Telemedicine in urologic oncology care: Will telemedicine exacerbate disparities?

Introduction: Disparities in prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer outcomes are associated with access to care. Telemedicine can improve access but may be underutilized by certain patient populations. Our objective was to determine if the patient populations who suffer worse oncologic outcomes are the same as those who are less likely to use telemedicine.

Exhaled Breath Analysis Using Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry and Disease Severity in Heart Failure.

Exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are elevated in heart failure (HF). The ability of VOCs to predict long term cardiovascular mortality and morbidity has not been independently verified. In 55 patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), we measured exhaled breath acetone and pentane levels upon admission and after 48 h of diuresis.

A Multipronged Intervention to Reduce Readmissions and Readmission Intensity After Radical Cystectomy.

Objective: To develop a multipronged, evidence-based protocol to reduce readmission risk and readmission intensity, as represented by the duration of the index readmission, after radical cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: A per-protocol study was performed. The protocol included preoperative nutritional supplementation, early stent removal, and a follow-up phone call within 4-5days of discharge.

Utilizing a Questionnaire to Implement a Risk-based Antibiotic Prophylaxis Protocol for Transrectal Prostate Biopsy.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a risk-based antibiotic prophylaxis protocol for patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy.

Methods: We created a risk-based protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis before transrectal prostate biopsy. Patients were screened for infection risk-factors with a self-administered questionnaire.

Large Variations in the Prices of Urologic Procedures at Academic Medical Centers 1 Year After Implementation of the Price Transparency Final Rule.

Importance: Patients with urologic diseases often experience financial toxicity, defined as high levels of financial burden and concern, after receiving care. The Price Transparency Final Rule, which requires hospitals to disclose both the commercial and cash prices for at least 300 services, was implemented to facilitate price shopping, decrease price dispersion, and lower health care costs.

Objective: To evaluate compliance with the Price Transparency Final Rule and to quantify variations in the price of urologic procedures among academic hospitals and by insurance class.

Comparison of AUA and phoenix definitions of biochemical failure following permanent brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To compare biochemical recurrence free survival (BCRFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after brachytherapy using the AUA and the Phoenix definitions.

Methods And Materials: 2634 men with T1-T4N0M0 prostate cancer were treated with brachytherapy with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or external beam radiation therapy. Five, 10, and 15- year BCRFS and CSS were estimated with Kaplan-Meier estimates with log rank.

Large Variation in International Prescribing Rates of Opioids After Robotic Prostatectomy.

Objective: To compare international opioid prescribing patterns for patients undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess international opioid prescribing trends among urologists.

Methods: An anonymous Web-based survey assessing the frequency and quantity of opioid prescriptions for robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy was designed using Qualtrics software.

Robotic assisted radical cystectomy versus open radical cystectomy: a review of what we do and don't know.

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the gold standard treatment for muscle-invasive and high-risk, noninvasive bladder cancer. Since 2003, robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has been gaining popularity. Metanalyses show that the primary advantage of RARC is less blood loss and the primary advantage of open radical cystectomy (ORC) is shorter operative times.

Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy and Adrenalectomy: Case of a Pheochromocytoma Invading into Renal Parenchyma.

Although upper pole renal masses and adrenal masses can usually be distinguished on cross-sectional imaging, large masses can obscure the boundaries between the kidney and adrenal gland. We describe a unique case of an adrenal pheochromocytoma in a 42-year-old female who was referred for robotic partial nephrectomy. During the procedure, the patient developed severe hypertension.

Gender Differences in Incidence, Diagnosis, Treatments, and Outcomes in Clinically Localized Bladder and Renal Cancer.

Objective: To review differences in bladder and renal cell cancer (RCC) incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes between men and women, and to summarize the evidence that explains these differences.

Methods: A review of the current literature was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar.

Results: The incidence of bladder cancer and RCC is higher in men.

Robotic partial nephrectomy: The current status.

Introduction: Since its introduction, robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) has become increasingly popular, in part as a result of several advances in technique. The purpose of this paper is to review these techniques as well as the perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes after RPN and compare these outcomes to those after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and open partial nephrectomy (OPN).

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify papers and meta-analyses that compared outcomes after RPN to OPN or LPN.

BPH: Why Do Patients Fail Medical Therapy?

Purpose Of Review: In this article, we review why patients may fail medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and by doing so, gain a better understanding of the disease process and how to optimize the care of these patients.

Recent Findings: A growing body of literature has attempted to better characterize the various mechanisms by which patients develop BPH as well as identify predictors of disease progression and treatment failure. BPH is a heterogenous disease process.

Focal Ablative Therapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma in Transplant Allograft Kidneys.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes after focal ablative therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in transplant allograft kidneys.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, patients with a history of RCC in a transplanted allograft kidney who underwent focal ablative therapy were identified. Complete chart reviews were performed and the relevant data were extracted for cumulative analysis.