Fasciotomy and rate of amputation after tibial fracture in adults: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Limb amputation is a possible outcome of acute compartment syndrome. We undertook this study to investigate the occurrence of fasciotomy and amputation in patients with tibial fractures in the Ontario adult population, aiming to evaluate variables that may be associated with each of these outcomes. Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study (April 1, 2003-March 31, 2016). Setting: Canadian province of Ontario. Participants: Patients with tibial fracture, aged 14 years and older. Interventions: Fasciotomy after tibial fracture. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were fasciotomy and amputation within 1 year of fasciotomy. Secondary outcomes included repeat surgery, new-onset renal failure, and mortality, all within 30 days of fasciotomy. Results: We identified 76,299 patients with tibial fracture; the mean (SD) age was 47 (21) years. Fasciotomy was performed in 1303 patients (1.7%); of these, 76% were male and 24% female. Patients who were younger, male, or experienced polytrauma were significantly more likely to undergo fasciotomy. Limb amputation occurred in 4.3% of patients undergoing fasciotomy, as compared with 0.5% in those without fasciotomy; older age, male sex, presence of polytrauma, and fasciotomy were associated with an increased risk of amputation (age odds ratio [OR] of 1.03 [95% CI, 1.02-1.03], P < 0.0001; sex OR of 2.04 [95% CI, 1.63-2.55], P < 0.0001; polytrauma OR of 9.37 [95% CI, 7.64-11.50], P < 0.0001; fasciotomy OR of 4.35 [95% CI, 3.21-5.90], P < 0.0001), as well as repeat surgery within 30 days (sex OR of 1.54 [95% CI, 1.14-2.07], P = 0.0053; polytrauma OR of 4.24 [95% CI, 3.33-5.38], P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Among tibial fracture patients, those who were male and who experienced polytrauma were at significantly higher risk of undergoing fasciotomy and subsequent amputation. Fasciotomy was also significantly associated with risk of amputation, a finding that is likely reflective of the severity of the initial injury.

Predictors of Undergoing Revision Within 5 Years of Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to identify the rate and risk factors for revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within the first 5 years postoperative. Our secondary objective was to identify the rate of additional surgical procedures and death. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients in Ontario, Canada who underwent an elective, primary TKA between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2014, for osteoarthritis. We excluded patients under 40 years and who had undergone a TKA within the previous 15 years. Our final study cohort included 94,193 patients. We reported the proportion of the study cohort who experienced revision surgery within 2 and 5 years of the primary TKA; secondary surgery within 5 years. We conducted Cochran-Armitage tests for trends to assess changes in the proportion of patients who experienced each of the study outcomes, and multivariable logistic regressions to evaluate predictors of a revision TKA. RESULTS: There were 3,112 (3.3%) patients who had a revision within 5 years, and 1,866 (2.0%) within 2 years of their primary TKA. 3,316 (3.5%) had a secondary surgery (0.6% patellar resurfacing; 1.6% manipulation; 1.3% synovectomy; 0.5% washout; 0.9% debridement). Lower age, men, lower income, higher comorbidity score, depression, previous arthroscopy, lower surgeon volume, and general anesthesia were all significant positive predictors of revision. CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort, 2.0% of patients had a revision TKA within 2 years, and 3.3% within 5 years of their primary TKA. Preoperative identification of risk factors may reduce the future prevalence of revision TKAs.

Association Between Complications after Vascular Surgery and Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have looked at the long-term risk of opioid use following major vascular surgery and no study has investigated the potential association between major complications and prolonged opioid use. We analyzed a population-based database linked to a prescription database to investigate factors associated with prolonged opioid use following major vascular surgery. METHODS: This population-based cohort study included all adults who underwent open lower extremity revascularization (LER) or nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (open [AAA] and endovascular [EVAR]) in the province of Ontario, Canada, between 2013 and 2018. Prolonged opioid use was defined as 2 or more opioid prescriptions filled 6-12 months following surgery. Potential predictors of prolonged use were explored using modified Poisson regression with a generalized estimating equation approach to account for the clustering of patients within physicians and institutions. RESULTS: This study included a total of 11,104 patients with 5,652 patients undergoing open LER, 3,285 patients undergoing EVAR, and 2,167 patients undergoing AAA. The rates of prior opioid use were 35.4% for LER, 15.8% for AAA and 14.3% for EVAR. Major complication rates following each procedure were 59.5% for AAA, 35.1% for LER, and 21.0% for EVAR. Following surgery, prolonged opioid use was identified in 26.1% of LER, 13.2% of AAA, and 11.6% of EVAR patients. The strongest predictor of prolonged opioid use was prior use with an odds ratio (OR) of 13.27 (95% CI: 10.63-16.57) for AAA, 11.24 (95% CI: 9.18-13.75) for EVAR, and 4.69 (95% CI: 4.16-5.29) for LER. The occurrence of a major complication was only associated with prolonged opioid use for patients undergoing LER (OR 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03-1.19), while it had a protective effect on patients undergoing EVAR (OR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.69-0.99) and no association for patients undergoing open AAA repair (OR 1.11; 95% CI: 0.95-1.29). Older age was also protective with a reduced rate of prolonged opioid use for every 10 years of age increase: AAA (OR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.99); EVAR (OR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76-0.91); and LER (OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.87-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged opioid use is common following major vascular surgery, occurring in over 10% of patients undergoing either open or endovascular aneurysm repair and over 25% of patients undergoing open LER. Prior opioid use is the strongest predictor for prolonged use, while the occurrence of postoperative complications is associated with a slight increased risk of prolonged use in patients undergoing LER. These patient populations should be targeted for multimodal methods of opioid reduction following their procedures.

A population-based retrospective cohort study of surgical trends and outcomes of pediatric urolithiasis in Ontario, Canada (2002-2019).

INTRODUCTION: The worldwide incidence of pediatric urinary stone disease (PUSD) is increasing. However, there is no commensurate data on whether this translates to an increasing need for surgical intervention for PUSD, given the role of conservative management. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the trends and outcomes of clinically significant PUSD, using administrative databases to identify patients surgically treated for PUSD. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective population-based cohort study assessed the incidence and trends of surgically treated PUSD and outcomes in Ontario, Canada in patients <18 years of age who underwent their first PUSD procedure between 2002 and 2019 utilizing administrative databases held at the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). We assessed the incidence of surgically treated PUSD, demographics, initial surgical treatment and imaging modality, and risk factors for repeat intervention within 5 years. Statistical analyses summarized demographics, surgical trends, and logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for repeat surgical intervention. RESULTS: We identified 1149 patients (mean age 11.3 years), with 59.6% older than 12 years. There was a decrease in the number of PUSD procedures performed per year that was close to statistical significance (p = 0.059) and a trend towards increased utilization of ureteroscopy (URS) compared with Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL). In addition, there was a significant increase in the proportion of females surgically treated with PUSD (p = 0.001). In the 706 patients followed for 5 years, 17.7% underwent a repeat procedure within 6 months, while 20.4% underwent a repeat procedure from 6-months to 5 years. Renal stone location (OR 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-4.80, p = 0.0002) and index SWL (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.20-2.31, p = 0.0025) were risk factors for repeat surgical intervention within the first 6-months. There was an increasing utilization of ultrasound (US) compared to computerized tomography (CT) (p = 0.0008). DISCUSSION: Despite the literature reporting increasing PUSD incidence, we observed a non-significant decrease in the number of surgical PUSD procedures performed. Exclusion of those treated conservatively may explain our results. The increase in the proportion of females treated reflects the narrowing gender gap in stone disease. A trend towards increased URS utilization was observed and re-intervention rates were similar to previous studies. CONCLUSION: The overall rate of surgically treated PUSD did not show an increasing trend in Ontario, Canada from 2002 to 2019. URS was the most common surgical treatment modality, with a corresponding decline in SWL rates. PUSD was associated with a high surgical re-intervention rate within 6 months.

Defining major surgical complications using administrative data in Ontario: a validation study.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical complications are often included as an outcome of surgical research conducted using administrative data, little validation work has been performed. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an algorithm designed to capture major surgical complications using health administrative data. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent high-risk elective general surgery at a single institution in Ontario, Canada, from Sept. 1, 2016, to Sept. 1, 2017. Patients were identified for inclusion using the local operative database. Medical records were reviewed by trained clinicians to abstract postoperative complications. Data were linked to administrative data holdings, and a series of code-based algorithms were applied to capture a composite indicator of major surgical complications. We used sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy to evaluate the performance of our administrative data algorithm, as compared with data abstracted from the institutional charting system. RESULTS: The study included a total of 270 patients. According to the data from the chart audit, 55% of patients experienced at least 1 major surgical complication. Overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy for the composite outcome was 72%, 80%, 82%, 70% and 76%, respectively. Diagnostic performance was poor for several of the individual complications. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that administrative data holdings can be used to capture a composite indicator of major surgical complications with adequate sensitivity and specificity. Additional work is required to identify suitable algorithms for several specific complications.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Aged 40 to 60 Years Old: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary total hip arthroplasty (THA) has resolved many implant longevity concerns in younger patients. Patients in their fourth and fifth decades of life are projected to be the fastest-growing demographic of THA patients. We aimed to assess this demographic to: 1) evaluate the rate of THA over time; 2) evaluate the cumulative incidence of revision; and 3) identify risk factors for revision. METHODS: A retrospective population-based study of patients between 40 and 60 years old undergoing primary THA was conducted using administrative data from a large clinical data repository. A total of 28,414 patients were included for analysis with a mean age of 53 years (range, 40-60 years) and median follow-up of 9 years (range, 0-17 years). Linear regressions were used to assess annual rates of THA in this cohort over time. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine cumulative incidence of revision. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine association of variables with revision risk. RESULTS: The annual rate of THA in our population increased by 60.7% over the study period (P < .0001). Cumulative incidence of revision was 2.9% at 5 years and 4.8% at 10 years. Younger age, women, non-osteoarthritis diagnosis, medical complications, and annual surgeon volume ≤ 60 THA were associated with increased revision risk. CONCLUSION: Demand for THA continues to dramatically increase in this cohort. Risk of revision was low but multiple risk factors were identified. Future studies will help delineate the effect of these variables on revision risk and assess implant survivorship beyond 10 years.

Complications From Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy in Patients Undergoing Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown an increase in the number of women electing for immediate breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy. Although often not known at the time, some of these women will require postoperative radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate if exposure to radiation therapy after mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of further surgery to manage complications arising from radiation. Methods and Materials: This retrospective, population-based cohort study included all patients who underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction from 2007 to 2014 in the province of Ontario, Canada. Exposure to adjuvant radiation therapy was captured using data from Ontario Health. The study outcome was reoperation for breast reconstruction performed during the follow-up window. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the effect of radiation therapy exposure on risk of breast reconstruction reoperation. Results: We identified 2342 patients who underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction over an 8-year period in Ontario, of whom 378 (16.1%) underwent adjuvant radiation therapy. Patients who received radiation were significantly more likely to undergo reoperation during follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.08; P < .0001). Patients with implant-based reconstructions (n = 1629, 69.6%) were not more likely to undergo reoperation than those with flap-based procedures (n = 713, 30.4%) (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.21; P = .885). Conclusions: Adjuvant radiation therapy initiated after mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of additional breast reconstruction surgery, regardless of the type of reconstruction used. Patients with breast cancer who choose to undergo immediate reconstruction after mastectomy should be advised that additional reconstruction procedures may be required.

Rates, Predictive Factors, and Adverse Outcomes of Fusion Surgery for Lumbar Degenerative Disorders in Ontario, Canada, Between 2006 and 2015: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The addition of fusion surgery to the decompression for lumbar degenerative disorders remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the rate and outcome of decompression and fusion versus decompression alone. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study used several linked administrative databases to identify patients who underwent spinal decompression surgery in Ontario, Canada, from 2006 to 2015. Patients who had previous spine surgery, concurrent lumbar disc replacement, or a diagnosis other than degenerative disc disease were excluded. Adjusted logistic regression was used to assess our outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 33,912 patients, of whom 9748 (28.74%) underwent fusion. Overall, fusion rates increased from 27.66% to 31.33% over the study period (P = 0.025). Factors associated with fusion included: older age, female sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3, previous total joint replacement, and surgery by an orthopedic surgeon. Fusion surgery was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-3.09; P = 0.046), 30-day (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.53-2.46; P < 0.0001) and 90-day reoperation (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.35-2.05; P < 0.0001), and 30-day readmission (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.49; P = 0.027) when adjusting for confounding variables. The odds of suffering a complication after fusion and decompression surgery vs. decompression surgery alone were 4.3-fold greater (95% CI 3.78-5.09; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: As compared with decompression alone, spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar disorders is associated with increased odds of adverse outcomes. These findings highlight the need for spine surgeons to consider carefully their indications for fusion procedures in the setting of degenerative spinal disorders.

Hip arthroscopy utilization and reoperation rates in Ontario: a population-based analysis comparing different age cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Older age (> 40 yr) and osteoarthritis are negative prognostic variables for hip arthroscopy, but their impact has not been quantified from a population standpoint. The purpose of this study was to perform a population-based analysis of hip arthroscopy utilization and associated 2- and 5-year reoperation rates and complications in different age cohorts. METHODS: Administrative databases from Ontario, Canada, were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients aged 18-60 years who underwent hip arthroscopy between 2006 and 2016. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: 18-39 and 40-60 years of age. Patients were followed for 2 and 5 years to capture the occurrence of subsequent surgery (repeat arthroscopy or total hip arthroplasty) and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 1906 patients underwent hip arthroscopy, 818 (42.9%) of whom were aged 40-60 years. In the entire cohort, revision surgery occurred in 6.5% and 15.1% of cases at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Revision surgery rates were significantly higher among patients aged 40-60 years at 2 (10.8% v. 3.2%, p < 0.001) and 5 years (22.7% v. 8.2%, p < 0.001) than among those aged 18-39 years. Revision rates were higher among patients aged 50-60 years than among those aged 40-49 years at 2 years (14.3% v. 9.1%, p = 0.027). Complication rates did not differ between cohorts. Regression analysis revealed higher 2- and 5-year odds of secondary surgery in patients aged 40-49 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-4.22; OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.87-4.25; p < 0.001), patients aged 50-60 years (OR 4.39, 95% CI 2.67-7.22; OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.11-5.62; p < 0.001) and those with osteoarthritis (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.39-4.20; p = 0.002; OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.00-3.09; p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Revision surgery rates following hip arthroscopy are significantly higher among older patients and those with concomitant osteoarthritis. Although the data have limitations, they provide useful information to guide surgical decision-making.

The rate of unnecessary interventions for the management of knee osteoarthritis: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Several commonly used procedures for knee osteoarthritis (OA) are not supported by evidence-based guidelines. The objective of this study was to identify the proportion of patients who underwent knee arthroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the timing of these procedures before total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data sets from Ontario, Canada. We identified the proportion of patients who underwent knee arthroscopy in the previous 10 years or an MRI in the 3 years before their primary TKA. We also evaluated the rate of arthroscopies by diagnosis. We report the timing of each outcome in relation to the TKA, rates by geographical area, and differences in rates over time. RESULTS: We included 142 275 patients, of whom 36 379 (25.57%) underwent knee arthroscopy (median time 2.8 [interquartile range (IQR) 1.1-6.0] years); 22% of those were within 1 year of TKA and 52% were within 3 years. The rates of arthroscopies for a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) steadily decreased, while those for meniscal-related diagnoses increased over the study period (p < 0.0001). There was significant variation by region. Of the cohort, 23.2% (n = 32 989) had an MRI before their TKA, with rates significantly increasing over time (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of patients with knee OA received diagnostic and therapeutic interventions before TKA that are contrary to clinical practice guidelines.

Persistent post-operative opioid use following hip arthroscopy is common and is associated with pre-operative opioid use and age.

PURPOSE: Hip arthroscopy utilization continues to increase worldwide. Post-operative pain management is essential to allow appropriate rehabilitation. While multimodal analgesic protocols have been described, consensus agreement is lacking and opioid analgesia remains a mainstay of treatment. Unfortunately, the risk of persistent opioid use among opioid-naïve and non-naïve patients following hip arthroscopy remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify rates of persistent post-operative opioid use, as well as to identify factors associated with persistent use. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Participants were adults who underwent hip arthroscopy between 2013 and 2018. Patients < 18 or > 60 years of age as well as those who had undergone prior hip arthroscopy were excluded. The primary exposure was whether patients had filled ≥ 2 opioid prescriptions within 1 year prior to their hip arthroscopy to define the opioid naïve and non-naïve populations. The primary outcome was persistent opioid use, defined as 2 + prescriptions filled between 9 and 15 months post-op. A regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with persistent opioid usage. RESULTS: Of the 1909 patients, 1525 (79.9%) were opioid-naïve, while 384 (20.1%) had a prior history of opioid use within 1 year of surgery. 224 patients (11.7%) demonstrated persistent opioid use, with ≥ 2 prescriptions filled between 9 and 15 months post-op. Of those, 42 (18.8%) cases were among opioid-naïve patients, while the remaining 182 (81.2%) were among non-naïve patients. The risk of persistent post-operative use was significantly higher in those with prior opioid use (OR 31.95, 95% CI 22.15-46.09; p < 0.0001). Regression analysis confirmed that pre-operative opioid use (OR 23.79, 95% CI 17.06-33.17; p < 0.0001) and older age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.05, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased risk of persistent post-operative opioid use. CONCLUSION: Following hip arthroscopy, persistent opioid use is common. New persistent use was identified in 2.7% of opioid-naïve patients, compared with continued use in 47.4% of non-naïve patients. Pre-operative opioid use and older age were associated with the greater risk of persistent post-operative opioid use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Trends in immediate breast reconstruction and radiation after mastectomy: A population study.

In the last decade, there has been an increase in women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) at the time of mastectomy. Recent literature suggests a shift in practice: Surgeons are becoming more comfortable with IBR in the setting of possible postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy, despite the known complications. This study sought to investigate, at a population level, the patient and surgeon characteristics associated with the use of IBR and which of these factors were predictive of adjuvant radiotherapy. This retrospective population-based cohort study included all adult women who underwent mastectomy in the province of Ontario from 2007 to 2014. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) administrative data base was used to generate patient demographic and clinical data. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) data base was used to elicit surgeon characteristics including clinical experience and volume of practice dedicated to breast surgery. Outcome variables included reconstruction concurrent with mastectomy, alloplastic vs autologous reconstruction, and use of radiation. A total of 25 861 patients underwent mastectomy and 2972 had IBR (11.5%). The rate of IBR after mastectomy increased over time from 7.2% in 2007 to 17.2% in 2014 (P < .001). There was also an increase in the proportion of patients with IBR who received radiation over the time period, from 19.4% in 2007 to 28.2% in 2014 (P = .003). In the first regression analysis, IBR was associated with younger patient age, residing in closer proximity to cancer clinics, absence of malignant breast disease (ie, prophylactic mastectomy), having a younger surgeon performing the mastectomy, and receiving care at a teaching hospital. A second analysis showed that patient variables predictive of radiation after IBR were a younger age and a more advanced cancer stage and no variables specific to surgeon or institution were predictive of radiation in patients with IBR. A significant increase in the rate of IBR as well as the use of radiation occurred over the 7-year study period. Multiple patient and surgeon factors were associated with IBR. Variables associated with radiation in IBR were harder to predict. Given the increase in the use of radiation in IBR, further research is needed to look at long-term outcomes in these patients at the population level.

An Opioid Prescription for Men Undergoing Minor Urologic Surgery Is Associated with an Increased Risk of New Persistent Opioid Use.

BACKGROUND: The opioid abuse epidemic has highlighted the risks associated with these medications. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether filling a postoperative opioid prescription after low acuity urologic surgery is associated with new persistent opioid use. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Participants were adults who underwent their first vasectomy, transurethral prostatectomy, urethrotomy, circumcision, spermatocelectomy, or hydrocelectomy between 2013 and 2016. We excluded men with prior opioid use, confounding concurrent procedures, prolonged hospitalization, or cancer. INTERVENTION: Whether the patient filled a prescription for an opioid within 5 d of their surgery. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was evidence of at least two opioid prescriptions filled 9-15 mo after urologic surgery. The secondary outcome was admission for opioid overdose. Primary analysis was adjusted logistic regression analysis. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: We identified 91 083 men, most of whom underwent vasectomy (78%). A total of 32 174 (35%) men filled a prescription for an opioid after their procedure. The most common opioid prescribed was codeine (70%), and urologists were the primary prescribers (81%). Men who filled a postprocedure opioid prescription did not differ, for most of the 57 medical comorbidities or markers of healthcare utilization that we measured, from those who did not fill an opioid prescription. There was long-term opioid use in 1447 (1.6%); men who had filled a postoperative opioid prescription had a significantly higher risk of long-term opioid use (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.6) and opioid overdose (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-5.9). A limitation is that we could not determine the indication for long-term opioid prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription of opioids after low acuity urology procedures is significantly associated with increased opioid use at 1yr after surgery; efforts should be made to reduce postoperative opioids, especially for urologic procedures that do not typically require opioids. PATIENT SUMMARY: Filling an opioid prescription after minor urologic surgeries is associated with an increased risk of persistent long-term use of opioid medications and a higher risk of serious long-term complications such as hospital visits for an opioid overdose.'

Resident Trainees Increase Surgical Time: A Comparison of Obstetric and Gynaecologic Procedures in Academic Versus Community Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of resident involvement in the operating room for common procedures in obstetrics and gynaecology can shed light on the resource demands of teaching. The objective of this study was to quantify the increased surgical time associated with teaching obstetrics and gynaecology resident trainees across a range of procedures known to require surgical assistance. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study compared surgical duration between academic (teaching) hospitals and community (non-teaching) hospitals. The cohort was made up of adult residents of Ontario between fiscal years 2002 and 2013 who were undergoing commonly performed obstetrics and gynaecologic procedures. The most commonly billed procedures requiring surgical assistance were included: cesarean section, anterior or posterior repair, anterior and posterior repair, salpingo-oophorectomy, myomectomy, ectopic pregnancy, total or subtotal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, and laparoscopic hysterectomy. Linked administrative databases held at the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) were used to define patient-, surgeon-, institution-, and procedure-related variables to limit confounding. Surgical duration, determined by anaesthetic billing records, was analyzed using a negative binomial regression. RESULTS: The total cohort included 337 389 surgical procedures. Of these procedures, 28% (94 203 procedures) were conducted in academic settings. The mean surgical duration of the procedures of interest (excluding vaginal hysterectomy) was significantly longer in academic hospitals compared with community hospitals. With many controls for case variability, this time differential reflects the burden of teaching resident trainees and other learners in the academic environment. The operating time increased between 6% and 20% for cases completed in academic centres versus in the community. As an example, the mean surgical duration of cesarean sections was 20.6 minutes (19%) longer in academic centres. Furthermore, the data highlighted a trend of increased teaching time for laparoscopic procedures compared with open procedures. The time ratio was the greatest for salpingo-oophortectomy and surgical management of ectopic pregnancies. The additional cost of carrying out these nine procedures in academic centres during the study period was $16.3 million. CONCLUSION: The cost of teaching resident trainees is increased operative time. This increased surgical cost in a publicly funded system must be considered as funding models evolve.

Hysterectomy in Ontario: A Population-Based Study of Outcomes and Complications in Minimally Invasive Compared with Abdominal Approaches.

OBJECTIVE: As quality-based procedures (QBPs) are being established across the province of Ontario, it is important to identify reliable quality indicators (QIs) to ensure that compensation coincides with quality. Hysterectomy is the most commonly performed gynaecologic procedure and as such is a care process for which a QBP is being developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technicity index (TI) as a QI for hysterectomy by defining it in the context of specific surgical outcomes and complications. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective cohort study included all women who underwent hysterectomy from April 2003 to October 2014 in the province of Ontario. Unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear models were created to assess the effect of a minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH) approach on the primary outcome measure: all hysterectomy-associated complications (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). RESULTS: Of the procedures meeting the study's inclusion criteria, 56.8% were performed using an abdominal hysterectomy approach, whereas 43.2% were performed using an MIH approach. Over the study period, TI improved significantly from 33.23% in 2003 to 58.47% in 2014. During this time span, the overall incidence of all hysterectomy-associated complications was 13.1%. CONCLUSION: The composite risk of all hysterectomy-associated complications was reduced by 46% with an MIH approach. The uptake of MIH improved significantly in Ontario from 2003 to 2014 and is adequately assessed by the TI. The TI is an appropriate QI for hysterectomy that can be used to track patients' outcomes and direct hysterectomy funding.

The Impact of Common Urologic Complications on the Risk of a Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic infections after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are substantial complications, and there are conflicting reports of their association with urologic complications. Our objective was to determine whether urinary tract infection (UTI) and acute urinary retention (AUR) are significant risk factors for joint infections after THA or TKA. METHODS: We performed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of patients who were ≥66 years old when they underwent an initial THA or TKA between April 2003 and March 2013. Investigated exposures included a UTI presenting for treatment within 2 years after joint replacement, as well as AUR within 30 days after THA or TKA. The primary outcome was joint infection requiring hospital admission following THA or TKA (which had to occur within 2.25 years after THA or TKA for the UTI exposure or 120 days for the AUR exposure). RESULTS: A total of 113,061 patients met the inclusion criteria and had arthroplasties (44,495 THAs and 68,566 TKAs) during the study period. The median age was 74 years (interquartile range [IQR], 70 to 79 years). Of those patients, 28,256 (25.0%) had at least 1 UTI and they were more likely to be older and female; to have had previous antibiotic exposure, cystoscopy, or urinary retention; and to have atrial fibrillation. Most of those UTIs were coded as nonspecific UTI, and the patient was seen for outpatient treatment in a non-emergency department setting. A total of 2,516 patients (2.2%) had AUR within 30 days of the procedure. Those patients were more likely to be older and male, to have medical comorbidities, to have had previous transurethral procedures or cystoscopy and previous urology visits, and to have received a general anesthetic during their procedure. A total of 1,262 patients (1.1%) had joint infection requiring hospital admission. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, UTI was associated with an increased risk of joint infection (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14 to 1.28]; p < 0.01). However multivariate analysis did not demonstrate an association between AUR and joint infection (HR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.64]; p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: UTI was associated with increased risk of hip or knee periprosthetic joint infection, whereas AUR was not a significant risk factor. Timely and appropriate treatment of symptomatic UTIs in this patient population may be important to prevent periprosthetic joint infection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A Population-Based Cohort Study of the Impact of Infectious Complications Requiring Hospitalization after Prostate Biopsy on Radical Prostatectomy Surgical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare radical prostatectomy outcomes in men with and without exposure to a major infectious event within 30-days of a prior TRUS-biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included men who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2002 to 2013 in Ontario, Canada. Several linked administrative databases were used. Exposure was defined as hospitalization with evidence of a urinary tract infection or sepsis during the first 30-days after a prostate biopsy. The primary outcome was a composite of procedures indicative of a likely serious complication of radical prostectomy within the first 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included oncological, functional, and hospital related events within 2 years of radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: A total of 26,254 patients were included in this study and 530 (2.02%) had a post-TRUS-biopsy infection. A similar proportion of patients with and without a post-TRUS-biopsy infectious event experienced the composite primary outcome (1.7% vs 1.1%; odds ratio [OR] 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-3.14; P = .16). However, exposed patients had significantly higher odds of perioperative blood transfusion (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.30-2.00; P <.001), bladder neck contracture (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.63; P = .002), and 30-day hospital readmission (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.47-2.95; P <.001), and a small but significant increase in length of hospital stay (P = 0.005). No other significant differences were observed. CONCLUSION: Although prior infectious events are associated with increased risk of blood transfusion, bladder neck contracture, and hospital readmission following radical prostatectomy, results from this study suggest that major surgical complications, are not adversely affected by TRUS-biopsy related infections.

The Impact of the Choosing Wisely Campaign in Urology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if 3 of the Canadian Urological Association's Choosing Wisely recommendations (released in 2013-2014) related to urologic care altered physician and patient behavior. METHODS: Administrative data from Ontario, Canada between 2008 and 2017 was used. We identified 3 cohorts: First, we determined how many men >66 years of age had a serum testosterone level before starting testosterone therapy. Second, we determined how many boys undergoing an orchiopexy underwent abdominal imaging before their surgery. Third, we determined how many men with low risk prostate cancer underwent a Bone Scan after diagnosis. Piece-wise linear regression was used to evaluate for a significant change after Choosing Wisely. RESULTS: We identified 13,113 men who had their initial prescription for testosterone filled. Serum testosterone measurement increased over time, from approximately 43% to 68%. There were 9319 boys who underwent an orchiopexy. The use of pre-orchiopexy ultrasound was generally stable (approximately 55%). We identified 27,174 men with low risk prostate cancer. The use of bone scans after diagnosis decreased over time from approximately 24% to 20%. In all 3 of these groups, there was no significant change after Choosing Wisely (P = .74, P = .70, P = .72 respectively). CONCLUSION: In Ontario, there was no evidence of a significant change in 3 practice patterns that were featured in Choosing Wisely Urology recommendations. Further thought may be needed on how to translate these and future recommendations into behavior change.