Assessing pre- and postoperative activity levels with an accelerometer: a proof of concept study

Actual physical activity after major abdominal cancer surgery: Far from optimal

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols emphasize the importance of early postoperative mobilization. However, literature quantifying actual physical activity after major abdominal cancer surgery is scarce and inconclusive.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen from 2019 to 2021. Patients' postoperative physical activity was measured using an accelerometer, with the primary aim of assessing daily physical activity. Secondary aims were identifying patient-related factors associated with low physical activity and studying the consequences of low physical activity in terms of complication rate and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

143 patients included (48 % male; mean age 65 years), 38.5 %, 24.5 %, 19.6 %, and 14 % underwent pancreatic, hepatic, colorectal, or cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, respectively. Median daily step count was low; from median 71 steps on the first to 918 steps on the seventh postoperative day. An association between physical activity and age (OR 3.597, p = 0.013), preoperative weight loss ≥10 % (OR 4.984, p = 0.004), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2 (OR 4.016, p = 0.001), midline laparotomy (OR 2.851, p = 0.025), and operation duration (OR 1.003, p = 0.044) was found. An association was observed between physical activity and the occurrence of complications (OR 3.197, p = 0.039) and prolonged hospital stay (β 4.068, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative physical activity is low in patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery and is linked to postoperative outcomes. Although physical activity should be encouraged in all patients, patient-specific risk factors were identified that can aid early recognition of patients at risk of low physical activity.

A New Index for the Quantitative Evaluation of Surgical Invasiveness Based on Perioperative Patients' Behavior Patterns: Machine Learning Approach Using Triaxial Acceleration

BACKGROUND

The minimally invasive nature of thoracoscopic surgery is well recognized; however, the absence of a reliable evaluation method remains challenging. We hypothesized that the postoperative recovery speed is closely linked to surgical invasiveness, where recovery signifies the patient's behavior transition back to their preoperative state during the perioperative period.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine whether machine learning using triaxial acceleration data can effectively capture perioperative behavior changes and establish a quantitative index for quantifying variations in surgical invasiveness.

METHODS

We trained 7 distinct machine learning models using a publicly available human acceleration data set as supervised data. The 3 top-performing models were selected to predict patient actions, as determined by the Matthews correlation coefficient scores. Two patients who underwent different levels of invasive thoracoscopic surgery were selected as participants. Acceleration data were collected via chest sensors for 8 hours during the preoperative and postoperative hospitalization days. These data were categorized into 4 actions (walking, standing, sitting, and lying down) using the selected models. The actions predicted by the model with intermediate results were adopted as the actions of the participants. The daily appearance probability was calculated for each action. The 2 differences between 2 appearance probabilities (sitting vs standing and lying down vs walking) were calculated using 2 coordinates on the x- and y-axes. A 2D vector composed of coordinate values was defined as the index of behavior pattern (iBP) for the day. All daily iBPs were graphed, and the enclosed area and distance between points were calculated and compared between participants to assess the relationship between changes in the indices and invasiveness.

RESULTS

Patients 1 and 2 underwent lung lobectomy and incisional tumor biopsy, respectively. The selected predictive model was a light-gradient boosting model (mean Matthews correlation coefficient 0.98, SD 0.0027; accuracy: 0.98). The acceleration data yielded 548,466 points for patient 1 and 466,407 points for patient 2. The iBPs of patient 1 were [(0.32, 0.19), (-0.098, 0.46), (-0.15, 0.13), (-0.049, 0.22)] and those of patient 2 were [(0.55, 0.30), (0.77, 0.21), (0.60, 0.25), (0.61, 0.31)]. The enclosed areas were 0.077 and 0.0036 for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Notably, the distances for patient 1 were greater than those for patient 2 ({0.44, 0.46, 0.37, 0.26} vs {0.23, 0.0065, 0.059}; P=.03 [Mann-Whitney U test]).

CONCLUSIONS

The selected machine learning model effectively predicted the actions of the surgical patients with high accuracy. The temporal distribution of action times revealed changes in behavior patterns during the perioperative phase. The proposed index may facilitate the recognition and visualization of perioperative changes in patients and differences in surgical invasiveness.

Peri-Operative Wearables in Elder Recover after Surgery (POWERS) study: a protocol for a multicentre, prospective cohort study to evaluate perioperative activity with postoperative disability in older adults after non-cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION

The ageing population has led to an increasing proportion of surgical patients with greater frailty and comorbidity. Complications and mortality within 30 days of a surgical procedure are often used to evaluate success in the perioperative period however these measures can potentially underestimate a substantial level of morbidity associated with surgery. Personal wearable technologies are now readily available and can offer detailed information on activity intensity, sedentary behaviour and sleeping patterns. These devices may provide important information perioperatively by acting as a non-invasive, and cost-efficient means to risk stratify patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Peri-Operative Wearables in Elder Recover After Surgery (POWERS) study is a multicentre observational study of 200 older adults (≥65 years) having major elective non-cardiac surgery. The objectives are to characterise the association between preoperative and postoperative activity monitor measurements with postoperative disability and recovery, as well as characterise trajectories of activity and sleep in the perioperative period. Activity will be monitored with the ActiGraph GT3X device and measured for 7-day increments, preoperatively, and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Disability will be assessed using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 assessed at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The POWERS study received research ethics board approval at all participating sites on 1 August 2019 (REB # 19-121 (CTO 1849)). Renewal was granted on 19 May 2022.

Association between early mobilisation after abdominal cancer surgery and postoperative complications

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative complications and readmission to hospital after major cancer surgery are common. Early mobilisation in hospital is thought to reduce complications, and patients are recommended to mobilise for at least 2 h on the day of surgery, and thereafter at least 6 h per day. Evidence for early mobilisation is limited and therefore also how early mobilisation may influence the development of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between early mobilisation after abdominal cancer surgery and readmission to hospital due to postoperative complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Adult patients who had abdominal cancer surgery due to ovarian, colorectal, or urinary bladder cancer between January 2017 and May 2018 were included in the study. Exposure was set to the mean number of steps taken over the first three postoperative days, measured with an activity monitor. Primary outcome was readmission to hospital within 30 days after discharge, and secondary outcome was severity of complications. Data were obtained from medical records. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between exposure and outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 133 patients included in the study, 25 were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge. The analysis showed no association between early mobilisation and readmission or severity of complications.

CONCLUSION

Early mobilisation does not seem to increase the odds of readmission, nor the severity of complications. This study contributes to the limited research on the association between early mobilisation and postoperative complications after abdominal cancer surgery.

Comprehensive assessment of postoperative mobility during the first days after mini-invasive lung surgery: A prospective observational study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Postoperative physical therapy and early mobilization are major elements for enhanced recovery after surgery. In contrast with supervised physical therapy sessions that can be monitored, self-mobilization is not easily quantifiable and has so far been estimated mainly through patient auto-reports. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive and objective evaluation of postoperative mobility.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Postoperative setting.

PATIENTS

Patients undergoing mini-invasive lung surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Measurement of postoperative mobility during the first five postoperative days using an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X).

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was the number of daily steps. Secondary outcomes included physical activity duration and intensity, sedentary time, number of breaks in sedentary time, sedentary patterns, daily evaluation by physiotherapists, postoperative complications, and acceptability of wearing the accelerometer.

MAIN RESULTS

Sixty patients were included in the study, of whom 56 provided at least one day of valid accelerometry data. There was no significant change during the first four PODs concerning the number of daily steps nor the mean cadence. One-minute cadence peak, total activity counts, and duration of light-intensity physical activity increased over time (p = 0.032, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Sedentary patterns changed favorably over time, with a decrease in prolonged sedentary bouts (≥ 60 consecutive min) (p < 0.001), and an increase in shorter bouts (< 10 min) (p = 0.001). Similar results were observed when analysis was adjusted for the day of the week when the surgery took place. The median acceptability of wearing the accelerometer was excellent (median 10 [9-10] on a 10-point Likert scale). Three patients had major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that daily steps may not be the only relevant indicator of early mobility following thoracic surgery and that accelerometry is suitable to follow patients' early postoperative activity.

(Cost-)effectiveness of a personalized multidisciplinary eHealth intervention for knee arthroplasty patients to enhance return to activities of daily life, work and sports - rationale and protocol of the multicentre ACTIVE randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

With the worldwide rising obesity epidemic and the aging population, it is essential to deliver (cost-)effective care that results in enhanced societal participation among knee arthroplasty patients. The purpose of this study is to describe the development, content, and protocol of our (cost-)effectiveness study that assesses a perioperative integrated care program, including a personalized eHealth app, for knee arthroplasty patients aimed to enhance societal participation post-surgery compared to care as usual.

METHODS

The intervention will be tested in a multicentre randomized controlled trial with eleven participating Dutch medical centers (i.e., hospitals and clinics). Working patients on the waiting-list for a total- or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with the intention to return to work after surgery will be included. After pre-stratification on medical centre with or without eHealth as usual care, operation procedure (total- or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty) and recovery expectations regarding return to work, randomization will take place at the patient-level. A minimum of 138 patients will be included in both the intervention and control group, 276 in total. The control group will receive usual care. On top of care as usual, patients in the intervention group will receive an intervention consisting of three components: 1) a personalized eHealth intervention called ikHerstel ('I Recover') including an activity tracker, 2) goal setting using goal attainment scaling to improve rehabilitation and 3) a referral to a case-manager. Our main outcome is quality of life, based on patient-reported physical functioning (using PROMIS-PF). (Cost-)effectiveness will be assessed from a healthcare and societal perspective. Data collection has been started in 2020 and is expected to finish in 2024.

DISCUSSION

Improving societal participation for knee arthroplasty is relevant for patients, health care providers, employers and society. This multicentre randomized controlled trial will evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of a personalized integrated care program for knee arthroplasty patients, consisting of effective intervention components based on previous studies, compared to care as usual.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trialsearch.who.int; reference no. NL8525, reference date version 1: 14-04-2020.

Physical functioning and physical activity after gastrointestinal or bladder oncological surgery: An observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the recovery of physical functioning and objective physical activity levels up to 3 months after oncological surgery and to determine the association between physical activity levels and the recovery of physical functioning.

METHODS

A longditudinal observational cohort study was conducted in patients who underwent gastrointestinal or bladder oncological surgery. Recovery of physical functioning was measured preoperatively, and 1 and 3 months after discharge. Physical activity was objectively measured with an accelerometer during hospitalisation, and 1 and 3 months after discharge.

RESULTS

Between February and November 2019, 68 patients were included. Half of the patients (49%) were not recovered in physical functioning 3 months after surgery. During hospitalisation, physical activity increased from 13 to 46 median active minutes per day. At 1 and 3 months after discharge, patients were physically active for 138 and 159 median minutes per day, respectively. Patients with higher levels of physical activity 1 month after discharge showed to have higher levels of physical functioning up to 3 months after discharge.

CONCLUSION

At 3 months after surgery, physical functioning is still diminished in half of the patients. It is important to evaluate both physical activity levels and physical functioning levels after surgery to enable tailored postoperative mobility care.

Feasibility and Prediction of Adverse Events in a Postoperative Monitoring Program of Patient-Reported Outcomes and a Wearable Device Among Gynecologic Oncology Patients

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of implementing a postoperative monitoring program for women with gynecologic cancers composed of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and a wearable activity monitor.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery to this single-arm study. Enrolled patients completed PROs (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function, sleep disturbance, anxiety, fatigue, and pain intensity) at baseline and one-week intervals for 4 weeks. They also wore a wearable accelerometer device that measured steps, heart rate, and intensity of physical activity. The primary outcome was feasibility. The secondary outcome was prediction of unscheduled contacts with the health care system on a given postoperative day.

RESULTS

We enrolled 34 women. Three patients were unevaluable. The mean age was 58 years. The mean body mass index was 31 kg/m²; 17 patients were White (54.8%), 12 patients were Black (38.7%), and two patients (6.5%) were Asian. The overall wear time was 83.8%, and patients responded to 80.4% of the PRO instruments. Twenty-two patients (71%) had an unscheduled contact with the health care system postoperatively (median 1.5, 0.0-8.0). The day of an unscheduled health care utilization event was predicted with acceptable discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.81). PROs of fatigue and physical function were most predictive followed by wearable device outputs of lightly active minutes and average daily heart rate.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a postoperative monitoring program of patient-reported outcomes and a wearable device was feasible. The specific day of an unscheduled contact with the health care system was predicted with acceptable discrimination.

Quantifying shoulder activity after rotator cuff repair: Technique and preliminary results

Repair tissue healing after rotator cuff repair remains a significant clinical problem, and excessive shoulder activity after surgical repair is believed to contribute to re-tears. In contrast, small animal studies have demonstrated that complete removal of activity impairs tendon healing and have advocated for an "appropriate" level of activity, but in humans the appropriate amount of shoulder activity to enhance healing is not known. As an initial step toward understanding the relationship between postoperative shoulder activity and repair tissue healing, the objectives of this study were to assess the precision, accuracy, and feasibility of a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer for measuring shoulder activity. Following assessments of precision (±0.002 g) and accuracy (±0.006 g), feasibility was assessed by measuring 1 week of shoulder activity in 14 rotator cuff repair patients and 8 control subjects. Shoulder activity was reported in terms of volume (mean acceleration, activity count, mean activity index, active time) and intensity (intensity gradient). Patients had significantly less volume (p ≤ .03) and intensity (p = .01) than controls. Time post-surgery was significantly associated with the volume (p ≤ .05 for mean acceleration, activity count, and mean activity index) and intensity (p = .03) of shoulder activity, but not active time (p = .08). These findings indicate this approach has the accuracy and precision necessary to continuously monitor shoulder activity with a wrist-worn sensor. The preliminary data demonstrate the ability to discriminate between healthy control subjects and patients recovering from rotator cuff repair and provide support for using a wearable sensor to monitor changes over time in shoulder activity.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

Wearable devices have been proposed as a novel method for monitoring patients after surgery to track recovery, identify complications early, and improve surgical safety. Previous studies have used a heterogeneous range of devices, methods, and analyses. This review aimed to examine current methods and wearable devices used for monitoring after abdominal surgery and identify knowledge gaps requiring further investigation.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted given the heterogeneous nature of the evidence. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Studies of wearable devices for monitoring of adult patients within 30 days after abdominal surgery were eligible for inclusion.

Results

A total of 78 articles from 65 study cohorts, with 5153 patients were included. Thirty-one different wearable devices were used to measure vital signs, physiological measurements, or physical activity. The duration of postoperative wearable device use ranged from 15 h to 3 months after surgery. Studies mostly focused on physical activity metrics (71.8 per cent). Continuous vital sign measurement and physical activity tracking both showed promise for detecting postoperative complications earlier than usual care, but conclusions were limited by poor device precision, adherence, occurrence of false alarms, data transmission problems, and retrospective data analysis. Devices were generally well accepted by patients, with high levels of acceptance, comfort, and safety.

Conclusion

Wearable technology has not yet realized its potential to improve postoperative monitoring. Further work is needed to overcome technical limitations, improve precision, and reduce false alarms. Prospective assessment of efficacy, using an intention-to-treat approach should be the focus of further studies.

Objectively measured preoperative physical activity is associated with time to functional recovery after hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer surgery: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is currently the cornerstone of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancer treatment. A low preoperative aerobic fitness level has been identified as a modifiable risk factor associated with complications after major abdominal surgery. A person's aerobic fitness is influenced by performing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study aims to determine the activity monitor measured levels of MVPA performed among patients on the waiting list for HPB cancer surgery and their association with postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective, observational multi-center cohort pilot study was conducted. Patients enlisted for resection surgery on suspicion of HPB (pre)malignancy were enrolled. Performed MVPA was measured by an Actigraph wGT3X-BT. Additionally, aerobic fitness was measured via the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, and (post)operative variables were collected from the electronic patient files. The association between MVPA and the pre- and postoperative variables was determined by univariate and multivariable (logistic) robust regression.

RESULTS

A total of 38 participants, median age 66.0 (IQR 58.25-74.75) years, were enrolled. The median daily MVPA was 10.7 (IQR 6.9-18.0) min; only 8 participants met the Dutch MVPA guidelines. Participant's age and aerobic fitness were associated with MVPA by multivariable statistical analysis. Time to functional recovery was 8 (IQR 5-12) days and was associated with MVPA and type of surgery (major/minor) in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

Seventy-six percent of patients enlisted for resection of HPB (pre)malignancy performed insufficient MVPA. A higher level of MVPA was associated with a shorter time to functional recovery.

The Effect of Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique on Postoperative Pain, Activity Tolerance, and Sleeping Quality in Patients Undergoing Gynecological Surgery

Background:

Inadequate pain management and sleep disturbances of patients undergoing gynecological surgery are associated with delayed recovery time. This study aimed to assess the effect of Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique (JPRT) on postoperative pain, activity tolerance, and sleeping quality in patients undergoing gynecological surgery.

Materials and Methods:

A randomized controlled clinical trial conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department/Damanhour educational institute, Elbehira, Egypt. The study sample involved 116 patients undergoing gynecological surgery who were equally distributed between intervention and control groups. Data collected from April to September 2019. Four tools were used for data collection: Demographic data interview schedule, pain analog scale, activity tolerance questionnaire, and the Groningen sleeping quality scale. For the intervention group, the women were asked to perform JPRT for 30 min on the second and third postoperative day, three times a day. SPSS 23.0 is used to analyze data using Chi-square, Fisher's exact, independent t-test, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). A significance level considered at p < 0.05.

Results:

The study results showed that JPRT significantly improves pain, sleep quality, and activity tolerance mean scores among the intervention group compared to the control group (F₁ = 119.13, p < 0.001), (F₁ = 361.49, p < 0.001), and (F₁ = 157.49, p < 0.001), respectively. ANCOVA results showed that 33% of the decreased pain score, 12% of decreased sleeping quality score, and 26% of improved activity tolerance score are due to JPRT.

Conclusion:

JPRT should be offered as a part of standard postoperative nursing care for patients undergoing gynecological surgery to control pain and improve sleeping quality and activity tolerance.

Skeletal Muscle Adaptive Responses to Different Types of Short-Term Exercise Training and Detraining in Middle-Age Men

INTRODUCTION

Whether short-term, single-mode exercise training can improve physical fitness prior to a period of reduced physical activity (e.g. post-surgery recovery) is not well characterized in clinical populations nor middle-age adults. We investigated skeletal muscle adaptive responses following endurance exercise training (ENT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or resistance exercise training (RET), and a subsequent period of detraining, in sedentary, middle-age men.

METHODS

Thirty-five sedentary, males (39±3 yr) were randomized to parallel groups and undertook six weeks of either ENT (n=12), HIIT (n=12) or RET (n=11) followed by 2.5 weeks of detraining. Skeletal muscle fiber characteristics, body composition, muscle thickness, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, resting energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis were assessed at baseline, and after exercise training and detraining.

RESULTS

Lean mass increased after RET and HIIT (+3.2±1.6% and +1.6±2.1%, P<0.05). Muscle strength (sum of leg press, leg extension and bench press 1RMs) increased after all training interventions (RET: +25±5%; HIIT: +10±5%; ENT: +7±7%, P<0.05). Aerobic capacity increased only after HIIT and ENT (+14±7% and +11±11%, P<0.05). Type I and II muscle fiber size increased for all groups post-training (main effect of time, P<0.05). Following a period of detraining, the gains in lean mass and maximal muscle strength were maintained in RET and HIIT groups, but maximal aerobic capacity declined below post-training levels in HIIT and ENT (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Six weeks of HIIT induced widespread adaptations prior to detraining in middle-age men. Exercise training-induced increases in aerobic capacity declined during 2.5 weeks of detraining but gains in lean mass and muscle strength were maintained.

Objective Quantification of In-Hospital Patient Mobilization after Cardiac Surgery Using Accelerometers: Selection, Use, and Analysis

Cardiac surgery patients infrequently mobilize during their hospital stay. It is unclear for patients why mobilization is important, and exact progress of mobilization activities is not available. The aim of this study was to select and evaluate accelerometers for objective qualification of in-hospital mobilization after cardiac surgery. Six static and dynamic patient activities were defined to measure patient mobilization during the postoperative hospital stay. Device requirements were formulated, and the available devices reviewed. A triaxial accelerometer (AX3, Axivity) was selected for a clinical pilot in a heart surgery ward and placed on both the upper arm and upper leg. An artificial neural network algorithm was applied to classify lying in bed, sitting in a chair, standing, walking, cycling on an exercise bike, and walking the stairs. The primary endpoint was the daily amount of each activity performed between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The secondary endpoints were length of intensive care unit stay and surgical ward stay. A subgroup analysis for male and female patients was planned. In total, 29 patients were classified after cardiac surgery with an intensive care unit stay of 1 (1 to 2) night and surgical ward stay of 5 (3 to 6) nights. Patients spent 41 (20 to 62) min less time in bed for each consecutive hospital day, as determined by a mixed-model analysis (p < 0.001). Standing, walking, and walking the stairs increased during the hospital stay. No differences between men (n = 22) and women (n = 7) were observed for all endpoints in this study. The approach presented in this study is applicable for measuring all six activities and for monitoring postoperative recovery of cardiac surgery patients. A next step is to provide feedback to patients and healthcare professionals, to speed up recovery.

Patient-centred measurement of recovery from day-case surgery using wrist worn accelerometers: a pilot and feasibility study

This pilot and feasibility study evaluated wrist-worn accelerometers to measure recovery from day-case surgery in comparison with daily quality of recovery-15 scores. The protocol was designed with extensive patient and public involvement and engagement, and delivered by a research network of anaesthesia trainees. Forty-eight patients recruited through pre-operative assessment clinics wore wrist accelerometers for 7 days before (pre-operative) and immediately after elective surgery (early postoperative), and again at 3 months (late postoperative). Validated activity and quality of recovery questionnaires were administered. Raw accelerometry data were archived and analysed using open source software. The mean (SD) number of valid days of accelerometer wear per participant in the pre-operative, early and late postoperative periods were 5.4 (1.7), 6.6 (1.1) and 6.6 (1.0) days, respectively. On the day after surgery, Euclidian norm minus one (a summary measure of raw accelerations), step count, light physical activity and moderate/vigorous physical activity decreased to 57%, 47%, 59% and 35% of baseline values, respectively. Activity increased progressively on a daily basis but had not returned to baseline values by 7 days. Patient questionnaires suggested subjective recovery by postoperative day 3 to 4; however, accelerometry data showed that activity levels had not returned to baseline at this point. All activity measures had returned to baseline by 3 months. Wrist-worn accelerometery is acceptable to patients and feasible as a surrogate measure for monitoring postoperative recovery from day-case surgery. Our results suggest that patients may overestimate their rate of recovery from day-case surgery, which has important implications for future research.

Quantifying postoperative sleep loss associated with increased pain in children undergoing a modified Nuss operation

PURPOSE

The presence of pain may interrupt sleep and impede normal postoperative recovery; however, no prior studies have quantified sleep loss due to pain in children undergoing inpatient surgery. Wearable accelerometers objectively measure sleep patterns in children. We aimed to quantify sleep loss associated with patient reported pain scores after a Modified Nuss operation.

METHODS

Ten patients undergoing Modified Nuss operations were recruited during their inpatient stay. Children wore an Actigraph GT3X-BT accelerometer postoperatively during their hospital stay. Hourly sleep minutes were recorded using the Actigraph between 10 pm and 6 am. Patient reported pain scores were abstracted from patient charts. Mixed linear regression models, adjusting for within-subject random effects, were estimated to quantify the association between hourly sleep minutes and patient reported pain scores.

RESULTS

Patients were 30% female, with an average age of 15.7 years (range 13-22). The majority (70%) of patients were white non-Hispanic. All patients received a patient controlled analgesic pump. Average postoperative length of stay was 4.8 days (range 4.0-6.0; SD = 0.8). A total of 240 sleep hours and associated pain scores were analyzed. Patients slept on average 48 min per hour. Mixed model analysis predicted that a 1-point increase in pain score was associated with 2.5 min per hour less sleep time.

CONCLUSION

Increases in patient-reported pain scores are associated with sleep loss after a Modified Nuss operation. Objectively quantifying sleep loss associated with postoperative pain using accelerometer data may help clinicians better understand their patient's level of pain control. Our findings provide the basis for future studies aimed at more accurately titrating pain medication to optimize sleep and speed up recovery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case Series Without Comparison Group, Level IV.

Improving enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS): ERAS APPtimize study protocol, a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of a patient-centred mobile application on patient participation in colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Perioperative care in colorectal surgery is systematically defined in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. The ERAS protocol improves perioperative care in a multimodal way to enhance early and safe release from the hospital. Adequate compliance to the elements of the ERAS protocol is multifactorial. There are still opportunities to improve compliance of the protocol by actively involving the patient. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether compliance of selected items in the ERAS protocol can be improved through actively involving patients in the ERAS care pathway through the use of a patient-centred mobile application.

METHODS

A multicentre randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, who are 18 years or older and in possession of an eligible smartphone, will be included. Patients assigned to the intervention group will install a patient-centred mobile application to be guided through the ERAS care pathway. Patients in the control group will receive care as usual. Both groups will wear an activity tracker. The primary outcome is overall compliance to selected active elements of the ERAS protocol, as registered by the patient. Secondary outcomes include Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) such as health-related quality of life, physical activity, and patient satisfaction of received care. Care-related outcomes, such as length of hospital stay, number of complications, re-intervention, and readmission rates, will also be assessed.

RESULTS

The enrolment of patients will start in the second quarter of 2019. Data collection had not begun by the time this protocol was submitted.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that by providing patients with a patient-centred mobile application, compliance to the active elements of ERAS protocol can be improved, resulting in an increased health-related quality of life, physical activity, and patient satisfaction.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Netherlands Trial Register, NTR7314 , prospectively registered on the 9th of November 2017 ( http://www.trialregister.nl ).

Public reporting and transparency: a primer on public outcomes reporting

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare consumers seeking accurate information about where to find quality surgical care face a confusing constellation of rating systems that lack transparency or consistency of opinion. For example, a 2016 report in Health Affairs demonstrated that no hospital was rated as a high performer by all four prominent national ratings systems: Consumer Reports, Leapfrog, Healthgrades and U.S. News & World Report (Austin et al. Health Aff 34:423-430, 2015). Surgeons should have an understanding of the current state of public reporting of quality; hospital ratings and data sources; physician ratings and data sources; and transparency of reporting.

METHODS

We conducted a non-systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

Hospital quality ratings remain nebulous and there is not universal opinion on the utility of voluntary participation in ranking systems, leaving the current systems largely opinion-based. Early attempts at physician ranking systems are rudimentary at best and suffer from methodological concerns. Publicly reported metrics should be easily understandable, accessible, clinically relevant, reliable, non-punitive, and shielded from legal discovery. Transparency is increasing within institutions to help align staff to institutional objectives, while specialty specific registries are helping to standardize care pathways and outcomes measures across organizations. Measuring surgical outcomes beyond 30-day morbidity and mortality has been plagued by a lack of understanding on how to create metrics that matter; the four attributes of relevance, scientific soundness, feasibility and comprehensiveness set a high bar for the development of effective and efficient quality measures in surgery.

DISCUSSION

SAGES, via the Quality, Outcomes, and Safety Committee, is committed to learning how to develop meaningful quality metrics in general surgery and will continue to work in other areas that impact quality, such as opioid prescribing, and surgeon wellness.

Prehabilitation and acute postoperative physical activity in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: a secondary analysis from an RCT

BACKGROUND

Physical activity via early mobilization after surgery is recommended to help reduce the risk of postoperative adverse effects and to improve recovery. We explored whether prehabilitation is associated with differences in physical activity during the postoperative inpatient stay and the week after discharge in men undergoing abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This study was a pre-planned secondary analysis of a larger randomized controlled trial of home-based exercise prehabilitation versus control for men undergoing radical prostatectomy. Twenty-one participants in both the prehabilitation and control groups wore accelerometers from postoperative day 1 until 7 days after discharge. Mean physical activity (minutes) during postoperative day 1 (inpatient) and 1 week following hospital discharge (outpatient) were estimated using ANCOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficients were conducted for mean in- an outpatient physical activity with length of stay and changes in 6-min walk test (6MWT) over the course of the prehabilitation period.

RESULTS

Nineteen participants in each group provided usable accelerometry data for analysis. Inpatient physical activity of light or greater activity during postoperative day 1 for prehabilitation and control groups were 442.5 ± 40.2 and 324.0 ± 40.2 min, respectively (∆ = 117.5 ± 57.8 min, 95%CI [0.04, 235.0]). During the outpatient period, mean daily physical activity was 448.4 ± 31.2 and 491.42 ± 31.2 min for prehabilitation and control participants, respectively (∆ = 42.6 ± 44.9 min; 95% CI [- 134.0, 48.7]). There were no correlations between in- or outpatient physical activity and preoperative changes in 6MWT or length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Accelerometry-based measurement of physical activity in the acute postoperative period is feasible in older men undergoing abdominal surgery. Prehabilitation may be associated with increased inpatient physical activity; however, larger and longer studies are needed to elucidate any associated effects on clinical and patient outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02036684 registered January 15, 2014.

Hunter-gatherers as models in public health

Hunter-gatherer populations are remarkable for their excellent metabolic and cardiovascular health and thus are often used as models in public health, in an effort to understand the root, evolutionary causes of non-communicable diseases. Here, we review recent work on health, activity, energetics and diet among hunter-gatherers and other small-scale societies (e.g. subsistence farmers, horticulturalists and pastoralists), as well as recent fossil and archaeological discoveries, to provide a more comprehensive perspective on lifestyle and health in these populations. We supplement these analyses with new data from the Hadza, a hunter-gatherer population in northern Tanzania. Longevity among small-scale populations approaches that of industrialized populations, and metabolic and cardiovascular disease are rare. Obesity prevalence is very low (<5%), and mean body fat percentage is modest (women: 24-28%, men: 9-18%). Activity levels are high, exceeding 100 min d^-1 of moderate and vigorous physical activity, but daily energy expenditures are similar to industrialized populations. Diets in hunter-gatherer and other small-scale societies tend to be less energy dense and richer in fibre and micronutrients than modern diets but are not invariably low carbohydrate as sometimes argued. A more integrative understanding of hunter-gatherer health and lifestyle, including elements beyond diet and activity, will improve public health efforts in industrialized populations.

Using PROMIS for measuring recovery after abdominal surgery: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

To assess the construct validity and responsiveness of the PROMIS Physical Function v1.2 short form 8b (PROMIS-PF), and the PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities v2.0 short form 8a (PROMIS-APS) in postoperative recovery.

METHODS

An observational pilot study was conducted in which 30 patients participated, undergoing various forms of abdominal surgery. Patients completed the PROMIS-PF and PROMIS-APS, the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) at several time points before and after surgery. The construct validity and responsiveness of the two PROMIS short forms were evaluated by testing pre-defined hypotheses and were considered adequate when at least 75% of the data was consistent with the hypotheses. Construct validity was evaluated by calculating Spearman correlations and the responsiveness by calculating effect sizes.

RESULTS

6/7 (85.7%) of the results were consistent with the hypotheses supporting the construct validity of the PROMIS-PF. For the PROMIS-APS this was the case in 7/15 (46.7%) of the results. For the PROMIS-PF, 6/7 (85.7%) of the results were consistent with the hypotheses, supporting responsiveness. Regarding the responsiveness of the PROMIS-APS, only 7 out of 13 (53.8%) of these results were consistent with the hypotheses.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supported the construct validity and the responsiveness of the PROMIS-PF v1.2 short form 8b for measuring recovery in abdominal surgery. Considering the major advantages of PROMIS, we recommend the use of the PROMIS-PF in abdominal surgery.

Age-Related Eye Disease and Participation in Cognitive Activities

Studies have found a benefit to living a cognitively active life in older age. Our goal was to quantify participation in cognitively stimulating activities in adults with and without age-related eye disease. We conducted a cross-sectional hospital-based study in Montreal, Canada of older adults (n = 303) having either age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (n = 96), glaucoma (n = 93), or normal vision (n = 114). To be eligible, the AMD group had to have bilateral late stage AMD with a better eye visual acuity of 20/30 or worse. The glaucoma group had to have a diagnosis of bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma with visual field mean deviation <  = −4 dB in their better eye. Further inclusion criteria included age ≥ 65 and a Mini-Mental State Exam Blind score ≥ 10. Cognitive activities were measured using the Victoria Longitudinal Study Activity Questionnaire. Linear regression was used. Patients with AMD (β = −4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) −6.0, −2.4) and glaucoma (β = −1.8, 95% CI −3.3, −0.3) participated in fewer cognitive activities per month compared to those with normal vision after adjusting for age, sex, education, diabetes, number of comorbidities, cognition, and cataract. People with AMD and glaucoma participated in fewer cognitive activities, which could put them at risk for future cognitive impairment.

Using patient data to optimize an expert-based guideline on convalescence recommendations after gynecological surgery: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Convalescence advice is often based on tradition and anecdote from health care providers, rather than being based on experiences from patients themselves. The aim of this study was to analyse recovery in terms of resumption of various daily activities including work, following different laparoscopic and abdominal surgery in order to optimize an expert-based guideline on convalescence recommendations.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study conducted in nine general and one university hospital in the Netherlands. Women aged 18-65 years and scheduled for a hysterectomy (laparoscopic, vaginal, abdominal) and/or laparoscopic adnexal surgery (n = 304) were eligible to participate. Preoperatively, participants were provided with tailored expert-based convalescence recommendations on the graded resumption of several daily activities including sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, bending, lifting, driving, cycling, household chores, sport activities and return to work (RTW). Postoperatively, time until the resumption of these activities was tracked. Convalescence recommendations were considered correct when at least 25% and less than 50% of the women were able to resume an activity before or at the recommended recovery time.

RESULTS

There was a wide variation in the duration until the resumption of daily activities within and between groups of patients undergoing different types of surgery. Recovery times lengthened with increasing levels of physical burden as well as with increasing levels of invasiveness of the surgery. For the majority of activities actual recovery times exceeded the recovery time recommended by the expert panel.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided insight in the resumption of daily activities after gynecological surgery and the adequacy of an expert-based convalescence guideline in clinical practice. Patient data was used to optimize the convalescence recommendations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Dutch trial registry, NTR2087 (August 2009) and NTR2933 (June 2011).

Is the Self-Reporting of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Patients Treated With Spinal Cord Stimulation in Line With Objective Measurements?

OBJECTIVES

To understand the subjective pain experience of patients, healthcare providers rely heavily on self-reporting. However, to quantify this unique pain experience, objective parameters are not yet available in daily clinical practice. With regard to patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) treated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS), pain therapists may recover the individual functional information about the patient's posture from the implantable pulse generator (IPG) of the stimulator. The aim of this study is to investigate whether subjective self-reporting is in correlation with the functional capacities of a patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with FBSS, treated with SCS were included. The accelerometer in the IPG detects positional changes and provides an objective output of seven functional positions (lying back, lying prone, lying left, lying right, transition, upright, and upright + mobile). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), VAS-diary, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed to evaluate physical functioning, pain intensities, and subjective sleep quality. Additionally, 21 patients wore a wearable actigraph device to objectify sleep quality. The agreement and Spearman correlations between objective and subjective parameters were assessed.

RESULTS

Spearman rank correlations revealed no significant correlations between the ODI (subscales walking, sitting, standing, and sleeping) and the output of the IPG (percentage upright + mobile, transition, upright, and lying, respectively). Sleep parameters measured with the Actiwatch and the PSQI were not in agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that self-reporting questionnaires do not correlate with the findings of objective measurements. Therefore, we recommend using both subjective and objective parameters when determining treatment options for FBSS patients.