Resident postgraduate year does not influence rate of complications following inguinal herniorrhaphy.

BACKGROUND: Previous data indicate that patients who undergo surgery with a postgraduate year 3 (PGY-3) resident as the junior surgeon have a lower rate of recurrence compared with PGY-1 and PGY-2 after an open inguinal herniorrhaphy. Lower PGY level was also associated with increased operative time. We hypothesize that when controlling for surgeon, technique, and hernia type, the outcomes for inguinal herniorrhaphy are the same independent of PGY level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all open unilateral inguinal hernia repairs done by residents who assisted the same senior surgeon at the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System was performed. RESULTS: Seven hundred fifty-two open unilateral inguinal hernia were identified: mean patient age = 60.6 ± 12.7 y; mean body mass index = 27.0 ± 10.8 kg/m2; American Society of Anesthesia III-IV = 51%; and Nyhus type 2 = 44.7%, 3a = 41.6%, and 3b = 13.7%. Residents involved were PGY-1 (17.2%), PGY-2/3 (71.1%), and PGY-4/5 (11.7%). Postoperative complications for intern, junior (PGY-2 and PGY-3), and senior residents (PGY-4 and PGY-5) were 4%, 9%, and 6%, respectively (P = 0.14). Compared to interns, junior residents finished the operation 3.9 min faster (95% confidence interval = -7.5, -0.3). There was no time difference between interns and senior residents completing the operations after controlling for hernia type. Logistic regression did not identify PGY level as an independent predictor of complications or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: There was a slight decrease in operative time when the repair was done with junior-level residents. PGY level did not influence outcomes for open, unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy when controlled for hernia type and technique.

Current Trends in Training in the Surgical Management of Acute Appendicitis at a Veteran Affairs Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: An open appendectomy used to be one of the most common cases performed by interns and physical exam dictated operative intervention. We hypothesized that the management of acute appendicitis has drastically changed from these previous practices. METHODS: A retrospective, single institution study was performed at the VA North Texas Health Care System between July 2005 to June 2017 for all patients who underwent an appendectomy. Using postgraduate year (PGY)-level (PGY 1-3 and PGY 4-5) as a dependent variable, univariate analyses, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. All statistical tests were 2-sided, and the statistical significance level was set at a p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Only patients with acute appendicitis were included (n = 257; male = 90.7%; age = 45.4 ± 15.6 year old; body mass index = 30.3 ± 6.3 Kg/m2). Of these, only 8 were performed by interns, 25 by PGY-2, 147 by PGY-3, 22 by PGY-4, and 55 by PGY-5. On presentation, 92.2% of patients had a computed tomography scan and 90.7% underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy. Conversion rate was 4.7%. There were 20 complications (7.8%) and length of hospital stay was 2.2±3.7 days. Comparing patients operated by senior (PGY-4 and 5) to junior (PGY-1 to -3) residents: patients were of similar age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and had similar WBC and blood pressure on initial presentation (all p's > 0.05); but were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension or pulmonary disease. Complication rate was the same (7.8%) for both senior and junior residents. CONCLUSIONS: At the VA North Texas Health Care System, most patients presenting with suspected appendicitis undergo a computed tomography scan. Most cases are performed laparoscopically mainly by PGY ≥ 3 residents. The rate of post-operative complications was similar between junior and senior residents.

Outcomes of appendectomy in elderly veteran patients.

BACKGROUND: Some studies indicate that noncomplicated acute appendicitis might be treated exclusively with antibiotics instead of an appendectomy. This study was undertaken to assess outcomes in elderly veterans and to determine if operative intervention would lead to substantial complications such that a nonoperative strategy should be investigated. METHODS: A retrospective, single-institution analysis was conducted of patients who underwent an appendectomy at the VA North Texas Health Care System over a period of 12 years (from July 2005 to June 2017). Patients who underwent an appendectomy for cancer, interval appendectomy, exploratory laparotomy for perforated appendicitis, or appendectomy as part of another major operation were excluded from the study. Patients were then grouped as elderly (≥60 years old) and young (<60 years old), and differences in outcome were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to determine if age and comorbid conditions were independent predictors of complications in both cohorts. RESULTS: Of patients who underwent an appendectomy for acute appendicitis (n = 257, male = 90.7%, age = 45.4 ± standard deviation 15.6 years, body mass index = 30.3 ± 6.3 kg/m2), 195 were young (38.7 ± 11.2 years old) and 62 elderly (66 ± 5 years old). More patients were male in the elderly cohort (98.4% vs 88%; P = .01). The incidence of gangrenous and perforated appendicitis was greater in elderly patients (11.3% and 14.4% vs 24 % and 40%, P < .01 each). Diabetes and hypertension, as well as a history of cardiac, pulmonary, and renal diseases, were more than 2-fold greater in older patients. Complications and 30-day readmission rates were similar in both groups (young vs elderly: 7.2% and 9% vs 9.7% and 11%, P > .5 each). Logistic regression analysis showed that age and American Society of Anesthesia level were not independent predictors of complications. A history of cardiac disease and open operation independently predicted complications regardless of age. Unexpected malignancy was 3% in the elderly and 1.5% in the young cohort (P = .6) CONCLUSION: Complicated appendicitis is more common in elderly patients. Appendectomy in elderly veteran patients has a low rate of complications similar to younger patients and the private sector. Operative intervention in this group of patients is not prohibitive. Further studies are needed to determine if nonoperative intervention is noninferior to an appendectomy in this high-risk patient population.

Assessing the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Calculator in Cholecystectomy.

The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) risk calculator has been validated for several operations but has not been assessed specifically for cholecystectomy. Our aim was to externally validate the VASQIP calculator's accuracy in predicting 30-day morbidity and mortality (M&M) for patients undergoing cholecystectomy. A retrospective review of patients undergoing cholecystectomy at the North Texas Veterans Affairs hospital was performed. The VASQIP risk calculator was used to determine predicted 30-day M&M, which was compared with actual M&M. The predictive accuracy of the Veterans Affairs risk calculator was assessed using the C-statistic and a graphical assessment of a locally weighted least squares regression smoother. Overall, 848 patients were included in the study. Actual M&M were 6.3 and 0.94 per cent, respectively, whereas predicted M&M were 6.0 and 0.54 per cent. The C-statistic was 0.75 for morbidity and 0.78 for mortality. In our analysis, the VASQIP risk calculator reasonably predicted 30-day M&M.