Kamran Ahmed

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City | SKMC · Department of Urology

Purpose Advancements in medical treatments and increased access to healthcare have significantly extended the life expectancy of children with neurological disorders. However, this has also led to a higher incidence of secondary health issues, such as nephrolithiasis. This review aims to analyze the risk factors, management, and treatment outcomes...

Purpose Mirroring global trends, artificial intelligence advances in medicine, notably urolithiasis. It promises accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and forecasting epidemiological risks and stone passage. This systematic review aims to identify the types of AI models utilised in urolithiasis studies and evaluate their effectiveness. Methods...

Purpose We aimed to investigate controversial pediatric urolithiasis issues systematically, integrating expert consensus and comprehensive guidelines reviews. Methods Two semi-structured online focus group meetings were conducted to discuss the study’s need and content, review current literature, and prepare the initial survey. Data were collected...

Background To examine the artificial intelligence (AI) tools currently being studied in modern medical education, and critically evaluate the level of validation and the quality of evidence presented in each individual study. Methods This review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023410752) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic R...

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of HPL on different parameters by different centers and urologists. While doing this, we evaluated different parameters by comparing HPL(High Power laser) and LPL(Low-power laser). This is an observational, retrospective, comparative, multicentric study of prospectively organised database. A total of 2...

The next generation of surgical robotics is poised to disrupt healthcare systems worldwide, requiring new frameworks for evaluation. However, evaluation during a surgical robot's development is challenging due to their complex evolving nature, potential for wider system disruption and integration with complementary technologies like artificial inte...

Introduction Laser anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (LAEEP) has emerged as a promising new approach in endoscopic surgery for BPH. LAEEP could still result in ejaculatory dysfunction. Aim This systematic review aimed to examine the impact of LAEEP on male ejaculatory functions. Methods The review was conducted according to the Pr...

Purpose of review Simulation is a key component of surgical training, enabling trainees to develop their skills in a safe environment. With simulators broadly grouped into physical models and virtual-reality (VR) simulators, it is important to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the simulator types in terms of validity as well as cost. The re...

Objectives To evaluate the evidence base for patient, oncological, and treatment prognostic factors associated with multiple mental wellbeing outcomes in prostate cancer patients. Methods We performed a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases including studies evaluating patient, oncological, or treatment factors against one of...

Aim Urology has been at the forefront of adopting laparoscopic and robot-assisted techniques to improve patient outcomes. Defining the learning curves for these procedures enables assessment of trainee performances relative to expected progress and has important implications in research. This systematic review aimed to examine the literature relati...

Objectives In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of HPL on different parameters by different centers and urologists.While doing this, we evaluated different parameters by comparing HPL(High Power laser) and LPL(Low power laser). Methods This is an observational, retrospective, comparative, multicentric study of prospectively organised data...

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition defined as the presence of bacteria within the urine above a certain threshold (usually >100,000 m/L). The lifetime risk in women is estimated to be 50%, of whom 25% will develop recurrence within 6 months. Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics to treat and manage recurrent UTI (rUTI) is a growing...

Background: Urology has been at the forefront of adopting laparoscopic and robot-assisted techniques to improve patient outcomes. This systematic review aimed to examine the literature relating to the learning curves of major urological robotic and laparoscopic procedures. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature se...

Background The mental wellbeing implications of a prostate cancer diagnosis are increasingly being realised. Significant mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety, along with related constructs such as fear of cancer recurrence, body image and masculine self-esteem issues are prevalent. However, less is understood about potential progno...

Context: Treatment choice for localised prostate cancer remains a significant challenge for patients and clinicians, with uncertainty over decisions potentially leading to conflict and regret. There is a need to further understand the prevalence and prognostic factors of decision regret to improve patient quality of life. Objective: To generate...

Injection of exogenous material into the penis and scrotum has been performed for augmentation purposes. Complications include cosmetic dissatisfaction, penile necrosis and lymphoedema. We report the complications and outcomes from a single centre with an updated systematic review of the literature. A retrospective review of all cases presenting wi...

Introduction Quality of life in prostate cancer survivorship is becoming increasingly important, with mental and social wellbeing recognised as key components. However, limited global evaluation of psychosocial challenges experienced after treatment exists. Therefore, we aimed to explore the lived experiences of men who underwent radical treatment,...

This review aims to provide an update on the role of augmented reality (AR) in surgical training and investigate whether the use of AR improves performance measures compared to traditional approaches in surgical trainees. PUBMED, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, British Library and Science Direct were searched following PRIMSA guidelines....

Due to its advantages over open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, uptake of robot-assisted surgery has rapidly increased. It is important to know whether the existing open or laparoscopic skills of robotic novices shorten the robotic surgery learning curve, potentially reducing the amount of training required. This systematic review aims to ass...

Introduction Recent advancements in surgical technology, reduced working hours, and training opportunities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in simulation-based training. Furthermore, a rise in endovascular procedures has led to a requirement for high-fidelity simulators that offer comprehensive feedback. This review aims...

The efficacy of many non-surgical treatments for Peyronie’s disease is unclear. This systematic review aims to critically assess the currently available options and provide a recommendation for treatment based on this. A systematic literature search utilising the Medline (Pubmed), Embase, global health and Cochrane library databases was conducted u...

Purpose Urinary incontinence remains common in men after prostatectomy. Current guidance suggests early corrective surgery to those that are still incontinent after trying Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy, however, other treatments are now available. This review aims to evaluate all currently available treatment options for men with post-prostatectomy i...

Background and aim: The aim of this study is to validate a totally non biologic training model that combines the use of ultrasound and X ray to train Urologists and Residents in Urology in PerCutaneous NephroLithotripsy (PCNL). Methods: The training pathway was divided into three modules: Module 1, related to the acquisition of basic UltraSound...

Aim To evaluate whether surgical trainees undergoing additional simulation, compared to conventional training, are able to achieve proficiency sooner with better patient outcomes. Methods This international, multicentre randomised controlled superiority trial recruited urology trainees (n=94) who had performed ≤10 ureterorenoscopy (URS) cases, as...

Background Educational videos are a potent resource for the learning of surgical skills among different study cohorts. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of different educational video interventions and their features. A systematic search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via OVID), Cochrane libraries and Clinicaltrials.gov was...

Background : Male factor infertility often results from testicular disorders leading to inadequate sperm quantity and quality. Both beneficial and detrimental effects of botanical products, especially herbal medicines, on testicular functions and male fertility have been reported in the literature. Purpose : This scoping review aims to map the mai...

Introduction The impact of prostate cancer on an individual's mental wellbeing is becoming increasingly apparent. However, less is known about which patient, treatment and oncological factors are associated with poorer wellbeing outcomes. Methods This ongoing prospective cohort study follows newly diagnosed patients for 1 year post cancer diagnosi...

Purpose The impact of prostate cancer on the mental wellbeing of patients is increasingly being appreciated. Two important aspects of this include fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) anxiety. However, their prevalence, severity and associating factors remain poorly understood. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate...

Background Urology has considerable gender disparity with just 10.3% of UK consultant posts held by women and lower than the 13.2% average across all surgical specialties. Medicine is no longer a male-dominated vocation, with women making up the majority of medical graduates for almost 30 years. To recruit the highest calibre doctors, urology needs...

Purpose There is a growing emphasis on improving quality of life of people with prostate cancer. However, those undergoing active surveillance remain underrepresented in the literature with less known about their unique challenges. Therefore, we aimed to explore their lived experiences post diagnosis and its effect on their mental, social, and phys...

Introduction: The impact of radical prostatectomy on the social well-being of survivors remains poorly understood. This meta-synthesis therefore aimed to integrate the findings of qualitative research evaluating the impact of surgery on the patient relationships with partners, family and wider societal interactions. Methods: Medline, CINAHL, Psy...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is known to significantly impact patients' mental wellbeing. Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, along with related outcomes such as fear of recurrence, body image perception and masculine self-esteem are impacted. Uncertainty remains however regarding patient, oncological and treatment f...

The purpose of simulation is to refine the process of surgical training through valid, reliable, and feasible platforms. Immersive technology describes a spectrum of simulation platforms which balance the physical world on one end and the virtual world on the other. The value of immersive technology in urological simulation has been evidenced by a...

Background: Physical complications of radical prostatectomy such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence affect a high proportion of survivors. There is an increasing body of evidence describing the impact of surgery and its complications on the social wellbeing of patients, however big review studies are not available on this topic. Aims...

Background: Increasingly, the consequences of prostate cancer (PCa) on patients’ mental wellbeing are becoming clearer. It is known issues such as depression, anxiety, fear of recurrence/progression (FCR), poor body image and masculine self-esteem can occur following treatment. Less is known about the burden of these at diagnosis. Aims: To investi...

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that the psychosocial impact of living with untreated prostate cancer is underestimated. Qualitative studies in this field focused more on the perception of living with untreated disease, rather than the biopsychosocial and holistic impact this has on patients. Aims: This qualitative study therefore...

Background It is hypothesised that simulation enhances progression along the initial phase of the surgical learning curve. Objective To evaluate whether residents undergoing additional simulation, compared to conventional training, are able to achieve proficiency sooner with better patient outcomes. Design, setting, and participants This internat...

The purpose of this review was to summarize and compare the efficacy among surgical interventions in terms of symptomatic relief in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). The review protocol was published on PROSPERO. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist was foll...

The aim of this study was to identify potential hazards for the inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgical procedure and from this develop and content validate an IPP intraoperative competency-based assessment tool. A multi-institutional longitudinal prospective observational study was conducted over a 6-month period. Healthcare Failure Mode and E...

This chapter covers the mind and body in Mens’ Health, including definitions of Mental Wellbeing, the mind and body in benign male conditions, male cancers, detecting and managing mental wellbeing problems.

Objective The main aim of this study was to report the outcomes of azoospermic men with suspicious testicular lesions, undergoing microsurgical sperm retrieval (micro-oncoTESE) at the time of radical/partial orchidectomy. Patients and methods Testicular lesions suspicious for cancer were confirmed on ultrasound scanning. In patients undergoing rad...

Purpose Body image, self-esteem, and masculinity are three interconnected constructs in men with prostate cancer, with profound effects on quality of life. This meta-synthesis aimed to evaluate all known qualitative studies published studying the effect of prostate cancer on these constructs. Methods A systematic review utilising PubMed, Embase, M...

Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common condition, yet remains a challenge to treat in clinical practice due to the heterogeneity of symptoms. The aim of this article is to undertake a narrative review using key research papers in this field in order to develop a treatment algorithm and research recommendations for the management of type II and type I...

Background Virtual reality (VR) training is widely used for surgical training, supported by comprehensive, high-quality validation. Technological advances have enabled the development of procedural-based VR training. This study assesses the effectiveness of procedural VR compared to basic skills VR in minimally invasive surgery. Methods 26 novice...

Objectives: The disruption to surgical training and medical education caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for realistic, reliable, and engaging educational opportunities available outside of the operating theatre and accessible for trainees of all levels. This paper presents the design and development of a virtual reality c...

Background The use of simulation-based training tools within surgery is rapidly increasing and has demonstrated promising alternative training modalities allowing for surgical skill enhancement despite workplace pressures. Whilst many simulators have been investigated for their validity, this has not been demonstrated across all domains. This revie...

Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction.

The presence of lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic indicator for patients with penile cancer. However, predicting which clinically node negative patients will harbor lymph node metastases remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of biomarkers p53, Ki-67, and SCCAg in predicting lymph node meta...

Primary localised amyloidosis of the urethra is a rare entity with only 50 cases reported in the literature. The deposition of fibrillary proteins can lead to a range of symptoms. Importantly, the clinical and cystoscopic features may mimic urethral malignancy (haematuria, voiding difficulties, and a palpable urethral mass), and so thorough investi...

Objective Different simulation modalities may be utilised in a curricular fashion to benefit from the strengths of each training model. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel multi-modality ureterorenoscopy (URS) simulation curriculum in terms of educational value, content validity, transfer of skills and inter-rater reliability.Methods This...

Purpose The interplay between physical and mental aspects of a cancer diagnosis are well recognised. However, little consensus exists on the impact of depression and anxiety on urological cancer outcomes. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the relationship between these conditions and functional or oncological outcomes in urolog...

Objectives: To identify the currently utilised techniques of anterior urethroplasty described in literature for treatment of urethral strictures, assess the effectiveness of the identified techniques based on re-stricture and complication rates, evaluate, and suggest treatment options based on current evidence for urethral strictures at different...

It has been demonstrated that publication of individual surgeons' outcomes has improved patient safety and choice. Taking into consideration the lack of negative impact on patient selection and surgical training, it is difficult to argue that surgeons' outcomes should not be openly available in urology.

Background Unsteady camera movement and poor visualization contribute to a difficult learning curve for laparoscopic surgery. Remote-controlled camera holders (RCHs) aim to mitigate these factors and may be used to overcome barriers to learning. Our aim was to evaluate performance benefits to laparoscopic skill acquisition in novices using a RCH.Me...

Objectives: Urolithiasis is one of the most common presentations in urological practice and it is becoming increasingly important to provide structured, simulation-based training using validated training models. This systematic review aims to identify current simulation-based training models as well as to evaluate their validity and effectiveness....

To assess the role of live porcine simulation in robotic surgical skills training. A qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted of participants of a live porcine robotic simulation course undertaken in a regional training centre. Data on participants’ experience, robotic surgical ability, the educational impact and outcomes from the course w...

Objective In the last decade non-technical skills (NTS) have emerged as a vital area for improvement within surgery. This study aims to develop and evaluate a Non-technical Skills for Urological Surgeons (NoTSUS) training curriculum and assessment scale.Methods This international, longitudinal and observational study began with a 3-round Delphi met...

Background: Basic simulation training in endourology was established with the endoscopic stone treatment step 1(EST s1), which is now recognised worldwide for training and examination. Following on from EST s1, the EST s2 was started by the EAU sections. Objective: We describe the methodology used in the development of Endoscopic Stone treatment...

Introduction Postoperative pulmonary complications and mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic have been higher than expected, leading to mass cancellation of elective operating in the UK. To minimise this, the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust elective surgery hub and the executive team at London Bridge Hospital (LBH) created...

Introduction Early exposure of medical students to surgical skills has been associated with an increased interest in pursuing a career in surgery. This study aimed to investigate the impact of student background on basic laparoscopic skills acquisition and perceived stress to workload during simulation. Method Students were recruited to a course m...

Introduction We assessed whether expert mentoring improved the rate of uptake of robotic surgical skill and whether general advanced psychomotor ability (PMA), and specific video-game experience (VGE) had any impact on robotic surgical skill. Method Twenty robotically naive medical students were blinded and randomised to two cohorts; control (CC)...

Objectives Several patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are available for the assessment of quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression for testicular cancer (TCa); however, these PROMs have uncertain validation of their psychometric properties for TCa‐only cohorts. This systematic review aims to critically analyse and evaluate the psychomet...