National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Research Articles

Clinical factors associated with ultrashort length of stay in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass for peripheral arterial disease

IntroductionLength of stay (LOS) is a major driver of cost and resource utilization following lower extremity bypass (LEB). However, the variable comorbidity burden and mobility status of LEB patients makes implementing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways challenging. The aim of this study was to utilize a large national database to identify patient factors associated with ultrashort LOS among patients undergoing LEB for peripheral artery disease (PAD). MethodsAll patients undergoing LEB for PAD in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database from 2011-2018 were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the length of postoperative stay: ultrashort (<=2 days) and standard (>2 days). Thirty-day outcomes were compared using descriptive statistics, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient factors associated with ultrashort LOS. ResultsOverall, 17,510 patients were identified who underwent LEB, of which 2,678 (15.3%) patients had an ultrashort postoperative LOS (mean 1.8 days) and 14,832 (84.7%) patients had a standard LOS (mean 7.1 days). When compared to patients with standard LOS, patients with an ultrashort LOS were more likely to be admitted from home (95.9% vs 88.0%, p<0.001), undergo elective surgery (86.1% vs. 59.1%, p<0.001) and to be active smokers (52.1% vs. 40.4%, p<0.001). Ultrashort LOS patients were also more likely to have claudication as the indication for LEB (53.1% vs. 22.5%, p<0.001), have a popliteal revascularization target rather than a tibial/pedal target (76.7% vs 55.3%, p<0.001) and had a prosthetic conduit (40.0% vs. 29.9%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups (1.4% vs 1.8%, p=0.21); however ultrashort LOS patients had a lower frequency of unplanned readmission (10.7% vs. 18.8%, p<0.001) and need for major reintervention (1.9% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, elective status (OR:2.66, 95%CI:2.33-3.04), active smoking (OR:1.18, 95%CI:1.07-1.30) and lack of vein harvest (OR:1.55, 95%CI:1.41-1.70) were associated with ultrashort LOS. Presence of rest pain (OR:0.57, 95%CI:0.51-0.63), tissue loss (OR:0.30, 95%CI:0.27-0.34) and totally dependent functional status (OR:0.54, 95%CI:0.35-0.84) were negatively associated with ultrashort LOS. When examining the subgroup of patients who underwent vein harvest, totally dependent (OR:0.38 95%CI:0.19-0.75) and partially dependent (OR:0.53, 95%CI:0.32-0.88) functional status were persistently negatively associated with ultrashort LOS. ConclusionsUltrashort LOS (<= 2 days) following LEB is uncommon but feasible in select patients. Preoperative functional status and mobility are important factors to consider when identifying LEB patients who may be candidates for early discharge.

Preoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction: A 6-year national surgical quality improvement (NSQIP) database analysis

BackgroundAnastomotic leak is a serious complication after esophagectomy that has been associated with worse outcomes. However, identifying patients at increased risk for anastomotic leak remains challenging. MethodsPatients were included from the 2016 to 2021 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database who underwent elective esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction for cancer. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with anastomotic leak. ResultsA total of 4,331 patients were included in the study, of whom 647 patients experienced anastomotic leak (14.9%). Multivariable logistic regression revealed higher odds of anastomotic leak with smoking (adjusted odds ratio 1.24, confidence interval 1.02–1.51, P = .031), modified frailty index-5 score of 1 (adjusted odds ratio 1.44, confidence interval 1.19–1.75, P = .002) or 2 (adjusted odds ratio 1.52, confidence interval 1.19-1.94, P = .000), and a McKeown esophagectomy (adjusted odds ratio 1.44, confidence interval 1.16–1.80, P = .001). Each 1,000/μL increase in white blood cell count was associated with a 7% increase in odds of anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, confidence interval 1.03–1.10, P = .0005). Higher platelet counts were slightly protective, and each 10,000/ μL increase in platelet count was associated with 2% reduced odds of anastomotic leak (adjusted odds ratio 0.98, confidence interval 0.97–0.99, P = .001). ConclusionIn this study, smoking status, frailty index, white blood cell count, McKeown esophagectomy, and platelet counts were all associated with the occurrence of anastomotic leak. These results can help to inform surgeons and patients of the true risk of developing anastomotic leak and potentially improve outcomes by providing evidence to improve preoperative characteristics, such as frailty.

Peri-operative outcomes following radical prostatectomy in the setting of advanced prostate cancer.

To compare the peri-operative outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) for locally advanced, node-positive, and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), as determined through pathological staging, using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project. We identified RP procedures performed between 2019 and 2021. Patients were stratified by pathological staging to compare the effect of locally advanced disease (T3-4), node positivity (N+) and metastasis (M+) vs localised PCa (T1-2 N0 M0). Baseline demographics and 30-day outcomes, including operating time, length of hospital stay (LOS), 30-day mortality, readmissions, reoperations, major complications, minor complications and surgery-specific complications, were compared between groups. Pathological staging data were available for 9276 RPs. Baseline demographics were comparable. There was a slightly higher rate of minor complications in the locally advanced cohort, but no significant difference in major complications, 30-day mortality, readmissions, or rectal injuries. Node positivity was associated with longer operating time, LOS, and some slightly increased rates of 30-day complications. RP in patients with metastatic disease appeared to be similarly safe to RP in patients with M0 disease, although it was associated with a longer LOS and slightly increased rates of certain complications. For patients with pathologically determined locally advanced, node-positive, and metastatic PCa, RP appears to be safe, and is not associated with significantly higher rates of 30-day mortality or major complications compared to RP for localised PCa. This study adds to the growing body of literature investigating the role of RP for advanced PCa; further studies are needed to better characterise the risks and benefits of surgery in such patients.

Call me Ishmael: addressing the white whale of team communication in the operating room with labelled surgical caps at an academic medical centre

IntroductionEffective communication in the operating room (OR) is crucial. Addressing a colleague by their name is respectful, humanising, entrusting and associated with improved clinical outcomes. We aimed to enhance team...

The Association Between Duration of Antibiotics and Infectious Complications Following Radical Cystectomy: Analysis of the 2019-2021 NSQIP Database

ObjectivesTo identify the impact of the duration of peri-operative antibiotics on infectious complications following radical cystectomy. MethodsThe National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) targeted database was queried for patients undergoing radical cystectomy from 2019-2021. Baseline patient characteristics were collected. Antibiotic duration was classified as <24 hours (short), 24-72 hours (intermediate) or >72 hours (long). Infectious complication data was collected including surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), organ space infection, pneumonia, sepsis, and clostridium difficile infection up to 30 days after surgery. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to compare duration of antibiotic therapy to infectious outcomes. ResultsOf the 4,363 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, 3,250(74%), 827(19%) and 286(6.6%) received short, intermediate, and long duration of peri-operative antibiotics respectively. Infectious complication occurred in 954(22%) patients, including 227(5.2%) SSI, 280(6.4%) UTI, 268(6.1%) organ space infection, 87(2%) pneumonia, and 378(8.7%) sepsis. Clostridium difficile infection occurred in 89(2%) patients. On multivariable analysis, there was no significant difference in overall infectious complication rates with long duration antibiotics. However, intermediate duration of antibiotics in open surgery was associated with a decreased risk of SSI (OR 0.58; 95%CI 0.37-0.91) compared to those treated with short term antibiotics. ConclusionsDespite guideline recommendations, 26% of patients in this database received >24 hours of peri-operative antibiotics without decreased risk of overall infectious complication. An intermediate course of antibiotics decreased risk of SSI in open surgery compared to the guideline recommend <24-hour course. Greater education regarding antibiotic stewardship and further studies investigating infectious complications are warranted.

Locoregional versus General Anesthesia for Carotid Artery Stenting in the ِAmerican College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project

Locoregional versus General Anesthesia for Carotid Artery Stenting in the ِAmerican College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project

General Versus Nongeneral Anesthesia for Carotid Endarterectomy: A Prospective Multicenter Registry-Based Study on 25 000 Patients.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a well-established treatment option for carotid stenosis. The choice between general anesthesia (GA) and nongeneral anesthesia (non-GA) during CEA remains a subject of debate, with concerns regarding perioperative complications, particularly myocardial infarctions. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes associated with GA vs non-GA CEA using a large, nationwide database. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database was queried for patients undergoing CEA between 2013 and 2020. Primary outcome measures including surgical outcomes and 30-day postoperative complications were compared between the 2 anesthesia methods, after 2:1 propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, a total of 25 356 patients (16 904 in the GA and 8452 in the non-GA group) were included. Non-GA compared with GA CEA was associated with significantly shorter operative times (101.9, 95% CI: 100.5-103.3 vs 115.8 95% CI: 114.4-117.2 minutes, P < .001), reduced length of hospital stays (2.3, 95% CI: 2.15-2.4 vs 2.5, 95% CI: 2.4-2.6 days, P < .001), and lower rates of 30-day postoperative complications, including myocardial infarctions (0.8% vs 1.2%, P = .003), unplanned intubations (0.8% vs 1.1%, P = .016), pneumonia (0.5% vs 1%, P < .001), and urinary tract infections (0.4% vs 0.7%, P = .003). These outcomes were notably more pronounced in the younger (≤70 years) and high morbidity (American Society of Anesthesiologists 3-5) cohorts. In this nationwide registry-based study, non-GA CEA was associated with better short-term outcomes in terms of perioperative complications, compared with GA CEA. The findings suggest that non-GA CEA may be a safer alternative, especially in younger patients and those with more comorbidities.

Perioperative and Complication Related Outcomes for Robotic-Assisted vs Open Radical Cystectomy: A Comparative National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Analysis.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but it comes with significant perioperative risk, with half of the patients experiencing major postoperative complications. Robot-assisted radical cystectomies (RARCs) have aimed to decrease patient morbidity and been increasingly adopted in North America. Currently, both open radical cystectomies (ORCs) and RARCs are frequently performed. The aim of this study is to contribute to the existing literature using newly available data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP), representing one of the most recent, largest multi-institutional studies, while uniquely accounting for a variety of factors, including type of urinary diversion, cancer staging, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: RC procedures performed between 2019 and 2021 were identified in NSQIP and the corresponding cystectomy-targeted database. Cases in the ORC group were planned open procedures, and cases in the RARC group were robot assisted, including unplanned conversion to open cases for intention to treat. Chi-square and t-tests were performed to compare baseline demographics and operative parameters. Multivariate analysis was performed for outcomes, including major complications, minor complications, and 30-day mortality rates, while adjusting for baseline differences significant on univariate analysis. Results: Five thousand three hundred forty-three RC cases were identified. Of these, 70% underwent planned ORC, while 30% received RARC. RARC was associated with longer operative times and shorter hospital length of stay compared with ORC. On multivariate analysis, there was no difference between the cohorts in 30-day rates of major complications, hospital readmissions, need for reoperation, or mortality. ORC was, however, associated with higher rates of minor complications, bleeding, superficial surgical site infections, and anastomotic leak. Conclusions: In the NSQIP database, ORC is associated with higher rates of 30-day minor complications, most notably bleeding, compared with RARC. However, there is no difference in regard to perioperative major morbidity or mortality rates. This study is unique in the size of the cohorts compared, timeliness of data (2019-2021), applicability to a variety of different practice settings across the country, and ability to control for factors, such as type of urinary diversion and pathological bladder cancer staging, as well as use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) specific to Thomas Jefferson University.

Epidemiology and age-related trends in surgical outcomes for sigmoid volvulus: a 17-year analysis.

Sigmoid volvulus, a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by twisted bowel, often requires medical intervention, either through endoscopic or surgical means, to avoid potentially severe outcomes. This study examined the challenges elderly patients face in undergoing surgical treatment, encompassing both mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, it aimed to determine how medical practices and outcomes have changed over a period of 17 years. We utilized data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project, which covers the period from 2005 to 2021, to identify patients who underwent left hemicolectomy for colonic volvulus. The patients were categorized into three age groups: < 60 years, 60-75 years, and > 75 years. We performed a meticulous logistic regression analysis, carefully adjusted for risk factors, to compare mortality, morbidity, and types of surgical treatment administered among the different age groups. Our study included 6775 patients. The breakdown of the patient population was as follows: 2067 patients were < 60 years of age, 2239 were between 60 and 75 years of age, and 2469 were > 75 years of age. The elderly cohort, those agedabove 75 years, were predominantly male, had lower BMIs, underwent fewer laparoscopic surgeries, required more diverting stomas and end-ostomies, and had longer hospital stays. Notably, the elderly population faced a mortality risk that was 5.67 times (95% CI 3.64, 9.20) greater than that of their youngest counterparts, with this risk increasing by 10% (95% CI 1.06, 1.14) for each additional year of age. Furthermore, the odds of mortality associated with emergency surgery were 1.63 times (95% CI 1.21, 2.22) higher than those associated with elective surgery. The postoperative morbidity odds were also elevated for emergency surgeries, 1.30 times (95% CI 1.08, 1.58) greater than that for elective cases. Over the 17-year period, we observed a decline in mortality rates, an increase in the utilization of laparoscopic procedures, and overall stability of morbidity rates. Our findings highlight the increased vulnerability of patients over 75 years of age, who are not only at an elevated risk of mortality compared to their younger counterparts, but also a continuously increasing risk with age. By focusing on elective surgeries for younger patients and minimizing emergency surgeries for the elderly, it may be possible to reduce the mortality risk associated with surgical interventions in this population.

Implementation of the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) in surgical patients to decrease postsurgical venous thromboembolism and enoxaparin prescription at hospital discharge

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), has been an increasingly common post-surgical complication for surgical patients. In the United States, VTE has become a leading cause of preventable hospital death with more than half occurring after discharge and are directly linked to a recent (within 30 days) hospitalization or surgery [1]. In large, hospital-associated/acquired VTE (HA-VTE) are preventable through measures such as the use of risk stratification tools and chemoprophylaxis. The project institution, a community, academic, medical center, for multiple years has consistently remained a high outlier for postoperative VTE. Also, the choice of VTE chemoprophylaxis in surgical patients at the time of discharge depended on, and varied between, the individual prescribing physician. The goal was to implement and determine the efficacy of a standardized intervention tool, the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM), for reducing postoperative VTE complications and its influence on the physician's prescription of enoxaparin at discharge. Results: Risk assessment scoring pre-operatively increased from 0% baseline to 26.3% at Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle 1 and demonstrated a statistically significant change (p-value = 0.006). Risk assessment scoring pre-operatively was 42.9% by PDSA cycle 2 but was not statistically significantly different from PDSA cycle 1. Risk assessment scoring post-operatively (for eligible patients) remained the same throughout all three cycles at 0%. Appropriate prescription of anticoagulation declined from baseline (12.5%) to PDSA cycle 1 (0%), and improved at PDSA cycle 2 (33.3%), however no differences were significant (p-value 0.302). The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database showed a decline in VTE occurrences at the projects institution from baseline (1.02%, 6 occurrences, 2021) to PDSA cycle 2 (0.92%, 4 occurrences, 2022) when compared to the national benchmark (1.0%) for the first time since 2018. Given the significant national problem HA-VTE pose to the public, and the rise in occurrences, this quality improvement (QI) project is clinically relevant.

Timing and Morbidity of Intracranial Meningioma Resection Complications

Intracranial meningioma resection is associated with multiple acute post-operative complications, including cerebrovascular accidents, surgical site infections, and pneumonia. There is a paucity of research on the postoperative timeframe of these complications. Therefore, our objective is to characterize intracranial meningioma resection complications' time courses. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) registry was queried for intracranial meningioma resection cases using CPT codes 61512 and 61519 from years 2016-2021. Baseline patient characteristics and 30-day complication frequency were calculated. The mean, median, and interquartile range of post-operative days to occurrence for 17 complications were calculated. Percent incidence pre-discharge was recorded. Time-to-occurrence curves were created. Rates of 30-day mortality and increased length-of-stay were compared between patients with and without each complication using a chi-square test. A covariance matrix showing associations between 11 complications using the Pearson method was made. Significance was set at p<0.05. 10,890 cases were analyzed. The most frequent complications' median and interquartile range of post-operative days to occurrence and percentage occurring pre-discharge were bleeding requiring transfusion (0.0, 0.0-0.0, 99.9%), CVA/stroke with neurological deficit (2.0, 1.0-6.0, 83.8%), unplanned intubation (4.0, 1.0-8.0, 75.1%), on a ventilator for >48 hours (3.0; 2.0-5.5; 88.1%), deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/thrombophlebitis (12.5, 5.2-19.7, 41.3%), urinary tract infection (13.0, 7.0-20.0, 44.2%), pneumonia (8.0, 4.0-16.0, 60.5%), and pulmonary embolism (14.0, 6.0-20.0, 29.1%). Most complications were associated with increased mortality and length-of-stay. Post-operative meningioma resection complications have varying morbidity and timeframes. Surgeons should be aware of complication timing to better manage post-operative care.

Predictors of Failure to Rescue After Postoperative Respiratory Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 13,047 Patients Using the ACS-NSQIP Dataset

IntroductionDeath after suffering a postoperative complication (failure to rescue) is an area of concern, and its occurrence after postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) is not well defined. We seek to identify the predictors of failure to rescue in patients who develop PRF. MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adults undergoing noncardiac surgery who developed PRF (postoperative unplanned intubation and receipt of mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 h) was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database. Predictors of failure to rescue after PRF were identified using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO)–penalized variable selection method, with the Bayesian information criterion, in the context of a multiple logistic regression model (with Firth's bias correction). ResultsOf the 13,047 patients that formed our final evaluable study cohort, 3669 (28.1%) patients died within 30 days of surgery. We identified age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, presence of preoperative ascites, disseminated cancer, bleeding disorders, elevated preoperative creatinine, and low preoperative prealbumin levels as predictors of failure to rescue. The area under the curve for the final model was 0.6804, with a standard error of 0.0104 (95% CI area under the curve: 0.6600 to 0.7008). ConclusionsWe observed that almost 30% of patients that develop respiratory failure after noncardiac surgery die within 30 days of surgery. The validated eight-variable perioperative predictive model provides a risk estimate for death after PRF and may be useful for the purposes of preoperative planning, prognostication, decision making and resource allocation in patients who develop this complication.

Orthopaedic Surgery Complications at a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Low- and Middle-Income Country: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Analysis.

Through a comparison of orthopaedic surgical procedures performed at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan with other participating hospitals of National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP), we aim to identify the areas of orthopaedic surgical care at our center that need improvement and also those which are at par with international standards. The study analyses orthopaedic surgeries at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan using NSQIP registry to compare complication rates with other American College of Surgeons-NSQIP participant hospitals. Two reviewers collect data in different days every 8 days to reduce bias, and the results are reported in odds ratios using quarterly reports. This study included 584 eligible orthopaedic cases performed in 2021. Yearly institutional reports with odds ratios were also used to identify areas needing improvement and to implement changes to improve orthopaedic surgical outcomes at said institute. The quarterly reports suggest a relatively higher OR for certain indicators such as cardiac events, surgical site infection, mortality, and morbidity throughout. The renal failure rate was very high in the third and fourth quarters with odds ratios of 4.57 and 10.31, respectively. However, the official NSQIP annual institutional report for 2021 identified sepsis, surgical site infections, and cardiac complications as areas 'needing improvement'. It also indicated that the hospital performed exemplarily when it came to venous thromboembolism (VTE). As for the rest of the indicators, the hospital fell in the 'as expected' category of the NSQIP standards. This initial report helps the hospital's orthopaedic department in recognizing areas for improvement and making system-level changes to improve patient outcomes. The implementation of these interventions has yielded favorable outcomes, as evidenced by the findings in the NSQIP yearly report for 2022. Reinforcements and measures are needed to be taken to reduce the adverse events even further and to improve the patient outcomes and quality.

Impact of surgeon specialty on clinical outcomes following esophagectomy for cancer

BackgroundThe impact of surgeon and hospital operative volume on esophagectomy outcomes is well-described; however, studies examining the influence of surgeon specialty remain limited. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of surgeon specialty on short-term outcomes following esophagectomy for cancer.MethodsThe 2016–2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS NSQIP) was queried to identify all patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Surgeon specialty was categorized as general (GS) or thoracic (TS). Entropy balancing was used to generate sample weights that adjust for baseline differences between GS and TS patients. Weights were subsequently applied to multivariable linear and logistic regressions, which were used to evaluate the independent association of surgeon specialty with 30-day mortality, complications, and postoperative length of stay.ResultsOf 2657 esophagectomies included for analysis, 54.1% were performed by TS. Both groups had similar distributions of age, sex, and body mass index. TS patients more frequently underwent transthoracic esophagectomy, while GS patients more commonly received minimally invasive surgery. After adjustment, surgeon specialty was not associated with altered odds of 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.10 p = 0.73) or anastomotic leak (AOR 0.87, p = 0.33). However, TS patients exhibited a 40-min reduction in operative duration and faced greater odds of perioperative transfusion, relative to GS.ConclusionAmong ACS NSQIP participating centers, surgeon specialty influenced operative duration and blood product utilization, but not mortality and anastomotic leak. Our results support the relative safety of esophagectomy performed by select GS and TS.

The Obesity Paradox: A Nonlinear Relationship Between 30-Day Postoperative Complications and Body Mass Index After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

An inverse relationship coined the "obesity paradox" has been propositioned, in which body mass index (BMI) may be contradictorily protective in patients undergoing surgery or treatment of chronic disease. This study sought to investigate the BMI associated with the lowest rate of medical complications after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database was queried to identify adults who underwent elective primary TSA between January 2012 and December 2020. Thirty-day postoperative medical complications were extracted, which included death, readmission, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, renal failure, and cardiac arrest, among others. BMI was classified into five categories (underweight [BMI <18.5 kg/m 2 ], normal weight [BMI ≥18.5 and <25 kg/m 2 ], overweight [BMI ≥25 and <30 kg/m 2 ], obese [BMI ≥30 and <40 kg/m 2 ], and morbidly obese [BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 ]). We examined the risk of any 30-day postoperative complications and BMI categorically and on a continuous basis using multivariable logistic regression controlling for age, sex, procedure year, and comorbidities. Of the 31,755 TSAs, 84% were White, 56% were female, and the average age of patients was 69.2 ± 9.3 years. Thirty-day postoperative medical complications occurred in 4.53% (n = 1,440). When assessed on a continuous basis, the lowest risk was in patients with a BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m 2 . Underweight individuals (BMI <18.5 kg/m 2 ) had the highest postoperative complication rates overall. The probability of medical complications increased with age and was greater for female patients. The relationship between BMI and complication risk in TSA is nonlinear. A BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m 2 was associated with the lowest risk of medical complications after TSA, and BMI<18.5 kg/m 2 had the highest risk overall, indicating some protective aspects of BMI against 30-day medical complications. Thus, obesity alone should not preclude patients from TSA eligibility, rather surgical candidacy should be evaluated in the context of patients' overall health and likelihood of benefit from TSA. III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

Trends and Prediction of Surgical Site Infection After Elective Spine Surgery: An Analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Database.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is an infrequent but costly complication after elective spine surgery. Identification of important temporal changes and predictive factors may inform targeted prevention efforts. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of elective spine surgery patients was performed using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Programs (NSQIP) database from 2011 and 2019. Temporal changes in SSI and related factors were examined descriptively. Recursive partitioning and bootstrap forest techniques were used to inform the development of predictive models for SSI. Results: A total of 6,038 (1.66%) of 363,754 patients had an SSI recorded. Peri-operative transfusion and preoperative anemia decreased over the nine-year period, however, obesity and diabetes mellitus increased, whereas the SSI rate remained essentially unchanged. A full model including 15 variables had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.693 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.686-0.700) whereas a reduced model with just nine variables had an AUC of 0.690 (95% CI, 0.683-0.697). Adjusted odd ratios (aOR) greater than two were noted for only three variables; a posterior approach (aOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 2.14-2.50), body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m2 (aOR, 2.63; 95% CI, 2.39-2.90), and surgical duration longer than 350 minutes (aOR, 2.39; 95% CI, 2.14-2.67). Remaining retained variables included albumin <3.5 g/dL, inpatient procedure, peri-operative transfusion, diabetes mellitus (both insulin/non-insulin), anemia, and smoking. Conclusions: Surgical site infection rate remained unchanged over a nine-year period despite the lower rates of allogeneic blood transfusion. Class 3 obesity, long operative times, and a posterior approach mainly for thoracic/lumbar spine procedures seemed more pragmatic, but their predictive performance was only modest in our prediction models for SSI.

Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Between Vascular, General, and Orthopedic Surgeons

IntroductionGeneral surgeons (GS), orthopedic surgeons (OS), and vascular surgeons (VS) can perform below-knee amputation (BKA) operations. We compared the outcomes of BKA patients among the three specialties. MethodsAdult patients who underwent a BKA were identified from the 2016–2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database. Statistical data for orthopedic and vascular BKA cases were then compared with GS cases using logistic regression analysis. Outcomes included mortality, length of hospital stay, and complications. ResultsThere were 9619 BKA cases. VS had the highest volume of BKA with 58.9% of the cases, compared to GS at 22.9% and OS at 18.1%. 4.4% of general surgery patients had severe frailty compared to OS (3.3%) and VS (3.4%, P < 0.001). VS has the lowest rates of emergency cases (11.9% versus 16.1 for GS versus 15.8% versus OS) and the most favorable wound classification (38.3%, versus 48.7% for GS and VS). Peripheral vascular disease was notably highest in VS (34.0% versus. 20.6% for GS and 9.9% for OS, P < 0.001). Compared to GS, VS was more likely to have a prolonged length of stay (odds ratio) (OR)(1.409), 95% CI 1.265-1.570) while OS was less likely (OR 0.650, 95% CI 0.561-0.754). OS had a lower risk of complications (OR 0.781, 95% CI 0.674-0.904). Mortality was not significantly different among the three specialties. ConclusionsThe National Surgical Quality Improvement Project retrospective analysis of BKA cases suggested that mortality was not statistically different when performed by VS, GS, and OS. There were fewer overall complications when OS performed a BKA, but this is more likely a result of operating upon a generally healthier patient population with lower incidence of preoperative comorbid conditions.

Open versus robotic-assisted radical cystectomies: A risk analysis.

4593 Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but it comes with significant perioperative risk with half of patients experiencing major postoperative complications. Robot-assisted radical cystectomies (RARC) have aimed to decrease patient morbidity and have become increasingly adopted in North America. Currently, both open radical cystectomies (ORC) and RARC are frequently performed. To contribute to the existing literature using newly available data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP), representing one of the most recent, largest multi-institutional studies, while uniquely accounting for a variety of factors including type of urinary diversion, cancer staging, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: RC procedures performed between 2019-2020 were identified in NSQIP and the corresponding Cystectomy Targeted database. Cases in the ORC group were planned open procedures, and cases in the RARC group were robotic with intra- or extracorporeal diversions, including unplanned conversion to open cases for intention-to-treat. Chi-square and t-tests were performed to compare baseline demographics and operative parameters. Multivariate analysis was performed for outcomes including major complications, minor complications, and 30-day mortality, while adjusting for operative approach, medical comorbidities, functional status, age, race, sex, BMI, ASA-classification, preoperative labs, type of urinary diversion, pathological staging, prior pelvic surgery or radiation, need for preoperative transfusion, preoperative sepsis, emergent or elective surgery, and recent chemotherapy. Results: 4,022 RC cases were identified. Of these, 3,146 (78.2%) received planned ORC while 876 (21.8%) received RARC. Baseline demographics of the patients who received ORC versus RARC were largely similar, with no significant difference in age or medical comorbidities. RARC was associated with longer operative times and shorter hospital length of stay compared to ORC. On multivariate analysis, ORC was associated with a higher rate of 30-day mortality [OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.3-7.2; p=0.009], reintubation, cardiac arrest, superficial wound infection, bleeding requiring transfusion [OR 4.7; 95%CI 3.6 - 6.1; p&lt;0.001], prolonged postoperative nasogastric tube use, rectal injury, and ureteral fistula or urine leak compared to RARC. Conclusions: In the NSQIP database, ORC is associated with higher rates of 30- day mortality and operative complications, most notably bleeding, compared to RARC. This study is unique in the size of the cohorts compared, the timeliness of the data (2019-2020), and the ability to control for factors, such as type of urinary diversion, pathological bladder cancer staging, and use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Perioperative safety and outcomes following radical prostatectomy in setting of locally advanced, node positive, and metastatic prostate cancer.

e17108 Background: Historically, definitive surgical management with radical prostatectomy (RP) has only been considered an option for the treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa). However, recent data may suggest a role for RP in advanced PCa treatment. Currently, there is limited data on the safety and perioperative outcomes of RP in this setting. Here, we aim to compare the perioperative outcomes of RP for locally advanced, node positive, and metastatic PCa using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) new procedure targeted database. Methods: RP procedures performed between 2019-2020 were identified. Patients were stratified to compare the effect of locally advanced disease (T3-4), node-positivity (N+), and metastasis (M+) against patients with localized (T1-2 N0 M0) PCa. Baseline demographics and 30-day outcomes, including operative time, hospital length-of-stay, 30-day mortality, readmissions, reoperations, major complications, minor complications, and surgery-specific complications, were compared between groups. Results: Pathologic staging data was available for 9,276 RPs. Baseline demographics were comparable. There was a slightly higher rate of minor-complications in the locally-advanced cohort, but no significant difference in major-complications, 30-day-mortality, readmissions, or rectal injuries. In comparison, while node-positivity was associated with longer operative time, LOS, and incidence of 30-day renal failure, it was not associated with a higher rate of any major, minor or surgery-specific complication. Similarly, RP for metastatic cases appeared to be comparably safe to those with M0 disease, although they were associated with a slightly higher rate of bleeding, prolonged-NG-tube use, and ureteral obstruction. Conclusions: RP for patients with locally advanced, node positive, and metastatic prostate cancer appears to be safe, and is not associated with significantly higher rates of 30-day mortality or major complications compared to localized prostate cancer. Given the previously demonstrated survival benefit in treating the primary tumor in advanced disease with radiation therapy, there may be a role for the RP in treating advanced PCa. Further studies are needed to better characterize the risks and benefits of surgery in these patients.

Rates of surgical site infections and length of stay following major gynecologic oncology surgery for patients on federally funded insurance: A 6-month retrospective cohort.

e18627 Background: An estimated 94,000 women have newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer annually–with rates increasing over the last 20 years. The incidence of gynecologic cancers is known to vary by insurance status; more specifically, uninsured or federally insured women are more likely to have advanced-stage disease at the time of diagnosis and worse overall survival compared to privately insured women. Surgical site infections (SSIs) complicate up to 4% of hysterectomies in the United States. Other post-operative sequelae, such as wound dehiscence and 30-day readmission, further complicate the post-surgical course. We sought to determine differences in postoperative outcomes for patients with private and federally-funded insurance plans, such as SSI, length of hospital stay, and 30-day wound dehiscence, and 30 all-cause readmission following gynecologic oncologic surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from a large metropolitan academic health system between January 1st, 2022, to June 30th, 2022. The study population included adult women who received gynecologic oncologic surgery–surgical staging or interval cytoreduction. Postoperative complications were compared to national rates from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database. Trends were analyzed using chi-squared analysis and a two-sample t-test. Results: Over our 6-month study period, 233 patients underwent gynecologic oncologic surgery. Robotic-assisted hysterectomies were the most common (27.89%, n = 65), followed by total abdominal hysterectomies (21%, n = 49), laparoscopic hysterectomies (7.72%, n = 18), and supracervical hysterectomies (3%, n = 7). More patients required bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (63.51%, n = 148) compared to unilateral procedures (9.87%, n = 23). Although most patients had private insurance (73.39%, n = 171), 26.1% had federally-funded health plans (n = 62)–Medicaid and Medicare. Rates of wound dehiscence were higher than the NSQIP rate of 1% among our cohort (3%, n = 7). Although there was a high rate of 30-day readmission (9.44%, n = 22) compared to NSQIP rate of 6.1%, the incidence of SSI was fewer than the NSQIP rate of 4% (3.86%, n = 9). Upon intersectional analysis, patients with federal insurance plans had higher rates of SSI (n = 5, p &lt; 0.05). Specifically, Medicare patients had a longer average length of stay at 2.64 days (p &lt; 0.05) compared to a study average of 1.76 days. Conclusions: Patients with federal insurance had longer hospital stays and higher rates of SSI compared to those with private plans. There was no difference in 30-day wound dehiscence or 30-day all-cause readmission between study populations. More studies are needed to risk-stratify patients by insurance type before gynecologic oncology surgery to improve postoperative outcomes further.