Postoperative outcomes among patients evaluated via telemedicine-based preoperative consultations for inguinal hernia care.

PURPOSE: In an era where telehealth is gaining traction within healthcare systems, its integration into preoperative assessment protocols presents both challenges and opportunities. Preoperative assessments have an important role in determining the best plan of action for each patient. Recent studies have reported adequate operative outcomes after telemedicine preoperative consultations. This study examines telehealth's efficacy relative to traditional in-person evaluations in the context of preoperative consultations for inguinal hernia repairs and provides a deeper insight into how telemedicine might be utilized for pre-surgical assessments. METHODS: We analyzed a prospectively maintained single-center database at a tertiary referral hospital with a dedicated hernia and abdominal wall reconstruction center for pre, intra and postoperative variables comparing patients that received telemedicine (phone or video) preoperative consultations versus in-person clinic visits only. Secondary analysis with propensity score matching was employed to adjust for possible confounders. RESULTS: 265 patients that underwent inguinal hernia repair were included, with 60 encounters being telemedicine only and the rest in-person. This analysis found no difference in rates of postoperative complications between the telemedicine and in-person groups. The telemedicine group required less preoperative encounters with their surgeon (P < 0.001). In the preoperative in-person group, 41% switched to virtual follow-ups, while in the virtual group, only 18% chose in-person follow-ups (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our analysis, the use of telemedicine for preoperative assessments in inguinal hernia repairs as a feasible and safe choice for patients opting for this approach, potentially reshaping the preoperative paradigm in surgical practices.

Assessing Patient-Reported Experiences for In-Person and Telemedicine-Based Preoperative Evaluations.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed health care delivery through the rise of telehealth solutions. Though telemedicine-based care has been identified as safe and feasible in postoperative care, data on initial surgical consultations in the preoperative setting are lacking. We sought to compare patient characteristics, anticipated downstream care utilization, and patient-reported experiences (PREs) for in-person versus telemedicine-based care conducted for initial consultation encounters at a hernia and abdominal wall center. Methods: Patients evaluated at an abdominal wall reconstruction center from August 2021 to August 2022 were prospectively surveyed. Patient characteristics, anticipated downstream care utilization, and PREs were compared. Results: Of the 176 respondents, 50.6% (n = 89) utilized telemedicine-based care and had similar demographic and disease characteristics to those receiving in-person care. Telemedicine-based care saved a median of 47 min [interquartile range 20-112.5 min] of round-trip travel time per patient, with 10.1% of encounters resulting in supplemental in-person evaluation. A large proportion of telemedicine-based and in-person encounters resulted in recommendations for operative intervention, 38.2% versus 55.2%, respectively. Indirect costs of care were significantly lower for patients utilizing telemedicine-based services. Patient satisfaction related to encounters was non-inferior to in-person care. Overall, the majority of patients responded that they preferred future care to be delivered via telemedicine-based services, if offered. Conclusions: Preoperative telemedicine-based care was associated with significant cost-savings over in-person care related with comparable patient satisfaction. Health systems should continue to dedicate resources to optimizing and expanding perioperative telemedicine capabilities.

Gut microbial metabolites and its impact on human health.

One of the primary methods by which the gut microbiome interacts with its host is through the interactions that occur through the production of the metabolites produced, either directly, or indirectly, through microbial metabolism. Decades of research has demonstrated that these metabolic products play a vital role in human health, either for its benefit or detriment. This review article highlights the main metabolites produced by the interactions between diet and the gut microbiome, bile acids and the gut microbiome, and products produced by the gut microbiome alone. Additionally, this article reviews the literature on the effects that these metabolites play on human health.

Impact of Morbid Obesity on Post-esophagectomy Leak Rate: a NSQIP Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is becoming more prevalent and is a known risk factor for esophageal cancer. Esophagectomy in this population is technically more challenging than the non-obese, thus increasing the risks of surgery. This study hypothesizes that higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher anastomotic leak rates after esophagectomy. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of patients undergoing esophagectomy in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Targeted Esophagectomy database from 2016 to 2019. Patients were stratified by BMI < 35 versus BMI > 35, with the primary outcome being leak post-esophagectomy. Univariate analyses were performed for demographics and post-operative outcomes, and multivariate analyses were performed specifically for the primary outcome of anastomotic leak (all diagnoses and malignancy/dysplasia subgroup). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: Of 4165 patients, 439 (10.5%) had a BMI > 35. Patients with BMI > 35 were often younger (mean age 60 vs 64 years, p < 0.001), White (p < 0.001), female (p < 0.001), non-smoker (p < 0.001), diabetic (p < 0.001), with hypertension (p < 0.001), and ASA ≥ 3 (p < 0.001). There were no differences between BMI groups with regard to indication for esophagectomy (malignancy/dysphasia vs other), conversion to open, mortality, or length of stay. The BMI > 35 cohort reported higher operative times (p < 0.001), open operative approach (p = 0.04), superficial surgical site infection (p < 0.001), return to operating room (p = 0.01), and leak (13.5% vs 10.1%, p = 0.01). BMI > 35 was not an independent predictor of leak for all diagnoses; however, the subgroup analysis of esophagectomy for malignancy/dysplasia demonstrated that BMI > 35 was predictive of leak (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.05-1.91), as well as operative time and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Patients with a BMI > 35 and who undergo esophagectomy have a higher rate of anastomotic leak. BMI > 35 was also an independent predictor of leak when esophagectomy was performed for malignancy/dysplasia, but not for all diagnoses. The risk of anastomotic leak should be considered in morbidly obese patients undergoing esophagectomy, particularly for malignancy.

Bedside vs webside: Assessing patient-reported experiences for in-person and telemedicine-based perioperative evaluations.

BACKGROUND: Though telemedicine has been identified as safe and feasible, data on patient reported experiences (PREs) are lacking. We sought to compare PREs between in-person and telemedicine-based perioperative care. METHODS: Patients evaluated from August-November 2021 were prospectively surveyed to assess experiences and satisfaction with care rendered during in-person and telemedicine-based encounters. Patient and hernia characteristics, encounter related plans, and PREs were compared between in-person and telemedicine-based care. RESULTS: Of 109 respondents (86% response rate), 55% (n = 60) utilized telemedicine-based perioperative care. Indirect costs were lower for patients using telemedicine-based services, including work absence (3% vs. 33%, P < 0.001), lost wages (0% vs. 14%, P = 0.003), and requirements for hotel accommodations (0% vs. 12%, P = 0.007). PREs related to telemedicine-based care were non-inferior to in-person care across all measured domains (P > 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine-based care yields significant cost-savings over in-person care with similar patient satisfaction. These findings suggest that systems should focus on optimization of perioperative telemedicine services.