Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Trough and AUC/MIC Vancomycin Dosing Strategies in a Large Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Cohort.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication associated with vancomycin use. There is evidence that this was related to the presence of supratherapeutic vancomycin levels rather than the drug itself. The area under the curve over 24 h to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) dosing for vancomycin has replaced trough-based dosing, but the impact of this change on AKI rates remains unclear. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients from the trough cohort were recruited from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019, and the AUC/MIC cohort from July 1, 2021, to January 1, 2022. Sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and concomitant medications were obtained. AKI was defined by The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes. A total of 1056 patients were included, 509 in the trough cohort and 547 in the AUC/MIC cohort. The baseline rates of chronic kidney disease were 15.4% and 9.9%, respectively. The AKI rates were 15.9% and 11.9% for trough and AUC/MIC cohorts, respectively (P-value .045). The most frequent nephrotoxins were piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP), diuretics, and IV contrast for both groups. The rates of supratherapeutic levels were higher in the trough cohort (20.7%) than in the AUC/MIC cohort (6.6%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that trough dosing was not associated with increased rates of AKI (OR = 0.96 CI 0.64-1.44). Supratherapeutic levels (OR = 4.64), diuretics (OR = 1.62), TZP (OR = 2.01), and ICU admission (OR = 1.72) were associated with AKI. Vancomycin AUC/MIC dosing strategy was associated with decreased rates of supratherapeutic levels of this drug compared to trough dosing, with a trend toward lower rates of AKI.

Voice-Activated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Insomnia symptoms affect an estimated 30% to 50% of the 4 million US breast cancer survivors. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), but high insomnia prevalence suggests continued opportunities for delivery via new modalities. Objective: To determine the efficacy of a CBT-I-informed, voice-activated, internet-delivered program for improving insomnia symptoms among breast cancer survivors. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this randomized clinical trial, breast cancer survivors with insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI] score >7) were recruited from advocacy and survivorship groups and an oncology clinic. Eligible patients were females aged 18 years or older who had completed curative treatment more than 3 months before enrollment and had not undergone other behavioral sleep treatments in the prior year. Individuals were assessed for eligibility and randomized between March 2022 and October 2023, with data collection completed by December 2023. Intervention: Participants were randomized 1:1 to a smart speaker with a voice-interactive CBT-I program or educational control for 6 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: Linear mixed models and Cohen d estimates were used to evaluate the primary outcome of changes in ISI scores and secondary outcomes of sleep quality, wake after sleep onset, sleep onset latency, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency. Results: Of 76 women enrolled (38 each in the intervention and control groups), 70 (92.1%) completed the study. Mean (SD) age was 61.2 (9.3) years; 49 (64.5%) were married or partnered, and participants were a mean (SD) of 9.6 (6.8) years from diagnosis. From baseline to follow-up, ISI scores changed by a mean (SD) of -8.4 (4.7) points in the intervention group compared with -2.6 (3.5) in the control group (P < .001) (Cohen d, 1.41; 95% CI, 0.87-1.94). Sleep diary data showed statistically significant improvements in the intervention group compared with the control group for sleep quality (0.56; 95% CI, 0.39-0.74), wake after sleep onset (9.54 minutes; 95% CI, 1.93-17.10 minutes), sleep onset latency (8.32 minutes; 95% CI, 1.91-14.70 minutes), and sleep efficiency (-0.04%; 95% CI, -0.07% to -0.01%) but not for total sleep time (0.01 hours; 95% CI, -0.27 to 0.29 hours). Conclusions and Relevance: This randomized clinical trial of an in-home, voice-activated CBT-I program among breast cancer survivors found that the intervention improved insomnia symptoms. Future studies may explore how this program can be taken to scale and integrated into ambulatory care. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05233800.

Survival Outcomes in Older Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Analyzed by Facility Volume and Type: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

BAKGROUND: It is important to understand the outcomes of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients at different facilities as treatment paradigms change. AIMS: Our primary objective was to determine adult ALL overall survival (OS) by facility volume and type. Secondary objectives included identifying sociodemographic factors that may have impacted outcomes and analyzing treatment patterns by facility volume and type. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) that included patients ≥40 years diagnosed with ALL between 2004 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 14 593 patients were included in this study. Univariate OS was greatest at low volume (LV) and community programs (CPs) and the least at high volume (HV) and academic programs (AP). This difference was lost after multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis, which found no difference in survival by facility volume or type, however, survival was significantly influenced by age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, insurance, and residence location (p < 0.05). Patients treated at HV and APs compared to LV and CP received more anti-neoplastic directed therapy. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest treatment facility volume and type do not impact older adult ALL patient (≥40 years) survival, however confounding sociodemographic differences do impact survival outcomes, despite more aggressive and novel treatment approaches provided at HV and APs.

Outcome Comparison in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With and Without AKI.

Aim: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have a higher incidence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) compared with non-COVID patients. Previous observational studies showed AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was associated with significant increased mortality rate. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a large mid-Atlantic health system to investigate whether COVID-19 associated AKI during hospitalization would lead to worse outcomes in a predominant Black patient population, compared to COVID-19 without AKI. Methods: We reviewed health records of patients (aged≥18 years) admitted with symptomatic COVID-19 between March 5, 2020, and Jun 3, 2020, in 9 acute care facilities within the MedStar Health system. Patients were followed up until 3 months after discharge. Primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes were need for ICU level of care, need for intubation, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, need for renal replacement therapy, recovery of renal function. Results: Among 1107 patients admitted with symptomatic COVID-19, the AKI incidence rate was 35 %. African American patients made up 63 % of the total patient population and 74 % of the total AKI population. Inpatient mortality in the AKI group and the non-AKI group was 163 (41.9 %) and 71 (9.9 %), respectively. COVID-19 patients with AKI had significant higher risk of in-patient mortality (OR, 4.71 [95 % CI, 3.38-6.62], P < 0.001), ICU admission (OR, 4.27 [95 % CI, 3.21-5.72], P < 0.001) and need of intubation (OR, 6.18 [95 % CI, 4.45-8.68], P < 0.001). Conclusions: AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was associated with higher mortality rate, need for intubation and ICU admission compared to COVID-19 patients without AKI group.

Approach to postpancreatectomy care Impacts outcomes: Retrospective Validation of the PORSCH trial.

BACKGROUND: In the recent PORSCH trial, a three-part postpancreatectomy care algorithm was employed with a near 50 â€‹% reduction in mortality. We hypothesized that clinical care congruent with this protocol would correlate with better outcomes in our patients. METHODS: Real-world postoperative care was compared to the pathway described by the PORSCH trial and patients were assigned into groups based on congruence with its recommendations. The primary composite outcome (PCO) consisted of 90-day mortality, organ failure, and interventions for bleeding. RESULTS: Of 289 patients, care of 12 â€‹% was entirely congruent with the PORSCH algorithm. The PCO was recorded in 9 â€‹% of the PORSCH care group, 8 â€‹% of the Partial-PORSCH care group, and 19 â€‹% of the Non-PORSCH care group (p â€‹= â€‹0.044). Adverse outcomes were highest when pancreaticoduodenectomy patients received care incongruent with the algorithm's CT imaging recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: These results add external validity to the principles of clinical care underlying the PORSCH algorithm.

Lower extremity woven and nonwoven venous stent morphology and luminal changes.

OBJECTIVE: Venous stents are a common treatment modality for obstructive venous disease. Venous stents differentiate themselves by either a woven or braided structure, open or closed cell arrangement or based on material composition (elgiloy vs nitinol). Changes in the morphology of venous stents over time may contribute to restenosis or thrombosis. Woven elgiloy stents are prone to proximal and distal edge deformation compared with dedicated venous stents, which offer increased radial force at stent edges. The objective of this study is to describe luminal morphological changes among various venous stents and between woven to nonwoven venous stent configuration, over time. METHODS: A retrospective review at a single institution between January 2014 and June 2021 identified patients treated with venous stents. Patients with iliac and/or femoral venous stents with intraoperative intravascular ultrasound and a postoperative computed tomography scan were included in the study. Cross-sectional diameters measurements were taken at proximal, middle, and distal portions of each stent from intravascular ultrasound examination at the time of initial stenting and compared with the cross-sectional diameter measurements taken from computed tomography imaging at follow-up. A paired t test was used to compare the luminal change with a D'Agostino-Pearson test used for normality. RESULTS: Fifty-four stents distributed among 38 patients were identified. The mean time to follow-up was 17.5 months. Stents were placed in the common iliac vein (n = 37, 68.5%), external iliac vein (n = 14, 25.9%), and common femoral vein (n = 3, 5.6%). Implanted stents included the Boston Scientific Wallstent (n = 23, 42.6%), Bard Venovo (n = 3, 5.6%), Boston Scientific Vici (n = 23, 42.6%), and Medtronic Abre (n = 5, 9.3%). The mean luminal loss was measured at 2.12 mm proximally (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-2.60; P<.001), 1.29 mm at the mid-stent (95% CI, 0.83-1.74, P<.001), and 1.56 mm distally (95% CI, 0.99-2.12; P<.001). There was no significant difference in luminal changes between woven and nonwoven stents at proximal (P = .374), middle (P = .179), and distal (P = .609) stent measurements. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports morphological changes within venous stents and between woven and nonwoven venous stents. Our findings demonstrate that the edge-stent luminal decrease traditionally attributed to woven configurations also occurs with the newer nonwoven stents. Additional factors such as anatomical location, pelvic curvature, and other external forces may be accountable for this change rather than geometrical configuration of the stent.

Clinical outcomes with metformin use in diabetic patients with compensated cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of metformin in patients with cirrhosis, but no improvement in liver histology. AIM: To investigate the impact of metformin on mortality and hepatic decompensation in people with diabetes with compensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to February 2023 for studies reporting results regarding the impact of metformin on all-cause mortality and hepatic decompensation in people with diabetes with compensated cirrhosis. The risk of bias was assessed by ROBINS-I Cochrane tool. R software 4.3.1 was used for all analyses. RESULTS: Six observational studies were included in the final analysis. Metformin use was associated with reduced all-cause mortality or liver transplantation [hazard ratio (HR): 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.82], while no benefit was shown in the prevention of hepatic decompensation (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.77-1.22). In the subgroup analysis, metformin use was associated with reduced all-cause mortality or liver transplantation (HR: 0.50; 95% CI 0.38-0.65) in patients with metabolic-associated steatohepatitis cirrhosis, while two studies reported no survival benefit in patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C (HR: 0.39; 95% CI 0.12-1.20). CONCLUSION: Metformin use is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, but not with the prevention of hepatic decompensation in people with diabetes with compensated cirrhosis. The mortality benefit is most likely driven by better diabetes and cardiovascular health control.

The impact of COVID-19 and vaccination status on outcomes in veterans with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The impact of both COVID-19 infection and vaccination status on patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of COVID-19 infection and vaccination status on 60-day mortality, cardiovascular, and respiratory complications in patients with a prior diagnosis of HNSCC. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse of Veterans with HNSCC who were tested for COVID-19 during any inpatient VA medical center admission. A cohort of patients was created of Veterans with a diagnosis of HNSCC of the oral cavity,oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx based on International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Data collected included clinical/demographic data, vaccination status, and incidence of 60-day mortality, 60-day cardiovascular complication (including myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, cerebrovascular accident), and 60-day respiratory complication (including acute respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia). The interactions between COVID-19 infection, vaccination status, morbidity and mortality were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 14 262 patients with HNSCC who were tested for COVID-19 during inpatient admission, 4754 tested positive (33.3%), and 9508 (67.7%) tested negative. Patients who tested positive demonstrated increased 60-day mortality (4.7% vs. 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.001), acute respiratory failure (ARF; 15.4% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 0.9% vs. 0.2%, p < 0.001), and pneumonia (PNA; 20.0% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001) compared to those who never tested positive, respectively. Patients who received COVID-19 vaccination between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to a positive test demonstrated decreased rates of ARF (13.2% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.034) and PNA (16.7% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.003) compared to the unvaccinated group. A logistic regression of patients with COVID-19 infections who died within 60 days was performed, with no significant survival advantage among patients vaccinated between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to the positive test. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection may significantly increase rates of 60-day mortality and respiratory complications in patients with HNSCC. COVID-19 vaccination between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to infection may decrease severity of respiratory complications but did not show significant mortality benefits in this study. These data highlight the need for surveillance of respiratory infection and vaccination in this vulnerable population.

Access to durable LVAD therapy for patients with limited social support: Surveying program-specific approaches.

Racial and ethnic disparities in provision of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy have been identified. These disparities may be at least partially related to socioeconomic factors, including social support networks and financial constraints. This study aimed to identify specific barriers, and variations in institutional approaches, to the provision of equitable care to underserved populations. A survey was administered to 237 LVAD program personnel, including physicians, LVAD coordinators, and social workers, at more than 100 LVAD centers across 7 countries. Three fourths of respondents reported that their program required a support person to live with the LVAD patient for some period of time following implantation. In addition, 31% of respondents reported that patients with the inability to pay for medications are turned down at their program. The most significant barriers to successful LVAD implantation were lack of social support, lack of insurance, and lack of timely referral. The most consistently identified supports needed from the hospital system for success in underserved populations were the provision of a solution for patient transportation to and from hospital visits and the provision of financial support. This survey highlights the challenges facing LVAD programs that care for underserved patient populations and sets the stage for specific interventions aimed at reducing disparities in access to care.

The Ultrasound Hepato-Jugular Reflux: Measuring the Hepato-Jugular Reflux with Ultrasound with Comparison to Invasive Right Heart Catheterization.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound can overcome barriers to visualizing the internal jugular vein, allowing hepato-jugular reflux and jugular venous pressure measurement. We aimed to determine operating characteristics of the ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux and ultrasound jugular venous pressure predicting right atrial and pulmonary capillary occlusion pressures. METHODS: In a prospective observational cohort at three US academic hospitals the hepato-jugular reflux and jugular venous pressure were measured with ultrasound before right heart catheterization. Receiver operating curves, likelihood ratios, and regression models were utilized to compare the ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux and ultrasound jugular venous pressure to the right atrial and pulmonary capillary occlusion pressures. RESULTS: In 99 adults undergoing right heart catheterization, an ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux had a negative likelihood ratio of 0.4 if 0 cm and a positive likelihood ratio of 4.3 if ≥ 1.5 cm for predicting a pulmonary capillary occlusion pressure ≥ 15 mmHg. Regression modeling predicting pulmonary capillary occlusion pressure was not only improved by including the ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux (P < .001), it was the more impactful predictor compared with the ultrasound jugular venous pressure (adjusted odds ratio 2.6 vs 1.2). The ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux showed substantial agreement (kappa 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-1.21), with poor agreement for the ultrasound jugular venous pressure (kappa 0.11; 95% confidence interval, -0.37-0.58). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing right heart catheterization, the ultrasound hepato-jugular reflux is reproducible, has modest impact on the probability of a normal pulmonary capillary occlusion pressure when 0 cm, and more substantial impact on the probability of an elevated pulmonary capillary occlusion pressure when ≥ 1.5 cm.

Functional and oncologic outcomes of prostate capsule-sparing radical cystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the gold standard treatment for patients with organ-confined bladder cancer. However, despite the success of this treatment, many men who undergo orthotopic neobladder substitution develop significant erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms, including daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence. Prostate-capsule-sparing radical cystectomy (PCS-RC) with orthotopic neobladder (ONB) has been described in the literature as a surgical technique to improve functional outcomes in appropriately selected patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of manuscripts on PCS-RC with ONB published after 2000. We included retrospective and prospective studies with more than 25 patients and compared PCS-RC with nerve-sparing or conventional RC. Studies in which the entire prostate was spared (including the transitional zone) were excluded. Comparative studies were analyzed to assess rates of daytime continence, nighttime continence, and satisfactory erectile function in patients undergoing PCS-RC compared with those undergoing conventional RC. Fourteen reports were included in the final review. Our data identify high rates of daytime (83%-97%) and nighttime continence (60%-80%) in patients undergoing PCS-RC with ONB. In comparative studies, meta-analysis results demonstrate no difference in daytime continence (RR:1.12; 95% CI: 0.72-1.73) in those undergoing PCS-RC compared to those undergoing conventional RC. Similarly, nighttime continence was similar between the 2 groups (RR:1.85; 95% CI: 0.57-6.00. Erectile function was improved in those undergoing PCS-RC (RR 5.35; 95% CI: 1.82-15.74) in the PCS-RC series. Bladder cancer margin positivity and recurrence rates were similar to those reported in the literature with conventional RC with an average weighted follow-up of 52.2 months. While several studies utilized different prostate cancer (CaP) screening techniques, the rates of CaP were low (incidence 0.02; 95% CI:0.01-0.04), and oncologic outcomes were similar to standard RC. PCS-RC is associated with improved nighttime continence and erectile function compared to conventional RC techniques. Further work is needed to standardize CaP screening before surgery, but the data suggest low rates of CaP with similar oncologic outcomes when compared to RC.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for onabotulinum toxin A injections: systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To our knowledge, there are no evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal prophylactic antibiotic regimen for intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin type A (BTX) injections. This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed at investigating the optimal prophylactic antibiotic regimen to decrease urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients undergoing BTX for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science was conducted from inception through 30 June 2022. All randomized controlled trials and prospective trials with > 20 subjects undergoing BTX injections for OAB in adults that described prophylactic antibiotic regimens were included. Meta-analysis performed to assess UTI rates in patients with idiopathic OAB using the inverse variance method for pooling. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies (9 randomized controlled trials, 18 prospective) were included, representing 2,100 patients (69% women) with 19 studies of idiopathic OAB patients only, 6 of neurogenic only, and 2 including both. No studies directly compared antibiotic regimens for the prevention of UTI. Included studies favor the use of antibiotics in patients with idiopathic OAB and favor continuing antibiotics for 2-3 days after the procedure for prevention of UTI. Given the heterogeneity of the data, direct comparisons of antibiotic type or duration could not be performed. Meta-analysis found a 10% UTI rate at 4 weeks and 15% at 12 weeks post-injection. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are insufficient data to support the use of a specific antibiotic regimen, available studies favor the use of prophylactic antibiotics for 2-3 days in idiopathic OAB patients undergoing BTX injection. Future trials are needed to determine the optimal regimens to prevent UTI in patients undergoing BTX for OAB.

Bipolar radiofrequency ablation lesion areas and confluence: An ex vivo study and technical report.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used for nearly 100 years, treating an array of medical conditions including chronic pain. Radiofrequency (RF) energy depolarizes and repolarizes tissues adjacent to a probe producing heat and causing direct thermal injury. When positioned adjacent to neural structures, it leads to neural tissue injury and cell death interrupting pain signaling with the ultimate goal of providing lasting pain relief. Today, RFA is commonly used to treat cervical, thoracic, and lumbar zygapophyseal joints, sacroiliac joint, and more recently large peripheral joint-mediated pain. There are several applications of RFA systems, including bipolar, conventional thermal, cooled, protruding, and pulsed. As yet, no study has determined the best technical practice for bipolar RFA. OBJECTIVE: This ex vivo study examines RFA lesion midpoint (LMP) area and lesion confluence comparing three different commonly used gauge (g) probes (18-g, 20-g, and 22-g) with 10-mm active tips at various interprobe distances (IPD) to guide best technical practices for its clinical application. METHODS: Bipolar RFA lesions were generated in preservative-free chicken breast specimens using three different gauge probes (18-g, 20-g, and 22-g) with 10-mm active tips at various IPD (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 mm). RF was applied for 105 s (15-s ramp time) at 80°C for each lesion at both room and human physiological temperature. The specimen tissues were dissected through the lesion to obtain a length, width, and depth, which were used to calculate the LMP area (mm2 ). The LMP areas of each thermal ablation were investigated using visualization and descriptive analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare LMP areas between the two temperature groups and the three different gauge probe subgroups at the various IPDs. RESULTS: Of the 36 RF lesions (14: 18-g, 12: 20-g, and 10: 22-g) performed, 24 demonstrated lesion confluence. The average time to reach 80°C was 16-17 s; therefore, the average time of RF-energy delivery (at goal temperature) was 88-89 s despite varying needle size or IPD. Comparing the 25 and 37°C groups, 18-g probes produced mean LMP areas of 73.7 and 79.2 mm2 , respectively; 20-g probes produced mean LMP areas of 66 and 66.8 mm2 , respectively; 22-g probes produced mean LMP areas of 56.6 and 59.7 mm2 , respectively. There was no statistical evidence to state a difference regarding LMP area between temperature groups; however, the 18-g probes produced consistently larger LMP areas in the 37°C compared to 25°C specimen groups at each IPD. Lesion confluence was lost for 18-g, 20-g, and 22-g probes at IPD of 14, 12, and 10 mm, respectively, in both 25 and 37°C groups. LMP area was similar between 6 and 8 mm IPD in all of the three-gauge groups; however, there was a significant drop in LMP area from 8 mm IPD to 10 mm and greater. The 18-g, 20-g, and 22-g probes all demonstrated a sharp decline in LMP area when increasing the IPD from 8 to 10 mm. CONCLUSION: This ex vivo technical study evaluated bipolar RFA LMP areas and lesion confluence, and determined the recommended IPD of 18-g, 20-g, and 22-g probes to be less than 12, 10, and 8 mm, respectively, for best clinical practice. Placing bipolar probes at an IPD greater than 14, 12, and 10 mm, respectively, risks the loss of lesion confluence and failure to produce a clinically significant treatment response due to lack of nerve capture. In clinical practice, the use of injectate may produce larger lesions than demonstrated in this study. Additionally, in vivo factors may impact ablation zone size and ablation patterns. As there are a paucity of studies comparing various RFA applications and conventional RFA needles are least expensive, it is possible that bipolar conventional RFA is more cost-effective than other techniques.

Characterization of Myocardial Injury With High-Sensitivity Troponin.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity troponin I, cardiac form (hs-cTnI) accelerates the assessment of acute coronary syndrome. Little has been documented about its performance, how it relates to different types of myocardial injury, and its impact on morbidity and mortality. This study sought to expand understanding of hs-cTnI by characterizing types of myocardial injury, the impact of comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes. METHODS: The study retrospectively evaluated 1,975 patients with hs-cTnI levels obtained in the emergency department or inpatient setting from June to September 2020. Troponin was considered elevated if it was higher than the 99th percentile for either sex. Charts were reviewed to determine the presence of myocardial injury. Troponin elevation was adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and kidney dysfunction. Thirty-day mortality and readmission rates were calculated. RESULTS: Of 1,975 patients, 468 (24%) had elevated hs-cTnI, and 330 (17%) had at least 1 type of myocardial injury, type 2 myocardial infarction being the most frequent. Sensitivity and specificity using the 99th percentile as a cutoff were 99% and 92%, respectively. The average maximum hs-cTnI level was significantly higher for type 1 myocardial infarction (P < .001). Being male, Black, non-Hispanic, and a hospital inpatient were all associated with higher initial and peak hs-cTnI levels (P < .001). Elevated hs-cTnI level, age, heart disease, kidney dysfunction, and inpatient status were predictive of 30-day mortality on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Elevated hs-cTnI levels in emergency department and inpatient settings occurs most commonly because of type 2 myocardial infarction. Maximum hs-cTnI level is associated with the patient's particular type of myocardial injury, certain demographics, and cardiovascular comorbidities, and it may be a predictor of 30-day outcomes.

Current Clinical Practice Patterns in Total Vaginal Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: There are no data on current surgical practice patterns for benign total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) despite recently published guidelines. The objective was to determine gynecologic surgeon practice patterns regarding TVH perioperative interventions and to assess adherence to clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: A survey to assess TVH practice patterns was distributed to gynecologic surgical society members for completion. The primary outcome was to compare adherence to practice guidelines between fellowship-trained and non-fellowship-trained gynecologic surgeons. Secondary outcomes included comparing adherence based on age, practice location, and hysterectomy volume. RESULTS: Of the 204 respondents, there were 163 (80%) fellowship-trained and 41 (20%) non-fellowship-trained gynecologic surgeons. Fellowship-trained surgeons were more likely than non-fellowship-trained surgeons to use vaginal packing (34% vs 15%, P = 0.028), which is contrary to the recommendations. No cohort followed the guideline recommending a circular cervicovaginal incision. Fellowship-trained surgeons also were more likely than non-fellowship-trained surgeons to use the clamp and suture technique for vessel ligation (88% vs 68%, P = 0.004); otherwise, there were no significant differences between cohorts for adherence to any of the other guidelines. Although fellowship-trained surgeons were adherent to fewer of the guidelines as compared with surgeons without fellowship training, both groups generally adhered to a majority of the clinical practice guidelines for benign TVH. CONCLUSIONS: This information demonstrates a need for the development of targeted education and interventions to increase the use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines during TVH for both fellowship-trained and non-fellowship-trained gynecologic surgeons.

Clinical outcomes: endoscopic resection of duodenal ampullary lesions.

Background: Ampullary adenomas are lesions at the duodenum's major papilla commonly associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) but may also occur sporadically. Historically, ampullary adenomas were removed surgically, however endoscopic resection has become the preferred method of resection. Most of the literature on management of ampullary adenomas are small single-center retrospective reviews. The objective of this study is to describe endoscopic papillectomy outcomes to further refine management guidelines. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent endoscopic papillectomy. Demographic data were included. Details regarding lesions and procedures were also collected, including endoscopic impression, size, resection method and adjunctive therapies. Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum, and t-tests were performed. Results: A total of 90 patients were included. 60% patients (54 of 90) had pathology-proven adenomas. 14.4% of all lesions (13 of 90) and 18.5% of adenomas (10 of 54) were treated with APC. Among APC-treated lesions, 36.4% developed recurrence (4 of 11) vs. 7.1% developed residual lesion (1 of 14) (P=0.019). 15.6% of all lesions (14 of 90) and 18.5% of adenomas (10 of 54) reported complications, and the most common was pancreatitis (11.1% and 5.6%). Median follow-up time was 8 months for all lesions and 14 months (range, 1-177 months) for adenomas, with time to recurrence 30 and 31 months (range, 1-137 months), respectively. Recurrence was observed in 16.7% of all lesions (15 of 90) and 20.4% of adenomas (11 of 54). Endoscopic success was observed in 69.2% of all lesions (54 of 78) and 71.4% of adenomas (35 of 49) after removing patients lost to follow-up. Conclusions: Endoscopic papillectomy is an effective method for managing duodenal adenomas. Pathology-proven adenoma should undergo surveillance for at least 31 months. Lesions treated with APC may require closer follow-up and for a prolonged period.

Comparison of Functional Outcomes After Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation After Acquired Brain Injury Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize and compare functional outcomes of acquired brain injury patients in an inpatient rehabilitation facility in the year before (April 2019-March 2020) and during the first year (April 2020-March 2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the most drastic changes in the delivery of health care occurred. DESIGN: In this retrospective single-center chart review study, functional outcomes, based on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument, were obtained and analyzed for patients in acute inpatient rehabilitation with acquired brain injury. RESULTS: Data from 1330 patients were included for analysis. Functional outcomes of average self-care, bed mobility, and transfer scores were statistically, but not clinically, different between groups. More patients in the pandemic group were discharged home (prepandemic n = 454 [65.4%]; pandemic n = 461 [72.6%]; P = 0.011), although they had significantly longer lengths of stay (prepandemic median = 14.0 [interquartile range = 9.0-23.0]; pandemic = 16.0 [10.0-23.0]; P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the impact of hospital policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, similar functional outcomes were obtained for those with acquired brain injury after inpatient rehabilitation.

Benefit of Outpatient Musculoskeletal Medicine Experience Early in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency.

ABSTRACT: Musculoskeletal care for persons with disabilities is an important competency in physical medicine and rehabilitation training. The optimal timing of musculoskeletal medicine rotations in the physical medicine and rehabilitation residency curriculum is unknown. The objective of this study is to determine whether outpatient experience in musculoskeletal medicine increases resident use of musculoskeletal examination skills in the inpatient setting. An eight-item multiple-choice questionnaire was administered monthly to 19 physical medicine and rehabilitation residents rotating on inpatient services inquiring about number and types of musculoskeletal examinations performed on each inpatient rotation. Seventy-one surveys were collected with a 90% response rate. Significant increases were noted in number of knee examinations and shoulder examinations performed on inpatient rotations after residents completed 2 mos of outpatient musculoskeletal medicine. Most postgraduate year 2 residents (76%) felt that they would perform more musculoskeletal examinations on their inpatient rotations if they had more outpatient musculoskeletal experience at that point in their training. The results suggest that outpatient musculoskeletal experience increases resident use of musculoskeletal examination skills in the inpatient setting. Earlier outpatient musculoskeletal experience in combination with a greater focus on teaching musculoskeletal examination skills in the inpatient setting can support residents in learning how to provide comprehensive musculoskeletal care to individuals with disabilities.

Gender Disparity in Earliest Phase of Academic Surgical Training: An Area for Intervention.

BACKGROUND: To overcome persistent gender disparities in academic surgery, it is critical to examine the earliest phase of surgical training. This national study sought to assess whether gender disparities also existed among surgical interns, as a proxy for medical school research experience in both quantity and quality. STUDY DESIGN: Using the 2021 to 2022 public information of 1,493 US-graduated categorical general surgery interns, a bibliometric evaluation was conducted to assess medical school research experience. Multivariable linear regressions with response log-transformed were performed to evaluate the impact of intern gender on (1) total number of peer-reviewed publications, (2) total impact factor (TIF), and (3) adjusted TIF based on authorship placement (aTIF). Back-transformed estimates were presented. RESULTS: Of these interns, 52.3% were female. Significant differences were observed in TIF (male 6.4 vs female 5.3, p = 0.029), aTIF (male 10.8 vs female 8.7, p = 0.035), gender concordance with senior authors (male 79.9% vs female 34.1%, p < 0.001), Hirsch index (male 21.0 vs female 18.0, p = 0.026), and the geographic region of their medical schools (p = 0.036). Multivariable linear regressions revealed that female interns were associated with lower TIF (0.858, p = 0.033) and aTIF (0.851, p = 0.044). Due to a significant gender-by-region interaction, adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that male interns in the Northeast had approximately 70% higher TIF (1.708, p = 0.003) and aTIF (1.697, p = 0.013) than female interns in the South. CONCLUSIONS: Gender disparities existed in the quality of research experience in the earliest phase of surgical training. These timely results call for additional interventions by the stakeholders of graduate medical education.