How reliable are surgeon-reported data? A comparison of the British Association of Urological Surgeons radical prostatectomy audit with the National Prostate Cancer Audit Hospital Episode Statistics-linked database

A BURST-BAUS consensus document for best practice in the conduct of scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion: the Finding consensus for orchIdopeXy In Torsion (FIX-IT) study

OBJECTIVES

To produce a best practice consensus guideline for the conduct of scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion using formal consensus methodology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A panel of 16 expert urologists, representing adult, paediatric, general, and andrological urology used the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Consensus Methodology to score a 184 statement pre-meeting questionnaire on the conduct of scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion. The collated responses were presented at a face-to-face online meeting and each item was rescored anonymously after a group discussion, facilitated by an independent chair with expertise in consensus methodology. Items were scored for agreement and consensus and the items scored with consensus were used to derive a set of best practice guidelines.

RESULTS

Statements scored as with consensus increased from Round 1 (122/184, 66.3%) to Round 2 (149/200, 74.5%). Recommendations were generated in ten categories: consent, assessment under anaesthetic, initial incision, intraoperative decision making, fixation, medical photography, closure, operation note, logistics and follow-up after scrotal exploration. Our statements assume that the decision to operate has already been made. Key recommendations in the consent process included the discussion of the possibility of orchidectomy and the possibility of subsequent infection of the affected testis or wound requiring antibiotic therapy. If after the examination under anaesthesia, the index of suspicion of testicular torsion is lower than previously thought, then the surgeon should still proceed to scrotal exploration as planned. A flow chart guiding decision making dependent on intraoperative findings has been designed. If no torsion is present on exploration and the bell clapper deformity is absent, the testis should not be fixed. When fixing a testis using sutures, 3 or 4-point is acceptable and non-absorbable sutures are preferred.

CONCLUSIONS

We have produced consensus recommendations to inform best practice in the conduct of scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion.

A ‘real-world’ standard for radical prostatectomy: Analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Complex Operations Reports, 2016–2018

Objective:

To produce comprehensive and detailed benchmarking data allowing surgeons and patients to compare practice against, by using all recorded radical prostatectomies across a 3-year period in England.

Patients and methods:

The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) manages the radical prostatectomy (RP) Complex Operations Database. Surgical departments upload data which they can review and amend before lockdown and data cleansing. Analysis of 2016–2018 data held on the BAUS Complex Operations Database was performed for 21,973 patients undergoing RP in England, producing procedure-specific benchmarking data. General linear models were used to assess differences in patient selection between different operative modalities. Analysis involved assessment of case selection, operative decisions and outcomes, case volume and pathological outcomes.

Results:

Using national Hospital Episode Statistics, the BAUS RP dataset was estimated 91% complete. Median age was 65 and 96% were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Grades 1–2. Over 80% had RP performed in a high-volume centre (>100 annual RPs) and 88% had Gleason grade group (GGG) ⩾2 disease on biopsy. Robotic-assisted RP (RARP), laparoscopic RP (LRP) and open RP (ORP) were performed in 85%, 7.2% and 7.7% of cases, respectively. Patient and disease characteristics differed across surgical modalities. Transfusion rates were 0.14% in RARP, 0.38% in LRP and 1.8% in ORP. Increased positive surgical margin (PSM) rates were observed with increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA), GGG and T-stage, with comparable PSM rates across surgical modalities. Lymph node dissection was performed more commonly in high-risk cases (cT3, PSA > 20, GGG ⩾ 4). Pathological upstaging was common. Median length of stay was 1, 2 and 3 days for RARP, LRP and ORP, respectively. ORP had Clavien–Dindo complications ⩾3 and unplanned hospital readmissions.

Conclusion:

This analysis has enabled the first set of UK national RP standards to be produced allowing procedure, patient and disease-specific national, centre and individual comparisons. The present degree of service centralisation, operative modalities, and specific aspects of surgical practice can be observed.

Level of evidence:

2b

Contemporary standards in UK nephrectomy practice: Analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Complex Operations Reports, 2016–2018

Objective:

To analyse the 2016–2018 British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Complex Operations Reports nephrectomy database, providing a comprehensive description of modern nephrectomy practice.

Patients and Methods:

Analysis of 2016–2018 data held on the BAUS Complex Operations Reports nephrectomy database was performed for 21,366 patients in England. Data are reported on patient, disease, operation and outcome variables.

Results:

Using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) as a comparator, the database captured an estimated 88% of nephrectomies. Benign nephrectomies (BNs) accounted for 11%, 51% were radical nephrectomies (RNs), 14% were nephroureterectomies (NUs) and 22% were partial nephrectomies (PNs). Of the 2399 BNs, 10% were performed for stone disease, 9% for allograft donation and 9% for infective pathology. Aetiology was not specified further than non-functioning kidney in 51% of cases; 80% of cases adopted minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Histology was benign in 96% of cases. Of 10,843 RNs performed, 77% were performed using MIS. Final histology was renal cell carcinoma in 87% of cases and benign histology confirmed in 9% of cases. Of 3038 NUs performed, 88% were performed using MIS. Histology confirmed malignancy in 94% of cases with transitional cell carcinoma accounting for 82% of cases overall. Of 4708 PNs performed, 74% were performed using MIS; 85% of cases were performed for T1 disease; 16% of cases overall returned benign histology. Across the cohort, 30-day mortality was 0.36%. Transfusion rates were 3.3%, 6.1%, 3.3% and 2.0% for BNs, RNs, NUs and PNs, respectively. In malignant disease, positive surgical margins were present in 0.7% of RNs, 1.2% of NUs and 7.3% of PNs.

Conclusions:

The BAUS nephrectomy dataset provides a real-world description of nephrectomy practice across England, enabling surgeons to compare their practice against a national average. This dataset allows surgeons to share data with patients enhancing informed consent and facilitating shared-decision making. Overall, MIS is widespread, and early mortality after nephrectomy is low.

Level of evidence:

2B

UK national bladder outlet obstruction surgery snapshot audit

OBJECTIVES

To determine the preoperative assessment and perioperative outcomes of men undergoing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) surgery in the UK.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all men undergoing BOO surgery in 105 UK hospitals over a 1-month period. The study included 1456 men, of whom 42% were catheter dependent prior to undergoing surgery.

RESULTS

There was no evidence that a frequency-volume chart or urinary symptom questionnaire had been completed in 73% or 50% of men, respectively in the non-catheter-dependent group. Bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was the most common BOO surgical procedure performed (38%). Monopolar TURP was the next most prevalent modality (23%); however, minimally invasive BOO surgical procedures combined accounted for 17% of all procedures performed. Of the cohort 5% of men had complications within 30 days of surgery, only 1% had Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥III complications. Less than 1% of the cohort received a blood transfusion after BOO surgery and 2% were re-admitted to hospital after their BOO surgery. In total only 4% of the whole cohort were catheter dependent after BOO surgery. Pre- and postoperative paired International Prostate Symptom Score scores reviewed suggest that minimally invasive surgical procedures achieved comparable levels of improvement in both symptoms and bother at 3 months postoperatively in men who were not catheter dependent preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a substantial shift in the available choice of procedure for BOO surgery around the UK in recent years. However, men can be reassured that overall BOO surgery treatments are safe and effective. Evidence of adherence to guidelines in the preoperative assessment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms undergoing surgery was poorly documented and must be improved.

Publishing Individual Surgeons' Outcomes in Urology: Empowering Patient Choice and Improving Safety

It has been demonstrated that publication of individual surgeons' outcomes has improved patient safety and choice. Taking into consideration the lack of negative impact on patient selection and surgical training, it is difficult to argue that surgeons' outcomes should not be openly available in urology.

Setting standards for cystectomy using the British Association of Urological Surgeons Complex Operations Reports, 2016–2018

Objective:

To produce comprehensive standards for cystectomy using contemporary data collected across a nation.

Patients and methods:

Surgical departments upload cystectomy data to the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Complex Operations Database. Analysis of 2016–2018 data was performed for all recorded 5288 patients undergoing cystectomy in England. Logistic regression with general linear models was used to assess differences in patient selection between operative modalities. Analysis involved assessment of case selection, operative decisions and outcomes, case volume and pathological outcomes.

Results:

Using national Hospital Episode Statistics, the BAUS cystectomy dataset was estimated 93% complete. Median age was 70 years (interquartile range 63–75) and 75% were male. Charlson comorbidity index ⩽2 was reported in 87%. Primary treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer accounted for 46% of cases. Commonest preoperative disease stages were T2N0 and T1N0 (35% and 25% respectively). Robotic-assisted (RAC), laparoscopic (LC) and open cystectomy (OC) were performed in 41%, 5.5% and 54% of cases respectively. T-stage distribution differed by operative modality. Transfusion rates were 3.7% for RAC, 6.0% for LC and 18% for OC. Increasing positive surgical margin rates were observed with increasing T-stage, up to T3. The conversion-to-open rate for minimally-invasive surgery was 1.7%. Median annual centre and surgeon case volumes were highest for RAC. Median length of stay was 7, 10 and 10 days for RAC, LC and OC respectively. Postoperative histological upstaging was common (33% of cT1, 50% of cT2 cases). Lymph node positive rates were 28% for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Conclusion:

Analysis of this data provides understanding of ‘real-world’ cystectomy practice. Presentation of data specific to operative modality allows surgeons and centres to benchmark their respective practices. These findings offer to enhance patient and public understanding beyond that currently facilitated by publicly-facing information sources. They carry relevance by describing a near-complete and large volume of modern practice in a publicly funded healthcare system.

Level of evidence:

2b