Use of a 5-Item Modified Frailty Index for Risk Stratification in Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty can be quantified using an index score to effectively predict surgical outcomes and complications. The modified frailty index (mFI) score includes 5 patient-specific medical history comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/pneumonia, and nonindependent functional status. The purpose of our study was to apply the 5-item mFI score to predict and minimize complications in patients undergoing breast reconstruction. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried for all patients undergoing primary breast reconstruction from 2016 to 2018. Patients were divided based on timing of reconstruction and type of reconstruction: immediate or delayed, and implant based or autologous based. A validated modified fragility score was applied to all patients. Patients were stratified by mFI scores of 0 (no comorbidities), 1 (1 comorbidity), and 2+ (2 or more comorbidities). Patient demographics and 30-day complications rates were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 22,700 patients were identified. There were 10,673 patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction, and 12,027 patients who underwent delayed breast reconstruction. A total of 14,159 patients underwent implant-based, and 8541 underwent autologous-based reconstruction. A total of 16,627 patients had an mFI score of 0, 4923 had a mFI score of 1, and 1150 had a mFI score of 2+. Compared with patients with an mFI score of 0, patients with an mFI score of 2 or greater were more likely to develop a postoperative complication (7.2 vs 12.3; P < 0.0001). Patients undergoing immediate reconstruction were more likely to develop a postoperative complications for every mFI category. The most common complications were wound and hematologic related. CONCLUSION: Patients with higher mFI scores are likely to have an increase in postoperative complications after breast reconstruction. Increasing body mass index increases postoperative complications independent of frailty index scores. Patients with increasing frailty index scores undergoing immediate breast reconstruction have a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications compared with delayed reconstruction.Patients with increasing frailty index scores undergoing autologous breast reconstruction have a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications compared with implant-based reconstruction. High frailty index scores are associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications, reoperation rates, and readmission rates. Patients with higher mFI scores may benefit from a delayed implant-based reconstruction.

Acalculous Cholecystitis in Burn Patients: Is There a Role for Percutaneous Cholecystostomy?

Although acute acalculous cholecystitis is uncommon in burn patients, this condition can be rapidly fatal due to delays in diagnosis and treatment and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis when burn patients become septic, develop abdominal pain, or have hemodynamic instability. This article reviews the use of percutaneous cholecystostomy in burn patients as both a diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Life-threatening Skin Disorders Treated in the Burn Center: Impact of Health care-associated Infections on Length of Stay, Survival, and Hospital Charges.

This article reviews a single burn center experience with life-threatening skin disorders, over a 10-year period. It explores the incidence of health care-associated infections and the impact on length of stay, hospital charges, and mortality.

Even Better Than the Real Thing? Xenografting in Pediatric Patients with Scald Injury.

This article reviews a single burn center experience with porcine xenografts to treat pediatric scald injuries, over a 10-year period. The authors compare xenografting to autografting, as well as wound care only, and provide outcome data on length of stay, incidence of health care-associated infections, and need for reconstructive surgery.

Evidence-Based Medicine: Current Evidence in the Diagnosis and Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Create a safe and effective plan for management of carpal tunnel syndrome. 2. Support his or her rationale for the use of diagnostic tests. 3. Discuss elements of management that have been controversial, including anesthesia, the use of a tourniquet, postoperative pain control, and cost of care. SUMMARY: This is the fourth MOC-PS CME article on carpal tunnel syndrome. Each of the prior three has had a slightly different focus, and the reader is invited to review all to generate a comprehensive view of the management of this common, and often controversial, topic. The operative goal-to release the transverse carpal ligament-is straightforward: diagnosis, cause, and technique have generated more vibrant discussions.