COVID-19 Adaptations in the Care of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: a Survey of California Primary Care Clinics.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, many federal agencies relaxed policies regulating opioid use disorder treatment. The impact of these changes has been minimally documented. The abrupt nature of these shifts provides a naturalistic opportunity to examine adaptations for opioid use disorder treatment in primary care. OBJECTIVE: To examine change in medical and behavioral health appointment frequency, visit type, and management of patients with opioid use disorder in response to COVID-19. DESIGN: A 14-item survey queried primary care practices that were enrolled in a medications for opioid use disorder statewide expansion project. Survey content focused on changes in service delivery because of COVID-19. The survey was open for 18 days. PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed 338 clinicians from 57 primary care clinics located in California, including federally qualified health centers and look-alikes. A representative from all 57 clinics (100%) and 118 staff (34.8% of all staff clinicians) participated in the survey. MAIN MEASURES: The survey consisted of seven dimensions of practice: medical visits, behavioral health visits, medication management, urine drug screenings, workflow, perceived patient demand, and staff experience. KEY RESULTS: A total of 52 of 57 (91.2%) primary care clinics reported practice adaptations in response to COVID-19 regulatory changes. Many clinics indicated that both medical (40.4%) and behavioral health visits (53.8%) were now exclusively virtual. Two-thirds (65.4%) of clinics reported increased duration of buprenorphine prescriptions and reduced urine drug screenings (67.3%). The majority (56.1%) of clinics experienced an increase in patient demand for behavioral health services. Over half (56.2%) of clinics described having an easier or unchanged experience retaining patients in care. CONCLUSIONS: Many adaptations in the primary care approach to patients with opioid use disorder may be temporary reactions to COVID-19. Further evaluation of the impact of these adaptations on patient outcomes is needed to determine whether changes should be maintained post-COVID-19.

Sleep problems in advanced cancer patients and their caregivers: Who is disturbing whom?

Background The aims of the study were to understand sleep problems and their effects in advanced cancer patients and spousal and intimate partner caregivers and to examine the directionality of the link between patients' and caregivers' sleep problems. Methods Fifty-four advanced cancer patients and their spousal and intimate partners were administered a battery of questionnaires that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Center for Epidemiological Studies at the patients' cancer diagnosis and at 2, 4, and 6 months after diagnosis. Results Patients' and caregivers' sleep duration was significantly related. Using cross-lagged panel analyses, caregivers' sleep quality significantly predicted patients' sleep quality and patients' sleep quality subsequently predicted caregivers' sleep quality. Patients' sleep latency significantly was found to significantly predict caregivers' sleep latency. Conclusion Patients diagnosed with cancer and their intimate partners have poor sleep quality and sleep patterns are related.

Illness perceptions and perceived stress in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: According to the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation, when faced with a health threat, we make cognitive and emotional assumptions about the illness. The aims of this study were to (a) examine the role of sociodemographic and disease-specific factors on illness perception and perceived stress and (b) test the association between perceived stress and illness perception in participants diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: Participants completed a battery of questionnaires including a Sociodemographic and Disease-Specific Questionnaire, the Illness Perception Questionnaire, Brief Version (Brief-IPQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were performed to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: Of the 627 participants, the mean age was 62 years (SD = 11); the majority were male (63.3%) and Caucasian (90.9%). Younger (F3,625 = 5.80, P < .01) and divorced or never married participants reported higher levels of perceived stress when compared with older and married participants (F4,618 = 3.52, P < .01). Younger participants (18-74 years old) reported more negative illness perceptions than older participants (75 years and older) (F3,511 = 4.08, P < .01). A weak, positive relationship between perceived stress and illness perceptions was observed (r = 0.22, P < .01), and illness perceptions predicted 36.1% of the variance of perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that participants who negatively perceived their illness experienced greater levels of perceived stress. Interventions that aim to adjust patients' illness perceptions in order to facilitate a reduction of stress and improvement in quality of life are needed.

Psychosocial and behavioral pathways of metabolic syndrome in cancer caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer caregivers are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. The aims of this study were to examine psychosocial and behavioral predictors of metabolic syndrome, an intermediate endpoint of CVD. METHODS: Cancer caregivers were administered a battery of questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, caregiver quality of life, sleep, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, social support, relationship quality, and loneliness. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the American Heart Association guidelines and the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III, which includes the presence of at least three of the following abnormalities: blood pressure, glucose, abdominal girth, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides. RESULTS: Of the 104 caregivers, 77% were female, 94% were Caucasian, and the mean age was 59.5 (SD = 12.8). Of the 104 caregivers, 35.6% reported depressive symptoms in the clinical range of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) and 69.2% reported Perceived Stress Scale scores at least one standard deviation above the general population norms. A total of 16.3% of caregivers currently used tobacco, 28.8% consumed alcohol, and 26.7% were overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) and 48.5% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Forty-nine percent of the caregivers met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. After age, gender, and race were adjusted, the following remained as significant predictors of metabolic syndrome: low levels of caregiver quality of life (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.067; 95% CI, 1.019-1.117; P = .006), high levels of hostility (OR = 1.142; 95% CI, 1.030-1.267; P = .012), and current alcohol use (OR = 4.193; 95% CI, 1.174-14.978; P = .027). CONCLUSION: Development of interventions to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in cancer caregivers is recommended.

Perioperative strokes following combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy: A nationwide perspective.

BACKGROUND: To assess the risk of perioperative stroke on in-hospital morbidity and mortality following combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all patients who underwent CABG with CEA were identified using ICD-9 codes. Combined procedures were identified as CEA and CABG procedures that happened on the same day. Various preoperative and perioperative risk factors and their association with in-hospital mortality and morbidity were studied. RESULTS: A total of 8457 patients underwent combined CABG and CEA from 1999 to 2011. The average age of the patient population was 69.98 years. A total of 6.17% (n = 521) of the patients developed perioperative strokes following combined CABG and CEA. An in-hospital mortality of 4.96% and morbidity of 66.35% was observed in the patient cohort. Patients with perioperative strokes showed a mortality of 19% and a morbidity of 89.34%. Other notable risk factors for in-hospital mortality and morbidity were heart failure, paralysis, renal failure, coagulopathy, weight loss and fluid and electrolyte disturbances, and postoperative myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: A strong association was found to exist between perioperative stroke and in-hospital mortality and morbidity after combined CABG and CEA. CEA procedures are thought to mitigate the high stroke rate of 3-5% post-CABG, but our study found that combined procedures exhibit a similar stroke risk undercutting their effectiveness. Further investigative studies on combined CABG+CEA are needed to assess risk-stratification for better patient selection and examine other preventative strategies to minimize the risk of ischemic strokes.

Alarm criteria for motor evoked potentials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three commonly used alarm criteria for interpreting the significance and diagnostic value of transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) changes during spinal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE from 1945 to January 2014. We included all those studies that were (1) randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, or retrospective cohort studies, (2) conducted among patients undergoing surgery on the spine or spinal cord with TcMEP monitoring, (3) conducted in a group of ≥50 patients, (4) that were inclusive of immediate postoperative neurological assessment (within 24 h), and (5) which were published in English. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies involving 9409 patients were included. The incidence of neurological deficits was 1.82%. The overall sensitivity and specificity of all reported TcMEP changes was 82.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 73-88.6%) and 95.7% (95% CI: 93.7-97.1%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of each alarm criteria were evaluated: 50% reduction in amplitude, sensitivity 63.2% (95% CI: 47-76.8%), and specificity 96.7% (95% CI: 96.4-99.2%); 80% reduction in amplitude, sensitivity 71.7% (95% CI; 42-89.9%), and specificity 98.3% (95% CI: 96.4-99.2%); total signal loss, sensitivity 30% (95% CI: 17.6-46.4%), and specificity 99.3% (95% CI: 98.6-99.7%). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences between using reductions in amplitude of 50% and 80% as alarm criteria were found in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Total loss was found to have a statistically significant increase in specificity. TcMEP monitoring is a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of neurological defects during spinal surgery.

Patient and provider perspectives of personal health record use: a multisite qualitative study in HIV care settings.

Use of tethered personal health records (PHRs) can streamline care, reduce unnecessary care utilization, and improve health outcomes for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Providers play a role in influencing patients' decision to adopt and use PHRs. To explore patient and provider acceptance and use of PHRs in an HIV care setting. We used a qualitative study design guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Participants included providers of HIV care, patients living with HIV, and PHR coordinating and support staff in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. We interviewed providers (n = 41), patients living with HIV (n = 60), and PHR coordinating and support staff (n = 16) at six VA Medical Centers between June and December 2019. Providers perceived PHR use could enhance care continuity, appointment efficiency, and patient engagement. Yet, some expressed concerns that patient PHR use would increase provider workload and detract from clinical care. Concerns about poor PHR interoperability with existing clinical tools further eroded acceptance and use of PHRs. PHR use can enhance care for patients with HIV and other complex, chronic conditions. Negative provider attitudes toward PHRs may impact providers' encouragement of use among patients, consequently limiting patient uptake. Multipronged interventions at the individual, institutional, and system level are needed to enhance PHR engagement among both providers and patients.

Personal health records, also known as patient portals, allow patients to see personal health information on their computers or phones. Patients who use portals can address many health needs without going to their doctor's office. In our study, we wanted to understand why patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may choose not to use patient portals. We talked to 60 patients with HIV, 41 medical providers, and 16 portal support staff from six United States Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. We learned that providers influence patient decisions to use patient portals­patients were more likely to consider using a patient portal when their providers talked to them about it. However, some providers felt they did not have the time to talk about portals. They also did not feel prepared to support patients who needed help using them. Providers were more likely to talk about patient portals if they saw their benefits and if they felt their patients use them. Some patients were concerned about the security of the information on their patient portals. To increase portal use among patients with HIV, hospitals should address the concerns that patients and providers have about portals while also highlighting the benefits of portal use.

A scoping review of implementation of health-focused interventions in vulnerable populations.

Vulnerable populations face significant challenges in getting the healthcare they need. A growing body of implementation science literature has examined factors, including facilitators and barriers, relevant to accessing healthcare in these populations. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify themes relevant for improving implementation of healthcare practices and programs for vulnerable populations. This scoping review relied on the methodological framework set forth by Arksey and O'Malley, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to evaluate and structure our findings. A framework analytic approach was used to code studies. Of the five CFIR Domains, the Inner Setting and Outer Setting were the most frequently examined in the 81 studies included. Themes that were pertinent to each domain are as follows-Inner Setting: organizational culture, leadership engagement, and integration of the intervention; Outer Setting: networks, external policies, and patients' needs and resources; Characteristics of the Individual: knowledge and beliefs about the intervention, self-efficacy, as well as stigma (i.e., other attributes); Intervention Characteristics: complexities with staffing, cost, and adaptations; and Process: staff and patient engagement, planning, and ongoing reflection and evaluation. Key themes, including barriers and facilitators, are highlighted here as relevant to implementation of practices for vulnerable populations. These findings can inform tailoring of implementation strategies and health policies for vulnerable populations, thereby supporting more equitable healthcare.

People with certain physical or mental health conditions and/or socioeconomic challenges can experience poor health outcomes (herein referred to as vulnerable populations). A growing body of research has focused on the evaluation of implementation of practices and programs among vulnerable populations; however, little work has summarized the factors that impact successful implementation. This scoping review takes advantage of a structured framework, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, to organize relevant implementation factors from implementation studies among vulnerable populations into one of five categories: inner setting, outer setting, intervention characteristics, characteristics of the individual, and process. Overall, findings showed that engagement in the intervention must occur at all levels of the organization with careful planning and evaluation. Successful implementation requires facilitating a supportive culture, belief in the intervention, and self-efficacy from the providers and patients. Stigma, patient needs, and practical issues of staffing and cost for the intervention are common barriers to be addressed. Findings from this review provide guidance for future implementation efforts among vulnerable populations and inform health policies to support more equitable health care.

Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder in primary care clinics: an evaluation of common implementation strategies and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To combat the opioid epidemic in the USA, unprecedented federal funding has been directed to states and territories to expand access to prevention, overdose rescue, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Similar to other states, California rapidly allocated these funds to increase reach and adoption of MOUD in safety-net, primary care settings such as Federally Qualified Health Centers. Typical of current real-world implementation endeavors, a package of four implementation strategies was offered to all clinics. The present study examines (i) the pre-post effect of the package of strategies, (ii) whether/how this effect differed between new (start-up) versus more established (scale-up) MOUD practices, and (iii) the effect of clinic engagement with each of the four implementation strategies. METHODS: Forty-one primary care clinics were offered access to four implementation strategies: (1) Enhanced Monitoring and Feedback, (2) Learning Collaboratives, (3) External Facilitation, and (4) Didactic Webinars. Using linear mixed effects models, RE-AIM guided outcomes of reach, adoption, and implementation quality were assessed at baseline and at 9 months follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 41 clinics, 25 (61%) were at MOUD start-up and 16 (39%) were at scale-up phases. Pre-post difference was observed for the primary outcome of percent of patient prescribed MOUD (reach) (ßtime = 3.99; 0.73 to 7.26; p = 0.02). The largest magnitude of change occurred in implementation quality (ES = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.66 to 0.70). Baseline MOUD capability moderated the change in reach (start-ups 22.60%, 95% CI = 16.05 to 29.15; scale-ups -4.63%, 95% CI = -7.87 to -1.38). Improvement in adoption and implementation quality were moderately associated with early prescriber engagement in Learning Collaboratives (adoption: ES = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.25 to 0.96; implementation quality: ES = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.69). Improvement in adoption was also associated with early prescriber engagement in Didactic Webinars (adoption: ES = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.20 to 1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rather than providing an all-clinics-get-all-components package of implementation strategies, these data suggest that it may be more efficient and effective to tailor the provision of implementation strategies based on the needs of clinic. Future implementation endeavors could benefit from (i) greater precision in the provision of implementation strategies based on contextual determinants, and (ii) the inclusion of strategies targeting engagement.

Stepped implementation-to-target: a study protocol of an adaptive trial to expand access to addiction medications.

BACKGROUND: In response to the US opioid epidemic, significant national campaigns have been launched to expand access to `opioid use disorder (MOUD). While adoption has increased in general medical care settings, specialty addiction programs have lagged in both reach and adoption. Elevating the quality of implementation strategy, research requires more precise methods in tailoring strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all-approach, documenting participant engagement and fidelity to the delivery of the strategy, and conducting an economic analysis to inform decision making and policy. Research has yet to incorporate all three of these recommendations to address the challenges of implementing and sustaining MOUD in specialty addiction programs. METHODS: This project seeks to recruit 72 specialty addiction programs in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority and employs a measurement-based stepped implementation-to-target approach within an adaptive trial design. Programs will be exposed to a sequence of implementation strategies of increasing intensity and cost: (1) enhanced monitoring and feedback (EMF), (2) 2-day workshop, and then, if outcome targets are not achieved, randomization to either internal facilitation or external facilitation. The study has three aims: (1) evaluate the sequential impact of implementation strategies on target outcomes, (2) examine contextual moderators and mediators of outcomes in response to the strategies, and (3) document and model costs per implementation strategy. Target outcomes are organized by the RE-AIM framework and the Addiction Care Cascade. DISCUSSION: This implementation project includes elements of a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design and a criterion-based design. An innovative and efficient approach, participating programs only receive the implementation strategies they need to achieve target outcomes. Findings have the potential to inform implementation research and provide key decision-makers with evidence on how to address the opioid epidemic at a systems level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05343793) on April 25, 2022.

Social Support is Associated with Survival in Patients Diagnosed with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the link between psychological, behavioral, and social factors and survival in patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: A cohort of gastrointestinal cancer patients were administered a battery of questionnaires that assessed trauma, depression, social support, sleep, diet, exercise, quality of life, tobacco and alcohol use, pain, and fatigue. Analyses included Pearson's correlations, analyses of variance, Kaplan Meier survival, and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 568 patients, the majority were male (57.9%) and Caucasian (91.9%), with a mean age of 61 (S.D. = 10.7). The level of perceived social support was comparable to patients with other medical conditions. Sociodemographic predictors of social support included the number of years of education (r = 0.109, p = 0.05), marital status (F(6,387) = 5.465, p ≤ 0.001), and whether the patients' income met the family's basic needs (F(1,377) = 25.531, p < 0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that older age (p < 0.001), male gender (p = 0.007), being black (p = 0.005), diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (p = 0.046), higher body mass index (p = 0.022), larger tumor size (p = 0.032), initial treatment including chemotherapy rather than surgery (p < 0.001), and lower level of perceived social support (p = 0.037) were associated with poorer survival. Using multivariate Cox regression and adjusting for all factors found to be significant in univariate survival analyses, older age (p = 0.024) and lower perceived social support (HR = 0.441, 95% CI = 0.233, 0.833; p = 0.012) were the factors that remained significantly associated with poorer survival. CONCLUSION: There are several biological and psychosocial factors that predict cancer mortality. Social support appears to be a robust factor affecting mortality in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

A mapping review of NIDA-funded implementation research studies on treatments for opioid and/or stimulant use disorders.

BACKGROUND: The biomedical research enterprise invests greatly in discovery-oriented science, but significantly less in how to implement the most effective of these innovations. The return on investment in public health benefit is therefore low. In the context of substance-related overdose epidemics, presently with opioids and/or stimulants, the gap in proven treatments and routine access is amplified. Implementation research is designed to deepen understanding of how best to scale-up proven treatments. This study assessed how implementation research has been deployed in the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) efforts to address the opioid and stimulant epidemics. METHODS: Adapting a procedure developed to categorize HIV-focused research, a four-stage systematic mapping review of NIDA-funded R01, R34, R61, and U studies pertaining to opioids and/or stimulants funded between 2015 and 2019 was performed. Abstracts were retrieved using NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. Key study characteristics were abstracted and coded by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: An initial search across NIH institutes yielded 5963 relevant records. Of these, 666 (11.2 %) were NIDA funded. One-hundred-and-thirty-four (20.1 %) of the 666 studies were opioid and/or stimulant treatment related. Of these, 28 (4.2 %) were categorized as Implementation Preparation (IP), and 16 (2.4 %) were categorized as Implementation Research (IR). Over the five-year period, there was a gradual increase in both IP and IR studies. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation research is a small but slowly growing component of the federal portfolio to address substance-related public health issues. To more effectively respond to contemporary overdose epidemics, implementation research must take on an even more significant role.

The Integrating Medications for Addiction Treatment (IMAT) Index: A measure of capability at the organizational level.

Primary care provides a treatment opportunity for many persons with opioid use disorder (OUD). The push to integrate and expand reach and adoption of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within primary care has been a major focus of national, state and health systems endeavors. To guide high capability MOUD practice, we introduce the Integrating Medications for Addiction Treatment (IMAT) Index. The research team has developed IMAT along similar lines to other organizational measures of integrated services capability. We present the development and validation of the measure, and suggest its applicability for systems and organizations, as well as for process improvement and implementation research. Forty-one primary care clinics completed the IMAT at two time points: baseline and 9-month follow-up. Findings support the IMAT Index as psychometrically acceptable and pragmatically useful. It has good internal consistency, as well as concurrent and predictive validity. Changes in IMAT scores between baseline and follow-up significantly predicted increases in proportion of patients on MOUD. The IMAT has the potential to support both scientific and public health care activities.

Implementation of health-focused interventions in vulnerable populations: protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Vulnerable populations face significant challenges in navigating the care continuum, ranging from diagnosis of illness to linkage and retention in healthcare. Understanding how best to move individuals within these vulnerable populations across the care continuum is critical to improving their health. A large body of literature has focused on evaluation of implementation of various health-focused interventions in this population. However, we do not fully understand the unique challenges to implementing healthcare interventions for vulnerable populations. This study aims to examine the literature describing implementation of health service interventions among vulnerable populations to identify how implementations using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research are adapted. Findings from this review will be useful to implementation scientists to identify gaps in evidence and for adapting similar interventions in unique settings. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study protocol outlines a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature, using established approaches delineated in Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Search strategies will be developed and refined by a medical librarian in collaboration with the research team. Searches will be conducted in electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, PsychINFO, PubMed, Social Services Abstracts, Web of Science, Google and Google Scholar) and limited to studies published between 1 August 2009 and 1 June 2020. Additionally, hand searches will be conducted in three relevant journals-Implementation Science, Systematic Reviews and BMJ Open. English-language studies and reports meeting inclusion criteria will be screened independently by two reviewers and the final list will be abstracted and charted in duplicate. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This is a review of the literature; ethics approval is not indicated. We will disseminate findings from this study in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentations to relevant stakeholders and conferences.

Perioperative strokes after coronary artery bypass grafting with staged carotid endarterectomy: A nationwide perspective.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of perioperative stroke on in-hospital morbidity and mortality in staged coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) procedures. DESIGN: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was used to extract data on all patients who underwent staged CABG CEA procedures. They were identified using the ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification) diagnosis and procedure codes. SETTING: Multi-institutional. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent staged CABG and CEA from 1999 to 2011. INTERVENTIONS: Staged CABG and CEA procedures. MEASUREMENTS: Various pre-operative, and perioperative risk factors and their association with in-hospital mortality and morbidity were studied. MAIN RESULTS: The study cohort was grouped into 2761 patients who underwent staged CEA and CABG. The average age of the patient population was 69years. An in-hospital mortality of 4.96% (137) was observed. Staged procedures showed a morbidity rate of 69.21%. Patients with perioperative strokes had a mortality rate of 16.73% following staged procedures. Other notable risk factors for mortality and morbidity were post-operative myocardial infarction (MI) and congestive heart failure (CHF). CONCLUSION: Analysis of 2761 patients over a period of 12years (1999-2011) indicate perioperative stroke to be a strong post-operative predicator of in-hospital mortality and morbidity for staged procedures. Other significant factors such as advancing age, female gender and comorbidities like CHF, left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and post-operative MI should also be considered when determining patient risk. Further investigative studies on staged CABG and CEA procedures are needed for better patient selection and for implementing preventative strategies such as neuroprotective medication and neuromonitoring to minimize the risk of ischemic strokes.

Diagnostic accuracy of motor evoked potentials to detect neurological deficit during idiopathic scoliosis correction: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring in predicting an impending neurological deficit during corrective spinal surgery for patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). METHODS The authors searched the PubMed and Web of Science database for relevant lists of retrieved reports and/or experiments published from January 1950 through October 2014 for studies on TcMEP monitoring use during IS surgery. The primary analysis of this review fit the operating characteristic into a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve model to determine the efficacy of intraoperative TcMEP-predicted change. RESULTS Twelve studies, with a total of 2102 patients with IS were included. Analysis found an observed incidence of neurological deficits of 1.38% (29/2102) in the sample population. Of the patients who sustained a neurological deficit, 82.8% (24/29) also had irreversible TcMEP change, whereas 17.2% (5/29) did not. The pooled analysis using the bivariate model showed TcMEP change with sensitivity (mean 91% [95% CI 34%-100%]) and specificity (mean 96% [95% CI 92-98%]). The diagnostic odds ratio indicated that it is 250 times more likely to observe significant TcMEP changes in patients who experience a new-onset motor deficit immediately after IS correction surgery (95% CI 11-5767). TcMEP monitoring showed high discriminant ability with an area under the curve of 0.98. CONCLUSIONS A patient with a new neurological deficit resulting from IS surgery was 250 times more likely to have changes in TcMEPs than a patient without new deficit. The authors' findings from 2102 operations in patients with IS show that TcMEP monitoring is a highly sensitive and specific test for detecting new spinal cord injuries in patients undergoing corrective spinal surgery for IS. They could not assess the value of TcMEP monitoring as a therapeutic adjunct owing to the limited data available and their study design.

Diagnostic accuracy of somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during scoliosis fusion.

The goal of this review was to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) changes to predict perioperative neurological outcome in patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery to correct adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The authors searched PubMed/MEDLINE and World Science databases to retrieve reports and/or experiments from January 1950 through January 2014 for studies on SSEP use during AIS surgery. All motor and sensory deficits were noted in the neurological examination administered after the procedure which was used to determine the effectiveness of SSEP as an intraoperative monitoring technique. Fifteen studies identified a total of 4763 procedures on idiopathic patients. The observed incidence of neurological deficits was 1.11% (53/4763) of the sample population. Of the patients with new postoperative neurological deficits 75.5% (40/53) showed significant SSEP changes, and 24.5% (13/53) did not show significant change. Pooled analysis using the bivariate model showed SSEP change with pooled sensitivity (average 84%, 95% confidence interval 59-95%) and specificity (average 98%, 95% confidence interval 97-99%). The diagnostic odds ratio of a patient who had a new neurological deficit with SSEP changes was a diagnostic odds ratio of 340 (95% confidence interval 125-926). Overall, detection of SSEP changes had excellent discriminant ability with an area under the curve of 0.99. Our meta-analysis covering 4763 operations on idiopathic patients showed that it is a highly sensitive and specific test and that iatrogenic spinal cord injury resulting in new neurological deficits was 340 times more likely to have changes in SSEP compared to those without any new deficits.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Combined Multimodality Somatosensory Evoked Potential and Transcranial Motor Evoked Potential Intraoperative Monitoring in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the predictive value of combined multimodality somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring in detecting impending neurological injury during surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The diagnostic of motor evoked potential monitoring and SSEP monitoring have been established. However, the predictive value of combined multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring in detecting impending neurological injury during surgery for idiopathic scoliosis has not been evaluated. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE from 1974 to January 2015. All titles and abstracts were independently reviewed by the authors. We included all studies that were (1) randomized controlled trials, prospective or retrospective cohort studies; (2) included patients with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing scoliosis correction surgery; (3) included multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring during spinal surgery; (4) included immediate postoperative neurological assessment; (5) idiopathic scoliosis patient population n ≥25; and (6) published in English. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising a total of 2052 patients with idiopathic scoliosis were included in our meta-analysis. The incidence of neurological deficit in this cohort was 0.93%. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and Diagnostic Odds Ratio were 82.6% (95% CI 56.7%-94.5%), 94.4% (95% CI 85.1%-98.0%), and 106.16 (95% CI 24.952-451.667), respectively. The area under the curve was 0.928, indicating excellent discriminatory ability. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic scoliosis corrective surgery patients who experience a new neurological deficit are 106.16 times more likely to have had an SSEP and/or TcMEP change during corrective procedures. The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate that combined multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring possess some advantage over use of each alone, and that intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring may provide a valuable biomarker in detection of impending neurological injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Comparison of Subdermal Needle and Surface Adhesive Stimulating Electrodes for Somatosensory Evoked Potential Monitoring during Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

INTRODUCTION: Needle stick injuries remain a physical and psychological burden to healthcare workers. Noninvasive surface adhesive stimulating electrodes used to generate somatosensory evoked potentials can help decrease this risk. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery to determine the utility and variability of using surface adhesive stimulating electrodes. Our analysis for utility compared alarm (significant changes) frequency, defined by established alarm criteria, between subdermal needle (Group I) and surface adhesive electrodes (Group II). We compared the variability by comparing the frequency of alarms based on establishing baselines during various stages of the procedure. RESULTS: Between Group I and Group II, no significant differences were found in demographic, age, number of levels decompressed and fused, and length of surgery variability. However, stimulation intensity was significantly higher in Group II. Significant differences in the mean frequency of alarm of cortical, subcortical, and Erb's somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) responses for the upper extremities between the two groups were only observed for the upper left Erb's point amplitude (p = 0.03) at retraction and upper right cortical amplitude at incision (p = 0.02). The frequency of alarms of the amplitude of left ulnar cortical responses from SSEPs using surface adhesives when baselines were established at the beginning of the procedure, at the time of incision, and at placement of retractors were 13.83 % (±14.08%), 7.50 % (±7.56%) and 3.42 % (±3.48%), respectively. Comparatively, the frequencies of alarms of the amplitude of left ulnar cortical responses from SSEPs using needle electrodes were 18.07 % (±22.85%), 12.13 % (±17.30%) and 7.37 % (±11.82%), respectively. Similar results were observed from frequency for alarms from the right ulnar SSEPs. CONCLUSION: This study found little significant difference between the frequencies of alarm in patients who had SSEP responses obtained using surface adhesive electrodes when compared to needle electrodes. This lack of significant difference was observed even when alarms were established at various stages of the surgery before any major manipulation. For short procedures monitoring the upper extremities only, surface adhesive electrodes may provide a reliable alternative to invasive needle electrodes.

Is Two Really Better Than One? Examining the Superiority of Dual Modality Neurophysiological Monitoring During Carotid Endarterectomy: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural stroke after carotid endarterectomy increases long-term mortality. Intraoperative monitoring with electroencephalography (EEG) and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) helps predict perioperative stroke risk. However, the sensitivity of each technique when used independently still remains low. The aim of this study is to determine whether multimodal monitoring leads to an increase in sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Relevant literature was obtained through a search of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases and data were extracted. Data from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospital records for the 2000-2012 period were included. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were obtained for single and multimodality neurophysiologic monitoring. A McNemar test was used to evaluate for any statistically significant differences in the sensitivities and false-positive rates. RESULTS: The diagnostic odds ratio of dual modality monitoring was found to be 17.4. The specificity of concurrent EEG and SSEP changes in predicting perioperative strokes was calculated to be 96.8% (95% confidence interval 94.1%-98.3%). The sensitivity of combined monitoring with a change in either modality designated as significant was 58.9% (95% confidence interval 41.2%-74.7%). Multimodality monitoring with a change in either EEG or SSEP as the alarm criteria was 1.32 times more sensitive than EEG alone and 1.26 times more sensitive than SSEP alone. CONCLUSIONS: The odds of having a change in either EEG or SSEP are 17 times more in patients with perioperative strokes. Dual modality monitoring is more sensitive at predicting perioperative deficits than EEG or SSEP used independently.