Objective: To assess the effects of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) perioperative protocol on the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in pediatric patients.
Methods: A total of 57 children who underwent RALP at our center between November 2021 and December 2023 were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the ERAS (intervention) group or the non-ERAS (control) group. The analysis focused on comparing the length of hospital stay, recovery of gastrointestinal function, incidence of complications within 90 days post-surgery, postoperative extubation time (urinary tube and double-J tube), postoperative auxiliary examinations, and readmission rates within 30 days. Additionally, the patients were divided into two age groups: <4 years old and ≥4 years old, to assess pain severity.
Results: There were no significant differences in preoperative general information, preoperative auxiliary examination findings, or intraoperative conditions between the ERAS and non-ERAS groups. The ERAS group had a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay compared to the non-ERAS group. Furthermore, the time to the first postoperative bowel movement was shorter, and the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the ERAS group. Among children <4 years old, there was no significant difference in pain severity between the two groups. However, in children ≥4 years old, the ERAS group experienced significantly lower pain levels at 6 and 24 h post-surgery compared to the non-ERAS group.
Discussion: The findings of this prospective randomized controlled trial should determine if ERAS is superior to traditional perioperative management in children undergoing RALP, particularly regarding postoperative hospital stay, intestinal function recovery, pain response, and complication rates. We anticipate that our data will offer valuable clinical insights and guidance for the implementation of ERAS in pediatric robotic surgery for urinary diseases.
Conclusion: The ERAS protocol can reduce the length of hospital stay, aid in the recovery of gastrointestinal function, and lower postoperative complication rates. It also has the potential to lessen postoperative pain to varying degrees in certain pediatric patients. ERAS is a safe and effective protocol for pediatric patients undergoing RALP.
Background: Hypospadias and undescended testicles (UDT) are common congenital conditions, affecting approximately 1 in 125 and 1 in 33 boys, respectively. There has been limited contemporary data regarding the prevalence of Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) in patients with a history of both hypospadias and UDT.
Objective: Our objective is to determine the prevalence of DSD among patients presenting with hypospadias and UDT.
Design, setting, and participants: Electronic medical records were reviewed, and a retrospective chart review was conducted on 177 patients that were evaluated at our institution from 2000 to 2021 with a diagnosis of hypospadias and UDT. The degree of hypospadias, presence of and palpability of UDT, and prevalence and type of DSD were recorded.
Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The degree of hypospadias, presence of and palpability of UDT, and prevalence and type of DSD were recorded. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were conducted for descriptive statistical analyses as appropriate. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with adjusted models including demographic and relevant clinical data.
Results: 177 patients were identified with both hypospadias and UDT, with 17/111 (15.3 %) diagnosed with DSD. The most common etiology of DSD was mixed gonadal dysgenesis (35.3 %; n = 6). Proximal hypospadias made up only 59.6 % of those without DSD vs. 100 % of those with confirmed DSD (p = 0.0044). A significantly smaller proportion of DSD patients had bilaterally palpable gonads compared to those without DSD (29.4 % vs. 79.8 %, p < 0.0001). Compared to those with palpable testes, patients with one non-palpable testicle had up to 26.67 times greater odds of DSD.
Conclusions: To date, we present the largest cohort of patients that have undergone DSD work up for the combined presentation of hypospadias and UDT. Our findings highlight an increase in DSD diagnosis in proximal hypospadias patients with non-palpable UDTs, which offers further evidence and support for pursuing DSD diagnostic work-up in all proximal hypospadias patients with UDTs.
Background: The exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) is a spectrum of rare congenital defects affecting the genitourinary system that includes epispadias, bladder exstrophy, and cloacal exstrophy. EEC patients may require several surgeries throughout their lifetime and experience a number of difficulties that may impact their quality of life (QoL), mental health, and psychosocial functioning.
Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to systematically map existing literature that explores the mental health, psychosocial functioning, and QoL of children and adolescents with EEC.
Study design: A search strategy on multiple bibliographic databases was created using a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords for the concepts of bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, or epispadias.
Results: The initial search identified 6303 unique articles. 254 articles were selected for full-text review, and 76 articles were identified for data extraction. Articles were excluded if they solely focused on adults. 25 articles are included in this review regarding child and adolescent experiences with EEC.
Discussion: Many child-focused studies utilized HRQoL measures to explore changes to an individual's quality of life after undergoing specific continence surgeries, with many studies finding improved QoL after surgery. As children age into adolescence, the research also demonstrates that experiences with QoL may change, with additional differences by gender. Body- and self-image seemed to become more of a concern as patients aged into adolescence, with special consideration for cloacal exstrophy patients who often undergo routine neonatal assignment genetic male to female.
Conclusions: The existing literature suggests that current measures do not demonstrate that children and adolescents with EEC function differently than the general population, but children with EEC have a greater likelihood of experiencing a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems as they reach adolescence. Future studies should further explore manifestations of mental health and QoL throughout the life course.