Using a Modified Delphi Panel to Estimate Health Service Utilization for Patients with Advanced and Non-Advanced Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis.

Purpose: Patients with diagnosed with systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis at advanced Mayo stages have greater morbidity and mortality than those diagnosed at non-advanced stages. Estimating service use by severity is difficult because Mayo stage is not available in many secondary databases. We used an expert panel to estimate healthcare utilization among advanced and non-advanced AL amyloidosis patients. Patients and Methods: Using the RAND/UCLA modified Delphi method, expert panelists completed 180 healthcare utilization estimates, consisting of inpatient and outpatient visits, testing, chemotherapy, and procedures by disease severity and organ involvement during two treatment phases (the 1 year after starting first line [1L] therapy and 1 year following treatment [post-1L]). Estimates were also provided for post-1L by hematologic treatment response (complete or very good partial response [CR/VGPR], partial, no response or relapse [PR/NR/R]). Areas of disagreement were discussed during a meeting, after which ratings were completed a second time. Results: During 1L therapy, 55% of advanced patients had ≥1 hospitalization and 38% had ≥2 admissions. Rates of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in advanced patients were 5%, while pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement were 15%. During post-1L therapy, rates of hospitalization in advanced patients remained high (≥1 hospitalization: 20-43%, ≥2 hospitalizations: 10-20%), and up to 10% of advanced patients had a HSCT. Ten percent of these patients underwent pacemaker/ICD placement. Conclusion: Experts estimated advanced patients, who would not be good candidates for HSCT, would have high rates of hospitalization (traditionally the most expensive type of healthcare utilization) and other health service use. The development of new treatment options that can facilitate organ recovery and improve function may lead to decreased utilization.

Comprehensive Review on the Clinical Impact of Next-Generation Sequencing Tests for the Management of Advanced Cancer.

PURPOSE: This review summarizes the published evidence on the clinical impact of using next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests to guide management of patients with cancer in the United States. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature review to identify recent English language publications that presented progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced cancer receiving NGS testing. RESULTS: Among 6,475 publications identified, 31 evaluated PFS and OS among subgroups of patients who received NGS-informed cancer management. PFS and OS were significantly longer among patients who were matched to targeted treatment in 11 and 16 publications across tumor types, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our review indicates that NGS-informed treatment can have an impact on survival across tumor types.

Impact of early detection on cancer curability: A modified Delphi panel study.

Expert consensus on the potential benefits of early cancer detection does not exist for most cancer types. We convened 10 practicing oncologists using a RAND/UCLA modified Delphi panel to evaluate which of 20 solid tumors, representing >40 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)-identified cancer types and 80% of total cancer incidence, would receive potential clinical benefits from early detection. Pre-meeting, experts estimated how long cancers take to progress and rated the current curability and benefit (improvement in curability) of an annual hypothetical multi-cancer screening blood test. Post-meeting, experts rerated all questions. Cancers had varying estimates of the potential benefit of early cancer detection depending on estimates of their curability and progression by stage. Cancers rated as progressing quickly and being curable in earlier stages (stomach, esophagus, lung, urothelial tract, melanoma, ovary, sarcoma, bladder, cervix, breast, colon/rectum, kidney, uterus, anus, head and neck) were estimated to be most likely to benefit from a hypothetical screening blood test. Cancer types rated as progressing quickly but having comparatively lower cure rates in earlier stages (liver/intrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas) were estimated to have medium likelihood of benefit from a hypothetical screening blood test. Cancer types rated as progressing more slowly and having higher curability regardless of stage (prostate, thyroid) were estimated to have limited likelihood of benefit from a hypothetical screening blood test. The panel concluded most solid tumors have a likelihood of benefit from early detection. Even among difficult-to-treat cancers (e.g., pancreas, liver/intrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder), early-stage detection was believed to be beneficial. Based on the panel consensus, broad coverage of cancers by screening blood tests would deliver the greatest potential benefits to patients.

Persistence with Early-Line Abatacept versus Tumor Necrosis Factor-Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Complicated by Poor Prognostic Factors.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling and destruction that leads to severe disability. There are no clear guidelines regarding the order of therapies. Gathering data on treatment patterns outside of a clinical trial setting can provide useful context for clinicians. Objectives: To assess real-world treatment persistence in early-line abatacept versus tumor necrosis factor-inhibitors (TNFi) treated patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors (including anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies [ACPA] and rheumatoid factor [RF] seropositivity). Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective medical record review. Adult patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors were treated with either abatacept or TNFis as the first biologic treatment at the clinic. Poor prognostic factors included ACPA+, RF+, increased C-reactive protein levels, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels, or presence of joint erosions. We report 12-month treatment persistence, time to discontinuation, reasons for discontinuation, and risk of discontinuation between patients on abatacept versus TNFi. Select results among the subgroup of ACPA+ and/or RF+ patients are presented. Results: Data on 265 patients (100 abatacept, 165 TNFis) were collected. At 12 months, 83% of abatacept patients were persistent versus 66.1% of TNFi patients (P=0.003). Median time to discontinuation was 1423 days for abatacept versus 690 days for TNFis (P=0.014). In adjusted analyses, abatacept patients had a lower risk of discontinuing index treatment due to disease progression (0.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.6], P=0.001). Among the subgroup of ACPA+ and/or RF+ patients (55 abatacept, 108 TNFis), unadjusted 12-month treatment persistence was greater (83.6% versus 64.8%, P=0.012) and median time to discontinuation was longer (961 days versus 581 days, P=0.048) in abatacept versus TNFi patients. Discussion: Patients with RA complicated by poor prognostic factors taking abatacept, including the subgroup of patients with ACPA and RF seropositivity, had statistically significantly higher 12-month treatment persistence and a longer time to discontinuation than patients on TNFis. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, RA patients treated with abatacept were more likely to stay on treatment longer and had a lower risk of discontinuation than patients treated with TNFis.

Identification of Undiagnosed Hyperlipidemia: Do Work Site Screening Programs Work?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the rate of hyperlipidemia identified during workplace screening in previously undiagnosed individuals, the association between workplace hyperlipidemia screening and use of medical care during follow-up, and changes in lipid profile among individuals with hyperlipidemia at screening. DESIGN: Nonexperimental longitudinal study. SETTING: Employees who participated in a workplace health screening. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 18 993 individuals from 39 self-insured employers in the United States. MEASURES: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides were measured during screening. A claims-based algorithm was used to identify hyperlipidemia cases. ANALYSIS: Discrete-time survival analysis was used to estimate monthly rates of new hyperlipidemia diagnoses or prescriptions. Paired t tests were used to evaluate 1-year changes in lipid profile. RESULTS: A total of 1872 (9.9%) individuals had hyperlipidemia at screening. Among all individuals, a significantly greater rate of new hyperlipidemia diagnoses was observed during the first month after screening, compared to the 3 months before screening (odds ratio [95% CI]: 2.99 [2.66-3.36]). Among the 987 individuals who were followed up 1 year later, significant improvements were observed in total cholesterol (-8.5% ± 13.6%) and LDL levels (-10.2% ± 19.3%). CONCLUSION: Workplace health screenings in an insured population were associated with a subsequent increase in physician visits and prescriptions for hyperlipidemia. After 1 year, significant improvements in total cholesterol and LDL levels were observed among individuals who screened positive for hyperlipidemia.

Novel screening metric for the identification of at-risk peripheral artery disease patients using administrative claims data.

Despite high morbidity and mortality associated with peripheral artery disease (PAD), it remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. The objective of this study was to develop a screening metric to identify undiagnosed patients at high risk of developing PAD using administrative data. Commercial claims data from 2010 to 2012 were utilized to develop and internally validate a PAD screening metric. Medicare data were used for external validation. The study population included adults, aged 30 years or older, with new cases of PAD identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis/procedure codes or the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine PAD risk factors used in the development of the screening metric for the identification of at-risk PAD patients. The cumulative incidence of PAD was 6.6%. Sex, age, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, stroke, diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, hyperlipidemia, and angina were significant risk factors for PAD. A cut-off score of ⩾20 yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and c-statistics of 83.5%, 60.0%, 12.8%, 98.1%, and 0.78, respectively. By identifying patients at high risk for developing PAD using only administrative data, the use of the current pre-screening metric could reduce the number of diagnostic tests, while still capturing those patients with undiagnosed PAD.

Preoperative predictors of weight loss following bariatric surgery: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects 32% of adults in the USA. Surgery generates substantial weight loss, but 20-30% fails to achieve successful weight loss. Our objective was to identify preoperative psychosocial factors associated with weight loss following bariatric surgery. METHODS: We performed a literature search of PubMed® and the Cochrane Database of Reviews of Effectiveness between 1988 and April 2010. Articles were screened for bariatric surgery and weight loss if they included a preoperative predictor of weight loss: body mass index (BMI), preoperative weight loss, eating disorders, or psychiatric disorder/substance abuse. One thousand seven titles were reviewed, 534 articles screened, and 115 included in the review. RESULTS: Factors that may be positively associated with weight loss after surgery include mandatory preoperative weight loss (7 of 14 studies with positive association). Factors that may be negatively associated with weight loss include preoperative BMI (37 out of 62 studies with negative association), super-obesity (24 out of 33 studies), and personality disorders (7 out of 14 studies). Meta-analysis revealed a decrease of 10.1% excess weight loss (EWL) for super-obese patients (95% confidence interval (CI) [3.7-16.5%]), though there was significant heterogeneity in the meta-analysis, and an increase of 5.9% EWL for patients with binge eating at 12 months after surgery (95% CI [1.9-9.8%]). CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are necessary to investigate whether preoperative factors can predict a clinically meaningful difference in weight loss after bariatric surgery. The identification of predictive factors may improve patient selection and help develop interventions targeting specific needs of patients.

HIV screening in commercially insured patients screened or diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases or blood-borne pathogens.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control strongly recommends HIV screening for all patients who present to health care settings with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or blood-borne pathogens exposure. The objective of this study is to assess the rates and determinants of HIV screening in a national sample of commercially insured patients screened or diagnosed with an STD or hepatitis B or C. METHODS: We used Poisson regression model with a robust error variance to assess the determinants of HIV screening using administrative claims data from health plans across 6 states (n = 270,423). RESULTS: The overall HIV screening rate of patients who were diagnosed or screened for STDs or hepatitis was low (32.7%); rates were lowest for patients presenting with epididymitis or granuloma inguinale (<10%). Patients aged 25 to 34 years were more likely to be screened than other age groups. Females were significantly less likely to be screened for HIV (prevalence ratio = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.91) than males. Patients living in states where no written HIV informed consent was required were significantly more likely to be screened than those living in states where written HIV informed consent was specifically required. CONCLUSIONS: HIV screening rates were low and varied by STD categories. Females and younger and older patients were at increased risk of no HIV screening. Requiring specific written informed consent for HIV screening resulted in less HIV screening. Interventions are urgently needed to increase the HIV screening rate among this at-risk population.

Using breast cancer quality indicators in a vulnerable population.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to quality indicators may be especially important to disease-specific outcomes for uninsured, vulnerable patients. The objective of this study was to measure adherence to National Initiative for Cancer Care Quality (NICCQ) breast cancer quality indicators in a public hospital and compare performance to published rates in a previously collected 5-city cohort. METHODS: One hundred five consecutive, newly diagnosed, stage I-III, breast cancer patients at a public hospital (from 2005 to 2007) were identified. Adherence rates to 31 quality indicators were measured by using medical record abstraction. Rates were calculated for individual indicators, aggregated domains, and components of care and were compared with the 5-city cohort results by using a 2-sided test of proportions. RESULTS: Overall adherence to the NICCQ indicators at the public hospital was 82%, versus 86% in the 5-city cohort. Public hospital adherence was better in 3 domains and components (Management of Treatment Toxicity 95% vs 73%, Referrals 76% vs 15%, and Documentation of Key Clinical Factors 72% vs 64%, P < .05 for all), but it was lower in others (Testing 82% vs 96%, Adjuvant Therapy 76% vs 83%, Surgery 72% vs 86%, Surveillance 63% vs 94%, and Respect for Patient Preferences 52% vs 72%, P < .001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that it is possible to deliver breast cancer care to vulnerable patients comparable in quality to the care received by the broader population. Further study should identify the factors that lead to variation in adherence across domains of quality.

Patient behaviors associated with weight regain after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing gastric bypass lose substantial weight, but 20% regain weight starting at 2 years after surgery. Our objective was to identify behavioral predictors of weight regain after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed 197 patients for factors predictive of weight regain (≥15% from lowest weight to weight at survey completion). Consecutive patients who had bariatric surgery from 1/2003 through 12/2008 were identified from an existing database. Response rate was 76%, with 150 patients completing the survey. RESULTS: Follow-up after LRYGB was 45.0 ± 12.7 months, 22% of patients had weight regain. After controlling for age, gender, and follow-up time, factors associated with weight regain included low physical activity (odds ratio (OR) 6.92, P = 0.010), low self-esteem (OR 6.86, P = 0.008), and Eating Inventory Disinhibition (OR 1.30, P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity, self-esteem, and maladaptive eating may be associated with weight regain after LRYGB. These factors should be addressed in prospective studies of weight loss following bariatric surgery, as they may identify patients at risk for weight regain who may benefit from tailored interventions.

Improving breast cancer quality of care with the use of patient navigators.

The continuum of breast cancer care requires multidisciplinary efforts. Patient navigators, who perform outreach, coordination, and education, have been shown to improve some areas of care. However, little research has assessed the impact of navigators on breast cancer treatment in uninsured populations. Our objective is to report on the impact of a patient navigator program on breast cancer quality of care at a public hospital. One hundred consecutive newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer (Stages I to III) were identified (2005 to 2007). Forty-nine patients were treated before the use of navigators and 51 after program implementation. Nine breast cancer quality indicators were used to evaluate quality of care. Overall adherence to the quality indicators improved from 69 to 86 per cent with the use of patient navigators (P < 0.01). Only one individual indicator, use of surveillance mammography, improved significantly (52 to 76%, P < 0.05). All nine indicators reached 75 per cent or greater adherence rates after implementation of the navigator program compared with only four before implementation. Patient navigators appear to improve breast cancer quality of care in a public hospital. In populations in which cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers are prevalent, navigator programs can be effective in narrowing the observed gaps in the quality of cancer care.

Behavioral factors associated with successful weight loss after gastric bypass.

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery lose substantial weight (> or = 50% excess weight loss [EWL]), but an estimated 20 per cent fail to achieve this goal. Our objective was to identify behavioral predictors of weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. We retrospectively surveyed 148 patients using validated instruments for factors predictive of weight loss. Success was defined as > or =50 per cent EWL and failure as <50 per cent EWL. Mean follow-up after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was 40.1 +/- 15.3 months, with 52.7 per cent of patients achieving successful weight loss. After controlling for age, gender, and preoperative body mass index, predictors of successful weight loss included surgeon follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 8.2, P < 0.01), attendance of postoperative support groups (OR 3.7, P = 0.02), physical activity (OR 3.5, P < 0.01), single or divorced marital status (OR 3.2, P = 0.03), self-esteem (OR 0.3, P = 0.02), and binge eating (OR 0.9, P < 0.01). These factors should be addressed in prospective studies of weight loss after bariatric surgery, as they may identify patients at risk for weight loss failure who may benefit from early tailored interventions.

Exercise following bariatric surgery: systematic review.

The contribution of physical activity on the degree of weight loss following bariatric surgery is unclear. To determine impact of exercise on postoperative weight loss. Medline search (1988-2009) was completed using MeSH terms including bariatric procedures and a spectrum of patient factors with potential relationship to weight loss outcomes. Of the 934 screened articles, 14 reported on exercise and weight loss outcomes. The most commonly used instruments to measure activity level were the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and a variety of self-made questionnaires. The definition of an active patient varied but generally required a minimum of 30 min of exercise at least 3 days per week. Thirteen articles reported on exercise and degree of postoperative weight loss (n = 4,108 patients). Eleven articles found a positive association of exercise on postoperative weight loss, and two did not. Meta-analysis of three studies revealed a significant increase in 1-year postoperative weight loss (mean difference = 4.2% total body mass index (BMI) loss, 95% confidence interval (CI; 0.26-8.11)) for patients who exercise postoperatively. Exercise following bariatric surgery appears to be associated with a greater weight loss of over 4% of BMI. While a causal relationship cannot be established with observational data, this finding supports the continued efforts to encourage and support patients' involvement in post-surgery exercise. Further research is necessary to determine the recommended activity guidelines for this patient population.

Does weight loss immediately before bariatric surgery improve outcomes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative weight loss before bariatric surgery has been proposed as a predictive factor for improved patient compliance and the degree of excess weight loss achieved after surgery. In the present study, we sought to determine the effect of preoperative weight loss on postoperative outcomes. METHODS: A search of MEDLINE was completed to identify the patient factors associated with weight loss after bariatric surgery. Of the 909 screened reports, 15 had reported on preoperative weight loss and the degree of postoperative weight loss achieved. A meta-analysis was performed that compared the postoperative weight loss and perioperative outcomes in patients who had lost weight preoperatively compared to those who had not. RESULTS: Of the 15 articles (n = 3404 patients) identified, 5 found a positive effect of preoperative weight loss on postoperative weight loss, 2 found a positive short-term effect that was not sustained long term, 5 did not find an effect difference, and 1 found a negative effect. A meta-analysis revealed a significant increase in the 1-year postoperative weight loss (mean difference of 5% EWL, 95% confidence interval 2.68-7.32) for patients who had lost weight preoperatively. A meta-analysis of other outcomes revealed a decreased operative time for patients who had lost weight preoperatively (mean difference 23.3 minutes, 95% confidence interval 13.8-32.8). CONCLUSION: Preoperative weight loss before bariatric surgery appears to be associated with greater weight loss postoperatively and might help to identify patients who would have better compliance after surgery.

Appropriateness criteria for bariatric surgery: beyond the NIH guidelines.

Careful selection of bariatric patients is critical for successful outcomes. In 1991, the NIH first established patient selection guidelines; however, some surgeons operate on individuals outside of these criteria, i.e., extreme age groups. We developed appropriateness criteria for the spectrum of patient characteristics including age, BMI, and severity of eight obesity-related comorbidities. Candidate criteria were developed using combinations of patient characteristics including BMI: > or =40 kg/m(2), 35-39, 32-34, 30-31, <30; age: 12-18, 19-55, 56-64, 65+ years old; and comorbidities: prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, venous stasis disease, chronic joint pain, and gastroesophageal reflux (plus severity level). Criteria were formally validated on their appropriateness of whether the benefits of surgery clearly outweighed the risks, by an expert panel using the RAND/UCLA modified Delphi method. Nearly all comorbidity severity criteria for patients with BMI > or =40 kg/m(2) or BMI = 35-39 kg/m(2) in intermediate age groups were found to be appropriate for surgery. In contrast, patients in the extreme age categories were considered appropriate surgical candidates under fewer conditions, primarily the more severe comorbidities, such as diabetes and hypertension. For patients with a BMI of 32-34, only the most severe category of diabetes (Hgb A1c >9, on maximal medical therapy), is an appropriate criterion for those aged 19-64, whereas many mild to moderate severity comorbidity categories are "inappropriate." There is overwhelming agreement among the panelists that the current evidence does not support performing bariatric surgery in lower BMI individuals (BMI <32). This is the first development of appropriateness criteria for bariatric surgery that includes severity categories of comorbidities. Only for the most severe degrees of comorbidities were adolescent and elderly patients deemed appropriate for surgery. Patient selection for bariatric procedures should include consideration of both patient age and comorbidity severity.

Are 12 nodes needed to accurately stage T1 and T2 colon cancers?

Evaluation of 12 lymph nodes has been mandated to prevent colon cancer understaging. Given that the probability of node metastases is largely associated with T-stage, are <12 nodes substandard for T1 and T2 lesions? We evaluated if survival for T1 and T2 tumors varies by nodes examined. In SEER, 61,237 patients undergoing colon cancer resection were identified. For each T-stage, 5-year survival rates were compared for node-negative cancers by using stepwise node cut-point comparisons (4 nodes, <4, etc.). Survival impact was determined by log-rank test and hazard regression. For T1 tumors, 4 nodes had 24% lower hazard of death compared to <4. For T2 tumors, 10 nodes had the biggest survival impact, 15% lower hazard of death. In conclusion, the number of nodes to stage T1 and T2 lesions may be <12.

Utilization of parenteral nutrition following pancreaticoduodenectomy: is routine jejunostomy tube placement warranted?

INTRODUCTION: Complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) often necessitate nutritional support. This study analyzes the utilization of parenteral nutrition (TPN) during the surgical admission as evidence for or against routine jejunostomy placement. METHODS: The California Cancer Registry (1994-2003) was linked to the California Inpatient File; PD for adenocarcinoma was performed in 1,873 patients. TPN use and enterostomy tube placement were determined and preoperative characteristics predictive of TPN use during the surgical admission were identified. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of patients received TPN, 23% underwent enterostomy tube placement, and 63% received no supplemental nutritional support. TPN was associated with longer hospital stay (18 vs. 13 days, P < 0.0001). The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) > or = 3 had nearly two-fold greater odds of receiving TPN (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 6 patients undergoing PD received TPN, which was associated with prolonged hospital stay. CCI > or = 3 was associated with increased odds of TPN utilization. Selected jejunostomy placement in patients with high CCI is worthy of consideration.

Readmissions following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreas cancer: a population-based appraisal.

Procedure complexity and volume-outcome relationships have led to increased regionalization of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreas cancer. Knowledge regarding outcomes after PD comes from single-institutional series, which may be limited if a significant number of patients follow up at other hospitals. Thus, readmission data may be underreported. This study utilizes a population-based data set to examine readmission data following PD. California Cancer Registry (1994-2003) was linked to the California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) database; patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who had undergone PD, excluding perioperative (30-day) mortality, were identified. All hospital readmissions within 1 year following PD were analyzed with respect to timing, location, and reason for readmission. Our cohort included 2,023 patients who underwent PD for pancreas cancer. Fifty-nine percent were readmitted within 1 year following PD and 47% were readmitted to a secondary hospital. Readmission was associated with worse median survival compared with those not readmitted (10.5 versus 22 months, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing T-stage, age, and comorbidities were associated with increased likelihood of readmission. Diagnoses associated with high rates of readmission included progression of disease (24%), surgery-related complications (14%), and infection (13%). Diabetes (1.4%) and pain (1.5%) were associated with low rates of readmission. We found a readmission rate of 59%, which is much higher than previously reported by single institutional series. Concordantly, nearly half of patients readmitted were readmitted to a secondary hospital. Common reasons for readmission included progression of disease, surgical complications, and infection. These findings should assist in both anticipating and facilitating postoperative care as well as managing patient expectations. This study utilizes a novel population-based database to evaluate incidence, timing, location, and reasons for readmission within 1 year following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Fifty-nine percent of patients were readmitted within 1 year after pancreaticoduodenectomy and 47% were readmitted to a secondary hospital.

Pregnancy and fertility following bariatric surgery: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Use of bariatric surgery has increased dramatically during the past 10 years, particularly among women of reproductive age. OBJECTIVES: To estimate bariatric surgery rates among women aged 18 to 45 years and to assess the published literature on pregnancy outcomes and fertility after surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Search of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2005) and multiple electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, Controlled Clinical Trials Register Database, and the Cochrane Database of Reviews of Effectiveness) to identify articles published between 1985 and February 2008 on bariatric surgery among women of reproductive age. Search terms included bariatric procedures, fertility, contraception, pregnancy, and nutritional deficiencies. Information was abstracted about study design, fertility, and nutritional, neonatal, and pregnancy outcomes after surgery. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Of 260 screened articles, 75 were included. Women aged 18 to 45 years accounted for 49% of all patients undergoing bariatric surgery (>50,000 cases annually for the 3 most recent years). Three matched cohort studies showed lower maternal complication rates after bariatric surgery than in obese women without bariatric surgery, or rates approaching those of nonobese controls. In 1 matched cohort study that compared maternal complication rates in women after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery with obese women without surgery, rates of gestational diabetes (0% vs 22.1%, P < .05) and preeclampsia (0% vs 3.1%, P < .05) were lower in the bariatric surgery group. Findings were supported by 13 other bariatric cohort studies. Neonatal outcomes were similar or better after surgery compared with obese women without laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery (7.7% vs 7.1% for premature delivery; 7.7% vs 10.6% for low birth weight, P < .05; 7.7% vs 14.6% for macrosomia, P < .05). No differences in neonatal outcomes were found after gastric bypass compared with nonobese controls (26.3%-26.9% vs 22.4%-20.2% for premature delivery, P = not reported [1 study] and P = .43 [1 study]; 7.7% vs 9.0% for low birth weight, P = not reported [1 study]; and 0% vs 2.6%-4.3% for macrosomia, P = not reported [1 study] and P = .28 [1 study]). Findings were supported by 10 other studies. Studies regarding nutrition, fertility, cesarean delivery, and contraception were limited. CONCLUSION: Rates of many adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes may be lower in women who become pregnant after having had bariatric surgery compared with rates in pregnant women who are obese; however, further data are needed from rigorously designed studies.

What is the quality of surgery-related information on the internet? Lessons learned from a standardized evaluation of 10 common operations.

BACKGROUND: Although there is high-quality information on the Internet, it is difficult for patients to identify high-quality Web sites from those with inaccurate or misleading information. Our goal was to determine specific characteristics of Web search results that yield high-quality information and can be discerned easily by patients. STUDY DESIGN: A validated rating system was used to evaluate surgical Web sites for appropriateness and adequacy. Web sites were identified using three search term types (technical, descriptive, and layperson) for 10 common surgical procedures. The top three sponsored (paid) and unsponsored (unpaid) Web site matches were identified. The search and analysis were repeated 1 month later. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five Web sites were retrieved: 90 unsponsored and 55 sponsored. Unsponsored sites had higher mean composite scores than sponsored Web sites (50.6% versus 25%, p < 0.0001). Searches using layperson terms had lower mean composite scores compared with those using technical terms (36.9% versus 47.5%, p < 0.02). Professional Web sites had the highest mean composite scores (66.3%); legal Web sites had the lowest (6.3%). On regression analysis, unsponsored Web sites were associated with higher composite scores (p < 0.0001); number 1 match results (p < 0.02) and using layperson search terms (p < 0.052) were associated with lower mean composite scores. Repeat search results demonstrated no significant differences, except number 3 match results were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize patients' Web searches, surgeons should recommend unsponsored sites; suggest professional society sites, if available; and provide technical search terms. But information on some topics, such as risks of not undergoing surgery, remains poor and requires discussion between the surgeon and patient.