Exploring Breast Surgeons' Attitudes on Universal Genetic Testing: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The American Society of Breast Surgeons released a consensus statement that genetic testing should be made available to all patients with a personal history of breast cancer. However, it is not clear whether physicians feel comfortable with universal genetic testing (UGT) or if they have sufficient knowledge to interpret results and manage them appropriately. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore breast surgeons' attitudes toward UGT. METHODS: Breast surgeons were consented and scheduled for a semi-structured virtual interview. Transcripts were uploaded into qualitative analysis software where they were exhaustively and iteratively coded. Codes were then organized into higher-order categories and themes and data saturation were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-one surgeons completed the qualitative interview. Most surgeons practiced in the academic or community setting and most practiced in the Midwest (71.0%). The majority (90.3%) reported having a structured genetics program. The majority (96.8%) referred their patients to genetics for counseling and most preferred ordering testing through a genetic services provider. Some surgeons had concerns about access to genetic services. A minority of surgeons order UGT for all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The majority of respondents thought that more training in genetics was needed for surgeons. Many surgeons expressed concern about the psychosocial effects of UGT on patients. CONCLUSIONS: Many surgeons expressed concerns about UGT, mainly related to discomfort with their training, access to genetic services, and the psychosocial impact on their patients. Future work is needed to determine how to improve surgeon's comfort level in implementing UGT.

Cervical Endocrine Surgery With a Novel Opioid-Limited Perioperative Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that patients undergoing cervical endocrine surgery could be comfortably discharged with minimal opioid analgesia. However, no study to date has examined the efficacy of limiting administration of opioids intraoperatively. We have developed a novel protocol for patients undergoing cervical endocrine surgery that eliminates perioperative opioids. We sought to determine the efficacy of this protocol and its impact on opioid use at discharge. METHODS: We conducted a prospective opt-in opioid-limited surgery program study to opioid-naive patients scheduled for cervical endocrine surgery beginning in August 2019. Postoperatively, nonopioid analgesia was encouraged, but patients were also given a low dose prescription for opioids at discharge. Patients were then matched with 2 retrospective control groups, patients from 2014-2016 and 2017-2018, in order to account for increased public awareness of opioid-prescribing patterns. Primary end points included perioperative opioid use. Secondary end points included postoperative pain scores and complications. RESULTS: 218 patients underwent cervical endocrine surgery with our opioid-limited protocol between August 2019 and February 2020. Nine patients received opioids intraoperatively (4%) and 109 (50%) filled their opioid prescriptions at discharge. Compared to retrospective control groups, the average oral morphine equivalents (OME) administered intraoperatively and prescribed postoperatively were significantly lower (P < .0001). Pain scores and complication rates were similar in all groups (P = .7247). DISCUSSION: Our novel opioid-limited surgery protocol used in conjunction with preoperative counseling is an effective approach for pain control in patients undergoing cervical endocrine surgery and limits opioid exposure throughout the perioperative period.

Preoperative Splenic Artery Embolization for Massive Splenomegaly in Children: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Massive splenomegaly in children can complicate minimally invasive splenectomy. Splenic artery embolization (SAE) before splenectomy has been shown to decrease splenic volume, reduce intraoperative blood loss, and decrease conversion rates in laparoscopic surgery. Our objective was to review our recent experience with immediate preoperative SAE in massive splenomegaly for pediatric patients using both laparoscopic and robotic techniques. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed preoperative SAE outcomes in pediatric patients with massive splenomegaly undergoing minimally invasive splenectomy between January 2018 and July 2021. Results: Four patients, 3 female, ages 5-18 years, had SAE immediately before minimally invasive splenectomy. Two cases were completed robotically, one laparoscopically, and one laparoscopic case required conversion to open. SAE time ranged from 69 to 92 minutes. Time between embolization and surgical start ranged from 26 to 56 minutes, with operative times from 153 to 317 minutes. Estimated blood loss ranged from <10 to 150 mL. Mean length of stay was 3.5 days (range 2-6). Postoperative complications included one patient with ileus and another with concurrent gastritis and urinary tract infection. Splenic size comparisons were difficult to perform due to morselization of the spleen; however, excised spleen weights, measurements, and surgeon's impression suggested decreased size of the spleen after SAE. There were no transfusions, postembolization complications, or deaths. Conclusion: SAE subjectively appears to decrease splenic distension, which should allow for easier manipulation and possibly better visualization of splenic hilar vessels during minimally invasive surgery. Immediate preoperative SAE is safe and feasible and should be considered in pediatric patients with massive splenomegaly.

Vascular invasion predicts advanced tumor characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of vascular invasion in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is not well understood. Our aim was to determine if there was an association between vascular invasion and other tumor characteristics and patient outcomes in PTC. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of 536 patients with PTC between January 2007-December 2011. Patient demographics, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Vascular invasion was associated with lymphatic invasion, capsular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and the presence of positive lymph nodes. Logistic regression revealed that tumor size was a predictor of vascular invasion. Vascular invasion in PTC tumors was associated with higher tumor recurrence rates, but there were no differences in mortality. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that vascular invasion in PTC is associated with other aggressive pathologic features and an increased recurrence rate. For these reasons, vascular invasion should be an important tumor characteristic when determining extent of treatment.

Respiratory Modalities in Preventing Reintubation in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Post-extubation respiratory failure requiring reintubation in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) results in significant morbidity. Data in the pediatric population comparing various therapeutic respiratory modalities for avoiding reintubation is lacking. Our objective was to compare therapeutic respiratory modalities following extubation from mechanical ventilation. About 491 children admitted to a single-center PICU requiring mechanical ventilation from January 2010 through December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Therapeutic respiratory support assisted in avoiding reintubation in the majority of patients initially extubated to room air or nasal cannula with high-flow nasal cannula (80%) or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (100%). Patients requiring therapeutic respiratory support had longer PICU LOS (10.92 vs 6.91 days, P-value = .0357) and hospital LOS (16.43 vs 10.20 days, P-value = .0250). Therapeutic respiratory support following extubation can assist in avoiding reintubation. Those who required therapeutic respiratory support experienced a significantly longer PICU and hospital LOS. Further prospective clinical trials are warranted.