Arterial, but Not Venous, Reconstruction Increases 30-Day Morbidity and Mortality in Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Vascular reconstruction during pancreaticoduodenectomy is increasingly utilized to improve pancreatic cancer resectability. However, few multi-institutional studies have evaluated the morbidity and mortality of arterial and venous reconstruction during this procedure. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the targeted pancreas module of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) for pancreaticoduodenectomy from 2014 to 2015. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes for patients who underwent venous or arterial reconstruction and both were compared to no reconstruction. RESULTS: A total of 3002 patients were included in our study: 384 with venous reconstruction, 52 with arterial, 81 with both, and 2566 without. Compared to patients without reconstruction, those who underwent venous reconstruction had more congestive heart failure (1.8% vs 0.2%, P < 0.01), those with arterial reconstruction had higher rates of pulmonary disease (11.5% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.02), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was more common in both venous (34% vs 12%, P < 0.01) and arterial reconstruction (21% vs 12%, P = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, there was no increase in morbidity or mortality following venous reconstruction. However, arterial reconstruction was associated with increased 30-day mortality with an odds ratio (OR): 6.7, 95%; confidence interval (CI): 1.8-25. Morbidity was increased as represented with return to the operating room (OR: 4.5, 95%; CI: 1.5-15), pancreatic fistula (OR: 4.4, 95%; CI: 1.7-11), and reintubation (OR: 3.9, 95%; CI: 1.1-14). CONCLUSIONS: Venous reconstruction during pancreaticoduodenectomy does not increase perioperative morbidity or mortality and should be considered for patients previously considered to be unresectable or those where R0 resection would otherwise not be possible due to venous involvement. Careful consideration should be made prior to arterial reconstruction given the significant increase in perioperative complications and death within 30 days.

Neoadjuvant Radiation Is Associated with Fistula Formation Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative pancreatic fistulas remain a significant source of morbidity following pancreatic surgery. Few studies have evaluated the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation on this adverse outcome. This study aims to evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant therapy on 30-day morbidity and mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the targeted pancreas module of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) from 2014 to 2015 for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with pancreaticojejunal reconstruction. A fistula was defined according to the NSQIP definition. Patient demographics, operative variables, and 30-day outcomes were compared between those who received no neoadjuvant therapy, chemoradiation, chemotherapy alone, and radiation alone. Univariate analysis was completed using chi-square, Fisher exact test, Student's t test, and Mann-Whitney U test where appropriate. Independent predictors of fistula formation were established using multivariable regression. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Three thousand one hundred fourteen patients were included of which 559 patients (18%) developed a pancreatic fistula. Two thousand six hundred thirty-five (85%) patients did not undergo neoadjuvant therapy, 207 (6.6%) had chemoradiation, 256 (8.2%) had chemotherapy alone, and 16 (0.5%) had radiation alone. Patients who developed a fistula had increased 30-day mortality (4.9 vs. 1.7%, P < .001) and major morbidities. Following multivariable analysis, neoadjuvant radiation (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.5) was associated with increased fistula formation while neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9) was protective. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy provides protection against the development of pancreatic fistulas while neoadjuvant radiation potentiates formation likely due to their effects on the texture of the pancreatic gland. Given the morbidity of pancreatic fistula formation, these factors should be considered in neoadjuvant regimens.

Platelet transfusion does not improve outcomes in patients with brain injury on antiplatelet therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Platelet dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with worse outcomes. The efficacy of platelet transfusion to reverse antiplatelet medication (APM) remains unknown. Thrombelastography platelet mapping (TEG-PM) assesses platelet function. We hypothesize that platelet transfusion can reverse the effects of APM but does not improve outcomes following TBI. METHODS: An observational study at six US trauma centres was performed. Adult patients on APM with CT evident TBI after blunt injury were enrolled. Demographics, brain CT and TEG-PM results before/after platelet transfusion, length of stay (LOS), and injury severity score (ISS) were abstracted. RESULTS: Sixty six patients were enrolled (89% aspirin, 50% clopidogrel, 23% dual APM) with 23 patients undergoing platelet transfusion. Transfused patients had significantly higher ISS and admission CT scores. Platelet transfusion significantly reduced platelet inhibition due to aspirin (76.0 ± 30.2% to 52.7 ± 31.5%, p < 0.01), but had a non-significant impact on clopidogrel-associated inhibition (p = 0.07). Platelet transfusion was associated with longer length of stay (7.8 vs. 3.5 days, p < 0.01), but there were no differences in mortality. CONCLUSION: Platelet transfusion significantly decreases platelet inhibition due to aspirin but is not associated with change in outcomes in patients on APM following TBI.

Indications and Methods of Anticoagulation Reversal.

The use of anticoagulation in the prevention of strokes due to atrial fibrillation or the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease has been on the rise. With the advent and proliferation of direct oral anticoagulation medications, the management of anticoagulation reversal has become increasingly complex, especially when urgent or emergent reversal is required. This review details the commonly used parenteral and oral anticoagulants, the treatment strategies necessary for their reversal, and therapies still in development.

Use of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in the reversal of warfarin-induced and nonvitamin K antagonist-related coagulopathy.

: To evaluate the efficacy of international normalized ratio (INR) reversal using four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) in nonmedication-induced coagulopathy. We performed a single-site, retrospective cohort study of patients receiving off-label use of 4F-PCC. Cohorts included liver dysfunction if they had acute liver decompensation or cirrhosis without other causative factors of liver failure such as sepsis, coagulopathy of acute sepsis (CAS) if they had documentation of sepsis and no underlying liver disorder, known factor deficiencies, or medication-induced coagulopathy, or warfarin if they were taking warfarin. Patients with unknown medication or direct oral anticoagulant usage were excluded. 4F-PCC was administered 32 times in 26 patients for nonvitamin-K antagonist related coagulopathy (11 CAS and 21 liver dysfunction) and 47 administrations were in warfarin patients. Liver dysfunction patients had a mean model for end-stage liver disease score of 28 ±â€Š10. CAS and warfarin patients had significant INR reductions (ΔINR 1.9, P < 0.01; ΔINR 3.9, P < 0.01, respectively). Liver dysfunction patients mean change in INR trended toward significance (ΔINR 0.7, P = 0.09). Patients who received 4F-PCC based upon previously established dosing guidelines for moderate elevations in INR (20-30 IU/kg) doing demonstrated similar reductions in INR between CAS and warfarin patients (ΔINR 1.3, P = 0.03, ΔINR 1.0 P < 0.01, respectively). 4F-PCC significantly reduces the INR in CAS patients and trended toward significant reductions in liver dysfunction patients. Adequately powered, prospective trials are needed to demonstrate 4F-PCC efficacy in reversal of these coagulopathies.

Comparison of Complications Following Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placements.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and laparoscopic gastrostomy (LG) placements provide enteral access to patients unable to tolerate oral feeds. Limited data comparing PEG and LG outcomes is available in adults. This study compares complications between PEG and LG placements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed for patients undergoing PEG or LG placement at a single academic center between 2007 and 2014. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were compared. Logistic regression was utilized to identify independent predictors for complication. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-four patients (164 PEGs and 60 LGs) were evaluated. Patients undergoing LG had a higher incidence of prior surgery (42 vs 20%; P < 0.01) and age-adjusted CCI (5 vs 4; P = 0.01). Return to the OR was more common following PEG than LG (5.5 vs 0%) but did not achieve significance (P = 0.12). There were no differences in 30-day mortality; however, age-adjusted CCI was predictive of 30-day mortality (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6). CONCLUSION: Despite increased comorbidities, LG tubes are at least as safe as PEGs. Research should focus on identifying predictive factors associated with post-operative complications to identify which patients would have superior outcomes with LG placement.

Association of Expanded Medicaid Coverage With Hospital Length of Stay After Injury.

IMPORTANCE: The expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act is a state-level decision that affects how patients with traumatic injury (trauma patients) interact with locoregional health care systems. Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia represent 3 unique payer systems with liberal, moderate, and no Medicaid expansion, respectively, under the Affordable Care Act. Characterizing the association of Medicaid expansion with hospitalization after injury is vital in the disposition planning for these patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act and duration of hospitalization after injury. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included patients admitted from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to a single level I trauma center. Data were collected from January 1, 2013, through March 6, 2016, in Virginia and Washington, DC, and from May 1, 2013, through March 6, 2016, in Maryland. All patients with Medicare or Medicaid coverage and all uninsured patients were included. Patients with private insurance, patients with severe head or pelvic injuries, and those who died during hospitalization were excluded. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Hospital length of stay (LOS) and whether its association with patient insurance status varied by state of residence. RESULTS: A total of 2314 patients (1541 men [66.6%] and 773 women [33.4%]; mean [SD] age, 52.9 [22.8] years) were enrolled in the study. The uninsured rate in the Washington, DC, cohort (190 of 1699 [11.2%]) was significantly lower compared with rates in the Virginia (141 of 296 [47.6%]) or the Maryland (106 of 319 [33.2%]) cohort (P < .001). On multivariate regression controlling for injury severity and demographic variables, the difference in LOS for Medicaid vs non-Medicaid recipients varied significantly by state. For Medicaid recipients, mean LOS in Washington, DC, was significantly shorter (2.57 days; 95% CI, 2.36-2.79 days) than in Maryland (3.51 days; 95% CI, 2.81-4.38 days; P = .02) or Virginia (3.9 days; 95% CI, 2.79-5.45 days; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Expanded Medicaid eligibility is associated with shorter hospital LOS in mildly injured Medicaid recipients.

The Use of Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgical Stapling Devices During Minimally Invasive Colon and Rectal Surgery: A Comparison.

PURPOSE: To date there exists no published study examining the safety and efficacy of the EndoWrist 45 (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) robotic stapler. We compared outcomes between the robotic and comparable laparoscopic stapler in robotic-assisted colorectal procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 93 patients who underwent robotic-assisted colorectal surgery at our institution from 2012 to 2014. Surgeries included left, sigmoid, subtotal and total colectomies, and low anterior rectal resections. Indications were malignancy and diverticular and inflammatory bowel disease. Preoperative demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were examined. Student's t-test and Fischer's exact used were appropriate. RESULTS: Forty-five millimeters laparoscopic staplers were used in 58 cases, while the 45 mm robotic stapler was used in 35 cases. There was no difference in age (P = .651), gender (P = .832), or body mass index (P = .204) between groups. There was no difference in estimated blood loss (P = .524), operative time (P = .769), length of stay (P = .895), or complication rate (P = .778). The robotic stapler group had one anastomotic leak, while the laparoscopic stapler group had six (P = .705). There were more laparoscopic stapler fires (2.69) per patient than robotic stapler fires (1.86) (P = .001). The cost per patient for the laparoscopic group was $631.45 versus $473.28 for the robotic group (P = .001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the robotic stapler. Advantages of the robotic stapler include large range of motion and 90° of articulation, which may provide a benefit when using the stapler in difficult areas like the pelvis. The robotic stapler has a comparable level of safety as a 45 mm laparoscopic stapler and is more cost effective.