Pediatric Craniofacial Fractures From Canine Bites.

ABSTRACT: Craniofacial fractures from canine bites are rare, but can be devastating events that lead to complex surgical management, long-term functional deficits, and psychological sequelae. The objective of this case-control study was to identify risks associated with craniofacial fractures in pediatric dog bite victims. From 2008 to 2019 at our quaternary center, all children with craniofacial fractures from dog bites were included in this study. Controls were obtained in a 2:1 ratio via a random sample of all dog bite encounters. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of 3602 dog bite encounters, 114 children were included in the study with an average age of 4.8 years (interquartile range = 2.4-9.1 years) and 51 patients (45%) were female. Seventy-four children (65%) were bitten by a family-owned dog. Thirty-eight patients with 60 craniofacial fractures were identified. The following factors were significantly associated with increased risk for craniofacial fractures: Caucasian race (OR 7.3, CI 1.6-16.7), age under five (OR 4.1, CI 1.6-10.7), rural location (OR 3.9, CI 1.3-12.3), child location on the floor (OR 6.2, CI 2.4-16.2), and dogs weighing over 30 pounds (OR 19.6, CI 5.8-82.3). Nine patients (12%) required multiple reconstructive operations, and four patients (5%) developed post-traumatic stress disorder. In conclusion, toddlers in rural households with large dogs are at high risk for sustaining craniofacial fractures from bite injuries. Craniofacial surgeons, pediatricians, and emergency department physicians should use these data to lead prevention efforts in the community.

Comparison of Traditional and Skin-Sparing Approaches for Surgical Treatment of Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections.

Background: A skin-sparing approach for the treatment of necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) removes necrotic tissue planes while leaving viable overlying skin. Subsequent closure of the spared skin may decrease the need for graft-based reconstruction, which is associated with contracture, pain, and deformity. This study compared the outcomes of a traditional approach (excision of overlying skin with diseased fascia) with that of a skin-sparing approach for patients with NSTI treated at a major metropolitan medical center. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and operative details for patients treated for NSTI between July 2012 and December 2016 at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. Pre-operative and post-operative photographs were evaluated independently by three surgeons to determine reconstructive outcomes. Cohen's κ was used to assess inter-rater reliability. Multiple regression and Poisson regression models were used to assess the association between outcomes and the surgical approach. Results: A total of 487 patients were divided into two cohorts: Traditional approach (TA), treated between July 2012 and December 2014 (n = 230), and skin-sparing approach (SS), treated after January 2015 (n = 257). The mortality rate in the two groups was equal at approximately 10%. The median percentage of each wound closed by skin graft was significantly lower for the SS group than for the TA group (20% versus 90%; p < 0.0001) with a correspondingly higher median percentage of primary skin closure for the SS group (50% versus 0; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Relative to traditional debridement, skin-sparing debridement for source control of NSTI results in significantly more wounds closed completely by delayed primary suture of existing skin flaps and a significantly lower overall wound percentage closed by skin graft, while demonstrating equivalent efficacy of source control and a similar low mortality rate.

Small Finger Osteocutaneous Fillet Flap for Reconstruction in Ring Finger Trauma.

Finger amputations are common injuries which result in significant long-term morbidity and loss of function. In this report, we describe a creative operative solution for a 21-year-old man who was in a motorcycle crash and sustained severely comminuted open fractures of the left small and ring fingers with severe crush injury and soft tissue avulsion. Of the tissues and bones in the small finger, only the distal half of the proximal phalanx remained intact and was vascularized via the remaining ulnar neurovascular bundle. In the ring finger, the extensor mechanism and ulnar neurovascular bundle were avulsed and the distal half of the proximal phalanx was absent, but the flexor tendons were intact. A small finger ray amputation was performed. Then, using an osteocutaneous fillet flap based on the ulnar neurovascular bundle from the small finger, the bony gap and soft tissue deficits in the ring finger were reconstructed. The ring finger extensor tendon was then reconstructed. Subsequently, the patient had evidence of bony union on follow-up X-rays and he had a sensate filet flap over the ulnar aspect of the ring finger. This case demonstrates the creative use of a "spare-parts" osteocutaneous fillet flap in the reconstruction of a traumatic finger injury. This example highlights the importance of assessing all available reconstructive options to avoid the morbidity of a finger amputation.

A Potential Mechanism for Immune Suppression by Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation following Traumatic Injury.

BACKGROUND: ß-Adrenergic agents suppress inflammation and may play an important role in posttraumatic infections. Mechanisms may include inhibition of MAP kinase signaling. We sought to determine whether MKP-1 contributed to catecholamine suppression of innate immunity and also wanted to know whether early catecholamine treatment after traumatic injury increases the risk of later nosocomial infection. METHODS: We performed experiments using THP-1 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals. We exposed cells to epinephrine and/or LPS and measured inflammatory gene transcription and MAP kinase activation. We inhibited MKP-1 activity to determine its role in catecholamine-induced immune suppression. Finally, we studied injured subjects to determine whether early catecholamine treatment was associated with nosocomial infection. RESULTS: Epinephrine increases MKP-1 transcripts and protein and decreases LPS-induced p38 and JNK phosphorylation and TNF-α gene transcription. RNAi inhibition of MKP-1 at least partially restores LPS-induced TNF-α gene expression (p = 0.024). In the clinical cohort, subjects treated with ß-adrenergic agents had an increased risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.3-2.6) and bacteremia (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1-2.3). CONCLUSIONS: MKP-1 may have a role in catecholamine-induced suppression of innate immunity, and exogenous catecholamines might contribute to nosocomial infection risk.

Effect of Standardized Handoff Curriculum on Improved Clinician Preparedness in the Intensive Care Unit: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Clinician miscommunication contributes to an estimated 250 000 deaths in US hospitals per year. Efforts to standardize handoff communication may reduce errors and improve patient safety. Objective: To determine the effect of a standardized handoff curriculum, UW-IPASS, on interclinician communication and patient outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cluster randomized stepped-wedge randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 2015 to May 2016 at 8 medical and surgical intensive care units at 2 hospital systems within an academic tertiary referral center. Participants included residents, fellows, advance-practice clinicians, and attending physicians (n = 106 clinicians, with 1488 handoff events over 8 months) and data were collected from daily text message-based surveys and patient medical records. Exposures: The UW-IPASS standardized handoff curriculum. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary aim was to assess the effect of the UW-IPASS handoff curriculum on perceived adequacy of interclinician communication. Patient days of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit length of stay, reintubations within 24 hours, and order workflow patterns were also analyzed. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios and confidence intervals with adjustment for location, time period, and clinician. Results: A total of 63 residents and advance practice clinicians, 13 fellows, and 30 attending physicians participated in the study. During the control period, clinicians reported being unprepared for their shift because of a poor-quality handoff in 35 of 343 handoffs (10.2%), while UW-IPASS-period residents reported being unprepared in 53 of 740 handoffs (7.2%) (odds ratio, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.03-0.74; P = .03). Compared with the control phase, the perceived duration of handoffs among clinicians using UW-IPASS was unchanged (+5.5 minutes; 95% CI, 0.34-9.39; P = .30). Early morning order entry decreased from 106 per 100 patient-days in the control phase to 78 per 100 patient-days in the intervention period (-28 orders; 95% CI, -55 to -4; P = .04). Overall, UW-IPASS was not associated with any changes in intensive care unit length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or the number of reintubations. Conclusions and Relevance: The UW-IPASS standardized handoff curriculum was perceived to improve intensive care provider preparedness and workflow. IPASS-based curricula represent an important step forward in communication standardization efforts and may help reduce communication errors and omissions. Trial Registration: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN14209509.

Biochemical Markers of Nutrition Support in Critically Ill Trauma Victims.

BACKGROUND: In critically ill patients, plasma serum albumin and transthyretin concentrations are thought to reflect the effects of acute illness, including resuscitation and inflammation. Their use as markers for preexisting nutrition status is, therefore, not recommended. Whether they can be used to assess subsequent effectiveness of artificial nutrition support is unclear. We sought to determine if these biomarkers are associated with enteral caloric intake in critically ill trauma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from adult trauma victims who required ≥2 days of mechanical ventilation and ≥7 days of intensive care. We categorized patients into low, middle, or high enteral calorie delivery groups (2, 9, or 17 kcal/kg/d during the first week). We compared serial concentrations of serum albumin, transthyretin, and C-reactive protein. Multiple linear and Poisson regression were used to determine relationships between calorie intake and nutrition biomarkers. RESULTS: In total, 1056 patients were analyzed. Their median age was 44 (interquartile range [IQR], 28-57) years, and median injury severity score was 34 (IQR, 26-41). Calorie intake during the first week was not related to biomarkers during the first or second week. However, by the beginning of the third week, the highest calorie group showed greater changes in concentrations of transthyretin (+3.0 mg/dL relative to initial concentration, P = .01) and serum albumin (+0.17 g/dL, P = .05) compared with the lowest calorie group. CONCLUSIONS: In trauma patients requiring 1 or more weeks of intensive care, changes in transthyretin were associated with enteral caloric intake. Our data suggest that transthyretin could be used to monitor nutrition support after 2 weeks in intensive care.

Parenteral and enteral nutrition in surgical critical care: Plasma metabolomics demonstrates divergent effects on nitrogen, fatty-acid, ribonucleotide, and oxidative metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Artificial nutrition support is central to the care of critically ill patients and is primarily provided enterally (EN). There are circumstances when parenteral nutrition (PN) is considered necessary. We are uncertain how each of these approaches confer clinical benefits beyond simply providing calories. We sought to better understand how each of these techniques influence metabolism in critically ill patients using a broad-based metabolomics approach. Metabolic responses to EN and PN may differ in ways that could help us understand how to optimize use of these therapies. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled subjects over 7 months in 2015 at an urban, Level I trauma center. Subjects were included before starting either EN or PN during their inpatient admission. Plasma samples were obtained between 1 and 12 hours before initiation of artificial nutrition, and 3 and 7 days later. All samples were analyzed with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Differences in metabolite concentrations were assessed via principal component analyses and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: We enrolled 30 subjects. Among the critically ill subjects, 10 received EN and 10 received PN. In subjects receiving EN, amino acid and urea cycle metabolites (citrulline, p = 0.04; ornithine, p = 0.05) increased, as did ribonucleic acid metabolites (uridine, p = 0.04; cysteine, 0 = 0.05; oxypurinol, p = 0.04). Oxidative stress decreased over time (increased betaine, p = 0.05; decreased 4-pyridoxic acid, p = 0.04). In subjects receiving PN, amino acid concentrations increased over time (taurine, p = 0.04; phenylalanine, p = 0.05); omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acid concentrations decreased over time (p = 0.05 and 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: EN was associated with amino acid repletion, urea cycle upregulation, restoration of antioxidants, and increasing ribonucleic acid synthesis. Parenteral nutrition was associated with increased amino acid concentrations, but did not influence protein metabolism or antioxidant repletion. This suggests that parenteral amino acids are used less effectively than those given enterally. The biomarkers reported in this study may be useful in guiding nutrition therapy for critically ill patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level III; prognostic study, level II.

Wound Morbidity in Minimally Invasive Anterior Component Separation Compared to Transversus Abdominis Release.

BACKGROUND: Transversus abdominis release is a novel approach for myofascial advancement in ventral hernia repair and has been hypothesized to have lower rates of wound complication than anterior component separation. METHODS: Patients who had a ventral hernia repair with either transversus abdominis release or minimally invasive anterior component separation from January of 2010 to January of 2016 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patient characteristics were collected through chart review. Primary outcomes were operative time and wound complications. Multiple linear/Poisson regression and Fisher's exact test were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Of 142 patients analyzed, 75 subjects underwent Butler minimally invasive anterior component separation and 67 underwent transversus abdominis release. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups, except that the anterior component separation group had more immunosuppressed patients (35 percent versus 19 percent). Median operative time for anterior component separation was 6.3 hours versus 6.1 hours for transversus abdominis release (p = 0.6). Overall wound complications did not differ between the groups (p = 0.5). Compared with anterior component separation, transversus abdominis release had a similar incidence of seroma/hematoma (relative risk, 0.9; 95 percent CI, 0.5 to 1.7), wound infection (relative risk, 1.1; 95 percent CI, 0.5 to 2.2), and mesh infection (relative risk, 0.7; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 3.4). Hernia recurrence was 12 percent for anterior component separation and 6 percent for transversus abdominis release (relative risk, 0.6; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 1.7). Reoperation was required in 19 percent of anterior component separation and 12 percent of transversus abdominis release subjects (relative risk, 0.5; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Transversus abdominis release patients had similar operative times, wound complications, reoperations, and hernia recurrences compared with Butler minimally invasive anterior component separation patients. This contemporary comparison helps inform operative decisions for reconstructive surgeons. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Bariatric Surgery in Women of Childbearing Age, Timing Between an Operation and Birth, and Associated Perinatal Complications.

Importance: Metabolic changes after maternal bariatric surgery may affect subsequent fetal development. Many relevant perinatal outcomes have not been studied in this postoperative population, and the risks associated with short operation-to-birth (OTB) intervals have not been well examined. Objective: To examine the risk for perinatal complications in women with a history of bariatric surgery (postoperative mothers [POMs]) by comparing them with mothers without operations (nonoperative mothers [NOMs]) and examining the association of the OTB interval with perinatal outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This investigation was a population-based retrospective cohort study (January 1, 1980, to May 30, 2013) at hospitals in Washington State. Data were collected from birth certificates and maternally linked hospital discharge data. Participants were all POMs and their infants (n = 1859) and a population-based random sample of NOMs and their infants frequency matched by delivery year (n = 8437). Exposures: Bariatric operation before birth or categories of OTB intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were prematurity, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, congenital malformation, small for gestational age (SGA), birth injury, low Apgar score (≤8), and neonatal mortality. Poisson regression was used to compute relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs, with adjustments for maternal body mass index, delivery year, socioeconomic status, age, parity, and comorbid conditions. Results: A total of 10 296 individuals were included in the analyses for this study. In the overall cohort, the median age was 29 years (interquartile range, 24-33 years). Compared with infants from NOMS, infants from POMs had a higher risk for prematurity (14.0% vs 8.6%; RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.33-1.85), NICU admission (15.2% vs 11.3%; RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44), SGA status (13.0% vs 8.9%; RR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.65-2.26), and low Apgar score (17.5% vs 14.8%; RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.37). Compared with infants from mothers with greater than a 4-year OTB interval, infants from mothers with less than a 2-year interval had higher risks for prematurity (11.8% vs 17.2%; RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.19), NICU admission (12.1% vs 17.7%; RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.05-2.25), and SGA status (9.2% vs 12.7%; RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.94-2.42). Conclusions and Relevance: Infants of mothers with a previous bariatric operation had a greater likelihood of perinatal complications compared with infants of NOMs. Operation-to-birth intervals of less than 2 years were associated with higher risks for prematurity, NICU admission, and SGA status compared with longer intervals. These findings are relevant to women with a history of bariatric surgery and could inform decisions regarding the optimal timing between an operation and conception.

Melanocortin-1 Receptor Polymorphisms and the Risk of Complicated Sepsis After Trauma: A Candidate Gene Association Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine if melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with complicated sepsis after trauma. BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after trauma. Several SNPs in inflammation-related genes have been associated with sepsis. MC1R is an anti-inflammatory mediator that may be involved in the immune response after trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We genotyped eight common MC1R SNPs in genomic DNA from subjects enrolled in a previously reported prospective cohort study. Subjects were adult trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit at a Level 1 trauma center (2003-2005). RESULTS: A total of 1,246 subjects were included in the analysis. The majority were male (70%), severely injured (81%), and injured by a blunt mechanism (89%). Forty percent developed sepsis, and 23% developed complicated sepsis, which was defined as sepsis with organ dysfunction. In logistic regression analysis, with adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, injury severity score, red blood cell transfusion requirement, and mechanism of injury, the MC1RR163Q variant (rs885479) was associated with a lower risk of developing complicated sepsis (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.81, P = 0.006). In a subgroup of 511 subjects with genome-wide SNP data, the association between the MC1RR163Q variant and complicated sepsis remained significant after adjusting for genetic substructure (by principal components) and the above clinical factors (ORadj = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.13-0.70, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: MC1RR163Q is associated with a lower risk of complicated sepsis after trauma. Therapeutic targeting of MC1R may be beneficial for trauma patients at risk for complicated sepsis.

Use of Metabolomics to Trend Recovery and Therapy After Injury in Critically Ill Trauma Patients.

IMPORTANCE: Metabolomics is the broad and parallel study of metabolites within an organism and provides a contemporaneous snapshot of physiologic state. Use of metabolomics in the clinical setting may help achieve precision medicine for those who have experienced trauma, where diagnosis and treatment are tailored to the individual patient. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether metabolomics can (1) distinguish healthy volunteers from trauma patients and (2) quantify changes in catabolic metabolites over time after injury. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study with enrollment from September 2014 to May 2015 at an urban, level 1 trauma center. Included in the study were 10 patients with severe blunt trauma admitted within 12 hours of injury with systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg or base deficit greater than 6 mEq/L and 5 healthy volunteers. Plasma samples (n = 35) were obtained on days 1, 3, and 7, and they were analyzed using mass spectrometry. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Principal component analyses, multiple linear regression, and paired t tests were used to select biomarkers of interest. A broad-based metabolite profile comparison between trauma patients and healthy volunteers was performed. Specific biomarkers of interest were oxidative catabolites. RESULTS: Trauma patients had a median age of 45 years and a median injury severity score of 43 (interquartile range, 34-50). Healthy fasting volunteers had a median age of 33 years. Compared with healthy volunteers, trauma patients showed oxidative stress on day 1: niacinamide concentrations were a mean (interquartile range) of 0.95 (0.30-1.45) relative units for trauma patients vs 1.06 (0.96-1.09) relative units for healthy volunteers (P = .02), biotin concentrations, 0.43 (0.27-0.58) relative units for trauma patients vs 1.21 (0.93-1.56) relative units for healthy volunteers (P = .049); and choline concentrations, 0.17 (0.09-0.22) relative units for trauma patients vs 0.21 (0.18-0.22) relative units for healthy volunteers (P = .004). Trauma patients showed lower nucleotide synthesis on day 1: adenylosuccinate concentrations were 0.08 (0.04-0.12) relative units for trauma patients vs 0.15 (0.14-0.17) relative units for healthy volunteers (P = .02) and cytidine concentrations were 1.44 (0.95-1.73) relative units for trauma patients vs 1.74 (1.62-1.98) relative units for healthy volunteers (P = .05). From trauma day 1 to day 7, trauma patients showed increasing muscle catabolism: serine levels increased from 42.03 (31.20-54.95) µM to 79.37 (50.29-106.37) µM (P = .002), leucine levels increased from 69.21 (48.36-99.89) µM to 114.16 (92.89-143.52) µM (P = .004), isoleucine levels increased from 20.43 (10.92-27.41) µM to 48.72 (36.28-64.84) µM (P < .001), and valine levels increased from 122.56 (95.63-140.61) µM to 190.52 (136.68-226.07) µM (P = .004). There was an incomplete reversal of oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Metabolomics can function as a serial, comprehensive, and potentially personalized tool to characterize metabolism after injury. A targeted metabolomics approach was associated with ongoing oxidative stress, impaired nucleotide synthesis, and initial suppression of protein metabolism followed by increased nitrogen turnover. This technique may provide new therapeutic and nutrition targets in critically injured patients.

Safety of minimizing preoperative starvation in critically ill and intubated trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Cessation of enteral nutrition prior to an operation/procedure is the most common reason for feeding interruption in critically ill trauma patients and contributes to substantial calorie deficits. This study reports on a strategy to increase calorie intake by continuing feeds until transfer for operations/procedures. METHODS: Nutrition guidelines were modified in 2006 to allow continuation of feeding in intubated patients up until transfer to the operating room. Prior to 2006, enteral feeding was stopped at least 6 hours prior to surgery. A retrospective cohort design from 2003 to 2010 compared clinical outcomes in groups of adult trauma subjects before and after guideline changes and in subjects at other centers without guideline changes. RESULTS: During the first week, subjects in the preimplementation cohort (n = 245) received a median of 3,787 kcal per person per week, while subjects in the postimplementation cohort (n = 368) received a median of 6,662 kcal per person per week (p < 0.001). There was no change in calorie intake for subjects at other centers (n = 1,002). The risks of acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and mortality were decreased after implementation relative to the preimplementation cohort (acute respiratory distress syndrome: relative risk ratio [RR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.81; pneumonia: RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65-1.00; mortality: RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46-0.99). Ventilator-free days increased by 1.4 days (95% CI, 0.1-2.7), while intensive care unit stay and hospital length of stay were unchanged. These outcomes showed similar trends over time at other participating centers. CONCLUSIONS: Allowing intubated trauma patients to continue enteral nutrition until transfer for operations or procedures was associated with increased caloric intake without evidence of increased pulmonary complications. This represents an important strategy to reduce calorie deficits in the trauma intensive care unit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study/care management, level III.

Characterizing the Morbidity of Postchemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Testis Cancer in a National Cohort of Privately Insured Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize morbidity of postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) for testis cancer, we analyze a contemporary national database. PC-RPLND is the standard for residual radiographic masses ≥1 cm (nonseminoma) and positron emission tomography-avid masses ≥3 cm (seminoma). Morbidity for PC-RPLND is greater than primary RPLND, which may be mitigated by performing surgery at a high-volume cancer center. METHODS: Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition codes identified men with testis cancer undergoing PC- or primary RPLND in MarketScan (2007-2012). Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with receiving adjunctive procedures (ie, nephrectomy, vascular reconstruction), prolonged hospitalization, and 90-day readmission. Geographic variables assessed regionalization of PC-RPLND. RESULTS: Of 559 men with claims for PC- or primary RPLND (206, 37% PC-RPLND), 19% of PC-RPLND underwent adjunctive procedures (vs 1% among RPLND, P < .01). For PC-RPLND, the nephrectomy rate was 10% and the vascular reconstruction rate was 8%. On multivariable analysis, PC-RPLND was associated with undergoing adjunctive procedures (odds ratio 41.9; 95% confidence interval 11.7, 150) and prolonged hospitalization (odds ratio 3.75; 95% confidence interval 1.68, 8.42) compared to primary RPLND. PC-RPLND was not associated with 90-day readmission. Up to 29% of PC-RPLNDs are performed in centers, billing just a single case through MarketScan in the 6 years studied. CONCLUSION: PC-RPLND is associated with adjunctive procedures and longer hospitalizations. Given the morbidity of PC-RPLND in this young patient population, efforts are needed to establish quality benchmarks for, reduce the morbidity of, and to accurately discriminate risk during patient discussions prior to this complex, specialized surgery.

Parenteral Nutrition Utilization After Implementation of Multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Team Oversight: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary nutrition teams can help guide the use of parenteral nutrition (PN), thereby reducing infectious risk, morbidity, and associated costs. Starting in 2007 at Harborview Medical Center, weekly multidisciplinary meetings were established to review all patients receiving PN. This study reports on observed changes in utilization from 2005-2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who received PN from 2005-2010 were followed prospectively. Clinical data and PN utilization data were recorded. Patients were grouped into cohorts based on exposure to weekly multidisciplinary nutrition team meetings (from 2005-2007 and from 2008-2010). Patients were also stratified by location, primary service, and ultimate disposition. RESULTS: In total, 794 patients were included. After initiation of multidisciplinary nutrition meetings, the rate of patients who started PN decreased by 27% (relative risk [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.84). A reduction in the number of patients receiving PN was observed in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and on the acute care floor (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53-0.77 and RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99, respectively). The rate of patients with short-duration PN use (PN duration of <5 days) declined by 30% in the ICU (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97) and by 27% on acute care floors (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-1.03). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly multidisciplinary review of patients receiving PN was associated with reductions in the number of patients started on PN, total days that patients received PN, and number of patients who had short-duration (<5 days) PN use.

Kounis syndrome or allergic coronary vasospasm in a two-year-old.

Kounis syndrome is coronary vasospasm because of mast cell degranulation in the context of an allergic reaction. The syndrome has known associations with several drugs used during anesthesia, including rocuronium and isoflurane. In this case report, we discuss a 2-year-old patient who developed signs and symptoms of an acute coronary syndrome soon after anesthesia for atrial septal defect repair. A diagnostic angiography after the episode revealed diffusely small coronary arteries. Subsequent angiography after clinical improvement showed essentially normal coronary anatomy. We report the clinical course of this patient and postulate that Kounis syndrome was the explanation for his transient coronary vasospasm. To date, this is the youngest known patient with reported Kounis syndrome.

The relevance of age and disease duration for intervention with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery in Parkinson disease.

OBJECT: The optimal age and disease duration for consideration of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery are not well characterized in patients with Parkinson disease. The aim of this study was to assess variation in motor response to surgery among subgroups stratified by age and disease duration. METHODS: A total of 46 patients referred for DBS were recruited for the study. Preoperative dyskinesia and rigidity scores were recorded, and then patients received bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Preoperative motor scores were then compared with postoperative scores over 1 year. RESULTS: At 1 year postoperatively, patients with ≤ 10 years' disease duration showed a significant (45%) reduction in rigidity and a significant (64%) reduction in dyskinesia. Patients with > 10 years disease also showed a significant (70%) reduction in dyskinesia at 1 year postoperatively, but failed to show significant improvement in rigidity (31% reduction). Patients < 70 years old showed a significant (58%) improvement in rigidity and a significant (53%) improvement in dyskinesia. Finally, patients ≥ 70 years old showed a significant (90%) improvement in dyskinesia, but failed to show any significant change in rigidity at 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative improvement in rigidity for younger patients with shorter disease duration may indicate that performing early surgery maximizes the benefit of DBS. However, older patients with primarily dyskinesia symptoms also appear to have significant clinical improvement, and DBS can offer relief from this common consequence of long-term levodopa use.

Spontaneous rupture of hepatic artery aneurysm associated with polyarteritis nodosa.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis, which often involves small and medium sized visceral arteries. This condition may result in multifocal aneurismal formation and end-organ damage. Uncommonly, PAN may present with rupture of hepatic artery aneurysms. Here, we report a rare case of a ruptured intrahepatic aneurysm associated with PAN. A 79-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain had CT scan of the abdomen, which revealed hematoma in the right hepatic lobe. Visceral angiogram confirmed pseudo-aneurysm of a right hepatic arterial branch, and this was managed with endovascular coil embolization. The diagnosis of PAN was made and corticosteroid therapy was initiated. We also performed a literature review to define this condition's demographics, clinical presentations, and appropriate management. The review revealed 17 published cases of ruptured PAN-related intrahepatic aneurysms. We conclude that unexplained findings of visceral arterial aneurysms should prompt investigations for vasculitis as the etiology.