Procedure Volume Research Articles

Balloon Rises Above: REBOA at Zone 1 May Be Superior to Resuscitative Thoracotomy.

The use of Zone 1 REBOA for life-threatening trauma has increased dramatically. The Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery database was queried for blunt and penetrating trauma between 2013 and 2021. Outcomes were examined both for mechanisms of injury combined and separately and for combinations of abdominal injury with and without traumatic brain injury and chest injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score >2). A total of 531 patients underwent REBOA (408 with blunt injury and 123 with penetrating injury) and 1,603 (595 with blunt injury and 1,008 with penetrating injury) underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT). Mean age was 38.5 ± 16 years and mean injury severity score was 34.5 ± 21; 57.7% had chest AIS score of more than 2, 21.8% had head AIS score of more than 2, and 37.3% had abdominal AIS score of more than 2. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale was 4.9 + 4, and systolic blood pressure at aortic occlusion (AO) was 22 + 40 mmHg. No differences in outcomes in REBOA or RT patients were identified between institutions (p > 0.5). After inverse probability weighting, Glasgow Coma Scale, age, injury severity score, systolic blood pressure at AO, CPR at AO, and blood product transfusion, REBOA was superior to RT in both blunt (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 11.7) and penetrating (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7 to 14) injuries, across all spectrums of injury (p < 0.01). Overall mortality was significantly higher for AO more than 90 minutes compared with less than 30 minutes in blunt (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 15) and penetrating (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 25) injuries. Duration of AO more than 60 minutes was significantly associated with mortality after penetrating abdominal injury (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 22) and abdomen and head (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.6 to 18). In-hospital survival is higher for patients undergoing REBOA than RT for all injury patterns. Complete AO by REBOA or RT should be limited to less than 30 minutes. Neither hospital and procedure volume nor trauma verification level impacts outcomes for REBOA or RT.

Rapidly Growing, High-Risk Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach: A Case Report

An increase in the volume of endoscopic procedures performed in recent times has led to increasing detection rates of asymptomatic gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors. However, accurate diagnosis and risk assessment of these tumors preoperatively is challenging. A 70-year-old man patient visited the emergency department for evaluation of melena. Emergency endoscopy revealed an ulcerated subepithelial tumor (8 cm in size) in the gastric cardia and fundus. Computed tomography and upper endoscopy performed at another hospital 6 months earlier were reviewed; the mass showed a significant increase in size (from 2 cm to 8 cm). The patient underwent surgical resection of the mass and was diagnosed with a high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). In this article, we describe a rare case of a rapidly growing GIST at a rate significantly greater than commonly reported rates.

Global Cardiac Surgical Volume and Gaps: Trends, Targets, and Way Forward

BackgroundMore than 1 million cardiac surgical procedures are estimated to occur yearly. Little is known about country-level procedural estimates and volumes needed to provide adequate population coverage. We evaluated annual cardiac procedural volumes for high-income countries and present target volumes for countries to work toward as part of universal health coverage agendas. MethodsAcademic and gray literature was searched for total annual volumes for high-income countries for all cardiac surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valvular surgery, and congenital heart surgery between 2010 and 2021. Matched populations were obtained from the World Bank World Development Indicators. Volume targets by country income group were proposed on the basis of published expert opinion and adjusted for cardiovascular disease burdens. ResultsAn average total cardiac surgical volume of 123.2 per 100,000 population per year was performed in high-income countries (36.7 CABG, 30.8 valvular, 7.9 congenital). Unadjusted annual volume targets per 100,000 population for low- and middle-income countries are 61.6 cardiac surgical procedures, 18.3 CABGs, 15.4 valvular surgical procedures, and 4.0 congenital heart operations. Adjusted for cardiovascular disease burdens, total cardiac surgical volume targets are 86.1 procedures per 100,000 population per year for upper-middle-income countries, 55.1 for lower-middle-income countries, and 40.2 for low-income countries. ConclusionsTarget annual procedural volumes present opportunities to strategically work toward expanding cardiac surgical capacity to meet the needs of countries’ populations. These targets may guide country-specific targets, which should be optimized through the expert opinion and lived experiences of local health care professionals and the context-specific population needs.

Assessing the impact of center volume on the cost-effectiveness of centralizing ERCP

Background and AimsERCP is a complex endoscopic procedure in which the center's procedure volume influences outcomes. With the increasing healthcare expenses and limited resources, promoting cost-effective care becomes essential for healthcare provision. This study performed a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate the hypothesis that high-volume (HV) centers perform ERCP with higher quality at lower costs than low-volume (LV) centers. MethodsA baseline case compared the current distribution of ERCPs among HV and LV centers with a hypothetical scenario in which all ERCPs are performed at HV centers. A cost-effectiveness analysis was constructed, followed by one-way and two-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) using Monte Carlo simulations. ResultsIn the baseline case, the ICER was -141,017€/year, due to the hypothetical scenario's lower costs and slightly higher QALYs. The model was most sensitive to changes in the transportation costs (109.34%), probability of significant adverse events (AEs) after successful ERCP at LV centers (42.12%), utility after ERCP with significant AEs (30.10%), and probability of significant AEs after successful ERCP at HV centers (23.53%) but only transportation cost above 3,407€ changed the study outcome. The current ERCP distribution would only be cost-effective if LV centers achieved higher success (≥ 92.4% vs. 89.3%) with much lower significant AEs (≤ 0.5% vs 6.7%). The study's main findings remained unchanged while combining all model parameters in the PSA. ConclusionsOur findings show that HV centers have high-performance rates at lower costs, raising the need to consider the principle of centralization of ERCPs into HV centers to improve the quality of care.

Instrumentation and Devices Specific to Follicular Unit Excision.

The volume of hair transplantation procedures done via the follicular unit excision (FUE) harvesting technique has increased tremendously over the last few years. With this growth, new advances in technology have come along. The wide variety of instrumentation and devices can be overwhelming, especially for a novice surgeon. This chapter aims to discuss the relevant aspects of FUE and its relationship to the devices that are used to harvest grafts. The development and overview of all the major types of instrumentation will be reviewed.

The Relationship Between Procedural Volume, Hospital Quality, and Postoperative Mortality in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Review of the Literature

Studies of neurosurgical pediatric patients associate treatment at low-volume hospitals and by low-volume surgeons with increased odds of adverse outcomes. Although these associations suggest that increased centralization of care could be considered, we evaluate whether confounding endogenous factors mitigate against the proposed outcome benefits. Literature review of English language articles from 1999 to 2021. We included articles that assessed volume-outcome effects in pediatric neurosurgical patients. Twelve papers were included from 1999 to 2021. Primary outcomes included mortality (9), length of stay (LOS) (6), complications (4), and shunt revision/failure rates (3). Volume was measured at the hospital level (8) and at the surgeon level (6). Four papers found that higher volume hospitals had lower odds of mortality. Two papers found that hospitals with higher volume had fewer complications. Two papers found that higher volume surgeons had decreased mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.09-0.3). One paper found that high-volume surgeons had fewer complications (-2.4%; P= 0.006). After controlling for hospital factors (HF), two out of 7 analyses remained significant. Five analyses did not control for HF. The literature consistently demonstrates a relationship between higher hospital and surgeon volume and better outcomes for pediatric neurosurgical patients. Of the 7 articles that assessed HF, only 2 analyses found that surgical volume remained associated with better outcomes. No reports assessed the degree of centralization already present. The call for centralization of pediatric care should be tempered until variables such as hospital factors, distribution of cases, and clinical thresholds can be defined and studied.

The impact of hospital experience in bariatric surgery on short-term outcomes after minimally invasive esophagectomy: a nationwide analysis.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a technically challenging procedure with a substantial learning curve. Composite volume of upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) procedures for cancer has been previously linked to postoperative outcomes. This study aimed to investigate an association between hospital experience in bariatric surgery and short-term outcomes in MIE. Data on esophagectomy patients between 2016 and 2020 were collected from the Dutch Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Audit, a mandatory nationwide registry. Hospitals were categorized as bariatric or non-bariatric. Multivariable logistic regression investigated short-term postoperative outcomes, adjusting for case mix. Of 3371 patients undergoing esophagectomy in sixteen hospitals, 2450 (72.7%) underwent MIE. Bariatric hospitals (N = 6) accounted for 1057 (43.1%) MIE. Annual volume of bariatric procedures was median 523 and esophagectomies 42. In non-bariatric hospitals, volume of esophagectomies was median 52 (P = 0.145). Overall postoperative complication rate was lower in bariatric hospitals (59.2% vs. 65.9%, P < 0.001). Bariatric hospitals were associated with a reduced risk of overall complications (aOR 0.76 [95% CI 0.62-0.92]), length of hospital (aOR 0.79 [95% CI 0.65-0.95]), and ICU stay (aOR 0.81 [95% CI 0.67-0.98]) after MIE. Surgical radicality (R0) did not differ. Lymph node yield (≥ 15) was lower in bariatric hospitals (90.0% vs. 94.7%, P < 0.001). Over the years, several short-term outcomes improved in bariatric hospitals compared to non-bariatric hospitals. In this nationwide analysis, there was an association between bariatric hospitals and improved short-term outcomes after MIE. Characteristics of bariatric hospitals that could explain this phenomenon and whether this translates to other upper GI procedures may be warranted to identify.

Long-term mitral valve repair outcomes and hospital volume: 15 years' analysis of an administrative dataset.

Procedural volume has been documented as an important contributor to operative outcomes for most complex surgical procedures. Mitral valve repair (MVRep) has been associated with excellent results, and it is increasingly adopted in many cardiac surgical centers. We sought to investigate if procedural volume is associated with better clinical long-term outcomes after MVRep. We analyzed the 10-year outcomes after MVRep by procedural volume for each cardiac surgery center in an Italian Region, Lazio, during the last 15 years, using a regional administrative dataset. Between 2006 and 2020, 4961 patients were treated in seven cardiac surgery centers for an isolated mitral valve surgery (2677 underwent MVRep). At multivariate analysis, mitral valve replacement (MVR) (vs. MVRep) resulted one of the independent predictors of 30-day mortality [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.40; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96-5.90; P < 0.0001]. Notably, a clear association between hospital volume of mitral valve surgery (>40 per year) and high rate of MVRep (>50%) was found. At 10 years, the incidence of mortality and the rate of death and rehospitalization for heart failure after MVRep were significantly lower in high-volume vs. low-volume hospitals. Our data suggest that hospital volume is associated with a high rate of MVRep and long-term benefits in terms of mortality and recurrence of heart failure.

Hemapheresis Clinic Scheduling Quality Improvement Project

Abstract Introduction/Objective Outpatient (OP) Red blood cell exchange (RCE) therapy is used to treat patients with severe manifestations of sickle cell disease. Like any blood transfusion, a patient must have an active type and screen, drawn 24 to 72 hours prior to scheduled RCE procedure. UIH Hemapheresis clinic performs several types of apheresis procedures treating sickle cell disease, kidney transplant rejection and autoimmune disorders. Outpatient clinic staff perceived that most RCE procedures are scheduled disproportionately between Wednesday through Friday, which creates an unbalanced schedule that is lighter on Monday and Tuesday, and heavier Wednesday through Friday. The study's objective was to determine if there is a significant difference between the number of outpatient procedures scheduled on the different days of the week. If significant differences are identified, processes may be improved to schedule a more balanced OP clinic week. Potential benefits may include a more balanced patient to nursing staff ratios which can improve patient care and more efficient RBC utilization which can ease workload across multiple cross-functional departments such as nursing staff, reference labs and in-house blood bank staff. Methods/Case Report The UIH Epic Hemapheresis Clinic schedule was searched to identify how many total OP procedures, including RCE, were scheduled each day of the week between 01AUG2021 – 31JUL2022. Only OP procedures occurring in complete five-day weeks were included. Weekends and weeks having clinic closures for holidays were excluded Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Our study show that the lowest number of OP RCE (mean 1.4) and total number of OP procedures (mean 2.6) were on Monday. Wednesday is the busiest day with overall averaging 3.5 total procedures (Standard Deviation: 1.56). However, Friday is the most variable, with the largest SD for both RBCX (SD 1.4) and Total number of procedures (SD 1.7). Conclusion Contributing factors to low procedure volume on Monday are likely multifactorial. Some patients may prefer not to come to the hospital on Saturday for type and screen, while some may forget they need labs. Transportation issues are another factor. One intervention the clinic has implemented is automatic appointment call reminders. Staff encourage patients or caregivers to sign up for the EPIC MyChart app which also notifies patients of upcoming appointments. Future studies need to be conducted to address other bottlenecks within the scheduling workflow and to determine ways to optimize patient appointment adherence.

Increasing the Volume of Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty Procedures: An Evaluation of a Novel Rapid Recovery Pathway Program Within an Academic Medical Center.

There has been a national trend toward shifting joint arthroplasty procedures to the outpatient setting. These cases are often performed in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which are often not accessible to surgeons within academic practices. We sought to investigate a novel rapid recovery program used to transition arthroplasty patients to an outpatient-based care system within an academic medical center. All patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty between November 2019 and April 2021 were retrospectively evaluated for their eligibility for a rapid recovery pathway through the Extended Stay Unit (ESU) based on clinical and social criteria. Once admitted, patients were evaluated for whether they were discharged from the unit or if hospital admission was necessary. Out of the 444 patients deemed candidates for the rapid recovery program, 188 patients were admitted to the ESU (42.3%); 18 (9.6%) required inpatient hospital admission, with the majority of these due to failing physical therapy (16; 88.9%). Of the ESU patients who were successfully discharged home, 55 (32.4%) were discharged on postoperative day (POD) 0 and 115 (67.6%) on POD 1 (<23 hours). As total joint arthroplasties shift toward the outpatient setting, surgeons in academic institutions must employ strategies to increase their volume of patient candidates for outpatient procedures. Our retrospective study of prospectively collected data suggests the feasibility of creating a separate rapid recovery unit within the hospital that can be an effective method by which to eventually transition to the ASC setting.

Supporting endovascular practice in 2023 and beyond: the BSET Fellowship Programme

British Society of Endovascular Therapy (BSET) Fellowships were introduced to provide an opportunity for vascular or interventional radiology trainees to acquire new or more complex endovascular skills during a 6-month period in a UK-based endovascular unit of their choice. They were established in 2008 in response to the rapidly expanding field of endovascular practice, with the aim to support high quality endovascular training as well as a new hybrid skillset for those from a vascular surgical background. Since vascular surgery gained independence as a specialty in 2012, evolutions in both vascular surgery and interventional radiology training programmes have facilitated increased exposure to complex endovascular interventions. However, these Fellowships continue to offer a unique opportunity, where trainees benefit from a period of concentrated exposure, working to develop a specific subspecialty interest and ‘fine tune’ their skills in preparation for consultant practice. Further, these Fellowships also offer interventional radiology trainees to be exposed to a larger volume and variety of endovascular procedures, benefiting their future independent practice.

HPB P21 A Systematic review and Narrative Synthesis of Health Economic Evaluation of single use duodenoscopes

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant infections transmitted through duodenoscopes in ERCP procedures have raised significant concerns. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suggested shifting from traditional reusable duodenoscopes to newer, more innovative designs. These new models, including completely disposable duodenoscopes and those with disposable endcaps, aim to enhance cleaning efficiency and reduce infection risks. While sterile, single-use duodenoscopes have been a breakthrough in eliminating cross-infections, their adoption poses cost-related challenges. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search across various databases for studies that examined the cost-effectiveness of these two types of duodenoscopes. Four studies met our inclusion criteria, involving diverse settings and study designs, including cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-minimization analyses. Results All four studies suggested that single use duodenoscopes could be cost-effective compared to reusable ones under certain circumstances, such as specific infection rates, procedure volumes, and willingness to pay thresholds. However, limitations in the generalizability of findings were noted, and the quality of evidence varied across studies. Conclusions Current evidence indicates potential cost-effectiveness for single-use duodenoscopes, although it is context-dependent. More robust, high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings and further explore the cost-effectiveness in various clinical settings and scenarios. The potential environmental impact of single use duodenoscopes warrants further exploration.

Temporal trends, patient characteristics and hospital volume outcomes after alcohol septal ablation and septal myectomy for treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) represents a clinically and morphologically diverse hereditary cardiac disease that is frequently associated with poor prognosis. Nationwide data on septal reduction therapy (SRT), alcohol septal ablation (ASA) and septal myectomy (SM), remains scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) temporal trends, (ii) patient characteristics, (iii) in-hospital outcomes, and associations between institutional procedural volumes and outcomes after ASA and SM in a large-scale nationwide cohort. Methods Using data from the German Federal Bureau of Statistics, this study analyzed all patients with HOCM who were hospitalized for ASA or SM in a nationwide inpatient database in Germany between January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2019. Rates of adverse in-hospital events (in-hospital mortality, need for permanent pacemaker) were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare overall outcomes after each procedure based on tertiles of hospital volumes of ASA and SM. Results A total of 8,514 patients underwent SRT, of whom 5,293 (62.2%) underwent ASA and 3,221 (37.8%) SM. Annual numbers for SM and ASA steadily increased over time: ASA procedures increased from 329 in 2006 to 451 in 2019 and SM procedures increased from 191 in 2006 to 222 in 2019, respectively. Patients with SM were older (mean 67.4 vs. 60.2 years), less likely female (56.4% vs. 49.9%), and had a higher burden of comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, chronic kidney disease) compared to patients with ASA. Over an observational period of 14 years, the majority of both ASA and SM procedures were performed at hospitals in the lowest volume category (≤20 procedures). The overall in-hospital mortality was higher in patients with SM (6.8%) compared to patients with ASA (0.8%), whereas the need for pacemaker implantation was more often observed in patients with ASA (19.3% vs. 13.1%; p&amp;lt;0.001). The lowest tertile of SM volume among hospitals was independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (lowest vs. highest tertile), 2.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-4.66), whereas being in the lowest vs. the highest tertile of ASA by volume was not independently associated with risk of in-hospital mortality and adverse events. Conclusion In this contemporary cohort with more than 8,500 cases of SRT between 2006 and 2019, the majority of SRT was performed at centers with a low volume of SM and ASA procedures. Low SM volume was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality, whereas low ASA volume was not associated with adverse outcomes. Our findings may help to further understand how institutional SRT procedural volumes affects outcomes and might encourage referral of patients with HOCM to centers of excellence for SRT.

Association between hospital volume, clinical events, resource utilization, and costs of septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation procedures in US patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Prior studies have evaluated the relationship between hospital procedural volumes of septal reduction therapies (SRT) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and outcomes. Other analyses, including economic outcomes, are needed to support clinical decisions among adult patients diagnosed with HCM. Objective The objective of this study was to reconfirm the relationship between higher SRT procedural volume, including septal myectomy (SM) -with and without mitral valve repair or replacement (MVRR)- and alcohol septal ablation (ASA), and clinical events, healthcare resource utilization, and hospitalization costs using more contemporary hospitalization data. Data &amp; Methods This cross-sectional study utilizes retrospective observational data from the PINC AI™ Healthcare Database (PHD), a US hospital administrative database. The study population consists of adult patients with HCM undergoing ASA or SM procedures between January 1, 2012, and March 31, 2022. Hospital volume was determined by tertiles of total SRT performed for ASA, SM separately during the study period. We compare clinical events (including death, stroke, acute renal failure, and pacemaker implantation), readmission, index length of stay, and hospitalization costs across tertiles. We present p-values between tertiles and within procedure types. Results A total of 3,068 adult HCM patients in 315 US hospitals underwent SRT during the study period, including 1,400 with ASA and 1,668 with SM. Table 1 shows the patient and hospital characteristics by tertiles of hospital volume. The median age of patients was 66 years for ASA and 62 years for SM. Medicare coverage accounted for 59.9% of ASA and 44.9% of SM, followed by commercial coverage (28.5% of ASA and 39% of SM). Most hospitals in the study were teaching hospitals (74% for ASA and 67% for SM). In the highest SRT volume tertile (5% of hospitals performing SRT) the average annual number of procedures was 3.5 ASA and 4.9 SM. Table 2 presents the outcomes by hospital volume (low-, mid-, and high-volume). Recorded in-hospital death rates for ASA were 1.4%, 1.4%, and 1.1%, respectively (not statistically different); for SM, 5.1%, 3.4% and 2.9%, respectively (not statistically different). For ASA and SM, index hospital costs, and 30-day readmission rates had an inverse relationship to hospital volume, with statistically significant differences for both procedures between the low- and high-volume hospitals (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusion The annual number of SRT procedures for obstructive HCM remains low, even for higher volume hospitals. This study shows high variability in clinical events, resource utilization, and in-hospital costs by hospital procedure volume and type of SRT. We reconfirmed that higher hospital procedure volume is associated with fewer adverse clinical events and lower costs.

Analyzing current German transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement practices in pure aortic regurgitation

Abstract Background In Germany, the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for treating pure aortic regurgitation is still not regular practice. Purpose Therefore, the current development of TAVR in aortic regurgitation is to be investigated. Methods In 2018–2020, 4,025 surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVR), 50 transapical, 329 balloon-expandable transfemoral, and 457 self-expanding transfemoral TAVR in pure aortic regurgitation were studied using multivariable logistic and linear regressions. Results The TAVR groups had a higher age than SAVR (76.0-77.3a vs 62.8a) and logistic EuroSCORE (17.7-19.1 vs 4.9%). Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was highest in transapical TAVR (6.0%), followed by SAVR (5.7%), and it was lowest in transfemoral TAVR, with self-expanding procedures (2.4%) showing significantly lower in-hospital mortality than balloon-expandable (5.2%; p=0.039). After risk adjustment, we saw a significant association with lower mortality rates for balloon-expandable as well as self-expanding transfemoral TAVR vs SAVR (balloon-expandable: OR=0.50, p=0.031; self-expanding: OR=0.20, p&amp;lt;0.001). In the same way, we found that other examined outcomes were significantly in favor of TAVR: stroke (balloon-expandable: OR=0.17, p&amp;lt;0.001; self-expanding: OR=0.17, p&amp;lt;0.001), major bleeding (balloon-expandable: OR=0.04, p&amp;lt;0.001; self-expanding: OR=0.03, p&amp;lt;0.001), delirium (balloon-expandable: OR=0.19, p&amp;lt;0.001; self-expanding: OR=0.16, p&amp;lt;0.001), mechanical ventilation &amp;gt;48h (balloon-expandable: OR=0.09, p&amp;lt;0.001; self-expanding: OR=0.06, p&amp;lt;0.001), and length of hospital stay (balloon-expandable: Coefficient=-6.88d, p&amp;lt;0.001; self-expanding: Coefficient=-7.22d, p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion Despite lower procedure volumes in TAVR vs SAVR for pure aortic regurgitation, we see lower rates of in-hospital mortality and complications, suggesting that TAVR can be used successfully in selected patients with aortic regurgitation.

Abstract 12614: Procedural Volume and Outcomes With Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Report From the NCDR AFib Registry

Introduction: Operator and hospital procedure volumes are associated with outcomes in many cardiac procedures. Objective: To determine the association between hospital/physician procedural volume and safety/success for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in the current era. Methods: Procedures reported to the NCDR AFib Registry between 7/2019 to 6/2022 were analyzed. Physician and hospital procedural volumes were annualized and stratified into quartiles (Q) to compare procedural success and major adverse events (MAE). Three level hierarchical (patient, hospital and physician) generalized linear models were used to assess the adjusted relationship between procedural volume and likelihood of acute outcomes. Results: A total of 70,296 first time AF ablation patients' at 186 US hospitals were studied. Mean age was 66.1 ± 10.3 years. 36% were women; mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.7±1.6, and 57.4% were of paroxysmal AF. The median annual procedural volumes for hospitals and physicians were 230 and 66 respectively. Acute procedural success was 98.5% and the MAE rate was 1.0%. With Q4 (highest) hospital procedural volume as a reference, the adjusted likelihood of procedural success was significantly less among Q1 (OR: 0.44, CI: 0.3-0.7), Q2 (OR:0.50, CI:0.3-0.8) and Q3 (OR:0.60,CI:0.4-0.9). Similarly, for physician volume, the adjusted likelihood of success was less among Q1 (OR: 0.38,CI: 0.3-0.5), Q2 (OR: 0.51,CI: 0.4-0.7) and Q3 (OR:0.55,CI:0.4-0.7). With regards to MAE, compared to Q4, there was an inverse relationship to procedural volume for hospitals in Q1 (OR: 1.78, CI:1.3-2.5) but not in Q2 (OR: 1.06, CI 0.8-1.5) or Q3 (OR: 1.19, CI: 0.9-1.6) and for physicians in Q1 (OR: 1.93, CI 1.4-2.6) and Q2 (OR:1.49, CI: 1.1-2.0) but not in Q3 (OR: 1.22, CI: 0.9-1.6)(figure). Conclusions: In this national cohort of first time AF ablations, hospital and physician procedural volume were directly related to acute procedural success and inversely related to the rate of MAE.

Abstract 15109: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During the Global Shortage of Iodinated Contrast

Background: A recent coronavirus-related factory shutdown led to a global shortage of iodinated contrast media. Its impact on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), which require contrast, has not been investigated. Research Question: The purpose of the study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the impact of the contrast shortage on PCI procedure volumes, patient and procedure characteristics and (2) to evaluate whether those changes impacted patient outcomes, especially acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: Using CathPCI registry data from 19 Viriginia hospitals, we evaluated two time periods: pre-shortage (May 2021 - April 2022) and during the contrast shortage (May 2022 - October 2022). We compared procedure volumes, patient and procedure characteristics, and short-term outcomes. Of primary interest was whether a reduction in contrast would reduce the incidence of AKI. Results: There were 8,980 patients in the pre-shortage period and 4,046 during the shortage. Procedure volumes per hospital and patient characteristics remained similar. Multivessel procedures declined during the shortage (45.3% vs. 42.8%, p=0.007). There was a sharp decline in contrast per procedure during the shortage (149.9 ± 68.1 mL per case to 137.5 ± 62.4 mL (p&lt;0.0001) that began at the start of the shortage and then continued throughout. There were no differences in patient outcomes, including AKI (7.9% versus 7.4%, p=0.40), between study periods. When limited to patients at increased risk of AKI, there remained no difference in AKI between the study periods, despite a similar decrease in contrast volume in that cohort. Multivariable analysis showed strong correlation between baseline risk of AKI and subsequent AKI (p&lt;0.0001), but no impact of procedure characteristics or the timing of the PCI. Conclusions: The global shortage of iodinated contrast led to a significant decline in contrast use during PCI, with no impact on patient outcomes.

Abstract 13371: Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: Experiences From the First Two Years Implanting in an Academic Training Program

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged as a more durable physiologic pacing strategy to His bundle pacing and a promising alternative to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Integration of this procedural technique within an academic training program has not yet been described. Objective: Highlight the procedural learning curve of implanting LBBAP leads within a fellowship program. Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent placement of a Medtronic 3830 lead for LBBAP at our institution from 1/2021-12/2022. Results: A total of 180 patients underwent LBBAP lead placement over the study time period. Overall, total procedure time was 133.7±58.2min, lead placement time 30.7±20.0min, fluoroscopy time 22.5±21.2 min, left bundle branch (LBB) capture rate 70% and paced QRS duration 128.6±19.3 ms. When dividing the study period by 6-month intervals, there was a rise in procedural volume (21, 28, 62 and 59 cases, respectively), a trend towards less fluoroscopy use (20.2±12.2, 16.7±9.1, 16.2±12.6 and 16.6±14.4 min), less total radiation (345.2±323.3, 317.2±630.9, 214.9±271.2 and 171.7±253.9 mGy), decreased LBBAP lead placement time (37.8±24.3, 30.7±16.3, 28.2±21.5, 30.6±18.7 min), decreased delivery system exchanges (19%, 11%, 8% and 2%*, *p≤0.01 from first six months) and improved LBB capture rates (50%, 69%, 83%*, 64%, *p≤0.01 from first six months). Both fellowship classes showed significant improvements in LBB capture rates (40% to 94% and 38% to 84%, p≤0.01 for both) and paced-QRS duration (140.0±27.2ms to 120.2±16.5ms and 136.2±21.8ms to 121.7±17.2ms, p≤0.05 for both) after 12 months of experience. Conclusion: Over the first two years of performing LBBAP in an academic training program, there was a rise in procedural volume with trends towards less fluoroscopy use, decreased LBBAP lead placement time with significantly decreased delivery system exchanges and improved LBB capture rates. Significant improvements in LBB capture rates and paced-QRS duration were seen by fellows after 12 months of experience. LBBAP is an increasingly popular pacing technique that can be effectively integrated within a training program, with early introduction important to accommodate the initial learning curve.

Abstract 359: Temporal Trends in Perioperative Cardiac Arrest Rates Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedural volume has continued to increase over the past decade, coinciding with expanded indications by the Food and Drug Administration. Despite advancements in TAVR safety, serious procedure-related complications including cardiac arrest are still a concern. Aims: This study aims to investigate temporal trends of in-hospital cardiac arrest rates and clinical outcomes following TAVR. Methods: In this large-scale, retrospective cohort study, admitted patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of nonrheumatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR were identified from 2016 to 2020 using the National Readmissions Database. Diagnoses and procedures were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition codes. The primary outcome was temporal trends in the rates of cardiac arrest with cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the perioperative period. Secondary endpoints assessed annual discharge survival rates and 30-day readmissions. Results: Of 31,621 total TAVR procedures, perioperative cardiac arrest occurred in 1.8% (n = 579) of cases. Baseline characteristics are described in Table 1. No statistically significant change in perioperative cardiac arrest rates was observed from 2016 to 2020 (p = 0.674). The average annual discharge survival rate was 97.7% which did not change significantly over the 5-year study period (p = 0.551). From 2016 to 2020, 30-day readmissions decreased from 13.6% to 10.1%, respectively (p = 0.028). Conclusion: While perioperative cardiac arrest is associated with high mortality, it still remains a relatively rare complication as operators have become more experienced and valve device technology has improved. An overwhelming majority of TAVR patients are successfully being discharged with improved rates of 30-day readmissions observed over recent years, indicating potential improvements in postoperative care.

Higher Procedural Volumes are Associated with Faster Treatment Times, Better Functional Outcomes, and Lower Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

We aimed to characterize the association of hospital procedural volumes with outcomes among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT). This was a retrospective, observational cohort study using data prospectively collected from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019, in the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry. Participants were derived from a cohort of 60,727 AIS patients treated with EVT within 24 hours at 626 hospitals. The primary cohort excluded patients with pretreatment NIHSS <6, onset-to-treatment time >6 hours, and inter-hospital transfers. There were two secondary cohorts: (1) EVT metrics cohort: excluded patients with missing data on time from door-to-arterial-puncture; (2) Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) metrics cohort: only included patients receiving IVT ≤4.5 hours of onset. The primary cohort (mean±SD age, 70.7 ±14.8 years; 51.2% female; median [IQR] baseline NIHSS 18.0 [13-22]; IVT use, 70.2%) comprised 21,209 patients across 595 hospitals. The EVT metrics cohort and IVT metrics cohort comprised 47,262 and 16,889 patients across 408 and 601 hospitals, respectively. Higher procedural volumes were significantly associated with higher odds (expressed as adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for every 10-case-increase in volume) of discharge to home (1.03[1.02-1.04]), functional independence at discharge (1.02[1.01-1.04]), and lower rates of in-hospital mortality (0.96[0.95-0.98]). All secondary measures were also associated with procedural volumes. Among AIS patients primarily presenting to EVT capable hospitals (excluding those transferred from one facility to another and those suffering in-hospital strokes), EVT at hospitals with higher procedural volumes was associated with faster treatment times, better discharge outcomes, and lower rates of in-hospital mortality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.