Remaining true to its threefold commitment to education, research, and patient care, the 112th meeting begins Friday in Boston with a broad and varied program that combines cutting-edge science with traditional patient service that never becomes outdated.
More than 16,000 attendees representing more than 100 countries will encounter learning and networking opportunities that include almost 100 courses and 2,500 scientific abstracts. Driven by feedback from each year's attendees and the AUA membership, the 2017 meeting will introduce new sessions and programs and provide encore appearances of traditionally popular, well-attended sessions, said Victor Nitti, MD, chair of the AUA Education Council.
"About 30 of the courses will be new to the AUA this year," said Nitti, of NYU-Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Four of the courses will focus on new AUA guidelines that will be presented at the meeting -- management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, surgical management of stress incontinence, and evaluation and management of localized renal masses.
"An entire section -- a total of 10 sessions -- is devoted to urologic research, from basic science to specialty and subspecialty clinical research. This is probably the largest research program we've ever had."
Returning this year will be a 2-day course for advanced practice providers. New to the course will be a hands-on, clinically oriented session, focusing on contemporary urodynamics.
New to the AUA will be a course on clinical urologic care for transgender patients and a course on focal therapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Another new program will address issues involving dementia, cognition, and the aging bladder, said Nitti.
A few years ago the AUA introduced a two-track plenary program that runs throughout the meeting. Two concurrent plenary sessions offer attendees different types of programming to meet the membership's varied interests. This year the plenary program will continue to evolve with the introduction of "Next Frontiers" plenary track, which focuses on emerging science and clinical practice.
"Next Frontiers will cover some of the 'latest and greatest' things going on in urology, things that perhaps are not quite ready for prime time but that might be ready in the very near future," said Nitti.
Anticipated results of several clinical trials will be reported as late-breaking science at the meeting. New data will include results from a phase III multicenter, randomized trial comparing blue- and white-light cystoscopy in the treatment of bladder cancer. Nitti also cited a multicenter Italian study of quality of life following penile prosthesis implantation.
Historically, the AUA meeting has included multiple point/counterpoint programs that address controversies in urology practice. This year's controversies include a session on use of mesh in female pelvic medicine. Related sessions will cover surgical therapy and the pubovaginal sling, a procedure attracting renewed interest because of problems arising from the use of mesh.
Recognizing that surgical procedures do not always proceed as planned, the AUA will repeat the SOS sessions -- Setbacks and Operative Solutions.
"The SOS sessions are designed to answer the question, what happens when something goes wrong? How do we fix it?" said Nitti.
The popular Crossfire presentations will return for another round of debate and discussion. Introduced several years ago, the presentations bring together experts with different opinions on controversial topics and allow them to state their own case and point out flaws in their opponents' counter arguments. Different crossfire sessions will address ureteroscopy, adult-onset hypogonadism, prostate needle biopsy, renal trauma, and focal therapy of the prostate, as well as the session dealing with mesh repairs.
"There will also be other sessions that include second opinions or secondary looks at various issues, including kidney stones, Peyronie's disease, treatment of renal hilar mass, managing malfunction of an artificial sphincter, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and urinary incontinence," said AUA President Richard Babayan, MD, of Boston University.
Each year the AUA invites authorities in areas outside of urology to present guest lectures on topics applicable to urology and the broader field of medicine. The Lattimer Lecture will be given by Andrew Vickers, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who will discuss "Net Benefits and Clinical Decision Making in Urology." David Page, MD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology will deliver the Ramon Guiteras Lecture, "Why the Y Chromosome?"
An entire session has been set aside for presentation of late-breaking science, abstracts containing clinical and scientific information that did not become available until after the deadline for submitting abstracts had closed, said Babayan. Other presentations will dissect the implications of the recently revised US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation for prostate cancer screening.
Noting the varied clinical and professional makeup of attendees, Babayan added, "This year's program is not just for urologists. There are sessions for medical students, residents, and nonphysician providers, such as advanced practice nurses and physician's assistants. We also have research sessions geared to scientists who conduct research in urology. There is something for everybody -- from practicing urologists to would-be urologists of the future and professionals who work with them."
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