Morbidity, mortality, cost, and survival estimates of gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leak, a potentially deadly postoperative occurrence, particularly interests surgeons performing gastrointestinal procedures. We investigated incidence, cost, and impact on survival of anastomotic leak in gastrointestinal surgical procedures at an academic center. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a chart review of American College of Surgeons NSQIP operative procedures with gastrointestinal anastomosis from January 1, 2003 through April 30, 2006. Each case with an American College of Surgeons NSQIP 30-day postoperative complication was systematically reviewed for evidence of anastomotic leak for 12 months after the operative date. We tracked patients for up to 10 years to determine survival. Morbidity, mortality, and cost for patients with gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks were compared with patients with anastomoses that remained intact. RESULTS: Unadjusted analyses revealed significant differences between patients who had anastomotic leaks develop and those who did not: morbidity (98.0% vs. 28.4%; p < 0.0001), length of stay (13 vs. 5 days; p ≤ 0.0001), 30-day mortality (8.4% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.0001), long-term mortality (36.4% vs. 20.0%; p ≤ 0.0001), and hospital costs (chi-square [2] = 359.8; p < 0.0001). Multivariable regression demonstrated that anastomotic leak was associated with congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR] = 31.5; 95% CI, 2.6-381.4; p = 0.007), peripheral vascular disease (OR = 4.6; 95% CI, 1.0-20.5; p = 0.048), alcohol abuse (OR = 3.7; 95% CI, 1.6-8.3; p = 0.002), steroid use (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-5.0; p = 0.027), abnormal sodium (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; p = 0.002), weight loss (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.06-0.7; p = 0.011), and location of anastomosis: rectum (OR = 14.0; 95% CI, 2.6-75.5; p = 0.002), esophagus (OR = 13.0; 95% CI, 3.6-46.2; p < 0.0001), pancreas (OR = 12.4; 95% CI, 3.3-46.2; p < 0.0001), small intestine (OR = 6.9; 95% CI, 1.8-26.4; p = 0.005), and colon (OR = 5.2; 95% CI, 1.5-17.7; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Significant morbidity, mortality, and cost accompany gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks. Patients who experience an anastomotic leak have lower rates of survival at 30 days and long term.

General surgery morning report: a competency-based conference that enhances patient care and resident education.

PURPOSE: After adopting a night float system, the residency program at the University of Virginia Health System Department of Surgery initiated a daily morning report (MR). The conference was originated to sign out new admissions and consults from the previous day to the services that would assume care. Although initially oriented toward transfer of patient information, MR is also hypothesized to serve as a competency-based resident education tool. METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed to on-service residents (n = 25). Questions were asked on a 5-point Likert scale. Respondents also ranked the weekly conferences, including MR, in terms of educational benefit derived. RESULTS: Most residents agreed that MR is an efficient method to sign-out patient care [84% stongly agree (SA) or agree (A)] and that it provides an excellent educational experience (88% SA or A). They agreed that it is presented in an evidence-based format (88% SA or A). Regarding the core competencies, residents all asserted that MR addresses "patient care" (100% SA or A) and "medical knowledge" (100% SA or A). Most agreed that it addresses "professionalism" (60% SA or A), "interpersonal skills and communication" (76% SA or A), and "practice-based learning and improvement" (92% SA or A). The 4 most important components identified with respect to continuing to improve both patient care and resident education were the presence of the on-call attending, a review of relevant radiology, provision of follow-up on select cases, and critical review of the literature. On average, MR was seen as the most educational conference, with 52% of residents ranking it first. CONCLUSIONS: Although MR is ubiquitous in most primary care residency programs, such a conference has not typically been held on surgical services. The MR was developed at the University of Virginia Health System Department of Surgery as a necessity for patient sign-out. As this conference has continued to evolve, it has become an excellent tool for resident education. It now serves the purpose of enhancing patient care and medical education and of providing evidence of learning and assessment of the general competencies. The MR provides an example for program directors of how to tailor existing resident work sessions or conferences to meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competency requirements.

A case and review of bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer.

Gastrointestinal tract perforation (GITP) secondary to metastatic lung cancer is extremely rare. We present a case of small bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer. The objective of this study was to review the current literature and further characterize the incidence, histology, and risk of GITP secondary to lung cancer metastasis. A Medline search was done to identify all the cases of GITP attributed to metastatic lung cancer reported in the literature. Data was collected and analyzed from a collection of cases in the medical literature since 1960. We identified 98 cases of perforated lung cancer metastasis to the small intestine. Four gastric perforations, three colonic perforations, and one appendiceal perforation were also identified but not analyzed. The mean age was 64.5 years. There was a male predominance of 89 per cent versus 11 per cent female. Perforations occurred most often in the jejunum (53%) followed by ileum (28%). Combined jejunum-ileum lesions accounted for 4 per cent of perforations. No duodenal perforations were reported, though a specific site was not determined in 13 per cent of cases. Small bowel perforations were most often caused by adenocarcinoma (23.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (22.7%), large cell carcinoma (20.6%), and small cell carcinoma (19.6%). The prevalence of small bowel perforation secondary to a given primary lung cancer histology varied by region. The mean survival was 66 days with 50 per cent of patients not surviving past 30 days. Despite a high incidence of lung cancer, small bowel perforation secondary to lung cancer metastasis remains relatively rare. Perforated metastases occur more often in men and are found more commonly in the jejunum. Small bowel perforations are caused most often by adenocarcinoma; however, squamous cell and large cell carcinoma metastases are more likely to result in perforation. Small bowel perforation in this setting has a significant impact on mortality, decreasing 1-year survival to less than 3 per cent.

Infectious complications after hepatic resection.

The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of surgical infections after hepatic resection (HR) to identify factors accounting for increased postoperative mortality. Advances in operative technique and care have decreased morbidity and mortality after HR. However, infections after HR continue to be a major contributor to postoperative morbidity and mortality. All HR done during a 7-year period were analyzed and compared to our prospective surgical infection database. Factors contributing to infectious complications and mortality were identified. HR (n = 207) were performed with an overall mortality of 5.8 per cent. Nine patients (3.3%) had 18 infections; 6 (60%) had multiple infection sites, most commonly the peritoneum, blood, or wound. Three infected patients died. Lung and line infections occurred in 2 (67%) infection-related deaths. No single comorbidity increased postoperative infection risk, but an average of 6.7 comorbid conditions were present. All infection-related deaths were associated with ventilator-dependence. All infection-related deaths occurred after resection of a mean of four segments. Additional procedures at the time of HR, operative drains, or transfusion requirements did not impact infectious complications or mortality. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus sp. was isolated in all infection-related deaths. The mean time from HR to initiation of treatment was 8 days for infection survivors and 13.3 days for infection-related deaths. Infectious mortality after HR remains significant. Contributing risk factors are advanced age, multiple comorbid conditions, and extent of HR. Ventilator-dependence and delays in antibiotic therapy were associated with infectious mortality. Although gram-negative enteric infections were more common, abdominal, lung, and line infections with gram-positive cocci had higher associated mortality; especially when antibiotic resistant strains were present.