Surgical Cancellations and Postponements by Surgeon and Patient Sex: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Alberta, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to estimate the association between surgeon sex with surgical postponements or cancellations. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Female surgeons receive lower hourly, per patient, and total compensation than their male colleagues. Bias in the decision to postpone or cancel surgical cases may contribute to compensation inequality, since this results in unpaid surgeon time. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used administrative health data to identify surgeries performed at four hospitals in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that were cancelled or postponed due to surgeon/operating room overbooking or to accommodate an emergency case between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2020. Surgeries performed in dedicated operating or procedure rooms (e.g., bronchoscopy, cardiac surgery, etc.) were excluded. The exposure of interest was surgeon sex, identified by matching their name to the provincial regulatory body record of self-identified sex, which allowed for selection between female and male only during the time of this study. RESULTS: There were 214,832 eligible surgical cases, of which 1,481 and 2,473 were postponed or cancelled due to overbooking and to accommodate an emergency, respectively. After adjusting for surgical specialty, whether the procedure was a day case, and for patient sex, female surgeons were more likely to be cancelled or postponed to accommodate an emergency case compared to male surgeons (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.38). CONCLUSION: There may be sex-bias in the decision about which surgical cases to postpone or cancel to accommodate emergency surgeries in our setting. This bias may contribute to compensation inequality in a fee-for-service setting.

Implementation of a surgical site infection prevention bundle in gynecologic oncology patients: An enhanced recovery after surgery initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes pre- and post-implementation of an evidence-informed surgical site infection prevention bundle (SSIPB) in gynecologic oncology patients within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care pathway. METHODS: Patients undergoing laparotomy for a gynecologic oncology surgery between January-June 2017 (pre-SSIPB) and between January 2018-December 2020 (post-SSIPB) were compared using t-tests and chi-square. Patient characteristics, surgical factors, and ERAS process measures and outcomes were abstracted from the ERAS® Interactive Audit System (EIAS). The primary outcomes were incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) during post-operative hospital admission and at 30-days post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included total postoperative infections, length of stay, and any surgical complications. Multivariate models were used to adjust for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Patient and surgical characteristics were similar in the pre- and post-implementation periods. Evaluation of implementation suggested that preoperative and intraoperative components of the intervention were most consistently used. Infectious complications within 30 days of surgery decreased from 42.1% to 24.4% after implementation of the SSIPB (p < 0.001), including reductions in wound infections (17.0% to 10.8%, p = 0.02), urinary tract infections (UTI) (12.7% to 4.5%, p < 0.001), and intra-abdominal abscesses (5.4% to 2.5%, p = 0.05). These reductions were associated with a decrease in median length of stay from 3 to 2 days (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, these SSI reductions remained statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Implementation of SSIPB was associated with a reduction in SSIs and infectious complications, as well as a shorter length of stay in gynecologic oncology patients.

Prediction of major postoperative events after non-cardiac surgery for people with kidney failure: derivation and internal validation of risk models.

BACKGROUND: People with kidney failure often require surgery and experience worse postoperative outcomes compared to the general population, but existing risk prediction tools have excluded those with kidney failure during development or exhibit poor performance. Our objective was to derive, internally validate, and estimate the clinical utility of risk prediction models for people with kidney failure undergoing non-cardiac surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASURES: This study involved derivation and internal validation of prognostic risk prediction models using a retrospective, population-based cohort. We identified adults from Alberta, Canada with pre-existing kidney failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 15 mL/min/1.73m2 or receipt of maintenance dialysis) undergoing non-cardiac surgery between 2005-2019. Three nested prognostic risk prediction models were assembled using clinical and logistical rationale. Model 1 included age, sex, dialysis modality, surgery type and setting. Model 2 added comorbidities, and Model 3 added preoperative hemoglobin and albumin. Death or major cardiac events (acute myocardial infarction or nonfatal ventricular arrhythmia) within 30 days after surgery were modelled using logistic regression models. RESULTS: The development cohort included 38,541 surgeries, with 1,204 outcomes (after 3.1% of surgeries); 61% were performed in males, the median age was 64 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 53, 73), and 61% were receiving hemodialysis at the time of surgery. All three internally validated models performed well, with c-statistics ranging from 0.783 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.770, 0.797) for Model 1 to 0.818 (95%CI: 0.803, 0.826) for Model 3. Calibration slopes and intercepts were excellent for all models, though Models 2 and 3 demonstrated improvement in net reclassification. Decision curve analysis estimated that use of any model to guide perioperative interventions such as cardiac monitoring would result in potential net benefit over default strategies. CONCLUSIONS: We developed and internally validated three novel models to predict major clinical events for people with kidney failure having surgery. Models including comorbidities and laboratory variables showed improved accuracy of risk stratification and provided the greatest potential net benefit for guiding perioperative decisions. Once externally validated, these models may inform perioperative shared decision making and risk-guided strategies for this population.

Beyond guideline knowledge: a theory-based qualitative study of low-value preoperative testing.

BACKGROUND: Choosing Wisely Canada and most major anesthesia and preoperative guidelines recommend against obtaining preoperative tests before low-risk procedures. However, these recommendations alone have not reduced low-value test ordering. In this study, the theoretical domains framework (TDF) was used to understand the drivers of preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest X-ray (CXR) ordering for patients undergoing low-risk surgery ('low-value preoperative testing') among anesthesiologists, internal medicine specialists, nurses, and surgeons. METHODS: Using snowball sampling, preoperative clinicians working in a single health system in Canada were recruited for semi-structured interviews about low-value preoperative testing. The interview guide was developed using the TDF to identify the factors that influence preoperative ECG and CXR ordering. Interview content was deductively coded using TDF domains and specific beliefs were identified by grouping similar utterances. Domain relevance was established based on belief statement frequency, presence of conflicting beliefs, and perceived influence over preoperative test ordering practices. RESULTS: Sixteen clinicians (7 anesthesiologists, 4 internists, 1 nurse, and 4 surgeons) participated. Eight of the 12 TDF domains were identified as the drivers of preoperative test ordering. While most participants agreed that the guidelines were helpful, they also expressed distrust in the evidence behind them (knowledge). Both a lack of clarity about the responsibilities of the specialties involved in the preoperative process and the ease by which any clinician could order, but not cancel tests, were drivers of low-value preoperative test ordering (social/professional role and identity, social influences, belief about capabilities). Additionally, low-value tests could also be ordered by nurses or the surgeon and may be completed before the anesthesia or internal medicine preoperative assessment appointment (environmental context and resources, beliefs about capabilities). Finally, while participants agreed that they did not intend to routinely order low-value tests and understood that these would not benefit patient outcomes, they also reported ordering tests to prevent surgery cancellations and problems during surgery (motivation and goals, beliefs about consequences, social influences). CONCLUSIONS: We identified key factors that anesthesiologists, internists, nurses, and surgeons believe influence preoperative test ordering for patients undergoing low-risk surgeries. These beliefs highlight the need to shift away from knowledge-based interventions and focus instead on understanding local drivers of behaviour and target change at the individual, team, and institutional levels.

Implementation of a Perioperative Glycemic Management Quality Improvement Pathway in Gynecologic Oncology Patients: A Single-cohort Interrupted Time-series Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated implementation and clinical outcomes of a perioperative glycemic management pathway in gynecologic oncology. METHODS: Interrupted time-series analysis was used to compare process, balancing and outcome measures and clinical outcomes from 18 months preimplementation to 18 months postimplementation. RESULTS: Compared with in the preimplementation period, the proportion of patients who underwent preoperative screening with glycated hemoglobin in the postimplementation period increased by 11.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0% to 17.7%; p=0.001). The proportion of patients with diabetes who had at least 1 blood glucose measurement after surgery increased by 15.3% (95% CI, -3.2% to 33.8%; p=0.10). There was no change in the proportion of patients who had any hyperglycemia or moderate or severe hyperglycemia. The median length of stay decreased by 0.42 days (95% CI, -0.91 to 0.07 days; p=0.09). There were major quality gaps in perioperative glycemic management that did not clearly improve after implementation of a multidisciplinary care pathway. CONCLUSION: Optimal strategies for improvement of perioperative glycemic management are not yet known.

Strategies for intraoperative glucose management: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Perioperative hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes for patients with and without diabetes. Guidelines and published protocols for intraoperative glycemic management have substantial variation in their recommendations. We sought to characterize the current evidence-guiding intraoperative glycemic management in a scoping review. SOURCES: Our search strategy included MEDLINE (Ovid and EBSCO), PubMed, PubMed Central, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SciVerse Scopus, and Web of Science and a gray literature search of Google, Google Scholar, hand searching of the reference lists of included articles, OAISter, institutional protocols, and ClinicalTrails.gov. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We identified 41 articles that met our inclusion criteria, 24 of which were original research studies. Outcomes and exposures were defined heterogeneously across studies, which limited comparison and synthesis. Investigators often created arbitrary and differing categories of glucose values rather than analyzing glucose as a continuous variable, which limited our ability to combine results from different studies. In addition, the study populations and surgery types also varied considerably, with few studies performed during day surgeries and specific surgical disciplines. Study populations often included more than one type of surgery, indication, and urgency that were expected to have varying physiologic and inflammatory responses. Combining low- and high-risk patients in the same study population may obscure the harms or benefits of intraoperative glycemic management for high-risk procedures or patients. CONCLUSION: Future studies examining intraoperative glycemic management should carefully consider the study population, surgical characteristics, and pre- and postoperative management of hyperglycemia.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'hyperglycémie périopératoire est associée à des effets indésirables chez les patients diabétiques et non diabétiques. Les lignes directrices et les protocoles publiés pour la prise en charge glycémique peropératoire présentent des variations substantielles dans leurs recommandations. Nous avons cherché à caractériser les données probantes actuelles guidant la prise en charge glycémique peropératoire dans une étude de portée. SOURCES: Notre stratégie de recherche a inclus les bases de données MEDLINE (Ovid et EBSCO), PubMed, PubMed Central, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SciVerse Scopus et Web of Science, ainsi qu'une recherche documentaire grise sur Google, Google Scholar, la recherche manuelle des listes de référence des articles inclus, OAISter, les protocoles institutionnels et ClinicalTrials.gov. CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES: Nous avons identifié 41 articles qui répondaient à nos critères d'inclusion, dont 24 étaient des études de recherche originales. Les critères d'évaluation et les expositions étaient définis de manière hétérogène d'une étude à l'autre, ce qui a limité la comparaison et la synthèse. Les chercheurs ont souvent créé des catégories arbitraires et différentes de valeurs glycémiques plutôt que d'analyser la glycémie comme une variable continue, ce qui a limité notre capacité à combiner les résultats de différentes études. En outre, les populations étudiées et les types de chirurgie variaient également considérablement, avec peu d'études réalisées lors de chirurgies ambulatoires et dans certaines disciplines chirurgicales spécifiques. Les populations étudiées comprenaient souvent plus d'un type de chirurgie, d'indication et d'urgence, pour lesquelles des réponses physiologiques et inflammatoires variables étaient attendues. La combinaison de patients à faible et à haut risque dans la même population d'étude a pu masquer les inconvénients ou les avantages d'une prise en charge glycémique peropératoire pour les interventions ou les patients à haut risque. CONCLUSION: Les études futures portant sur la prise en charge glycémique peropératoire devraient examiner attentivement la population étudiée, les caractéristiques chirurgicales et la prise en charge pré- et postopératoire de l'hyperglycémie.

Perioperative management for people with kidney failure receiving dialysis: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: People with kidney failure receiving dialysis (CKD-G5D) are more likely to undergo surgery and experience poorer postoperative outcomes than those without kidney failure. In this scoping review, we aimed to systematically identify and summarize perioperative strategies, protocols, pathways, and interventions that have been studied or implemented for people with CKD-G5D. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Controlled Trials registry (inception to February 2020), in addition to an extensive grey literature search, for sources that reported on a perioperative strategy to guide management for people with CKD-G5D. We summarized the overall study characteristics and perioperative management strategies and identified evidence gaps based on surgery type and perioperative domain. Publication trends over time were assessed, stratified by surgery type and study design. RESULTS: We included 183 studies; the most common study design was a randomized controlled trial (27%), with 67% of publications focused on either kidney transplantation or dialysis vascular access. Transplant-related studies often focused on fluid and volume management strategies and risk stratification, whereas dialysis vascular access studies focused most often on imaging. The number of publications increased over time, across all surgery types, though driven by non-randomized study designs. CONCLUSIONS: Despite many current gaps in perioperative research for patients with CKD-G5D, evidence generation supporting perioperative management is increasing, with recent growth driven primarily by non-randomized studies. Our review may inform organization of evidence-based strategies into perioperative care pathways where evidence is available while also highlighting gaps that future perioperative research can address.

Association of Kidney Function With Major Postoperative Events After Noncardiac Ambulatory Surgeries: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or death after ambulatory noncardiac surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly undergo surgical procedures. Although most are performed in an ambulatory setting, the risk of major perioperative outcomes after ambulatory surgery for people with CKD is unknown. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based cohort study using administrative health data from Alberta, Canada, we included adults with measured preoperative kidney function undergoing ambulatory noncardiac surgery between April 1, 2005 and February 28, 2017. Participants were categorized into 6 eGFR categories (in mL/min/1.73m 2 )of ≥60 (G1-2), 45 to 59 (G3a), 30 to 44 (G3b), 15 to 29 (G4), <15 not receiving dialysis (G5ND), and those receiving chronic dialysis (G5D). The odds of AMI or death within 30 days of surgery were estimated using multivariable generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS: We identified 543,160 procedures in 323,521 people with a median age of 66 years (IQR 56-76); 52% were female. Overall, 2338 people (0.7%) died or had an AMI within 30 days of surgery. Compared with the G1-2 category, the adjusted odds ratio of death or AMI increased from 1.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.3) for G3a to 3.1 (2.6-3.6) for G5D. Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center visits within 30 days were frequent (17%), though similar across eGFR categories. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory surgery was associated with a low risk of major postoperative events. This risk was higher for people with CKD, which may inform their perioperative shared decision-making and management.

Using the Revised Cardiac Risk Index to Predict Major Postoperative Events for People With Kidney Failure: An External Validation and Update.

Background: People with kidney failure have high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although the revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) is used to estimate the risk of major postoperative events, it has not been validated in this population. We aimed to externally validate the RCRI and determine whether updating the model improved predictions for people with kidney failure. Methods: We derived a retrospective, population-based cohort of adults with kidney failure (maintenance dialysis or sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min per 1.73 m2) who had surgery in Alberta, Canada between 2005 and 2019. We categorized participants based on RCRI variables and assigned risk estimates of death or major cardiac events, and then estimated predictive performance. We re-estimated the coefficients for each RCRI variable and internally validated the updated model. Net benefit was estimated with decision curve analysis. Results: After 38,541 surgeries, 1204 events (3.1%) occurred. The estimated C-statistic for the original RCRI was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.62, 0.65). Examination of calibration revealed significant risk overestimation. In the re-estimated RCRI model, discrimination was marginally different (C-statistic 0.67 [95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.69]), though calibration was improved. No net benefit was observed when the data were examined with decision curve analysis, whereas the original RCRI was associated with harm. Conclusions: The RCRI performed poorly in a Canadian kidney failure cohort and significantly overestimated risk, suggesting that RCRI use in similar kidney failure populations should be limited. A re-estimated kidney failure-specific RCRI may be promising but needs external validation. Novel perioperative models for this population are urgently needed.

Contexte: Les personnes atteintes d'insuffisance rénale présentent un risque élevé de mortalité et de morbidité postopératoires. L'indice de risque cardiaque révisé (IRCR) est utilisé pour estimer le risque d'événements postopératoires majeurs, mais il n'a pas été validé au sein de cette po-pulation. Nous avons cherché à réaliser une validation externe de l'IRCR et à déterminer si une modification du modèle pourrait permettre une meilleure valeur prédictive pour les patients atteints d'insuffisance rénale. Méthodologie: Nous avons étudié rétrospectivement une cohorte populationnelle d'adultes atteints d'insuffisance rénale (sous dialyse d'entretien ou avec un débit de filtration glomérulaire estimé < 15 ml/min/1,73 m2, de façon soutenue) ayant subi une intervention chirurgicale en Alberta (Canada) entre 2005 et 2019. Les participants ont été classifiés selon les variables de l'IRCR, et une estimation du risque de décès ou d'événement cardiovasculaire majeur leur a été attribuée; la performance prédictive a ensuite été évaluée. Nous avons réestimé les coefficients pour chacune des variables de l'IRCR et nous avons validé de manière interne le modèle modifié. Le bénéfice net a été estimé avec une analyse de la courbe décisionnelle. Résultats: Après 38 541 interventions chirurgicales, des événements cardiovasculaires sont survenus dans 1 204 cas (3,1 %). La statistique C estimée obtenue avec l'IRCR initial était de 0,64 (intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, de 0,62 à 0,65). Un examen de la calibration de l'indice a révélé une surestimation significative du risque. Avec le modèle d'IRCR modifié, la discrimination présentait une légère différence (statistique C de 0,67 [IC à 95 %, de 0,66 à 0,69]), bien que la calibration ait été améliorée. Pour l'indice modifié, aucun bénéfice net n'a été observé lors de l'examen des données par une analyse décisionnelle, alors qu'un préjudice était associé à l'IRCR initial. Conclusions: L'IRCR s'est révélé peu concluant dans une cohorte populationnelle de patients canadiens atteints d'insuffisance rénale et il a significativement surestimé les risques pour ces patients, ce qui suggère que l'utilisation de l'IRCR dans des populations similaires atteintes d'insuffisance rénale devrait être limitée. Un IRCR réestimé, propre à la population des patients atteints d'insuffisance rénale, pourrait être prometteur, mais requiert une validation externe. De nouveaux modèles périopératoires sont indispensables pour cette population.

Experiences and Impacts of Harassment and Discrimination Among Women in Cardiac Medicine and Surgery: A Single-Center Qualitative Study.

Background: Gender- and sex-based harassment and discrimination are consistently reported by about 50% of women physicians, and the prevalence may be even greater among women in cardiology. An exploration of these experiences and their impacts on women in healthcare is necessary to design interventions, create supports, and facilitate empathy, support, and allyship among leadership. Methods: To understand and describe the experiences of harassment and discrimination among women working in cardiac sciences, to inform the design of interventions and supports, we performed one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with women in the Department of Cardiac Sciences in a single institute. Interviews were coded independently in parallel using thematic analysis and reconciled by trained qualitative researchers. Experiences were categorized as harassment using the Canadian Human Rights Act. Codes were grouped into themes by iterative discussion. Results: There were 15 participants, including trainees, physicians in a variety of cardiac subdisciplines, and nurse practitioners. All participants had experienced sex- or gender-based discrimination at work, though the impact and perception of these experiences varied. Whereas some participants felt that these experiences had little influence on their careers or personal lives, others changed practice specialties or locations due to harassment. Several participants had been sexually assaulted at work. Interviews revealed modifiable barriers to reporting harassment. Conclusions: This qualitative dataset enriches the prevalence data on sex- and gender-based harassment among women working in cardiology by describing the impacts and perceptions of this harassment. Organizations should address commonly described barriers to reporting harassment, including addressing retaliation, and create systems-level supports for those affected by harassment.

Introduction: Environ 50 % des femmes médecins signalent constamment la discrimination et le harcèlement fondés sur le genre et le sexe. Cette prévalence est encore plus grande chez les femmes en cardiologie. L'exploration de ces expériences et de leurs répercussions sur les femmes dans les soins de santé est nécessaire pour concevoir des interventions, créer du soutien, et faciliter l'empathie, le soutien et le concept d'allié chez les dirigeants. Méthodes: En vue de comprendre et de décrire les expériences de harcèlement et de discrimination chez les femmes qui travaillent en sciences cardiaques, d'orienter la conception d'interventions et de soutien, nous avons réalisé des entretiens individuels semi-structurés auprès de femmes du Service des sciences cardiaques d'un seul établissement. Les entrevues ont indépendamment été codifiées en parallèle par l'analyse thématique et rapprochées par des chercheurs formés aux méthodes qualitatives. Les expériences ont été catégorisées en harcèlement conformément à la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne. Des échanges itératifs ont permis de regrouper les codes par thèmes. Résultats: Les 15 participantes étaient des stagiaires, des médecins de diverses sous-disciplines de la cardiologie et des infirmières praticiennes. Toutes les participantes avaient subi de la discrimination fondée sur le sexe ou le genre au travail, même si les répercussions et la perception de ces expériences variaient. Alors que quelques participantes ont senti que ces expériences avaient eu peu d'influence sur leur carrière ou leur vie personnelle, d'autres ont changé de spécialité ou de lieu de pratique en raison du harcèlement. Plusieurs participantes ont subi des agressions sexuelles au travail. Les entretiens ont révélé des obstacles au signalement du harcèlement qui sont modifiables. Conclusions: Cet ensemble de données qualitatives enrichit les données sur la prévalence du harcèlement fondé sur le sexe et le genre chez les femmes qui travaillent en cardiologie en décrivant les répercussions et les perceptions de ce harcèlement. Les organisations devraient se pencher sur les obstacles au signalement du harcèlement fréquemment décrits, notamment les représailles, et créer du soutien à l'échelle du système pour les femmes qui sont touchées par le harcèlement.

Mortality and cardiovascular events in adults with kidney failure after major non-cardiac surgery: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: People with kidney failure have a high incidence of major surgery, though the risk of perioperative outcomes at a population-level is unknown. Our objective was to estimate the proportion of people with kidney failure that experience acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or death within 30 days of major non-cardiac surgery, based on surgery type. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, we used administrative health data to identify adults from Alberta, Canada with major surgery between April 12,005 and February 282,017 that had preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) < 15 mL/min/1.73m2 or received chronic dialysis. The index surgical procedure for each participant was categorized within one of fourteen surgical groupings based on Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (CCI) codes applied to hospitalization administrative datasets. We estimated the proportion of people that had AMI or died within 30 days of the index surgical procedure (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) following logistic regression, stratified by surgery type. RESULTS: Overall, 3398 people had a major surgery (1905 hemodialysis; 590 peritoneal dialysis; 903 non-dialysis). Participants were more likely male (61.0%) with a median age of 61.5 years (IQR 50.0-72.7). Within 30 days of surgery, 272 people (8.0%) had an AMI or died. The probability was lowest following ophthalmologic surgery at 1.9% (95%CI: 0.5, 7.3) and kidney transplantation at 2.1% (95%CI: 1.3, 3.2). Several types of surgery were associated with greater than one in ten risk of AMI or death, including retroperitoneal (10.0% [95%CI: 2.5, 32.4]), intra-abdominal (11.7% [8.7, 15.5]), skin and soft tissue (12.1% [7.4, 19.1]), musculoskeletal (MSK) (12.3% [9.9, 15.5]), vascular (12.6% [10.2, 15.4]), anorectal (14.7% [6.3, 30.8]), and neurosurgical procedures (38.1% [20.3, 59.8]). Urgent or emergent procedures had the highest risk, with 12.1% experiencing AMI or death (95%CI: 10.7, 13.6) compared with 2.6% (1.9, 3.5) following elective surgery. CONCLUSIONS: After major non-cardiac surgery, the risk of death or AMI for people with kidney failure varies significantly based on surgery type. This study informs our understanding of surgery type and risk for people with kidney failure. Future research should focus on identifying high risk patients and strategies to reduce these risks.

Quality gaps in screening and monitoring for postoperative hyperglycemia in a Canadian hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative glycemic management may reduce poor surgical outcomes. Previous studies suggest that quality gaps in perioperative glycemic management may be common. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used administrative health and laboratory data from a single center to estimate quality gaps in perioperative glycemic management in patients with and without diabetes between April 2019 and March 2020. We examined the proportion of patients with preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement, postoperative point-of-care testing (POCT) for glucose, hyperglycemia, and basal bolus insulin regimens. We compared the median length of stay (LOS) in patients with and without postoperative hyperglycemia, adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: There were 6576 patients in our cohort; 1165 (17.8%) had diabetes. Most patients with diabetes had an HbA1c measured prior to surgery (n=697, 59.8%). Postoperatively, 16.9% of patients with diabetes had no POCT monitoring (n=197) and 65.7% had hyperglycemia (n=636). Only 35.9% of patients who received insulin had a basal bolus insulin regimen (n=229). Patients with diabetes who had postoperative hyperglycemia had a longer median LOS compared with those who did not have postoperative hyperglycemia (8.4 days (95% CI 7.5 to 9.4) and 6.7 days (95% CI 6.3 to 7.1), respectively). In patients without diabetes, median LOS was 7.4 days (95% CI 4.4 to 10.4) for those with hyperglycemia and 5.2 days (95% CI 5.1 to 5.4) for those with in-target glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Quality gaps in perioperative glycemic management include measurement of blood glucose after surgery and treatment of postoperative hyperglycemia. These gaps may contribute to longer LOS.

Estimated GFR and Incidence of Major Surgery: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Kidney disease is associated with an increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, the incidence of major surgery on a population level is unknown. We aimed to determine the incidence of major surgery by level of kidney function. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study with entry from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009, and outcome surveillance from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2016. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Population-based study using administrative health data from Alberta, Canada; adults with an outpatient serum creatinine measurement or receiving maintenance dialysis formed the study cohort. EXPOSURE: Participants were categorized into 6 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) categories: ≥60 (G1-G2), 45 to 59 (G3a), 30 to 44 (G3b), 15 to 29 (G4), and<15mL/min/1.73m2 with (G5D) and without (G5) dialysis. eGFR was examined as a time-varying exposure based on means of measurements within 3-month ascertainment periods throughout the study period. OUTCOME: Major surgery defined as surgery requiring admission to the hospital for at least 24 hours. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Incidence rates (IRs) for overall major surgery were estimated using quasi-Poisson regression and adjusted for age, sex, income, location of residence, albuminuria, and Charlson comorbid conditions. Age- and sex-stratified IRs of 13 surgery subtypes were also estimated. RESULTS: 1,455,512 cohort participants were followed up for a median of 7.0 (IQR, 5.3) years, during which time 241,989 (16.6%) underwent a major surgery. Age and sex modified the relationship between eGFR and incidence of surgery. Men younger than 65 years receiving maintenance dialysis experienced the highest rates of major surgery, with an adjusted IR of 243.8 (95% CI, 179.8-330.6) per 1,000 person-years. There was a consistent trend of increasing surgery rates at lower eGFRs for most subtypes of surgery. LIMITATIONS: Outpatient preoperative serum creatinine measurement was necessary for inclusion and outpatient surgical procedures were not included. CONCLUSIONS: People with reduced eGFR have a significantly higher incidence of major surgery compared with those with normal eGFR, and age and sex modify this increased risk. This study informs our understanding of how surgical burden changes with differing levels of kidney function.

Perioperative management for people with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis undergoing major surgery: a protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: People with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis (CKD G5D) have an increased risk of poor postoperative outcomes and a high incidence of major surgery. Despite the high burden of these combined risks, there is a paucity of evidence to support tailored perioperative strategies to manage this population. A comprehensive evidence synthesis would inform the management of these patients in the perioperative period and identify knowledge gaps. We describe a protocol for a scoping review of the literature to identify existing perioperative strategies, protocols, pathways and interventions for people with CKD G5D undergoing major surgery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and report per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. In February 2020, we will complete our search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry for published literature from inception to present. All study types are eligible for inclusion, without language restriction. Studies reporting a perioperative intervention in adult patients with CKD G5D are eligible for inclusion. Studies in prevalent kidney transplant patients or patients with acute kidney injury, and studies that report on surgical approaches without consideration of perioperative management strategies, will be excluded. Reviewers will independently assess abstracts for all identified studies in duplicate, and again at the full-text stage. Following published literature searches, a search of the grey literature will be developed. We will extract and narratively report study, participant and intervention details. This will include a summary table outlining the strategies employed, organised into post hoc developed perioperative domains. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical considerations do not apply to this scoping review. Findings will be disseminated through relevant conference presentations and publications.

Skin cancer knowledge and photoprotective practices of organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Long-term use of immunosuppressive medications by organ transplant recipients (OTRs) leads to an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). The objective of this study was to assess photoprotective knowledge and practices among OTRs and to identify predictors of poor sunscreen adherence and barriers to photoprotection. METHODS: A written survey was administered to 300 solid OTRs attending the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. Demographics, transplant and NMSC history, ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, photoprotective knowledge and practices, and barriers to implementing photoprotection were collected. Relevant statistical analyses and univariate and multivariable regression models on sunscreen use were performed. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine of the 300 respondents reported not using sunscreen most days despite 79.3% recalling have received photoprotection education. Of the surveyed OTRs, 45.7% reported no barriers to implementing photoprotective practices. On average, respondents scored 74.5% on a commonly used tool to assess photoprotective knowledge (SD 30.6%). In multivariable analyses, older age, male gender, and lack of post-secondary education were associated with lower rates of self-reported sunscreen use. The most commonly patient-reported barriers to photoprotection were "hassle/time consuming" (16.7%) and "sunscreen is uncomfortable or unpleasant" (10.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite OTRs self-reporting having received sufficient sun-protective knowledge and demonstrating reasonable recollection of photoprotective education on assessment, implementation of sun protection in the studied OTRs remains suboptimal.