Surgery Reduces Risk of Complications Even in High-Risk Veterans After Endoscopic Therapy for Biliary Stone Disease.

BACKGROUND: In otherwise healthy patients, randomized trials have shown reduced mortality with cholecystectomy (CCY) when compared to non-operative management after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary stone disease. These findings may not apply to veterans with multiple comorbidities, who have an increased risk of postoperative complications. AIMS: Our study assessed the benefit of CCY among veterans with multiple comorbidities. METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing ERCP for biliary stone-related diseases from July 2008 to December 2016 were reviewed. Among patients who did not undergo CCY, risk of postoperative complications or death with CCY was estimated using the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program risk calculator. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification system (ASA) were used to assess patient's functional status. The primary outcome was incidence of recurrent biliary events or death with non-operative management, compared to estimated risk of serious postoperative complications or death with CCY. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients met inclusion criteria, 81 of whom did not undergo CCY. Patients managed non-operatively were older and less medically fit than patients who underwent CCY. Biliary complications recurred in 23 patients managed non-operatively, including 3 deaths due to cholangitis. Among patients with CCI ≥ 3 and ASA ≥ 3 who were managed non-operatively (n = 43), the risk of serious biliary events was significantly higher than estimated risk of serious postoperative complications with laparoscopic CCY (26 vs 5%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that non-operative management is associated with a higher risk of complications than laparoscopic CCY, even among veterans with significant comorbidities.

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass is linked to lipid and metabolic profile in individuals with spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: Changes in metabolism and body composition after spinal cord injury (SCI) predispose individuals to obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A link between lean mass and skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass has been reported but it is unknown how skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass and activity impact metabolic health. This study examined the relationship between skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass, activity and metabolic profile in individuals with chronic SCI. METHODS: Twenty-two men with motor complete SCI participated in the study. Citrate synthase (CS) and complex III (CIII) activity was measured in vastus lateralis biopsies. Metabolic profile was assessed by intravenous glucose tolerance test, basal metabolic rate (BMR), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and blood lipid profile. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle CS activity was negatively related to the cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and triglycerides (r = -0.60, p = 0.009; r = -0.64, p = 0.004, respectively). CS activity was positively related to insulin sensitivity and BMR (r = 0.67, p = 0.006; r = 0.64, p = 0.005, respectively). Similar relationships were found for CIII and metabolic profile, but not CIII normalized to CS. Many of the relationships between CS and metabolism remained significant when age, level of injury, or time since injury were accounted for. They also remained significant when CS activity was normalized to total lean mass. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an increase in skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass is associated with improved metabolic health independent of age, level of injury, or time since injury in individuals with chronic SCI. This highlights the importance of maintaining and improving mitochondrial health in individuals with SCI.

Mitochondrial mass and activity as a function of body composition in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is accompanied by deterioration in body composition and severe muscle atrophy. These changes put individuals at risk for insulin resistance, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. To determine the relationships between skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass, activity, and body composition, 22 men with motor complete SCI were studied. Body composition assessment was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle to measure citrate synthase (CS) and complex III (CIII) activity. CS activity was inversely related to %body fat (r = -0.57, P = 0.013), %leg fat (r = -0.52, P = 0.027), %trunk fat (r = -0.54, P = 0.020), and %android fat (r = -0.54, P = 0.017). CIII activity was negatively related to %body fat (r = -0.58, P = 0.022) and %leg fat (r = -0.54, P = 0.037). Increased visceral adipose tissue was associated with decreased CS and CIII activity (r = -0.66, P = 0.004; r = -0.60, P = 0.022). Thigh intramuscular fat was also inversely related to both CS and CIII activity (r = -0.56, P = 0.026; r = -0.60, P = 0.024). Conversely, lean mass (r = 0.75, P = 0.0003; r = 0.65, P = 0.008) and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA; r = 0.82, P = 0.0001; r = 0.84; P = 0.0001) were positively related to mitochondrial parameters. When normalized to thigh muscle CSA, many body composition measurements remained related to CS and CIII activity, suggesting that %fat and lean mass may predict mitochondrial mass and activity independent of muscle size. Finally, individuals with SCI over age 40 had decreased CS and CIII activity (P = 0.009; P = 0.004), suggesting a decrease in mitochondrial health with advanced age. Collectively, these findings suggest that an increase in adipose tissue and decrease in lean mass results in decreased skeletal muscle mitochondrial activity in individuals with chronic SCI.

Effects of Testosterone and Evoked Resistance Exercise after Spinal Cord Injury (TEREX-SCI): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at a lifelong risk of obesity and chronic metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Within a few weeks of injury, there is a significant decline in whole body fat-free mass, particularly lower extremity skeletal muscle mass, and subsequent increase in fat mass (FM). This is accompanied by a decrease in anabolic hormones including testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been shown to increase skeletal muscle mass and improve metabolic profile. Additionally, resistance training (RT) has been shown to increase lean mass and reduce metabolic disturbances in SCI and other clinical populations. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 26 individuals with chronic, motor complete SCI between 18 and 50 years old were randomly assigned to a RT+TRT group (n=13) or a TRT group (n=13). 22 participants completed the initial 16-week training phase of the study and 4 participants withdrew. 12 participants of the 22 completed 16 weeks of detraining. The TRT was provided via transdermal testosterone patches (4-6 mg/day). The RT+TRT group had 16 weeks of supervised unilateral progressive RT using surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation with ankle weights. This study will investigate the effects of evoked RT+TRT or TRT alone on body composition (muscle cross-sectional area, visceral adipose tissue, %FM) and metabolic profile (glucose and lipid metabolism) in individuals with motor complete SCI. Findings from this study may help in designing exercise therapies to alleviate the deterioration in body composition after SCI and decrease the incidence of metabolic disorders in this clinical population. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is currently approved by the McGuire VA Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University. All participants read and signed approved consent forms. Results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Pre-result, NCT01652040.

The view of surgery department chairs on part time faculty in academic practice: results of a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Reduced resident work hours sparked debate regarding lifestyle of clinical faculty. We hypothesized surgery department chairs would not be supportive of part-time clinical faculty (PTF) and would be reluctant to grant requests to reduce total institutional commitment (TIC) or total professional effort. METHOD: A 16-question survey was mailed to 202 surgery chairs requesting department demographics, and perception of PTF. Chairs were given the option of identifying themselves. PTF referred to full-time equivalent clinicians who reduce their TIC for personal/family reasons and did not include clinicians with research or teaching commitments limiting clinical responsibilities. RESULTS: A total of 112 of 186 (61.2%) delivered surveys were returned. Of these, 48.2% of respondents indicated clinicians had requested reduced TIC and 40.2% of departments had PTF. Only 1 chair was unable to grant a request to reduce TIC. A total of 42.8% of respondents indicated that PTF receive reduced salary-linked benefits but (58.9%) no change in either academic status or (52.7%) eligibility for promotion/tenure. The percentage of women faculty was 12.0% in departments with PTF and 10.5% in departments without PTF. A total of 42.8% of chairs agreed facilitating PTF would improve faculty retention versus 24.1% who disagreed (P<.0001). When compared with departments without PTF, chairs with PTF were more supportive that facilitating PTF would improve faculty retention (53.3% vs 32.7%, P<.001) and would be beneficial to their departments (57.8% vs 22.4%, P<.001). Sixty-two percent of respondents volunteered their names and contact information for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis, surgery department chairs appear to be supportive of PTF and were interested in discussing this further.

Regional anesthesia as an alternative to general anesthesia for abdominal surgery in patients with severe pulmonary impairment.

BACKGROUND: It is known that smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a higher rate of pulmonary-related complications following abdominal surgery. The impact of anesthetic technique (regional [RA] versus general [GA] versus combination of both) on the complication rate has not been established. This study examined the outcomes of abdominal surgery performed using RA (epidural or continuous spinal) as the sole anesthetic technique in patients with severe pulmonary impairment (SPI). METHODS: We reviewed a series of 8 general surgery cases performed using RA alone (T4-T6 sensory level) in patients with SPI, as evidenced by an forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) less than 50% predicted and/or home oxygen requirement. One patient also received postoperative epidural analgesia. FEV(1) ranged from 0.3 to 1.84 L; 3 patients required home oxygen therapy, and 5 of the 8 were American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class 4. Operations included segmental colectomy (n = 2), open cholecystectomy (n = 1), incisional herniorrhaphy (n = 1), and laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (n = 4). RESULTS: Intraoperative conditions were adequate with RA alone for successful completion of the procedure in all cases. All patients recovered uneventfully except for 1 who developed postoperative pneumonia that resolved with standard therapy. Length of stay was less than 24 hours for 5 of 8 patients. Mortality was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal surgery can be safely performed using RA alone in selected high-risk patients, making this option an attractive alternative to GA for those with severe pulmonary impairment.

The spectrum of colovesical fistula and diagnostic paradigm.

BACKGROUND: Our experience with colovesical fistula (CVF) over a 12-year period was reviewed to clarify its clinical presentation and diagnostic confirmation. METHODS: Twelve patients with CVF were identified. Presenting symptoms, etiologic factors, diagnostic investigations, and subsequent treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Underlying etiologies were diverticular disease (75%), colon cancer (16%), and bladder cancer (8%). Pneumaturia (77%) was the most common presentation, followed by urinary tract infections, dysuria and frequency (45%), fecaluria (36%), hematuria (22%), and orchitis (10%). The ability of various preoperative investigations to identify a CVF were: computed tomography (CT) (90%), barium enema (BE) (20%), and cystography (11%), whereas cystoscopy, intravenous pyelogram (IVP), and colonoscopy were nondiagnostic. All patients underwent single- or multiple-staged repair of the fistula. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a suspected CVF, we recommend CT followed by a colonoscopy as a first-line investigation to rule out malignancy as a cause of CVF. Other modalities should only be used if the diagnosis is in doubt or additional information is needed to plan operative management.

Gastric surgery.

Most significant research relating to gastric surgery in the past year has centered on surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Antireflux surgery has become more popular with advanced laparoscopic technology. Two previously accepted surgical principles have been challenged by current studies: the importance of division of the short gastrics and the dictum that partial fundoplication is preferred for patients at risk for dysphagia. Additionally, risk factors for postoperative dysphagia have been identified, allowing for better patient selection and education. Further study on the cause of GERD has shown a positive correlation between pathologic gastroesophageal reflux and those with hiatal hernia or disordered esophageal peristalsis, although cause or effect has not yet been established. Literature relating to bariatric surgery has confirmed the safety and efficacy of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and several papers address the appropriateness of prophylactic cholecystectomy in these patients. The role of laparoscopic surgery for treatment of perforated peptic ulcer disease has now been validated, with subsequent eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. The relationship of H. pylori infection to acutely bleeding ulcers is less clear. Indications for ulcer surgery are predominantly limited now to perforation and bleeding because of the availability of effective acid-reducing medications and recognition of the role of H. pylori infection.