Risk of re-operation after outpatient distal hypospadias repair in a large, multistate cohort

BACKGROUND

Repair of distal hypospadias is one of the most common pediatric urology procedures in the US. However, the risk of postsurgical complications has been reported primarily from single-institution and tertiary center studies, with short duration of patient follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of re-operation and risk factors for re-operation following outpatient distal hypospadias repair in a large, representative sample of US children.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients aged 0-18 years undergoing single-stage distal hypospadias repair was conducted. Data were obtained from the State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases of 9 participating states. Patients who underwent outpatient surgery in 2008-2013 were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients with records suggesting prior surgery for hypospadias (CPT) were excluded, as were patients who underwent the initial repair <2 years before the end of state data availability. Return outpatient surgery visits across institutions within each of the 9 states were tracked to identify re-operations after the single-stage repair, using CPT codes for surgical treatment of hypospadias complications in 2008-2015. Time-to-event analyses were used to estimate the probability (risk) of re-operation over time and to examine whether patient and institutional characteristics were predictive of re-operation (age, race/ethnicity, health insurance, facility ownership, and institutional volume of hypospadias repair).

RESULTS

A total of 4673 children treated across 148 institutions were included. The median follow-up time was 4.1 years (range: 2-7.9). Most patients were <1 year of age at the time of initial repair (53%). The risk of re-operation was 2.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-3.0%) at 1 year and 6.7% (95% CI: 6.0-7.5%) at 5 years after initial repair (Figure). Approximately 13% of re-operation patients had the re-operation at a different institution. None of the patient or institutional factors examined was a significant predictor of the risk of re-operation.

DISCUSSION

In this population-based cohort, the estimated 5-year risk of re-operation following single-stage distal hypospadias repair was 6.7% (95% CI: 6.0-7.5). Most re-operations occurred after the first year, informing long-term expectations about postoperative complications. This study was limited by a lack of data on severity of hypospadias and surgeon characteristics and the inability to track re-operations outside of the state in which the original repair was performed.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 7% of children undergoing distal hypospadias repair undergo a re-operation within 5 years. None of the factors studied were predictive of re-operations.

Benefits of spinal anesthesia for urologic surgery in the youngest of patients

INTRODUCTION

Increasing concerns regarding potential negative effects of early use of inhalational and intravenous anesthetics on neurocognitive development have led to a growing interest in alternative forms of anesthesia in infants. The study institution's outcomes with spinal anesthesia (SA) for urologic surgery in infants aged less than 90 days are reported and their outcomes with a matched cohort of patients who underwent general anesthesia (GA) are compared.

METHODS

This is a retrospective single-center analysis. Patients aged less than 90 days who underwent SA for four urologic surgeries (inguinal hernia repair, scrotal exploration, posterior urethral valve ablation, and ureterocele puncture) were identified from the study institution's SA database. An age- and procedure-matched control cohort was identified from a list of patients who underwent the aforementioned four procedures under GA since 2013. Outcomes of interest included success rate of SA, complications from spinal placement, narcotic use, need for supplemental medications and oxygen, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Forty patients were identified; 20 in the SA and 20 in the GA group. Mean patient age was 54 (standard deviation, 35) days. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, gender, weight, history of prematurity, or presence of comorbidities. Eighty percent of SA patients had successful SA; reasons for conversion to GA included failure of spinal needle placement (75%) and agitation during operative procedure (25%). Ninety-six percent of patients who received GA (primarily or converted) had an endotracheal tube (ETT) placed. No patient in the SA group had a complication from spinal needle placement. Patients in the SA group were less likely to receive narcotics during the operative procedure (P = 0.001) and also had a lower mean morphine equivalent dose/kilogram (P = 0.002). Patients in the SA group were also less likely to receive any supplemental medications during the operative procedure (P = 0.001), particularly intravenous corticosteroids (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of SA has clear advantages for this medically vulnerable population. For the majority of patients, it obviates the need for ETT placement and airway management and avoids the potential negative effects of GA on neurocognitive development. It also decreases the use of narcotics and other supplemental medications. In scenarios in which the benefit of surgery must be weighed against the risk of GA, such as neonatal torsion, SA may allow a paradigm shift in the timing of surgery.

The modified Ulaanbaatar procedure: Reduced complications and enhanced cosmetic outcome for the most severe cases of hypospadias

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

Proximal hypospadias is one of the most challenging conditions that pediatric urologists have to deal with. Many procedures have been devised over the years, but nothing has been proven to be the best option. Although there have been some attempts at correcting severe hypospadias in one procedure, most have advocated a staged approach. The classic approach - laying penile skin or a graft within a split glans followed by glanuloplasty at the second stage - by definition requires two operations on the glans. In the Ulaanbaatar procedure the distal glanular urethra is constructed at the first stage, allowing for a single glans procedure and thus potentially better cosmetic outcomes. The present study discusses experience with the Ulaanbaatar procedure for severe hypospadias.

STUDY DESIGN

The study retrospectively reviewed every child who underwent both stages of this procedure at the present institution. It reviewed age, associated diagnoses, surgical technique and outcomes.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

The first stage was analogous to a classic first-stage procedure with regard to division of the urethral plate and correction of penile curvature. However, an island flap of preputial skin was mobilized and tubularized to create the glanular urethra. No attempt was made to bridge the native meatus and this reconstructed urethra, and the remaining penile skin was placed between the two. The second stage was performed 6 months later by tubularizing the penile skin between the two meatuses.

RESULTS

The series consisted of 34 boys. Mean age at surgery was 18.3 months (range 6-118). Nineteen underwent evaluation for genital ambiguity at birth (56%). Thirty (88%) received pre-operative testosterone or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). After urethral plate transection, persistent curvature was addressed during the first stage, with dorsal plication in 12 (35%), urethral plate transection alone in six (18%) or ventral grafting with small intestinal submucosa in 16 (47%). Twenty-three boys (67%) had the neourethra tunneled through the glans, and 11 (33%) had the glans split followed by glanuloplasty. Average time between the two stages was 7 months (range 4.0-13.9). Four patients (12%) developed urethral diverticula that required repair. One developed recurrent epididymitis related to an abnormal ejaculatory duct (no stricture) and underwent vasectomy. No patient developed a fistula. Mean length of follow-up was 15.2 months (range 0.3-55.5).

DISCUSSION

This modification of the classic staged hypospadias repair may allow for better cosmetic outcome, since the majority of boys required no formal glanuloplasty. There were reduced complications, perhaps because the urethral defect acted like a controlled fistula, allowing for better tissue healing prior to final urethral reconstruction.