title: Characterizing the Morbidity of Postchemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Testis Cancer in a National Cohort of Privately Insured Patients.
abstract: To characterize morbidity of postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) for testis cancer, we analyze a contemporary national database. PC-RPLND is the standard for residual radiographic masses ≥1 cm (nonseminoma) and positron emission tomography-avid masses ≥3 cm (seminoma). Morbidity for PC-RPLND is greater than primary RPLND, which may be mitigated by performing surgery at a high-volume cancer center.
  
  
  
  Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition codes identified men with testis cancer undergoing PC- or primary RPLND in MarketScan (2007-2012). Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with receiving adjunctive procedures (ie, nephrectomy, vascular reconstruction), prolonged hospitalization, and 90-day readmission. Geographic variables assessed regionalization of PC-RPLND.
  
  
  
  Of 559 men with claims for PC- or primary RPLND (206, 37% PC-RPLND), 19% of PC-RPLND underwent adjunctive procedures (vs 1% among RPLND, P  <  .01). For PC-RPLND, the nephrectomy rate was 10% and the vascular reconstruction rate was 8%. On multivariable analysis, PC-RPLND was associated with undergoing adjunctive procedures (odds ratio 41.9; 95% confidence interval 11.7, 150) and prolonged hospitalization (odds ratio 3.75; 95% confidence interval 1.68, 8.42) compared to primary RPLND. PC-RPLND was not associated with 90-day readmission. Up to 29% of PC-RPLNDs are performed in centers, billing just a single case through MarketScan in the 6 years studied.
  
  
  
  PC-RPLND is associated with adjunctive procedures and longer hospitalizations. Given the morbidity of PC-RPLND in this young patient population, efforts are needed to establish quality benchmarks for, reduce the morbidity of, and to accurately discriminate risk during patient discussions prior to this complex, specialized surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Electronic address: liamcm@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Liam C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Saneal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajanahally
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Jasmir G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Brodie A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Jorge D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Schade
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Atreya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult