Colonic interposition in esophagectomy: an ACS-NSQIP study.

INTRODUCTION: For patients with cancer or injury of the esophagus, esophagectomy with reconstruction using the stomach (gastric pull-up, GPU) or colon (colonic interposition, CI) can restore function but is associated with high morbidity. We sought to describe the differences in outcomes between the two replacement organs using a national database. METHODS: From ACS-NSQIP, patients who underwent GPU or CI between 2006 and 2020 were identified. Univariate analyses were performed on length of stay, complications, reoperation, readmission, and mortality. Variables with P ≤ 0.2 were included in the multivariate regression. Primary outcomes were 30-day reoperation, readmission, and mortality. Data were assessed using Chi-squared tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 12,545 GPU and 502 CI patients. GPU patients were older with higher BMI, and more likely to be male (80.3% versus 70.3%, P < 0.0001) and white (77.8% versus 69.1%, P < 0.0001). More GPU patients had independent functional status and underlying bleeding disorders, but fewer other preoperative comorbidities than CI patients. On univariate analysis, CI patients had longer hospital stays (13 versus 10 days, P < 0.0001); more reoperations (23.9% versus 14.5%, P < 0.0001); a lower rate of discharge to home (70.9% versus 82.1%, P < 0.0001); and a higher mortality rate (6.2% versus 2.9%, P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, CI was associated with increased risk of reoperation but not with readmission or mortality. Reoperation was associated with CI, smoking, chronic wound, hypertension, higher ASA class, contaminated or dirty wound class, and longer operative time. Readmission was associated with female gender, hypertension, and longer operative time. Mortality was associated with age, metastatic cancer, preoperative sepsis, preoperative renal failure, malignant esophageal disease, higher ASA class, incomplete closure, and longer operative time. CONCLUSION: Colonic interposition, although a more difficult option with traditionally worse outcomes, should still be considered for patients requiring esophagectomy if the stomach cannot be used to restore continuity, as differences in outcomes appear to be due to underlying frailty of patients rather than the procedure.

Morbidity of conversion from venovenous to venoarterial ECMO in neonates with meconium aspiration or persistent pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes in neonates receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and/or persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) are favorable. Infants with preserved perfusion are often offered venovenous (VV) support to spare morbidities of venoarterial (VA) ECMO. Worsening perfusion or circuit complications can prompt conversion from VV-to-VA support. We examined whether outcomes in infants requiring VA ECMO for MAS/PPHN differed if they underwent VA support initially versus converting to VA after a VV trial, and what factors predicted conversion. METHODS: We reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry from 2007 to 2017 for neonates with primary diagnoses of MAS/PPHN. Propensity score analysis matched VA single-runs (controls) 4:1 against VV-to-VA conversions based on age, pre-ECMO pH, and precannulation arrests. Primary outcomes were complications and survival. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact testing. Multivariate regression identified independent predictors of conversion for VV patients. RESULTS: 3831 neonates underwent ECMO for MAS/PPHN, including 2129 (55%) initially requiring VA support. Of 1702 patients placed on VV ECMO, 98 (5.8%) required VV-to-VA conversion. Compared with 364 propensity-matched isolated VA controls, conversion runs were longer (190 vs. 127 h, P < 0.001), were associated with more complications, and decreased survival to discharge (70% vs. 83%, P = 0.01). On multivariate regression, conversion was more likely if neonates on VV ECMO did not receive surfactant (OR = 1.7;95%CI = 1.1-2.7;P = 0.03) or required high-frequency ventilation (OR = 1.9;95%CI = 1.2-3.3;P = 0.01) before ECMO. CONCLUSION: Conversion from VV-to-VA ECMO in infants with MAS/PPHN conveys increased morbidity and mortality compared to similar patients placed initially onto VA ECMO. VV patients not receiving surfactant or requiring high-frequency ventilation before cannulation may have increased risk of conversion. While conversions remain rare, decisions to offer VV ECMO for MAS/PPHN must be informed by inferior outcomes observed should conversion be required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level of evidence 3 Retrospective comparative study.

Metastasectomy for melanoma is associated with improved overall survival in responders to targeted molecular or immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metastasectomy for melanoma provides durable disease control in carefully selected patients. Similarly, BRAF-targeted and immune checkpoint inhibition has improved median overall survival (OS) in metastatic patients. We hypothesized that there is an increasing role for metastasectomy in melanoma patients responding to these therapies. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database identified 128 patients with stage IV melanoma who received targeted molecular and/or checkpoint inhibitors at an academic institution from 2006 to 2017. Records were reviewed to characterize clinicopathologic characteristics, response to treatment, and intent of surgery for those who underwent metastasectomy. OS was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Median OS from stage IV diagnosis was 31.3 months. A total of 81 patients received checkpoint inhibitors, 11 received targeted inhibitors, and 36 received both. A total of 73 patients underwent metastasectomy. Indications for surgery included the intent to render disease-free (54%), palliation (34%), and diagnostic confirmation (11%). Responders to systemic therapy who underwent metastasectomy had improved OS compared to responders who did not (84.3 vs. 42.9 months, P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Metastasectomy for melanoma is associated with improved OS in patients that respond to targeted molecular or immunotherapy. Resection should be strongly considered in this cohort as multimodality treatment results in excellent OS.

Simple preoperative radiation safety interventions significantly lower radiation doses during central venous line placement in children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to reduce radiation exposure during pediatric central venous line (CVL) placement by implementing a radiation safety process including a radiation safety briefing and a job-instruction model with a preradiation time-out. METHODS: We reviewed records of all patients under 21 who underwent CVL placement in the operating room covering 22 months before the intervention through 10 months after 2013-2016. The intervention consisted of a radiation safety briefing by the surgeon to the intraoperative staff before each case and a radiation safety time-out. We measured and analyzed the dose area product (DAP), total radiation time pre- and postintervention, and the use of postprocedural chest radiograph. RESULTS: 100 patients with valid DAP measurements were identified for analysis (59 preintervention, 41 postintervention). Following implementation of the radiation safety process, there was a 79% decrease in median DAP (61.4 vs 13.1 rad*cm2, P < 0.001) and a 73% decrease in the median radiation time (28 vs 7.6 s, P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in use of confirmatory CXR (95% vs 15%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A preoperative radiation safety briefing and a radiation safety time-out supported by a job-instruction model were effective in significantly lowering the absorbed doses of radiation in children undergoing CVL insertion. TYPE OF STUDY: Case-control study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Intramural Bowel Hematoma Presenting as Small Bowel Obstruction in a Patient on Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin.

There is increasing use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for treatment of pediatric thromboembolic disease as it has been shown to be safe and effective. It has several advantages over unfractionated heparin, such as reduced need for monitoring, easier route of administration, decreased risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and lack of drug-drug interactions. Nevertheless, LMWH still poses a bleeding risk as with any anticoagulant therapy. We present the case of a 4-year-old boy who was placed on LMWH for a catheter-related deep venous thrombosis in the setting of intractable seizures and subsequently developed a small bowel obstruction secondary to a suspected intussusception. He underwent exploratory laparotomy and was found to have an intramural bowel hematoma. Prior to this bleed, the patient had been monitored daily, and his anti-Xa levels were found to be in the therapeutic range. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for spontaneous bleeding even in the setting of therapeutic anti-Xa levels.

Patients with Psychiatric Disorders Require Greater Health-Care Resources after Injury.

The objective of this study was to assess whether patients with comorbid psychiatric conditions admitted after traumatic injury require greater health-care resource utilization. The trauma registry of a Level 1 trauma center was used to identify all adult trauma patients presenting from 2012 to 2015. Patients with psychiatric needs, identified as having either an ICD-9 code corresponding to a psychiatric disorder or requiring inpatient psychiatric consultation, were compared with controls, using propensity score matching. Patients with psychiatric disorders were more than three times more likely to present with penetrating injuries (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, P < 0.005). They had longer length of hospital stay (median 5 [IQR 2.5-11] vs. three days [IQR 1-7], P < 0.01), were approximately 70 per cent more likely to require ICU-level care (OR 1.68, P = 0.08), and were 80 per cent less likely to be discharged home (OR 0.18, P < 0.005). Trauma patients with psychiatric illness or need consume greater health-care resources.