Preoperative Depression and Anxiety Impact on Inpatient Surgery Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study

Impact of Preexisting Depression and Anxiety on Hospital Readmission and Long-Term Survival After Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

While sudden cardiac arrest (CA) survivors are at risk for developing psychiatric disorders, little is known about the impact of preexisting mental health conditions on long-term survival or postacute healthcare utilization. We examined the prevalence of preexisting psychiatric conditions in CA patients who survived hospital discharge, characterized incidence and reason for inpatient psychiatry consultation during these patients' acute hospitalizations, and determined the association of pre-CA depression and anxiety with hospital readmission rates and long-term survival. We hypothesized that prior depression or anxiety would be associated with higher hospital readmission rates and lower long-term survival.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients resuscitated from in- and out-of-hospital CA who survived both admission and discharge from a single hospital between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017. We identified patients from our prospective registry, then performed a structured chart review to abstract past psychiatric history, prescription medications for psychiatric conditions, and identify inpatient psychiatric consultations. We used administrative data to identify readmissions within 1 year and vital status through December 31, 2020. We used multivariable Cox regressions controlling for patient demographics, medical comorbidities, discharge Cerebral Performance Category and disposition, depression, and anxiety history to predict long-term survival and hospital readmission.

RESULTS

We included 684 subjects. Past depression or anxiety was noted in 24% (n = 162) and 19% (n = 129) of subjects. A minority of subjects (n = 139, 20%) received a psychiatry consultation during the index hospitalization. Overall, 262 (39%) subjects had at least 1 readmission within 1 year. Past depression was associated with an increased hazard of hospital readmission (hazard ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.11-2.04), while past anxiety was not associated with readmission. Neither depression nor anxiety were independently associated with long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression is an independent risk factor for hospital readmission in CA survivors.

Global prevalence and factors associated with preoperative depression in women undergoing breast surgery: a meta-analysis and meta-regression

PURPOSE

Depression is one of the main psychological responses experienced by patients with breast cancer perioperatively. Therefore, this review aimed to synthesize the prevalence rate of depression preoperatively among patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Six databases were searched for published articles, which recruited female patients aged 18 years and above, diagnosed with breast cancer and planned for breast surgery. Grey literatures were searched from ProQuest Theses and Dissertations, Science.gov and CogPrints. Studies published in English from the inception of databases to January 2023 were considered. Two reviewers screened, extracted, and appraised the data independently. Joanna Briggs Institute data collection form was used for data collection. Hoy's Risk of Bias Tool was utilized to assess the individual study's quality. Review Manager 5.4 software was utilized for meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the reasons for any heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by Egger's test and funnel plot.

RESULTS

Twenty studies involving 32,143 patients with breast cancer were included. Meta-analyses revealed an overall preoperative prevalence of 30% among all studies. Subgroup analyses showed that studies conducted in the Middle East and North Africa used purposive sampling, with patients undergoing mastectomy and lumpectomy and with moderate risk of bias reported higher prevalence of preoperative depression (54%, 44%, 40%, and 49%, respectively) as compared to other respective subgroups.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of preoperative depression among women with breast cancer indicated the need for health care professionals to provide more psychological support to them.

The Role of Psychosomatic Traits in Tailored Workup for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion-A Case Series

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of preoperatively assessed psychosomatic traits on postoperative pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a widely employed surgical procedure for treating cervical spondylosis. Despite its effectiveness, various studies have reported non-success rates in terms of alleviating disability and pain. Psychological factors have become increasingly recognized as critical determinants of surgical outcomes in various medical disciplines. The full extent of their impact within the context of ACDF remains insufficiently explored. This case series aims to assess the influence of preoperative psychological profiling on long-term pain, disability and quality of life outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from 76 consecutive patients who underwent ACDF with PEEK inter-fixed cages from July 2019 to November 2021. The preoperative psychological traits were assessed using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability index (NDI), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were collected preoperatively, one month postoperatively, and at least one year after the surgical procedure.

RESULTS

The correlation analyses revealed associations between psychosomatic traits and multiple preoperative and postoperative outcome measures. The univariate analyses and linear regression analyses demonstrated the influence of the Global Severity Index (GSI) over the final follow-up scores for the ODI, VAS, NDI, EQ-5D, and SF-36. The GSI consistently exhibited a stronger correlation with the final follow-up pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes with respect to the correspondent preoperative values.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of psychosomatic traits as predictive factors for ACDF outcomes and emphasizes their relevance in preoperative assessment for informing patients about realistic expectations. The findings underscore the need to consider psychological profiles in the preoperative workup, opening avenues for research into medications and psychological therapies. Recognizing the influence of psychosocial elements informs treatment strategies, fostering tailored surgical approaches and patient care.

Resilience as a psychiatric factor affecting outcomes after total joint arthroplasty: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Mental and psychiatric status continue to be underscreened prior to total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Research on the role of resilience as a psychiatric factor affecting TJA outcomes remains limited. Therefore, our systematic review sought to evaluate the impact of patient resilience in TJA.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature from the Pubmed, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar online databases was performed in abidance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting on outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and/or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) segregated by patient resilience were included. Case reports, reviews, meta-analyses, and conference abstracts were excluded. Primary outcomes of interest included patient-reported outcomes (PROs), surgical outcomes, and postoperative opioid consumption.

RESULTS

Twelve articles were included reporting on a total of 1,577 TJAs. There was a strong agreement that the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Physical Health and Mental Health components were strongly predicted by patient resilience. However, there was inconclusive evidence regarding the impact of resilience on UCLA Activity Scales (UCLA) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) outcomes as well as postoperative hip and knee function. Similarly, conflicting evidence was presented regarding the effect of resilience on length of stay (LOS). Greater resilience was associated with reduced opioid usage in the immediate inpatient postoperative period. However, resilience had no significant effect on opioid requirements in the postoperative outpatient follow-up time frame.

CONCLUSION

The present analysis demonstrated mixed, inconclusive evidence regarding the impact of resilience on postoperative outcomes. The paucity of research evaluating this relationship warrants further investigation, examining both short and long-term outcomes. Due to the limited literature evaluating resilience as a predictor of outcomes following TJA, we cannot definitively rule out resilience as a valuable metric and must further examine its utility as a preoperative screening tool.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Patient Reported Outcomes Measures after Lumbar Fusion

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are common in patients undergoing spinal surgery and might negatively impact outcomes. This study investigates the possible effect of these diagnoses on patient reported outcomes following lumbar fusion.

METHODS

Retrospective review of a registry containing prospectively collected data of lumbar fusion procedures at a single institution was performed from May 23, 2012 to June 15, 2022. Patients with a minimum of two year follow-up were included. Demographic information, diagnoses, medications, patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), and complications data at preoperative, three months, six months, 1 year, and two years postoperative were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-tests, χ2, binomial correlation, odds ratios, logistic regression, and mean clinically important difference.

RESULTS

A total of 156 patients were included (60 males, 96 females) with mean age 62.6 ± 11.1 years at surgery. Thirty-nine (25%) had depression and/or anxiety (DA). Baseline Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQol Group 5D questionnaire (EQ5D) scores were significantly worse in the DA cohort compared to controls (ODI 51.1 ± 18.3 vs. 42.9 ± 15.8; P = 0.010, EQ5D 0.46 ± 0.21 vs. 0.57 ± 0.21; P = 0.005). Both cohorts experienced similar relative improvement at two years (delta ODI -18.2 ± 27.9 vs. -17.8 ± 22.1; P = 0.924, EQ5D 6.8 ± 33.8 vs. 8.1 ± 32.9; P = 0.830). Absolute outcome scores were worse in the DA cohort at all intervals. DA were not independently predictive of changes in PROMs (delta ODI mean difference 4.49, r2 = 0.36, P = 0.924).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed similar improvement in PROMs following lumbar fusion for patients with anxiety and depression compared to healthy controls. These data suggest these patients are no less likely to benefit from appropriately planned lumbar fusion.

The impact of pre-operative depression on pain outcomes after major surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Symptoms of depression are common among patients before surgery. Depression may be associated with worse postoperative pain and other pain-related outcomes. This review aimed to characterise the impact of pre-operative depression on postoperative pain outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies that reported an association between pre-operative depression and pain outcomes after major surgery. Multilevel random effects meta-analyses were conducted to pool standardised mean differences and 95%CI for postoperative pain scores in patients with depression compared with those without depression, at different time intervals. A meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting change in pain scores from the pre-operative period to any time-point after surgery. Sixty studies (n = 501,962) were included in the overall review, of which 18 were eligible for meta-analysis. Pre-operative depression was associated with greater pain scores at < 72 h (standardised mean difference 0.97 (95%CI 0.37-1.56), p = 0.009, I2  = 41%; moderate certainty) and > 6 months (standardised mean difference 0.45 (95%CI 0.23-0.68), p < 0.001, I2  = 78%; low certainty) after surgery, but not at 3-6 months after surgery (standardised mean difference 0.54 (95%CI -0.06-1.15), p = 0.07, I2  = 83%; very low certainty). The change in pain scores from pre-operative baseline to 1-2 years after surgery was similar between patients with and without pre-operative depression (standardised mean difference 0.13 (95%CI -0.06-0.32), p = 0.15, I2  = 54%; very low certainty). Overall, pre-existing depression before surgery was associated with worse pain severity postoperatively. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological care into current postoperative pain management approaches in patients with depression.

Brain-Hazardous Medications and Potential Subadequate Antidepressant Dosing in Older Surgical Patients Receiving Home Antidepressants: An Observational Study of a Large US Health System

BACKGROUND

Older surgical patients with depression often experience poor postoperative outcomes. Poor outcomes may stem from brain-hazardous medications and subadequate antidepressant dosing.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study covering the period between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Patients ≥60 years of age who underwent inpatient surgery and had an overnight stay at an integrated academic health care system comprising 14 hospitals were eligible. We analyzed the prevalence of home central nervous system (CNS)-active potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) and potential subadequate antidepressant dosing in older surgical patients receiving home antidepressants. Univariable and multivariable regression models were used to identify factors associated with home CNS-active PIM prescribing and potential subadequate antidepressant dosing. Additionally, outcomes were compared among patients receiving and not receiving CNS-active PIMs and patients receiving and not receiving subadequate antidepressant dosing.

RESULTS

A total of 8031 patients were included in this study (47% female, mean age = 70 years) of whom 2087 (26%) were prescribed antidepressants. Roughly one-half (49%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 46.5-50.1) of patients receiving home antidepressants were also receiving ≥1 CNS-active PIM and 29% (95% CI, 27.0-29.3) were receiving a potential subadequate dose. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a home CNS-active PIM included female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46), anxiety (aOR, 2.43), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR, 1.39), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor use (aOR, 1.54). Patients aged ≥75 years (aOR, 1.57), black race (aOR, 1.48) and those with congestive heart failure (aOR, 1.33) were more likely to be prescribed a potential subadequate antidepressant dose. Patients receiving potential subadequate antidepressant doses were discharged home less often (64% vs 73%), had a longer hospital length of stay (9 days vs 7 days), and a higher mortality rate (18% vs 10%) compared to patients receiving adequate home antidepressant doses (P-value for all <0.01). No differences in these outcomes were found among patients receiving home antidepressants with or without CNS-active PIMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Older surgical patients receiving antidepressants are frequently prescribed brain-hazardous medications and potentially subadequate antidepressant doses. Those receiving subadequate antidepressant doses may be at risk for worse postoperative outcomes compared to patients receiving adequate doses. The role of preoperative medication optimization to improve outcomes for older surgical patients should be evaluated.

Psychological Distress After Inpatient Noncardiac Surgery: A Secondary Analysis of the Measurement of Exercise Tolerance Before Surgery Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence and natural progression of psychological distress after major surgery.

BACKGROUND

The recovery process after surgery imposes physical and mental burdens that put patients at risk of psychological distress. Understanding the natural course of psychological distress after surgery is critical to supporting the timely and tailored management of high-risk individuals.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of the "Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery" multicentre cohort study (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK). Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery recruited adult participants (≥40 years) undergoing elective inpatient noncardiac surgery and followed them for 1 year. The primary outcome was the severity of psychological distress measured using the anxiety-depression item of EQ-5D-3L. We used cumulative link mixed models to characterize the time trajectory of psychological distress among relevant patient subgroups. We also explored potential predictors of severe and/or worsened psychological distress at 1 year using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Of 1546 participants, moderate-to-severe psychological distress was reported by 32.6% of participants before surgery, 27.3% at 30 days after surgery, and 26.2% at 1 year after surgery. Psychological distress appeared to improve over time among females [odds ratio (OR): 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65-0.95] and patients undergoing orthopedic procedures (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.91), but not among males (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.87-1.07) or patients undergoing nonorthopedic procedures (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.87-1.04). Among the average middle-aged adult, there were no time-related changes (OR: 0.94, 97% CI: 0.75-1.13), whereas the young-old (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99) and middle-old (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.73-1.01) had small improvements. Predictors of severe and/or worsened psychological distress at 1 year were younger age, poor self-reported functional capacity, smoking history, and undergoing open surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

One-third of adults experience moderate to severe psychological distress before major elective noncardiac surgery. This distress tends to persist or worsen over time among select patient subgroups.

The brief measure of preoperative emotional stress screens preoperative maladaptive psychological features and predicts postoperative opioid use: an observational study

BACKGROUND

The Brief Measure of Preoperative Emotional Stress (B-MEPS) is a suitable screening tool for Preoperative Emotional Stress (PES). However, personalized decision-making demands practical interpretation of the refined version of B-MEPS. Thus, we propose and validate cut-off points on the B-MEPS to classify PES. Also, we assessed if the cut-off points screened preoperative maladaptive psychological features and predicted postoperative opioid use.

METHODS

This observational study comprises samples of two other primary studies, with 1009 and 233 individuals, respectively. The latent class analysis derived emotional stress subgroups using B-MEPS items. We compared membership with the B-MEPS score through the Youden index. Concurrent criterion validity of the cut-off points was performed with the severity of preoperative depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, central sensitization, and sleep quality. Predictive criterion validity was performed with opioid use after surgery.

RESULTS

We chose a model with three classes labeled mild, moderate, and severe. The Youden index points -0.1663 and 0.7614 of the B-MEPS score classify individuals, in the severe class, with a sensitivity of 85.7% (80.1%-90.3%) and specificity of 93.5% (91.5-95.1%). The cut-off points of the B-MEPS score have satisfactory concurrent and predictive criterion validity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings showed that the preoperative emotional stress index on the B-MEPS offers suitable sensitivity and specificity for discriminating the severity of preoperative psychological stress. They provide a simple tool to identify patients prone to severe PES related to maladaptive psychological features, which might influence the perception of pain and analgesic opioid use in the postoperative period.

Preoperative Quality of Life and Mental Health Can Predict Postoperative Outcomes and Quality of Life after Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Background and Objectives: It remains unclear which domains of preoperative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mental health are predictive of postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort of 78 CRC patients undergoing elective curative surgery was recruited. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and HADS questionnaires were administered preoperatively and one month after surgery. Results: Preoperative cognitive functioning scores (95% CI 0.131-1.158, p = 0.015) and low anterior resection (95% CI 14.861-63.260, p = 0.002) independently predicted poorer 1-month postoperative global QOL. When postoperative complications were represented using the comprehensive complication index (CCI), poorer preoperative physical function scores were associated with higher CCI scores (B = -0.277, p = 0.014). Preoperative social function score (OR = 0.925, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99; p = 0.019) was an independent predictor for 30-day readmission, while physical functioning score (OR = -0.620, 95% CI -1.073--0.167, p = 0.008) was inversely related to the length of hospitalization. The overall regressions for 1-month postoperative global QOL (R²: 0.546, F: 1.961, p = 0.023) and 30-day readmission (R²: 0.322, χ2: 13.129, p < 0.001) were statistically significant. Conclusions: Various QLQ-C30 domains were found to be predictive of postoperative outcomes, including complications, readmission, and length of hospitalization. Preoperative cognitive dysfunction and low AR were independent predictors of poorer postoperative global QOL. Future research should seek to examine the efficacy of targeting specific baseline QOL domains in improving clinical as well as patient-reported outcomes after CRC surgery.

Psychological Factors as Risk Contributors for Poor Hip Function after Periacetabular Osteotomy

Psychologic comorbidities have been identified as risk factors for poor outcomes in orthopedic procedures, but their influence on the outcome of hip-preserving periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) remains uncertain. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the impact of patients' psychological health on the outcome of PAO in patients with hip dysplasia (HD) and acetabular retroversion (AR). The study included 110 patients undergoing PAO for HD or AR between 2019 and 2021. Standardized questionnaires were administered to assess psychological factors, postoperative hip function, and activity level (mean follow-up: 25 months). Linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between psychological factors and postoperative hip function and activity level. Both HD and AR patients showed improved postoperative hip function and activity levels. Linear regression analyses revealed that depression significantly impaired postoperative outcomes in both groups, whereas somatization negatively influenced the outcome in AR patients. General health perceptions significantly contributed to an improved postoperative outcome. These findings highlight the importance of concomitantly addressing psychologically relevant factors in order to improve patient outcomes after PAO procedures. Future prospective studies should continue to investigate the impact of various psychological factors and explore possibilities of incorporating psychological support into routine postoperative care for these patient cohorts.

The effects of major depression disorder on neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome surgery outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a group of disorders caused by impingement of the neurovascular structures at the thoracic outlet. Neurogenic TOS (nTOS), which is thought to be caused by a compression of the brachial plexus, accounts for more than 90% of the cases. Although treatment for nTOS is successful through physiotherapy and/or surgical decompression, little is known about the impact of psychosocial factors, namely, major depressive disorder (MDD), on postoperative outcomes such as non-routine discharge (NRD). Here, we assess whether MDD predicts the type of discharge following nTOS surgical intervention.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database from the years 2005-2018 was performed. Using the International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification, Ninth and Tenth revisions, patients who underwent a surgical intervention for nTOS were identified. Our primary outcome was to investigate the effects of MDD on nTOS patient disposition status after surgical management; secondary outcomes included analysis of total hospital charges and length of stay. NRD was defined as anything beyond discharge home without healthcare services. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess MDD and other potential independent predictors of NRD and prolonged hospital stay (> 2 days) following surgical intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 6099 patients were identified: 596 (9.77%) patients with MDD and 5503 (90.23%) without MDD. On average, patients with MDD were older (39.6 ± 12.0 years vs. 36.0 ± 13.0 years; p < 0.001), female (80.7% vs. 63.5%; p < 0.001), white (89.6% vs. 85.6%; p = 0.030), and on Medicare (9.6% vs 5.2%; p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models identified MDD as an independent risk factor associated with a higher risk of NRD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.2). Additionally, chronic kidney disease (aOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.2-5.4), postoperative complications (aOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9), and Medicare (aOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.9-4.7) were statistically significant predictors for higher risk of NRD. However, MDD was not associated with prolonged hospital stay (aOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.8-1.2) or higher median of total charges (MDD group: $27,867 vs. non-MDD group: $28,123; p = 0.799).

CONCLUSION

Comorbid MDD was strongly associated with higher NRD rates following nTOS surgical intervention. MDD had no significant impact on length of hospital stay or total hospital charges. Additional prospective research is necessary in order to better evaluate the impact of MDD in patients with nTOS.

The Impact of Depression in Patients Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery: An Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

Depression is associated with poorer outcomes in many disease states. However, its significance in abdominal surgery is unknown. This study investigated rates of depression in emergency abdominal surgery patients and its effects on outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted across two UK sites and included all adult patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Primary outcome was the complication rate in depressed patients, including the incidence of post-operative delirium. Secondary outcomes included mortality, time to oral intake and analgesia.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ten patients were identified. The commonest indication for surgery was appendicitis (53.3%) followed by small bowel obstruction (9.5%). There was a 17% (n = 36) incidence of depression amongst patients, most of whom (n = 26, 72.2%) were taking antidepressants. Depression was associated with male sex (M:F 27:9 p = 0.003), higher median BMI (28 vs. 25 p = 0.013) and previous surgery (47.2% vs. 28.7% p = 0.032). Despite a higher incidence of post-operative delirium, increased time to oral analgesia and greater 30-day readmission rates in the depression cohort, multivariate analyses showed depression was not a significant independent predictor of these (OR 2.181, 95%CI 0.310-15.344; p = 0.433, OR 0.07, 95%CI 0.499-1.408; p = 0.348 and OR 1.367, 95%CI 0.102-18.34, respectively). Complication and mortality rates between depressed and non-depressed individuals were similar.

CONCLUSION

Significant numbers of patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery have depression, but this did not adversely affect post-operative outcomes. The study included relatively small numbers of participants undergoing procedures with straightforward recovery. Larger population studies are therefore required and should focus on investigating the association between major emergency surgeries with post-operative delirium and uncontrolled pain.

A qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women seeking pelvic organ prolapse surgery in Alberta, Canada

In addition to altering public infrastructure and social patterning, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed many pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries. POP-related stigma, symptomology and the experience of waiting for POP surgery can negatively impact women's quality of life and mental health. The experience of preoperative POP patients during the pandemic thus entails a new intersection of gendered, stigmatic and medical realities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 preoperative POP patients as part of a larger qualitative study, 20 of whom spontaneously volunteered information about how the pandemic coloured their experience living with and awaiting surgery for POP. Interviews occurred between January and July 2021, which coincided with the second and third waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada, and before full immunisation was available for all Albertans. Pandemic-related interview excerpts were thematically analysed, and four main findings emerged. (1) Though surgical delay meant living with unpleasant symptoms for longer than anticipated, some sought this out in order to protect vulnerable loved ones from possible hospital-acquired infection, (2) shifting and unclear hospital policies and logistics resulted in intense preoperative stress, at times causing women to temporarily cease treatment, (3) decreased access to public restroom infrastructure caused women to reduce their outings and (4) the imperative to minimise social gatherings made it easier for women to engage in POP-related, shame-based self-isolation without the notice of friends and family. As they can influence postoperative outcomes and treatment adherence, trends observed should be of interest to clinicians and policymakers alike.

Depression Increases Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Revision Rates and Diminishes Neck Disability Index Improvement

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if depression and/or anxiety significantly affect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Mental health diagnoses are receiving increased recognition for their influence of outcomes after spine surgery. The magnitude that mental health disorders contribute to patient-reported outcomes following PCDF requires increased awareness and understanding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of electronic medical records identified patients who underwent a PCDF at a single institution during the years 2013-2020. Patients were placed into either depression/anxiety or nondepression/anxiety group based on their medical history. A delta score (∆) was calculated for all PROMs by subtracting postoperative from preoperative scores. χ 2 tests and t tests were utilized to analyze categorical and continuous data, respectively. Regression analysis determined independent predictors of change in PROMs. Alpha was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 195 patients met inclusion criteria, with 60 (30.8%) having a prior diagnosis of depression/anxiety. The depression/anxiety group was younger (58.8 vs . 63.0, P =0.012), predominantly female (53.3% vs . 31.9%, P =0.007), and more frequently required revision surgery (11.7% vs . 0.74%, P =0.001). In addition, they had worse baseline mental component (MCS-12) (42.2 vs . 48.6, P <0.001), postoperative MCS-12 (46.5 vs . 52.9, P =0.002), postoperative neck disability index (NDI) (40.7 vs . 28.5, P =0.001), ∆NDI (-1.80 vs . -8.93, P =0.010), NDI minimum clinically important difference improvement (15.0% vs . 29.6%, P =0.046), and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Neck scores (3.63 vs . 2.48, P =0.018). Only the nondepression/anxiety group improved in MCS-12 ( P =0.002) and NDI ( P <0.001) postoperatively. Depression and/or anxiety was an independent predictor of decreased magnitude of NDI improvement on regression analysis (β=7.14, P =0.038).

CONCLUSION

Patients with history of depression or anxiety demonstrate less improvement in patient-reported outcomes and a higher revision rate after posterior cervical fusion, highlighting the importance of mental health on clinical outcomes after spine surgery.

Prehabilitation to Improve Outcomes of Patients with Gynaecological Cancer: A New Window of Opportunity?

Simple Summary

Surgery is an important mainstay in the treatment of gynaecological cancers but is associated with operative complications, especially for those with poor physical and mental health. Prehabilitation is a new and upcoming strategy to optimise patients’ functional capacity, nutritional status and psychosocial wellbeing in order to reduce complications and enhance recovery. In this review, we assessed the evidence on prehabilitation programmes for patients with gynaecological cancer. The limited evidence shows that prehabilitation may reduce length of hospital stay for ovarian cancer patients, and may result in significant weight loss in patients with endometrial and cervical cancer. Comparative prospective studies are required to determine the effectiveness of prehabilitation on reducing operative complications and improving quality of life, and to further specify the content of such a programme for patients with gynaecological cancer.

Abstract

The literature evaluating the effect of prehabilitation programmes on postoperative outcomes and quality of life of patients with gynaecological cancer undergoing surgery was reviewed. Databases including Pubmed, Medline, EMBASE (Ovid) and PsycINFO were systematically searched to identify studies evaluating the effect of prehabilitation programmes on patients with gynaecological cancer. Both unimodal and multimodal prehabilitation programmes were included encompassing physical exercise and nutritional and psychological support. Primary outcomes were surgical complications and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were anthropometric changes and adherence to the prehabilitation programme. Seven studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, comprising 580 patients. Included studies were nonrandomised prospective studies (n = 4), retrospective studies (n = 2) and one case report. Unimodal programmes and multimodal programmes were included. In patients with ovarian cancer, multimodal prehabilitation resulted in significantly reduced hospital stay and time to chemotherapy. In patients with endometrial and cervical cancer, prehabilitation was associated with significant weight loss, but had no significant effects on surgical complications or mortality. No adverse events of the programmes were reported. Evidence on the effect of prehabilitation for patients with gynaecological cancer is limited. Future studies are needed to determine the effects on postoperative complications and quality of life.

Patient Perceptions of Resident Involvement in Surgery: A Qualitative Study Using Surgical Video

OBJECTIVE

To improve patient-centered perioperative informed consent, this study used real surgical footage to identify key topics which might be discussed with patients regarding resident involvement in surgery.

DESIGN

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 27 participants. The interviews included a video showing an attending and resident performing a procedure together. Questions focused on comfort with resident involvement and preferences regarding preoperative informed consent. Participants also described residents' participation in their own words.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from the infusion room of the allergy clinic and the treatment room of the dialysis clinic at a tertiary care facility in Nashville, TN (Vanderbilt University Medical Center).

PARTICIPANTS

Adult medical patients were recruited via periodic verbal announcements by the interviewer in the waiting rooms. Purposive sampling was used to increase demographic diversity. Participants with training in the clinical health professions (i.e., physicians, nurses, and medical assistants) were excluded.

RESULTS

Before watching the video, roughly half of participants imagined the resident to have a passive, bystander role, while the remaining imagined a more active role. Despite these differences, most participants found the video of attending-resident teamwork to be a reassuring depiction of resident involvement. When asked the best way to describe resident participation depicted in the video to patients, participants emphasized the need to focus on attending supervision, teamwork, reassurance, as well as resident presence, specific activities, and experience.

CONCLUSION

Although patients have varying perceptions regarding the role of trainees in surgery, most participants were comfortable with teamwork between an attending and resident, as depicted in the video. Our participants provided multiple practical ways to transparently articulate resident involvement for testing in future research.