Clinical and radiological septic joint analysis of spontaneous sternoclavicular joint infections: achieving the best outcomes-a systems engineering approach.

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous sternoclavicular joint infection (SSCJI) is a rare and poorly understood disease process. This study aims to identify factors guiding effective management strategies for SSCJI by using data mining. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of patients from 2 large hospitals (2010-2022) was conducted. SSCJI is defined as a joint infection without direct trauma or radiation, direct instrumentation or contiguous spread. An interdisciplinary team consisting of thoracic surgeons, radiologists, infectious disease specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, hospital information experts and systems engineers selected relevant variables. Small set data mining algorithms, utilizing systems engineering, were employed to assess the impact of variables on patient outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 73 variables were chosen and 54 analysed against 11 different outcomes. Forty-seven patients [mean age 51 (22-82); 77% male] met criteria. Among them, 34 underwent early joint surgical resection (<14 days), 5 patients received delayed surgical intervention (>14 days) and 8 had antibiotic-only management. The antibiotic-only group had comparable outcomes. Indicators of poor outcomes were soft tissue fluid >4.5 cm, previous SSCJI, moderate/significant bony fragments, HgbA1c >13.9% and moderate/significant bony sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that targeted antibiotic-only therapy should be considered initially for SSCJI cases while concurrently managing comorbidities. Patients displaying indicators of poor outcomes or no symptomatic improvement after antibiotic-only therapy should be considered for surgical joint resection.

Simulation-Based Education in US Undergraduate Medical Education: A Descriptive Study.

PURPOSE: Simulation-based education (SBE) provides experiential learning, improvement in quality of care, and reduction in errors. In 2011, the Association of American Medical Colleges described adoption of SBE in 68.0% of medical schools and 25.0% of teaching hospitals. We sought to examine current trends of SBE integration in American undergraduate medical education since previous publications. METHODS: From 2016 to 2019, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center postgraduate year 1 residents were invited to participate in a survey assessing medical school simulation experience with 26 clinical tasks from three categories: procedural, communication, and other. Deidentified results were analyzed to assess demographics including sex, specialty, residency program type, allopathic versus osteopathic medical school, and medical school region. RESULTS: Nine hundred sixty-seven of 1047 (92.3%) responses were obtained, representing 139 US medical schools, 91% from allopathic training. Of procedural tasks, most simulated was suturing (n = 848, 89.6%) and least simulated was thoracentesis (n = 737, 80.9%). Of communication tasks, most simulated was taking a history (n = 475, 51.1% reporting simulation >30) and least simulated (never or ≤1) were obtaining a consent (n = 669, 73.2%) and disclosing a medical error (n = 666, 72.4%). Of other tasks, most simulated was chest compressions (n = 898, 96.0%) and least simulated was operating a defibrillator (n = 206, 22.1%). Results were similar regardless of procedural or nonprocedural program. There was no significant difference in SBE exposure between allopathic and osteopathic students ( P = 0.89). Two participants (0.002%) reported no simulation exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to describe a high prevalence of SBE adoption in medical schools nationwide since the Association of American Medical Colleges' 2011 publication, with overall equal exposure for students regardless of residency type and allopathic or osteopathic medical school. Despite widespread adoption of simulation, opportunities remain to expand SBE use to teach critically important communication skills.

Training Cardiothoracic Residents in Robotic Lobectomy Is Cost-Effective With No Change in Clinical Outcomes.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate for any changes in quality or cost when robotic lung resection is used with significant trainee participation. Methods: All anatomic lung resections between January 2006 and June 2016 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Clinical data were recorded by double entry. Cost and cancer-related data were gathered from the business analytics department and tumor registry. Robotic outcomes were compared to an ongoing thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) experience. Propensity scores using age, sex, and comorbidities were assigned for statistical analysis. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of 523 consecutive cases, 483 were included (211 robotic, 210 thoracotomy, 62 VATS). There were 74 robotic cases (35%) performed by trainees as the console surgeon. Length of stay was shortest for robotics (3 days) compared to thoracotomy (7 days, P < 0.001) and VATS (5 days, P = 0.010). Complications occurred in 33% of robotic cases, 42% of VATS cases (P = 0.854), and 52% of thoracotomy cases (P < 0.001). Stage I non-small cell lung cancer 3-year overall survival for robotics, thoracotomy, and VATS was 79.5%, 74.3%, and 74.0%, respectively (P > 0.25). There was no significant difference in negative margin rates. Total cost related to the hospitalization for surgery was $5,721 less for robotics compared to thoracotomy (P = 0.003) but comparable to VATS. Trainees served as console surgeon in 0% of cases in the first 2 years of robotics but increased to 79% in the last year of the study. Conclusions: Robotic lung resection can be safely performed and taught in an academic medical center without sacrificing quality or cost.

Optimizing Medical Student Clerkship Schedules Using a Novel Application of the Hungarian Algorithm.

PROBLEM: Medical students often have preferences regarding the order of their clinical rotations, but assigning rotations fairly and efficiently can be challenging. To achieve a solution that optimizes assignments (i.e., maximizes student satisfaction), the authors present a novel application of the Hungarian algorithm, designed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), to assign student schedules. APPROACH: Possible schedules were divided into distinct pathway options with k total number of seats. Each of n students submitted a ranked list of their top 5 pathway choices. An n × k matrix was formed, where the location (i, j) represented the cost associated with student i being placed in seat j. Progressively higher costs were assigned to students receiving less desired pathways. The Hungarian algorithm was then used to find the assignments that minimize total cost. The authors compared the performance of the Hungarian algorithm against 2 alternative algorithms (i.e., the rank and lottery algorithms). To evaluate the 3 algorithms, 4 simulations were conducted with different popularity weights for different pathways and were run across 1,000 trials. The algorithms were also compared using 3 years of UTSW student preference data for the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021. OUTCOMES: In all 4 computer simulations, the Hungarian algorithm resulted in more students receiving 1 of their top 3 choices and fewer students receiving none of their preferences. Similarly, for UTSW student preference data, the Hungarian algorithm resulted in more students receiving 1 of their top 3 preferences and fewer students receiving none of their ranked preferences. NEXT STEPS: This approach may be broadly applied to scheduling challenges in undergraduate and graduate medical education. Furthermore, by manipulating cost values, additional constraints can be enforced (e.g., requiring certain seats to be filled, attempting to avoid schedules that begin with a student's desired specialty).

Enhanced Recovery Pathway Improves Colorectal Surgery Outcomes in Private and Safety-Net Settings.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) can decrease length of stay (LOS) and improve colorectal surgery outcomes in private health care; however, their efficacy in the public realm, comprised largely of underserved and uninsured patients, remains uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ERP without social interventions was implemented at a private hospital (PH) and a safety-net hospital (SNH) within a large academic medical center in 2014. Process and outcome metrics from 100 patients in the 18 mo before ERP implementation at each institution were retrospectively compared with a similar group after ERP implementation. Primary outcomes were LOS, 30-d readmission, and reoperation. RESULTS: Post-ERP groups were older than pre-ERP (P = 0.047, 0.034), with no difference in sex or body mass index. Rate of open versus minimally invasive was similar at the SNH (P = 0.067), whereas more post-ERP patients at PH underwent open surgery (P = 0.002). Ninety six percentage of PH patients were funded through private insurance or Medicare, verses 6% at the SNH. LOS at PH decreased from 8.1 to 5.9 d (P = 0.028) and at SNH from 7.0 to 5.1 d (P = 0.004). There was no change in 30-d all-cause readmission (PH P = 0.634; SNH P = 1) or reoperation (PH P = 0.610; SNH P = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: ERP reduced LOS in both private and safety-net settings without addressing social determinants of health. Readmission and reoperation rates were unchanged. As health care moves toward a bundled payment model, ERP can help optimize outcomes and control costs in the public arena.

Current Trends in Breast Augmentation: Analysis of 2011-2015 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Tracer Data.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation is the most common aesthetic surgery performed in the United States. Despite its popularity, there is no consensus on many aspects of the procedure. OBJECTIVES: The authors assessed current trends and changes in breast augmentation from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 11,756 women who underwent breast augmentation based on the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) Maintenance of Certification Tracer Database was performed. RESULTS: There were clearly dominant trends in how ABPS-certified plastic surgeons performed breast augmentations. Most surgeries were performed in freestanding outpatient (47.3%) or office operating room (33.7%). The inframammary fold incision was most popular (75.1%), followed by periareolar (17.8%) and transaxillary approaches (4.1%). Implants were more commonly placed in a submuscular pocket (30.6%) compared with dual plane (26.7%) or subglandular (6.7%). Silicone implants (66.8%) were favored over saline (25.1%), with a statistically significant increase in silicone prostheses from 2011 to 2015. Data were "not applicable" or "other" in the remainder of cases. Administration of both preoperative antibiotics (3.8% in 2011, 98.7% in 2015, P < 0.05) and deep venous thromboembolism (DVT) prophylaxis (3.8% in 2011, 90.6% in 2015, P < 0.05) dramatically increased during the study period. Overall adverse events (7.4%) and reoperation rates (2.2%) were low. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in standard of care for breast augmentation are reflected by the evolving practice patterns of plastic surgeons. This is best evidenced by the dramatic increase in use of antibiotic and DVT prophylaxis from 2011 to 2015.

Analysis of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System and Caprini Risk Assessment Model in Predicting Venous Thromboembolic Outcomes in Plastic Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be a fatal outcome of plastic surgery. Risk assessment models attempt to determine a patient's risk, yet few studies have compared different models in plastic surgery patients. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated preoperative ASA physical status and 2005 Caprini scores to determine which model was more predictive of VTE. METHODS: A retrospective chart review examined 1801 patients undergoing contouring and reconstructive procedures from January 2008 to January 2012. Patients were grouped into risk tiers for ASA scores (1-2 = low, 3+ = high) with 2 cutoffs for Caprini scores (1-4 = low, 5+ high; 1-5 = low, 6+ = high), then re-stratified into 3 tiers using Caprini score cutoffs (1-4 = low, 5-8 = high, 9+ = highest; 1-5 = low, 6-8 = high, 9+ = highest). Median scores of VTE patients were compared to those without VTE. Odds ratio and chi-squared analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 1598 patients included in the study, 1.50% developed VTE. Median ASA scores differed significantly between comparison groups but Caprini scores did not vary regardless of cutoff. When examining the 2-tiered Caprini scores, using low risk = 1-5 showed a significant relationship between risk tier and DVT development (P = 0.0266). CONCLUSION: The ASA system yielded the highest odds ratio of VTE development between low and high-risk patients. The Caprini model captured more patients with VTE in its high-risk category. Combining the two models for a more heuristic approach to preoperative care may identify patients at higher risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Risk.

An alternative outpatient care model: postoperative guest suite-based care.

BACKGROUND: Patients recovering from outpatient surgery are responsible for managing their pain, managing ambulation, and even implementing thromboembolism prophylaxis after discharge. Because of the importance of postoperative care to prevent complications, a model of care that helps a patient transition to independent self-care could provide optimal results. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the safety and morbidity rate for patients who underwent body contouring procedures and overnight care at an attached, nurse-staffed guest suite facility. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 246 patients who underwent major body contouring and who stayed at least 1 night in the guest suite facility. Major complications included a return to the operating room within 48 hours, major wound infection, and unplanned hospitalization within 48 hours. Minor complications included any postsurgical effect necessitating unplanned physician intervention within the first 30 days. Univariate analyses correlating patient characteristics and complication rates were conducted, as well as comparison of complication rates among same procedures reported in the literature. RESULTS: The complication rate (major and minor complications) was 25.20%. Surgical site infection occurred in 8.13% of patients. The most common wound complication was erythema around the incision site (12.20%). Death, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism did not occur. Comparison with relevant results reported in the literature indicated a significant reduction in the occurrence of postoperative venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education after surgery is essential to healing and adequate care. The guest suite model provides improved care and education for the patient and family postsurgery by addressing some of the known risk factors of plastic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in outpatient plastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics has not been established for patients who undergo plastic surgery as outpatients, and consensus guidelines for antibiotic administration in clean-contaminated plastic surgery are not available. OBJECTIVES: In a retrospective study of outpatients, the authors examined preoperative timing of prophylactic antibiotics, whether postoperative antibiotics were administered, and whether any correlations existed between these practices and surgical complications. METHODS: The medical records of 468 plastic surgery outpatients were reviewed. Collected data included preoperative antibiotic timing, postoperative antibiotic use, comorbidities, and complications. Rates of complications were calculated and compared with other data. RESULTS: All 468 patients received antibiotics preoperatively, but only 93 (19.9%) received them ≥1 hour before the initial incision. Antibiotics were administered 15 to 44 minutes before surgery in 217 patients (46.4%). There was no significant difference in complication rates between the 315 patients who received postoperative prophylactic antibiotics (16.2%) and the 153 who did not (20.9%). Comorbidities had no bearing on postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis may be unnecessary for outpatient plastic surgery patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

The impact of operative time on complications after plastic surgery: a multivariate regression analysis of 1753 cases.

BACKGROUND: Little evidence within plastic surgery literature supports the precept that longer operative times lead to greater morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigate surgery duration as a determinant of morbidity, with the goal of defining a clinically relevant time for increased risk. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who underwent a broad range of complex plastic surgical procedures (n = 1801 procedures) at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, from January 1, 2008 to January 31, 2012. Adjusting for possible confounders, multivariate logistic regression assessed surgery duration as an independent predictor of morbidity. To define a cutoff for increased risk, incidence of complications was compared among quintiles of surgery duration. Stratification by type of surgery controlled for procedural complexity. RESULTS: A total of 1753 cases were included in multivariate analyses with an overall complication rate of 27.8%. Most operations were combined (75.8%), averaging 4.9 concurrent procedures. Each hour increase in surgery duration was associated with a 21% rise in odds of morbidity (P < .0001). Compared with the first quintile of operative time (<2.0 hours), there was no change in complications until after 3.1 hours of surgery (odds ratio, 1.6; P = .017), with progressively greater odds increases of 3.1 times after 4.5 hours (P < .0001) and 4.7 times after 6.8 hours (P < .0001). When stratified by type of surgery, longer operations continued to be associated with greater morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery duration is an independent predictor of complications, with a significantly increased risk above 3 hours. Although procedural complexity undoubtedly affects morbidity, operative time should factor into surgical decision making.

Evaluation of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification system in risk assessment for plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification is a ranking system that quantifies patient health before anesthesia and surgery. Some surgical disciplines apply the ASA-PS to gauge a patient's likelihood of developing postoperative complications. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors analyze whether ASA-PS scores can successfully predict risk for postoperative complications in plastic and reconstructive operations. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 1801 patient procedures and selected for inclusion 1794 complex plastic and reconstructive operations that took place at 1 of several academic medical institutions between January 2008 and January 2012. ASA-PS scores, patient comorbidities, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Percentile data were treated with tests for proportions. Nonpercentile data were analyzed through comparison of means (t test). Low-risk (ASA 1-2) and high-risk (ASA 3+) groups were compared with simple odds ratios. RESULTS: For the 1430 women and 364 men in the patient cohort (average age, 49.5 years), the overall complication rate was 27.7%. When patients with complications were compared to those without, body mass index, operation time, recent major surgery, diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, cancer, and oral contraceptive use were statistically significant. After high-risk (n = 398) and low-risk (n = 1396) groups were identified, infection, delayed wound healing, deep vein thrombosis, and overall complications had significantly increased incidence in the high risk group. Notably, deep vein thrombosis displayed the highest odds ratio (4.17) and a complication rate increase from 0.93% to 3.77%. CONCLUSIONS: ASA-PS scores can be used either as substitutes for or as adjuncts to questionnaire-based risk assessment methods in plastic surgery. In addition to deducing significant findings for deep vein thrombosis incidence, ASA-PS scores hold important predictive associations for multiple non-venous thromboembolism complications, providing a broader measurement for postoperative complication risks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

The differing adipocyte morphologies of deep versus superficial midfacial fat compartments: a cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical studies show that facial fat is partitioned into distinct compartments, with the nasolabial fat pad in a superficial compartment and the deep medial cheek fat in a deep compartment. Gross morphologic differences may exist between these fat depots, but this has never been established at the cellular level. METHODS: Adipose tissue specimens from nasolabial fat and deep medial cheek fat pads were obtained from 63 cadaveric specimens (38 female and 25 male cadavers) aged 47 to 101 years (mean, 71 years). Thirty-seven cadavers had a normal body mass index (≤25 kg/m) and 26 cadavers had a high body mass index (>25 kg/m). Cross-sectional areas of individual adipocytes were calculated digitally and averaged from histologic sections of the adipose tissue samples. RESULTS: The average adipocyte size of nasolabial fat is significantly (p < 0.0001) larger than that of deep medial cheek fat. The average adipocyte size in both nasolabial and deep medial cheek fat is significantly (p < 0.0001) larger in subjects with high compared with low body mass index. Although the overall average adipocyte size is significantly (p < 0.0001) larger in female than in male subjects, this sexual dimorphism is lost in the nasolabial fat depots of overweight subjects and in the deep medial cheek depots of normal-weight subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly smaller adipocyte size in deep medial cheek fat relative to nasolabial fat in elderly subjects supports the theory that deep and superficial facial fat pads are morphologically different. Future investigation of the metabolic and structural properties of these fat compartments will help us understand the different patterns of volumetric facial aging.

Application of the Caprini risk assessment model in evaluation of non-venous thromboembolism complications in plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: The Caprini Risk Assessment Model is used to categorize patient risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) events; its predictive associations have been repeatedly corroborated. Calculating scores involves consideration of systemic factors that may predict other postoperative complications. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether Caprini scores can be applied to non-VTE complications. METHODS: The authors undertook a retrospective chart review of 1598 encounters for a series of complex reconstructive and body contouring operations at an academic medical institution. Input variables included Caprini score components, patient comorbidities, and prophylactic use of antithrombotic drugs. Output variables were postoperative complications. Tests for proportions were performed on percentile data. Nonpercentile data were treated with comparison of means (t test). Odds ratios for complications were calculated for stratified risk groups and compared. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 28.03%. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence was 1.50%. Differences in age, body mass index (BMI), operation time, hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, and cancer were statistically significant between patients who experienced complications and those who did not. For DVT versus DVT-free patients, differences in sex, BMI, operation time, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, and prior DVT were significant. Caprini scores identified 628 encounters as low risk (0-4) and 970 as high risk (>5). Dehiscence, infection, necrosis, seroma, hematoma, and overall complication rate significantly increased the incidence for the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Caprini scores can be used as valuable predictors for some non-VTE postoperative complications (dehiscence, infection, seroma, hematoma, and necrosis). In addition to VTE events, clinicians should pay special attention to clinical signs indicative of the complications listed above when dealing with high-risk, high-Caprini score patients.