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Objective: To develop and validate a high-fidelity, nonbiohazardous simulator model for the ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure. Methods: We employed a systematic framework based on Delphi consensus and modern education theory to design a simulation model. Twelve expert surgeons provided input through a hierarchal task analysis and identified procedural tasks, anatomical landmarks, and potential errors. These were translated into engineering deliverables by a team of biomedical engineers and surgical educators. A prototype was developed using three-dimensional printing and hydrogel molding, followed by expert validation through recorded simulations and subsequent multicenter trails with 48 participants. Results: A hydrogel prototype with realistic anatomical features was created using results from the Delphi process. It received positive feedback in areas such as anatomy, procedural fidelity, and education effectiveness, with overall high satisfaction ratings. Validation studies showed a significant difference in performance between novices and experts. Residents demonstrated significant skill improvement and retention after repeated simulations. Conclusions: The developed simulator provides a realistic, effective training tool for urologic education, addressing the need for safer and more accessible surgical training modalities.

Purpose: During endoscopic stone surgery, Holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) and Thulium Fiber Laser (TFL) technologies allow to pulverize urinary stones into fine particles, ie DUST. Yet, currently there is no consensus on the exact definition of DUST. This review aimed to define stone DUST and Clinically Insignificant Residual Fragments (CIRF)., Methods: Embase, MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cochrane databases were searched for both in vitro and in vivo articles relating to DUST and CIRF definitions, in November 2023, using keyword combinations: "dust", "stones", "urinary calculi", "urolithiasis", "residual fragments", "dusting", "fragments", "lasers" and "clinical insignificant residual fragments"., Results: DUST relates to the fine pulverization of urinary stones, defined in vitro as particles spontaneously floating with a sedimentation duration ≥ 2 sec and suited for aspiration through a 3.6Fr-working channel (WC) of a flexible ureteroscope (FURS). Generally, an upper size limit of 250 µm seems to agree with the definition of DUST. Ho:YAG with and without "Moses Technology", TFL and the recent pulsed-Thulium:YAG (pTm:YAG) can produce DUST, but no perioperative technology can currently measure DUST size. The TFL and pTm:YAG achieve better dusting compared to Ho:YAG. CIRF relates to residual fragments (RF) that are not associated with imminent stone-related events: loin pain, acute renal colic, medical or interventional retreatment. CIRF size definition has decreased from older studies based on Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) (≤ 4 mm) to more recent studies based on FURS (≤ 2 mm) and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy(PCNL) (≤ 4 mm). RF ≤ 2 mm are associated with lower stone recurrence, regrowth and clinical events rates. While CIRF should be evaluated postoperatively using Non-Contrast Computed Tomography(NCCT), there is no consensus on the best diagnostic modality to assess the presence and quantity of DUST., Conclusion: DUST and CIRF refer to independent entities. DUST is defined in vitro by a stone particle size criteria of 250 µm, translating clinically as particles able to be fully aspirated through a 3.6Fr-WC without blockage. CIRF relates to ≤ 2 RF on postoperative NCCT., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose of Review: While urologists are traditionally taught to perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) utilizing exclusively fluoroscopy, ultrasound has emerged as a safe alternative. This article showcases the major reasons why ultrasound-guided access should be considered the first-line approach for performing access for PCNL., Recent Findings: There continues to be a need to further reduce radiation exposure in the management of kidney stone patients. This review showcases how performing ultrasound-guided PCNL has been associated with a shorter learning curve, increased patient safety, and the ability to perform x-ray free PCNL. Ultrasound-guided PCNL is not only an achievable skill for urologists to learn but provides multiple advantages over traditional fluoroscopic access. As every effort should be given to help reduce radiation exposure for kidney stone patients as well as performing surgeons and operating theater personnel, endourologists should strive to add this technique to their armamentarium., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Kidney stone cultures can be beneficial in identifying bacteria not detected in urine, yet how stone cultures are performed among endourologists, under what conditions, and by what laboratory methods remain largely unknown. Stone cultures are not addressed by current clinical guidelines. A comprehensive REDCap electronic survey sought responses from directed (n = 20) and listserv elicited (n = 108) endourologists specializing in kidney stone disease. Questions included which clinical scenarios prompt a stone culture order, how results influence post-operative antibiotics, and what microbiology lab protocols exist at each institution with respect to processing and resulting stone cultures. Logistic regression statistical analysis determined what factors were associated with performing stone cultures. Of 128 unique responses, 11% identified as female and the mean years of practicing was 16 (range 1-46). A specific 'stone culture' order was available to only 50% (64/128) of those surveyed, while 32% (41/128) reported culturing stone by placing a urine culture order. The duration of antibiotics given for a positive stone culture varied, with 4-7 days (46%) and 8-14 days (21%) the most reported. More years in practice was associated with fewer stone cultures ordered, while higher annual volume of percutaneous nephrolithotomy was associated with ordering more stone cultures (p < 0.01). Endourologists have differing practice patterns with respect to ordering stone cultures and utilizing the results to guide post-operative antibiotics. With inconsistent microbiology lab stone culture protocols across multiple institutions, more uniform processing is needed for future studies to assess the clinical benefit of stone cultures and direct future guidelines., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction and Objective: Guidelines from the American Urological Association (AUA) and American College of Radiology (ACR) recommend that patients with suspected nephrolithiasis undergo low-dose CT of the kidney, ureter, and bladder (LD CT KUB) as opposed to higher dose conventional imaging. We hypothesized that even at institutions with established LD protocols, higher dose imaging is common. Materials and Methods: We identified four academic medical centers where LD CT KUB protocols were implemented to yield an effective dose (EDose) consistent with national guidelines. Fifty consecutive adult patients who underwent CT KUB specifically for the evaluation of nephrolithiasis were retrospectively reviewed at each site. Patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), imaging location, and EDose (millisieverts [mSv]) were recorded. Results: Two hundred patients with a mean age of 54 years were identified. Forty-six patients (23%) underwent CT KUB with an EDose ≤ 4 mSv, accounting for 10% to 48% of each institution's cohort. One hundred sixteen patients had a BMI <30, and would have been expected to receive LD CTs by the AUA criteria for LD CT KUB. Within this subset, only 37 patients (32%) actually underwent LD CT KUB. The highest dose CT KUB at each institution resulted in an EDose of 33.8 to 44.6 mSv, exceeding the recommended exposure of LD CT KUB by 10-fold. Conclusions: At academic institutions where LD CT KUB was implemented for the evaluation of nephrolithiasis, a minority of patients with BMI <30 received guideline-concordant imaging. Differences in patient BMI did not account for the variation in radiation exposure. Further research is necessary to elucidate barriers to LD CT implementation.

Introduction: The prevalence of kidney stones is rising and there is an increasing demand for reliable, easy to understand information for patients. To evaluate the readability of common Internet-based resources for kidney stones, we examined whether the most popular online educational materials may be contributing to decreased health literacy for this chronic condition., Methods: Websites for readability analysis were chosen based on a Google.com search using the search term "kidney stones." The top 10 websites were chosen for analysis and their quality was assessed by the presence or absence of a HONcode certificate. Readability was determined using 6 readability assessment tools: Flesch Reading Ease, FORCAST, Fry, Gunning Fog, Raygor Estimate and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Each website was then analyzed by subsections, with emphasis on the treatment and prevention of kidney stones., Results: Of the 10 websites analyzed 8 had HONcode certification. Grade level calculations ranged from 7-13.9. All 10 websites were found to have readability levels above the recommended sixth-grade reading level. Mean Flesch Reading Ease score was 59 (range 47-73). With respect to treatment and prevention sections, 6/10 and 5/10 websites had readability levels above a tenth-grade level, respectively., Conclusions: The most commonly accessed websites regarding kidney stones have readability scores above what is comprehensible to the general public, with most exceeding grade level recommendations from the American Medical Association. Websites pertaining to kidney stones need to be simplified to facilitate patient understanding, especially with respect to the treatment and prevention of kidney stones.

Nephrolithiasis is a significant source of morbidity, and its incidence has increased significantly over the last decades. This rise has been attributed to concurrent increasing rates of obesity, associated with a 3-time risk of developing NL. To date, the mechanism by which obesity is linked to stone formation has not been elucidated. We aimed to utilize a transcriptomics approach to discover the missing link between these two epidemic diseases. We investigated gene expression profiling of nephrolithiasis patients by two RNA-sequencing approaches: comparison between renal papilla tissue with and without the presence of calcified Randall's plaques (RP), and comparison between the papilla, medulla, and cortex regions from within a single recurrent stone forming kidney. Results were overlaid between differently expressed genes found in the patient cohort and in the severely lithogenic kidney to identify common genes. Overlay of these two RNA-sequencing datasets demonstrated there is impairment of lipid metabolism in renal papilla tissue containing RP linked to downregulation of fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 4. Immunohistochemistry of human kidney specimens and microarray analysis of renal tissue from a nephrolithiasis mouse model confirmed that FABP4 downregulation is associated with renal stone formation. In a FABP4 knockout mouse model, FABP4 deficiency resulted in development of both renal and urinary crystals. Our study revealed that FABP4 plays an important, previously unrecognized role in kidney stone formation, providing a feasible mechanism to explain the link between nephrolithiasis and metabolic syndrome., (Copyright © 2020 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the safety, feasibility and treatment outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a same day surgery (SDS)., Methods: HoLEPs performed from November 2013 to December 2018 at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria for same day surgery (SDS) included living in the local metropolitan area with access to local hospital and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2, regardless of prostate size and anticoagulation status. Those patients who were discharged directly from the postoperative care unit were identified as SDS cases. Patients admitted overnight after HoLEP during the same period were used as a matched cohort. Patient demographics, disease characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared., Results: A total of 377 patients were identified, including 199 SDS and 178 non-SDS patients. No statistical difference was present between the 2 groups regarding the post-op complication and readmission rates. The non-SDS group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with history of urinary retention, lower pre-op Q max , and larger prostate volume. The SDS group had shorter operative time, length of stay (LOS), and catherization time (all P <.05). At 1-year follow-up, no statistically different change in Q max , PVR, or IPSS score was noted between the 2 groups., Conclusion: Same day outpatient surgery for HoLEP is safe in patients who live in close proximity and have ECOG status 0-2. Our readmission rate and complication rate are comparable to those reported in the literature with markedly decreased LOS. Long-term functional outcome is not compromised by SDS., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasonography has emerged as an alternative to fluoroscopy for image-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in many countries. Compared to fluoroscopy-guided PCNL (F-PCNL), ultrasound-guided PCNL (US-PCNL) is easier to learn and reduces radiation exposure to patients and providers. Despite these advantages, uptake of ultrasound-guided PCNL (US-PCNL) in Canada has been almost nonexistent, largely because it is not incorporated into urologists' training. In this article, we seek to familiarize Canadian urologists with this approach by describing our step-by-step technique for US-PCNL. Additionally, we provide keys to successful implementation of this technique.

Objectives: To compare clinical outcomes in patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with renal tract dilatation performed under fluoroscopic guidance vs renal tract dilatation with ultrasound guidance., Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study, enrolling successive patients undergoing PCNL between July 2015 and March 2018. Included in this retrospective analysis were cases where the renal puncture was successfully obtained with ultrasound guidance. Cases were then grouped according to whether fluoroscopy was used to guide renal tract dilatation or not. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 15.1 including univariate (Fisher's exact test, Welch's t-test) and multivariate analyses (binomial logistic regression, ordinal logistic regression, and linear regression)., Results: A total of 176 patients underwent PCNL with successful ultrasonography-guided renal puncture, of whom 38 and 138 underwent renal tract dilatation with fluoroscopic vs ultrasound guidance, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), preoperative hydronephrosis, stone burden, procedure laterality, number of dilated tracts, and calyceal puncture location between the two groups. Among ultrasound tract dilatations, a higher proportion of patients were placed in the modified dorsal lithotomy position as opposed to prone, and a significantly shorter operating time was observed. Only modified dorsal lithotomy position remained statistically significant after multivariate regression. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative stone clearance, complication rate, or intra-operative estimated blood loss. A 5-unit increase in a patient's BMI was associated with 30% greater odds of increasingly severe Clavien-Dindo complications. A 5-mm decrease in the preoperative stone burden was associated with 20% greater odds of stone-free status. No variables predicted estimated blood loss with statistical significance., Conclusions: Renal tract dilatation can be safely performed in the absence of fluoroscopic guidance. Compared to using fluoroscopy, the present study demonstrated that ultrasonography-guided dilatations can be safely performed without higher complication or bleeding rates. This can be done using a variety of surgical positions, and future studies centred on improving dilatation techniques could be of impactful clinical value., (© 2018 The Authors BJU International © 2018 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To demonstrate how bladder ultrasound can be useful in completing morcellation during difficult Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). As HoLEP has emerged as a standard of care for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, multiple studies have reported the potentially catastrophic complication of bladder injury during morcellation. This video aims to assist any urologist performing HoLEP by providing step-by-step instruction for using ultrasound to complete morcellation safely., Methods: Enucleation is performed using a 26-French continuous flow scope, off-set laser bridge with a laser stabilization catheter, and a 550 µm holmium laser fiber. Once the median and lateral lobes have been enucleated, the outer sheath is removed and the nephroscope is inserted to facilitate morcellation. Under dual inflow irrigation, the Piranha morcellator (Richard Wolf, Knittlingen, Germany) is introduced and set to the manufacturer's recommended settings of 1500 rpm. A 3.5-MHz convex abdominal ultrasound transducer (Hitachi Prosound Alpha 7; Hitachi Aloka Medical America, Wallingford, CT) under B-mode is used to visualize the bladder, predominantly in the sagittal orientation. Morcellation proceeds under simultaneous ultrasound and direct cystoscopic guidance., Results: The distended bladder is visualized concurrently with the ultrasound and via the nephroscope as the Piranha engages the adenoma and begins morcellation. Once the adenoma is engaged, the operator then drops their hands to place the morcellator in the center of the bladder. Ultrasound provides real-time feedback as to the location of the morcellator in relation to the adenoma and bladder., Conclusion: This video highlights the use of intraoperative bladder ultrasound as a visual aid to assist during the morcellation portion of HoLEP. This proof of concept demonstrates that ultrasound can be an additional tool to utilize during difficult cases when cystoscopic visualization during morcellation is limited., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Ultrasound guidance for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has gained acceptance amongst urologists given its numerous advantages over fluoroscopy. While traditionally performed in the prone position, this video demonstrates a step-by-step approach to performing PCNL in the supine position, solely under ultrasound guidance., Materials and Methods: Once in the modified supine (Galdakao-modified Valdivia) position, important anatomic landmarks are identified. It is important to first orient the ultrasound probe such that its cranial side corresponds to the left of the ultrasound screen. After optimizing a target calyx, keeping the needle in the imaging plane of the probe facilitates renal access. Tract dilation under ultrasound guidance is then achieved by keeping the wire and dilators in the same imaging plane., Results: The 11th and 12th ribs, paraspinous muscle, iliac crest, midaxillary line, and costal margin are the anatomic landmarks that orient the probe to the location of the kidney. Placing the ultrasound probe in the midaxillary line, parallel to the 11th rib allows the operator to identify key renal landmarks: the renal cortex, peri-pelvic fat, collecting system, kidney stone with its associated postacoustic shadow, and the intended target calyx. Controlling the needle is easiest in the longitudinal view, as the needle can be visualized from skin to target. Dilation under ultrasound relies on keeping the wire in view. The tip of the 10-French dilator is based on the location where the wire image disappears as the dilator advances. The balloon dilator tip is visualized on ultrasound reaching the appropriate depth just inside the collecting system, at which time balloon inflation results in complete dilation of the tract., Conclusions: This video provides a step-by-step approach demonstrating that PCNL can be performed in the supine position using only ultrasound-guidance. This approach facilitates renal access in this position and obviates the need for radiation exposure., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines recommend percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for total stone burden greater than 20 mm, yet it is unclear if the number of stones affects adherence to this guideline. We aim to assess the impact of stone multiplicity on the choice of ureteroscopy (URS) vs PCNL as a first-line therapy for patients with high burden (>20 mm), and examine whether the AUA guideline-discordant care impacts patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU) database, a prospectively collected registry of patients with stone disease. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) was used to estimate the association between stone multiplicity and the decision to perform URS for high stone burden (>20 mm) patients. MLR was further used to estimate the association between performing URS and the following outcomes: stone-free rate, need for a second operation, and complications. Postoperative hospital stay was compared between patients receiving URS vs PCNL using Student's t -test. Results: One hundred twenty-five patients were included in this analysis. For patients with total stone burden exceeding 20 mm, those with more than three stones had roughly nine times the likelihood of undergoing URS over PCNL compared with patients with a single stone (adjusted odds ratio 9.21, confidence interval [95% CI] 2.55-40.58, p  = 0.001). Stone-free rates, Clavien-Dindo scores, and frequency of second-look operations did not differ significantly between URS and PCNL patients. URS patients were discharged an average of 1.26 days earlier than patients who received PCNL (95% CI 0.72-1.81, p  < 0.001). Discussion: Stone multiplicity strongly predicts which patients with stone burden >20 mm will undergo URS and who will undergo PCNL. These deviations from AUA guidelines do not appear to worsen patient outcomes. These results suggest that careful consideration of each patient may warrant deviation from guidelines.

Objective: To determine social factors associated with advanced stone disease (defined as unilateral stone burden >2 cm) at time of presentation to a regional stone referral center. Little is known about social determinants of urolithiasis. We hypothesize that socioeconomic factors impact kidney stone severity at intake to referral centers., Methods: A retrospective review of the prospectively collected data from the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter from 2015 to 2018 was conducted to evaluate patient characteristics predictive of having a large (>2 cm) unilateral kidney stone. Data on patient age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, race, language, education level, infection, distance, income, referring regional urologist density, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and stone analysis were evaluated., Results: Complete imaging and patient variable data was present in 650 of 1142 patients including 197 patients with unilateral stone burden >2 cm. On multivariate analysis, obesity, lower education level, increased distance from the referral center, and symptoms of infection predicted for unilateral stone burden greater than 2 cm. Among 191 patients with stone analysis data present, stone type, income, and urologist density predicted for unilateral stone burden greater than 2 cm., Conclusion: In addition to known biological risk factors, patients with lower education levels and from regions of lower mean income were found to be more likely to present to our tertiary care center with stone burden greater than 2 cm. More research is needed to elucidate the social and societal determinants of advanced stone disease and the impact this has on population costs for stone treatment., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: Kidney stone patients routinely have CT scans during diagnostic work-up before being referred to a tertiary center. How often these patients exceed the recommended dose limits for occupational radiation exposure of >100 mSv for 5 years and >50 mSv in a single year from CT alone remains unknown. This study aimed to quantify radiation doses from CTs received by stone patients before their evaluation at a tertiary care stone clinic. Methods: From November 2015 to March 2017, consecutive new patients enrolled into the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU™) had the dose-length product of every available CT abdomen/pelvis within 5 years of their initial visit recorded, allowing for an effective dose (EDose) calculation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with exceeding recommended dose limits. Models were created to test radiation reducing effects of low-dose and phase-reduction CT protocols. Results: Of 343 noncontrast CTs performed, only 29 (8%) were low-dose CTs (calculated EDose <4 mSv). Among 389 total patients, 101 (26%) and 25 (6%) had an EDose >20 mSv and >50 mSv/year, respectively. Increased body mass index, number of scans, and multiphase scans were associated with exceeding exposure thresholds ( p  < 0.01). The implementation of a low-dose CT protocol decreased the estimated number of scans contributing to overexposure by >50%. Conclusions: Stone patients referred to a tertiary stone center may receive excessive radiation from CT scans alone. Unnecessary phases and underutilization of low-dose CT protocols continue to take place. Enacting new approaches to CT protocols may spare stone patients from exceeding recommended dose limits.

Purpose: Kidney stones are a source of significant morbidity which have been shown to negatively impact health related quality of life. We sought to understand the association between health related quality of life, socioeconomic status and race among patients with kidney stones., Materials and Methods: Patients with stones at a total of 11 stone centers across the United States completed the WISQOL (Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life questionnaire). The patient ZIP Code™ was used to estimate household income. A mixed effects regression model was constructed for analysis with ZIP Code as the random intercept., Results: A total of 2,057 stone formers completed the WISQOL. Lower income was independently associated with significantly lower health related quality of life (β = 0.372, p = 0.014), as were nonwhite race (β = -0.299, p = 0.001), unemployed work status (β = -0.291, p = 0.008), female gender (β = -0.204, p <0.001), body mass index greater than 40 kg/m 2 (β = -0.380, p <0.001), 5 or more medical comorbidities (β = -0.354, p = 0.001), severe recurrent stone formation (β = -0.146, p = 0.045), enrollment at an acute care visit, or a preoperative or postoperative appointment (β = -0.548, p <0.001) and recent stone symptoms (β = -0.892, p <0.001)., Conclusions: Lower income, nonwhite race and unemployed work status were independently associated with lower health related quality of life among patients with kidney stones. While clinical characteristics such as body mass and stone disease severity were also associated with health related quality of life, this study shows that socioeconomic factors are similarly important. Further research to understand the specific mechanisms by which socioeconomic status and race impact health may lend insight into methods to optimize clinical treatment of stone formers and patients with other chronic diseases.

Maintenance of flexible ureteroscopes can involve high costs and administrative burden. Instrument fragility necessitates eventual repair, rendering scopes inaccessible during refurbishment. We conducted a multi-institutional prospective cohort study to identify perioperative factors influencing flexible ureteroscope durability. Patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy (URS) at six United States endourology centers were enrolled between August 2014 and June 2015. Surgeon self-reported concern and satisfaction with scope performance as well as upward and downward angles of deflection for each scope tip were measured before and after each procedure. The need for scope repair was determined by the operating surgeon at the time of the procedure and recorded. 424 URS cases using 74 flexible ureteroscopes were identified. Scope repair was required in 28 cases (6.6%) involving 26 scopes (35.1%). Upon univariate analysis, shorter patient height, absence of guidewire use, presence of a ureteral access sheath (UAS), longer procedure time, larger stone size, lithotrite type, surgeon training level, and self-reported concern were associated with scope repair. Upon multivariate analysis, UAS use (OR = 2.53, p = 0.005) and degree loss of scope upward flexion during a case (OR = 1.02, p = 0.03) increased the odds of a scope needing repair while the use of safety guidewire decreased the odds of a scope repair (OR = 0.50, p = 0.045). Lithotrite use and surgeon concern were associated with degree loss of scope upward flexion. The use of a UAS, absence of a safety guidewire, and the loss of upward ureteroscope flexion should be considered when evaluating means of optimizing reusable ureteroscope durability.

Background: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) has emerged as an accepted standard of care for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This surgery relies on morcellation of the prostate adenoma once enucleation of the transition zone has been completed. Caution is required during this portion of the operation, as engaging bladder mucosa within the morcellator can result in bladder injury, a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of HoLEP. Morcellation of the prostatic tissue can be additionally challenging if visualization is poor from either equipment failure or increased bleeding from a highly vascularized prostate. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 66-year-old Caucasian man with an estimated 158 g prostate who underwent HoLEP at our institution. Enucleation was uneventful; however, upon placement of the nephroscope to begin morcellation, it was immediately evident that the lens of the nephroscope was damaged as there was extremely poor visualization. Without a replacement nephroscope available, this would have normally resulted in aborting the case and returning another day to complete the morcellation. Concurrent bladder ultrasonography was performed and allowed for additional visual feedback to the operator, helping guide the morcellator to safely engage the enucleated adenoma and complete the operation. Conclusion: This case report demonstrates the ability of performing the morcellation portion of HoLEP mainly with the visualization provided by concurrent bladder ultrasonography. By providing additional imaging feedback to the operator, ultrasound can be a complementary tool to assist in safely performing morcellation in situations of suboptimal cystoscopic visualization during HoLEP., Competing Interests: No competing financial interests exist.

Inverted papilloma of the prostatic urethra is an especially rare finding. A 75-year-old man with urinary retention wished to proceed with a holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and was found to have a mass arising from his prostate vs bladder on preoperative imaging. Cystourethroscopy revealed the mass arising from the median lobe of the prostate. After transurethral resection and frozen analysis confirmed the benign pathology of an inverted papilloma, the patient subsequently underwent a successful HoLEP during the same surgical setting. Images of this rare prostatic mass are presented to increase urologist recognition and to assist management during HoLEP., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Reusable ureteroscope durability and need for repair are significant sources of expense and inefficiency for patients and urologists. Utilization of LithoVue™, a disposable flexible digital ureteroscope, may address some of these concerns. To identify its economic impact on clinical care, we performed a micro-cost comparison between flexible reusable fiberoptic ureteroscopes (URF-P6™) and LithoVue., Patients and Methods: For this prospective, single-center micro-costing study, all consecutive ureteroscopies performed during 1 week each in July and August 2016 utilized either URF-P6 or LithoVue ureteroscopes respectively. Workflow data were collected, including intraoperative events, postoperative reprocessing cycle timing, consumables usage, and ureteroscope cost data., Results: Intraoperative data analysis showed mean total operating room time for URF-P6 and LithoVue cases were 93.4 ± 32.3 and 73.6 ± 17.4 minutes, respectively (p = 0.093). Mean cost of operating room usage per case was calculated at $1618.72 ± 441.39 for URF-P6 and $1348.64 ± 237.40 for LithoVue based on institutional cost rates exclusive of disposables. Postoperative data analysis revealed costs of $107.27 for labor and consumables during reprocessing for URF-P6 cases. The costs of ureteroscope repair and capital acquisition for each URF-P6 case were $957.71 and $116.02, respectively. The total ureteroscope cost per case for URF-P6 and LithoVue were $2799.72 and $2852.29, respectively., Conclusions: Micro-cost analysis revealed that the cost of LithoVue acquisition is higher per case compared to reusable fiberoptic ureteroscopes, but savings are realized in labor, consumables, and repair. When accounting for these factors, the total cost per case utilizing these two ureteroscopes were comparable.

Introduction: Cystinuria is a genetic disorder marked by elevated urinary cystine excretion and recurrent cystine nephrolithiasis. Interestingly, despite seemingly similar contralateral renal anatomy, a subset of cystinuric patients consistently form stones in only one kidney. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes in unilateral vs bilateral cystine stone formers., Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study of cystinuric patients evaluated and treated at the University of California, San Francisco between 1994 and 2015 and categorized patients as either unilateral or bilateral stone formers. Clinical presentation, baseline patient demographics, stone procedures, medical therapy regimens, and long-term renal function were compared between the two groups., Results: A total of 42 cystine stone patients (22 female, 20 male) were included in the analysis. The median age at first presentation was 18.5 years and median age at study conclusion was 45.5 years. Two-thirds of patients (n = 28) had a history of bilateral stones, whereas one-third (n = 14) had unilateral stones. Medical therapy regimens were similar between groups. Despite an increased average number of lifetime surgeries (7.5 sessions for bilateral vs 3.7 sessions for unilateral, p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in medians of the most recent glomerular filtration rate when compared with unilateral stone formers (81.5 vs 95 mL/min, respectively; p = 0.28)., Conclusions: The majority of cystinuric patients within our cohort form stones bilaterally during their lifetime, and require more surgical interventions than unilateral stone formers. Despite this, overall renal function is well preserved in unilateral and bilateral cystinuric stone formers treated with minimally invasive stone extraction procedures.

Objective: To compare the measured stone burden recorded between urologists and radiologists, and examine how these differences could potentially impact stone management. As current urologic stone surgery guideline recommendations are based on stone size, accurate stone measurements are crucial to direct appropriate treatment. This study investigated the discrepant interpretation that often exists between urologic surgeons and radiologists' estimation of patient urinary stone burden., Materials and Methods: From November 2015 through August 2016, new patients prospectively enrolled into the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU) were included if they had computed tomography images available and an accompanying official radiologic report at the time of their urologist provider visit. Stone number and aggregate stone size were compared between the urologic interpretation and the corresponding radiologic reports., Results: Of 219 patients who met the inclusion criteria, concordance between urologic and radiologic assessment of aggregate stone size was higher for single stone sizing (63%) compared with multiple stones (32%). Statistical significance was found in comparing the mean difference in aggregate stone size for single and multiple stones (P <.01). Over 33% of stone-containing renal units had a radiologic report with an unclear size estimation or size discrepancy that could lead to non-guideline-driven surgical management., Conclusion: Significant variation exists between urologic and radiologic computed tomography interpretations of stone burden. Urologists should personally review patient imaging when considering stone surgical management. A standardized method for measuring and reporting stone parameters is needed among urologists and radiologists., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We compared contrast enhanced ultrasound and fluoroscopic nephrostography in the evaluation of ureteral patency following percutaneous nephrolithotomy., Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort, noninferiority study was performed after obtaining institutional review board approval. We enrolled eligible patients with kidney and proximal ureteral stones who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy at our center. On postoperative day 1 patients received contrast enhanced ultrasound and fluoroscopic nephrostogram within 2 hours of each other to evaluate ureteral patency, which was the primary outcome of this study., Results: A total of 92 pairs of imaging studies were performed in 82 patients during the study period. Five study pairs were excluded due to technical errors that prevented imaging interpretation. Females slightly predominated over males with a mean ± SD age of 50.5 ± 15.9 years and a mean body mass index of 29.6 ± 8.6 kg/m 2 . Of the remaining 87 sets of studies 69 (79.3%) demonstrated concordant findings regarding ureteral patency for the 2 imaging techniques and 18 (20.7%) were discordant. The nephrostomy tube was removed on the same day in 15 of the 17 patients who demonstrated antegrade urine flow only on contrast enhanced ultrasound and they had no subsequent adverse events. No adverse events were noted related to ultrasound contrast injection. While contrast enhanced ultrasound used no ionizing radiation, fluoroscopic nephrostograms provided a mean radiation exposure dose of 2.8 ± 3.7 mGy., Conclusions: A contrast enhanced ultrasound nephrostogram can be safely performed to evaluate for ureteral patency following percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This imaging technique was mostly concordant with fluoroscopic findings. Most discordance was likely attributable to the higher sensitivity for patency of contrast enhanced ultrasound compared to fluoroscopy., (Copyright © 2017 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Careful decontamination and sterilization of reusable flexible ureteroscopes used in ureterorenoscopy cases prevent the spread of infectious pathogens to patients and technicians. However, inefficient reprocessing and unavailability of ureteroscopes sent out for repair can contribute to expensive operating room (OR) delays. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) was applied to describe the time and costs involved in reprocessing., Materials and Methods: Direct observation and timing were performed for all steps in reprocessing of reusable flexible ureteroscopes following operative procedures. Estimated times needed for each step by which damaged ureteroscopes identified during reprocessing are sent for repair were characterized through interviews with purchasing analyst staff. Process maps were created for reprocessing and repair detailing individual step times and their variances. Cost data for labor and disposables used were applied to calculate per minute and average step costs., Results: Ten ureteroscopes were followed through reprocessing. Process mapping for ureteroscope reprocessing averaged 229.0 ± 74.4 minutes, whereas sending a ureteroscope for repair required an estimated 143 minutes per repair. Most steps demonstrated low variance between timed observations. Ureteroscope drying was the longest and highest variance step at 126.5 ± 55.7 minutes and was highly dependent on manual air flushing through the ureteroscope working channel and ureteroscope positioning in the drying cabinet. Total costs for reprocessing totaled $96.13 per episode, including the cost of labor and disposable items., Conclusions: Utilizing TDABC delineates the full spectrum of costs associated with ureteroscope reprocessing and identifies areas for process improvement to drive value-based care. At our institution, ureteroscope drying was one clearly identified target area. Implementing training in ureteroscope drying technique could save up to 2 hours per reprocessing event, potentially preventing expensive OR delays.

Introduction: Endoscopic tools have provided versatile examination and treatment for kidney stone procedures. Despite endourologists researching urinary stone disease using endoscopes to collect tissue, this tissue collection method is limited. Endoscopically removed tissues are small in size, restricting the types of genome-based examination possible. We investigated a new method of renal papilla biopsy and RNA extraction to establish a genomic research methodology for kidney stone disease., Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective multi-institutional study and collected renal papilla specimens from consecutive percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy (URS) cases performed for removal of upper urinary tract stones. Renal papilla tissue was extracted using ureteroscopic biopsy forceps after stone removal. RNA was extracted using two different extraction kits, and their quantity and quality were examined. Additionally, the impact of biopsy on surgical complications was compared between cases performed with and without biopsy by matched case-control analysis adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, bilaterality, and stone burden., Results: A total of 90 biopsies from 49 patients were performed, and the median duration between specimen collection and RNA extraction was 61 days. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed BIGopsy ® forceps usage significantly increased the total yield (p = 0.004) and quality (p = 0.001 for A260/280, p = 0.004 for A260/A230) of extracted RNA. Extraction using the RNeasy Micro Kit ® also improved A260/A230, whereas reduced RNA integrity number of extracted RNA by univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, matched case-control study demonstrated that endoscopic renal papilla biopsy caused no significant surgical complications, including bleeding, decreased stone clearance and hematocrit, and renal dysfunction. Biopsies during URS imparted an average of 20 minutes of procedure time over nonbiopsy cases., Conclusions: We demonstrate a safe methodology for optimal RNA extraction of renal papilla tissue. This technique will accelerate advanced genomic studies for kidney stone formers by facilitating larger tissue yields.

We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with a history of uterine polyps and 3 months' worth of gross hematuria who was found to have a bladder mass on cystoscopy. Although this mass appeared benign visually, it demonstrated enhancement on axial imaging, with increased internal vascularity on Doppler ultrasound. A transurethral resection demonstrated bladder leiomyoma. This case increases the urologist's recognition of a well-described but previously underrepresented condition by showcasing its visual appearance on cystoscopy., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To examine the cost factors associated with ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and to determine which method can be performed at a lower cost per case., Methods: A cost comparison study was performed utilizing clinical data from a prospectively maintained research database. We included the most recent 33 consecutive ultrasound-guided PCNL cases in 2016 and the most recent 40 consecutive fluoroscopy-guided PCNL cases before the operative surgeon transitioned to ultrasound guidance in May 2014. The total operative time and clinical outcomes were examined. Costs were extracted from the institution accounting systems and given a uniform multiplier to protect institutional financial reporting confidentiality. Comparisons were made using the Student t test and the chi-squared test., Results: After excluding outliers, 71 PCNL procedures were included in the analysis. Demographic data and stone characteristics were not different between ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided groups. However, the mean operative time for ultrasound-guided PCNL was significantly shorter (99.8 ± 27.0 vs 144.9 ± 55.1 minutes, P < .05). When capital equipment costs were included, the mean total cost per case of ultrasound-guided PCNL was approximately 30% less than fluoroscopy-guided PCNL (simulated costs with a uniform multiplier; $5258.90 ± 957.12 vs $7508.60 ± 1163.83, P < .05). Postoperative clinical outcomes were comparable between the 2 groups., Conclusion: When capital costs are included, ultrasound-guided PCNL can produce comparable clinical outcomes to fluoroscopy-guided procedures at a lower cost to the institution. Shorter operative time drives significant savings with the adoption of ultrasound guidance, which may be magnified with increasing case volume. Using ultrasound imaging during PCNL may be more cost-effective compared to fluoroscopy and warrants further study., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: LithoVue™ is a novel, single-use, digital flexible ureteroscope that was released to the US market in January 2016. There are scant data regarding its performance in humans. Procedural outcomes comparing LithoVue with reusable ureteroscopes are presented in patients undergoing ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract pathology., Patients and Methods: Clinical outcomes between two groups of patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract pathology were analyzed. The first group underwent surgery utilizing LithoVue, and the second group used reusable fiber-optic flexible ureteroscopes. Differences in procedural outcomes, operative times, and time spent in hospital were analyzed using two-tailed t-tests and chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests., Results: One hundred fifteen cases utilizing LithoVue and 65 cases utilizing reusable ureteroscopes were included in this study. Demographics, surgical indications, stone size, location, total stone burden, composition, procedural outcomes, and complications were comparable between groups. For all cases, LithoVue procedures lasted 54.1 ± 25.7 minutes compared with 64.5 ± 37.0 minutes for reusable scope procedures (p < 0.05) and for stone removal cases, 57.3 ± 25.1 vs 70.3 ± 36.9 minutes, respectively (p < 0.05). Scope failure occurred in 4.4% of LithoVue cases and 7.7% of reusable cases (p = 0.27)., Conclusions: LithoVue represents a feasible alternative to reusable ureteroscopes with a low rate of scope failure comparable with reusable ureteroscopes. Its use shortens procedure duration, a finding that warrants further investigation.

Ultrasound has become a mainstay tool in urologists' armamentarium for the diagnosis and management of nephrolithiasis. From starting as a rudimentary form of imaging, it has come to play a more prominent role over time, paralleling evolution in ultrasound technology. Throughout the medical community there is a growing emphasis on reducing the amount of ionizing radiation delivered to patients during routine imaging. As such there has been a resurgence of interest in ultrasound given its lack of associated radiation exposure and proven effectiveness as a diagnostic and therapeutic imaging modality. Herein, we provide a review of the history of ultrasound, how the use of ultrasound is expanding in both diagnosis and treatment of urinary stone disease, and finally how promising applications of ultrasound are shaping the future of kidney stone management.

Introduction: Ultrasound guidance is a unique alternative to fluoroscopy for percutaneous renal access. Besides being free of ionizing radiation exposure to the patient and intraoperative personnel, it offers several advantages including easier identification of the posterior renal calix and surrounding visceral structures. In this video, we demonstrate how ultrasound can be used to guide percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in a step-by-step manner. Materials and Methods: From March to June 2016, 16 consecutive patients of age 18 and more with kidney or proximal ureteral stones underwent completely X-ray-free ultrasound-guided PCNL. No patients were excluded during the study period. Under general anesthesia, we place an externalized ureteral catheter through a flexible cystoscope with the patient in a frog-leg position. Retrograde saline injection is used to distend the collecting system only when needed. Then the patient is placed in a prone position. An ultrasound machine with a 3.5-MHz convex abdominal probe (Hitachi Aloka Medical America) is used to guide all steps of PCNL. For renal access, a longitudinal approach for needle insertion is usually chosen. 1 An 18-gauge Echotip needle (Cook Medical) is slowly advanced through the skin either in front of or behind the probe. On the ultrasound screen, the entire needle should be fully seen from skin to kidney and into the targeted calix. Entry into the collecting system is confirmed with either aspiration of urine or efflux of urine through the puncture needle. Then, the needle stylet is removed and a J-tip coaxial guidewire (Bard Medical) is inserted into the renal pelvis or down the proximal ureter under ultrasound monitoring. Gently moving the wire back and forth will help identify the location of the wire tip relative to the collecting system. Subsequently, the needle is withdrawn, a 1-cm skin incision is made surrounding the wire, and a 10F fascial dilator and a safety wire introducer are then passed over the wire. Although the wire appears with a bright echogenic signal, the dilator and the safety wire introducer are not echogenic. Their advancement over the wire can be observed ultrasonographically as they obscure the echogenic appearance of the wire. A second wire is subsequently advanced into the collecting system through the safety wire introducer. A high-pressure balloon dilator (BARD X-Force, Bard Medical) is then advanced into the collecting system over one of the wires. Because the deflated balloon tip can be difficult to identify on the ultrasound screen, the wire should be moved back and forth while passing the balloon and the operative surgeon should look for a change in the wire contour to judge where the balloon tip is relative to the wire. The placement of the tip of this balloon dilator is crucial, as ideally, it should be just within the collecting system of the target calix. 2 A working tract is then dilated and the access sheath is carefully advanced until the back end of the balloon is seen. Then the balloon is withdrawn, an offset rigid nephroscope is inserted, and the stone is treated. Results: The mean age of patients was 48.8 ± 19.9 years. Forty-four percent of patients were male with a mean body mass index of 29.9 ± 7.9 kg/m 2 and a mean stone size of 33.7 ± 15.0 mm. All procedures were effectively performed with ultrasound guidance with a mean operative time of 101.3 ± 32.2 minutes. Patients and intraoperative personnel were not exposed to any ionizing radiation during the surgery. No patients experienced any significant immediate postoperative complication. All patients were stone free (no visible stone fragments) based on intraoperative visual inspection using a flexible nephroscope and a renal ultrasound and KUB at 30 days after surgery, and no secondary procedures were required. Conclusions: Ultrasound guidance for renal access and tract dilation in prone PCNL is feasible and efficient. Although some situations such as obese patients or nondilated collecting system may present a challenge, the benefits of adopting this technique-namely eliminating ionizing radiation exposure and live imaging of anatomy surrounding the collecting system-provide value during PCNL. Acknowledgments: This study was supported by the NIH R21-DK-109433 (TC) and the NIH NIDDK K12-DK-07-006: Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research Career Development Program (TC). No competing financial interests exist. Runtime of video: 5 mins 12 secs., (Copyright 2017, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Objectives: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has become increasingly utilized. Patients with nondilated collecting systems represent a challenge: the target calix is often difficult to visualize. Here we report pilot study results for retrograde ultrasound contrast injection to aid in percutaneous renal access during ultrasound-guided PCNL., Patients and Methods: From April to July 2016, consecutive patients over the age of 18 years with nondilated collecting systems on preoperative imaging who presented for PCNL were enrolled. B-mode ultrasound imaging was compared with contrast-enhanced mode with simultaneous retrograde injection of Optison™ via an ipsilateral ureteral catheter., Results: Five patients (four males and one female) with renal stones underwent PCNL with retrograde ultrasound contrast injection during the study period. Mean body mass index was 28.3 ± 5.6 kg/m 2 and mean stone size was 24.5 ± 12.0 mm. Under B-mode ultrasound, all patients demonstrated nondilated renal collecting systems that appeared as hyperechoic areas, where it was difficult to identify a target calix for puncture. Retrograde contrast injection facilitated delineation of all renal calices initially difficult to visualize under B-mode ultrasound. Renal puncture was then performed effectively in all cases with a mean puncture time of 55.4 ± 44.8 seconds. All PCNL procedures were completed without intraoperative complications and no adverse events related to ultrasound contrast injection occurred., Conclusion: Retrograde ultrasound contrast injection as an aide for renal puncture during PCNL is a feasible technique. By improving visualization of the collecting system, it facilitates needle placement in challenging patients without hydronephrosis. Future larger scale studies comparing its use to standard ultrasound-guided technique will be required to validate this concept.

Objective: To identify factors associated with successful ultrasound guidance for each surgical step of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)., Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing PCNL between March 2015 and June 2016 were prospectively enrolled. An attempt was made to use ultrasound guidance in renal access, tract dilation, and nephrostomy tube placement for each patient. For steps during which ultrasound guidance was unsuccessful, fluoroscopic screening was applied. Regression analysis identified patient characteristics associated with successful use of ultrasound guidance., Results: A total of 96 patients composed this cohort, with a mean body mass index of 28.7 kg/m 2 . Mean stone size was 33.1 ± 18.9 mm, and no hydronephrosis was found in 63.5% of cases. Fluoroscopic screening was required for renal access in 27 cases (28.1%), tract dilation in 38 (39.6%), and nephrostomy tube placement in 80 (83.3%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that successful ultrasound guidance was significantly associated with the presence of hydronephrosis for renal access and the absence of staghorn calculi for tract dilation. Ultrasound-guided nephrostomy tube placement appeared linked to surgeon experience., Conclusion: To achieve completely x-ray-free ultrasound-guided PCNL, the ideal patient should have a hydronephrotic collecting system with no staghorn stone present. For practitioners looking to adopt ultrasound guidance into their PCNL practice, these represent the most appropriate patients to safely initiate a surgical experience., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The etiology of stone disease remains unknown despite the major technological advances in the treatment of urinary calculi. Clinically, urologists have relied on 24-h urine collections for the last 30-40 years to help direct medical therapy in hopes of reducing stone recurrence; yet little progress has been made in preventing stone disease. As such, there is an urgent need to develop reliable animal models to study the pathogenesis of stone formation and to assess novel interventions. A variety of vertebrate and invertebrate models have been used to help understand stone pathogenesis. Genetic knockout and exogenous induction models are described. Surrogates for an endpoint of stone formation have been urinary crystals on histologic examination and/or urinalyses. Other models are able to actually develop true stones. It is through these animal models that real breakthroughs in the management of urinary stone disease will become a reality., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: Registry-based clinical research in nephrolithiasis is critical to advancing quality in urinary stone disease management and ultimately reducing stone recurrence. A need exists to develop Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant registries that comprise integrated electronic health record (EHR) data using prospectively defined variables. An EHR-based standardized patient database-the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU™)-was developed, and herein we describe our implementation outcomes., Materials and Methods: Interviews with academic and community endourologists in the United States, Canada, China, and Japan identified demographic, intraoperative, and perioperative variables to populate our registry. Variables were incorporated into a HIPAA-compliant Research Electronic Data Capture database linked to text prompts and registration data within the Epic EHR platform. Specific data collection instruments supporting New patient, Surgery, Postoperative, and Follow-up clinical encounters were created within Epic to facilitate automated data extraction into ReSKU., Results: The number of variables within each instrument includes the following: New patient-60, Surgery-80, Postoperative-64, and Follow-up-64. With manual data entry, the mean times to complete each of the clinic-based instruments were (minutes) as follows: New patient-12.06 ± 2.30, Postoperative-7.18 ± 1.02, and Follow-up-8.10 ± 0.58. These times were significantly reduced with the use of ReSKU structured clinic note templates to the following: New patient-4.09 ± 1.73, Postoperative-1.41 ± 0.41, and Follow-up-0.79 ± 0.38. With automated data extraction from Epic, manual entry is obviated., Conclusions: ReSKU is a longitudinal prospective nephrolithiasis registry that integrates EHR data, lowering the barriers to performing high quality clinical research and quality outcome assessments in urinary stone disease., Competing Interests: Author Disclosure Statement No competing financial interests exist.

Purpose: To accurately assess the relationship between nerve sparing radical prostatectomy and urinary continence using an anonymous validated survey in men undergoing surgical treatment for prostate cancer., Materials and Methods: From September 1999 to February 2006, men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) by one surgeon were given the UCLA Prostate Cancer Index to complete preop, and then annually thereafter to 2 years. We have 285 men who have completed the pre-op and year 1 and /or year 2 surveys. Continence was defined as requiring "no pads" on the survey. Analysis was based on attempted nerve sparing status of the surgery; none, unilateral, or bilateral. Subgroup analysis was then performed on successful nerve sparing surgery, defined as men responding they have an erection "firm enough for intercourse.", Results: Overall continence rates were 81% at year 1 and 87% at year 2. Attempted nerve sparing surgery, or successful nerve sparing surgery, did not result in better rates of continence than non-nerve sparing surgery., Conclusions: Using a validated survey with anonymous data collection, we found no improvement in continence, defined as pad-free, with attempted or successful nerve sparing RP. Based on our study, the goal of improving urinary outcomes should not be used as a justification for a nerve sparing template at radical prostatectomy.