Implementation of a diagnostic stewardship intervention to improve blood-culture utilization in 2 surgical ICUs: Time for a blood-culture change.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the number of blood-culture events before and after the introduction of a blood-culture algorithm and provider feedback. Secondary objectives were the comparison of blood-culture positivity and negative safety signals before and after the intervention. DESIGN: Prospective cohort design. SETTING: Two surgical intensive care units (ICUs): general and trauma surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. PATIENTS: Patients aged ≥18 years and admitted to the ICU at the time of the blood-culture event. METHODS: We used an interrupted time series to compare rates of blood-culture events (ie, blood-culture events per 1,000 patient days) before and after the algorithm implementation with weekly provider feedback. RESULTS: The blood-culture event rate decreased from 100 to 55 blood-culture events per 1,000 patient days in the general surgery and trauma ICU (72% reduction; incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.46; P < .01) and from 102 to 77 blood-culture events per 1,000 patient days in the cardiothoracic surgery ICU (55% reduction; IRR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.39-0.52; P < .01). We did not observe any differences in average monthly antibiotic days of therapy, mortality, or readmissions between the pre- and postintervention periods. CONCLUSIONS: We implemented a blood-culture algorithm with data feedback in 2 surgical ICUs, and we observed significant decreases in the rates of blood-culture events without an increase in negative safety signals, including ICU length of stay, mortality, antibiotic use, or readmissions.

The Quality Improvement Fellow: Educating on Making the Difference.

The critical care medicine (CCM) fellowship is an opportunity for advanced anesthesiology trainees to refine their quality improvement (QI) skills. However, the short training period and inconsistent curricula make this challenging. The QI fellow (QIF) is described as an education program to provide consistent QI training during the CCM fellowship. The QIF is a mentored position to help manage data review, QI conferences, and improvement efforts within the CCM Division. The curriculum is focused on a QI education framework and mentored experiential learning. The QIF program is an opportunity for education and mentorship in the role of a CCM operational leader.

An Analysis of Outcomes Following a Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) Reduction Quality Improvement Project in a Tertiary Care Center.

Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) continue to be a significant complication for hospitalized patients. Hospitals have used various strategies to reduce CLABSI events due to the significant complications and associated costs. In this QI analysis, we examined the impact of a CLABSI reduction quality improvement project within a single ICU at a tertiary care medical center. Absolute CLABSI counts were compared between this ICU and other health system ICUs that did not implement the bundle. A sustained reduction in absolute CLABSI counts to or near zero was observed over 17 months after implementation. ICUs not performing the interventions during this time consistently reported ≥ 2 CLABSI per month. Further analysis is needed to assess causality and the generalizability of bundle components to other ICUs. These findings may provide other health systems with additional strategies to prevent CLABSI and provide consistent, evidence-based supportive care to critically ill patients.

Novel Airway and Ventilator Management of Tracheobronchial Disruption After Blunt Trauma.

Tracheobronchial injuries can be difficult to diagnose and manage, especially in the presence of polytrauma. A 50-year-old woman presented as a Level I trauma activation after being struck by a motor vehicle. Initial evaluation demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage and multiple chest injuries, including multilevel bilateral rib fractures, pneumomediastinum, and concern for tracheobronchial injury. After initial stabilization, bronchoscopy was performed and demonstrated an injury to the carina. We report a novel airway and ventilation strategy in the setting of concomitant tracheobronchial injury after severe blunt chest trauma in which extracorporeal support is contraindicated.

Postoperative Pulmonary Complications, Early Mortality, and Hospital Stay Following Noncardiothoracic Surgery: A Multicenter Study by the Perioperative Research Network Investigators.

Importance: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), a leading cause of poor surgical outcomes, are heterogeneous in their pathophysiology, severity, and reporting accuracy. Objective: To prospectively study clinical and radiological PPCs and respiratory insufficiency therapies in a high-risk surgical population. Design, Setting, and Participants: We performed a multicenter prospective observational study in 7 US academic institutions. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 3 patients who presented for noncardiothoracic surgery requiring 2 hours or more of general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation from May to November 2014 were included in the study. We hypothesized that PPCs, even mild, would be associated with early postoperative mortality and use of hospital resources. We analyzed their association with modifiable perioperative variables. Exposure: Noncardiothoracic surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Predefined PPCs occurring within the first 7 postoperative days were prospectively identified. We used bivariable and logistic regression analyses to study the association of PPCs with ventilatory and other perioperative variables. Results: This study included 1202 patients who underwent predominantly abdominal, orthopedic, and neurological procedures. The mean (SD) age of patients was 62.1 (13.8) years, and 636 (52.9%) were men. At least 1 PPC occurred in 401 patients (33.4%), mainly the need for prolonged oxygen therapy by nasal cannula (n = 235; 19.6%) and atelectasis (n = 206; 17.1%). Patients with 1 or more PPCs, even mild, had significantly increased early postoperative mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and ICU/hospital length of stay. Significant PPC risk factors included nonmodifiable (emergency [yes vs no]: odds ratio [OR], 4.47, 95% CI, 1.59-12.56; surgical site [abdominal/pelvic vs nonabdominal/pelvic]: OR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.67-3.89; and age [in years]: OR, 1.03, 95% CI, 1.02-1.05) and potentially modifiable (colloid administration [yes vs no]: OR, 1.75, 95% CI, 1.03-2.97; preoperative oxygenation: OR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.80-0.93; blood loss [in milliliters]: OR, 1.17, 95% CI, 1.05-1.30; anesthesia duration [in minutes]: OR, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.05-1.24; and tidal volume [in milliliters per kilogram of predicted body weight]: OR, 1.12, 95% CI, 1.01-1.24) factors. Conclusions and Relevance: Postoperative pulmonary complications are common in patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 3, despite current protective ventilation practices. Even mild PPCs are associated with increased early postoperative mortality, ICU admission, and length of stay (ICU and hospital). Mild frequent PPCs (eg, atelectasis and prolonged oxygen therapy need) deserve increased attention and intervention for improving perioperative outcomes.

Lichen sclerosus in men is associated with elevated body mass index, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and smoking.

PURPOSE: To elucidate disease associations and possible etiology of lichen sclerosus (LS), we identified comorbidities present in men with LS. LS is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology affecting genitals and urethra of men commonly resulting in strictures. METHODS: Men with LS of the urethra, penis, prepuce and scrotum were identified. A control population was generated from men seen in the Department of Urology matched by age and race in a 5:1 ratio. A case-control study was performed and comorbidities identified by ICD9, CPT codes and medication use via systematic electronic medical record review. Subgroup analysis of men with urethral strictures was performed based on their LS status. RESULTS: Men with LS had a significantly higher mean body mass index [31.0 (range 18.9-52.6)] compared to controls [28.1 (16.8-64.1), p = 0.001], significantly increased rate of coronary artery disease (CAD) (15.3 vs. 8.9%, p = 0.05) as well as a twofold higher rate of diabetes mellitus (15.5 vs. 8.3%, p = 0.02). Of men with LS and stricture disease, 11/19 (58%) were current or former smokers, compared to 28% of men with strictures without LS (p = 0.006). No association of LS with other morbidities like hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease or dermatologic disorders was found. CONCLUSIONS: Men suffering from LS have an increased BMI and a higher prevalence of concomitant CAD, diabetes mellitus and tobacco use. Development and chronicity of LS may not be a purely dermatologic condition, but be associated or confounded by systemic or vascular compromise from disorders of CAD, DM and smoking.

Distal urethroplasty for isolated fossa navicularis and meatal strictures.

OBJECTIVE: • Urethral strictures located in the fossa navicularis are common and are often managed with meatotomy or meatoplasty. • Few data have described the outcomes for men after urethroplasty or patient satisfaction following these procedures. METHODS: • In all, 93 men at two different institutions underwent surgical repair of distal urethral stricture disease using meatotomy (73) or meatoplasty (20), with 13/20 (65%) of the latter group undergoing substitution urethroplasty. • In patients with lichen sclerosus (LS), all involved tissue was excised prior to reconstruction. • In a subset of men undergoing meatotomy, patient satisfaction was evaluated by questionnaire. RESULTS: • Average clinical follow-up for men undergoing distal urethroplasty was 61 months. • Successful reconstruction requiring no further intervention occurred in 84% of men overall. Subgroup analysis revealed success in 87% of men with meatotomy, 75% with meatoplasty and 66% with substitution urethroplasty. • Men with LS had a significantly greater rate of stricture recurrence (20.5% vs 7.5%, P= 0.04). • Of the subset of men who completed a patient-based questionnaire 84% reported they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the results of their meatotomy. CONCLUSIONS: • We report the success of distal urethral stricture management. • Meatal strictures may be approached successfully in a stepwise manner progressing from meatotomy to meatoplasty for longer recurrent strictures, with a high overall success rate for meatotomy. • Although substitution grafts may be useful for men with longer distal strictures and those with LS, the risk of recurrence was significantly higher in this cohort.

Urethroplasty for radiotherapy induced bulbomembranous strictures: a multi-institutional experience.

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy induced urethral strictures are often difficult to manage due to proximal location, compromised vascular supply and poor wound healing. To determine the success of urethroplasty for radiation induced strictures we performed a multi-institutional review of men who underwent urethroplasty for urethral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 men (mean age 67 years) underwent urethroplasty at 3 separate institutions. Excision with primary anastomosis was used in 24 of 30 patients (80%), with 4 of 30 requiring a genital fasciocutaneous skin flap and 2 a buccal graft. Hospitalization was less than 23 hours for 70% of the patients. Recurrence was defined as cystoscopic identification of urethral narrowing to less than 16Fr in diameter. RESULTS: All strictures were located in the bulbomembranous region. Mean stricture length was 2.9 cm (range 1.5 to 7). External beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer was the etiology of stricture disease in 15 men (50%), with brachytherapy in 7 (24%) and a combination of the 2 modalities in 8 (26%). Successful urethral reconstruction was achieved in 22 men (73%) at a mean of 21 months. Mean time to stricture recurrence was 5.1 months (range 2 to 8). Two men required balloon dilation after stricture recurrence and none required urinary diversion. Incontinence was transient in 10% and persistent in 40%, with 13% requiring an artificial urinary sphincter. The rate of erectile dysfunction was unchanged following urethroplasty (47% preoperative, 50% postoperative). CONCLUSIONS: Urethroplasty for radiation induced strictures has an acceptable rate of success and can be performed without tissue transfer techniques in most cases. Almost half of men will experience some degree of incontinence as a result of surgery but erectile function appears to be preserved.

Developmental increases in effective connectivity to brain regions involved in phonological processing during tasks with orthographic demands.

Developmental differences (9- to 15-year-olds) in effective connectivity in left hemisphere regions were examined using dynamic causal modeling (DCM) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Children completed spelling tasks in the visual and auditory modalities in which they were asked to determine if two words were spelled the same from the first vowel onwards. Intrinsic (anatomical) connections were strongest from primary cortical regions to unimodal association areas - from Heschl's gyrus to superior temporal gyrus for the auditory spelling task and from calcarine to fusiform gyrus for the visual spelling task. The modulatory (experimental) effect for the visual spelling task from calcarine to superior temporal gyrus was stronger than all other effects from calcarine and this effect showed a developmental increase, suggesting automatic activation of phonology that increased with age. The modulatory effect from Heschl's gyrus to dorsal inferior frontal gyrus also showed a developmental increase, suggesting age-related increases in phonological segmentation in verbal working memory. All together, these results suggest that there are developmental increases in automatic access into brain regions involved in phonological processing in tasks that require orthographic processing.