Feasibility study of cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis as a competency assessment tool for ultrasound-guided venous access procedures.

PURPOSE: Typically, physician training programs use a self-reported case-log competency assessment that does not measure procedure success or objectively assess competency. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis could provide objective assessments of competency and progress over the training period. Our study objective was to determine the feasibility of CUSUM analysis to assess competency of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous (USG-PIV) line placement in pediatric anesthesiology fellows. METHODS: We applied a CUSUM analysis to assess competency in USG-PIV placement in three consecutive pediatric anesthesia fellowship classes. After a didactic and hands-on training session, fellows placed a USG-PIV line and self-reported the outcomes via a web-based application. Fellows were deemed competent if the CUSUM curve crossed two consecutive boundary lines from above. RESULTS: Twenty-nine fellows reported 1,388 USG-PIV attempts, with 74% success. Most fellows (26/29; 90%) achieved competency by the end of the fellowship. Two fellows identified in the mid-year CUSUM as not progressing towards competency achieved competency after targeted interventions. Fellows achieving competency (11/29 vs 25/29; odds ratio, 15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.98 to 113.56; P = 0.01) and attempts needed to achieve competency (19 vs 11; mean difference, 8.5; 95% CI, 3.3 to 13.7; P = 0.002) were significantly lower in younger patients and significantly higher in older patients. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that CUSUM can be used to assess competence in USG-PIV procedures performed by pediatric anesthesia fellows and to identify learners not progressing toward competency in procedural skills. Ultrasound-guided venous access required more attempts to achieve competency in younger patients.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: En règle générale, les programmes de formation des médecins se fondent sur une évaluation autodéclarée des compétences dans un registre des cas qui ne mesure pas la réussite de l'intervention et n'évalue pas objectivement la compétence. L'analyse du cumul des écarts (CUSUM - pour CUmulative SUM) pourrait fournir des évaluations objectives des compétences et des progrès au cours de la période de formation. L'objectif de notre étude était de déterminer la faisabilité d'une analyse CUSUM pour évaluer la compétence pour le positionnement du cathéter intraveineux périphérique échoguidé (CIP-écho) des fellows en anesthésiologie pédiatrique. MéTHODE: Nous avons appliqué une analyse CUSUM pour évaluer la compétence pour le positionnement du CIP-écho de trois classes consécutives de fellows en anesthésie pédiatrique. Après une séance de formation didactique et pratique, les fellows ont placé un cathéter CIP-écho et ont déclaré eux-même les résultats via une application Web. Les fellows étaient jugés compétents si la courbe CUSUM franchissait deux lignes de démarcation consécutives à partir du haut. RéSULTATS: Vingt-neuf fellows ont rapporté 1388 tentatives de CIP-écho, avec un taux de réussite de 74 %. La plupart des fellows (26/29; 90 %) ont acquis la compétence à la fin de leur fellowship. Deux fellows identifiés dans l'analyse CUSUM de mi-année comme ne progressant pas vers la compétence sont parvenus à l'acquérir après des interventions ciblées. Les fellows acquérant cette compétence (11/29 vs 25/29; rapport de cotes, 15; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 1,98 à 113,56; P = 0,01) et les tentatives nécessaires pour acquérir la compétence (19 vs 11; différence moyenne, 8,5; IC 95 %, 3,3 à 13,7; P = 0,002) étaient significativement plus basses avec des patients plus jeunes et significativement plus élevés chez les patients plus âgés. CONCLUSION: Notre étude a montré qu'une analyse CUSUM pouvait être utilisée pour évaluer la compétence pour les procédures de CIP-écho réalisées par des fellows en anesthésie pédiatrique et pour identifier les apprenants qui ne progressent pas vers la compétence en habiletés opératoires. L'accès veineux échoguidé a nécessité davantage de tentatives pour atteindre la compétence chez les patients plus jeunes.

A Large Multicenter Experience With Endoscopic Suturing for Management of Gastrointestinal Defects and Stent Anchorage in 122 Patients: A Retrospective Review.

GOALS: To describe a multicenter experience using an endoscopic suturing device for management of gastrointestinal (GI) defects and stent anchorage. BACKGROUND: Endoscopic closure of GI defects including perforations, fistulas, and anastomotic leaks as well as stent anchorage has improved with technological advances. An endoscopic suturing device (OverStitch; Apollo Endosurgery Inc.) has been used. STUDY: Retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic suturing for management of GI defects and/or stent anchorage were enrolled between March 2012 and January 2014 at multiple academic medical centers. Data regarding demographic information and outcomes including long-term success were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two patients (mean age, 52.6 y; 64.2% females) underwent endoscopic suturing at 8 centers for stent anchorage (n=47; 38.5%), fistulas (n=40; 32.7%), leaks (n=15; 12.3%), and perforations (n=20; 16.4%). A total of 44.2% underwent prior therapy and 97.5% achieved technical success. Immediate clinical success was achieved in 79.5%. Long-term clinical success was noted in 78.8% with mean follow-up of 68 days. Clinical success was 91.4% in stent anchorage, 93% in perforations, 80% in fistulas, but only 27% in anastomotic leak closure. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic suturing for management of GI defects and stent anchoring is safe and efficacious. Stent migration after stent anchoring was reduced compared with published data. Long-term success without further intervention was achieved in the majority of patients. The role of endoscopic suturing for repair of anastomotic leaks remains unclear given limited success in this retrospective study.

Anesthetic considerations for pediatric obesity and adolescent bariatric surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pediatric obesity has become commonplace in our clinical practice, and presents anesthesia providers with numerous challenges. This study provides an up-to-date review of their perioperative care, including the measurement of pediatric obesity, rational drug dosing in obese children, and recent data on bariatric outcomes in adolescents. RECENT FINDINGS: Pediatric obesity is associated with a number of relevant comorbidities that impact anesthesia care, and specific children are at particularly high risk. Drug dosing remains problematic in this patient population, and recent evidence regarding appropriate drug administration is presented. Bariatric surgery in adolescents has shifted away from the roux-en-Y towards sleeve gastrectomy, with comparable results. SUMMARY: Safe and effective care of obese children demands careful perioperative management. High risk children are particularly vulnerable, and demand special attention. Bariatric surgery is an effective intervention for adolescents with severe obesity.

The development of pediatric anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital: an interview with Dr. Theodore Striker.

Dr. Theodore W. 'Ted' Striker (1936-), Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, has played a pioneering role in the development of pediatric anesthesiology in the United States. As a model educator, clinician, and administrator, he shaped the careers of hundreds of physicians-in-training and imbued them with his core values of honesty, integrity, and responsibility.

Comparison of different anesthesia techniques during esophagogastroduedenoscopy in children: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastroduedenoscopy (EGD) in children is usually performed under general anesthesia. Anesthetic goals include minimization of airway complications while maximizing operating room (OR) efficiency. Currently, there is no consensus on which anesthetic technique best meets these goals. We performed a prospective randomized study comparing three different anesthetic techniques. AIMS: To evaluate the incidence of respiratory complications (primary aim) and institutional efficiency (secondary aim) among three different anesthetic techniques in children undergoing EGD. METHODS: Subjects received a standardized inhalation induction of anesthesia followed by randomization to one of the three groups: Group intubated, sevoflurane (IS), Group intubated, propofol (IP), and Group native airway, nonintubated, propofol (NA). Respiratory complications included minor desaturation (SpO2 between 94% and 85%), severe desaturation (SpO2 < 85%), apnea, airway obstruction/laryngospasm, aspiration, and/or inadequate anesthesia during the endoscopy. Evaluation of institutional efficiency was determined by examining the time spent during the different phases of care (anesthesia preparation, procedure, OR stay, recovery, and total perioperative care). RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine children aged 1-12 years (median 7 years; 4.0, 10.0) were enrolled (Group IS N = 60, Group IP N = 59, Group NA N = 61). The incidence of respiratory complications was higher in the Group NA (0.459) vs Group IS (0.033) or Group IP (0.086) (P < 0.0001). The most commonly observed complications were desaturation, inadequate anesthesia, and apnea. There were no differences in institutional efficiency among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Respiratory complications were more common in Group NA. The use of native airway with propofol maintenance during EGD does not offer advantages with respect to respiratory complications or institutional efficiency.

Evaluation of propofol anesthesia in morbidly obese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Poor characterization of propofol pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the morbidly obese (MO) pediatric population poses dosing challenges. This study was conducted to evaluate propofol total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in this population. METHODS: After IRB approval, a prospective study was conducted in 20 MO children and adolescents undergoing laparoscopic surgery under clinically titrated propofol TIVA. Propofol doses/infusion rates, hemodynamic variables, times to induction and emergence, and postoperative occurrence of respiratory adverse events (RAE) were recorded, along with intraoperative blinded Bispectral Index/BIS and postoperative Ramsay sedation scores (RSS). Study subjects completed awareness questionnaires on postoperative days 1 and 3. Propofol concentrations were obtained at predetermined intra- and post-operative time points. RESULTS: Study subjects ranged 9 - 18 years (age) and 97 - 99.9% (BMI for age percentiles). Average percentage variability of hemodynamic parameters from baseline was ≈ 20%. Patients had consistently below target BIS values (BIS < 40 for >90% of maintenance phase), delayed emergence (25.8 ± 22 minutes), increased somnolence (RSS ≥ 4) in the first 30 minutes of recovery from anesthesia and 30% incidence of postoperative RAE, the odds for which increased by 14% per unit increase in BMI (p ≤ 0.05). Mean propofol concentration was 6.2 mg/L during maintenance and 1.8 mg/L during emergence from anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate clinical overestimation of propofol requirements and highlight the challenges of clinically titrated propofol TIVA in MO adolescents. In this setting, it may be advantageous to titrate propofol to targeted BIS levels until more accurate weight-appropriate dosing regimens are developed, to minimize relative overdosing and its consequences.

Implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Support Program in a Quaternary Pediatric Medical Center.

Healthcare worker burnout is a growing epidemic associated with multiple negative outcomes. Compounding the routine stresses of clinical practice, involvement in adverse events can be emotionally devastating. Healthcare organizations have an obligation to mitigate burnout and promote engagement and resiliency. Many institutions have launched wellness initiatives, but the value of these programs is unclear. Here, we describe the implementation of a peer-to-peer support program at our quaternary pediatric medical center. This proactive program is unique in its referral process and scope and has demonstrated efficacy in mitigating the emotional impact of adverse effects. In total, our institution has trained 125 peer supporters. Since initiation, there have been a total of 2187 referrals made to the program. Data collected in 2022 from these referrals showed a 60.3% (n = 1220) response rate to the offer of support. A survey was sent to frontline clinicians from divisions with trained supporters. Of 963 respondents, 71.8% (n = 691) agreed that this program was a valuable resource, and 81.3% (n = 783) recommended peer support to be offered to those involved in adverse and stressful events. Our experience supports that the implementation of a proactive, peer-to-peer support program is both feasible and valuable.

Susceptibility of transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials to varying targeted blood levels of dexmedetomidine during spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine has been increasingly used as an adjunct to opioid-propofol total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). The authors tested the hypothesis and found that clinically relevant blood levels of dexmedetomidine do not produce significant attenuation of the amplitude of transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials either independently or by interaction with propofol in a dose-dependent manner. METHODS: The authors planned to recruit 72 patients with idiopathic scoliosis who had posterior spine fusion surgery during propofol and remifentanil TIVA with dexmedetomidine as an adjunct. However, the authors terminated the study after enrolling 44 patients because of change in surgical technique. Before administering dexmedetomidine, baseline transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials were acquired during TIVA with remifentanil and propofol. Patients were randomized to varying targeted blood levels of dexmedetomidine (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 ng/ml) and propofol (2.5, 3.75, and 5 microg/ml) using a factorial design. The primary outcome variable was amplitude of transcranial electric motor-evoked potential. The secondary outcome was amplitude of cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials. RESULTS: Of the 44 recruited patients, 40 completed the study, and their data were analyzed. The administration of dexmedetomidine in increasing doses as an adjunct to propofol-based TIVA caused a clinically and statistically significant attenuation of amplitudes of transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that under the stimulation conditions used, dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjunct to propofol-based TIVA at clinically relevant target plasma concentrations (0.6-0.8 ng/ml) can significantly attenuate the amplitude of transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials.

Insufflation vs intubation during esophagogastroduodenoscopy in children.

OBJECTIVES: We compared adverse airway events during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in children managed with insufflation vs intubation. BACKGROUND: Optimum airway management during EGD in children remains undecided. METHODS/MATERIALS: Following IRB approval and written informed parental consent, children between 1 and 12 years of age presenting for EGD were randomized to airway management with insufflation (Group I), intubation/awake extubation (Group A), or intubation/deep extubation (Group D). All subjects received a standardized anesthetic with sevoflurane in oxygen. Using uniform definitions, airway adverse events during and after EGD recovery were recorded. Categorical data were analysed with Chi-square contingency tables or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: Analyzable data were available for 415 subjects (Group I: 209; Group A: 101; Group D: 105). Desaturation, laryngospasm, any airway adverse event, and multiple airway adverse events during EGD were significantly more common in subjects in Group I compared to those in Groups A and D. Complaints of sore throat, hoarseness, stridor, and/or dysphagia were more common in subjects in Groups A and D. Analysis of confounders suggested that younger age, obesity, and midazolam premedication were independent predictors of airway adverse events during EGD. CONCLUSIONS: Insufflation during EGD was associated with a higher incidence of airway adverse events, including desaturation and laryngospasm; intubation during EGD was associated with more frequent complaints related to sore throat. As our results show that insufflation during EGD offers no advantage in terms of operational efficiency and is associated with more airway adverse events, we recommend endotracheal intubation during EGD, especially in patients who are younger, obese, or have received midazolam premedication.

Anesthetic management of patients with tracheal T-tubes.

AIMS: To better inform the preoperative anesthesia assessment, we review the rationale of tracheal T-tubes and the maintenance they require. We then describe specific intraoperative techniques to administer inhalational agents and maintain respiration in patients with tracheal T-tubes. BACKGROUND: Tracheal T-tubes maintain airway patency in the healing phases of laryngotracheal reconstruction or in the setting of extrinsic or intrinsic airway collapse. The T-tube comprises a superior limb, an inferior limb, and an anterior limb projecting from a tracheotomy site. Negotiating tracheal T-tubes may present significant anesthetic challenges in both elective and emergent circumstances. METHODS: The intraoperative ventilation techniques in patients with tracheal T-tubes are reviewed as well as pre and postoperative T-tube maintenance strategies. RESULTS: Twelve techniques to connect anesthetic circuitry to tracheal T-tubes in different perioperative clinical scenarios are detailed. CONCLUSIONS: T-tubes are a well-established method for supporting the airway in both adults and children. However, the very design of the T-tube poses unique anesthetic management issues before, during, and after the operation. Anesthetic administration and gas exchange may be effectively achieved through a variety of methods, which we describe in detail.

Quality of recovery from two types of general anesthesia for ambulatory dental surgery in children: a double-blind, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric dental procedures are increasingly performed under general anesthesia because of the inability to cooperate, situational anxiety, or other behavioral problems. Volatile anesthetics have been associated with emergence delirium in children, whereas the use of propofol for anesthetic maintenance has been shown to reduce the incidence of emergence delirium after other types of surgeries. The aim of this study is to compare a sevoflurane-based anesthetic with a propofol-based technique as it relates to the incidence of emergence delirium and the quality of recovery after pediatric dental surgery, in patients who present with risk factors for perioperative behavioral issues. METHODS: We prospectively collected data of 179 pediatric patients scheduled for ambulatory dental surgery using a double-blind and randomized trial design. Subjects were anesthetized following standardized protocols for either a sevoflurane- or a propofol-based technique. The incidence of emergency delirium, as measured by the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium score, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), number of nursing interventions in the recovery room, time to discharge readiness, and parental satisfaction. RESULTS: We found no difference in the incidence of emergence delirium after both types of anesthesia. However, use of sevoflurane significantly increased both the risk of PONV and the number of postoperative nursing interventions. Discharge criteria were met about 10 min earlier in patients anesthetized with sevoflurane. Parental satisfaction was equally high with both anesthesia regimens. CONCLUSIONS: A propofol-based anesthetic technique did not lead to a lower incidence of emergence delirium after dental surgery in children but did result in significantly less PONV and fewer postoperative nursing interventions.

Spine Growth Modulation in Early Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Two-Year Results of Prospective US FDA IDE Pilot Clinical Safety Study of Titanium Clip-Screw Implant.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective pilot clinical safety study of novel treatment, consecutive case series from first human use in patients with early adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose was to determine the initial safety of a titanium clip-screw implant system for spine growth modulation. The secondary aim was to document curvatures to 2 years postoperatively. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal growth modulation was documented in preclinical studies. A prospective pilot clinical safety study was then performed under a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) (www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01465295). METHODS: Six subjects with early AIS underwent thoracoscopic placement of titanium clip-screw devices. Eligibility criteria included only patients at high risk for progression to 50°: single major thoracic curve 25°-40°, age ≥10 years, skeletally immature (Risser 0 plus open triradiate cartilages), and if female, premenarchal. Adverse events (AEs), clinical outcomes, and radiographic measures were documented using Good Clinical Practices. RESULTS: Six consecutive subjects were enrolled, three females and three males aged 12.1 years (±1.7). AEs included one that was device related-mild device migration at 18 months in the most rapidly progressive curve. Procedure-related AEs were mostly pulmonary. A chylous effusion that met the clinical protocol definition of a serious AE resolved after minimally invasive interventions. Major thoracic curves were 34° (±3°) preoperatively and 38° (±18°) at two years (intrasubject change, 4° ± 18°). At 24 months, curves in 3 patients were >45° and 3 were <40°. CONCLUSIONS: A spine growth modulation system undergoing study under an FDA IDE was determined to be safe. Variability in curve response to the implant was high, ranging from progression to correction. Investigational approval was granted by the US FDA for the next cohort of 30 subjects.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Use of Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction in the United States and Other Nations of the World.

There has been a well documented increase in the use and abuse of prescription opioids and heroin in the United States and other parts of the world. There has also been an increasing focus to increase access to the use of medications (methadone, buprenorphine, Naltrexone/Vivitrol) for opioid addicted individuals under legal supervision. As policymakers engage in strategic initiatives to better prevent and effectively treat chronic opioid addiction, both in the United States and other countries, there are a number of unintended consequences, complicating how best to increase access to effective treatment.

Case studies from three states: breaking down silos between health care and criminal justice.

The jail-involved population-people with a history of arrest in the previous year-has high rates of illness, which leads to high costs for society. A significant percentage of jail-involved people are estimated to become newly eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid, including coverage of substance abuse treatment and mental health care. In this article we explore the need to break down the current policy silos between health care and criminal justice, to benefit both sectors and reduce unnecessary costs resulting from lack of coordination. To draw attention to the hidden costs of the current system, we review three case studies, from Washington State, Los Angeles County in California, and New York City. Each case study addresses different aspects of care needed by or provided to the jail-involved population, including mental health and substance abuse, emergency care, and coordination of care transitions. Ultimately, bending the cost curve for health care and criminal justice will require greater integration of the two systems.

Competency and professionalism in medicine.

BACKGROUND: In this article some definitions of competency and professionalism will be discussed, and an overview of existing methods that assess competency and professionalism in anaesthesia resident doctors (residents) is provided. In addition, we will discuss how progression to professionalism, education in anaesthesiology and other medical specialties may be improved using the adult skill acquisition model. The goal of this paper is to refine the definitions of professionalism and competency, and to propose a new approach to medical education. CONTEXT: The terms professionalism and competency are both used in the context of education, sometimes interchangeably, adding to the confusion surrounding their definitions and application. Competency, from our point of view, is the ability to perform a certain task required for a work situation. Professionalism includes competencies in addition to the specific behaviours required to successfully perform in a certain specialty. Areas in which progress in medical education may be achieved include: resident selection; teaching and testing of programs (e-education); better use of simulation for skills assessment; and teaching and assessment of non-technical skills during residency. Medical schools and teaching hospitals should work continuously on creating and maintaining a high level of professional culture. IMPLICATIONS: Medical knowledge, manual skills and non-technical skills should be used for the assessment of professionalism in medical specialties. The necessity to improve on the quality of medical care calls for changes in medical education.

Medullary thyroid cancer in a 9-week-old infant with familial MEN 2B: Implications for timing of prophylactic thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) are at high risk of developing aggressive medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in childhood, with the highest risk in those with MEN type 2B (of whom >95% have an M918T RET proto-oncogene mutation). Metastatic MTC has been reported as young as 3 months of age. Current guidelines recommend prophylactic thyroidectomy within the first year of life for MEN 2B. PATIENT FINDINGS: We report a 9-week-old infant with MTC due to familial MEN 2B. A full-term male infant, born to a mother with known MEN 2B and metastatic MTC, had an M918T RET proto-oncogene mutation confirmed at 4 weeks of age. He underwent prophylactic total thyroidectomy at 9 weeks of age. Pathology showed a focal calcitonin-positive nodule (2.5 mm), consistent with microscopic MTC. SUMMARY: This case highlights the importance of early prophylactic thyroidectomy in MEN 2B. Although current guidelines recommend surgery up to a year of life, MTC may occur in the first few weeks of life, raising the question of how early we should intervene. In this report, we discuss the risks, benefits and barriers to performing earlier thyroidectomy, soon after the first month of life, and make suggestions to facilitate timely intervention. Prenatal anticipatory surgical scheduling could be considered in familial MEN 2B. Multidisciplinary collaboration between adult and pediatric specialists is key to the optimal management of the infant at risk.