HSI) that helps guide clinical decision-making directly from renal ultrasound images. We applied a deep learning model to paediatric renal ultrasound images to predict the need for surgical intervention based on the HSI. The model was developed and studied at four large quaternary free-standing paediatric hospitals in North America. We evaluated the degree to which HSI corresponded with surgical intervention at each hospital using area under the receiver-operator curve, area under the precision-recall curve, sensitivity, and specificity. HSI predicted subsequent surgical intervention with > 90% AUROC, > 90% sensitivity, and > 70% specificity in a test set of 202 patients from the same institution. At three external institutions, HSI corresponded with AUROCs ≥ 90%, sensitivities ≥ 80%, and specificities > 50%. It is possible to automatically and reliably assess HN severity directly from a single ultrasound. The HSI stratifies low- and high-risk HN patients thus helping to triage low-risk patients while maintaining very high sensitivity to surgical cases. HN severity can be predicted from a single patient ultrasound using a novel image-based artificial intelligence system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: We sought to determine the effect of secondary management strategies in addition to urotherapy on bowel bladder dysfunction outcomes., Study Design: The review protocol was prospectively registered (CRD42023422168). MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Scopus (database initiation until June 2023) were searched. Comparative studies of secondary management strategies vs conventional urotherapy alone were included. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and reviewed full-text articles. Two authors extracted data related to study characteristics, methodology, subjects, and results., Results: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies and 1228 children, secondary management strategies (home-based education, biofeedback, and physical therapy) were associated with reduced symptom burden, fewer recurrent urinary tract infections, and improved uroflowmetry findings than children treated solely with urotherapy for conservative management., Conclusions: Although there is significant reporting heterogeneity, secondary conservative management strategies such as home education, biofeedback or cognitive behavioral therapy, and physiotherapy-based education are associated with less urinary incontinence, fewer infections, and fewer abnormal uroflowmetry findings., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) are structural disorders originating prenatally and present at birth. Affecting 4.2 to 1000 per 10,000 births globally, CAKUT includes conditions like posterior urethral valves, cloacal anomalies, and reflux nephropathy. These anomalies can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in children, necessitating renal replacement therapy or transplantation., Objectives: This article aims to provide an updated perspective on pediatric kidney transplantation for children with CAKUT, emphasizing pre-transplant evaluation and management to optimize long-term outcomes., Methods: A comprehensive urologic evaluation is essential for children with ESKD being considered for kidney transplantation. Key pre-transplant investigations include kidney/bladder ultrasound (US), voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), uroflowmetry, and urodynamics (UDS)/video-urodynamics (VUDS). Non-operative interventions such as pharmacotherapy and clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) are also considered. Surgical interventions, like augmentation cystoplasty or continent catheterizable channels, are evaluated based on individual patient needs., Results: Kidney/bladder US and VCUG provide essential anatomical information. UDS offers comprehensive functional data, identifying hostile bladders needing pre-transplant optimization. Non-surgical measures like anticholinergics and CIC improve bladder function, while surgical options enhance compliance and capacity. Concurrent interventions during transplantation are feasible but require careful consideration of risks and benefits., Discussion: Children with CAKUT undergoing kidney transplantation exhibit comparable or better graft survival rates than those without CAKUT. However, those with lower urinary tract obstructions (LUTO) may have poorer long-term outcomes. UDS is crucial for evaluating bladder function pre-transplant, guiding the need for interventions. Long-term monitoring for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder dysfunction is essential., Conclusion: Optimal outcomes in pediatric kidney transplantation for CAKUT patients require thorough pre-transplant evaluation and management, particularly for those with LUTO. Multidisciplinary approaches ensure careful monitoring and timely interventions, improving graft survival and quality of life for these patients., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: While device-based circumcision is considered non-inferior to traditional dissection, there is no consensus on the efficacy and safety of ring devices in comparison with clamp devices. We aimed to compare the safety outcomes of ring-based versus clamp-based circumcision techniques in neonates., Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched following the Cochrane collaboration (PRISMA guidelines), without language restrictions, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. Adverse events, bleeding events, infection events, and procedure time were extracted and analyzed from the selected studies., Results: From 1661 citations, seven trials were included, encompassing 3390 patients. These studies compared ring-based to clamp-based circumcision devices in neonates. No significant difference was found in overall adverse events between the two groups. However, ring devices showed significantly fewer bleeding events compared to clamp devices. Infection events and procedure time were similar for both groups., Conclusions: Both ring and clamp devices have similar safety profiles, with ring devices potentially offering a reduced risk of bleeding. A comprehensive understanding of ring-specific complications and cosmetic outcomes is necessary for a more complete evaluation of these circumcision techniques. Our analysis is limited from a lack of detailed examination of ring-specific complications and their impact on cosmetic results. The included studies varied in quality, and some exhibited a risk of bias., Level of Evidence: Level IV Treatment Study., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study evaluates the inter-rater agreements of both the Glans-Urethral Meatus-Shaft (GMS) hypospadias score and Hypospadias Objective Penile Evaluation (HOPE) score, aiming to standardize disease classification for consistent agreement in clinically relevant characteristics of hypospadias., Methods: Photos of hypospadias in children were collected from two separate institutions. Three raters scored the photos using GMS and HOPE, excluding penile torsion and curvature assessment in HOPE due to photo limitations., Results: A total of 528 photos were included. With GMS, Fleiss' multi-rater kappa showed an agreement of 0.745 for glans-urethral plate, 0.869 for meatus, and 0.745 for shaft. For HOPE scores, the agreements were 0.888 for position of meatus, 0.669 for shape of meatus, 0.730 for shape of glans, and 0.708 for the shape of the skin. The lower agreement in the shape of the meatus evaluation may be attributed to the lack of a quantitative classification method in HOPE. Experts rely on their subjective judgment based on the provided example photos and their index patient., Conclusions: While there is high agreement among experts when evaluating hypospadias using the GMS and HOPE scoring criteria, only the position of the meatus achieved nearly perfect agreement highlighting that the current scoring systems entail a subjective element in disease classification., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: We describe long-term outcomes, including UTIs and need for reimplantation, after ureterovesicostomy (UV) as a lasting surgical procedure for children with primary obstructive megaureter (POM)., Materials and Methods: Children referred to our institution between 2016 and 2023 who underwent refluxing UV were analyzed. POM was defined as hydroureteronephrosis with distal ureteral dilatation > 7 mm and a negative workup for other etiologies of hydronephrosis. We assessed for surgical outcomes, complications, rate of UTI, and improvement in upper tract dilatation. Statistical analyses assessed for change in hydronephrosis metrics over follow-up., Results: Among 183 patients diagnosed with POM, 47 (24%) underwent UV. Median age of presentation, surgery, and follow-up was 2, 9, and 43 months, respectively. A total of 7 patients developed 30-day complications: Clavien-Dindo grade 1 in 2 (transient urinary retention) and grade 2 in 5 (UTIs). During monitoring 14 (30%) developed UTIs and 7 (15%) required ureteral reimplant or UV takedown. After surgery there was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with high-grade hydronephrosis, anteroposterior renal pelvis diameter, and maximum ureteral dilatation., Conclusions: Refluxing UV is a safe alternative to cutaneous diversion in POM. Most patients had improvement in upper tract dilatation with an acceptable short-term complication rate and need for reoperation (in comparison to routine later reimplantation). Our experience suggests that monitoring alone after UV is feasible, and that selective subsequent reconstruction is a reasonable strategy.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in pediatric urology is gaining increased popularity and credibility. However, the literature lacks standardization in reporting and there are areas for methodological improvement, which incurs difficulty in comparison between studies and may ultimately hurt clinical implementation of these models. The "STandardized REporting of Applications of Machine learning in UROlogy" (STREAM-URO) framework provides methodological instructions to improve transparent reporting in urology and APPRAISE-AI in a critical appraisal tool which provides quantitative measures for the quality of AI studies. The adoption of these will allow urologists and developers to ensure consistency in reporting, improve comparison, develop better models, and hopefully inspire clinical translation., Methods: In this article, we have applied STREAM-URO framework and APPRAISE-AI tool to the pediatric hydronephrosis literature. By doing this, we aim to describe best practices on ML reporting in urology with STREAM-URO and provide readers with a critical appraisal tool for ML quality with APPRAISE-AI. By applying these to the pediatric hydronephrosis literature, we provide some tutorial for other readers to employ these in developing and appraising ML models. We also present itemized recommendations for adequate reporting, and critically appraise the quality of ML in pediatric hydronephrosis insofar. We provide examples of strong reporting and highlight areas for improvement., Results: There were 8 ML models applied to pediatric hydronephrosis. The 26-item STREAM-URO framework is provided in Appendix A and 24-item APPRAISE-AI tool is provided in Appendix B. Across the 8 studies, the median compliance with STREAM-URO was 67 % and overall study quality was moderate. The highest scoring APPRAISE-AI domains in pediatric hydronephrosis were clinical relevance and reporting quality, while the worst were methodological conduct, robustness of results, and reproducibility., Conclusions: If properly conducted and reported, ML has the potential to impact the care we provide to patients in pediatric urology. While AI is exciting, the paucity of strong evidence limits our ability to translate models to practice. The first step toward this goal is adequate reporting and ensuring high quality models, and STREAM-URO and APPRAISE-AI can facilitate better reporting and critical appraisal, respectively., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest STREAM-URO framework and APPRAISE-AI tool were developed across multiple institutions, with principal developers at the University of Toronto (AK, JCCK, LE, MR, GSK, AJL). Articles were assessed by multiple raters and STREAM-URO compliance was assessed by a rater outside of its development (IA). GSK reports advisory, consultant, or trial work with Merck, BMS, EMD Serono, Pfizer, Janssen, Ferring, Theralase, Verity, TerSera, Knight Therapeutics, PhotoCure, and Astra Zeneca. There are no other financial or monetary conflicts of interest to disclose, and funders had no role in the conception, development, or decision to publish this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Children with prune belly syndrome (PBS) are at higher risk of developing kidney dysfunction and requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT). While studies have described surgical and survival outcomes in these populations, there has yet to be a focused synthesis of evidence regarding kidney outcomes in this population. Here, the focus of this scoping review was to highlight knowledge gaps and report standards on kidney outcomes in PBS of all ages., Methods: Following scoping review methodology, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed literature that describe kidney outcomes in PBS. All studies with a broad set of kidney outcomes (such as kidney function measures, chronic kidney disease (CKD), KRT and associated outcomes) were included. Findings were summarized and qualitatively synthesized., Results: Of the 436 unique records identified, 25 were included for synthesis. A total of 17 studies (441 patients) reported on kidney insufficiency outcomes, with an estimated prevalence of CKD ranging from 8 to 66%. A total of 15 studies (314 patients) described KRT, primary kidney transplant, and outcomes. Of these, the age for KRT ranged from 4 to 21 years, and graft survival ranged from 22 to 87% by last follow-up (range 1.3-27 years)., Conclusions: There is significant variability in studies reporting kidney outcomes in PBS which limits meaningful synthesis. There is a need for future studies with comprehensive reporting of confounders and drivers for kidney insufficiency in PBS., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Introduction: The morphology of the bladder and posterior urethra on initial voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) in posterior urethral valve (PUV) has been proposed as a meaningful early metric for short- and long-term kidney outcomes. Here, we seek to externally validate the proposed association and assess the reliability of PUV morphology characteristics., Materials and Methods: We reviewed our institutional database for patients managed for PUV between 2000 and 2022 and included those treated with primary ablation with at least 1 year of follow-up for kidney function. Each VCUG was evaluated by three independent raters for the height-width ratio of the bladder (HW-B), height-width ratio of the posterior urethra (HW-PU), and posterior-anterior urethral ratio (PA-UR), and trabeculation (none, fine, or coarse). We assessed the reliability in these with intra-class coefficient and Fleiss kappa for continuous and categorical data, respectively. We performed univariate analysis with nadir creatinine and five-year follow-up glomerular filtration rate (GFR)., Results: In total, 98 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age at diagnosis and ablation was 10 and 21 days, respectively. Patients with nadir creatinine <0.8 mg/dL had higher follow-up GFR (101 vs. 20 ml/min/1.73 m 2 , p = 0.04), and lower risk of CKD (odds ratio 14.7, p = 0.002). The median value for HW-B was 1.4, median HW-PU was 2.1, and median PA-U was 4.7, There was significant inter-class agreement between all three measures of 0.80, 0.51, and 0.70 (p < 0.001). The inter-rater agreement for bladder trabeculation was fair (Fleiss K = 0.40, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant correlation between HW-B, HW-PU, PU-A with nadir creatinine (p = 0.07, 0.33, 0.91) or 5-year GFR (0.27, 0.45, 0.62), respectively., Discussion: There is significant interest in determining prognostic factors and metrics in PUV. The morphological characteristics on VCUG are reliable and is available information for all boys diagnosed with PUV, resulting in an attractive metric. While we do not demonstrate correlation with kidney outcomes, VCUG features warrant further attention as prognostic factors in PUV., Conclusions: PUV morphology on initial VCUG is a reliable metric of lower urinary tract deformity but is not associated with 5-year kidney outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A nomogram for predicting the diagnosis of lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) based on an antenatal ultrasound index generated from a Bayesian Meta-regression analysis has been in development and noted with superior diagnostic accuracy compared to the keyhole sign (KHS). We aim to assess the accuracy of the nomogram in expanded diagnostic utilization to predict LUTO., Methodology: The validation of the nomogram for expanded diagnostic utilization was based on data from a prospective institutional antenatal clinic database between January 2020 and June 2022. Diagnostic accuracy indices were determined for confirmed postnatal diagnosis of LUTO or prune belly syndrome (PBS). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were generated to compare the area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram versus KHS., Results: Based on 84 male fetuses with antenatal ultrasound of moderate-severe hydronephrosis (PUV n = 15, PBS n = 4), the KHS had 26.3% (95%CI 9.1-51.2) sensitivity and 100% (95%CI 94.4%-100%) specificity, with 14 false-negatives. The nomogram showed a 84.2 (95%CI 60.4%-96.6%) sensitivity and 95.4 (95%CI 87.1%-99%) specificity with three false-positives. The nomogram also had a superior AUC compared to KHS (0.98 vs. 0.63)., Conclusion: The nomogram can be used as a valuable tool to trigger further postnatal screening and provide individualized risk assessments to families during prenatal counseling., (© 2023 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Pregnancies complicated by prenatally suspected lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) can be associated with high rates of terminations due to potentially poor outcomes. Herein, we assessed autopsy findings of fetuses terminated for suspected LUTO to evaluate the prenatal diagnostic accuracy and spectrum of underlying pathologies., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all pregnancies referred to a high-risk fetal center in a universal access to care health care system for suspected LUTO that opted for termination of pregnancy between 2009 and 2022. Ultrasound features, genetic investigations, placental findings, and distribution of postmortem diagnoses were assessed., Results: Of a total of 190 pregnancies with suspected LUTO evaluated during the study period, 79 (42%) were terminated. We excluded 35 fetuses with incomplete data, resulting in 44 available for analysis. Pregnancies were terminated at a mean gestation of 22 ± 5 weeks. A LUTO diagnosis was confirmed in 37 (84.1%) fetuses (35 males, 2 females), and the remaining 7 showed other pathologies. Pulmonary hypoplasia was found in 62.2% (n = 23) and placental pathologies in 56.8% of confirmed LUTO compared to 33.4% and 71.4% in non-LUTO cases, respectively. Overall, a total of 31 fetuses underwent additional prenatal investigations with genetic anomalies detected only in fetuses with a confirmed LUTO diagnosis (13.6%)., Conclusions: In our health care system, almost half of prenatally suspected LUTO pregnancies are terminated. The sonographic diagnostic accuracy for LUTO is reasonable at 84%. However, the remaining 16% still had significant pathologies. Genetic abnormalities are uncommon and rarely the trigger for pregnancy terminations.

Urinary tract dilation (UTD), which refers to the abnormal dilation of the urinary collection system, is the most common finding on prenatal ultrasound and presents with varying severity, presentation, etiology, and prognosis. Prenatal classification and risk stratification aim to prevent postnatal complications, such as urinary tract infections and further kidney dysfunction. Parents expecting a child with UTD should be counseled by a multidisciplinary team consisting of maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and pediatric urology and nephrology providers. This review summarizes the key points in the diagnostic evaluation and management during the prenatal and initial postnatal period, focusing on the information that should be provided to future parents. We address frequently asked parental questions and concerns that our multidisciplinary clinical practice faces., (© 2023 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Neurogenic bladder (NGB) is an encompassing term that includes multiple causes of bladder dysfunction linked to a congenital or acquired neurological condition that adversely impacts the innervation of the lower urinary tract. Multiple static or progressive conditions can be associated with NGB in pediatric and adolescent patients. Currently, spinal dysraphism (i.e., spina bifida) is one of the most common etiologies, which occurs in 3-4 per 10,000 live births in developed nations. Abnormal bladder dynamics can lead to kidney damage secondary to high pressures or recurrent infections, as well as urinary incontinence. The current management paradigm centers on a proactive approach to preserving kidney function and achieving continence through behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical means. This educational review highlights the key components of urological management to maximize collaboration with pediatric nephrologists., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Introduction:  Neonates with lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) experience high morbidity and mortality associated with the development of chronic kidney disease. The prenatal detection rate for LUTO is less than 50%, with late or missed diagnosis leading to delayed management and long-term sequelae in the remainder. We aimed to explore the trends in prenatal detection and management at a high-risk fetal center and determine if similar trends of postnatal presentations were noted for the same period., Methods:  Prenatal and postnatal LUTO databases from a tertiary fetal center and its associated pediatric center between 2009 and 2021 were reviewed, capturing maternal age, gestational age (GA) at diagnosis, and rates of termination of pregnancy (TOP). Time series analysis using autocorrelation was performed to investigate time trend changes for prenatally suspected and postnatally confirmed LUTO cases., Results:  A total of 161 fetuses with prenatally suspected LUTO were identified, including 78 terminations. No significant time trend was found when evaluating the correlation between time periods, prenatal suspicion, and postnatal confirmation of LUTO cases (Durbin-Watson [DW] = 1.99, p  = 0.3641 and DW = 2.86, p  = 0.9113, respectively). GA at referral was 20.0 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 12, 35) and 22.0 weeks (IQR 13, 37) for TOP and continued pregnancies ( p  < 0.0001). GA at initial ultrasound was earlier in terminated fetuses compared to continued (20.0 [IQR 12, 35] weeks vs. 22.5 [IQR 13, 39] weeks, p  < 0.0001). While prenatal LUTO suspicion remained consistently higher than postnatal presentations, the rates of postnatal presentations and terminations remained stable during the study years ( p  = 0.7913 and 0.2338), as were GA at TOP and maternal age at diagnosis ( p  = 0.1710 and 0.1921)., Conclusion:  This study demonstrated that more severe cases of LUTO are referred earlier and are more likely to undergo TOP. No significant trend was detected between time and prenatally suspected or postnatally confirmed LUTO, highlighting the need for further studies to better delineate factors that can increase prenatal detection., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Little is known about alpha blocker use in young children, particularly in those with lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO). Therefore, we aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of selective alpha-blockers in children under 3 years of age with LUTO., Methods: A prospectively-collected database captured 93 patients born between 12/2005 and 01/2023. Assessed data included baseline characteristics, ultrasound features, blood pressure (BP), side effects and creatinine values. Primary outcome was side effects or discontinuation of alpha-blockers. Secondary outcomes were BP parameters, growth, and kidney function. Data are shown as median with interquartile range (IQR), Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI and mean value with standard deviation (SD)., Results: A total of 33 patients less than 3 years of age were started on alpha-blockers at 16.8 ± 11.8 months and followed for 48.9 ± 40.5 months. At last follow-up, no significant effect on systolic/diastolic BP percentiles (p > 0.9 and p > 0.9), creatinine levels (p > 0.9). Weight percentiles increased to the last follow-up (37.8 ± 33.2 vs. 53.6 ± 32.9, p = 0.0133) while height percentiles increased from 28 to 100 days to last follow-up (12.9 ± 18.3 vs. 39.6 ± 35.2, p=0.001). Four patients discontinued alpha-blockers; however, no side-effects were reported during the study period., Conclusions: No severe clinical or systemic side effects were observed, demonstrating safety and tolerability in young children with LUTO. Although alpha-blockers did not significantly improve kidney function in short term follow-up, and failure to thrive was not observed in these children. Additional studies with more patients are required to assess the optimal dosing and timing leading to maximal benefits for these infants., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest No conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) is a chronic condition that can adversely impact child and family health related quality of life (HRQOL). Surprisingly, to date, the impact of this condition on the QOL of children with PUV has not been studied. Thus, our aim is to evaluate this important aspect of care using validated questionnaires in our institutional PUV clinic., Methods: From December 2022 to January 2024, the PedsQL Inventory and associated family impact module was distributed in our PUV clinic. Higher scores reflect better HRQoL and less impact on family. Children >8 years old completed the tool themselves, otherwise parents completed the tools on behalf of the child. We compared PUV scores against reported psychometric data from healthy children and other chronic illnesses., Results: A total of 112 families completed the questionnaires. The total HRQoL score was 80 ± 13. Overall, we noted that the domains reflecting psychosocial impact were significantly lower than those of physical well-being (76 ± 16 vs. 89 ± 15 for psychosocial and physical impact, respectively; p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the psychosocial emotional impact for children managed with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) compared to those who were not (69 ± 21 vs. 81 ± 16; p = 0.005) (Table 2). In addition, we noted that children with PUV scored similar to healthy controls, but higher than children with other chronic illnesses. With respect to the impact on family, overall, parent, and family impacts were 76 ± 19, 78 ± 21, and 81 ± 21, respectively., Discussion: Chronic illness has been associated with a negative impact on HRQoL in both adults and children. We noted similar findings the present study, particularly for young children and those who are maintained on CIC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the impact of PUV on a child's HRQoL as well as the impact on the family, and to document a negative psychosocial impact of CIC in this population. However, there are some important limitations to be addressed including relying on families to complete questionnaires accurately during busy clinic visits and the lack of controls from the same environment., Conclusion: When compared to healthy controls, PUV patients score similarly in HRQoL assessment. In addition, children <3years of age report a negative impact on physical well being, and CIC negatively impacts the emotional well-being. These data can be used to advocate for better mental health supports and social work for these children., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Congenital penile curvature (PC), often concomitant with hypospadias, poses challenges in urology. Surgical correction techniques, including plication and corporotomy, lack standardized guidelines. This study aims to address the paucity of high-level evidence by comprehensively reviewing the outcomes of PC correction procedures in patients with and without hypospadias. This will inform clinical decision-making and provide insights for future research and meta-analyses., Methods: We conducted this scoping review in accordance with the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. An extensive literature search was performed and comparative studies published in English up to June 2023 were included. The studies were divided into three categories: PC without hypospadias, PC with hypospadias, and studies comparing two or more materials for covering the ventral corporotomy. Data extraction comprised author details, patient characteristics, study design, interventions, outcomes, and complications. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale., Results: Forty-two studies were included in the review, which collectively comprised 3180 patients. Thirteen comparative studies reported the outcomes of surgery for congenital PC without hypospadias, 22 studies compared different techniques of PC correction in patients with hypospadias and 7 studies compared the type of materials for coverage following ventral corporotomy. In cases of PC without hypospadias, the most commonly reported surgery was the Nesbit's plication. For PC with hypospadias correction, the results of ventral corporotomy were superior to that of dorsal plication in most of the studies. The two-stage repair had better results when compared to the one-stage repair for patients with perineo-scrotal hypospadias. In studies comparing materials for coverage of ventral corporotomy, the tunica vaginalis flap or graft was utilized most commonly. The majority of the studies reported a success rate ranging from 85% to 100%. The methodological quality was high in all but four studies., Conclusion: Plication procedures are generally preferred for PC without hypospadias, but they result in penile shortening. For those with hypospadias, corporotomy is associated with superior outcomes than plication, especially for those with severe curvature and redo procedures. For ventral corporotomy coverage, the tunica vaginalis flap or graft is the most commonly reported tissue in the literature., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Urology.)

Objective: To sensitively predict the risk of renal obstruction on diuretic renography using routine reported ultrasonography (US) findings, coupled with machine learning approaches, and determine safe criteria for deferral of diuretic renography., Patients and Methods: Patients from two institutions with isolated hydronephrosis who underwent a diuretic renogram within 3 months following renal US were included. Age, sex, and routinely reported US findings (laterality, kidney length, anteroposterior diameter, Society for Fetal Urology [SFU] grade) were abstracted. The drainage half-times were collected from renography and stratified as low risk (<20 min, primary outcome), intermediate risk (20-60 min), and high risk of obstruction (>60 min). A random Forest model was trained to classify obstruction risk, here named the 'Artificial intelligence Evaluation of Renogram Obstruction' (AERO). Model performance was determined by measuring area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUROC) and decision curve analysis., Results: A total of 304 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a median (interquartile range) age of diuretic renogram at 4 (2-7) months. Of all patients, 48 (16%) were low risk, 102 (33%) were intermediate risk, 156 (51%) were high risk of obstruction based on diuretic renogram. The AERO achieved a binary AUROC of 0.84, multi-class AUROC of 0.74 that was superior to the SFU grade, and external validation (n = 64) binary AUROC of 0.76. The most important features for prediction included age, anteroposterior diameter, and SFU grade. We deployed our application in an easy-to-use application (https://sickkidsurology.shinyapps.io/AERO/). At a threshold probability of 30%, the AERO would allow 66 more patients per 1000 to safely avoid a renogram without missing significant obstruction compared to a strategy in which a renogram is routinely performed for SFU Grade ≥3., Conclusions: Coupled with machine learning, routine US findings can improve the criteria to determine in which children with isolated hydronephrosis a diuretic renogram can be safely avoided. Further optimisation and validation are required prior to implementation into clinical practice., (© 2023 The Authors. BJU International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJU International.)

Introduction: Circumcision has been reported to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in boys with antenatal hydronephrosis (HN). Our aim was to compare the incidence of UTIs in circumcised vs. uncircumcised boys with antenatal HN by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis., Study Design: A comprehensive search was performed until December 2022. Comparative studies were evaluated according to Cochrane collaboration recommendations. Assessed measures included: UTIs, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) use, renal outcomes, and circumcision complications. Odds ratios (OR) and mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) were extrapolated from available data. Random-effects meta-analysis were performed., Results: Twenty-three studies describing 9093 boys with antenatal HN were identified, including 4677 uncircumcised and 4416 circumcised boys. Overall effect estimates demonstrate that circumcised boys have significantly reduced odds of developing any UTI [OR 0.26, 95%CI 0.21, 0.32; p < 0.001]]. In addition, there a significantly reduced odds of developing UTI when circumcised and on CAP [OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.13, 0.30; p < 0.001]. When stratifying by etiology, circumcision reduced the odds of UTI in boys with isolated HN [OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16, 0.68; p = 0.003], vesicoureteral reflux [OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.13, 0.42; P < 0.00001], or with posterior urethral valves [OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13, 0.64; p = 0.002]., Discussion: Circumcision reduces the incidence of UTIs in boys with antenatal HN. This review is limited by the varied definitions of UTIs and inconsistent reporting on HN etiology, renal outcomes, and circumcision complications., Conclusions: Circumcision should be considered in boys with antenatal HN to prevent the risk of developing UTI. Further research is warranted to individualize the prophylactic role of circumcision for patients with HN., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest in preparing this article., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: To determine if the implementation of a posterior urethral valves (PUV) clinic and standardized management pathway improves the short-term kidney outcomes of infants with PUV., Methods: From 2016-2022, 50 consecutive patients were divided into groups after the implementation of the clinic (APUV, n = 29) and before (BPUV, n = 21) during a comparable timeframe. Assessed data included age at initial visit, timing and type of surgery, frequency of follow-up visits, medications, nadir creatinine, and development of CKD/kidney failure. Data are shown as median with interquartile range (IQR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: APUV had higher rates of prenatal diagnoses (12/29 vs. 1/21; p = 0.0037), earlier initial surgical intervention (8 days; IQR 0, 105 vs. 33 days; IQR 4, 603; p < 0.0001), and higher rates of primary diversions (10/29 vs. 0/21; p = 0.0028). Standardized management led to earlier initiation of alpha blockers (326 days; IQR 6, 860 vs. 991; IQR 149, 1634; p = 0.0019) and anticholinergics (57 days; IQR 3, 860 vs. 1283 days; IQR 477, 1718; p < 0.0001). Nadir creatinine was reached at earlier ages in APUV (105 days; IQR 2, 303 vs. 164 days; IQR 21, 447; p = 0.0192 BPUV). One patient progressed to CKD5 in APUV compared to CKD3, CKD5 and one transplant in BPUV., Conclusion: Implementing the PUV clinic with standardized treatment expedited postnatal management and resulted in a higher number of cases detected prenatally, a shift in primary treatment, younger ages at initial treatment, reduced time to nadir creatinine, and timely initiation of supportive medications. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Introduction: For mild to moderate male stress urinary incontinence (SUI), transobturator male slings remain an effective option for management. We aimed to use a machine learning (ML )-based model to predict those who will have a long-term success in managing SUI with male sling., Methods: All transobturator male sling cases from August 2006 to June 2012 by a single surgeon were reviewed. Outcome of interest was defined as 'cure': complete dryness with 0 pads used, without the need for additional procedures. Clinical variables included in ML models were: number of pads used daily, age, height, weight, race, incontinence type, etiology of incontinence, history of radiation, smoking, bladder neck contracture, and prostatectomy. Model performance was assessed using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under precision-recall curve (AUPRC), and F1-score., Results: A total of 181 patients were included in the model. The mean followup was 56.4 months (standard deviation [SD ] 41.6). Slightly more than half (53.6%, 97/181) of patients had procedural success. Logistic regression, K-nearest neighbor (KNN ), naive Bayes, decision tree, and random forest models were developed using ML. KNN model had the best performance, with AUROC of 0.759, AUPRC of 0.916, and F1-score of 0.833. Following ensemble learning with bagging and calibration, KNN model was further improved, with AUROC of 0.821, AUPRC of 0.921, and F-1 score of 0.848., Conclusions: ML-based prediction of long-term transobturator male sling is feasible. The low numbers of patients used to develop the model prompt further validation and development of the model but may serve as a decision-making aid for practitioners in the future.

Objective: To assess whether tamsulosin may aid emptying of the lower urinary tract in posterior urethral valves patients, mitigating the likelihood of progressing to clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) or need for renal replacement therapy., Methods: We reviewed a prospective institutional database containing posterior urethral valves patients treated between January 2000 and January 2022. After assessing baseline characteristics, Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were generated to assess differences in clinically significant outcomes (progression to CIC, dialysis, or kidney transplantation) between those prescribed tamsulosin and those who were not., Results: A total of 179 patients were included. Fifty-nine patients received tamsulosin prior to initiation of CIC (group 1), and 120 did not (group 2). The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for anticholinergic use (tamsulosin group - 35/59 vs no tamsulosin - 32/120, P < .001). The median age at tamsulosin initiation was 26.0 months (IQR 15.5-48.6) and the median time from initiation of tamsulosin to progression to CIC was 52.6 months (IQR 10.1-69.3). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients on tamsulosin were less likely to progress to CIC (P = .021), however, there was no difference in progression to dialysis or kidney transplantation. A Cox-regression analysis controlling for baseline characteristics, including age, anticholinergic use, vesicoureteral reflux severity, and CKD stage at 1-year of life, showed a consistent effect of tamsulosin in delaying progression to CIC (HR 0.444 95%CI 0.218-0.902, P = .025)., Conclusion: While tamsulosin may delay CIC, it does not appear to delay progression to end-stage renal disease. Additional studies exploring specific patient factors are required to determine the timing and subset who may benefit the most from tamsulosin., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine differences in long-term kidney and bladder outcomes in boys with posterior urethral valves (PUV) managed by a primary valve ablation or primary urinary diversion., Materials and Methods: A systematic search was performed in March 2021. Comparative studies were evaluated according to Cochrane collaboration recommendations. Assessed measures included kidney outcomes (chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, kidney function) and bladder outcomes. Odds ratios (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were extrapolated from available data for quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed according to study design, and potential covariates were assessed with subgroup analysis. The systematic review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021243967)., Results: Thirty unique studies describing 1547 boys with PUV were included in this synthesis. Overall effect estimates demonstrate that patients undergoing primary diversion have significantly increased odds of developing renal insufficiency [OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44, 0.80; p < 0.001]. However, when adjusting for baseline kidney function between intervention groups, there was no significant difference in long term kidney outcomes [p = 0.09, 0.35], or the development of bladder dysfunction or requiring clean-intermittent catheterization with primary ablation rather than diversion [OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.49, 1.59; p = 0.68]., Conclusions: Current low-quality evidence suggests that medium-term kidney outcomes in children are similar between primary ablation and primary diversion after adjusting for baseline kidney function, while bladder outcomes are highly heterogenous. Further research with covariate control is warranted to investigate sources of heterogeneity., Level of Evidence: Level III., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is commonly diagnosed in the workup of urinary tract infections or hydronephrosis in children. Traditionally, VUR severity is graded subjectively based on voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) imaging. Herein, we characterized the association between age, sex, and indication for VCUG, by employing standardized quantitative features., Methods: We included renal units with a high certainty in VUR grade (>80% consensus) from the qVUR model validation study at our institution between 2013 and 2019. We abstracted the following variables: age, sex, laterality, indication for VCUG, and qVUR parameters (tortuosity, ureter widths on VCUG). High-grade VUR was defined as grade 4 or 5 The association between each variable and VUR grade was assessed., Results: A total of 443 patients (523 renal units) were included, consisting of a 48:52 male/female ratio. The median age at VCUG was 13 months. Younger age at VCUG (<6 months) was associated with greater odds of severe VUR (odds ratio [OR] 2.0), and there was a weak correlation between age and VUR grade (ρ=-0.17). Male sex was associated with increased odds of high-grade VUR (OR 2.7). VCUGs indicated for hydronephrosis were associated with high-grade VUR (OR 4.1) compared to those indicated for UTI only. Ureter tortuosity and width were significantly associated with each clinical variable and VUR severity., Conclusions: Male sex, younger age (<6 months), and history of hydronephrosis are associated with both high-grade VUR and standardized quantitative measures, including greater ureter tortuosity and increased ureteral width. This lends support to quantitative assessment to improve reliability in VUR grading.

Introduction: There is debate regarding the effect of VURD syndrome, consisting of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and ipsilateral kidney dysplasia, on long-term outcomes in boys with posterior urethral valve (PUV). Here, we assessed whether VURD syndrome played a "protective" role on long-term bladder outcomes and voiding efficiency in boys with PUV., Materials and Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted for toilet-trained children with PUV managed at our institution between 2000 and 2022, only excluding cases without recorded uroflowmetry studies. Patients were stratified by VUR status and by the presence of VURD syndrome (high-grade VUR + ipsilateral kidney dysplasia). Outcomes included initial and final uroflowmetry parameters, and initiation of clean-intermittent catheterization (CIC)., Results: We identified a total of 101 patients who met study inclusion criteria, with an overall median follow-up of 114 months (IQR 67, 169). The median age of first and last uroflowmetry was 57 months (IQR 48, 82) and 120 months (IQR 89, 160), respectively. Patients with VURD syndrome had similar flow velocity, post-void residuals, and bladder voiding efficiency to other PUV patients at last follow-up uroflowmetry. On survival analysis, patients with VURD syndrome had no significant difference in risk of requiring CIC compared to patients without pop-offs (p = 0.06)., Discussion: Like more contemporary studies on pressure pop-offs, we show that this population is not at higher risk of poorer voiding and intermittent catheterization than others. VURD syndrome does not confer protection against poorer bladder function. Instead, our study suggests an independent association between kidney dysplasia and bladder outcomes which requires further attention., Conclusions: Among boys with PUV, VURD syndrome was not associated with significantly different uroflowmetry findings or rates of CIC by last follow-up., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the role of pressure pop-off mechanisms, including vesicoureteral reflux and renal dysplasia (VURD) syndrome, in determining long-term kidney outcomes in boys with posterior urethral valves (PUV)., Methods: A systematic search was performed in December 2022. Descriptive and comparative studies with a defined pressure pop-off group were included. Assessed outcomes included end-stage renal disease (ESRD), kidney insufficiency (defined as chronic kidney disease [CKD] stage 3 + or SCr > 1.5 mg/dL), and kidney function. Pooled proportions and relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extrapolated from available data for quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed according to the study design and techniques. The risk of bias was assessed with the QUIPS tool and GRADE quality of evidence. The systematic review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022372352)., Results: A total of 15 studies describing 185 patients with a median follow-up of 6.8 years were included. By the last follow-up, overall effect estimates demonstrate the prevalence of CKD and ESRD to be 15.2% and 4.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the risk of ESRD in patients with pop-off compared to no pop-off patients [RR 0.34, 95%CI 0.12, 1.10; p = 0.07]. There was a significantly reduced risk for kidney insufficiency in boys with pop-off [RR 0.57, 95%CI 0.34, 0.97; p = 0.04], but this protective effect was not re-demonstrated after excluding studies with inadequate reporting of CKD outcomes [RR 0.63, 95%CI 0.36, 1.10; p = 0.10]. Included study quality was low, with 6 studies having moderate risk and 9 having a high risk of bias., Conclusions: Pop-off mechanisms may be associated with reducing the risk of kidney insufficiency, but current certainty in the evidence is low. Further research is warranted to investigate sources of heterogeneity and long-term sequelae in pressure pop-offs., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Individuals with spina bifida (SB) may experience negative health outcomes because of an informal transition from pediatric to adult care that results in using the emergency room (ER ) for non-acute health problems., Methods: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all people with SB in Ontario, Canada turning 18 years old between 2002 and 2011. These patients were followed for five years before and after age 18. Primary outcome was the annual rate of ER visits. Secondary outcomes included rates of hospitalization, surgery, primary care, and specialist outpatient care. We estimated the association between age and primary and secondary outcomes using negative binomial growth curve models, adjusting for patient-level baseline covariates., Results: Among the 1215 individuals with SB, there was no trend of ER visits seen with increasing age (relative risk [RR ] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-1.02); however, there was a significant increase in the rate of ER visits associated with turning 18 years (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27). Turning 18 years old was also associated with a decreased rate of hospital admissions (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.95) and no change in surgeries (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-1.02). Visits to primary care physicians remained stable over the same period (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90-1.01), while visits to SB-focused specialists decreased after age 18 (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.87)., Conclusions: In patients with SB, the rate of ER visits increased significantly at 18 years old, while hospital admissions and specialist physician visits decreased at the same time. Models of transitional care can aim to reduce non-urgent ER visits and facilitate regular specialist care.

Objective: To examine and critique current international clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on management of paediatric neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and assess the applicability of these guidelines to clinical practice., Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of all CPGs on NLUTD published in English from the year 2010 to 2022. Six reviewers independently used the Appraisal of Guidelines and Research Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument to appraise all eligible CPGs. This instrument is comprised of 23 items organised into six quality domains. The scores for each item and domain were tabulated for each reviewer and interrater reliability was assessed for each domain using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)., Results: Six CPGs were appraised and these included: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), European Society for Paediatric Urology, International Children's Continence Society, Irish, Spina Bifida Association (SBA), and International Brazilian Journal of Urology guidelines. They had high mean standardised scores in the domain on 'scope and purpose' and 'clarity of presentation' but had low scores in the domain of 'applicability'. The top three CPGs based on overall score were the NICE, Irish and SBA guidelines and the reviewers had high degree of interrater reliability (ICC 0.912, P < 0.001). The mean scores in various domains for the top three guidelines were 95.8 (scope and purpose), 87.5 (stakeholder involvement), 69.1 (rigour of development), 94.0 (clarity of presentation), 68.4 (applicability), and 59.7 (editorial independence). The diagnostic and treatment recommendations of the top three guidelines were presented., Conclusion: The existing CPGs on paediatric NLUTD provide high-quality evidence based recommendations. The NICE, Irish and SBA guidelines were the top three CPGs identified. They scored high on most domains except applicability and editorial independence. These domains need to be considered for future updates to improve the utility., (© 2022 BJU International.)

Objective: To evaluate the implications of inverted (upside-down) kidney configuration in pediatric renal transplantation employing a comparative analysis with at least 1-year follow-up., Methods: Patients who underwent kidney transplantation at our institution between January 2011 and June 2021 were reviewed. Patients who had an inverted renal transplant were propensity-score matched (PSM) in 1:2 ratio with those who had traditional orientation transplant. The outcomes assessed included delayed graft function (DGF), urine leak, lymphocele, rejection, allograft calculus, ureteric stricture, and nadir creatinine., Results: A total of 24 patients with inverted orientation were identified. Following PSM, 41 patients were matched, with exclusions due to incompatible propensity scores. Baseline characteristics were appropriately matched, and no significant differences were noted between the two groups. There were no differences in: delayed graft function (0/24 vs. 3/41, p = 0.290), urine leak (3/24 vs. 2/41, p = 0.350), lymphocele (2/24 vs. 4/41, p = 1.000), rejection (3/24 vs. 5/41, p = 1.000), graft calculus (2/24 vs. 0/41, p = 0.133), and ureteric stricture (0/24 vs. 2/41, p = 0.527). The two cases of renal calculus seen in the inverted transplant group occurred on post-operative day 13 and 1584, both were managed without complications. There was no difference in nadir creatinine (median 34umol/L IQR23-57 vs. 35 umol/L IQR 20-50, p = 0.624) or time to nadir creatinine (8 days IQR 6-12 vs. 8 days IQR 7-28, p = 0.315)., Conclusion: Inverting a renal allograft does not appear to significantly contribute to increased risk of post-operative adverse outcomes. When aiming to achieve the best anatomical placement to secure a comfortable vascular anastomosis, inverting the allograft should be considered., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)