Publications by authors named "Eric Wallen"

Importance: Planning complex operations such as robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires surgeons to review 2-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to understand 3-dimensional (3D) patient anatomy. Three-dimensional digital models for planning RALP may allow better understanding of patient anatomy and may lead to better patient outcomes, although data are currently limited.

Objective: To determine surgical outcomes after RALP when surgeons reviewed 3D digital models during operative planning.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Limited information exists regarding the association between resident surgical case experience and subsequent case mix in practice. We compare the case log distribution residents completed during their chief year to those completed by these graduates in their first 2 years in independent practice.

Methods: Resident chief year case logs from 10 institutions were analyzed across 4 categories of index procedures: (1) general urology, (2) endourology, (3) reconstructive urology, and (4) urologic oncology.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The text discusses a patient who has both X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH) and an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) in the bladder.
  • - This case raises questions about the potential connection between XLH and IMT, exploring whether the two conditions can be explained by a single underlying cause (Occam's Razor) or if they are coincidental occurrences (Hickam's Dictum).
  • - The situation encourages further investigation into the relationship between these two medical conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Because multiple management options exist for clinical T1 renal masses, patients may experience a state of uncertainty about the course of action to pursue (ie, decisional conflict). To better support patients, we examined patient, clinical, and decision-making factors associated with decisional conflict among patients newly diagnosed with clinical T1 renal masses suspicious for kidney cancer.

Materials And Methods: From a prospective clinical trial, participants completed the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), scored 0 to 100 with < 25 associated with implementing decisions, at 2 time points during the initial decision-making period.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Urology residency prepares trainees for independent practice. The optimal operative chief resident year experience to prepare for practice is undefined. We analyzed the temporal arc of cases residents complete during their residency compared to their chief year in a multi-institutional cohort.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Postoperative education and symptom tracking are essential following cystectomy to reduce readmission rates and information overload. To address these issues, an internet-based tool was developed to provide education, alerts, and symptom tracking. We aimed to evaluate the tool's feasibility, acceptability, and impact on complication and readmission rates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

While diversity and inclusion efforts have increased in urology, comparative analysis of personal statements from 2016-2017 and 2022-2023 residency applications showed few linguistic changes over time by gender or race/ethnicity. These results suggest the need for directed efforts to engage, mentor, and coach females and underrepresented minorities during medical school and the urology application process.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: Evaluation of trainees in graduate medical education training programs using Milestones has been in place since 2013. It is not known whether trainees who have lower ratings during the last year of training go on to have concerns related to interactions with patients in posttraining practice.

Objective: To investigate the association between resident Milestone ratings and posttraining patient complaints.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Planning complex operations such as robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy requires surgeons to review 2-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cross-sectional images to understand 3-dimensional (3D), patient-specific anatomy. We sought to determine surgical outcomes for robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy when surgeons reviewed 3D, virtual reality (VR) models for operative planning.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Contemporary testis cancer management requires fastidious adherence to clinical guidelines and care principles, especially for those pursuing active surveillance (AS). However, real-world testis cancer care remains largely undescribed. Accordingly, we sought to assess the rigor of evaluation and monitoring among men with testis cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous disease. We report a case of sarcomatoid non-clear cell RCC in a patient with underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) on immunosuppression with a complete pathologic response to pembrolizumab and axitinib. Comprehensive genomic profiling revealed pathogenic mutations in SETD2 and TP53 with high RNA expression levels of immune checkpoint proteins.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine and cisplatin in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant therapy before radical cystectomy (RC) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Methods: Patients with clinical T2-4aN0/XM0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer eligible for RC were enrolled. The initial six patients received lead-in pembrolizumab 200 mg once 2 weeks prior to pembrolizumab 200 mg once on day 1, cisplatin 70 mg/m once on day 1, and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m once on days 1 and 8 every 21 days for four cycles.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To assess a potential source of bias that could contribute to underrepresentation of minorities in urology, we analyzed differences in linguistic characteristics in personal statements between urology residency applicants of various racial and ethnic groups.

Methods: Personal statements submitted by urology residency applicants to a urology program were evaluated with Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, a validated text analysis program. Analyzed statements and application characteristics were compared according to self-identified race/ethnicity of the applicant using multivariable analysis and independent sample T-tests.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of FACBC PET/CT in detecting recurrent prostate cancer after radiation or prostatectomy. The secondary aim was to determine the impact of FACBC PET/CT on radiation treatment recommendations in men with biochemical recurrence postprostatectomy.

Methods: This is a single center retrospective study of men who underwent an FACBC PET/CT for rising PSA after definitive prostate cancer therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the geographic impact of away rotations on regional interview invitations and matching.

Methods And Materials: Urology applicants who participated in the 2019-2020 cycle were invited to complete a survey postmatch. Questions covered demographics, scholastic achievements, number and region of away rotations, number and locations of interview invitations, and matching results.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To determine whether patient-reported health status, more so than comorbidity, influences treatment in men with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data linked with Medicare claims and CAHPS surveys, we identified men aged 65-84 diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 2004 to 2013 and ascertained their National Cancer Institute (NCI) comorbidity score and patient-reported health status. Adjusting for demographics and cancer risk, we examined the relationship between these measures and treatment for the overall cohort, low-risk men aged 65-74, intermediate/high-risk men aged 65-74, and men aged 75-84.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To implement Standard Opioid Prescribing Schedules (SOPS) based on opioid use following urologic surgeries and to evaluate how evidence-based prescribing schedules affect opioid use and patient reported outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent urologic surgeries within 6 procedure subtypes at UNC Health during the 2 study time periods ("pre-SOPS": 7/2017-1/2018, "post-SOPS": 7/2018-1/2019) were invited to complete a survey analyzing postoperative opioid usage, storage and disposal, and patient reported outcomes (including pain interference using a validated questionnaire). A pharmacy database provided medication prescribing data and patient demographics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

BACKGROUNDSurgery remains the frontline therapy for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); however, 20%-40% recur. Angiogenesis inhibitors have improved survival in metastatic patients and may result in responses in the neoadjuvant setting. The impact of these agents on the tumor genetic heterogeneity or the immune milieu is largely unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To gain insight into the perceptions of urology held by medical students as they enter the field, we analyzed the linguistic characteristics and gender differences in personal statements written by urology residency program applicants.

Methods: Personal statements were abstracted from residency applications to a urology residency program. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, a validated text analysis software, characterized the linguistic content of the statements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Over the past decade, despite the controversies surrounding prostate cancer screening, significant refinements have improved its application. PSA screening, although it has been questioned, appears to confer a mortality benefit and remains the most effective way to identify the possible presence of prostate cancer. Methods to improve the specificity of PSA screening and limit overdiagnosis of indolent cancers, including risk-stratified screening regimens, are currently being utilized.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To assess the feasibility of enrollment and collecting patient-reported outcome (PRO) data as part of routine clinical urologic care for bladder and prostate cancer patients and examine overall patterns and racial variations in PRO use and symptom reports over time.

Subjects/patients And Methods: We recruited 76 patients (n = 29 Black and n = 47 White) with prostate or bladder cancer at a single, comprehensive cancer center. The majority of prostate cancer patients had intermediate risk (57%) disease and underwent either radiation or prostatectomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) has limited diagnostic accuracy for staging of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). [F] Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel imaging modality incorporating functional imaging with improved soft tissue characterization. This pilot study evaluated the use of preoperative FDG-PET/MRI for staging of MIBC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: Planning complex operations such as robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy requires surgeons to review 2-dimensional computed tomography or magnetic resonance images to understand 3-dimensional (3-D), patient-specific anatomy.

Objective: To determine surgical outcomes for robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy when surgeons reviewed 3-D virtual reality (VR) models during operative planning.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A single-blind randomized clinical trial was performed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To determine whether implicit gender bias exists in the urology residency application process, we compared linguistic differences in letters of recommendation (LOR) submitted for male and female applicants.

Methods: LOR were abstracted from residency applications to a urology residency program. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, a validated text analysis software program, characterized the linguistic content of the letters.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF