Single Institution Experience Research Articles

Oncoplastic Breast Conservation for Central Tumors: Definition, Classification, and the Analysis of Single Institution Experience.

Tumors in the central part of the breast are usually considered more aggressive and technically difficult, which limits breast conservation. The definition of central tumors from a surgical point of view, classification of the techniques for partial breast reconstruction, and conceptual algorithm of choice based on tumor and breast characteristics are proposed, along with the estimation of surgical and oncological safety. This is a retrospective analysis of the single-institution experience, with a focus on the decision-making process for choosing the oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery technique. To evaluate the safety of breast conservation for central tumors, a comparative analysis of early surgical complications and oncological long-term results of treatment in patients with central breast tumor location and other breast tumor locations was performed. A total of 940 lumpectomies were performed in 926 patients during 15 years. The central breast tumor location group included 128 patients with 130 lumpectomies (13.8%), and the other breast tumor locations group included 798 patients with 810 lumpectomies (86.2%). We did not find any significant differences in the rate of early surgical complications and involved margins, local and systemic recurrence rates, time to progression, or overall survival between the groups. Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery is a safe procedure for the treatment of central tumors. In our opinion, the proposed classification of partial breast reconstruction techniques and an algorithm of their choice allow for effective restoration of the breast shape and volume according to the parameters of the tumor, breast, surgeon, and patient preferences.

Clinical outcomes of antithrombin III supplementation in an overt disseminated intravascular coagulation: a longitudinal single-institutional experience and retrospective analysis.

Antithrombin is a small plasma glycoprotein synthesized in the liver that belongs to the serpin family of serine protease inhibitors and inactivates several enzymes in the coagulation pathway. It plays a leading major factor on coagulation pathway, therefore administration of antithrombin is essential to treat serious clinical conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite the theoretical benefits of antithrombin supplementation, the optimal antithrombin activity for heparin efficacy and the benefits of antithrombin supplementation in various disease entities are not yet fully understood. The strict administration guidelines on antithrombin III in cases of DIC by the National Health Insurance Service and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety complied as follows: antithrombin levels below 20 mg/dL in adults; antithrombin activity below 70% of normal in adults; total administration period of antithrombin must be carefully limited to within maximum 3 days, and the total administration dose must be below 7,000 international unit (IU), (loading dose, 1,000 IU in 1 hour: maintenance dose, 500 IU every 6 hours for 3 days). We identified 76 eligible for analysis according to the above-mentioned criteria in our institution (male/female, 59/17). Forty-four were identified to the non-survivor group and 32 patients were recognized as the survivor group. The baseline parameters in the non-survivor and survivor groups were comparable with no significant differences in age (66.5±18.1 vs. 66.0±16.2 years, P=0.90), sex (32/12 vs. 27/5, P=0.35), hospital length of stay (31.1±34.5 vs. 31.2±26.1 days, P=0.99), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) (7.3±2.5 vs. 6.6±2.0, P=0.22), simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) (46.0±8.8 vs. 43.5±9.2, P=0.23), cause for DIC (P=0.95), and underlying disease (P=0.38). The levels of antithrombin III on the day just before the administration significantly lower in the non-survivor groups than in the survivor groups (50.1%±13.6% vs. 57.6%±12.5%, P=0.01). The hemoglobin level in the 2nd day and 7th day after antithrombin III administration was significantly different between the non-survivor and survivor groups (9.9±1.9 vs. 11.0±2.0 g/dL, P=0.01, and 9.4±1.8 vs. 10.5±1.6 g/dL, P=0.006). The antithrombin III levels on the day of administration [area under the curve (AUC) =0.672] demonstrated significantly better prediction of mortality than the A antithrombin III levels on 1st day (AUC =0.552), the 2nd day (AUC =0.624), and 7th day (AUC =0.593). Our study suggests that the antithrombin administration may be effective tools for DIC treatment, and may be more positively considered, especially in the cases of DIC, which is a frequent complication of septic shock, sepsis, and other critical disease entities and which is associated with a high level of mortality. Furthermore, our study also suggests that the total doses and periods of antithrombin administration, which recommended by national guidelines, may be insufficient, therefore prolongation of period and increase of total dose of antithrombin supplement might be necessary.

7. The Kaleidoscope of Midface Management in Apert Syndrome: A 23-Year Single-Institution Experience

7. The Kaleidoscope of Midface Management in Apert Syndrome: A 23-Year Single-Institution Experience

Evidence blocks for effective presentation of genomic findings at molecular tumor boards: Single institution experience

Genomic profiling, or molecular profiling of the tumor, is becoming a key component of therapeutic decision making in clinical oncology, and is typically carried out via next generation sequencing. However, the interpretation of the results and evaluation of rationale for targeting the uncovered alterations is challenging and requires a deep understanding of cancer biology, genetics, genomics and oncology. Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards represent a promising strategy in the facilitation of molecularly-informed therapeutic decisions, and usually consist of specialists with various fields of expertise. To effectively communicate the biological and clinical significance of genomic findings, as well as to make molecular tumor board discussions more productive, we developed and implemented evidence blocks into case discussions in our center. We found that this approach facilitated clinicians’ understanding of the results of genomic profiling, and resulted in shorter yet more efficient case discussions within the molecular tumor board. Here, we discuss our experience with evidence blocks and how their implementation influenced the molecular tumor board practice.

Clinical Outcomes of an Active, Transcutaneous, Bone Conduction Hearing Device: A Retrospective Study.

The purpose of this study was to review patient demographics, indications, intraoperative findings, complications/adverse events, and audiological outcomes related to the implantation of the Osia 2 device. Retrospective case series. Single tertiary institutional experience. Patients who had undergone Osia 2 implantation by the senior author were identified from 2019 to present. Information was extracted from patient charts concerning patient demographics, indications for implantation, surgical findings, audiological outcomes, and adverse events. Sixty patients and 67 implants were included. The median age was 51 years (R: 11-92). Fifty-five percentof patients had mixed hearing loss (HL), 30% had single-sided deafness, and 15% had conductive HL. The mean operative time was 53.9minutes. Only 4.5% of patients required bone polishing, and 3.0% required tissue thinning. Themean pure-tone averages 4 gain from unaided conditions was 41.2 dB. Mean gain at 6and 8 kHz from unaided conditions was 35.42and 40.67 dB, respectively. Mean improvement in speech recognition threshold and word recognition score was significant in noise and quiet conditions. The all-cause adverse event/complication rate in our series was 10.4%. The most common complications were infections (4.5%) and poorly controlled postoperative pain (3.0%). Hematomas occurred in 1.5% of patients. Reoperation was required in 4 patients; explant in 1. Use of the Osia 2 device in our series has resulted in good hearing outcomes, particularly in terms of high frequency gain. Complication rates were low. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date reporting on Osia 2 outcomes.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Patients with Brain Metastases from Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancers.

The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with brain metastases from hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancers has yet to be established. The authors present a single-institution experience of patients with HPB cancers who underwent SRS when their cancer spread to the brain. We surveyed our Gamma Knife SRS data base of 18,000 patients for the years 1987-2022. In total, 19 metastatic HPB cancer patients (13 male) with 76 brain metastases were identified. The median age at SRS was 61 years (range: 48-83). The primary cancer sites were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 11 patients), cholangiocarcinoma (CCC, 2 patients), and pancreatic carcinoma (PCC, 6 patients). The median Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) was 80 (range: 50-90). Two patients underwent pre-SRS whole-brain fractionated radiation therapy (WBRT) and eight patients underwent pre-SRS surgical resection. All SRS was delivered in single session. The median margin dose was 18 Gy (range: 15-20). The median cumulative tumor volume was 8.1 cc (range: 1.0-44.2). The median patient overall survival (OS) after SRS was 7 months (range 1-79 months). Four patients had documented local tumor progression after SRS at a median time of 8.5 months (range: 2-15) between SRS and progression. Out of 76 treated tumors, 72 tumors exhibited local control. The local tumor control rate per patient was 78.9%. The local tumor control per tumor was 94.7%. Four patients developed new brain metastases at a median of 6.5 months (range: 2-17) after SRS. No patient experienced adverse radiation effects (AREs). At the last follow-up, 18 patients had died, all from systemic disease progression. Metastatic spread to the brain from HPB cancers occurs late in the course of the primary disease. In this study, all deceased patients ultimately died from primary disease progression. SRS is a non-invasive strategy that maximally preserves quality of life, and our results reported favorable outcomes compared to the existing literature. SRS should be considered as one of the primary management strategies for patients with brain metastatic spread from HPB cancer.

Graduate medical education success coaching for residents and fellows: a single-institution real-world experience

ABSTRACT While coaching has been employed as a success strategy in many areas such as athletics and business for decades, its use is relatively new in the medical field despite evidence of its benefits. Implementation and engagement regarding coaching in graduate medical education (GME) for residents and fellows is particularly scarce. We report our three-year experience of a GME success coaching program that aims to help trainees reach their full potential by addressing various areas of medical knowledge, clinical skills, efficiency, interpersonal skills and communication, professionalism, and mental health and well-being. The majority of participants (87%) were identified by themselves, their program director, and/or the GME coaches to have more than one area of need. The majority (79%) of referrals were identified by the coaches to have additional needs to the reasons for referral. We provide a framework for implementation of a GME coaching program and propose that coaching in GME may provide an additional safe environment for learners to reveal areas of concerns or difficulty that otherwise would not be disclosed and/or addressed.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Single Institute Experience over Three Decades and Risk Factors for Recurrence.

Medullary thyroid cancer has a historic recurrence rate up to 50%, and surgery remains the only cure. This study aims to assess factors related to recurrence and metastatic spread in MTC. Retrospective chart review was performed from 1990-2023. Descriptive analysis and regression models were used for analysis. Single specialized tertiary care referral center. 68 patients with MTC, who underwent surgery, were included. Recurrence. Mean age at diagnosis was 54.9years(42.2-64.1), 65%(n=44) females. Lymph node and distant metastases were found in 24%(n=16) and 4%(n=3), respectively. RET mutations were present in 52%(n=35): MTC risk levels Highest 6%, High 7%, and Moderate 39%. Mean tumor size was 1.9cm(1.2-3.2) and mean preoperative calcitonin was 504.4pg/mL(133.2-1833.8). Total thyroidectomy(TT) was performed in 10 patients, TT+central neck dissection(CND) in 28, and TT+CND+lateral neck dissection(LND) in 25. On final pathology, 40% had positive central nodes and 25% had positive lateral nodes. Recurrence was 22%, median follow-up 4.7years(1.2-28.0). Male gender(HR=5.81, p=0.021), positive lateral neck nodes(HR 8.10, p=0.011) and high/highest MTC risk level RET mutations(HR 8.66, p=0.004) were significantly associated with recurrence. Preoperative calcitonin>2,175 pg/mL was a strong predictor for distant metastasis(AUC0.893) and a good predictor for lateral neck disease(AUC0.706). Extent of surgery was not significantly associated with recurrence(p=0.634). One of 4 patients undergoing surgery for MTC will recur. Risk factors associated with recurrence are male gender, lateral LN metastasis and high/highest MTC risk level mutations, but not necessarily surgery type. Preoperative calcitonin>2,175 pg/mL is suggestive of advanced disease and should prompt further evaluation.

Ischiorectal Fossa Tumors: 30-year Single-Institution Experience.

Primary tumors of the ischiorectal fossa are rare and comprise a wide array of pathologies with varying malignant potential. Because of the low prevalence, there is a paucity of data in the literature. This article presents a case series on the management of ischiorectal fossa tumors. To present experience from 30 years of managing ischiorectal fossa tumors. Retrospective single-center analysis. A quaternary referral academic health care center. All patients treated for ischiorectal fossa tumors were included in the study. All patients underwent surgical management of their disease. Disease recurrence and overall survival. A total of 34 patients (53% women) were identified with a median follow-up of 23 months. Twenty-one patients (62%) were diagnosed with benign and 13 (38%) with malignant tumors. All underwent surgical resection. The median tumor size was 8.4 cm. R0 resection was obtained in 28 patients. Twelve patients (35%) developed recurrence (9 after R0 resection) after a median time of 6.5 months. There were no surgical-related mortalities. Limitations to the study include its retrospective nature, single-center experience, and small patient sample size. Ischiorectal fossa tumors are primarily benign; however, they are associated with high recurrence rates even in the setting of an R0 resection. Treatment should be approached in a multidisciplinary manner, preferably in centers with experience treating these tumors. Close posttreatment surveillance is imperative. See Video Abstract . ANTECEDENTES:Los tumores primarios de la fosa isquiorrectal son raros y comprenden una amplia gama de patologías con potencial maligno variable. Debido a la baja prevalencia, hay escasez de datos en la literatura. Este artículo presenta una serie de casos sobre el tratamiento de los tumores de la fosa isquiorrectal.OBJETIVO:Presentar una experiencia de 30 años en el manejo de tumores de la fosa isquiorrectal.DISEÑO:Análisis retrospectivo de un solo centro.AJUSTES:Un centro de atención médica académico de referencia cuaternaria.PACIENTES:Todos los pacientes tratados por tumores de la fosa isquiorrectal.INTERVENCIONES:Todos los pacientes se sometieron a tratamiento quirúrgico de su enfermedad.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Recurrencia de la enfermedad y supervivencia general.RESULTADOS:Se identificaron un total de 34 pacientes (53% mujeres) con una mediana de seguimiento de 23 meses. Veintiún pacientes (62%) fueron diagnosticados con tumores benignos y 13 (38%) con tumores malignos. Todos fueron sometidos a resección quirúrgica. El tamaño medio del tumor fue de 8,4 cm. La resección R0 se obtuvo en 28 pacientes. Doce (35%) desarrollaron recurrencia (nueve después de la resección R0) con una mediana de tiempo de 6,5 meses. No hubo mortalidades relacionadas con la cirugía.LIMITACIONES:Las limitaciones del estudio incluyen su naturaleza retrospectiva, experiencia en un solo centro y tamaño pequeño de la muestra de pacientes.CONCLUSIONES:Los tumores de la fosa isquiorrectal son principalmente benignos, sin embargo, se asocian con altas tasas de recurrencia incluso en el contexto de una resección R0. El tratamiento debe abordarse de forma multidisciplinaria y preferentemente en centros con experiencia en el tratamiento de estos tumores. Vigilancia cercana posterior al tratamiento es imperativa. (Traducción-Dr. Aurian Garcia Gonzalez).

Early Experience with Prone Lateral Interbody Fusion in Deformity Correction: A Single-Institution Experience.

Background/Objectives: Lateral spine surgery offers effective minimally invasive deformity correction, but traditional approaches often involve separate anterior, lateral, and posterior procedures. The prone lateral technique streamlines this process by allowing single-position access for lateral and posterior surgery, potentially benefiting from the lordosing effect of prone positioning. While previous studies have compared prone lateral to direct lateral for adult degenerative diseases, this retrospective review focuses on the outcomes of adult deformity patients undergoing prone lateral interbody fusion. Methods: Ten adult patients underwent single-position prone lateral surgery for spine deformity correction, with a mean follow-up of 18 months. Results: Results showed significant improvements: sagittal vertical axis decreased by 2.4 cm, lumbar lordosis increased by 9.1°, pelvic tilt improved by 3.3°, segmental lordosis across the fusion construct increased by 12.2°, and coronal Cobb angle improved by 6.3°. These benefits remained consistent over the follow-up period. Correlational analysis showed a positive association between improvements in PROs and SVA and SL. When compared to hybrid approaches, prone lateral yielded greater improvements in SVA. Conclusions: Prone lateral surgery demonstrated favorable outcomes with reasonable perioperative risks. However, further research comparing this technique with standard minimally invasive lateral approaches, hybrid, and open approaches is warranted for a comprehensive evaluation.

Effectiveness of pulmonary valve-sparing strategy for transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot: a single institution experience.

We report the midterm results of our strategy utilizing transatrial-transpulmonary repair for tetralogy of Fallot at a single institution in a low-middle income country. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 532 consecutive patients who underwent definitive repair of tetralogy of Fallot at our institution from 2010 to 2020. The median age and weight of patients in the study patients were 11.6 months (interquartile range, 8.6-17.2 months) and 7.5 kg (interquartile range, 6.8-8.8 kg). The pulmonary valve annulus was preserved (no transannular patch) in 398 patients (75%) and a mini-transannular patch was utilized for 134 patients (25%). The overall survival was 98% at 1 year, and 97% at 10-years follow-up, respectively. Longer postoperative ventilation time was the only risk factor correlated to early death (p = 0.004; Odds Risk, 1.04; 95% confidence intervals, 1.01-1.07). Fourteen patients required pulmonary valve replacement (2.6%, 14/532), four required surgical resection to relieve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (0.8%, 4/532), and freedom from reoperation of the right ventricular outflow tract was 87% at 10 years. The only risk factor for right ventricular outflow tract reoperation was a postoperative systolic pressure gradient through the right ventricular outflow tract of greater than 50 mmHg (p < 0.001; HR, 47; 95% confidence intervals, 9.1-244). In total, 94.6% (471/489) of the patients were asymptomatic at the latest follow-up without significant arrhythmia. At our institution in an low-middle income country, the transatrial-transpulmonary repair for tetralogy of Fallot has excellent midterm results with few reoperations required. Close long-term follow-up is essential for patients who undergo repair with a mini-transannular patch and may eventually require pulmonary valve replacement.

A three-year retrospective analysis of variables and their relationships as outcome indicators following emergency laparotomies in octogenarians: insights from a single institutional experience

Background: This retrospective study aims to specifically assess the morbidity and mortality outcomes linked to emergency laparotomies in a subset of patients aged 80 years and above, referred to as octogenarians. The objective is to gain insights into the specific challenges and outcomes faced by this elderly population undergoing emergency laparotomies. Methods: This retrospective analysis focused on emergency laparotomies in octogenarians between June 2020 and June 2023, involving 62 cases out of 370 total emergency laparotomies conducted across various age groups. Using a standardized proforma, data was collected, and statistical analysis was performed with statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). Results: In this study involving 62 elderly patients (mean age 84) undergoing emergency laparotomies, common diagnoses included adhesional small bowel obstruction (32.3%)and large bowel obstruction due to diverticular disease (21.0%). Approximately 22.6% of cases were malignant, emphasizing the diverse nature of the cohort. A significant portion (56.5%) underwent bowel resection, and 16.1% had a stoma. Notably, 100% of patients were not seen by geriatrics, indicating potential gaps in comprehensive assessment despite the absence of geriatrician involvement, the overall mortality rate was 21%, emphasizing the potential impact of geriatrician reviews. Conclusions: In summary, emergency major abdominal surgery poses significant risks, particularly for frail and elderly individuals with multiple co-morbidities. Recognizing frailty as an independent risk factor is crucial and highlights areas of potential improvement in this area with early involvement of geriatricians.

Palbociclib in real-world practice before and during COVID-19 pandemic - a single institute experience.

Palbociclib in real-world practice before and during COVID-19 pandemic - a single institute experience.

Evolution of transplant oncology indications: a single-institution experience over 40 years

Liver transplantation (LT) for uncommon tumoral indications has changed across the decades, with impaired results reported in the first historical series mainly for non-tumoral-related causes. Recently, renewed interest in liver transplant oncology has been reported. The study aims to analyze a mono-center experience exploring the evolution and the impact on patient survival of LT in uncommon tumoral indications. A retrospective analysis of 851 LT performed during 1982–2023 was investigated. 33/851 (3.9%) uncommon tumoral indications were reported: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on non-cirrhotic liver (n = 14), peri-hilar (phCCA) (n = 8) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (i-CCA) (n = 3), metastatic disease (n = 4), hepatic hemangioendothelioma (n = 2), and benign tumor (n = 2). Uncommon tumoral indications were mainly transplanted during the period 1982–1989, with a complete disappearance after the year 2000 and a slight rise in the last years. Poor outcomes were reported: 5-year survival rates were 28.6%, 25.0%, 0%, and 0% in the case of HCC on non-cirrhotic liver, phCCA, i-CCA, and metastases, respectively. However, the cause of patient death was often related to non-tumoral conditions. LT for uncommon oncological diseases has increased worldwide in recent decades. Historical series report poor survival outcomes despite more recent data showing promising results. Hence, the decision to transplant these patients should be under the risk and overall benefit of the patient. The results of the ongoing protocol studies are expected to confirm the validity of the unconventional tumor indications.

Microsurgical removal of supratentorial and cerebellar cavernous malformations: what has changed? A single institution experience.

BackgroundFeatures associated with a safe surgical resection of cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) are still not clear and what is needed to achieve this target has not been defined yet. MethodsClinical presentation, radiological features and anatomical locations were assessed for patients operated on from January 2008 to January 2018 for supratentorial and cerebellar cavernomas. Supratentorial CMs were divided into 3 subgroups (non-critical vs. superficial critical vs. deep critical). The clinical outcome was assessed through modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and was divided into favorable (mRS 0–1) and unfavorable (mRS ≥ 2). Post-operative epilepsy was classified according to the Maraire Scale. ResultsA total of 144 were considered eligible for the current study. At 6 months follow-up the clinical outcome was excellent for patients with cerebellar or lobar CMs in non-critical areas (mRS ≤ 1: 91.1 %) and for patients with superficial CMs in critical areas (mRS ≤ 1: 92.3 %). Patients with deep-seated suprantentorial CMs showed a favorable outcome in 76.9 %. As for epilepsy 58.5 % of patients presenting with a history of epilepsy were free from seizures and without therapy (Maraire grade I) at last follow-up (mean 3.9 years) and an additional 41.5 % had complete control of seizures with therapy (Maraire grade II). ConclusionsSurgery is safe in the management of CMs in non-critical but also in critical supratentorial locations, with a caveat for deep structures such as the insula, the basal ganglia and the thalamus/hypothalamus.

Malignancy risk and mortality after lung transplantation: A single-institution experience over 31 years

BackgroundMalignancy is a long-term complication of lung transplantation (LTx); however, contemporary Australian data and detailed evaluation of non-reportable cancers are lacking. MethodsRetrospective review of LTx recipients’ medical records and registry data linkage were performed to identify histologically proven malignancies. Baseline clinico-demographic variables were collected, and cancer incidence was compared with reported data for the general Australian population. ResultsThere were 1,715 LTx in 1,631 patients between 1989-2021, with a follow-up of 9,696 person-years. 893 (54.8%) patients were male, and the median age at first LTx was 54.7 years. There were 886 deaths with a median overall survival of 7.5 years (95% CI 6.8-8.3 years). 1,774 separate invasive cancer events occurred across 407 patients, of which, 1,588 (89.5%) were non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). This translated to a 9-fold increased incidence of NMSCs, and a 4-fold increased incidence of other cancers compared with the general population. Cancer mortality reached parity with chronic lung allograft dysfunction ten years post-first transplant, and was independently associated with age (HR per year increase in age 1.02 [95% CI 1.01-1.03], p=0.001), EBV primary mismatch (HR 3.24 [95% CI 1.68-6.25], versus non-mismatch, p=0.002) and cancer count (HR per cancer event 1.19 [95% CI 1.13-1.24], p<0.0001), but was not associated with a pre-transplant malignancy history. ConclusionsOur 31-year single-center experience demonstrates that malignancies are a significant mortality burden to long-term LTx survivors, dominated by NMSCs that are poorly reported in cancer datasets. A history of pre-transplant malignancy was associated with shorter time to post-transplant malignancy, but was not associated with cancer death.

Outpatient limb lengthening using magnetic intramedullary nails: A single Institution's experience

IntroductionThe advantages of outpatient surgery have been shown in other orthopedic subspecialities to be a means of driving down costs and reducing the average length of hospital stay. However, there is a scarcity of literature examining the utility of a specific, hospital-based facility performing such procedures for limb lengthening. Considering this, we aimed to investigate surgical factors, patient characteristics, and the incidence of outpatient postoperative complications for patients undergoing surgery and subsequent distraction osteogenesis utilizing the Precice® nail, a state-of-the-art magnetic intramedullary nail (MILN). MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of medical records pertaining to outpatient limb lengthening procedures occurring between January 2012 and September 2023 at a single institution, as performed by three surgeons. Variables of interest included baseline demographics, type of anesthesia, operative bone, laterality, preoperative diagnosis, osteotomy level, procedure performed, prosthesis, point of entry, nail diameter/length, goal length, goal achieved, postoperative complications, and elective nail removal. ResultsThe cohort comprised 20 limbs, with an average age at index surgery of 24.8 (SD 7.96). There were no complications related to the outpatient nature of the procedure. Five of the 20 limbs had postoperative complications, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), screw backout, and nail breakage. ConclusionOur initial investigation of outpatient limb lengthening at a specific, hospital-based facility demonstrated favorable postoperative outcomes for those patients undergoing limb lengthening procedures with an MILN. The field would certainly benefit from future research assessing outcomes of pediatric surgeries in the outpatient setting on a larger scale, as well as across hospital systems, the country, and globally. With the proven advances and benefits of MILNs, prioritizing examination of their efficacy in an outpatient population is imperative. Furthermore, the success of outpatient procedures in other orthopedic subspecialities, such as total joint arthroplasty, is a logical, driving precedent for this rationale.

Carcinoma arising in ileal conduit or orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction: A 20-year single institute experience.

Carcinomas found in urinary diversion specimens are uncommon, particularly new primary tumours. New primary tumours primarily occur when the large intestine is utilised, whereas the occurrence is infrequent with the use of the ileum. These tumours include both the recurrence of primary malignancy or the development of a new primary malignancy originating from the small intestine. A search was performed within the pathology laboratory system to identify cases of malignancies involving ileal conduit/reconstruction from 2002 to 2022. Data on demographics, clinical details, pathology and management was recorded. A total of 13 male patients, with a mean age of 67 years (range = 49-81 years) were included in the study. The initial procedure performed included cystoprostatectomy (n = 10, including one case with right nephroureterectomy) and cystectomy (n = 3, including one case for bladder exstrophy) for initial diagnoses including urothelial carcinoma (n = 11; conventional, 6; sarcomatoid, 1; glandular 1; plasmacytoid, 1; micropapillary, 2) and adenocarcinoma (n = 1). The initial management included radical surgery with neoadjuvant chemotherapy/immunotherapy (n = 1), adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 3), intravesical adjuvant BCG (n = 2) and intravesical adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 1). Malignancies in ileal conduit or orthotopic ileal neobladder included recurrent urothelial carcinoma (n = 10) and new secondary adenocarcinomas (n = 3), which developed as early as 3 months (usually recurrence) and up to 13, 33 and 45 years (new primary malignancy) following primary resection. Utilising the ileum as conduit/neobladder presents a viable alternative for urinary diversion with a reduced malignancy risk compared to using a segment of the large intestine. However, there remains a potential for malignancy, either tumour recurrence or a new primary malignancy. In our study, tumour recurrence occurred up to 4 years following the initial diagnosis and the development of a new primary malignancy occurred up to 45 years after the initial diagnosis. Consequently, it is crucial to prioritise long-term follow-up for these patients undergoing this procedure.

Banded One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (BOAGB) for Patients Living with Obesity and Extreme Obesity: A Single Institution's Experience.

The prevalence of patients suffering from extreme obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50) has significantly increased over the past three decades, surpassing the rise in the general population of overweight patients. Weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery in patients suffering from extreme obesity are less favorable, with a higher incidence of weight regain. Variations of existing bariatric procedures have been proposed to address this issue. One such variation is adding a gastric band to limit the expansion of the newly created pouch. Limited data exist regarding the effectiveness of this procedure, called the banded one-anastomosis gastric bypass (BOAGB) procedure, compared to other bariatric procedures. In this retrospective study, we compared all patients who underwent the BOAGB procedure at the Bariatric Surgery Unit in our Medical Center with a postoperative follow-up of at least 1year with patients who underwent a one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) procedures. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, surgical outcomes, complications, and postoperative quality-of-life assessments. One hundred eleven patients were enlisted to our study during the relevant study period-24 patients underwent the BOAGB procedure, 43 underwent OAGB, and 44 underwent a SG. Lost to follow-up beyond 30days was 9% (at 1-year post-surgery, we were able to establish contact with 101 patients). The pre-op BMI was significantly higher in the BOAGB group compared to the other procedures. Additionally, a higher prevalence of diabetes was observed in the BOAGB group. The duration of surgery was significantly longer for the BOAGB procedure. No significant differences were found in surgical complications. Overall, all procedures resulted in significant excess weight loss (EWL) or change in BMI, improvement in comorbidities, and improved quality of life postoperatively. The BOAGB procedure, like OAGB and SG, demonstrated favorable weight loss outcomes and weight maintenance 1year postoperatively without significant differences between the procedures. The BOAGB procedure is relatively new, with good bariatric outcomes and a favorable safety profile. Long-term study is needed to evaluate these various bariatric procedures' efficacy further.

Improved Glaucoma Medication Access Through Pharmacy Partnership: A Single Institution Experience.

A major barrier to glaucoma medication adherence is the patient's out-of-pocket costs. At the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), the institutional pharmacy piloted a program to query out-of-pocket costs for each patient's medication list based on their insurance coverage. This study aims to describe the impact of this collaboration between the glaucoma service and the outpatient pharmacy service. This study is a single institution, retrospective chart review of glaucoma patients with a formulary inquiry placed by a single glaucoma specialist between 4/1/2020 and 2/28/2022. Main outcome measures included medications before and after formulary inquiries, additional steps required to access the medications (ie, formulary exceptions, prior authorizations, tier exceptions), and out-of-pocket costs. A total of 343 formulary inquiries, representing 568 individual medication inquiries, were conducted. Out of the 568 medication inquiries, only 78 could be filled for an affordable price without any additional steps. For 45 inquiries, additional steps were required for the medication to become covered at an affordable price. The remaining 445 inquires required additional steps with subsequent denial or prohibitive out-of-pocket costs. The UCMC workflow provided transparent out-of-pocket costs for patients to access glaucoma medications. This workflow may be cost-effective as it minimizes the burden on the overall system by reducing the number of patients who are unable to fill a prescription at the pharmacy due to issues with coverage or affordability. This model of physician-pharmacy collaboration can guide other institutions to implement similar workflows which directly mitigate costs and improve quality of care.