Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Parental refusal of intramuscular (IM) vitamin K in newborns poses challenges, particularly for pediatric urologists assessing the safety of neonatal circumcision. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is a known risk, with lack of prophylaxis increasing bleeding complications. This study evaluates the safety of neonatal circumcision without IM vitamin K, reviews guidelines, and explores alternative prophylaxis options. OBJECTIVE:To assess if neonatal circumcision can be safely performed on infants lacking IM vitamin K and to identify both optimal timing and alternative prophylactic approaches. METHODS:We conducted a literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar to gather data on neonatal circumcision and VKDB in the context of IM vitamin K refusal. Additionally, we searched for relevant guidelines from the American Urological Association (AUA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and other organizations. Our study included analysis of ten recent cases of neonatal circumcision without IM vitamin K, focusing on safety outcomes and timing. RESULTS:IM vitamin K is the most effective prophylaxis against VKDB, significantly reducing bleeding risk up to sixfold in neonatal circumcision. Oral vitamin K, sometimes used as an alternative in Europe, shows variable effectiveness and lacks standardization in the U.S. Newborn prothrombin (PT) levels fluctuate significantly in the first week: PT levels are high at birth, drop within 24 h, reach a nadir at 24-72 h, then rebound. Circumcisions performed at 14 days on ten patients without IM vitamin K showed no bleeding complications, suggesting that timing circumcisions after PT stabilization may be safer. CONCLUSIONS:IM vitamin K prophylaxis should remain standard care. In cases of refusal, alternative prophylaxis and timing circumcision after the PT nadir may improve safety. This study underscores the need for updated guidelines from professional organizations, including the AUA, to address the growing trend of IM vitamin K refusal and its implications for neonatal circumcision.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:It is known the prevalence of varicoceles in adolescent men is 14-29% but there is debate surrounding implications on fertility. As obtaining a semen analysis (SA) may be challenging, there is need for objective tests as measures of fecundity. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between testicular volume differential (TVD), varicocele grade, and total testicular volume (TTV) on seminal parameters including total motile sperm count (TMSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:We conducted a retrospective single-center chart review over 14 years of 486 Tanner V adolescent males. Three hundred and four met inclusion of palpable, non-operated left-sided varicocele who underwent at least one SA and ultrasound. Abnormal TMSC was defined by World Health Organization 2010 criteria for minimal reference ranges. Multivariate logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis with Youden J-statistic and descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS:Three hundred and four Tanner V adolescents with median age of 18.0 years (18.0-19.0), median TTV of 34.5 cc (28.9, 40.2) and median TMSC of 62.5 million/ejaculate (25.4, 123.4) were evaluated. TTV cutoff of 29.5 cc was found to predict TMSC of <9 million/ejaculate with negative predictive value of 96.2% and odds ratio of 6.08 ([2.13-17.42], p < 0.001). TVD greater than 20% did not reach statistical significance with an odds ratio of 1.66 ([0.41-6.62], p = 0.50). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:In clinical practice, each patient will need to have an individualized plan. Based on our data, for older adolescents (17 or 18 years) with varicocele and an abnormal TTV, clinicians may have a lower threshold for advising SA, and if unable to obtain, surgical intervention and/or closer surveillance should be stressed. Patients should be informed of their six-fold increase in abnormal SA. Patients with normal TTV should be advised they are at lower risk of having abnormal SA. Younger patients with varicocele and an initial TVD>20%, should be followed closely but intervention delayed until 17 or 18 to better assess TTV. The importance of trending patient data should be emphasized as a single measurement has low predictive value for developing adolescents. Limitations of our study include a retrospective design and the lack of uniform correlation between adolescent SA and paternity. CONCLUSIONS:Total testicular volume less than 29.5 cc increased odds of abnormal semen analysis by over six times and had a negative predictive value of 96.2%. Ultrasound results may be useful for risk stratification and counselling on appropriateness of surgical intervention.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE:Desmopressin is well accepted as first-line medical therapy for enuresis. If ineffective, combination therapy of desmopressin + oxybutynin or desmopressin + imipramine has been used. This study assessed the efficacy of adjunct therapy with either imipramine or oxybutynin in the management of enuresis patients who failed desmopressin treatment. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:A retrospective chart review of our database for patients with enuresis was performed. Patients who were prescribed desmopressin, oxybutynin, and imipramine over 14 years for enuresis were included. Two cohorts of patients were examined; group OXY was treated with desmopressin and oxybutynin, and group IMP received desmopressin and imipramine. Pretreatment measurement of Vancouver Symptom Scores (VSS) were used to compare groups using the VSS question "I wet my bed at night" where 4: every night, 3: 4-5 nights per week, 2: 1-2 nights per week, 1: 3-4 nights per month, and 0: never. International Children's Continence Society (ICCS) criteria for continence success was utilized to determine outcomes. RESULTS:2521 patients prescribed one of the 3 medications were identified. Among them, 81 patients (mean age: 10.5 ± 2.8 years) received combination therapy. Of which, 55 were male and 26 female. Specifically, 58 were prescribed both desmopressin and imipramine (group IMP), 23 desmopressin and oxybutynin (group OXY), and 4 transitioned from OXY to IMP. Mean pretreatment VSS showed no difference between groups. Both groups experienced minimal drops in wet nights with desmopressin alone. A comparison revealed that group IMP reduced wet nights significantly more than group OXY (VSS wet night score 0.7 ± 1.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.1 respectively, p < 0.0001). Non-intent-to-treat complete response rate was 68% vs 5% (OR = 42.5, p < 0.001) (IMP vs. OXY respectively). Intent-to-treat response rates were 58%. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Although first-line desmopressin treatment for enuresis is effective, it does not work for all patients, and many parents and children desire nighttime dryness. Clinicians have combined desmopressin with oxybutynin or imipramine for improved results, but research comparing these modalities is scarce. Our study suggests that the desmopressin and imipramine combination is superior at reducing nights wet compared to desmopressin and oxybutynin, attributed to imipramine's probable central mechanism rather than its secondary anticholinergic properties. Limitations include a modest sample size, retrospective design, and subjective responses to the Vancouver questionnaire. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A combination of desmopressin and imipramine was more effective in reducing wet nights and had a complete response rate that was 42.5 times greater than desmopressin and oxybutynin.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:There are currently no clinical criteria for obstructed urinary flow after hypospadias repair surgery. Previous studies have utilized adult and pediatric nomograms and flow shapes to define obstruction, however these methods are limited by a lack of standardization and lack of interrater reliability when determining flow shapes, respectively. The idealized voider derived flow indexes offer a way to track uroflowmetry results in a volume and age agnostic manner. OBJECTIVE:We sought to evaluate all our hypospadias patients over a 10-year period and identify patients without complications and those with complications and determine their respective flow parameters. Our secondary objective is to identify which uroflowmetry parameters are the most significant predictors of urethral stricture and meatal stenosis at the time of the uroflowmetry study. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective chart review was used to compile demographic information, details of hypospadias repair surgeries, and uroflowmetry results from pediatric hypospadias repair patients. Subjects were divided into distal, midshaft, and proximal groups based on the initial location of their urethral meatus. Flows from the hypospadias repair groups were compared to flows from normal age matched controls from a previous study. We compared flows from hypospadias repair patients with no complications present with those who had urethral stricture or meatal stenosis present at the time of uroflowmetry. Binary logistic regression and ROC analysis was used to assess different uroflowmetry parameters' ability to detect the presence of obstructed urine flow. RESULTS:467 uroflowmetry studies from 200 hypospadias repair patients were included in the database. Compared to controls, the hypospadias repair groups tended to have significantly lower Qmax, Qavg, Qmax FI, Qavg FI, and longer ttQmax. Significant differences in flow parameters were observed when comparing hypospadias repair patients with and without flow obstructing complications at the time of uroflowmetry. Binary logistic regression including various uroflowmetry parameters showed Qmax FI had a significant effect on the odds of observing the absence of a stricture in proximal and distal hypospadias cases. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Of the uroflowmetry parameters analyzed, binary logistic regression and the likelihood ratio of a positive result all point to Qmax FI as the better parameter to use to detect the presence of complications in patients who have undergone distal or proximal hypospadias repair surgery. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:We have established normal parameters for post-operative hypospadias repair patients which can be used to follow patients over time and allow for the identification of complications by keeping track of flow indexes which are volume and age agnostic.

OBJECTIVE:To present our experience in a single pediatric urology practice over a 10-year period with bladder tumors in the pediatric population in an effort to add to the relatively small amount of existing data. We hope to expand the community's knowledge of presentations, management and natural history of pediatric bladder tumors. METHODS:We retrospectively queried our electronic medical records for International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes relevant for bladder tumors. Patients with underlying bladder pathology, such as neurogenic bladder, history of bladder exstrophy, and history of bladder augmentation, were excluded. RESULTS:We identified 30 patients with bladder tumors from 2011 to 2021. There were 21 males and 9 females. Age at diagnosis ranged from 16 months to 19 years. Tumors identified were: 11 of various inflammatory subtypes; 4 papillomas; 4 rhabdomyosarcomas; 3 papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential and 8 of other types. Treatment included transurethral resection of bladder tumor, chemoradiation and laparoscopic partial cystectomy. Twenty nine patients had disease limited to the bladder and 1 had disease outside the bladder. Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 13 years (median 19 months). All patients had no evidence of disease at most recent follow-up. CONCLUSION:Pediatric bladder tumors range from aggressive rhabdomyosarcomas to more benign urothelial lesions. Fortunately, the latter type of tumor is the more prevalent lesion. Knowledge of the treatment options and natural history of these tumors will hopefully be of benefit to clinicians and parents alike.

Complete diphallia, a rare urogenital congenital anomaly in which a male is born with two fully formed phalluses, occurs in one out of every five to six million live births. The condition is characterized by two separate phalluses, each of which comprise a pair of corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum with an orthotopic urethra. Approximately 100 cases have been reported worldwide, and it is thought that each case is unique. This article discusses diphallia, urethral duplication, and bladder duplication and concludes with a case study involving a three-year-old male born to consanguineous parents from a small, remote community in Ecuador who underwent surgery for correction of a complete coronal penile and bladder duplication. After consultation, the patient was scheduled for a right penectomy and cystoplasty.

OBJECTIVE:To report the first exclusively pediatric series of robot-assisted urachal remnant excisions in children. METHODS:We reviewed the medical records of all children who underwent robot-assisted excision of urachal remnants from 2010 to 2016. For the procedure, a 3-port approach was performed in all cases. Excision of the urachus was performed, along with partial cystectomy if there was clear or suspected bladder involvement. Outcomes and complications were reviewed. RESULTS:Sixteen cases of robotic urachal excision were performed during the study period in patients aged 0.8-16.5 years. Complete excision was accomplished in all cases with no conversions. Partial cystectomy was performed in 11 cases, in which a urinary catheter was left for 1 day in all cases (no catheter was left in the absence of partial cystectomy). The only complication was a bladder leak requiring open surgical repair. There were no bowel injuries or hernias. The median operative time was 107 minutes. The length of stay was 2 days with partial cystectomy and 1 day without partial cystectomy. All patients were well at follow-up. CONCLUSION:We report the largest known series of robot-assisted urachal remnant excisions in children, demonstrating this minimally invasive approach to be safe and effective.

Polyorchidism is a rare congenital anomaly with less than 200 case reports in literature. Triorchidism, the condition of having 3 testicles, is the most common presentation. We present an unusual case of a patient who was diagnosed with 5 testicles by magnetic resonance imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this rare presentation has not previously been reported in the medical literature.

BACKGROUND:The American Society for Reproductive Medicine Practice Committee recommends obtaining a semen analysis (SA) in pediatric patients presenting with a varicocele in the absence of significant testicular atrophy. Among infertile adults with a varicocele, surgery is indicated in the presence of abnormal semen analysis regardless of testicular atrophy. Despite these two statements, semen analysis is not widely utilized by pediatric urologists in the USA managing a patient with a varicocele. OBJECTIVE:We explored the attitudes of patients, parents, and practitioners toward SA to identify potential barriers to the use of SA in the evaluation of the adolescent varicocele. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:We conducted a survey of Society for Pediatric Urology members regarding their management of adolescent varicoceles, with focus on the utilization of SA. The survey consisted of 14 multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions regarding use of SA in practice, barriers to its use, indications for varicocelectomy, and demographics. We also surveyed patients presenting for initial evaluation of a varicocele, as well as their parents, regarding their knowledge about SA and their attitude towards obtaining it. Statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05 significant). RESULTS:The practitioner survey response rate was 53% (168). Only 13.1% routinely incorporated SA in their practice, with 48% of all responders having some degree of discomfort asking for a SA. Of practitioners who cited discomfort, 90% never order a SA for patients with varicoceles. From the 46% of physicians who ordered a SA, we noted significant practice variability (see Figure). The patient/parent survey demonstrated that this population was uncomfortable with the notion of obtaining a SA, with most patients/parents citing lack of knowledge about SA as the main barrier. Patient and parent knowledge was found to correlate. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study uniquely addresses an issue that has not been discussed in the adolescent varicocele literature to date. It can increase awareness of the option of incorporating SA data in management of the adolescent who presents with a varicocele. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Recognizing and then breaking through the barriers to obtaining a SA, would improve patient care, providing a direct assessment of the impact of a varicocele on fertility potential and thus best determining which patients require surveillance versus surgical intervention. This study suggested that the barriers to SA are surmountable.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Buccal mucosa is the favored graft material for patients with long urethral defects and a paucity of skin. Since 2007, we have used the novel tunneled buccal mucosa tube graft urethroplasty technique in these patients. We describe this operative technique and report our surgical and functional outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Between 2007 and 2013, 37 males with proximal hypospadias underwent tunneled buccal mucosa tube graft urethroplasty. After the penile shaft was optimized at a prior stage a free buccal graft was tubularized and tunneled under the intact ventral shaft skin and into the glans. We retrospectively reviewed all charts to report our results. We assessed uroflowmetry and bladder ultrasound for post-void residual urine. RESULTS:The overall complications rate in 34 patients with more than 1-year followup was 32% (11), including fistula in 5, proximal stricture in 4 and meatal stenosis in 2. In the first 10 patients a total of 7 complications (70%) developed but there were only 4 complications in the next 24 (16%). Surgeon experience was the only significant predictor of complications (p = 0.003). We obtained uroflow and post-void residual urine data on 13 of 37 patients, of whom 9 achieved a normal flow pattern and post-void residual urine, and 4 had a blunted flow pattern. CONCLUSIONS:The novel technique of the tunneled buccal mucosa tube graft in patients with proximal hypospadias represents a good alternative for a long urethroplasty in patients with a paucity of skin. After the learning curve plateaus the rate and degree of complications decrease. Furthermore, voiding function is adequate, as assessed by uroflow studies and post-void residual urine measurement.