Cost comparison of intra-detrusor injection of botulinum toxin versus augmentation cystoplasty for refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity in children.

Introduction: Treatment options for refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in children include botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and augmentation cystoplasty (AC). Although BTX-A is accepted in contemporary pediatric urologic practice, cost and long-term outcomes data for BTX-A are limited relative to the gold standard, AC. The purpose of this study was to compare the projected 10-year costs of AC versus BTX-A.

Design and validation of a low-cost, high-fidelity model for robotic pyeloplasty simulation training.

Introduction/background: Owing to restrictions in operative experiences, urology residents can no longer solely rely on 'hands-on' operative time to master their surgical skills by the end of residency. Simulation training could help residents master basic surgical skills and steps of a procedure to maximize time in the operative room. However, simulators can be expensive or tedious to set up, limiting the availability to residents and training programs.

Simple visual review of pre- to post-operative renal ultrasound images predicts pyeloplasty success equally as well as geometric measurements: A blinded comparison with a gold standard.

Background: MAG3 diuretic renal scan remains the gold standard for determination of improvement in renal drainage following pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We hypothesized that (i) a change in geometric measurements between pre-operative and post-operative renal ultrasound (RUS) images and (ii) blinded simple visual review of images both would predict pyeloplasty success.

Objective: To determine if simple visual review and/or novel geometric measurement of renal ultrasounds can detect pyeloplasty failure.

Impact of nephrectomy on long-term renal function in non-syndromic children treated for unifocal Wilms tumor.

Objective: The present study is designed to assess the long-term renal function of children who underwent radical nephrectomy for unifocal Wilms tumor.

Methods: A single institution retrospective cohort study of non-syndromic children treated with radical nephrectomy for unifocal Wilms tumor between 1995 and 2011 was performed to identify risk factors for decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The primary endpoint was decrease in age-adjusted GFR below normal published ranges.