Body composition assessment by artificial intelligence can be a predictive tool for short-term postoperative complications in Hartmann's reversals.

BACKGROUND: Hartmann's reversal, a complex elective surgery, reverses and closes the colostomy in individuals who previously underwent a Hartmann's procedure due to colonic pathology like cancer or diverticulitis. It demands careful planning and patient optimisation to help reduce postoperative complications. Preoperative evaluation of body composition has been useful in identifying patients at high risk of short-term postoperative outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery. We sought to explore the use of our in-house derived Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm to measure body composition within patients undergoing Hartmann's reversal procedure in the prediction of short-term postoperative complications. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients who underwent Hartmann's reversal within a single tertiary referral centre (Western) in Melbourne, Australia and who had a preoperative Computerised Tomography (CT) scan performed. Body composition was measured using our previously validated AI algorithm for body segmentation developed by the Department of Surgery, Western Precinct, University of Melbourne. Sarcopenia in our study was defined as a skeletal muscle index (SMI), calculated as Skeletal Muscle Area (SMA) /height2 < 38.5 cm2/m2 in women and < 52.4 cm2/m2 in men. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2020, 47 patients (mean age 63.1 ± 12.3 years; male, n = 28 (59.6%) underwent body composition analysis. Twenty-one patients (44.7%) were sarcopenic, and 12 (25.5%) had evidence of sarcopenic obesity. The most common postoperative complication was surgical site infection (SSI) (n = 8, 17%). Sarcopenia (n = 7, 87.5%, p = 0.02) and sarcopenic obesity (n = 5, 62.5%, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with SSIs. The risks of developing an SSI were 8.7 times greater when sarcopenia was present. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were related to postoperative complications following Hartmann's reversal. Body composition measured by a validated AI algorithm may be a beneficial tool for predicting short-term surgical outcomes for these patients.

Comprehensive assessment of risk factors and pathogenic characteristics of wound infections following thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with surgical resection as a primary treatment modality. However, postoperative wound infections (PWIs) pose significant risks following thoracoscopic radical resection. This study aims to identify the risk factors and pathogenetic characteristics associated with PWIs in lung cancer surgery. A comprehensive retrospective study was conducted from August 2021 to June 2023 at our institution. The study included 30 patients who developed PWIs and 60 controls who did not, following thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer. We evaluated various factors including age, hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, body mass index (BMI), operation time, prophylactic antibiotic use, diabetes mellitus and tumour staging. Diagnostic criteria for PWIs were based on clinical signs and microbiological confirmation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, utilizing chi-square tests, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The predominant pathogens identified in PWIs were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Univariate analysis revealed operation time (≥4 h) and diabetes mellitus as significant risk factors for PWIs, while prophylactic antibiotic use was associated with a lower incidence of PWIs. Multivariate analysis further confirmed these findings, highlighting prolonged operation time and diabetes as significant predictors of PWIs, and antibiotic use as a protective factor. Prolonged operation time and diabetes mellitus significantly increase the risk of PWIs following thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer, whereas prophylactic antibiotics play a protective role. These findings underscore the importance of tailored preventive strategies in clinical practice to minimize the occurrence of postoperative infections and improve surgical outcomes in lung cancer patients.

Assessment of Wound-Related Pain Experiences of Patients With Chronic Wounds: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Eastern China.

PURPOSE: The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of wound-related pain (WRP) in patients with chronic wounds and assess the use of pain relief measures. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A convenience sample of patients with chronic wounds was recruited from outpatient clinics of 12 hospitals covering 7 of 13 cities in the Jiangsu province located in eastern China from July 10 to August 25, 2020. The sample comprised 451 respondents, and their mean age was 54.85 (SD 19.16) years; 56.1% (253/451) patients were male. METHODS: An investigator-designed questionnaire was used to collect pain-related information from patients. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: (1) basic demographic and clinical information (patient and wound characteristics); (2) wound baseline pain; (3) wound-related procedural pain and pain relief method; and (4) the effect of WRP on the patient. Pain was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scored from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Severity of pain was based on NRS scores' classification as mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10). The survey was conducted from July 10 to August 25, 2020. Participants were instructed on use of the NRS and then completed the questionnaire following dressing change independently. RESULTS: The 3 most common types of chronic wounds were traumatic ulcers, surgical wounds, and venous leg ulcers. The 3 most prevalent locations were lower limbs, feet, and thorax/abdomen. Of all patients, 62.5% (282/451) and 93.8% (423/451) patients experienced wound baseline pain and wound-related procedural pain, respectively. The mean score of wound baseline pain was 3.76 (SD 1.60) indicating moderate pain. During wound management, the highest pain score was 6.45 (SD 2.75) indicating severe pain; the most severe pain scores were associated with debridement. The use of drugs to relieve wound pain was low, while the use of nondrug-based analgesia was relatively high. Because of WRP, patients with chronic wounds feared dressing changes, hesitated to move, and showed a decline in sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Wound baseline pain and wound-related procedural pain were very common in patients with chronic wounds. In the future, targeted intervention plans should be developed by combining drug-based and nondrug-based analgesia according to pain severity.

Systematic review and quality assessment of clinical and economic evidence for superabsorbent wound dressings in a population with chronic ulcers.

Effective exudate management is key for optimal ulcer healing. Superabsorbent dressings are designed to have high fluid handling capacity, reduced risk of exudate leakage, fluid retention under compression, and to sequester harmful exudate components. This study aimed to systematically identify existing evidence for the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of superabsorbent dressings for the treatment of moderate-to-highly exudating chronic ulcers of various etiologies. The aim is focused on examining the 'class' effect of all superabsorbers, not any particular dressing. Clinical and cost effectiveness systematic reviews were conducted, searching Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. The Cost Effectiveness Analysis Registry and Econ papers were also searched for the economic review. Outcomes of interest included ulcer closure, dressing properties, hospital- and infection-related outcomes, safety, and economic outcomes. Fourteen studies were included in the clinical systematic review. Eleven were case series, with one randomised controlled trial, one retrospective matched observational study, and one retrospective cohort study. The studies investigated eight superabsorbent dressings and were heterogeneous in their patient population and outcomes. Superabsorbent dressings may result in favourable outcomes, including reductions in frequency of dressing change and pain scores. As most studies were case series, drawing firm conclusions was difficult due to absence of a comparator arm. The economic systematic review identified seven studies, five of which were cost-utility analyses. These suggested superabsorbent dressings are a more cost-effective option for the treatment of chronic ulcers compared with standard dressings. However, the small number and low quality of studies identified in both reviews highlights the need for future research.

Antibiotic treatment of hand wounds in children: Contribution of a decision tree.

BACKGROUND: The need for prophylactic antibiotic treatment of hand wounds in children requiring emergency surgical exploration is still controversial. Our starting hypothesis was that the absence of prophylactic antibiotic treatment in this setting (as specified by a decision tree) does not increase the likelihood of surgical site infection. METHODS: A decision tree for antibiotic prescription was developed by a working group in compliance with the guidelines issued by the French High Authority for Health, as part of a clinical pathway. One injection of intravenous antibiotics was prescribed for bite injuries, open joint injuries, injuries left untreated for more than 24 h, and suspected contaminated wounds. All children admitted for surgical treatment of a hand wound between July 2018 and March 2023 were included. Demographic data, antibiotic prescription and onset of postoperative surgical site infection were recorded. RESULTS: The 238 children included had a mean age of 8 ± 4.8 years; 102 received antibiotics and 136 did not. Eleven children (4.6%) had superficial surgical site infection requiring no revision surgery or antibiotic therapy. 206 children (86.5%) were treated following the decision tree. Ten had superficial surgical site infection: 3 received antibiotics (3.7% of the 80 who were treated) and 7 did not (5.5% of the 126 not treated) (p = 0.74). Thirty-two patients (13.5%) were off-protocol, only 1 of whom received antibiotics for superficial surgical site infection. DISCUSSION: Applying the decision tree standardized the prescription of antibiotics in hand wounds, was not associated with a significantly greater rate of surgical site infection, and avoided exposure to antibiotics for 61.1% of the children, thus limiting potential adverse events. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Use of interrupted time-series analyses in evaluating health economic outcomes following implementation of multilayer water-tight wound closure in a primary total joint arthroplasty population.

Aim: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) with multi-layer, watertight closure (MLWC) using knotless barbed suture and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate plus polymer mesh tape was compared with conventional closure (CC) using Vicryl™ sutures and staples. Patients & methods: Electronic medical records of patients undergoing TJA (1574: total knee arthroplasty; 580: total hip arthroplasty; 13: unknown) from a single surgeon at a US hospital (CC 2011 to 2013; MLWC 2015 to 2020) were reviewed. Outcomes were length of stay (LOS), discharge to skilled nursing facility (SNF), 90-day surgical site infection (SSI) and 90-day readmission. Logistic regression controlled for baseline characteristics. Adjusted interrupted time series (ITS) analyses accounted for decreasing trends in LOS and SNF discharge over time. Results: Among 2167 TJA cases (mean [standard deviation] age 66.0 [9.7] years, 53.3% female), 906 received CC and 1261 received MLWC. Bivariate analysis showed no statistically significant differences in 90-day SSI rates; however, MLWC patients had 60% lower 90-day readmission rates (1.5 vs 3.8%, p < 0.05), 44% lower LOS (1.4 vs 2.5 days, p < 0.05) and 40% lower discharge rates to a skilled care facility (8.5 vs 14.1%, p < 0.05). Multivariable analyses showed CC patients were 2.45-times more likely to be readmitted within 90 days, 1.88-times more likely to be discharged to SNF and had 1.67-times longer LOS compared with MLWC. ITS analyses showed a sharp decline in LOS (0.9 days) and discharge to SNF (5.6% incidence) after implementation of MLWC, followed by no further changes for the remainder of the study period. Conclusion: MLWC was associated with ≥40% reduction in 90-day readmission, LOS and SNF discharge compared with TJA CC. LOS and discharge rate to SNF declined sharply after the implementation of MLWC.

Risk assessment and pathogen profile of surgical site infections in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing emergency craniotomy: A retrospective study.

Emergency craniotomy in patients with traumatic brain injury poses a significant risk for surgical site infections (SSIs). Understanding the risk factors and pathogenic characteristics of SSIs in this context is crucial for improving outcomes. This comprehensive retrospective analysis spanned from February 2020 to February 2023 at our institution. We included 25 patients with SSIs post-emergency craniotomy and a control group of 50 patients without SSIs. Data on various potential risk factors were collected, including demographic information, preoperative conditions, and intraoperative details. The BACT/ALERT3D Automated Bacterial Culture and Detection System was utilized for rapid bacterial pathogen identification. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify significant risk factors for SSIs. The study identified Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus as the most prevalent pathogens in SSIs. Significant risk factors for SSIs included the lack of preoperative antibiotic use, postoperative drainage tube placement, diabetes mellitus, and the incorporation of invasive procedures, all of which showed a significant association with SSIs in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis further highlighted the protective effect of preoperative antibiotics and the increased risks associated with anaemia, diabetes mellitus, postoperative drainage tube placement, and the incorporation of invasive procedures. Our research underscores the critical role of factors like insufficient preoperative antibiotics, postoperative drainage, invasive techniques, anaemia, and diabetes mellitus in elevating the risk of surgical site infections in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing emergency craniotomy. Enhanced focus on these areas is essential for improving surgical outcomes.

Optimal antiseptic skin preparation agents for minimizing surgical site infection following surgery: cost and cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: The application of antiseptic skin agents prior to incision minimizes the rate of surgical site infection. Despite their ubiquity, the optimal skin preparation agent remains uncertain. A retrospective economic analysis was conducted to complement the results from the NEWSkin Prep trial which prospectively compared three preparation agents. METHODS: A cost and cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from a healthcare service perspective to compare chlorhexidine with 70% ethanol, and aqueous povidone-iodine, against povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol. Resource use estimates accounted for hospital admissions, readmissions associated with surgical site infection, outpatient and general practitioner attendances, visits from community nurses and therapeutic consumables. The measure of effectiveness comprised the net difference in number of patients with surgical site infections per 1000 patients. Costs were compared using a two-sample Welch's t-test. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. RESULTS: The null hypothesis that the mean costs for the trial arms were significantly different was not rejected (Welch's t-test P value: 0.771 for chlorhexidine with 70% ethanol against povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol; and 0.955 for aqueous povidone-iodine against povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol). Based on bootstrap averages, the chlorhexidine with 70% ethanol intervention generated 8.0 fewer surgical site infections per 1000 patients and net cost savings of €151,698 (Euros) per 1000 patients compared with povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol, and aqueous povidone-iodine produced a net cost saving of €37,494 per 1000 patients but generated an additional 11.6 surgical site infections per 1000 patients compared with povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol. The comparison of chlorhexidine with 70% ethanol to povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol was sensitive to the inclusion of cost outliers, while the comparison of aqueous povidone-iodine to povidone-iodine with 70% ethanol was sensitive to the estimated cost per surgical site infection. CONCLUSION: Based on the outcomes from the NEWSkin Prep study, this economic analysis found no definitive evidence in favour of any one of the study comparators. Future model-based economic analyses of alternative skin preparations should critically address the quality of evidence and integrate the results from the NEWSkin Prep study.

Hip prosthesis and colon surgery, a decade of surveillance on surgical site infections in Italy, a prospective cohort study: rates, trends, and disease burden in DALYs.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance programs are a key element of interventions aiming to reduce rates of surgical site infections (SSIs). The aim of this study was to evaluate rates and trends of SSIs following hip arthroplasty and colon surgery procedures in Piedmont, a region in North-western Italy, from 2010 to 2019. Further, we aimed to assess the burden of SSIs in terms of Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 42 hospitals participating in the surveillance system. Procedure-specific SSI rates were calculated and the 2010 - 2019 trend was evaluated using Spearman's Rho test. Patients were stratified according to age, sex and infection risk index according to life expectancy in order to calculate DALYs, using a modified version of the ECDC's BCoDE toolkit: disease models for both procedure types were adapted to incorporate long-term disability associated with SSIs. RESULTS: Overall, 20,356 hip arthroplasty and 11,011 colon surgery procedures were monitored over 10 years and were included in our analyses. Hip arthroplasty and colon surgery cumulative SSIs rates were 1.5% and 8% respectively. Using the Spearman's Rho test, we evaluated a significant downward trend from 2010 to 2019 for colon surgery interventions (Rs - 0.7, p < 0.05), while there was no difference for hip arthroplasty. (Rs - 0.04, p > 0.05). Regarding disease burden, a total of 955.3 (95%CI 837.7-1102.98) and 208.65 (95%CI 180.87-240.90) DALYs were calculated for SSIs following hip arthroplasty, whilst 76.58 (95%CI 67.15-90.71) and 38.62 (95% CI 33.09-45.36) DALYs for SSIs in colon surgery, in 2010 and 2019, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The significant decrease both in terms of incidence and DALYs found in this study for colon surgery and the stability for hip arthroplasty support the role of surveillance networks in improving quality of care. Despite the smaller SSI rate, the burden associated with SSIs following hip arthroplasty was higher, which is important to consider in light of the aging population in Italy.

Routine sterile glove and instrument change at the time of abdominal wound closure to prevent surgical site infection (ChEETAh): a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis of a pragmatic, cluster-randomised trial in seven low-income and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major burden on patients and health systems. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of routine change of sterile gloves and instruments before abdominal wall closure to prevent SSI. METHODS: A decision-analytic model was built to estimate average costs and outcomes of changing gloves and instruments before abdominal wall closure compared with current practice. Clinical data were obtained from the ChEETAh trial, a multicentre, cluster-randomised trial in seven low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), and costs were obtained from a study (KIWI) that assessed costs associated with SSIs in LMICs. Outcomes were measured as the percentage of surgeries resulting in SSIs. Costs were measured from a health-care provider perspective and were reported in 2021 US$. The economic analysis used a partially split single-country costing approach, with pooled outcomes data from all seven countries in the ChEETAh trial, and data for resource use and unit costs from India (KIWI); secondary analyses used resource use and costs from Mexico and Ghana (KIWI). FINDINGS: In the base case, the average cost of the intervention was $259∙92 compared with $261∙10 for current practice (cost difference -$1∙18, 95% CI -4∙08 to 1∙33). In the intervention group, an estimated 17∙6% of patients had an SSI compared with 19∙7% of patients in the current practice group (absolute risk reduction 2∙10%, 95% CI 2∙07-2∙84). At all cost-effectiveness thresholds assumed ($0 to $14 000), the intervention had a higher likelihood of being cost-effective compared with current practice, indicating that the intervention was cost-effective. Similar results were obtained when the analysis using data from India was repeated using resource use and unit cost data from Mexico and Ghana. INTERPRETATION: Routine sterile glove and instrument change before abdominal wall closure is effective and the costs are similar to those for current practice. Routine change of gloves and instruments before abdominal wall closure should be rolled out in LMICs. FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinician Scientist Award, NIHR Global Health Research Unit Grant, and Mölnlycke Healthcare.

A 7-year analysis of attributable costs of healthcare-associated infections in a network of community hospitals in the southeastern United States.

We calculated the attributable cost of several healthcare-associated infections in a community hospital network: central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI-HOs) (43 hospitals); surgical site infections (SSIs) (40 hospitals). From 2016 to 2022, the total cost of CLABSIs, CAUTIs, CDI-HOs, and SSIs was $420,012,025.

National validation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services strategy for identifying potential surgical-site infections following colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: National validation of claims-based surveillance for surgical-site infections (SSIs) following colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: US hospitals selected for data validation by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). PARTICIPANTS: The study included 550 hospitals performing colon surgery and 458 hospitals performing abdominal hysterectomy in federal fiscal year 2013. METHODS: We requested 1,200 medical records from hospitals selected for validation as part of the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program. For colon surgery, we sampled 60% with a billing code suggestive of SSI during their index admission and/or readmission within 30 days and 40% who were readmitted without one of these codes. For abdominal hysterectomy, we included all patients with an SSI code during their index admission, all patients readmitted within 30 days, and a sample of those with a prolonged surgical admission (length of stay > 7 days). We calculated sensitivity and positive predictive value for the different groups. RESULTS: We identified 142 colon-surgery SSIs (46 superficial SSIs and 96 deep and organ-space SSIs) and 127 abdominal-hysterectomy SSIs (58 superficial SSIs and 69 deep and organ-space SSIs). Extrapolating to the full CMS data validation cohort, we estimated an SSI rate of 8.3% for colon surgery and 3.0% for abdominal hysterectomy. Our colon-surgery surveillance codes identified 93% of SSIs, with 1 SSI identified for every 2.6 patients reviewed. Our abdominal-hysterectomy surveillance codes identified 73% of SSIs, with 1 SSI identified for every 1.6 patients reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Using claims to target record review for SSI validation performed well in a national sample.

Incidence and Management of Hardware-Related Wound Infections in Spinal Cord, Peripheral Nerve Field, and Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery: A Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Neuromodulation using deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), and peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) to treat neurological, psychiatric, and pain disorders is a rapidly growing field. Infections related to the implanted hardware are among the most common complications and result in health-related and economic burden. Unfortunately, conservative medical therapy is less likely to be successful. In this retrospective study, we aimed to identify characteristics of the infections and investigated surgical and antimicrobial treatments. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with an infection related to DBS, SCS, and/or PNFS hardware over an 8-year period at our institution. Data were analyzed for type of neurostimulator, time of onset of infection following the neurosurgical procedure, location, and surgical treatment strategy. Surgical treatment of infections consisted of either a surgical wound revision without hardware removal or a surgical wound revision with partial or complete hardware removal. Data were further analyzed for the microorganisms involved, antimicrobial treatment and its duration, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Over an 8-year period, a total of 1,250 DBS, 1,835 SCS, and 731 PNFS surgeries were performed including de novo system implantations, implanted pulse generator (IPG) replacements, and revisions. We identified 82 patients with infections related to the neurostimulator hardware, representing an incidence of 3.09% of the procedures. Seventy-one percent of the patients had undergone multiple surgeries related to the neurostimulator prior to the infection. The infections occurred after a mean of 12.2 months after the initial surgery. The site of infection was most commonly around the IPG, especially in DBS and SCS. The majority (62.2%) was treated by surgical wound revision with simultaneous partial or complete removal of hardware. Microbiological specimens predominantly yielded Staphylococcus epidermidis (39.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (35.4%). After surgery, antimicrobials were given for a mean of 3.4 weeks. The antimicrobial regime was significantly shorter in patients with hardware removal in comparison to those who only had undergone surgical wound revision. One intracranial abscess occurred. No cases of infection-related death, sepsis, bacteremia, or intraspinal abscesses were found. CONCLUSION: Our data did show the predominance of S. epidermidis and S. aureus as etiologic organisms in hardware-related infections. Infections associated with S. aureus most likely required (partial) hardware removal. Aggressive surgical treatment including hardware removal shortens the duration of antimicrobial treatment. Clear strategies should be developed to treat hardware-related infections to optimize patient management and reduce health- and economic-related burden.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Management of Postoperative Complications in Horizontal Strabismus Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence, risk factors and management of postoperative complications after horizontal strabismus surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: The study assessed 1,273 patients with 1,035 cases of exotropia and 238 cases of esotropia, with a minimum 18-month follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective review of strabismus operation patients' medical records included baseline demographics, age at surgery, pre/postoperative visual acuity, and deviation. Complications were categorized as surgical site (infection, scarring, cyst, granuloma, ischemia) and strabismus-related (recurrence, diplopia), with analysis of incidence, risk factors, and management. RESULTS: Among surgical site complications, the incidence of infection, pyogenic granuloma, and anterior segment ischemia were similar between the exotropia (0.3%, 0.3%, 0.2%) and esotropia (0.8%, 0%, 0.4%) groups (p = .221, 0.406, 0.515). In contrast, the esotropia group presented a higher risk of conjunctival inclusion cyst and conjunctival scar than the exotropia group, with incidences of 5.0% vs 2.2% and 6.3% vs 1.3%, respectively (p = .004, <0.001). Regarding strabismus complications, the incidence of early recurrence was not significant between the two groups, with 10.0% in the exotropia group and 10.5% in the esotropia group (p = .553). Older age and poor initial visual acuity were associated with early recurrence (p < .001). The esotropia group had a higher risk of persistent diplopia than the exotropia group, with incidences of 4.2% vs 2.0%, respectively (p = .003). CONCLUSION: Esotropia carries a higher risk of conjunctival inclusion cysts, conjunctival scarring, and persistent diplopia compared to the exotropia group, while both groups exhibit similar rates of early recurrence and other surgical site complications.

Pull-Through for Hirschsprung's Disease: Insights for Limited-Resource Settings From Mbarara.

INTRODUCTION: In many resource-limited settings, patients with Hirschsprung's Disease (HD) undergo initial diverting colostomy, followed by pull-through, and finally, colostomy closure. This approach allows for decompression of dilated and thickened bowel and improved patient nutritional status. However, this three-stage approach prolongs treatment duration, with significant stoma morbidity, costs, and impact on quality of life. Our aim was to determine whether pull-through for HD can safely be performed with simultaneous stoma closure, reducing treatment approach from three to two stages. METHODS: Children with HD and diverting colostomy were prospectively followed as they underwent pull-through with simultaneous stoma closure. Their in-hospital course and 3-mo outpatient course were assessed for postoperative complications. Patients with total colonic HD, redo pull-through, and residual dilated colon were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of the 20 children, 17 were male (n = 17, 85%). All patients had rectosigmoid HD. The median weight, age at colostomy formation, and age at pull-through were 11.05 kg (interquartile range [IQR] 10-12.75), 0.9 y (IQR 0.25-2.8), and 2.08 y (IQR 1.28-2.75), respectively. Mean duration with colostomy before pull-through was 1.1 y (standard deviation 1.51). Median hospital length of stay was 6 d (IQR 5-7). Early complications included anastomotic leak (n = 1), perianal skin excoriation (n = 2), surgical site skin infection (n = 3), and fascial dehiscence (n = 1). Longer-term complications included stricture (n = 1, 5%) and enterocolitis (n = 2, 10%). CONCLUSIONS: In this small case series, we have demonstrated that pull-through with simultaneous stoma closure can be safely performed in resource-constrained settings. Further studies are needed to understand the quality of life and economic impact of this change in management for HD patients.

Risk factors for hospital-based surgical site infections.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) contribute to morbidity and are costly to the healthcare system. To identify factors associated with SSIs. Case-control study analyzing the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD). We identified 45,445 SSIs. Infection rates were higher in those who were obese (BMI ≥ 30) (OR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.28-1.51), tobacco users (OR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15), diagnosed with diabetes (OR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22), with Elixhauser Comorbidity Index ≥ 2 (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.20), admitted to hospital for 4-6 days (OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.29-1.42), in medium-size hospital (OR: 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.26), or large-size hospital (OR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.31-1.56). In contrast, patients who were 60-79 years old (OR: 0.78, 95% CI 0.73-0.84), 80 years or older (OR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.59-0.73), female (OR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99), underweight (BMI < 18.5) (OR: 0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.59), in a non-metropolitan hospital (OR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91), self-pay (OR: 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.91), or covered by Medicare (OR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.91) had lower odds. Initial data entry to NRD is susceptible to human error. Patients who are obese, use tobacco, have multiple comorbidities, and have long hospital stays in medium-to-large-size hospitals are at risk of SSIs. Conversely, odds of SSIs are lower in females, age ≥ 60, BMI < 18.5, self-pay or Medicare (versus private insurance), or at smaller hospitals. Understanding factors associated with SSIs may help surgeons anticipate complications.

The economic burden of cardiac implantable electronic device infections in Alberta, Canada: a population-based study using validated administrative data.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are being inserted with increasing frequency. Severe surgical site infections (SSI) that occur after device implantation substantially impact patient morbidity and mortality and can result in multiple hospital admissions and repeat surgeries. It is important to understand the costs associated with these infections as well as healthcare utilization. Therefore, we conducted a population-based study in the province of Alberta, Canada to understand the economic burden of these infections. METHODS: A cohort of adult patients in Alberta who had CIEDs inserted or generators replaced between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2019 was used. A validated algorithm of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify complex (deep/organ space) SSIs that occurred within the subsequent year was applied to the cohort. The overall mean 12-month inpatient and outpatient costs for the infection and non-infection groups were assessed. In order to control for variables that may influence costs, propensity score matching was completed and incremental costs between those with and without infection were calculated. As secondary outcomes, number of outpatient visits, hospitalizations and length of stay were assessed. RESULTS: There were 26,049 procedures performed during our study period, of which 320 (1.23%) resulted in SSIs. In both unadjusted costs and propensity score matched costs the infection group was associated with increased costs. Overall mean cost was $145,312 in the infection group versus $34,264 in the non-infection group. The incremental difference in those with infection versus those without in the propensity score match was $90,620 (Standard deviation $190,185). Approximately 70% of costs were driven by inpatient hospitalizations. Inpatients hospitalizations, length of stay and outpatient visits were all increased in the infection group. CONCLUSIONS: CIED infections are associated with increased costs and are a burden to the healthcare system. This highlights a need to recognize increasing SSI rates and implement measures to minimize infection risk. Further studies should endeavor to apply this work to full economic evaluations to better understand and identify cost-effective infection mitigation strategies.

Changes in Hospital Adverse Events and Patient Outcomes Associated With Private Equity Acquisition.

Importance: The effects of private equity acquisitions of US hospitals on the clinical quality of inpatient care and patient outcomes remain largely unknown. Objective: To examine changes in hospital-acquired adverse events and hospitalization outcomes associated with private equity acquisitions of US hospitals. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data from 100% Medicare Part A claims for 662 095 hospitalizations at 51 private equity-acquired hospitals were compared with data for 4 160 720 hospitalizations at 259 matched control hospitals (not acquired by private equity) for hospital stays between 2009 and 2019. An event study, difference-in-differences design was used to assess hospitalizations from 3 years before to 3 years after private equity acquisition using a linear model that was adjusted for patient and hospital attributes. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hospital-acquired adverse events (synonymous with hospital-acquired conditions; the individual conditions were defined by the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as falls, infections, and other adverse events), patient mix, and hospitalization outcomes (including mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay, and readmissions). Results: Hospital-acquired adverse events (or conditions) were observed within 10 091 hospitalizations. After private equity acquisition, Medicare beneficiaries admitted to private equity hospitals experienced a 25.4% increase in hospital-acquired conditions compared with those treated at control hospitals (4.6 [95% CI, 2.0-7.2] additional hospital-acquired conditions per 10 000 hospitalizations, P = .004). This increase in hospital-acquired conditions was driven by a 27.3% increase in falls (P = .02) and a 37.7% increase in central line-associated bloodstream infections (P = .04) at private equity hospitals, despite placing 16.2% fewer central lines. Surgical site infections doubled from 10.8 to 21.6 per 10 000 hospitalizations at private equity hospitals despite an 8.1% reduction in surgical volume; meanwhile, such infections decreased at control hospitals, though statistical precision of the between-group comparison was limited by the smaller sample size of surgical hospitalizations. Compared with Medicare beneficiaries treated at control hospitals, those treated at private equity hospitals were modestly younger, less likely to be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and more often transferred to other acute care hospitals after shorter lengths of stay. In-hospital mortality (n = 162 652 in the population or 3.4% on average) decreased slightly at private equity hospitals compared with the control hospitals; there was no differential change in mortality by 30 days after hospital discharge. Conclusions and Relevance: Private equity acquisition was associated with increased hospital-acquired adverse events, including falls and central line-associated bloodstream infections, along with a larger but less statistically precise increase in surgical site infections. Shifts in patient mix toward younger and fewer dually eligible beneficiaries admitted and increased transfers to other hospitals may explain the small decrease in in-hospital mortality at private equity hospitals relative to the control hospitals, which was no longer evident 30 days after discharge. These findings heighten concerns about the implications of private equity on health care delivery.

The incidence and cost implications of surgical site infection following lymph node surgery for skin malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node surgery is commonly performed in the staging and treatment of metastatic skin cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and, particularly, lymph node dissection (LND) to be plagued by high rates of wound complications, including surgical site infection (SSI) and seroma formation. This study evaluated the incidence of wound complications following lymph node surgery and provided the first published cost estimate of SSI associated with lymph node surgery in the UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 169 patients with a histological diagnosis of primary skin malignancy who underwent SLNB or LND of the axilla and/or inguinal region at a single tertiary centre over a 2 year period was conducted. Demographic, patient risk factor, and operation characteristics data were collected and effect on SSI and seroma formation was analysed. Cost-per-infection was estimated using National Health Service (NHS) reference and antibiotic costs. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients underwent SLNB with a SSI rate of 4.1% and a seroma incidence of 12.3%. Twenty-three patients underwent LND with a SSI rate of 39.1% and a seroma incidence of 39.1%. Seroma formation was strongly associated with the development of SSI in both the SLNB (odds ratio (OR) = 18.0, p < 0.001) and LND (OR = 21.0, p = 0.007) group. The median additional cost of care events and treatment of SSI in the SLNB and LND groups was £199.46 and £5187.04, respectively. CONCLUSION: SSI remains a troublesome and costly event following SLNB and LND. Further research into perioperative care protocols and methods of reducing lymph node surgery morbidity is required and could result in significant cost savings to the NHS.