Challenging Dogma by Skipping the Emergency Department Thoracotomy: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Database.

INTRODUCTION: Survival following emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) for patients in extremis is poor. Whether intervention in the operating room instead of EDT in select patients could lead to improved outcomes is unknown. We hypothesized that patients who underwent intervention in the operating room would have improved outcomes compared to those who underwent EDT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database from 2017 to 2021. All adult patients who underwent EDT, operating room thoracotomy (ORT), or sternotomy as the first form of surgical intervention within 1 h of arrival were included. Of patients without prehospital cardiac arrest, propensity score matching was utilized to create three comparable groups. The primary outcome was survival. Secondary outcomes included time to procedure. RESULTS: There were 1865 EDT patients, 835 ORT patients, and 456 sternotomy patients who met the inclusion criteria. There were 349 EDT, 344 ORT, and 408 sternotomy patients in the matched analysis. On Cox multivariate regression, there was an increased risk of mortality with EDT versus sternotomy (HR 4.64, P < 0.0001), EDT versus ORT (HR 1.65, P < 0.0001), and ORT versus sternotomy (HR 2.81, P < 0.0001). Time to procedure was shorter with EDT versus sternotomy (22 min versus 34 min, P < 0.0001) and versus ORT (22 min versus 37 min, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between sternotomy and ORT versus EDT and improved mortality. In select patients, operative approaches rather than the traditional EDT could be considered.

Prioritising patients for semi-urgent surgery: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Semi-urgent surgery where surgical intervention is required within 48 h of admission and the patient is medically stable is vulnerable to scheduling delays. Given the challenges in accessing health care, there is a need for a detailed understanding of the factors that impact decisions on scheduling semi-urgent surgeries. AIM: To identify and describe the organisational, departmental and contextual factors that determine healthcare professionals' prioritising patients for semi-urgent surgeries. METHODS: We used the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Four online databases were used: EBSCO Academic Search Complete, EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, OVID Embase and EBSCO Medline. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they published in English and focussed on the scheduling of patients for surgery were included. Data were extracted by one author and checked by another and analysed descriptively. Findings were synthesises using the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations framework. RESULTS: Twelve articles published between 1999 and 2022 were included. The Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations framework highlighted themes of emergency surgery scheduling and its impact on operating room utilisation. Gaps in the management of operating room utilisation and the incorporation of semi-urgent surgeries into operating schedules were also identified. Finally, the lack of consensus on the definition of semi-urgent surgery and the parameters used to assign surgical acuity to patients was evident. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review identified patterns in the scheduling methods, and involvement of key decision makers. Yet there is limited evidence about how key decision makers reach consensus on prioritising patients for semi-urgent surgery and its impact on patient experience. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

The Practice of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology in the United States.

BACKGROUND: With advances in surgical and catheter-based interventions and technologies in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), the practice of pediatric cardiac anesthesiology has evolved in parallel with pediatric cardiac surgery and pediatric cardiology as a distinct subspecialty over the past 80 years. To date, there has not been an analysis of the distribution of pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists relative to cardiac and noncardiac procedures in the pediatric population. The primary aim is to report the results of a survey and its subsequent analysis to describe the distribution of pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists relative to pediatric cardiac procedures that include surgical interventions, cardiac catheterization procedures, imaging studies (echocardiography, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, positron emission tomography), and noncardiac procedures. METHODS: A survey developed in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDcap) was sent to the identifiable division chiefs/cardiac directors of 113 pediatric cardiac anesthesia programs in the United States. Data regarding cardiac surgical patients and procedures were collected from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHD). RESULTS: This analysis reveals that only 38% (117 of 307) of pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists caring for patients with CHD pursued additional training in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology, while 44% (136 of 307) have gained experience during their clinical practice. Other providers have pursued different training pathways such as adult cardiac anesthesiology or pediatric critical care. Based on this survey, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists devote 35% (interquartile range [IQR], 20%-50%) of clinical time to the care of patients in the cardiac operating room, 25% (20%-35%) of time to the care of patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, 10% (5%-10%) to patient care in imaging locations, and 15% covering general pediatric, adult, or cardiac patients undergoing noncardiac procedures. Attempts to actively recruit pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists were reported by 49.2% (29 of 59) of the institutions surveyed. Impending retirement of staff was anticipated in 17% (10 of 59) of the institutions, while loss of staff to relocation was anticipated in 3.4% (2 of 59) of institutions. Thirty-seven percent of institutions reported that they anticipated no immediate changes in current staffing levels. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of currently practicing pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists have not completed a fellowship training in the subspecialty. There is, and will continue to be, a need for subspecialty training to meet increasing demand for services especially with increase survival of this patient population and to replace retiring members of the workforce.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Management of Breast Cancer: Global Trends and Future Perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe is forcing surgical oncologists to change their daily practice. We sought to evaluate how breast surgeons are adapting their surgical activity to limit viral spread and spare hospital resources. METHODS: A panel of 12 breast surgeons from the most affected regions of the world convened a virtual meeting on April 7, 2020, to discuss the changes in their local surgical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, a Web-based poll based was created to evaluate changes in surgical practice among breast surgeons from several countries. RESULTS: The virtual meeting showed that distinct countries and regions were experiencing different phases of the pandemic. Surgical priority was given to patients with aggressive disease not candidate for primary systemic therapy, those with progressive disease under neoadjuvant systemic therapy, and patients who have finished neoadjuvant therapy. One hundred breast surgeons filled out the poll. The trend showed reductions in operating room schedules, indications for surgery, and consultations, with an increasingly restrictive approach to elective surgery with worsening of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 emergency should not compromise treatment of a potentially lethal disease such as breast cancer. Our results reveal that physicians are instinctively reluctant to abandon conventional standards of care when possible. However, as the situation deteriorates, alternative strategies of de-escalation are being adopted. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study aimed to characterize how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting breast cancer surgery and which strategies are being adopted to cope with the situation.

Surgical data recording in the operating room: a systematic review of modalities and metrics.

INTRODUCTION: Operating room recording, via video, audio and sensor-based recordings, is increasingly common. Yet, surgical data science is a new field without clear guidelines. The purpose of this study is to examine existing published studies of surgical recording modalities to determine which are available for use in the operating room, as a first step towards developing unified standards for this field. METHODS: Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PubMed databases were systematically searched for articles describing modalities of data collection in the operating room. Search terms included 'video-audio media', 'bio-sensing techniques', 'sound', 'movement', 'operating rooms' and others. Title, abstract and full-text screening were completed to identify relevant articles. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for included studies. RESULTS: From 3756 citations, 91 studies met inclusion criteria. These studies described 10 unique data-collection modalities for 17 different purposes in the operating room. Data modalities included video, audio, kinematic and eye-tracking among others. Data-collection purposes described included surgical trainee assessment, surgical error, surgical team communication and operating room efficiency. CONCLUSION: Effective data collection and utilization in the operating room are imperative for the provision of superior surgical care. The future operating room landscape undoubtedly includes multiple modalities of data collection for a plethora of purposes. This review acts as a foundation for employing operating room data in a way that leads to meaningful benefit for patient care.

Virtual Reality Warm-up Before Robot-assisted Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

TRIAL DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial. BACKGROUND: Intraoperative errors correlate with surgeon skill and skill declines with intervals of inactivity. The goals of this research were to identify the optimal virtual reality (VR) warm-up curriculum to prime a surgeon's technical skill and validate benefit in the operating room. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgeons were randomized to receive six trial sessions of a designated set of VR modules on the da Vinci Skills Simulator to identify optimal VR warm-up curricula to prime technical skill. After performing their curricula, warm-up effect was assessed based on performance on a criterion task. The optimal warm-up curriculum was chosen from the group with the best task time and video review-based technical skill. Robot-assisted surgery-experienced surgeons were then recruited to either receive or not receive warm-up before surgery. Skill in the first 15 min of surgery was assessed by blinded surgeon and crowdworker review as well as tool motion metrics. The intervention was performing VR warm-up before human robot-assisted surgery. Warm-up effect was measured using objective performance metrics and video review using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills tool. Linear mixed effects models with a random intercept for each surgeon and nonparametric modified Friedman tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: The group performing only a Running Suture task on the simulator was on average 31.3 s faster than groups performing other simulation tasks and had the highest Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills scores from 41 surgeons who participated. This was chosen as the optimal curriculum. Thereafter, 34 surgeons completed 347 surgeries with corresponding video and tool motion data. No statistically significant differences in skill were observed with the warm-up intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a robotic VR warm-up before performing the early stages of surgery does not impact the technical skill of the surgeon.

The Effect of Obesity on Operating Room Utilization in Breast Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The current obesity epidemic is associated with increased health care costs associated with comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease as well as postoperative complications. However, the effect of obesity on operating room (OR) utilization, especially in common breast procedures, has not been completely evaluated. Our study is the first to examine the effect of patient obesity on operative time (OPT) for common breast procedures. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project databases for 2010-2018 were searched for this retrospective review. Patients undergoing common breast operations (lumpectomy, lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (+/- injection), lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), simple mastectomy, mastectomy with SLNB (+/- injection), and mastectomy with ALND) were filtered out by Current Procedural Terminology code and divided into three groups based on their body mass index (BMI) and weight. Using the two-sample t-test, OPT for the procedures was compared among the lowest and highest BMI and weight categories. We also used a linear regression t-test to demonstrate that for every unit increase in BMI, there was a corresponding increase in OPT for each procedure. RESULTS: When the lowest and highest BMI and weight groups were compared, significant differences in OPT (P < 0.0001) were seen for each of the procedures. Numerous factors that could affect the complexity of surgery and thus OR time were identified. The correlation between BMI and weight and OPT remained significant after controlling for these variables. The differences between the highest and lowest BMI groups were most pronounced for higher complexity procedures, such as lumpectomy with ALND and mastectomy with ALND, with average operating times increasing by 18.2 min and 18.6 min, respectively, for patients with a higher BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Patient BMI and weight significantly affect OPT for common breast procedures. Therefore, patient BMI should be taken into account to improve OR scheduling.

The Perception and Attitude Toward Noise and Music in the Operating Room: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Environmental noise pollution is regarded as a general stressor. Noise levels frequently exceed recommended noise levels by the World Health Organization in hospitals, especially in the operation room. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of noise pollution on patient outcome and performance by operation room staff. In addition, the perception and attitude toward playing music in the operation room, which can increase noise levels, were assessed as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search of the databases Embase, Medline Ovid, and Cochrane from date of database inception until October 16th, 2020 using the exhaustive literature search method was performed. Prospective studies evaluating the effect of noise on the patient, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other operation room staff, or perception and attitude toward playing music in the operation room, were included. This systematic review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (ID: 208282). RESULTS: The literature search generated 4758 articles, and 22 prospective studies (3507 participants) were included. Three of the four studies that investigated the effect of noise on patient outcome reported a significant reduction of complication rate in surgical patients, when noise levels were lower. Six studies assessed the effect of noise in the operation room on the staff (1383 participants). Over half of the surveyed staff found noise levels to be a disturbing stressor and negatively impact performance. Although music increased decibel levels in the operation room, most surveyed staff was positively predisposed toward playing music during surgery, believing it to improve both individual and team performance. In general, music was not considered to be distracting or impairing communication. CONCLUSIONS: Higher noise levels seem to have a negative effect on patient outcome and adversely affect performance by members in the operation room. Further research is needed to assess whether this knowledge can benefit patient outcome and surgical performance. Notably, attitude of surgical team members toward music during surgery is generally regarded favorable.

Trauma Center Outcomes After Transition From Level 2 to Level 1: A National Trauma Data Bank Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous US-based studies have shown that a trauma center designation of level 1 is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, most studies are cross-sectional, focus on volume-related issues and are direct comparisons between levels. This study investigates the change in patient characteristics when individual trauma centers transition from level 2 to level 1 and whether the patients have similar outcomes during the initial period of the transition. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study that analyzed hospital and patient records included in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2016. Patient characteristics were compared before and after their hospitals transitioned their trauma level. Mortality; complications including acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac arrest with CPR, deep surgical site infection, deep vein thrombosis, extremity compartment syndrome, surgical site infection, osteomyelitis, pulmonary embolism, and so on; ICU admission; ventilation use; unplanned returns to the OR; unplanned ICU transfers; unplanned intubations; and lengths of stay were obtained following propensity score matching, comparing posttransition years with the last pretransition year. RESULTS: Sixteen trauma centers transitioned from level 2 to level 1 between 2007 and 2016. One was excluded due to missing data. After transition, patient characteristics showed differences in the distribution of race, comorbidities, insurance status, injury severity scores, injury mechanisms, and injury type. After propensity score matching, patients treated in a trauma center after transition from level 2 to 1 required significantly fewer ICU admissions and had lower complication rates. However, significantly more unplanned intubations, unplanned returns to the OR, unplanned ICU transfers, ventilation use, surgical site infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections and higher mortality were reported after the transition. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma centers that transitioned from level 2 to level 1 had lower overall complications, with fewer patients requiring ICU admission. However, higher mortality and more surgical site infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, unplanned intubations, and unplanned ICU transfers were reported after the transition. These findings may have significant implications in the planning of trauma systems for administrators and healthcare leaders.

Evaluation of the Impact of Intraoperative Distractions on Teamwork, Stress, and Workload.

BACKGROUND: Within the operating rooms (ORs), distractions occur on a regular basis, which affect the surgical workflow and results in the interruption of urgent tasks. This study aimed to observe the occurrence of intraoperative distractions in Tunisian ORs and evaluate associations among distractions, teamwork, workload, and stress. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in four different ORs (orthopedic, urology, emergency, and digestive surgery) of Sahloul University Hospital for a period of 3 mo in 2018. Distractions and teamwork were recorded and rated in real time during the intraoperative phase of each case using validated observation sheets. Besides, at the end of each operation, stress and workload of team members were measured. RESULTS: Altogether, 50 cases were observed and 160 participants were included. Distractions happened in 100% of the included operations. Overall, we recorded 933 distractions that occurred once every 3 min, with a mean frequency of M = 18.66 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.24) per case. It is particularly noticeable that procedural distractions occurred significantly higher during teaching cases compared with nonteaching cases (M = 3.85, M = 0.60, respectively, P < 0.001). The mean global teamwork score was M = 3.85 (SD = 0.67), the mean workload score was M = 58.60 (SD = 24.27), and the mean stress score was M = 15.29 (SD = 4.00). Furthermore, a higher stress level among surgeons was associated with distractions related to equipment failures and people entering or exiting the OR (r = 0.206, P < 0.01 and r = 0.137, P < 0.01, respectively). Similarly, nurses reported a higher workload in the presence of distractions related to the work environment in the OR (r = 0.313, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted a serious problem, which often team members seem to ignore or underestimate. Taking our findings into consideration, we recommend the implementation of the Surgical Checklist and preoperative briefings to reduce the number of surgical distractions. Also, a continuous teamwork training should be adopted to ensure that OR staff can avoid or handle distractions when they happen.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Oncology in Europe: Results of a European Survey.

BACKGROUND: The first COVID-19 pandemic wave hit most of the health-care systems worldwide. The present survey aimed to provide a European overview on the COVID-19 impact on surgical oncology. METHODS: This anonymous online survey was accessible from April 24 to May 11, 2020, for surgeons (n = 298) who were contacted by the surgical society European Digestive Surgery. The survey was completed by 88 surgeons (29.2%) from 69 different departments. The responses per department were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the departments, 88.4% (n = 61/69) reported a lower volume of patients in the outpatient clinic; 69.1% (n = 47/68) and 75.0% (n = 51/68) reported a reduction in hospital bed and the operating room capacity, respectively. As a result, the participants reported an average reduction of 29.3% for all types of oncological resections surveyed in this questionnaire. The strongest reduction was observed for oncological resections of hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) cancers. Of the interviewed surgeons, 68.7% (n = 46/67) agreed that survival outcomes will be negatively impacted by the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The first COVID-19 pandemic wave had a significant impact on surgical oncology in Europe. The surveyed surgeons expect an increase in the number of unresectable cancers as well as poorer survival outcomes due to cancellations of follow-ups and postponements of surgeries.

A randomized controlled trial to compare the interface pressures of alternating pressure overlay with gel pad versus gel pad alone during prolonged surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged surgery is a known risk of pressure ulcer formation. Pressure ulcers affect the quality of life, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and pose a burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of an alternating pressure (AP) overlay with Gel pad against the Gel pad in reducing interface pressure (IP) during prolonged surgery. METHODS: A total of 180 participants from a tertiary hospital were randomized to AP overlay with Gel pad group (n = 90) and Gel pad group (n = 90). Patients were placed supine on the pressure redistributing surfaces, and IP data under the sacrum and ischial tuberosities were collected at an interval of 30 min from 0 min up to a maximum of 570 min. RESULTS: Based on data from 133 participants, the average IPs during all the deflation cycles of the AP overlay (with Gel pad) were significantly lower than the average continuous IP recorded for Gel pad throughout the measuring period (p < 0.001). Only three patients (2.26% of study participants) - Gel pad group (n = 2; 2.99%) and AP overlay with Gel pad group (n = 1; 1.52%) developed post-operative pressure ulcer (p = 0.5687). CONCLUSIONS: The lower IP during deflation cycles of the AP overlay (with Gel pad) suggests its potential effectiveness in preventing pressure ulcer formation in patients undergoing prolonged surgery. The prevention and reduction of pressure ulcers will have a considerable impact on the improved quality of life and cost savings for the patient. The study findings may facilitate the formulation of policies for preventing pressure ulcer development in the perioperative setting.

Comparison of interface pressures on three operating table support surfaces during surgery.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of support surface usage and positions on interface pressure during surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between October 2018 and June 2019. The study included patients who had planned surgery in supine and prone positions. The sample size was 72 patients. Patients were assigned to three groups (gel support surface, viscoelastic support surface and standard operating table) according to the determined randomization table. During the surgery, the pressure in the patients' body was recorded. The statistics program IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 packaged software was used in the analyses of data. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the total body average interface pressure (mmHg) values between the supporting surfaces in the prone position. There was a statistically significant difference between the total body average interface pressure (mmHg) values between the support surfaces in the supine position, and the average interface pressure measured on the viscoelastic foam support surface was significantly lower than the gel support surface and the standard operating table. CONCLUSION: In the study, the use of viscoelastic foam support surface was found to be more effective than the use of a standard operating table and gel support surface. Viscoelastic foam support surface is recommended for patients at risk for pressure injury in the operating room.

Incidence and risk factors of medical device-related pressure injuries among patients undergoing prone position spine surgery in the operating room.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the incidence rate and risk factors of medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPIs) among patients undergoing prone position spine surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 147 patients who underwent spine surgery in an orthopaedic hospital in Korea. The incidence of MDRPI according to intrinsic and extrinsic factors was assessed using the independent t-, χ2 -, or Fisher's exact tests. A logistic regression analysis was performed exclusively for MDRPI areas with an incidence rate >5%. RESULTS: The mean incidence rate of overall MDRPI was 27.4%, while that of MDRPI by Wilson frame, bi-spectral index, and endotracheal tube (ETT) was 56.5%, 52.4%, and 9.5%, respectively. The risk factors under Wilson frame were operation time and body mass index classification. Compared to their normal weight counterparts, those who were underweight, overweight, and obese had a 46.57(95% CI: 6.37-340.26), 3.96 (95% CI: 1.13-13.86), and 5.60 times (95% CI: 1.62-19.28) higher risk of developing MDRPI, respectively. The risk factors by bi-spectral index were sex, operation time, and the American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification. Compared to ETT intubation of <2 h, the risk of MDRPI increased by 7.16 times (95% CI: 1.35-38.00) and 7.93 times (95% CI: 1.45-43.27) for<3 and ≥3 h' duration, respectively. CONCLUSION: The difficulty of device repositioning can increase the incidence of MDRPI, and prolonged surgery was a significant risk factor. Thus, appropriate planning and correct equipment utilization is needed during prone position spine surgeries.

A Prospective Evaluation of the Utility of a Hybrid Operating Suite for Severely Injured Patients: Overstated or Underutilized?

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the utility, clinical impact, and work flow of a new trauma hybrid operating theater. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The potential utility and clinical benefit of hybrid operating theaters are increasingly postulated. Unfortunately, the clinical outcomes and efficiencies of these environments remain unclear. METHODS: All severely injured patients who were transferred to the hybrid suite for emergent intervention between 2013 and 2017 were compared to consecutive prehybrid patients. Standard statistical methodology was employed (P < 0.05 = significant). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine patients with severe injuries (mean ISS = 23; hemodynamic instability = 70%; hospital/ICU stay = 12 d; mortality = 14%) were transferred urgently to the hybrid suite. Most were young (38 yrs) males (84%) with blunt injuries (51%). Combined hybrid trauma procedures occurred in 18% of cases (surgery (82%) and angiography (11%) alone). Procedures within the hybrid suite included: laparotomy (57%), extremity (14%), thoracotomy/sternotomy (12%), angioembolization of the spleen/pelvis/liver/other (9%), neck (9%), craniotomy (4%), and aortic endostenting (6%). Compared with historical controls, use of the hybrid suite resulted in shorter arrival to intervention and total procedure times (P < 0.05). A clear benefit for survival was evident (42% vs. 22%). CONCLUSIONS: Availability of a hybrid environment for severely injured patients reduces time to intervention, total procedural duration, blood product transfusion and salvages a small subset of patients who would not otherwise survive. The cost associated with a hybrid suite remains prohibitive for many centers.

Evaluating Unplanned Returns to the Operating Room in Head and Neck Free Flap Patients.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck oncologic surgery with reconstruction represents one of the most complex operations in otolaryngology. Unplanned return to the operating room represents an objective measure of postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to identify reasons and risk factors for unplanned return to the operating room in patients undergoing head and neck surgery with reconstruction. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of 467 patients undergoing head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction used a previously-developed Head and Neck-Reconstructive Surgery-specific National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Disease and site-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were gathered. Comparisons between those with and without an unexpected return to the operating room were completed with univariate and multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: The rate of unexpected return to the operating room was 18.8% (88 patients). Most common reasons for URTOR were flap compromise (24 patients, 5.1%), postoperative infection (21 patients, 4.5%), and hematoma (20 patients, 4.3%). Two risk factors were identified by multivariate analysis: coagulopathy (ORadjusted = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.24-6.19, P = 0.010), and use of alcohol (ORadjusted = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.14-3.33, P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Preexisting coagulopathy and increased alcohol consumption were associated with increased risk of unexpected return to the operating room. These findings can aid physicians in preoperative patient counseling and medical optimization and can inform more precise risk stratification of patients undergoing head and neck surgery with reconstruction. Strategies to prevent and mitigate unexpected returns to the operating room will improve patient outcomes, decrease resource utilization, and facilitate successful integration into alternative payment models.

Rational performance metrics for operating theatres, principles of efficiency, and how to achieve it.

BACKGROUND: Several performance metrics are commonly used by National Health Service (NHS) organizations to measure the efficiency and productivity of operating lists. These include: start time, utilization, cancellations, number of operations and gap time between operations. The authors describe reasons why these metrics are flawed, and use clinical evidence and mathematics to define a rational, balanced efficiency metric. METHODS: A narrative review of literature on the efficiency and productivity of elective NHS operating lists was undertaken. The aim was to rationalize how best to define and measure the efficiency of an operating list, and describe strategies to achieve it. RESULTS: There is now a wealth of literature on how optimally to measure the performance of elective surgical lists. Efficiency may be defined as the completion of all scheduled operations within the allocated time with no over- or under-runs. CONCLUSION: Achieving efficiency requires appropriate scheduling using specific procedure mean (or median) times and their associated variance (standard deviation or interquartile range) to calculate the probability they can be completed on time. The case mix may be adjusted to yield better time management. This review outlines common misconceptions applied to managing scheduled operating theatre lists and the challenges of measuring unscheduled operations in emergency settings.

ANTECEDENTES: Las organizaciones del National Health Service (NHS) suelen utilizar varias métricas de rendimiento para medir la eficiencia y la productividad de las listas quirúrgicas. Estas incluyen: hora de inicio, utilización, cancelaciones, número de operaciones, e intervalo de tiempo entre casos. Describimos las razones por las cuales estas métricas son defectuosas y nuestro objetivo es utilizar la evidencia clínica y las matemáticas para definir una métrica racional y equilibrada de eficiencia. MÉTODOS: Realizamos una revisión descriptiva de la literatura sobre la eficiencia y la productividad de las listas de cirugía electiva del NHS. Nuestro objetivo era racionalizar la mejor manera de definir y medir la eficiencia de una lista quirúrgica, y describir estrategias para lograrlo. RESULTADOS: Actualmente existe una gran cantidad de literatura sobre cómo medir de manera óptima el rendimiento de las listas quirúrgicas electivas. La eficiencia puede definirse completando todas las operaciones programadas dentro del tiempo asignado, sin excesos, ni infrautilización del tiempo. CONCLUSIÓN: Para lograr la eficiencia se requiere una programación adecuada utilizando la media (o mediana) de tiempo específica por caso y su varianza asociada (desviación estándar o rango intercuartílico) para calcular la probabilidad de que la programación se pueda completar a tiempo. Se puede ajustar el case mix para obtener una mejor gestión del tiempo. Esta revisión presenta conceptos erróneos frecuentemente aplicados a la gestión de listas de quirófanos programadas y los desafíos de medir operaciones urgentes no programadas.

Tools for rapid analysis of blood usage and inventory during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused downtrends in both blood collections and blood usage. Rapidly visualizing the impact of the pandemic and newly implemented hospital policies on usage could potentially inform blood ordering practices to help avoid wastage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood usage data were obtained from the laboratory information system. An R-based workflow was written in R Markdown for analysis and visualization. Reports were generated daily and shared with blood bank leadership. Selected reports were shared with institutional leadership, other departments, and collaborating blood suppliers. RESULTS: Mean daily transfusions dropped 42% from 3/9-13 to 3/16-20, with a significant decrease in usage of red cells, plasma, and cryoprecipitate. The greatest decline in use was seen in the general operating rooms, whereas outpatient transfusions remained steady. Weekly total blood usage decreased through the end of March into April and returned to normal levels in May. CONCLUSION: During two 5-weekday periods of changing hospital policies, overall blood usage decreased by almost half. Visualization of usage by hospital location showed a large decrease in general operating room usage after cancellation of elective procedures. This data visualization has informed decisions to modify standing product orders during an initial period of decreased usage as well as return to normal orders in later months.

Differential Index-Hospitalization Cost Center Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program Implementation.

BACKGROUND: Most hospitals in the United States are reimbursed for colectomy via a bundled payment based on the diagnosis-related group assigned. Enhanced recovery after surgery programs have been shown to improve the value of colorectal surgery, but little is known about the granular financial tradeoffs required at individual hospitals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the index-hospitalization impact on specific cost centers associated with enhanced recovery after surgery implementation for diagnosis-related groups commonly assigned to patients undergoing colon resections. DESIGN: We performed a single-institution retrospective, nonrandomized, preintervention (2013-2014) and postintervention (2015-2017) analysis of hospital costs. SETTING: This study was conducted at an academic medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 1297 patients with diagnosis-related group 330 (colectomy with complications/comorbidities) and 331 (colectomy without complications/comorbidities) were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was total index-hospitalization cost. Secondary outcomes included specific cost center expenses. RESULTS: Total median cost for diagnosis-related group 330 in the pre-enhanced recovery after surgery group was $24,111 ($19,285-$28,658) compared to $21,896 ($17,477-$29,179) in the enhanced recovery after surgery group, p = 0.01. Total median cost for diagnosis-related group 331 in the pre-enhanced recovery after surgery group was $19,268 ($17,286-$21,858) compared to $18,444 ($15,506-$22,847) in the enhanced recovery after surgery group, p = 0.22. When assessing cost changes after enhanced recovery after surgery implementation for diagnosis-related group 330, operating room costs increased (p = 0.90), nursing costs decreased (p = 0.02), anesthesia costs increased (p = 0.20), and pharmacy costs increased (p = 0.08). For diagnosis-related group 331, operating room costs increased (p = 0.001), nursing costs decreased (p < 0.001), anesthesia costs increased (p = 0.03), and pharmacy costs increased (p = 0.001). LIMITATIONS: This is a single-center study with a pre- and postintervention design. CONCLUSIONS: The returns on investment at the hospital level for enhanced recovery after surgery implementations in colorectal surgery result largely from cost savings associated with decreased nursing expenses. These savings likely offset increased spending on operating room supplies, anesthesia, and medications. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B204. IMPACTO DE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DEL PROTOCOLO DE RECUPERACIÓN MEJORADA DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA EN EL COSTO DE LA HOSPITALIZACIÓN ÍNDICE EN CENTROS ESPECÍFICOS: La mayoría de los hospitales en los Estados Unidos son reembolsados por la colectomía a través de un paquete de pago basado en el grupo de diagnóstico asignado. Se ha demostrado que los programas de recuperación después de la cirugía mejoran el valor de la cirugía colorrectal, pero se sabe poco sobre las compensaciones financieras granulares que se requieren en los hospitales individuales.El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto del índice de hospitalización en centros de costos específicos asociados con la implementación de RMDC para grupos relacionados con el diagnóstico comúnmente asignados a pacientes que se someten a resecciones de colon.Realizamos un análisis retrospectivo, no aleatorio, previo (2013-2014) y posterior a la intervención (2015-2017) de los costos hospitalarios de una sola institución.Centro médico académico.Un total de 1. 297 pacientes con diagnóstico relacionado con el grupo 330 (colectomía con complicaciones/comorbilidades) y 331 (colectomía sin complicaciones/comorbilidades).El resultado primario fue el índice total de costos de hospitalización. Los resultados secundarios incluyeron gastos específicos del centro de costos.El costo medio total para el grupo relacionado con el diagnóstico de 330 en el grupo de recuperación pre-mejorada después de la cirugía fue de $24,111 ($19,285- $28,658) en comparación con $21,896 ($17,477- $29,179) en el grupo de recuperación mejorada después de la cirugía, p = 0.01. El costo medio total para DRG 331 en el grupo de recuperación pre-mejorada después de la cirugía fue de $19,268 ($17,286- $21,858) en comparación con $18,444 ($15,506-$22,847) en el grupo de recuperación mejorada después de la cirugía, p = 0.22. Al evaluar los cambios en los costos después de una recuperación mejorada después de la implementación de la cirugía para el grupo 330 relacionado con el diagnóstico, los costos de la sala de operaciones aumentaron (p = 0.90), los costos de enfermería disminuyeron (p = 0.02) los costos de anestesia aumentaron (p = 0.20) y los costos de farmacia aumentaron (p = 0.08). Para el grupo 331 relacionado con el diagnóstico, los costos de la sala de operaciones aumentaron (p = 0.001), los costos de enfermería disminuyeron (p < 0.001) los costos de anestesia aumentaron (p = 0.03) y los costos de farmacia aumentaron (p = 0.001).Este es un estudio de un solo centro con un diseño previo y posterior a la intervención.El retorno de la inversión a nivel hospitalario para una recuperación mejorada después de la implementación de la cirugía en la cirugía colorrectal se debe en gran parte al ahorro de costos asociado con la disminución de los gastos de enfermería. Es probable que estos ahorros compensen el aumento de los gastos en suministros de quirófano, anestesia y medicamentos. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B204. (Traducción-Dr. Gonzalo Hagerman).

Evaluation of Intraoperative Hand-Off Frequency, Duration, and Context: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hand-offs in the operating room contribute to poor communication, reduced team function, and may be poorly coordinated with other activities. Conversely, they may represent a missed opportunity for improved communication. We sought to better understand the coordination and impact of intraoperative hand-offs. METHODS: We prospectively audio-video (AV) recorded 10 operations and evaluated intraoperative hand-offs. Data collected included percentage of time team members were absent due to breaks, relationships between hand-offs and intraoperative events (incision, surgical counts), and occurrences of simultaneous hand-offs. We also identified announcement that a hand-off had occurred and anchoring, in which team members not involved in the hand-off participated and provided information. RESULTS: Spanning 2919 min of audio-video data, there were 74 hand-offs (range, 4-14 per case) totaling 225.2 min, representing 7.7% of time recorded. Thirty-two (45.1%) hand-offs were interrupted or delayed because of competing activities; eight hand-offs occurred during an instrument or laparotomy pad count. Six cases had simultaneous hand-offs; two cases had two episodes of simultaneous hand-offs. Eight hand-offs included an announcement. Seven included anchoring. Evaluating both temporary and permanent hand-offs, one or more original team members was absent for 40.7% of time recorded and >one team member was absent for 20.5% of time recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative hand-offs are frequent and not well coordinated with intraoperative events including counts and other hand-offs. Anchoring and announced hand-offs occurred in a small proportion of cases. Future work must focus on optimizing timing, content, and participation in intraoperative hand-offs.