Clinical and financial impact of chronic kidney disease in emergency general surgery operations.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is frequently encountered in clinical practice and often requires more intricate management strategies. However, its impact on outcomes of patients warranting emergency general surgery has not been well characterized. The present study examined the association of chronic kidney disease stage on in-hospital outcomes and readmission following emergency general surgery using a nationally representative cohort. Methods: The 2016-2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried to identify all adult hospitalizations for 1 of 6 common emergency general surgery operations. Patients were stratified by severity of chronic kidney disease into stages 1-3, stages 4-5, end-stage renal disease, and others (non-chronic kidney disease). Regression models were used to examine factors associated with mortality, readmissions, and costs. Results: Of an estimated 985,101 patients undergoing emergency general surgery, 60,949 (6.2%) had a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (1-3: 67.1%, 4-5: 11.5%, end-stage renal disease: 23.4%). Unadjusted rates of mortality increased with chronic kidney disease in a stepwise manner (2.1% in non-chronic kidney disease to 16.9 in end-stage renal disease, P < .001), as did 90-day readmissions (9.2% to 29.7%, respectively, P < .001). After adjustment, all stages of chronic kidney disease exhibited increases in risk-adjusted rates of mortality (range: 0.2% in chronic kidney disease 1-3 to 12.2% in end-stage renal disease, P < .001). Relative to non-chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease had the greatest cost burden for those undergoing small bowel resection (ß +$83,600) and the least in cholecystectomy (+$30,400). Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease severity is associated with a stepwise increase in mortality, hospitalization costs, and 90-day readmissions. Our findings may better inform shared decision-making and have implications in benchmarking. Further studies for optimal management strategies in this high-risk group are needed.

Utilization of mechanical prostheses and outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement at safety net hospitals.

Background: Safety-net hospitals care for a high proportion of uninsured/underinsured patients who may lack access to longitudinal care. The present study characterized the use of mechanical valves and clinical outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement at safety net hospitals. Methods: All adults undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement were abstracted from the 2016-2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Hospitals were divided into quartiles based on volume of all Medicaid and uninsured admissions, with the highest quartile defined as safety net hospitals. Multivariable regression was used to determine the association between safety net hospitals and several outcomes including mechanical valve use, perioperative complications, index hospitalization costs, 90-day readmission, and complications at readmission. Results: Of the 94,580 patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement, 14.5% of operations were at safety net hospitals. Patients at safety net hospitals more commonly received mechanical valves (20.3% vs 16.9%, P < .01) compared to those at non-safety net hospitals. After adjustment, safety net hospitals remained associated with a greater odds of mechanical aortic valve use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.21). However, operation at safety net hospitals was also associated with increased odds of perioperative complications (adjusted odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.17) and higher hospitalization costs (ß coefficient +$6.15K, 95% confidence interval +$5.26 - +$7.03) despite similar 90-day readmissions. Upon readmission, safety net hospitals patients were more likely to experience mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.87, 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.98) and stroke (adjusted odds ratio 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.23-4.70) compared to those at non-safety net hospitals. Conclusion: Hospital safety net status is associated with increased use of mechanical valves for surgical aortic valve replacement despite also being associated with increased perioperative complications, costs, and significant complications upon readmission. Ability to access adequate follow-up care may be an important consideration for surgical aortic valve replacement at safety net hospitals.

Surgeon specialty does not influence outcomes of hiatal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Hiatal hernia repair is commonly performed by both general and thoracic surgeons. The present study examined differences in approach, setting, and outcomes by specialty for hiatal hernia repair. METHODS: Adults undergoing hiatal hernia repair were identified in the 2012-2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients were grouped by specialty of the operating surgeon (thoracic surgery vs general surgery). Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the effect of specialty on mortality, major morbidity, and 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Among 46,739 patients, 5.0% were operated on by thoracic surgery. General surgery operated on younger patients (44.7 years vs 47.0, P < .001) with lesser systemic illness (American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3 50.4% vs 54.8%, P < .001) compared to thoracic surgery. General surgery more commonly used laparoscopy (95.0% vs 82.6%) and less commonly used thoracic approaches than thoracic surgery (0.6% vs 8.5%, P < .001). From 2012 to 2019, the proportion of cases performed as an outpatient by general surgery increased (28.1% to 46.4%, P < .001), but it remained stable for thoracic surgery (0.1% to 0.7%, P = .10). After risk adjustment, thoracic surgery specialty was not associated with mortality (odds ratio 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.5-1.5), major morbidity (0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.7-1.1), or readmission (0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.8-1.1). Rather, factors including surgical approach (laparotomy 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.4-1.9; thoracoscopy/thoracotomy 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.5-2.7), inpatient case status (2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.2-2.7), increasing ASA class, and functional status more strongly influenced major morbidity. CONCLUSION: Operative factors, surgical approach, and patient comorbidities more strongly influence outcomes of hiatal hernia repair than does surgeon specialty, suggesting continued safety of hiatal hernia repair by both thoracic and general surgeons.

Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following the 2018 adult heart allocation policy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to characterize changes in waitlist and post-transplant outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients bridged to heart transplantation under the 2018 adult heart allocation policy. METHODS: All adult patients listed for isolated heart transplantation from August 2016 to December 2020 were identified using the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Patients were stratified into Eras (Era 1 and Era 2) centered around the policy change on October 18, 2018. Competing risk regression was used to evaluate waitlist death or deterioration across Eras. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine associations between use of ECMO and 1-year post-transplant mortality within each Era. RESULTS: Of 8,902 heart transplants included in analysis, 339 (3.8%) were bridged with ECMO (Era 2: 6.1% vs Era 1: 1.2%, P<0.001). Patients bridged with ECMO in Era 2 were less frequently female (26.0% vs 42.0%, P = 0.02) and experienced shorter waitlist times (5 vs 11 days, P<0.001) along with a lower likelihood of waitlist death or deterioration (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.45, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.30-0.68, P<0.001) compared to those in Era 1. Use of ECMO was associated with increased post-transplant mortality at 1-year compared to all other transplants in Era 1 (hazard ratio 3.78, 95% CI 1.88-7.61, P < 0.001) but not Era 2. CONCLUSIONS: Patients bridged with ECMO in Era 2 experience improved waitlist and post-transplant outcomes compared to Era 1, giving credence to the increased use of ECMO under the new allocation policy.

A multicenter validation of the modified brain injury guidelines: Are they safe and effective?

BACKGROUND: The modified Brain Injury Guidelines (mBIG) are an algorithm for treating patients with traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage by which selected patients do not require a repeat head computed tomography, a neurosurgery consult, or even an admission. The mBIG refined the original Brain Injury Guidelines (BIG) to improve safety and reproducibility. The purpose of this study is to assess safety and resource utilization with mBIG implementation. METHODS: The mBIG were implemented at three Level I trauma centers in August 2017. A multicenter retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed on adult mBIG 1 and 2 patients. The post-mBIG implementation period (August 2017 to February 2021) was compared with a previous BIG retrospective evaluation (January 2014 to December 2016). RESULTS: There were 764 patients in the two study periods. No differences were identified in demographics, Injury Severity Score, or admission Glasgow Coma Scale score. Fewer computed tomography scans (2 [1,2] vs. 2 [2,3], p < 0.0001) and neurosurgery consults (61.9% vs. 95.9%, p < 0.0001) were obtained post-mBIG implementation. Hospital (2 [1,4] vs. 2 [2,4], p = 0.013) and intensive care unit (0 [0,1] vs. 1 [1,2], p < 0.0001) length of stay were shorter after mBIG implementation. No difference was seen in the rate of clinical or radiographic progression, neurosurgery operations, or mortality between the two groups.After mBIG implementation, eight patients (1.6%) worsened clinically. Six patients that clinically progressed were discharged with Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 without needing neurosurgery intervention. One patient had clinical and radiographic decompensation and required craniotomy. Another patient worsened clinically and radiographically, but due to metastatic cancer, elected to pursue comfort measures and died. CONCLUSION: This prospective validation shows the mBIG are safe, pragmatic, and can dramatically improve resource utilization when implemented. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

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 frailty on short term outcomes, resource use, and readmissions after transcatheter mitral valve repair: A national analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for mitral regurgitation range from diuretic therapy, to surgical and interventional strategies including TMVR in high-risk surgical candidates. Frailty has been associated with inferior outcomes following hospitalizations for heart failure and in open cardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of frailty on clinical outcomes and resource use following transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR). METHODS: Adults undergoing TMVR were identified using the 2016-2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database, and divided into Frail and Non-Frail groups. Frailty was defined using a derivative of the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty indicator. Generalized linear models were used to assess the association of frailty with in-hospital mortality, complications, nonhome discharge, hospitalization costs, length of stay, and non-elective readmission at 90 days. Average marginal effects were used to quantify the impact of frailty on predicted mortality. RESULTS: Of 18,791 patients undergoing TMVR, 11.6% were considered frail. The observed mortality rate for the overall cohort was 2.2%. After adjustment, frailty was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.6), corresponding to an absolute increase in risk of mortality of 1.1%. Frailty was associated with a 2.7-day (95% CI 2.1-3.2) increase in postoperative LOS, and $18,300 (95% CI 14,400-22,200) increment in hospitalization costs. Frail patients had greater odds (4.4, 95% CI 3.6-5.4) of nonhome discharge but similar odds of non-elective 90-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is independently associated with inferior short-term clinical outcomes and greater resource use following TMVR. Inclusion of frailty into existing risk models may better inform choice of therapy and shared decision-making.

National Trends in the Cost Burden of Pediatric Gunshot Wounds Across the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize hospitalization costs attributable to gun-related injuries in children across the US. STUDY DESIGN: The 2005-2017 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all pediatric admissions for gunshot wounds (GSW). Patients were stratified by International Classification of Diseases procedural codes for trauma-related operations. Annual trends in GSW hospitalizations and costs were analyzed with survey-weighted estimates. Multivariable regressions were used to identify factors associated with high-cost hospitalizations. RESULTS: During the study period, an estimated 36 283 pediatric patients were admitted for a GSW, with 43.1% undergoing an operative intervention during hospitalization. Admissions for pediatric firearm injuries decreased from 3246 in 2005 to 3185 in 2017 (NPtrend < .001). The median inflation-adjusted cost was $12 408 (IQR $6253-$24 585). Median costs rose significantly from $10 749 in 2005 to $16 157 in 2017 (P < .001). Compared with those who did not undergo surgical interventions, operative patients incurred increased median costs ($18 576 vs $8942, P < .001). Assault and self-harm injuries as well as several operations were independently associated with classification in the highest cost tertile. CONCLUSIONS: Admissions for pediatric firearm injuries were associated with a significant socioeconomic burden in the US, with increasing resource use over time. Pediatric gun violence is a major public health crisis that warrants further research and advocacy to reduce its prevalence and social impact.

National trends and predictors of mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate national trends in utilization, resource use, and predictors of immediate breast reconstruction (IR) after mastectomy. METHODS: The 2005-2014 National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify adult women undergoing mastectomy. IR was defined as any reconstruction during the same inpatient stay. Multivariable regression models were utilized to identify factors associated with IR. RESULTS: Of 729,340 patients undergoing mastectomy, 41.3% received IR. Rates of IR increased from 28.2% in 2005 to 58.2% in 2014 (NP-trend<0.001). Compared to mastectomy alone, IR was associated with increased length of stay (2.5 vs. 2.1 days, P < 0.001) and hospitalization costs ($17,628 vs. $8,643, P < 0.001), which increased over time (P < 0.001). Predictors of IR included younger age, fewer comorbidities, White race, private insurance, top income quartile, teaching hospital designation, high mastectomy volume, and performance of bilateral mastectomy. CONCLUSION: Mastectomy with IR is increasingly performed with resource utilization rising at a steady pace. Our study points to persistent sociodemographic and hospital level disparities associated with the under-utilization of IR. Efforts are needed to alleviate disparities in IR.

Outcomes and resource use for liver transplantation in the United States: Insights from the 2009-2017 National Inpatient Sample.

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving treatment for end-stage liver disease patients that requires significant resources. We used national data to evaluate LT outcomes and factors associated with hospital resource use. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample, we identified all patients undergoing LT from 2009 to 2017 and defined high-resource use (HRU) as having costs ≥ 90th percentile. Hierarchical regression models were used to assess factors associated with length of stay (LOS) and HRU. RESULTS: Over the study period, approximately 53,000 patients underwent LT, increasing from 5,582 in 2009 to 7,095 in 2017 (nptrend < 0.001). Morbidity and mortality were 42.2% and 3.9%, respectively, with a median post-LT LOS of 10 days. Hospitalization costs increased from $106,866 to $145,868 (nptrend < 0.001). Acute kidney injury (ß:4.7 days, P < .001) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with dialysis (ß:4.3 days, P < .001) were associated with greater LOS while the Northeast region (AOR:5.2, P < .001), ESRD with dialysis (AOR:3.4, P < .001), heart failure (AOR:2.5, P < .001), and fulminant liver disease (AOR:1.8, P = .01) were associated with HRU. CONCLUSION: The cost of LT has increased over time. Renal dysfunction, regional practice patterns, and patient acuity were associated with greater resource use. Transplanting patients before health deterioration may help contain costs, mitigate resource use, and improve LT outcomes.

Minimally Invasive Bilateral Stellate Ganglionectomy for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia.

Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) has been shown to decrease VT recurrence and defibrillator shocks in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Here and in the accompanying Video, we demonstrate the technique for minimally invasive CSD, highlight important technical points, and report surgical outcomes. CSD is accomplished through bilateral resection of the inferior one-third to one-half of the stellate ganglion en bloc with T2-T4 sympathectomy. Despite the high potential for perioperative risk, most patients do not have serious complications. We find that surgical CSD can be performed safely in an attempt to liberate patients from refractory VT.

Minimally Invasive Bilateral Stellate Ganglionectomy for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia.

Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) has been shown to decrease VT recurrence and defibrillator shocks in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Here and in the accompanying Video, we demonstrate the technique for minimally invasive CSD, highlight important technical points, and report surgical outcomes. CSD is accomplished through bilateral resection of the inferior one-third to one-half of the stellate ganglion en bloc with T2-T4 sympathectomy. Despite the high potential for perioperative risk, most patients do not have serious complications. We find that surgical CSD can be performed safely in an attempt to liberate patients from refractory VT.

The Pragmatic Impact of Frailty on Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Although not formalized into current risk assessment models, frailty has been associated with negative postoperative outcomes in many specialties. Using administrative coding, we evaluated the impact of frailty on in-hospital death, complications, and resource use in a nationally representative cohort of patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Patients aged 18 years and older who underwent isolated CABG across the United States were identified using the 2005 to 2016 National Inpatient Sample. Frailty was defined using a derivative of the validated Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining diagnosis indicator. Mortality, length of stay, inflation-adjusted costs, and postoperative complications were evaluated using multilevel multivariable regression. RESULTS: Of an estimated 2,137,618 patients undergoing isolated CABG, 85,879 (4.0%) were considered frail. The proportion of frail patients increased over the study period (nonparametric test for trend P = .002), while annual mortality rates declined (nonparametric test for trend P <.001). Frail patients were older (68.9 ± 10.7 years vs 65.0 ± 10.6 years, P < .001), and more commonly female (32.8% vs 26.2%, P < .001). After adjustment, frailty was associated with increased odds of in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.30-2.70; P < .001), major complications (AOR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.39-2.71; P < .001), increased length of stay (AOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.09-2.11; P < .001), and costs (AOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty, as identified by administrative coding, serves as a strong independent predictor of death and complications after CABG. Incorporation of frailty into risk models may aid in counseling patients about operative risk and benchmarking outcomes.

Impact of Frailty on Clinical and Financial Outcomes Following Minor Lower Extremity Amputation: A Nationwide Analysis.

Frailty has been shown to portend worse outcomes in surgical patients. Our goal was to identify the impact of frailty on outcomes and resource utilization among patients undergoing minor lower extremity amputation in the United States. Using the Nationwide Readmission Database, we identified all adults undergoing a minor amputation between 2010 and 2015, and assessed 90-day outcomes, including readmission, reamputation, mortality, and cumulative hospitalization costs. Frailty was defined by International Classification of Diseases codes consistent with the ten frailty clusters as defined by the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Group System. Multivariable regression models were developed for risk adjustment. An estimated 302 798 patients (mean age = 61.8 years) were identified, of which 15.2% were categorized as Frail. Before adjustment, frailty was associated with increased rates of readmission (44% vs. 36%, P < .001) and in-hospital mortality (4% vs. 2%, P < .001). Frailty was also associated with increased cumulative costs of care ($39 417 vs. $27 244, P < .001). After risk adjustment, frailty remained an independent predictor of readmission (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.18, CI 1.14-1.23), in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.48, CI 1.34-1.65), and incremental costs (+$7 646, CI $6927-$8365). Frailty is an independent marker of worse outcomes following minor foot amputation, and may be utilized to direct quality improvement efforts.

Predictors and In-Hospital Outcomes Among Patients Using a Single Versus Bilateral Mammary Arteries in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

The benefit of bilateral mammary artery (BIMA) use during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) continues to be debated. This study examined nationwide trends in BIMA use and factors influencing its utilization. Using the National Inpatient Sample, adults undergoing isolated multivessel CABG between 2005 and 2015 were identified and stratified based on the use of a single mammary artery or BIMA. Regression models were fit to identify patient and hospital level predictors of BIMA use and characterize the association of BIMA on outcomes including sternal infection, mortality, and resource utilization. An estimated 4.5% (n = 60,698) of patients underwent CABG with BIMA, with a steady increase from 3.8% to 5.0% over time (p<0.001). Younger age, male gender, and elective admission, were significant predictors of BIMA use. Moreover, private insurance was associated with higher odds of BIMA use (adjusted odds ratio 1.24) compared with Medicare. BIMA use was not a predictor of postoperative sternal infection, in-hospital mortality, or hospitalization costs. Overall, BIMA use remains uncommon in the United States despite no significant differences in acute postoperative outcomes. Several patient, hospital, and socioeconomic factors appear to be associated with BIMA utilization.

Trends in Mortality and Costs of Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been used for >30 years as a life-sustaining therapy in critically ill patients for a variety of indications. In the current study, we aimed to examine trends in use, mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs for pediatric ECLS hospitalizations. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (between the ages of 28 days and <21 years) on ECLS using the 2008-2015 National Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient hospitalization database generated from hospital discharges. Nonparametric and Cochran-Armitage tests for trend were used to study in-hospital mortality, LOS, and hospitalization costs. RESULTS: Of the estimated 5847 patients identified and included for analysis, ECLS was required for respiratory failure (36.4%), postcardiotomy syndrome (25.9%), mixed cardiopulmonary failure (21.7%), cardiogenic shock (13.1%), and transplanted graft dysfunction (2.9%). The rate of ECLS hospitalizations increased 329%, from 11 to 46 cases per 100 000 pediatric hospitalizations, from 2008 to 2015 (P < .001). Overall mortality decreased from 50.3% to 34.6% (P < .001). Adjusted hospital costs increased significantly ($214 046 ± 11 822 to 324 841 ± 25 621; P = .002) during the study period despite a stable overall hospital LOS (46 ± 6 to 44 ± 4 days; P = .94). CONCLUSIONS: Use of ECLS in pediatric patients has increased with substantially improved ECLS survival rates. Hospital costs have increased significantly despite a stable LOS in this group. Dissemination of this costly yet life-saving technology warrants ongoing analysis of use trends to identify areas for quality improvement.

National Trends and Cost Burden of Surgically Treated Gunshot Wounds in the US.

BACKGROUND: Gun violence remains a major burden on the US healthcare system, with annual cost exceeding $170 billion. Literature on the national trends in cost and survival of gun violence victims requiring operative interventions is lacking. STUDY DESIGN: All adults admitted with a diagnosis of gunshot wound requiring operative intervention were identified using the 2005-2016 National Inpatient Sample. The ICD Injury Severity Score, a validated prediction tool, was used to quantify the extent of traumatic injuries. Survey-weighted methodology was used to provide national estimates. Hospitalizations exceeding the 66th percentile of annual cost were considered as high-cost tertile. Multivariable logistic regressions with stepwise forward selection were used to identify factors associated with mortality and high-cost tertile. RESULTS: During the study period, 262,098 admissions met inclusion criteria with a significant increase in annual frequency and decrease in ICD Injury Severity Scores. A decline in mortality (8.6% to 7.6%; parametric test of trend = 0.03) was accompanied by increasing mean cost ($25,900 to $33,000; nonparametric test of trend < 0.001). After adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, head and neck (adjusted odds ratio 31.2; 95% CI, 11.0 to 88.4; p < 0.001), vascular operations (adjusted odds ratio 24.5; 95% CI, 19.2 to 31.1; p < 0.001), and gastrointestinal (adjusted odds ratio 27.8; 95% CI, 17.2 to 44.8; p < 0.001) were independently associated with high-cost tertile designation compared with patients who did not undergo these operations. CONCLUSIONS: During the past decade, the increase in gun violence and severity has resulted in higher cost. Operations involving selected surgical treatments incurred higher in-hospital cost. Given the profound economic and social impact of surgically treated gunshot wounds, policy and public health efforts to reduce gun violence are imperative.

National trends and outcomes of inpatient robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has reached nearly universal adoption in the management of gallstone-related disease. With advances in operative technology, robotic-assisted cholecystectomy has been used increasingly in many practices, but few studies have examined the adoption of robotic assistance for inpatient cholecystectomy and the temporal outcomes on a national scale. The present study aimed to identify trends in utilization, as well as outcomes and factors associated with the use of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy. METHODS: The 2008 to 2017 database of the National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients undergoing inpatient cholecystectomy. Independent predictors of the use of robotic assistance for cholecystectomy were identified using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Of an estimated 3,193,697 patients undergoing cholecystectomy, 98.7% underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 1.3% robotic-assisted cholecystectomy. Rates of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy increased from 0.02% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2017 (nptrend < .001). Compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients undergoing robotic-assisted cholecystectomy had a greater burden of comorbidities as measured by the Elixhauser index (2.2 vs 1.9, P < .001). Although mortality rates were similar, robotic-assisted cholecystectomy was associated with greater complication rates (15.5% vs 11.7%, P < .001), most notably gastrointestinal-related complications (3.7% vs 1.5%, P < .001). On multivariable regression, robotic-assisted cholecystectomy was associated with increased costs of hospitalization (ß: $2,398, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Using the largest national database available, we found a dramatic increase in the use of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy with no difference in mortality or duration of hospital stay, but there was a statistically significant increase in complications and costs. These findings warrant further investigation.

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.