Inaugural Australian urology bootcamp for early-career medical officers: improving knowledge, skills, and confidence to prepare for registrar years.

Background: Surgical bootcamps provide hands-on learning opportunities for junior doctors and trainees in low-pressure, non-clinical environments. Participants develop skills, knowledge, and confidence in preparation for their registrar years. A number of international urology-specific bootcamps have demonstrated improvements in these technical and non-technical domains.

Robotic-Assisted Bladder Diverticulectomy: Indications, Technique, and Outcomes-A Case Series.

This case series describes the experiences and outcomes of multiple Australian surgeons performing robotic-assisted bladder diverticulectomy (RABD), highlighting the procedural effectiveness and safety, for both benign and malignant indications for diverticulectomy. Outcomes were analyzed from 13 experienced Australian urologists who performed RABD between 2016 and 2023. Retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected data, which included patient demographics, diverticulum characteristics, surgical approaches, and post-operative outcomes.

Intra-individual comparison of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography versus bone scan in detecting skeletal metastasis at prostate cancer diagnosis.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance and radiological staging impact of Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) compared to Tc whole-body bone scan (WBBS) for the detection of skeletal metastasis in the primary staging of prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients And Methods: A prospective institutional database was retrospectively examined for patients who underwent both PSMA PET and WBBS within a 1 week interval for PCa primary staging. Lesions were categorised as 'negative', 'equivocal', or 'definite' based on nuclear medicine physician interpretation.

Ga-PSMA PET/CT versus CT and bone scan for investigation of PSA failure post radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the use of Gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (Ga-PSMA PET/CT), compared with conventional CT abdomen/pelvis (CTAP) and whole body single photon emission CT bone scan (BS), for detection of local or distant metastasis following biochemical failure/recurrence in post-prostatectomy patients.

Methods: We conducted a review of our prospectively maintained, institutional database to identify 384 patients with post-prostatectomy biochemical failure/recurrence who underwent PSMA PET/CT, CTAP and BS from February 2015 to August 2017 in Nepean Hospital, tertiary referral centre. The results of the three imaging modalities were analysed for their ability to detect local recurrence and distant metastases.

Spontaneous bleeding from an unusual renal mass: A case of gestational choriocarcinoma related to previous pregnancy over a decade earlier.

Gestational choriocarcinoma is an uncommon trophoblastic malignancy, occurring in females after pregnancy, which is rarely encountered by urologists. It can be rapidly progressive, however metastases to other organs can occur after a prolonged latency period. We describe a rare case of solitary metastatic gestational choriocarcinoma presenting with spontaneous bleeding from a renal mass, over a decade after the associated pregnancy with a presumed sub-clinical primary tumour.

Bladder infusion versus standard catheter removal for trial of void: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and time-to-discharge of two methods of trial of void (TOV): bladder infusion versus standard catheter removal.

Methods: Electronic searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bladder infusion versus standard catheter removal were performed using multiple electronic databases from dates of inception to June 2020. Participants underwent TOV after acute urinary retention or postoperatively after intraoperative indwelling catheter (IDC) placement.

A prospective, matched comparison of ultra-low and standard-dose computed tomography for assessment of renal colic.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULDCT) compared with standard-dose CT (SDCT) in the evaluation of patients with clinically suspected renal colic, in addition to secondary features (hydroureteronephrosis, perinephric stranding) and additional pathological entities (renal masses).

Patients And Methods: A prospective, comparative cohort study was conducted amongst patients presenting to the emergency department with signs and symptoms suggestive of renal or ureteric colic. Patients underwent both SDCT and ULDCT.

Metachronous ureteral metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a duplex collecting system 1 year after nephrectomy.

While renal cell carcinoma is known to metastasise in an unpredictable pattern, even after resection of a primary tumour, delayed ureteric metastasis is a very rarely reported phenomenon. In this case report, we describe a case of ipsilateral metachronous ureteric metastasis in a patient with a complete duplex collecting system. This case demonstrates some useful strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma in this context.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pelvic Drain Insertion After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis and to assess the clinical benefit of prophylactic pelvic drain (PD) placement after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in patients with localized prostate cancer. An electronic search of databases, including Scopus, Medline, and EMbase, was conducted for articles that considered postoperative outcomes with PD placement and without PD (no drain) placement after RALP. The primary outcome was rate of symptomatic lymphocele (requiring intervention) and secondary outcomes were complications as described by the Clavien-Dindo classification system.

Single use versus reusable digital flexible ureteroscopes: A prospective comparative study.

Objectives: To compare the performance and surgical outcomes of two different single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes with a reusable video flexible ureteroscope.

Methods: Patients undergoing retrograde flexible ureteroscopy at Nepean Hospital, Sydney, Australia, were included in this study. Three different flexible ureteroscopes were used in this study: (i) single-use digital LithoVue (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA); (ii) single-use digital PU3022A (Pusen, Zhuhai, China); and (iii) reusable digital URF-V2 (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

The current status of MRI in prostate cancer.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer is a controversial topic. Until recently there has not been a reliable imaging mo-dality for identification of cancer within the prostate. New evidence suggests that multiparametric magngenetic resonance im-aging (MRI) has the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The effect of the modified Z trendelenburg position on intraocular pressure during robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a randomized, controlled study.

Purpose: The Trendelenburg position has a dramatic effect on circulation, consequently increasing cerebral and intraocular pressure. We evaluated whether modifying the Trendelenburg position would minimize the increase in intraocular pressure.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled study we compared intraocular pressure in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy while in the Trendelenburg position or the modified Z Trendelenburg position.

Invasive renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: cardiac anesthesia in liver transplant settings.

Objectives: Resection of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) with tumor thrombus invasion into the inferior vena cava (IVC) is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study examined the intra- and inter-departmental collaboration among cardiac, liver transplantation, and urologic surgeons and anesthesiologists in caring for these patients.

Design: After IRB approval, medical records of patients who underwent resection of RCC tumor thrombus level III and IV, from 1997 to 2010 in this institution, were reviewed.

Prostate sampling by 12-core biopsy: comparison of the biopsy results with tumor location in prostatectomy specimens.

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic performance of individual prostate biopsy cores. The 12-core transrectal prostate biopsy scheme has emerged as a standard of care. However, quality of sampling may vary in different areas of the prostate included in this procedure.

Lower urinary tract symptoms - current management in older men.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms are a common problem in men and the incidence of these symptoms increases with age.

Objective: This article provides an update on the evaluation and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in older men. In particular, we describe current nomenclature, diagnosis, the International Prostate Symptom Score, and currently available medical and surgical treatments as well as indications for referral to a urologist.

Bladder cancer--current management.

Background: Over 2000 cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed in Australia in 2005. Bladder cancer is a relatively common disease with high morbidity if left untreated. Bladder cancer is categorised as either 'nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer' or 'muscle invasive bladder cancer'.

Anomalies of the inferior vena cava and renal veins and implications for renal surgery.

Abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and renal veins are extremely rare. However, with the increasing use of computed tomography (CT), these anomalies are more frequently diagnosed. The majority of venous anomalies are asymptomatic and they include left sided IVC, duplicated IVC, absent IVC as well as retro-aortic and circumaortic renal veins.

Androgen deficiency in the aging man.

Background: Androgen deficiency in the aging man is an area of considerable debate because a gradual decline in testosterone may simply be part of the normal aging process. However, there is an alternative view that androgen deficiency in the aging man may constitute a valid and underdiagnosed disorder.

Objective: To discuss the aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of androgen deficiency in the aging man.

Bacterial cystitis in women.

Background: A woman presenting with symptoms suggestive of bacterial cystitis is a frequent occurrence in the general practice setting. One in three women develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) during their lifetime (compared to 1 in 20 men).

Objective: In this article we provide an outline of the aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of bacterial cystitis in the primary care setting.

Urinary incontinence-pathophysiology and management outline.

Background: Urinary incontinence is common in the community and may impact significantly on quality of life; yet only one-third of sufferers seek medical attention. There are many treatment options for patients suffering with urinary incontinence.

Objective: This article aims to aid general practitioners in the management urinary incontinence.

Symptomatic urinary stone disease in pregnancy.

Background: Symptomatic urinary calculi are rare in pregnancy with an incidence of one per 1500 pregnant women. Calculi may cause ureteric obstruction that can be further complicated by sepsis. This may have a significant morbidity for mother and fetus.