Barriers to Offering Organ Preservation for Rectal Cancer in a Predominantly Hispanic Safety Net Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has shown promise in achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) and enabling organ preservation through watch-and-wait (WW) strategies. However, implementation of WW protocols in diverse patient populations and safety-net hospitals faces unique challenges. The objective of this study is to evaluate TNT outcomes and identify barriers to WW implementation in a predominantly Hispanic safety-net hospital in South Texas. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 40 LARC patients treated with TNT at an academic tertiary referral center in South Texas between 2018 and 2023. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and pCR rates were analyzed. A survey of multidisciplinary providers assessed perceived institutional and patient-related barriers to WW implementation. RESULTS: The cohort was 70% Hispanic, with a median age of 54 years. Most patients had advanced disease at diagnosis (57.5% T4, 65% N2). The pCR rate was 18.5% (5/27) among patients undergoing surgery. Re-review of MRIs for pCR patients revealed that 2/5 had minimal residual disease. The provider survey identified MRI quality variability, lack of dedicated treatment coordinators, and concerns about patient compliance and financial barriers as key obstacles to WW implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite advanced disease presentation in a predominantly Hispanic population, TNT achieved pCR rates comparable to international trials. Institutional and patient-level barriers to WW were identified, informing the development of a tailored WW protocol for this unique patient population.

Leukopenia is an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications following incision and drainage of anorectal abscess.

AIM: Few data are available regarding the management of anorectal abscess in patients with leukopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of leukopenia among patients undergoing incision and drainage for anorectal abscess. METHOD: A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database identified patients from 2015 to 2020. Perianal fistulas and supralevator abscesses were excluded. Patients were grouped based on white blood cell (WBC) count: WBC < 4.5 cells/µl, WBC = 4.5-11.0 cells/µl and WBC > 11.0 cells/µl. The 30-day overall complications and outcomes were compared using regression models, accounting for demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Ten thousand two hundred and forty (70.3% male) patients were identified. Univariate analysis showed that, compared with patients with leukocytosis (WBC > 11.0 cells/µl) and normal WBC count (WBC = 4.5-11.0 cells/µl), patients with leukopenia (WBC <4.5 cells/µl) had higher rates of overall (p < 0.001), pulmonary (p < 0.001) and haematological complications (p < 0.001). They also had higher rates of readmission (p < 0.001), reoperation (p = 0.005), discharge to a care facility (p = 0.003), increased length of hospital stay (p = 0.004) and death (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified leukopenia as an independent risk factor for overall complications [odds ratio (OR) 2.31, 95% CI 1.65-3.24; p < 0.001], pulmonary complications (OR 5.65, 95% CI 1.88-16.97; p = 0.002), haematological complications (OR 4.30, 95% CI 2.94-6.28; p < 0.001), unplanned readmission (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43-3.40; p < 0.001), reoperation (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.10-2.93; p = 0.019) and death (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.02-7.52; p = 0.046). Discharge to a care facility and length of stay were not significant on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Leukopenia is associated with increased risk for pulmonary and haematological complications, readmissions, reoperations, discharge to a care facility and death after incision and drainage for anorectal abscess.

Video-Based Patient Education Improves Patient Attitudes Toward Resident Participation in Outpatient Surgical Care.

OBJECTIVE: Decipher if patient attitudes toward resident participation in surgical care can be improved with patient education using a video-based modality. DESIGN: A survey using a 5-pt Likert scale was created, piloted, and distributed in general and colorectal surgery outpatient clinics that had residents involved with patient care at 2 facilities, both with control and intervention groups. The intervention group viewed a short video (∼4 min) explaining the role, education, and responsibilities of medical students, residents, and attending surgeons prior to answering the survey. SETTING: General and colorectal surgery outpatient clinics at the University of Texas Health San Antonio, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 383 responses were collected, all clinic patients were eligible. RESULTS: The majority of patients (82%) welcomed resident participation in their health care. Eighteen percent of patients did not expect residents to be involved in their care. Patients had favorable views of residents participating during their surgical procedures with 77% responding "agree" or "strongly agree" to a senior resident assisting with a complicated procedure. Patients who viewed the video versus control were less concerned with how much of the procedure the resident would perform (76% vs 86%, p = 0.010). Patients who viewed the video felt less inconvenienced (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients are welcoming to resident participation in their surgical care but only 54% were expecting resident involvement at their clinic visit. Early explanation with an educational video of resident roles, education, and responsibilities may help bridge the gap and improve patient experience.

The Cost of Compliance: The Financial Burden of Fulfilling Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Surgery Requirements.

OBJECTIVE: There has been a significant increase in the number of regulatory requirements for general surgery graduate medical education (GME) programs over the last 20 years from the governing bodies of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We endeavored to calculate the cost to general surgery GME programs of regulatory requirements. DESIGN: We examined the requirements for General Surgery ABS Certification as well as the 2017 ACGME Program Requirements in General Surgery for all mandates that require funding by the surgery program to achieve. The requirements requiring funding include certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery, Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery; access to medical references; simulation capability, program director protected time (30%); program coordinator salary (Association for Hospital Medical Education reported mean); and faculty time devoted to morbidity and mortality conference, journal club, Clinical Competency Committee, and Program Evaluation Committee. We then identified the cost of each mandate based on the average program in the United States of 5 residents per year in 5 clinical years. RESULTS: Total cost for the average program per year as the result of ABS or ACGME mandate equaled a minimum of $227,043. The ABS associated costs are $8900 per year. The ACGME associated costs are $218,143. The cost of program director and faculty time to meet the minimum ACGME requirements equaled $159,600. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant cost associated with mandates set forth by the ABS and ACGME are program director and faculty time devoted to resident education and evaluation. Recognition of this cost burden by institutions and policymakers for the allocation of funds is important to maintain strong general surgery GME programs.