Pre-operative anemia prior to gynecologic surgery is associated with increased healthcare costs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare healthcare utilization costs between anemic and non-anemic patients undergoing elective hysterectomy and myomectomy for benign indications from the date of surgery to 30-days postoperatively. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Single-payer publicly funded healthcare system in Ontario, Canada between 2013-2020. PARTICIPANTS: Adult women (≥18 years of age) who underwent elective hysterectomy or myomectomy (laparoscopic/laparotomy) for benign indications. INTERVENTIONS: Our exposure of interest was pre-operative anemia, defined as the most recent hemoglobin value <12g/dL on the complete blood count measured before the date of surgery. Our primary outcome was healthcare costs (total and disaggregated) from the perspective of the single-payer publicly funded healthcare system. RESULTS: Of the 59,270 patients in the cohort, 11,802 (19.9%) had pre-operative anemia. After propensity matching, standardized differences in all baseline characteristics (N=10,103 per group) were <0.10. In the matched cohort, the mean total healthcare cost per anemic patient was higher compared to cost per non-anemic patient ($6,134.88 ± $2,782.38 vs. $6,009.97 ± $2,423.27, p<0.001). Anemic patients, compared to non-anemic patients, had a higher mean difference in total healthcare cost of $124.91 per patient (95%CI $53.54 - $196.29) translating to an increased cost attributable to anemia of 2.08% (95%CI 0.89% - 3.28%, p<0.001). In a subgroup analysis of patients undergoing hysterectomy (N=9041), the cost was also significantly higher for anemic patients (mean difference per patient of $117.67, 95%CI $41.58 - $193.75). For those undergoing myomectomy (N=1062) the difference in cost was not statistically significant (mean difference $186.61, 95%CI -$17.42 - $390.65). CONCLUSION: Pre-operative anemia was associated with significantly increased healthcare resource utilization and costs for patients undergoing elective gynecologic surgery. Although the cost difference per case was modest, when extrapolated to the population level, this difference could result in substantially significant cost to the healthcare system, attributable to pre-operative anemia.

Individualized Assessment of Risk of Complications after Benign Hysterectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to identify patient characteristics associated with postoperative complications or readmissions after hysterectomy for a benign indication. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: The Surgical Gynecologic Scorecard Database includes performance metrics and patient outcomes for hysterectomies across 7 sites in Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who underwent hysterectomy for benign gynecologic indication and were recorded in the Surgical Gynecologic Scorecard Database between July 2016 and June 2019 were included in this study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two outcomes of interest were considered: (1) complications grade II or greater on the Clavien-Dindo classification scale and (2) emergency room visits or hospital readmissions within 6 weeks after operation. Logistic models were generated to determine the associations between outcome of interest and potential predictors using a mixed-step AIC selection algorithm. A total of 2792 patients underwent hysterectomy for a benign indication during the study period, with a mean age of 52.6 ± 11.7 years and mean body mass index of 29.0 ± 0.7 kg/m2. The most common indications for surgery were abnormal uterine bleeding (33.3%) and myomas (33.6%). Previous cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.42), American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3 (aOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.42-3.99), preoperative anemia (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.12-2.02), and laparotomic approach (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29) were associated with increased odds of complication. Perioperative complications (aOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 2.12-4.08), preoperative anemia (aOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03-1.98), and vaginal (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.26-2.96) or laparotomic (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.43) approach were associated with increased odds of emergency room visit or readmission to hospital. CONCLUSION: This study identified several important risk factors for complications after hysterectomy. The utility of these data is important to help improve counseling for patients undergoing a hysterectomy and potentially optimize modifiable risk factors when identified preoperatively.

Impact of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology Fellowship Training on Quality Performance Metrics for Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in quality metrics between hysterectomies performed by fellowship-trained surgeons and those performed by generalists. METHODS: Retrospective review of 2845 consecutive hysterectomies by 75 surgeons (23 fellowship-trained, 52 generalists) at 7 hospitals in Ontario, Canada. The primary outcome was a composite of any complication or return to the emergency department (ED) within 30 days of hysterectomy. Secondary outcomes were 2 quality outcome measures (grade of complication and return to ED within 30 days) and 4 quality process measures (minimally invasive hysterectomy rate, rate of preoperative anemia, same-day discharge for laparoscopic hysterectomy [LH], and performing cystoscopy at LH). RESULTS: Fellowship-trained surgeons were more likely to perform concurrent resection of endometriosis, bilateral ureterolysis, lysis of adhesions, uterine/internal iliac artery ligation, and morcellation (all P < 0.001). Generalists performed more vaginal procedures, including vaginal repair, vault suspension, and insertion of mid-urethral sling (all P < 0.001). After controlling for patient and surgical factors, there was no difference in the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.07; 95% CI 0.79-1.45, P = 0.667). Fellowship-trained surgeons were more likely to perform minimally invasive hysterectomy (aOR 2.38; 95% CI 1.15-4.93, P = 0.020), had higher rates of same-day discharge for LH (aOR 2.23; 95% CI 1.31-3.81, P = 0.003), and were more likely to perform cystoscopy (unadjusted OR 2.94; 95% CI 2.30-3.85, P < 0.001). There were no differences in the rates of preoperative anemia, surgical complications, and ED visits. CONCLUSION: Differences exist between fellowship-trained surgeons and generalists regarding case mix and process quality metrics. Postoperative complications and readmissions were comparable for both groups of surgeons.

Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Women: A Canadian Study in a Large Urban Setting.

OBJECTIVE: Nutritional and financial needs increase during pregnancy, making pregnant women particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. Our objective was to document the prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant women receiving prenatal care in an urban centre in Canada and to identify factors associated with food insecurity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited pregnant women receiving prenatal care at one of two Toronto hospitals: Site 1 and Site 2 (serving a more disadvantaged population) between October 1, 2018 and October 1, 2019. Demographic information was collected, and the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module was used to assess food security. Comparisons were made using χ2 tests, two-tailed t tests, or Mann-Whitney tests for categorical and continuous variables, as appropriate. Binary logistic regression and multivariate analyses were performed to assess associations with food insecurity and differences between hospitals sites. RESULTS: We recruited 626 participants (316 at Site 1 and 310 at Site 2). Prevalence of food insecurity was 12.8% among all participants with Site 2 having nearly 5 times the prevalence of Site 1 (66/310 [21.3%] vs. 14/316 [4.4%]; P = 0.001). Several factors were associated with food insecurity, with non-White ethnicity (OR 2.04; 95% CI 0.98-4.25, P = 0.055] and lower household income (OR 37.53; 95% CI 14.04-100, P < 0.001 when less than CAD $23 000/y) being the most robust. CONCLUSION: This Canadian study documented the prevalence of and factors associated with food insecurity in pregnancy. Targeted interventions to help low-income women and programs geared towards non-White women may be beneficial in addressing food insecurity among pregnant women.

The Generic Error Rating Tool: A Novel Approach to Assessment of Performance and Surgical Education in Gynecologic Laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Global rating scales are commonly used to rate surgeons' skill level. However, these tools lack granularity required for specific skill feedback. Recently, an alternative framework has been developed that is designed to measure technical errors during laparoscopy. The purpose of the present study was to gather validity evidence for the Generic Error Rating Tool (GERT) in gynecologic laparoscopy. DESIGN: Video recordings of total laparoscopic hysterectomies were analyzed by 2 blinded reviewers using the GERT and the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scale. Several sources of validity were examined according to the unitary framework of validity. Main outcomes were interrater and intrarater reliability regarding total number of errors and events. Further, surgeons were grouped according to OSATS scores (OSATS ≥ 28 = high performers and OSATS < 28 = low performers), and the number of errors and events was compared between groups. Correlation analysis between GERT and OSATS scores was performed. Lastly, error distribution within procedure steps was explored and compared between high- and low-performing surgeons. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 anonymized video recordings of total laparoscopic hysterectomies. RESULTS: Interrater and intrarater reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.95) for total number of errors and events. Low performers made significantly more errors than high performers did (median = 49.5 [interquartile range: 34.5-66] vs median = 31 [interquartile range: 16.75-35.25], p = 0.002). There was a significant negative correlation between individual OSATS scores and total number of errors (Spearman ρ = -0.76, p < 0.001, and ρ = -0.88, p < 0.001, for raters 1 and 2, respectively). Error distribution varied between operative steps, and low performers made more errors in some steps, but not in others. CONCLUSION: GERT allows for objective and reproducible assessment of technical errors during gynecologic laparoscopy and could be used for performance analysis and personalized surgical education and training.