Collection Tubes Can Cause False Elevations in Occupational and Clinical Evaluation of Antimony Exposure.

Occupational exposure to antimony has become rare in the past decades due to antimony mine closures and technological improvement in antimony processing plants in the USA. Although antimony's ubiquitous presence in plasticwares does not pose known health risk, it can present as a potential contaminant to antimony analysis for occupational exposure assessment. To understand the level of antimony contamination from plastic collection devices, we evaluated two different whole-blood plastic collection tubes that are routinely used for trace and toxic element assessment: royal blue BD Vacutainer® EDTA tube and Greiner VACUETTE® trace elements sodium heparin tube. We analyzed how different fill volumes may impact the concentrations of antimony detected. Although both collection tubes can introduce antimony contaminations to nitric acid and neutral buffer rinse, the Greiner heparin tube introduces a significantly lower amount of antimony to freshly collected whole-blood samples compared to the BD EDTA tube. When patients' samples are collected with BD EDTA tubes, they would exhibit elevated antimony concentrations that can be interpreted as potential antimony exposure. We conclude that the royal blue BD EDTA plastic tube is not suitable to evaluate blood antimony levels, and laboratories need to validate their own alternative sources when the glass tubes are not available.

Malpractice lawsuits in orthopedic trauma surgery: a meta-analysis of the literature.

Introduction: The objectives for this study were to identify whether diagnostic or procedural errors more commonly resulted in lawsuit, as well as to elucidate how specific variables affected mean indemnity. Methods: Systematic review of English-language articles in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases (through 2020) using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate measures of proportions and differences in mean indemnity. Results: The estimated probability of lawsuits related to orthopedic trauma in overall studies was 23.3%. There were no significant rate differences between main causes of claims (diagnostic vs procedural errors) and areas of injury (upper vs lower). There was no significant difference of mean indemnity between the probabilities of trauma-related claims, diagnostic error, and procedural error. Conclusion: Non-trauma cases were more likely to result in lawsuit than trauma cases. Procedural errors accounted for most malpractice claims. The average indemnity increased according to the higher diagnostic errors, while the indemnity was lower with a relatively higher proportion of procedural errors. The most common cause of litigation varied between studies; however, among the most cited reasons were missed diagnosis/error in diagnosis, improper/substandard surgical performance, and, though not specifically studied in this analysis, errors of informed consent. Level of Evidence: Economic and Decision Analyses Level VI.

Interprofessional Simulation in Cardiothoracic Surgery Improves Team Confidence.

Interest in simulation has grown substantially, as has enthusiasm for team-based approaches to surgical training. In cardiothoracic surgery, the dynamic ability of the entire team is critical to emergent events. We developed innovative, interprofessional simulation events to improve team confidence. Two separate simulations event replicating critical steps and potential crises of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were attended by members of the multidisciplinary cardiothoracic team. Standard CPB equipment, echocardiography, an app to control vital signs, and typical operating room tools for cannulation were all used. Participant started at their typical roles, then rotated into unfamiliar roles for subsequent simulations. Survey and Likert scale self-assessment tools were used to determine outcomes. Statistical analysis compared results. Two separate events were attended by a total of 37 team members (17 facilitators and 20 participants). Participants rotated roles through 12 routine and high-risk scenarios for instituting and separating from CPB. Participant evaluation results were highly favorable, with requests for further similar events. Objectively, the mean score for self-assessment rose significantly comparing the pre- and post-simulation assessments. Despite a small sample size, these differences did reach statistical significance in two categories: iatrogenic dissection (p 0.008), and emergent return to CPB (p 0.016). In our experience, high-fidelity interprofessional simulation promoted team communication and confidence for key scenarios related to institution of and separation from CPB.

The Male Facelift.

Rhytidectomy techniques have evolved significantly since the procedure was first described in the early twentieth century. Techniques vary based on surgeon preference, patient characteristics, and the desired outcome. As facelifts are embraced by the general public and the frequency of rhytidectomy increases, attention to male patient-specific technique is critical. Male and female facelift techniques are fundamentally similar; however, there are nuances to patient selection and technique in males that guide the surgeon to improved postoperative outcomes. Attention to incision placement, trichophytic technique, and adjunct procedures will improve overall cosmesis in the male patient. Understanding of potential risks and their likelihood in the male patient will also minimize complications and allow for rapid recovery.

Nuances in Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System Rhytidectomy.

Rhytidectomy techniques have evolved since the early 1900s. As the understanding of facial anatomy and the aging process expanded, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) became a focal point in developing longer-lasting, natural results. Further evolution led to various approaches in repositioning the SMAS layer, including subperiosteal, composite, and deep plane rhytidectomies. This article describes the nuances of SMAS rhytidectomy, the biplanar SMAS imbrication technique, and adjuvant procedures used. This biplanar SMAS technique has been refined over more than 25 years and has proved to be a reliable and safe technique that leads to high patient satisfaction with minimal complications.

Assessment of Resident Performance During the Cardiac Anesthesia Rotation: Application of the House Officer Clinical Assessment in Cardiac Anesthesiology.

OBJECTIVE: The assessment of clinical skills was created that evaluates House Officer performance within 13 clinical domains during the Cardiac Anesthesiology rotation to provide an assessment and evaluation process for residents while performing a cardiac anesthetic. DESIGN: A retrospective evaluation of performance assessments over a 33-month period. SETTING: University hospital-based Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited Residency Training program. PARTICIPANTS: Anesthesiology house officers within the Department Residency Program. INTERVENTIONS: This House Officer Clinical Assessment was created and implemented as residents rotated through the cardiac anesthesia service. Scores in 13 domain-specific components from this assessment were collected after the attending-resident debrief. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Most scores were found to be sufficient to suggest competency, and the evaluation allowed for a more detailed approach to assessment and feedback. The most common aspects of the case in which the residents showed reduced performance and proficiency were the transition off cardiopulmonary bypass and the performance of the transesophageal echocardiogram. Overall, the resident survey showed a positive response to the assessment and the feedback provided during the post-examination debrief. CONCLUSION: The House Officer Clinical Assessment in Cardiac Anesthesiology allows for a more objective assessment of performance for specific portions of the case and allows for improved feedback on performance. Aspects of the evaluation tool and where residents correlate with the Anesthesiology Milestones for residency are discussed, as well as the ability to determine sufficient proficiency with knowledge and skills over the use of subjective rank to determine competency.

Right Atrial Inversion Mimicking Right Atrial Mass in the Setting of Cardiac Tamponade.

A 44-year-old woman was transferred to the authors' institution in cardiogenic shock secondary to a presumed viral myocarditis and subsequently was placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large right atrial mass of unknown etiology and moderate pericardial effusion. The patient was taken to the operating room for surgical removal of the right atrial mass. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated cardiac tamponade with complete invagination of the right atrium. Surgical evacuation of the pericardial effusion reverted the right atrium, with no further evidence of the right atrial mass, and no mass was discovered after right atriotomy, indicating that the right atrial "mass" was likely the result of complete inversion of the right atrium in the setting of cardiac tamponade.

Financial Considerations of an Anesthesia Consult Service.

Surgical patients with complex cardiac disease often require noncardiac surgery. There have been recent articles written concerning the role of the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist as a consultant in the operating room as well as outside the operating theatre.1,2 With the evolution of the cardiothoracic anesthesia consult service (CACS), there are many issues regarding medical billing, financial reimbursement, and Medicare rules that anesthesiologists may not be familiar with. This paper will discuss the financial implications of starting a CACS.

Peritoneal and Pleural Fluid Chemistry Measurements Performed on Three Chemistry Platforms.

BACKGROUND: Chemistry testing is requested for body fluid (BF) specimens despite the lack of assays approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The criteria for categorizing fluids as transudate or exudate are not validated across analyzers. OBJECTIVE: To compare BF chemical analysis and classification by different analyzers. METHODS: We analyzed 10 pleural and 18 peritoneal fluids with corresponding plasma specimens using the Vitros 5,1 FS; Abbott ARCHITECT ci8200; and Roche Modular P platforms. Total protein (TP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured for pleural fluids. Light's criteria were applied. Albumin was measured for peritoneal specimens, and the plasma-ascites-albumin gradient was calculated. RESULTS: TP results showed agreement. The Vitros LDH assay produced higher fluid:plasma ratios. Classification by Light's criteria resulted in 1 discrepancy (ARCHITECT). Albumin results showed agreement. There were 2 discrepant gradient interpretations (Vitros). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that analyses of pleural and peritoneal fluids using these platforms are diagnostically interchangeable.

Randomized controlled trial comparing the supraglottic airway to use of an endotracheal tube in sinonasal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The supraglottic airway (SGA) represents an alternative to endotracheal intubation (endotracheal tube [ETT]) in many types of ambulatory surgery. Adoption of the SGA has progressed slowly in sinonasal surgery due to concerns about airway protection. The purpose of this study was to compare quality of life measures and indices of airway protection between patients undergoing sinonasal surgery who were ventilated via an SGA or ETT. METHODS: Patients undergoing outpatient sinonasal surgery were enrolled into a randomized, single-blind study in which patients would be ventilated with either an SGA or ETT. At the first postoperative visit, a symptom severity and quality of life questionnaire was completed. Additional objective metrics were extracted from the anesthesia record. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were enrolled; 49 assigned to the SGA group and 53 assigned to the ETT group. No significant differences in swallowing function or cough were identified. SGA patients reported more difficulty returning to a normal diet (p = 0.03) with a trend toward reduced throat pain (p = 0.07) and improved phonation (p = 0.06). No significant difference in perioperative oxygen desaturations, emesis, recovery time, or airway blood penetration were identified. CONCLUSION: While the use of the SGA results in patient diet modification postoperatively, it may also be associated with a reduction in throat pain and dysphonia. SGA use had no appreciable effect on postanesthesia recovery times, oxygen desaturations, or emesis. Use of the SGA in sinonasal surgery appears to be a safe and reliable option for airway management in selected adult patients undergoing routine ambulatory sinonasal surgery.

Improving resident familiarity with the translabyrinthine approach to the internal auditory canal.

OBJECTIVE: To increase otolaryngology resident experience with drilling and dissection of the internal auditory canal (IAC) via a translabyrinthine approach. STUDY DESIGN: Pilot study involving temporal bone education and drilling with completion of pre- and post-drilling surveys. METHODS: Participants observed an educational presentation on IAC anatomy and drilling, followed by manipulation of IAC nerves using a prosected cadaveric temporal bone. Participants then drilled the IAC and identified nerves using temporal bones with previously drilled mastoidectomies and labyrinthectomies. Pre- and post-drilling 5-point Likert-based surveys were completed. RESULTS: 7 participants were included in this study ranging in experience from PGY1 through PGY 5. The median number of times the IAC had been drilled previously was 0. Participants reported statistically significantly improved familiarity with the translabyrinthine approach after the session with median scores increasing from 2 to 3 (p=0.02), and a near-significant increase in familiarity with IAC anatomy with median scores increasing from 3 to 4 (p=0.06). Prior to the session, 71% of participants either disagreed or strongly disagreed that they had an idea of what the procedure would be like in a real operating room, whereas after the session 0% reported disagreement. 100% of participants were very satisfied with the overall experience. CONCLUSIONS: An educational session and temporal bone drilling experience using prosected bones significantly increased the reported familiarity with the translabyrinthine approach. Experiences such as this may enhance resident exposure to advanced lateral skull base approaches in a safe environment, and increase comprehension of the complex anatomic relationships of the IAC.

Outcomes of outpatient endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic repair of anterior skull-base defects has become the gold standard for management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. Both improved techniques and adjuvant therapies have led to accepted success rates of greater than 90%. As management has evolved, shorter hospitalizations have been required and the goal of this study is to analyze the outcomes of patients repaired on an outpatient basis vs those managed as inpatients postoperatively. METHODS: Patients undergoing endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea between 2004 and 2014 were identified by review of medical records. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compared between patients having surgery with and without postoperative admission. Patients managed with lumbar drains were not included. Statistical analyses were preformed to determine if any differences in patient demographics and outcomes existed. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients were identified; 39 of 86 patients (45.3%) underwent outpatient surgery; 47 patients were admitted postoperatively with a mean hospital stay of 1.66 days with a median and mode of 1 day. No statistically significant differences were found between leak location, etiology, rates of recurrence, or complications. The outpatient group was found to have a greater proportion of small defects <1 cm2 (p = 0.003). Repair technique was also significantly different between groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic management of CSF rhinorrhea is a safe method of treatment with reliable success rates. Our retrospective analysis revealed comparable outcomes in patients treated with and without postoperative hospital admission, and supports the idea that outpatient management may be reasonable in certain patients, especially those with defects <1 cm2 .

Management of Complications of Acute Otomastoiditis in Solid Organ Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: There are over 183,000 patients living with a functioning solid organ transplant in the United States, and almost no data exist discussing complications of acute otomastoiditis in this vulnerable population. Early recognition and treatment of acute otomastoiditis is essential in patients whose immune system is not normal, as progression can lead to sepsis, meningitis, brain abscess, Bezold's abscess, sigmoid sinus thrombosis, or other potentially fatal sequelae. METHODS: Case report with extensive literature review. RESULTS: A 63 year-old man presented 3 years after cadaveric renal transplant with otorrhea and altered mental status. His acute otitis media progressed to meningitis with sigmoid sinus thrombosis and sepsis, and management included IV and otic antibiotics, tympanostomy tube placement, and cortical mastoidectomy. The patient made a full recovery without residual neurologic deficit. CONCLUSION: Extrapolating data from patients immunosuppressed for other reasons, patients immunosuppressed after solid organ transplant should receive prompt recognition and aggressive treatment of acute otomastoiditis to prevent or address potentially devastating intracranial or systemic complications.

Outcomes of endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea without lumbar drains.

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar drains (LD) are commonly used during endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, either to facilitate graft healing or to monitor CSF fluid dynamics. However, the indications and necessity of LD placement remains controversial. The current study sought to evaluate endoscopic CSF leak repair outcomes in the setting of limited LD use. METHODS: Patients who underwent endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea between 2004 and 2014 were identified by a review of medical records. Demographic and clinical data were extracted and compared between patients who had surgery with and patients who had surgery without a perioperative LD. A univariate analysis was performed to identify factors predictive of recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients (116 surgical procedures) were identified, with a mean follow-up of 15.8 months. Eighty-eight of 107 patients (82.2%) had surgery without an LD. The mean hospital stay was 4.48 days in the LD group versus 1.03 days in the non-LD group (p < 0.00001). There was no difference in recurrence rate between the LD and non-LD groups. Predictors of recurrence included repair technique (p = 0.04) and size of defect (p = 0.005). Body mass index, leak site (ethmoid, sphenoid, frontal), and etiology (spontaneous, iatrogenic, traumatic) were not predictive of leak recurrence. CONCLUSION: Use of LDs in endoscopic CSF leak repair was not associated with reduced recurrence rates, regardless of leak etiology, and resulted in a significant increase in hospital length of stay. Although the use of perioperative LDs to monitor CSF dynamics may have some therapeutic and diagnostic advantages, it may not be associated with clinically significant improvements in patient outcomes or recurrence rates.

A Risk Assessment of the Jaffe vs Enzymatic Method for Creatinine Measurement in an Outpatient Population.

BACKGROUND: The Jaffe and enzymatic methods are the two most common methods for measuring serum creatinine. The Jaffe method is less expensive than the enzymatic method but is also more susceptible to interferences. Interferences can lead to misdiagnosis but interferences may vary by patient population. The overall risk associated with the Jaffe method depends on the probability of misclassification and the consequences of misclassification. This study assessed the risk associated with the Jaffe method in an outpatient population. We analyzed the discordance rate in the estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine measurements obtained by the Jaffe and enzymatic method. METHODS: Method comparison and risk analysis. Five hundred twenty-nine eGFRs obtained by the Jaffe and enzymatic method were compared at four clinical decision limits. We determined the probability of discordance and the consequence of misclassification at each decision limit to evaluate the overall risk. RESULTS: We obtained 529 paired observations. Of these, 29 (5.5%) were discordant with respect to one of the decision limits (i.e. 15, 30, 45 or 60 ml/min/1.73m2). The magnitude of the differences (Jaffe result minus enzymatic result) were significant relative to analytical variation in 21 of the 29 (72%) of the discordant results. The magnitude of the differences were not significant relative to biological variation. The risk associated with misclassification was greatest at the 60 ml/min/1.73m2 decision limit because the probability of misclassification and the potential for adverse outcomes were greatest at that decision limit. CONCLUSION: The Jaffe method is subject to bias due to interfering substances (loss of analytical specificity). The risk of misclassification is greatest at the 60 ml/min/1.73m2 decision limit; however, the risk of misclassification due to bias is much less than the risk of misclassification due to biological variation. The Jaffe method may pose low risk in selected populations if eGFR results near the 60 ml/min/1.73m2 decision limit are interpreted with caution.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of probiotics for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have proven beneficial in a number of immune-mediated and allergic diseases. Several human studies have evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in allergic rhinitis; however, evidence for their use has yet to be firmly established. The current systematic review seeks to synthesize the results of available randomized trials. METHODS: In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were reviewed and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were extracted based on defined inclusion criteria. The effect of probiotics on Rhinitis Quality of Life (RQLQ) scores, Rhinitis Total Symptom Scores (RTSS), as well as total and antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were evaluated by meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies with 1919 patients were identified, including 21 double-blind RCTs and 2 randomized crossover studies. Multiple probiotic strains, study populations, and outcome measures were used in individual trials. Seventeen studies showed a significant clinical benefit from the use of probiotics in at least 1 outcome measure when compared to placebo, whereas 6 trials showed no benefit. Among the trials eligible for meta-analysis, the use of probiotics resulted in a significant improvement in RQLQ scores compared to placebo (standard mean difference [SMD] -2.23; p = 0.02). Probiotics had no effect on RTSS (SMD -0.36; p = 0.13) or total IgE levels (SMD 0.01; p = 0.94), although there was a trend toward a reduction in antigen-specific IgE (SMD 0.20; p = 0.06) in the placebo group compared to probiotic. CONCLUSION: Probiotics may be beneficial in improving symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis; however, current evidence remains limited due to study heterogeneity and variable outcome measures. Additional high-quality studies are needed to establish appropriate recommendations.