Improved Outcomes in Treating Acute Biliary Disorders With a Shift-Based Acute Care Surgery Model.

BACKGROUND: As Acute Care Surgery and shift-based models increase in popularity, there is evidence of better outcomes for many types of emergency general surgery patients. We explored the difference in outcomes for patients with acute biliary disorders, treated by either Acute Care Surgery (ACS) model or traditional call model (TRAD) during the same period. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute biliary disease 2017-2018. Demographics, clinical presentation, operative details, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Demographics, clinical presentation, and complication rates were similar between groups. Time from surgical consult to operating room (Δ = -15.34 hours [-24.57, -6.12], P = .001), length of stay (Δ = -1.4 days [-2.45, -.35], P = .009), and total charges were significantly decreased in ACS group compared to TRAD (Δ$2797.76 [-4883.12, -712.41], P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Acute biliary disease can be managed successfully in an ACS shift-based model with reduced overall hospital charges and equivalent outcomes.

Patient Outcomes in Laparoscopic Appendectomy With Acute Surgical Care Model Compared to Traditional Call.

INTRODUCTION: Shift-based models for acute surgical care (ACS), where surgical emergencies are treated by a dedicated team of surgeons working shifts, without a concurrent elective practice, are becoming more common nationwide. We compared the outcomes for appendectomy, one of the most common emergency surgical procedures, between the traditional (TRAD) call and ACS model at the same institution during the same time frame. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis during 2017-2018. ACS and TRAD-patient demographics, clinical presentation, operative details, and outcomes were compared using independent sample t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and Fisher's exact or χ2 tests. Multiple exploratory regression models were constructed to examine the effects of confounding variables. RESULTS: Demographics, clinical presentation, and complication rates were similar between groups except for a longer duration of symptoms prior to arrival in the TRAD group (Δ = 0.5 d, P = 0.006). Time from admission to operating room (Δ = -1.85 h, P = 0.003), length of hospital stay (Δ = -2.0 d, P < 0.001), and total cost (Δ = $ -2477.02, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the ACS group compared to the TRAD group. Furthermore, perforation rates were lower in ACS (8.3% versus 28.6%, P = 0.003). Differences for the outcomes remained significant even after controlling for duration of symptoms prior to arrival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute appendicitis managed using the ACS shift-based model seems to be associated with reduced time to operation, hospital stay, and overall cost, with equivalent success rates, compared to TRAD.

Impact of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Rotations on Musculoskeletal Knowledge in Residency.

Introduction Musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints and injuries comprise 18.7% of emergency department visits. However, only 61% of emergency physicians (EP) pass a validated written Freedman and Bernstein MSK examination (FB-MSK). Educational interventions such as a primary care sports medicine (PCSM) rotation aid in MSK residency education. This study utilizes a validated MSK examination to evaluate and compare MSK knowledge acquisition following a traditional orthopedic rotation and a PCSM rotation. Methods Forty-nine interns were recruited to participate in this study over two academic years. The FB-MSK was administered to all participants at the start of residency. Participants were divided into two groups based on their residency sites; one group completed a traditional four-week orthopedic surgery rotation and the second group completed a four-week PCSM rotation. Forty-six of the forty-nine participants were administered the FB-MSK after completion of their rotations. Results Individual post-rotation scores significantly improved regardless of rotation (mean difference 2.78, p<0.001; 95% CI 2.05-3.52). The orthopedic surgery group significantly improved (mean difference 2.84, p<0.001; 95% CI 1.93-3.73) and the PCSM group significantly improved (mean difference 2.64, p=0.002; 95% CI 1.23-4.07). There was no significant difference in pre-rotation scores between the two groups (p=0.86; 95% CI -2.13 to 1.79). There was no significant difference in post-rotation scores between the two groups (p=0.66; 95% CI -1.98 to 1.26). There was no significant difference in mean score improvement between the two groups (p=0.81; 95% CI -1.33 to 1.69). Conclusion This study demonstrates significant MSK knowledge acquisition and no difference in the level of knowledge acquisition after completion of either traditional orthopedic surgery or PCSM residency rotation.

Surgeons Maintain Better Focus Working 12-Hour Shifts Compared to 24-Hour Calls.

BACKGROUND: In this quality improvement project, we analyzed surgeon focus and attention utilizing a visual tracking device. We hypothesized that surgeons maintained better focus working 12-hour shifts compared to 24-hour calls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, quality improvement project was performed on surgery residents, medical students, and attending physicians working at a busy, tertiary referral, safety-net hospital with Level 1 trauma and burn centers. A visual tracking system was used to measure visual attention before and after a 12-hour, in-house shift and a 24-hour, surgical in-house call. A pupil tracker was utilized to measure attention impairment. Individual performance was rated on a scale of 0 to 6: Severely Impaired- 0; Impaired- 1; Low Average- 2; Average- 3; Above Average- 4; High Average- 5; Superior- 6. Data were analyzed for homogeneity. The Wilcoxon Ranked Sum was used to assess for statistically significant differences between focus scores in the same group of individuals before and after shifts and/or calls. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences in focus between 12 and 24 hour in-house shifts and/or calls. RESULTS: A total of 21 surgeons provided a total of 61 visual tracking tests for analysis. Results were found to be nonhomogeneous. The project population was 46% men with a median age of 31 years IQR (28-33). General surgery residents accounted for 48 tests, medical students for 2, and attending surgeons for 11. Average hours of self-reported sleep before the shift/call was 6 (IQR; 6-7). There was almost no overall change in focus in individuals before and after a 12-hour, in-house shift -0.06 (SD 1.9), while after a 24- hour, in-house call, focus decreased by almost 2 full grades -1.8 (SD 1.6) (p = 0.013). There was no statistically significant difference in focus found between 12-hour day shift and 12-hour night shift. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve-hour shifts appear to preserve focus in surgeons better compared with 24- hour, in-house calls. More research is needed to establish the optimal time of surgeon focus maintenance and shift duration.

A Case Series of Successful Abdominal Closure Utilizing a Novel Technique Combining a Mechanical Closure System with a Biologic Xenograft that Accelerates Wound Healing.

In the acute setting, once intra-abdominal injuries have been addressed, the next great hurdle is restoring a functional and intact abdominal compartment. The short and long-term consequences of living with a chronically open abdominal compartment include pulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and emotional disability. The closure of catastrophic open abdomens presents a challenge to the surgeon. We present a technique utilizing a mechanical abdominal closure device in conjunction with biologic xenograft in closing complex open abdomens. This technique offers another option for definitive fascial closure and accelerated wound healing in this difficult patient population. The dynamic tissue system (DTS) is installed after control of original intraabdominal pathology. A porcine urinary bladder matrix (PUBM) is then placed in the subcutaneous space once fascial closure is achieved. Overall, primary myofascial closure was achieved in 100% of patients at a mean of 9.36 days.

Insights into the Mechanisms Involved in Protective Effects of VEGF-B in Dopaminergic Neurons.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B), when initially discovered, was thought to be an angiogenic factor, due to its intimate sequence homology and receptor binding similarity to the prototype angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Studies demonstrated that VEGF-B, unlike VEGF-A, did not play a significant role in angiogenesis or vascular permeability and has become an active area of interest because of its role as a survival factor in pathological processes in a multitude of systems, including the brain. By characterization of important downstream targets of VEGF-B that regulate different cellular processes in the nervous system and cardiovascular system, it may be possible to develop more effective clinical interventions in diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and ischemic heart disease, which all share mitochondrial dysfunction as part of the disease. Here we summarize what is currently known about the mechanism of action of VEGF-B in pathological processes. We explore its potential as a homeostatic protective factor that improves mitochondrial function in the setting of cardiovascular and neurological disease, with a specific focus on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.