Impact of Pulmonary Complications on Outcomes and Resource Use After Elective Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the impact of pulmonary complications (PCs) on mortality, costs, and readmissions after elective cardiac operations in a national cohort and to test for hospital-level variation in PC. BACKGROUND: PC after cardiac surgery are targets for quality improvement efforts. Contemporary studies evaluating the impact of PC on outcomes are lacking, as is data regarding hospital-level variation in the incidence of PC. METHODS: Adults undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve operations were identified in the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. PC was defined as a composite of reintubation, prolonged (>24 hours) ventilation, tracheostomy, or pneumonia. Generalized linear models were fit to evaluate associations between PC and outcomes. Institutional variation in PC was studied using observed-to-expected ratios. RESULTS: Of 588,480 patients meeting study criteria, 6.7% developed PC. After risk adjustment, PC was associated with increased odds of mortality (14.6, 95% CI, 12.6-14.8), as well as a 7.9-day (95% CI, 7.6-8.2) increase in length of stay and $41,300 (95% CI, 39,600-42,900) in attributable costs. PC was associated with 1.3-fold greater hazard of readmission and greater incident mortality at readmission (6.7% vs 1.9%, P <0.001). Significant hospital-level variation in PC was present, with observed-to-expected ratios ranging from 0.1 to 7.7. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary complications remain common after cardiac surgery and are associated with substantially increased mortality and expenditures. Significant hospital-level variation in PC exists in the United States, suggesting the need for systematic quality improvement efforts to reduce PC and their impact on outcomes.

Preoperative stents for the treatment of obstructing left-sided colon cancer: a national analysis.

BACKGROUND: Given the risks associated with urgent colectomy for large bowel obstruction, preoperative colonic stenting has been utilized for decompression and optimization prior to surgery. This study examined national trends in the use of colonic stenting as a bridge to resection for malignant large bowel obstruction and evaluated outcomes relative to immediate colectomy. METHODS: Adults undergoing colonic stenting or colectomy for malignant, left/sigmoid large bowel obstruction were identified in the 2010-2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients were classified as immediate resection (IR) or delayed resection (DR) if undergoing colonic stenting prior to colectomy. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the impact of resection strategy on ostomy creation, in-hospital mortality, and complications. RESULTS: Among 9,706 patients, 9.7% underwent colonic stenting, which increased from 7.7 to 16.4% from 2010 to 2016 (p < 0.001). Compared to IR, the DR group was younger (63.9 vs 65.9 years, p = 0.04), had fewer comorbidities (Elixhauser Index 3.5 vs 3.9, p = 0.001), and was more commonly managed at high-volume centers (89.4% vs 68.1%, p < 0.001). Laparoscopic resections were more frequent among the DR group (33.1% vs 13.0%, p < 0.001), while ostomy rates were significantly lower (21.5% vs 53.0%, p < 0.001). After risk adjustment, colonic stenting was associated with reduced odds of ostomy creation (0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.46), but similar odds of mortality and complications. CONCLUSION: Colonic stenting is increasingly utilized for malignant, left-sided bowel obstructions, and associated with lower ostomy rates but comparable clinical outcomes. These findings suggest the relative safety of colonic stenting for malignant large bowel obstruction when clinically appropriate.

Morbidity and Mortality Associated With Blood Transfusions in Elective Adult Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Perioperative transfusion thresholds have garnered increasing scrutiny as restrictive strategies have been shown to be noninferior. The study authors used data from a statewide academic collaborative to test the association between transfusion and 30-day mortality. DESIGN: All adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or valve surgeries between 2013 and 2019 in the authors' Academic Cardiac Surgery Consortium were examined. The relationship between the number of overall packed red blood cell (pRBC) and coagulation product (CP) (fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelets) transfusions on 30-day mortality was evaluated. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate predictors of transfusion and study endpoints. Machine learning (ML) models also were developed to predict 30-day mortality and rank transfusion-related features by relative importance. SETTING: At an Academic Cardiac Surgery Consortium of 5 institutions. PARTICIPANTS: Patients ≥18 years old undergoing CABG and/or valve surgeries. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 7,762 patients (median hematocrit [HCT] 39%, IQR 35%-43%) who were included in the final study cohort, >40% were transfused at least 1 unit of pRBC or CP. In adjusted analyses, higher preoperative HCT was associated with reduced odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98), renal failure (aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98), and prolonged mechanical ventilation (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99). In contrast, perioperative transfusions were associated with increased 30-day mortality after adjustment for preoperative HCT and other baseline features. The ML models were able to predict 30-day mortality with an area under the curve of 0.814-to-0.850, with perioperative transfusions displaying the highest feature importance. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis found increasing HCT to be associated with a lower incidence of mortality. The study authors also found a direct dose-response association between transfusions and all study endpoints examined.

Association of Hospital Volume and Outcomes Following Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been used to mitigate the negative systemic effects of cardiopulmonary bypass. Recent consortium and single-institution studies suggest an association between operator experience and long-term survival. We thus aimed to ascertain the relationship between institutional OPCAB volume and outcomes using a contemporary nationwide all-payer database. METHODS: Adult admissions for elective isolated OPCAB were identified from the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. The primary outcome was major adverse events (MAE), defined as a composite of mortality, reoperation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, or perioperative stroke during the index hospitalisation. Secondary outcomes included temporal trends, postoperative length of stay (pLOS), hospitalisation costs, non-home discharge, and 30-day readmission rate. High-volume hospitals (HVH) were defined to have annual caseloads >35 based on cubic spline analysis. RESULTS: Of an estimated 41,154 patients, 59.9% were treated at HVH. The proportion of coronary artery bypass grafting operations that were OPCAB significantly decreased from 21.1% in 2016 to 18.3% in 2019. After adjustment, HVH status was associated with lower adjusted odds of MAE (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.88), compared to others. HVH were also associated with shorter pLOS (ß -0.10, 95% -0.13, -0.07), reduced costs (ß -US$4,900, - US$6,300, - US$3,600), non-home discharge (AOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.45-0.64), and 30-day readmission (AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that OPCAB requires a distinct set of surgical expertise and institutional aptitude. As a result, centralisation of care to centres of excellence should be considered.

Insurance-based disparities and risk of financial toxicity among patients undergoing gynecologic cancer operations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of financial toxicity (FT) among inpatients undergoing gynecologic cancer resections and the association of insurance status with clinical and financial outcomes. METHODS: Using the 2008-2019 National Inpatient Sample, we identified adult hospitalizations for hysterectomy or oophorectomy with a diagnosis of cancer. Hospitalization costs, length of stay (LOS), mortality, and complications were assessed by insurance status. Risk of FT was defined as health expenditure exceeding 40% of post-subsistence income. Multivariable regressions were used to analyze costs and factors associated with FT risk. RESULTS: Of 462,529 patients, 49.4% had government-funded insurance, 44.3% private, and 3.2% were uninsured. Compared to insured, uninsured patients were more commonly Black and Hispanic, admitted emergently, and underwent open operations. Uninsured patients experienced similar mortality but greater rates of complications, LOS, and costs. Overall, ovarian cancer resections had the highest median costs of $17,258 (interquartile range: 12,187-25,491) compared to cervical and uterine. Approximately 52.8% of uninsured and 15.4% of insured patients were at risk of FT. As costs increased across both cohorts over the 12-year study period, the disparity in FT risk by payer status broadened. After risk adjustment, perioperative complications were associated with nearly 2-fold increased risk of FT among uninsured (adjusted odds ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.46-2.09, p < 0.001). Among the insured, Black and Hispanic race, public insurance, and open operative approach exhibited greater odds of FT. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing gynecologic cancer operations are at substantial risk of FT, particularly those uninsured. Targeted cost-mitigation strategies are warranted to minimize financial burden.

Association of Hospital Safety Net Status With Outcomes and Resource Use for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the United States.

PURPOSE: Safety net hospitals (SNH) have been associated with inferior surgical outcomes and increased resource use. Utilization and outcomes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a rescue modality for patients with respiratory or cardiac failure, may vary by safety net status. We hypothesized SNH to be associated with inferior outcomes and costs of ECMO in a national cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2008-2017 National Inpatient Sample was queried for ECMO hospitalizations and safety net hospitals were identified. Multivariable regression was used to perform risk-adjusted comparisons of mortality, complications and resource utilization at safety net and non-safety net hospitals. RESULTS: Of 36,491 ECMO hospitalizations, 28.2% were at SNH. On adjusted comparison SNH was associated with increased odds of mortality (AOR: 1.23), tracheostomy use (AOR: 1.51), intracranial hemorrhage (AOR: 1.39), as well as infectious complications (AOR: 1.21, all P < .05), with NSNH as reference. SNH was also associated with increased hospitalization duration (ß=+4.5 days) and hospitalization costs (ß=+$32,880, all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: We have found SNH to be associated with inferior survival, increased complications, and higher costs compared to NSNH. These disparate outcomes warrant further studies examining systemic and hospital-level factors that may impact outcomes and resource use of ECMO at SNH.

Incidence and Outcomes of Laryngeal Complications Following Adult Cardiac Surgery: A National Analysis.

Laryngeal complications (LCs) following cardiac operations contribute to increased morbidity and resource utilization. Using a nationally representative cohort of cardiac surgical patients, we characterized the incidence of LC as well as its associated clinical and financial outcomes. All adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular operations were identified using the 2010-2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database. International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th Revision diagnosis codes were used to identify LC. Trends were analyzed using a rank-based, non-parametric test (nptrend). Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to evaluate risk factors for LC, and its impact on mortality, complications, resource use and 30-day non-elective readmissions. Of an estimated 2,319,628 patients, 1.7% were diagnosed with perioperative LC, with rising incidence from 1.5% in 2010 to 1.8% in 2017 (nptrend < 0.001). After adjustment, female sex [adjusted odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.12], advancing age, and multi-valve procedures (1.51, 95% CI 1.36-1.67, reference: isolated CABG) were associated with increased odds of LC. Despite no risk-adjusted effect on mortality, LC was associated with increased odds of pneumonia (2.88, 95% CI 2.72-3.04), tracheostomy (4.84, 95% CI 4.44-5.26), and readmission (1.32, 95% CI 1.26-1.39). In addition, LC was associated with a 7.7-day increment (95% CI 7.4-8.0) in hospitalization duration and $24,200 (95% CI 23,000-25,400) in attributable costs. The present study found LC to be associated with increased perioperative sequelae and resource utilization. The development and application of active screening protocols for post-surgical LC are warranted to increase early detection and reduce associated morbidity.

Impact of Payer Status on Delisting Among Liver Transplant Candidates in the United States.

Although socioeconomic disparities persist both pre- and post-transplantation, the impact of payer status has not been studied at the national level. We examined the association between public insurance coverage and waitlist outcomes among candidates listed for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. All adults (age ≥18 years) listed for LT between 2002 and 2018 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included. The primary outcome was waitlist removal because of death or clinical deterioration. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests, respectively. Fine and Gray competing-risks regression was used to estimate the subdistribution hazard ratios (HRs) for risk factors associated with delisting. Of 131,839 patients listed for LT, 61.2% were covered by private insurance, 22.9% by Medicare, and 15.9% by Medicaid. The 1-year cumulative incidence of delisting was 9.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3%-9.8%) for patients with private insurance, 10.7% (95% CI, 9.9%-11.6%) for Medicare, and 10.7% (95% CI, 9.8%-11.6%) for Medicaid. In multivariable competing-risks analysis, Medicare (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.24; P < 0.001) and Medicaid (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.16-1.24; P < 0.001) were independently associated with an increased hazard of death or deterioration compared with private insurance. Additional predictors of delisting included Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, whereas college education and employment were associated with a decreased hazard of delisting. In this study, LT candidates with Medicare or Medicaid had a 20% increased risk of delisting because of death or clinical deterioration compared with those with private insurance. As more patients use public insurance to cover the cost of LT, targeted waitlist management protocols may mitigate the increased risk of delisting in this population.

Nationwide comparison of the medical complexity of patients by surgical specialty.

OBJECTIVE: Intuitively, the chronic disease burden of surgical patients varies considerably by surgical specialty, although sparse evidence in the literature supports this notion. We sought to characterize the medical complexity of surgical patients by surgical specialty and to quantify the association between medical complexity and outcomes. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample, an all-payer inpatient database representative of 97% of all U.S. hospitalizations, was used to identify adults undergoing surgery between 2005 and 2014. The most commonly performed operations that constituted 80% of each surgical specialty's practice were abstracted. The previously validated Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) was calculated per year by surgical specialty as a measure of medical complexity. Outcomes and resource utilization were assessed by comparing mortality rate, length of stay, and cost. RESULTS: An estimated 53,232,144 patients underwent operations in one of nine surgical specialty categories. Surgical specialties were ranked by ECI, with cardiac surgery (3.56), vascular surgery (3.49), and thoracic surgery (2.86) having the highest mean ECI (all P values <.0001 compared with vascular surgery). Whereas the high ECI scores in cardiac surgery were driven by arrhythmias and hypertension, vascular patients had a more uniform distribution of comorbidities. The average ECI for all surgical patients increased during the study period from 2.03 in 2005 to 2.65 in 2014 (P < .001), with a similar trend for all specialties considered. Unlike the two specialties with the lowest burden of comorbidities (orthopedic surgery and endocrine surgery), cardiac surgery and vascular surgery exhibited significantly higher inpatient mortality, LOS, and costs. CONCLUSIONS: Although all surgical patients have exhibited an increase in comorbidities during the past decade, candidates for cardiac and vascular operations appear to carry the largest burden of chronic conditions. Despite caring for patients with the highest burden of comorbidities for emergent operations, vascular surgery did not have the highest mortality, inpatient costs, or length of stay compared with some of the other specialties. The intensity of care and assumed risk in treating medically complex vascular patients should be taken into consideration in deciding health policy, reimbursement, and hospital resource allocation.

Clinical and Financial Outcomes of Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in Safety-Net Hospitals.

Background Prior work has demonstrated inferior outcomes for a multitude of medical and surgical conditions at hospitals with high burdens of underinsured patients (safety-net). The present study aimed to evaluate trends in incidence, clinical outcomes and resource utilization in the surgical management of necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI) at safety-net hospitals. Materials and methods Adults requiring surgical debridement/amputation following NSTI-related hospitalizations were identified in the 2005-2018 National Inpatient Sample. Safety-net status (SNH) was assigned to institutions in the top tertile for annual proportion of underinsured patients. Logistic multivariable regression was utilized to evaluate the association of SNH with mortality, hospitalization duration (LOS), costs and discharge disposition. Results Of an estimated 212,692 patients, 76,719 (36.1%) were managed at SNH. The annual incidence of NSTI admissions increased overall while associated mortality declined. After adjustment, SNH status was associated with greater odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratios: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.26), LOS (ß: +1.8 d, 95% CI: 1.3-2.2) and costs (ß: +$4,400, 95% CI: 2,900-5,800). SNH patients had similar rates of amputation but lower likelihood of care facility or home health discharge. Conclusion With a rising incidence and overall reduction in mortality, safety-net hospitals persistently exhibit greater mortality and resource use for surgical NSTI admissions. Variation in access, disease presentation and timeliness of operative intervention may explain the observed findings.

A comparison of two non-radioactive alternatives to wire for the localization of non-palpable breast cancers.

PURPOSE: Multiple wire-free technologies for localization of non-palpable breast cancers have emerged as satisfactory alternatives to wire. However, no study has compared two non-radioactive wire-free approaches to one another. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes among LOCalizer™ radiofrequency identification (RFID), SAVI Scout® (SAVI), and wire localization (WL). METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional cohort study of patients undergoing lumpectomy for non-palpable breast cancer at a single institution between August 2017 and February 2019. Patients were divided into three cohorts based on localization technique: RFID, SAVI or WL. Operative times and average tumor volumes were compared using one-way analysis of variance. Positive margin and re-excision rates were compared with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Among 104 patients who underwent lumpectomy for non-palpable breast cancer, 33 patients (31.7%) had RFID, 21 (20.2%) had SAVI, and 50 (48.0%) had WL. Operative times were 79 min for RFID, 81 min for SAVI, and 78 min for WL (p = 0.91). Volume of tissue resected was 36.3 cm3, 31.7 cm3, and 35.3 cm3 for RFID, SAVI, and WL, respectively (p = 0.84). Positive margin rates (RFID 3.0% vs SAVI 9.5% vs WL 8.0%, p = 0.67) and re-excision rates (RFID 6.1% vs SAVI 9.5% vs WL 10.0%, p = 0.82) were similar across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Wire-free localization technologies have been compared to WL demonstrating similar efficacy. Our study suggests that RFID and SAVI Scout also perform similarly to one another. Physicians and institutions may consider more nuanced features of each localization system rather than performance alone when choosing a wire-free alternative.

National Study of Immediate and Delayed Readmissions After Colostomy Creation.

BACKGROUND: Readmissions after colorectal operations adversely impact patient recovery and are associated with about $300 million in additional health care expenditure in the United States alone. The present study aimed to characterize nonelective, short-term readmissions of colorectal surgery patients who underwent colostomy. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify patients who received a colostomy from 2010 to 2015. Patients were stratified by discharge-to-readmission interval: immediate (within 7 d) and delayed (7-30 d). Nonparametric trend analysis and multivariable regression were performed to identify predictors of immediate and delayed readmission. RESULTS: Of an estimated 376,693 operations requiring colostomies during the study, in-hospital survival was 92.3%, with higher rates after elective compared with nonelective operations (96.5 versus 90.8%, P < 0.001). Overall, 15.3% patients undergoing elective and nonelective colostomy creation returned to the hospital within 30 d, with 41.6% of these readmissions occurring by the first week of discharge (immediate). Readmission rates and proportion of immediate and delayed groups did not significantly change over the 6-year study period. Nonhome discharge increased the odds of immediate (AOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.17-1.34) and delayed readmission (AOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.35-1.54). Annually, immediate and delayed rehospitalizations after colostomy creation were responsible for $64 and 82 million in excess costs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Colostomy creation is associated with a steady and high rate of rehospitalization. Nonhome discharge, in addition to several patient comorbidities, is associated with higher odds of readmission. Programs aimed at reduction of immediate readmission are warranted.

Readmission and Resource Use After Robotic-Assisted versus Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy: 2010-2017.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned rehospitalization is considered an adverse quality of care indicator. Minimally invasive operations carry the potential to reduce resource use while enhancing recovery. Robotic-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RAPD) has been used to improve outcomes of its morbid open counterpart. We sought to identify factors associated with readmission between RAPD and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the 2010-17 National Readmissions Database to identify adults who underwent RAPD or OPD. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission. Secondary outcomes included readmission diagnosis: index, readmission, and total (index + readmission) length of stay, costs, and mortality. RESULTS: Of an estimated 84,036 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, 96.9% survived index hospitalization. Frequency of both RAPD and OPD increased during the study period with similar mortality (2.5% versus 3.2%, P = 0.46). Compared with OPD, RAPD was not an independent predictor of 30-day readmission (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.0, P = 0.98). Disposition with home health care (AOR: 1.1, P < 0.001) or to a skilled nursing facility (AOR: 1.5, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with increased 30-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission after pancreaticoduodenectomy is common, regardless of surgical approach. Although RAPD saves in-patient days on index admission, readmission rates and length of stay are similar between the two modalities. Neither RAPD nor OPD is a risk factor for readmission, highlighting the complexity of pancreaticoduodenectomy, with complications that may result from factors independent of the operative approach.

National Trends in Readmission and Resource Utilization After Pancreatectomy in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatectomy is a complex operation that has been associated with excess morbidity and mortality. Although acute index outcomes have been characterized, there are limited data available on nonelective readmission after pancreatic surgery. We sought to identify factors associated with 30-day and 30- to 90-day readmission after pancreatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We utilized the National Readmissions Database between 2010 and 2016 to identify adults who underwent a pancreatectomy. The primary outcomes were 30-day (30DR) and 30- to 90-day (90DR) readmission. Secondary outcomes included nonelective readmission trends, diagnosis, length of stay, charges, and mortality. RESULTS: Of an estimated 130,267 subjects undergoing pancreatectomy, 97% survived index hospitalization. Eighteen percent of patients had nonelective 30DR while 5.6% experienced 90DR. Readmission at the two time points remained stable during the study period. After adjusting for institution, pancreatectomy volume, mortality (2.0% versus 4.9%, P < 0.001), 30DR length of stay (7.3 d versus 7.8 d, P < 0.001), and 90DR rates (6.9% versus 8.1%, P = 0.003) were significantly decreased at high-volume pancreatectomy centers compared to low-volume hospitals. Discharge to a skilled nursing facility (AOR: 1.52) or with home health care (AOR: 1.2) was associated with 30DR (P < 0.001). Patients undergoing total pancreatectomy (AOR: 1.3) or those with a substance use disorder (AOR: 1.4) among others were associated with 90DR (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Readmissions are common and costly after pancreatectomy. Approximately 20% of patients experience readmission within 30 d. 30DR and 90DR rates remained stable during the study. Pancreatectomy at a high-volume center was associated with decreased mortality and 90DR. The present analysis confirms associations between pancreatectomy volume, postsurgical complications, comorbidities, and readmission.

Height mismatch: An overlooked component of adult heart transplant outcomes.

Heart transplantation guidelines recommend against matching donors with significant weight but not height discrepancies. This study analyzed the impact of donor-recipient height mismatch on mortality among heart transplant recipients. We retrospectively analyzed all adult patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry undergoing heart transplantation from 1990 to September 2016. Moderate and severe height mismatch were classified as >10% and >15% difference in donor height from recipient height, respectively. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Adjusted Cox hazards regression was performed, and Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated 10-year survival. Of 44 877 transplants, 4822 (10.7%) were moderately height mismatched. Height-mismatched recipients were more frequently female (41.6% vs 21.8%, P < .001), sex mismatched (53.8% vs 24.9%, P < .001), and weight mismatched (4.9% vs 1.9%, P < .001). After adjustment, recipients of moderately (HR = 1.15 [1.02-1.30]) and severely (HR = 1.38 [1.10-1.74]) taller donor hearts were at increased risk of mortality at 1 year relative to height-matched recipients. Furthermore, of 1042 (21.6%) severe mismatches, recipients with taller (HR = 1.39 [1.11-1.74]) but not shorter (HR = 0.79 [0.44-1.43]) donors faced increased 10-year mortality. The effect was pronounced among re-transplant candidates (HR = 1.96 [1.07-3.59]). In conclusion, matching with moderately or severely taller donors is an independent predictor of mortality among primary and re-transplant candidates.

Donor history of malignancy: A limited risk for heart transplant recipients.

Organ donor contraindications are frequently reassessed for impact on recipient outcomes in attempt to meet demand for transplantation. This study retrospectively analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry for adult heart transplants from 1987 to September 2016 to characterize the impact of donor malignancy history in heart transplantation. Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated 10-year survival. Propensity score matching was utilized for 1:1 matching of donors with and without history of malignancy, and Cox proportional hazards and logistic regressions were used to analyze the matched population. Of 38 781 heart transplants, 622 (1.6%) had a donor history of malignancy. Cox regressions demonstrated that donor malignancy predicted increased 10-year mortality (HR = 1.16 [1.01-1.33]), but this difference did not persist when conditioned upon 1 year post-transplant survival (log-rank = 0.643). Cox regressions of the propensity score-matched population (455 pairs) found no association between donor malignancy and 10-year mortality (HR = 1.02 [0.84-1.24]). Older age and higher rates of hypertension were observed in donors with a history of malignancy whose recipients died within the first year post-transplant. Therefore, increased recipient mortality is likely due to donor characteristics beyond malignancy, creating the potential for expanded donor selection.

Readmissions after ovarian cancer cytoreduction surgery: The first 30 days and beyond.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative readmissions are often used to assess quality of surgical care. This study compared 30-day vs 31- to 90-day readmission following surgery for ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study of the 2010-2015 Nationwide Readmissions Database characterized 90-day readmissions following cytoreductive surgery for these cancers. Each patient's first postoperative hospitalization was included. Univariate analysis compared patient demographics and reasons for readmission. Multivariable regression identified independent predictors of readmission. RESULTS: Of an estimated 76 652 patients, 10 264 (13.4%) were readmitted within 30 days, and 6942 (9.1%) between 31 and 90 days. The 30-day readmissions were more frequently associated with postoperative infection, while 31- to 90-day readmissions were more frequently associated with renal or hematologic diagnoses. Predictors of any 90-day readmission included index hospitalization longer than 7 days (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.61 [1.48-1.75], P < .001), extended surgical procedure (AOR 1.41 [1.30-1.53], P < .001), pulmonary circulation disorder (AOR = 1.34 [1.13-1.60], P = .001), and diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.12 [1.02-1.24], P = .020). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rates remain high during the 31- to 90-day postoperative period in ovarian cancer patients, although these readmissions are less frequently related to postoperative complications. Prospective study is merited to optimize surveillance beyond the initial 30 days after ovarian cancer surgery.

Factors Associated with Symptomology of Celiac Artery Compression and Outcomes following Median Arcuate Ligament Release.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify potential risk factors for becoming symptomatic in patients with radiographic celiac artery compression (CAC) as well as prognostic factors for patients with median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) who underwent surgical ligament release. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with findings of CAC on computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography (CT/MRA) who were asymptomatic and who were diagnosed with MALS at a single university hospital between January 2001 and 2018. RESULTS: Following a review of 1,330 CT/MRA reports, a total of 109 patients were identified as having radiographically apparent CAC. Among these, 48 (44.0%) patients were symptomatic. Univariate comparison between those with and without symptoms showed that symptomatic patients were more commonly younger than 30 years old [17/48 (35.4%) vs. 8/61 (13.1%), P = 0.006], had a history of prior abdominal surgery [25/48 (52.1%) vs. 18/61 (29.5%), P = 0.017], and had high-grade stenosis [32/43 (74.4%) vs. 25/61 (41.0%), P = 0.001]. Among 41 included patients who underwent surgical release of the median arcuate ligament including open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches, 82.9% reported overall clinical improvement, 5/41 (12.2%) reported persistent pain, and 13/36 (36.0%) experienced pain recurrence. The only identified risk factor associated with symptom recurrence was American Society of Anesthesiologists class III [7/13 (53.8%) vs. 4/23 (17.4%), P = 0.029]. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of stenosis and prior abdominal surgery both contributed to symptom development in patients with radiographically apparent CAC from the median arcuate ligament.

The impact of obesity on outcomes in patients receiving extracorporeal life support.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been increasingly utilized to manage cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction. The impact of obesity on outcomes of ECLS is poorly defined. The purpose of the study was to compare in-hospital mortality, resource use, complications, and readmissions in obese versus non-obese patients receiving ECLS. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adult ECLS patients with and without an obesity diagnosis using the 2010-2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD). Mortality, length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, complications, and readmissions were evaluated using multivariable logistic and linear regression. Of 23 876, patients who received ECLS, 1924 (8.1%) were obese. Obese patients received ECLS more frequently for respiratory failure (29.5% vs. 23.7%, P = .001). After adjustment for patient and hospital factors, obesity was not associated with increased odds of mortality (AOR = 1.06, P = .44) and was associated with decreased LOS (13.7 vs. 21.2 days, P < .001), hospital charges ($171 866 vs. $211 445, P < .001), and 30-day readmission (AOR = 0.71, P = .03). Obesity was also associated with reduced odds of hemorrhage (AOR = 0.43, P < .001), neurologic complications (AOR = 0.55, P = .004), and acute kidney injury (AOR=0.83, P = .04). After stratification by ECLS indication, obesity remained predictive of shorter LOS (AOR range: 0.53-0.78, all P < .05 ) and did not impact mortality (all P > .05). Respiratory support remains the most common indication for ECLS among obese patients. Among all patients, as well as by individual ECLS indication, obesity was not associated with increased odds of mortality. These findings suggest that obesity should not be considered a high-risk contraindication to ECLS.

Abdominal Operations After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used to supplant the limited number of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). The present study aimed to perform a contemporary analysis of emergency abdominal operations after LVAD and OHT at a national level. METHODS: The 2005-2015 National Impatient Sample, the largest all-payer hospitalization database in the United States, was used to identify all adult patients who had received LVAD or OHT. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of emergency general surgery (EGS), which included laparotomy, small or large bowel resection, peptic ulcer operation, adhesiolysis, and cholecystectomy, during the same hospitalization as LVAD or OHT. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for EGS as well as the association between EGS and mortality in both the LVAD and OHT populations. RESULTS: Of the estimated 19,395 OHT and 23,441 LVAD performed, 445 (2.3%) OHT and 719 (3.1%) LVAD patients required EGS. The incidence of EGS in LVAD decreased from 5.4 to 3.3%, whereas it increased among OHT patients from 1.9 to 3.7%, P = 0.003. Occurrence of EGS after OHT and LVAD was associated with significantly higher inpatient risk-adjusted mortality (OHT adjusted odds ratio, 3.0; P = 0.004; LVAD adjusted odds ratio, 2.5; P < 0.001), incremental hospitalization costs (OHT, $106,778; P < 0.001; LVAD, $61,965; P < 0.001), and length of stay (OHT, 27.9 d; P < 0.001; LVAD, 20.8 d; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EGS remains an infrequent but high mortality and cost complication of OHT and LVAD. Further investigation of the impact of immunosuppression, anticoagulation, and perfusion strategies on incidence of abdominal complications is warranted.