A statewide assessment of surgical site infection following colectomy: the role of oral antibiotics. Ann Surg. 2010;252:514-519; discussion 519-520. [PMID: 20739852 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e3181f244f8]

Strategies to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their surgical site infection (SSI) prevention efforts. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.

Antimicrobial Formulation and Delivery in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection

BACKGROUND

A number of adjunct antimicrobial measures have been studied in an attempt to reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates. In addition to parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis, these measures include oral antibiotics in bowel preparation for colorectal surgery, antiseptic/antimicrobial irrigation, antimicrobial sutures, local antibiotics, skin incision antibacterial sealants, and antimicrobial dressings. It is the purpose of this review to study the evidence behind each of these measures and to evaluate relevant data for recommendations in each area.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature through PubMed was performed.

RESULTS

Need for adequate dosing and re-dosing of intravenous peri-operative antibiotics, duration of antibiotic usage past wound closure, and the use of antibiotic bowel preparation in colorectal surgery are well defined in the published literature. However, data on local antimicrobial measures remain controversial.

CONCLUSIONS

Proper dosing and re-dosing of prophylactic intravenous antibiotics should become standard practice. Continuation of intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis beyond wound closure is unnecessary in clean cases and remains controversial in clean-contaminated and complex cases. Oral antibiotic bowel preparation is an important adjunct to intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis in colorectal surgery. The use of topical antimicrobial and antiseptic agents such as antibacterial irrigations, local antimicrobial application, antimicrobial-coated sutures, antibacterial wound sealants, and antimicrobial impregnated dressings in the prevention of SSI is questionable.

Antimicrobial Bowel Preparation for Elective Colon Surgery

BACKGROUND

Mechanical bowel preparation continues to be a controversial subject for the pre-operative management of patients undergoing elective colon resection.

METHODS

The English literature on bowel preparation was searched to identify pertinent publications.

RESULTS

The published literature over the past 80 y confirms that mechanical bowel preparation alone does not reduce surgical site infections. However, the use of appropriate oral antibiotics following mechanical bowel preparation with pre-operative systemic antibiotics reduces rates of surgical site infections and anastomotic leaks when compared with systemic antibiotics alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Mechanical bowel preparation with pre-operative oral antibiotics and pre-operative systemic antibiotics are the standard of care for elective colon surgery. Refinement in methods of bowel preparation needs additional clinical investigations to further enhance outcomes.

Collagen degradation and MMP9 activation by Enterococcus faecalis contribute to intestinal anastomotic leak

Even under the most expert care, a properly constructed intestinal anastomosis can fail to heal, resulting in leakage of its contents, peritonitis, and sepsis. The cause of anastomotic leak remains unknown, and its incidence has not changed in decades. We demonstrate that the commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis contributes to the pathogenesis of anastomotic leak through its capacity to degrade collagen and to activate tissue matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in host intestinal tissues. We demonstrate in rats that leaking anastomotic tissues were colonized by E. faecalis strains that showed an increased collagen-degrading activity and also an increased ability to activate host MMP9, both of which contributed to anastomotic leakage. We demonstrate that the E. faecalis genes gelE and sprE were required for E. faecalis-mediated MMP9 activation. Either elimination of E. faecalis strains through direct topical antibiotics applied to rat intestinal tissues or pharmacological suppression of intestinal MMP9 activation prevented anastomotic leak in rats. In contrast, the standard recommended intravenous antibiotics used in patients undergoing colorectal surgery did not eliminate E. faecalis at anastomotic tissues nor did they prevent leak in our rat model. Finally, we show in humans undergoing colon surgery and treated with the standard recommended intravenous antibiotics that their anastomotic tissues still contained E. faecalis and other bacterial strains with collagen-degrading/MMP9-activating activity. We suggest that intestinal microbes with the capacity to produce collagenases and to activate host metalloproteinase MMP9 may break down collagen in the intestinal tissue contributing to anastomotic leak.

Combined preoperative mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics significantly reduces surgical site infection, anastomotic leak, and ileus after colorectal surgery

OBJECTIVES

To clarify whether bowel preparation use or its individual components [mechanical bowel preparation (MBP)/oral antibiotics] impact specific outcomes after colorectal surgery.

METHODS

National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-targeted colectomy data initiated in 2012 capture information on the use/type of bowel preparation and colorectal-specific complications. For patients undergoing elective colorectal resection, the impact of preoperative MBP and antibiotics (MBP+/ABX+), MBP alone (MBP+/ABX-), and no bowel preparation (no-prep) on outcomes, particularly anastomotic leak, surgical site infection (SSI), and ileus, were evaluated using unadjusted/adjusted logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 8442 patients, 2296 (27.2%) had no-prep, 3822 (45.3%) MBP+/ABX-, and 2324 (27.5%) MBP+/ABX+. Baseline characteristics were similar; however, there were marginally more patients with prior sepsis, ascites, steroid use, bleeding disorders, and disseminated cancer in no-prep. MBP with or without antibiotics was associated with reduced ileus [MBP+/ABX+: odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48-0.68; MBP+/ABX-: OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.91] and SSI [MBP+/ABX+: OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.32-0.48; MBP+/ABX-: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69-0.93] versus no-prep. MBP+/ABX+ was also associated with lower anastomotic leak rate than no-prep [OR = 0.45 (95% CI: 0.32-0.64)]. On multivariable analysis, MBP with antibiotics, but not without, was independently associated with reduced anastomotic leak (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35-0.94), SSI (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.31-0.53), and postoperative ileus (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

These data clarify the near 50-year debate whether bowel preparation improves outcomes after colorectal resection. MBP with oral antibiotics reduces by nearly half, SSI, anastomotic leak, and ileus, the most common and troublesome complications after colorectal surgery.

Contemporary practice among pediatric surgeons in the use of bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery: A survey of the American Pediatric Surgical Association

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to characterize contemporary practice among pediatric surgeons in the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and oral antibiotics (OA) for elective colorectal surgery.

METHODS

A survey of the American Pediatric Surgical Association membership was conducted to characterize variation in the use of MBP and OA for commonly performed elective colorectal procedures in children.

RESULTS

Three-hundred thirteen members completed the survey. The most common approach used was MBP alone (31.1%), followed by diet modification only (26.8%), MBP combined with OA (19.6%), no preparation or dietary modification (12.2%), and OA alone (5.4%). The most common MBP used was a polyethylene glycol-based solution (92.6%), and the most common OA approach was neomycin combined with erythromycin (55.9%). Although MBP alone was the preferred approach among pediatric surgeons, the greatest relative change reported over time was in the adoption of dietary modifications only or no preparation at all.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant variation exists in the use of bowel preparation among pediatric surgeons. Although use of MBP alone remains the preferred approach for most procedures, an increasing number of surgeons report abandoning this approach in favor of dietary modification alone or no preparation at all.

Modern Guidelines for Bowel Preparation and Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Open and Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery

Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and antibiotics (oral and/or intravenous) have historically been used to decrease infectious complications in surgeries that involve manipulation of bowel or potential risk of injury. The use of MBP has recently been challenged in the colorectal surgery literature, thus inspiring similar critical evaluation of our practices in urology. This review gives a brief overview of the history of mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation, as well as the evolution of the practice trends in colorectal surgery and urology. We also examine contemporary guidelines in skin preparation as well as antimicrobial prophylaxis before surgery.

Combined Mechanical and Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation Reduces Incisional Surgical Site Infection and Anastomotic Leak Rates After Elective Colorectal Resection: An Analysis of Colectomy-Targeted ACS NSQIP

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between preoperative bowel preparation and 30-day outcomes after elective colorectal resection.

METHODS

Patients from the 2012 Colectomy-Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database who underwent elective colorectal resection were included for analysis and assigned to 1 of 4 groups based on the type of preoperative preparation they received [combined mechanical and oral antibiotic preparation (OAP), mechanical preparation only, OAP only, or no preoperative bowel preparation]. The association between preoperative bowel preparation status and 30-day postoperative outcomes was assessed using multivariate regression analysis to adjust for a robust array of patient- and procedure-related factors.

RESULTS

A total of 4999 patients were included for this study [1494 received (29.9%) combined mechanical and OAP, 2322 (46.5%) received mechanical preparation only, 91 (1.8%) received OAP only, and 1092 (21.8%) received no preoperative preparation]. Compared to patients receiving no preoperative preparation, patients who received combined preparation demonstrated a lower 30-day incidence of postoperative incisional surgical site infection (3.2% vs 9.0%, P < 0.001), anastomotic leakage (2.8% vs 5.7%, P = 0.001), and procedure-related hospital readmission (5.5% vs 8.0%, P = 0.03). The outcomes of patients who received either mechanical or OAP alone did not differ significantly from those who received no preparation.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined bowel preparation with mechanical cleansing and oral antibiotics results in a significantly lower incidence of incisional surgical site infection, anastomotic leakage, and hospital readmission when compared to no preoperative bowel preparation.

In the Absence of a Mechanical Bowel Prep, Does the Addition of Pre-Operative Oral Antibiotics to Parental Antibiotics Decrease the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection after Elective Segmental Colectomy?

BACKGROUND

Pre-operative oral antibiotics administered the day prior to elective colectomy have been shown to decrease the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) if a mechanical bowel prep (MBP) is used. Recently, the role for mechanical bowel prep has been challenged as being unnecessary and potentially harmful. We hypothesize that if MBP is omitted, oral antibiotics do not alter the incidence of SSI following colectomy.

METHODS

We selected patients who underwent an elective segmental colectomy from the 2012 and 2013 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program colectomy procedure targeted database. Indications for surgery included colon cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or benign polyp. Patients who received mechanical bowel prep were excluded. The primary outcome measured was surgical site infection, defined as the presence of superficial, deep or, organ space infection within 30 d from surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 6,399 patients underwent elective segmental colectomy without MBP. The incidence of SSI differed substantially between patients who received oral antibiotics, versus those who did not (9.7% vs. 13.7%, p=0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that age, smoking status, operative time, perioperative transfusions, oral antibiotics, and surgical approach were associated with post-operative SSI. When controlling for confounding factors, the use of pre-operative oral antibiotics decreased the incidence of surgical site infection (odds ratio=0.66, 95% confidence interval=0.48-0.90, p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Even in the absence of mechanical bowel prep, pre-operative oral antibiotics appear to reduce the incidence of surgical site infection following elective colectomy.

Oral Mechanical Bowel Preparation for Colorectal Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Oral mechanical bowel preparation is often used before elective colorectal surgery to reduce postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to synthesize the evidence on the comparative effectiveness and safety of oral mechanical bowel preparation versus no preparation or enema.

DATA SOURCES

We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and CINAHL without any language restrictions (last search on September 6, 2013). We also searched the US Food and Drug Administration Web site and ClinicalTrials.gov and supplemented our searches by asking technical experts and perusing reference lists.

STUDY SELECTION

We included English-language, full-text reports of randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized comparative studies of patients undergoing elective colon or rectal surgery. For adverse events we also included single-group cohort studies of at least 200 participants.

INTERVENTIONS

Interventions included oral mechanical bowel preparation, oral mechanical bowel preparation plus enema, enema only, and no oral mechanical bowel preparation or enema.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Anastomotic leakage, all-cause mortality, wound infection, peritonitis/intra-abdominal abscess, reoperation, surgical site infection, quality of life, length of stay, and adverse events were measured. We synthesized results across studies qualitatively and with Bayesian random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 18 randomized clinical trials, 7 nonrandomized comparative studies, and 6 single-group cohorts were included. In meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials, the credibility intervals of the summary OR included the null value of 1.0 for comparisons of oral mechanical bowel preparation and either no oral preparation or enema for overall mortality, anastomotic leakage, wound infection, peritonitis, surgical site infection, and reoperation. These results were robust to extensive sensitivity analyses. Evidence on adverse events was sparse.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by weaknesses in the underlying evidence, such as incomplete reporting of relevant information, exclusion of non-English and relevant unpublished studies, and possible missed indexing of nonrandomized studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results could not exclude modest beneficial or harmful effects of oral mechanical bowel preparation compared with no preparation or enema.

Variation in bowel preparation among pediatric surgeons for elective colorectal surgery: A problem of equipoise or a knowledge gap of the available clinical evidence?

PURPOSE

Despite rigorous data from adult literature demonstrating that oral antibiotics (OA) reduce infectious complications and mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) alone does not, MBP alone remains the preferred approach among pediatric surgeons. We aimed to explore the nature of this discrepancy through a survey of the American Pediatric Surgical Association membership.

METHODS

Surgeons were queried for their choice of bowel preparation, factors influencing their practice, and their impression of the strength and relevance of the adult literature to pediatric practice.

RESULTS

Surgeons who used MBP alone (31%) cited a reduction in stool burden and infectious complications as important factors, whereas surgeons choosing not to use OA (70%) reported a lack of benefit in reducing infectious complications as the primary reason. Although 53% of surgeons reported that evidence from adult literature was the most important influence, 73% of surgeons reported there was poor evidence supporting the use of OA (±MBP), and only 25% used a preparation supported by adult randomized data.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide variation exists among pediatric surgeons in the perceived utility of MBP and OA. Although the majority of pediatric surgeons cited the adult literature as the strongest influence on their practice, this is not consistent with stated perceptions or practice.

Reliability of surgeon-specific reporting of complications after colectomy

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the reliability of surgeon-specific postoperative complication rates after colectomy.

BACKGROUND

Conventional measures of surgeon-specific performance fail to acknowledge variation attributed to statistical noise, risking unreliable assessment of quality.

METHODS

We examined all patients who underwent segmental colectomy with anastomosis from 2008 through 2010 participating in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative Colectomy Project. Surgeon-specific complication rates were risk-adjusted according to patient characteristics with multiple logistic regression. Hierarchical modeling techniques were used to determine the reliability of surgeon-specific risk-adjusted complication rates. We then adjusted these rates for reliability. To evaluate the extent to which surgeon-level variation was reduced, surgeons were placed into quartiles based on performance and complication rates were compared before and after reliability adjustment.

RESULTS

A total of 5033 patients (n = 345 surgeons) undergoing partial colectomy reported a risk-adjusted complication rate of 24.5%. Approximately 86% of the variability of complication rates across surgeons was explained by measurement noise, whereas the remaining 14% represented true signal. Risk-adjusted complication rates varied from 0% to 55.1% across quartiles before adjusting for reliability. Reliability adjustment greatly diminished this variation, generating a 1.2-fold difference (21.4%-25.6%). A caseload of 168 colectomies across 3 years was required to achieve a reliability of more than 0.7, which is considered a proficient level. Only 1 surgeon surpassed this volume threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

The vast majority of surgeons do not perform enough colectomies to generate a reliable surgeon-specific complication rate. Risk-adjusted complication rates should be viewed with caution when evaluating surgeons with low operative volume, as statistical noise is a large determinant in estimating their surgeon-specific complication rates.

Clinical registries and quality measurement in surgery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Surgical clinical registries provide clinical information with the intent of measuring and improving quality. This study aimed to describe how surgical clinical registries have been used to measure surgical quality, the reported findings, and the limitations of registry measurements.

METHODS

Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane were queried for English articles with the terms: "registry AND surgery AND quality." Eligibility criteria were studies explicitly assessing quality measurement with registries as the primary data source. Studies were abstracted to identify registries, define registry structure, uses for quality measurement, and limitations of the measurements used.

RESULTS

A total of 111 studies of 18 registries were identified for data abstraction. Two registries were financed privately, and 5 registries were financed by a governmental organization. Across registries, the most common uses of process measures were for monitoring providers and as platforms for quality improvement initiatives. The most common uses of outcome measures were to improve quality modeling and to identify preoperative risk factors for poor outcomes. Eight studies noted improvements in risk-adjusted mortality with registry participation; one found no change. A major limitation is bias from context and means of data collection threatening internal validity of registry quality measurement. Conversely, the other major limitation is the cost of participation, which threatens the external validity of registry quality measurement.

CONCLUSION

Clinical registries have advanced surgical quality definition, measurement, and modeling as well as having served as platforms for local initiatives for quality improvement. The implication of this finding is that subsidizing registry participation may improve data validity as well as engage providers in quality improvement.

The common prophylactic therapy for bowel surgery is ineffective for clearing Bacteroidetes, the primary inducers of systemic inflammation, and causes faster death in response to intestinal barrier damage in mice

Introduction and objective

The role of secreted gut microbial components in the initiation of systemic inflammation and consequences of antibiotic therapies on this inflammatory process are poorly elucidated. We investigate whether peripheral innate cells mount an inflammatory response to gut microbial components, the immune cells that are the primary drivers of systemic inflammation, the bacterial populations that are predominantly responsible, and whether perioperative antibiotics affect these processes.

Method and experimental design

Conditioned supernatants from gut microbes were used to stimulate murine innate cell types in vitro and in vivo, and proinflammatory responses were characterised. Effects of antibiotic therapies on these responses were investigated using a model of experimental intestinal barrier damage induced by dextran sodium sulfate.

Results

Proinflammatory responses in the periphery are generated by components of anaerobes from the Bacteroidetes phylotype and these responses are primarily produced by myeloid dendritic cells. We found that the common prophylactic therapy for sepsis (oral neomycin and metronidazole administered to patients the day prior to surgery) is ineffective for clearing Bacteroidetes from the murine intestine. A point of critical consequence of this result is the increased systemic inflammation and premature death observed in treated mice, and these outcomes appear to be independent of gut bacterial spread in the initial phase of intestinal barrier damage. Importantly, spillage of gut microbial products, rather than dissemination of gut microbes, may underlay the initiation of systemic inflammation leading to death.

Conclusions

Our data further affirm the importance of a balanced gut microflora biodiversity in host immune homeostasis and reinforce the notion that inadequate antibiotic therapy can have detrimental effects on overall immune system.

Prevention of infectious complications after elective colorectal surgery in children: an American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee comprehensive review

OBJECTIVE

This goal of this review was to examine the clinical evidence in support of commonly utilized measures intended to reduce complications following elective colorectal surgery.

DATA SOURCE

Literature searches were performed to identify relevant studies from Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane databases.

STUDY SELECTION

The American Pediatric Surgery Association Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee selected eight questions to address this topic systematically in the context of three management areas: 1) appropriate utilization of systemic antibiotics for colorectal procedures, 2) reduction of stool burden through mechanical bowel preparation, and 3) intraluminal gut decontamination through use of enteral nonabsorbable antibiotics. Primary outcomes of interest included the occurrence of infectious and mechanical complications related to stool burden and intraluminal bacterial concentration (incisional surgical site infection, anastomotic leakage, and intraabdominal abscess).

RESULTS

The evidence in support of each management category was systematically reviewed, graded, and summarized in the context of the review's primary outcomes. Practice recommendations were made as deemed appropriate by the committee.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical evidence in support of interventions to reduce infectious complications following colorectal surgery is derived almost exclusively from the adult literature. High-quality evidence to guide clinical practice in children is sorely needed, as the available data may have only limited relevance to pediatric colorectal diseases.

Accuracy of national surgery quality improvement program models in predicting postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing colectomy

BACKGROUND

The National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) is the standard for assessment of acuity-adjusted outcomes in surgery. The validity of NSQIP has not been well established in colorectal surgery. Technical and process variables, which NSQIP may not consider, affect morbidity rate.

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective observational study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of NSQIP models in predicting morbidity for patients undergoing laparoscopic or open colectomy.

METHODS

NSQIP participant use files for 2005 to 2008 were obtained. Data were selected using Current Procedural Terminology coding for open or laparoscopic colectomy. NSQIP-generated predicted morbidities were used to create area under the receiver operator curves (AUROCs).

RESULTS

AUROCs demonstrated an accurate predictive model if the value was above 0.8 and indicated a marginal predictor mode if below 0.7. The AUROC for the general NSQIP model was 0.817 (confidence interval [CI] = 0.815-0.819, p < 0.001). AUROC for the combined laparoscopic and open colectomy group was 0.703 (CI = 0.698-0.709, p value < 0.001). AUROCs for the individual laparoscopic and open colectomy groups were 0.627 (CI = 0.615-0.640, p < 0.001) and 0.701 (CI = 0.695-0.707, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that although NSQIP-generated morbidities used to create AUROCs are accurate for patients in an overall surgical model, predictive models for morbidity are marginal for laparoscopic and open abdominal colectomies. NSQIP risk models tend to emphasize comorbidities rather than intraoperative details or technical aspects of colonic resections.

A case-cohort study of postoperative myocardial infarction: impact of anemia and cardioprotective medications

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative myocardial infarction (poMI) is a serious and costly complication. Multiple risk factors for poMI are known, but the effect of anemia and cardioprotective medications have not been defined in real-world surgical practice.

METHODS

Patients undergoing inpatient elective surgery were assessed at 17 hospitals from 2008 to 2011 for the occurrence of poMI (American Heart Association definition). Non-MI control patients were chosen randomly on the basis of case type. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable statistical analysis were performed for primary outcomes of poMI and death at 30 days.

RESULTS

Compared with controls (N = 304), patients with poMI (N = 222) were older (72 ± 11 vs 60 ± 17 years, P < .0001), had a lesser preoperative hematocrit (37 ± 6 vs 39 ± 5, P < .0001), more often were smokers, had a preoperative T-wave abnormality (21% vs 9%, P < .0001), and had a preoperative stress test with a fixed deficit (26% vs 3%; P < .001). Preoperative factors associated with poMI included peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio 2.6; 95% confidence interval 1.3-5.3), tobacco use (1.7; 1.01-2.9), history of percutaneous coronary angioplasty (2.8; 1.6-5.0), and age (1.05; 1.03-1.07), whereas hematocrit >35 (0.51; 0.32-0.82) and preoperative acetylsalicylic acid, ie, aspirin (0.59; 0.4-0.97) were protective. Preoperative β-blockade, statin, and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were not associated with lesser rates of poMI. Non-MI complication rates were 23-fold greater in the poMI group compared with the control group (P < .0001). Mortality with poMI within 30 days was 11% compared with 0.3% in non-MI control patients (P < .0001). In patients with poMI, factors independently associated with death included use of epidurals (3.5; 1.07-11.4) and bleeding (4.2; 1.1-16), whereas preoperative use of aspirin (0.29; 0.1-0.88), and postoperative β-blockade (0.18; 0.05-0.63) were protective. Cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting after poMI was performed in 34% of those alive and 20% of those who died (P = .16).

CONCLUSION

In the current era, poMI patients have a markedly increased risk of death. This risk is decreased with preoperative use of acetylsalicylic acid and post MI β-blockade. Further study is warranted to explore the role of anemia and cardiac interventions after poMI.

Improving outcomes and cost-effectiveness of colorectal surgery

In order to truly make an impact on improving the cost effectiveness, and most importantly, the outcomes of patients undergoing colorectal surgery, all aspects of care need to be scrutinized, re-evaluated, and refined. To accomplish this, everything from the way we train surgeons to the adoption of a minimally invasive approach for colorectal disease, along with the use of adjunct intraoperative measures to decrease morbidity and mortality, may all need to be incorporated within an ERAS program. Only then will this approach lead the provider to a patient-centric care plan which can successfully reduce metrics such as morbidity, mortality, and length of stay (even with the obligatory readmission rate) and provide it all at a lower cost of care.

The use of report cards and outcome measurements to improve the safety of surgical care: the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Postoperative adverse events occur all too commonly and contribute greatly to our large and increasing healthcare costs. Surgeons, as well as hospitals, need to know their own outcomes in order to recognise areas that need improvement before they can work towards reducing complications. In the USA, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS NSQIP) collects clinical data that provide benchmarks for providers and hospitals. This review summarises the history of ACS NSQIP and its components, and describes the evidence that feeding outcomes back to providers, along with real-time comparisons with other hospital rates, leads to quality improvement, better patient outcomes, cost savings and overall improved patient safety. The potential harms and limitations of the program are discussed.

Use of mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics for elective colorectal procedures in children: is current practice evidence-based?

PURPOSE

It is well established through randomized trials that oral antibiotics given with or without a mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) prior to colorectal procedures reduce complications, while MBP given alone provides no benefit. We aimed to characterize trends surrounding bowel preparation in children and determine whether contemporary practice is evidence-based.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing colorectal procedures at 42 children's hospitals (1/2/2007-12/31/2011) was performed. Patients were analyzed for diagnosis, pre-admission status, and inpatient bowel preparation. Bowel preparation was considered evidence-based if oral antibiotics were utilized with or without a MBP.

RESULTS

49% of all patients were pre-admitted (n=5,473), and the most common diagnoses were anorectal malformations (55%), inflammatory bowel disease (26%), and Hirschsprung's Disease (19%). The most common preparation approaches were MBP alone (54.3%), MBP+oral antibiotics (18.8%), and oral antibiotics alone (4.2%), although significant variation was found in hospital-specific rates for each approach (MBP alone: 0-96.1%, MBP+oral antibiotics: 0-83.6%, orals alone: 0-91.6%, p<0.0001). Only 22.9% of all patients received an evidence-based preparation (range by hospital: 0-92.3%, p<0.0001), and this rate decreased significantly during the five-year study period (27.6% in 2007 vs. 17.3% in 2011, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

According to the best available clinical evidence, less than a quarter of all children pre-admitted for elective colorectal procedures receive a bowel preparation proven to reduce infectious complications.

Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their surgical site infection (SSI) prevention efforts. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Acute Care Hospitals,”1 published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.2

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Research shows that administration of prophylactic antibiotics before colorectal surgery prevents postoperative surgical wound infection. The best antibiotic choice, timing of administration and route of administration remain undetermined.

OBJECTIVES

To establish the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical wound infection in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Specifically to determine:1. whether antimicrobial prophylaxis reduces the risk of surgical wound infection;2. the target spectrum of bacteria (aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, or both);3. the best timing and duration of antibiotic administration;4. the most effective route of antibiotic administration (intravenous, oral or both);5. whether any antibiotic is clearly more effective than the currently recommended gold standard specified in published guidelines;6. whether antibiotics should be given before or after surgery.

SEARCH METHODS

For the original review published in 2009 we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Ovid) and EMBASE (Ovid). For the update of this review we rewrote the search strategies and extended the search to cover from 1954 for MEDLINE and 1974 for EMBASE up to 7 January 2013. We searched CENTRAL on the same date (Issue 12, 2012).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials of prophylactic antibiotic use in elective and emergency colorectal surgery, with surgical wound infection as an outcome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data were abstracted and reviewed by one review author and checked by another only for the single, dichotomous outcome of surgical wound infection. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE methods.

MAIN RESULTS

This updated review includes 260 trials and 68 different antibiotics, including 24 cephalosporins and 43,451 participants. Many studies had multiple variables that separated the two study groups; these could not be compared to other studies that tested one antibiotic and had a single variable separating the two groups. We did not consider the risk of bias arising from attrition and lack of blinding of outcome assessors to affect the results for surgical wound infection.Meta-analyses demonstrated a statistically significant difference in postoperative surgical wound infection when prophylactic antibiotics were compared to placebo/no treatment (risk ratio (RR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28 to 0.41, high quality evidence). This translates to a reduction in risk from 39% to 13% with prophylactic antibiotics. The slightly higher risk of wound infection with short-term compared with long-term duration antibiotic did not reach statistical significance (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.30). Similarly risk of would infection was slightly higher with single-dose antibiotics when compared with multiple dose antibiotics, but the results are compatible with benefit and harm (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.10). Additional aerobic coverage and additional anaerobic coverage both showed statistically significant improvements in surgical wound infection rates (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.68 and RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.71, respectively), as did combined oral and intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis when compared to intravenous alone (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.74), or oral alone (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.76). Comparison of an antibiotic with anaerobic specificity to one with aerobic specificity showed no significant advantage for either one (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.30 to 2.36). Two small studies compared giving antibiotics before or after surgery and no significant difference in this timing was found (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.21 to 2.15). Established gold-standard regimens recommended in major guidelines were no less effective than any other antibiotic choice.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review has found high quality evidence that antibiotics covering aerobic and anaerobic bacteria delivered orally or intravenously (or both) prior to elective colorectal surgery reduce the risk of surgical wound infection. Our review shows that antibiotics delivered within this framework can reduce the risk of postoperative surgical wound infection by as much as 75%. It is not known whether oral antibiotics would still have these effects when the colon is not empty. This aspect of antibiotic dosing has not been tested. Further research is required to establish the optimal timing and duration of dosing, and the frequency of longer-term adverse effects such as Clostridium difficile pseudomembranous colitis.

Complication rates of ostomy surgery are high and vary significantly between hospitals

BACKGROUND

Ostomy surgery is common and has traditionally been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, suggesting an important target for quality improvement.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the variation in outcomes after ostomy creation surgery within Michigan to identify targets for quality improvement.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

The study took place within the 34-hospital Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative.

PATIENTS

Patients included were those undergoing ostomy creation surgery between 2006 and 2011.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We evaluated hospital morbidity and mortality rates after risk adjustment (age, comorbidities, emergency vs elective, and procedure type).

RESULTS

A total of 4250 patients underwent ostomy creation surgery; 3866 procedures (91.0%) were open and 384 (9.0%) were laparoscopic. Unadjusted morbidity and mortality rates were 43.9% and 10.7%. Unadjusted morbidity rates for specific procedures ranged from 32.7% for ostomy-creation-only procedures to 47.8% for Hartmann procedures. Risk-adjusted morbidity rates varied significantly between hospitals, ranging from 31.2% (95% CI, 18.4-43.9) to 60.8% (95% CI, 48.9-72.6). There were 5 statistically significant high-outlier hospitals and 3 statistically significant low-outlier hospitals for risk-adjusted morbidity. The pattern of complication types was similar between high- and low-outlier hospitals. Case volume, operative duration, and use of laparoscopic surgery did not explain the variation in morbidity rates across hospitals.

LIMITATIONS

This work was limited by its retrospective study design, by unmeasured variation in case severity, and by our inability to differentiate between colostomies and ileostomies because of the use of Current Procedural Terminology codes.

CONCLUSIONS

Morbidity and mortality rates for modern ostomy surgery are high. Although this type of surgery has received little attention in healthcare policy, these data reveal that it is both common and uncommonly morbid. Variation in hospital performance provides an opportunity to identify quality improvement practices that could be disseminated among hospitals.

A statewide colectomy experience: the role of full bowel preparation in preventing surgical site infection

OBJECTIVE

To assess the utility of full bowel preparation with oral nonabsorbable antibiotics in preventing infectious complications after elective colectomy.

BACKGROUND

Bowel preparation before elective colectomy remains controversial. We hypothesize that mechanical bowel preparation with nonabsorbable oral antibiotics is associated with a decreased rate of postoperative infectious complications when compared with no bowel preparation.

METHODS

Patient and clinical data were obtained from the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative-Colectomy Best Practices Project. Propensity score analysis was used to match elective colectomy cases based on primary exposure variable-full bowel preparation (mechanical bowel preparation with nonabsorbable oral antibiotics) or no bowel preparation (neither mechanical bowel preparation given nor nonabsorbable oral antibiotic given). The primary outcomes for this study were occurrence of surgical site infection and Clostridium difficile colitis.

RESULTS

In total, 2475 cases met the study criteria. Propensity analysis created 957 paired cases (n = 1914) differing only by the type of bowel preparation. Patients receiving full preparation were less likely to have any surgical site infection (5.0% vs 9.7%; P = 0.0001), organ space infection (1.6% vs 3.1%; P = 0.024), and superficial surgical site infection (3.0% vs 6.0%; P = 0.001). Patients receiving full preparation were also less likely to develop postoperative C difficile colitis (0.5% vs 1.8%, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In the state of Michigan, full bowel preparation is associated with decreased infectious complications after elective colectomy. Within this context, the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative recommends full bowel preparation before elective colectomy.

Comparison between oral antibiotics and probiotics as bowel preparation for elective colon cancer surgery to prevent infection: prospective randomized trial

BACKGROUND

We have already reported that, for patients undergoing elective colon cancer operations, perioperative infection can be prevented by a single intravenous dose of an antibiotic given immediately beforehand if mechanical bowel preparation and the administration of oral antibiotics are implemented. Synbiotics has been reported to reduce the rate of infection in patients after pancreatic cancer operations. The effectiveness of oral antibiotics and probiotics in preventing postoperative infection in elective colon cancer procedures was examined in a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Three hundred ten patients with colon cancer randomly were assigned to one of three groups. All patients underwent mechanical bowel preparation and received a single intravenous dose of flomoxef immediately before operation. Probiotics were administered in Group A; oral antibiotics were administered in Group B; and neither probiotics nor oral antibiotics were administered in Group C. Stool samples were collected 9 and 2 days before and 7 and 14 days after the procedure. Clostridium difficile toxin and the number of bacteria in the intestine were determined.

RESULTS

The rates of incisional surgical-site infection were 18.0%, 6.1%, and 17.9% in Groups A, B, and C, and the rates of leakage were 12.0%, 1.0%, and 7.4% in Groups A, B, and C, respectively, indicating that both rates were lesser in Group B than in Groups A and C (P = .014 and P = .004, respectively). The detection rates of C. difficile toxin were not changed among the three groups.

CONCLUSION

We recommend oral antibiotics, rather than probiotics, as bowel preparation for elective colon cancer procedures to prevent surgical-site infections.

Improving the care of elderly adults undergoing surgery in Michigan

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether failure to rescue, as a driver of mortality, can be used to identify which hospitals attenuate the specific risks inherent to elderly adults undergoing surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

State-wide surgical collaborative in Michigan.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults undergoing major general or vascular surgery between 2006 and 2011 (N = 24,216).

MEASUREMENTS

Thirty-four hospitals were ranked according to risk-adjusted 30-day mortality and grouped into tertiles. Within each tertile, rates of major complications and failure to rescue were calculated, stratifying outcomes according to age (<75 vs ≥ 75). Next, differences in failure-to-rescue rates between age groups within each hospital were calculated.

RESULTS

Failure-to-rescue rates were more than two times as high in elderly adults as in younger individuals in each tertile of hospital mortality (26.0% vs 10.3% at high-mortality hospitals, P < .001). Within hospitals, the average difference in failure-to-rescue rates was 12.5%. Nine centers performed better than expected, and three performed worse than expected, with the largest differences exceeding 25%.

CONCLUSION

Although elderly adults experience higher failure-to-rescue rates, this does not account for hospitals' overall capacity to rescue individuals from complications. Comparing rates of younger and elderly adults within hospitals may identify centers where efforts toward complication rescue favor, or are customized for, elderly adults. These centers should be studied as part of the collaborative's effort to address the disparate outcomes that elderly adults in Michigan experience.

The prevention of surgical site infection in elective colon surgery

Infections at the surgical site continue to occur in as many as 20% of elective colon resection cases. Methods to reduce these infections are inconsistently applied. Surgical site infection (SSI) is the result of multiple interactive variables including the inoculum of bacteria that contaminate the site, the virulence of the contaminating microbes, and the local environment at the surgical site. These variables that promote infection are potentially offset by the effectiveness of the host defense. Reduction in the inoculum of bacteria is achieved by appropriate surgical site preparation, systemic preventive antibiotics, and use of mechanical bowel preparation in conjunction with the oral antibiotic bowel preparation. Intraoperative reduction of hematoma, necrotic tissue, foreign bodies, and tissue dead space will reduce infections. Enhancement of the host may be achieved by perioperative supplemental oxygenation, maintenance of normothermia, and glycemic control. These methods require additional research to identify optimum application. Uniform application of currently understood methods and continued research into new methods to reduce microbial contamination and enhancement of host responsiveness can lead to better outcomes.

Improving mortality following emergent surgery in older patients requires focus on complication rescue

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a hospital's ability to rescue patients from major complications underlies variation in outcomes for elderly patients undergoing emergent surgery.

BACKGROUND

Perioperative mortality rates in elderly patients undergoing emergent general/vascular operations are high and vary widely across Michigan hospitals.

METHODS

We identified 23,224 patients undergoing emergent general/vascular surgical procedures at 41 hospitals within the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative between 2006 and 2011. Hospitals were ranked by risk- and reliability-adjusted 30-day mortality rates and grouped into tertiles. We stratified patients by age (<75 and ≥75 years). Risk-adjusted major complication and failure-to-rescue (ie, mortality after major complication) rates were determined for each tertile of hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Risk-adjusted mortality rates in elderly patients varied 2-fold across all hospitals. Complication rates correlated poorly with mortality. Failure-to-rescue rates, however, were markedly higher in high-mortality hospitals (29% lowest tertile vs 41% highest tertile; P < 0.01). When compared with younger patients, overall failure-to-rescue rates were almost 2-fold greater in the elderly (36.1% ≥75 vs 18.7% <75; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

A hospital's failure to rescue patients from major complications seems to underlie the variation in mortality rates across Michigan hospitals after emergent surgery. Although higher failure-to-rescue rates in the elderly may signify their diminished physiological reserve for surviving critical illness, the wide variation across hospitals also highlights the importance of systems aimed at the early recognition and effective management of major complications in this vulnerable population.

Prevention of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery

SUMMARY The rate of surgical site infection (SSI) for colorectal surgery is among the highest of all operations performed, ranging between 12 and 26% depending on definition applied, surveillance, the prevalence of emergency surgery and the penetration of laparoscopic surgery. With over 135,000 colorectal cancer operations per year, the cost of SSI to the healthcare system are in excess of US$1 billion a year. The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) has linked hospital reimbursement to compliance with five preventative process measures in colorectal surgery. The success of SCIP in reducing SSI is in doubt, but the addition of other evidence-based measures to SCIP might improve SSI rates. These measures, as well as the contributions of SCIP, are discussed in detail in this review. Implementation of some or all these measures, in addition to SCIP, should be considered by key stakeholders for baseline data collection, monitored for effectiveness and modified as necessary to improve outcomes.

Preoperative oral antibiotics and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis reduce the incidence of surgical site infections in patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing IPAA

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of preoperative oral antibiotics for the prevention of surgical site infection in elective colorectal surgery remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral antimicrobial prophylaxis in addition to intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis on patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing restorative proctocolectomy.

DESIGN

This study was a randomized, nonblinded, single-center clinical trial.

SETTING

This study was conducted between July 1, 2006, and April 30, 2009, at Hyogo College of Medicine.

PATIENTS

Two hundred patients with ulcerative colitis scheduled to undergo restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA with an open approach were randomly assigned to either group A or B (n = 100). Combined use of preoperative oral antibiotics and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis were given to group A, and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis alone was given to group B.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients in group A received oral antibiotics the day before surgery (500 mg of kanamycin and 500 mg of metronidazole at 2:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., and 9:00 P.M.), whereas those in group B did not. All patients underwent preoperative mechanical bowel preparation, and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis with second-generation cephalosporin was given for 24 hours.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary end point of this study was the incidence of overall surgical site infection according to intention-to-treat analysis.

RESULTS

The incidence of overall surgical site infection was significantly lower in group A (6/97 patients, 6.1%) than in group B (22/98 patients, 22.4%) (p = 0.0024). In multivariate analysis, the administration of oral antibiotics (OR, 0.178; 95% CI, 0.057-0.552; p = 0.003) and ASA score ≥3 (OR, 5.343; 95% CI, 1.595-17.891; p = 0.007) were independent risk factors for surgical site infection.

LIMITATIONS

This study is limited because of its open-label nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined oral and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA contributed to the prevention of surgical site infection.

Improvements in safety and recovery following cystectomy: reassessing the role of pre-operative bowel preparation and interventions to speed return of post-operative bowel function

For radical cystectomy, historical practice trends have favored the use of preoperative bowel preparations to reduce complications, including surgical site infections, ileus, and anastomotic leaks. However, emerging data has questioned this practice. Postoperative cystectomy care also remains in flux, as new pharmacologic agents that may potentiate earlier return of bowel function are studied. We review the current literature with regards to preoperative and postoperative cystectomy bowel management.

Burden of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection in patients discharged from Rhode Island hospitals, 2010-2011: application of present on admission indicators

OBJECTIVE

The year 2010 is the first time that the Rhode Island hospital discharge database included present on admission (POA) indicators, which give us the opportunity to distinguish cases of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) from cases of community-onset CDI and to assess the burden of hospital-onset CDI in patients discharged from Rhode Island hospitals during 2010 and 2011.

DESIGN

Observational study.

PATIENTS

Patients 18 years of age or older discharged from one of Rhode Island's 11 acute-care hospitals between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011.

METHODS

Using the newly available POA indicators in the Rhode Island 2010 and 2011 hospital discharge database, we identified patients with hospital-onset CDI and without CDI. Adjusting for patient demographic and clinical characteristics using propensity score matching, we measured between-group differences in mortality, length of stay, and cost for patients with hospital-onset CDI and without CDI.

RESULTS

In 2010 and 2011, the 11 acute-care hospitals in Rhode Island had 225,999 discharges. Of 4,531 discharged patients with CDI (2.0% of all discharges), 1,211 (26.7%) had hospital-onset CDI. After adjusting for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, discharged patients with hospital-onset CDI were found to have higher mortality rates, longer lengths of stay, and higher costs than those without CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the burden of hospital-onset CDI in Rhode Island. These findings emphasize the need to track longitudinal trends to tailor and target population-health and quality-improvement initiatives.

The importance of improving the quality of emergency surgery for a regional quality collaborative

INTRODUCTION

Within a large, statewide collaborative, significant improvement in surgical quality has been appreciated (9.0% reduction in morbidity for elective general and vascular surgery). Our group has not noted such quality improvement in the care of patients who had emergency operations. With this work, we aim to describe the scope of emergency surgical care within the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, variations in outcomes among hospitals, and variations in adherence to evidence-based process measures. Overall, these data will form a basis for a broad-based quality improvement initiative within Michigan.

METHODS

We report morbidity, mortality, and costs of emergency and elective general and vascular surgery cases (N = 190,826) within 34 hospitals participating in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative from 2005 to 2010. Adjusted hospital-specific outcomes were calculated using a stepwise multivariable logistic regression model. Adjustment covariates included patient specific comorbidities and case complexity. Hospitals were also compared on the basis of their adherence to evidence-based process measures [measures at the patient level for each case-Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP)-1 and SCIP-2 compliance].

RESULTS

Emergency procedures account for approximately 11% of total cases, yet they represented 47% of mortalities and 28% of surgical complications. The complication-specific cost to payers was $126 million for emergency cases and $329 million for elective cases. Adjusted patient outcomes varied widely within Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative hospitals; morbidity and mortality rates ranged from 16.3% to 33.9% and 4.0% to 12.4%, respectively. The variation among hospitals was not correlated with volume of emergency cases and case complexity. Hospital performance in emergency surgery was found to not depend on its share of emergent cases but rather was found to directly correlate with its performance in elective surgery. For emergency colectomies, there was a wide variation in compliance with SCIP-1 and SCIP-2 measures and overall compliance (42.0%) was markedly lower than that for elective colon surgery (81.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency surgical procedures are an important target for future quality improvement efforts within Michigan. Future work will identify best practices within high-performing hospitals and disseminate these practices within the collaborative.

Procedure-specific venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: a paradigm from colectomy surgery

BACKGROUND

Colectomy patients are at high-risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but associated risk factors and best prophylaxis in this defined population are only generalized.

METHODS

Fifteen hospitals prospectively collected pre-, peri-, and postoperative variables related to VTE and prophylaxis, in addition to the variables defined by the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2008 and 2009 concerning open and laparoscopic colectomy patients with 30-day outcomes. Symptomatic VTE was the primary outcome, and risk factors were tested for association with VTE using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The cohort included 3,464 patients with a mean age of 65; 53% were female. Overall, the 30d incidence of VTE was 2.2%. VTE prophylaxis included sequential compression devices (SCDs, 11%) alone; pharmacologic prophylaxis alone (15%); and both SCDs and pharmacologic prophylaxis (combined prophylaxis, 74%). VTE was associated with each additional year of age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.06, P < .001); increased body mass index (OR 1.03; CI 1.01-1.05; P = .02); preoperative anemia (OR 2.4; CI 1.2-4.8; P = .011); contaminated wound (OR 3.4; CI 1.6-7.3; P < .01); postoperative surgical site infection (OR 2.5; CI 1.2-5.2; P < .011); and postoperative sepsis/pneumonia (OR 3.6;CI 1.9-6.7; P < .01). Postoperative factors alone accounted for 32% of VTE risk. When controlling for all other factors, only combination prophylaxis was protective against VTE (OR 0.48; CI 0.27-0.9; P = .02). Operative time, presence of disseminated malignancy, anastomotic leak, transfusion, urinary tract infection, and laparoscopic procedure were not significantly associated with VTE. Propensity matching showed that unfractionated heparin was equivalent to low molecular weight heparin, and the transfusion rate was not increased with pharmacologic prophylaxis compared to SCDs alone.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of preoperative factors, VTE prophylaxis using a combination of SCDs and chemoprophylaxis was associated with significant reduction in VTE and should be standard care for patients after colectomy.

Preoperative oral antibiotics reduce surgical site infection following elective colorectal resections

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection is a major cause of morbidity after colorectal resections. Despite evidence that preoperative oral antibiotics with mechanical bowel preparation reduce surgical site infection rates, the use of oral antibiotics is decreasing. Currently, the administration of oral antibiotics is controversial and considered ineffective without mechanical bowel preparation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the use of mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics and their relationship to surgical site infection rates in a colorectal Surgical Care Improvement Project cohort.

DESIGN

This retrospective study used Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program preoperative risk and surgical site infection outcome data linked to Veterans Affairs Surgical Care Improvement Project and Pharmacy Benefits Management data. Univariate and multivariable models were performed to identify factors associated with surgical site infection within 30 days of surgery.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted in 112 Veterans Affairs hospitals.

PATIENTS

Included were 9940 patients who underwent elective colorectal resections from 2005 to 2009.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome measured was the incidence of surgical site infection.

RESULTS

Patients receiving oral antibiotics had significantly lower surgical site infection rates. Those receiving no bowel preparation had similar surgical site infection rates to those who had mechanical bowel preparation only (18.1% vs 20%). Those receiving oral antibiotics alone had an surgical site infection rate of 8.3%, and those receiving oral antibiotics plus mechanical bowel preparation had a rate of 9.2%. In adjusted analysis, the use of oral antibiotics alone was associated with a 67% decrease in surgical site infection occurrence (OR=0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.50). Oral antibiotics plus mechanical bowel preparation was associated with a 57% decrease in surgical site infection occurrence (OR=0.43, 95% CI 0.34-0.55). Timely administration of parenteral antibiotics (Surgical Care Improvement Project-1) had a modest protective effect, with no effect observed for other Surgical Care Improvement Project measures. Hospitals with higher rates of oral antibiotics use had lower surgical site infection rates (R = 0.274, p < 0.0001).

LIMITATIONS

Determination of the use of oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation is based on retrospective prescription data, and timing of actual administration cannot be determined.

CONCLUSIONS

Use and type of preoperative bowel preparation varied widely. These results strongly suggest that preoperative oral antibiotics should be administered for elective colorectal resections. The role of oral antibiotics independent of mechanical bowel preparation should be examined in a prospective randomized trial.