Interdisciplinary planning improves radiologist obtained access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Proper antegrade access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is essential for success but can be challenging. Previous work evaluating access obtained by interventional radiology (IR), largely in the emergent setting, has shown high rates of additional access at the time of PCNL. We hypothesize that efforts to improve pre-procedural communication between urology and IR can impact the utility of the access for subsequent PCNL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients undergoing PCNL at a single hospital from January 2011 to December 2022. Adult patients undergoing PCNL with established preoperative access were included. RESULTS: A total of 141 cases were identified with preoperative access. A total of 111 patients had evidence of planning with IR prior to antegrade access. There were high rates of anatomic abnormality (50%) and staghorn calculus (53%). Patients with planned access had higher body mass index (BMI). While preoperative access was initially utilized in 97% of cases, 6% required additional access to be obtained intraoperatively; this included a low rate of new access in those that were previously discussed with IR (4% vs. 17%, p = 0.02). Overall stone free rates (91%), rates of second stage procedures (55%) and complications (14%) were similar between planned and unplanned groups. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study of complex patients with large stone burden presenting for PCNL with preoperative antegrade access obtained by IR, the rate of new access was far lower than prior reports. This was likely influenced by urologist involvement in planning access.

Optimizing Electronic Release of Imaging Results through an Online Patient Portal.

Purpose To determine an optimal embargo period preceding release of radiologic test results to an online patient portal. Materials and Methods This prospective discrete choice conjoint survey with modified orthogonal design was administered to patients by trained interviewers at four outpatient sites and two institutions from December 2016 to February 2018. Three preferences for receiving imaging results associated with a possible or known cancer diagnosis were evaluated: delay in receipt of results (1, 3, or 14 days), method of receipt (online portal, physician's office, or phone), and condition of receipt (before, at the same time as, or after health care provider). Preferences (hereafter, referred to as utilities) were derived from parameter estimates (ß) of multinomial regression stratified according to study participant and choice set. Results Among 464 screened participants, the response and completion rates were 90.5% (420 of 464) and 99.5% (418 of 420), respectively. Participants preferred faster receipt of results (P < .001) from their physician (P < .001) over the telephone (P < .001). Each day of delay decreased preference by 13 percentage points. Participants preferred immediate receipt of results through an online portal (utility, -.57) if made to wait more than 6 days to get results in the office and more than 11 days to get results by telephone. Compared with receiving results in their physician's office on day 7 (utility, -.60), participants preferred immediate release through the online portal without physician involvement if followed by a telephone call within 6 days (utility, -0.49) or an office visit within 2 days (utility, -.53). Older participants preferred physician-directed communication (P < .001). Conclusion The optimal embargo period preceding release of results through an online portal depends on the timing of traditional telephone- and office-based styles of communication. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Arenson et al in this issue.

The impact of intraoperative fluid management during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy on donor and recipient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative fluid management during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) may have a significant effect on donor and recipient outcomes. We sought to quantify variability in fluid management and investigate its impact on donor and recipient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent LDN from July 2011 to January 2016 with paired kidney recipients at a single center was performed. Patients were divided into tertiles of intraoperative fluid management (standard, high, and aggressive). Donor and recipient demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 413 paired kidney donors and recipients were identified. Intraoperative fluid management (mL/h) was highly variable with no correlation to donor weight (kg) (R = 0.017). The aggressive fluid management group had significantly lower recipient creatinine levels on postoperative day 1. However, no significant differences were noted in creatinine levels out to 6 months between groups. No significant differences were noted in recipient postoperative complications, graft loss, and death. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the number of total donor complications in the aggressive fluid management group. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive fluid management during LDN does not improve recipient outcomes and may worsen donor outcomes compared to standard fluid management.

New onset alcohol use disorder following bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity; however, there may be significant unanticipated psychosocial effects following surgery. Prior studies have identified a threefold increase in the incidence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). With sleeve gastrectomy (SG) now comprising over 50% of primary bariatric operations, the degree to which patients who undergo SG develop AUD remains unknown. We sought to characterize the patients and incidence of AUD following SG compared to RYGB. METHODS: This study used prospectively collected data from a state-wide quality collaborative. The presence of AUD was determined using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C), with a score ≥ 4 in men and ≥ 3 in women suggestive of AUD. We used bivariate Chi-square tests for categorical variables and independent samples t tests for continuous variables. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify patient characteristics that may predispose patients to development of AUD at 1 and 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of AUD in our population (n = 5724) was 9.6% preoperatively, 8.5% at 1 year postoperatively, and 14.0% at 2 years postoperatively. The preoperative, 1-year, and 2-year prevalence of AUD for SG were 10.1%, 9.0%, and 14.4%, respectively. The preoperative, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative prevalence of AUD for RYGB were 7.6%, 6.3%, and 11.9%, respectively. Predisposing patient factors to AUD development included higher educational level (p < 0.01) and higher household income (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This is first large, multi-institutional study of AUD following SG. The prevalence of alcohol use disorder in patients undergoing SG and RYGB was similar pre- and postoperatively. The majority of patients developed AUD following their second postoperative year. Understanding the timing and incidence of alcohol use disorder in patients undergoing SG-the most commonly performed bariatric operation in the United States-is critical to providing appropriate counseling and treatment.

Paraspinous muscle as a predictor of surgical outcome.

BACKGROUND: Objective measures for preoperative risk assessment are needed to inform surgical risk stratification. Previous studies using preoperative imaging have shown that the psoas muscle is a significant predictor of postoperative outcomes. Because psoas measurements are not always available, additional trunk muscles should be identified as alternative measures of risk assessment. Our research assessed the relationship between paraspinous muscle area, psoas muscle area, and surgical outcomes. METHODS: Using the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative database, we retrospectively identified 1309 surgical patients who had preoperative abdominal computerized tomography scans within 90 d of operation. Analytic morphomic techniques were used to measure the cross-sectional area of the paraspinous muscle at the T12 vertebral level. The primary outcome was 1-y mortality. Analyses were stratified by sex, and logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between muscle area and postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The measurements of paraspinous muscle area at T12 were normally distributed. There was a strong correlation between paraspinous muscle area at T12 and total psoas area at L4 (r = 0.72, P <0.001). Paraspinous area was significantly associated with 1-y mortality in both females (odds ratio = 0.70 per standard deviation increase in paraspinous area, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.99, P = 0.046) and males (odds ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.88, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Paraspinous muscle area correlates with psoas muscle area, and larger paraspinous muscle area is associated with lower mortality rates after surgery. This suggests that the paraspinous muscle may be an alternative to the psoas muscle in the context of objective measures of risk stratification.

A Video-Based Coaching Intervention to Improve Surgical Skill in Fourth-Year Medical Students.

OBJECTIVE: For senior medical students pursuing careers in surgery, specific technical feedback is critical for developing foundational skills in preparation for residency. This pilot study seeks to assess the feasibility of a video-based coaching intervention to improve the suturing skills of fourth-year medical students. DESIGN: Fourth-year medical students pursuing careers in surgery were randomized to intervention vs. control groups and completed 2 video recorded suture tasks. Students in the intervention group received a structured coaching session between consecutive suturing tasks, whereas students in the control group did not. Each coaching session consisted of a video review of the students' first suture task with a faculty member that provided directed feedback regarding technique. Following each suturing task, students were asked to self-assess their performance and provide feedback regarding the utility of the coaching session. All videos were deidentified and graded by independent faculty members for evaluation of suture technique. SETTING: The University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: All fourth-year medical students pursuing careers in surgical specialties were contacted via e-mail for voluntary participation. In all, 16 students completed both baseline and follow up suture tasks. RESULTS: All students who completed the coaching session would definitely recommend the session for other students. A total of 94% of the students strongly agreed that the exercise was a beneficial experience, and 75% strongly agreed that it improved their technical skills. Based on faculty grading, students in the intervention group demonstrated greater average improvements in bimanual dexterity compared to students in the control group; whereas students in the control group demonstrated greater average improvements in domains of efficiency and tissue handling compared to the intervention group. Based on student self-assessments, those in the intervention group had greater subjective improvements in all scored domains of bimanual dexterity, efficiency, tissue handling, and consistency compared to the control group. Subjective, free-response comments centered on themes of becoming more aware of hand movements when viewing their suturing from a new perspective, and the usefulness of the coaching advice. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of a video-based coaching intervention for senior medical students. Students who participated in the coaching arm of the intervention noticed improvements in all domains of technical skill and noted that the experience was overwhelmingly positive. In summary, video-based review shows promise as an educational tool in medical education as a means to provide specific technical feedback.

Spillover Effect of Evidence-Based Postoperative Opioid Prescribing.

BACKGROUND: Opioid prescribing after operations is often excessive, resulting in leftover pills in the community available for diversion. Procedure-specific postoperative prescribing guidelines can reduce excessive prescribing, however, it is unclear whether such guidelines are associated with reductions in opioid prescribing for other procedures. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017. Postoperative opioid prescription size (in oral morphine equivalents [OME]) was compared before and after November 1, 2016, when prescribing guidelines were introduced for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to evaluate changes in opioid prescribing after this intervention. RESULTS: A total of 1,158 patients were included in the cohort (558 pre-intervention, 600 post-intervention). Opioid prescription size was significantly reduced for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (447.6 ± 74.3 OME vs 291.9 ± 104.3 OME; p < 0.001), laparoscopic appendectomy (173.7 ± 101.6 OME vs 85.8 ± 52.7 OME; p < 0.001), laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (185.0 ± 101.8 OME vs 107.9 ± 57.9 OME; p < 0.001), and thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy (81.5 ± 52.8 OME vs 42.6 ± 22.5 OME; p < 0.001). Interrupted time series analysis revealed that this reduction was attributable to intervention for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (-24.5 ± 5.3 OME; p = 0.001), laparoscopic appendectomy (-50.2 ± 28.7 OME; p = 0.04), and thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy (-28.8 ± 9.4 OME; p = 0.001). For laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the immediate decrease in prescription size was not statistically significant (-38.8 ± 33.1 OME; p = 0.24). There was a significant increase in requests for refills after laparoscopic appendectomy (0.8% vs 6.6%; p = 0.01) but not for other procedures. CONCLUSIONS: After implementing evidence-based opioid prescribing recommendations for a single surgical procedure, opioid prescribing decreased for 4 other surgical procedures. Requests for refills did not increase substantially. This spillover effect demonstrates the potential impact of raising awareness about safe and appropriate opioid prescribing after operations.

Waiting for Radiology Test Results: Patient Expectations and Emotional Disutility.

PURPOSE: To measure patient willingness to wait and emotional disutility of waiting for outpatient imaging test results. METHODS: A prospective HIPAA-compliant multicenter outpatient quality improvement survey was administered by a trained interviewer to 218 outpatients from November 1, 2016, to February 1, 2017. The survey was vetted by patient- and family-centered care advocates with experience in survey design and underwent precognitive testing for readability. Six clinical scenarios were tested. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: The response (93% [202 of 218]) and completion (93% [188 of 202]) rates were excellent. Anxiety (28% [57 of 202]), depression (26% [53 of 202]), and cancer (23% [46 of 202]) histories were common. Median stated expectations for imaging test results receipt were 3 days after a screening examination (interquartile range [IQR] 5 days); 2 days after chest x-ray for chest pain (IQR 3) or MRI or CT for back pain (IQR 2); and 1 day after chest x-ray for pneumonia (IQR 2), MRI or CT for brain tumor (IQR 2), or CT for cancer treatment (IQR 3). If imaging results are not received, the median time patients stated they would wait to call their provider was 1 to 5 days (varied by indication). Waiting for imaging results exerts an emotional change in 45% (91 of 202) of individuals, with the majority (85% [77 of 91]) experiencing anxiety (minimal 28%, mild 45%, moderate 22%, severe 4%, extreme 1%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients expect outpatient imaging results within 1 to 3 days and will call providers by 1 to 5 days. Waiting for test results commonly induces anxiety.

Resident Surgeons Underrate Their Laparoscopic Skills and Comfort Level When Compared With the Rating by Attending Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: The development of operative skills during general surgery residency depends largely on the resident surgeons' (residents) ability to accurately self-assess and identify areas for improvement. We compared evaluations of laparoscopic skills and comfort level of residents from both the residents' and attending surgeons' (attendings') perspectives. DESIGN: We prospectively observed 111 elective cholecystectomies at the University of Michigan as part of a larger quality improvement initiative. Immediately after the operation, both residents and attendings completed a survey in which they rated the residents' operative proficiency, comfort level, and the difficulty of the case using a previously validated instrument. Residents' and attendings' evaluations of residents' performance were compared using 2-sided t tests. SETTING: The University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI. Large academic, tertiary care institution. PARTICIPANTS: All general surgery residents and faculty at the University of Michigan performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 1 and August 31, 2013. Data were collected for 28 of the institution's 54 trainees. RESULTS: Attendings rated residents higher than what residents rated themselves on a 5-point Likert-type scale regarding depth perception (3.86 vs. 3.38, p < 0.005), bimanual dexterity (3.75 vs. 3.36, p = 0.005), efficiency (3.58 vs. 3.18, p < 0.005), tissue handling (3.69 vs. 3.23, p < 0.005), and comfort while performing a case (3.86 vs. 3.38, p < 0.005). Attendings and residents were in agreement on the level of autonomy displayed by the resident during the case (3.31 vs. 3.34, p = 0.85), the level of difficulty of the case (2.98 vs. 2.85, p = 0.443), and the degree of teaching done by the attending during the case (3.61 vs. 3.54, p = 0.701). CONCLUSIONS: A gap exists between residents' and attendings' perception of residents' laparoscopic skills and comfort level in performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These findings call for improved communication between residents and attendings to ensure that graduates are adequately prepared to operate independently. In the context of changing methods of resident evaluations that call for explicitly defined competencies in surgery, it is essential that residents are able to accurately self-assess and be in general agreement with attendings on their level of laparoscopic skills and comfort level while performing a case.

Surgical Baseball Cards: Improving Patient- and Family-Centered Care.

OBJECTIVE: Busy surgical services with diverse team members and frequent handoffs create barriers to patient- and family-centered care. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of cards containing team member names, roles, and photographs-"Surgical Baseball Cards" (SBCs)-would improve patient recognition of caregivers and whether this would improve patient satisfaction. DESIGN: A prospective, controlled study was performed of all adult patients admitted to 2 academic acute care general surgery services with alternating admitting days. Surgical team members on one service had SBCs to give patients at introduction, whereas the control service used no such tool. Before discharge, patients completed a survey consisting of a quiz requiring matching of caregiver photographs to names and roles (5-point maximum), questions rating select elements of patient satisfaction (5-point Likert scale), and an opportunity to provide comments. SETTING: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, a university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 162 patients were included over 2 months, with at least a 24-hour admission to an acute care general surgery service. RESULTS: Overall, 60% of patients in the intervention arm received SBCs. Per-unit SBC cost was 0.16 USD. Patients who received SBCs had significantly improved identification of team members based on name (1.7 ± 1.4 vs 1.2 ± 1.5, p = 0.02) and role (1.6 ± 1.4 vs 0.9 ± 1.2, p = 0.02) than controls did. All the SBC recipients and 88% of controls felt that SBCs should be implemented hospital-wide. SBC recipients reported a trend toward increased comfort with resident involvement in care (4.6 ± 0.7 vs 4.5 ± 0.9, p = 0.14). Among themes discerned from free-response comments, 46% of SBC recipients commented on the innovative nature of SBCs and 29% noted improved team identification. Overall, 17% of SBC recipients commented positively on patient-centered care (vs 3% of controls), whereas 5% commented negatively on patient-centered care (vs 15% of controls); 8% of SBC recipients commented positively on coordination of care (vs 1% of controls), whereas 5% commented negatively on coordination of care (vs 24% of controls). CONCLUSIONS: SBCs provide reasonable value by improving patient recognition of healthcare team members and understanding of team member roles, and they are associated with positive patient feedback regarding coordination of care and patient-centered care.