A core outcome set for appendicitis: A consensus approach utilizing modified Delphi methodology.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is one of the most common pathologies encountered by general and acute care surgeons. The current literature is inconsistent, as it is fraught with outcome heterogeneity, especially in the area of nonoperative management. We sought to develop a core outcome set (COS) for future appendicitis studies to facilitate outcome standardization and future data pooling. METHODS: A modified Delphi study was conducted after identification of content experts in the field of appendicitis using both the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) landmark appendicitis articles and consensus from the EAST ad hoc COS taskforce on appendicitis. The study incorporated three rounds. Round 1 utilized free text outcome suggestions, then in rounds 2 and 3 the suggests were scored using a Likert scale of 1 to 9 with 1 to 3 denoting a less important outcome, 4 to 6 denoting an important but noncritical outcome, and 7 to 9 denoting a critically important outcome. Core outcome status consensus was defined a priori as >70% of scores 7 to 9 and <15% of scores 1 to 3. RESULTS: Seventeen panelists initially agreed to participate in the study with 16 completing the process (94%). Thirty-two unique potential outcomes were initially suggested in round 1 and 10 (31%) met consensus with one outcome meeting exclusion at the end of round 2. At completion of round 3, a total of 17 (53%) outcomes achieved COS consensus. CONCLUSION: An international panel of 16 appendicitis experts achieved consensus on 17 core outcomes that should be incorporated into future appendicitis studies as a minimum set of standardized outcomes to help frame future cohort-based studies on appendicitis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test or Criteria; Level V.

Light curves and colours of the ejecta from Dimorphos after the DART impact.

On 26 September 2022, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft struck Dimorphos, a satellite of the asteroid 65803 Didymos1. Because it is a binary system, it is possible to determine how much the orbit of the satellite changed, as part of a test of what is necessary to deflect an asteroid that might threaten Earth with an impact. In nominal cases, pre-impact predictions of the orbital period reduction ranged from roughly 8.8 to 17 min (refs. 2,3). Here we report optical observations of Dimorphos before, during and after the impact, from a network of citizen scientists' telescopes across the world. We find a maximum brightening of 2.29 ± 0.14 mag on impact. Didymos fades back to its pre-impact brightness over the course of 23.7 ± 0.7 days. We estimate lower limits on the mass contained in the ejecta, which was 0.3-0.5% Dimorphos's mass depending on the dust size. We also observe a reddening of the ejecta on impact.

COVID Stressed, but Not due to the Virus.

INTRODUCTION: Acute care surgeons can experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the cumulative stress of practice. This study sought to document the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PTSD in acute care surgeons and to identify potential contributing factors. METHODS: The six-item brief version of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-6), a validated instrument capturing PTSD symptomology, was used to screen Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma members. Added questions gauged pandemic effects on professional and hospital systems-level factors. Regression modeling used responses from attending surgeons that fully completed the PCL-6. RESULTS: Complete responses from 334 of 360 attending surgeons were obtained, with 58 of 334 (17%) screening positive for PTSD symptoms. Factors significantly contributing to both higher PCL-6 scores and meeting criteria for PTSD symptomology included decreasing age, increased administrative duties, reduced research productivity, nonurban practice setting, and loss of annual bonuses. Increasing PCL-6 score was also affected by perceived illness risk and higher odds of PTSD symptomology with elective case cancellation. For most respondents, fear of death and concerns of illness from COVID-19 were not associated with increased odds of PTSD symptomology. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTSD symptomology in this sample was similar to previous reports using surgeon samples (15%-22%). In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, stress was not directly related to infectious concerns but rather to the collateral challenges caused by the pandemic and unrelated demographic factors. Understanding factors increasing stress in acute care surgeons is critical as part of pandemic planning and management to reduce burnout and maintain a healthy workforce.

COVID-19 induced PTSD: Stressors for trauma and acute care surgeons.

BACKGROUND: At the peak of the pandemic, acute care surgeons at many hospitals were reassigned to treat COVID-19 patients. However, the effect of the pandemic on this population who are well versed in stressful practice has not been fully explored. METHODS: A web-based survey was distributed to the members of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST). PTSD and the personal and professional impact of the pandemic were assessed. A positive screen was defined as a severity score of ≥14 or a symptomatic response to at least 5 of the 6 questions on the screen. RESULTS: A total of 393 (17.8%) participants responded to the survey. The median age was 43 (IQR: 38-52) and 238 (60.6%) were male. The majority of participants were surgeons (351, 89.3%), specializing in general surgery/trauma (379, 96.4%). The main practice type and setting were hospital-based (350, 89%) and university hospital (238, 60.6%), respectively. The incidence of PTSD was 16.3% when a threshold severity score of ≥14 was used and 5.6% when symptomatic responses were assessed. Risk factors for a positive PTSD screen included being single/unmarried (p = 0.02), having others close to you contract COVID-19 (p = 0.02), having family issues due to COVID-19 (p = 0.0004), rural (p = 0.005) and suburban (p = 0.047) practice settings, a fear of going to work (p = 0.001), and not having mental health resources provided at work (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a psychological impact on surgeons. Although acute care surgeons are well versed in stressful practice, the pandemic nevertheless induced PTSD symptoms in this population, suggesting the need for mental health resources.

Acute Care Surgery Billing, Coding and Documentation Series Part 3: Coding of Additional Select Procedures; Modifiers; Telemedicine Coding; Robotic Surgery.

This series of reviews has been produced to assist both the experienced surgeon and coder, as well as those just starting practice that may have little formal training in this area. Understanding this complex system will allow the provider to work "smarter, not harder" and garner the maximum compensation for their work. We hope we have been successful in achieving and that goal that this series will provide useful information and be worth the time invested in reading it by bringing tangible benefits to the efficiency of practice and its reimbursement. This third section deals with coding of additional select procedures, modifiers, telemedicine coding, and robotic surgery.

Acute Care Surgery Billing, Coding and Documentation Series Part 2: Postoperative Documentation and Coding; Documentation and Coding in Conjunction with Trainees and Advanced Practitioners; Coding Select Procedures.

This series of reviews has been produced to assist both the experienced surgeon and coder, as well as those just starting practice that may have little formal training in this area. Understanding this complex system will allow the provider to work "smarter, not harder" and garner the maximum compensation for their work. We hope we have been successful in achieving that goal and that this series will provide useful information and be worth the time invested in reading it by bringing tangible benefits to the efficiency of practice and its reimbursement. This second section deals with postoperative documentation and coding, documentation and coding in conjunction with trainees and advanced practitioners, and coding of select procedures.

Acute Care Surgery Billing, Coding and Documentation Series Part 1: Basic Evaluation and Management (E/M), Emergency Department E/M, Prolonged Services, Adult Critical Care Documentation and Coding.

This series of reviews has been produced to assist both the experienced surgeon and coder, as well as those just starting practice that may have little formal training in this area. Understanding this complex system will allow the provider to work 'smarter, not harder' and garner the maximum compensation for their work. We hope we have been successful in achieving that goal and that this series will provide useful information and be worth the time invested in reading it by bringing tangible benefits to the efficiency of practice and its reimbursement.

Survey of Surgeons' Perspectives of Wound Care Centers and Chronic Wound Care.

Multidisciplinary management of chronic wounds using comprehensive wound centers improves outcomes. With an increasing need for wound providers, little is known about surgeons' roles in wound centers. An online survey of two national surgical organization members covered demographics, wound center characterization, and surgeons' perspectives of wound centers and wound care. Surgeon perspectives were compared by age, gender, and relationship status. Three hundred sixty-four surgeons responded. Respondents were mostly older than 50 years, male, in practice older than 10 years, and used wound centers. Most respondents reported favorable experiences with wound centers but uncertainty about financial details. Most respondents were interested in formal wound care certification and participation in a wound practice, particularly as a transition to the retirement option for older surgeons. Surgeons are interested in pursuing a career focus in wound care. Further efforts are needed to educate surgeons and create a pathway for surgeons to become wound center directors. In a nationwide survey, surgeon perspectives on wound centers and wound specialization were positive, although financial understanding was limited. The importance of this finding is the support of wound care pathways for surgeons.

Survey of American College of Surgeons Committee on trauma members on firearm injury: Consensus and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, there is a perceived divide regarding the benefits and risks of firearm ownership. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Injury Prevention and Control Committee designed a survey to evaluate Committee on Trauma (COT) member attitudes about firearm ownership, freedom, responsibility, physician-patient freedom and policy, with the objective of using survey results to inform firearm injury prevention policy development. METHODS: A 32-question survey was sent to 254 current U.S. COT members by email using Qualtrics. SPSS was used for χ exact tests and nonparametric tests, with statistical significance being less than 0.05. RESULTS: Our response rate was 93%, 43% of COT members have firearm(s) in their home, 88% believe that the American College of Surgeons should give the highest or a high priority to reducing firearm-related injuries, 86% believe health care professionals should be allowed to counsel patients on firearms safety, 94% support federal funding for firearms injury prevention research. The COT participants were asked to provide their opinion on the American College of Surgeons initiating advocacy efforts and there was 90% or greater agreement on 7 of 15 and 80% or greater on 10 of 15 initiatives. CONCLUSION: The COT surgeons agree on: (1) the importance of formally addressing firearm injury prevention, (2) allowing federal funds to support research on firearms injury prevention, (3) retaining the ability of health care professionals to counsel patients on firearms-related injury prevention, and (4) the majority of policy initiatives targeted to reduce interpersonal violence and firearm injury. It is incumbent on trauma and injury prevention organizations to leverage these consensus-based results to initiate prevention, advocacy, and other efforts to decrease firearms injury and death. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level I; therapeutic care, level II.

Acute care surgery fellowship graduates' practice patterns: The additional training is an asset.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Acute Care Surgery (ACS) fellowship program has matured to 20 verified programs. As part of an ongoing curricular evaluation, we queried the current practice patterns of the graduates of ACS fellowship programs regarding their view on their ACS training. We hypothesized that the majority of ACS fellowship graduates would be practicing ACS in academic Level I trauma centers and that fellowship training was pivotal in their career. METHODS: Graduates of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-certified ACS fellowships completed an online survey that included practice demographics, specific categories of cases delineated by the current ACS curriculum, and perceived impact of training. RESULTS: Surveys were submitted by 56 of 77 graduates for a completion rate of 73%. The majority of respondents were male (68%) aged 40 years or younger (80%). All but four completed ACS fellowship training in last 5 years (93%), and 83% completed fellowship in the last 3 years. Regarding their current practice, broadly defined ACS predominated (96%) with 2% practicing only trauma surgery and 2% only general surgery. Practice settings were 64% urban, 29% suburban, and 7% rural locations, with 84% of graduates practicing in a hospital-based group. The practitioner's hospital was identified as university/university-affiliated in 53%, community in 38%, and military in 9%, with 91% identified as a teaching hospital; trauma designation was identified as Level I (55%), Level II (39%), and other (6%). The graduates' average current practice mix is 10% elective general surgery, 29% emergency general surgery, 32% trauma, 25% surgical critical care, and 4% other (burn, bariatric, vascular, and thoracic). Only 16% of graduates do not perform elective cases. Case specifics demonstrated 92% of graduates perform vascular cases, 88% perform thoracic cases, and 70% perform complex hepatobiliary. Practice elements that were satisfiers included (1) scope of practice, (2) case mix, (3) percentage emergency general surgery, (4) lifestyle, (5) case complexity (with 3 and 4 tied). Graduates agreed the ACS fellowship training prepared them well for practice and was worth the time invested (both 82%), increased their marketability and self-confidence (80%), and prepared them well for academics (71%) and administration (63%). Of those surveyed, 93% would encourage others to do an ACS fellowship. CONCLUSION: Although 93% of graduates practice in urban/suburban areas, there was a mixture of university, university-affiliated, and community institutions and an almost even division of Levels I and II designation. Graduates demonstrate ongoing use of their acquired advanced operative training, particularly in vascular and thoracic surgery. The majority of ACS fellowship graduates were practicing ACS and felt fellowship training was valuable in their career path and that they would recommend it to others.

[The accreditation of professional competence: the analysis of nursinginterventions to control anxiety in surgical patients]. / Accreditamento della competenza professionale:un'analisi degli interventi infermieristici per ridurre l'ansia nel paziente chirurgico.

. The accreditation of professional competence: the analysis of nursing interventions to control anxiety in surgical patients. INTRODUCTION: The preoperative anxiety is a state of discomfort or unpleasant tension resulting from concerns about illness, hospitalization, anesthesia, surgery or the unknown. Nurses play a vital role reducing preoperative anxiety. An accreditation program was developed in Andalusia (Spain) to measure nurses' competences in this and others fields. AIMS: To analyze the accredited nurses' interventions spectrum to reduce anxiety in surgical patients and to check if their range of interventions depends upon their professional skills accreditation level. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. From 20016 to 2014, 1.282 interventions performed by 303 operating room nurses accredited through the Professional Skills Accreditation Program of the Andalusian Agency for Health Care Quality (ACSA) were analyzed with the latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the sample was accredited in Advanced level, about 31% in Expert level and 2.6% in Excellent level. Mean age of patients was 58.5±19.8 years. Three professional profiles were obtained from the LCA. Those nurses classified in Class I (22.4% of the sample) were more likely to be women, to can for younger patients, and to be accredited in Expert or Excellent Level and to perform the larger range of interventions, becoming therefore the most complete professional profile. CONCLUSION: Those nurses who perform a wider range of interventions and specifically two evidence based interventions such Calming Technique and Coping Enhancement are those who have a higher level of accreditation level.

Cervical spine clearance when unable to be cleared clinically: a pooled analysis of combined computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The role of cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of clinically unevaluable blunt trauma patients has been called into question by several recent studies. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed for all studies comparing computed tomography and MRI in the assessment of the cervical spine in patients who cannot be evaluated clinically. The radiologic findings and clinical outcomes from each study were collated for analysis. RESULTS: Data for 1,714 patients were available. All patients had a negative computed tomography scan and then underwent an MRI. There were 271 (15.8%) patients who had a previously undocumented finding on MRI with the majority (98.2%) being a ligamentous injury. Only 5 injuries (1.8%) resulted in surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: MRI identifies additional injuries; however, the vast majority are of minor clinical significance. Routine MRI after a negative computed tomography of the cervical spine is not supported by the current literature.

A reassessment of the impact of trauma systems consultation on regional trauma system development.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that trauma systems decrease morbidity and mortality after injury, but progress in system development has been slow and inconsistent. This study evaluated the progress in 20 state or regional systems following a consultative visit conducted by the Trauma Systems Evaluation and Planning Committee (TSEPC) of the Committee on Trauma, expanding on a previous study published in 2008, which demonstrated significant progress in six systems following consultation. METHODS: Twenty trauma systems that underwent TSEPC consultation between 2004 and 2010 were studied. Status was assessed using a set of 16 objective indicators. Baseline scores for 14 regions were calculated during the consultation visit and taken from the 2008 study for the remaining six. Postconsultation status was assessed during facilitated teleconferences. Progress was assessed by comparing changes in indicator scores. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in approximately 80% of systems evaluated within 60 months following the consultation. There was no progress in five of six systems reevaluated over 80 months after consultation, and all four systems evaluated over 100 months after consultation showed erosion of progress. Significant improvements were seen in 10 of the 16 individual indicators, with the greatest gains related to system standards, data systems, performance improvement, prehospital triage criteria, and linkages with public health. Consistent with the 2008 study, the two indicators related to financing for the trauma system showed no improvement. CONCLUSION: The TSEPC consultation process continues to be associated with improvements in trauma system development in approximately 80% of cases, consistent with the 2008 study, but gains are not self-sustaining. There was a stagnation in progress and a deterioration in total score over time, suggesting that a repeat consultation may be beneficial. System funding remains a challenge and was the area most likely to suffer setbacks over during study period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Care management study, level V.

Resuscitative thoracotomy for pediatric trauma in Illinois, 1999 to 2009.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes in adults who undergo resuscitative thoracotomy are poor. Few studies have examined the procedure's use in pediatric trauma. METHODS: The Illinois State Trauma Registry was queried for thoracotomy performed in the emergency department from 1999 to 2009, for patients aged 0 to 15. Injury mechanism, vital signs, and mortality were examined while controlling for injury severity. RESULTS: Resuscitative thoracotomy was infrequently performed in pediatric trauma (n = 25; 2.3/year). Most patients had suffered penetrating injury. Patients who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy were in extremis, with only 17% demonstrating signs of life upon presentation. Although 6 patients (24%) survived initially, only 2 (8%) survived to hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Resuscitative thoracotomy was rarely performed in children in Illinois emergency departments. Survival is low for thoracotomy in the emergency department, but some patients who presented with penetrating injuries did have positive outcomes, supporting a continued role for the procedure in select cases.

Fiabilidad y validez para un cuestionario de satisfacción con la formación continuada en salud: el cuestionario de satisfacción del discente / Reliability and validity of a continuous training satisfaction questionnaire in health: the Learning Satisfaction Questionnaire

Introducción: La formación continuada es el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje activo que tiene lugar a lo largo de toda la vida profesional. Valorar el grado de satisfacción con dicho proceso se presenta como una tarea necesaria. Si bien la mayoría de cuestionarios que evalúan la satisfacción del alumnado contemplan las diferentes dimensiones del proceso formativo como la metodología empleada, la adecuación de los contenidos o la calidad de los docentes, no todos han comprobado la fiabilidad y validez de los mismos. El objetivo del estudio es observar las características psicométricas del cuestionario de satisfacción del discente (CSD) enmarcado en la herramienta 'eValúa' de la línea de proyectos para el desarrollo profesional continuo de la Agencia de Calidad Sanitaria de Andalucía, España. Sujetos y métodos: Análisis estadísticos de las puntuaciones del CSD (n = 1.628), usando análisis de fiabilidad, análisis de componentes principales y correlaciones de los factores. Resultados: El CSD fue muy fiable, con un α de Cronbach global de 0,979. Las dimensiones del cuestionario mostraron cargas factoriales elevadas (Utilidad: R = 85,9; α = 0,91. Metodología: R = 77,4; α = 0,95. Organización y recursos: R = 73,25; α = 0,92. Capacidad docente: R = 90; α = 0,97. Valoración global: R = 96,6; α = 0,96). Las dimensiones 'utilidad' y 'metodología' fueron las que presentaron niveles de correlación más altas con la totalidad del cuestionario y con las dos preguntas de valoración global con la formación. Conclusiones: El CSD se presenta como una herramienta fiable y válida para la medición de la satisfacción con la formación continuada en salud. Dadas las altas correlaciones ítem-total que presentaron algunos ítems, se propone repasar su diseño para evitar concurrencias entre preguntas

Introduction: Continuing training is conceived as the learning and permanent asset process to which all health professionals are entitled and obliged. Although most questionnaires that assess participants satisfaction look at the different dimensions of the learning process, such as methodology used, content appropriateness or teachers performance quality, not all have proven its reliability and validity. The aim of the study is to observe the psychometric characteristics of Teaching Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSD) framed in the evaluation tool ‘eValúa’, designed by the Continuing Professional Development Project of the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality (Spain). Subjects and methods: Statistical analysis of the scores of CSD with a sample of 1628 cases using reliability analysis, principal component analysis, and correlation of the factors that are derived from the five dimensions that make up the questionnaire. Results: The CSD was highly reliable with an overall Cronbach’s α of 0.979. The dimensions of the questionnaire showed high factor loadings (Utility: R = 85.9; α = 0.91. Methodology: R = 77.4; α = 0.95. Organization and resources: R = 73.25; α = 0.92. Teaching capacity: R = 90; α = 0.97. Global satisfaction: R = 96.6; α = 0.96). The 'utility' and 'methodology' dimensions were those that showed the highest levels of correlation with both the entire questionnaire and the two global satisfaction questions. Conclusions: The CSD is presented as a reliable and valid tool for measuring satisfaction with continuing education in health. Given the high item-total correlations some items showed, a review of the questionnaire design is proposed to avoid concurrency between questions. Future analysis of the differences in satisfaction with training according to different socio-professional characteristics was raised

Screening for at-risk drinking behavior in trauma patients.

CONTEXT: A blood alcohol level above 0 g/dL is found in up to 50% of patients presenting with traumatic injuries. The presence of alcohol in the blood not only increases the risk of traumatic injury, but it is also associated with worse outcomes and trauma recidivism. In light of these risks, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma advocates screening for at-risk drinking. Although many institutions use blood alcohol levels to determine at-risk drinking in trauma patients, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) offers a cheap and easy alternative. Few direct comparisons have been made between these 2 tests in trauma patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the utility of blood alcohol level and AUDIT score as indicators of at-risk drinking in trauma patients. METHODS: Records for all trauma patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted to a level I trauma center from May 2013 through June 2014 were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria required patients to have undergone both blood alcohol level testing and AUDIT on admission. A blood alcohol level greater than 0 g/dL and an AUDIT score equal to or above 8 were considered positive for at-risk drinking. Performance of both tests was indexed against the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) criteria for at-risk drinking. RESULTS: Of 750 patients admitted for trauma, 222 records (30%) contained data on both blood alcohol level and AUDIT score. The patients were predominantly male (178 [80%]) and had a mean (SD) age of 40.1 (16.7) years. Most patients (178 [80%]) had sustained blunt trauma. Ninety-seven patients (44%) had a positive blood alcohol level, 70 (35%) had a positive AUDIT score, and 54 (24%) met NIAAA criteria for at-risk drinking. The sensitivity and specificity of having a positive blood alcohol level identify at-risk drinking were 61% and 62%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of having a positive AUDIT score identify at-risk drinking were 83% and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: As a stand-alone indicator of at-risk drinking behavior in trauma patients, the AUDIT score was shown to be superior to blood alcohol level. The utility of obtaining routine blood alcohol levels in trauma patients as a screening tool for at-risk drinking should be reexamined.