High-volume Procedures Research Articles

Achieving Surgical Supply Savings through Preference Card Standardization.

Among high volume procedures considerable variation exists in the average cost per case (ACPC) of surgical supplies used between surgeons. A contributing factor to these cost differences are divergences in surgeons' preference cards, which act as a guide to hospital staff for the supplies a surgeon requires to successfully perform a procedure. This article documents efforts and results of an initiative to standardize preference cards for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies. Data collected for this project outlined differences between surgeon's preference card composition, utilization of selected supplies and associated procedure costs. Reports were developed that grouped surgical supplies based on United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPC) product classes and highlighted classes with the highest per case standard deviations. Based on these findings and feedback from clinical partners, a composite set of supplies for use across all preference cards was developed in conjunction with the Chief of General Surgery. The net result of moving to a standardized set of supplies was an estimated $21,650 in annual supply expenses associated with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies. Results suggest that standard deviation-based reports organized by product class facilitate effective surgeon-to-surgeon comparisons and make apparent readily available supply substitutes that are less expensive.

How To Maximize Trainee Education During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic: Perspectives From Around the World

How To Maximize Trainee Education During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic: Perspectives From Around the World

An Application of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in an Interventional Radiology Practice.

Central venous catheter (CVC) placement is a high-volume procedure performed by various personnel, including physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs), and placed in various settings, including operating rooms, intensive care units, and ambulatory surgical centers. Of these locations, CVC placements performed in the hospital-based interventional radiology (IR) suite represent a high-volume setting with presumed high capital costs. We applied time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) methodology to estimate the cost of performing a tunneled CVC placement in a hospital-based IR suite and ultimately building a flexible cost model that can be easily extrapolated to accurately estimate the costs of performing other minimally invasive procedures in different sites by different operators.

Total Knee Arthroplasty in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: The New Reality!

By streamlining surgical care and eliminating postoperative hospitalization, the transition to ambulatory total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has the potential to improve efficiency and minimize the costs of care. However, practical, legal, and financial implications remain to be addressed. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has also yet to address concerns generated by the removal of TKA from the Inpatient-Only List and provide guidance on patient selection. Rolling out regulatory changes that impact high-volume procedures, such as TKA, in a short period of time and without appropriate feedback can only lead to further confusion. As surgeons, we are in a unique business model that requires us to constantly innovate to deliver high quality care, while also taking financial cuts as a result of our innovations.

Trends in Ambulatory Surgery Center Utilization for Otolaryngologic Procedures among Medicare Beneficiaries, 2010-2017.

Surgical care is increasingly shifting to freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The extent to which otolaryngologists use ASCs has implications for patient safety and health care spending. This study characterizes trends in utilization and resultant financial implications for common otolaryngologic procedures performed at ASC and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. ASCs, HOPDs. Subjects included Medicare beneficiaries undergoing outpatient otolaryngologic procedures between 2010 and 2017. Procedures included the 20 highest-volume procedures performed by otolaryngologists at ASCs in 2017. Main outcomes included absolute and relative percentage difference in the proportion of procedures furnished at ASCs and HOPDs and estimated Medicare cost savings resulting from increased ASC utilization between 2011 and 2017. The proportion of outpatient otolaryngologic procedures performed at ASCs increased by 1.8% (relative difference: 10.0%; mean annual relative increase: 1.60%), and the proportion located at HOPDs decreased by 6.0% (relative difference: -11.8%; mean annual relative decrease: -1.6%) between 2010 and 2017. Rhinoplasty accounted for the largest absolute increase in ASC utilization over the study period (absolute [relative] 8.9% [33.5%]). Increased ASC utilization resulted in an estimated $7.1 million in cost savings to Medicare between 2011 and 2017. Otolaryngologists shifted outpatient surgical care from HOPDs to ASCs between 2010 and 2017, with resultant reductions in Medicare expenditures. Further research is necessary to examine the impact of this shift on patient safety.

Perioperative Stroke and Readmissions Rates in Noncardiac Non-Neurologic Surgery

Background and Aim: Perioperative stroke is a feared and potentially disastrous complication of surgery. Postdischarge care, specifically hospital readmissions, can significantly impact postsurgical recovery and provides a useful metric for quality care. Our primary aim was examining 30-day readmissions for patients who had a perioperative stroke undergoing noncardiac non-neurosurgery. Methods: We analyzed data from the State Inpatient Database, a database of community hospital discharges, in California between 2008 and2011. Surgical patients undergoing one of the 10 highest-volume procedures were included; patients less than 18 years old, undergoing pregnancy-related procedures, or who died in-hospital were excluded. Our dataset covariates included demographic and clinical variables, comorbidities, and discharge location. After running an initial bivariate analysis using Chi-square and t-tests and testing for multicollinearity, logistical models were run to calculate adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals for readmission predictors. Results: 30-day readmissions for patients with perioperative stroke (n = 1613) occurred at a rate of 21.08% (340 patients), compared to 6.29% (63,856 patients) for patients without perioperative stroke (adjusted OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.23-1.59, P < .0001). Demographic predictors of 30-day readmissions included male sex and African-American race. Clinical predictors of 30-day readmissions included several comorbidities (i.e. liver disease, hypertension), and discharge to a postacute care facility. Key 30-day readmission diagnoses for perioperative stroke patients included septicemia, stroke, aspiration pneumonitis, and urinary tract infections. Conclusions: Patients with perioperative stroke have high 30-day readmissions rates. A number of demographic and clinical factors increase readmission risk in this population. Further research is warranted to better support patients with perioperative stroke undergoing care transitions.

An Evaluation of Sensing Technologies to Measure Intraoperative Leg Length for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures have been identified as high-volume procedures with growing prevalence. During the procedure, orthopedic surgeons largely rely solely on qualitative assessment to ensure an excessive limb length discrepancy (LLD) is not introduced from the implant selection. LLD can result in back pain and gait complications, with some cases of LLD requiring a revision procedure to mitigate. To address this issue, we evaluated several methods of sensing distance intraoperatively to determine the best approach to measure leg length during the THA procedure. A testing setup using a sawbones model of hip anatomy in the decubitus position was used as a simulation of the THA procedure to test the accuracy of each of the sensing modalities.

Arthroplasty information on the internet: quality or quantity?

AimsTotal joint replacement (TJR) is a high-cost, high-volume procedure that impacts patients’ quality of life. Informed decisions are important for patients facing TJR. The quality of information provided by websites regarding TJR is highly variable. We aimed to measure the quality of TJR information online.MethodsWe identified 10,800 websites using 18 TJR-related keywords (conditions and procedures) across the Australian, French, German and Spanish Google search engines. We used the Health on the Net (HON) toolbar to evaluate the first 150 websites downloaded for every keyword in each language. The quality of information on websites was inspected, accounting for differences by language and tertiles. We also undertook an analysis of English websites to explore types of website providers.Results‘Total joint replacement’ had the most results returned (150 million websites), and 9% of websites are HON-accredited. Differences in information quality were seen across search terms (p < 0.001) and tertiles (p < 0.001), but not between languages (p = 0.226). A larger proportion of HON-accredited websites were seen from keywords in the condition and arthroplasty categories. The first tertile contained the highest number of HON-accredited websites for the majority of search terms. Government/educational bodies sponsored the majority of websites.ConclusionClinicians must consider the shortage of websites providing validated information, with disparities in both number and quality of websites for TJR conditions and procedures. As such, the challenge for clinicians is to lead the design of reliable, accurate and ethical orthopaedic websites online and direct patients to them. This stands to reward both parties greatly.

Arthroplasty information on the internet

Aims Total joint replacement (TJR) is a high-cost, high-volume procedure that impacts patients’ quality of life. Informed decisions are important for patients facing TJR. The quality of information provided by websites regarding TJR is highly variable. We aimed to measure the quality of TJR information online. Methods We identified 10,800 websites using 18 TJR-related keywords (conditions and procedures) across the Australian, French, German and Spanish Google search engines. We used the Health on the Net (HON) toolbar to evaluate the first 150 websites downloaded for every keyword in each language. The quality of information on websites was inspected, accounting for differences by language and tertiles. We also undertook an analysis of English websites to explore types of website providers. Results ‘Total joint replacement’ had the most results returned (150 million websites), and 9% of websites are HON-accredited. Differences in information quality were seen across search terms (p &lt; 0.001) and tertiles (p &lt; 0.001), but not between languages (p = 0.226). A larger proportion of HON-accredited websites were seen from keywords in the condition and arthroplasty categories. The first tertile contained the highest number of HON-accredited websites for the majority of search terms. Government/educational bodies sponsored the majority of websites. Conclusion Clinicians must consider the shortage of websites providing validated information, with disparities in both number and quality of websites for TJR conditions and procedures. As such, the challenge for clinicians is to lead the design of reliable, accurate and ethical orthopaedic websites online and direct patients to them. This stands to reward both parties greatly.

Patient Specific Computer Modelling for Automated Sizing of Fenestrated Stent Grafts

The aim was to validate a computational patient specific model of Zenith® fenestrated device deployment in abdominal aortic aneurysms to predict fenestration positions. This was a retrospective analysis of the accuracy of numerical simulation for fenestrated stent graft sizing. Finite element computational simulation was performed in 51 consecutive patients that underwent successful endovascular repair with Zenith® fenestrated stent grafts in two vascular surgery units with a high volume of aortic procedures. Longitudinal and rotational clock positions of fenestrations were measured on the simulated models. These measurements were compared with those obtained by (i) an independent observer on the post-operative computed tomography (CT) scan and (ii) by the stent graft manufacturer planning team on the pre-operative CT scan. (iii) Pre- and post-operative positions were also compared. Longitudinal distance and clock face discrepancies >3 mm and 15°, respectively, were considered significant. Reproducibility was assessed using Bland–Altman and linear regression analysis. A total of 195 target arteries were analysed. Both Bland–Altman and linear regression showed good reproducibility between the three measurement techniques performed. The median absolute difference between the simulation and post-operative CT scan was 1.0 ± 1.1 mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 6.9 ± 6.1° for clock positions. The median absolute difference between the planning centre and post-operative CT scan was 0.8 ± 0.8 mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 5.1 ± 5.0° for clock positions. Finally, the median absolute difference between the simulation and the planning centre was 0.96 ± 0.97 mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 4.8 ± 3.6° for clock positions. The numerical model of deployed fenestrated stent grafts is accurate for planning position of fenestrations. It has been validated in 51 patients, for whom fenestration locations were similar to the sizing performed by physicians and the planning centre.

Dutch Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Audit: automated extraction of colonoscopy data for quality assessment and improvement

The importance of having quality assessment, assurance, and improvement tools in health care is increasingly recognized. However, the additional associated administration burden progressively interferes with the structural implementation and adoption of such tools, especially when it concerns high-volume procedures such as colonoscopies. The development of the Dutch Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Audit (DGEA), a registry with automated extraction of colonoscopy quality data, and its first results are described. In close cooperation with commercial endoscopy reporting systems and a national histopathology database, healthcare professionals performing colonoscopies initiated a quality registry that extracts data from its core hospital resource or histology database without manual interference of the healthcare providers. Data extracted consisted of patient age, gender, indication of the colonoscopy, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Boston Bowel Preparation Score, and cecal intubation; for the colonoscopy after a positive fecal immunochemical test in the colorectal cancer screening program, other data were polyp detection rate, which was available for all 48 hospitals or endoscopy centers, and adenoma detection rate, which was available for 26 hospitals or endoscopy centers. Between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2019, 48 hospitals or endoscopy centers voluntarily participated in the DGEA, and 275,017 unique patients with 313,511 colonoscopies were registered. Overall missing values were limited to<1%. The results of this study demonstrate that it is feasible to deploy a quality registry collecting uniform data without additional administration burden for healthcare professionals.

Patient Specific Computer Modelling for Automated Sizing of Fenestrated Stent Grafts.

The aim was to validate a computational patient specific model of Zenith® fenestrated device deployment in abdominal aortic aneurysms to predict fenestration positions. This was a retrospective analysis of the accuracy of numerical simulation for fenestrated stent graft sizing. Finite element computational simulation was performed in 51 consecutive patients that underwent successful endovascular repair with Zenith® fenestrated stent grafts in two vascular surgery units with a high volume of aortic procedures. Longitudinal and rotational clock positions of fenestrations were measured on the simulated models. These measurements were compared with those obtained by (i) an independent observer on the post-operative computed tomography (CT) scan and (ii) by the stent graft manufacturer planning team on the pre-operative CT scan. (iii) Pre- and post-operative positions were also compared. Longitudinal distance and clock face discrepancies >3mm and 15°, respectively, were considered significant. Reproducibility was assessed using Bland-Altman and linear regression analysis. A total of 195 target arteries were analysed. Both Bland-Altman and linear regression showed good reproducibility between the three measurement techniques performed. The median absolute difference between the simulation and post-operative CT scan was 1.0±1.1mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 6.9±6.1° for clock positions. The median absolute difference between the planning centre and post-operative CT scan was 0.8±0.8mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 5.1±5.0° for clock positions. Finally, the median absolute difference between the simulation and the planning centre was 0.96±0.97mm for longitudinal distance measurements and 4.8±3.6° for clock positions. The numerical model of deployed fenestrated stent grafts is accurate for planning position of fenestrations. It has been validated in 51 patients, for whom fenestration locations were similar to the sizing performed by physicians and the planning centre.

Cost and Mortality Implications of Lower Event Rates After Implantation of an Ultrathin-Strut Coronary Stent Compared With a Thin-Strut Stent Over Four Years

BackgroundThe recent BIOFLOW V trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02389946) showed that revascularization with an ultrathin strut, bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP SES) was associated with lower rates of clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TVMI) at 24-month follow-up than that with a thin strut, durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP EES). We simulated the impact on cost and mortality. Methods and resultsWe projected the impact of the lower adverse event rates from a U.S. health system perspective over a 48-month horizon with a Markov model using event data from the BIOFLOW V trial and estimates for costs and excess mortality due to adverse events from published sources. All cost estimates were CPI-adjusted to 2018 US$ and future cost discounted by 3%.We estimated that use of BP SES compared to DP EES was associated with cumulative net reductions in medical cost of $2429 per patient over 48 months. Peri-procedural TVMI contributed $124 (5%), TLR in patients without TVMI $810 (33%) and spontaneous TVMI $1496 (62%) of cost. Use of BP SES compared to DP EES was associated with 2603 fewer deaths in one million patients over four years, corresponding to a relative risk reduction of 6%. ConclusionsLower adverse event rates associated with revascularization using BP SES translate into reductions in direct medical cost and mortality. Most of the cost reduction is attributed to reduction in spontaneous TVMI. Given the high volume of coronary procedures, such results are an important consideration for patients, clinicians and payers.

Deep learning: definition and perspectives for thoracic imaging.

Relevance and penetration of machine learning in clinical practice is a recent phenomenon with multiple applications being currently under development. Deep learning-and especially convolutional neural networks (CNNs)-is a subset of machine learning, which has recently entered the field of thoracic imaging. The structure of neural networks, organized in multiple layers, allows them to address complex tasks. For several clinical situations, CNNs have demonstrated superior performance as compared with classical machine learning algorithms and in some cases achieved comparable or better performance than clinical experts. Chest radiography, a high-volume procedure, is a natural application domain because of the large amount of stored images and reports facilitating the training of deep learning algorithms. Several algorithms for automated reporting have been developed. The training of deep learning algorithm CT images is more complex due to the dimension, variability, and complexity of the 3D signal. The role of these methods is likely to increase in clinical practice as a complement of the radiologist's expertise. The objective of this review is to provide definitions for understanding the methods and their potential applications for thoracic imaging. KEY POINTS: • Deep learning outperforms other machine learning techniques for number of tasks in radiology. • Convolutional neural network is the most popular deep learning architecture in medical imaging. • Numerous deep learning algorithms are being currently developed; some of them may become part of clinical routine in the near future.

Can Endoanchors be Used in Any Endovascular Aortic Procedure? Lessons Learned After 674 Endoanchors in 109 Patients in a Two-centre Experience

Introduction - Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for thoracic, thoracoabdominal, pararenal, juxtarenal and abdominal aortic aneurysms has been troubled by complications during follow-up, mainly related to loss of seal and graft migration causing endoleaks and sac expansion. Different techniques have been applied ranging in grade of complexity, such as branched, fenestrated, chimney/periscope or standard EVAR/TEVAR or even hybrid surgery including arch/visceral debranching. The role and safety of EndoAnchors (Aptus Heli-FX, Medtronic, Minnesota, USA) as an adjunctive technique for supplementing fixation and seal in standard and complex EVAR/TEVAR needs to be addressed. Methods - We report on a two academic vascular centre experience with high volume of endovascular procedures with the use of EndoAnchors in different aortic anatomies and sectors. The number of total EndoAnchors deployed is described. Primary outcome is description of the safety of EndoAnchor deployments. Recommendations related to secondary outcomes such as complications, limitations and inadequate use are also described Results - 109 high-risk patients (male 81.7%, female 18.3%; ages 73.92 ± 10.9 years) were treated during the study period (2013-2018) with adjunctive EndoAnchors, 79 in centre A and 30 in centre B. Sixteen were treated with TEVAR (zone 1, n=4 (3 open debranching and 1 combined open/endo-debranching; zone 3, n=3; zone 4, n=12; 3 patients across 2 zones) 3 with Ch-EVAR (1 chimney each) and 90 with EVAR. All were considered complex due to anatomical constraints. 674 EndoAnchors were placed, 87 in TEVAR, 587 for EVAR/Ch-EVAR (2 in a bell-bottom iliac endograft) and a mean of 6.18 ± 2.2 per case. Ninety-eight were prophylactic (44 conical, 31 hyper-angulated > 60°, 30 short and 14 ‘bubble’ necks) and the remaining 11 were revision/type Ia endoleaks. Issues related to endoanchoring procedure were found in 17 (15.6%) cases. Thirteen (76%) occurred during the initial half of centres’ experience. Of the 17 cases we found 4 mal-deployment (0.5%), 4 fractures (0.5%, without clinical relevance), 3 (27.3%) type Ia endoleak persistence after endostapling (1 undersized diameter of endograft, 2 ruptured AAA unsuccessfully treated with cuff plus EndoAnchors - 1 solved with aortic banding, the other died due to unstability/3 patients with delayed type Ia sealing), 3 catheter ruptures/twisting (0.4%) and 3 (0.4%) losses (2 were retrieved and one caged by a sandwich technique using an aortic cuff). Eight (7.3%) patients received less than 4 endoanchors. Six (75%) occurred during the first half of centres experience. Four received only one EndoAnchor, two of these due to rupture of the catheter, in one other case further deployments were not possible due to severe sheath twists causing inability to pass the applicator and the remaining one due only iliac by-pass access limited manoeuvrability. Two received 2 EndoAnchors, due to extreme angulation and impossibility to get correct position, and remaining 2 patients received 3 endoanchors due to a loss during procedure Conclusion - Endovascular approach of complex aortic aneurysms with adjunctive use of EndoAnchors seems to be a safe ancillary procedure. Appropriate use of the device, including choice of adequate access, proper catheter manoeuvring, anatomical patient selection and increased expertise for technically demanding cases remain the most important issues to avoid misuse of the device or failure in the endovascular technique

High-Volume Arthroplasty Centers Demonstrate Higher Composite Quality Scores and Enhanced Value: Perspective on Higher-Volume Hospitals Performing Arthroplasty from 2001 to 2011.

In recent years, there has been a move toward value-based health care. Value is generally defined as outcome divided by cost; however, it is not clear exactly how to define and measure outcomes. In this study, we utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to determine how hospital volume and other factors affect quality for patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. Using the NIS of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), we conducted a retrospective study of all total hip and total knee arthroplasties performed from 2001 to 2011. We identified all procedure and outcome variables using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) billing codes. Patients were grouped into quartiles based on the corresponding hospital's procedure volume. The quality measurement for each hospitalization was binary, with perfect inpatient care reflecting a favorable result for all of the following outcomes of interest: death, sepsis, postoperative infection, thromboembolic events, venous thrombosis, hematoma, blood transfusion, and length of stay below average. The Perfect Inpatient Care Index (PICI) was then calculated for each hospital. The PICI was defined as the number of hospitalizations with no unfavorable outcomes divided by total volume of arthroplasty. Value was measured as the PICI divided by the mean total charges. Multivariable nested regression was used to determine variables that predict perfect inpatient care. From 2001 to 2011, the NIS database reported 1,651,354 total hip or total knee arthroplasties. Hospital arthroplasty volume ranged from 0 to 11,758 procedures. Overall, hospital PICI scores increased as arthroplasty volume increased. In multivariable nested regression analysis, procedure volume (odds ratio [OR] for the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile, 2.116 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.883 to 2.378]) and lower patient acuity (OR, 2.450 [95% CI, 2.429 to 2.472]) were independently associated with better PICI scores. Value increased as hospital procedure volume increased. Hospital procedure volume varied widely. Although small differences were seen in individual outcome measures, composite scores (PICI) and value were substantially better at hospitals that had higher procedure volume and in lower-acuity patients. Economic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Learning Curves of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy in Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Introduction of a Standardization

The most commonly performed bariatric procedures are laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Impact of learning curves on operative outcome has been well shown, but the necessary learning curves have not been clearly defined. This study provides a systematic review of the literature and proposes a standardization of phases of learning curves for RYGB and LSG. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases. All studies specifying a number or range of approaches to characterize the learning curve for RYGB and LSG were selected. A total of 28 publications related to learning curves for 27,770 performed bariatric surgeries were included. Parameters used to determine the learning curve were operative time, complications, conversions, length of stay, and blood loss. Learning curve range was 30-500 (RYGB) and 30-200 operations (LSG) according to different definitions and respective phases of learning curves. Learning phases described the number of procedures necessary to achieve predefined skill levels, such as competency, proficiency, and mastery. Definitions of learning curves for bariatric surgery are heterogeneous. Introduction of the three skill phases competency, proficiency, and mastery is proposed to provide a standardized definition using multiple outcome variables to enable better comparison in the future. These levels are reached after 30-70, 70-150, and up to 500 RYGB, and after 30-50, 60-100, and 100-200 LSG. Training curricula, previous laparoscopic experience, and high procedure volume are hallmarks for successful outcomes during the learning curve.

15 Utilization Patterns of Prophylactic Pancreatic Stents for the Prevention of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: A 2018 National Survey Study

INTRODUCTION: Post ERCP Pancreatitis (PEP) is the most frequent complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Prophylactic pancreatic stents (PPS) and rectal indomethacin (IND) prevent PEP, decrease severity in PEP and are endorsed by GI societies. It is unclear the extent to which these interventions are practiced throughout the United States (US). The impact of such factors as training, experience and practice setting on the use of PPS for PEP prophylaxis is unclear. The aims of our study are to describe utilization patterns and identify factors that impact physician decisions to use PPS for PEP prophylaxis. METHODS: A 27-question electronic survey was distributed using a cloud based program (Qualtrics). Questions assessed ERCP training, practice setting, experience, practice patterns and perceptions for PEP prophylaxis interventions. Endoscopists with practices based in the US, listed in the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) member directory received a survey invitation via e-mail. The invitation outlined the study and contained a link with instructions to complete the voluntary survey if they had an active ERCP practice. Data was de-identified for the purposes of analysis. RESULTS: Of survey respondents (n = 319/6276), 46% reported therapeutic endoscopy fellowship training and 37% practiced in teaching programs (Table 1). Annualized ERCP volume of &gt;100 cases per year were reported by 47%, with pancreatic ERCP comprising ≤5% of procedures in the majority of respondents (61%). The majority of respondents utilized PPS and 54% reported frequent use (Table 2). The most common indications for PPS were: difficult cannulation, to assist biliary access and multiple pancreatic duct injections. The majority of respondents reported frequent use of IND (89%). Of physicians that do not use PPS, use of IND was the most common reason (80%). Variables associated with frequent use of PPS were therapeutic fellowship training (P = &lt;0.001), practice at a teaching program (P = &lt;0.001), &lt;10 yrs in practice (P = 0.005), higher procedure volume (P = &lt;0.001), higher proportion of pancreatic cases (P = &lt;0.001), and selective use of IND (P = 0.002) (Table 3). CONCLUSION: Physicians with higher volume, teaching hospital based ERCP practices and regularly perform pancreatic ERCP are more likely to use PPS. Therapeutic fellowship training and recent entry into practice also associate with PPS utilization. Indomethacin use was prevalent and the most cited reason for electing not to use PPS.

Risk factors for dislocation after primary total hip replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 125 studies involving approximately five million hip replacements.

Dislocation following total hip replacement is associated with repeated admissions to hospital and substantial costs to the health system. Factors influencing dislocation following primary total hip replacement are not well understood. We aimed to assess the association of various factors with dislocation risk following primary total hip replacement. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies reporting associations of patient-related, surgery-related, implant-related, and hospital-related factors with dislocation risk after primary total hip replacement. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for all relevant articles published up to March 8, 2019. Summary measures of association were calculated with relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. This study is registered on PROSPERO, number CRD42019121378. We identified 149 articles based on 125 unique studies with data on 4 633 935 primary total hip replacements and 35 264 dislocations. The incidence of dislocation ranged from 0·12% to 16·13%, with an overall pooled incidence of 2·10% (95% CI 1·83-2·38) over a weighted mean follow-up duration of 6 years. Based on the median year of data collection, a significant decline in dislocation rates was observed from 1971 to 2015. The risk of dislocation did not differ significantly between male versus female patients (RR 0·97; 95% CI 0·88-1·08), was higher in those aged 70 years and older than in those younger than 70 years (1·27; 1·02-1·57), and was lower in those from high versus low income groups (0·79; 0·74-0·85). White ethnicity (only when compared with Asian ethnicity), drug use disorder, and social deprivation were significantly associated with increased dislocation risk. The risk of dislocation was higher in patients with body-mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher than in those with BMI lower than 30 kg/m2 (RR 1·38; 95% CI 1·03-1·85). Medical factors and those related to surgical history that were significantly associated with increased dislocation risk included neurological disorder, psychiatric disease, comorbidity indices, previous surgery including spinal fusion, and surgical indications including avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and osteonecrosis. Surgical factors such as the anterolateral, direct anterior, or lateral approach, and posterior approach with short external rotator and capsule repair were significantly associated with reduced dislocation risk. At the implant level, larger femoral head diameters, elevated acetabular liners, dual mobility cups, cemented fixations, and standard femoral neck lengths significantly reduced the risk of dislocation. Hospital-related factors such as experienced surgeons and high surgeon procedure volume significantly reduced the risk of dislocation. Dislocation following primary total hip replacement has declined over time. Surgical approaches that reduce dislocation risk can be used by clinicians during primary total hip replacement, and alternative bearings such as dual mobility can be used in individuals at high risk of dislocation. Modifiable risk factors such as high BMI and comorbidities might also be amenable to optimisation before surgery. National Institute for Health Research.

TCT-136 Validation of Surgical Risk Scores (EuroSCORE, EuroSCORE II, and STS) Power to Predict Mortality After TAVR

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been one of the greatest revolutions of twenty-first century cardiology. Despite its consolidation and the high worldwide volume of procedures, we are still missing a proper risk score, so that surgical risk scores are used in daily clinical practice