Fellowship and Subspecialization in Urology: An Analysis of Robotic-assisted Partial Nephrectomy

To evaluate the impact of a urologic fellowship on physician case-volume and immediate patient outcomes, and to assess predictors of undergoing a robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy by a fellowship-trained (FT) urologist.

We retrospectively reviewed all robotic (ICD-9 17.4) partial nephrectomies (PN; ICD-9 55.4) reported in the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative Systems (SPARCS) database of New York State (NYS) from 2009 to 2014. Perioperative outcomes assessed included length of stay, 30-day readmission rates, 90-day readmission rates, and complication rates. Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables, and unpaired Student t tests were used to assess continuous variables.

FT urologists performed 2199 (56%) RAPN during the study period, and nonfellowship trained (NFT) urologists completed 1700 (44%) RAPN. FT urologists performed more RAPN in teaching hospitals than NFT urologists (23% vs 7%). The average surgical volume per year for a FT urologist conducting RAPN was 9.6 ± 2.2 cases/y. NFT urologists had an average surgical volume of 7.2 ± 1.5 cases/y (P = <.0001). No significant difference was found in length of stay, 30- or 90-day readmission rate, or complication rate between the groups. RAPN conducted at teaching hospitals were more likely to be conducted by FT urologists. Patients who were self-payers were less likely to have a RAPN by FT urologists.

There were no differences for RAPN perioperative outcomes between FT urologists and their NFT peers. FT urologists perform a higher case-volume of RAPN in NYS, and this trend is increasing.