First Do No Harm: Predicting Surgical Morbidity During Humanitarian Medical Missions.

BACKGROUND: Despite good intentions, humanitarian surgical missions are unavoidably linked to some degree of complication. We hypothesized that the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS-SRC) could estimate the risk of complications of procedures performed during the US Navy's Pacific Partnership 2015 (PP15) mission. METHODS: Patient information and surgical details recorded during PP15 were entered into the ACS-SRC. Risks of complications for each procedure were calculated. Receiver operating characteristics and Brier scores were calculated to compare the predicted outcomes to the observed complications. RESULTS: Of the 174 unique procedures performed during PP15 (representing 465 patients), 99 were found in the ACS-SRC (representing 256 patients). Risk calculations for PP15 were: 1.5% risk (IQR 0.9, 2.4) of "serious" complications and 2.0% risk (IQR 1.3, 2.8) of "any" complication. ACS-SRC specific risks were calculated as follows: pneumonia 0.1%, cardiac 0.0%, surgical site infection (SSI) 0.6%, urinary tract infection 0.2%, venous thromboembolism 0.1%, renal failure 0.0%, OR return 0.9%, and death 0.0%. The only specific ACS-SRC complication observed was "OR return" (0.35%) and SSI (0.35%). The observed PP15 rates for "serious" or "any" complications (ACS-SRC definition) were 0.70% (2/285) each. Receiver operating characteristics for ACS-SRC for predicting "serious" or "any" complication were 0.743 (p = 0.118) and 0.654 (p = 0.227), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the ACS-SRC over-predicted risk compared to observed outcomes, it may offer a good starting point for humanitarian surgery risk calculation. Observed outcomes may be limited by loss-to-follow-up bias. Emphasis should be placed on establishing patient follow-up as part of humanitarian surgical mission planning and execution.

Donor Limb Functional Restoration via a Novel Clinical Care Pathway following Fibula Free Flap Harvest for Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Patients undergoing head and neck skeletal reconstruction (HNR) often require free tissue transfer from the extremities to ensure proper restoration of form and function. This requires a team-based, highly reliable medical system centered around the patient needs. Surgical intervention across multiple sites and harvesting of donor tissue results in short- and long-term physical impairments. There is a paucity of research objectively measuring impairments resulting from the graft donor site. There is a lack of research that objectively measures impairments and protocols for the management of these patients postoperatively. Patients undergo little, if any, formal approach to dealing with the vast impairments, which are sequelae to this surgery. This leads to large discrepancies in proposed functional progressions, return to duty timelines, and utilization of rehabilitative resources. At a major military medical center, an innovative clinical care pathway for patients undergoing HNR using free tissue transfer was implemented using a multidisciplinary model that focuses on early engagement with rehabilitation. This model, paired with a single surgery, will attempt to return service members to duty months earlier than the traditional approach. This report describes the conceptual framework and implementation of a new criteria-based, multidisciplinary clinical care pathway for HNR patients. The collaboration amongst the multidisciplinary care team has optimized the holistic health of the patient and communication with their support network, yielding faster return to normalization of daily life activities. The long-term goal is to further develop and formalize this pathway to best serve this patient population.

The new face of war: Craniofacial injuries from Operation Inherent Resolve.

BACKGROUND: During the last 20 years of conflict in the Middle East, improvements in body armor and the use of improvised explosive devices have resulted in an increased incidence of complex craniofacial trauma (CFT). Currently, CFT comprises up to 40% of all casualties. We present new data from the recent conflict in Iraq and Syria during Operation Inherent Resolve. METHODS: Data were collected for patients treated at role 1, role 2, and role 3 facilities in Iraq and Syria over a 1-year period. During this time, a specialized head & neck surgical augmentation team was deployed and colocated with the central role 3 facility. Data included for this cross-sectional study are as follows: injury type and mechanism, triage category, initial managing facility and subsequent levels of care, and procedures performed. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients sustained CFT over the study period. The most common injuries were soft tissue (57%), followed by cranial (44%) and orbital/facial (31%). Associated truncal and/or extremity injuries were seen in 46 patients (48%). There were marked differences in incidence and pattern of injuries between mechanisms (all p < 0.05). While improvised explosive devices had the highest rate of cranial and truncal injuries, gunshot wounds and blunt mechanisms had higher incidences of orbital/facial and neck injuries. Overall, 45% required operative interventions including complex facial reconstruction, craniotomy, and open globe repair. Mortality was 6% with 83% due to associated severe brain injury. Most patients were local nationals (70%) who required discharge or transfer to the local health care system. CONCLUSION: Complex craniofacial trauma is increasingly seen by deployed surgeons, regardless of subspecialty training or location. Deployment of a centrally located head and neck team greatly enhances the capabilities for forward deployed management of CFT, with excellent outcomes for both US and local national patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management; Level V.

Early intubation in the management of trauma patients: indications and outcomes in 1,000 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Practice Management Guidelines identify indications (EI) for early intubation. However, EI have not been clinically validated. Many intubations are performed for other discretionary indications (DI). We evaluated early intubation to assess the incidence and outcomes of those performed for both EI and DI. METHODS: One thousand consecutive intubations performed in the first 2 hours after arrival at our Level I trauma center were reviewed. Indications, outcomes, and trauma surgeon (TS) intubation rates were evaluated. RESULTS: During a 56-month period, 1,000 (9.9%) of 10,137 trauma patients were intubated within 2 hours of arrival. DI were present in 444 (44.4%) and EI in 556 (55.6%). DI were combativeness or altered mental status in 375 (84.5%), airway or respiratory problems in 21 (4.7%), and preoperative management in 48 (10.8%). Injury Severity Score was 14.6 in DI patients and 22.7 in EI patients (p < 0.001). Predicted versus observed survival was 96.6% versus 95.9% in DI patients and 75.2% versus 75.0% in EI patients (p < 0.001). Head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of >or=3 occurred in 32.7% with DI and 52.0% with EI (p < 0.001). Seven (0.7%) surgical airways were performed; two for DI (0.2%). Eleven (1.1%) patients aspirated during intubation and five (0.5%) suffered oral trauma. There were no other significant complications of intubation for either DI or EI and complication rates were similar in the two groups. Delayed intubation (early intubation after leaving the trauma bay) was required in 67 (6.7%) patients and 59 (88.1%) were for combativeness, neurologic deterioration, or respiratory distress or airway problems. Intubation rates varied among TS from 7.6% to 15.3% (p < 0.001) and rates for DI ranged from 3.3% to 7.4% (p < 0.001). There was a statistically insignificant trend among TS with higher intubation rates to perform fewer delayed intubations. CONCLUSIONS: Early intubation for EI as well as DI was safe and effective. One third of the DI patients had significant head injury. Surgical airways were rarely needed and delayed intubations were uncommon. The intubation rates for EI and DI varied significantly among TSs. The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Guidelines may not identify all patients who would benefit from early intubation after injury.

Small catheter tube thoracostomy: effective in managing chest trauma in stable patients.

BACKGROUND: Image-guided small catheter tube thoracostomy (SCTT) is not currently used as a first-line procedure in the management of patients with chest trauma. We adopted a practice recommendation to use SCTT as a less invasive alternative in the treatment of chest injuries. We reviewed our trauma registry to evaluate our change in practice and the effectiveness of SCTT. METHODS: Retrospective review of all tube thoracostomies (TT) performed in patients with chest injury at a level I trauma center from September 2002 through March 2006. Data collected included age, sex, indications and timing for TT, use of antibiotics, length of stay, complications, and outcomes. Large catheter tube thoracostomy (LCTT) not performed in the operating room or trauma room and all SCTT were deemed nonemergent. RESULTS: There were 565 TT performed in 359 patients. Emergent TT was performed in 252 (70%) and nonemergent TT in 157 (44%) patients, of which 63 (40%) received LCTT and 107 (68%) received SCTT. Although SCTT was performed later after injury than nonemergent LCTT (5.5 days vs. 2.3 days, p < 0.001), average duration of SCTT was shorter (5.5 days vs. 7 days, p < 0.05). Rates of hemothoraces were similarly low for SCTT versus nonemergent LCTT (6.1% vs. 4.2%, p = NS) and rates of residual/recurrent pneumothoraces were not significantly different (8% vs. 14%, p = NS). The rate of occurrence of fibrothorax, however, was significantly lower for SCTT compared with nonemergent LCTT (0% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.05). In patients receiving a single nonemergent TT, SCTT was performed in 55 (61%) and LCTT in 35 (39%). A comparison of these groups revealed that SCTT was performed in older patients (p < 0.05), and was associated with a lower Injury Severity Score (p < 0.05) and shorter length of stay (p = 0.05). SCTT was increasingly used in younger and more seriously injured patients as our experience grew. CONCLUSION: SCTT is effective in managing chest trauma. It is comparable with LCTT in stable trauma patients. This study supports adopting image-guided small catheter techniques in the management of chest trauma in stable patients.

Preemptive craniectomy with craniotomy: what role in the management of severe traumatic brain injury?

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) require aggressive management to prevent secondary brain injury. "Preemptive" craniectomy (CE)--craniectomy performed as a primary procedure in conjunction with craniotomy--has been used as prophylaxis for secondary injury, but the indications and outcomes of craniectomy used for this purpose are not well defined. METHODS: To evaluate the role of CE in the management of TBI, we retrospectively reviewed 62 consecutive patients who underwent CE in a 78-month period at our level I trauma center. A cohort of patients who underwent craniotomy only (CO) during this period was compared with the CE group for TBI patterns, indications for operation, and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression and matched propensity score analysis were used to test the association between CE and survival. The rate of CE was determined by individual neurosurgeons. RESULTS: Of 197 patients with brain injuries who underwent craniotomy, 62 (31.5%) had CE and 135 (68.5%) had CO. Mean age for CE versus CO was 41 years versus 51 years (p < 0.01). Mean admission Glasgow Coma Score was lower in CE versus CO (7.6 vs. 11.8, p < 0.001); Injury Severity Score was higher (30.2 vs. 26.3, p < 0.01). The indication for operation for CE compared with CO was subdural hematoma in 41 (66.1%) versus 87 (64.4%, p = 0.82), epidural hematoma in 2 (3.2%) versus 26 (19.3%, p < 0.01), and cerebral contusion or hematoma in 15 (24.2%) versus 8 (5.9%, p < 0.001). Postoperative intracranial pressure was monitored in 48 (77.4%) CE and 44 (32.6%) CO patients (p < 0.001). Intracranial pressure <20 was maintained in 26 (54.2%) after CE and in 31 (70.5%) after CO (p = 0.12). In the CE group, 26 (42%) died compared with 31 (26%, p < 0.01) in the CO group. When adjusted for severity of injury, however, there was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups (p = 0.134). The CE rate obtained by a neurosurgeon varied from 8.6% to 75.0% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CE was used in patients with more severe injuries, and particularly in those with more severe head injuries. When adjusted for injury severity, CE was not associated with worsened survival, and therefore may reasonably be included in the armamentarium of neurotrauma care. Use of CE by our neurosurgeons, however, varied significantly. These findings underscore the need for practice guidelines based on randomized trials to fully evaluate the role of CE in the management of TBI.

Computed-tomography modeled polyether ether ketone (PEEK) implants in revision cranioplasty.

PURPOSE: Traditional cranioplasty methods focus on pre-operative or intraoperative hand molding. Recently, CT-guided polyether ether ketone (PEEK) plate reconstruction enables precise, time-saving reconstruction. This case series aims to show a single institution experience with use of PEEK cranioplasty as an effective, safe, precise, reusable, and time-saving cranioplasty technique in large, complex cranial defects. METHODS: We performed a 6-year retrospective review of cranioplasty procedures performed at our affiliated hospitals using PEEK implants. A total of nineteen patients underwent twenty-two cranioplasty procedures. Pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative data was collected. RESULTS: Nineteen patients underwent twenty-two procedures. Time interval from injury to loss of primary cranioplasty averaged 57.7 months (0-336 mo); 4.0 months (n=10, range 0-19) in cases of trauma. Time interval from primary cranioplasty loss to PEEK cranioplasty was 11.8 months for infection (n=11, range 6-25 mo), 12.2 months for trauma (n=5, range 2-27 mo), and 0.3 months for cosmetic or functional reconstructions (n=3, range 0-1). Similar surgical techniques were used in all patients. Drains were placed in 11/22 procedures. Varying techniques were used in skin closure, including adjacent tissue transfer (4/22) and free tissue transfer (1/22). The PEEK plate required modification in four procedures. Three patients had reoperation following PEEK plate reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Cranioplasty utilizing CT-guided PEEK plate allows easy inset, anatomic accuracy, mirror image aesthetics, simplification of complex 3D defects, and potential time savings. Additionally, it's easily manipulated in the operating room, and can be easily re-utilized in cases of intraoperative course changes or infection.

Comprehensive review of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: screening and preventive recommendations for plastic surgeons and other surgical health care providers.

BACKGROUND: Up to 2.3 million people are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the United States, causing well-documented morbidity and mortality. Although the association of clinical outcomes with community and hospital carriage rates is increasingly defined, less is reported about asymptomatic colonization prevalence among physicians, and specifically plastic surgeons and the subsequent association with the incidence of patient surgical-site infection. METHODS: A review of the literature using the PubMed and Cochrane databases analyzing provider screening, transmission, and prevalence was undertaken. In addition, a search was completed for current screening and decontamination guidelines and outcomes. RESULTS: The methicillin-resistant S. aureus carriage prevalence of surgical staff is 4.5 percent. No prospective data exist regarding transmission and interventions for plastic surgeons. No studies were found specifically looking at prevalence or treatment of plastic surgeons. Current recommendations by national organizations focus on patient-oriented point-of-care testing and intervention, largely ignoring the role of the health care provider. Excellent guidelines exist regarding screening, transmission prevention, and treatment both in the workplace and in the community. No current such guidelines exist for plastic surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: No Level I or II evidence was found regarding physician screening, treatment, or transmission. Current expert opinion, however, indicates that plastic surgeons and their staff should be vigilant for methicillin-resistant S. aureus transmission, and once a sentinel cluster of skin and soft-tissue infections is identified, systematic screening and decontamination should be considered. If positive, topical decolonization therapy should be offered. In refractory cases, oral antibiotic therapy may be required, but this should not be used as a first-line strategy.

The platysma window: an anatomically safe, efficient, and easily reproducible approach to neck contour in the face lift.

BACKGROUND: The cornerstone of the face lift is neck contour. The pursuit of reliable and reproducible results has led plastic surgeons to investigate a multitude of different approaches. Unfortunately, addressing neck contour can lead to complications such as injury to the great auricular nerve. The purpose of this study was to describe an efficient, safe, and reproducible technique of improving face lifts: the platysma window. METHODS: The authors use a reference point located one fingerbreadth inferior to the angle of the mandible and one fingerbreadth anterior to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A two-fingerbreadth incision is made on the muscle to open a small "window," approximately 2 cm of total vertical flap length. Two figure-of-eight 4-0 Mersilene sutures are placed from the window to the mastoid fascia, spanning the great auricular nerve at McKinney's point. RESULTS: The platysma window technique is designed to minimize the complications of neck lifts-especially the risk of injury to the great auricular nerve. Placing the window inferior and anterior to these structures ensures a safe area for executing platysma tightening. This maneuver can augment a myriad of face-lifting techniques. The authors have used the maneuver described in over 200 cases, with consistently repeatable and improved neck contour results. CONCLUSIONS: Patients demand expedient and safe procedures in addition to an excellent cosmetic outcome. Plastic surgeon should try to meet their patients' needs; the authors believe the platysma window can play a role in becoming a useful method available to surgeons when addressing neck contour in face lifting.

Infant botulism mimicking Hirschprung's disease.

We report a case of infant botulism presenting as primary colonic ileus--mimicking Hirschprung's megacolon. Infant botulism should be considered in any infant with constipation and neurologic abnormalities.