Gas and Bloat in Female Patients after Anti-Reflux Procedures: Analysis of 934 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Anti-reflux procedures (ARPs) are effective treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, variation in objective and patient reported outcomes persists. Limited evidence and anecdotal experience suggest that patient sex may play a role. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes after ARPs between male and female patients. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database at a single institution. All patients who underwent an ARP for GERD were included. Demographic, clinical, and patient reported outcomes data (GERD-Health Related Quality of Life, Reflux Symptom Index), as well as radiographic hernia recurrence were collected and stratified by sex. Uni- and multivariable logistic and mixed effects linear regression were used to control for confounding effects. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2022, 934 patients (291 males, 643 females) underwent an ARP. Reflux Symptom Index, GERD-HRQL, and gas/bloat scores improved uniformly for both sexes, though female patients were more likely to have higher gas/bloat scores one year post-procedure (mean ± SD 1.7 ± 1.4 vs 1.4 ± 1.3, p=0.03) and higher GERD-HRQL scores two years post-procedure (6.3 ± 8.1 vs 4.7 ± 6.8, p=0.04). Higher gas/bloat scores in females persisted on regression controlling for confounders. Hernia recurrence rates were low (85 patients, 9%) and were similar for both sexes. A final intraprocedural DI ≥3mm 2/mmHg was significantly associated with a 7 times higher rate of recurrence (95% CI 1.62-31.22, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: While patients of either sex experience symptom improvement and low rates of recurrence after ARPs, females are more likely to endorse gas/bloat compared to males. Final distensibility ≥3mm 2/mmHg carries a high risk of recurrence. These results may augment how physicians prognosticate during consultations and tailor their treatments in patients with GERD.

Personalized anti-reflux surgery: connecting GERD phenotypes in 690 patients to outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Anti-reflux operations are effective treatments for GERD. Despite standardized surgical techniques, variability in post-operative outcomes persists. Most patients with GERD possess one or more characteristics that augment their disease and may affect post-operative outcomes-a GERD "phenotype". We sought to define these phenotypes and to compare their post-operative outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a prospective gastroesophageal database at our institution, selecting all patients who underwent an anti-reflux procedure for GERD. Patients were grouped into different phenotypes based on the presence of four characteristics known to play a role in GERD: hiatal or paraesophageal hernia (PEH), hypotensive LES, esophageal dysmotility, delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and obesity. Patient-reported outcomes (GERD-HRQL, dysphagia, and reflux symptom index (RSI) scores) were compared across phenotypes using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: 690 patients underwent an anti-reflux procedure between 2008 and 2022. Most patients underwent a Nissen fundoplication (302, 54%), followed by a Toupet or Dor fundoplication (205, 37%). Twelve distinct phenotypes emerged. Non-obese patients with normal esophageal motility, normotensive LES, no DGE, with a PEH represented the most common phenotype (134, 24%). The phenotype with the best post-operative GERD-HRQL scores at one year was defined by obesity, hypotensive LES, and PEH, while the phenotype with the worst scores was defined by obesity, ineffective motility, and PEH (1.5 ± 2.4 vs 9.8 ± 11.4, p = 0.010). There was no statistically significant difference in GERD-HRQL, dysphagia, or RSI scores between phenotypes after five years. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified distinct phenotypes based on common GERD-associated patient characteristics. With further study these phenotypes may aid surgeons in prognosticating outcomes to individual patients considering an anti-reflux procedure.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: the identification of the key procedural steps through a modified Delphi method.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is an innovative, minimally invasive bariatric procedure with an excellent safety and efficacy profile in adults with obesity. The purpose of the procedure is to shorten and tubularize the stomach along its greater curvature. Nevertheless, there are some heterogeneities in the approach to ESG, which will be important to address as the procedure sees increasingly widespread clinical adoption. Here, an expert consensus on standardized ESG techniques is presented. METHODS: The modified Delphi method was used to establish the key procedural steps of an ESG. A panel of 8 experts was selected, of which 6 participated. The panel was selected based on their experience with performing the procedure and consisted of 1 bariatric surgeon and 5 interventional gastroenterologists. A neutral facilitator was designated and produced a skeletonized initial version of the key steps that was sent to each expert. Each survey began with the experts rating the given steps on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the most inaccurate and 5 being the most accurate. Furthermore, the final product was rated. The survey continued with open-ended questions designed to revise and polish the key steps. Areas of discrepancy were addressed using binary questions and a majority vote. The respondents were given 10 days to complete each survey. At the end of each round, the survey was redistributed with updated key steps and questions. This process was continued for a predesignated 3 rounds. RESULTS: Of the 8 experts who were queried, 6/8, 5/8, and 5/8 replied to each round. The given ratings for the accuracy of the steps in each round were 4.2, 4.6, and 4.4. The final rating was 4.8. Although expert opinion varied around smaller portions of the procedure, such as the placement of an overtube and the shape of each suture line, there was consensus on the need for full-thickness bites and appropriate swirling of the tissue with the helix device. Whether or not to include the fundus in the gastroplasty was an additional area of discrepancy. Of note, 4 of 5 experts agreed that the fundus should remain intact. The final protocol consisted of 21 steps curated from the summarized responses of the experts. CONCLUSION: Using the modified Delphi method, 21 key steps have been described for a safe and effective ESG. This rubric will be standardized across institutions and practitioners. Furthermore, these findings allow for the generation of educational assessment tools to facilitate training and increase the adoption of ESG by endoscopists.

Impedance planimetry and panometry (EndoFLIP™) can replace manometry in preoperative anti-reflux surgery assessment.

BACKGROUND: Endoluminal functional impedance planimetry and panometry assesses secondary peristalsis in response to volumetric distention under sedation. We hypothesize that impedance planimetry and panometry can replace high-resolution manometry in the preoperative assessment prior to anti-reflux surgery. METHODS: Single institution prospective data were collected from patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery between 2021 and 2023. A 16-cm functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) assessed planimetry and panometry prior to surgery under general anesthesia at the start of each case. Panometry was recorded and esophageal contractile response was classified as normal (NCR), diminished or disordered (DDCR), or absent (ACR) in real time by a single panometry rater, blinded to preoperative HRM results. FLIP results were then compared to preoperative HRM. RESULTS: Data were collected from 120 patients, 70.8% female, with mean age of 63 ± 3 years. There were 105 patients with intraoperative panometry, and 15 with panometry collected during preoperative endoscopy. There were 60 patients (50%) who had peristaltic dysfunction on HRM, of whom 57 had FLIP dysmotility (55 DDCR, 2 ACR) resulting in 95.0% sensitivity. There were 3 patients with normal secondary peristalsis on FLIP with abnormal HRM, all ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). No major motility disorder was missed by FLIP. A negative predictive value of 91.9% was calculated from 34/37 patients with normal FLIP panometry and normal HRM. Patients with normal HRM but abnormal FLIP had larger hernias compared to patients with concordant studies (7.5 ± 2.8 cm vs. 5.4 ± 3.2 cm, p = 0.043) and higher preoperative dysphagia scores (1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Impedance planimetry and panometry can assess motility under general anesthesia or sedation and is highly sensitive to peristaltic dysfunction. Panometry is a novel tool that has potential to streamline and improve patient care and therefore should be considered as an alternative to HRM, especially in patients in which HRM would be inaccessible or poorly tolerated.

Outcomes after per-oral endoscopic myotomy for Zenker's diverticula (Z-POEM) and correlation with impedance planimetry (FLIP).

INTRODUCTION: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is a false pulsion diverticulum of the cervical esophagus. It is typically found in older adults and manifests with dysphagia. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with Per-oral endoscopic myotomy for Zenker's (Z-POEM) and intraoperative impedance planimetry (FLIP). METHODS: We performed a single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing Z-POEM in a prospective database between 2014 and 2022. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) distensibility index (DI, mm2/mmHg) was measured by FLIP before and after myotomy. The primary outcome was clinical success. Secondary outcomes included technical failure, adverse events, and quality of life as assessed by the gastroesophageal health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL), reflux severity index (RSI), and dysphagia score. A statistical analysis of DI was done with the paired t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Fifty-four patients underwent Z-POEM, with FLIP measurements available in 30 cases. We achieved technical success and clinical success in 54/54 (100%) patients and 46/54 patients (85%), respectively. Three patients (6%) experienced contained leaks. Three patients were readmitted: one for aforementioned contained leak, one for dysphagia, and one post-operative pneumonia. Three patients with residual dysphagia underwent additional endoscopic procedures, all of whom had diverticula > 4 cm. Following myotomy, mean DI increased by 2.0 ± 1.7 mm2/mmHg (p < 0.001). In those with good clinical success, change in DI averaged + 1.6 ± 1.1 mm2/mmHg. Significant improvement was found in RSI and GERD-HRQL scores, but not dysphagia score. CONCLUSION: Z-POEM is a safe and feasible for treatment of ZD. We saw zero cases of intraoperative abandonment. We propose that large diverticula (> 4 cm) are a risk factor for poor outcomes and may require additional endoscopic procedures. An improvement in DI is expected after myotomy, however, the ideal range is still not known.

Target distensibility index on impedance planimetry during fundoplication by choice of wrap and choice of bougie.

INTRODUCTION: Impedance planimetry (FLIP) provides objective feedback to optimize fundoplication outcomes. Ideal FLIP ranges for differing wraps and bougies have not yet been established. We report FLIP measurements during fundoplication grouped by choice of wrap and bougie with associated outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospective gastroesophageal database was performed for all Nissen or Toupet fundoplication with intraoperative FLIP using an 8-cm catheter, 30-mL and/or 40-mL fill and/or 16-cm catheter, 60-mL fill. Surgeons used no bougie, the FLIP balloon as bougie, or a hard bougie. Outcomes included perioperative data, Reflux Symptom Index, GERD-HRQL, Dysphagia scores, need for dilation, postoperative EGD findings, and hernia recurrence. Group comparisons were made using two-tailed Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2022, 333 patients underwent fundoplication and intraoperative FLIP. Procedures included Toupet with hard bougie (TFHB, N = 147), Toupet with FLIP bougie (TFFB, N = 69), Toupet without bougie (TFNB, N = 78), Nissen with hard bougie (NFHB, n = 20), or Nissen with FLIP bougie (NFFB, N = 19). FLIP measurements at 30-mL/40-mL fills varied significantly between groups, notably distensibility index at crural closure (CCDI) and post-fundoplication (FDI). No significant differences in FLIP measurements were seen between those who developed poor postoperative outcomes and those who did not, including when grouping by choice of wrap and bougie. At a 40-mL fill, abnormal motility patients with CCDI > 3.5 mm2/mmHg developed zero postoperative dysphagia. TFFB abnormal motility patients with CCDI > 3.5 mm2/mmHg or FDI > 3.6 mm2/mmHg developed zero postoperative dysphagia. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative FLIP measurements vary by fundoplication and bougie choice. A CCDI > 3.5 mm2/mmHg (40 mL fill) should be sought in abnormal motility patients, regardless of wrap or bougie, to avoid postoperative dysphagia. TFFB abnormal motility patients with FDI > 3.6 mm2/mmHg (40 mL fill) also developed zero postoperative dysphagia. FDI > 6.2 mm2/mmHg (40 mL fill) was seen in all postoperative hernia recurrences.

Acid exposure time better predicts outcomes following anti-reflux surgery than DeMeester score.

BACKGROUND: Criteria to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) vary. The American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) 2022 Expert Review on GERD focuses on acid exposure time (AET) rather than DeMeester score from ambulatory pH testing (BRAVO). We aim to review outcomes following anti-reflux surgery (ARS) at our institution, grouped by differing criteria for the diagnosis of GERD. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospective gastroesophageal quality database was performed for all patients undergoing evaluation for ARS with preoperative BRAVO ≥ 48 h. Group comparisons were made using two-tailed Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher's exact tests and two-tailed statistical significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2022, 253 patients underwent an evaluation for ARS with BRAVO testing. Most patients (86.9%) met our institution's historical criteria: LA C/D esophagitis, Barrett's, or DeMeester ≥ 14.72 on 1+ days. Fewer patients (67.2%) met new AGA criteria: LA B/C/D esophagitis, Barrett's, or AET ≥ 6% on 2+ days. Sixty-one patients (24%) met historical criteria only, with significantly lower BMI, ASA, less hiatal hernias, and less DeMeester and AET-positive days, a less severe GERD phenotype. There were no differences between groups in perioperative outcomes or % symptom resolution. Objective GERD outcomes (need for dilation, esophagitis, and postop BRAVO) were equivalent between groups. Patient-reported quality of life scores, including GERD-HRQL, RSI, and Dysphagia Score did not differ between groups from preop through 1 year postop. Those who met our historical criteria only reported significantly worse RSI scores (p = 0.03) and worse GERD-HRQL scores at 2 years postop, though not statistically significant (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Updated AGA GERD guidelines exclude a portion of patients who historically would have been diagnosed with and surgically treated for GERD. This cohort appears to have a less severe GERD phenotype but equivalent outcomes up to 1 year, with more atypical GERD symptoms at 2 years postop. AET may better define who should be offered ARS than DeMeester score.

Factors Associated With Provision of Nonbeneficial Surgery: A National Survey of Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the association of systems factors with the surgeon's likelihood of offering surgical intervention for older adults with life-limiting acute surgical conditions. BACKGROUND: Use of surgical treatments in the last year of life is frequent. Improved risk prediction and clinician communication are solutions proposed to improve serious illness care, yet systems factors may also drive receipt of nonbeneficial treatment. METHODS: We mailed a national survey to 5200 surgeons randomly selected from the American College of Surgeons database comprised of a clinical vignette describing a seriously ill older adult with an acute surgical condition, which utilized a 2×2 factorial design to assess patient and systems factors on receipt of surgical treatment to surgeons. RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred sixty-one surgeons responded for a weighted response rate of 53%. For an 87-year-old patient with fulminant colitis and advanced dementia or stage IV lung cancer, 40% of surgeons were inclined to offer an operation to remove the patient's colon while 60% were inclined to offer comfort-focused care only. Surgeons were more likely to offer surgery when an operating room was readily available (odds ratio: 4.05, P <0.001) and the family requests "do everything" (odds ratio: 2.18, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Factors outside the surgeon's control contribute to nonbeneficial surgery, consistent with our model of clinical momentum. Further characterization of the systems in which these decisions occur might expose novel strategies to improve serious illness care for older patients and their families.

The Association Between Factors Promoting Nonbeneficial Surgery and Moral Distress: A National Survey of Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of moral distress among surgeons and test the association between factors promoting non-beneficial surgery and surgeons' moral distress. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Moral distress experienced by clinicians can lead to low-quality care and burnout. Older adults increasingly receive invasive treatments at the end of life that may contribute to surgeons' moral distress, particularly when external factors, such as pressure from colleagues, institutional norms, or social demands, push them to offer surgery they consider non-beneficial. METHODS: We mailed surveys to 5200 surgeons randomly selected from the American College of Surgeons membership, which included questions adapted from the revised Moral Distress Scale. We then analyzed the association between factors influencing the decision to offer surgery to seriously ill older adults and surgeons' moral distress. RESULTS: The weighted adjusted response rate was 53% (n = 2161). Respondents whose decision to offer surgery was influenced by their belief that pursuing surgery gives the patient or family time to cope with the patient's condition were more likely to have high moral distress (34% vs 22%, P < 0.001), and this persisted on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.02-2.03). Time required to discuss nonoperative treatments or the consulting intensivists' endorsement of operative intervention, were not associated with high surgeon moral distress. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons experience moral distress when they feel pressured to perform surgery they believe provides no clear patient benefit. Strategies that empower surgeons to recommend nonsurgical treatments when they believe this is in the patient's best interest may reduce nonbeneficial surgery and surgeon moral distress.

Endoscopic and Surgical Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Approximately, 10% to 15% of patients in the United States experience gastroesophageal reflux symptoms on a weekly basis, negatively affecting the quality of life and increasing the risk of reflux-related complications. For patients with symptoms recalcitrant to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy or those who cannot take PPIs, surgical fundoplication is the gold standard. The preoperative workup is complex but vital for operative planning and ensuring good postoperative outcomes. Most patients are highly satisfied after fundoplication, though transient dysphagia, gas bloating, and resumption of PPI use are common postoperatively. Multiple newer technologies offer safe alternatives to fundoplication with similar outcomes.

Best case/worst case for the trauma ICU: Development and pilot testing of a communication tool for older adults with traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND: "Best Case/Worst Case" (BC/WC) is a communication tool to support shared decision making in older adults with surgical illness. We aimed to adapt and test BC/WC for use with critically ill older adult trauma patients. METHODS: We conducted focus groups with 48 trauma clinicians in Wisconsin, Texas, and Oregon. We used qualitative content analysis to characterize feedback and adapted the tool to fit this setting. Using rapid sequence iterative design, we developed an implementation tool kit. We pilot tested this intervention at two trauma centers using a pre-post study design with older trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Main outcome measures included study feasibility, intervention acceptability, quality of communication, and clinician moral distress. RESULTS: BC/WC for trauma patients uses a graphic aid to document major events over time, illustrate plausible scenarios, and convey uncertainty. We enrolled 86 of 116 eligible patients and their surrogates (48 pre/38 postintervention). The median patient age was 72 years (51-95 years) and mean Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score was 126.1 (±30.6). We trained 43 trauma attendings and trauma fellows to use the intervention. Ninety-four percent could perform essential tool elements after training. The median end-of-life communication score (scale 0-10) improved from 4.5 to 6.6 (p = 0.006) after intervention as reported by family and from 4.1 to 6.0 (p = 0.03) as reported by nurses. Moral distress did not change. However, there was improvement (less distress) reported by physicians regarding "witnessing providers giving false hope" from 7.34 to 5.03 (p = 0.022). Surgeons reported the tool put multiple clinicians on the same page and was useful for families, but tedious to incorporate into rounds. CONCLUSION: BC/WC trauma ICU is acceptable to clinicians and may support improved communication in the ICU. Future efficacy testing is threatened by enrollment challenges for severely injured older adults and their family members. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, level III.

Opportunities to Improve Shared Decision Making in Dialysis Decisions for Older Adults with Life-Limiting Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: Lack of awareness about the life-limiting nature of renal failure is a significant barrier to palliative care for older adults with end-stage renal disease. Objective: To train nephrologists to use the best case/worst case (BC/WC) communication tool to improve shared decision making about dialysis initiation for older patients with limited life expectancy. Design: This is a pre-/postinterventional pilot study. Setting/Subjects: There were 16 nephrologists and 30 patients of age 70 years and older with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <20 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in outpatient nephrology clinics, in Madison, WI. Measurements: Performance of tool elements, content of communication about dialysis, shared decision making, acceptability of the intervention, decisions to pursue dialysis, and palliative care referrals were measured. Results: Fifteen of 16 nephrologists achieved competence performing the BC/WC tool with standardized patients, executing at least 14 of 19 items. Nine nephrologists met with 30 patients who consented to audio record their clinic visit. Before training, clinic visits focused on laboratory results and preparation for dialysis. After training, nephrologists noted that declining kidney function was "bad news," presented dialysis and "no dialysis" as treatment options, and elicited patient preferences. Observer-measured shared decision-making (OPTION 5) scores improved from a median of 20/100 (interquartile range [IQR] 15-35) before training to 58/100 (IQR 55-65). Patients whose nephrologist used the BC/WC tool were less likely to make a decision to initiate dialysis and were more likely to be referred to palliative care. Conclusions: Nephrologists can learn to use the BC/WC tool with older patients to improve shared decision making about dialysis, which may increase access to palliative care.

Effectiveness of a Question Prompt List Intervention for Older Patients Considering Major Surgery: A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Poor preoperative communication can have serious consequences, including unwanted treatment and postoperative conflict. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a question prompt list (QPL) intervention vs usual care on patient engagement and well-being among older patients considering major surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial used a stepped-wedge design to randomly assign patients to a QPL intervention (n = 223) or usual care (n = 223) based on the timing of their visit with 1 of 40 surgeons at 5 US study sites. Patients were 60 years or older with at least 1 comorbidity and an oncologic or vascular (cardiac, neurosurgical, or peripheral vascular) problem that could be treated with major surgery. Family members were also enrolled (n = 263). The study dates were June 2016 to November 2018. Data analysis was by intent-to-treat. Interventions: A brochure of 11 questions to ask a surgeon developed by patient and family stakeholders plus an endorsement letter from the surgeon were sent to patients before their outpatient visit. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary patient engagement outcomes included the number and type of questions asked during the surgical visit and patient-reported Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions scale assessed after the surgical visit. Primary well-being outcomes included (1) the difference between patient's Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being (MYCaW) scores reported after surgery and scores reported after the surgical visit and (2) treatment-associated regret at 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Results: Of 1319 patients eligible for participation, 223 were randomized to the QPL intervention and 223 to usual care. Among 446 patients, the mean (SD) age was 71.8 (7.1) years, and 249 (55.8%) were male. On intent-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference between the QPL intervention and usual care for all patient-reported primary outcomes. The difference in MYCaW scores for family members was greater in usual care (effect estimate, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.28-2.74; P = .008). When the QPL intervention group was restricted to patients with clear evidence they reviewed the QPL, a nonsignificant increase in the effect size was observed for questions about options (odds ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 0.81-4.35; P = .16), expectations (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.67-3.80; P = .29), and risks (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.04-5.59; P = .04) (nominal α = .01). Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this study were null related to primary patient engagement and well-being outcomes. Changing patient-physician communication may be difficult without addressing clinician communication directly. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02623335.

Will We Code for Default ECMO?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become the default treatment for all patients who suffer cardiac arrest. The history of how this came to be suggests the clinical and ethical importance of establishing more humane and appropriate indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other aggressive therapies for patients at the end of life.

Family and transplant professionals' views of organ recovery before circulatory death for imminently dying patients: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews and focus groups.

Donation before circulatory death for imminently dying patients has been proposed to address organ scarcity and harms of nondonation. To characterize stakeholder attitudes about organ recovery before circulatory death we conducted semistructured interviews with family members (N = 15) who had experienced a loved one's unsuccessful donation after circulatory death and focus groups with professional stakeholders (surgeons, anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, palliative care specialists, organ procurement personnel, and policymakers, N = 46). We then used qualitative content analysis to characterize these perspectives. Professional stakeholders believed that donation of all organs before circulatory death was unacceptable, morally repulsive, and equivalent to murder; consent for such a procedure would be impermissible. Respondents feared the social costs related to recovery before death were too high. Although beliefs about recovery of all organs were widely shared, some professional stakeholders could accommodate removal of a single kidney before circulatory death. In contrast, family members were typically accepting of donation before circulatory death for a single kidney, and many believed recovery of all organs was permissible because they believed the cause of death was the donor's injury, not organ procurement. These findings suggest that definitions of death and precise rules around organ donation are critical for professional stakeholders, whereas donor families find less relevance in these constructs for determining the acceptability of organ donation. Donation of a single kidney before circulatory death warrants future exploration.

Surgeon and Facility Variation in the Use of Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy in Texas.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) rates remain well below guideline recommendations of more than 90% and vary across geographic areas. Our aim was to determine the variation in use attributable to the surgeon and facility and determine the patient, surgeon, and facility characteristics associated with the use of MIBB. METHODS: We used 100% Texas Medicare claims data (2000-2008) to identify women older than 66 years with a breast biopsy (open or minimally invasive) and subsequent breast cancer diagnosis/operation within 1 year. The percentage of patients undergoing MIBB as the first diagnostic modality was estimated for each surgeon and facility. Three-level hierarchical generalized linear models (patients clustered within surgeons within facilities) were used to evaluate variation in MIBB use. RESULTS: A total of 22,711 patients underwent a breast cancer operation by 1226 surgeons at 525 facilities. MIBB was the initial diagnostic modality in 62.4% of cases. Only 7.0% of facilities and 12.9% of surgeons used MIBB for more than 90% of patients. In 3-level models adjusted for patient characteristics, the percentage of patients who received MIBB ranged from 7.5% to 96.0% across facilities (mean = 50.1%, median = 49.2%) and from 8.0% to 87.0% across surgeons (mean = 50.3%, median = 50.9%). The variance in MIBB use was attributable to facility (8.8%) and surgeon (15.4%) characteristics. Lower surgeon and facility volume, longer surgeon years in practice, and smaller facility bed size were associated with lower rates of MIBB use. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of surgeon and facility characteristics associated with low use of MIBB provides potential targets for interventions to improve MIBB rates and decrease variation in use. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective cohort.

Time trends and geographic variation in use of minimally invasive breast biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) as the gold standard for the diagnosis of breast lesions. The purpose of this study was to describe geographic patterns and time trends in the use of MIBB in Texas. METHODS: We used 100% Texas Medicare claims data (2000-2008) to identify women older than 66 years of age who underwent breast biopsy. Biopsies were classified as open or MIBB. Time trends, racial/ethnic variation, and geographic variation in the use of biopsy techniques were examined. RESULTS: A total of 87,165 breast biopsies were performed on 75,518 breast masses in 67,582 women; 65.8% of the initial biopsies were MIBB. Radiologists performed 70.3% and surgeons performed 26.2% of MIBB. Surgeons performed 94.2% of open biopsies. Hispanic women were less likely to undergo MIBB (55.9%) compared with white (66.6%) and black (68.9%) women (p < 0.0001). Women undergoing MIBB were also more likely to live in metropolitan areas and have higher income and educational levels (p < 0.0001). The rate of MIBB increased from 44.4% in 2001 to 79.1% in 2008 (p < 0.0001). There are clear geographic patterns in MIBB use, with highest use near major cities. Although rates are increasing overall, rates of improvement in the use of MIBB vary considerably across geographic regions and remain persistently low in more rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increase in the use of MIBB over time, MIBB use was consistently lower than recommended. We must identify specific barriers in rural areas to effectively change practice and achieve the statewide goal of 90% MIBB.