Learning curve of various type of male urethroplasty

The impact of surgical volume on perioperative safety after urethroplasty: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess whether the risk of perioperative complications after urethroplasty was affected by hospital annual surgical volume (ASV).

METHODS

In the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we searched for patients who underwent urethroplasty between 2001 and 2015. Hospitals were categorized into empirically determined tertiles, according to ASV of performed urethroplasties and divided into low (<3) (LVC), intermediate (3-19) (IVC) and high (>20) volume centers (HVC). Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analyses examined the effect of ASV on perioperative complications and on four specific sub-types of post-operative complications.

RESULTS

A weighted estimate of 39 912 patients underwent urethroplasty in the US. 34.9% were operated in HVC, while the rate of performed urethroplasties increased in LVC and decreased in HVC. Overall, 1.1%, 18.8% and 2.1% patients respectively experienced intraoperative, post-operative, and transfusions complications. At MLR, IVC and LVC were associated with higher risk of both intraoperative (IVC: OR 2.65, P=0.0008; LVC: OR 4.98, P<0.0001), post-operative (IVC: OR 1.14, P=0.01; LVC: OR 1.26, P=0.001) and transfusions complications (IVC: OR 1.85, P<0.001; LVC: OR 3.03, P=0.01). LVC was also associated with higher risk of hematuria (OR 3.77), urinary infections (OR 1.60) and sepsis (OR 2.83) complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 65% of patients were operated in IVC and LVC, and patients treated in IVC or LVC had higher risk of developing both intra and post-operative complications. These data provide important indicators for policy makers to categorize institution based on urethroplasty outcomes.

The learning curve of bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomy: a prospective study

Varicocele occurs in 15% of general male population and in 35% of infertile men. Since 1992, surgical correction with laparoscopic varicocelectomy is the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic patients or patients with abnormal seminal analysis. The learning curve for this frequently performed procedure has not yet been described. In the present study, we investigated the learning curve of a single urologist in training performing his first 21 laparoscopic varicocelectomies using qualitative and quantitative tools to evaluate his performance during the process. Our results show that 14 bilateral laparoscopic varicocelectomies are enough to achieve the plateau of the learning curve.

Transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty for the treatment of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects: a progressive surgical strategy

PURPOSE

The aim was to reduce the difficulty of transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect (PFUDD) and make it easy to master through an effective strategy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2010 and December 2019, 1637 patients with PFUDDs were treated by transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty. The surgical strategy we used was the progressive transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty. First, after full mobilization of the distal bulbomembranous urethra, the stenotic urethra was transected directly at the proximal margin of the stenotic urethra to expose the proximal disrupted urethral end. Second, if the urethral stenosis location of some complicated cases was too deep to fully mobilize, the position of urethral transection was selected at the distal margin of the stenotic urethra. Then, the distal and proximal disrupted urethras were then trimmed and anastomosed without tension. A successful urethroplasty was defined as reestablishment of a uniform urethral caliber and no further interventions were needed.

RESULTS

Follow-up was obtained in 1475 patients. The success rate was 92.4% (1363/1475). Among the 112 failed patients, 10 patients received endoscopic urethrotomy, 99 underwent a secondary or third anastomotic urethroplasty and 3 successfully treated with perineal skin flap urethroplasty. After final successful urethroplasty, 125 patients (8.5%) had different degrees of urinary incontinence and 15 (1.6%) developed de novo erectile dysfunction (1.6%).

CONCLUSION

The progressive transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty strategy was effective for treating PFUDD cases, improving surgical efficacy and reducing complications. It may contribute to standardizing the transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty and making it easy to master.