Reduced Tearing With Stable Quality of Life After Vidian Neurectomy: A Prospective Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Although vidian neurectomy (VN) is associated with decreased lacrimation, its impact on dry eye quality-of-life is not well-defined. Endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approaches (EETA) may require vidian nerve sacrifice. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort trial. METHODS: A prospective trial evaluating VN during EETA on lacrimation by phenol red thread testing and dry eye severity by the five-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) was performed. Preservation of the contralateral vidian nerve allowed comparison between the eye subjected to VN and the control eye postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-one subjects were enrolled with no preoperative difference in lacrimation between eyes (P = .617) and overall mild dry eye severity. Although the control eye had no difference in lacrimation pre- and postoperatively, decreased tearing was noted in the VN eye at 1 month (20.8 mm vs. 15.8 mm, P = .015) and at 3 months (23.2 mm vs. 15.8 mm, P = .0051) postoperatively. Overall, no difference was noted in the DEQ-5 score for dry eye severity between the pre- and postoperative measures. However, six patients were noted to have moderate to severe dry eye severity postoperatively and five of these six had decreased lacrimation (<20 mm) preoperatively. Patients with decreased tearing preoperatively demonstrated significantly worse postoperative DEQ-5 scores when compared to patients with normal tearing (P < .0056). CONCLUSIONS: VN during EETA results in decreased tearing but is not associated with increased dry eye severity overall. However, patients with decreased tearing preoperatively are at risk for increased dry eye severity and should be counseled for this risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 Laryngoscope, 131:1487-1491, 2021.

Leaf Endophytes of Populus trichocarpa Act as Pathogens of Neighboring Plant Species.

The conventional definition of endophytes is that they do not cause disease, whereas pathogens do. Complicating this convention, however, is the poorly explored phenomenon that some microbes are endophytes in some plants but pathogens in others. Black cottonwood or poplar (Populus trichocarpa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) are common wild and crop plants, respectively, in the Pacific Northwest USA. The former anchors wild, riparian communities, whereas the latter is an introduced domesticate of commercial importance in the region. We isolated Fusarium culmorum - a well-known pathogen of wheat causing both blight and rot - from the leaf of a black cottonwood tree in western Washington. The pathogenicity of this cottonwood isolate and of a wheat isolate of F. culmorum were compared by inoculating both cottonwood and wheat in a greenhouse experiment. We found that both the cottonwood and wheat isolates of F. culmorum significantly reduced the growth of wheat, whereas they had no impact on cottonwood growth. Our results demonstrate that the cottonwood isolate of F. culmorum is endophytic in one plant species but pathogenic in another. Using sequence-based methods, we found an additional 56 taxa in the foliar microbiome of cottonwood that matched the sequences of pathogens of other plants of the region. These sequence-based findings suggest, though they do not prove, that P. trichocarpa may host many additional pathogens of other plants.

Postoperative Recovery in Frail, Pre-frail, and Non-frail Elderly Patients Following Abdominal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to explore the association between frailty and surgical recovery over a 6-month period, in elderly patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. METHODS: A total of 144 patients were categorized as frail, pre-frail, and non-frail based on five criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, slowness, and low activity. Recovery to preoperative functional status (activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)), cognition, quality of life, and mental health was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. A repeated measure logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of frailty on recovery over time. The effect of frailty on hospitalization outcomes was also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age was 78 ± 5 years with 17.4% of patients categorized as frail, 60.4% pre-frail, and 22.2% non-frail. At 6 months, the percent of patients who had recovered to preoperative values were: ADL 90%; IADL 76%; cognition 75.5%; mental health 66%; and quality of life 70%. While more frail patients experienced adverse hospitalization outcomes and fewer had recovered to preoperative functional status, these differences were not found to be statistically significant. Overall, frailty status was not significantly associated with the trajectory of recovery or hospitalization outcomes. CONCLUSION: Strong, institutional commitment to quality surgical care, as well as appropriate strategies for older patients, may have mitigated the impact of frailty on recovery. Further research is needed to examine the role of frailty in the surgical recovery process.

Risk factors associated with postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

OBJECTIVE The aim in this paper was to determine risk factors for the development of a postoperative CSF leak after an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for resection of skull base tumors. METHODS A retrospective review of patients who underwent EEA for the resection of intradural pathology between January 1997 and June 2012 was performed. Basic demographic data were collected, along with patient body mass index (BMI), tumor pathology, reconstruction technique, lumbar drainage, and outcomes. RESULTS Of the 615 patients studied, 103 developed a postoperative CSF leak (16.7%). Sex and perioperative lumbar drainage did not affect CSF leakage rates. Posterior fossa tumors had the highest rate of CSF leakage (32.6%), followed by anterior skull base lesions (21.0%) and sellar/suprasellar lesions (9.9%) (p < 0.0001). There was a higher leakage rate for overweight and obese patients (BMI > 25 kg/m2) than for those with a healthy-weight BMI (18.7% vs 11.5%; p = 0.04). Patients in whom a pedicled vascularized flap was used for reconstruction had a lower leakage rate than those in whom a free graft was used (13.5% vs 27.8%; p = 0.0015). In patients with a BMI > 25 kg/m2, the use of a pedicled flap reduced the rate of CSF leakage from 29.5% to 15.0% (p = 0.001); in patients of normal weight, this reduction did not reach statistical significance (21.9% [pedicled flap] vs 9.2% [free graft]; p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative BMI > 25 kg/m2 and tumor location in the posterior fossa were associated with higher rates of postoperative CSF leak. Use of a pedicled vascularized flap may be associated with reduced risk of a CSF leak, particularly in overweight patients.

Assessing the Effect of Preoperative Nutrition on Upper Body Function in Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Abdominal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition among elderly surgical patients has been associated with poor postoperative outcomes and reduced functional status. Although previous studies have shown that nutrition contributes to patient outcomes, its long-term impact on functional status requires better characterization. This study examines the effect of nutrition on postoperative upper body function over time in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery. METHODS: This is a 2-year prospective study of elderly patients (≥70 years) undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Preoperative nutrition status was determined with the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). The primary outcome was handgrip strength (HGS) at 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks postsurgery. Repeated measures analysis was used to determine whether SGA status affects the trajectory of postoperative HGS. RESULTS: The cohort included 144 patients with a mean age of 77.8 ± 5.0 years and a mean body mass index of 27.7 ± 5.1 kg/m2 . The median (interquartile range) Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3 (2-6). Participants were categorized as well-nourished (86%) and mildly to moderately malnourished (14%), with mean preoperative HGS of 25.8 ± 9.2 kg and 19.6 ± 7.0 kg, respectively. At 24 weeks, 64% of well-nourished patients had recovered to baseline HGS, compared with 44% of mildly to moderately malnourished patients. Controlling for relevant covariates, SGA did not significantly affect the trajectory of postoperative HGS. CONCLUSION: While HGS values over the 24 weeks were consistently higher in the well-nourished SGA group than the mildly to moderately malnourished SGA group, no difference in the trajectories of HGS was detected between the groups.

Virtual reality robotic surgery simulation curriculum to teach robotic suturing: a randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this randomized, controlled trial was to assess whether voluntary participation in a proctored, proficiency-based, virtual reality robotic suturing curriculum using the da Vinci(®) Skills Simulator™ improves robotic suturing performance. Residents and attending surgeons were randomized to participation or non-participation during a 5 week training curriculum. Robotic suturing skills were evaluated before and after training using an inanimate vaginal cuff model, which participants sutured for 10 min using the da Vinci(®) Surgical System. Performances were videotaped, anonymized, and subsequently graded independently by three robotic surgeons. 27 participants were randomized. 23 of the 27 completed both the pre- and post-test, 13 in the training group and 10 in the control group. Mean training time in the intervention group was 238 ± 136 min (SD) over the 5 weeks. The primary outcome (improvement in GOALS+ score) and the secondary outcomes (improvement in GEARS, total knots, satisfactory knots, and the virtual reality suture sponge 1 task) were significantly greater in the training group than the control group in unadjusted analysis. After adjusting for lower baseline scores in the training group, improvement in the suture sponge 1 task remained significantly greater in the training group and a trend was demonstrated to greater improvement in the training group for the GOALS+ score, GEARS score, total knots, and satisfactory knots.

Recurrence of biliary disease following non-operative management in elderly patients.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of symptomatic recurrence following initial non-operative management of gallstone disease in the elderly and to test possible predictors. METHODS: This is a single institution retrospective chart review of patients 65 years and older with an initial hospital visit (V1) for symptomatic gallstone disease, over a 4-year period. Patients with initial "non-operative" management were defined as those without surgery at V1 and without elective surgery at visit 2 (V2). Baseline characteristics included age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), diagnosis, and interventions (ERCP or cholecystostomy) at V1. Outcomes assessed over 1 year were as follows: recurrence (any ER/admission visit following V1), surgery, complications, and mortality. A survival analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model was performed to assess predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: There were 195 patients initially treated non-operatively at V1. Mean age was 78.3 ± 7.8 years, 45.6% were male, and the mean CCI was 2.1 ± 1.9. At V1, 54.4% had a diagnosis of biliary colic or cholecystitis, while 45.6% had a diagnosis of cholangitis, pancreatitis, or choledocholithiasis. 39.5% underwent ERCP or cholecystostomy. Excluding 10 patients who died at V1, 31.3% of patients had a recurrence over the study period. Among these, 43.5% had emergency surgery, 34.8% had complications, and 4.3% died. Median time to first recurrence was 2 months (range 6 days-4.8 months). Intervention at V1 was associated with a lower probability of recurrence (HR 0.3, CI [0.14-0.65]). CONCLUSION: One-third of elderly patients will develop a recurrence following non-operative management of symptomatic biliary disease. These recurrences are associated with significant rates of emergency surgery and morbidity. Percutaneous or endoscopic therapies may decrease the risk of recurrence.

Association between quality of care and complications after abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Measuring the quality of surgical care is essential to identifying areas of weakness in the delivery of effective surgical care and to improving patient outcomes. Our objectives were to (1) assess the quality of surgical care delivered to adult patients; and (2) determine the association between quality of surgical care and postoperative complications. METHODS: This retrospective, pilot, cohort study was conducted at a single university-affiliated institution. Using the institution's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2009-2010), 273 consecutive patients ≥18 years of age who underwent elective major abdominal operations were selected. Adherence to 10 process-based quality indicators (QIs) was measured and quantified by calculating a patient quality score (no. of QIs passed/no. of QIs eligible). A pass rate for each individual QI was also calculated. The association between quality of surgical care and postoperative complications was assessed using an incidence rate ratio, which was estimated from a Poisson regression. RESULTS: The mean overall patient quality score was 67.2 ± 14.4% (range, 25-100%). The mean QI pass rate was 65.9 ± 26.1%, which varied widely from 9.6% (oral intake documentation) to 95.6% (prophylactic antibiotics). Poisson regression revealed that as the quality score increased, the incidence of postoperative complications decreased (incidence rate ratio, 0.19; P = .011). A sensitivity analysis revealed that this association was likely driven by the postoperative ambulation QI. CONCLUSION: Higher quality scores, mainly driven by early ambulation, were associated with fewer postoperative complications. QIs with unacceptably low adherence were identified as targets for future quality improvement initiatives.

Formal research training during surgical residency: scaffolding for academic success.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a formal surgical research program (leading to a postgraduate degree) during residency, on future research productivity. METHODS: We surveyed all North American graduates of the McGill University general surgery residency program between 1987 and 2005. The survey included questions on research involvement before, during, and after general surgery residency. This was combined with a literature search revealing all research publications of the participants. Outcomes were the yearly average of publications and awarded funding as faculty members. RESULTS: Seventy-five of 119 graduates (63%) responded. Staff physicians who had participated in formal research programs during residency (n = 35), compared with those who had not (n = 40), produced more publications per year (2.8 ± 2.3 vs 1.1 ± 1.2, P < .01) and had greater funding success (81% vs 55%, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Residents who had participated in formal research programs during residency were more likely to have greater academic success.

Identification of quality of care deficiencies in elderly surgical patients by measuring adherence to process-based quality indicators.

BACKGROUND: The ability to measure surgical quality of care is important and can lead to improvements in patient safety. As such, processes should be carried out in an identical fashion for all patients, regardless of how vulnerable or complex they are. Our objectives were to assess quality of surgical care delivered to elderly patients and to determine the association between patient characteristics and quality of care. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective pilot cohort study, conducted in a single university-affiliated hospital. Using the institution's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2009 to 2010), 143 consecutive patients 65 years or older, undergoing elective major abdominal surgery, were selected. Adherence to 15 process-based quality indicators (QIs) was measured, and a pass rate was calculated for each individual QI. The association between patient characteristics (age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, functional status, wound class) and patient quality score was assessed using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Quality indicators with the lowest pass rates included postoperative delirium screening (0%), level of care documentation (0.7%), cognition and functional assessment at discharge (4.9%), oral intake documentation (12.6%), and pressure ulcer risk assessment (35.0%). The mean patient quality score was 46.8% ± 10.7% (range 16.7% to 75.0%). No association was found between patient characteristics and patient quality score. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of care delivered to elderly patients undergoing major surgery at our institution was generally poor and independent of patient characteristics. Although quality appears to be uniform across different patients, these results provide targets for quality improvement initiatives.

Validation of the da Vinci Surgical Skill Simulator across three surgical disciplines: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we evaluate face, content and construct validity of the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator (dVSSS) across 3 surgical disciplines. METHODS: In total, 48 participants from urology, gynecology and general surgery participated in the study as novices (0 robotic cases performed), intermediates (1-74) or experts (≥75). Each participant completed 9 tasks (Peg board level 2, match board level 2, needle targeting, ring and rail level 2, dots and needles level 1, suture sponge level 2, energy dissection level 1, ring walk level 3 and tubes). The Mimic Technologies software scored each task from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) using several predetermined metrics. Face and content validity were evaluated by a questionnaire administered after task completion. Wilcoxon test was used to perform pair wise comparisons. RESULTS: The expert group comprised of 6 attending surgeons. The intermediate group included 4 attending surgeons, 3 fellows and 5 residents. The novices included 1 attending surgeon, 1 fellow, 13 residents, 13 medical students and 2 research assistants. The median number of robotic cases performed by experts and intermediates were 250 and 9, respectively. The median overall realistic score (face validity) was 8/10. Experts rated the usefulness of the simulator as a training tool for residents (content validity) as 8.5/10. For construct validity, experts outperformed novices in all 9 tasks (p < 0.05). Intermediates outperformed novices in 7 of 9 tasks (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences in the energy dissection and ring walk tasks. Finally, experts scored significantly better than intermediates in only 3 of 9 tasks (matchboard, dots and needles and energy dissection) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the face, content and construct validities of the dVSSS across urology, gynecology and general surgery. Larger sample size and more complex tasks are needed to further differentiate intermediates from experts.

Knowing the operative game plan: a novel tool for the assessment of surgical procedural knowledge.

BACKGROUND: What is the source of inadequate performance in the operating room? Is it a lack of technical skills, poor judgment or a lack of procedural knowledge? We created a surgical procedural knowledge (SPK) assessment tool and evaluated its use. METHODS: We interviewed medical students, residents and training program staff on SPK assessment tools developed for 3 different common general surgery procedures: inguinal hernia repair with mesh in men, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and right hemicolectomy. The tools were developed as a step-wise assessment of specific surgical procedures based on techniques described in a current surgical text. We compared novice (medical student to postgraduate year [PGY]-2) and expert group (PGY-3 to program staff) scores using the Mann-Whitney U test. We calculated the total SPK score and defined a cut-off score using receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: In all, 5 participants in 7 different training groups (n = 35) underwent an interview. Median scores for each procedure and overall SPK scores increased with experience. The median SPK for novices was 54.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.6-58.8) compared with 98.05 (95% CP 94.1-100.0) for experts (p = 0.012). The SPK cut-off score of 93.1 discriminates between novice and expert surgeons. CONCLUSION: Surgical procedural knowledge can reliably be assessed using our SPK assessment tool. It can discriminate between novice and expert surgeons for common general surgical procedures. Future studies are planned to evaluate its use for more complex procedures.

Are Canadian general surgery residents ready for the 80-hour work week? A nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe Canadian general surgery residents' perceptions regarding potential implementation of work-hour restrictions. METHODS: An ethics review board-approved, Web-based survey was submitted to all Canadian general surgery residency programs between April and July 2009. Questions evaluated the perceived effects of an 80-hour work week on length of training, operative exposure, learning and lifestyle. We used the Fisher exact test to compare senior and junior residents' responses. RESULTS: Of 360 residents, 158 responded (70 seniors and 88 juniors). Among them, 79% reported working 75-100 hours per week. About 74% of seniors believed that limiting their work hours would decrease their operative exposure; 43% of juniors agreed (p < 0.001). Both seniors and juniors thought limiting their work hours would improve their lifestyle (86% v. 96%, p = 0.12). Overall, 60% of residents did not believe limiting work hours would extend the length of their training. Regarding 24-hour call, 60% of juniors thought it was hazardous to their health; 30% of seniors agreed (p = 0.001). Both senior and junior residents thought abolishing 24-hour call would decrease their operative exposure (84% v. 70%, p = 0.21). Overall, 31% of residents supported abolishing 24-hour call. About 47% of residents (41% seniors, 51%juniors, p = 0.26) agreed with the adoption of the 80-hour work week. CONCLUSION: There is a training-level based dichotomy of opinion among general surgery residents in Canada regarding the perceived effects of work hour restrictions. Both groups have voted against abolishing 24-hour call, and neither group strongly supports the implementation of the 80-hour work week.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: learning curve comparison between benign and malignant disease.

BACKGROUND: New surgical techniques should be formally evaluated for feasibility and safety. As a model for this evaluation, this study examines the authors' institution's experience with splenectomy for benign and malignant hematologic disease since the introduction of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in 1996. The authors present the evaluation of the recognized surgeon/institutional learning curve using CUSUM (cumulative sum) analysis. METHODS: This is a single institution retrospective chart review of consecutive splenectomies for hematologic disease performed between 1996 and 2008. The primary outcome was conversion to open splenectomy. The learning curve for LS was evaluated using CUSUM analysis. RESULTS: A total of 123 splenectomies were performed for benign (51.2%) or malignant (48.7%) hematologic disease. 58% of patients underwent planned LS, with a 21% conversion rate. The surgeon's overall learning curves for LS, as well as that for malignant disease, were maintained within acceptable conversion thresholds. However, the learning curve for benign disease did cross the unacceptable conversion threshold at case 29. With additional experience, the curve again approached the acceptable conversion threshold. Patients with malignant disease were significantly older (P = .0004), had larger spleens (P = .0004), were more likely to undergo open splenectomy (P = .001), and had longer lengths of stay (P = .01). However, there was no significant difference in operative time, transfusion requirements, morbidity rates, or mortality rates between patients with benign and malignant disease. CONCLUSION: LS, for benign or for malignant hematologic disease, is associated with a significant learning curve. This evaluation model illustrates that careful patient selection and ongoing quality assessment is essential when introducing a new technique.

Determining the extent of lateral neck dissection necessary to establish regional disease control and avoid reoperation after previous total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine for papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients who underwent lateral neck dissection for fine-needle aspiration (FNA)-confirmed disease after total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine (RAI) to determine the appropriate extent of resection necessary to avoid reoperation. METHODS: This study was conducted with a retrospective review of medical charts of 100 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent of initial lateral neck dissection specimens and 64% of reoperative lateral neck dissection specimens had more than 1 nodal level of involvement. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of preoperative ultrasound to determine whether a specific nodal level was involved were: level 2: 54% and 66.2%; level 3: 47% and 49.4%; level 4: 60% and 55.4%; and level 5: 42% and 88.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing lateral neck dissection after previous total thyroidectomy and RAI tend to have multiple involved nodes within multiple neck levels. Preoperative ultrasound is not sensitive enough to account for all of these involved nodes, therefore, a compartmental lateral neck dissection is recommended to minimize the risk of persistence and reoperation.

The role of arthrography in selecting an osteotomy for the correction of genu varum in pediatric patients with achondroplasia.

Genu varum is a common manifestation of achondroplasia. In the pediatric population, determination of the appropriate corrective osteotomy can be challenging because of a large cartilage envelope. To determine whether osteotomy based on radiographs alone corresponded to osteotomy based on arthrography and radiography, we retrospectively studied 41 patients (75 limbs) and identified the appropriate osteotomy based on (i) radiographs alone and (ii) radiographs and arthrography. We found that the osteotomy choice changed in 45 limbs (60.8%) overall and in 34 limbs (94.44%) of patients aged below 8 years.

Gallstone disease in the elderly: are older patients managed differently?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the differences in the management of symptomatic gallstone disease within different elderly groups and to evaluate the association between older age and surgical treatment. METHODS: This single-institution retrospective chart review included all patients 65 years old and older with an initial hospital visit for symptomatic gallstone disease between 2004 and 2008. The patients were stratified into three age groups: group 1 (age, 65-74 years), group 2 (age, 75-84 years), and group 3 (age, ≥ 85 years). Patient characteristics and presentation at the initial hospital visit were described as well as the surgical and other nonoperative interventions occurring over a 1-year follow-up period. Logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of age on surgery. RESULTS: Data from 397 patient charts were assessed: 182 in group 1, 160 in group 2, and 55 in group 3. Cholecystitis was the most common diagnosis in groups 1 and 2, whereas cholangitis was the most common diagnosis in group 3. Elective admissions to a surgical ward were most common in group 1, whereas urgent admissions to a medical ward were most common in group 3. Elective surgery was performed at the first visit for 50.6% of group 1, for 25.6% of group 2, and for 12.7% of group 3, with a 1-year cumulative incidence of surgery of 87.4% in group 1, 63.5% in group 2, and 22.1% in group 3. Inversely, cholecystostomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were used more often in the older groups. Increased age (odds ratio [OR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.91) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94) were significantly associated with a decreased probability of undergoing surgery within 1 year after the initial visit. CONCLUSION: Even in the elderly population, older patients presented more frequently with severe disease and underwent more conservative treatment strategies. Older age was independently associated with a lower likelihood of surgery.