Forecasting adverse surgical events using self-supervised transfer learning for physiological signals.

Hundreds of millions of surgical procedures take place annually across the world, which generate a prevalent type of electronic health record (EHR) data comprising time series physiological signals. Here, we present a transferable embedding method (i.e., a method to transform time series signals into input features for predictive machine learning models) named PHASE (PHysiologicAl Signal Embeddings) that enables us to more accurately forecast adverse surgical outcomes based on physiological signals. We evaluate PHASE on minute-by-minute EHR data of more than 50,000 surgeries from two operating room (OR) datasets and patient stays in an intensive care unit (ICU) dataset. PHASE outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches, such as long-short term memory networks trained on raw data and gradient boosted trees trained on handcrafted features, in predicting six distinct outcomes: hypoxemia, hypocapnia, hypotension, hypertension, phenylephrine, and epinephrine. In a transfer learning setting where we train embedding models in one dataset then embed signals and predict adverse events in unseen data, PHASE achieves significantly higher prediction accuracy at lower computational cost compared to conventional approaches. Finally, given the importance of understanding models in clinical applications we demonstrate that PHASE is explainable and validate our predictive models using local feature attribution methods.

Arteriovenous fistula maturation rate is not affected by ipsilateral tunneled dialysis catheter.

OBJECTIVE: The effect that ipsilateral tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC) have on arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation is unclear. We sought to define this association by comparing AVF maturation rates in patients with contralateral TDC with those with ipsilateral TDC. METHODS: A review of a prospectively maintained database including all AVF creation procedures between 2009 and 2016 was performed. All patients with a TDC in place at the time of AVF creation were included in this study. Clinical and functional maturation rates were compared in patients with contralateral vs ipsilateral dialysis catheters. Categorical variables were analyzed by a two-tailed Fisher's exact test. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were 187 patients who underwent fistula creation with a TDC in place during the study period. Of those, 137 patients had a contralateral TDC and 50 had an ipsilateral TDC. A greater proportion of contralateral patients were first-time dialysis access patients at the time of index AVF creation (67% vs 48%; P = .03). There was no difference in clinical (contralateral 73% vs ipsilateral 78%; P = .57) and functional (contralateral 64% vs ipsilateral 74%) maturation rates between the two groups. The rate of TDC removal after AVF maturation was also not different (contralateral 64% vs ipsilateral 72%; P = .30). There was also no statistical difference in the rates of thrombosis at less than 30 days, outflow stenosis, central stenosis, and steal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between TDC sidedness and AVF maturation or early failure in our cohort. Planning for AVF creation should not be influenced by attempts to avoid an ipsilateral TDC.

Impact of estrogen monotherapy on survival in women with stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Women with lung cancer have better survival than men. The reasons are unknown, but estrogen is hypothesized to improve survival. Our objective was to examine the association between estrogen monotherapy and cancer-specific and overall survival in elderly women with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the SEER-Medicare database to identify women ≥65 years old who were diagnosed with stage III or IV NSCLC. Estrogen monotherapy (EM) was defined as at least one estrogen claim without any progesterone claims 6 months prior to diagnosis. To assess cancer-specific survival and overall survival, we used Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox modeling with propensity score adjustments. As an exploratory analysis, we also examined the effect of combined estrogen and progesterone hormonal therapy on survival using Cox modeling. RESULTS: We identified 6958 women in our initial cohort: 283 used EM (4%) and 6675 (96%) did not. The median follow-up time was 46.5 months in the EM patients and 49.5 months in the non-EM patients. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, median overall survival was 8.2 months in patients who receive EM and 6.2 months in those who did not (p = 0.004). In our 1:4 propensity-matched cohort, median follow-up was 46.5 in the EM group and 50.6 in the non-EM group; median overall survival was 8.0 months in the EM group and 6.4 months in the non-EM group (p = 0.02). In a multivariate Cox regression of the matched cohort, EM was significantly associated with overall survival (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73 - 0.97). All results were similar for cancer-specific survival. In our exploratory analysis, combined Estrogen-Progesterone did significantly impact overall survival (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71-0.99, p = 0.04) but did not appear to effect cancer-specific survival (HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.77-1.09, p = 0.30). CONCLUSION: EM was associated with a significant improvement in cancer-specific survival and overall survival in women with late stage NSCLC.

Autosomal dominant mannose-binding lectin deficiency is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in infants.

OBJECTIVES: The MBL2 gene is the major genetic determinant of mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-an acute phase reactant. Low MBL levels have been associated with adverse outcomes in preterm infants. The MBL2Gly54Asp missense variant causes autosomal dominant MBL deficiency. We tested the hypothesis that MBL2Gly54Asp is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in neonates. METHODS: This is an analysis of a previously described cohort of patients with nonsyndromic congenital heart disease who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass before age 6 months (n = 295). Four-year neurodevelopment was assessed in 3 domains: Full-Scale Intellectual Quotient, the Visual Motor Integration development test, and the Child Behavior Checklist to assess behavior problems. The Child Behavior Checklist measured total behavior problems, pervasive developmental problems, and internalizing/externalizing problems. A multivariable linear regression model, adjusting for confounders, was fit. RESULTS: MBL2Gly54Asp was associated with a significantly increased covariate-adjusted pervasive developmental problem score (ß = 3.98; P = .0025). Sensitivity analyses of the interaction between age at first surgery and MBL genotype suggested effect modification for the patients with MBL2Gly54Asp (Pinteraction = .039), with the poorest neurodevelopment outcomes occurring in children who had surgery earlier in life. CONCLUSIONS: We report the novel finding that carriers of MBL2Gly54Asp causing autosomal dominant MBL deficiency have increased childhood pervasive developmental problems after cardiac surgery, independent of other covariates. Sensitivity analyses suggest that this effect may be larger in children who underwent surgery at earlier ages. These data support the role of nonsyndromic genetic variation in determining postsurgical neurodevelopment-related outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.

A vascular endothelial growth factor A genetic variant is associated with improved ventricular function and transplant-free survival after surgery for non-syndromic CHD.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that the minor alleles of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) single-nucleotide polymorphism rs833069 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2758331 are both associated with improved transplant-free survival after surgery for CHD in infants, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We hypothesised that one or both of these minor alleles are associated with better systemic ventricular function, resulting in improved survival. METHODS: This study is a follow-up analysis of 422 non-syndromic CHD patients who underwent neonatal cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Echocardiographic reports were reviewed. Systemic ventricular function was subjectively categorised as normal, or as mildly, moderately, or severely depressed. The change in function was calculated as the change from the preoperative study to the last available study. Stepwise linear regression, adjusting for covariates, was performed for the outcome of change in ventricular function. Model comparison was performed using Akaike's information criterion. Only variables that improved the model prediction of change in systemic ventricular function were retained in the final model. RESULTS: Genetic and echocardiographic data were available for 335/422 subjects (79%). Of them, 33 (9.9%) developed worse systemic ventricular function during a mean follow-up period of 13.5 years. After covariate adjustment, the presence of the VEGFA minor allele was associated with preserved ventricular function (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that the mechanism by which the VEGFA single-nucleotide polymorphism rs833069 minor allele improves survival may be the preservation of ventricular function. Further studies are needed to validate this genotype-phenotype association and to determine whether this mechanism is related to increased vascular endothelial growth factor production.

Explainable machine-learning predictions for the prevention of hypoxaemia during surgery.

Although anaesthesiologists strive to avoid hypoxemia during surgery, reliably predicting future intraoperative hypoxemia is not currently possible. Here, we report the development and testing of a machine-learning-based system that, in real time during general anaesthesia, predicts the risk of hypoxemia and provides explanations of the risk factors. The system, which was trained on minute-by-minute data from the electronic medical records of over fifty thousand surgeries, improved the performance of anaesthesiologists when providing interpretable hypoxemia risks and contributing factors. The explanations for the predictions are broadly consistent with the literature and with prior knowledge from anaesthesiologists. Our results suggest that if anaesthesiologists currently anticipate 15% of hypoxemia events, with this system's assistance they would anticipate 30% of them, a large portion of which may benefit from early intervention because they are associated with modifiable factors. The system can help improve the clinical understanding of hypoxemia risk during anaesthesia care by providing general insights into the exact changes in risk induced by certain patient or procedure characteristics.

Significance of Blunted Venous Waveforms Seen on Upper Extremity Ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend vascular mapping ultrasound (US) prior to arteriovenous fistula creation. Blunted venous waveforms (BVWs) suggest central venous stenosis; however, this relationship and one between BVWs and the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) remain unclear. METHODS: All patients who received upper extremity vascular mapping US between January 2013 and October 2014 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, US results, pacemaker history, and CVC status were collected. Waveforms were assessed at the proximal subclavian vein/distal axillary vein and interpreted by radiologists. Patients were determined to have central venous stenosis (CVS) if detected by venography within 6 months of US. RESULTS: There were 342 patients, of which 165 (48%) had a current CVC and 29 (8.5%) had BVW of at least 1 arm. Right-sided BVW were associated with a history of a prior ipsilateral CVC (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-12.6, P = 0.009). Of the 342 patients, 69 (20%) had a venogram within 6 months. Seventeen (25%) of the 69 patients had CVS, with 7 involving the left subclavian vein, 8 the right subclavian vein, and 3 the superior vena cava (one patient had tandem stenoses). A BVW on the left side was not associated with any CVS. A BVW on the right side was associated with an ipsilateral CVS (OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 1.2-27.4, P = 0.04). This association persisted in the setting of a prior CVC (relative risk = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.9-2, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There are associations between right-sided BVW and an ipsilateral subclavian vein stenosis. We recommend that hemodialysis access planning includes venography to rule out central vein stenosis in patients with BVW, especially if right-sided and in the setting of a prior CVC.

A comparison of brachial artery-brachial vein arteriovenous fistulas with arteriovenous grafts in patients with poor superficial venous anatomy.

OBJECTIVE: The autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has been shown to be superior to the arteriovenous graft (AVG) with respect to cost, complications, and primary patency. Therefore, the National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines recommend reserving AVGs for patients who do not have adequate superficial venous anatomy to support AVF placement. The brachial artery-brachial vein arteriovenous fistula (BVAVF) has emerged as an autologous last-effort alternative. However, there are limited data comparing BVAVFs and AVGs in patients who are otherwise not candidates for a traditional AVF. METHODS: Patients who received a BVAVF from July 2009 to July 2014 were compared with those who received an AVG during the same period. At our institution, BVAVF and AVG are only performed in patients with poor superficial venous anatomy. Patient demographic data, operative details, and subsequent follow-up were collected. BVAVFs were performed with a two-stage approach, with initial arteriovenous anastomosis, followed by delayed superficialization or transposition. Our primary outcome measure was primary functional assisted patency at 1 year. Patients lost to follow-up were excluded. A subgroup analysis was also performed for patients in whom the BVAVF or the AVG was their first hemodialysis access surgery. RESULTS: During the study period, 29 patients underwent BVAVF and 32 underwent AVG. There were no differences in age, gender, or presence of diabetes between the two groups. The median days to cannulation from the initial operation were 141 (interquartile range, 94-214) in the BVAVF group and 29 (interquartile range, 14-33) in the AVG group (P < .001). Fewer patients required interventions to maintain or re-establish patency in the BVAVF group than in the AVG group (10% v. 44%; P < .01). The 1-year primary patency was greater for BVAVF (62% vs 25%; P < .01); however, there was no difference in the functional assisted primary patency rates at 1 year (45% vs 25%; P = .1). Subgroup analysis demonstrated greater 1-year primary functional assisted primary patency (52% vs 19%; P < .05) in patients without prior access surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The BVAVF is a viable alternative to the AVG in patients with inadequate superficial venous anatomy, especially in access-naïve patients. The decision to perform BVAVF must be weighed against the delay in functional maturation expected compared with AVG.

Racial and Gender Differences in Arterial Anatomy of the Arm.

Prior studies have shown racial and gender differences with respect to maturation of arteriovenous fistulas. Women and minorities have lower maturation rates for unclear reasons. Small arterial diameter and high brachial artery bifurcation (HBB) are also implicated in reduced maturation rates. We sought to correlate differences in upper extremity arterial anatomy to race and gender. All upper extremity vascular mapping ultrasounds from 2013 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 509 arms in 284 patients were evaluated. Men had significantly higher mean arterial diameters than women at the elbow brachial (4.7 vs 3.9 mm, P < 0.01) and wrist radial arteries (2.1 vs 1.9 mm, P = 0.03). There were 20 (7%) patients with HBB of at least one arm, and 7 (2.5%) patients with bilateral HBB. African-American patients had significantly higher rates of both unilateral HBB (15.9% vs 5.4%, P = 0.02) and bilateral HBBs (9.1% vs 1.3%, P = 0.01). In conclusion, men had significantly larger arteries than women, and African-Americans had a higher rate of HBB than non-African-Americans. Consideration should be given for routine preoperative ultrasound to assess arterial anatomy before arteriovenous fistulas creation, particularly in women and in African-Americans.

The Addition of Ultrasound Arterial Examination to Upper Extremity Vein Mapping before Hemodialysis Access.

BACKGROUND: Routine upper extremity vein mapping by ultrasound (Ven-US) is recommended by current National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines before arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. However, the impact of concomitant arterial US (Art-US) examination is not clear. METHODS: The Ven-US protocol at our institution was modified to include Art-US starting January 2013. Therefore, retrospective review of patients who received Ven-US with Art-US between January 2013 and July 2014 was performed. The Art-US component included distal brachial and radial artery diameters, level of brachial bifurcation, and Doppler Allen's test. A plan for hemodialysis (HD) access was proposed by 2 attending vascular surgeons (VS1 and VS2) and based on a set of criteria for fistula creation (CFC) using Ven-US findings alone. The Art-US findings were subsequently reviewed, and the plan was changed based on either vascular surgeon judgment (VS1 and VS2) or predetermined arterial anatomic criteria (CFC). RESULTS: In total, 163 patients (326 arms) were included. The mean age was 53 years, most patients were male (60%), and most were HD dependent at the time of US evaluation (67%). The initial plan based on Ven-US was: 17-19% radiocephalic (RC) AVF, 33-48% brachiocephalic AVF, 20-27% brachiobasilic AVF, and 14-23% grafts. The Art-US revealed 159 radial arteries (49%) with diameter <2 mm, 16 brachial arteries (5%) with high bifurcation, 93 (29%) incomplete palmar arches, and 7 arms (2%) with arterial waveform blunting. Review of Art-US findings resulted in an overall change to the operative plan from 4% to 12% of patients. Those with an initially planned RC AVF were more likely to have a change in operative approach (21-57%) compared with all other types of planned access (1-3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative Art-US may significantly change the operative plan, particularly when planning a RC AVF, and should be performed before HD access surgery at the wrist.

Outcomes after External Iliac and Femoral Vascular Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Vascular injuries occurring at the junction of the trunk and lower extremity are uncommon yet challenging because of their location and potential for associated truncal injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare outcomes among patients sustaining external iliac and femoral vascular injuries. METHODS: We performed a 13-year retrospective analysis of our level 1 trauma center database to identify and compare patients with external iliac and femoral vessel injuries. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors for mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 135 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 25 (20-35) years were identified with external iliac (n = 29) and femoral vascular injuries (n = 106). The majority were male (85.9%) with a penetrating mechanism (84.5%), and the median (IQR) Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 16 (11-26). The overall mortality rate was 14.1%. In comparison with patients with femoral vascular injuries, patients with external iliac injuries presented with higher ISS (25 vs. 16, P < 0.001), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (14 vs. 15, P = 0.001) and had a higher incidence of mortality (41.4% vs. 6.6%, P < 0.001) and disability (13.8% vs. 1%, P = 0.007). Shunts were used in only 7 patients (5.2%). Stepwise logistic regression consistently identified external iliac injury (odds ratio, 15.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-141, P = 0.014 in best-fitted model) as independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with femoral vascular injuries, external iliac vascular injuries are associated with higher blood loss, more intense resuscitation, higher disability and mortality in patients sustaining junctional groin injuries. Early recognition and application of damage control techniques and resuscitative practices may result in improved outcomes.

Association of Arrhythmia-Related Genetic Variants With Phenotypes Documented in Electronic Medical Records.

IMPORTANCE: Large-scale DNA sequencing identifies incidental rare variants in established Mendelian disease genes, but the frequency of related clinical phenotypes in unselected patient populations is not well established. Phenotype data from electronic medical records (EMRs) may provide a resource to assess the clinical relevance of rare variants. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical phenotypes from EMRs for individuals with variants designated as pathogenic by expert review in arrhythmia susceptibility genes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective cohort study included 2022 individuals recruited for nonantiarrhythmic drug exposure phenotypes from October 5, 2012, to September 30, 2013, for the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network Pharmacogenomics project from 7 US academic medical centers. Variants in SCN5A and KCNH2, disease genes for long QT and Brugada syndromes, were assessed for potential pathogenicity by 3 laboratories with ion channel expertise and by comparison with the ClinVar database. Relevant phenotypes were determined from EMRs, with data available from 2002 (or earlier for some sites) through September 10, 2014. EXPOSURES: One or more variants designated as pathogenic in SCN5A or KCNH2. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Arrhythmia or electrocardiographic (ECG) phenotypes defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes, ECG data, and manual EMR review. RESULTS: Among 2022 study participants (median age, 61 years [interquartile range, 56-65 years]; 1118 [55%] female; 1491 [74%] white), a total of 122 rare (minor allele frequency <0.5%) nonsynonymous and splice-site variants in 2 arrhythmia susceptibility genes were identified in 223 individuals (11% of the study cohort). Forty-two variants in 63 participants were designated potentially pathogenic by at least 1 laboratory or ClinVar, with low concordance across laboratories (Cohen κ = 0.26). An ICD-9 code for arrhythmia was found in 11 of 63 (17%) variant carriers vs 264 of 1959 (13%) of those without variants (difference, +4%; 95% CI, -5% to +13%; P = .35). In the 1270 (63%) with ECGs, corrected QT intervals were not different in variant carriers vs those without (median, 429 vs 439 milliseconds; difference, -10 milliseconds; 95% CI, -16 to +3 milliseconds; P = .17). After manual review, 22 of 63 participants (35%) with designated variants had any ECG or arrhythmia phenotype, and only 2 had corrected QT interval longer than 500 milliseconds. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among laboratories experienced in genetic testing for cardiac arrhythmia disorders, there was low concordance in designating SCN5A and KCNH2 variants as pathogenic. In an unselected population, the putatively pathogenic genetic variants were not associated with an abnormal phenotype. These findings raise questions about the implications of notifying patients of incidental genetic findings.

Burden of potentially pathologic copy number variants is higher in children with isolated congenital heart disease and significantly impairs covariate-adjusted transplant-free survival.

OBJECTIVES: Copy number variants (CNVs) are duplications or deletions of genomic regions. Large CNVs are potentially pathogenic and are overrepresented in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). We sought to determine the frequency of large CNVs in children with isolated CHD, and to evaluate the relationship of these potentially pathogenic CNVs with transplant-free survival. METHODS: These cases are derived from a prospective cohort of patients with nonsyndromic CHD (n = 422) identified before first surgery. Healthy pediatric controls (n = 500) were obtained from the electronic Medical Records and Genetic Epidemiology Network, and CNV frequency was contrasted for CHD cases and controls. CNVs were determined algorithmically; subsequently screened for >95% overlap between 2 methods, size (>300 kb), quality score, overlap with a gene, and novelty (absent from databases of known, benign CNVs); and separately validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Survival likelihoods for cases were calculated using Cox proportional hazards modeling to evaluate the joint effect of CNV burden and known confounders on transplant-free survival. RESULTS: Children with nonsyndromic CHD had a higher burden of potentially pathogenic CNVs compared with pediatric controls (12.1% vs 5.0%; P = .00016). Presence of a CNV was associated with significantly decreased transplant-free survival after surgery (hazard ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.66-7.09; P = .00090) with confounder adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that children with isolated CHD have a greater burden of rare/large CNVs. We report a novel finding that these CNVs are associated with an adjusted 2.55-fold increased risk of death or transplant. These data suggest that CNV burden is an important modifier of survival after surgery for CHD.

General Surgery Resident Vascular Operative Experience in the Era of Endovascular Surgery and Vascular Fellowships.

Advances in endovascular surgery have resulted in a decline in major open arterial reconstructions nationwide. Our objective is to investigate the effect of endovascular surgery on general surgery resident experience with open vascular surgery. Between 2004 and 2014, 112 residents graduated from two academic institutions in Southern California. Residents were separated into those who graduated in 2004 to 2008 (period 1) and in 2009 to 2014 (period 2). Case volumes of vascular procedures were compared using two-sample t test. A total of 43 residents were in period 1 and 59 residents were in period 2. In aggregate, there was no significant difference in open cases recorded between the two periods (84 vs 87, P = 0.194). Subgroup analysis showed period 2 recorded significantly fewer cases of open aneurysm repair (5 vs 3, P < 0.001), cerebrovascular (14 vs 10, P = 0.007), and peripheral obstructive procedures (16 vs 13, P = 0.017). Dialysis access procedures constituted the largest group of procedures and remained similar between the two periods (35 vs 42, P = 0.582). General surgery residents experienced a significant decline in several index open major arterial reconstruction cases. This decline was offset by maintenance of dialysis access procedures. If the trend continues, future general surgeons will not be proficient in open vascular procedures.

General Anesthesia Is Not Necessary for Hemodialysis Access Surgery.

Chronic kidney disease has been identified as a risk factor for mortality after procedures under general anesthesia (GA). However, a recent study showed that 85 per cent of arteriovenous fistulas in the United States are performed under GA. Our aim was to demonstrate that GA can be avoided in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease by using local anesthesia (LA) with monitored anesthesia care or brachial plexus block (BPB) during hemodialysis access surgery. A retrospective review was performed at a single institution. Outcome measures included need for conversion to GA, major perioperative complications, and 30-day mortality. Four hundred and fourteen access procedures were performed by seven vascular surgeons between 2011 and 2014. Arteriovenous fistulas were placed in 379 (92%), arteriovenous grafts were placed in 31 (7%), and four (1%) received unsuccessful extremity exploration. Anesthetic approach was LA in 344 (83%) and BPB in 64 (15%). GA was initially induced in three (0.7%) and three (0.7%) additional patients required conversion to GA from LA. There were no cardiopulmonary events or perioperative deaths. Of the 32 patients who received an arteriovenous graft, only three (10%) required GA. In conclusion, LA and BPB are safe and conversion to GA is rare. GA should be avoided in hemodialysis access surgery.

Comparison of Neurocognitive Outcomes after Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting.

Cognitive and emotional outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting with embolic protection device (CAS + EPD) are not clear. Patients were entered prospectively into a United States Food and Drug Administration-approved single-center physician-sponsored investigational device exemption between 2004 and 2010 and received either CEA or CAS + EPD. Patients underwent cognitive testing preprocedure and at 6, 12, and 60 months postprocedure. Cognitive domains assessed included attention, memory, executive, motor function, visual spatial functioning, language, and processing speed. Beck Depression and anxiety scales were also compared. There were a total of 38 patients that met conventional indications for carotid surgery (symptomatic with ≥50% stenosis or asymptomatic with ≥70% stenosis)-12 patients underwent CEA, whereas 26 patients underwent CAS + EPD. Both CEA and CAS + EPD patients showed postprocedure improvement in memory and executive function. No differences were seen at follow-up in regards to emotional dysfunction (depression and anxiety), attention, visual spatial functioning, language, motor function, and processing speed. Only two patients underwent neuropsychiatric testing at 60 months-these CAS + EPD patients showed sustained improvement in memory, visual spatial, and executive functions. In conclusion, cognitive and emotional outcomes were similar between CEA and CAS + EPD patients.

Program Factors That Influence American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination Performance: A Multi-Institutional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of program strategies, such as program directors' (PD) attitudes about the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) and approach to ABSITE preparation, on residents' ABSITE performance. DESIGN: A 17-item questionnaire was sent to PDs at surgical residency programs. The questions were designed to elicit information regarding the educational curriculum, remediation protocols, and opinions relating to the ABSITE. Main outcome measure was categorical resident ABSITE percentile scores from the January 2014 examination. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test, analysis of variance, and linear regression as appropriate. SETTING: The study was carried out at general surgery residency programs across the country. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 15 general surgery residency PDs participated in the study. RESULTS: The PD response rate was 100%. All 460 resident ABSITE scores from the 15 programs were obtained. In total, 10 programs (67%) identified as university affiliated, 4 programs (27%) as independent academic, and 1 program (7%) as hybrid. The mean number of residents per program was 30.7 (range: 15-57). In total, 14 PDs (93%) indicated that an ABSITE review curriculum was in place and 13 PDs (87%) indicated they had a remediation protocol for residents with low ABSITE scores (with differing thresholds of <30th, <35th, and <40th percentile). The median overall ABSITE score for all residents was 61st percentile (interquartile range = 39.5). The mean ABSITE score for each program ranged from 39th to 75th percentile. Program factors associated with higher ABSITE scores included tracking resident reading throughout the year (median 63rd percentile with tracking vs 59th percentile without, p = 0.040) and the type of remediation (by PD: 77th percentile, by PD and faculty: 57th percentile, faculty only: 64th percentile, with Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program (SESAP): 63rd percentile, outside review course: 43rd percentile; p < 0.001). Programs with a remediation protocol trended toward higher ABSITE scores compared with programs without remediation protocols (median 61st percentile vs 53rd percentile, p = 0.098). Factors not significantly associated with ABSITE performance included number of structured educational hours per week and frequency of ABSITE review sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Program factors appear to significantly influence ABSITE performance. Programs where the PD was actively involved in remediation mentorship and the tracking of resident reading achieved higher ABSITE percentile scores on the January 2014 examination. Counterintuitively, residents from programs with a lower ABSITE threshold for remediation performed better on the examination.

Reading Habits of General Surgery Residents and Association With American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination Performance.

IMPORTANCE: Few large-scale studies have quantified and characterized the study habits of surgery residents. However, studies have shown an association between American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) scores and subsequent success on the American Board of Surgery Qualifying and Certifying examinations. OBJECTIVES: To identify the quantity of studying, the approach taken when studying, the role that ABSITE preparation plays in resident reading, and factors associated with ABSITE performance. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: An anonymous 39-item questionnaire including demographic information, past performance on standardized examinations, reading habits, and study sources during the time leading up to the 2014 ABSITE and opinions pertaining to the importance of the ABSITE was administered August 1, 2014, to August 25, 2014, to 371 surgery residents in 15 residency programs nationwide. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Scores from the 2014 ABSITE. RESULTS: A total of 273 residents (73.6%) responded to the survey. Seven respondents did not provide their January 2014 ABSITE score, leaving 266 for statistical analysis. Most respondents were male (162 of 266 [60.9%]), with a mean (SD) age of 29.8 (2.6) years. The median number of minutes spent studying per month was 240 (interquartile range, 120-600 minutes) for patient care or clinical duties and 120 for the ABSITE (interquartile range, 30-360 minutes). One hundred sixty-four of 266 respondents (61.7%) reported reading consistently throughout the year for patient care or clinical duties. With respect to ABSITE preparation, 72 of 266 residents (27.1%) reported reading consistently throughout the year, while 247 of 266 residents (92.9%) reported preparing between 1 and 8 weeks prior to the examination. Univariate analysis (with results reported as effect on median ABSITE percentile scores [95% CIs]) identified the following factors as positively correlated with ABSITE scores: prior United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 1 and 2 scores (per 1-point increase: USMLE 1, 0.1 [0.02-0.14], P = .03; USMLE 2, 0.3 [0.19-0.44], P < .001), prior Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores (per 1-point increase, 1.2 [1.3-2.0]; P = .002), high opinion of ABSITE significance (P < .001), surgical textbook use (11 [6-16]; P = .02), daily studying (13 [4-23]; P = .02), and high satisfaction with study materials (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, USMLE 2 score (per 1-point increase, 0.4 [0.2-0.6]; P < .001), MCAT score (0.6 [0.2-1.0]; P = .003), opinion of ABSITE significance (9.2 [6.9-11.6]; P < .001), and having an equal focus on patient care and ABSITE preparation during study (6.1 [0.6-11.5]; P = .03) were identified as positive predictors of ABSITE performance. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Most residents reported reading consistently for patient care throughout the year. Daily studying and textbook use were associated with higher ABSITE scores on univariate analysis. Scores on the USMLE 2 and MCAT, as well as resident attitude regarding the importance of the ABSITE results, were independent predictors of ABSITE performance.