Development of a Polygenic Risk Score to Predict Diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Despite its prevalence and associated morbidity, we remain limited in our ability to predict the course of a patient with diverticular disease. Although several clinical and genetic risk factors have been identified, we do not know how these factors relate to one another. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether a polygenic risk score could improve risk prediction for diverticulitis and recurrent diverticulitis compared with a model using only clinical factors. DESIGN: This is an observational study. SETTING: The study examines the predictive ability of a polygenic risk score for diverticulitis developed using prior genome-wide association studies and validated using the MyCode biobank. PATIENTS: This study included patients of European ancestry in the Geisinger Health System who were enrolled in the MyCode Community Health biobanking program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ability of a polygenic risk score to predict diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and recurrent diverticulitis was the main outcome measure of this study. RESULTS: A total of 60,861 patients were included, of whom 9912 (16.3%) had diverticulosis or diverticulitis (5015 with diverticulosis and 4897 with diverticulitis). When divided into deciles, our polygenic risk score stratified patients by risk of both diverticulosis and diverticulitis with a 2-fold difference in disease risk between the highest and lowest deciles for diverticulitis and a 4.8-fold difference for recurrent complicated diverticulitis. When compared with clinical factors alone, our polygenic risk score was able to improve risk prediction of recurrent diverticulitis. LIMITATIONS: Our population is largely located in a single geographic region and were classified by disease status, using international classification of diseases codes. CONCLUSIONS: This predictive model stratifies patients based on genetic risk for diverticular disease. The increased frequency of recurrent disease in our high-risk patients suggests that a polygenic risk score, in addition to other factors, may help guide the discussion regarding surgical intervention. See Video Abstract . DESARROLLO DE UNA PUNTUACIN DE RIESGO POLIGNICO PARA PREDECIR LA DIVERTICULITIS: ANTECEDENTES:A pesar de su prevalencia y morbilidad asociada, nuestra capacidad para predecir el curso en un paciente con enfermedad diverticular sigue siendo limitada. Si bien se han identificado varios factores de riesgo clínicos y genéticos, no sabemos cómo se relacionan estos factores entre sí.OBJETIVO:Determinar si una puntuación de riesgo poligénico podría mejorar la predicción del riesgo de diverticulitis y diverticulitis recurrente en comparación con un modelo que utiliza solo factores clínicos.DISEÑO:Un estudio observacional que examina la capacidad predictiva de una puntuación de riesgo poligénico para la diverticulitis desarrollada usando estudios previos de asociación amplia del genoma y validada usando el biobanco MyCode.ÁMBITOS Y PACIENTES:Pacientes de ascendencia europea en el Sistema de Salud Geisinger que estaban inscritos en el programa de biobancos MyCode Community Health.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE VALORACIÓN:La capacidad de una puntuación de riesgo poligénico para predecir diverticulosis, diverticulitis y diverticulitis recurrente.RESULTADOS:Se incluyeron un total de 60.861 pacientes, de los cuales 9.912 (16,3%) presentaban diverticulosis o diverticulitis (5.015 con diverticulosis y 4.897 con diverticulitis). Cuando se dividió en deciles, nuestra puntuación de riesgo poligénico estratificó a los pacientes según el riesgo de diverticulosis y diverticulitis con una diferencia de 2 veces en el riesgo de enfermedad entre los deciles más alto y más bajo para diverticulitis y una diferencia de 4,8 veces para diverticulitis complicada recurrente. En comparación con los factores clínicos solos, nuestra puntuación de riesgo poligénico pudo mejorar la predicción del riesgo de diverticulitis recurrente.LIMITACIONES:Nuestra población se encuentra en gran parte en una sola región geográfica y se clasificó por estado de enfermedad utilizando códigos de clasificación internacional de enfermedades.CONCLUSIONES:Este modelo predictivo estratifica a los pacientes en función del riesgo genético de enfermedad diverticular. La mayor frecuencia de enfermedad recurrente en nuestros pacientes de alto riesgo sugiere que un puntaje de riesgo poligénico, además de otros factores, puede ayudar a guiar la discusión sobre la intervención quirúrgica. (Traducción- Dr. Ingrid Melo ).

Clinical T2N0M0 Esophageal Cancer-Is Treatment Pathway Associated With Overall Survival?

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal cancer therapy is commonly multimodal. The CROSS trial demonstrated a survival benefit of neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus surgery alone in T1N1 or T2-3N0-1 patients. Theoretically, chemoradiation should be most beneficial to patients with advanced disease. Treating the intermediary stage, T2N0M0, is challenging as national guidelines offer multiple options. This study aims to compare survival outcomes and associated factors in clinical T2N0M0 esophageal cancer via treatment modality and compare clinical to pathological stage. The authors conclude that neoadjuvant therapy use has increased; however, there is no associated survival benefit, which may be due to over- or under-staging. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using the National Cancer Database (2006-2016). Patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery (NCRT + ESOPH) were compared to patients who underwent esophagectomy first (ESOPH). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with treatment pathway. Overall survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank tests at 1-, 3-, and 5-y post-treatment. Additionally, a multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with adjuvant therapy in ESOPH patients. RESULTS: There were 1662 patients (NCRT + ESOPH: 904 [54.4%], ESOPH: 758 [45.6%]). There was no difference in 5-y survival between NCRT + ESOPH and ESOPH patients. Despite this, NCRT + ESOPH treatment rates rose from 33% to 74% between 2006 and 2016. Patients who received NCRT + ESOPH were younger and more commonly had no Charlson-Deyo comorbidities. Notably, 41% of patients were over-staged (T1 or lower), and 32.8% were under-staged (N ≥ 1). CONCLUSIONS: T2N0M0 remains difficult to characterize, and pathological staging corresponds poorly to clinical staging. Neoadjuvant therapy use has increased; however, the lack of a significant survival benefit to correlate with such may be secondary to over- or under-staging.

Evaluating the Implementation of a Medical Student's Handoff Curriculum During the Surgery Clerkship.

INTRODUCTION: Early introduction to essential communication skills is important. We sought to determine if a handoff curriculum (HC) would improve confidence, decrease anxiety, and increase participation in clinical handoffs during the surgical clerkship. METHODS: A multi-center prospective cohort study was performed at two medical schools. Training in the intervention group (HC) consisted of a didactic lecture, video review, and practice session. Students completed a pre-clerkship knowledge test and confidence/anxiety/handoff experience questionnaire pre- and post-clerkship. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in pre-clerkship handoff experiences between institutions except having previously witnessed a verbal handoff (School A 96.4% versus School B 76.2%, P = 0.01). While there were no significant differences in post-clerkship confidence or anxiety, HC students were significantly more involved with written sign-outs (52.9% versus 18.2%, P = 0.02) and verbal handoffs (29.4% versus 4.6%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students exposed to handoff training shared similar confidence and anxiety scores compared to those that were not, however, they were more involved in handoff experiences during their surgical clerkship. Early introduction to handoff skills may encourage greater participation during subsequent clinical experiences.

Adherence Disparities and Utilization Trends of Oncotype Dx Assay: A National Cancer Database Study.

INTRODUCTION: Oncotype Dx (ODX) is a genetic assay that analyzes tumor recurrence risk and provides chemotherapy recommendations for T1-T2 stage, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-negative, and nodal-negative breast cancer patients. Despite its established validity, the utilization of this assay is suboptimal. The study aims to evaluate factors that are associated with adherence rate with the testing guidelines and examine changes in utilization trends. METHODS: This is a retrospective study, utilizing data from the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2017. Patients who met the ODX testing guidelines were first evaluated for testing adherence. Secondly, all patients who underwent ODX testing were assessed to evaluate the trend in ODX utilization. RESULTS: A total of 429,648 patients met the criteria for ODX, and 43.4% of this population underwent testing. Advanced age, racial minorities, low-income status, well-differentiated tumor grade, uninsured status, and treatment at community cancer centers were associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving ODX in eligible patients. Additionally, a notable amount of testing was performed on patients who did not meet the ODX testing criteria. Among the 295,326 patients that underwent ODX testing, 16.6% of patients were node-positive and 1.8% had T3 or T4 stage tumors. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of patients who were eligible for ODX did not receive it, indicating potential barriers to care and disparities in breast cancer treatment. ODX usage has been expanded to broader patient populations, indicating more research is needed to validate the effectiveness of the assay in these patient groups.

Exploring Delay to Follow-Up in a Rural Multidisciplinary Cleft Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Oral clefts require longitudinal multidisciplinary care with follow-up visits at regular intervals throughout a patient's childhood, and delayed care can be detrimental. Although loss to follow-up is commonly studied, this metric does not account for patients that do return to care, but months or years later than recommended. The aim of this study was to explore and determine risk factors for delay to follow-up (DTFU) in a cleft clinic at a rural academic center. METHODS: Medical records from the multidisciplinary cleft clinic at a single rural tertiary care institution between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, were reviewed. The primary outcome was DTFU, measured as the difference in days between recommended and actual follow-up dates for a given visit. RESULTS: A cohort of 282 patients was analyzed, with a total of 953 visits. A total of 71% of patients experienced at least 1 delay in follow-up of 30 days or longer, and 50% had at least 1 delay of 90 days or longer. Out of all visits, the mean DTFU was 73 days (around 2.5 months). For 23% of patients, at least half their visits were delayed by more than 90 days, whereas 11% experienced a delay of more than 90 days with every visit. Patients who failed to show up to at least 1 appointment had significantly higher risk of DTFU ( P < 0.0001). Driving distance, driving time, SES, stage of cleft care, and cleft phenotype were not correlated with DTFU. For canceled appointments, 50.5% of recorded cancellation reasons were patient driven. CONCLUSIONS: Delay to follow-up in a multidisciplinary cleft clinic was prevalent in this rural cohort, with half of patients experiencing delays of 3 months or longer, and about 1 in 9 experiencing this delay with every visit. Delay to follow-up identifies patients with consistently high rates of delay in care, which could eventually lead to targeted interventions to increase compliance. Delay to follow-up may be a new and valuable measure of cleft care compliance that can be easily implemented by other institutions. Further investigation is needed to determine the relationship between delay and clinical outcomes in cleft patients.

Anastomotic leak in patients with acute complicated diverticulitis undergoing primary anastomosis: risk factors and the role of diverting loop ileostomy.

BACKGROUND: Recent data has suggested that primary anastomosis (PA), with or without a diverting loop ileostomy (DLI), is a safe option for the treatment of acute complicated diverticulitis. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors associated with anastomotic leak in patients who underwent a sigmoid colectomy with PA and to determine whether a DLI was protective against a clinically significant anastomotic leak. METHODS: Patients with acute complicated diverticulitis who underwent a laparoscopic or open sigmoid colectomy with PA, with or without a DLI, were identified in the NSQIP PUF(2016-2017). The rates of anastomotic leak, receipt of DLI, and type of leak management were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: There were 497 patients identified. Seventy-nine(15.9%) patients had a DLI, while 418 (84.1%) did not. Twenty-six anastomotic leaks were identified (5.2%). On multivariate analysis, current smoking (OR 4.02; 95% CI 1.44-11.26) and chronic steroid use (OR 3.84; 95% CI 1.16-12.69) were significantly associated with an increased risk of leak. Of the 26 patients with anastomotic leaks, 5 (19.2%) had a DLI. There was no significant difference in the rate of leak between those with a DLI(5; 6.3%) and those without(21; 5.3%; p = 0.59). Patients who had a DLI were significantly less likely to experience an anastomotic leak requiring re-operation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the presence of a DLI, chronic steroid use and smoking are associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leak in patients with acute complicated diverticulitis undergoing colectomy with PA. The presence of a diverting loop ileostomy is protective against re-operation.

Overcoming adversity-a critical step toward career satisfaction and leadership in academic surgery.

The experiences of life are what shape us. This article relays stories of adversity and resiliency as experienced and told by members of our own surgical community at the Academic Surgical Congress in Las Vegas, NV in February 2017. We aim to express in words the lessons of each experience so that others can learn about life and leadership.

A preoperative prediction model for risk of multiple admissions after colon cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients who undergo colon cancer surgery may be at a high risk of multiple subsequent admissions. We developed a simplified model to predict the preoperative risk of multiple postoperative admissions (MuAdm) among patients undergoing colon resection to aid in preoperative planning. METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 y with colon cancer who underwent elective surgical resection identified in discharge claims from California and New York (2008-2011) were included. The primary outcome, MuAdm, was defined as 2 or more admissions in the year following resection. Logistic regression models were developed to identify factors predictive of MuAdm. A weighted point system was developed using beta-coefficients (P < 0.05). A random sample of 75% of the data was used for model development, which was validated in the remaining 25% sample. RESULTS: A total of 14,780 patients underwent colon resection for cancer. Almost 30% had an admission in the year after index surgery and 9.8% had MuAdm. The significant predictors of MuAdm were higher Elixhauser comorbidity index score, metastatic disease, payer system, and the number of admissions in the year before surgery. Scores ranged from 0 to 8. Scores ≤1 had a 7% risk of MuAdm, and scores ≥6 had a >30% risk of MuAdm. CONCLUSIONS: In the year following discharge after resection of colon cancer, nearly 10% of patients are admitted 2 or more times. A simple, preoperative clinical model can prospectively predict the likelihood of multiple admissions in patients anticipating resection. This model can be used for preoperative planning and setting postoperative expectations more accurately.

Preventing Early Bouncebacks to the Neurointensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Analysis and Quality Improvement Pilot.

BACKGROUND: Early unplanned readmissions of "bouncebacks" to intensive care units are a healthcare quality metric and result in higher mortality and greater cost. Few studies have examined bouncebacks to the neurointensive care unit (neuro-ICU), and we sought to design and implement a quality improvement pilot to reduce that rate. METHODS: First, we performed a retrospective chart review of 504 transfers to identify potential bounceback risk factors. Risk factors were assessed on the day of transfer by the transferring physician identifying patients as "high risk" or "low risk" for bounceback. "High-risk" patients underwent an enhanced transfer process emphasizing interdisciplinary communication and rapid assessment upon transfer during a 9-month pilot. RESULTS: Within the retrospective cohort, 34 of 504 (4.7%) transfers required higher levels of care within 48 h. Respiratory failure and sepsis/hypotension were the most common reasons for bounceback among this group. During the intervention, 8 of 225 (3.6%) transfers bounced back, all of who were labeled "high risk." Being "high risk" was associated with a risk of bounceback (OR not calculable, p = 0.02). Aspiration risk (OR 6.9; 95% CI 1.6-30, p = 0.010) and cardiac arrhythmia (OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.6-32, p = 0.01) were independent predictors of bounceback in multivariate analysis. Bounceback rates trended downward to 2.8% in the final phase (p for trend 0.09). Eighty-five percent of providers responded that the pilot should become standard of care. CONCLUSION: Patients at high risk for bounceback after transfer from the neuro-ICU can be identified using a simple tool. Early augmented multidisciplinary communication and care for high-risk patients may improve their management in the hospital.

Development and implementation of a risk identification tool to facilitate critical care transitions for high-risk surgical patients.

QUALITY PROBLEM: Patients recently discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for clinical deterioration. INITIAL ASSESSMENT: Unreliable and incomplete handoffs of complex patients contributed to preventable ICU readmissions. Respiratory decompensation was responsible for four times as many readmissions as other causes. CHOICE OF SOLUTION: Form a multidisciplinary team to address care coordination surrounding the transfer of patients from the ICU to the surgical ward. IMPLEMENTATION: A quality improvement intervention incorporating verbal handoffs, time-sensitive patient evaluations and visual cues was piloted over a 1-year period in consecutive high-risk surgical patients discharged from the ICU. Process metrics and clinical outcomes were compared to historical controls. EVALUATION: The intervention brought the primary team and respiratory therapists to the bedside for a baseline examination within 60 min of ward arrival. Stakeholders viewed the intervention as such a valuable adjunct to patient care that the intervention has become a standard of care. While not significant, in a comparatively older and sicker intervention population, the rate of readmissions due to respiratory decompensation was 12.5%, while 35.0% in the control group (P = 0.28). LESSONS LEARNED: The implementation of this ICU transition protocol is feasible and internationally applicable, and results in improved care coordination and communication for a high-risk group of patients.

Using community outreach to explore health-related beliefs and improve surgeon-patient engagement.

BACKGROUND: Fostering surgeon engagement in community outreach was recently identified as a major priority toward reducing health care disparities in surgery. We aimed to increase surgeon engagement in the local community, understand prevalent beliefs, and identify educational opportunities in the local community regarding cancer screening and treatment using community outreach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In collaboration with the university's cancer center, the medical student surgical interest group, surgical faculty, and residents developed a community outreach program. The program consisted of networking time, a formal presentation, panel discussion, and question and answer time. A survey was distributed to all participants before the educational session, and a program assessment was distributed at the program's conclusion. RESULTS: A total of 256 community members and 22 surgical volunteers attended at least one of the two events. Attendees were insured (175; 92.7%), female (151; 80%), and African-American (176; 93.1%), with a mean age of 61 y (standard deviation 14.0). About 56 participants (29.6%) were unwilling to undergo screening colonoscopy. Forty-eight respondents (25.4%) endorsed mistrust in doctors and 25% believed surgery causes cancer to spread; a significantly higher proportion of them aged <60 y old. About 113 (59.8%) and 87 (46.1%) misunderstood the definitions of malignant and metastatic, respectively. Males were more unsure than females (61% versus 55%, P = 0.5 and 70% versus 55%; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Risk perceptions related to fatalism, mistrust, or lack of knowledge were prevalent. The ability of surgeons to reach at-risk populations in the prehospital setting is an important opportunity waiting to be capitalized upon.

Postdischarge occurrences after colorectal surgery happen early and are associated with dramatically increased rates of readmission.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative occurrences have been associated with an increased risk of readmission, yet these occurrences and their timing have not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze patients undergoing colorectal surgery as a model for general surgical readmissions. DESIGN: In a retrospective analysis, the impact of a postoperative occurrence on readmission was examined in a multivariable model with adjustment for potential confounders. The timing and type of postoperative occurrence were further characterized. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing colorectal surgery in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (fiscal year 2011-2012) were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was admission within 30 days of operation. RESULTS: A total of 54,823 patients undergoing colorectal surgery were identified, with 24% of patients experiencing a postoperative occurrence, and 12% of patients readmitted. The readmission rate in those who experienced an occurrence was 30% compared with 6% in those without an occurrence (p < 0.0001). After an occurrence during the index admission, the readmission rate was 18% compared with 57% if the occurrence happened postdischarge (p < 0.0001). In a multivariable analysis, postdischarge occurrence (risk ratio, 7.5 [95% CI, 7.3-7.8]) was associated with the largest risk of readmission. The median time to postdischarge occurrence was 8 days for organ space infection and wound complication and 7 days for sepsis. By day 14 postdischarge, 74% of organ space infections, 79% of wound complications, and 81% of sepsis had already occurred. LIMITATIONS: This analysis was limited to the variables available in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Most significantly, readmission is captured for 30 days postoperatively rather than for 30 days postdischarge. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission occurs frequently (12%) after colorectal surgery and is strongly associated with a postdischarge occurrence. The most frequent postdischarge occurrences are infectious in nature and happen early postdischarge. The majority of postdischarge occurrences have already occurred by day 14, a standard time for the postoperative appointment.

Early discharge and readmission after colorectal resection.

BACKGROUND: Emphasis on the provision of high quality, cost-effective healthcare has meant increasing efforts at reducing postoperative length of stay while reducing 30-d readmission rates. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with early discharge (ED) and to evaluate the effectof ED on readmission after colorectal resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all inpatients aged ≥18 y who underwent a colorectal resection in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File, 2011. ED was defined as a length of stay ≤25th percentile by procedure (rectal resection, open colectomy, and laparoscopic colectomy). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors significantly associated with ED and readmission. A subset analysis was performed by procedure type. RESULTS: Of 28,532 patients, 2171 (7%) underwent rectal resection, 14,976 (52%) underwent open colectomy, and 11,385 (40%) underwent laparoscopic colectomy with an ED on or before postoperative days 5, 5, and 3, respectively. The overall cohort included patients with a mean age of 61 y. A total of 52% were women and 37% were colorectal cancer patients. Age >65 y, recent steroid use, simultaneous ostomy creation, nonelective surgery, need for reoperation, and a postoperative occurrence before discharge were significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of ED. The overall rate of readmission was 12%. Patients who were discharged early were significantly less likely to be readmitted (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: In the appropriate patient population, ED after colorectal surgery may be implemented without any adverse effect on readmission rates.

Goal orientation in surgical residents: a study of the motivation behind learning.

BACKGROUND: The subconscious way in which an individual approaches learning, goal orientation (GO), has been shown to influence job satisfaction, job performance, and burnout in nonmedical cohorts. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate an instrument to assess GO in surgical residents, so that in the future, we can better understand how differences in motivation affect professional development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Residents were recruited to complete a 17-item survey adapted from the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS). The survey included three scales assessing GO in residency-specific terms. Items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, and the psychometric properties of the adapted and original PALS were compared. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of residents (61/64) participated. Median age was 30 y and 33% were female. Mean (standard deviation) scale scores for the adapted PALS were: mastery 4.30 (0.48), performance approach (PAP) 3.17 (0.99), and performance avoid 2.75 (0.88). Mean (standard deviation) scale scores for the original PALS items were: mastery 3.35 (1.02), PAP 2.76 (1.15), and performance avoid 2.41 (0.91). Cronbach alpha were α = 0.89 and α = 0.84 for the adapted PAP and avoid scales, respectively, which were comparable with the original scales. For the adapted mastery scale, α = 0.54. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors, and factor loadings for individual mastery items did not load consistently onto a single factor. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first steps in the development of a novel tool to measure GO among surgical residents. Understanding motivational psychology in residents may facilitate improved education and professional development.

Hernia repair in the presence of ascites.

BACKGROUND: The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) has been validated as a prediction tool for postoperative mortality, but its role in predicting morbidity has not been well studied. We sought to determine the role of MELD, among other factors, in predicting morbidity and mortality in patients with nonmalignant ascites undergoing hernia repair. METHODS: All patients undergoing hernia repair in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database (2009-11) were identified. Those with nonmalignant ascites were compared with patients without ascites. A subset analysis of patients with nonmalignant ascites was performed to evaluate the association between MELD and morbidity and mortality with adjustment for potential confounders. The association of significant factors with the rate of morbidity was displayed using a best-fit polynomial regression. RESULTS: Of 138,366 hernia repairs, 778 (0.56%) were performed on patients with nonmalignant ascites. Thirty-day morbidity (4% versus 19%) and mortality (0.2% versus 5.3%) were significantly more frequent in patients with ascites (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis of the 636 patients with a calculable MELD, MELD was associated with both morbidity and mortality (P < 0.001 each). In multivariate analysis, MELD remained significantly associated with morbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11). Ventral hernia repair (OR = 2.9), dependent functional status (OR = 2.3), alcohol use (OR = 2.3), emergent operation (OR = 2.0) white blood count (OR = 1.1), and age (OR = 1.02) were also significantly associated with morbidity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Before hernia repair, the MELD score can be used to risk-stratify patients with nonmalignant ascites not only for mortality but also morbidity. Morbidity rates increase rapidly with MELD above 15, but other factors should additionally be accounted for when counseling patients on their perioperative risk.

Trends in adoption of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Total neoadjuvant chemoradiation (TNT), an accepted strategy for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), was first included in guidelines in 2018. We aimed to describe trends in, and factors associated with TNT receipt. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adult patients with LARC was performed using the national cancer database (2012-2020). TNT status was determined, and temporal trends analyzed. Factors associated with TNT receipt were identified by stage. RESULTS: A total of 51,407 patients were identified; 57.3 â€‹% received TNT. Increasing age and comorbidities were associated with higher rates of TNT receipt. Patients with stage III disease were more likely to receive TNT (stage II OR 0.92, 95%CI 0.88-0.96). Patients were 38 â€‹% more likely to get TNT after guideline inclusion (OR1.38, 95%CI 1.31-1.46). CONCLUSION: Rates of TNT were consistently above 50 â€‹% and rose after inclusion in the NCCN guidelines. This study establishes baseline patterns in rates of TNT for future benchmarking.

Sex influences how attendings evaluate surgical residents in the operating room.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on facultys' perception of resident autonomy and performance. METHODS: Autonomy/performance/complexity evaluations performed by faculty of categorical general surgery residents (2015-2021) were analyzed. Comparisons of scores by faculty and resident sex were performed. RESULTS: A total of 10967 paper/electronic evaluations were collected. Female attendings rated female residents significantly lower in autonomy when compared to males (2.75 vs 2.91, p â€‹= â€‹0.0037). There was no significant difference in autonomy ratings for male versus female residents when evaluated by a male attending (2.93 vs 2.96, p â€‹= â€‹0.054) but male attendings did rate female residents significantly lower in autonomy at the highest complexities (2.37 vs 2.50, p â€‹= â€‹0.012). CONCLUSION: The data suggests a unique interaction between attending and resident sex. A periodic evaluation of evaluations within one's program may provide invaluable implicit bias insight and should be considered.

The Road to Mastery: An Analysis of Goal Orientation in the Transition from Medical School to Surgical Residency.

PURPOSE: Goal orientation (GO) is a psychological construct which describes an individual's intrinsic motivation for learning in terms of mastery and performance goals. Mastery goals relate to the intrinsic drive to learn for the sake of learning, while performance goals are oriented toward validating one's own competence by seeking favorable judgments (Performance Approach; PAP) or avoiding negative judgments (Performance Avoid; PAV). Having a mastery GO has been shown to improve overall job satisfaction as well as optimize job performance. We therefore aimed to examine how GO changes during the transition to residency, which is a notoriously challenging period in medical education, and identify interventions that can increase mastery of GO. METHODS: The validated Goal Orientation in Surgical Trainees (GO-ST) instrument was administered to incoming surgical interns (n = 19) during orientation in a single, university-based program and again at 3 months into the internship. The perceived stress scale (PSS) was also administered at 3 months. Focus groups were used to assess resident perceptions and identify interventions at the end of the 3-month period. RESULTS: Eighteen interns (95%) completed a baseline GO-ST assessment and the 3-month follow-up, including the PSS. Mastery GO decreased from orientation to 3-month follow-up for the entire cohort, but this was not significant (3.89-3.63; p = 0.19). Preliminary interns showed a significant increase in PAV orientation after 3 months (3.28-3.67; p = 0.04) and had significantly lower mastery orientation scores at this time (4.07 vs 3.19; p = 0.02). PSS was significantly higher in preliminary interns at 3 months (18.56 vs 11.89; p = 0.04). Those who were predominantly mastery oriented had significantly lower perceived stress scores (11.64 vs 20.10; p = 0.002) compared with those that had performance goal orientations (PAP and PAV). Five interns (28%) participated in focus groups-identifying pertinent themes: 1) Perceptions of competence, 2) Training security; 3) Feedback approach, 4) Expectations of competence, and 5) Approaches to growth. CONCLUSION: Mastery GO declines during the transition to surgical residency. Maladaptive PAV orientation increases in preliminary interns due to different short-term priorities and assumptions of competence. Expectations and perceptions of intern competence by senior residents and attendings have a large impact on intern GO. Identifying interventions that optimize mastery goal orientation and minimize performance avoid orientation will potentially minimize intern stress, thereby improving both well-being and clinical performance.

Patient-provider gender preference in colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preference for a gender concordant surgeon has been demonstrated when the chief complaint is perceived as private. We aimed to investigate this phenomenon among colorectal patients. METHODS: A 3-week prospective, observational, quality improvement study was performed. Schedulers recorded all new patient calls and factors influencing patient selection of surgeon. Demographic information was obtained. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: There were 60 new patients scheduled; 35 (58.3%) female. Ten(16.7%) chose a surgeon based on gender; 70% of those with gender requests (GR) were female (70%), and 80% were gender-concordant. Seven (70%) of those with GR had anorectal complaints. Of all patients with anorectal complaints, 20.6% had a GR vs. 11.5% non-anorectal (p = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: A considerable percentage of patients make a GR when seeking treatment, especially for anorectal disease. Departments should be mindful of the sensitive nature of many colorectal diseases and strive to diversify accordingly in order to create safe environments for the optimal delivery of patient-centered care.