Bullying of vascular surgery trainees.

OBJECTIVE: Bullying is defined as the perception of negative actions in which the target has difficulty in defending themself. Bullying can include verbal, physical, and psychological force used to influence the target's behavior. We sought to understand the factors associated with bullying identified in vascular surgery trainees and the barriers to reporting. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey consisting of demographic information and validated scales for bullying (negative acts questionnaire - revised [NAQ-R]), social support, and grit was sent to vascular surgery trainees in the United States. The respondents who had reported experiencing bullying were compared with those who had not been bullied. RESULTS: Of the 516 trainees invited, 132 (26%) completed the survey. Of these 132 trainees, 63 (48%) reported having been bullied or witnessing a fellow trainee being bullied in the previous 6 months, with 42 (32%) reporting having been bullied. Gender, marital status, paradigm of vascular training, grit level, and social support did not predict for the receipt of bullying, although those in the highest quartile of grit showed a trend toward lower NAQ-R scores (P = .06). As expected, the trainees that reported having experienced bullying had had higher NAQ-R scores (P < .0001). No trainee reported daily bullying; however, 52% reported bullying "now and then" or several times a week. The most common perpetrator was their direct superior surgeon, although 12 (29%) had reported bullying from co-residents and 6 (14%) had reported bullying from patients. Of the 42 trainees who had reported experiencing bullying, 15 (36%) did not address the bullying behavior. The most common barriers to reporting bullying identified were fear of loss of support from their supervisor (48%), loss of reputation (45%), and effect on career choices (43%). Of those who reported addressing the behavior, 56% reported that the behavior had continued. Of the 132 respondents, 70 (53%) reported no knowledge of institution-specific policies to address bullying in their program. The most common reasons identified for why bullying might occur in vascular training programs were "high stress environments" and "learned behavior" from others. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that bullying occurs for a significant number of vascular trainees. However, we did not find any clearly identified factors predictive of who will experience bullying. Trainees with higher grit might experience less bullying or be more likely to have a lower perception of bullying behavior. Further research is needed to determine the effects of bullying on vascular trainees.

Impact of bowel preparation on elective colectomies for diverticulitis: analysis of the NSQIP database.

BACKGROUND: Recent data based on large databases show that bowel preparation (BP) is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. However, it remains unclear whether BP in elective colectomies would lead to similar results in patients with diverticulitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether bowel preparation affected the surgical site infections (SSI) and anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients with diverticulitis undergoing elective colectomies. STUDY DESIGN: We identified 16,380 diverticulitis patients who underwent elective colectomies from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) colectomy targeted database (2012-2017). Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to investigate the impact of different bowel preparation strategies on postoperative complications, including SSI and AL. RESULTS: In the identified population, a total of 2524 patients (15.4%) received no preparation (NP), 4715 (28.8%) mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) alone, 739 (4.5%) antibiotic bowel preparation (ABP) alone, and 8402 (51.3%) MBP + ABP. Compared to NP, patients who received any type of bowel preparations showed a significantly decreased risk of SSI and AL after adjustment for potential confounders (SSI: MBP [OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.70-0.96], ABP [0.69, 95%CI: 0.52-0.92]; AL: MBP [OR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.51-0.86], ABP [0.56, 95%CI: 0.34-0.93]), where the combination type of MBP + ABP had the strongest effect (SSI:OR = 0.58, 95%CI:0.50-0.67; AL:OR = 0.46, 95%CI:0.36-0.59). The significantly decreased risk of 30-day mortality was observed in the bowel preparation of MBP + ABP only (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.13-0.79). After the further stratification by surgery procedures, patients who received MBP + ABP showed consistently lower risk for both SSI and AL when undergoing open and laparoscopic surgeries (Open: SSI [OR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.37-0.69], AL [OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.25-0.91]; Laparoscopic: SSI [OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.47-0.72, AL [OR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.35-0.68]). CONCLUSIONS: MBP + ABP for diverticulitis patients undergoing elective open or laparoscopic colectomies was associated with decreased risk of SSI, AL, and 30-day mortality. Benefits of MBP + ABP for diverticulitis patients underwent robotic surgeries warrant further investigation.

Increased in-hospital mortality and emergent cases in patients with stage IV cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients in the USA are still being treated with aggressive, life-prolonging interventions. Palliative care services remain vastly underutilized despite surges in both quality and quantity of programs. We evaluated surgical outcomes of metastatic cancer patients to question whether palliative care may be a better option. STUDY DESIGN: We queried the 2014 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (NSQIP) for patients with a diagnosis of malignancy (ICD 9 Codes 145.00 to 200.00). Cases were divided into metastatic and non-metastatic cancer. Demographic data including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors, as well as complications and comorbidities were compared between these two groups. Independent t testing was used to compare continuous variables. Chi-square testing was used to compare categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess for predictors of mortality in metastatic cancer. RESULTS: A total of 80,275 cancer patients were analyzed, 11.8% (9423) of whom had metastatic disease. In-hospital mortality rate was found to be 4 times higher among patients with metastatic cancer (2.1% vs. 0.5%; P = < 0.0001). Of those metastatic cancer patients that died while in hospital, 18.5% had an emergency surgery performed. After adjusting for confounders, dyspnea at rest/moderate exertion (OR 5.7/2.4; 95% CI 2.7/1.6 to 11.9/3.7; P < 0.0001) was found to be the most significant predictor of in hospital mortality in stage IV cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Aggressive treatment in advanced cancer patients contributes to alarmingly high in-hospital mortality. Improved, deliberate communication of palliative care options with patients is exceedingly conducive to enhancing end-of-life cancer care.

Characterizing Epidemiology and Associated-Factors of Adolescent Sports-Related Traumas Using Trauma Quality Improvement Program.

ABSTRACT: Sports-related injuries contribute to a considerable proportion of pediatric and adolescent craniofacial trauma, which can have severe and longstanding consequences on physical and mental health. The growing popularity of sports within this at-risk group warrants further characterization of such injuries in order to enhance management and prevention strategies. In this study, the authors summarized key trends in 1452 sports-related injuries among individuals aged 16 to 19 using the American College of Surgeon's Trauma Quality Improvement Program database from 2014 to 2016. The authors observed a preponderance of injuries associated with skateboarding, snowboarding, and skiing, with significantly higher percentages of traumatic brain injuries among skateboarding-related traumas. Notably, we observed that traumatic brain injurie rates were slightly higher among subjects who wore helmets. Intensive care unit durations and hospital stays appeared to vary by sport and craniofacial fracture. Altogether, this study contributes to the adolescent sports-related injuries and craniofacial trauma literature.

Predictors of Delayed Emergency Department Throughput Among Blunt Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Delayed emergency department (ED) LOS has been associated with increased mortality and increased hospital length of stay (LOS) for various patient populations. Trauma patients often require significant effort in evaluation, workup, and disposition; however, patient and hospital characteristics associated with increased LOS in the ED for trauma patients remain unclear. METHODS: The Trauma Quality Improvement Project database (2014-2016) was queried for all adult blunt trauma patients. Patients discharged from the ED to the operating room were excluded. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of ED LOS, controlling for patient characteristics (age, gender, race, insurance status), hospital characteristics (teaching status, ACS trauma verification level, geographic region), abbreviated injury scale and comorbid status. RESULTS: 412,000 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. When controlling for covariates, an increase in age by 1 y resulted in 0.63 increased minutes in the ED (P < 0.001). In multivariable linear regression controlling for injury severity and comorbid conditions, non-white race groups, university status, and northeast region were associated with increased ED LOS. Black and Hispanic patients spent on average 41 and 42 more minutes, respectively, in the ED room when compared with white patients (P < 0.001). Patients seen at University hospitals spent 52 more minutes in the ED when compared with community hospitals, whereas patients at nonteaching hospitals spent 31 fewer minutes (P < 0.001). Patients seen in the Midwest spent the least amount of time in the ED, with patients in the South, West, and Northeast spending 45, 36, and 89 more minutes, respectively (P < 0.001). Non-Medicaid patients at level 1 trauma centers and those requiring intensive care admission had significantly decreased ED LOS. Medicaid patients took the longest to move through the ED with Medicare, BlueCross, and Private insurance outpacing them by 17, 23, and 23 min, respectively (P < 0.001). ACS level 1 trauma centers moved patients through the ED fastest, whereas ACS level II trauma centers and level III trauma centers moved patients through 50 and 130 min slower when compared with ACS level 1 trauma centers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ED LOS varied significantly by patient and hospital characteristics. Medicaid patients and those patients at university hospitals were associated with significantly higher ED LOS, whereas ACS trauma verification level status had strong correlation with ED LOS. These results may allow targeted quality improvement programs to enhance ED LOS.

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium as a Predictor of Surgical Risk in Cirrhotic Patients With Ascites.

BACKGROUND: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) incorporates hyponatremia into the MELD score and has been shown to correlate with surgical outcomes. The pathophysiology of hyponatremia parallels that of ascites, which purports greater surgical risk. This study investigates whether MELD-Na accurately predicts morbidity and mortality in patients with ascites undergoing general surgery procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005-2014) to examine the adjusted risk of morbidity and mortality of cirrhotic patients with and without ascites undergoing inguinal or ventral hernia repair, cholecystectomy, and lysis of adhesions for bowel obstruction. Patients were stratified by the MELD-Na score and ascites. Outcomes were compared between patients with and without ascites for each stratum using low MELD-Na and no ascites group as a reference. RESULTS: A total of 30,391 patients were analyzed. Within each MELD-Na stratum, patients with ascites had an increased risk of complications compared with the reference group (low MELD-Na and no ascites): low MELD-Na with ascites odds ratio (OR) 4.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.96-9.59), moderate MELD-Na no ascites OR 1.70 (95% CI 1.52-1.9), moderate MELD-Na with ascites OR 3.69 (95% CI 2.49-5.46), high MELD-Na no ascites OR 3.51 (95% CI 3.07-4.01), and high MELD-Na ascites OR 7.18 (95% CI 5.33-9.67). Similarly, mortality risk was increased in patients with ascites compared with the reference: moderate MELD-Na no ascites OR 3.55 (95% CI 2.22-5.67), moderate MELD-Na ascites OR 13.80 (95% CI 5.65-33.71), high MELD-Na no ascites OR 8.34 (95% CI 5.15-13.51), and high MELD-Na ascites OR 43.97 (95% CI 23.76-81.39). CONCLUSIONS: MELD-Na underestimates morbidity and mortality risk for general surgery patients with ascites.

Development of an Operative Trauma Course in Uganda-A Report of a Three-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. Improved health care systems and training are potential avenues to combat this burden. We detail a collaborative and context-specific operative trauma course taught to postgraduate surgical trainees practicing in a low-resource setting and examine its effect on resident practice. METHOD: Three classes of second year surgical residents participated in trainings from 2017 to 2019. The course was developed and taught in conjunction with local faculty. The most recent cohort logged cases before and after the course to assess resources used during initial patient evaluation and operative techniques used if the patient was taken to theater. RESULTS: Over the study period, 52 residents participated in the course. Eighteen participated in the case log study and logged 117 cases. There was no statistically significant difference in patient demographics or injury severity precourse and postcourse. Postcourse, penetrating injuries were reported less frequently (40 to 21% P < 0.05) and road traffic crashes were reported more frequently (39 to 60%, P < 0.05). There was no change in the use of bedside interventions or diagnostic imaging, besides head CT. Of patients taken for a laparotomy, there was a nonstatistically significant increase in the use of four-quadrant packing 3.4 to 21.7%) and a decrease in liver repair (20.7 to 4.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The course did not change resource utilization; however, it did influence clinical decision-making and operative techniques used during laparotomy. Additional research is indicated to evaluate sustained changes in practice patterns and clinical outcomes after operative skills training.

The Current Evidence for Defining and Assessing Effectiveness of Surgical Educators: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical educator effectiveness is valued but lacks an operational definition. Clearly defining attributes consistent with effective surgical educators allows for the development of professional activities directed to nurture these qualities. Our aim was to identify the literature defining qualities of an effective surgical educator, and tools to measure effectiveness. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Academic Search Complete for English language articles from 1 July 2009-1 July 2019. Two reviewers screened all abstracts for relevance and read full text of selected articles to identify included studies. Inclusion criteria were description/definition of an effective surgical educator or description of assessment/measurement of effectiveness in surgical educators. Data extracted included: study design, participants, definition/description of qualities of an effective surgical educator, qualitative or quantitative methods to assess surgical educators. RESULTS: Initial search identified 8086 articles. Of these, 2357 articles were excluded as duplicates and 5729 abstracts screened with 5638 excluded due to irrelevance. Full text review was performed for 91 articles to assess eligibility, 23 met inclusion criteria. The majority (74%) did not clearly define an effective surgical educator. Themes from six studies that determined important qualities include: communication, leadership skills, professionalism, respect, positive learning climate, and brief-intraoperative teaching-debrief model. One validated assessment tool was identified. CONCLUSIONS: There is little published work defining or assessing effective surgical educators. Establishment of a positive learning climate and excellent communication skills continue to be important qualities that define surgical educator effectiveness.

Prophylactic Ureteral Stenting in Laparoscopic Colectomy: Revisiting Traditional Practice.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic placement of ureteral stents is performed during open colectomy to aid in ureteral identification and to enhance detection of injury. The effects of this practice in laparoscopic colectomy are unknown. This study compares outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy with and without prophylactic ureteral stenting. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study at a tertiary academic medical center was performed. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of ureteral injury. Secondary outcomes evaluated included mortality, length of stay, procedural duration, and new-onset urinary complication (hematuria, dysuria, and urinary tract infection). RESULTS: In 702 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy from 2013 to 2016, prophylactic stents were placed in 261 (37%) patients. Two ureteral injuries occurred (0.3%), both in patients who underwent ureteral stent placement (P = 0.07) and were found and repaired intraoperatively. There was no in-hospital mortality. When accounting for age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity score, procedural indication, gender, BMI, and extent of resection, no difference in hospital length of stay (P = 0.79) was noted comparing patients with and without stenting. However, stent placement prolonged operating time (P = 0.03) and increased the risk of new-onset urinary complications (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ureteral injuries only occurred in those with stent placement. Prophylactic ureteral stents in laparoscopic colectomy are associated with increased operative time and urologic morbidity. Owing to the low prevalence of ureteral injury in the elective setting and the increased risk of urinary complications, use of prophylactic ureteral stenting should be highly selective.

Predictors of 30 Day Readmission Following Percutaneous Cholecystostomy.

BACKGROUND: High-risk patients undergoing cholecystectomy may experience increased morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) has been utilized as a treatment option for acute cholecystitis in this cohort. Little is known about risk factors for readmission following PC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had PC from 2013 to 2014 were identified from the National Readmission Database by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. A 30-d readmission was defined as a subsequent admission within 30 d following the first admission discharge date. Multivariate logistic regression models using stepwise selection were employed to select significant predictive variables for subsequent readmission. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred sixty-eight patients were identified with 698 (20.7%) readmissions during the study period. Of the readmitted patients, 79 (2.35%) had two readmissions and six patients (0.19%) had three or more readmissions within 30 d of their index procedure. In addition, alcohol use (odds ratios [OR] 1.58, confidence intervals [CI] 1.10-2.29), uncomplicated diabetes (OR 1.21, CI 1.00-1.47), congestive heart failure (OR 1.28, CI 1.03-2.44), depression (OR 1.42, CI 1.08-1.86), and metastatic cancer (OR 1.65, CI 1.11-2.46) were significantly correlated with risk for readmission. Readmitted patients had longer hospital stays (OR 1.38 CI 1.09-1.74, length of stay >8 d). CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of patients are readmitted within 30 d following PC. These patients may benefit from increase care coordination starting at their index admission. Studies are needed to determine patient selection for upfront cholecystectomy.

The Role of Bowel Preparation in Open, Minimally Invasive, and Converted-to-Open Colectomy.

BACKGROUND: Bowel preparation before colectomy is considered an effective strategy to decrease postoperative complications. However, data regarding the effect of bowel preparation in patients undergoing minimally invasive colectomy are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of different bowel preparation strategies in patients undergoing open, minimally invasive, and converted-to-open elective colectomies. METHODS: We identified 39,355 patients who underwent elective colectomy from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program colectomy-targeted database (2012-2016). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of different bowel preparation strategies on postoperative complications and mortality in three subapproach groups: open (n = 12,141), minimally invasive (n = 23,057), and converted to open (n = 4157). RESULTS: Overall, a total of 10,066 (25.6%) patients received no preparation (NP), 11,646 (29.5%) mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) alone, 1664 (4.2%) antibiotic bowel preparation (ABP) alone, and 15,979 (40.6%) MBP + ABP. Compared with NP, MBP + ABP showed the strongest protective effects. MBP + ABP was associated with reduced risk of major complications (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-0.66), infectious complications (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.46-0.54), any complications (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.51-0.60), 30-d mortality (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96), anastomotic leak (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.43-0.58), and length of stay ≥ 4 d (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.61-0.67) in overall population. These protective effects, except for 30-d mortality, were observed in open, minimally invasive, and converted-to-open groups. When the analysis was limited to robotic surgery only, MBP + ABP was only associated with reduced risk of major complications (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38-0.97) compared with NP. The protective effects remained similar over the study time period. CONCLUSIONS: MBP + ABP is a preferred preoperative strategy in open, minimally invasive, and converted-to-open colectomy.

Surgeons overestimate postoperative complications and death when compared with the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project risk calculator.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of postoperative morbidity and mortality is difficult particularly for complex patients. We hypothesize that surgeons overestimate the risk for complications and death after surgery in complex surgical patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: General surgery residents and attending surgeons estimated the likelihood of any morbidity, mortality, surgical site infection, pneumonia, and cardiac complications for seven complex scenarios. Responses were compared with the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Surgical Risk Calculator. RESULTS: From 101 residents and 48 attending surgeons, overall response rate was 61.7%. For all seven clinical scenarios, there was no difference between resident and attending predictions of morbidity or mortality, with significant variation in estimates among participants. Mean percentages of the estimates were 25.8%-30% over the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project estimates for morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: General surgery residents and attending surgeons overestimated risks in complex surgical patients. These results demonstrate broad variance in and near universal overestimation of predicted surgical risk when compared with national, risk-adjusted models.

The Early Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Uninsured Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Under the Affordable Care Act, eligibility for Medicaid coverage was expanded to all adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level in states that participated. We sought to examine the national impact Medicaid expansion has had on insurance coverage for patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) and the cost burden to patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify adults ≥18 y old who underwent the 10 most burdensome EGS operations (defined as a combination of frequency, cost, and morbidity). Distribution of insurance type before and after Medicaid expansion and charges to uninsured patients was evaluated. Weighted averages were used to produce nationally representative estimates. RESULTS: A total of 6,847,169 patients were included. The percentage of uninsured EGS patients changed from 9.4% the year before Medicaid expansion to 7.0% after (P < 0.01), whereas the percentage of patients on Medicaid increased from 16.4% to 19.4% (P < 0.01). The cumulative charges to uninsured patients for EGS decreased from $1590 million before expansion to $1211 million after. CONCLUSIONS: In the first year of Medicaid expansion, the number of uninsured EGS patients dropped by 2.4%. The cost burden to uninsured EGS patients decreased by over $300 million.

Trends of ureteral stent usage in surgery for diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Many believe that the use of ureteral stents in colorectal surgery for diverticulitis aids prevention and easier identification of ureteral injuries; others argue that the added time, cost, and risks of stent placement negate potential benefits. Even among providers who use stents, selective use is common. Among unclear consensus, it remains unknown if the use of stents is growing. MATERIALS: Patients in the National Inpatient Sample who underwent a partial colectomy or anterior rectal excision for diverticulitis between 2000 and 2013 were included (n = 811,071). Trends in ureteral stent use, multivariate logistic regression of factors influencing stent placement, and linear regression of length of stay (LOS) and costs associated with stent use were examined. RESULTS: Usage of ureteral stents increased from 6.66% in 2000 to 16.30% in 2013 (P < 0.0001). Rates of stent usage were higher with laparoscopic surgery (19.31% versus 12.31% open, P < 0.0001). Regression demonstrated patients in the Northeast (Midwest odds ratio (OR) 0.49 [0.37-0.66] P < 0.0001, South OR 0.60 [0.45-0.80] P = 0.0004, West OR 0.30 [0.22-0.41], P < 0.0001), and those whose admission was elective (OR 2.37 [2.08-2.69], P < 0.0001) were more likely to receive stents. Stent use was associated with an increased LOS (0.55 days, P < 0.0001) and cost ($1,983, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ureteral stents in surgery for diverticulitis has steadily increased since 2000, despite the lack of consensus of their overall benefit. Stent usage is associated with laparoscopic surgery and varies widely among regions of the country. Further studies are required to truly understand the risk-benefit ratio of ureteral stenting and to determine if its increased use is warranted.

The influence of sociodemographic factors on operative decision-making in small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for small bowel obstruction (SBO) recommend a limited trial of nonoperative management of no more than 3-5 d. For patients requiring surgery, it is uncertain if sociodemographic factors are associated with disparities in the duration of the trial of nonoperative therapy. METHODS: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample from 2012 to 2014 was queried for discharges with a primary diagnosis of SBO. Primary outcomes of interest were the effects of sociodemographic factors, including race, insurance status, and income on the rate of receiving any operative management for SBO, and subsequently, among patients managed surgically, the risk of operative delay, defined as operative management ≥ 5 d after admission. We did this by using logistic hierarchical generalized linear models, accounting for hospital clustering and adjusted for sex, age, comorbidity, and hospital factors. RESULTS: Of the 589,850 admissions for SBO between 2012 and 2014, 22.0% underwent operations. Overall, 26.2% were non-White, including 12.2% Black and 8.6% Hispanic patients, and the majority (56.0%) had Medicare insurance coverage. Income quartiles were evenly distributed across the overall study population. In adjusted logistic regression, operative delay was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.30 95% confidence interval [1.10, 1.54]). Adjusted for patient and hospital factors, Black patients were significantly more likely to receive operations for SBO, whereas Medicaid and Medicare patients were significantly less likely. However, Black, Medicaid, and Medicare patients who were managed operatively were significantly more likely to have an operative delay of 5 or more d. There was no significant association between income and operative management in adjusted regression models. CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparities in the operative management were based on race and insurance status. Further research is warranted to understand the causes of, and solutions to, these sociodemographic disparities in care.

Laparoscopic colectomy reduces complications and hospital length of stay in colon cancer patients with liver disease and ascites.

BACKGROUND: Ascites increases perioperative complications and risk of death, but is not an absolute contraindication for colectomy in patients with colon cancer. It remains unclear whether postoperative risks can be minimized using a laparoscopic versus open approach. METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed from 2152 patients with ascites who underwent laparoscopic or open partial colectomy with diagnosis of colon cancer from 2005 to 2013 using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed using two-sample tests of proportions and two-sample T tests. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) or ß coefficients for postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and 30-day mortality were calculated using multivariable logistic or linear regression. P values <0.05 two-tailed were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 205 patients (9.53%) with ascites underwent laparoscopic colectomy (LC). There was no significant difference in operative time between laparoscopic versus open surgery (145 vs. 146 min, P = 0.69). LC was associated with decreased likelihood of overall complications (adjusted OR 0.7 95% CI 0.4-1.0, P = 0.046) and shorter hospital length of stay (9 days vs. 15 days, adjusted ß = -4.2, 95% CI -7.7 to -0.7, P = 0.018). There was no difference in 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.50-1.35, P = 0.429). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colectomy decreases postoperative complications and hospital length of stay in patients with colon cancer and ascites. Laparoscopic approach should be considered for patients in this high-risk population.

Assessing trends in laparoscopic colostomy reversal and evaluating outcomes when compared to open procedures.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic colostomy reversal has emerged as a viable option for Hartmann's reversal but the trends in national adoption and postoperative complications are unknown. This study evaluates the practice trends for laparoscopic colostomy and compares complications, length of stay, and operative times between laparoscopic and open colostomy reversal. METHODS: All patients who had open or laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgery (current procedure codes: 44227 and 44626) between 2005 and 2014 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbid conditions, postsurgical diagnosis, and estimated probabilities of morbidity and mortality. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression models and linear regression models were employed to evaluate the associations between various outcomes and surgical specialties. RESULTS: The reported volume of both open and laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgeries increased over time, but the percentage of open reversal surgery decreased from 100% in 2005 to 74.2% in 2014. The average annual increase in percentage of laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgery was 2.87%. The complication rates of open colostomy reversal surgery were significantly higher than the rates of laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgery (P < 0.0001). Although there were fluctuations, the complication rates remained constant over the 9-year study period for both open and laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgeries. The total hospital length of stay among patients who had laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgery was shorter compared to patients who had open colostomy reversal surgery [mean change (MC) = -1.77 days, P < 0.0001]. Similarly, a shorter operation time was also observed for patients who had laparoscopic colostomy reversal surgery (MC = -26.48 min, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Based on the NSQIP database, laparoscopic colostomy reversal is increasing steadily year over year from 2005 to 2014 in NSQIP participating hospitals. Overall complication rates and length of stay are significantly lower and sustained throughout the study period for laparoscopic reversal.

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Underestimates Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Ascites Undergoing Colectomy.

BACKGROUND: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and ascites correlate with surgical morbidity and mortality. However, the MELD score does not account for ascites. We sought to evaluate whether the MELD score accurately risk stratifies patients with ascites. METHODS: We analyzed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-2014) to examine the risk-adjusted morbidity and mortality of cirrhotic patients with and without ascites undergoing colectomy for diverticulitis. Patients were stratified by MELD score, and the presence of ascites and outcomes were compared between patients with and without ascites to the reference group of low MELD and no ascites. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for demographic factors and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 16,877 colectomies were analyzed. For each MELD stratum, patients with ascites have increased risk of complications compared to those without ascites (P < 0.05 unless indicated): low MELD ascites OR 1.13, P = 0.69, moderate MELD no ascites OR 1.37, moderate MELD ascites OR 2.06, high MELD no ascites OR 1.93, and high MELD ascites OR 3.54. These trends hold true for mortality: low MELD ascites OR 2.91, P = 0.063, moderate MELD no ascites OR 1.47, moderate MELD ascites OR 5.62, high MELD no ascites OR 3.04, and high MELD ascites OR 9.91. CONCLUSION: Ascites predicts an increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality for cirrhotic patients undergoing colectomy for all MELD classifications. These findings suggest that the MELD score significantly underestimates postoperative risk as it does not account for ascites.

Recurrent Falls Among Elderly Patients and the Impact of Anticoagulation Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Falls are the leading source of injury and trauma-related hospital admissions for elderly adults in the USA. Elderly patients with a history of a fall have the highest risk of falling again, and the decision on whether to continue anticoagulation after a fall is difficult. To inform this decision, we evaluated the rate of recurrent falls and the impact of anticoagulation on outcomes. METHODS: All patients of age ≥ 65 years and hospitalized for a fall in the first 6 months of 2013 and 2014 were identified in the nationwide readmission database, a nationally representative all-payer database tracking patient readmissions. Readmissions for a recurrent fall within 6 months, and mortality and bleeding injuries (intracranial hemorrhage, solid organ bleed, and hemothorax) during readmission were identified. Logistic regression evaluated factors associated with mortality on repeat falls. RESULTS: Of the 331,982 patients admitted for a fall, 15,565 (4.7%) were admitted for a recurrent fall within 6 months. The median time to repeat fall was 57 days (IQR 19-111 days), and 9.0% (1406) of repeat fallers were on anticoagulation. The rate of bleeding injury was similar regardless of anticoagulation status (12.8 vs. 12.7% not on anticoagulation, p = 0.97); however, among patients with a bleeding injury, those on anticoagulation had significantly higher mortality (21.5 vs. 6.9% not on anticoagulation, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among patients hospitalized for a fall, 4.7% will be hospitalized for a recurrent fall within 6 months. Patients on anticoagulation with repeat falls do not have increased rates of bleeding injury but do have significantly higher rates of death with a bleeding injury. This information is essential to discuss with patients when deciding to restart their anticoagulation.

Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation between Vascular and General Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest outcomes may be related to surgeon experience or skill level. Lower extremity amputations are performed by both general surgeons (GSs) and vascular surgeons (VSs); however, the effect of specialty on postoperative outcome in below-knee amputation is not known. This retrospective study compares outcomes in below-knee amputations (BKA) between VS and GS. METHODS: Patients who underwent below-knee amputations between 2005 and 2014 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and indication for procedures. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression models and linear regression models were employed to evaluate the associations between various outcomes and indications for surgery, emergency and teaching status, and surgical specialty. RESULTS: Amputations performed by GSs experienced an increased risk of developing pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-1.86), pulmonary embolism (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.10-4.01), and sepsis (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.59). When stratified by indications for BKA, similar outcomes were noted between GS and VS if indication for surgery was diabetes or peripheral vascular disease; however, there was increased risk of pneumonia (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.26-2.74), sepsis (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.39-2.75), and death (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04-2.07, P = 0.027) when GS performed BKA for infectious indications. Overall complications were higher when GS performed BKA emergently (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36). CONCLUSION: There are less postoperative complications when VSs performed BKA for infectious indications, during emergencies, and at nonteaching hospitals. Clinicians should consider vascular consultation for these specific scenarios.