Outcomes of Patients with Acute Type B Aortic Dissection and High-Risk Features.

BACKGROUND: Recently the SVS and STS published contemporary guidelines clearly defining complicated vs uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissections (TBADs) with an additional high-risk grouping. Few studies have evaluated outcomes associated with "high-risk" TBADs. The objective of this study was to assess differences in demographics, clinical presentation, symptom onset, and outcomes in high-risk patients that underwent either thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or best medical management for acute TBAD compared to those with complicated and uncomplicated acute TBAD. METHODS: Patients admitted with acute TBADs from a single academic medical center from 10/ 2011 to 3/2020 were analyzed. Per STS/SVS 2020 guidelines, high-risk was defined as refractory pain/hypertension, bloody pleural effusion, aortic diameter >4cm, false lumen diameter >22mm, radiographic malperfusion, early readmission, and complicated was defined as ruptured/malperfusion presentation. Uncomplicated patients were those without malperfusion/rupture and without high-risk features. The primary end-point was inpatient mortality. Secondary end-points included complications, re-intervention and survival. RESULTS: Of 159 patients identified with acute TBAD, 63 (40%) met high-risk criteria. In the high-risk cohort, 38 (60%) underwent TEVAR (HR-TEVAR), with refractory pain as the most common indication, while 25 (40%) were managed medically (HR-Medical). Malperfusion or rupture was present in 63 (40%) patients (C-TBAD), all of whom underwent TEVAR. An additional 33 patients had no high-risk features and were all managed medically (U-TBAD). There were no differences in age, BMI, and race between groups. Among the four groups, there were variable distributions in sex, insurance status, and incidence of several baseline comorbidities including CHF, COPD, and renal dysfunction (p<0.05 for all). C-TBAD had increased length of stay (12, IQR 9-22) compared to HR-TEVAR (11.5, IQR 7-15), HR-Medical (6, IQR 5-8), and U-TBAD (7, IQR 5-10) (p<0.01). C-TBAD had decreased days from admission to repair (0, IQR 0,2) compared to HR-TEVAR (3.5, IQR 1-8) (p<0.01). C-TBAD patients had worse 3-year survival compared to other groups (log-rank p<0.01), although when in-hospital mortality was excluded, survival was similar among groups (p=0.37).Of patients initially managed medically, outpatient TEVAR was performed in 6 (24%) HR-Medical and 4 (12%) uncomplicated patients, with no difference between rate of intervention between groups (p=0.22). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk features, as defined in updated SVS/STS guidelines, are common in patients presenting with acute TBAD. High-risk patients had acceptable outcomes when managed either surgically or medically. High-risk patients that underwent TEVAR had improved perioperative outcomes and mortality compared to those undergoing TEVAR for complicated TBAD, a finding which may help guide preoperative risk stratification and patient counseling.

Comparative outcomes of open mesenteric bypass after a failed endovascular or open mesenteric revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical practice guidelines have recommended an endovascular-first approach (ENDO) for the management of patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI), whereas an open mesenteric bypass (OMB) is proposed for subjects deemed to be poor ENDO candidates. However, the impact of a previous failed endovascular or open mesenteric reconstruction on a subsequent OMB is unknown. Accordingly, this study was designed to examine the results of a remedial OMB (R-OMB) after a failed ENDO or a primary OMB (P-OMB) for patients with recurrent CMI. METHODS: All patients who underwent an OMB from 2002 to 2022 at the University of Florida were reviewed. Outcomes after an R-OMB (ie, history of a failed ENDO or P-OMB) and P-OMB were compared. The primary end point was 30-day mortality, whereas secondary outcomes included complications, reintervention, and survival. The Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to estimate freedom from reintervention and all-cause mortality, whereas multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling identified predictors of death. RESULTS: A total of 145 OMB procedures (R-OMB, n = 48 [33%]; P-OMB, n = 97 [67%]) were analyzed. A majority of R-OMB operations were performed for a failed stent (prior ENDO, n = 39 [81%]; prior OMB, n = 9 [19%]). R-OMB patients were generally younger (66 ± 9 years vs P-OMB, 69 ± 11 years; P = .09) and had lower incidence of smoking exposure (29% vs P-OMB, 48%; P = .07); however, there were no other differences in demographics or comorbidities. R-OMB was associated with less intraoperative transfusion (0.6 units vs P-OMB, 1.4 units; P = .01), but there were no differences in conduit choice or bypass configuration.The overall 30-day mortality and complication rates were 7% (n = 10/145) and 53% (n = 77/145), respectively, with no difference between the groups. Notably, R-OMB had decreased cardiac (6% vs P-OMB, 21%; P < .01) and bleeding complication rates (2% vs P-OMB, 15%; P = .01). The freedom from reintervention (1 and 5 years: R-OMB: 95% ± 4%, 83% ± 9% vs P-OMB: 97% ± 2%, 93% ± 5%, respectively; log-rank P = .21) and survival (1 and 5 years: R-OMB: 82% ± 6%, 68% ± 9% vs P-OMB: 84% ± 4%, 66% ± 7%; P = .91) were similar. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality included new postoperative hemodialysis requirement (hazard ratio [HR], 7.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-17.3; P < .001), pulmonary (HR, 2.7, 95% CI, 1.4-5.3; P = .004) and cardiac (HR, 2.4, 95% CI, 1.1-5.1; P = .04) complications, and female sex (HR, 2.1, 95% CI, 1.03-4.8; P = .04). Notably, R-OMB was not a predictor of death. CONCLUSIONS: The perioperative and longer-term outcomes for a remedial OMB after a failed intraluminal stent or previous open bypass appear to be comparable to a P-OMB. These findings support the recently updated clinical practice guideline recommendations for an endovascular-first approach to treating recurrent CMI due to the significant perioperative complication risk of OMB. However, among the subset of patients deemed ineligible for endoluminal reconstruction after failed mesenteric revascularization, R-OMB results appear to be acceptable and highlight the utility of this strategy in selected patients.

Are we ready for "green surgery" to promote environmental sustainability in the operating room? Results from the WSES STAR investigation.

BACKGROUND: The importance of environmental sustainability is acknowledged in all sectors, including healthcare. To meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda, healthcare will need a paradigm shift toward more environmentally sustainable practices that will also impact clinical decision-making. The study investigates trauma and emergency surgeons' perception, acceptance, and employment of environmentally friendly habits. METHODS: An online survey based on the most recent literature regarding environmental sustainability in healthcare and surgery was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was advertised to the 917 WSES members through the society's website and Twitter/X profile. RESULTS: 450 surgeons from 55 countries participated in the survey. Results underline both a generally positive attitude toward environmental sustainability but also a lack of knowledge about several concepts and practices, especially concerning the potential contribution to patient care. DISCUSSION: The topic of environmental sustainability in healthcare and surgery is still in its infancy. There is a clear lack of salient guidance and knowledge, and there is a critical need for governments, institutions, health agencies, and scientific societies to promote, disseminate, and report environmentally friendly initiatives and their potential impacts while employing an interdisciplinary approach.

Operating Room Supply Cost and Value of Care after Implementing a Sustainable Quality Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Variability in operating room supply cost is a modifiable cause of suboptimal resource use and low value of care (outcomes vs cost). This study describes implementation of a quality improvement intervention to decrease operating room supply costs. STUDY DESIGN: An automated electronic health record data pipeline harmonized operating room supply cost data with patient and case characteristics and outcomes. For inpatient procedures, predicted mortality and length of stay were used to calculate observed-to-expected ratios and value of care using validated equations. For commonly performed (1 or more per week) procedures, the pipeline generated figures illustrating individual surgeon performance vs peers, costs for each surgeon performing each case type, and control charts identifying out-of-control cases and surgeons with more than 90th percentile costs, which were shared with surgeons and division chiefs alongside guidance for modifying case-specific supply instructions to operating room nurses and technicians. RESULTS: Preintervention control (1,064 cases for 7 months) and postintervention (307 cases for 2 months) cohorts had similar baseline characteristics across all 16 commonly performed procedures. Median costs per case were lower in the intervention cohort ($811 [$525 to $1,367] vs controls: $1,080 [$603 to $1,574], p < 0.001), as was the incidence of out-of-control cases (19 (6.2%) vs 110 (10.3%), p = 0.03). Duration of surgery, length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day mortality and readmission rates were similar between cohorts. Value of care was higher in the intervention cohort (1.1 [0.1 to 1.5] vs 1.0 [0.2 to 1.4], p = 0.04). Pipeline runtime was 16:07. CONCLUSIONS: An automated, sustainable quality improvement intervention was associated with decreased operating room supply costs and increased value of care.

Persistent Acute Kidney Injury is Associated with Poor Outcomes and Increased Hospital Cost in Vascular Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after major surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost. Additionally, there are recent studies demonstrating that time to renal recovery may have a substantial impact on clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that patients with delayed renal recovery after major vascular surgery will have increased complications, mortality, and hospital cost. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort of patients undergoing nonemergent major vascular surgery between 6/1/2014 and 10/1/2020 was analyzed. Development of postoperative AKI (defined using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria: >50% or > 0.3 mg/dl absolute increase in serum creatinine relative to reference after surgery and before discharge) was evaluated. Patients were divided into 3 groups: no AKI, rapidly reversed AKI (<48 hours), and persistent AKI (≥48 hours). Multivariable generalized linear models were used to evaluate the association between AKI groups and postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and hospital cost. RESULTS: A total of 1,881 patients undergoing 1,980 vascular procedures were included. Thirty five percent of patients developed postoperative AKI. Patients with persistent AKI had longer intensive care unit and hospital stays, as well as more mechanical ventilation days. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, persistent AKI was a major predictor of 90-day mortality (odds ratio 4.1, 95% confidence interval 2.4-7.1). Adjusted average cost was higher for patients with any type of AKI. The incremental cost of having any AKI ranged from $3,700 to $9,100, even after adjustment for comorbidities and other postoperative complications. The adjusted average cost for patients stratified by type of AKI was higher among patients with persistent AKI compared to those with no or rapidly reversed AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent AKI after vascular surgery is associated with increased complications, mortality, and cost. Strategies to prevent and aggressively treat AKI, specifically persistent AKI, in the perioperative setting are imperative to optimize care for this population.

Sex disparities in patients with acute aortic dissection: A scoping review.

Disparities in outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and those undergoing cardiac or vascular operations are well-established. These disparities often span several dimensions and persist despite advancements in medical and surgical care; sex is among the most pervasive. Specifically, females sex has been implicated as a predictor of poor outcomes in both patients with acute type A aortic dissections (ATAADs) and type B aortic dissections (TBADs). For instance, one study, using the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection database, found that females with acute aortic dissection-including ATAAD and TBAD that were either medically or surgically managed-had 40% higher odds of in-hospital mortality than men. Notably, both types of acute aortic dissections affect men more commonly than females and can be life-threatening without prompt, appropriate treatment. The underlying mechanisms for these disparities are unclear but are thought to be multifactorial. The association of sex with patterns of disease and outcomes in patients with ATAAD or TBAD remains unclear, with conflicting reports from different studies. Thus, we sought to review the literature regarding sex disparities in patients with ATAAD and TBAD.

Resident Operative Autonomy and Attending Verbal Feedback Differ by Resident and Attending Gender.

Objectives: This study tests the null hypotheses that overall sentiment and gendered words in verbal feedback and resident operative autonomy relative to performance are similar for female and male residents. Background: Female and male surgical residents may experience training differently, affecting the quality of learning and graduated autonomy. Methods: A longitudinal, observational study using a Society for Improving Medical Professional Learning collaborative dataset describing resident and attending evaluations of resident operative performance and autonomy and recordings of verbal feedback from attendings from surgical procedures performed at 54 US general surgery residency training programs from 2016 to 2021. Overall sentiment, adjectives, and gendered words in verbal feedback were quantified by natural language processing. Resident operative autonomy and performance, as evaluated by attendings, were reported on 5-point ordinal scales. Performance-adjusted autonomy was calculated as autonomy minus performance. Results: The final dataset included objective assessments and dictated feedback for 2683 surgical procedures. Sentiment scores were higher for female residents (95 [interquartile range (IQR), 4-100] vs 86 [IQR 2-100]; P < 0.001). Gendered words were present in a greater proportion of dictations for female residents (29% vs 25%; P = 0.04) due to male attendings disproportionately using male-associated words in feedback for female residents (28% vs 23%; P = 0.01). Overall, attendings reported that male residents received greater performance-adjusted autonomy compared with female residents (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Sentiment and gendered words in verbal feedback and performance-adjusted operative autonomy differed for female and male general surgery residents. These findings suggest a need to ensure that trainees are given appropriate and equitable operative autonomy and feedback.

Bilateral renal artery stenosis impacts postoperative complications after major vascular surgery.

Background: Incidental atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) is common in patients undergoing vascular surgery and has been shown to be associated with postoperative AKI among patients undergoing major non-vascular surgeries. We hypothesized that patients with RAS undergoing major vascular procedures would have a higher incidence of AKI and postoperative complications than those without RAS. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of 200 patients who underwent elective open aortic or visceral bypass surgery (100 with postoperative AKI; 100 without AKI) were identified. RAS was then evaluated by review of pre-surgery CTAs with readers blinded to AKI status. RAS was defined as ≥50 % stenosis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association of unilateral and bilateral RAS with postoperative outcomes. Results: 17.4 % (n = 28) of patients had unilateral RAS while 6.2 % (n = 10) of patients had bilateral RAS. Patients with bilateral RAS had similar preadmission creatinine and GFR as compared to unilateral RAS or no RAS. 100 % (n = 10) of patients with bilateral RAS had postoperative AKI compared with 45 % (n = 68) of patients with unilateral or no RAS (p < 0.05). In adjusted logistic regression models, bilateral RAS predicted severe AKI (OR 5.82; CI 1.33, 25.53; p = 0.02), in-hospital mortality (OR 5.71; CI 1.03, 31.53; p = 0.05), 30-day mortality (OR 10.56; CI 2.03, 54.05; p = 0.005) and 90-day mortality (OR 6.88; CI 1.40, 33.87; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Bilateral RAS is associated with increased incidence of AKI as well as in-hospital, 30-day, and 90-day mortality suggesting it is a marker of poor outcomes and should be considered in preoperative risk stratification.

Sex differences in specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators and their receptors in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that endogenous expression of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) that facilitate the resolution of inflammation, specifically Resolvin D1and -D2, as well as Maresin1 (MaR1), can impact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation and progression in a sex-specific manner. Methods: SPM expression was quantified in aortic tissue from human AAA samples and from a murine in vivo AAA model via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. mRNA expression for SPM receptors FPR2, LGR6, and GPR18 were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A Student t test with nonparametric Mann-Whitney or Wilcoxon test was used for pair-wise comparisons of groups. One-way analysis of variance after post hoc Tukey test was used to determine the differences among multiple comparative groups. Results: Human aortic tissue analysis revealed a significant decrease in RvD1 levels in male AAAs compared with controls, whereas FPR2 and LGR6 receptor expressions were downregulated in male AAAs compared with male controls. In vivo studies of elastase-treated mice showed higher levels of RvD2 and MaR1 as well as the SPM precursors, omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, in aortic tissue from males compared with females. FPR2 expression was increased in elastase-treated females compared with males. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that specific differences in SPMs and their associated G-protein coupled receptors exist between sexes. These results indicate the relevance of SPM-mediated signaling pathways in sex differences impacting the pathogenesis of AAAs.

Methods and evaluation metrics for reducing material waste in the operating room: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Operating rooms contribute up to 70% of total hospital waste. Although multiple studies have demonstrated reduced waste through targeted interventions, few examine processes. This scoping review highlights methods of study design, outcome assessment, and sustainability practices of operating room waste reduction strategies employed by surgeons. METHODS: Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were screened for operating room-specific waste-reduction interventions. Waste was defined as hazardous and non-hazardous disposable material and energy consumption. Study-specific elements were tabulated by study design, evaluation metrics, strengths, limitations, and barriers to implementation in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 38 articles were analyzed. Among them, 74% of studies had pre- versus postintervention designs, and 21% used quality improvement instruments. No studies used an implementation framework. The vast majority (92%) of studies measured cost as an outcome, whereas others included disposable waste by weight, hospital energy consumption, and stakeholder perspectives. The most common intervention was instrument tray optimization. Common barriers to implementation included lack of stakeholder buy-in, knowledge gaps, data capture, additional staff time, need for hospital or federal policies, and funding. Intervention sustainability was discussed in few studies (23%) and included regular waste audits, hospital policy change, and educational initiatives. Common methodologic limitations included limited outcome evaluation, narrow scope of intervention, and inability to capture indirect costs. CONCLUSION: Appraisal of quality improvement and implementation methods are critical for developing sustainable interventions for reducing operating room waste. Universal evaluation metrics and methodologies may aid in both quantifying the impact of waste reduction initiatives and understanding their implementation in clinical practice.

Resource use for cholecystectomy with versus without cholangiography: A multicenter, propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative cholangiography may allow for earlier identification of common bile duct injury and choledocholithiasis. The role of intraoperative cholangiography in decreasing resource use related to biliary pathology remains unclear. This study tests the null hypothesis that there is no difference in resource use for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with versus without intraoperative cholangiography. METHODS: This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study included 3,151 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at 3 university hospitals. To minimize differences in baseline characteristics while maintaining adequate statistical power, propensity scores were used to match 830 patients who underwent intraoperative cholangiography at surgeon discretion and 795 patients who underwent cholecystectomy without intraoperative cholangiography. Primary outcomes were the incidence of postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, the interval between surgery and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, and total direct costs. RESULTS: In the propensity-matched analysis, the intraoperative cholangiography and no intraoperative cholangiography cohorts had similar age, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, and total/direct bilirubin ratios. The intraoperative cholangiography cohort had a lower postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (2.4% vs 4.3%; P = .04), a shorter interval between cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (2.5 [1.0-17.8] vs 4.5 [2.0-9.5] days; P = .04), and shorter length of stay (0.3 [0.2-1.5] vs 1.4 [0.3-3.2] days; P < .001). Patients undergoing intraoperative cholangiography had lower total direct costs ($4.0K [3.6K-5.4K] vs $8.1K [4.9K-13.0K]; P < .001). There were no differences in 30-day or 1-year mortality among the cohorts. CONCLUSION: Compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy without intraoperative cholangiography, cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography was associated with decreased resource use, which was primarily attributable to decreased incidence and the earlier timing of postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

Surgical resident experience with common bile duct exploration and assessment of performance and autonomy with formative feedback.

BACKGROUND: Common bile duct exploration (CBDE) is safe and effective for managing choledocholithiasis, but most US general surgeons have limited experience with CBDE and are uncomfortable performing this procedure in practice. Surgical trainee exposure to CBDE is limited, and their learning curve for achieving autonomous, practice-ready performance has not been previously described. This study tests the hypothesis that receipt of one or more prior CBDE operative performance assessments, combined with formative feedback, is associated with greater resident operative performance and autonomy. METHODS: Resident and attending assessments of resident operative performance and autonomy were obtained for 189 laparoscopic or open CBDEs performed at 28 institutions. Performance and autonomy were graded along validated ordinal scales. Cases in which the resident had one or more prior CBDE case evaluations (n = 48) were compared with cases in which the resident had no prior evaluations (n = 141). RESULTS: Compared with cases in which the resident had no prior CBDE case evaluations, cases with a prior evaluation had greater proportions of practice-ready or exceptional performance ratings according to both residents (27% vs. 11%, p = .009) and attendings (58% vs. 19%, p < .001) and had greater proportions of passive help or supervision only autonomy ratings according to both residents (17% vs. 4%, p = .009) and attendings (69% vs. 32%, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Residents with at least one prior CBDE evaluation and formative feedback demonstrated better operative performance and received greater autonomy than residents without prior evaluations, underscoring the propensity of feedback to help residents achieve autonomous, practice-ready performance for rare operations.

A simulation curriculum for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, balloon sphincterotomy, and endobiliary stenting: Associations with resident performance and autonomy in the operating room.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is safe and effective for managing choledocholithiasis, but laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is rarely performed, which threatens surgical trainee proficiency. This study tests the hypothesis that prior operative or simulation experience with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is associated with greater resident operative performance and autonomy without adversely affecting patient outcomes. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study included 33 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in cases involving postgraduate years 3, 4, and 5 general surgery residents at a single institution during the implementation of a laparoscopic common bile duct exploration simulation curriculum. For each of the 33 cases, resident performance and autonomy were rated by residents and attendings, the resident's prior operative and simulation experience were recorded, and patient outcomes were ascertained from electronic health records for comparison among 3 cohorts: prior operative experience, prior simulation experience, and no prior experience. RESULTS: Operative approach was similar among cohorts. Overall morbidity was 6.1% and similar across cohorts. The operative performance scores were higher in prior experience cohorts according to both residents (3.0 [2.8-3.0] vs 2.0 [2.0-3.0]; P = .01) and attendings (3.0 [3.0-4.0]; P < .001). The autonomy scores were higher in prior experience cohorts according to both residents (2.0 [2.0-3.0] vs 2.0 [2.0-2.0]; P = .005) and attendings (2.5 [2.0-3.0] vs 2.0 [1.0-2.0]; P = .001). Prior simulation and prior operative experience had similar associations with performance and autonomy. CONCLUSION: Simulation experience with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration was associated with greater resident operative performance and autonomy, with effects that mimic prior operative experience. This illustrates the potential for simulation-based training to improve resident operative performance and autonomy for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.

Personalized decision-making for acute cholecystitis: Understanding surgeon judgment.

Background: There is sparse high-level evidence to guide treatment decisions for severe, acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder). Therefore, treatment decisions depend heavily on individual surgeon judgment, which is highly variable and potentially amenable to personalized, data-driven decision support. We test the hypothesis that surgeons' treatment recommendations misalign with perceived risks and benefits for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (surgical removal) vs. percutaneous cholecystostomy (image-guided drainage). Methods: Surgery attendings, fellows, and residents applied individual judgement to standardized case scenarios in a live, web-based survey in estimating the quantitative risks and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy vs. percutaneous cholecystostomy for both moderate and severe acute cholecystitis, as well as the likelihood that they would recommend cholecystectomy. Results: Surgeons predicted similar 30-day morbidity rates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and percutaneous cholecystostomy. However, a greater proportion of surgeons predicted low (<50%) likelihood of full recovery following percutaneous cholecystostomy compared with cholecystectomy for both moderate (30% vs. 2%, p < 0.001) and severe (62% vs. 38%, p < 0.001) cholecystitis. Ninety-eight percent of all surgeons were likely or very likely to recommend cholecystectomy for moderate cholecystitis; only 32% recommended cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in predicted postoperative morbidity when respondents were stratified by academic rank or self-reported ability to predict complications or make treatment recommendations. Conclusions: Surgeon recommendations for severe cholecystitis were discordant with perceived risks and benefits of treatment options. Surgeons predicted greater functional recovery after cholecystectomy but less than one-third recommended cholecystectomy. These findings suggest opportunities to augment surgical decision-making with personalized, data-driven decision support.

Resolution of inflammation via RvD1/FPR2 signaling mitigates Nox2 activation and ferroptosis of macrophages in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation is characterized by inflammation, leukocyte infiltration, and vascular remodeling. Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is derived from ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and is involved in the resolution phase of chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to decipher the protective role of RvD1 via formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) receptor signaling in attenuating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The elastase-treatment model of AAA in C57BL/6 (WT) mice and human AAA tissue was used to confirm our hypotheses. Elastase-treated FPR2-/- mice had a significant increase in aortic diameter, proinflammatory cytokine production, immune cell infiltration (macrophages and neutrophils), elastic fiber disruption, and decrease in smooth muscle cell α-actin expression compared to elastase-treated WT mice. RvD1 treatment attenuated AAA formation, aortic inflammation, and vascular remodeling in WT mice, but not in FPR2-/- mice. Importantly, human AAA tissue demonstrated significantly decreased FPR2 mRNA expression compared to non-aneurysm human aortas. Mechanistically, RvD1/FPR2 signaling mitigated p47phox phosphorylation and prevented hallmarks of ferroptosis, such as lipid peroxidation and Nrf2 translocation, thereby attenuating HMGB1 secretion. Collectively, this study demonstrates RvD1-mediated immunomodulation of FPR2 signaling on macrophages to mitigate ferroptosis and HMGB1 release, leading to resolution of aortic inflammation and remodeling during AAA pathogenesis.

Sex-based differences in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair for acute complicated type B dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Sex-based differences in outcomes for patients undergoing degenerative aortic aneurysm repair have been well described, with female patients having worse early and long-term outcomes compared with male patients. However, differences between men and women after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of acute complicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) have not been well characterized. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the sex-based differences in clinical presentation, time to repair, morbidity, and mortality for patients undergoing TEVAR for TBAD. METHODS: All TEVAR procedures performed for acute complicated TBAD from a single academic medical center from August 2005 to January 2020 were analyzed. The clinical presentation, time to repair, and outcomes were compared by sex. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were in-hospital complications, reintervention, aorta-related death, and out of hospital survival. The predictors of mortality, including sex, were determined using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients (38 women [24%]) were included in the analysis. No sex-based differences were found in clinical presentation or comorbidity prevalence between the female and male patients. The female patients had had a longer overall time from initial symptom onset to TEVAR (female patients: median, 3.5 days [interquartile range (IQR), 1-10 days]; male patients: median, 1 day [IQR, 1-3]; P = .007). However, no differences were found in the time to repair after admission to the academic medical center (female patients: median, 1 day [IQR, 0-5 days]; male patients: median, 1 day [IQR, 0-3]; P = .176). No differences were found in the unadjusted aortic-related, in-hospital, or 30-day death between the female and male patients. Similarly, the risk-adjusted analysis revealed that sex was not associated with adverse outcomes. The 1- and 5-year freedom from aortic-related mortality were 82% ± 4% and 87% ± 6% and 79% ± 4% and 80% ± 8% for the men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found no differences between the female and male patients with acute complicated TBAD who had undergone TEVAR in the clinical presentation or comorbidities. The female patients had undergone TEVAR after a longer duration of symptoms, but this was not associated with sex-based differences in early or late morbidity or mortality.

Endothelial pannexin-1 channels modulate macrophage and smooth muscle cell activation in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels have been shown to regulate leukocyte trafficking and tissue inflammation but the mechanism of Panx1 in chronic vascular diseases like abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is unknown. Here we demonstrate that Panx1 on endothelial cells, but not smooth muscle cells, orchestrate a cascade of signaling events to mediate vascular inflammation and remodeling. Mechanistically, Panx1 on endothelial cells acts as a conduit for ATP release that stimulates macrophage activation via P2X7 receptors and mitochondrial DNA release to increase IL-1ß and HMGB1 secretion. Secondly, Panx1 signaling regulates smooth muscle cell-dependent intracellular Ca2+ release and vascular remodeling via P2Y2 receptors. Panx1 blockade using probenecid markedly inhibits leukocyte transmigration, aortic inflammation and remodeling to mitigate AAA formation. Panx1 expression is upregulated in human AAAs and retrospective clinical data demonstrated reduced mortality in aortic aneurysm patients treated with Panx1 inhibitors. Collectively, these data identify Panx1 signaling as a contributory mechanism of AAA formation.