Surgeon Perceptions of Performing Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in an Ambulatory Surgical Center vs Hospital Setting in the Elderly Population: Results of a Surgeon Survey.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing acceptance of conducting minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Hospitals Without Walls (HWW) program in March 2020. This program granted hospitals regulatory flexibility to offer services and procedures in nontraditional locations, including ASCs. However, implementation hurdles persist. METHODS: A survey was sent to 235 surgeons regarding the use of ASCs for performing TLIF surgeries on elderly patients. Multiple-choice questions covering various aspects of TLIF practice preferences, including surgical indications, decision factors for choosing ASCs over hospitals, implementation hurdles, reimbursement concerns, staffing issues, and the impact of CMS rules and regulations on TLIF in ASCs, particularly concerning physician ownership and self-referral conflicts governed by the Stark law, were asked. RESULTS: The survey completion rate was 25.8% (Figure 1). The most common surgical indications for TLIF in ASCs were spondylolisthesis (80%), spinal stenosis (62.5%), and low back pain (47.5%). Most surgeons (78%) believed TLIF could be safely performed in ASCs. Streamlined workflow, lower infection rates, and cost-effectiveness were advantages listed by 58.5% of surgeons. Patient's medical history (75.8%), followed by ASC resources and capabilities (61%) and surgeon preference (61%), were relevant factors. Higher efficiencies at ASCs (14.6%), contractual issues (9.8%), and ownership issues (7.3%) were less relevant to surgeons. About 65.9% of surgeons reported lower reimbursement in ASCs, and 43.9% said it was an implementation hurdle. Lower direct costs were reported by 53.7% of surgeons. Other hurdles included a lack of trained staff (24.4%), inadequate staffing (22.0%), cost overruns (26.8%), high Joint Commission or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care credentialing costs, and surgeons feeling uncomfortable performing TLIF in ASCs (22.0%). Only 17.1% listed medical problems as a reason their patient was considered unsuitable for the ASC environment. A majority (53.7%) stated that their ASCs complied with strict Stark requirements by disclosing physician ownership interests. However, 22% of surgeons reported self-referrals under the "In-Office Ancillary Services Exception" allowed by the Stark law. CONCLUSION: Our survey data show that surgeons' perceptions of current CMS rules and regulations may hinder the transition into the ASC setting because they think the reimbursement is too low and the regulatory burden is too high. ASCs have disproportionally higher initial acquisition and ongoing costs related to staff training and maintenance of the TLIF technology that CMS should consider when determining the appropriate financial remuneration for these complex procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ASC offers a viable and attractive option for their TLIF procedure with the advantage of same-day discharge and at-home recovery.

Older Age, Male Sex, and Early Start Time Lengthen the Recovery Room Stay Following Total Joint Arthroplasty in an Ambulatory Surgical Center.

Background: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) performed in the ambulatory surgical center (ASC) has been shown to be safe and cost-effective for an expanding cohort of patients. As criteria for TJA in the ASC become less restrictive, data guiding the efficient use of ASC resources are crucial. Purpose: We sought to identify factors associated with length of stay in the recovery room after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed in the ASC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 411 patients who underwent primary THA or TKA at our institution's ASC between November 2020 and March 2022. We collected patient demographics, perioperative factors, success of same-day discharge (SDD), and length of time in the recovery room. Results: Of 411 patients, 100% had successful SDD. The average length of time spent in recovery was 207 minutes (SD: 73.9 minutes). Predictors of longer time in recovery were increased age, male sex, and operative start time before 9:59 am. Body mass index, preoperative opioid use, Charlson Comorbidity Index, type of surgery (THA vs TKA), urinary retention risk, and type of anesthesia (spinal vs general) were not significant predictors of length of time in the recovery room. Conclusion: In this retrospective study, factors associated with increased length of time in the recovery room included older age, male sex, and operative start time before 9:59 am. Such factors may guide surgeons in determining the optimal order of cases for each day at the ASC, but further prospective studies should seek to confirm these observations.

Modern robotics platform associated with reduced 90-day complications in hospital setting.

BACKGROUND: Early complications in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) associated with modern robotics platforms integrated with digital balancing technology have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare 90-day complication rates between a manual technique and a modern robotic-assisted ligament balancing TKA platform. METHODS: 895 primary TKA procedures from a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed (614 manual TKA, 281 using a modern robotics platform with an integrated digitally controlled ligament balancing device). Post-operative complications within the 90-day episode of care were recorded by the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative. Differences in complication rates between techniques were further divided into inpatient hospital, outpatient hospital, and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) cohorts. RESULTS: In the pooled hospital cohort and inpatient hospital cohort, 'Return to OR' was significantly lower for the robotic assisted group (1.3% vs 5.2% and 0% vs 4.9%, respectively, p< 0.0370). Specifically, the need for manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) was reduced for the robotics group (0.0% vs 2.5%, p= 0.0352). No differences in overall complication rate or cause of complication was found between manual and robotics cases for the hospital outpatient and ASC cohorts (p⩾ 0.68). CONCLUSION: Within the hospital setting, robotic assisted ligament balancing technology was associated with reduced 90-day postoperative complications for 'Return to OR' and MUA.

Analysis of Sociodemographic Factors Affecting Ambulatory Surgical Center Discharge Patterns for Endometrial Cancer Hysterectomies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Investigate outcomes for patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomies (MIHs) performed for endometrial cancer at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). DESIGN: Our study aimed to explore the feasibility and discharge outcomes for MIHs for endometrial cancer in an ASC setting by using same-day discharge data. SETTING: The prevalence of MIH for endometrial cancer between 2016 and 2019 was estimated from the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent MIHs for endometrial cancer at an ASC were included. INTERVENTIONS: N/A MEASUREMENTS MAIN RESULTS: Weighted estimates of prevalence and association between discharge status and sociodemographic factors were explored. Same-day discharge was defined as discharge on the day of surgery, and delayed discharge was defined as discharge after the day of surgery. An estimated 95 041 MIHs for endometrial cancer were performed at ASCs between 2016 and 2019. Notably, 91.9% (n = 87 372) resulted in same-day discharge, 1.2% (n = 1121) had delayed discharge, and 6.9% (n = 6548) had missing discharge information; 78.7% procedures (n = 68 812) were performed at public hospitals. The proportion of delayed discharges were lower in private, not-for profit ASCs (0.8%, p = .03) than public hospitals. Patients who had delayed discharges on average were older (69.7 vs 62.4 years, p <.001), more likely to have comorbid conditions including diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-1.75) and overweight or obese body mass indices (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.39), and more likely to have public insurance (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.40-2.25). CONCLUSION: MIHs for endometrial cancer are feasible in an ASC. Optimal candidates for receipt of MIHs for endometrial cancer at an ASC are patients who are younger and have less comorbidities, lower body mass index, and private insurance.

Peripheral Arterial Disease Treatment in the Non-Hospital Setting.

Treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) has undergone a progressive shift toward less invasive, endovascular options within the last three decades. For PAD patients, the benefits of this shift are numerous and include less periprocedural pain, decreased blood loss, shorter recovery times, and fewer missed workdays. Commonly, patient-reported outcomes are very positive with this "endovascular first" strategy and the number of open surgical procedures for various stages of PAD has declined steadily over the last 20 years. Coincident with this trend is the move toward "ambulatory" lower extremity arterial intervention (LEAI) in the hospital outpatient "same-day" department. The next logical extension was then performing LEAI in a true physician office-based lab (OBL), ambulatory surgical center (ASC), or "non-hospital setting." This article examines these trends and the concept that the OBL/ASC provides a safe, alternative site of service for PAD patients requiring LEAI.

Outcomes of elective peripheral endovascular interventions for peripheral arterial disease performed in hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers and office-based labs.

BACKGROUND: A recent shift in the location where peripheral endovascular interventions (PVI) are performed has occurred, from traditional settings such as hospital outpatient departments (HOPD), to ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and outpatient-based laboratories (OBL). Different settings may influence the safety and efficacy of the PVI, as well as how it is done. This study aims to compare the postprocedural outcomes and intraprocedural details between the three settings. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried for all elective infrainguinal PVIs for occlusive peripheral arterial disease between January 2016 and December 2021. The primary outcomes were rates of postprocedural hospital admissions, postprocedural medical complications, and access site complications. Secondary outcomes included technical success and intraprocedural details, such as types and number of devices used, amount of contrast, and fluoroscopy time. The χ2 test, analysis of variance, and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 66,101 PVI cases (HOPD, 57,062 [83.33%]; ASC, 4591 [6.95%]; OBL, 4448 [6.73%]) were included in the study. There were 445 cases requiring hospital admission (HOPD, 398 [0.70%]; ASC, 26 [0.57%]; OBL, 21 [0.47%]; P = .126). There were no significant differences in cardiac, pulmonary, or renal complications. Access site complications occurred in less than 1.7% of all cases and were significantly higher in OBLs when compared with ASCs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-8.03; P = .001) and significantly lower in ASCs in comparison to HOPDs (aOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.18-0.41; P < .001). Technical success occurred in at least 92% of all cases, regardless of setting. There was a 16-fold increase in the use of atherectomy devices in an OBL vs HOPD setting (aOR, 16.79; 95% CI, 11.77-23.95; P < .001) and a five-fold increase in the use of atherectomy devices in an ASC vs HOPD setting (aOR, 5.37; 95% CI, 2.47-11.65; P < .001). There was a five-fold decrease in the use of special balloons in an OBL vs HOPD setting (aOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.10-0.39; P < .001) and a four-fold decrease when comparing ASCs with HOPDs (aOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.51; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Elective PVIs performed in any outpatient setting proved to be safe and technically successful. However, there are significant differences in the way PVIs are performed in each setting, such as the greater use of atherectomy devices in OBLs and greater use of special balloons in HOPDs. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the durability and reintervention outcomes and understand factors associated with practice pattern variability across these different settings.

Desafios para implementação da SAE perioperatória em pacientes do centro cirúrgico / Challenges for implementing perioperative SAE in surgical center patients / Retos para la implantación del SAE perioperatorio en pacientes de centros quirúrgicos

Introdução: A Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem Perioperatória (SAEP) é o alicerce que fornece sustentação nas ações de enfermagem, na promoção de saúde e prevenção de complicações de clientes cirúrgicos. Objetivo: este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a percepção dos enfermeiros, que assistem pacientes cirúrgicos, sobre a SAEP dentro do contexto da sua prática profissional. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de revisão de literatura de caráter descritiva que implicou na busca de arti- gos científicos de 2012 a 2022, que abordassem as dificuldades que a enfermagem en- contra para a execução da SAEP. Desta forma, foram utilizados apenas publicações que estivessem nas bases de dados SciELO, LILACS, LATINDEX, MIAR. Resultados: Fo- ram identificados inicialmente 414 artigos, após a aplicação dos critérios propostos nove artigos foram selecionados para a amostra. Conclusão: As dificuldades encontradas no exercício profissional da enfermagem no centro cirúrgico estão relacionadas a não com- preensão e a aplicabilidade da SAEP, e também pela falta de recursos humanos, tecnoló- gicos e assistenciais.

Introduction: The Systematization of Perioperative Nursing Care (SAEP) is the foundation that provides support in nursing actions, in health promotion and prevention of complications in surgical clients. Objective: this study aimed to know the perception of nurses, who assist surgical patients, about SAEP within the context of their professional practice. Methodology: This is a descriptive literature review research that involved the search for scientific articles from 2012 to 2022, which addressed the difficulties that nursing encounters in the implementation of SAEP. In this way, only publications that were in the SciELO, LILACS, LATINDEX, MIAR databases were used. Results: Initially, 414 articles were identified, after applying the proposed criteria, nine articles were selected for the sample. Conclusion: The difficulties encountered in the professional practice of nursing in the surgical center are related to the lack of understanding and applicability of the SAEP, and also to the lack of human, technological and assistance resources.

Introducción: La Sistematización de los Cuidados de Enfermería Perioperatoria (SAEP) es el fundamento que proporciona apoyo en las acciones de enfermería, en la promoción de la salud y prevención de complicaciones en los clientes quirúrgicos. Objetivo: este estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer la percepción de las enfermeras, que asisten pacientes quirúrgicos, sobre la SAEP en el contexto de su práctica profesional. Metodología: Se trata de una investigación de revisión bibliográfica descriptiva que implicó la búsqueda de artículos científicos desde 2012 hasta 2022, que abordaran las dificultades que la enfermería encuentra en la implementación del SAEP. De esta forma, sólo se utilizaron publicaciones que estuvieran en las bases de datos SciELO, LILACS, LATINDEX, MIAR. Resultados: Inicialmente, se identificaron 414 artículos, después de aplicar los criterios propuestos, se seleccionaron nueve artículos para la muestra. Conclusiones: Las dificultades encontradas en la práctica profesional de enfermería en el centro quirúrgico están relacionadas con la falta de comprensión y aplicabilidad del SAEP, así como con la falta de recursos humanos, tecnológicos y asistenciales.

Clinical and economic impact of blue light cystoscopy in the management of NMIBC at US ambulatory surgical centers: what is the site-of-service disparity?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) significantly impacts healthcare resource utilization due to requirements for ongoing surveillance. White light cystoscopy (WLC) represents the traditional approach to NMIBC disease surveillance, though physicians utilizing WLC alone may fail to detect all cancerous lesions. The approval of blue light cystoscopy (BLC) as an adjunct to WLC enhances the urologist's ability to more readily detect cancerous tissue. A more complete resection will reduce recurrences and could result in reduced costs for the US healthcare system. This analysis quantifies the clinical and economic impact of the incorporation of BLC in the management of NMIBC in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) considering current Center for Medicare Services (CMS) patient-physician coverage and reimbursement. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A budget impact model was developed to assess projected ASC costs for a cohort of 50 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients over a 2-year follow-up comparing WLC alone vs. WLC + BLC. Treatment and surveillance intervals were based on AUA/SUO clinical guidelines. Clinical and cost metrics for staging and biopsy rates were assessed, with cost inputs based on Medicare reimbursement rates. RESULTS: Use of WLC + BLC for NMIBC surveillance resulted in the identification of 5 additional NMIBC recurrences compared to WLC alone. There was an associated increased cost of performing BLC in an ASC setting, with a net increase in the total cost of care for NMIBC of $110 per cystoscopy over a 2-year period. If recurrences missed using WLC alone were to progress prior to detection, the model projects an increase in treatment costs borne by Medicare of $9,097 to $34,538 due to more intensive treatments required for the increased risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Modeled results suggests that the Medicare program will incur increased costs, due to the gap between added costs per cystoscopy due to BLC. The current discrepancy in reimbursement disincentivizes community-based ASCs from adopting BLC, resulting in suboptimal patient care while increasing downstream treatment costs to Medicare, necessitated when missed disease progresses to higher stage/grade disease. The findings have important clinical implications for the optimal management of NMIBC and should inform healthcare policies that promote cost-effectiveness and enhanced patient outcomes.

Máscara n95: percepções dos trabalhadores do centro cirúrgico / Máscara n95: percepciones de los trabajadores del centro quirúrgico / N95 mask: perceptions of surgical center workers

Objetivo: identificar as percepções dos trabalhadores do centro cirúrgico quanto ao uso da máscara N95 como Equipamento de Proteção Individual em relação à fumaça cirúrgica. Método: pesquisa qualitativa mediante entrevistas áudio-gravadas, com nove trabalhadores do Centro Cirúrgico de um hospital no norte do Paraná, Brasil. Questionou-se: qual a percepção dos trabalhadores expostos à fumaça cirúrgica em relação ao uso das máscaras N95? Foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: o estudo revela a fragilidade do conhecimento dos profissionais sobre a utilização da máscara N95 e sobre os riscos que estão expostos durante sua jornada de trabalho, quando expostos à fumaça cirúrgica. Assim como o desconforto pelo uso da máscara. Conclusão: sugere-se capacitação aos profissionais da saúde expostos à fumaça cirúrgica, onde possa ser esclarecido sobre o uso de Equipamento de Proteção Individual de forma correta e sua importância na prevenção para o desenvolvimento de doenças ocupacionais.

Objetivo: identificar las percepciones de los trabajadores del centro quirúrgico en cuanto al uso de la máscara N95 como Equipo de Protección Individual en relación al humo quirúrgico. Método: investigación cualitativa mediante entrevistas audio-grabadas, con nueve trabajadores del Centro Quirúrgico de un hospital en el norte de Paraná, Brasil. Se preguntó: ¿cuál es la percepción de los trabajadores expuestos al humo quirúrgico con respecto al uso de las máscaras N95? Se utilizó la técnica de análisis de contenido. Resultados: el estudio revela la fragilidad del conocimiento de los profesionales sobre la utilización de la máscara N95 y sobre los riesgos que están expuestos durante su jornada de trabajo, cuando están expuestos al humo quirúrgico. Así como la incomodidad por el uso de la máscara. Conclusión: se sugiere capacitación a los profesionales de la salud expuestos a humo quirúrgico, donde pueda ser esclarecido sobre el uso de Equipo de Protección Individual de forma correcta y su importancia en la prevención para el desarrollo de enfermedades ocupacionales.

Objective: to identify the perceptions of surgical center workers regarding the use of the N95 mask as Personal Protection Equipment in relation to surgical smoke. Method: qualitative research through audio-recorded interviews with nine workers from the Surgical Center of a hospital in northern Paraná, Brazil. It was questioned: what is the perception of workers exposed to surgical smoke in relation to the use of N95 masks? The technique of content analysis was used. Results: the study reveals the fragility of professionals' knowledge about the use of the N95 mask and the risks they are exposed during their working day, when exposed to surgical smoke. As well as discomfort from wearing the mask. Conclusion: training for health professionals exposed to surgical smoke is suggested, where it can be clarified about the use of Personal Protective Equipment correctly and its importance in preventing the development of occupational diseases.

Perfil das cirurgias realizadas em um hospital de urgência e emergência no interior de Rondônia / Profile of surgeries performed in an urgency and emergency hospital in Rondônia / Perfil de las cirugías realizadas en un hospital de urgencias y emergencias de Rondônia

Os problemas ortopédicos têm se configurado como um grave problema de saúde, pois tem ocasionado no aumento das internações hospitalares e dos custos dos tratamentos medicamentosos e cirúrgicos. Por procedimento cirúrgico entende-se como um conjunto de procedimentos manuais ou instrumentais que se destinam ao tratamento de doenças e traumatismos, comumente realizada no Centro Cirúrgico (CC). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgias ortopédicas em um hospital no interior da região amazônica. Tratou-se de um estudo epidemiológico de caráter descritivo, retrospectivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado com dados do centro cirúrgico do Hospital Regional de Urgência e Emergência-HEURO, localizado no município de Cacoal, no interior de Rondônia durante o período entre março de 2019 a março de 2021, totalizando 777 procedimentos realizados em 742 pacientes. Os dados demonstraram que em sua maioria eram do sexo feminino (448/60,38%), na faixa etária entre os 21 anos e 30 anos (261/35,17%), sendo estes predominantemente urgências (4077/99%) procedentes da sala vermelha (2007/49%). Conhecer o perfil dos pacientes contribui com estudos anteriores e abre portas para próximos estudos relacionados a esta temática, possibilitando um melhor planejamento e assistência para esses pacientes.

The orthopedic problems have been configured as a serious health problem, because it has caused an increase in hospital admissions and costs of drug and surgical treatments. Surgical procedure is understood as a set of manual or instrumental procedures aimed at treating diseases and injuries, commonly performed in the Surgical Center (SC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery in a hospital in the interior of the Amazon region. This was an epidemiological study of descriptive, retrospective nature, with a quantitative approach, performed with data from the surgical center of the Regional Hospital of Urgency and Emergency-HEURO, located in the municipality of Cacoal, in the interior of Rondônia during the period between March 2019 to March 2021, totaling 777 procedures performed in 742 patients. The data showed that they were mostly female (448/60.38%), in the age range between 21 years and 30 years (261/35.17%), and these were predominantly emergencies (4077/99%) coming from the red room (2007/49%). Knowing the profile of patients contributes to previous studies and opens doors for future studies related to this theme, enabling better planning and assistance for these patients.

Los problemas ortopédicos se han configurado como un grave problema de salud, ya que ha provocado un aumento de los ingresos hospitalarios y de los costes de los tratamientos farmacológicos y quirúrgicos. Se entiende por procedimiento quirúrgico el conjunto de procedimientos manuales o instrumentales destinados al tratamiento de enfermedades y lesiones, comúnmente realizados en el Centro Quirúrgico (CC). El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el perfil de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía ortopédica en un hospital del interior de la región amazónica. Se trató de un estudio epidemiológico de carácter descriptivo, retrospectivo, con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado con datos del centro quirúrgico del Hospital Regional de Urgencia y Emergencia-HEURO, localizado en el municipio de Cacoal, en el interior de Rondônia durante el período comprendido entre marzo de 2019 a marzo de 2021, totalizando 777 procedimientos realizados en 742 pacientes. Los datos mostraron que eran mayoritariamente del sexo femenino (448/60,38%), en la franja etaria entre 21 años y 30 años (261/35,17%), y se trataba predominantemente de urgencias (4077/99%) provenientes de la sala roja (2007/49%). Conocer el perfil de los pacientes contribuye para estudios anteriores y abre puertas para futuros estudios relacionados a este tema, posibilitando una mejor planificación y asistencia para estos pacientes.

Comportamentos destrutivos entre profissionais em centro cirúrgico: revisão integrativa da literatura / Inadequate behavior manifested by professionals in the surgical center: integrative literature review / Comportamiento inadecuado manifestado por profesionales del centro quirúrgico: revisión integrativa de la literatura

Objetivo: Identificar as evidências sobre comportamentos destrutivos manifestados ou presenciados por profissionais em centro cirúrgico. Métodos: Revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada nas bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciências da Saúde, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online e Base de Dados da Enfermagem, em novembro e dezembro de 2019, aos pares, sem recorte temporal, em português, inglês e espanhol. Na busca, foram utilizados termos e descritores, combinados entre si por meio dos operadores booleanos AND e OR. Resultados: Foram localizados 230 artigos. Após eliminação de duplicidades, aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, e leitura, obteve-se amostra de 10. Da análise dos estudos, emergiram três categorias temáticas: Categoria 1 ­ Comportamentos destrutivos; Categoria 2 ­ Repercussões dos comportamentos destrutivos; Categoria 3 ­ Dispositivos para minimizar ambientes hostis. Conclusão: os comportamentos destrutivos têm repercussões organizacionais, laborais e pessoais, caracterizando um desrespeito sistêmico que causa danos tanto aos profissionais como aos pacientes. (AU)

Objective: Identify evidence of inadequate behavior manifested by professionals in the surgical center. Methods: An integrative literature review, carried out in the Latin American Literature in Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Nursing Database databases, in November and December 2019, in pairs, without time frame, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. In the search, terms and descriptors were used, combined with each other through the Boolean operators AND and OR. R. Results: 230 articles were located. After elimination of duplicates, application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, and reading, a sample of 10 was obtained. From the analysis of the studies, three thematic categories emerged: Category 1 ­ destructive behavior; Category 2 ­ repercussions of inadequate behavior; Category 3 ­ devices for minimizing hostile environments. Conclusion: Inadequate behavior has organizational, labor and personal repercussions, and characterizes systemic disrespect that causes damage to both professionals and patients. (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar evidencias de conducta inadecuada manifestada por profesionales en el centro quirúrgico. Métodos: Revisión integradora de la literatura, realizada en las bases de datos de Literatura Latinoamericana en Ciencias de la Salud, Sistema de Análisis y Recuperación de Literatura Médica en Línea y Base de Datos de Enfermería, en noviembre y diciembre de 2019, en pares, sin marco temporal, en portugués, inglés y español. En la búsqueda se utilizaron términos y descriptores, combinados entre sí mediante los operadores booleanos AND y OR. R. Resultados: Se localizaron 230 artículos. Luego de eliminación de duplicados, aplicación de criterios de inclusión y exclusión y lectura, se obtuvo una muestra de 10. Del análisis de los estudios surgieron tres categorías temáticas: Categoría 1 - comportamiento destructivo; Categoría 2: repercusiones de un comportamiento inadecuado; Categoría 3: dispositivos para minimizar entornos hostiles. Conclusión: La conducta inadecuada tiene repercusiones organizativas, laborales y personales, y caracteriza la falta de respeto sistémica que causa daño tanto a los profesionales como a los pacientes. (AU)

Evaluation of Regional Geospatial Clusters in Inguinal Hernia Repair.

Introduction There is significant variation in how inguinal hernia repairs are conducted across the United States (US). This study seeks to utilize national public data on inguinal hernia repair to determine regional differences in the use of ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and in the choice of laparoscopic or open technique. Methods Medicare provider billing and enrollee demographic data were merged with US census and economic data to create a county-level database for the years 2014-2019. Location, technique, and total count of all inguinal hernia repair billing were recorded for 1286 counties. Moran's I cluster analysis for inguinal hernia repairs, percent laparoscopic technique, and percent ACS were conducted. Subsequent hotspot and coldspot clusters identified in geospatial analysis were compared using ANOVA across 50 socioeconomic variables with a significance threshold of 0.001.  Results  There were 292,870 inguinal hernia repairs, of which 39.8% were conducted laparoscopically and 21.3% of which were in an ACS. Inguinal hernia repair coldspots were in the Mid-Atlantic and Northern Midwest, while hotspots were in Nebraska, Kansas, and Maryland (3.85 and 36.53 repairs per 1000 beneficiaries, respectively). Compared to coldspots, hotspot areas of repair were less obese, had less tobacco use, older, and less insured; there were no differences in gender, white population, or county urbanization (p<0.001). Laparoscopic technique coldspots were in the Mid-Atlantic, Michigan, and Great Plains, while hotspots were in the Rocky Mountains and contiguous states from Florida to Wisconsin (6.14% and 75.39%, respectively). ACS coldspots were diffusely scattered between Oklahoma and New Hampshire, while hotspots were in California, Colorado, Maryland, Tennessee, and Indiana (0.51% and 48.71%, respectively). Conclusions Inguinal hernia repair, the surgical setting, and the choice of technique demonstrated interesting geospatial trends in our population of interest that have not been previously characterized.

Fatores que interferem no tempo de intervalo entre cirurgias: estudo observacional / Factors that interfere in the interval time between surgeries: an observational study / Factores que interfieren en el intervalo de tiempo entre cirugías: estudio observacional

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar o tempo de intervalo entre as cirurgias e fatores que podem influenciar esse processo. Método: estudo quantitativo, observacional, transversal, desenvolvido em três centros cirúrgicos de um hospital de grande porte do Sul brasileiro. Coleta em janeiro e fevereiro de 2020, por observação do intervalo entre cirurgias guiadas por roteiro. Análise dos dados por estatística descritiva, correlação e análise fatorial. Resultados: o tempo médio de turnover foi 37 minutos. As variáveis: desmontagem (r=0,540, P<0,001 e r=0,406, P<0,001), limpeza (r=0,584, P<0,001) e montagem (r=0,689, P<0,001) relacionaram-se positiva e moderadamente ao turnover. O intervalo foi maior com pacientes de unidades de internação do que de origem ambulatorial, e após cirurgias de pequeno porte era menor do que médio e grande porte. Conclusão: oportunizam-se reflexões sobre processos do centro cirúrgico. Serão úteis no planejamento, implementação e gestão desse setor.

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the interval time between surgeries and factors that can influence this process. Method: a quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study carried out in three surgical centers of a large-sized hospital in southern Brazil. Collection took place in January and February 2020, by observing the interval between script-guided surgeries. Data analysis was performed by means of descriptive statistics, correlation and factor analysis. Results: the mean turnover time was 37 minutes. The disassembly (r=0.540, p<0.001 and r=0.406, p<0.001), cleaning (r=0.584, p<0.001) and assembly (r=0.689, p<0.001) variables were positively and moderately related to turnover. The interval was longer with patients coming from hospitalization units than from outpatient services and, after minor surgeries, the time was shorter than in medium-sized and major surgeries. Conclusion: reflections on surgical center processes are provided. They will be useful in planning, implementing and managing this sector.

RESUMEN Objetivo: investigar el intervalo de tiempo entre las cirugías y los factores que pueden influir en este proceso. Método: estudio cuantitativo, observacional, transversal, realizado en tres centros quirúrgicos de un gran hospital del sur de Brasil. La recolección se realizó en enero y febrero de 2020, mediante la observación del intervalo entre cirugías orientada por una guía. El análisis de datos mediante estadística descriptiva, correlación y análisis factorial. Resultados: el tiempo promedio de turnover fue de 37 minutos. Las variables: desmontaje (r=0,540, P<0,001 y r=0,406, P<0,001), limpieza (r=0,584, P<0,001) y montaje (r=0,689, P<0,001) se relacionaron positiva y moderadamente con el turnover. El intervalo fue mayor con los pacientes de las unidades de hospitalización que con los pacientes ambulatorios, y fue menor después de las cirugías de baja complejidad que de las de mediana y gran complejidad. Conclusión: se aportan reflexiones sobre los procesos del centro quirúrgico. Serán útiles en la planificación, implementación y gestión de este sector.

A mobile cesarean birth center as a solution to improve access to surgical birth in rural Ethiopia: a mixed methods research protocol.

BACKGROUND: As an evidence-based intervention to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, cesarean birth at rates of under 2%, which is the case in rural Southwest Ethiopia, is an unacceptable public health problem and represents an important disparity in the use of this life-saving treatment compared to more developed regions. The objective of this study is to explore an innovative clinical solution (a mobile cesarean birth center) to low cesarean birth rates resulting from the Three Delays to emergency obstetric care in isolated and underserved regions of Ethiopia, and the world. METHODS: We will use mixed but primarily qualitative methods to explore and prepare the mobile cesarean birth center for subsequent implementation in communities in Bench Sheko and West Omo Zones. This will involve interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders and retreat settings for user-centered design activities. We will present stakeholders with a prototype surgical truck that will help them conceive of the cesarean birth center concept and discuss implementation issues related to staffing, supplies, referral patterns, pre- and post-operative care, and relationship to locations for vaginal birth. DISCUSSION: Completion of our study aims will allow us to describe participants' perceptions about barriers and facilitators to cesarean birth and their attitudes regarding the appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility of a mobile cesarean birth center as a solution. It will also result in a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely (SMART) implementation blueprint(s), with implementation strategies defined, as well as recruitment plans identified. This will include the development of a logic model and process map, a timeline for implementation with strategies selected that will guide implementation, and additional adaptation/adjustment of the mobile center to ensure fit for the communities of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION: There is no healthcare intervention on human participants occurring as part of this research, so the study has not been registered.

Readability Analysis of Patient-Accessible Information Regarding Ambulatory Surgical Center Procedures.

BACKGROUND: As spine surgery in the ambulatory setting becomes more frequent, patients should comprehend the difference from traditional hospital-based, outpatient settings. Limited research exists on the readability of online articles surrounding spine surgery in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC). In this study, we intend to evaluate the readability of online articles pertaining to spine surgery in the outpatient and ambulatory surgical settings. METHODS: Three search engines were queried, and the first 100 articles pertaining to each outpatient spine surgery search term were collected. Advertisements, videos, and peer-reviewed scientific articles were excluded. Articles were categorized by publishing source as follows: hospital or institution, general medical Websites, private practice, or surgery center. Flesch-Kincaid (FK) grade level, Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score, word count, sentences per paragraph, words per sentence, and characters per word were evaluated for each article. Student's t tests compared readability metrics between groups based on setting and procedure region. RESULTS: A total of 342 articles was analyzed; 279 articles were outpatient hospital related, and 63 ASC related. Flesch-Kincaid grade levels or FRE scores were not significantly different between outpatient hospital and ambulatory center. Comparison of ASC to outpatient articles from a hospital or institution source significantly differed in FRE score (40.7 versus 32.4) and FK grade level (12.3 versus 13.9; all P < .05). Articles addressing procedure type were significantly different in FRE score (36.2 versus 30.0) and FK grade level (13.0 ± 2.1 versus 14.3 ± 1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital, private practice, and medical journalists should be aware of significant differences in readability of patient-accessible ASC articles. These articles may be more difficult to read than outpatient hospital articles, and production of more reading-level-appropriate online literature is required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is a significant difference in the readability of patient-accessible ASC articles.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization of EGD and Colonoscopy in the United States: An Analysis of the GIQuIC Registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has limited the ability to perform endoscopy. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of the pandemic on endoscopy volumes and indications in the United States. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC) registry. We compared volumes of colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) during the pandemic (March-September 2020) to before the pandemic (January 2019-February 2020). The primary outcome was change in monthly volumes. Secondary outcomes included changes in the distribution of procedure indications and in procedure volume by region of United States, patient characteristics, trainee involvement, and practice setting, as well as colorectal cancer diagnoses. RESULTS: Among 451 sites with 3514 endoscopists, the average monthly volume of colonoscopies and EGDs dropped by 38.5% and 33.4%, respectively. There was regional variation, with the greatest and least decline in procedures in the Northeast and South, respectively. There was a modest shift in procedure indications from prevention to diagnostic, an initial increase in performance in the hospital setting, and a decrease in procedures with trainees. The decline in volume of colonoscopy and EGD during the first 7 months of the pandemic was equivalent to approximately 2.7 and 2.4 months of prepandemic productivity, respectively. Thirty percent fewer colorectal cancers were diagnosed compared to expected. CONCLUSION: These data on actual endoscopy utilization nationally during the pandemic can help in anticipating impact of delays in care on outcomes and planning for the recovery phase.

Multimodal Analgesic Management for Lumbar Decompression Surgery in the Ambulatory Setting: Clinical Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Effective pain control is vital for successful surgery in the ambulatory setting. Our study aims to characterize a case series of patients who underwent lumbar decompression (LD) in the ambulatory surgical center (ASC) with the use of a multimodal analgesic (MMA) protocol. METHODS: A prospective surgical registry was retrospectively assessed for patients who underwent single or multilevel LD in an ASC using MMA from 2013 to 2019. Observation in excess of 23 hours was not permitted at the ASC, and patients were required to be discharged the same day. Length of stay, patient-reported visual analog scale pain scores before discharge, and the quantity of narcotic medications administered to patients before discharge were recorded. Quantity of narcotic medications were converted into units of oral morphine equivalents and summed across all types of narcotic medications prescribed. RESULTS: A total of 499 patients were included. In total, 86.0% (429) of the patients underwent a single-level decompression procedure, 13.8% (69) of patients underwent a 2-level, and 0.2% (1) of the patients underwent a 3-level procedure; 83.6% (417) of the patients in this study underwent a primary LD, and 14.0% (70) underwent a revision decompression. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest clinical case series focused on LD procedures within an ASC requiring no planned 23-hour observation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of performing LD surgery in an ASC with proper patient selection, surgical technique, and MMA protocol. All patients were discharged from the surgical center on the same day of surgery.

Do all outpatient spine surgeries cost the same? Comparison of economic outcomes data from a state-level database for outpatient lumbar decompression performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient setting.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal procedures are increasingly conducted as outpatient procedures, with a growing proportion conducted in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). To date, studies reporting outcomes and cost analyses for outpatient spinal procedures in the US have not distinguished the various outpatient settings from each other. In this study, the authors used a state-level administrative database to compare rates of overnight stays and nonroutine discharges as well as index admission charges and cumulative 7-, 30-, and 90-day charges for patients undergoing outpatient lumbar decompression in freestanding ASCs and hospital outpatient (HO) settings. METHODS: For this project, the authors used the Florida State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD), offered by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), for the years 2013 and 2014. Patients undergoing outpatient lumbar decompression for degenerative diseases were identified using CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) and ICD-9 codes. Outcomes of interest included rates of overnight stays, rate of nonroutine discharges, index admission charges, and subsequent admission cumulative charges at 7, 30, and 90 days. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the impact of outpatient type on index admission charges. Marginal effect analysis was employed to study the difference in predicted dollar margins between ASCs and HOs for each insurance type. RESULTS: A total of 25,486 patients were identified; of these, 7067 patients (27.7%) underwent lumbar decompression in a freestanding ASC and 18,419 (72.3%) in an HO. No patient in the ASC group required an overnight stay compared to 9.2% (n = 1691) in the HO group (p < 0.001). No clinically significant difference in the rate of nonroutine discharge was observed between the two groups. The mean index admission charge for the ASC group was found to be significantly higher than that for the HO group ($35,017.28 ± $14,335.60 vs $33,881.50 ± $15,023.70; p < 0.001). Patients in ASCs were also found to have higher mean 7-day (p < 0.001), 30-day (p < 0.001), and 90-day (p = 0.001) readmission charges. ASC procedures were associated with increased charges compared to HO procedures for patients on Medicare or Medicaid (mean index admission charge increase $4049.27, 95% CI $2577.87-$5520.67, p < 0.001) and for patients on private insurance ($4775.72, 95% CI $4171.06-$5380.38, p < 0.001). For patients on self-pay or no charge, a lumbar decompression procedure at an ASC was associated with a decrease in index admission charge of -$10,995.38 (95% CI -$12124.76 to -$9866.01, p < 0.001) compared to a lumbar decompression procedure at an HO. CONCLUSIONS: These "real-world" results from an all-payer statewide database indicate that for outpatient spine surgery, ASCs may be associated with higher index admission and subsequent 7-, 30-, and 90-day charges. Given that ASCs are touted to have lower overall costs for patients and better profit margins for physicians, these analyses warrant further investigation into whether this cost benefit is applicable to outpatient spine procedures.

Single-Stage Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty in an Ambulatory Surgical Center: A Report of Three Cases.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in transitioning total joint arthroplasty procedures from inpatient settings to ambulatory surgical centers to decrease costs and eliminate the need for hospital stays. In addition, simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been found to be favorable in certain patient populations when compared with staged bilateral THA. In this study, we report the results of a series of three patients who underwent single-stage bilateral THA in a free-standing ambulatory surgical center with excellent short-term outcomes and no 90-day complications.

A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Optimizing Capacity in a High-Volume Congenital Heart Pediatric Surgical Center.

Importance: Elective surgeries are primarily scheduled according to surgeon availability with less consideration of patients' postoperative cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) length of stay. Furthermore, the CICU census can exhibit a high rate of variation in which the CICU is operating at over-capacity, resulting in admission delays and cancellations; or under-capacity, resulting in underutilized labor and overhead expenditures. Objective: To identify strategies to reduce variation in CICU occupancy levels and avoid late patient surgery cancellation. Design: Monte Carlo simulation study of the daily and weekly CICU census at Boston Children's Hospital Heart Center. Data on all surgical admissions to and discharges from the CICU at Boston Children's Hospital between September 1, 2009 and November 2019 were included to obtain the distribution of length of stay for the simulation study. The available data allows us to model realistic length of stay samples that include short and extended lengths of stay. Main Outcomes: Annual number of patient surgical cancellations and change in average daily census. Results: We demonstrate that the models of strategic scheduling would result in up to 57% reduction in patient surgical cancellations, increase the historically low Monday census and decrease the historically higher late-mid-week (Wednesday and Thursday) censuses in our center. Conclusions and Relevance: Use of strategic scheduling may improve surgical capacity and reduce the number of annual cancellations. The reduction of peaks and valleys in the weekly census corresponds to a reduction of underutilization and overutilization of the system.