Rates Of Perioperative Adverse Events Research Articles

Sex Differences in Perioperative Outcomes After Complex Abdominal Aneurysms Repair

Introduction: Female sex is associated with worse outcomes following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. However, the impact of female sex on complex AAA repair is poorly characterized. Therefore, we compared outcomes between female and male patients following open and endovascular treatment of complex AAA. Methods: We identified all patients who underwent complex aneurysm repair between 2011 and 2017 in a national quality improvement database. Complex repairs were defined as those for juxtarenal, pararenal or suprarenal aneurysms. We compared rates of perioperative adverse events between females and males, stratified by open and endovascular repair (EVAR). We calculated propensity scores and used inverse probability weighted logistic regression to identify independent associations between female sex and our outcomes. Results: We identified 2,270 complex aneurysm repairs, of which 1,260 were EVARs (21.4%% female) and 1,010 were open repairs (30.7% female). Following EVAR, female patients had higher rates of perioperative mortality (6.3% vs 2.4%; P=.001) and major complications (15.9% vs. 7.6%, P< .001) compared to males. In contrast, following open repair, perioperative mortality was not significantly different (7.4% vs. 5.6%, P=.3) and the rate of major complications was similar (29.4% vs. 27.4%, P=.53) between females and males. Furthermore, even though perioperative mortality was significantly lower after EVAR compared to open repair for male patients (2.4% vs. 5.6%, P=.001), this difference was not significant for women (6.3% vs. 7.4%, P=.60). On multivariable analysis, female sex remained independently associated with higher perioperative mortality (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.9; P=.007) and major complications (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.2; P=.002) in patients treated with EVAR, but showed no significant association with mortality (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.5-1.6; P=.69) or major complications (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.5; P=.74) after open repair. However, the association of female sex with higher perioperative mortality in patients undergoing complex EVAR was attenuated when diameter was replaced with Aortic Size Index in the multivariable analysis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, .91-3.9; P= .091). Conclusion: Female sex is associated with higher perioperative mortality and more major complications than male patients following complex EVAR, but not following complex open repair. Continuous efforts are warranted to improve the sex discrepancies in patients undergoing endovascular repair of complex AAA. Disclosure: JH is a consultant for Medtronic and Bolton Medical MS is a consultant for Abbott Vascular, Cook Medical, Endologix, Medtronic, and Silk Road. * This study has been presented at the SCVS 2019 karmody competition * This study has been submitted and is under revision at the journal of vascular surgery

Sex differences in perioperative outcomes after complex abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

ObjectiveFemale sex is associated with worse outcomes after infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. However, the impact of female sex on complex AAA repair is poorly characterized. Therefore, we compared outcomes between female and male patients after open and endovascular treatment of complex AAA. MethodsWe identified all patients who underwent complex aneurysm repair between 2011 and 2017 in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted vascular module. Complex repairs were defined as those for juxtarenal, pararenal, or suprarenal aneurysms. We compared rates of perioperative adverse events between female and male patients stratified by open AAA repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). We calculated propensity scores and used inverse probability-weighted logistic regression to identify independent associations between female sex and our outcomes. ResultsWe identified 2270 complex aneurysm repairs, of which 1260 were EVARs (21.4% female) and 1010 were open repairs (30.7% female). After EVAR, female patients had higher rates of perioperative mortality (6.3% vs 2.4%; P = .001) and major complications (15.9% vs 7.6%; P < .001) compared with male patients. In contrast, after open repair, perioperative mortality was not significantly different (7.4% vs 5.6%; P = .3), and the rate of major complications was similar (29.4% vs 27.4%; P = .53) between female and male patients. Furthermore, even though perioperative mortality was significantly lower after EVAR compared with open repair for male patients (2.4% vs 5.6%; P = .001), this difference was not significant for women (6.3% vs 7.4%; P = .60). On multivariable analysis, female sex remained independently associated with higher perioperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.9; P = .007) and major complications (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.2; P = .002) in patients treated with EVAR but showed no significant association with mortality (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5-1.6; P = .69) or major complications (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.5; P = .74) after open repair. However, the association of female sex with higher perioperative mortality in patients undergoing complex EVAR was attenuated when diameter was replaced with aortic size index in the multivariable analysis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9-3.9; P = .091). ConclusionsFemale sex is associated with higher perioperative mortality and more major complications than for male patients after complex EVAR but not after complex open repair. Continuous efforts are warranted to improve the sex discrepancies in patients undergoing endovascular repair of complex AAA.

A retrospective analysis of 62,571 cases of perioperative adverse events in thoracic surgery at a tertiary care teaching hospital in a developing country

ObjectivesDespite a long history of concerns regarding patient safety during clinical care, some patients undergoing thoracic surgery continue to experience adverse events (AEs). AEs are a major significant source of perioperative morbidity and mortality following thoracic surgery. This study analysed the causes, treatment and prognosis of perioperative AEs to provide a reference for further surgical safety.MethodsThe authors collected a total of 62,571 thoracic surgery anaesthesia records via the Anaesthesia Information Management System (AIMS) from 14 August 2006 to 14 August 2017 and obtained 150 cases of perioperative serious AEs from the “adverse events registration” subsystem. The related hospitalization data of the 150 patients were analysed, including anaesthesia, recovery room time, ICU records and follow-up outcomes. The causes of these AEs were classified as follows: events related to the patients’ pathogenic conditions(P); surgery-related factors(S); anaesthesia-related factors(A); and interactions between pathogenic, surgical and anaesthesia factors (P&S&A). We then analysed the main clinical manifestations, causes and treatment of these events.ResultsThe overall rate of perioperative AEs in thoracic surgery (n = 62,571) was 0.2%. Of these, 10.7% were.caused by P and 23.3% by A; neither cause led to patient death. S and P&S&A accounted for 55.3 and 10.7% of AEs, respectively; together, they accounted for 66%. Twelve patients with postoperative AEs caused by S or P&S&A died within 3 days (8% of 150 cases). A total of 33%(50/150) of patients experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and recovered successfully. Surgical massive haemorrhage (22%, 33/150) was reported as a predominant mortality-related outcome in this group, and 8 of the 12 deaths were caused by massive haemorrhage.ConclusionsThe rate of perioperative AEs after thoracic surgery was 0.2%. AEs must be identified and treated immediately. An important factor in anaesthesia-related events was respiratory management. Two major clinical manifestations of surgery-related events were cardiac arrest and massive haemorrhage. Cardiac arrest was the major factor contributing to AEs, but its adverse consequences could be avoided with timely discovery and proper treatment. Massive haemorrhage is a significant cause of mortality that can be prevented with a surgeon’s early diagnosis and appropriate interventions.

Safety of Outpatient Single-level Cervical Total Disc Replacement: A Propensity-Matched Multi-institutional Study.

A retrospective cohort comparison study. The aim of this study was to investigate the perioperative adverse event profile of cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) performed as an outpatient relative to inpatient procedure. Recent reimbursement changes and a push for safe reductions in hospital stay have resulted in increased interest in performing CTDRs in the outpatient setting. However, there has been a paucity of studies investigating the safety of outpatient CTDR procedures, despite increasing frequency. Patients who underwent single-level CTDR were identified in the 2005 to 2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Outpatient versus inpatient procedure status was defined by length of stay, with outpatient being less than 1 day. Patient baseline characteristics and comorbidities were compared between the two groups. Propensity score matched comparisons were then performed for 30-day perioperative complications and readmissions between the two cohorts. In addition, perioperative outcomes of outpatient single-level CTDR versus matched outpatient single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) cases were compared. In total, 373 outpatient and 1612 inpatient single-level CTDR procedures were identified. After propensity score matching was performed to control for potential confounders, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in perioperative complications between outpatient versus matched inpatient CTDR. Notably, the rate of readmissions was not different between the two groups. In addition, there was no difference in rates of perioperative adverse events between outpatient single-level CTDR versus matched outpatient single-level ACDF. The perioperative outcomes evaluated in the current study support the conclusion that, for appropriately selected patients, single-level CTDR can be safely performed in the outpatient setting without increased rates of 30-day perioperative complications or readmissions compared with inpatient CTDR or outpatient single-level ACDF. 3.

Outcomes in resident-performed cataract surgeries with iris challenges: Results from the Perioperative Care for Intraocular Lens study

To assess the outcomes of resident-performed cataract surgeries with iris challenges and to compare these outcomes with similar surgeries performed by attending surgeons. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Retrospective chart review. All cases of cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation, performed by comprehensive ophthalmologists between January 1 and December 31, 2014, were reviewed. Cases with preoperative or intraoperative miosis, iris prolapse, and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, were included for analysis. Visual outcomes and the rate of perioperative adverse events were compared between resident and attending surgeon cases. Factors predicting adverse events were also assessed. In total, 1931 eye cases of 1434 patients were reviewed, and 65 resident cases and 168 attending surgeon cases were included. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution corrected distance visual acuity was better in the resident group1month after surgery (0.051±0.10 [SD] versus 0.132±0.30, P=.03); however, the difference was eliminated when controlling for macular disease. The mean operative time was 43.8±26.5minutes and 30.9±12.6minutes for cases performed by resident surgeons and attending surgeons, respectively (P.0001). Residents utilized supplemental pharmacologic dilation or retraction more frequently than attending surgeons (98% versus 87% of cases, P=.008). The overall rate of adverse events was no different between residents and attending surgeons (P=0.16). Dense nuclear sclerosis predicted adverse events in cataract cases with iris challenges (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.94; P=.001). Although requiring longer operative times and more surgical manipulation, residents who performed cataract surgeries with iris challenges achieved outcomes comparable to those performed by attending surgeons, and residents should be given the opportunity to operate on these eyes.

Risk-stratified clinical pathways decrease the duration of hospitalization and costs of perioperative care after pancreatectomy

BackgroundPostoperative pancreatic fistula is associated with adverse events, increased duration of stay and hospital costs. We developed perioperative care pathways stratified by postoperative pancreatic fistula risk with the aims of minimizing variations in care, improving quality, and decreasing costs. Study DesignThree unique risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways—low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy, and distal pancreatectomy were developed and implemented. Consecutive patients treated after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways were compared with patients treated immediately prior. Duration of stay, rates of perioperative adverse effects, discharge disposition, and hospital readmission, as well as the associated costs of care, were evaluated. ResultsThe median hospital stay after pancreatectomy decreased from 10 to 6 days after implementation of the risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways (P < .001), and the median cost of index hospitalization decreased by 22%. Decreased changes in median hospital stay and costs of hospitalization were observed in association with low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy (P < .05) and distal pancreatectomy (P < .05), but not high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy. The rates of 90-day adverse events, grade B/C postoperative pancreatic fistula, discharge to a facility other than home, or readmission did not change after implementation. ConclusionImplementation of risk-stratified pancreatectomy clinical pathways decreased median stay and cost of index hospitalization after pancreatectomy without unfavorably affecting rates of perioperative adverse events or readmission, or discharge disposition. Outcomes were most favorably improved for low-risk pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. Additional work is necessary to decrease the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula, minimize variability, and improve outcomes after high-risk pancreatoduodenectomy.

12: The impact of surgeon volume on perioperative adverse events in women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for large uteri

To evaluate the impact of surgeon volume on perioperative adverse events in women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH) for uteri >250 grams. This is a retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent vaginal (VH), laparoscopic (TLH), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal (LAVH), or robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RH) between January 2014 and July 2016 at a tertiary care referral center. Hysterectomy was performed for the following indications: fibroids, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and prolapse. Women were excluded if there was a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy. Patients were identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes and the system-wide electronic medical record was queried for demographic and perioperative data. Perioperative adverse events were defined a priori and classified using the Clavien-Dindo scale. Surgeon volume was defined as the mean number of MIH cases performed per month by each surgeon during the study period. Seven hundred sixty-three patients met inclusion criteria: 416 (54.5%) TLH, 196 (25.7%) RH, 90 (11.8%) TVH, and 61 (8%) LAVH. Mean (±SD) age was 47 ± 6 years, and body mass index (BMI) was 31.1 ± 7.4 kg/m2. Sixty-six surgeons performed MIH for uteri >250 grams during the study period. The mean monthly case volume was 16.4 ± 7.2 cases, and the median MIH volume was 23 cases (range: 1–147 cases). The mean uterine weight was 522.8 ± 322.7 grams. The rate of postoperative adverse events >Dindo grade 2 was 17.8% (95% CI = 15.2-20.7); 2.2% (95% CI = 1.4-3.6) were grade 3 and 0.5% (95% CI = 0.7-1.4) grade 4; there were no grade 5 adverse events. The overall rate of intraoperative adverse events was 4.2% (95% CI = 2.9-5.9). The rate of conversion to laparotomy was 5.5% (95% CI = 4.0-7.4). There was no difference in adverse event rates between the routes of MIH cases (25.6% vs. 17.5% vs. 18.0% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.2). Women who experienced any adverse event compared to those who did not were more likely to be of Hispanic, Asian or “other” ethnicity, had higher intraoperative blood loss (EBL) and longer operating case time. In a logistic regression model controlling for age, BMI, uterine weight, operating time, history of laparotomy and parity, higher monthly MIH volume remained significantly associated with adverse events (adjOR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.0-1.3, p = 0.01), as did higher EBL (adjOR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.8, p = 0.006). When controlling for the same variables, higher monthly MIH case volume remained significantly associated with intraoperative complications (adjOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.0-1.6, p = 0.02) as well as higher EBL (adjOR = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.0-4.9, p < 0.001). Conversion from a minimally invasive approach to laparotomy was not associated with monthly MIH case volume; however, conversion was associated with higher EBL (adjOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.8-4.9) and heavier uteri (adjOR = 9.7, 95% CI = 3.9-23). The overall rate of serious adverse events associated with MIH for uteri >250 grams was low. Higher EBL and longer operative times were associated with higher perioperative adverse event rates. Higher monthly MIH case volume was associated with a higher rate of intra- and postoperative adverse events but was not associated with conversion to laparotomy.

Comparison of Perioperative Adverse Event Rates After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Diabetes: Insulin Dependence Makes a Difference

BackgroundTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment option for patients with advanced osteoarthritis and has become one of the most frequently performed orthopedic procedures. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), the burden of its sequela and associated surgical complications has also increased. For these reasons, it is important to understand the association between DM and the rates of perioperative adverse events after TKA. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent TKA between 2005 and 2014 were identified and characterized as having insulin-dependent DM (IDDM), non–insulin-dependent DM (NIDDM), or not having DM. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to control for demographic and comorbid factors and to assess the relative risks of multiple adverse events in the initial 30 postoperative days. ResultsA total of 114,102 patients who underwent TKA were selected (IDDM = 4881 [4.3%]; NIDDM = 15,367 [13.5%]; and no DM = 93,854 [82.2%]). Patients with NIDDM were found to be at greater risk for 2 of 17 adverse events studied relative to patients without DM. However, patients with IDDM were found to be at greater risk for 12 of 17 adverse events studied relative to patients without DM. ConclusionIn comparison with patients with NIDDM, patients with IDDM are at greater risk for many more perioperative adverse outcomes relative to patients without DM. These findings have important implications for patient selection, preoperative risk stratification, and postoperative expectations.

Adverse events associated with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for outpatient circumcisions at US children's hospitals

Doctors often use surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) despite limited evidence to support its efficacy. We sought to determine the association between SAP in children undergoing circumcision and the rate of perioperative adverse events. We performed a retrospective study of males >30 days old and <18 years old who underwent circumcision from 2004 to 2014 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. We excluded inpatients and those with any concomitant procedures. We used chi-square or Fisher's exact test to determine the association between SAP and allergic reaction and any of the following within 30 days: penile reoperation, hospital visit, or surgical site infection (SSI). We performed mixed effects logistic regression controlling for age, race, insurance, and clustering of similar practice patterns by hospital. 84,226 patients were included: median age 2.2 years; 61.0% public insurance, 39.6% white. 8944 (10.6%) received SAP. On bivariate analysis, there were no associations between SAP and SSI (0.1% vs. 0.2%, p=0.5), penile reoperation (0.01% vs. 0.04%, p=0.4), or hospital visit (5.5% vs. 5.5%, p=0.8). Patients who received SAP were more likely to have a perioperative allergic reaction than those who did not (3.5% vs. 2.9%, p=0.0004). On multivariate analysis, those who received SAP had 1.5 times the odds of an allergic reaction (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.7; p<0.0001) and a hospital visit (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3; p=0.0021) compared with those who did not (Table). SAP did not decrease the risk of penile reoperation or SSI. Use of SAP was associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions and hospital visits. Strengths of the study include its large sample size, which enabled detection of rare outcomes with adequate statistical power and the generalizability of our findings to many patients and other types of procedures. Limitations include the lack of outpatient data and the possibility that we could have overestimated the incidence of allergic reactions by including patients who received epinephrine for some other reason. We found no compelling evidence to support the use of SAP in children undergoing circumcision and it was associated with an increased risk of allergic reaction and hospital visits. This study highlights the need for specialty-specific guidelines for pediatric urologic procedures regarding the use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and for vigilant monitoring of practice variation.

Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: Useful for Quality Improvement in Craniosynostosis Surgery?

The American College of Surgeons and the American Pediatric Surgical Association collaborate to provide pediatric hospitals with multispeciality surgical outcomes data through the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP Peds). The authors used this national multicenter database to describe 30-day outcomes from craniosynostosis surgery and identify associations with perioperative events and blood transfusion.Data from NSQIP Peds were used to describe children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery. The authors examined statistical association of clinical risk factors with the defined end point outcomes of perioperative complications and blood transfusion.Five hundred seventy-two surgeries were included. By Common Procedural Terminology codes, 93 identified as single suture synostosis, the remainder as multiple or unknown suture involvement. Location of the affected suture is not captured. Mean surgical time was 196.84 minutes (SD 113.46). Mean length of stay was 4.22 days (SD 5.04). Sixty-seven percent of patients received blood transfusions. 3.15% were other perioperative occurrences, including infection, wound disruption, unplanned reintubation, stroke/hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, seizures, thromboembolism. 2.8% were readmitted; 2.45% underwent reoperation within 30 days. Duration of surgery and length of hospital stay significantly differed in the presence of blood transfusion versus none. On multivariate analysis, duration from anesthesia start to surgery start, duration from surgery end to anesthesia end, and duration of operation were risk factors for blood transfusion.Pediatric NSQIP gives a national overview of 30-day outcome metrics in craniosynostosis surgery. Perioperative adverse event rate was 3.15%. Duration of surgery and duration of anesthesia were significantly associated with blood transfusion. The authors identified opportunities for pediatric NSQIP database improvement.

The effect of surgical start time in patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

The objective was to determine if the surgical start time affects operating room time and the incidence of perioperative adverse events in patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. This is a retrospective cohort of 396 women who underwent laparoscopic and robotic sacrocolpopexy at a tertiary care center between January 2006 and December 2012. Cases were divided into those with a first, second or third start time. Operating room (OR) time was defined as time the patient entered the room to time out of the room (minutes) and the case time was defined as the period between incision and closure (minutes). Adverse events were defined a priori and also reported using the Clavien-Dindo grading scale. Logistic regression analysis was performed for categorical variables and multiple linear regression analysis for continuous variables. A total of 145 robotic and 261 conventional laparoscopic minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies were performed. Operating room time data were available for 396 cases. Of the cases, 63.9% (253 out of 396) had a first start, 32.1% (127 out of 396) had a second start, and 4% (16 out of 396) had a third start. Robotic and concomitant rectopexy cases were more likely to be performed as first-start cases and operating room time and case time were longest for first-start cases. However, after adjusting for mode of surgery, concomitant procedures, previous surgeries, BMI, and age, this finding was no longer statistically significant. There was no difference in the rate of perioperative adverse events among first-, and second-/third-start cases. Surgical case start time does not appear to be associated with operating time or the incidence of perioperative adverse events in patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Perioperative adverse events associated with colpocleisis for uterovaginal and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse

Colpocleisis, a vaginal obliterative procedure, offers women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse an effective, durable anatomic repair and is associated with high patient satisfaction rates. Historically, colpocleisis was reserved for the medically frail or elderly with the goal of limiting anesthetic exposure, decreasing operative time, and minimizing adverse events. Several colpocleisis and colpectomy procedures exist and limited evaluation has been performed comparing these differences in regards to perioperative adverse events. The primary objective was to describe the overall rate of perioperative adverse events in patients undergoing colpocleisis. The secondary objective was to compare rates of adverse events between different colpocleisis procedures. This is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent colpocleisis at a tertiary care center from January 2003 through December 2013. Subjects were identified by their Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and categorized into 3 groups: (1)partial or complete vaginectomy/colpectomy (CPT 57106, 57110); (2)vaginal hysterectomy with total or partial colpectomy (CPT 58275, 58280); and (3) Le Fort colpocleisis (CPT 57120). Baseline demographics, perioperative data, and postoperative data were collected. Analysis of variance was used to describe perioperative and postoperative adverse events in all subjects and to compare outcomes among the 3 groups. In all, 245 subjects underwent colpocleisis during the study period. Mean age and body mass index were 78 (±7) years and 27.7 (±5.8) kg/m(2), respectively; 59.1% (140/245) of subjects had stage-4 prolapse. The most common adverse event was urinary tract infection occurring in 34.7% of subjects. Major adverse events were uncommon. There were no differences in event rates among the groups except for the following: patients undergoing concurrent vaginal hysterectomy had longer mean operative time (144 vs 108 vs 111 minutes, P= .0001), had higher estimated blood loss (253 vs 135 vs 146 mL, P= .0001), and weremore likely to experience postoperative venous thromboembolism (4.6% vs 0% vs 0%, P= .01). After controlling for age, body mass index, medical comorbidities, estimated blood loss, and operative time, the risk of venous thromboembolism was no longer significant. The overall rate of major perioperative and postoperative adverse events in women undergoing colpocleisis is low; however, concomitant hysterectomy is associated with longer operative times and higher blood loss.

Application of traditional indexes and adverse events in the ophthalmologic perioperative medical quality evaluation during 2010-2012.

To evaluate the medical quality of ophthalmologic perioperative period during 2010-2012 in our hospital. The relevant data of perioperative period were collected in our hospital during 2010-2012, and the medical quality of perioperative period was evaluated by using the traditional evaluation indexes and adverse events. Whereby, the traditional indicators include vision changes, improving of intraocular pressure, diagnostic accordance rate before and after operation, cure improvement rate, successful rescue rate, and incidence of surgical complications, etc. Adverse events are associated with ophthalmologic perioperative events including pressure sores, postoperative wound infection, drug adverse events, and equipment related adverse events. There were 1483, 1662 and 1931 ophthalmic operations in our hospital in the year 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. From traditional index analysis, the proportions of vision improvement for each year were 96.43%, 96.76% and 97.32%, respectively; the rates of intraocular pressure improvement were 87.50%, 85.72% and 90.17%, respectively (P <0.05); the diagnostic accordance rates before and after operation were 99.86%, 99.94% and 99.90%, respectively; cure improvement rates were 99.73%, 99.93% and 99.84%, respectively; the successful rescue rates were 82.98%, 81.46% and 76.66%, respectively; the complications incidence rates were 18.44%, 17.52% and 17.97%, respectively. The negative factor analysis results showed that: among all the patients of ophthalmic surgeries in our hospital during 2010 and 2012, only one case of postoperative wound infection was found in 2011, and also only one case of tumbling in 2010. The adverse drug events for each year were 1 case (0.07%), 2 cases (0.12%), and 4 cases (0.21%), respectively; the medical device adverse events for each year were 3 cases (0.20%), 5 cases (0.30%), and 6 cases (0.31%), respectively. Noticeably, only one case with postoperative infection of endophthalmitis was found in 2011. Moreover, no pulmonary infection or pulmonary embolism occurred during the three years. The perioperative adverse event rates for each year were 0.34% (5/1483), 0.48% (8/1662) and 0.52% (10/1931), respectively. Though incidence was rising during the three years period, no statistical significance was observed (P>0.05). It is the same case with drugs and medical devices adverse events (P >0.05). Traditional indicators reflect an excellent operation of the perioperative ophthalmologic quality, whereas adverse events analysis indicates some underlying problems. Compared with the traditional indexes for medical quality evaluation, the index of adverse events is more reasonable and easier to make an objective evaluation for medical quality of ophthalmologic perioperation, facilitating further refine analysis. Reasonable application of the adverse events indicators helps hospital to make the detailed quality control measures.

Long-term outcomes of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy: a 10-year cohort.

Study aim: To assess the clinical outcomes of patients who received direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) for enteral feeding. Materials and methods: This is a 10-year cohort study in a single tertiary center. Main outcome measurements were technical success, and short- and long-term outcomes. DPEJ was attempted in 83 patients (51 men; 55 ± 2 years) for dysphagia (n = 35), gastroparesis with recurrent aspiration (n = 30), and levodopa drug infusion for severe Parkinson’s disease (n = 18). Results: DPEJ was successful in 75 (90 %) patients. All technical failures were related to the inability to find adequate trans-illumination, and were not influenced by BMI, age, gender, or indication. Peri-operative (30-day) adverse events occurred in 11 (13 %) patients, including wound infection (3), leakage around the stoma (4), minor bleeding requiring no intervention (2), and aspiration (1). There was one case (1.2 %) of gastric perforation after PEJ insertion for levodopa drug infusion trial. This 60-year-old woman required an emergency laparotomy with nil complications, and levodopa drug infusion recommenced successfully. One case of intestinal perforation (1.2 %) occurred after jejunostomy tube replacement at 6 months of insertion, which was successfully managed with surgery. There were no peri-operative deaths. Adequate delivery of enteral feeding or Duodopa drug was achieved in 66/73 (90 %) patients, with evidence of weight gain or improvement in Parkinson’s disease. Seven (8 %) continued to have clinical regurgitation but not aspiration. After a median follow-up of 84 months, 27 (33 %) patients died of their underlying diseases. Seven (8 %) had marked improvement in their underlying disease and had PEJ removed after 5 months (range 1 – 8 months). Limitations: Single center study. Conclusions: DPEJ is associated with a high technical success rate (90 %), a relatively low rate of peri-operative adverse events (13 %) and an improvement in long-term nutritional support in the majority of patients (90 %). DPEJ should be the procedure of choice to gain enteral access for feeding or drug delivery prior to considering surgery.

Outcomes of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair and Subclavian Revascularization Techniques

Practice guidelines for management of the left subclavian artery (LSA) during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are based on low-quality evidence, and there is limited literature that addresses optimal revascularization techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of LSA coverage during TEVAR and revascularization techniques. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study from 2001 to 2013. Patients were categorized by LSA revascularization and by revascularization technique, carotid-subclavian bypass (CSB), or subclavian-carotid transposition (SCT). Thirty-day and mid-term stroke, spinal cord ischemia, vocal cord paralysis, upper extremity ischemia, primary patency of revascularization, and mortality were compared. Eighty patients underwent TEVAR with LSA coverage, 25% (n = 20) were unrevascularized and the remaining patients underwent CSB (n = 22 [27.5%]) or SCT (n = 38 [47.5%]). Mean follow-up time was 24.9 months. Comparisons between unrevascularized and revascularized patients were significant for a higher rate of 30-day stroke (25% vs 2%; p = 0.003) and upper extremity ischemia (15% vs 0%; p = 0.014). However, there was no difference in 30-day or mid-term rates of spinal cord ischemia, vocal cord paralysis, or mortality. There were no statistically significant differences in 30-day or midterm outcomes for CSB vs SCT. Primary patency of revascularizations was 100%. Survival analysis comparing unrevascularized vs revascularized LSA was statistically significant for freedom from stroke and upper extremity ischemia (p = 0.02 and p = 0.003, respectively). After adjustment for advanced age, urgency, and coronary artery disease, LSA revascularization was associated with lower rates of perioperative adverse events (odds ratio = 0.23; p = 0.034). During TEVAR, LSA coverage without revascularization is associated with an increased risk of stroke and upper extremity ischemia. When LSA coverage is required during TEVAR, CSB and SCT are equally acceptable options.

Perioperative management for the obese outpatient.

Incidence of obesity continues to rise and ambulatory surgical centers will need to be prepared for the increase in the obese surgical patients. This review aims to provide recent updates in managing the obese patients in an ambulatory surgical center and to address key clinical questions, such as patient selection, assessment and optimization, as well as important perioperative consideration. With low rate of major intraoperative adverse events, obesity has not been associated with unplanned admission after day surgical procedures. There is, however, a higher rate of perioperative adverse events in the super-obese patients. Recent developments in patient assessment include validation of STOP-Bang questionnaire for obstructive sleep apnea in the obese population. Nevertheless, patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome should be identified and optimized as they are more prone to develop adverse events. The obese patients are also at a higher risk of difficult airway, and recommendations for the airway management are available. With extra considerations and meticulous perioperative management, it is well tolerated to accept obese patients for ambulatory surgery. The super-obese patients, however, are at a higher risk for perioperative adverse events.

Outcomes of lower extremity bypass performed for acute limb ischemia

Acute limb ischemia remains one of the most challenging emergencies in vascular surgery. Historically, outcomes following interventions for acute limb ischemia have been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine contemporary outcomes following lower extremity bypass performed for acute limb ischemia. All patients undergoing infrainguinal lower extremity bypass between 2003 and 2011 within hospitals comprising the Vascular Study Group of New England were identified. Patients were stratified according to whether or not the indication for lower extremity bypass was acute limb ischemia. Primary end points included bypass graft occlusion, major amputation, and mortality at 1 year postoperatively as determined by Kaplan-Meier life table analysis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to evaluate independent predictors of mortality and major amputation at 1 year. Of 5712 lower extremity bypass procedures, 323 (5.7%) were performed for acute limb ischemia. Patients undergoing lower extremity bypass for acute limb ischemia were similar in age (66 vs 67; P = .084) and sex (68% male vs 69% male; P = .617) compared with chronic ischemia patients, but were less likely to be on aspirin (63% vs 75%; P < .0001) or a statin (55% vs 68%; P < .0001). Patients with acute limb ischemia were more likely to be current smokers (49% vs 39%; P < .0001), to have had a prior ipsilateral bypass (33% vs 24%; P = .004) or a prior ipsilateral percutaneous intervention (41% vs 29%; P = .001). Bypasses performed for acute limb ischemia were longer in duration (270 vs 244 minutes; P = .007), had greater blood loss (363 vs 272 mL; P < .0001), and more commonly utilized prosthetic conduits (41% vs 33%; P = .003). Acute limb ischemia patients experienced increased in-hospital major adverse events (20% vs 12%; P < .0001) including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure exacerbation, deterioration in renal function, and respiratory complications. Patients who underwent lower extremity bypass for acute limb ischemia had no difference in rates of graft occlusion (18.1% vs 18.5%; P = .77), but did have significantly higher rates of limb loss (22.4% vs 9.7%; P < .0001) and mortality (20.9% vs 13.1%; P < .0001) at 1 year. On multivariable analysis, acute limb ischemia was an independent predictor of both major amputation (hazard ratio, 2.16; confidence interval, 1.38-3.40; P = .001) and mortality (hazard ratio, 1.41; confidence interval, 1.09-1.83; P = .009) at 1 year. Patients who present with acute limb ischemia represent a less medically optimized subgroup within the population of patients undergoing lower extremity bypass. These patients may be expected to have more complex operations followed by increased rates of perioperative adverse events. Additionally, despite equivalent graft patency rates, patients undergoing lower extremity bypass for acute ischemia have significantly higher rates of major amputation and mortality at 1 year.

Aortic Pathology Determines Midterm Outcome After Endovascular Repair of the Thoracic Aorta

Background— Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta has become an increasingly utilized therapy. Although the short-term mortality advantage over open surgery is well documented, late mortality and the impact of presenting pathology on long-term outcomes remain poorly reported. Methods and Results— A database was built from 5 prospective studies and a single institutional series. Rates of perioperative adverse events were calculated, as were midterm death and reintervention rates. Multivariate analysis was performed with the use of logistic regression modeling. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn for midterm outcomes. The database contained 1010 patients: 670 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, 195 with chronic type B aortic dissection, and 114 with acute type B aortic dissection. Lower elective mortality was observed in patients with chronic dissections (3%) compared with patients with aneurysms (5%). Multivariate analysis identified age, mode of admission, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and pathology as independent predictors of 30-day death ( P &lt; 0.05). In the midterm, the all-cause mortality rate was 8, 4.9, and 3.2 deaths per 100 patient-years for thoracic aortic aneurysm, acute type B aortic dissection, and chronic type B aortic dissection, respectively. The rates of aortic-related death were 0.6, 1.2, and 0.4 deaths per 100 patient-years for thoracic aortic aneurysm, acute type B aortic dissection, and chronic type B aortic dissection, respectively. Conclusions— This study indicated that the midterm outcomes of endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta are defined by presenting pathology, associated comorbidities, and mode of admission. Nonaortic mortality is high in the midterm for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, and managing modifiable risk factors appears vital. Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta results in excellent midterm protection from aortic-related mortality, regardless of presenting pathology.

Outcomes of Lower Extremity Bypass Performed for Acute Limb Ischemia

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) remains one of the most challenging emergencies in vascular surgery. Historically, outcomes after interventions for ALI have been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine contemporary outcomes after lower extremity bypass (LEB) performed for ALI. All patients undergoing infrainguinal LEB between 2003 and 2011 within hospitals comprising the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) were identified. Patients were stratified according to whether the indication for LEB was ALI. Primary end points included bypass graft occlusion, major amputation, and mortality at 1 year postoperatively as determined by Kaplan-Meier life-table analyses. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to evaluate independent predictors of mortality and major amputation at 1 year. Of 5712 LEB procedures, 323 (5.7%) were performed for ALI. Patients undergoing LEB for ALI were similar in age (66 vs 67 years; P = .084) and gender (68% male vs 69% female; P = .617), but were less likely to be taking aspirin (63% vs 75%, P < .0001) or a statin (55% vs 68%; P < .0001). Patients with ALI were more likely to be current smokers (49% vs 39%; P < .0001), and to have had a prior ipsilateral bypass (33% vs 24%; P = .004) or a prior ipsilateral percutaneous intervention (41% vs 29%, P = .001). Bypasses performed for ALI were longer in duration (270 vs 244 minutes; P < .0001), had greater blood loss (363 vs 272 mL; P < .0001), and more commonly used prosthetic conduits (41% vs 33%; P = .003). ALI patients experienced increased in-hospital major adverse events, including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, deterioration in renal function, and respiratory complications (Table). Patients who underwent LEB for ALI had no difference in rates of graft occlusion, but did have significantly higher rates of limb loss and mortality at 1 year (Table). On multivariate analysis, ALI was an independent predictor of major amputation (HR, 2.16; CI, 1.38-3.40; P = .001) and mortality (HR, 1.41; CI, 1.09-1.83; P = .009) at 1 year.TableAcute limb ischemia (n=323)All other indications (n=5389)P-valueIn-hospital complicationsAny in-hospital major adverse event19.8%11.6%<.0001Myocardial infarction7.5%3.6%0.001CHF5.6%3.3%0.03Deterioration in renal function6.6%5.4%0.001Respiratory3.7%1.4%0.004One-year complicationsGraft occlusion18.1%18.5%0.77Major amputation22.4%9.7%<0.0001Mortality20.9%13.1%<0.0001 Open table in a new tab Patients who present with ALI represent a less medically optimized subgroup within the population of patients undergoing LEB. These patients may be expected to have more complex operations, followed by increased rates of perioperative adverse events. In addition, despite equivalent graft patency rates, patients undergoing LEB for ALI have significantly higher rates of amputation and mortality at 1 year.

Prior contralateral amputation predicts worse outcomes for lower extremity bypasses performed in the intact limb

To date, history of a contralateral amputation as a potential predictor of outcomes after lower extremity bypass (LEB) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) has not been studied. We sought to determine if a prior contralateral lower extremity amputation predicts worse outcomes in patients undergoing LEB in the remaining intact limb. A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing infrainguinal LEB for CLI between 2003 and 2010 within hospitals comprising the Vascular Study Group of New England was performed. Patients were stratified according to whether or not they had previously undergone a contralateral major or minor amputation before LEB. Primary end points included major amputation and graft occlusion at 1 year postoperatively. Secondary end points included in-hospital major adverse events, discharge status, and mortality at 1 year. Of 2636 LEB procedures, 228 (8.6%) were performed in the setting of a prior contralateral amputation. Patients with a prior amputation compared to those without were younger (66.5 vs 68.7; P = .034), more like to have congestive heart failure (CHF; 25% vs 16%; P = .002), hypertension (94% vs 85%; P = .015), renal insufficiency (26% vs 14%; P = .0002), and hemodialysis-dependent renal failure (14% vs 6%; P = .0002). They were also more likely to be nursing home residents (8.0% vs 3.6%; P = .036), less likely to ambulate without assistance (41% vs 80%; P < .0002), and more likely to have had a prior ipsilateral bypass (20% vs 12%; P = .0005). These patients experience increased in-hospital major adverse events, including myocardial infarction (MI; 8.9% vs 4.2%; P = .002), CHF (6.1% vs 3.4%; P = .044), deterioration in renal function (9.0% vs 4.7%; P = .006), and respiratory complications (4.2% vs 2.3%; P = .034). They were less likely to be discharged home (52% vs 72%; P < .0001) and less likely to be ambulatory on discharge (25% vs 55%; P < .0001). Although patients with a prior contralateral amputation experienced increased rates of graft occlusion (38% vs 17%; P < .0001) and major amputation (16% vs 7%; P < .0001) at 1 year, there was not a significant difference in mortality (16% vs 10%; P = .160). On multivariable analysis, prior contralateral amputation was an independent predictor of both major amputation (odds ratio, 1.73; confidence interval, 1.06-2.83; P = .027) and graft occlusion (odds ratio, 1.93; confidence interval, 1.39-2.68; P < .0001) at 1 year. Patients with prior contralateral amputations who present with CLI in the intact limb represent a high-risk population, even among patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease. When considering LEB in this setting, both physicians and patients should expect increased rates of perioperative adverse events, increased rates of 1-year graft occlusion, and decreased rates of limb salvage, when compared with patients who have not undergone a contralateral amputation.