Utilizing Community Procedure Clinics to Enhance Resident Procedural Education.

Introduction: Procedure training in family medicine residency is important for future full-spectrum practice. Some residency programs have cited difficulty providing adequate procedure education. Residency collaboration with nonfaculty attending physicians working at community nonresidency clinics may help programs increase resident exposure to procedures. We assessed the feasibility of such an educational model by establishing recurring procedure clinics in a nonresidency family medicine site supervised by nonfaculty physicians. Methods: Twice monthly, half-day procedure clinics were conducted at a community site, where family medicine residents were supervised by nonfaculty community family physicians. After participation, we surveyed residents about their perceptions of the clinics. Using retrospective chart review, we determined quantity and type of procedures performed. Results: Fifteen residents participated in 21 procedure clinics, featuring 18 procedure types and 268 procedures. Skin lesion excision, nail removal, punch and shave procedures, joint injection, newborn circumcision, and implantable contraception management were most consistently performed. Residents rated clinics highly and were satisfied with procedure number and variety, opportunity to learn new procedures and techniques, and feedback received. Over 80% of residents noted experiences in procedures that were less commonly encountered in their residency. Conclusion: Procedure clinics at a nonresidency site hosted by nonfaculty attending physicians provided additional training in a variety of primary care procedures. The clinics were favorable to residents and may help programs address training gaps.

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Fatigue is among the top 10 reasons patients visit primary care offices, and it significantly affects patients' well-being and occupational safety. A comprehensive history and cardiopulmonary, neurologic, and skin examinations help guide the workup and diagnosis. Fatigue can be classified as physiologic, secondary, or chronic. Physiologic fatigue can be addressed by proper sleep hygiene, a healthy diet, and balancing energy expenditure. Secondary fatigue is improved by treating the underlying condition. Cognitive behavior therapy, exercise therapy, and acupuncture may help with some of the fatigue associated with chronic conditions. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, severe, and potentially debilitating disorder with demonstrated inflammatory, neurologic, immunologic, and metabolic abnormalities. ME/CFS has a poor prognosis, with no proven treatment or cure. It may become more common after the COVID-19 pandemic because many patients with long COVID (post-COVID-19 condition) have symptoms similar to ME/CFS. The most important symptom of ME/CFS is postexertional malaise. The 2015 National Academy of Medicine diagnostic criteria diagnose ME/CFS. Exercise can be harmful to patients with ME/CFS because it can trigger postexertional malaise. Patients should be educated about pacing their activity not to exceed their limited energy capacity. Treatment should prioritize comorbidities and symptoms based on severity.

Improving Prediction of Postoperative Myocardial Infarction With High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and NT-proBNP.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine whether preoperatively measured high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) improve cardiac risk prediction in patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery compared with the standard risk indices. METHODS: In this ancillary study to the Vitamins in Nitrous Oxide trial, patients were included who had preoperative hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP measured (n = 572). Study outcome was the incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) within the first 3 postoperative days. hs-cTnT was considered elevated if >14 ng/L and NT-proBNP if >300 ng/L. Additional cutoff values were investigated on the basis of receiver operating characteristic statistics. Biomarker risk prediction was compared with Lee's Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) with the use of standard methods and net reclassification index. RESULTS: The addition of hs-cTnT (>14 ng/L) and NT-proBNP (>300 ng/L) to RCRI significantly improved the prediction of postoperative MI (event rate 30/572 [5.2%], Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve increased from 0.590 to 0.716 with a 0.66 net reclassification index [95% confidence interval 0.32-0.99], P < .001). The use of 108 ng/L as a cutoff for NT-proBNP improved sensitivity compared with 300 ng/L (0.87 vs 0.53). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value for hs-cTnT were 0.70, 0.60, 0.09, and 0.97 and for NT-proBNP were 0.53, 0.68, 0.08, and 0.96. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of cardiac biomarkers hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP to RCRI improves the prediction of adverse cardiac events in the immediate postoperative period after major noncardiac surgery. The high negative predictive value of preoperative hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP suggest usefulness as a "rule-out" test to confirm low risk of postoperative MI.

Resident Perceptions of Giving and Receiving Peer-to-Peer Feedback.

BACKGROUND: Peer feedback is increasingly being used by residency programs to provide an added dimension to the assessment process. Studies show that peer feedback is useful, uniquely informative, and reliable compared to other types of assessments. Potential barriers to implementation include insufficient training/preparation, negative consequences for working relationships, and a perceived lack of benefit. OBJECTIVE: We explored the perceptions of residents involved in peer-to-peer feedback, focusing on factors that influence accuracy, usefulness, and application of the information. METHODS: Family medicine residents at the University of Michigan who were piloting an online peer assessment tool completed a brief survey to offer researchers insight into the peer feedback process. Focus groups were conducted to explore residents' perceptions that are most likely to affect giving and receiving peer feedback. RESULTS: Survey responses were provided by 28 of 30 residents (93%). Responses showed that peer feedback provided useful (89%, 25 of 28) and unique (89%, 24 of 27) information, yet only 59% (16 of 27) reported that it benefited their training. Focus group participants included 21 of 29 eligible residents (72%). Approaches to improve residents' ability to give and accept feedback included preparatory training, clearly defined goals, standardization, fewer and more qualitatively oriented encounters, 1-on-1 delivery, immediacy of timing, and cultivation of a feedback culture. CONCLUSIONS: Residents perceived feedback as important and offered actionable suggestions to enhance accuracy, usefulness, and application of the information shared. The findings can be used to inform residency programs that are interested in creating a meaningful peer feedback process.

Nitrous Oxide for Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Proof-of-Concept Trial.

BACKGROUND: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, have rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We hypothesized that nitrous oxide, an inhalational general anesthetic and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, may also be a rapidly acting treatment for TRD. METHODS: In this blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 20 patients with TRD were randomly assigned to 1-hour inhalation of 50% nitrous oxide/50% oxygen or 50% nitrogen/50% oxygen (placebo control). The primary endpoint was the change on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) 24 hours after treatment. RESULTS: Mean duration of nitrous oxide treatment was 55.6 ± 2.5 (SD) min at a median inspiratory concentration of 44% (interquartile range, 37%-45%). In two patients, nitrous oxide treatment was briefly interrupted, and the treatment was discontinued in three patients. Depressive symptoms improved significantly at 2 hours and 24 hours after receiving nitrous oxide compared with placebo (mean HDRS-21 difference at 2 hours, -4.8 points, 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.8 to -7.8 points, p = .002; at 24 hours, -5.5 points, 95% CI, -2.5 to -8.5 points, p < .001; comparison between nitrous oxide and placebo, p < .001). Four patients (20%) had treatment response (reduction ≥50% on HDRS-21) and three patients (15%) had a full remission (HDRS-21 ≤ 7 points) after nitrous oxide compared with one patient (5%) and none after placebo (odds ratio for response, 4.0, 95% CI, .45-35.79; OR for remission, 3.0, 95% CI, .31-28.8). No serious adverse events occurred; all adverse events were brief and of mild to moderate severity. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept trial demonstrated that nitrous oxide has rapid and marked antidepressant effects in patients with TRD.

Using the Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services to estimate adolescent depressive symptoms in school-based health centers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to understand the relationship between depressive symptoms and demographic, behavioral, and environmental risk variables among adolescents attending school-based health centers (SBHCs) using the Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) questionnaires. METHODS: Using GAPS questionnaires, we conducted a retrospective medical record review of 672 adolescents attending two Detroit-area school-based health clinics. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine which factors were associated with depressive symptoms while adjusting for other relevant factors. RESULTS: Overall, 26.5% of adolescents reported depressive symptoms. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between depressive symptoms and female gender, older age, disordered eating, lack of physical activity, sexual activity, poor school performance, substance use of all types, violence, law trouble, and an abuse history. Multivariate regression models revealed that female gender, sexual activity, weapon carrying, law trouble, poor physical activity, and a history of abuse were most strongly related to self-reported depressive symptoms. Substance use was not a significant factor after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the above factors during routine adolescent examinations may help providers at SBHCs and other clinics identify those at highest risk for depression and provide appropriate interventions.

Effect of hand packing versus cement gun pressurization on cement mantle in total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Gun pressurization in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may result in better cement penetration than hand packing, leading to fewer tibial plate failures. We compared cement intrusion characteristics between vacuum mixing and gun pressurization versus hand mixing and packing in the proximal tibia among patients undergoing TKA. METHODS: We analyzed 6-week radiographs from 77 consecutive patients for cement area and zone-specific intrusion using computer-assisted image analysis. RESULTS: Penetration into tibial anteroposterior zones 1-6 was not significantly different between the techniques. Intrusion depths in anteroposterior zone 7 and lateral zone 2 were significantly increased with gun pressurization, but this increase was associated with significantly longer operating room and tourniquet times. CONCLUSION: We identified no obvious advantage of vacuum mixing with gun pressurization, suggesting that continued use of the hand-packing technique may be warranted. Additional long-term failure studies must be completed to compare these techniques.

Effect of bone cement viscosity and set time on mantle area in total knee arthroplasty.

To assess the impact of bone cement viscosity on total knee arthroplasty, we compared 1 high-viscosity and 2 medium-viscosity cements with respect to mantle area and zone-specific intrusion depths into the tibial plateau. We analyzed postoperative radiographs to determine penetration area and depth in 72 consecutive patients (79 knees) in whom DePuy II (n = 11), Endurance (n = 34), or Simplex-P (n = 34) cement was used. Penetration into the tibial plateau (anteroposterior zones 1-4) was significantly reduced with use of the high-viscosity DePuy II cement but did not differ significantly between the 2 medium-viscosity cements, Endurance and Simplex-P. Surgical and tourniquet times were significantly decreased with the quicker setting DePuy II cement. Given these findings, additional studies are warranted to assess the long-term impact of the lower intrusion depths found with DePuy II cement. Such differences in cement penetration could jeopardize long-term fixation and lead to higher long-term device failure rates.

Component version in modular total hip revision.

Morphologic changes of the proximal femur make revision total hip arthroplasty challenging. Metaphyseal retroversion and diaphyseal varus are common in this scenario. Twenty-one total hip revisions using a modular femoral prosthesis were examined by obtaining three radiographs (A/P, surgical lateral, and true lateral of the femur) to assemble CAD models for determining the range of modular component positioning. An average of femoral neck anteversion was observed. Seventeen of 21 cases (81%) had retroverted metaphyseal segments (-23.2 degrees +/-17.4 degrees ) and/or varus stems (-32.1 degrees +/-13.0 degrees ). Neck anteversion averaged 21.4 degrees (+/-10.0 degrees ). One of 21 cases (5%) resulted in component orientation similar to a non-modular prosthesis. Modular components provide options to accommodate proximal femoral remodeling not afforded by monobloc stems in total hip revision surgery.

Electrode placement during stimulus evoked electromyographic monitoring of iliosacral screw insertion: a finite element model.

Stimulus evoked electromyography is currently used during surgery to prevent nerve root injury during iliosacral screw insertion. In order to evaluate the importance of anode location in this procedure, a three dimensional finite element model was constructed from computed tomography data to evaluate the effectiveness of five electrode locations. Three anode locations (CASIS, dorsal midline and ventral midline) performed well, including the one most commonly used clinically (ventral midline). The dorsal midline, ventral midline, and CASIS anode locations provide data on the proximity to the neural structure in the superior, inferior and contralateral directions respectively that were attenuated at other anode locations. Modification of the technique to include monitoring of multiple anode locations could further reduce the incidence of injury.