Surgeons, ERCP, and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: do we need a standard approach for common bile duct stones?

BACKGROUND: Variation exists in the management of choledocholithiasis (CDL). This study evaluated associations between demographic and practice-related characteristics and CDL management. METHODS: A 22-item, web-based survey was administered to US general surgeons. Respondents were classified into metropolitan or nonmetropolitan groups by zip code. Univariate tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine factors associated with CDL management preferences. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 32,932 surgeons; 9902 performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the last year; 750 of 771 respondents had a valid US zip code and were included in the analysis. Mean practice time was 18 ± 10 years, 87% were male, and 83% practiced in a metropolitan area. For preoperatively known CDL, 86% chose preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Those in metropolitan areas were more likely to select preoperative ERCP than those in nonmetropolitan areas (88 vs. 79%, p < 0.001). For CDL discovered intraoperatively, 30% selected laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) as their preferred method of management with no difference between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas (30 vs. 26%, p = 0.335). The top reasons for not performing LCBDE were: having a reliable ERCP proceduralist available, lack of equipment, and lack of comfort performing LCBDE. Factors associated with preoperative ERCP were: metropolitan status, selective intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), and availability of a reliable ERCP proceduralist. Those who perform selective IOC were 70% less likely to prefer LCBDE (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.18-0.57, p < 0.001). Those with a reliable ERCP proceduralist available were 90% less likely to prefer LCBDE (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.04-0.26, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of respondents preferred ERCP for the management of CDL. Having a reliable ERCP proceduralist available, use of selective IOC, and metropolitan status were independently associated with preoperative ERCP. Postoperative ERCP was preferred for managing intraoperatively discovered CDL. Many surgeons are uncomfortable performing LCBDE, and increased training may be needed.

Nationwide trends in mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer.

IMPORTANCE: Accredited breast centers in the United States are measured on performance of breast conservation surgery (BCS) in the majority of women with early-stage breast cancer. Prior research in regional and limited national cohorts suggests a recent shift toward increasing performance of mastectomy in patients eligible for BCS. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether mastectomy rates in patients eligible for BCS are increasing over time nationwide, and are associated with coincident increases in breast reconstruction and bilateral mastectomy for unilateral disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of temporal trends in performance of mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer using multivariable logistic regression modeling to adjust for pertinent covariates and interactions. We studied more than 1.2 million adult women treated at centers accredited by the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2011, using the National Cancer Data Base. EXPOSURES: Year of breast cancer diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Proportion of women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent mastectomy. Secondary outcome measures include temporal trends in breast reconstruction and bilateral mastectomy for unilateral disease. RESULTS: A total of 35.5% of the study cohort underwent mastectomy. The adjusted odds of mastectomy in BCS-eligible women increased 34% during the most recent 8 years of the cohort, with an odds ratio of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.31-1.38) in 2011 relative to 2003. Rates of increase were greatest in women with clinically node-negative disease (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.34-1.41) and in situ disease (odds ratio, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.95-2.15). In women undergoing mastectomy, rates of breast reconstruction increased from 11.6% in 1998 to 36.4% in 2011 (P < .001 for trend). Rates of bilateral mastectomy for unilateral disease increased from 1.9% in 1998 to 11.2% in 2011 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In the past decade, there have been marked trends toward higher proportions of BCS-eligible patients undergoing mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and bilateral mastectomy. The greatest increases are seen in women with node-negative and in situ disease. Mastectomy rates do not yet exceed current American Cancer Society/American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditation benchmarks. Further research is needed to understand factors associated with these trends and their implications for performance measurement in American Cancer Society/American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer centers.

Patient safety in the era of the 80-hour workweek.

OBJECTIVE: In 2003, duty-hour regulations (DHR) were initially implemented for residents in the United States to improve patient safety and protect resident's well-being. The effect of DHR on patient safety remains unclear. The study objective was to evaluate the effect of DHR on patient safety. DESIGN: Using an interrupted time series analysis, we analyzed selected patient safety indicators (PSIs) for 376 million discharges in teaching (T) vs nonteaching (NT) hospitals before and after implementation of DHR in 2003 that restricted resident work hours to 80 hours per week. The PSIs evaluated were postoperative pulmonary embolus or deep venous thrombosis (PEDVT), iatrogenic pneumothorax (PTx), accidental puncture or laceration, postoperative wound dehiscence (WD), postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma, and postoperative physiologic or metabolic derangement. Propensity scores were used to adjust for differences in patient comorbidities between T and NT hospitals and between discharge quarters. The primary outcomes were differences in the PSI rates before and after DHR implementation. The PSI differences between T and NT institutions were the secondary outcome. SETTING: T and NT hospitals in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 376 million patient discharges from 1998 to 2007 in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. RESULTS: Declining rates of PTx in both T and NT hospitals preintervention slowed only in T hospitals postintervention (p = 0.04). Increasing PEDVT rates in both T and NT hospitals increased further only in NT hospitals (p = 0.01). There were no differences in the PSI rates over time for hemorrhage or hematoma, physiologic or metabolic derangement, accidental puncture or laceration, or WD. T hospitals had higher rates than NT hospitals both preintervention and postintervention for all the PSIs except WD. CONCLUSIONS: Trends in rates for 2 of the 6 PSIs changed significantly after DHR implementation, with PTx rates worsening in T hospitals and PEDVT rates worsening in NT hospitals. Lack of consistent patterns of change suggests no measurable effect of the policy change on these PSIs.

Predicting complicated choledocholithiasis.

INTRODUCTION: Management of choledocholithiasis and its complications is variable and often requires transfer to a specialty facility. This study links patient-specific characteristics with the outcome measure of complicated choledocholithiasis to identify high-risk patients who may require expedited treatment or transfer to a higher level of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a discharge diagnosis of choledocholithiasis (CDL) were identified from the 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patient characteristics were identified associated with the primary outcome measure of complicated choledocholithiasis (cCDL), defined as acute pancreatitis or cholangitis during the admission for CDL. Predictors of mortality were also evaluated. Analysis was performed using complex-sample univariate and adjusted analyses. RESULTS: We identified 123,990 discharges with a diagnosis of CDL. The overall incidence of CDL was 314 per 100,000 NIS discharges. Forty-one percent of CDL discharges were for cCDL (acute pancreatitis 31%, cholangitis 12%). Risk factors for cCDL included age (risk increased 0.8% per year), male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.2), alcohol abuse (OR 1.5, CI 1.3-1.8), diabetes (OR 1.1, CI 1.0-1.2), hypertension (OR 1.1, CI 1.0-1.2), obesity (OR 1.2, CI 1.1-1.3), nonelective admission (OR 2.3, CI 2.0-2.6), and Asian/Pacific Islander race/ethnicity (OR 1.2, CI 1.0-1.5). Patients with cCDL had increased odds of mortality (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Increased age, nonelective admission, and specific comorbid conditions are associated with cCDL, which has increased mortality. These factors can be used to identify patients needing timely access to treatment or transfer to a higher level of care.

An urban-rural blight? Choledocholithiasis presentation and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Exploration of urban-rural (UR) and regional differences is critical to developing effective healthcare delivery systems. Choledocholithiasis (CDL) remains a common problem with a range of therapeutic options and potentially severe complications. This study evaluated UR and regional differences of CDL presentation and treatment. We hypothesized that UR status contributes to differences in treatment of CDL. METHODS: This study examined patients from the 2007 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project dataset. Inpatient discharges and interventions for CDL patients were identified. UR and regional designations were determined from National Center for Health Statistics guidelines. Patients with pancreatitis or cholangitis were designated as complicated CDL (cCDL) patients. Interventions for CDL were classified as endoscopic, surgical, or percutaneous. Complex-sample proportion analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 111,021 patients with CDL were identified; 81% of these patients lived in urban areas compared with 19% in rural areas; 61% had uncomplicated choledocholithiasis (uCDL) and 39% had cCDL. The overall distribution of uCDL and cCDL did not differ by UR status or region. A higher proportion of rural patients did not receive an intervention 45.1% (95%CI 41.8%-48.4%) versus urban patients 30.5% (28.8%-32.2%), P < 0.05. Interventions for urban patients were more likely endoscopic 87.7% (86.8%-88.6%) compared with rural 82.0% (79.3%-84.7%), P < 0.05. Rural patients were more likely to undergo surgery 10.5% (8.6%-12.4%) than urban patients 4.9% (4.4%-5.4%), P < 0.05. Regional variations did not impact the type of intervention received. CONCLUSION: Rural patients received CDL interventions less often and had a higher proportion of surgical interventions regardless of severity of presentation.

Biliary obstruction during cholecystectomy: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, evade, or explore?

Biliary obstruction discovered during cholecystectomy remains a challenging problem. To determine the best management, this retrospective study compared intervention during the same admission (SA) versus delayed/no intervention (DN). Furthermore, this study demonstrates the power of a deidentified research database derived from electronic medical records. Patients undergoing cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) were identified in the Vanderbilt Synthetic Derivative database. Patients with biliary obstruction discovered during IOC were included and a cohort study was performed. Interventions for biliary obstruction included endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or common bile duct exploration. A composite measure of any biliary complication served as the primary outcome. A total of 1899 patients who underwent cholecystectomy were evaluated; 151 met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 44 years with 69 per cent women. Sixty-three per cent of patients had intervention during the SA for cholecystectomy compared with 37 per cent for DN. Nineteen per cent of patients in the SA group had biliary complications versus 16 per cent for DN (P = 0.656). Patients in the SA group had a significantly increased length of stay (4.7 vs 2.1 days, P < 0.05). These data suggest an aggressive approach to biliary obstruction seen on IOC does not reduce postoperative biliary complications and may incur unnecessary resource use.

Choledocholithiasis management in rural America: health disparity or health opportunity?

BACKGROUND: Choledocholithiasis (CDL) management is dictated by local expertise, individual training, and availability of appropriate staff. This study evaluates the management of CDL between urban and rural communities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing inpatient management of CDL were identified from the 2007 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Availability of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was determined from the 2007 American Hospital Association survey. The proportion of common bile duct exploration (CBDE), ERCP, or percutaneous (PERC) interventions were compared across census regions and National Centers for Health Statistics (NCHS) urban-rural classes. The NCHS urban-rural classification scheme divides counties from most populous (NCHS 1) to rural (NCHS 6). Proportions were compared using the 95% confidence interval (95%CI) approach. RESULTS: We estimated 111,021 CDL hospitalizations in the U.S. in 2007. Of these, 67% had a coded intervention. Intervention frequencies were similar across census regions. Comparisons across NCHS classes revealed higher proportions of ERCP in urban areas (NCHS 1-4) while a higher proportion of CBDE was seen in rural areas (NCHS 5-6). ERCP availability was high in metropolitan areas (available in 35%-44% of hospitals NCHS 1-4) and low in rural areas (25% of NCHS 5 hospitals and 5% NCHS 6). PERC management was similar across NCHS classes. CONCLUSIONS: Rural hospitals and communities need surgeons trained in CBDE, where ERCP expertise may not be readily available. Feasible ways of expanding ERCP coverage to the nation's rural areas need to be explored. These observations may impact surgical training at least for those targeting careers in rural surgery.