The usefulness of artificial intelligence in breast reconstruction: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers an approach to predictive modeling. The model learns to determine specific patterns of undesirable outcomes in a dataset. Therefore, a decision-making algorithm can be built based on these patterns to prevent negative results. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the usefulness of AI in breast reconstruction.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in August 2022 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar online databases were queried to capture all publications studying the use of artificial intelligence in breast reconstruction.

RESULTS

A total of 23 studies were full text-screened after removing duplicates, and twelve articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The Machine Learning algorithms applied for neuropathic pain, lymphedema diagnosis, microvascular abdominal flap failure, donor site complications associated to muscle sparing Transverse Rectus Abdominis flap, surgical complications, financial toxicity, and patient-reported outcomes after breast surgery demonstrated that AI is a helpful tool to accurately predict patient results. In addition, one study used Computer Vision technology to assist in Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Artery detection for flap design, considerably reducing the preoperative time compared to manual identification.

CONCLUSIONS

In breast reconstruction, AI can help the surgeon by optimizing the perioperative patients' counseling to predict negative outcomes, allowing execution of timely interventions and reducing the postoperative burden, which leads to obtaining the most successful results and improving patient satisfaction.

A narrative review of telemedicine and its adoption across specialties

Background and Objective

Telemedicine and video consultation are crucial advancements in healthcare, allowing remote delivery of care. Telemedicine, encompassing various technologies like wearable devices, mobile health, and telemedicine, plays a significant role in managing illnesses and promoting wellness. The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, ensuring convenient access to medical services while maintaining physical distance. Legislation has supported its integration into clinical practice and addressed compensation issues. However, ensuring clinical appropriateness and sustainability of telemedicine post-expansion has gained attention. We south to identify the most friendly and resistant specialties to telemedicine and to understand areas of interest within those specialties to grasp potential barriers to its use.

Methods

We aimed to identify articles that incorporated telemedicine in any medical or surgical specialty and determine the adoption rate and intent of this new form of care. Additionally, a secondary search within these databases was conducted to analyze the advantages, disadvantages, and implementation of telemedicine in the healthcare system. Non-English articles and those without full text were excluded. The study selection and data collection process involved using search terms such as "medicine", "surgery", "specialties", "telemedicine", and "telemedicine".

Key Content and Findings

Telemedicine adoption varies among specialties. The pandemic led to increased usage, with telemedicine consultations comprising 30.1% of all visits, but specialties like mental health, gastroenterology, and endocrinology showed higher rates of adoption compared to optometry, physical therapy, and orthopedic surgery.

Conclusions

The data shows that telemedicine uptake varies by specialty and condition due to the need for physical exams. In-person visits still dominate new patient visits despite increased telemedicine use. Telemedicine cannot fully replace in-person care but has increased visit volume and is secure. The adoption of telemedicine is higher in medical practices than in surgical practices, with neurosurgery and urology leading. Further research is needed to assess telemedicine's suitability and effectiveness in different specialties and conditions.

In Vitro Enhanced Osteogenic Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded in a Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic) Acid Scaffold: A Systematic Review

Study Design

Human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) and human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have demonstrated the capability to regenerate bone once they have differentiated into osteoblasts.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential of these cells when seeded in a poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) scaffold.

Methods

A literature search of 4 databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in January 2021 for studies evaluating the osteogenic differentiation potential of hBMSCs and hADSCs seeded in a PLGA scaffold. Only in vitro models were included. Studies in languages other than English were excluded.

Results

A total of 257 studies were identified after the removal of duplicates. Seven articles fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four of these reviews used hADSCs and three used hBMSCs in the scaffold. Upregulation in osteogenic gene expression was seen in all the cells seeded in a 3-dimensional scaffold compared with 2-dimensional films. High angiogenic gene expression was found in hADSCs. Addition of inorganic material to the scaffold material affected cell performance.

Conclusions

Viability, proliferation, and differentiation of cells strongly depend on the environment where they grow. There are several factors that can enhance the differentiation capacity of stem cells. A PLGA scaffold proved to be a biocompatible material capable of boosting the osteogenic differentiation potential and mineralization capacity in hBMSCs and hADSCs.

Machine Learning Algorithms Predict Long-Term Postoperative Opioid Misuse: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

A steadily rising opioid pandemic has left the US suffering significant social, economic, and health crises. Machine learning (ML) domains have been utilized to predict prolonged postoperative opioid (PPO) use. This systematic review aims to compile all up-to-date studies addressing such algorithms' use in clinical practice.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science using the keywords "machine learning," "opioid," and "prediction." The results were limited to human studies with full-text availability in English. We included all peer-reviewed journal articles that addressed an ML model to predict PPO use by adult patients.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included with a sample size ranging from 381 to 112898, primarily orthopedic-surgery-related. Most authors define a prolonged misuse of opioids if it extends beyond 90 days postoperatively. Input variables ranged from 9 to 23 and were primarily preoperative. Most studies developed and tested at least two algorithms and then enhanced the best-performing model for use retrospectively on electronic medical records. The best-performing models were decision-tree-based boosting algorithms in 5 studies with AUC ranging from .81 to .66 and Brier scores ranging from .073 to .13, followed second by logistic regression classifiers in 5 studies. The topmost contributing variable was preoperative opioid use, followed by depression and antidepressant use, age, and use of instrumentation.

CONCLUSIONS

ML algorithms have demonstrated promising potential as a decision-supportive tool in predicting prolonged opioid use in post-surgical patients. Further validation studies would allow for their confident incorporation into daily clinical practice.

Technical consideration for breast reconstruction in patients requiring neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy: a narrative review

Background and Objective

Surgical considerations for breast reconstruction (BR) in patients requiring neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NART) or adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) cannot be understated. The management of irradiated tissue leads surgeons to face several challenges. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively understand the proper patient selection and preoperative planning to ensure the best outcomes and minimize the risk of complications. This narrative review aims to provide an update and summary of the most important technical considerations every breast surgeon must contemplate reconstructing the irradiated breast.

Methods

The search strategy was performed on January 10th, 2023. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were queried to capture all publications regarding surgical considerations in BR of patients undergoing NART and ART.

Key Content and Findings

This review shows that the effects of radiotherapy (RT) on BR are still being studied. RT represents an essential factor for overall patient survival, and its use is increasing. However, the range of RT treatments across different cancer centers complicates the creation of a single treatment protocol. BR improves women's quality of life, so finding the proper integration of BR and RT is essential. When deciding on the reconstructive method, there are several factors to consider, such as the patient's body characteristics, tumor stage, RT protocol, and chemotherapy. To achieve the best surgical results and the most satisfied patient, using less aggressive and safer RT methods in the treatment sequence is recommended.

Conclusions

The timing of the radiation will influence the selection of the best reconstructive methods to be employed in the breast cancer patient. However, there is clear evidence of preference for immediate autologous-based BR in cases due to the low rate of complications in the long term. But patient individualization is the key. Therefore, the benefits and risks of immediate versus delayed and autologous versus implant-based reconstruction must be weighed in every single case.

Benefits and Challenges of Remote Patient Monitoring as Perceived by Health Care Practitioners: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Remote patient monitoring (RPM), or telemonitoring, offers ways for health care practitioners to gather real-time information on the physiological conditions of patients. As telemedicine, and thus telemonitoring, is becoming increasingly relevant in today's society, understanding the practitioners' opinions is crucial. This systematic review evaluates the perspectives and experiences of health care practitioners with telemonitoring technologies.

METHODS

A database search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for the selection of articles measuring health care practitioners' perspectives and experiences with RPM technologies published between 2017 and 2021. Only articles written in English were included. No statistical analysis was performed and thus this is a qualitative review.

RESULTS

A total of 1605 studies were identified after the initial search. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this review's authors, 13 articles were included in this review. In all, 2351 practitioners' perspectives and experience utilizing RPM technology in a variety of medical specialties were evaluated through close- and open-ended surveys. Recurring themes emerged for both the benefits and challenges. Common benefits included continuous monitoring of patients to provide prompt care, improvement of patient self-care, efficient communication, increased patient confidence, visualization of health trends, and greater patient education. Challenges comprised increased workload, higher patient anxiety, data inaccuracy, disorienting technology, financial issues, and privacy concerns.

CONCLUSION

Health care practitioners generally believe that RPM is feasible for application. Additionally, there is a consensus that telemonitoring strategies will become increasingly relevant. However, there are still drawbacks to the technology that need to be considered.

The ASA Classification System as a Predictive Factor to Stay at the Virtual Hybrid Care Hotel

INTRODUCTION

The Care Hotel is a virtual hybrid care model for postoperative patients after low-risk procedures which allow recovery in an outpatient environment. This study aimed to analyze if the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) Classification System can be used as a predictive factor for staying at Mayo Clinic's Care Hotel.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted between July 23, 2020, and June 4, 2021, at Mayo Clinic in Florida, a 306-bed community academic hospital. ASA PS Class and post-procedure care setting (Care Hotel vs inpatient ward) were collected. Patients were classified into two ASA PS groups (ASA PS Classes 1-2 and 3-4). Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine if the ASA PS Class and having stayed or not at the Care Hotel were independent and an Odds Ratio (OR) calculated.

RESULTS

Out of 392 surgical and procedural patients, 272 (69.39%) chose the Care Hotel and 120 (30.61%) chose the inpatient ward. There was a statistically significant association between ASA PS Class and staying at the Care Hotel, P < .01. The OR of preferring to stay at the Care Hotel in patients with ASA PS Class 1-2 vs ASA PC Class 3-4 was 1.91 (P = .0041, 95% CI: 1.229-2.982).

CONCLUSION

Patients with ASA PS Classes 1-2 are almost twice as likely to elect to stay at the Care Hotel compared to those with ASA PS Classes 3-4. This finding may help care teams focus their Care hotel recruitment efforts.

Evaluating the exoscope as an alternative to the operating microscope in plastic surgery

BACKGROUND

Microsurgery is most commonly used in the anastomosis of vessels, flap harvesting, lymphedema, and nerve reconstruction, among others. During the 1920s the first microscope was invented by Nylen and Holmgren, quickly becoming the gold standard for microsurgery. However, technological advances have come forth in the form of exoscopes.

METHODS

A search for full-text articles where using an exoscope was compared with a traditional operating microscope was conducted on the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. The following terms were used to guide our search: Microscope AND exoscope AND plastic surgery; Microscope AND exoscope AND microvascular surgery.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 69 studies, of which 12 were included. Five exoscope systems were used by the authors. All studies reported the exoscope as a valid alternative to the standard operating microscope. The exoscope was reported as non-inferior to the operating microscope. Although some studies reported lower quality of image, this did not seem to influence the outcome of surgeries. Newer models may have bridged the gap between the operating microscope's image quality and the exoscope. Superior ergonomics was always reported among the included studies.

CONCLUSION

Based on our search, we conclude that the exoscope is a safe and valid alternative to the operating microscope in plastic surgery. As newer models are now commercially available, these have overcome difficulties in image quality and zoom capabilities, responsible for the main drawbacks of the first exoscope systems.

Artificial Intelligence Models in Health Information Exchange: A Systematic Review of Clinical Implications

Electronic health record (EHR) systems collate patient data, and the integration and standardization of documents through Health Information Exchange (HIE) play a pivotal role in refining patient management. Although the clinical implications of AI in EHR systems have been extensively analyzed, its application in HIE as a crucial source of patient data is less explored. Addressing this gap, our systematic review delves into utilizing AI models in HIE, gauging their predictive prowess and potential limitations. Employing databases such as Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science and adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we unearthed 1021 publications. Of these, 11 were shortlisted for the final analysis. A noticeable preference for machine learning models in prognosticating clinical results, notably in oncology and cardiac failures, was evident. The metrics displayed AUC values ranging between 61% and 99.91%. Sensitivity metrics spanned from 12% to 96.50%, specificity from 76.30% to 98.80%, positive predictive values varied from 83.70% to 94.10%, and negative predictive values between 94.10% and 99.10%. Despite variations in specific metrics, AI models drawing on HIE data unfailingly showcased commendable predictive proficiency in clinical verdicts, emphasizing the transformative potential of melding AI with HIE. However, variations in sensitivity highlight underlying challenges. As healthcare's path becomes more enmeshed with AI, a well-rounded, enlightened approach is pivotal to guarantee the delivery of trustworthy and effective AI-augmented healthcare solutions.

Patient Satisfaction With a Multisite, Multiregional Remote Patient Monitoring Program for Acute and Chronic Condition Management: Survey-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an option for continuously managing the care of patients in the comfort of their homes or locations outside hospitals and clinics. Patient engagement with RPM programs is essential for achieving successful outcomes and high quality of care. When relying on technology to facilitate monitoring and shifting disease management to the home environment, it is important to understand the patients' experiences to enable quality improvement.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe patients' experiences and overall satisfaction with an RPM program for acute and chronic conditions in a multisite, multiregional health care system.

METHODS

Between January 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, a patient experience survey was delivered via email to all patients enrolled in the RPM program. The survey encompassed 19 questions across 4 categories regarding comfort, equipment, communication, and overall experience, as well as 2 open-ended questions. Descriptive analysis of the survey response data was performed using frequency distribution and percentages.

RESULTS

Surveys were sent to 8535 patients. The survey response rate was 37.16% (3172/8535) and the completion rate was 95.23% (3172/3331). Survey results indicated that 88.97% (2783/3128) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program helped them feel comfortable managing their health from home. Furthermore, 93.58% (2873/3070) were satisfied with the RPM program and ready to graduate when meeting the program goals. In addition, patient confidence in this model of care was confirmed by 92.76% (2846/3068) of the participants who would recommend RPM to people with similar conditions. There were no differences in ease of technology use according to age. Those with high school or less education were more likely to agree that the equipment and educational materials helped them feel more informed about their care plans than those with higher education levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This multisite, multiregional RPM program has become a reliable health care delivery model for the management of acute and chronic conditions outside hospitals and clinics. Program participants reported an excellent overall experience and a high level of satisfaction in managing their health from the comfort of their home environment.

Bone Morphogenic Protein and Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Regenerate Bone in Calvarial Defects: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The use of bone morphogenic protein and mesenchymal stem cells has shown promise in promoting bone regeneration in calvarial defects. However, a systematic review of the available literature is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.

METHODS

We comprehensively searched electronic databases using MeSH terms related to skull defects, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and bone morphogenic proteins. Eligible studies included animal studies that used BMP therapy and mesenchymal stem cells to promote bone regeneration in calvarial defects. Reviews, conference articles, book chapters, and non-English language studies were excluded. Two independent investigators conducted the search and data extraction.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies published between 2010 and 2022 met our inclusion criteria after a full-text review of the forty-five records found in the search. Eight of the 23 studies used mice as models, while 15 used rats. The most common mesenchymal stem cell was bone marrow-derived, followed by adipose-derived. BMP-2 was the most popular. Stem cells were embedded in Scaffold (13), Transduction (7), and Transfection (3), and they were delivered BMP to cells. Each treatment used 2 × 10⁴-1 × 10⁷ mesenchymal stem cells, averaging 2.26 × 10⁶. Most BMP-transduced MSC studies used lentivirus.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review examined BMP and MSC synergy in biomaterial scaffolds or alone. BMP therapy and mesenchymal stem cells in calvarial defects, alone, or with a scaffold regenerated bone. This method treats skull defects in clinical trials. The best scaffold material, therapeutic dosage, administration method, and long-term side effects need further study.

Using AI to Detect Pain through Facial Expressions: A Review

Pain assessment is a complex task largely dependent on the patient's self-report. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for automating and objectifying pain assessment through the identification of pain-related facial expressions. However, the capabilities and potential of AI in clinical settings are still largely unknown to many medical professionals. In this literature review, we present a conceptual understanding of the application of AI to detect pain through facial expressions. We provide an overview of the current state of the art as well as the technical foundations of AI/ML techniques used in pain detection. We highlight the ethical challenges and the limitations associated with the use of AI in pain detection, such as the scarcity of databases, confounding factors, and medical conditions that affect the shape and mobility of the face. The review also highlights the potential impact of AI on pain assessment in clinical practice and lays the groundwork for further study in this area.

Surgical service and distance traveled drive patient preference for Care Hotel: a retrospective cohort study

Mayo Clinic's Care Hotel is a virtual hybrid care model which allows postoperative patients to recover in a comfortable environment after a low-risk procedure. Hospitals need to understand the key patient factors that promote acceptance of the Care Hotel if they are to benefit from this innovative care model. This study aims to identify factors that can predict whether a patient will stay at Care Hotel.

Materials and methods

This retrospective chart review of 1065 patients was conducted between 23 July 2020, and 31 December 2021. Variables examined included patient age, sex, race, ethnicity, Charlson comorbidity index, distance patient travelled to hospital, length of surgery, day of the week of surgery, and surgical service. Associations of patient and surgery characteristics with the primary outcome of staying at the Care Hotel were assessed using unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Of the 1065 patients who met criteria for admission to the Care Hotel during the study period, 717 (67.3%) chose to stay at the Care Hotel while 328 (32.7%) choose to be admitted to the hospital. In multivariable analysis, there was a significant association between surgical service and staying at the Care Hotel (P<0.001). Specifically, there was a higher likelihood of staying at the Care Hotel for patients from Neurosurgery [odds rato (OR)=1.86, P=0.004], Otorhinolaryngology (OR=2.70, P<0.001), and General Surgery (OR=2.75, P=0.002). Additionally, there was a higher likelihood of staying at the Care Hotel with distance travelled over 110 miles [OR (per each doubling)=1.10, P=0.007].

Conclusion

When developing a post-surgical care model for patients following outpatient procedures, the referring surgical service is a primary factor to consider in order to ensure patient acceptance, along with patient distance. This study can assist other healthcare organizations considering this model, as it provides guidance on which factors are most indicative of acceptance.

A Review of Voice-Based Pain Detection in Adults Using Artificial Intelligence

Pain is a complex and subjective experience, and traditional methods of pain assessment can be limited by factors such as self-report bias and observer variability. Voice is frequently used to evaluate pain, occasionally in conjunction with other behaviors such as facial gestures. Compared to facial emotions, there is less available evidence linking pain with voice. This literature review synthesizes the current state of research on the use of voice recognition and voice analysis for pain detection in adults, with a specific focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques. We describe the previous works on pain recognition using voice and highlight the different approaches to voice as a tool for pain detection, such as a human effect or biosignal. Overall, studies have shown that AI-based voice analysis can be an effective tool for pain detection in adult patients with various types of pain, including chronic and acute pain. We highlight the high accuracy of the ML-based approaches used in studies and their limitations in terms of generalizability due to factors such as the nature of the pain and patient population characteristics. However, there are still potential challenges, such as the need for large datasets and the risk of bias in training models, which warrant further research.

Evaluation of the Aging Effect on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral nerve injuries have been associated with increased healthcare costs and decreased patients' quality of life. Aging represents one factor that slows the speed of peripheral nervous system (PNS) regeneration. Since cellular homeostasis imbalance associated with aging lead to an increased failure in nerve regeneration in mammals of advanced age, this systematic review aims to determine the main molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in peripheral nerve regeneration in aged murine models after a peripheral nerve injuries.

METHODS

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search of 4 databases was conducted in July 2022 for studies comparing the peripheral nerve regeneration capability between young and aged murine models.

RESULTS

After the initial search yielded 744 publications, ten articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies show that age-related changes such as chronic inflammatory state, delayed macrophages' response to injury, dysfunctional Schwann Cells (SCs), and microenvironment alterations cause a reduction in the regenerative capability of the PNS in murine models. Furthermore, identifying altered gene expression patterns of SC after nerve damage can contribute to the understanding of physiological modifications produced by aging.

CONCLUSIONS

The interaction between macrophages and SC plays a crucial role in the nerve regeneration of aged models. Therefore, studies aimed at developing new and promising therapies for nerve regeneration should focus on these cellular groups to enhance the regenerative capabilities of the PNS in elderly populations.

Severity of illness and risk of mortality in Mayo Clinic's virtual hybrid advanced care at home program: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In July 2020, Mayo Clinic launched Advanced Care at Home (ACH), a high-acuity virtual hybrid hospital-at-home model (HaH) of care at Mayo Clinic Florida and Northwest Wisconsin, an urban destination medical center and a rural community practice respectively. This study aims to describe demographic characteristics of ACH patients as well as their acuity of illness using severity of illness (SOI) and risk of mortality (ROM), to illustrate the complexity of patients in the program, taking into account the different diagnostic related groups.

METHODS

Mayo Clinic uses All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) to calculate SOI and ROM on hospitalized patients. APR-DRG data, including SOI and ROM, were gathered from individual chart reviews from July 6, 2020, to March 31, 2022.

RESULTS

 Out of 923 patients discharged from ACH, the average APR-DRG SOI was 2.89 (SD 0.81) and ROM was 2.73. (SD 0.92). Mean age was 70.88 (SD 14.46) years, 54.6% were male patients and the average length of stay was 4.10 days. The most frequent diagnosis was COVID-19 infection with 162 patients (17.6%), followed by heart failure exacerbation (12.7%) and septicemia (10.9%). The 30-day readmission rate after discharge from ACH was 11.2% (n = 103) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1.8% (n = 17). There were no in-program patient deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

SOI and ROM from patients at the ACH program have been shown to be in the range of "moderate/major" according to the APR-DRG classification. The ACH program is capable of accepting and managing highly complex patients that require advanced therapeutic means. Furthermore, the ACH program has an in-program mortality rate of 0 to date. Therefore, ACH is rising as a capable alternative to the brick-and-mortar hospital.

The Role of Telemedicine in Prehospital Traumatic Hand Injury Evaluation

Unnecessary ED visits and transfers to hand clinics raise treatment costs and patient burden at trauma centers. In the present COVID-19 pandemic, needless transfers can increase patients' risk of viral exposure. Therefore, this review analyzes different aspects of the remote diagnosis and triage of traumatic hand injuries. The most common file was photography, with the most common devices being cell phone cameras. Treatment, triage, diagnosis, cost, and time outcomes were assessed, showing concordance between teleconsultation and face-to-face patient evaluations. We conclude that photography and video consultations are feasible surrogates for ED visits in patients with traumatic hand injuries. These technologies should be leveraged to decrease treatment costs and potentially decrease the time to definitive treatment after initial evaluation.

High Satisfaction With a Virtual Assistant for Plastic Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

BACKGROUND

Most of a surgeon's office time is dedicated to patient education, preventing an appropriate patient-physician relationship. Telephone-accessed artificial intelligent virtual assistants (AIVAs) that simulate a human conversation and answer preoperative frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be effective solutions to this matter. An AIVA capable of answering preoperative plastic surgery-related FAQs has previously been described by the authors.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper was to determine patients' perception and satisfaction with an AIVA.

METHODS

Twenty-six adult patients from a plastic surgery service answered a 3-part survey consisting of: (1) an evaluation of the answers' correctness, (2) their agreement with the feasibility, usefulness, and future uses of the AIVA, and (3) a section on comments. The first part made it possible to measure the system's accuracy, and the second to evaluate perception and satisfaction. The data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA).

RESULTS

The AIVA correctly answered the patients' questions 98.5% of the time, and the topic with the lowest accuracy was "nausea." Additionally, 88% of patients agreed with the statements of the second part of the survey. Thus, the patients' perception was positive and overall satisfaction with the AIVA was high. Patients agreed the least with using the AIVA to select their surgical procedure. The comments provided improvement areas for subsequent stages of the project.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that patients were satisfied and expressed a positive experience with using the AIVA to answer plastic surgery FAQs before surgery. The system is also highly accurate.

Demographic Characteristics Influence Treatment Costs of Invasive Melanoma in Florida

BACKGROUND

Demographic characteristics are known to influence the treatment and outcomes of patients with invasive melanoma. Whether these characteristics influence treatment costs is unknown. We aimed to analyze whether patient demographics and tumor characteristics influence treatment costs for patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma in Florida.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in which the Florida Inpatient and Outpatient Dataset of the Agency for Health Care Administration was analyzed for patients with a diagnosis of invasive melanoma between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. Categorical variables were assessed using Pearson χ2 tests, and continuous variables were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the association between patient demographics and total costs. All analyses were done using SAS 9.4 statistical software (SAS Institute, Inc).

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that sex (P < 0.001), hospital setting (P < 0.001), race/ethnicity (P < 0.01), patient region (P < 0.01), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score (P < 0.001), presence of metastasis (P < 0.01), total number of procedures (P < 0.001), and length of stay (P < 0.001) were correlated with the cost of treatment of invasive cutaneous melanoma. After stratification, the association between cost and race/ethnicity disappeared for inpatients but remained for Black patients in the outpatient setting (P < 0.001). The association between cost and patient residence regions also differed when the cohort was stratified.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies addressing disparities in treatment cost of invasive melanoma should differ, depending on the hospital setting where the patient is being treated.

Perceived Age as a Mortality and Comorbidity Predictor: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Perceived age is defined as how old a person looks to external evaluators. It reflects the underlying biological age, which is a measure based on physical and physiological parameters reflecting a person's aging process more accurately than chronological age. People with a higher biological age have shorter lives compared to those with a lower biological age with the same chronological age. Our review aims to find whether increased perceived age is a risk factor for overall mortality risk or comorbidities.

METHODS

A literature search of three databases was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines for studies analyzing perceived age or isolated facial characteristics of old age and their relationship to mortality risk or comorbidity outcomes. Data on the number of patients, type and characteristics of evaluation methods, evaluator characteristics, mean chronologic age, facial characteristics studied, measured outcomes, and study results were collected.

RESULTS

Out of 977 studies, 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies found an increase in mortality risk of 6-51% in older-looking people compared to controls (HR 1.06-1.51, p < 0.05). In addition, perceived age and some facial characteristics of old age were also associated with cardiovascular risk and myocardial infarction, cognitive function, bone mineral density, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

CONCLUSION

Perceived age promises to be a clinically useful predictor of overall mortality and cardiovascular, pulmonary, cognitive, and osseous comorbidities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Impact of an Acquisition Advanced Practice Provider on Home Hospital Patient Volumes and Length of Stay

In July 2020, Mayo Clinic introduced a hospital-at-home program, known as Advanced Care at Home (ACH) as an alternate option for clinically stable medical patients requiring hospital-level care. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the impact of the addition of a dedicated ACH patient acquisition Advanced Practice Provider (APP) on average length of stay (ALOS) and the number of patients admitted into the program between in Florida and Wisconsin between 6 July 2020 and 31 January 2022. Patient volumes and ALOS of 755 patients were analyzed between the two sites both before and after a dedicated acquisition APP was added to the Florida site on 1 June 2021. The addition of a dedicated acquisition APP did not affect the length of time a patient was in the emergency department or hospital ward prior to ACH transition (2.91 days [Florida] vs. 2.59 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.22), the transition time between initiation of the ACH consult to patient transfer home (0.85 days [Florida] vs. 1.16 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.28), or the total ALOS (6.63 days [Florida] vs. 6.34 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.47). The average number of patients acquired monthly was significantly increased in Florida (38.3 patients per month) compared with Wisconsin (21.6 patients per month) (p < 0.01). The addition of a dedicated patient acquisition APP resulted in significantly higher patient volumes but did not affect transition time or ALOS. Other hospital-at-home programs may consider the addition of an acquisition APP to maximize patient volumes.

Treatment of a high healthcare utilizer with sepsis in a virtual hybrid hospital-at-home program

High healthcare utilizers are often chronically ill patients who require aggressive hospital and outpatient care. We describe a patient with septic shock who was stabilized in the intensive care unit, then transitioned to a virtual hybrid hospital-at-home to complete both inpatient care as well as outpatient wound and rehabilitation therapy.

Local anti-inflammatory effect and immunomodulatory activity of chitosan-based dressing in skin wound healing: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Wound healing is a complex process comprised of several distinct phases. An imbalance in any of the stages creates a chronic wound with the potential to cause life-threatening complications for patients. Chitosan (CS) is a biopolymer that has shown to positively impact the different healing phases. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of CS-based wound therapy for the skin healing process after an injury.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in November 2021 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane online databases were queried to capture all publications in the past 10 years that investigated the CS effects on inflammation and immune reaction.

RESULTS

A total of 234 studies were screened after removing duplicates and 14 articles fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the studies, CS was combined with a wide range of products. One clinical trial was found that treated patients with diabetic foot ulcers. All animal models in the studies used a full-thickness skin wound to test the effectiveness of CS in the healing process. Decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, a shortened inflammatory phase and accelerated wound closure was observed in all of the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

CS proved to be a feasible, versatile, and multifaceted biomaterial that enhances the biological response to a skin injury. When combined with other products, its potential to boost the healing process through regulation of the inflammatory and cellular activity is increased.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

Although few clinical trials have been completed, CS has become an excellent alternative to modulate the local inflammatory response promoting wound healing. Especially in patients with associated comorbidities that affect the typical resolution of skin healing, such as diabetes and vascular insufficiency. Therefore, using bioactive wound dressings based on CS combined with nanoparticles, growth factors, lived cells, or medications released in a controlled manner positively impacts patient life by shorting the wound healing process.

Perceived Age in Patients Exposed to Distinct UV Indexes: A Systematic Review

Photodamage is caused by chronic sun exposure and ultraviolet radiation and presents as wrinkles, sagging, and pigmented spots. An increase in the ultraviolet index can increase a person's perceived age by worsening skin photodamage. However, since the ultraviolet index varies considerably between geographical regions, perceived age might vary substantially among them. This review aims to describe the differences in chronological and perceived age in regions of the world with different ultraviolet indexes. A literature search of three databases was conducted for studies analyzing perceived age and its relationship to sun exposure. Ultraviolet indexes from the included studies were retrieved from the National Weather Service and the Tropospheric Emission Monitoring Internet Service. Out of 104 studies, seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Overall, 3,352 patients were evaluated for perceived age. All studies found that patients with the highest daily sun exposures had the highest perceived ages for their chronological age (p < 0.05). People with high sun exposure behaviors living in regions with high ultraviolet indexes will look significantly older than same-aged peers living in lower ultraviolet index regions.

Small Bowel Obstruction Conservatively Managed in Hospital-At-Home

In 2020, Mayo Clinic established an Advanced Care at Home (ACH) program. ACH is a virtual hybrid hospital-at-home (HaH) program that combines telemedicine with in-home care services by utilizing a state that is software-driven, vendor-mediate medical supply chain. The program initially focused on acute medical diagnosis but has expanded to oversee surgical and postsurgical patients with continued inpatient needs. Here, we report the first case of a small bowel obstruction (SBO) managed under a HaH program. A 52-year-old lady presented to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of mechanical SBO. The diagnosis was confirmed with an abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, and the patient was admitted to the hospital. Based on the patient's presentation and laboratory results, the care team proceeded with conservative treatment including nasogastric tube (NG) placement and suctioning, intravenous (IV) fluid replacement, and daily laboratory studies. She spent the first hospital day in the physical hospital ward so that the surgical team could ensure stability clinically and no urgent need for surgical intervention. On hospital day two, she was transferred home with ACH where the NG suctioning and IV replacement therapy could continue, while the medical team conducted daily virtual visits to ensure continued improvement. Additionally, a paramedic and a nurse performed an in-person, head-to-toe assessment and administered medications to the patient twice daily. She spent 5 days in ACH getting acute care and then was discharged into a postacute phase equivalent to outpatient monitoring called the restorative phase. She was monitored remotely for the duration of the restorative phase for 10 more days, and then she recovered fully. This case highlights that high-acuity patients with SBO can receive invasive treatments like NG tube suction as well as be appropriately monitored for clinical decompensation by a virtual hybrid home hospital program which combines virtual care providers with an in-home vendor-mediated supply chain.

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Management of Phantom Limb Pain: A Systematic Review

Upper and lower limb amputations are frequently associated with phantom limb pain (PLP). Recently, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been reported as a potential therapy of PLP. We have conducted a systematic review of literature to evaluate the efficacy of VR and AR in managing PLP. Four databases were searched: PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science. We utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for our organization. The initial search resulted in 164 results. After title, abstract, and full-text screening, 9 studies were included. One study was of good quality and 8 studies were of fair to poor quality. Seven studies utilized VR and 2 studies utilized AR. The number of treatment sessions ranged from 1 to 28 and the duration ranged from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Several pain scales were used to evaluate PLP pre- and postintervention including Numeric Rating Scale, Pain Rating Index, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Visual Analog Scale. All the studies reported improvement of PLP on one or more of pain scales after one or more sessions of VR or AR. Despite the promising results reported by literature, we cannot recommend using VR or AR for PLP. Most of the studies are of poor design and have limited sample size with high bias levels. Therefore, no substantial evidence can be derived from them. However, we do believe further research with high-quality randomized controlled trials should take place to increase the knowledge of the potential advantages.

Great Toe Transplantation

Despite being relatively uncommon in the general population, thumb amputations cause severe disability. More than 3,300 thumb amputations occurred in the United States. The thumb makes up around 40% of the function of the hand. Therefore, losing it would result in significant medical, hospital, and societal costs. Thumb reconstruction surgery's primary goal is to restore grip strength, including the range of motion, fine and tripod pinch, power grasp, strength, and sensibility, while secondary goals include restoring hand aesthetics. In cases of thumb replantation, like-for-like replacement is possible; however, when thumb replantation is not possible, great toe-to-hand transplantation is the best available reconstruction. When compared with other reconstructive options such as osteoplastic thumb reconstruction, pollicization, second toe transplantation, and the use of a thumb prosthesis, great toe transplantation provides superior function and aesthetics. For restoring pinch, sensitivity, strength, and aesthetics of the hand with well-tolerated donor site morbidity, toe to thumb transplantation is regarded as the gold standard.

Animal models in lymph node transfer surgery: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Lymph node transfer surgery (LNTS) is indicated in secondary lymphedema (LE) patients who do not respond to conservative therapy. Animal models are the spearhead of LE research and were used to pioneer most of the surgical interventions currently in practice. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to explore animal models dedicated to LNTS to compare different species, techniques, and outcomes.

METHODS

Four databases were searched: PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, and Web of Science. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis as our basis of organization.

RESULTS

Avascular lymph node graft (ALNG) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) effectively treated LE and lead to better outcomes than controls. Whole ALNGs are superior to fragmented ALNGs. Larger fragments are more likely to be reintegrated into the lymphatic system than small fragments. VLNT was superior to whole and fragmented ALNG. Increasing the number of VLNT resulted in better outcomes. Adipose-derived stem cells improved outcomes of VLNT; vascular endothelial growth factor C and D and platelet-rich plasma improved outcomes for ALNG. Cryopreservation of lymph nodes (LNs) did not affect outcomes for ALNG. The critical ischemia and venous occlusion time for LN flaps were 4-5 and 4 h, respectively. The critical time for reperfusion injury was 2 h. Some of the novel models included venous LNT, and cervical adipocutaneous flap to groin.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence from animals favors VLNT over other surgical interventions. Several pharmacological therapies significantly improved outcomes of ALNG and VLNT.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENTS

LE is a chronic condition affecting millions of patients worldwide. LNTS is becoming more popular as a LE treatment. Animal models have led the LE research for decades and developing new models for LE are essential for LE research. This systematic review aims to summarize the existing animal models dedicated to LNTS. We believe that this review is critical to guide researchers in the selection of the model that is best fit for their hypothesis-driven experiments.

Overall patient experience with a virtual hybrid hospital at home program

Objectives:

Traditional hospital at home models often have high patient experience scores. The purpose of this study is to look at the patient experience of a new virtual hybrid model of hospital at home called Advanced Care at Home.

Methods:

Patients in Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Care at Home program received a survey via email from 1 January–31 May 2021. Each survey consisted of 20 questions divided into 18 multiple-choice and two open-ended questions.

Results:

Ninety-nine surveys were sent and 41 partially or completely finished surveys were returned for a response rate of 41.4%. Patients responded positively, denoted by answering “strongly agree or somewhat agree,” with regard to the ability to reach the team right away 100% of the time, being kept informed 92% of the time, the command center responding promptly to their needs 95% of the time, the team providing comfort and support 98% of the time, feeling comfortable with interacting with their provider by phone or tablet 95% of the time, the ease of use from the equipment 97% of the time, the virtual and in-person staff working well together 98% of the time, the staff treating patients with courtesy and respect 100% of the time, and the ease of understanding the discharge process and feeling ready to leave the program 100% of the time. All providers received positive responses on listening ⩾88% of the time. Patients gave a top rating in likelihood to recommend the program 100% of the time.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Advanced Care at Home model of hospital at home was highly recommended by patients. Patients scored the program high on responsiveness, staff engagement and communication, ease of equipment use, and readiness for discharge, strengthening the overall confidence in this novel program.

A Virtual Hybrid Care Hotel Model Supports the Recovery of Post-procedural Patients with Mild to Severe Systemic Diseases

BACKGROUND

Patients with mild to severe chronic systemic disease undergoing low-risk procedures are often hospitalized for observation. The Care Hotel is a novel virtual medicine hybrid model of care that offers patients a comfortable, out of hospital environment where they can receive both in-person and virtual care after a surgery or procedure. This study aimed to analyze if virtual hybrid post-procedure care in a hotel could be both conducted on and accepted by patients, even those with moderate to severe chronic diseases.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted between July 23, 2020 and June 4, 2021 at Mayo Clinic in Florida, a 306-bed community academic hospital. We collected the sex, age, race, ethnicity, acceptance rate, ASA score, and primary procedure of patients using the Care Hotel.

RESULTS

Out of 392 patients, 272 (69.4%) opted for care in the program. Median patient age was 61.5 years, 59.56% were males, and 86.40% were white. We found that 50.37% had an ASA score of 2 and 43.4% had an ASA score of 3. Ten different surgical specialties were able to utilize the Care Hotel for care in 47 different procedure types. Urology had the most patients (n=70, 25.7%). Post-electrophysiologic procedures were the most common procedures (n=39, 14.3%).

CONCLUSION

Our virtual hybrid Care Hotel program was widely accepted by patients and could care for a multitude of post-operative procedures. Additionally, this novel program can care for patients with both mild and severe systemic diseases.

Hypoxia-preconditioning of human adipose-derived stem cells enhances cellular proliferation and angiogenesis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have gained attention lately because of their ease of harvesting and ability to be substantially multiplied in laboratory cultures. Stem cells are usually cultured under atmospheric conditions; however, preconditioning stem cells under hypoxic conditions seems beneficial.

AIM

This systematic review aims to investigate the effect of hypoxia preconditioning and its impact on the proliferation and angiogenic capacity of the hADSCs.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review by searching PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases from all years through March 22, 2021, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Medical Subject Headings terms "adipose-derived stem cell," "Hypoxia," "cell proliferation," and "angiogenesis" guided our search. Only articles written in English using experimental models comparing a preconditioned group against a control group of hADSCs with data on proliferation and angiogenic capacity were included.

RESULTS

Our search yielded a total of 321 articles. 11 articles met our inclusion criteria and were ultimately included in this review. Two studies induced hypoxia using hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha stabilizing agents, while nine reached hypoxia by changing oxygen tension conditions around the cells. Four articles conducted in-vivo studies to correlate their in-vitro findings, which proved to be consistent. Although 1 article indicated cell proliferation inhibition with hypoxia preconditioning, the remaining 10 found enhanced proliferation in preconditioned groups compared to controls. All articles showed an enhanced angiogenic capacity of hADSCs after hypoxia preconditioning.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we found evidence to support hypoxia preconditioning of hADSCs before implantation. Benefits include enhanced cell proliferation with a faster population doubling rate and increased secretion of multiple angiogenic growth factors, enhancing angiogenesis capacity.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

Although regenerative therapy is a promising field of study and treatment in medicine, much is still unknown. The potential for angiogenic therapeutics with stem cells is high, but more so, if we discover ways to enhance their natural angiogenic properties. Procedures and pathologies alike require the assistance of angiogenic treatments to improve outcome, such is the case with skin grafts, muscle flaps, skin flaps, or myocardial infarction to mention a few. Enhanced angiogenic properties of stem cells may pave the way for better outcomes and results for patients.