Effect of Smartphone App Postoperative Home Monitoring After Oncologic Surgery on Quality of Recovery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There has been an increase in health care-focused smartphone apps, including those for encouraging healthy behaviors and managing chronic conditions, but app-assisted postsurgical care has yet to be fully explored. Objective: To compare quality of recovery and patient satisfaction between conventional in-person follow-up and smartphone app-assisted follow-up for patients following Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society (ERAS) protocols. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial, conducted from June 2019 to April 2021, included women older than 18 years undergoing oncologic breast reconstruction or major gynecologic oncology surgery following ERAS protocols with the care of 2 surgeons at an academic tertiary care center. Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive smartphone app-assisted follow-up or conventional in-person follow-up. The smartphone group used a surgeon-monitored app to record Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR15) scores, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-selected adverse events, drain outputs, and surgical site photographs over 6 weeks. Patient satisfaction scores were assessed using validated Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire III (PSQ-III) subscales at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. The conventional follow-up group also completed the QoR15 and PSQ-III questionnaires at these intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were quality of recovery and patient satisfaction, as measured by the QoR15 and PSQ-III, respectively. Secondary outcomes were costs of follow-up; the number of contacts with the medical system, complications, and surgeons' contacts with patients; and surgeons' perceptions of app-assisted care. Results: Of 72 patients included in the trial, 36 underwent breast reconstruction (mean [SD] age, 45.30 [9.13] years) and 36 underwent gynecologic oncology surgery (mean [SD] age, 54.90 [11.18] years). Three patients dropped out (2 who underwent breast reconstruction [1 in the app group, 1 in the control group], 1 who underwent gynecologic oncology surgery [control group]). The app group had significantly higher mean (SD) QoR15 scores than the control group (2 weeks: 127.58 [22.03] vs 117.68 [17.52], P = .02; 6 weeks: 136.64 [17.53] vs 129.76 [16.42], P = .03). Patients were equally satisfied between groups in all subsets of the PSQ-III at these intervals. The mean (SD) number of complications was similar in both groups, and a similar number of surgeon contacts per patient occurred (1.6 [1.2] vs 2.1 [2.0], P = .16). Surgeons appreciated early identification of complications with the app. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, postoperative follow-up for patients undergoing breast reconstruction and gynecologic oncology surgery using smartphone app-assisted monitoring led to improved quality of recovery and equal satisfaction with care compared with conventional in-person follow-up. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03456167.

The adoption of the endoscopic retroperitoneal approach to the adrenal gland - Conversion factors and learning points.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive adrenalectomy includes laparoscopic transperitoneal (LA) and retroperitoneoscopic (RP) approaches. This study reviewed the local adrenalectomy practice to identify characteristics and outcomes between patients undergoing adrenalectomy via LA, RP, and RP requiring conversion (RPC). METHODS: Adrenalectomies documented in a prospective surgical database were reviewed. Demographics, diagnosis, surgical approach/conversion, body mass index (BMI), radiographic body measurements (RBM), tumor size, operative time (OT), length of stay (LOS), and 30-day post-operative emergency (ED) visits were collected. RESULTS: 203 adrenalectomies were reviewed from 2015 to 2020. The RP group had the shortest OT (124 ± 54 min, p = 0.281 vs LA, p < 0.001 vs RPC) and LOS (1.6 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.001 vs LA and RPC). There was an 18% conversion rate from RP to LA, and in one case to laparotomy. The RPC group had greater BMI, OT, LOS, and ED visits than LA and RP. The RPC group had less favorable RBM (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, RBM impacted OT, LOS, and ED visits (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The RP approach had shorter OT and LOS. BMI and RBM may increase risk of conversion, OT, LOS, and ED visits. Preoperative RBM may aid in appropriate patient selection for a RP approach.