Faculty Bibliography

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.

Congenital anterior urethral diverticulum (CAUD) is an uncommon abnormality of the male urethra. In the literature, cases of CAUD affecting both children within a set of identical twins or presenting concomitantly with another urethral condition are exceedingly rare. We describe 2 cases of CAUD in identical twins: a pair of newborns in which Twin 1A and Twin 1B both present with CAUD, and a second pair of newborns in which only Twin 2A presents with CAUD along with a partial collateral urethral duplication. In doing so, we aim to add to the incomplete literature on the embryological development of CAUD.

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.

OBJECTIVE:To assess interviewing applicant perceptions of a virtual urology residency interview in the setting of changes mandated by COVID-19 and to determine applicant preference for virtual or in person interviews. Applicant perceptions of multiple interview components were queried to identify program specific and interview modality specific strengths or weaknesses in the 2020 to 2021 Urology Match. METHODS:A 12 question multiple choice and free text survey was emailed to 66 virtually interviewed applicants for open residency positions at a metropolitan training program after conclusion of interviews. Items of interest included interview type preference, overall interview impression, and recommendations for improvement. RESULTS:A total of 50 of 66 (76%) applicants completed the survey corresponding to approximately 11% of the 2020 national urology applicant pool. A total of 49 of 50 (96%) respondents assessed faculty interaction and the virtual platform positively. A total of 38 of 50 (76%) was satisfied with their resident interaction and 32 of 50 (64%) applicants stated they were able to satisfactorily evaluate the site and program. Ultimately, 39 of 50 (78%) respondents would have preferred an in person interview to our virtual interview. Respondents cited challenges in assessing program culture and program physical site virtually. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The majority of survey respondents indicated a preference for in person interviews. A smaller proportion of applicants preferred virtual interviews citing their convenience and lower cost. Efforts to improve the virtual interview experience may focus on improving applicant-resident interaction and remote site assessment.

Although, the role of Botulinum Toxin-A in the treatment of the neurogenic and non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder is becoming more defined, this is the first review article to characterize the emerging role of Botulinum Toxin-A in the pediatric urologic population. Injection of Botulinum Toxin-A at the level of the bladder works by inhibiting uninhibited bladder contractions and, possibly, by blocking some of the sensory nerve fibers. In children with sphincter dyssynergy, injection at the level of the urethral sphincter works by inhibiting the involuntary guarding reflex and blocking dyssynergic voiding.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The most difficult portion of laparoscopic pyeloplasty is the intracorporeal suturing involved in the anastomosis. We identified whether there is a difference in outcomes between a laparoscopic hand sewn anastomosis and a robotic assisted anastomosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:We studied 29 patients who underwent pyeloplasty in the last 30 months, including a robotic assisted procedure in 15, a laparoscopic procedure in 12 and an aborted procedure in 2. RESULTS:Followup was 10 to 122 weeks (average 41). All surgeries except 1 were deemed successful by resolution of hydronephrosis on ultrasound and symptomatic criteria. Intraoperative time for robotic assisted pyeloplasty was 150 to 290 minutes (average +/- SD 223.1 +/- 46.5). Laparoscopic time was 200 to 285 minutes (average 236.5 +/- 24.1). CONCLUSIONS:Robotic assisted and laparoscopic anastomosis produced similar outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent pyeloplasty. Overall operative times did not vary significantly between the 2 procedures. There appeared to be no quantifiable benefits between the 2 procedures.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Treating pediatric incontinence can be challenging. Many surgical procedures are available with variable success and complications. Endoscopic injection of bulking agents into an incompetent bladder neck was first described using Teflon and most currently using Deflux. We compared the results of bladder neck injection using Deflux and Teflon to manage urinary incontinence in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:A retrospective study was performed in children who underwent primary endoscopic injection of Teflon or Deflux to the bladder neck. Patients with prior bladder neck surgery were excluded. Data were collected on underlying anatomical pathology, preoperative bladder capacity, endoscopic approach, quantity of bulking agent and outcome. Dry was defined as 3 hours or greater awake without wetting. Wet was defined as the need for a pad or diaper. RESULTS:A total of 34 patients underwent primary injection of bulking agents, including 32 via a retrograde approach and 2 via a combined antegrade-retrograde approach. A total of 20 children with a mean age of 2.7 years were injected with Teflon and 11 were injected with Deflux. One of the 20 Teflon injected patients was dry more than 6 months. One of the 14 Deflux injected patients was dry at 3 months in the daytime, another 2 improved at 3 months (antegrade/retrograde in 1) but worsened at 6 months and another was dry after a second injection. All 4 improved children had age appropriate bladder capacity. The volume of injected agent was 1 to 10 cc. No complications were seen. Five children per group underwent subsequent open continence surgery. CONCLUSIONS:Bladder neck injection of bulking agents is a generally ineffective therapy for incontinence. While neither the number of injections nor the bulking agent used affected the results, adequate bladder capacity and antegrade injection with Deflux heralded short-term improvement. Patients with exstrophy consistently did poorly.