Embedding Mindfulness-Based Resiliency Curricula Into Surgical Training to Combat Resident Burnout and Improve Wellbeing.

Surgery residents are at a higher-than-average risk of burnout syndrome, which is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of ineffectiveness. This risk of burnout can translate to increased stress and distress in trainees, poor performance, as well as worse patient outcomes. Therefore, developing and implementing burnout reduction strategies that are feasible, acceptable, and effective among surgical residents is paramount. Studies demonstrate that inherent mindfulness is associated with improved resiliency, reduced stress and burnout, as well as improved cognitive and motor skill performance. Fortunately, mindfulness is a skill that can be developed and maintained through targeted mindfulness-based interventions embedded within surgical education curriculum. Here, we present the data supporting the use of mindfulness as an integral part of burnout reduction efforts in surgical trainees as well as highlight evidence-based strategies for implementation in diverse surgical training environments.

Extended postoperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after bariatric surgery: a comparison of existing risk-stratification tools and 5-year MBSAQIP analysis.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of 30-day mortality after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Multiple predictive tools exist for VTE risk assessment and extended VTE chemoprophylaxis determination. OBJECTIVE: To review existing risk-stratification tools and compare their predictive abilities. SETTING: MBSAQIP database. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database was performed (2015-2019) for primary minimally invasive MBS cases. VTE clinical factors and risk-assessment tools were evaluated: body mass index threshold of 50 kg/m2, Caprini risk-assessment model, and 3 bariatric-specific tools: the Cleveland Clinic VTE risk tool, the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative tool, and BariClot. MBS patients were deemed high risk based on criteria from each tool and further assessed for sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. RESULTS: Overall, 709,304 patients were identified with a .37% VTE rate. Bariatric-specific tools included multiple predictors: procedure, age, race, gender, operative time, length of stay, heart failure, and dyspnea at rest; operative time was the only variable common to all. The body mass index cutoff and Caprini risk-assessment model had higher sensitivity but lower specificity when compared with the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative and BariClot tools. While the sensitivity of the tools varied widely and was overall low, the Cleveland Clinic tool had the highest sensitivity. The bariatric-specific tools would have recommended extended prophylaxis for 1.1%-15.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Existing MBS VTE risk-assessment tools differ widely for inclusion variables, high-risk definition, and predictive performance. Further research and registry inclusion of all significant risk factors are needed to determine the optimal risk-stratified approach for predicting VTE events and determining the need for extended prophylaxis.

Barriers and facilitators to physical activity prehabilitation in patients with kidney cancer.

PURPOSE: Timely and effective physical activity (PA) prehabilitation is an evidence-based approach for improving a patient's health status preoperatively. Identifying barriers and facilitators to PA prehabilitation can help inform best practices for exercise prehabilitation program implementation. We explore the barriers and facilitators to PA prehabilitation in patients undergoing nephrectomy. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted by interviewing 20 patients scheduled for nephrectomy. Interviewees were selected via convenience sampling strategy. The interviews were semi-structured and discussed experienced and perceived barriers/facilitators to PA prehabilitation. Interview transcripts were imported to Nvivo 12 for coding and semantic content analysis. A codebook was independently created and collectively validated. Themes of barriers and facilitators were identified and summarized in descriptive findings based on frequency of themes. RESULTS: Five relevant themes of barriers to PA prehabilitation emerged: 1) mental factors, 2) personal responsibilities, 3) physical capacity, 4) health conditions, and 5) lack of exercise facilities. Contrarily, facilitators potentially contributing to PA prehabilitation adherence in kidney cancer included 1) holistic health, 2) social and professional support, 3) acknowledgment of health benefits, 4) exercise type and guidance, and 5) Communication channels. CONCLUSION AND KEY FINDINGS: Kidney cancer patient's adherence to physical activity prehabilitation is influenced by multiple biopsychosocial barriers and facilitators. Hence, adherence to physical activity prehabilitation requires timely adaptation of health beliefs and behavior embedded in the reported barriers and facilitators. For this reason, prehabilitation strategies should strive to be patient-centered and include health behavioral change theories as underlying frameworks for sustaining patient engagement and self-efficacy.

Integrative Surgery: Embedding Complementary and Nonpharmacologic Therapies into Surgical Pain Management Strategies.

There has been a growing interest in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in modern pain management strategies on behalf of both patients and clinicians. Nonpharmacologic modalities such as cryotherapy, acupuncture, music, and mind-body therapies have been shown to aid in symptom control and improve quality of life in patients suffering from acute and chronic pain, and there is a growing body of literature demonstrating their feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy in the perioperative period. Here, we provide a brief review of the current evidence supporting the use of complementary therapies within existing perioperative pain management strategies and highlight evidence-based protocols to facilitate implementation into modern surgical practice.

S136-operationalizing an enhanced recovery protocol after bariatric surgery: single institutional pilot experience forging data-driven standard work.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) may help decrease length of stay (LOS) and postoperative nausea/vomiting but implementation is often fraught with challenges. The primary aim of this pilot study was to standardize a MBS ERP with a real-time data support dashboard and checklist and assess impact on global and individual element compliance. The secondary aim was to evaluate 30 day outcomes including LOS, hospital readmissions, and re-operations. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: An ERP, paper checklist, and virtual dashboard aligned on MBS patient care elements for pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases of care were developed and sequentially deployed. The dashboard includes surgical volumes, operative times, ERP compliance, and 30 day outcomes over a rolling 18 month period. Overall and individual element ERP compliance and outcomes were compared pre- and post-implementation via two-tailed Student's t-tests. RESULTS: Overall, 471 patients were identified (pre-implementation: 193; post-implementation: 278). Baseline monthly average compliance rates for all patient care elements were 1.7%, 3.7%, and 6.2% for pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases, respectively. Following ERP integration with dashboard and checklist, the intra-operative phase achieved the highest overall monthly average compliance at 31.3% (P < 0.01). Following the intervention, pre-operative acetaminophen administration had the highest monthly mean compliance at ≥ 99.1%. Overall TAP block use increased 3.2-fold from a baseline mean rate of 25.4-80.8% post-implementation (P < 0.01). A significant decrease in average intra-operative monthly morphine milligram equivalents use was noted with a 56% drop pre- vs. post-implementation. Average LOS decreased from 2.0 to 1.7 days post-implementation with no impact on post-operative outcomes. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a checklist and dashboard facilitated ERP integration and adoption of process measures with many improvements in compliance but no impact on 30 day outcomes. Further research is required to understand how clinical support tools can impact ERP adoption among MBS patients.

Mindfulness in Surgical Care, Training, and Practice.

There exists a robust amount of evidence supporting the broad application of mindfulness in a clinical environment. The evolution of mindfulness research is germane to modern surgical practice and education given its impact on patient outcomes, cognitive function, surgical skill, and mental health and wellbeing. "Mindfulness in surgical care, training, and practice" includes a series of articles that highlight the theoretical rationale behind mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for optimization of patient care and define its role in surgical education and practice. Furthermore, each article offers implementation strategies and best practices such that mindfulness-based interventions and curricula can be adapted to meet the unique needs of patients and providers existing within a diverse surgical environment. This series brings attention to the evolving archetype of surgical culture - one in which the wellbeing of individuals and communities is emphasized as fundamental to optimum patient care and outcomes.

Adherence Patterns and Acceptability of a Perioperative, App-Based Mindfulness Meditation Among Surgical Patients With Chronic Pain.

Identifying barriers to compliance with mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) during the perioperative period is paramount to the design and implementation of non-pharmacologic, opiate-sparing pain regimens. We prospectively investigated the acceptability and adherence patterns of an app-based MBI amongst surgical patients with chronic pain. Patients were provided a subscription code to a meditation app and encouraged to use the app an average of 10 minutes/day over a 6-week study period. Patients reported a high level of interest in using the app prior to enrollment. 71% used the app at least once, 30% for half the recommended time, and 8% for the recommended amount of time. 88% of respondents enjoyed using the app and agreed it improved mental health and stress levels. Surgical patients with pre-existing pain report a high level of interest in utilizing MBIs perioperatively. Identifying barriers to compliance represents an important area of future investigation.

Integrative surgical oncology: A model of acute integrative oncology.

Integrative oncology has emerged as a recognized medical subspecialty because of growing interest in the use of integrative medicine in modern cancer care on behalf of both patients and providers. Acutherapy and mind-body techniques, such as meditation and yoga, have been shown to aid in symptom control and improve quality of life in oncologic patient populations, and the Society of Integrative Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology have recently endorsed a set of guidelines for the implementation of these techniques specifically in patients with breast cancer. Although the current guidelines focus largely on the management of chronic symptoms, there exists evidence to support the use of these techniques in acute symptom management as well. With surgical resection representing the backbone of many cancer treatment regimens, symptoms that arise during the perioperative period are prime examples of the acute symptomatology common among patients with cancer. Here, the authors provide a detailed literature review of the current evidence supporting the use of integrative techniques during the perioperative period and demonstrate their applicability for acute symptom management within oncologic and surgical populations. In doing so, the authors introduce a new paradigm of surgical practice they call integrative surgical oncology and integrative surgery.

A Minimally Invasive Approach for Inguinal Lymphadenectomy in Melanoma and Genitourinary Malignancy: Long-Term Outcomes in an Attempted Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: Open inguinal lymphadenectomy (OIL) has a high incidence of complications. The authors adapted and reported a minimally invasive technique [videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VIL)] for use with melanoma, subsequently pursuing a randomized, prospective trial comparing open and minimally invasive approaches in an attempt to confirm retrospective findings illustrating reduced complications with the minimally invasive approach. METHODS: A randomized, prospective trial (NCT01526486) was designed to compare outcomes for patients undergoing VIL versus OIL. Patients with a diagnosis of malignancies requiring inguinal lymphadenectomy at Emory University were enrolled in the study, and informed consent was obtained. Failure to accrue sufficient patients resulted in suspension of the randomization process. Clinicopathologic, procedural, and outcomes data on VILs were prospectively collected. The primary outcome was wound complications, and the secondary outcome was recurrence-free survival. RESULTS: The results are limited to VILs. In this study, 102 patients underwent 137 procedures. Most of the complications were Clavien-Dindo 1 or 2, accounting for 89.7% of all postoperative issues. The wound infection rate was 47.4%. Skin necrosis or wound dehiscence occurred after 13 of the procedures (9.5%). For the patients with melanoma, the median overall survival was 68.8 months, and the recurrence-free survival was 18.5 months. The median inguinal recurrence-free survival was not reached. The median stage-specific recurrence-free survival was not reached for stage IIIA, was 22.8 months for stage IIIB, and was 8.8 months for stage IIIC disease (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term findings presented in this report expand on and confirm previously published results demonstrating decreased morbidity and oncologic noninferiority of VIL, further validating the technique for patients requiring lymphadenectomy.

Exogenous IL-2 Induces FoxP3+ Th17 Cells In Vivo in Melanoma Patients.

Th17 cells represent a distinct subset of CD4 effector T cells with potent pathogenic qualities, capable of directly mediating tumor cell destruction. IL-2 has frequently been shown to have a negative effect on Th17 differentiation while supporting regulatory T-cell (FoxP3CD4, TREG) growth and development in both in vitro models and in vivo animal models. We investigated the effect of in vivo IL-2 on both the Th17 and FoxP3CD4 T-cell compartments in a human model of cancer. High-dose IL-2 (HDIL-2) was administered at a dose of 720,000 IU/kg to patients with melanoma (n=7) and peripheral blood was collected at baseline and at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours posttreatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and subjected to intracellular cytokine and extracellular receptor staining for flow cytometry. We report that HDIL-2 increased both frequencies and absolute numbers of Th17 cells on day 4 of treatment. The administration of HDIL-2 to patients with melanoma increased IL-6 production by peripheral immune cells, a cytokine vital in the downregulation of FoxP3 expression and expansion of the Th17-cell population. Furthermore, we demonstrated that FoxP3CD4 T cells express IL-17 in patients with melanoma undergoing HDIL-2 therapy. Taken together, our findings indicate that HDIL-2 combined with the conditions of malignancy create an immune environment supportive of Th17 differentiation and that expansion of this compartment may occur through the transdifferentiation of IL-17-secreting FoxP3CD4 T cells.

Balancing Inflammation: The Link between Th17 and Regulatory T Cells.

CD4(+) T cell compartments in mouse and man are composed of multiple distinct subsets each possessing unique phenotypic and functional characteristics. IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells (Th17 cells) represent a distinct subset of the CD4(+) T cell lineage. Recent evidence suggests that Th17 cells carry out effector functions similar to cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells and play an important role in the clearance of extracellular pathogens and fungi. Th17 cell differentiation and function are closely related to the development and function of regulatory T cells (TREG). The balance between these two cell populations is essential for immune homeostasis and dysregulation of this balance has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory conditions including autoimmunity, allograft rejection, and tumorigenesis. Emerging evidence reports a significant amount of plasticity between the Th17 and regulatory T cell compartments, and the mechanisms by which these cells communicate and influence each other are just beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight recent findings detailing the mechanisms driving Th17 and TREG plasticity and discuss the biologic consequences of their unique relationship.

Complete response to high-dose IL-2 and enhanced IFNγ+Th17 : TREG ratio in a melanoma patient.

High-dose IL-2 (HDIL-2) is associated with complete and durable responses in only 5-10% of patients with stage intravenous melanoma and the toxicity profile is significant. In-vivo human models have recently shown a stimulatory effect of exogenous IL-2 on both the Th17 and regulatory T-cell (TREG) compartments. We investigated and compared the effect of HDIL-2 on the Th17 and TREG compartments in HDIL-2 responders versus nonresponders. HDIL-2 was administered at a dose of 720 000 IU/kg to patients with melanoma (n=6) and peripheral blood was collected at baseline and at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h during treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and subjected to intracellular cytokine and extracellular receptor staining for flow cytometry. Five of six patients progressed clinically on HDIL-2 therapy, and these patients showed an increase in the frequency of TREGs on day 4 of treatment. A single patient responded to HDIL-2 therapy and showed a decrease in the frequency of TREG cells on day 4 of treatment. We found that HDIL-2 resulted in a larger increase in the frequency and total numbers of IFNγTh17 cells in the complete responder compared with all nonresponders. As such, the complete responder showed a high IFNγTh17 : TREG ratio. Our results suggest that a distinct immunophenotype may be associated with response to HDIL-2. The peripheral IFNγTh17 : TREG ratio may serve as an early biomarker in the setting of HDIL-2 to help identify those patients who would benefit from subsequent cycles.

Lymph node dissection for stage III melanoma.

Locoregional spread of melanoma to its draining lymph node basin is the strongest negative prognostic factor for patients. Exclusive of clinical trials, patients with sentinel lymph node-positive (microscopic) or clinically palpable (macroscopic) nodal disease should undergo lymphadenectomy. This article reviews the management and technical aspects of surgical care for regional metastases. Adjunct therapies (immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation) may supplement lymphadenectomy in certain patient populations. Surgical morbidity after lymphadenectomy can be substantial, creating opportunities for improvement via minimally invasive techniques or refined patient selection.