The impact of procedure type on 30-day readmissions following metabolic and bariatric surgery: postoperative complications of bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

Hospital readmission (HR) rates following metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) are used as a surrogate for quality outcomes and are increasingly tied to reimbursement rates. There are limited data concerning predictors of HR rates with regard to type of bariatric procedure.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent MBS from January 2014 to December 2019 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The causes of all HRs and reoperations within 30 days of the original discharge were analyzed. Statistical significance was determined using Chi Squared test and T test.

RESULTS

2815 patients underwent MBS. 2373 patients (84.3%) had primary procedures, while 442 patients (15.7%) had secondary or revisional procedures. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 5.7%, with no significant difference for patients who underwent primary vs. secondary MBS. Among primary procedures, the readmission rate was higher for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) than laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (10.32% vs. 4.77%). Readmissions were most often due to nontechnical causes. The overall reoperation rate was 1.14% and was higher for patients undergoing secondary vs. primary procedures (2.94% vs 0.80%).

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission rate was similar to that in existing literature. Revisional/secondary surgery did not lead to increased readmissions, although was associated with a higher reoperation rate. Most HRs were due to nontechnical causes. Optimization of postoperative care, such as fluid status, may reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Airway pressure release ventilation does not increase intracranial pressure in patients with traumatic brain injury with poor lung compliance

The use of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. Some believe that elevated mean airway pressures transmitted to the thorax may cause clinically significant increases in Central Venous Pressure (CVP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) from venous congestion. We perform a retrospective review from 2009 to 2015 of traumatically injured patients who were transitioned from traditional ventilator modes to APRV and also had an ICP monitor in place. Fifteen patients undergoing 19 transitions to APRV were identified. Prior to transitioning to APRV the average static and dynamic compliance was 22.9 +/- 5.6 and 16.5 +/- 4.12 mL/cm H2O. There was no statistical difference in ICP, MAP, and CPP prior to and after transition to APRV. There was a statistically significant increase in CVP, PaO2, and P:F ratio. Individually, only 4 patients had ICP values >20 in the first hour after transitioning to APRV and the rate of ICP elevations was similar between the two modes of ventilation. These data show that APRV is a viable mode of ventilation in patients with TBI who have low lung compliance. The increased CVP of this mode of ventilation did not affect ICP or hemodynamic parameters.

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"… Pediatric liver transplantation in the case of situs inversus totalis with a disrupted inferior vena cava

We present the unique case of a 15-month-old male born with biliary atresia and situs inversus totalis and disrupted inferior vena cava who underwent a successful liver transplantation. The patient had previously undergone a failed Kasai procedure and presented with persistent hyperbilirubinemia. The patient was transplanted with a left lateral segment donor having standard arterial anatomy. Technical considerations included identifying completely replaced arterial anatomy in the recipient from the superior mesenteric artery and creating a branch patch between the gastroduodenal artery and HA, anastomosing the donor left hepatic vein to confluences of the donor left, middle, and right hepatic veins, using a "lazy-S" configuration of portal vein anastomosis, and suspending the allograft to the abdominal wall. Post-operatively, his liver function tests and total bilirubin normalized and he progressed to tolerating an oral diet with tube-feed supplementation.

Utilization of the Iliac Artery as Inflow in the Morbidly Obese During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Arterial conduits are a well-recognized technique used in liver transplantation to achieve allograft arterial inflow when conventional hepatic arterial inflow is compromised. Indications for ectopic inflow include native arterial disease at the time of initial transplantation, as well as reconstruction in the setting of thrombotic complications. Although supraceliac or infrarenal aortic reconstructions are preferred approaches, the right common iliac artery represents a viable alternative. We present the case of a morbidly obese patient with occlusive atheromatous plaque at the celiac origin not amenable to preoperative angioplasty who underwent reconstruction with a donor iliac artery conduit to the recipient right common iliac artery. His hepatic arterial inflow remained patent postoperatively with no thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications.

Orthopedic resident work-shift analysis: are we making the best use of resident work hours?

BACKGROUND

Surgery programs have been tasked to meet rising demands in patient surgical care while simultaneously providing adequate resident training in the midst of increasing resident work-hour restrictions. The purpose of this study was to quantify orthopedic surgery resident workflow and identify areas needing improved resident efficiency. We hypothesize that residents spend a disproportionate amount of time involved in activities that do not relate directly to patient care or maximize resident education.

METHODS

We observed 4 orthopedic surgery residents on the orthopedic consult service at a major tertiary care center for 72 consecutive hours (6 consecutive shifts). We collected minute-by-minute data using predefined work-task criteria: direct new patient contact, direct existing patient contact, communications with other providers, documentation/administrative time, transit time, and basic human needs. A seventh category comprised remaining less-productive work was termed as standby.

RESULTS

In a 720-minute shift, residents spent on an average: 191 minutes (26.5%) performing documentation/administrative duties, 167.0 minutes (23.2%) in direct contact with new patient consults, 129.6 minutes (17.1%) in communication with other providers regarding patients, 116.2 (16.1%) minutes in standby, 63.7 minutes (8.8%) in transit, 32.6 minutes (4.5%) with existing patients, and 20 minutes (2.7%) attending to basic human needs. Residents performed an additional 130 minutes of administrative work off duty. Secondary analysis revealed residents were more likely to perform administrative work rather than directly interact with existing patients (p = 0.006) or attend to basic human needs (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Orthopedic surgery residents spend a large proportion of their time performing documentation/administrative-type work and their workday can be operationally optimized to minimize nonvalue-adding tasks. Formal workflow analysis may aid program directors in systematic process improvements to better align resident skills with tasks.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Motor vehicle crash-related subdural hematoma from real-world head impact data

Abstract Approximately 1,700,000 people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of hospitalization from TBI. Acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is a common intracranial injury that occurs in MVCs associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. In this study, SDH volume and midline shift have been analyzed in order to better understand occupant injury by correlating them to crash and occupant parameters. Fifty-seven head computed tomography (CT) scans were selected from the Crash Injury Research Engineering Network (CIREN) with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) level 3+ SDH. Semi-automated methods were used to isolate the intracranial volume. SDH and additional occupant intracranial injuries were segmented across axial CT images, providing a total SDH injury volume. SDH volume was correlated to crash parameters and occupant characteristics. Results show a positive correlation between SDH volume and crash severity in near-side and frontal crashes. Additionally, the location of the resulting hemorrhage varied by crash type. Those with greater SDH volumes had significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores at the crash site in near-side crashes. Age and fracture type were found to be significant contributors to SDH volume. This study is a volumetric analysis of real world brain injuries and known MVC impacts. The results of this study demonstrate a relationship among SDH volume, crash mechanics, and occupant characteristics that provide a better understanding of the injury mechanisms of MVC-associated TBI.