Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 62-64, 2006

Abstract Wait times for medical procedures in Canada continue to be a major issue in the delivery of timely health care. Patients scheduled to undergo surgery for urological malignancies, which include prostate, bladder, kidney and testes cancer, are among the many affected populations. To address these important issues, a Surgical Wait Time (SWAT) initiative was undertaken. The SWAT initiative, whose members consist of urological oncologists, surgeons and methodologists was mandated to assess current wait times in Canada, review the relevant literature on the surgical wait times for urological cancers and then develop a consensus document that More >

Michael Jewett¹, Ricardo Rendon², George Dranitsaris³, Darrel Drachenberg⁴, Simon Tanguay⁵, Bryan Donnelly⁶, Neil Fleshner¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 54-61, 2006

Abstract Background: Prolonged surgical wait times have significant effects on a patient's psychological well-being and a negative impact on quality of life but the effect on long-term cancer control is controversial. We conducted a systematic review of the renal cancer literature to examine the best available evidence addressing the following key questions:
• What is the reported time interval for renal cancer patients from the initial surgical consultation until the day of renal cancer surgery?
• Are there recommendations/guidelines in the urological cancer literature and, if so, how do the Canadian times compare?
• Is there a known… More >

Yves Fradet¹, Armen Aprikian², George Dranitsaris³, Robert Siemens⁴, John Tsihlias⁵, Neil Fleshner⁵

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 37-47, 2006

Abstract Background: Prolonged surgical wait times have significant effects on a patient's psychological well-being and a negative impact on quality of life but the effect on long-term cancer control is controversial. We conducted a systematic review of the bladder cancer literature to examine the best available evidence addressing the following key questions:
• What is the reported time interval for bladder cancer patients from the decision to operate until the day of bladder cancer surgery?
• Are there recommendations/guidelines in the urological cancer literature and, if so, how do the Canadian times compare?
• Is there a known… More >

David Bell¹, Christopher Morash², George Dranitsaris³, Jonathan Izawa⁴, Thomas Short⁵, Laurence H. Klotz⁶, Neil Fleshner⁷

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 30-36, 2006

Abstract Background: The wait times for urological cancer surgeries in Canada are beyond those recommended by the Canadian Association of Surgical Oncology. Prolonged wait times have a negative impact on patient quality of life but the effect on long-term cancer control is controversial. We conducted a systematic review of the testicular cancer literature to examine the best available evidence addressing the following key questions:
• What is the reported time interval for testicular cancer patients from the decision to operate until the day of testicular cancer surgery?
• Are there recommendations/guidelines in the urological cancer literature and, if… More >

Fred Saad¹, Antonio Finelli², George Dranitsaris³, Larry Goldenberg⁴, Scott Bagnell⁵, Martin Gleave⁴, Neil Fleshner²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 16-24, 2006

Abstract Background: The wait times for prostate cancer surgery in Canada have increased over the past 2 decades. Prolonged wait times have a negative impact on patient quality of life but the effect on long-term cancer control is undefined. We conducted a systematic literature review to examine the best available evidence addressing the following key questions:
• What is the reported time interval for prostate cancer patients from the decision to operate until the day of cancer surgery?
• Are there recommendations/guidelines in the urological cancer literature and, if so, how do the Canadian times compare?
• Is… More >

Neil Fleshner¹, George Dranitsaris², Antonio Finelli¹, John Tsihlias¹, David Bell³, Martin Gleave⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 3-13, 2006

Abstract Background: The wait times for urological cancer surgeries in Canada have increased over the past 2 decades. This is of concern to patients, physicians and other key stakeholders because there is evidence that delaying surgery beyond a recommended threshold could have a negative impact on clinical outcomes. To address these trends, a Canadian surgical wait times (SWAT) initiative has been undertaken to develop a consensus document and make recommendations on appropriate wait times. As a first step, the SWAT steering committee determined that current wait times estimates were required for the four key disease sites: prostate,… More >

Tajender S. Vasu, William Clayton Elliot, Robert S. H. Lai

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 2993-2996, 2006

Abstract We present a case of an adult male who was admitted with acute renal failure. In evaluating the potential causes of renal failure, workup discovered bilateral ureteroceles. Surgical treatments of the ureteroceles lead to reversal of his acute renal failure. This is the first time that treatment of ureteroceles has been reported to correct acute renal failure in the English literature. More >

George J. Assaf

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 3034-3038, 2006

Abstract Objectives: To report our experience in the management of patients with non-palpable lesions of the testis with a review of published studies. Even though radical orchiectomy remains the golden standard treatment for solid testicular masses there is an increasing role for testes-sparing surgery in a select group of patients with non-palpable tumors.
Patients and methods: Between April 2000 and October 2004, a non-palpable testicular lesion was discovered on ultrasonography in six patients. Ultrasonography was performed for infertility in two patients, for testicular pain in three patients, and in one case for previous history of seminoma in the More >

Jason P. Izard¹, Richard D. Sowery¹, Melanie T. Jaeger², D. Robert Siemens¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 3158-3163, 2006

Abstract Introduction and objectives: Peri-operative bladder management after major arthroplasty procedures remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of urological complications in those patients undergoing hip or knee joint replacement. As well, we identified those factors that may affect the likelihood of developing complications.
Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one consecutive patients receiving a total knee or hip arthroplasty were reviewed. The outcomes measured were prolonged urinary retention, as well as urinary tract infections and the development of a septic prosthesis. Statistical significance of any predisposing factors identified was determined using a two-tailed Fisher… More >

Allen F. Morey¹, L. Andrew Evans¹, R. Clayton McDonough III², Alyssa M. Park¹, Wade J. Sexton², Joseph W. Basler³, Richard A. Santucci⁴, Christopher L. Amling⁵, Keith J. O’Reilly⁶

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 3250-3254, 2006

Abstract Objectives: We performed the first prospective, randomized, multi-center comparison of overall quality and patient tolerability of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium phosphate (NaP) solution for mechanical bowel preparation prior to urinary diversion surgery.
Methods: Between 2001 and 2003, 36 patients at six institutions underwent major urological reconstructive surgery incorporating small intestine (35 radical cystectomy with urinary diversion and 1 bladder augmentation). Patients were prospectively randomized to receive either oral polyethylene glycol (group 1, n=16) or sodium phosphate (group 2, n=20) for mechanical bowel preparation prior to surgery, according to our multi-institutional IRB-approved protocol. All patients completed… More >