Corneal Outcomes Following Cataract Surgery Using Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices Composed of Chondroitin Sulfate-Hyaluronic Acid: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) are commonly used during cataract surgery to protect the corneal endothelium. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the clinical evidence of OVDs composed of chondroitin sulfate-hyaluronic acid (CS-HA) versus other OVDs in maintaining endothelial cell density (ECD) and corneal thickness (CT). Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from 2000 to 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs, N ≥ 20 per group) comparing an OVD containing CS-HA (ie, VISCOAT®, DuoVisc® or DisCoVisc®) to any other OVD were included. The identified comparators were limited to the OVDs found in the literature, which included those composed of HA-only or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Outcomes of focus included changes in ECD (baseline to 3 months) and CT (baseline to 24 hours). Meta-analyses were performed using R software, to assess mean differences (MD) in ECD and CT change between CS-HA OVDs and HA-only or HPMC OVDs. Results: A total of 966 abstracts were screened, and data were extracted from 12 RCTs. Meta-analyses using a random-effects model revealed significantly lower percent (%) decrease in ECD for CS-HA OVDs compared to both HA-only (MD: -4.10%; 95% CI: -5.81 to -2.40; p < 0.0001; 9 studies) and HPMC (MD: -6.47%; 95% CI: -10.41 to -2.52; p = 0.001; 2 studies) products. Similarly, % CT increase was significantly lower with CS-HA than with HA-only OVDs (MD: -3.22%; 95% CI: -6.24% to -0.20%; p = 0.04; 4 studies). However, there were no significant differences when comparing % CT change between CS-HA and HPMC OVDs (MD: 2.65%; 95% CI: -0.43% to 0.95%; p = 0.4; 2 studies). Conclusion: CS-HA OVDs lead to less postoperative loss of endothelial cells and may better protect corneal endothelium during cataract surgery, relative to other OVDs. Future randomized studies may be needed to solidify these findings.

Comprehensive Custom-Pak® in Cataract and Vitreoretinal Surgery in Canadian Hospitals: Time and Budget Impact Analysis.

Purpose: Surgical procedure packs are commonly used in ophthalmological surgeries, but quantitative evidence demonstrating the time efficiency and economic impact of their use is limited. Evaluating the time and cost of surgical pack use is particularly important for publicly funded healthcare systems with tight budgets and/or an emphasis on value-based care. This study sought to estimate the economic impact of comprehensive surgical pack use in cataract and vitreoretinal (retina) surgeries across operating room (OR), materials management, and accounting departments in Canada. Methods: A budget impact model developed for the United States (US) from a self-reported cross-sectional study was adapted for Canada. The US study obtained data via an online survey and timing exercises of surgical procedures. The model was adapted using relevant Canadian-specific labor and cost inputs. Use of generic commodity packs (no proprietary equipment-specific supplies) was compared to full utilization of Custom-Pak®, a comprehensive pack (disposables plus equipment-specific supplies) in cataract and retina surgeries at the facility and aggregate group (provincewide) levels. Results: Switching from generic to comprehensive pack use in all 2500 cataract procedures at a community hospital saves 287 labor hours per year, primarily in the materials management department. Surgery preparation (OR) hours saved allow for an additional 196 potential procedures annually. Most of the Canadian Dollar (CAD) $39,815 annual cost savings are realized for the OR. Aggregating across 50,000 cataract surgeries at the provincial level yields savings of 5608 hours and 3916 additional procedures, translating to hidden cost reductions of CAD$790,632 annually. Implementing full Custom-Pak use at the facility level in 1000 retina cases saves $10,650 annually; provincewide, 127 potential additional procedures can be gained. Conclusion: Comprehensive Custom-Pak use improves efficiency in cataract and retina surgeries saving substantial time and cost in Canadian hospitals, potentially allowing more patients to have these procedures, and reducing wait times.

Impact of a Swept Source-Optical Coherence Tomography Device on Efficiency in Cataract Evaluation and Surgery: A Time-and-Motion Study.

Purpose: This study aims to assess the time impact of ARGOS® (image-guided swept-source optical coherence tomography biometer integrated with operating room (OR) technologies (SS-OCT w/ORT)) compared to LENSTAR LS 900 (optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR)), IOLMaster 500 (partial coherence interferometry (PCI)), and IOLMaster 700 (SS-OCT) on efficiency in the cataract evaluation and surgery. Patients and Methods: Data from 212 patients (two study sites) who underwent evaluation and/or cataract surgery were collected. The primary objective was to compare the performance of four biometers; statistical analyses were conducted to compare 1) biometer measurement times for all patients (ANOVA w/post-hoc Dunnett's test) and stratified by cataract density (ANOVA) and 2) rate of biometer acquisition failure (Chi-square test w/post-hoc Bonferroni correction). Real-world observational data collected were then used to develop a practice-based time-efficiency model to demonstrate the combined effect that adopting an SS-OCT w/ORT has on a practice's cataract workflow. Real-world data inputs included assessment of patient's eyes' cataract grade density, time taken for optical biometry, Manual A-scan (ultrasound biometer) when acquisition failed, and measurement times associated with other devices used in cataract evaluation and surgery. Results: For 208 patients (56% non-dense, 44% dense), the SS-OCT w/ORT biometer had a 0% acquisition failure (SS-OCT: 3% (p = 0.05); OLCR: 5% (p = 0.004); PCI: 15% (p < 0.0001)) and an average time savings of 30 seconds/patient compared to the other biometers in this study (p < 0.05). When acquisition failed, ultrasound biometry resulted in an additional 2.5 minutes/patient. For a cohort of 1000 patients, an SS-OCT w/ORT and an image-guidance system adopted at a practice using an SS-OCT, femtosecond laser, and intraoperative aberrometer offer up to 58% efficiency gain across the cataract workflow. Conclusion: Results from this study demonstrate an SS-OCT w/ORT's efficiencies in cataract evaluation and surgery driven by faster measurement times, reducing the need for ultrasound biometry, and its integration benefits with other devices.

Economic Impact Analysis of Custom Pak® on Cataract and Vitreoretinal Surgery in the United States.

Purpose: Implicit costs of surgical preparation and materials management for cataract/anterior segment and retinal/posterior segment procedures are often unquantified. Use of ophthalmological surgical procedure packs is common in these surgeries; however, there is little in the literature demonstrating their time and cost impacts. Understanding the costs and potential benefits of surgical pack procedure use is important for administrators in purchasing decision-making. The objective of this study is to estimate the economic impact of Alcon Custom Pak® on cataract and vitreoretinal (retina) surgery in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) across operating room (OR), materials management, and accounting departments. Methods: We conducted a study in 2019 among US hospitals and ASCs using an online survey and a surgery timing exercise. Surgical technicians and supply chain managers were surveyed regarding current cataract and retina surgery practices including OR, materials management, and accounting tasks. Surgical technicians timed cataract and retina surgeries, recording activity timestamps and surgical supply use from Alcon Custom Pak and other sources. Using the survey and timing exercise inputs and literature and government sources, we developed a budget impact model (BIM) to quantify hidden costs of time and labor spent across the entire surgery supply life cycle. Results: Representing a geographical mix of 99 facilities, surgical technicians (56 cataract/46 retina) and supply chain managers (23 cataract/24 retina) provided data for their institutions. Technicians timed 290 cataract and 250 retina surgeries. In the BIM, increasing baseline Custom Pak utilization to 100% of surgeries while also sourcing all relevant supplies from Custom Pak results in annual cost savings ranging from $92,273 to $217,675 across procedure type and setting, allowing for between 75 (retina ASC) and 266 (cataract hospital) potential additional procedures per facility/year. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that increasing Custom Pak usage can potentially save time, reduce hidden costs, and increase throughput.

Obesity Progression Between Young Adulthood and Midlife and Incident Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study of US Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between weight change from young adulthood to midlife and the risk of incident arthritis. METHODS: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we categorized participants into weight-change categories based on their recalled weight during young adulthood and midlife. We estimated the association of weight change and developing an arthritis condition over 10 years using adjusted Cox models. Findings were extrapolated to the US population to determine the proportion of incident arthritis cases that could be averted if the entire population maintained a normal body mass index (BMI) in young adulthood and midlife. RESULTS: Among our sample of adults who were ages 40-69 years at their midlife weight measure (n = 13,669), 3,603 developed an arthritis condition. Compared with adults who maintained a normal-normal BMI, the normal-overweight, normal-obese, overweight-obese, and obese-obese groups had a significantly elevated risk of incident arthritis conditions. The obese-overweight group had a lower risk of incident arthritis conditions compared with the obese-obese group and a comparable risk to the overweight-overweight group. Nearly one-fourth of incident arthritis cases, corresponding to 2.7 million individuals, would have been averted under the hypothetical scenario where all individuals maintained normal weight from young adulthood to midlife. CONCLUSION: Weight loss from young adulthood to midlife was associated with a substantially reduced risk of developing an arthritis condition. We found no evidence of residual risk from having been heavier earlier in life. Our findings highlight the critical need to expand obesity treatment and prevention to achieve meaningful reductions in the burden of arthritis.

Association of Weight Loss Between Early Adulthood and Midlife With All-Cause Mortality Risk in the US.

Importance: Describing potential mortality risk reduction associated with weight loss between early adulthood and midlife is important for informing primary and secondary prevention efforts for obesity. Objective: To examine the risk of all-cause mortality among adults who lost weight between early adulthood and midlife compared with adults who were persistently obese over the same period. Design, Setting, and Participants: Combined repeated cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) and continuous waves collected in 2-year cycles between 1999 and 2014. The data analysis was conducted from February 10, 2019, to April 20, 2020. Individuals aged 40 to 74 years at the time of survey (baseline) were included in the analyses (n = 24 205). Exposures: Weight history was assessed by self-reported weight at age 25 years, at 10 years before baseline (midlife: mean age, 44 years; interquartile range, 37-55), and measured weight at baseline. Body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) at each time was categorized as normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), and obese (≥30.0). Weight change patterns were assessed from age 25 years (early adulthood) to 10 years before baseline (midlife). Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident all-cause mortality using linked data from the National Death Index. Results: Of the 24 205 participants, 11 617 were women (49.0%) and 11 567 were non-Hispanic White (76.9%). The mean (SD) BMI was 29.0 (6.1) at baseline. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 10.7 (7.2) years, 5846 deaths occurred. Weight loss from obese to overweight was associated with a 54% (hazard ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27-0.77) reduction in mortality risk compared with individuals with stable obesity between early adulthood and midlife. An estimated 3.2% (95% CI, 1.6%-4.9%) of early deaths could have been avoided if those who maintained an obese BMI instead lost weight to an overweight BMI by midlife. Overall, an estimated 12.4% (95% CI, 8.1%-16.5%) of early deaths may be attributable to having weight in excess of the normal BMI range at any point between early and mid-adulthood. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, weight loss from obesity to overweight between early adulthood through midlife appeared to be associated with a mortality risk reduction compared with persistent obesity. These findings support the importance of population-based approaches to preventing weight gain across the life course and a need for greater emphasis on treating obesity early in life.

Association of body mass index and osteoarthritis with healthcare expenditures and utilization.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis is highly prevalent and, on aggregate, is one of the largest contributors to US spending on hospital-based health care. This study sought to examine body mass index (BMI)-related variation in the association of osteoarthritis with healthcare utilization and expenditures. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using administrative insurance claims linked to electronic health records. Study patients were aged ≥ 18 years with ≥1 BMI measurement recorded in 2014, with the first (index) BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2. Study outcomes and covariates were measured during a 1-year evaluation period spanning 6 months before and after index. Multivariable regression analyses examined the association of BMI with osteoarthritis prevalence, and the combined associations of osteoarthritis and BMI with osteoarthritis-related medication utilization, all-cause hospitalization, and healthcare expenditures. RESULTS: A total of 256 459 patients (median age = 56 y) met study eligibility criteria; 14.8% (38 050) had osteoarthritis. In multivariable analyses, the adjusted prevalence of osteoarthritis increased with increasing BMI (12.7% in patients who were overweight [25.0-29.9 kg m-2] to 21.9% in patients with class III obesity [BMI ≥ 40 kg m-2], P < .001). Among patients with osteoarthritis, increasing BMI (from overweight to class III obesity) was associated with increased (all P < .01): utilization rates for analgesic medications (41.5-53.5%); rates of all-cause hospitalization (26.3%-32.0%); and total healthcare expenditures ($18 204-$23 372). CONCLUSION: The prevalence and economic burden of osteoarthritis grow with increasing BMI; primary prevention of weight-related osteoarthritis and secondary weight management may help to alleviate this burden.

Assessment of obesity prevalence and validity of obesity diagnoses coded in claims data for selected surgical populations: A retrospective, observational study.

In many types of surgery, obesity may influence patient selection, prognosis, and/or management. Quantifying the accuracy of the coding of obesity and other prognostic factors is important for the design and interpretation of studies of surgical outcomes based on administrative healthcare data. This study assessed the validity of obesity diagnoses recorded in insurance claims data in selected surgical populations.This was a retrospective, observational study. Deidentified electronic health record (EHR) and linked administrative claims data were obtained for US patients age ≥20 years who underwent a qualifying surgical procedure (bariatric surgery, total knee arthroplasty [TKA], cardiac ablation, or hernia repair) in 2014Q1-2017Q1 (first = index). Patients' body mass index (BMI) as coded in the claims data (error-prone measure) during the index procedure or 180d pre-index was compared with their measured BMI as recorded in the EHR (criterion standard) to estimate the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of obesity diagnosis codes.Among patients who underwent bariatric surgery (N = 1422), TKA (N = 8670), cardiac ablation (N = 167), or hernia repair (N = 5450), obesity was present in 98%, 63%, 52%, and 54%, respectively, based on measured BMI. PPVs of obesity diagnosis codes were high: 99.3%, 96.0%, 92.8%, and 94.1% in bariatric surgery, TKA, cardiac ablation, and hernia repair, respectively. The sensitivity of obesity diagnoses was: 99.8%, 46.2%, 41.3%, and 42.3% in bariatric surgery, TKA, cardiac ablation, and hernia repair, respectively. Among false-positive patients diagnosed as obese but with measured BMI <30, the proportion with a BMI ≥28 was 40.0%, 67.6%, 60.7%, and 65.8% for bariatric surgery, TKA, cardiac ablation, and hernia repair, respectively.Our data indicate that obesity is highly prevalent in many surgical populations, obesity diagnosis codes have high PPVs, but also obesity is generally undercoded in claims data. Quantifying the validity of diagnosis codes for obesity and other important prognostic factors is important for the design and interpretation of studies of surgical outcomes based on administrative data. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which undercoding of BMI and obesity can be addressed through the use of proxies that may be better documented in claims data.

The contribution of obesity to prescription opioid use in the United States.

The prevalence of obesity has grown rapidly over the past several decades and has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of chronic pain and prescription opioid use. Obesity, through its association with pain, may represent an important contributor to opioid use. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between obesity and prescription opioid use among adults aged 35 to 79 years using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003-2016). Relative to normal weight, body mass indices in the overweight {odds ratio (OR), 1.11 (confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.39)}, obese I (OR, 1.26 [CI, 1.01-1.57]), obese II (OR, 1.69 [CI, 1.34-2.12]), and obese III (OR, 2.33 [CI, 1.76-3.08]) categories were associated with elevated odds of prescription opioid use. The association between excess weight and opioid use was stronger for chronic opioid use than for use with a duration of less than 90 days (P-value, <0.001). We estimated that 14% (CI, 9%-19%) of prescription opioid use at the population level was attributable to obesity, suggesting there might have been 1.5 million fewer opioid users per year under the hypothetical scenario where obese individuals were instead nonobese (CI, 0.9-2.0 million users). Back pain, joint pain, and muscle/nerve pain accounted for the largest differences in self-reported reasons for prescription opioid use across obesity status. Although interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional nature of the associations, our findings suggest that the obesity epidemic may be partially responsible for the high prevalence of prescription opioid use in the United States.

Using Machine Learning Applied to Real-World Healthcare Data for Predictive Analytics: An Applied Example in Bariatric Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic metabolic surgery (MxS) can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, treatment response to MxS can be heterogeneous. Here, we demonstrate an open-source predictive analytics platform that applies machine-learning techniques to a common data model; we develop and validate a predictive model of antihyperglycemic medication cessation (validated proxy for A1c control) in patients with treated T2D who underwent MxS. METHODS: We selected patients meeting the following criteria in 2 large US healthcare claims databases (Truven Health MarketScan Commercial [CCAE]; Optum Clinformatics [Optum]): underwent MxS between January 1, 2007, to October 1, 2013 (first = index); aged ≥18 years; continuous enrollment 180 days pre-index (baseline) to 730 days postindex; baseline T2D diagnosis and treatment. The outcome was no antihyperglycemic medication treatment from 365 to 730 days after MxS. A regularized logistic regression model was trained using the following candidate predictor categories measured at baseline: demographics, conditions, medications, measurements, and procedures. A 75% to 25% split of the CCAE group was used for model training and testing; the Optum group was used for external validation. RESULTS: 13 050 (CCAE) and 3477 (Optum) patients met the study inclusion criteria. Antihyperglycemic medication cessation rates were 72.9% (CCAE) and 70.8% (Optum). The model possessed good internal discriminative accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.778 [95% CI = 0.761-0.795] in CCAE test set N = 3527) and transportability (external AUC = 0.759 [95% CI = 0.741-0.777] in Optum N = 3477). CONCLUSION: The application of machine learning techniques to real-world healthcare data can yield useful predictive models to assist patient selection. In future practice, establishment of prerequisite technological infrastructure will be needed to implement such models for real-world decision support.

Prevalence and Determinants of Engagement with Obesity Care in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Medical management of obesity can result in significant weight loss and reduce the burden of obesity-related complications. This report employs a new conceptual model to quantify engagement with obesity care and associated determinants in the US adult population. METHODS: Engagement with obesity care was conceptualized as a cascade comprising 5 successive steps: perceiving oneself as overweight, desiring to lose weight, attempting weight loss, seeking care from a health care professional for obesity, and seeking care from a physician specifically. RESULTS: Among adults with obesity, 7.3% did not perceive themselves as overweight, 1.5% perceived themselves as overweight but had no desire to lose weight, 29.9% wanted to lose weight but did not try in the last year, 51.3% tried to lose weight but did not consult a health professional, and 6.4% sought help for weight loss from a health professional but not a physician, implying that 96.4% of the population with obesity had an unmet need for obesity care. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides new insight into the most common points along the cascade at which disengagement occurs and can inform efforts to improve uptake of obesity-related health care services.

Obesity Progression Between Young Adulthood and Midlife and Incident Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study of U.S. Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding how changes in weight over the life course shape risk for diabetes is critical for the prevention of diabetes. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we investigated the association between self-reported weight change from young adulthood to midlife and incident diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We categorized individuals into four weight-change groups: those who remained nonobese (stable nonobese), those who moved from an obese BMI to a nonobese BMI (losing), those who moved from a nonobese BMI to an obese BMI (gaining), and those who remained obese (stable obese). Diabetes status was determined by self-report of a prior diagnosis, and age at diagnosis was used to establish time of diabetes onset. Hazard ratios (HRs) relating weight change to incident diabetes over 10 years of follow-up were calculated using Cox models adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Those who were obese and lost weight exhibited a significantly lower risk (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.14, 0.76) of diabetes compared with those with stable obesity. We also observed lower risk among those who were stable nonobese (HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.18, 0.28) and those in the gaining category (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.57, 0.87). Further, there was evidence of an increased incidence of diabetes among obese individuals who lost weight compared with individuals who were stable nonobese; however, weight loss was rare, and the association was not statistically significant. If those who were obese had become nonobese during the 10-year period, we estimate that 9.1% (95% CI 5.3, 12.8) of observed diabetes cases could have been averted, and if the population had maintained a normal BMI during the period, 64.2% (95% CI 59.4, 68.3) of cases could have been averted. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study underscore the importance of population-level approaches to the prevention and treatment of obesity across the life course of individuals.

Economic burden of cancer among patients with surgical resections of the lung, rectum, liver and uterus: results from a US hospital database claims analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine hospital resource utilization, associated costs and the risk of complications during hospitalization for four types of surgical resections and to estimate the incremental burden among patients with cancer compared to those without cancer. METHODS: Patients (≥18 years old) were identified from the Premier Research Database of US hospitals if they had any of the following types of elective surgical resections between 1/2008 and 12/2014: lung lobectomy, lower anterior resection of the rectum (LAR), liver wedge resection, or total hysterectomy. Cancer status was determined based on ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Operating room time (ORT), length of stay (LOS), and total hospital costs, as well as frequency of bleeding and infections during hospitalization were evaluated. The impact of cancer status on outcomes (from a hospital perspective) was evaluated using multivariable generalized estimating equation models; analyses were conducted separately for each resection type. RESULTS: Among the identified patients who underwent surgical resection, 23 858 (87.9% with cancer) underwent lung lobectomy, 13 522 (63.8% with cancer) underwent LAR, 2916 (30.0% with cancer) underwent liver wedge resection and 225 075 (11.3% with cancer) underwent total hysterectomy. After adjusting for patient, procedural, and hospital characteristics, mean ORT, LOS, and hospital cost were statistically higher by 3.2%, 8.2%, and 9.2%, respectively for patients with cancer vs. no cancer who underwent lung lobectomy; statistically higher by 6.9%, 9.4%, and 9.6%, respectively for patients with cancer vs. no cancer who underwent LAR; statistically higher by 4.9%, 14.8%, and 15.7%, respectively for patients with cancer vs. no cancer who underwent liver wedge resection; and statistically higher by 16.0%, 27.4%, and 31.3%, respectively for patients with cancer vs. no cancer who underwent total hysterectomy. Among patients who underwent each type of resection, risks for bleeding and infection were generally higher among patients with cancer as compared to those without cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis, we found that patients who underwent lung lobectomy, lower anterior resection of the rectum (LAR), liver wedge resection or total hysterectomy for a cancer indication have significantly increased hospital resource utilization compared to these same surgeries for benign indications.

Gastrectomy and D2 Lymphadenectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis Comparing the Harmonic Scalpel to Conventional Techniques.

The ultrasonic Harmonic scalpel has demonstrated clinical and surgical benefits in dissection and coagulation. To evaluate its use in gastrectomy, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the Harmonic scalpel to conventional techniques in gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer. International databases were searched without language restrictions for comparisons in open or laparoscopic gastrectomy and lymphadenectomy. The meta-analysis used a random-effects model for all outcomes; continuous variables were analyzed for mean differences and dichotomous variables were analyzed for risk ratios. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for study quality, type of conventional technique, and imputation of study results. Ten studies (N = 935) met the inclusion criteria. Compared with conventional hemostatic techniques, the Harmonic scalpel demonstrated significant reductions in operating time (-27.5 min; P < 0.001), intraoperative blood loss (-93.2 mL; P < 0.001), and drainage volume (-138.8 mL; P < 0.001). Results were numerically higher for conventional techniques for hospital length of stay, complication risk, and transfusions but did not reach statistical significance. Results remained robust to sensitivity analyses. This meta-analysis demonstrates the clear advantages of using the Harmonic scalpel compared to conventional techniques, with improvements demonstrated across several outcome measures for patients undergoing gastrectomy and lymphadenectomy.

Gap Between Evidence and Patient Access: Policy Implications for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in the Treatment of Obesity and its Complications.

Despite consistently supportive evidence of clinical effectiveness and economic advantages compared with currently available non-surgical obesity treatments, patient access to bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) is impeded. To address this gap and better understand the relationship between value and access, the objectives of this study were twofold: (i) identify the multidimensional barriers to adoption of BMS created by clinical guidelines, public policies, and health technology assessments; and, most importantly, (ii) develop recommendations for stakeholders to improve patient access to BMS. Updated public policies focused on treatment and clinical guidelines that reflect the demonstrated advantages of BMS, patient education on safety and effectiveness, updated reimbursement policies, and additional data on long-term BMS effectiveness are needed to improve patient access.