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Introduction: Patients are routinely discharged postoperative day 1 following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for prostate cancer and kidney cancer. Delays in discharge are often related to gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting; however, the role of baseline constipation in these symptoms and resultant delays in discharge is unclear. We conducted a prospective observational study to describe the incidence of baseline constipation among patients undergoing MIS prostate and kidney surgery, and its relationship to length of stay (LOS).Methods: Consenting adult patients undergoing MIS procedures for kidney and prostate cancer completed constipation symptom questionnaires perioperatively. Clinicopathological data were collected prospectively. Delay in discharge, defined as LOS >2 days, was the primary outcome. Patients were stratified by the primary outcome and preoperative Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) scores were compared.Results: A total of 97 patients enrolled, of whom 29 underwent radical nephrectomy, 34 underwent robotic partial nephrectomy and 34 underwent robotic prostatectomy. Constipation symptoms were reported in 67/97 patients (69%). A total of 17/97 patients (18%) had a delay in discharge. Patients who discharged on time had a median PAC-SYM score of 2 (IQR 2e9) compared to 4 (IQR 0e7.5) for those with a delay (p¼0.021). Patients who had a delay with gastrointestinal symptoms had a median PAC-SYM score of 5 (IQR 1.5e11.5, p¼0.032).Conclusions: Seven out of 10 patients undergoing routine MIS procedures report constipation symptoms, which may represent a target for preoperative interventions to reduce LOS after surgery.

from a larger prevalence and proportion of women among surgical trainees in all disciplines (Fig 1A). However, growth rate among female urology residents (28%) lagged behind most specialties, ranking second-to-last (range 9%-149%, all p <0.01). While the proportional change in urology applicants has been significant (33%, p <0.01), growth rates have markedly slowed in the past 5 years compared to women in practice and training since 2007 (Fig 1B).CONCLUSIONS: While female representation in urology has improved relative to other surgical disciplines, slowing rates of recruitment among female residency applicants suggest a longer trajectory toward gender parity.