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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate what proportion of abstracts presented at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) Annual Scientific Meetings went on to be published in publicly available journals. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study SETTING: Single organization PARTICIPANTS: Abstracts (oral presentations, oral posters, video presentations, non-oral posters) presented at the SGS Annual Scientific Meeting from 2013-2020 INTERVENTIONS: Variables were collected pertaining to abstract authors, study type, timing of the session presented, and journal factors. To identify possible publication, abstracts were cross-referenced in PubMed and Google Scholar. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 912 abstracts were reviewed: 155 oral presentations, 184 oral posters, 79 video presentations, and 490 non-oral posters. 45.8% of abstracts went on to publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Most abstracts (75.0%) were published from institutions with a fellowship presence and at a university-based program (71.5%). The five most represented institutions presented 27.5% of all abstracts during an SGS session. Oral presentations were more likely than oral posters to be structured as randomized controlled trials (20% vs 9%, p=.028), and to be published in a journal with a higher impact factor (6.36 ± 11.74 vs. 3.88 ± 2.72, p=.031). Type of presentation and fellowship presence significantly affected the likelihood of abstract publication (oral presentation OR 0.73, 95% CI [0.466, 1.141], p=0.167; video OR 0.14, 95% CI [0.075, 0.261; non-oral poster OR 0.30, 95% CI [0.204, 0.439]; p<.001; fellowship OR 1.62, 95% CI [1.167, 2.237], p=.004). CONCLUSION: Over eight years of the SGS Annual Scientific Meeting, the rate of abstract publication was 45.8%. Abstract origination from an academic institution with a fellowship program significantly affected the likelihood of publication. Abstract presentation at a society meeting is a prestigious opportunity, and prioritization of resources and elimination of barriers should be encouraged to further promote progression of these projects to publication.
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This study examines whether payments from a left ventricular assist device manufacturer to cardiologists performing percutaneous coronary intervention were associated with any use of the devices.
Subject(s)
Cardiologists , Heart Failure , Heart-Assist Devices , Medicare Part B , Humans , Cardiologists/economics , Heart Failure/economics , Heart Failure/therapy , Heart-Assist Devices/economics , Heart-Assist Devices/statistics & numerical data , Heart-Assist Devices/trends , United States/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Middle Aged , Male , Female , Medicare Part B/economics , Medicare Part B/statistics & numerical data , Medicare Part B/trendsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Geographic variation in high-cost medical procedure utilization in the USA is not fully explained by patient factors but may be influenced by the supply of procedural physicians and marketing payments. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between physician supply, medical device-related marketing payments to physicians, and utilization of knee arthroplasty (KA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) within hospital referral regions (HRRs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2018 CMS Open Payments database and procedural utilization data from the CMS Provider Utilization and Payment database. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare-participating procedural cardiologists and orthopedic surgeons. MAIN MEASURES: Regional rates of PCIs and KAs per 100,000 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries were estimated after adjustment for beneficiary demographics. KEY RESULTS: Across 306 HRRs, there were 109,301 payments (value $17,554,728) to cardiologists for cardiac stents and 68,132 payments (value $40,492,126) to orthopedic surgeons for prosthetic knees. Among HRRs, one additional interventional cardiologist was associated with an increase of 12.9 (CI, 9.3-16.5) PCIs per 100,000 beneficiaries, and one additional orthopedic surgeon was associated with an increase of 20.6 (CI, 16.9-24.4) KAs per 100,000 beneficiaries. A $10,000 increase in gift payments from stent manufacturers was associated with an increase of 26.0 (CI, 5.1-46.9) PCIs per 100,000 beneficiaries, while total and service payments were not associated with greater regional PCI utilization. A $10,000 increase in total payments from knee prosthetic manufacturers was associated with an increase of 2.9 (CI, 1.4-4.5) KAs per 100,000 beneficiaries, while a similar increase in gift and service payments was associated with an increase of 14.5 (CI, 5.0-24.1) and 3.4 (CI, 1.6-5.2) KAs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicare FFS beneficiaries, regional supply of physicians and receipt of industry payments were associated with greater use of PCIs and KAs. Relationships between payments and procedural utilization were more consistent for KAs, a largely elective procedure, compared to PCIs, which may be elective or emergent.
Subject(s)
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention , Physicians , Aged , Humans , United States , Medicare , Cross-Sectional Studies , Fee-for-Service PlansABSTRACT
Variability in surgeon prescribing patterns is common in the post-operative period and can be the nidus for dependence and addiction. This project aims to reduce opioid overprescribing at the Veteran's Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS). The VAPHS Opioid Stewardship Committee collaborated to create prescribing guidelines for inpatient and outpatient general, thoracic, and vascular surgery procedures. We incorporated bundled order sets into the provider workflow in the electronic medical system and performed a retrospective cohort study comparing opioid prescription patterns for Veterans who underwent any surgical procedure for a three-month period pre- and post- guideline implementation. After implementation of opioid prescribing guidelines, morphine milligram equivalents (MME), quantity of pills prescribed, and days prescribed were statistically significantly reduced for procedures with associated guidelines, including cholecystectomy (MME 140.8 vs. 57.5, p = 0.002; quantity 18.8 vs. 8, p = 0.002; days 5.1 vs. 2.8, p = 0.021), inguinal hernia repair (MME 129.9 vs. 45.3, p = 0.002; quantity 17.3 vs. 6.1, p = 0.002; days 5.0 vs. 2.4, p = 0.002), and umbilical hernia repair (MME 128.8 vs. 53.8, p = 0.002; quantity 17.1 vs. 7.8, p = 0.002; days 5.1 vs. 2.5, p = 0.022). Procedures without associated recommendations also preceded a decrease in overall opioid prescribing. Post-operative opioid prescribing guidelines can steer clinicians toward more conscientious opioid disbursement. There may also be reductions in prescribing opioids for procedures without guidelines as an indirect effect of practice change.
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BACKGROUND: We sought to characterize if prehospital transfer origin from the scene of injury (SCENE) or from a referral emergency department (REF) alters the survival benefit attributable to prehospital plasma resuscitation in patients at risk of hemorrhagic shock. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a recently completed prehospital plasma clinical trial. All of the enrolled patients from either the SCENE or REF groups were included. The demographics, injury characteristics, shock severity and resuscitation needs were compared. The primary outcome was a 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox-hazard regression were used to characterize the independent survival benefits of prehospital plasma for transport origin groups. RESULTS: Of the 501 enrolled patients, the REF group patients (n = 111) accounted for 22% with the remaining (n = 390) originating from the scene. The SCENE group patients had higher injury severity and were more likely intubated prehospital. The REF group patients had longer prehospital times and received greater prehospital crystalloid and blood products. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant 30-day survival benefit associated with prehospital plasma in the SCENE group (P < .01) with no difference found in the REF group patients (P = .36). The Cox-regression verified after controlling for relevant confounders that prehospital plasma was independently associated with a 30-day survival in the SCENE group patients (hazard ratio 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.89; P = .01) with no significant relationship found in the REF group patients (hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.4-3.0). CONCLUSION: Important differences across the SCENE and REF cohorts exist that are essential to understand when planning prehospital studies. Prehospital plasma is associated with a survival benefit primarily in SCENE group patients. The results are exploratory but suggest transfer origin may be an important determinant of prehospital plasma benefit.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medical Services , Shock, Hemorrhagic , Wounds and Injuries , Crystalloid Solutions , Humans , Injury Severity Score , Plasma , Resuscitation/methods , Wounds and Injuries/therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify disparities in geographic access to medical oncologists at the time of diagnosis. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: 2014-2016 Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (PCR), 2019 CMS Base Provider Enrollment File (BPEF), 2018 CMS Physician Compare, 2010 Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes (RUCA), and 2015 Area Deprivation Index (ADI). STUDY DESIGN: Spatial regressions were used to estimate associations between geographic access to medical oncologists, measured with an enhanced two-step floating catchment area measure, and demographic characteristics. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Medical oncologists were identified in the 2019 CMS BPEF and merged with the 2018 CMS Physician Compare. Provider addresses were converted to longitude-latitude using OpenCage Geocoder. Newly diagnosed cancer patients in each census tract were identified in the 2014-2016 PCR. Census tracts were classified based on rurality and socioeconomic status using the 2010 RUCA Codes and the 2015 ADI. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Large towns and rural areas were associated with spatial access ratios (SPARs) that were 6.29 lower (95% CI -16.14 to 3.57) and 14.76 lower (95% CI -25.14 to -4.37) respectively relative to urban areas. Being in the fourth ADI quartile (highest disadvantage) was associated with a 12.41 lower SPAR (95% CI -19.50 to -5.33) relative to the first quartile. The observed difference in a census tract's non-White population from the 25th (1.3%) to the 75th percentile (13.7%) was associated with a 13.64 higher SPAR (Coefficient = 1.10, 95% CI 11.89 to 15.29; p < 0.01), roughly equivalent to the disadvantage associated with living in the fourth ADI quartile, where non-White populations are concentrated. CONCLUSIONS: Rurality and low socioeconomic status were associated with lower geographic access to oncologists. The negative association between area deprivation and geographic access is of similar magnitude to the positive association between larger non-White populations and access. Policies aimed at increasing geographic access to care should be cognizant of both rurality and socioeconomic status.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Oncologists , Catchment Area, Health , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Rural Population , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Currently, the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is determined using the maximum diameter (Dmax) of the aorta. We sought in this study to identify a set of computed tomography (CT)-based geometric parameters that would better predict the risk of rupture than Dmax. METHODS: We obtained CT scans from 180 patients (90 ruptured AAA and 90 elective AAA repair) and then used automated software to calculate 1- , 2- , and 3-dimensional geometric parameters for each AAA. Linear regression was used to identify univariate correlates of membership in the rupture group. We then used stepwise backward elimination to generate a logistic regression model for prediction of rupture. RESULTS: Linear regression identified 40 correlates of rupture. Following stepwise backward elimination, we developed a multivariate logistic regression model containing 15 geometric parameters, including Dmax. This model was compared with a model containing Dmax alone. The multivariate model correctly classified 98% of all cases, whereas the Dmax-only model correctly classified 72% of cases. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the multivariate model had an area under the curve of 0.995, as compared with 0.770 for the Dmax-only model. This difference was highly significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that a multivariable model using geometric factors entirely measurable from CT scanning can be a better predictor of AAA rupture than maximum diameter alone.
Subject(s)
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/complications , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/diagnostic imaging , Aortic Rupture/etiology , Aortography/methods , Computed Tomography Angiography , Models, Cardiovascular , Patient-Specific Modeling , Area Under Curve , Chicago , Humans , Linear Models , Logistic Models , Multivariate Analysis , Pennsylvania , Predictive Value of Tests , ROC Curve , Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , SoftwareABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To examine the role of carotid stenosis (CS) and other independent risk factors of perioperative stroke, following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using data from the National Inpatient Sample database for analysis, patients who underwent TAVI were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Various preoperative and perioperative risk factors and their association with perioperative strokes were studied. RESULTS: Data on 7566 patients who underwent a TAVI procedure from 2012 to 2013 were extracted. The average age of the patient population was 81.2 ± 0.32 years. The overall perioperative stroke rate in our patient cohort was 2.79%. Majority (94.6%) of the strokes were ischemic. Multivariate analysis showed the following independent risk factors for perioperative strokes after TAVI: female gender odds ratio (OR) = 2.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-3.57), higher van Walraven score OR = 6.6 (95% CI = 3.71-11.73), bilateral CS OR = 4.46 (95% CI = 2.03-9.82), and TAVI with a cardiac procedure done under cardiopulmonary bypass OR = 2.84 (95% CI = 1.57-5.14). CONCLUSION: Bilateral carotid disease is a significant risk factor for perioperative strokes following TAVI. Preoperative screening with carotid Doppler to identify high-risk patients appears to be warranted. In addition, patients of female gender were found to have an increased risk for carotid disease.