Avoidable admissions after minimally invasive hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of avoidable admissions following anticipated same-day discharge for patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy and to identify risk factors associated with such admissions. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent a minimally invasive hysterectomy between March 2019 and July 2021 for a suspected gynecologic malignancy at a single tertiary care center. Pre-operatively, patients were assessed for same-day discharge versus planned admission. Reasons for day-of-surgery admission despite anticipated same-day discharge were categorized as anesthesia-related, system issues, intra-operative factors, post-operative pain, and social factors. Patients deemed not candidates for same-day discharge were defined as planned admissions. Indications were categorized as necessary or potentially avoidable. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to summarize the cohort. RESULTS: In total, 372 patients were identified: 261 (70.2%) anticipated same-day discharges and 111 (29.8%) planned admissions. Of anticipated same-day discharges, 230/261 (88.1%) were successfully discharged, while 31/261 (11.9%) required admission. Reasons for unplanned admissions were anesthesia-related (14/31, 45.2%), system issues (7/31, 22.6%), intra-operative factors (5/31, 16.1%), post-operative pain (3/31, 9.7%), and social factors (2/31, 6.5%). Among the 111 pre-operatively planned admissions, 81 (73.0%) were necessary due to comorbidities or surgical complexity, while 30 (27.0%) were potentially avoidable because patients could have been optimized for same-day discharge. Opportunities for optimization pre-operatively included comorbidities (13/30, 43.3%), system issues (8/30, 26.7%), social factors (6/30, 20.0%), and provider preference (3/30, 10.0%). CONCLUSION: Most patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy can be safely discharged the same day. Potentially avoidable admissions were primarily related to patient comorbidities that can be better optimized pre-operatively.

Gestational Gigantomastia: Case Report and Review of Treatment Options.

Gestational gigantomastia is a rare and devastating condition involving rapid and excessive enlargement of the breast tissue during pregnancy or postpartum. We review the workup, assessment, and care of a patient with gestational gigantomastia with superimposed mastitis. Conservative treatment, medical management, and surgical options should be explored with patients. It is also important for providers to be cognizant of the psychological impact of this condition.

Small bite fascial closure technique reduces incisional hernia rates in gynecologic oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: The potential for the technique of small bite fascial closure in mitigating incisional hernias in gynecologic oncology patients still needs to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of closure of small fascial bites compared with prior standard closure on incisional hernia rates in gynecologic oncology patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing patient outcomes before and after the intervention at a single institution at a comprehensive cancer center. Patients who underwent laparotomy with a vertical midline incision for a suspected or known gynecologic malignancy with a 1-year follow-up were included. The pre-intervention cohort (large bites) had 'mass' or modified running Smead-Jones closure. In contrast, the post-intervention cohort had fascial bites taken 5-8 mm laterally with no more than 5 mm travel (small bites) closure using a 2-0 polydioxanone suture.The primary outcome was the incisional hernias rate determined by imaging or clinical examination within the first year of follow-up. Patient factors and peri-operative variates of interest were investigated for their association with hernia formation through univariate and multivariate analyses. These included age, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, estimated blood loss, pre-operative albumin, American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) physical status classification, or treatment with chemotherapy post-operatively. RESULTS: Of the 255 patients included, the total hernia rate was 12.5% (32/255 patients). Patient characteristics were similar in both cohorts. Small bite closure led to a significant reduction in hernia rates from 17.2% (22/128 patients) to 7.9% (10/127 patients), p=0.025. According to logistic regression modeling, small bite closure (OR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.94, p=0.036) was independently associated with lower odds of hernia formation. Other factors associated with increased hernia rates were chemotherapy (OR=3.22, 95% CI 1.22 to 8.51, p=0.019) and obesity (OR=23.4, 95% CI 3.09 to 177, p=0.002). In obese patients, small bite closures led to maximal hernia rate reduction compared with large bites. CONCLUSIONS: The small bite closure technique effectively reduces hernia rates in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing midline laparotomy.

Viewpoints on Healthcare Delivery Science Education Among Practicing Physicians in a Rural State.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare Delivery Science Education (HDSE) covers important aspects of the business of medicine, including, operations management, managerial accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, negotiations, e-health and policy/advocacy. We need to investigate and understand practicing physicians' viewpoints on HDSE in order to inform interventions capable of preventing the double loss phenomena and improving medical and continuing medical education opportunities in HDSE. This qualitative study aims to provide a rich, contextualized understanding of the HDSE experiences and interests of physicians practicing in a rural state through the intensive study of particular cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We interviewed 18 practicing physicians from a rural, Midwestern state over the telephone about their viewpoints on past experiences obtaining HDSE, interest in HDSE, barriers to pursuing HDSE, and interest in an example HDSE certificate program. RESULTS: Salient themes in our study were that physicians were interested in HDSE and believed HDSE could lead to improved patient care and practice efficiency. However, many of the respondents had not received longitudinal, diversified, didactic or practical HDSE. Time limited many physicians from pursuing HDSE opportunities. Many physicians in the study were interested in the example HDSE certificate program. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Physicians in our qualitative study were interested in obtaining HDSE and had not received diversified, didactic HDSE in the past. Our research suggests innovative HDSE programs will likely be utilized and pursued if they are developed.