Current urethroplasty trends in recent GURS fellowship graduates.

PURPOSE

To assess self-reported urethroplasty success rates and outcomes of recent GURS fellowship graduates and compare these data to the large body of published urethroplasty outcomes literature.

METHODS

A voluntary survey was distributed from June 1 to June 30, 2023 to GURS fellowship graduates of the last 5 years. Participants were surveyed on time since graduation, operative volume, outcomes, and quoted success rates for urethroplasty. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and correlative analyses.

RESULTS

We received responses from 49/101 (48.5%) GURS graduates. Five-year post-graduates were most represented (44.7%). The majority (52.2%) consider 81-90% of urethroplasty successful, without significant change with years in practice. Approximately 65% quoted excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) as > 90% successful. Over half of the respondents had performed > 60 urethroplasties since graduation. Only 31.3% of respondents reported re-intervening in > 10% of their postop patients, with a weak positive correlation between years in practice and need for re-intervention (p 0.01). Nearly 20% of respondents referred patients to an external reconstructionist.

CONCLUSION

Increased length of time in practice does not result in higher reported urethroplasty success rates, counseling on successful outcomes, or rates of re-intervention and complications. Our survey highlights that the traditionally used success rates for urethroplasty may not be reflective of new graduates and lower volume reconstructive surgeons in their early career.