Propensity Score-matched Cohort Analysis Research Articles

Obesity May Require a Higher Level of Trauma Care: A Propensity-Matched Nationwide Cohort Study

Objective Stable patients with less severe injuries are not necessarily triaged to high-level trauma centers according to current guidelines. Obese patients are prone to comorbidities and complications. We hypothesized that stable obese patients with low-energy trauma have lower mortality and fewer complications if treated at Level-I/II trauma centers. Methods: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) patients with systolic blood pressures ≥90mmHg, Glasgow coma scale ≥14, and respiratory rates at 10-29 were derived from the National Trauma Data Bank between 2013-2015. Per current triage guidelines, these patients are not necessarily triaged to high-level trauma centers. The relationship between obesity and mortality of stable BAT patients was analyzed. A subset analysis of patients with injury severity scores (ISS) <16 was performed with propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate outcomes between Level-I/II and Level-III/IV trauma centers. Outcomes of obese patients were compared between Level-I/II and Level-III/IV trauma centers. Non-obese patients were analyzed as a control group using a similar PSM cohort analysis. Results: 48,043 stable BAT patients in 707 trauma centers were evaluated. Non-survivors had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (28.7 vs. 26.9, p < 0.001) and higher proportion of obesity (35.6% vs. 26.5%, p < 0.001) than survivors. After a PSM (1,502 obese patients: 751 in Level-I/II trauma centers and 751 in Level-III/IV trauma centers), obese patients treated in Level-I/II trauma centers had significantly lower complication rates than obese patients treated in other trauma centers (20.2% vs. 26.6%, standardized difference = 0.151). The complication rate of obese patients treated at Level-I/II trauma centers was 20.6% lower than obese patients treated at other trauma centers. Conclusion: Obesity plays a role in the mortality of stable BAT patients. Obese patients with ISS < 16 have lower complication rates at Level-I/II trauma centers compared to obese patients treated at other trauma centers. Obesity may be a consideration for triaging to Level-I/II trauma centers.

Long Term Survival after Femoropopliteal Artery Revascularisation with Paclitaxel Coated Devices: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

The aim of this study was to determine the survival of patients after use of paclitaxel coated devices (PCX), as a recent meta-analysis of randomised trials reported higher mortality in patients treated with PCX balloons and stents. A retrospective health insurance claims analysis of patients covered by the second largest insurance fund in Germany, BARMER, was used to identify index femoropopliteal arterial interventions between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2018. To ensure first PCX exposure, patients with prior deployment of PCX were excluded. The study cohort was stratified into patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) and intermittent claudication (IC), then into balloons vs. stents cohorts. Within each stratum PCX were compared with uncoated devices. Propensity score matching was used to balance the study groups. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression. There were 37 914 patients (mean age 73.3 years; 48.8% female) included in the study. The annual proportion of PCX use increased from 3% to 39% during the study period for CLTI and from 4% to 48% for IC (both p < .001). Paclitaxel coated balloons and stents were associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77–0.90), amputation free survival (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78–0.91), and freedom from major cardiovascular events (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77–0.89) vs. uncoated devices at five years for CLTI. In IC cohort, mortality was significantly lower after using drug coated balloons (DCB) (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76–0.99) or combined DCB and drug eluting stents (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80–0.98). In this large health insurance claims analysis, rapid adoption of PCX, higher long term survival, better amputation free survival, and lower rates of major cardiovascular events were seen after their use for the treatment of CLTI.

Quadritherapy vs standard tritherapy immunosuppressant regimen after heart transplantation: A propensity score-matched cohort analysis.

After heart transplant, adding everolimus (EVL) to standard immunosuppressive regimen mostly relies on converting calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) into EVL. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of combining low-dose EVL and CNIs in maintenance immunosuppression regimen (quadritherapy) and compare it with standard tritherapy associating standard-dose CNIs, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. In the 3-year registry cohort of heart transplanted patients, those who received quadritherapy were compared with those who received tritherapy. EVL was added after 3months posttransplant. Three analyses were performed to control for confounders: propensity score matching, multivariable survival, and inverse probability score weighting analyses. Among 213 patients who were included (75 with quadritherapy), propensity score matching selected 64 unique pairs of patients with similar characteristics. In the matched cohort (n=128), quadritherapy was associated with fewer deaths (3 [4.7%] vs 17 [21.9%], P=.007) and biopsy-proven acute rejections (15 [23.4%] vs 31 [48.4%], P=.002). These results were confirmed in the overall cohort (n=213), after multivariable and inverse probability score weighting analyses. Renal function and donor-specific HLA-antibodies remained similar in both groups. Low-dose combination quadritherapy was associated with fewer deaths and rejections, compared with standard immunosuppression tritherapy.

Comparing outcomes after peripheral nerve block versus general anesthesia for lower extremity amputation: a nationwide exploratory retrospective cohort study in Japan

Background and objectivesThe health benefits of peripheral nerve block (PNB) on postoperative complications after lower extremity amputation (LEA) compared with general anesthesia (GA) remains controversial. We performed a retrospective propensity...

Who May Benefit From Diuretics in OSA?: A Propensity Score-Match Observational Study

Diuretics have been reported as effective for reducing OSA severity by preventing fluid retention and reducing rostral fluid shift. The benefit of diuretics might vary depending on the OSA clinical phenotype and comorbidities. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a propensity score-matched cohort analysis of data from the French national sleep apnea registry "Observatoire Sommeil de la Fédération de Pneumologie." Which phenotypic subtypes of OSA may benefit from diuretics? A propensity score analysis was used to determine the impact of diuretics on OSA severity. Matching (ratio 1:4) was performed by using a 0.1 collider for the propensity score. Severe OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 30 events/h, and the usefulness of diuretics was assessed by using a logistic regression model. The 69,564 OSA patients studied in the OSFP prospective observational cohort had a median age of 56.9 years (interquartile range: 47.4; 65.6), 67%were men, and the median AHI was 28 (14; 43) events/h. Among them, 9,783 (14.1%) were treated with diuretics. Diuretics reduced OSA severity in overweight or moderately obese patients (P= .03) and in patients with hypertension (P< .01), particularly in patients with hypertension with a BMI between 25 and 35 (P< .01). Diuretics had no significant effect on OSA severity in patients with self-reported low physical activity or heart failure. Diuretics appear to have a positive impact on OSA severity in overweight or moderately obese patients with hypertension. A prospective study is needed to confirm that diuretics are of interest in combined therapies for hypertensive patients with OSA.

Editor's Choice – Long Term Survival after Femoropopliteal Artery Revascularisation with Paclitaxel Coated Devices: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

The aim of this study was to determine the survival of patients after use of paclitaxel coated devices (PCX), as a recent meta-analysis of randomised trials reported higher mortality in patients treated with PCX balloons and stents METHODS: A retrospective health insurance claims analysis of patients covered by the second largest insurance fund in Germany, BARMER, was used to identify index femoropopliteal arterial interventions between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2018. To ensure first PCX exposure, patients with prior deployment of PCX were excluded. The study cohort was stratified into patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) and intermittent claudication (IC), then into balloons vs. stents cohorts. Within each stratum PCX were compared with uncoated devices. Propensity score matching was used to balance the study groups. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. There were 37914 patients (mean age 73.3 years; 48.8% female) included in the study. The annual proportion of PCX use increased from 3% to 39% during the study period for CLTI and from 4% to 48% for IC(both p<.001). Paclitaxel coated balloons and stents were associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-0.90), amputation free survival (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.91), and freedom from major cardiovascular events (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77-0.89) vs. uncoated devices at five years for CLTI. In IC cohort, mortality was significantly lower after using drug coated balloons (DCB) (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76-0.99) or combined DCB and drug eluting stents (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.98). In this large health insurance claims analysis, rapid adoption of PCX, higher long term survival, better amputation free survival, and lower rates of major cardiovascular events were seen after their use for the treatment of CLTI.

Pretreatment hemoglobin level as a predictor to evaluate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background:Targeting immune checkpoints represents an immense breakthrough in cancer therapeutics. The prognostic value of hemoglobin (Hb) has been investigated in many malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the prognostic impact of pretreatment Hb count for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced NSCLC patients remains unclear.Methods:A total of 310 late-stage NSCLC patients who received ICI therapies between January 2015 and March 2019 were prospectively enrolled. We used a propensity score-matched cohort analysis for this study. Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and pretreatment Hb concentration were assessed against the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression.Results:A propensity score (PS)-matched cohort analysis was applied to adjust for potential bias and to create two comparable groups according to patients’ clinicopathological characteristics. The patients with normal baseline Hb levels (⩾110 g/L) had significantly longer PFS [median: 10.0 versus 4.0 months, hazard ratio (HR): 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46−0.86; p = 0.001] and OS [median: 17.6 versus 10.5 months, HR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.40−0.79); p < 0.001] than those with decreased Hb count (<110 g/L) in a PS-matched cohort (n = 255). For patients with normal pretreatment Hb levels, ICI combination therapy was significantly associated with better PFS [median: 11.1 versus 8.0 months, HR (95% CI): 0.74 (0.50−1.06); p = 0.09] and OS [median: 26.0 versus 12.9 months, HR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.37−0.86); p = 0.008] than monotherapy, but there was no such trend for patients with decreased baseline Hb levels.Conclusion:Our findings showed that normal pretreatment Hb count served as a favorable prognostic marker in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs, representing an economical biomarker with readily measuring performance among all reported ones.

Health care utilisation changes among Alaska Native adults after participation in an indigenous community programme to address adverse life experiences: a propensity score-matched analysis

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate whether participation in Family Wellness Warriors Initiative (FWWI), an Alaska Native program that addresses adverse life experiences, is associated with changes in health care utilisation. The study method was a propensity score-matched cohort analysis using retrospective electronic health record data from Southcentral Foundation, a tribal health care system, from 2012 to 2017. Ninety p\\articipants in FWWI trainings were identified as the intervention cohort and were propensity matched with 90 people who participated in other emotional wellness-related interventions. The primary outcome was the number of total health system visits. Secondary outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits, substance-use visits and visits with somatisation potential. After adjustment for covariates, FWWI participants showed a 36% reduction in total system visits (incidence rate ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.84) and a 70% reduction in substance use visits (incidence rate ratio 0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.93) when compared to the control. FWWI participants showed a 40% reduction in ED visits (incidence rate ratio 0.60, 95%CI 0.35–1.02) when compared to the control that was borderline significant. No significant differences were found for visits with somatisation potential (incidence rate ratio 1.25, 95% CI 0.79–1.99).

Medical Comanagement of Hip Fracture Patients Is Not Associated with Superior Perioperative Outcomes: A Propensity Score-Matched Retrospective Cohort Analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project.

Medical comanagement entails a significant commitment of clinical resources with the aim of improving perioperative outcomes for patients admitted with hip fractures. To our knowledge, no national analyses have demonstrated whether patients benefit from this practice. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) targeted user file for hip fracture 2016-2017. Medical comanagement is a dedicated variable in the NSQIP. Propensity score matching was performed to control for baseline differences associated with comanagement. Matched pairs binary logistic regression was then performed to determine the effect of comanagement on the following primary outcomes: mortality and a composite endpoint of major morbidity. Unadjusted analyses demonstrated that patients receiving medical comanagement were older and sicker with a greater burden of comorbidities. Comanagement did not have a higher proportion of patients participating in a standardized hip fracture program (53.6% vs 53.7%; P > .05). Comanagement was associated with a higher unadjusted rate of mortality (6.9% vs 4.0%, odds ratio [OR] 1.79: 1.44-2.22; P < .0001) and morbidity (19.5% vs 9.6%, OR 2.28: 1.98-2.63; P < .0001). After propensity score matching was used to control for baseline differences associated with comanagement, patients in the comanagement cohort continued to demonstrate inferior mortality (OR 1.36: 1.02-1.81; P = .033) and morbidity (OR 1.82: 1.52-2.20; P < .0001). This analysis does not provide evidence that dedicated medical comanagement of hip fracture patients is associated with superior perioperative outcomes. Further efforts may be needed to refine opportunities to modify the significant morbidity and mortality that persists in this population.

The impact of high body mass index on patients undergoing robotic pancreatectomy: A propensity matched analysis

BackgroundPatients with high body mass index are associated with a higher risk of complications after open pancreatectomy. We aimed to investigate the perioperative outcome for patients with high body mass index after robotic pancreatectomy. MethodsThis is a retrospective, propensity-score matched cohort analysis. From our prospectively maintained database, we identified consecutive patients with body mass index >25 who underwent robotic pancreatectomy between January 2016 and December 2018. Propensity score matching with open pancreatectomy was applied in 1:2 fashion based on age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, surgery type, histology, neoadjuvant therapy, and body mass index during the same study period. ResultsA total of 127 patients were included. The mean age for all patients was 61.7 ± 12.8 years and 65 (51.2%) were male. Median body mass index was 29.9 (interquartile range, 27.0–31.8) for both groups. Propensity score matching provided equally distributed general demographic and clinicopathological factors. Robotic pancreatectomy was associated with decreased blood loss (100 mL vs 300 mL, P < .001) and shorter hospital stay (7 vs 9 days, P = .019). ConclusionRobotic pancreatectomy is associated with decreased blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay in overweight patients. Robotic approach may help alleviate morbidity in overweight patients undergoing pancreatectomy.

The impact of therapeutic hypothermia in elderly out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A multicenter retrospective observational propensity-matched study

Background: The therapeutic hypothermia protocol for out of hospital cardiac arrest is not standardized and the decision to apply therapeutic hypothermia relies on a physician’s judgment. Elderly patients who rely on this judgment are less likely to receive therapeutic hypothermia. Objectives: This study aimed to provide an analysis of the impact and utility of therapeutic hypothermia on elderly out of hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational, registry-based study from 2007 to 2012. Adults who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were treated with therapeutic hypothermia were included. We divided the patients into a group of elderly patients 65 years or older and a group of young adults under 65 years old and compared the neurologic outcomes and adverse events after one-to-one matching by propensity score. Results: In total, 930 patients were enrolled in the study. Among these patients, 343 were ⩾65 years, while 587 were &lt;65 years. Of the adverse events in therapeutic hypothermia, hyperglycemia (51.31%), hypotension (41.98%) during cooling was more frequent in aged ⩾65 years and rebound hyperthermia (7.14%) and hypotension (29.93%) during rewarming. After propensity score matching was applied to all subjects of the study, 247 matched pairs of patients were available. The two groups showed no statistically significant difference in the adverse events during therapeutic hypothermia. Conclusion: Elderly patients exhibited a decreased survival to hospital discharge and good neurologic outcomes. The two groups showed no differences in the frequency of adverse events during therapeutic hypothermia, when comparing in a propensity score matching cohort analysis.

Obesity is Associated with Worse Outcomes Among Abdominal Trauma Patients Undergoing Laparotomy: A Propensity-Matched Nationwide Cohort Study.

IntroductionObesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in abdominal trauma patients. The characteristics of abdominal trauma patients with poor outcomes related to obesity require evaluation. We hypothesize that obesity is related to increased mortality and length of stay (LOS) among abdominal trauma patients undergoing laparotomies.MethodsAbdominal trauma patients were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank between 2013 and 2015. Patients who received laparotomies were analyzed using propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate the mortality rate and LOS between obese and non-obese patients. Patients without laparotomies were analyzed as a control group using PSM cohort analysis.ResultsA total of 33,798 abdominal trauma patients were evaluated, 10,987 of them received laparotomies. Of these patients, the proportion of obesity in deceased patients was significantly higher when compared to the survivors (33.1% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.001). Elevation of one kg/m2 of body mass index independently resulted in 2.5% increased odds of mortality. After a well-balanced PSM, obese patients undergoing laparotomies had significantly higher mortality rates [3.7% vs. 2.4%, standardized difference (SD) = 0.241], longer hospital LOS (11.1 vs. 9.6 days, SD = 0.135), and longer intensive care unit LOS (3.5 vs. 2.3 days, SD = 0.171) than non-obese patients undergoing laparotomies.ConclusionsObesity is associated with increased mortality in abdominal trauma patients who received laparotomies versus those who did not. Obesity requires a careful evaluation of alternatives to laparotomy in injured patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00268-019-05268-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Early and late outcomes following aortic root enlargement: A multicenter propensity score–matched cohort analysis

ObjectiveThe safety and efficacy of aortic root enlargement (ARE) at the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains unknown. The objective of this multicenter study was to compare AVR with ARE to AVR for early and late mortality and secondary safety outcomes. MethodsClinical and administrative databases in Ontario, Canada, were linked to obtain patients undergoing AVR with or without ARE from 2008 to 2017. Baseline characteristics were compared and 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to account for differences in baseline characteristics. Early outcomes were compared in the matched groups. Late mortality was compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a Cox-proportional hazard model. ResultsSixteen thousand six hundred fifty-six patients undergoing AVR in 11 Ontario institutions were reviewed. Patients who underwent ARE were younger, nonurgent, more likely to be men and had lower rates of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Propensity score matching yielded similar groups for comparison, with 809 pairs for AVR versus AVR with ARE. There was no difference in 30-day mortality between AVR with ARE versus AVR (2.0% vs 2.1%; P = 1.00). Rates of chest reopening for bleeding, permanent pacemaker implantation, and blood transfusions were similar. Late mortality over 8 years was similar between AVR with ARE and AVR (P = .45). In a sensitivity analysis, results were similar in 525 pairs comparing AVR with coronary artery bypass grafting and ARE to AVR with coronary artery bypass grafting, except that chest reopening for bleeding was higher with AVR with coronary artery bypass grafting and ARE (7.2% vs 3.2%; P = .006). ConclusionsThe addition of ARE to isolated AVR can be safely performed to increase implanted prosthesis size without compromising early mortality. Additional studies with longer follow-up are necessary.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Prostate Cancer in Men With Late-Onset Hypogonadism.

The association between the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and prostate cancer remains uncertain. Thus, we investigated whether TRT is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men with late-onset hypogonadism. We used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink to assemble a cohort of 12,779 men who were newly diagnosed with hypogonadism between January 1, 1995, and August 31, 2016, with follow-up until August 31, 2017. Exposure to TRT was treated as a time-varying variable and lagged by 1 year to account for cancer latency, with nonuse as the reference category. During 58,224 person-years of follow-up, a total of 215 patients were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, generating an incidence rate of 3.7 per 1,000 person-years. In time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models, use of TRT was not associated with an overall increased risk of prostate cancer (hazard ratio = 0.97; 95% confidence interval: 0.71, 1.32) compared with nonuse. Results remained consistent in secondary and sensitivity analyses, as well as in a propensity score-matched cohort analysis that further assessed the impact of residual confounding. Overall, the use of TRT was not associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men with late-onset hypogonadism.

Comparison of incidence of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: real-world evidences from a propensity score-matched national cohort analysis.

We investigated the adverse renal outcomes in patients affected by either atrial fibrillation (Afib) or atrial flutter (AFL). Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance research database, both cohorts were 1:1 propensity score matched based on age, sex, index year, and comorbidity using logistic regression model. Hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between the two cohorts were obtained using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Competing-risks regression models were applied to calculate the subhazard ratios (SHRs) and corresponding 95% CIs of the adverse renal outcomes. Afib patients were 1.15 and 1.33 times more likely to experience CKD and ESRD, respectively, than AFL patients (incidence rate per 10,000 person-years (IR): CKD, 10.8 vs 9.41; ESRD, 4.44 vs 3.34), with the adjusted HRs of 1.18 and 1.32 (CKD, 95% CI = 1.07-1.30; ESRD, 95% CI = 1.12-1.55). Afib patients were 1.08 times (95% CI = 1.01-1.16) more likely to have AKI than AFL patients after adjusting for confounding covariates. Competing risk analysis showed that Afib patients were 1.08 (95% CI = 1.01-1.15), 1.18 (95% CI = 1.07-1.30) and 1.32 (95% CI = 1.12-1.55) times more likely to experience AKI, CKD and ESRD than AFL subjects. This study showed that Afib conferred worse renal events of AKI, CKD and ESRD than AFL.

Su1786 – Reduction in Costs of Care in Patients with Crohn’s Disease in a Community Practice-Based Medical Home Over Two Years: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

Su1786 – Reduction in Costs of Care in Patients with Crohn’s Disease in a Community Practice-Based Medical Home Over Two Years: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

Clinical Effects of Perioperative Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) in Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

To determine the clinical effects of perioperative endotoxin reduction in the gut lumen in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Retrospective cohort analysis with propensity score matching according to treatment group. Tertiary center for cardiopulmonary diseases and intensive care medicine. Included were patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between 2008 and 2017. Excluded were readmitted patients. Endotoxin reduction in the gut lumen by ingestion of oral tobramycin 80 mg and polymyxin B 100 mg 4 times daily (TP) as part of selective digestive tract decontamination, which contains amphotericin B 500 mg as well. A total of 6,394 patients were included, of whom 2,044 patients were in the intervention group. A total of 835 patients received both pre- and postoperative TP (Pre+/Post+), and 1,165 patients received TP only postoperatively (Pre-/Post+). The control group, not treated with TP at any moment, consisted of 4,350 patients (Pre-/Post-). After matching, 652 Pre+/Post+ patients were compared with an equal number of controls (Pre-/Post-). Pre+/Post+ group did not do better for any clinical outcome. A total of 682 Pre+/Post+ patients matched with an equal number of Pre-/Post+ patients. The latter group had a 0.3 points higher mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and in the regression analysis a significantly higher intensive care unit mortality but not hospital mortality. A significant reduction in length of stay and length of mechanical ventilation for the Pre+/Post+ group was shown compared with Pre-/Post+, but these differences can be explained by unbalanced differences in the severity of illness. Cardiosurgical patients who receive tobramycin and polymyxin orally preoperatively to reduce the gut endotoxin level do not expose convincing and relevant beneficial effects on clinical outcomes in this retrospective propensity score matching cohort study.

The Impact of Staple Line Reinforcement Utilization on Bleeding and Leak Rates Following Sleeve Gastrectomy for Severe Obesity: a Propensity and Case-Control Matched Analysis.

Staple line reinforcement (SLR) is a commonly used technique during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) for severe obesity. There remains controversy over the potential benefit or risk associated with SLR. There are currently no consensus recommendations about SLR use. Its use is surgeon-dependent and remains controversial. To determine the impact of staple line reinforcement on staple line leak and bleeding rates after sleeve gastrectomy. Using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program Participant User File (MBSQIP-PUF) database, we identified patients who had a SG in 2015 and 2016. SLR utilization status was used to create two cohorts. An unmatched cohort analysis was performed, and the outcomes were compared. A propensity score and case-control matched cohort analysis were then performed, and the outcomes were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS and SAS. Of the 189,173 SG cases identified, SLR utilization was noted in 127,521 (67.4%). In the unmatched analysis, bleeding and reoperation were significantly higher in the cohort without SLR utilization. In both propensity score and case-control matched analysis, bleeding and reoperation remained significantly higher in the cohort without SLR utilization. There was no difference in mortality and staple line leak rates between the cohorts. SLR significantly reduces bleeding and reoperation rates following SG and has no deleterious impact on staple line leak rate. While further prospective studies factoring in the SLR method and staple characteristics are needed, this large database analysis supports the use of routine SLR during SG to reduce the risk of perioperative bleeding and reoperation.

04:12 PM Abstract No. 21 Outcomes of lower extremity endovascular interventions by specialty: a contemporary analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

To compare postprocedural outcomes following lower extremity endovascular interventions performed by vascular surgeons (VS) and interventional radiologists (IR) using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. Patients with intermittent claudication and chronic limb ischemia treated with endovascular interventions by IR and VS from 2013 to 2016 were identified. Primary outcomes were major adverse limb events (MALE; 30-day untreated loss of patency, major reintervention, and major amputation) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac arrest). Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and any unplanned reoperation within 30 days. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of outcome. Propensity score matched cohort analysis was performed. A p-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 6924 patients were included in the cohort. 6687 of the interventions (96.6%) were performed by VS and 237 (3.4%) were performed by IR. In the unadjusted cohort, patients with pre-existing wounds and congestive heart failure were more likely to be treated by IR (p-value < 0.001 and p-value = 0.019, respectively). On multivariate analyses, provider specialty was not found to be an independent predictor of MALE or MACE in the unadjusted and adjusted cohorts (p-value > 0.05). Patients treated by IR were significantly less likely to undergo an unplanned reoperation within 30 days compared to patients treated by VS (4.6% vs 11.0%, respectively; OR: 0.362; 95% CI: 0.196-0.670; p-value < 0.001). Patients treated by VS experienced a significantly longer LOS compared to patients treated by IR in the unadjusted and adjusted cohorts (3.4 versus 2.2 days; p-value < 0.001). No significant differences in MACE or MALE following treatment for claudication and chronic limb ischemia with endovascular interventions were found following patient stratification by provider specialty. Patients treated by VS were significantly more likely to undergo an unplanned reoperation within 30 days and encounter a longer LOS.

04:21 PM Abstract No. 22 A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database analysis of atherectomy with balloon angioplasty compared with balloon angioplasty alone for the treatment of chronic limb ischemia

To evaluate differences in perioperative outcomes related to atherectomy with balloon angioplasty versus balloon angioplasty alone for the treatment of lower extremity chronic limb ischemia using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients with chronic limb ischemia treated with either lower extremity atherectomy and balloon angioplasty (PTA) or PTA alone from 2011 to 2016 were identified. The primary outcomes were major adverse limb events (MALE; 30-day untreated loss of patency, major reintervention, major amputation) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac arrest, composite outcome of myocardial infarction or stroke). Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, hospital length of stay, and any unplanned readmission within 30 days. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of outcome. Propensity score matched cohort analysis was performed. A p-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. Subgroup analyses of femoral-popliteal and infrapopliteal interventions were performed. In total, 3414 patients were included in the cohort. 2636 (77.2%) patients were treated with PTA and 778 (22.8%) were treated with atherectomy and PTA. Patients who were functionally dependent were significantly more likely to receive atherectomy (p-value < 0.001), while patients with diabetes and open wounds were significantly more likely to receive PTA alone (p-values = 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed no significant difference in MACE or MALE between the two treatment groups. Subgroup analyses of femoral-popliteal interventions demonstrated a small, but significantly decreased likelihood of untreated loss of patency in 30 days in the atherectomy and PTA group compared to the PTA alone group (1.1% vs 2.7%, respectively; p-value = 0.034; OR 0.356; 95%CI 0.137-0.925), which persisted on propensity score matched analysis (1.1% vs 3.1%, respectively; p-value = 0.026; OR 0.333; 95%CI 0.126-0.879). Atherectomy and balloon angioplasty of femoral-popliteal disease provides a small, but significant decrease in untreated loss of patency compared to balloon angioplasty alone.