Urethral plate quality assessment and its impact on hypospadias repair outcomes:A systematic review and quality assessment

Background The variability of the urethral plate (UP) charac-teristics is one of the factors that influence technical choices for hypospadias correction. However, it is difficult to objectively evaluate the UP, leading to controversies in this subject, and vague terms uti-lized in the literature to describe its characteristics. Objective We aim to analyze the previously described methods used to characterize and evaluate UP quality, emphasizing the pros and cons of each system, and highlighting its possible influence on different post -operative outcomes. Methods We searched the databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL from January 1, 2000 to August 20, 2020. The following concepts were searched: urethra reconstruction/urethra replace-ment/urethroplasty AND hypospadias/hypospadias, AND children AND "plate" with the gray literature search. Subgroup analyses were also carried out. The quality of the involved studies was reviewed operating a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results 996 citations perceived as relevant to screening were retrieved. Thirteen studies were included comprising a total of 1552 cases. The number of patients in each study varied between 42 and 442, and the average post-surgical follow-up duration ranged between 6 months and twenty-six months. All studies used postoperative urethral stents of variable sizes and types. The impact of UP was most frequently assessed for cases treated with the tubularized incised plate (TIP) repair. Conclusion The UP quality seems to play a role as an indepen-dent factor influencing postoperative outcomes of hypospadias repair. Currently used strategies for the appraisal of UP quality are highly subjective with a low index of generalizability. Various attempts to overcome these limitations exist but none was consistently accepted, leaving a wide space for creative investigation in order to obtain an objec-tive, reproducible, precise, and well-validated tool

Excision robot assistée d'un GIST para-rectal chez un patient précédement opéré d'une néo-vessie iléale

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract with surgical resection remaining the cornerstone of therapy. Pararectal lesions are considered to be technically difficult and pose in some cases a challenge. We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first robotic-assisted pararectal GIST excision. A 43-year-old man was referred to our center with pararectal GIST recurrence, despite treatment with targeted therapy. Eleven years ago, he underwent extensive abdominal surgery including cystoprostatectomy with ileal neobladder diversion due to GIST resection in the rectoprostatic space. Robot-assisted surgical resection was successfully performed without the need for temporary colostomy. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and the pathology report confirmed a GIST recurrence with negative surgical margins and pelvic lymph nodes free of any tumor. Robotic-assisted pelvic surgery can be extended to incorporate excision of pararectal GISTs, as a safe, less invasive surgical alternative with promising oncological results and minimal injury to adjacent structures

Pathways to paediatric urology subspecialisation:a study of casemix, incumbent attitudes and opinions

Objective: To identify any self-reported differences or attitudes towards certification, publication, or practice patterns between adult urology and paediatric general surgery-trained paediatric urology providers. There are no known published differences in clinical/operative/research outcomes in either group. Methods: An 18-item cross-sectional survey was compiled through the EAU Young Academic Urologists (YAU) office and disseminated to a trans-Atlantic convenience sample of current practising paediatric urologists. This was created using a mini-Delphi method to provide current semi-quantitative data relating to current opinions and attitudes of this cohort. Results: A total of 228 respondents completed the survey, with female respondents representing 37% and 34% for urology and paediatric general surgery, respectively. Nearly 90% overall respondents felt that a full 2-year paediatric fellowship program was very important and 94% endorsed a collaborative dedicated paediatric urology on call service, with 92% supporting the joint development of transitional care. Urology managed higher numbers of bedwetting (p = 0.04), bladder bowel dysfunction (p = 0.02), endourological procedures (p = 0.04), and robotics (p = 0.04). Paediatric general surgery managed higher numbers of laparoscopic reconstruction (p = 0.03), and posterior urethral valve ablation (p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study represents the first time that a cross-sectional cohort of paediatric urologists from different training backgrounds were compared to assess their productivity, practice patterns and attitudes. Paediatric urology is in a unique position to have two contributing specialities, with the ability to provide optimal transitional and lifelong care. We believe that there should be a strong emphasis on collaboration and to remove any historically-created barriers under policies of equity, diversity and inclusivity.</p

Remote consultations in paediatric urology–Not just for pandemics?

Although some centres have successfully integrated remote clinics into their paediatric urological practice, for many, remote clinics have developed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One UK-based institution has integrated remote clinics in their practice for over two years and has developed guidelines considering which conditions may be suitable for remote consultations. These guidelines have been appraised by the European Association of Urology Young Academic Urologists paediatric working group. Through practical experience and anticipated difficulties, we have discussed considerations that paediatric urology departments should ponder when integrating remote clinics into their practice as we move forward from the pandemic