Congenital Cytomegalovirus Testing Outcomes From the ValEAR Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the positivity rate of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) testing among universal, hearing-targeted CMV testing (HT-cCMV) and delayed targeted dried blood spot (DBS) testing newborn screening programs, and to examine the characteristics of successful HT-cCMV testing programs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective survey of birth hospitals performing early CMV testing. SETTING: Multiple institutions. METHODS: Birth hospitals participating in the National Institutes of Health ValEAR clinical trial were surveyed to determine the rates of cCMV positivity associated with 3 different testing approaches: universal testing, HT-cCMV, and DBS testing. A mixed methods model was created to determine associations between successful HT-cCMV screening and specific screening protocols. RESULTS: Eighty-two birth hospitals were surveyed from February 2019 to December 2021. Seven thousand six hundred seventy infants underwent universal screening, 9017 infants HT-cCMV and 535 infants delayed DBS testing. The rates of cCMV positivity were 0.5%, 1.5%, and 7.3%, respectively. The positivity rate for universal CMV screening was less during the COVID-19 pandemic than that reported prior to the pandemic. There were no statistically significant drops in positivity for any approach during the pandemic. For HT-cCMV testing, unique order sets and rigorous posttesting protocols were associated with successful screening programs. CONCLUSION: Rates of cCMV positivity differed among the 3 approaches. The rates are comparable to cohort studies reported in the literature. Universal CMV prevalence decreased during the pandemic but not significantly. Institutions with specific order set for CMV testing where the primary care physician orders the test and the nurse facilitates the testing process exhibited higher rates of HT-cCMV testing.

Impact of COVID-19 visitation policies and hospital capacity on discharge readiness in medicine patients.

Background: COVID-19 impacted the experience of being hospitalized with the widespread adoption of strict visitation policies to ensure healthcare worker safety. One result was decreased time of caregivers at the bedside of hospitalized patients. Objective: To understand the impact of pandemic-related system effects on patient-reported discharge preparation. Design: This mixed methods study included interviews with a sample of discharged patients during April 2020, and quantitative hospital data from April 2020 to February 2021. Participants: 616 patients completed a measure of discharge readiness on their day of discharge and 38 patients completed interviews about their discharge experiences. Main measures: Readiness for discharge (RHDS), visitation policies, ward structure changes, COVID-19-unit census, time into the COVID-19 pandemic, patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity), admission type (planned/unplanned, for COVID-19), and discharge destination (home, home health, skilled nursing). Key results: Adult patients aged 30-45 (vs. young and older adult patients) and those being discharged to places other than home (e.g., skilled nursing facility) or to out-of-state residences report lower readiness (p < 0.05) on RHDS. Patient interviews revealed some gaps in discharge communication but, overall, patients expressed high discharge readiness and few concerns about how COVID-19 system changes impacted their discharge preparation. Conclusions: While there is some evidence that visitation policies and unit census may impact patient perceptions of discharge preparation, personal characteristics contributed more significantly to discharge readiness than system changes during COVID-19. Participant interviews demonstrated agreement, as most participants were discharged home and identified strong personal feelings of readiness for discharge.Clinical trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04248738, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04248738. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44250-023-00060-8.

Headache among combat-exposed veterans and service members and its relation to mild traumatic brain injury history and other factors: a LIMBIC-CENC study.

Background: Headache (HA) is a common persistent complaint following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but the association with remote mTBI is not well established, and risk factors are understudied. Objective: Determine the relationship of mTBI history and other factors with HA prevalence and impact among combat-exposed current and former service members (SMs). Design: Secondary cross-sectional data analysis from the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium prospective longitudinal study. Methods: We examined the association of lifetime mTBI history, demographic, military, medical and psychosocial factors with (1) HA prevalence ("lately, have you experienced headaches?") using logistic regression and (2) HA burden via the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) using linear regression. Each lifetime mTBI was categorized by mechanism (blast-related or not) and setting (combat deployed or not). Participants with non-credible symptom reporting were excluded, leaving N = 1,685 of whom 81% had positive mTBI histories. Results: At a median 10 years since last mTBI, mTBI positive participants had higher HA prevalence (69% overall, 78% if 3 or more mTBIs) and greater HA burden (67% substantial/severe impact) than non-TBI controls (46% prevalence, 54% substantial/severe impact). In covariate-adjusted analysis, HA prevalence was higher with greater number of blast-related mTBIs (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.48, 2.23), non-blast mTBIs while deployed (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.14, 1.79), or non-blast mTBIs when not deployed (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.02, 1.49). HA impact was only higher with blast-related mTBIs. Female identity, younger age, PTSD symptoms, and subjective sleep quality showed effects in both prevalence and impact models, with the largest mean HIT-6 elevation for PTSD symptoms. Additionally, combat deployment duration and depression symptoms were factors for HA prevalence, and Black race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity were factors for HA impact. In sensitivity analyses, time since last mTBI and early HA onset were both non-significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of HA symptoms among formerly combat-deployed veterans and SMs is higher with more lifetime mTBIs regardless of how remote. Blast-related mTBI raises the risk the most and is uniquely associated with elevated HA burden. Other demographic and potentially modifiable risk factors were identified that may inform clinical care.

Sleep Technology Intervention to Target Cardiometabolic Health (STITCH): a randomized controlled study of a behavioral sleep extension intervention compared to an education control to improve sleep duration, blood pressure, and cardiometabolic health among adults with elevated blood pressure/hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Short sleep duration, defined as < 7 h sleep on weeknights, affects 40% of the US adult population, contributing to the increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases, decreased safety, and poorer mental health. Despite the prevalence of short sleep duration, few studies have tested interventions to extend sleep duration. The objective of this study is to test the effects of a behavioral sleep extension intervention on sleep duration, blood pressure, and other measures of cardiometabolic health among adults with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. METHODS: This is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of a behavioral sleep extension intervention on sleep duration and cardiometabolic health among individuals with short sleep duration (< 7 h per night) and elevated blood pressure or hypertension (SBP 120-150 mmHg or DBP 80-90 mmHg). After completing the screening, participants will be randomly assigned to either a sleep coaching (intervention) or health education (control) group. The participants will have weekly contact for either coaching or education for 8 weeks (intervention period) followed by monthly coaching or education for the next 2 months (maintenance period). Participants will complete assessment visits, actigraphy, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure recording at baseline/screening, 8 weeks, and 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is sleep duration at 8 weeks, and the secondary outcome is blood pressure at 8 weeks. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will determine the effects of behavioral sleep extension on sleep and cardiometabolic health among adults with short sleep duration and elevated BP/hypertension. The results will inform the feasibility and efficacy of behavioral sleep extension and provide information needed for future multi-site effectiveness studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04766424. Registered on 21 February 2021.

Familial Associations of Prevalence and Cause-Specific Mortality for Thoracic Aortic Disease and Bicuspid Aortic Valve in a Large-Population Database.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic disease and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) likely have a heritable component, but large population-based studies are lacking. This study characterizes familial associations of thoracic aortic disease and BAV, as well as cardiovascular and aortic-specific mortality, among relatives of these individuals in a large-population database. METHODS: In this observational case-control study of the Utah Population Database, we identified probands with a diagnosis of BAV, thoracic aortic aneurysm, or thoracic aortic dissection. Age- and sex-matched controls (10:1 ratio) were identified for each proband. First-degree relatives, second-degree relatives, and first cousins of probands and controls were identified through linked genealogical information. Cox proportional hazard models were used to quantify the familial associations for each diagnosis. We used a competing-risk model to determine the risk of cardiovascular-specific and aortic-specific mortality for relatives of probands. RESULTS: The study population included 3 812 588 unique individuals. Familial hazard risk of a concordant diagnosis was elevated in the following populations compared with controls: first-degree relatives of patients with BAV (hazard ratio [HR], 6.88 [95% CI, 5.62-8.43]); first-degree relatives of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (HR, 5.09 [95% CI, 3.80-6.82]); and first-degree relatives of patients with thoracic aortic dissection (HR, 4.15 [95% CI, 3.25-5.31]). In addition, the risk of aortic dissection was higher in first-degree relatives of patients with BAV (HR, 3.63 [95% CI, 2.68-4.91]) and in first-degree relatives of patients with thoracic aneurysm (HR, 3.89 [95% CI, 2.93-5.18]) compared with controls. Dissection risk was highest in first-degree relatives of patients who carried a diagnosis of both BAV and aneurysm (HR, 6.13 [95% CI, 2.82-13.33]). First-degree relatives of patients with BAV, thoracic aneurysm, or aortic dissection had a higher risk of aortic-specific mortality (HR, 2.83 [95% CI, 2.44-3.29]) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that BAV and thoracic aortic disease carry a significant familial association for concordant disease and aortic dissection. The pattern of familiality is consistent with a genetic cause of disease. Furthermore, we observed higher risk of aortic-specific mortality in relatives of individuals with these diagnoses. This study provides supportive evidence for screening in relatives of patients with BAV, thoracic aneurysm, or dissection.

A protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of an Early Psychiatric Assessment, Referral, and Intervention Study (EPARIS) for intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: Up to 80% of Intensive Care Unit patients experience physical, cognitive, and/or psychological complications post-discharge, known as 'Post Intensive Care Syndrome' (PICS). Early diagnosis and intervention are a priority, but while current post-intensive care follow-up processes endorse a multidisciplinary model, incorporating a psychiatric consultation has not been studied. METHODS: A pilot, open-label randomised controlled trial was developed by a multidisciplinary team to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating a psychiatric review into an existing post-ICU clinic. The study will run for 12 months and aim to recruit 30 participants. Inclusion criteria for participants: a) ICU admission greater than 48 hours, b) no cognitive impairment that prevents participation, c) ≥ 18 years old, d) residing in Australia, e) fluent in English, f) able to provide GP information, and g) likely to be contactable in 6 months. Patient recruitment will be at Redcliffe Hospital, Queensland, Australia, and will involve patients attending the Redcliffe post intensive care clinic. Participants will be allocated to intervention or control using block randomisation and allocation concealment. Participants allocated to the control arm will receive the standard cares provided by the clinic, which involves an unstructured interview about their ICU experience and a battery of surveys about their psychological, cognitive, and physical function. Those allocated to the intervention arm will receive these same cares as well as an appointment with a psychiatrist for a single session intervention. The psychiatric intervention will involve a comprehensive review, including comorbid disorders, substance use, suicidal ideation, psychosocial stressors, social/emotional supports. Psychoeducation and initial treatment will be provided as indicated and recommendations given to the patient and their GP about how to access ongoing care. In addition to surveys conducted as part of standard clinic cares, all participants will complete additional questionnaires about their history, hospital experience, mental and physical health as well as employment circumstances. All participants will be followed up 6 months after their appointment and will be invited to complete follow-up questionnaires about their mental and physical health, as well as health service use and employment circumstances. The trial has been registered with ANZCTR (ACTRN12622000894796). RESULTS: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention to the patient population. Differences between groups will be assessed using an independent samples t-test. Resource requirements to administer the intervention will be evaluated by reporting the mean duration of the EPARIS assessment and approximate cost per patient to provide this service. To estimate the effect size of any treatment effects, changes in secondary outcome measures between baseline and 6 months will be compared between intervention and control groups using Analysis of Covariance regression. As this is a pilot, we will not use p-values or test a null hypothesis, but will give confidence intervals. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol provides a pragmatic evaluation of the acceptability of introducing early psychiatric assessment into an existing post-ICU follow-up process, and if considered acceptable will inform future research into the efficacy and generalisability of the intervention. The strengths of EPARIS are the prospective, longitudinal design with a control population, and its use of validated post-ICU outcome measures.

A feasibility study to understand the components of behavioral sleep extension.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the contribution of sleep extension intervention components (wearable sleep tracker and coaching) on sleep extension outcomes. Patient involvement: This study collected open ended qualitative responses of treatment preference, acceptability, and feasibility as a key outcome. Methods: Adults aged 25 to 65 years with sleep duration <7 h and BMI ≥ 25 were randomized into one of four groups: Self-Management (control), Fitbit, Telephone Coaching, or Fitbit + Coaching. Self-report questionnaires and actigraphy were completed at baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks), and 12-weeks. Analyses used mixed models. Results: Among the 38 adults randomized, the Fitbit + Coaching group had larger but non-significant improvements in sleep duration compared with the self-management group. The coaching group demonstrated significant improvements in sleep-related impairment. All groups demonstrated feasibility and acceptability but the Fitbit + Coaching group reported themes of accountability. Conclusions: Results suggest that sleep extension interventions are feasible and acceptable but components affect the pattern of sleep and other outcomes. Practical implications: Sleep extension is feasible and acceptable; the combination of coaching and the wearable device may lead to larger changes in sleep due to enhanced accountability.

Greater spatial access to care is associated with lower mortality for emergency general surgery.

BACKGROUND: Emergency general surgery (EGS) diseases are time-sensitive conditions that require urgent surgical evaluation, yet the effect of geographic access to care on outcomes remains unclear. We examined the association of spatial access with outcomes for common EGS conditions. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of twelve 2014 State Inpatient Databases, identifying adults admitted with eight EGS conditions, was performed. We assessed spatial access using the spatial access ratio (SPAR)-an advanced spatial model that accounts for travel distance, hospital capacity, and population demand, normalized against the national mean. Multivariable regression models adjusting for patient and hospital factors were used to evaluate the association between SPAR with (a) in-hospital mortality and (b) major morbidity. RESULTS: A total of 877,928 admissions, of which 104,332 (2.4%) were in the lowest-access category (SPAR, 0) and 578,947 (66%) were in the high-access category (SPAR, ≥1), were analyzed. Low-access patients were more likely to be White, male, and treated in nonteaching hospitals. Low-access patients also had higher incidence of complex EGS disease (low access, 31% vs. high access, 12%; p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (4.4% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.05). When adjusted for confounding factors, including presence of advanced hospital resources, increasing spatial access was protective against in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.97; p < 0.001). Spatial access was not significantly associated with major morbidity. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate that geospatial access to surgical care is associated with incidence of complex EGS disease and that increasing spatial access to care is independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality. These results support the consideration of spatial access in the development of regional health systems for EGS care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level III.

Circadian Timing, Information processing and Metabolism (TIME) study: protocol of a longitudinal study of sleep duration, circadian alignment and cardiometabolic health among overweight adults.

BACKGROUND: Both short sleep duration and circadian rhythm misalignment are risk factors for metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The goal of this study is to examine how sleep duration and circadian alignment predict changes in cardiometabolic risk factors over a 12-month period, and test cognitive function and hedonic eating tendencies as potential mechanisms. METHODS: We will recruit a sample of 120 working aged adults with BMI 25-35 kg/m2 (overweight to class I obesity). The protocol includes 5 visits over a 12-month period. Study visits include wrist actigraphy to measure sleep behaviors, 24-h diet recalls, dim light melatonin collection, a computerized neurobehavioral assessment, eating in the absence of hunger task, and frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test. DISCUSSION: The results of the TIME study will advance the understanding of how both short sleep duration and circadian misalignment contribute to behavioral aspects of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT04759755 , registered retrospectively February 13, 2021.

A Vascular Quality Initiative frailty assessment predicts postdischarge mortality in patients undergoing arterial reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Frailty assessment adds important prognostic information during preoperative decision-making but can be cumbersome to implement into routine clinical care. We developed and tested an abbreviated method of frailty assessment using variables routinely collected by the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry. METHODS: An abbreviated frailty score (the simple Vascular Quality Initiative-Frailty Score [VQI-FS]) was developed using 11 or fewer VQI variables (hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal impairment, anemia, underweight, nonhome residence, and nonambulatory status) that map to recognized frailty domains in the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and the literature. Nonemergent cases registered in the VQI from 2010 to 2017 (n = 265,632) in seven registries (carotid endarterectomy, n = 77,111; carotid artery stenting, n = 13,215; endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, n = 29,607; open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, n = 7442; infrainguinal bypass, n = 33,128; suprainguinal bypass, n = 10,661; and peripheral vascular intervention, n = 94,468) were analyzed using logistic regression models to determine the predictive power of the VQI-FS for perioperative and longer term (9-month) mortality. Nomograms were created using weighted regression coefficients to assist in individualized frailty assessment and estimation of 9-month mortality. RESULTS: The VQI-FS, using equal weighting of these 11 VQI variables, effectively predicted 9-month mortality with an area under the curve of 0.724 by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. However, differential weighting of the variables allowed simplification of the model to only seven variables (congestive heart failure, renal impairment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, not living at home, not ambulatory, anemia, and underweight status); hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes had relatively low predictive power. Adding procedure-specific risk further improved performance of the model with a final area under the curve on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of 0.758. Model calibration was excellent with predicted/observed regression line slope of 0.991 and intercept of 5.449e-04. CONCLUSIONS: A differentially weighted abbreviated VQI-FS using seven variables in addition to procedure-specific risk has strong correlation with 9-month mortality. Nomograms incorporating patient- and procedure-adjusted risk can effectively predict 9-month mortality. Reliable estimates of longer term mortality should assist in preoperative decision-making for vascular procedures that often carry substantial risk of mortality.

Does training paradigm matter? A comparison of outcomes of frail patients treated by integrated vascular surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship-trained surgeons.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether shortened training of integrated vascular surgery residencies (IVSR) has detrimental effects on graduates' performance. We sought to investigate whether there is a difference in frail patient outcomes based on the training paradigm completed by their surgeon. METHODS: IVSR and vascular surgery fellowship (VSF)-trained surgeons were identified in the American Board of Surgery database and linked to the Vascular Quality Initiative registry (2013-2019) to evaluate provider-specific patient outcomes for frail patients following vascular procedures using mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS: 105 IVSR graduates (31%) and 233 VSF graduates (69%) were included. Composite 1-year outcomes of frail patients were comparable between IVSR and VSF-trained surgeons following carotid endarterectomy (16%-IVSR vs 25%-VSF; p = 0.76), lower extremity revascularization (37%-IVSR vs 36%-VSF; p = 0.83), and aortic aneurysm repair (25%-IVSR vs 23%-VSF; p = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The type of training paradigm completed by vascular surgeons was not associated with differences in their post-operative outcomes in frail patients.

Frailty and Quality of Life After Cochlear Implantation in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship among frailty index, hearing measures, and hearing-related quality of life (QOL) in older recipients of cochlear implants. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Academic medical center. METHODS: Adults aged ≥65 years at the time of receiving cochlear implants between July 13, 2000, and April 3, 2019, were asked to complete a questionnaire on hearing-related QOL. Chart review was performed to identify patients' characteristics. Correlations were calculated between frailty index and audiologic outcome measures as well as between speech recognition scores and QOL scores. Linear regression models were developed to examine the impact of clinical characteristics, frailty index, and hearing measures on hearing-related QOL. RESULTS: Data for 143 respondents were included. The mean age was 80.7 years (SD, 7.1), with a mean 27.8 years of hearing loss (SD, 17.4) before implantation. The mean frailty index was 11.1 (SD, 10.6), indicating that patients had 1 or 2 of the measured comorbidities on average. No correlation was found between lower frailty index (better health) and hearing scores, including pure tone averages (PTAs) and speech recognition scores. Lower frailty index and larger improvement in PTA after cochlear implantation predicted better QOL scores on univariate analysis (respectively, P = .002, ß = -0.42 [95% CI, -0.68 to -0.16]; P = .008, ß = -0.15 [95% CI, -0.26 to -0.04]) and multivariate analysis (P = .047, ß = -0.28 [95% CI, -0.55 to -0.01]; P = .006, ß = -0.16 [95% CI, -0.28 to -0.05]). No speech recognition scores correlated with QOL after cochlear implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty index does not correlate with hearing scores after cochlear implantation in older adults. Lower frailty index and more improvement in PTA predict better QOL scores after cochlear implantation in older adults.

Comparison of Patient Outcomes Among Integrated Residency Versus Fellowship-trained Vascular Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate whether graduates of integrated vascular surgery residency (IVSR) programs achieve similar surgical outcomes in clinical practice as compared to graduates of vascular surgery fellowships (VSF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Early sub-specialization through IVSR programs decreases the total years of surgical training. However, it is unclear whether IVSR graduates achieve comparable outcomes to fellowship-trained surgeons once in clinical practice. METHODS: We identified all vascular surgeons who finished IVSR and VSF programs between 2013-2017 using American Board of Surgery data, which was linked to the Vascular Quality Initiative registry (2013-2019) to evaluate provider-specific clinical outcomes following carotid, lower extremity, and aortic aneurysm repair procedures. The association between training models and the composite outcome of 1-year mortality, major adverse cardiac events and/or other major complications were analyzed using mixed-effects logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 338 surgeons (31% IVSR, 69% VSF) submitted cases into the Vascular Quality Initiative registry, including 8155 carotid, 21,428 lower extremity, and 5800 aortic aneurysm repair procedures. Composite 1-year outcome rates were comparable between IVSR and VSF-trained surgeons following carotid endarterectomy (8%-IVSR vs 7%-VSF), lower extremity revascularization (19%-IVSR vs 16%-VSF), and aortic aneurysm repair (13%-IVSR vs 13%-VSF) procedures. These findings among IVSR-trained surgeons persisted following risk adjustment for severity of patient disease and indications for undertaking carotid [aOR: 1.04 (0.84-1.28)], lower extremity [aOR: 1.03 (0.84-1.26)], and aortic [aOR: 0.96 (0.76-1.21)] procedures when compared to VSF-trained surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Despite fewer total years of training, graduates of IVSR programs achieve equivalent surgical outcomes as fellowship-trained vascular surgeons once in practice. These results suggest that concerns about differential competence among integrated residency graduates are not warranted.

Caregiver Quality of Life After Cochlear Implantation in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors affecting quality of life (QOL) in caregivers of older cochlear implant (CI) recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Adults over age 65 receiving CI between July 13, 2000 and April 3, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Linear regression models for caregiver QOL measured by Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR), with independent variables: caregiver role, patient gender, 11 factor modified frailty index (mFI), duration of hearing loss, hearing aid use, age at surgery, time since surgery, change in pure tone average (PTA), processor input type and Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ). Correlations between SOS-HEAR and patient speech recognition scores. RESULTS: Questionnaires were mailed to all 294 living CI recipients. Seventy-one caregivers completed the questionnaire. Only patient gender and mFi were significant predictors of caregiver QOL on both univariate (p ≤ 0.001, ß= -20.26 [95% confidence interval -30.21, -10.3]; 0.005, -0.72 [-1.20, -0.23], respectively) and multivariate (p = 0.005, ß = -20.09, -33.05 to -7.13; 0.003, -0.93 [-1.50, -0.37]) analysis, where caregivers of female patients with lower mFI (better health) had better QOL scores. Caregiver QOL was significantly associated with patient's change in PTA and self-reported QOL scores on univariate (p = 0.041, ß = 0.52 [0.08, 0.96]; 0.024, -0.27 [-0.52, -0.02]) but not multivariate analysis. Time since CI was significant only on multivariate analysis (0.041, -0.17 [-0.33, -0.01]). Caregiver QOL did not correlate with patient speech recognition scores. CONCLUSIONS: Higher QOL scores were found among caregivers of healthier, female CI recipients. Patient hearing measurements did not correspond with better caregiver QOL.

Feasibility of wearable activity trackers in cystectomy patients to monitor for postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND: To determine the feasibility of using wearables in patients undergoing radical cystectomy to monitor postoperative heart rate and activity and attempt to correlate these factors to complications and readmissions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 20 patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between June 2017 and March 2018. Each patient was provided with a Garmin Vívofit heart rate (HR) activity tracker and instructed to wear it on their wrist for 30 days postoperatively. Heart rate, steps, and sleep data were collected during this time. Patients were called at 10-day intervals and surveyed for complications and device compliance. Univariable mixed effects logistic regression models were used to compare daily activity tracker measures with occurrence of an adverse event. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values were reported. RESULTS: Median age was 65 (interquartile range 61-74) years. Patients had usable data for a median of 59.3% (interquartile range 25-71.7%) of the time. Five patients experienced a postoperative event (1 readmission for sepsis from urinary tract source, 1 inpatient rapid response called for tachycardic event, 3 unscheduled visits related to dehydration), where event data was recorded over a total of 17 days. Higher step count was associated with reduced odds of an adverse event (odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.98 per 1000 steps, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative activity and heart rate monitoring in cystectomy patients is feasible though current wearables are not well suited for this task.

The effect of audiovisual distraction on patient-controlled sedation under spinal anesthesia: a prospective, randomized trial.

Audiovisual distraction (AVD) has been used to augment or replace procedural sedation. We investigated whether AVD in patients having total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under spinal anesthesia would reduce self-administered propofol consumption during surgery. 50 participants were randomized equally into a patient-controlled sedation (PCS) group or AVD group. All participants were given a spinal block and a propofol PCS device prior to surgery. In addition, Group AVD participants selected and watched a movie or documentary film on a tablet device with noise-cancelling headphones during surgery. The primary outcome of this study was total propofol consumption standardized as mcg/kg/min. Secondary outcomes evaluated increased supplemental oxygen use, rescue airway interventions, hypotension, disruptive movement events during surgery, sedation, and satisfaction with anesthesia scores. Historical clinician-controlled propofol usage at our institution over the previous 2 years were recorded. There was no significant difference in median propofol consumption between Groups PCS and AVD, 8.4 mcg/kg/min (1.6-18.9) vs 4 mcg/kg/min (0-9) (P = 0.29), respectively. Historical clinician-controlled usage of propofol demonstrated a median of 39.3 mcg/kg/min (29.2-51.2). There were few differences in the secondary outcome measures. The use of AVD did not reduce patient-controlled propofol consumption in patients having a THA or TKA surgery under spinal anesthesia.

Simulation training for the endoscopic management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a nationwide survey of rural surgeons' needs and preferences analysis.

BACKGROUND: Published needs analyses of rural surgeons have identified a need for training in the endoscopic management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB). The study aim was to survey rural surgeons regarding their requirements and preferences for a simulation model on which they could rehearse the endoscopic management of NVUGIB. METHODS: Rural surgeons were contacted via the American College of Surgery Advisory Council listserv and invited to complete an online survey. RESULTS: A total of 66 responses were received, representing all 4 US regional divisions. Seventy-seven percent of respondents perform > 100 endoscopy cases per year. A majority have no experience with simulation models (77%), citing cost, time, and access to training courses as the three most limiting factors. Thirty-three percent lacked confidence in managing UGIBs, and 73% were interested in receiving additional training. Preference analysis revealed that respondents preferred a portable simulation model (81%) that costs between $500 and $1000 (46%), and requires 1-2 weeks of training (34%). Verbal feedback from an expert was viewed as the most helpful type of feedback (61%). CONCLUSION: Rural surgeons frequently perform flexible endoscopy in their practice and are interested in further training for the endoscopic management of NVUGIB. These results will be used to develop a simulation platform for training in the endoscopic management of NVUGIB that meets rural surgeons' needs.

Early ileal pouch anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis in children: Similar outcome to delayed pouch construction despite higher comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: Children with ulcerative colitis (UC) may undergo a staged approach for restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA). Previous studies in adults suggest a decreased morbidity with delayed pouch creation, but pediatric studies are limited. We compared outcomes for delayed versus early pouch construction in children. METHODS: Patients with UC undergoing IPAA were selected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database from 2012 to 2018. Patients were categorized as early (2-stage) or delayed (3-stage) pouch construction based on Current Procedural Terminology codes. Our primary outcome was any adverse event. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to assess the relationship between timing of pouch creation and adverse events. RESULTS: We identified 371 children who underwent IPAA: 157 (42.3%) had early pouch creation and 214 (57.6%) had a delayed pouch. Those with an early pouch creation were more likely to have exposure to immunosuppressants (11% vs. 5%, p = 0.017) and steroids (30% vs. 10%, p < 0.001) at the time of surgery. After controlling for patient characteristics, there were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children undergoing early pouch creation have increased exposure to steroids and immune suppressants; nevertheless, no differences in adverse events were identified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Evaluating the performance of PROMIS and QuickDASH instruments in an intercollegiate Division 1 athlete population.

BACKGROUND: Athletes demonstrate high levels of physical function, leading to difficulties in patient-reported outcome scoring and interpretation. In particular, the ability of patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments to adequately discriminate between high levels of upper extremity function-that is, the ceiling effect-is limited. This study evaluated performance characteristics of the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) survey and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) metrics in a population of Division 1 intercollegiate athletes, with specific attention to ceiling effects. METHODS: At a single institution, Division I intercollegiate athletes cleared for full participation in the 2018-2019 season were eligible. The following PROs were collected prospectively via tablet computer: PROMIS upper extremity (UE) computer adaptive test (CAT), PROMIS physical function (PF) CAT, QuickDASH, and QuickDASH Sports/Performing Arts Module. Descriptive statistics, and ceiling and floor effects, were calculated. The proportion of athletes with maximal scores on each PRO were compared to normative values using the 1-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: A total of 268 participants were included; the mean age was 19.9 ± 1.5 years, 49% were female, and 61% were overhead athletes. Large ceiling effects were observed for the UE CAT (46%), QuickDASH (58%), and QuickDASH Sports Module (82%). The PF CAT demonstrated a relatively low ceiling effect of 6.7%. Athlete scores were all significantly better than published age-matched values from a normative population for all instruments, with the exception of no difference on the QuickDASH for males. DISCUSSION AND/OR CONCLUSION: The PROMIS UE CAT and QuickDash instruments are limited in their ability to assess and discriminate upper extremity function in highly functioning individuals such as Division I athletes. The PROMIS PF CAT, a measure of general physical function, did not suffer from a large ceiling effect.

Reliability of Telephone Acquisition of the PROMIS Upper Extremity Computer Adaptive Test.

PURPOSE: Our primary purpose was to evaluate the reliability of telephone administration of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity (UE) Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) version 2.0 in a hand and upper extremity population, and secondarily to make comparisons with the abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH). METHODS: Patients more than 1 year out from hand surgeries performed at a single tertiary institution were enrolled. Half of the patients completed telephone PROMIS UE CAT and QuickDASH surveys first, followed by computer-based surveys 1 to 10 days later, and the other half completed them in the reverse order. Telephone surveys were readministered 2 to 6 weeks later to evaluate test-retest reliability. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) were used to assess agreement between telephone and computer-based scores, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess test-retest reliability. The proportion of patients with discrepancies in follow-up scores that exceeded estimates of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was evaluated. RESULTS: For the 89 enrolled patients, the PROMIS UE CAT CCC was 0.82 (83% confidence interval [83% CI], 0.77-0.86; good), which was significantly lower than 0.92 (83% CI, 0.89-0.94; good to excellent) for the QuickDASH. The PROMIS UE CAT ICC did not differ significantly from the QuickDASH (0.85 and 0.91, respectively). Differences in telephone versus computer scores exceeded 5 points (MCID estimate) for the PROMIS UE CAT in 34% of patients versus 5% of patients exceeding 14 points (MCID estimate) for the QuickDASH. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly better reliability was observed for the QuickDASH than the PROMIS UE CAT when comparing telephone with computer-based score acquisition. Over one-third of patients demonstrated a clinically relevant difference in scores between the telephone and the computer-administered tests. We conclude that the PROMIS UE CAT should only be administered through computer-based methods. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that differences in collection methods for the PROMIS UE CAT may systematically affect the scores obtained, which may erroneously influence the interpretation of postoperative scores for hand surgery patients.