BackTable Urology

What role does prostate artery embolization (PAE) play in modern prostate cancer care? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Nainesh Parikh (Interventional Radiology at Moffitt Cancer Center) and Dr. Kosj Yamoah (Radiation Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center) join Dr. Ruchika Talwar (Vanderbilt University) to discuss how PAE could become a key adjunct in optimizing radiation therapy outcomes. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction01:44 - Why Use PAE in Cancer04:08 - Neoadjuvant and Salvage Use07:26 - Radiation Planning Benefits12:51 - PAE vs. Surgery18:36 - SBRT Access20:48 - Current Evidence and Trials25:29 - Patient Selection32:18 - PAE After Radiation36:56 - When to Avoid PAE40:29 - Long-Term Implications44:28 - Conclusions --- More about this episode They review how PAE can improve lower urinary tract symptoms and reduce prostate volume, potentially optimizing patients for radiation therapy, including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and brachytherapy. The discussion highlights early clinical data and patient selection considerations such as gland size and symptom burden. Finally, they examine post-radiation applications, technical challenges, and current limitations, emphasizing the need for larger, multicenter trials to better define PAE’s role in prostate cancer treatment pathways. --- Resources Prostate Artery Embolization in the Setting of Prostate Cancer: Review and Opinionhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11775958/

What if we’re waiting too long to offer our OAB patients the treatments that actually work? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Jason Kim joins host Dr. Anjali Kapur to discuss updates in overactive bladder management and evolving guidelines, including a shift away from rigid stepwise care toward shared decision-making. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction03:06 - 2024 AUA/SUFU Idiopathic OAB Guideline07:32 - Patient Experience with OAB11:59 - Beta-3 Agonists vs Anticholinergics15:15 - Botox Counseling and Dosing18:11 - Tibial Nerve Stimulation25:47 - Sacral Neuromodulation32:09 - Cost Burden of OAB39:38 - Evolution of OAB Care41:39 - Future Research Directions --- More about this episode The conversation positions OAB as a clinical diagnosis, supported by focused initial evaluation and selective use of advanced testing, with attention to the emerging role of ambulatory urodynamics. Dr. Kim and Dr. Kapur review management across the care continuum, including behavioral strategies, pelvic floor physical therapy, and pharmacologic options, with consideration of beta-3 agonists in older patients. The discussion also focuses on earlier use of minimally invasive therapies such as intradetrusor Botox and neuromodulation, and how introducing these options sooner may improve follow-up, reduce delays, and help patients achieve symptom control more efficiently. --- Resources The AUA/SUFU Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Overactive Bladder (2024)https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/idiopathic-overactive-bladder Anticholinergic Drug Exposure and the Risk of Dementiahttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2736353 Randomized trial of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus Sham efficacy in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome: results from the SUmiT trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20171677/ Trends in Utilization of Sacral Neuromodulation for Overactive Bladder: Insight From the AUA AQUA Registryhttps://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000916 A retrospective longitudinal evaluation of new overactive bladder patients in an FPMRS urologist practice: Are patients following up and utilizing third-line therapies?https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197059/

What are the key decision points in managing renal, bladder, and urethral trauma? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Niels Johnson (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) joins host Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to discuss the 2025 American College of Surgeons (ACS) best practice guidelines for genitourinary trauma. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction05:09 - Who Manages GU Trauma?13:53 - Purpose of ACS Guidelines16:13 - Development of ACS Guidelines20:01 - Foley Catheter Debate23:26 - Renal Trauma26:40 - Imaging Protocols and Delays29:30 - Bladder Trauma and Special Populations33:15 - Urethral Injuries38:02 - Genital Wounds and Antibiotics39:42 - Transfer Criteria and Resources41:26 - Conclusions --- More about this episode Dr. Johnson and Dr. Koch review the rationale for developing multidisciplinary guidelines and the variability in genitourinary trauma care across institutions. The discussion highlights key management principles, including non-operative strategies for renal trauma, decision-making in bladder and urethral injuries, and how urinary diversion impacts orthopedic and trauma surgical planning. The episode also addresses considerations for special populations, long-term functional outcomes, and practical implementation tools, such as the ACS gap analysis checklist, designed to improve coordination and quality of care across trauma systems. --- Resources ACS Best Practices Guidelines: Management of Genitourinary Injuries (August 2025)https://www.facs.org/media/ya5hcu0s/genitourinary_guidelines.pdf

What are the key practice changes introduced in the new American Urological Association (AUA) vasectomy guidelines? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Akanksha Mehta (Emory University), Vice Chair of the AUA Vasectomy Guidelines Committee, joins Dr. Catherine Nam (University of Michigan) to discuss the latest updates to vasectomy practice. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Mehta and Dr. Nam review the key changes in vasectomy guidelines. They address common misconceptions about sexual function and long-term health risks, as well as the role of telemedicine consultation and day-of-procedure examination. Their discussion also covers recommended surgical techniques and updated guidance on post-vasectomy semen analysis, including mail-in testing options. Finally, Dr. Mehta outlines fertility considerations after vasectomy, including cryopreservation, reversal, and sperm retrieval with IVF, and how clinicians can counsel patients about expectations and referral pathways. --- TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction02:07 - Why Update the Guidelines05:38 - Key Guideline Changes11:02 - Sexual Function Concerns17:19 - Health Risks Debunked21:28 - Periprocedural Best Practices28:25 - Semen Analysis Follow Up37:12 - Future of Male Contraception39:11 - Conclusions --- RESOURCES Vasectomy: AUA Guideline (2026)https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/vasectomy-guideline

When a male patient presents with lower urinary tract symptoms, should you blame the bladder or bust the prostate? In this SUFU-sponsored episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Benjamin Brucker (NYU) and Dr. Craig Comiter (Stanford) join host Dr. Chris Tenggardjaja (Kaiser Permanente) for a discussion on evaluating and treating male LUTS using a bladder-and-outlet framework. --- This podcast was developed in collaboration with: Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU)https://sufuorg.com/home.aspx --- SYNPOSIS Through a case-based approach, they review initial evaluation strategies including symptom history, validated questionnaires, uroflowmetry, post-void residual measurement, and when tools like voiding diaries can help clarify the diagnosis. The conversation then moves to management, outlining a stepwise approach from behavioral interventions and medications to surgical options when symptoms persist. The doctors discuss how prostate anatomy, side effect profiles, and patient priorities guide treatment selection, when urodynamics may add diagnostic clarity, and why addressing outlet obstruction early may help prevent more difficult-to-treat bladder dysfunction over time. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction06:31 - Workup for Frequency and Nocturia11:41 - When to Use a Voiding Diary19:18 - Behavioral Therapy26:40 - Post-Finasteride Syndrome30:03 - Surgical Options44:41 - Nocturia Counseling47:32 - Botox With Outlet Surgery49:47 - When to Order Urodynamics54:14 - Bladder or Prostate? --- RESOURCES Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU)https://sufuorg.com/home

Not every pediatric GU injury fits neatly into the guidelines. In this episode of BackTable Urology, trauma reconstructive urologist Dr. Travis Pagliara (Hennepin County Medical Center) joins hosts Dr. Arthi Hannallah and Dr. Niccolo Passoni to walk through practical management of pediatric renal, bladder, urethral, and genital injuries. Through case-based discussion, they highlight diagnostic decision-making, when to observe versus intervene, and how to approach these patients in the acute setting. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation also explores operative pearls, the role of technologies like the Optilume balloon, and why thoughtful short-term follow up is critical for both patient outcomes and clinician learning. Together, they emphasize a measured, conservative mindset whenever appropriate to minimize morbidity while delivering high-quality trauma care. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction03:07 - Kidney and Ureteric Trauma19:16 - Urethral Trauma34:42 - MRI vs Ultrasound47:56 - Collaboration in Reconstructive Urology52:26 - Testicular Trauma57:29 - Epididymal Injury01:02:35 - Follow-Ups Matter01:05:14 - Foreign Body Stories01:06:52 - Career Advice

What do the 2025 AUA guidelines change about how we evaluate and manage chronic male pelvic pain? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Susan MacDonald (Penn State) joins host Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to break down the new American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines on chronic male pelvic pain, including chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome and chronic scrotal content pain. --- SYNPOSIS They review a structured approach from initial evaluation and physical examination to pain management. The discussion outlines an evidence-informed, multimodal management framework incorporating medications, pelvic floor physical therapy, behavioral health interventions, neuromodulators, and selective procedural strategies, with an emphasis on realistic expectation setting in this complex patient population. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction01:41 - Path to Chronic Pelvic Pain Work08:19 - Getting Involved with the AUA13:02 - Developing Guidelines19:56 - Initial Patient Evaluation27:11 - Setting Expectations32:05 - Making the Diagnosis35:17 - Success Rates and Counseling Patients39:51 - Central Sensitization44:31 - Physical Exam Recommendations49:26 - Non-Pharmacologic Options54:38 - Follow Up Cadence01:02:24 - Chronic Scrotal Pain vs CPPS01:08:26 - Conclusion --- RESOURCES Diagnosis and Management of Male Chronic Pelvic Pain (Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome and Chronic Scrotal Content Pain): AUA Guideline (2025)https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain

What do you do when metastatic urothelial cancer responds dramatically to systemic therapy? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Abhinav Khanna (Mayo Clinic) speaks with host Dr. Daniel Roberson about the growing question of consolidative surgery after enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab. They discuss how EV-pembro has reshaped treatment expectations, why unexpected complete or near-complete responses are prompting tumor board debates about cystectomy, and how careful multidisciplinary decision-making guides which patients may be considered for surgery. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation reviews early outcomes showing high rates of pathologic downstaging and the possibility that many patients may avoid additional systemic therapy after surgery, while emphasizing this approach is not yet standard of care. Dr. Khanna highlights coordination with medical oncology, radiology, and pathology, postoperative considerations, and the potential future role of biomarkers such as ctDNA. Ultimately, the episode underscores the need for clinical trials and thoughtful patient selection as clinicians navigate integrating surgery into an evolving systemic therapy landscape. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction02:19 - The Evolution of Urothelial Carcinoma Treatment05:23 - Rationale for Consolidative Surgery12:32 - Patient Selection Criteria15:23 - Surgical Approach and Considerations23:58 - Pathologic Findings31:34 - The Role of Radiation39:38 - Biomarkers44:10 - Prospective Trials and Future Directions53:06 - Guidance for Urologists --- RESOURCES Consolidative Surgery for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Following Induction Enfortumab Vedotin and/or Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: A Multicenter Analysishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40425390/ Enfortumab Vedotin and Pembrolizumab in Untreated Advanced Urothelial Cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312117 Standard or Extended Lymphadenectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2401497

Is transecting urethroplasty still the default, or is reconstructive urology moving beyond it? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ben Breyer (University of California San Francisco) joins host Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to discuss evolving approaches in reconstructive urology with an emphasis on complex stricture cases. --- SYNPOSIS Throughout the conversation, Dr. Breyer reflects on his path into the subspecialty and breaks down the evolution of reconstructive practice, particularly the shift from anastomotic urethroplasty to non-transecting techniques. Dr. Breyer and Dr. Koch also discuss managing complex urethral strictures, including cases involving prior radiation and inflammatory conditions, while emphasizing thoughtful patient selection and surgical planning. Finally, they explore the current training landscape, challenges in patient access to subspecialty reconstructive care, and why patient-reported outcomes will play a central role in shaping future innovation in urethral reconstruction. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction05:40 - Evolution of Surgical Techniques10:01 - Managing Complex Cases14:19 - Education and Training in Reconstructive Urology23:45 - The Future of Reconstructive Urology28:45 - The Journey of a Reconstructive Urologist30:45 - Challenges in Urology Training and Practice35:35 - Addressing Urologist Shortages in Rural Areas48:34 - Innovations and Research in Reconstructive Urology57:25 - Final Thoughts

When is active surveillance the right choice for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Claire de la Calle, Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of Washington, joins Dr. Ruchika Talwar to unpack how active surveillance has evolved beyond low-risk disease and why select Grade Group 2 patients may be appropriate candidates now with thoughtful patient selection. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation explores emerging tools that can refine surveillance decisions, including PSA density, MRI findings, genomic classifiers, and the growing role of AI-assisted pathology. Dr. de la Calle emphasizes the importance of nuanced patient counseling, acknowledging anxiety and long-term risk while reinforcing that time on active surveillance can be a meaningful win when oncologic outcomes remain comparable to upfront treatment. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction02:58 - Current Evidence05:03 - Patient Selection Criteria12:11 - Importance of PSA Density and Monitoring Protocols18:12 - Pathology and Genomic Testing32:18 - Future Directions and Research36:33 - Key Takeaways --- RESOURCES ProtecT Trial: Fifteen-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2214122 Canary PASS Studyhttps://canarypass.org/ Genomic Classifier Performance in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: Results From NRG Oncology/RTOG 0126 Randomized Phase 3 Trialhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37137444