Characterizing cancer cachexia in the geriatric oncology population.

OBJECTIVES: Cancer cachexia, characterized by weight loss and sarcopenia, leads to a decline in physical function and is associated with poorer survival. Cancer cachexia remains poorly described in older adults with cancer. This study aims to characterize cancer cachexia in older adults by assessing its prevalence utilizing standard definitions and evaluating associations with components of the geriatric assessment (GA) and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with cancer older than 65 years of age who underwent a GA and had baseline CT imaging were eligible in this cross-sectional study. Cancer cachexia was defined by the international consensus definition reported in 2011. Sarcopenia was measured using cross-sectional imaging and utilizing sex-specific cut-offs. Associations between cachexia, sarcopenia, and weight loss with survival and GA domains were explored. RESULTS: Mean age of 100 subjects was 79.9 years (66-95) and 65% met criteria for cancer cachexia. Cachexia was associated with impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (p = .017); no significant association was found between sarcopenia or weight loss and IADL impairment. Cachexia was significantly associated with poorer survival (median 1.0 vs 2.1 years, p = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer cachexia as defined by the international consensus definition is prevalent in older adults with cancer and is associated with functional impairment and decreased survival. Larger prospective studies are needed to further describe cancer cachexia in this population.

Who gets a pouch after colectomy in New York state and why?

BACKGROUND: This study identified variation and factors associated with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis after total colectomy for ulcerative colitis. METHODS: The Statewide Planning & Research Cooperative System was used to identify patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent total colectomy in New York state from 2000-2013. Bivariate and mixed-effects multivariable analyses were performed to assess patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors as well as surgeon and hospital-level variation associated with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis after total colectomy. RESULTS: Across 2,203 patients, the rate of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was 34%. Overall, 465 surgeons and 148 hospitals performed at least one total colectomy for ulcerative colitis from 2000-2013, and 178 surgeons and 80 hospitals performed at least one ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis during the study period. The median rate of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis creation was 14% (range = 6% to 69%) across surgeons and 14% (range = 7% to 63%) across hospitals. Patient-level factors independently associated with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were younger age, lower comorbidity burden, and elective total colectomy. Surgeon and hospital-level factors independently associated with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were colorectal surgery board-certification, surgeon ileal pouch-anal anastomosis volume, and hospital ileal pouch-anal anastomosis volume. Patient-level factors explained 43% of the surgeon and 47% of the hospital variation in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis creation while surgeon-level factors explained 26% of the surgeon and 21% of the hospital variation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that variation in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis creation for ulcerative colitis is influenced largely by provider practices/preferences or lack of referral of patients after colectomy to surgeons and centers that perform ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Providers and hospitals that do not routinely perform ileal pouch-anal anastomosis should refer patients to centers with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis expertise after total colectomy.

Patient Perspectives on Transitions of Surgical Care: Examining the Complexities and Interdependencies of Care.

This study examined a thematic network aimed at identifying experiences that influence patients' outcomes (e.g., patients' satisfaction, anxiety, and discharge readiness) in an effort to improve care transitions and reduce patient burden. We drew upon the Sociology and Complexity Science Toolkit to analyze themes derived from 61 semistructured, longitudinal interviews with 20 patients undergoing either a benign or malignant colorectal resection (three interviews per patient over a 30-day after hospital discharge). Thematic interdependencies illustrate how most outcomes of care are significantly influenced by two cascades identified as patients' medical histories and home circumstances. Patients who reported previous medical or surgical histories also experienced less distress during the discharge process, whereas patients with no prior experiences reported more concerns and greater anxiety. Patient dissatisfactions and challenges were due in large part to the contrasts between hospital and home experiences. Our hybrid approach may inform patient-centered guidelines aimed at improving transitions of care among patients undergoing major surgery.

Explaining variation in ventral and inguinal hernia repair outcomes: A population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: No study has evaluated the relative importance of patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors on surgeon and hospital variation in hernia reoperation rates. This population-based retrospective cohort study evaluated factors associated with variation in reoperation rates for recurrence after initial ventral hernia repair and inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System identified initial ventral hernia repairs and inguinal hernia repairs in New York state from 2003-2009. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed assessing factors associated with surgeon/hospital variation in 5-year reoperation rates for hernia recurrence. RESULTS: Among 78,267 ventral hernia repairs and 124,416 inguinal hernia repairs, the proportion of total variation in reoperation rates attributable to individual surgeons compared with hospitals was 87% for ventral hernia repairs and 92% for inguinal hernia repairs. In explaining variation in ventral hernia repair reoperation between surgeons, 19% was attributable to patient-level factors, 4% attributable to mesh placement, and 10% attributable to surgeon volume and type of board certification. In explaining variation in inguinal hernia repair reoperation between surgeons, 1.1% was attributable to mesh placement and 10% was attributable to surgeon volume and years of experience. However, 67% of the variation between surgeons for ventral hernia repair and 89% of the variation between surgeons for inguinal hernia repair remained unexplained by factors in the models. CONCLUSION: The majority of variation in hernia reoperation rates is attributable to surgeon-level variation. This suggests that hernia recurrence may be an appropriate surgeon quality metric. While modifiable factors such as mesh placement and surgeon characteristics play roles in surgeon variation, future research should focus on identifying additional surgeon attributes responsible for this variation.

The impact of age on complications, survival, and cause of death following colon cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Given scarce data regarding the relationship among age, complications, and survival beyond the 30-day postoperative period for oncology patients in the United States, this study identified age-related differences in complications and the rate and cause of 1-year mortality following colon cancer surgery. METHODS: The NY State Cancer Registry and Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System identified stage I-III colon cancer resections (2004-2011). Multivariable logistic regression and survival analyses assessed the relationship among age (<65, 65-74, ⩾75), complications, 1-year survival, and cause of death. RESULTS: Among 24 426 patients surviving >30 days, 1-year mortality was 8.5%. Older age groups had higher complication rates, and older age and complications were independently associated with 1-year mortality (P<0.0001). Increasing age was associated with a decrease in the proportion of deaths from colon cancer with a concomitant increase in the proportion of deaths from cardiovascular disease. Older age and sepsis were independently associated with higher risk of colon cancer-specific death (65-74: HR=1.59, 95% CI=1.26-2.00; ⩾75: HR=2.57, 95% CI=2.09-3.16; sepsis: HR=2.58, 95% CI=2.13-3.11) and cardiovascular disease-specific death (65-74: HR=3.72, 95% CI=2.29-6.05; ⩾75: HR=7.02, 95% CI=4.44-11.10; sepsis: HR=2.33, 95% CI=1.81-2.99). CONCLUSIONS: Older age and sepsis are associated with higher 1-year overall, cancer-specific, and cardiovascular-specific mortality, highlighting the importance of geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary care, and cardiovascular optimisation for older patients and those with infectious complications.

Emergent Colectomy Is Independently Associated with Decreased Long-Term Overall Survival in Colon Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term overall survival (OS) of colon cancer patients who underwent emergent resection versus patients who were resected electively. METHODS: The 2006-2012 National Cancer Data Base was queried for colon cancer patients who underwent surgical resection. Emergent resection was defined as resection within 24 h of diagnosis. A mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of emergent resection on 30- and 90-day mortality. A propensity score-matched mixed-effects Cox proportional-hazards model was used to estimate the effect of emergent resection on 5-year OS. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen thousand one hundred seventy-four patients met inclusion criteria, 30% of the cohort had an emergent resection. After controlling for patient and hospital factors, pathological stage, lymph node yield, margin status, and adjuvant chemotherapy, emergent resection was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.60, 1.78) and hazard of death at 5 years (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.15) compared to elective resections. CONCLUSION: Emergent resection for colon cancer is independently associated with poor short-term outcomes and decreased 5-year OS compared to elective resection. With 30% of cases in this study emergent, these findings underlie the importance of adherence to colon cancer screening guidelines to limit the need for emergent resections.

Lymph node yield is an independent predictor of survival in rectal cancer regardless of receipt of neoadjuvant therapy.

AIMS: Lymph node yield (LNY) is used as a marker of adequate oncological resection. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) currently recommends that at least 12 nodes are necessary to confirm node-negative disease for rectal cancer. A LNY of 12 is not always achieved, particularly in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant treatment. This study attempts to examine factors associated with LNY and its prognostic impact following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer. METHODS: The 2006-2011 National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients with clinical stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent a proctectomy. Suboptimal LNY was defined as <12 lymph nodes examined. A mixed-effects multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors associated with LNY. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted effect of LNY on 5-year overall survival. RESULTS: 25 447 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall, 62% of the cohort received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and 32% had suboptimal LNY. The median LNY for patients who received neoadjuvant therapy was 13 (IQR: 9-18) and for patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy was 15 (IQR: 12-21). After risk adjustment, there was a 3.5-fold difference in the rate of suboptimal LNY among individual hospitals (27%-95%). Suboptimal LNY was independently associated with an 18% increased hazard of death among patients who did not receive neoadjuvant treatment and a 20% increased hazard of death among those who did receive neoadjuvant treatment when controlled for adjuvant treatment, staging, proximal/distal margins and other patient factors. CONCLUSIONS: Suboptimal LNY is independently associated with worse overall survival regardless of neoadjuvant therapy, pathological staging and patient factors in rectal cancer. This finding underlies the importance and challenge of an optimal lymph node evaluation for prognostication, especially for patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

Poor compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy use associated with poorer survival in patients with rectal cancer: An NCDB analysis.

BACKGROUND: National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer include neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by total mesorectal excision and adjuvant chemotherapy. The objective of the current study was to examine the rate of adjuvant chemotherapy and associated survival in patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. METHODS: The 2006 to 2011 National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients with AJCC clinical stage II/III rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgical resection. A mixed effects multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with the receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. A mixed effects Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the adjusted effect of receiving adjuvant therapy on 5-year overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 14,742 patients were included; 68% of the cohort did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. When controlled for clinical stage of disease, patients who were aged >70 years, had a higher comorbidity score, and had a pathologic complete response had lower odds of receiving adjuvant therapy. There was a 22-fold difference in the risk-adjusted rate of adjuvant therapy use among hospitals (3.1%-67.7%). Adjuvant therapy was associated with increased 5-year OS when controlled for patient factors, stage of disease, and pathologic response (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.71). The greatest survival benefit was noted among patients who achieved a pathologic complete response (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.67). CONCLUSIONS: There is poor compliance to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery. Adjuvant therapy appears to be independently associated with improved OS regardless of stage of disease, pathologic response, and patient factors. The greatest survival benefit was observed in patients who were complete responders. Age and comorbidities were found to be significantly associated with nonreceipt of adjuvant therapy. Improved rehabilitation and physical conditioning may improve the odds of patients receiving adjuvant therapy. Cancer 2017;52-61. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Patients With Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction Should Be Primarily Managed by a Surgical Team.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a primary medical versus surgical service on healthcare utilization and outcomes for adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) admissions. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Adhesive-SBO typically requires hospital admission and is associated with high healthcare utilization and costs. Given that most patients are managed nonoperatively, many patients are admitted to medical hospitalists. However, comparisons of outcomes between primary medical and surgical services have been limited to small single-institution studies. METHODS: Unscheduled adhesive-SBO admissions in NY State from 2002 to 2013 were identified using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Bivariate and mixed-effects regression analyses were performed assessing factors associated with healthcare utilization and outcomes for SBO admissions. RESULTS: Among 107,603 admissions for adhesive-SBO (78% nonoperative, 22% operative), 43% were primarily managed by a medical attending and 57% were managed by a surgical attending. After controlling for patient, physician, and hospital-level factors, management by a medical service was independently associated with longer length of stay [IRR = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24, 1.56], greater inpatient costs (IRR = 1.38, 95% = 1.21, 1.57), and a higher rate of 30-day readmission (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.42) following nonoperative management. Similarly, of those managed operatively, management by a medicine service was associated with a delay in time to surgical intervention (IRR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.69, 2.01), extended length of stay (IRR=1.36, 95% CI = 1.25, 1.49), greater inpatient costs (IRR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.71), and higher rates of 30-day mortality (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.50, 2.47) and 30-day readmission (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.97, 1.32). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that management of patients presenting with adhesive-SBO by a primary medical team is associated with higher healthcare utilization and worse perioperative outcomes. Policies favoring primary management by a surgical service may improve outcomes and reduce costs for patients admitted with adhesive-SBO.

The impact of surgeon volume on colostomy reversal outcomes after Hartmann's procedure for diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Colostomy reversal after Hartmann's procedure for diverticulitis is a morbid procedure, and studies investigating factors associated with outcomes are lacking. This study identifies patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors associated with perioperative outcomes after stoma reversal. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was queried for urgent/emergency Hartmann's procedures for diverticulitis between 2000-2012 in New York State and subsequent colostomy reversal within 1 year of the procedure. Surgeon and hospital volume were categorized into tertiles based on the annual number of colorectal resections performed each year. Bivariate and mixed-effects analyses were used to assess the association between patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors and perioperative outcomes after colostomy reversal, including a laparoscopic approach; duration of stay; intensive care unit admission; complications; mortality; and 30-day, unscheduled readmission. RESULTS: Among 10,487 patients who underwent Hartmann's procedure and survived to discharge, 63% had the colostomy reversed within 1 year. After controlling for patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors, high-volume surgeons (≥40 colorectal resections/yr) were independently associated with higher odds of a laparoscopic approach (unadjusted rates: 14% vs 7.6%; adjusted odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 3.00), shorter duration of stay (median: 6 versus 7 days; adjusted incidence rate ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.81, 0.95), and lower odds of 90-day mortality (unadjusted rates: 0.4% vs 1.0%; adjusted odds ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval = 0.10, 0.88) compared with low-volume surgeons (1-15 colorectal resections/yr). CONCLUSION: High-volume surgeons are associated with better perioperative outcomes and lower health care utilization after Hartmann's reversal for diverticulitis. These findings support referral to high-volume surgeons for colostomy reversal.

Large Variation in Blood Transfusion Use After Colorectal Resection: A Call to Action.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative blood transfusions are associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes through immunomodulatory effects. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with variation in blood transfusion use after elective colorectal resection and associated postoperative infectious complications DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The study included elective colorectal resections in New York State from 2001 to 2013. PATIENTS: The study cohort consists of 125,160 colorectal resections. Patients who were admitted nonelectively or who were admitted before the date of surgery were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Receipt of a perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion and the secondary end points of postoperative pneumonia, surgical site infection, intra-abdominal abscess, and sepsis were measured. RESULTS: The overall rate of perioperative blood transfusion for the study cohort was 13.9%. The unadjusted blood transfusion rates ranged from 2.4% to 58.7% for individual surgeons and 2.9% to 32.8% for individual hospitals. After controlling for patient-, surgeon-, and hospital-level factors in a 3-level mixed-effects multivariable model, significant variation was still present across both surgeons (p < 0.0001) and hospitals (p < 0.0001), with a 16.8-fold difference in adjusted blood transfusion rates across surgeons and a 13.2-fold difference in adjusted blood transfusion rates across hospitals. Receipt of a blood transfusion was also independently associated with pneumonia (OR = 3.23 (95% CI, 2.92-3.57)), surgical site infection (OR = 2.27 (95% CI, 2.14-2.40)), intra-abdominal abscess (OR = 2.72 (95% CI, 2.41-3.07)), and sepsis (OR = 4.51 (95% CI, 4.11-4.94)). LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the retrospective design and the possibility of miscoding within administrative data. CONCLUSIONS: Large surgeon- and hospital-level variations in perioperative blood transfusion use for patients undergoing colorectal resection are present despite controlling for patient-, surgeon-, and hospital-level factors. In addition, receipt of a blood transfusion was independently associated with an increased risk of postoperative infectious complications. These findings support the creation and implementation of perioperative blood transfusion protocols aimed at limiting unwarranted variation.

Readmissions After Colectomy: The Upstate New York Surgical Quality Initiative Experience.

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions remain a major medical and financial concern to the healthcare system and have become an area of interest in health outcomes performance metrics. There is a pressing need to identify process measures that may help reduce readmissions. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the patient characteristics and surgical factors associated with 30-day readmissions for colorectal surgery in Upstate New York. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The study included colectomy cases abstracted for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program in the Upstate New York Surgical Quality Initiative from June 2013 to June 2014. PATIENTS: The study consists of 630 colectomies. Patients with a length of stay >30 days or who died during the index admission were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Readmission within 30 days of surgery was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: Of 630 colectomy patients, 76 patients (12%) were readmitted within 30 days of surgery. Major and minor complications were associated with 30-day postoperative readmission (OR = 2.99 (95% CI, 1.70-5.28) and OR = 2.19 (95% CI, 1.09-4.43)) but excluded from final analysis because they included both predischarge and postdischarge complications. Risk factors independently associated with 30-day postoperative readmission included diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.94 (95% CI, 1.02-3.67)), smoker within the past year (OR = 2.01 (95% CI, 1.12-3.60)), no scheduled follow-up (OR = 2.20 (95% CI, 1.25-3.86)), and ileostomy formation (OR = 1.97 (95% CI, 1.03-3.77)). LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the retrospective design and only 30 days of postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with national trends, 1 in 8 patients in the Upstate New York Surgical Quality Initiative program was readmitted within 30 days after colorectal surgery. This study identified several risk factors that may act as tangible targets for intervention, including preoperative smoking cessation programs, optimization of diabetic management, mandatory scheduled follow-up appointments on discharge, and ostomy care pathways.

High Variability in Nosocomial Clostridium difficile Infection Rates Across Hospitals After Colorectal Resection.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection is associated with adverse patient outcomes and high medical costs. The incidence and severity of C. difficile has been rising in both medical and surgical patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess risk factors and variation associated with the development of nosocomial C. difficile colitis among patients undergoing colorectal resection. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The study included segmental colectomy and proctectomy cases in New York State from 2005 to 2013. PATIENTS: The study cohort included 150,878 colorectal resections. Patients with a documented previous history of C. difficile infection or residence outside of New York State were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A diagnosis of C. difficile colitis either during the index hospital stay or on readmission within 30 days was the main measure. RESULTS: C. difficile colitis occurred in 3323 patients (2.2%). Unadjusted C. difficile colitis rates ranged from 0% to 11.3% among surgeons and 0% to 6.8% among hospitals. After controlling for patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics using mixed-effects multivariable analysis, significant unexplained variation in C. difficile rates remained present across hospitals but not surgeons. Patient factors explained only 24% of the total hospital-level variation, and known surgeon and hospital-level characteristics explained an additional 8% of the total hospital-level variation. Therefore, ≈70% of the hospital variation in C. difficile infection rates remained unexplained by captured patient, surgeon, and hospital factors. Furthermore, there was an ≈5-fold difference in adjusted C. difficile rates across hospitals. LIMITATIONS: A limited set of hospital and surgeon characteristics was available. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal surgery patients appear to be at high risk for C. difficile infection, and alarming variation in nosocomial C. difficile infection rates currently exists among hospitals after colorectal resection. Given the high morbidity and cost associated with C. difficile colitis, adopting institutional quality improvement programs and maintaining strict prevention strategies are of the utmost importance.

Risk Factors for Postdischarge Venothromboembolism After Colorectal Resection.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend extended-duration thromboprophylaxis for all abdominal oncologic resections. However, other high-risk patients may benefit from extended thromboprophylaxis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for postdischarge venothromboembolism after colorectal procedures. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. DATA SOURCES: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database (2005-2013) was the data source for this study. STUDY SELECTION: Colon and rectal resections were evaluated. Cases with in-hospital mortality or length of stay ≥30 days were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postdischarge venothromboembolism was defined at 30-days after the procedure requiring representation to the emergency department or hospital admission with a new diagnosis of venothromboembolism using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Factors associated with postdischarge venothromboembolism were then evaluated using a hierarchical bivariate analysis. A hierarchical mixed-effects model was created using a manual stepwise approach assessing variables meeting p < 0.1 on bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among 128,163 patients, postdischarge venothromboembolism occurred in 0.7% (n = 789) of the population. Multiple factors were associated with postdischarge venothromboembolism on bivariate analysis. On multivariable analysis, benign conditions requiring operative intervention remained at high risk, with ulcerative colitis imparting an 93% increased odds when compared with other resections (OR, 1.93 (95% CI: 1.30-2.86); p = 0.001). Advanced malignancies (stages III and IV) were associated with increased postdischarge venothromboembolism risk, whereas stage I and II malignancies were not. The only protective factor was a laparoscopic procedure (OR, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.67-0.95); p = 0.010). There was no significant difference in procedure type after controlling for primary diagnosis. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective analysis of administrative data with inherent limitations. Only patients who presented with postdischarge venothromboembolism to a hospital within New York State were captured. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies risk factors for postdischarge venothromboembolism and suggests that ulcerative colitis increases risk for postdischarge venothromboembolism whereas Crohn's disease does not. Ulcerative colitis postdischarge venothromboembolism rates exceeded even those of malignancy, suggesting that a future study is necessary to determine the efficacy of extended duration thromboprophylaxis in high-risk benign conditions, such as ulcerative colitis.

Evaluating the Prognostic Role of Elevated Preoperative Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels in Colon Cancer Patients: Results from the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVES: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a reliable tumor marker for the management and surveillance of colon cancer. However, limitations in previous studies have made it difficult to elucidate whether CEA should be established as a prognostic indicator. This study examines the association between elevated preoperative CEA levels and overall survival in colon cancer patients using a national population-based registry. METHODS: Stage I-III colon cancer patients were identified from the 2004-2006 National Cancer Database. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the association between elevated CEA levels and overall survival after controlling for important patient, hospital, and tumor characteristics. A Monte Carlo Markov Chain was used to impute the large degree of missing CEA data. All models controlled for the propensity score in order to account for selection bias. RESULTS: A total of 137,381 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 34 % of patients had an elevated CEA level and 66 % had a normal CEA level, with a median survival of 70 and 100 months, respectively. Patients with an elevated CEA level had a 62 % increase in the hazard of death (HR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.53-1.74) compared with patients with a normal CEA level. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CEA was an independent predictor of overall survival across all stages. The results support recommendations to include CEA levels as another high-risk feature that clinicians can use to counsel patients on adjuvant chemotherapy, especially for stage II patients.

Missed Opportunity: Laparoscopic Colorectal Resection Is Associated With Lower Incidence of Small Bowel Obstruction Compared to an Open Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a laparoscopic approach on the rate of adhesion-related small bowel obstruction (SBO) following colorectal resection. BACKGROUND: Currently, there is little compelling evidence with regard to rates of SBO after laparoscopic versus open abdominal surgery. Few studies have compared risk-adjusted rates of SBO following laparoscopic and open colorectal resection. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was queried for elective colorectal resections in New York State from 2003 to 2010. A propensity score was calculated to account for selection bias between choice of laparoscopic versus open resection. Bivariate and multivariable competing-risks models were constructed to assess patient, hospital, surgeon, and operative characteristics associated with SBO and operation for SBO within 3 years of resection. RESULTS: Among 69,303 patients who underwent elective colorectal resection (26% laparoscopic, 74% open), 5.3% of patients developed SBO and 2% of patients underwent an operation for SBO. After controlling for other risk factors and conducting an intention-to-treat analysis, open resection was associated with a higher risk of both SBO [hazard ratio (HR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.26] and operation for SBO (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.94-1.32). This effect was even greater when characterizing laparoscopic-to-open conversions as an open approach (SBO: HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.20-1.49; SBO operation: HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.63). Most other independent risk factors were nonmodifiable and included age <60, female sex, black race, higher comorbidity burden, previous surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and procedure type. CONCLUSIONS: Open colorectal resection increases the risk of SBO compared with laparoscopy. Increased utilization of a laparoscopic approach has the potential to achieve a significant reduction in the incidence of SBO following colorectal resection.

Watch and Wait?--Elevated Pretreatment CEA Is Associated with Decreased Pathological Complete Response in Rectal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Between 10 and 30% of rectal cancer patients experience pathological complete response after neoadjuvant treatment. However, physiological factors predicting which patients will experience tumor response are largely unknown. Previous single-institution studies have suggested an association between elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen and decreased pathological complete response. METHODS: Clinical stage II-III rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection were selected from the 2006-2011 National Cancer Data Base. Multivariable analysis was used to examine the association between elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen and pathological complete response, pathological tumor regression, tumor downstaging, and overall survival. RESULTS: Of the 18,113 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 47% had elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen and 13% experienced pathological compete response. Elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen was independently associated with decreased pathological complete response (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.52-0.77, p < 0.001), pathological tumor regression (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.67-0.70, p < 0.001), tumor downstaging (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.63-0.92, p < 0.001), and overall survival (HR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.34-1.58, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Rectal cancer patients with elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen are less likely to experience pathological complete response, pathological tumor regression, and tumor downstaging after neoadjuvant treatment and experience decreased survival. These patients may not be suitable candidates for an observational "watch-and-wait" strategy. Future prospective studies should investigate the relationships between CEA levels, neoadjuvant treatment response, recurrence, and survival.

High volume improves outcomes: The argument for centralization of rectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Centralization of care to "centers of excellence" in Europe has led to improved oncologic outcomes; however, little is known regarding the impact of nonmandated regionalization of rectal cancer care in the United States. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) was queried for elective abdominoperineal and low anterior resections for rectal cancer from 2000 to 2011 in New York with the use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Surgeon volume and hospital volume were grouped into quartiles, and high-volume surgeons (≥ 10 resections/year) and hospitals (≥ 25 resections/year) were defined as the top quartile of annual caseload of rectal cancer resection and compared with the bottom 3 quartiles during analyses. Bivariate and multilevel regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with restorative procedures, 30-day mortality, and temporal trends in these endpoints. RESULTS: Among 7,798 rectal cancer resections, the overall rate of no-restorative proctectomy and 30-day mortality decreased by 7.7% and 1.2%, respectively, from 2000 to 2011. In addition, there was a linear increase in the proportion of cases performed by both high-volume surgeons and high-volume hospitals and a decrease in the number of surgeons and hospitals performing rectal cancer surgery. High-volume surgeons at high-volume hospitals were associated independently with both less nonrestorative proctectomies (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.89) and mortality (odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.87) rates. No patterns of significant improvement within the volume strata of the surgeon and hospitals were observed over time. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the current trend toward regionalization of rectal cancer care to high-volume surgeons and high-volume centers has led to improved outcomes. These findings have implications regarding the policy of health care delivery in the United States, supporting referral to high-volume centers of excellence.

Significant Variation in Blood Transfusion Practice Persists following Upper GI Cancer Resection.

PURPOSE: Perioperative blood transfusions are costly and linked to adverse clinical outcomes. We investigated the factors associated with variation in blood transfusion utilization following upper gastrointestinal cancer resection and its association with infectious complications. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was queried for elective esophagectomy, gastrectomy, and pancreatectomy for malignancy in NY State from 2001 to 2013. Bivariate and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with receiving a perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion. Additional multivariable analysis examined the relationship between transfusion and infectious complications. RESULTS: Among 14,875 patients who underwent upper GI cancer resection, 32 % of patients received a perioperative blood transfusion. After controlling for patient, surgeon, and hospital-level factors, significant variation in transfusion rates was present across both surgeons (p < 0.0001) and hospitals (p < 0.0001). Receipt of a blood transfusion was also independently associated with wound infection (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.47 and 1.91), pneumonia (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.74 and 2.26), and sepsis (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.11 and 2.94). CONCLUSION: Significant variation in perioperative blood transfusion utilization is present at both the surgeon and hospital level. These findings are unexplained by patient-level factors and other known hospital characteristics, suggesting that variation is due to provider preferences and/or lack of standardized transfusion protocols. Implementing institutional transfusion guidelines is necessary to limit unwarranted variation and reduce infectious complication rates.

Opportunity lost: Adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer remains underused.

INTRODUCTION: There is strong evidence supporting the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with pathologic, stage III colon cancer. This study examines differences in adherence to evidence-based adjuvant chemotherapy guidelines for pathologic, stage III colon cancer cases across hospital and patient subgroups. METHODS: Patients with stage III colon cancer were identified from the 2003 to 2011 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds of receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy across varying hospital and patient characteristics. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the association between receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and 5-year survival. Risk adjusted observed/expected (O/E) outcome ratios were calculated for each hospital to compare hospital-specific quality of care during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 124,008 patients met the inclusion criteria. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered to 34%. The rates of adjuvant chemotherapy have shown little improvement over time (63% in 2003 vs 66% in 2011). The Cox model indicates that patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had better survival (hazard ratio = 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.49). Analysis of risk adjusted O/E ratios indicated no consistent pattern as to which hospitals were performing optimally or subopitmally over time. CONCLUSION: There has been no meaningful improvement in receipt of chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer. The fact that chemotherapy is not being considered or offered to more than 20% of patients with node-positive colon cancer suggests that there are substantial process failures across many institutions and regions in the United States.