The Effect of Hypogastric Artery Revascularization on Ischemic Colitis in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to examine the effect of hypogastric revascularization maneuvers on the rate of postoperative ischemic colitis among patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair. METHODS: Using the 2011-2018 Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Procedure-Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files, we analyzed patients undergoing elective endovascular infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysm repairs. Using multivariable modeling techniques, a cohort of patients at high risk for postoperative ischemic colitis was identified. The outcomes of this group were then compared using Pearson's chi-square testing in accordance with whether or not they underwent hypogastric revascularization. RESULTS: Of 4753 patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program cohort, 1161 had concomitant hypogastric revascularization procedures. High-risk predictors of ischemic colitis included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concurrent renal artery or external iliac artery stenting. There was not a significant association between pelvic revascularization and postoperative ischemic colitis [1.0% with versus 0.5% without pelvic revascularization; adjusted odds ratio of ischemic colitis with revascularization 2.07 (0.96, 4.46); P = 0.06] after adjustment for patient- and procedure-related factors. In a subgroup analysis of patients with a distal aneurysm extent beyond the common iliac artery, the incidence of ischemic colitis was significantly lower in patients without pelvic revascularization (0.1% versus 1.6%, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of patients undergoing elective endovascular repair of infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysmal disease did not find a reduced incidence of postoperative ischemic colitis in patients who received a concomitant pelvic revascularization procedure, suggesting instead that such procedural adjuncts may actually increase risk for this complication.

Race and Insurance Status as Predictors of Bicycle Trauma Outcome in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Race and insurance status have been shown to predict outcomes in pediatric bicycle traumas. It is unknown how these factors influence outcomes in adult bicycle traumas. This study aims to evaluate the association, if any, between race and insurance status with mortality in adults. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the National Trauma Data Bank Research Data Set for the years 2013-2015. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the independent association between patient race and insurance status on helmet use and on outcomes after hospitalization for bicycle-related injury. These models adjusted for demographic factors and comorbid variables. When examining the association between race and insurance status with outcomes after hospitalization, injury characteristics were also included. RESULTS: A study population of 45,063 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Multivariate regression demonstrated that black adults and Hispanic adults were significantly less likely to be helmeted at the time of injury than white adults [adjusted odds ratio of helmet use for blacks 0.25 (95% CI 0.22-0.28) and for Hispanics 0.33 (95% CI 0.30-0.36) versus whites]. Helmet usage was also independently associated with insurance status, with Medicare-insured patients [AOR 0.51 (95% CI 0.47-0.56) versus private-insured patients], Medicaid-insured patients [AOR 0.18 (95% CI 0.17-0.20)], and uninsured patients [AOR 0.29 (95% CI 0.27-0.32)] being significantly less likely to be wearing a helmet at the time of injury compared with private-insured patients. Although patient race was not independently associated with hospital mortality among adult bicyclists, we found that uninsured patients had significantly higher odds of mortality [AOR 2.02 (AOR 1.31-3.12)] compared with private-insured patients. CONCLUSIONS: Minorities and underinsured patients are significantly less likely to be helmeted at the time of bicycle-related trauma when compared with white patients and those with private insurance. Public health efforts to improve the utilization of helmets during bicycling should target these subpopulations.

Pancreatic Fistula and Delayed Gastric Emptying Are the Highest-Impact Complications After Whipple.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy are at risk for a variety of adverse postoperative events, including generic complications such as surgical site infection (SSI) and procedure-specific complications such as postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and delayed gastric emptying (DGE). Knowing which complications have the greatest effect on these patients can help to maximize the value of quality improvement resources. This study aims to quantify the effect of specific postoperative complications on clinical outcomes and resource utilization after pancreaticoduodenectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2014 and December 2016, who were included in the pancreatectomy-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, were assessed for the development of specific postoperative complications, along with the contributions of these complications toward subsequent clinical outcome and resource utilization. The main outcomes were 30-d end-organ dysfunction, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, nonrounding discharge status, and hospital readmission. Risk-adjusted population attributable fractions were estimated for each complication-outcome pair, with the population attributable fraction representing the anticipated percentage reduction in the outcome where the complication was able to be completely prevented. RESULTS: About 10,922 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were included for analysis. The most common postoperative complications were DGE (17.3%), POPF (10.1%), incisional SSI (10.0%), and organ/space SSI (6.2%). POPF and DGE were the only complications that demonstrated sizable effects for all clinical and resource utilization outcomes studied. Other complications had sizable effects for only a few of the outcomes or had small effects for all the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Quality initiatives seeking to minimize the burden imposed by postpancreaticoduodenectomy morbidity should focus on POPF and DGE rather than generic complications.

Locoregional anesthesia is associated with lower 30-day mortality than general anesthesia in patients undergoing endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare 30-day postoperative mortality for patients undergoing endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) using locoregional vs general anesthesia. Unlike the open approach, endovascular repair of rAAA can be performed using either locoregional or general anesthesia. We hypothesize that mortality after endovascular repair of rAAA is lower when locoregional rather than general anesthesia is used. METHODS: Propensity score matching techniques were used to compare the 30-day postoperative outcomes of patients from the 2007 to 2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent endovascular repair of rAAA under locoregional vs general anesthesia. RESULTS: Of the 1382 endovascular rAAA repair procedures in our overall study population, 132 (9.5%) were performed using locoregional anesthesia. Our propensity score matching algorithm yielded a cohort of 130 general anesthesia patients who were well matched with their locoregional anesthesia counterparts for known patient and procedure characteristics. The 30-day postoperative mortality rates for patients in the matched cohort were 14.6% for patients in the locoregional anesthesia group compared with 29.2% for patients in the general anesthesia group (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Locoregional rather than general anesthesia is associated with a significantly lower 30-day mortality after endovascular repair of rAAA. The designs of future trials comparing endovascular and open rAAA repair should include stratification of endovascular procedures by anesthesia modality.

Patient-Centered Outcome Spectrum: An Evidence-based Framework to Aid in Shared Decision-making.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to develop an alternate construct for reporting anticipated outcomes after emergency general surgery (EGS) that presents risk in terms of a composite measure. BACKGROUND: Currently available prediction tools generate risk outputs for discrete as opposed to composite measures of postoperative outcomes. A construct to synthesize multiple discrete estimates into a global understanding of a patient's likely postoperative health status is lacking and could augment shared decision-making conversations. METHODS: Using the 2012 to 2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File, we developed the Patient-Centered Outcomes Spectrum (PCOS) for patients ≥65 years old who underwent an EGS operation. The PCOS defines 3 exclusive types of global outcomes (good, intermediate, and bad outcomes) and allows patients to be prospectively stratified by both their EGS diagnosis and preoperative surgical risk profile. RESULTS: Of the patients in our study population, 13,330 (46.4%) experienced a 30-day postoperative course considered a good outcome. Conversely, 3791 (13.2%) of study patients experienced a bad outcome. The remainder of patients (11,617; 40.4%) were classified as experiencing an intermediate outcome. The incidence of good, intermediate, and bad outcomes was 69.7%, 28.2%, and 2.1% for low-risk patients, and 22.0%, 48.9%, and 29.1% for high-risk patients. Diagnosis-specific PCOS constructs are also provided. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the goals of shared decision-making, the PCOS provides an evidence-based construct based upon a composite outcome measure for patients and providers as they weigh the risks of undergoing EGS.

The Volume-outcome Relationship in Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation and Implications for Regionalization.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the volume-outcome relationship in kidney transplantation by examining graft and patient outcomes using standardized risk adjustment (observed-to-expected outcomes). A secondary objective was to examine the geographic proximity of low, medium, and high-volume kidney transplant centers in the United States. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The significant survival benefit of kidney transplantation in the context of a severe shortage of donor organs mandates strategies to optimize outcomes. Unlike for other solid organ transplants, the relationship between surgical volume and kidney transplant outcomes has not been clearly established. METHODS: The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients was used to examine national outcomes for adults undergoing deceased donor kidney transplantation from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2013 (15-year study period). Observed-to-expected rates of graft loss and patient death were compared for low, medium, and high-volume centers. The geographic proximity of low-volume centers to higher volume centers was determined to assess the impact of regionalization on patient travel burden. RESULTS: A total of 206,179 procedures were analyzed. Compared with low-volume centers, high-volume centers had significantly lower observed-to-expected rates of 1-month graft loss (0.93 vs 1.18, P<0.001), 1-year graft loss (0.97 vs 1.12, P<0.001), 1-month patient death (0.90 vs 1.29, P=0.005), and 1-year patient death (0.95 vs 1.15, P=0.001). Low-volume centers were frequently in close proximity to higher volume centers, with a median distance of 7 miles (interquartile range: 2 to 75). CONCLUSIONS: A robust volume-outcome relationship was observed for deceased donor kidney transplantation, and low-volume centers are frequently in close proximity to higher volume centers. Increased regionalization could improve outcomes, but should be considered carefully in light of the potential negative impact on transplant volume and access to care.

Carotid artery stenting is associated with a higher incidence of major adverse clinical events than carotid endarterectomy in female patients.

BACKGROUND: The optimal approach to carotid revascularization in female patients with carotid artery stenosis is widely debated. Information available is largely derived from clinical trials that include only highly selected patients. The goal of this study was to compare the early clinical outcomes in women who undergo carotid artery stenting (CAS) vs carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: Female patients undergoing CAS or CEA between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015, and who were included in the Procedure Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were assessed for their incidence of early postoperative complications. The primary outcome measure was 30-day incidence of a major adverse clinical event (MACE; defined as death, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or myocardial infarction/arrhythmia). Univariable analyses were used to compare results between female patients undergoing CEA and those undergoing CAS. Propensity score matching techniques were used to create a cohort of 125 CAS and CEA patients who were well matched for all known patient-, disease-, and procedure-related factors. Analysis of comparative outcomes between the propensity-matched groups was then performed. RESULTS: The overall study population consisted of 5620 female CEA patients and 131 female CAS patients. Of these patients, 290 (5.2%) from the CEA group and 16 (12.2%) from the CAS group sustained a MACE in the first 30 days after their procedures. Within the propensity-matched cohort, the 30-day incidence of postoperative MACE in the CAS group of this cohort was 11.2% (14 patients) compared with 4.0% (5 patients; odds ratio, 1.01 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-7.77]; P = .04) in the CEA group. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of a "real-world" clinical registry suggests that CAS may be inferior to CEA in female patients who require carotid artery revascularization.

Current practice of thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and its management are relatively controversial topics. Most of the literature reporting the outcomes of surgical decompression for TOS derives from single-center experiences. The objective of our study was to describe the current state of TOS surgery among hospitals that participate in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. METHODS: Our study sample consisted of patients from the 2005 to 2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent first or cervical rib resection as their index procedure and whose constellation of diagnosis and procedure codes identified them as having neurogenic, arterial, or venous TOS. Patient and procedure characteristics were determined, as were the 30-day incidence of specific complications including nerve injury. Multimodel inference was used for multivariable analysis of the composite outcome of readmission or reoperation ≤30 days. RESULTS: We identified 1431 patients undergoing operation for TOS: 83% for neurogenic TOS, 3% for arterial TOS, and 12% for venous TOS. Vascular surgeons performed 90% of procedures. Only four patients (0.3%) demonstrated evidence of nerve injury. The rate of bleeding complication requiring transfusion was also quite low, at 1.4%. The 30-day incidence of readmission or reoperation, or both, in our study cohort was 8.6%. The risk of this outcome was increased in patients with a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification, those whose procedure was for non-neurogenic symptoms, and those whose procedure took longer to complete. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study will provide surgeons who advocate for the surgical management of TOS with reassurance that such intervention is associated with an extremely low risk of disability resulting from iatrogenic nerve injury and major bleeding events.

Predictors of 30-day postoperative major adverse clinical events after carotid artery stenting: An analysis of the procedure-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

BACKGROUND: Information about carotid artery stenting (CAS) is largely derived from clinical trials, consensus statements, and outcomes comparisons between CAS and carotid endarterectomy. Given these limitations, the goal of this study was to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes after CAS among hospitals participating in the CAS-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). METHODS: Our study sample consisted of patients from the 2012 to 2015 CAS-targeted ACS NSQIP data set. The primary outcome variable was 30-day postoperative incidence of major adverse clinical events (MACEs; death, myocardial infarction/arrhythmia, ipsilateral stroke/transient ischemic attack). Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify patient and procedural characteristics associated with MACEs. RESULTS: A total of 448 patients undergoing CAS for carotid artery stenosis were identified in the 2012 to 2015 CAS-targeted ACS NSQIP data set as eligible for analysis. The incidence of postoperative MACEs was 8.4% for symptomatic patients and 5.4% for asymptomatic patients. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of MACEs included age ≥80 years, female sex, black race, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, active tobacco use (protective), and use of more than one stent. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of major postoperative events in preoperatively asymptomatic patients is higher than the threshold recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines. Elderly patients (≥80 years), female patients, and black patients as well as those receiving more than one stent are at increased risk of negative outcome after CAS.

Targeting the most important complications in vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify the most clinically relevant and costly perioperative complications occurring in vascular surgery patients. METHODS: The analysis included patients in the 2012 to 2014 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database undergoing one of four high-risk vascular procedures. The procedures-aortic reconstruction, lower extremity bypass, lower extremity amputation, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA)-were selected because they have been established as high risk in the literature, rendering them natural targets for quality improvement initiatives. Population-attributable fractions (PAFs) were used to estimate the impact of seven prespecified complications on 30-day outcomes in the study population. The PAF predicts the reduction in outcome anticipated if a particular complication were to be prevented across the study population. Unadjusted and adjusted PAFs were reported. CEA was analyzed separately from the other procedures. RESULTS: The analysis included 72,805 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program patients. Pneumonia had the largest impact on the incidence of end-organ dysfunction in CEA patients (adjusted PAF, 24.4%; 95% confidence interval, 20.6-28.1), and cerebrovascular accident had the largest impact on mortality in these patients (adjusted PAF, 23.1%; 95% confidence interval, 18.5-27.3). In patients undergoing abdominal or lower extremity vascular surgery, bleeding and pneumonia had the largest impact on clinical outcomes and need for prolonged hospitalization, and surgical site infection had the largest impact on hospital readmission. In contrast, prevention of venous thromboembolism, urinary tract infection, and myocardial infarction do not demonstrate substantial impact on patient outcomes or resource utilization in either group of vascular surgery patients. CONCLUSIONS: Quality initiatives that can successfully reduce the occurrence of postoperative stroke, bleeding, and pneumonia will have the greatest clinical impact on the outcomes of vascular surgery patients. Initiatives that target complications such as venous thromboembolism, urinary tract infection, or myocardial infarction will have little impact on this patient population.

Effect of transfer status on outcomes for necrotizing soft tissue infections.

BACKGROUND: Whether patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) who presented to under-resourced hospitals are best served by immediate debridement or expedited transfer is unknown. We examined whether interhospital transfer status impacts outcomes of patients requiring emergency debridement for NSTI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a retrospective review studying patients with an operative diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier's gangrene, or gas gangrene in the 2010-2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files. Multivariable regression analyses determined if transfer status independently predicted 30-d mortality, major morbidity, minor morbidity, and length of stay. RESULTS: Among 1801 patients, 1243 (69.0%) were in the non-transfer group and 558 (31.0%) were in the transfer group. The transfer group experienced higher rates of 30-d mortality (14.5% versus 13.0%) and major morbidity (64.5% versus 60.1%) than the non-transfer group, which were not significant after risk adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.87 [0.62-1.22] and 1.00 [0.79-1.27], respectively). The transferred group experienced a longer median length of postoperative hospitalization (14 d [interquartile range 8-24] versus 11 d [6-20]), which maintained statistical significance after adjustment for other factors (adjusted beta coefficient [95% confidence interval]: 1.92 [0.48-3.37]; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that interhospital transfer status is not an independent risk factor for mortality or morbidity after surgical management of NSTI. Although expedient debridement remains a basic tenet of NSTI management, our findings provide some reassurance that transfer before initial debridement will not significantly jeopardize patient outcomes should such transfer be deemed necessary.

Validated prediction model for severe groin wound infection after lower extremity revascularization procedures.

BACKGROUND: Groin wound infection is a costly and morbid event after lower extremity revascularization. To date, a comprehensive and validated method for identifying patients who are at greatest risk for this complication has yet to be developed. METHODS: Our retrospective analysis included all patients at a single institution who underwent lower extremity revascularization using a groin incision from 2009 through 2012. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a test group, which was used to develop a predictive model for our primary outcome; and a validation group, which was used to test that model. The primary outcome for our analysis was severe groin wound infection, which we defined as postoperative groin infection that required operative intervention. Multimodel inference methods were used to evaluate all possible combinations, interactions, and transformations of potential predictor variables from the test group of patients. The resulting model that exhibited the lowest Akaike information criterion was then selected for testing with the validation group of patients. RESULTS: A total of 284 patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization procedures were included in our study (140 in the test group, 144 in the validation group). In the test group, 17 patients (12.1%) developed severe groin wound infection requiring operative intervention. The best-fit predictive model developed from this group identified the following independent risk factors for severe groin wound infection: prior ipsilateral groin incision, female gender, body mass index, end-stage renal disease, malnutrition, and urgent or emergency procedure status. The correct classification rate of this model in the test group was 88.6%. The incidence of severe groin wound infection in the validation group was 13.9%, and application of our predictive model to this group yielded a correct classification rate of 86.1%. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed and validated a statistical model that accurately predicts those patients who are likely to sustain severe groin wound infection after lower extremity revascularization.

Insurance status and race affect treatment and outcome of traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that race and socioeconomic factors affect patient outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our goal was to assess the effect of race, ethnicity and insurance status on hospital length of stay, procedures performed, mortality, and discharge disposition after TBI. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank (2002-2012) to analyze patients aged 14-89 y with one of five closed head injuries. Univariate regressions identified demographic and injury characteristics that were significant predictors of outcomes. These variables were then included in multivariate regression models. RESULTS: We analyzed 187,354 TBI patients. The sample was 78% white, 9% black, 9% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 1% native American, and included 42% Medicare, 30% private insurance, 12% uninsured, 8% other insurance, and 8% Medicaid. Compared with white patients, black and Hispanic patients were more likely to have a TBI procedure (blacks odds ratio [OR] = 1.19, P < 0.001; Hispanics OR = 1.33, P < 0.001), had longer hospital stays (blacks coeff = 1.02, P < 0.001; Hispanics coeff = 0.61, P < 0.001), were less likely to die in the hospital (blacks OR = 0.90, P = 0.006; Hispanics OR = 0.90, P = 0.007), and more (black OR = 1.09, P = 0.001) or less likely (Hispanic OR = 0.76, P < 0.001) to be discharged to rehabilitation. Compared with the privately insured, the uninsured were less likely to have a TBI procedure (OR = 0.90, P = 0.001), had longer hospital stays (coeff = 0.24, P < 0.001), were more likely to die in the hospital (OR = 1.37, P < 0.001), and less likely to be discharged to rehabilitation (OR = 0.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Race/ethnicity and insurance status significantly affect TBI patient outcomes, even after controlling for demographic and injury characteristics.

Early T-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in an Infant With an NRAS Q61R Mutation and Clinical Features of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a subtype of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) arising from a primitive precursor. We present a unique case of an infant with ETP-ALL with a missense NRAS mutation in codon 61 (c.182A>G, p.Q61R). The patient also had a minor population of non-ETP T-ALL blasts and clinical features typically associated with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), namely, absolute monocytosis, splenomegaly, and elevated hemoglobin F. The treatment was initiated with chemotherapy, followed by cord blood transplantation. The patient achieved remission, but unfortunately died from transplant-related complications. This case highlights an NRAS mutation in ETP-ALL with JMML-like phenotype.

Combined Mechanical and Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation Reduces Incisional Surgical Site Infection and Anastomotic Leak Rates After Elective Colorectal Resection: An Analysis of Colectomy-Targeted ACS NSQIP.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between preoperative bowel preparation and 30-day outcomes after elective colorectal resection. METHODS: Patients from the 2012 Colectomy-Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database who underwent elective colorectal resection were included for analysis and assigned to 1 of 4 groups based on the type of preoperative preparation they received [combined mechanical and oral antibiotic preparation (OAP), mechanical preparation only, OAP only, or no preoperative bowel preparation]. The association between preoperative bowel preparation status and 30-day postoperative outcomes was assessed using multivariate regression analysis to adjust for a robust array of patient- and procedure-related factors. RESULTS: A total of 4999 patients were included for this study [1494 received (29.9%) combined mechanical and OAP, 2322 (46.5%) received mechanical preparation only, 91 (1.8%) received OAP only, and 1092 (21.8%) received no preoperative preparation]. Compared to patients receiving no preoperative preparation, patients who received combined preparation demonstrated a lower 30-day incidence of postoperative incisional surgical site infection (3.2% vs 9.0%, P < 0.001), anastomotic leakage (2.8% vs 5.7%, P = 0.001), and procedure-related hospital readmission (5.5% vs 8.0%, P = 0.03). The outcomes of patients who received either mechanical or OAP alone did not differ significantly from those who received no preparation. CONCLUSIONS: Combined bowel preparation with mechanical cleansing and oral antibiotics results in a significantly lower incidence of incisional surgical site infection, anastomotic leakage, and hospital readmission when compared to no preoperative bowel preparation.

The impact of functional dependency on outcomes after complex general and vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes of functionally dependent patients who undergo major general or vascular surgery and to determine the relationship between functional health status and early postoperative outcomes. BACKGROUND: In contrast to frailty, functional health status is a relatively easy entity to define and to measure and therefore may be a more practical variable to assess in patients who are being considered for major surgery. To date, few studies have assessed the impact of functional health status on surgical outcomes. METHODS: Patients undergoing 1 of 10 complex general or vascular operations were extracted from the 2005 to 2010 America College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Propensity score techniques were used to match patients with and without preoperative functional dependency on known patient- and procedure-related factors. The postoperative outcomes of this matched cohort were then compared. RESULTS: A total of 10,246 functionally dependent surgical patients were included for analysis. These patients were more acutely and chronically ill than functionally independent patients, and they had higher rates of mortality and morbidity for each of the 10 procedures analyzed. Propensity-matching techniques resulted in the creation of a cohort of functionally independent and dependent patients who were well matched for known patient- and procedure-related variables. Dependent patients from the matched cohort had a 1.75-fold greater odds of postoperative death (95% confidence interval: 1.54-1.98, P < 0.0001) than functionally independent patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative functional dependency is an independent risk factor for mortality after major operation. Functional health status should be routinely assessed in patients who are being considered for complex surgery.

Predictors of 30-day postoperative stroke or death after carotid endarterectomy using the 2012 carotid endarterectomy-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

OBJECTIVE: This study used a recently released procedure-targeted multicenter data source to determine independent predictors of postoperative stroke or death in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: The 2012 CEA-targeted American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used for this study. Patient, disease, and procedure characteristics of patients undergoing CEA were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for 30-day postoperative stroke/death or other major complications. RESULTS: The analysis included 3845 patients undergoing CEA (58.1% with asymptomatic and 41.9% with symptomatic carotid disease). The overall 30-day postoperative stroke/death rate was 3.0% (1.9% in asymptomatic patients, 4.6% in symptomatic patients). The variables that maintained an independent association with postoperative stroke/death after adjustment for other known patient-related and procedure-related factors were age ≥80 years, active smoking, contralateral internal carotid artery stenosis of 80% to 99%, emergency procedure status, preoperative stroke, presence of one or more ACS NSQIP-defined high-risk characteristics (including any or all of New York Heart Association class III/IV congestive heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, recent unstable angina, or recent myocardial infarction), and operative time ≥150 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment for a comprehensive array of patient-related and procedure-related variables of particular import to patients with carotid artery stenosis, we have identified several factors that are independently associated with early stroke or death after CEA. These factors are generally related to the comorbid condition of CEA patients and to specific characteristics of their carotid disease, and not to technical features of the CEA procedure. Knowledge of these factors will assist surgeons in selecting appropriate patients for this procedure.

Risk factors for cranial nerve injury after carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous studies have described the incidence of postoperative cranial nerve injury (CNI) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), there have been few attempts to identify risk factors for this complication. METHODS: The 2012 CEA-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to determine the incidence of CNI after CEA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of CNI after CEA, using a comprehensive array of patient-, carotid disease-, and procedure-related factors as potential predictor variables. RESULTS: Of the 3762 CEA patients who were included in our analysis, 84 (2.2%) were noted to have sustained CNI in the first 30 days after their operation. Independent predictors of this complication included age ≥80 years (reference group, <70 years; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for CNI, 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-3.03; P = .05), presence of a preoperative bleeding disorder (including patients in whom preoperative nonaspirin anticoagulation therapy was not stopped before CEA; AOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03-2.68; P = .04), duration of operation (AOR, 1.15 for each 30-minute interval beyond an operative time of 90 minutes; 95% CI, 1.06-1.25; P = .001), and need for reoperation (AOR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.03-6.80; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates clinically evident CNI to be a relatively uncommon event after CEA at institutions that participate in the CEA-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and identifies four separate factors that are independently associated with an increased risk of CNI.

The impact of intraoperative shunting on early neurologic outcomes after carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although the need for intraoperative shunting during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is intensely debated, relatively few studies have compared the neurologic outcomes of patients undergoing CEA with or without shunts. The objective of our analysis was to determine the impact of intraoperative shunting during CEA on the incidence of postoperative stroke. METHODS: The 2012 CEA-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used for this analysis. The preoperative and operative characteristics of patients undergoing CEA with or without intraoperative shunting were compared. From this overall sample, propensity score techniques were then used to match patients with or without intraoperative shunting for a number of variables, including age, degree of ipsilateral and contralateral carotid stenosis, presence of several anatomic or physiologic risk factors, anesthesia modality, and use of patch angioplasty vs primary arteriotomy closure. The 30-day postoperative mortality and combined stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) rates of this matched cohort were then compared. A similar analysis was also performed on a subgroup of patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery. RESULTS: A total of 3153 patients were included for initial analysis (2023 "no-shunt" patients vs 1130 "shunt" patients). From this overall sample, propensity score matching yielded a cohort of 1072 patients with or without intraoperative shunt placement who were well matched for all known patient- and procedure-related factors. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative stroke/TIA between the two groups of this matched cohort (3.4% in the no-shunt group vs 3.7% in the shunt group; P = .64). Analysis of a similarly well matched subgroup of patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery demonstrated a statistically nonsignificant increase in the incidence of postoperative stroke/TIA with the use of intraoperative shunting (4.9% in the no-shunt group vs 9.8% in the shunt group; P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: There is no clinical benefit to intraoperative shunting during CEA, even in patients who may be at high risk for intraoperative cerebral hypoperfusion due to severe stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery.

Optimal timing of tracheostomy after trauma without associated head injury.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists over optimal timing of tracheostomy in patients with respiratory failure after blunt trauma. The study aimed to determine whether the timing of tracheostomy affects mortality in this population. METHODS: The 2008-2011 National Trauma Data Bank was queried to identify blunt trauma patients without concomitant head injury who required tracheostomy for respiratory failure between hospital days 4 and 21. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between tracheostomy timing and the odds of inhospital mortality. The cohort was stratified based on this analysis. Unadjusted characteristics and outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of tracheostomy timing on mortality after adjustment for age, gender, race, payor status, level of trauma center, injury severity score, presentation Glasgow coma scale, and thoracic and abdominal abbreviated injury score. RESULTS: There were 9662 patients included in the study. Restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrated a nonlinear relationship between timing of tracheostomy and mortality, with higher odds of mortality occurring with tracheostomy placement within 10 d of admission compared with later time points. The cohort was therefore stratified into early and delayed tracheostomy groups relative to this time point. The resulting groups contained 5402 (55.9%) and 4260 (44.1%) patients, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the delayed tracheostomy group continued to have significantly reduced odds of mortality (Adjusted odds ratio, 0.82, 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.95, C-statistic, 0.700). CONCLUSIONS: Among non-head injured blunt trauma patients with prolonged respiratory failure, tracheostomy placement within 10 d of admission may result in increased mortality compared with later time points.